LADY MORGAN. сс THE WILD IRISH GIRL." (1777-1859.) CONTEMPORARY with Miss Edgeworth and Miss Porter, there was one who in some respects was even more noted. This was Lady Morgan, who was sometimes called "The Wild Irish Girl," from the title of her first novel. For fifty years, or nearly that, she was a distinguished figure in literary and social circles in Dublin and London, and her name is frequently to be met in the diaries and letters of Byron, Moore, Rogers, Campbell, Scott and others of the immortals. She was a woman of genius, warm-hearted and affectionate, with some foibles and affectations. She wrote novels and books of travel, her acquaintance was courted by many of the most eminent persons of the time, and her memoirs, autobiography and correspondence show the terms of intimacy on which she lived with them. She at one time divided the honors of popularity among the masses with the mighty O'Connell himself, if we may judge by the ballads of the day, one of which runs in part as follows: Och, Dublin City, there is no doubtin', An' hatin' each other for the love o' God. Sydney Owenson, who became Lady Morgan, was the eldest daughter of an Irish land steward originally named MacOwen, who became stagestruck, changed his name to Owenson and went to London to rival Garrick in the play of "Tamerlane." He was not successful in the metropolis, but being a handsome and dashing Irishman starred the provinces and wound up by making a runaway match with a certain Miss Hill. They lived the life of strolling players for a time and Sydney was born on shipboard between England and Ireland, in 1777. Her childhood was passed in theaters and among actors, and she received what education a strolling player could give his child. She was, however, vivacious and ambitious, eager to improve her mind, high-spirited and independent. She grew up in Dublin, where she first knew Tom Moore, and a little later John Wilson Croker, her lifelong enemy. When her father failed as a theatrical manager she supported him and her sister-her mother being dead-by taking a situation as governess. She began also to scribble verses and novels, and in 1806 published "The Wild Irish Girl," which met with great success. Glorvina is the name of the heroine of the story, a name by which the author was generally called afterward by her friends. The main incident of the story is a chapter of her own experience. A youth falls violently in love with the heroine, but he is dependent on his father, who opposes the marriage. Glorvina has no money, either, and from that point of view is an undesirable match. The father calls upon her to express his objections to the marriage, and Glorvina replies with great spirit that she has no intention of marrying the young man. During the interview she expresses herself so well, and is withal so beautiful and cultivated in manner, that the father falls in love with her and offers her his hand and fortune then and there. She declines the proposal and subsequently marries another hero. She now entered upon a successful literary career and became a prominent figure in Dublin society. Croker, then a young barrister, paid his addresses to her, but she did not like or encourage him. Croker never forgave her, and when a few years later he became connected with the Quarterly never lost an opportunity to malign and abuse her. "Have we not seen this lady on stages and at fairs?" he one time asked when reviewing one of her books in the Quarterly. Even Southey, who was a regular contributor to the Quarterly, expostulated with Gifford upon the asperity of Croker's reviews of Miss Owenson's books. She was a woman, however, not disposed to receive affronts with meekness, and as Thackeray and Disraeli afterward did, she gibbeted Mr. Croker in her novel "Florence McCarthy." In that very readable story he is Counsellor Con Crawley, the most detestable of all creatures, an Irish land agent. The likeness was readily recognized and universally applauded. Her marriage was perhaps the most amusing event in her life. She was much liked by the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn and was a favorite guest with them. They took her to London and introduced her into fashionable society. She sat for her portrait to Sir Thomas Lawrence and it was at this time that Lady Abercorn thought it was the proper thing for Glorvina to get married. She accordingly arranged a match for her with the family physician, Dr. Thomas Charles Morgan, a learned and estimable gentleman some four or five years Miss Owenson's junior. The doctor was in love with her and they were duly engaged, but Miss Owenson could not bring herself to name the day. Finally, when she was sitting one morning by the library fire, Lady Abercorn opened the door and said: "Glorvina, come up-stairs directly and be married; there must be no more trifling." Thereupon Glorvina was led up-stairs to the drawingroom, where she found bridegroom and chaplain awaiting her and was at once married past redemption. While the engagement was pending Dr. Morgan was knighted through the influence of the Abercorns and became Sir Thomas Charles Morgan, and thus Glorvina became Lady Morgan. Indeed, it has been stated she made the knighthood one of the conditions of the marriage. Lady Morgan was given a pension of three hundred pounds by the Grey administration in 1830 and in 1837 removed permanently to London, where, in a pleasant residence near the fashionable district, she had a salon for the next twenty |