mournful delight with which I
continually gaze upon that form, is one of the most precious comforts
of my life." Years after, in giving to Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss
Ponsonby an account of a recent journey she had made, Miss Seward
writes, "The stars glimmered in the lake of Weston, as we travelled
by its side: but their light did not enable me to distinguish the
church, beneath the floor of whose porch rests the mouldered form of
my heart, dear Honora. Yet of our approach to that consecrated spot
my spirit felt all the mournful consciousness." In her poem on the
death of her intimate friend. Andre, Miss Seward had written,

O Washington! I thought thee great and good,
Nor knew thy Nero-thirst for guiltless blood,
Severe to use the power that Fortune gave,
Thou cool, determined Murderer of the Brave!

It is interesting to read in a letter, written by her long afterwards
to the Ladies of Llangollen, "A few years after peace was signed
between this country and America, an officer introduced himself,
commissioned by Washington to call upon me, and to assure me from the
general himself, that no circumstance of his life had been so
mortifying as to be censured in the "Monody on Andre" as the pitiless
author of his ignominions fate; that he had labored to save him; that
he requested my attention to papers on the subject, which he had sent
by this officer for my perusal. On examining them, I found they
entirely acquitted the general. They filled me with contrition for
the rash injustice of my censure."

An extraordinary instance of feminine friendship, of the courage and
sacrifice the affections will prompt in woman, was afforded in the
relation of Anna Seward to the Countess of Northesk. The countess,
afflicted by a malady which had baffled the most skilful physicians
in London, was drawn to Lichfield by the fame of Dr. Darwin. She
staid for some time at his house, and awakened the deepest interest
in his family and friends. Miss Seward was especially attracted by
her engaging manners and disposition, as well as by sympathy for her
peril, and for the distress of her husband and children. She was
unwearied in efforts to alleviate the sufferings and the weary hours
of the countess, whose fervent gratitude re-acted to enhance to
enthusiasm the interest of the fair ministrant. One day, Dr. Darwin
suggested the possibility of effecting a cure of his patient by
transfusing into her veins a supply of vital blood, freshly taken