school of war, and proved always victorious, even on that continent where no English general has obtained complete success since 1763. All his plans were formed with judgment, and his operations conducted with ability. No one is better acquainted with the proper disposition of troops, and while as a military man his talents remain unquestioned, it ought not to be forgotten, that in private life he has distinguished himself by the sincerity and warmth of his friendships.*

* Since this work went to the press, a Life of General Washington, drawn up by Chief-justice Marshall, has appeared, which in. every point of view establishes what has been said in the above article relative to the courage and conduct of Gen. Lord Howe. The following extract concerning the action at Breed's or Bunker's-hill, is taken from vol. II. page 292, and serves at once to authenticate and confirm what has been already related on this subject:

"The provincials permitted the enemy to approach unmolested within less than one hundred yards of their works, when they poured in upon them so deadly a fire of small arms, that the British line was totally broken, and fell back with precipitation towards the landing place. By the very great exertions of their officers they were rallied, and brought up to the charge; but were again driven back in confusion by the heavy and incessant fire from the works. General Howe is said to have been left at one time almost alone, and it is certain that very few officers about his person escaped unhurt.

"The impression to be made by victory or defeat in this early stage of the war was deemed of the utmost consequence, and therefore very extraordinary exertions were made once more to rally the English. With great difficulty they were a third time led up to the works. The redoubt was now attacked on three sides at once, while some pieces of artillery, which had been brought to bear on the breast-work, raked it from end to end. The cross fire too from the ships and floating batteries not only annoyed the works on Breed's-hill, but deterred any considerable reinforcements from passing

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MRS. COSWAY.

THE dispute has long been agitated whether the talents of man and woman be of equal capability? Much acrimony, as well as good argument, have been advanced on both sides, for, like the Spartans of old, men are jealous of their slaves; and those slaves, in spite of the disadvantages of neglect and ill-habit, feeling the divinity that stirs within them, determine to assert the prerogative of nature, and think with treedom, even at the moment their limbs are in fetters.

While man busies himself in the depths of science, woman loses herself amidst the ethereal regions of fancy. She roves from steep to steep, plucking wi'd flowers from every side. Myrtles press forward with the green laurel to shade her head; violets spring beneath her feet, and unnumbered sweets steep her senses in fragrance. Alps rise on Alps, and yet the lovely pilgrim is not checked in her course. She crosses dreadful precipices; she ascends fearful heights; Love beckons her from one point, and Fame hails her from another beyond it. Forward she flies: the affections yoke the doves to her car, and after many a perilous

passing into the peninsula, and coming to their assistance. The ammunition of the Americans was now so nearly exhausted, that they were no longer able to keep up the same incessant fire which had twice repulsed the enemy; and on his third attempt, the re-doubt, the walls of which the English mounted with ease, was carried at the point of the bayonet. Yet the Americans, many of whom were without bayonets, are said to have maintained the contest with clubbed muskets, till the redoubt was half filled with the King's troops."

flight, they lay her on a bed of amaranth within the arms of glory!

Mrs. Cosway, the subject of these memoirs, is a striking example of this assertion.

Her father, Mr. auberge in Leghorn, which was frequented by all the English who visited that city. He was an amiable and a good man, and married a woman possessed of every charming endowment both of mind and body. It is related that this lady became the mother of a numerous offspring, not one of which survived their infancy. Mrs. Hadfield was nearly inconsolable for the loss of her several children; and while she was pregnant with the present (Mrs. Cosway), her grief at the probable deprivation of her expected infant was so violent, that her life was despaired of. The nurse who had attended her labour with her former children seeing her in this extremity, threw herself on her knees before her, and said, “ O! Madam, if you will make a vow not to bring up the child you now carry in the religion of the heretics, but will dedicate it to our holy church, I will pray to the Virgin to grant it life."

Hadfield, was the proprietor of an

Mrs. Hadfield, in a tremendous paroxysm of maternal anguish, took the oath required, and the child was born. The fateful period passed away, and the infant advanced in strength and beauty. The grateful mother loaded the nurse with benefits and blessings; and the innocent babe was brought up on the knee of the murderess of its brothers and sisters; for it was afterwards confessed by the mistaken old woman on her death-bed, that horror-struck at the existence of

SO

so many heretics, she had poisoned all the children as soon as she could find a fit opportunity. "I would have done any thing (continued she) to rid the world of such embryo monsters!"

It was with great difficulty that Mrs. Hadfield was preserved from the fatal effects of the dreadful illness which seized her upon hearing this horrid confession. However, her youth and strength overcame grief and discase, and she recovered to assist her husband in the tuition of her lovely daughter. The little Maria was pretty in her person, and possessed a spirit and intelligence uncommon in one of her sex and years. Her books and her harp were her constant companions: with these she passed many solitary but delightful hours, whilst her father's house was filled with the most gallant characters in Italy. Possessing charms which might have tempted almost any other woman to have appeared before the eyes of "the princes of the land," she seemed devoted to the muses alone; and it was not until Mr. Cosway beheld her that she acknowledged the value of her attractions.

This gentleman sought her acquaintance with avidity, and sedulously cultivated her esteem. In the course of a short time she returned his admiration with reciprocal affection; and, notwithstanding her mother's Jephthaen vow, made him happy by the gift of her hand. Her union with so eminent an artist introduced her enterprising mind to a new pursuit. The pallet and pencil rivalled her former favourite the harp. Mr. Cosway approved of his wife's inclination. The finest statues, pictures, and models in England

England were arranged around her study; and Mrs. C. sat in the midst of these noble productions of art an unconscious specimen of the more lovely works of

nature.

Men and women of the first rank and talent in the country pressed forward to be introduced to the fair Italian. The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Devonshire, the Spencer family, besides many other names of the most illustrious stamp, shone in the list of her friends. It was now become a fashion to purchase the works of Mrs. Cosway at any price. Her husband was already a royal academician, and considered the best miniature painter in the kingdom. Mrs. Cosway's genius aspired to historical subjects, and she followed its direction with all her powers. This is the only way to attain perfection. Wandering abilities every where end in nothing. Disperse an army, and its exertions are of no effect: scatter the rays of the sun, and they merely illumine. Concentrate a small force, and it will beat down iron ramparts: converge light, and it will set objects in a blaze. So it is with the energies of the mind; allow them to be dissipated over the surfaces of various arts and sciences, and they ever will play only in sight; but draw them all to one focus, and they strike to the centre, leaving no part or depth unexplored and unknown.

On these grounds Mrs. Cosway became an accomplished artist. Among the numerous works with which her pencil has enriched the galleries of our country, a few may be particularised, to shew the ex

tent