her mind from infancy to womanhood; it proved so
convincingly how richly she deserved the affection she inspired.

Grace Aguilar, the only daughter of Emanuel and Sarah Aguilar, was born
at the Paragon, in Hackney, in June 1816;[J] for eight years she was an
only child, and after that period had elapsed, two boys were added to
the family. Grace was of so fragile and delicate a constitution, that
her parents took her to Hastings when she was four years old; and at
that early age she commenced collecting and arranging shells, learning
to read, almost by intuition, and when asked to choose a gift, always
preferring "a book." These gift-books were not read and thrown aside,
but preserved with the greatest care, and frequently perused.

From the age of seven years this extraordinary child kept a daily
journal, jotting down what she saw, heard, and thought, with the most
rigid regard to the truth; indeed, after visiting a new scene, her chief
delight was to read and ponder over whatever she could find relating to
what she had observed. Her parents were both passionately fond of the
beauties of nature, and she enjoyed scenery with them, at an age when
children are supposed to be incapable of much observation. Her mother, a
highly educated and accomplished woman, loved to direct her child's mind
to the study of whatever was beautiful and true: before she completed
her twelfth year she wrote a little drama called "Gustavus Vasa;" it was
an indication of what, in after life, became her ruling passion.

The first history placed in her hand was that of Josephus; increasing,
as it was certain to do, her interest in her own people. In 1828, after
various English wanderings, the family, in consequence of Mr. Aguilar's
impaired health, went to reside in Devonshire. The beauty of the scenery
which surrounds Tavistock inspired her first poetic effusions, and she
became passionately fond of her new power; yet her well-regulated mind
prevented her indulging in the exercise of this fascinating talent,
until her daily duties and studies were performed.

A life spent as was that of Grace Aguilar, affords little incident or
variety; it is simply a record of talents highly cultivated, of duties
affectionately fulfilled, and, as years advanced, of the formation of a
great purpose persevered in with stoic resolution, until, supported by
pillows, and shaken by intense suffering, the trembling fingers could no
longer hold the pen. It cannot fail