county. It was at Chawton that Jane Austen wrote, or published, the novels which she sent forth to the world, during her life. "Sense and Sensibility" came first, and was followed by "Pride and Prejudice," "Mansfield Park," and "Emma." Two more novels from her pen were published after her death, under the titles of "Northanger Abbey and "Persuasion." "Northanger Abbey" was the first novel she ever composed, and, as she well knew, was merely the awkward production of those efforts which won for her the secret of her art. She did well in keeping the manuscript in her desk, away from public observation, as nothing more or less than the exercise book of her school days; and her literary executor would have acted wisely had he followed her example. It may be here stated that this “first work" was actually sold to a publisher in 1803, and advertised as about to appear, when the man of business feared to venture his capital in printing such a poor tale, and restored the manuscript to its author. This was a rather unpleasant way to inform a lady of the worthlessness of her performance.

Stung to renewed exertions, rather than disheartened by this rebuff, Miss Austen wrote " Sense and Sensibility." When she committed it to the press her heart misgave her, and the best fate she dared to hope for it was that it might fall dead at its birth, unnoticed by the condemnation and ridicule of the journals. It appeared incredible to her, when she was informed that its sale had resulted in a clear profit of £150. This was indeed good news to her, for she had been so rash as to publish it at her own pecuniary risk.

Jane Austen's life was an uneventful, and, it would seem from the little that is known about it, an unhappy one. She was singularly gifted in person as well as in mind; her figure was remarkably elegant; her face was endowed with good features, a fascinating expression of simplicity and

benevolence, and a peculiarly brilliant complexion; her voice was very sweet; she was for her day highly accomplished, and excelled in dancing; and the amiability of her noble disposition was a fountain of happiness to all who surrounded her; and yet she never married. That she never loved, is not to be believed!

Originally delicate, and of a consumptive tendency, her health failed her in the commencement of 1816. From that date the advances of her pulmonary disease were steady, though for some months-tardy. In the May of 1817, she moved to Winchester for the sake of medical aid, and there her sufferings closed, after a residence in that city of two short months.

To the last she was' affectionate and cheerful, as she had ever been; solemnly preparing herself for the change that was at hand, and at the same time alive to the pure affections of her past life. On the day preceding her death, she was engaged in the composition of poetry.

During the course of the next four-and-twenty hours she sank rapidly. As she lay in the arms of her sister, she was asked with tender, perhaps officious love, if she wanted anything. With her last words she replied "I want nothing but death." And Death soon came to her on Friday, the 18th of July, 1817. Her age was then forty-two.

In her novels she attempted, and successfully, to paint the quiet home-life of the educated people amongst whom her lot was cast. To many readers such a subject is distasteful; those who require in a work of fiction a brisk succession of seductions and murders, peppered with withering sarcasms, and softened down by passages of overstrained sentimentality, will find little amusement in watching the artless schemings and unobtrusive virtues of Miss Austen's ladies, the sober actions of her good men, and the commonplace, unattractive failings of her bad ones. They will find nothing in the way of striking positions in her books; and

in their mortification at not being startled and "horrorstruck," they will fail to detect the art of the authoress who, in her delineations of character and society, bores them with painting life "just as every one knows it is."

Wiser and more intelligent minds than such readers have, however, paid Miss Austen's merits due homage. Archbishop Whateley, in one of the Quarterly Reviews of 1821, expressed his admiration for her powers. And Sir Walter Scott, after reading "Pride and Prejudice" for the third time, wrote of her in his private diary: "That young lady had a talent for describing the involvement, and feelings, and characters of ordinary life, which is to me the most wonderful thing I ever met with. The big bowwow strain I can myself do, like any now going; but the exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment is denied to me. What a pity such a gifted creature died so early!" Probably Sir Walter was under some mistake as to "that young lady's " age.

CHAPTER VI.

MATTHEW GREGORY LEWIS.

In the history of the literature of England, as indeed of every other civilized country, there stand out numerous writers in whom were united wealth, aristocratic descent, and genius of the highest order. Lord Bacon and Lord Byron are only two out of a long list of illustrious names which can be mentioned in proof that opulence, patrician birth, and indulgence in patrician pleasures are not incompatible with rare mental prowess, and sustained intellectual exertion. Besides these master minds, and to be classed with them, only because the possession of fortune suggests the association, the superior classes of English society can claim as their own a host of comparatively insignificant authors who not unwisely attempted to dignify their rank by literary endeavour, and who, in many cases, succeeded in achieving a celebrity in the profession of letters, which they would never have attained to unaided by social position. Of this latter fraternity, Matthew Gregory Lewis, notorious as "Monk Lewis," may be regarded as a good specimen.

On the 9th of July, A.D., 1775, Matthew Gregory Lewis entered this world as the eldest son of a certain Mr. Lewis, who, besides boasting descent from an ancient family, (which most men do), was possessed of a good landed estate in England, a large property in the West Indies, and the lucrative post of Deputy-Secretary at War. Mrs. Lewis (Matthew's mother) was Frances Maria, the youngest daughter of the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Sewell,

Bart., Master of the Rolls, in the reign of George the Third. She was a celebrated beauty in her time, and was much admired at court. Not only was she mistress of all the feminine accomplishments of the day, but she so excelled in dancing the minuet, that Her Majesty Queen Charlotte complimented her on her graceful movements! Her girlish beauty even warmed the sluggish heart of George the Third, for on the occasion of her presentation at "her first drawing room," when in her confusion she forgot the customary etiquette of bending her knee to her King, he with "that benevolent good humour," says history, "for which he was remarkable," endeavoured to conceal her blunder by impressing a kiss upon her blushing cheek; all things considered, not a bad line of conduct to pursue towards a pretty girl.

The lovely Frances was not destined to experience a happy married life, for after becoming the mother of four children she left her husband's roof, and never re-entered it. The cause of the separation, time has enveloped in mystery; but as decent members of society we are bound to believe that all the fault was with the husband.

Matthew Lewis's childhood does not appear to have been especially interesting. When quite a little boy, he was educated at the preparatory school of the Rev. Dr. Fountaine, from whose care he was taken after a few years, and was placed in the Westminster School, where he remained till at the ripe age of sixteen years, when he commenced residence as an under graduate at Christ Church, Oxford.

Whatever indiscretions Mrs. Lewis had been guilty of, or whatever unkindness Mr. Lewis had exhibited to her, Matthew behaved with exquisite delicacy and nice courage towards both, never failing in respectful attention to his father, and at all times consoling his mother, in her sorrows, by his love and tender care. Even at this early age he practised systematic economy, in order that he might send