1783. Several years after her death, her poems were collected by her daughter, Mrs. Faugeres, and published in one volume. There are no wonderful traces of genius in these poems; but they show a refined taste, and talents which might have been cultivated to higher efforts, if the circumstances surrounding the author had been propitious. There Is a pure current of conjugal and maternal reeling to be traced in all her effusions. In her descriptive poetry she seems to have observed nature with the loving eye of a woman, rather than the searching glance of the artist; and she appropriates the scenery, so to speak, to her own affections.
BLESSINGTON, COUNTESS OF,
Was born in Ireland, September 1st., 1789. Her maiden name was Marguerite Power; she was the second daughter of Edmund Power, Esq., of Carrabeen, in the county of Waterford. Marguerite Power was very beautiful, and married, at the early age of fifteen, Captain Farmer, of the forty-seventh regiment. He died in 1817; and, in the following year, Mrs. Farmer married her second husband, Charles John Gardner, Earl of Blessington. During the lifetime of the Earl he resided with Lady Blessington chiefly in Italy and France; and he died in Paris, in 1829. Lady Blessington returned soon afterwards to London, and devoted herself to literature. She was so prominent in the circle her rank, talents, accomplishments, and beauty drew around her, that her biography is familiar to all. She resided in London, till the troubles in Ireland had so embarrassed her estates in that country, that she was compelled to dispose of her house and all her property—her most cherished "household gods"—by public sale. In the Spring of 1849, she removed to Paris, where she intended to fix her residence, and died there, early in June, before she had fully established herself in her new home. Among the many testimonials to the generosity of her disposition, and the truth of her zeal in the service of her friends, is the following, which we quote from the "Art-Journal:"—
"She was largely indebted to Nature for surpassing loveliness of person and graceful and ready wit. Circumstances connected with the earlier years of her life (to which it is needless to refer) 'told' against her through the whole of her career; but we entirely believe that the Nature which gave her beauty, gave her also those desires to be good which constitute true virtue. Those who speak lightly of this accomplished woman, might have better means to do her justice if they knew but a tithe of the cases that might be quoted of her generous sympathy, her ready and liberal aid, and her persevering sustenance whenever a good cause was to be helped, or a virtuous principle was to be promulgated."
She wrote with great facility and elegance of language, but her style is too diffuse, particularly in her novels. Her "Idler in Italy," and "Conversations with Lord Byron," are her best works; the last is very interesting, the subjects owing, probably, much to the spirit with which the hero of the book discourses. The list of Lady Blessington's works is large, comprising the following:—"The Magic Lantern," "Sketches and Fragments," "Tour in the Netherlands," "Conversations with Lord Byron," "The Repealers," "The Two Friends," "The Victims of Society," "The Idler in France," "The Idler in Italy," "The Governess," "Confessions of an Elderly Lady," "Confessions of an Elderly Gentleman," "Desultory Thoughts,"
