a distinguished writer of religious and moral works, was born at Stapleton, in Gloucestershire, in the year 1745. Her father held the humble situation of village schoolmaster; but his sobriety and diligence were such as to secure for him an appointment to the parochial school of St Mary Redcliff, at Bristol. Here his daughter gained the intimacy and patronage of Dr Stonehouse, and opened an establishment for boarders, having previously, through the same interest, been enabled to set on foot a flourishing and respectable day-school. Her first literary efforts were some poetical pieces, written for the edification of her pupils, and amongst them was a pastoral drama. Manuscript copies of these pieces were seen and admired by several persons of literary taste and discrimination at Bristol, who strongly recommended their publication. They accordingly appeared, and the drama, which was entitled the Search after Happiness, soon became very popular. This flattering reception having induced the author to try her strength in the highest walk of dramatic poetry, she successively brought upon the stage her tragedies of the Indefatigable Captive, Percy, and the Fatal Falschood, which closed her dramatic career. Mr Garrick was warmly attached to her, and, by the exertion of his wonderful histrionic powers in the second of these compositions, it was enacted at Drury Lane during fourteen successive nights; but none of her dramas now retain any hold of the stage. Soon after the production of her first tragedy, she published two legendary poems, entitled Sir Eldred of the Bower, and the Bleeding Rock, founded upon popular traditions current in Somersetshire. These pieces had very great success, as had also her volume of Essays for Young Ladies, which she afterwards expunged from the edition of her works published in 1801, on the ground that the book was superseded by her Treatise on Female Education.

In 1782, Hannah More greatly added to her reputation by the publication of a volume of Sacred Dramas, to which was annexed a poem called Sensibility, which was much commended by Dr Johnson, then the autocrat of literature. Being asked his opinion of the author on one occasion, he replied, "I know and esteem her well, Sir; and I think her the best of all our female versifiers." In 1785, this indefatigable writer gave to the world two poems, Florio, a tale, and Bas Bleu, or the Conversation. The first is a respectable and not ill-natured satire on the frivolous manners of the young gentlemen of the period. The second is also a satire on the Blue Stocking Club, which met at Mrs Montagu's, in Portman Square, and was so called from one of the members always wearing that article of dress. Other works successively proceeded from her pen. Of these the principal are, a Poem on the Slave Trade, printed in 1788; a tract entitled Thoughts on the Manners of the Great, which appeared the same year; an Estimate of the Religion of the Fashionable World, published in the year 1791, and esteemed one of her best productions; Remarks on the Speech of M. Dupont, in the National Convention, on Religion and Education (the speaker had openly avowed atheism in that assembly); and further, with the view of opposing the propagation of sedition and infidelity, she, in 1793, commenced at Bath, the Cheap Repository, which was published in monthly numbers, and contained several very pleasantly written tales. This periodical obtained a very wide circulation, and was said to have had considerable effect in calming the public mind, then agitated by the doctrines so prevalent in France.

Mrs More now removed from Bristol to Cheddar, where objects of misery having deeply affected her sympathetic and religious feelings, she opened a number of schools for educating the poor children, and alleviating their misery. Her benevolent designs were at first strenuously opposed; but she ultimately succeeded in establishing a number of schools, not only at Cheddar, but all round the Mendip Hills; and the good effects which they produced soon became apparent. In 1799 appeared her Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education, three editions

---

4 This last disposition, we are told, he could not restrain even at his execution. The day being come, he ascended the scaffold, which seemed so weak that it was ready to fall to pieces; whereupon he said, "I pray, see me safe up; and for my coming down, let me shift for myself." His prayers being ended, he turned to the executioner, and with a cheerful countenance said, "Pluck up thy spirits, man, and be not afraid to do thy office; my neck is very short, take heed therefore thou strike not awry for saving thy honesty." Then laying his head upon the block, he bade him stay until he had put aside his beard, saying that it had never committed any treason. of which issued from the press in the same year. This work was censured by some of the critics as too austere; but notwithstanding this circumstance, she was called upon by the highest personages in the realm to put her sentiments in writing on the proper course of instruction to be adopted for the infant heiress to the British throne. She set diligently to work to obey the royal commands, and produced, in 1805, a work in two volumes, under the unassuming title of Hints towards forming the Character of a Young Princess. It gave high satisfaction generally; but offence was taken in one quarter, and much abuse was in consequence poured upon it. In the year 1809 was published Coelbs in Search of a Wife; two years afterwards appeared Practical Piety, and Christian Morals; in 1815 came out an Essay on the Character and Writings of St Paul; and, soon after her sister Martha's death in 1819, the literary career of Mrs More terminated with the publication of Modern Sketches. She was now aged and infirm, but still continued to take a great interest in the welfare of charity schools, bible and missionary societies, and other benevolent and religious institutions. Her piety supported her in her later afflictions, and she expired with the composure, and full of the hope and faith, of a Christian, on the 7th of September 1833. She is said to have realised L30,000 by her works, a very considerable proportion of which she bequeathed to religious and benevolent societies.

The works of Hannah More have always been highly esteemed by the religious world, and she is generally considered as one of the most distinguished of that class of writers who unite great piety with considerable literary talent, and dedicate the creations of fancy as well as the deductions of reason to the service of religion. Her poetry is not much prized, except by a select few, for the piety and sound judgment which it displays. In this respect it bears a general resemblance to the verse of Cowper; but it is not very copiously imbued with that fine ethereal spirit, which alone can give vitality and soul to the inspirations of the muse. Her prose is justly admired for its sententious wisdom, its practical good sense, its masculine vigour, and the dignified religious and moral fervour which pervades it. Coelbs passed through six editions in one year; and since its first appearance it has frequently been reprinted, besides being translated into several foreign languages.

(M. R. H.)