father's faithful services. At the death of Sir William she was in her sixteenth year; and about two years afterwards, at Swift's invitation, she left England, accompanied by Mrs. Dingley, a lady fifteen years older, and whose whole fortune, though she was related to Sir William, was only an annuity of twenty-seven pounds. Whether Swift desired the company of Miss Johnson as a friend, or intended to make her his wife, is uncertain; but they took every precaution to prevent scandal. When Swift was absent. Miss Johnson and her Mend resided at the parsonage, but when he returned, they removed; nor were they ever known to meet but in the presence of a third person. During his visits to London, he wrote, every day, an account of what had occurred, to Stella, and always placed the greatest confidence in her.
In 1713, Swift, it is believed, was married to her, by Dr. Ashe, Bishop of Clogher; but they continued to live in separate houses, and the marriage was never publicly acknowledged. This state of affairs is supposed to have preyed upon Stella's health so as to cause a decline. Dean Swift offered, when she was on her deathbed, to acknowledge her as his wife; but she replied, "It is too late!" She died in 1728, aged forty-three. She was a beautiful and intellectual woman. The whole story is more romantic than any romance of fiction, nor have its mysteries ever been satisfactorily explained.
JOHNSTONE, MRS.,
Is a native of Scotland, and well deserves a distinguished place among contemporary writers of fiction. Her first work, "Clan Albin," was among the earliest of that multitude of novels which followed "Waverley" into the Highlands; but Mrs. Johnstone neither emulates nor imitates in the slightest degree the light that preceded her. Many writers, who were quite lost in the eclipse of the "Great Unknown," have since asserted that he did not suggest the idea of Scotland, as a scene for fiction; that their works were begun or meditated before "Waverley" appeared; among whom, Mrs. Brunton, author of "Discipline," whose testimony is unquestionable, may be placed. Perhaps, there was at that time a national impulse towards "Scotch Novels," just as the taste for nautical discoveries produced Columbus, and the attempt at steam-boats preceded Fulton.
"Clan Albin" is decidedly of the genre ennuyeux, the only kind that Voltaire absolutely condemns. It is full of good sentiment, but insipid and tiresome, and gives no indication of the talent afterwards abounding in Mrs. Johnstone's works. Her next book was "Elizabeth De Bruce," very superior to her first, containing portions that were highly praised by able critics. A very charming, well-written work, in that difficult class—"Children's Books," succeeded. "The Diversions of Hollycot" may take place near Miss Edgeworth's "Frank and Rosamond." Like her stories for juvenile readers, it is sprightly and natural—inculcates good principles, and much useful knowledge; and, what is rarer, it is totally free from anything sentimental or extravagant. Mrs. Johnstone has continued to improve in style, and to develop many amiable qualities as a writer; her humour is sui generis, equal in its way to that of Charles Lamb. Some of the sketches in her "Edinburgh Tales"—those of "Richard Taylor," and "Governor Fox," are not surpassed by any thing in Elia. These and many others were published In a monthly
