has passed through ten editions. Her next work was "The Star of Seville;" both have been acted with success, and evince a maturity of mind and a range of reading very uncommon for a young lady. In 1834, appeared her first work in prose, a "Journal," descriptive, chiefly, of the United States. The youthful petulance and foolish prejudices exhibited in this work have been, we believe, much regretted by the author; at any rate, her strictures have long ago ceased to trouble the people of America, who have left the book to its quiet slumber in the past In 1844, her "Poems" were published, and in 1847 appeared her second prose work, "A Year of Consolation," being a description of her tour through France to Rome, and her residence in that city. In this, as in her former prose work, the strong feelings which Mrs. Kemble possesses, or, more properly speaking, which possess her," find large scope.
In 1849, Mrs. Kemble commenced, in America, a series of "Shakspere Readings," in which her remarkable versatility of powers is exhibited in a manner as striking, and more wonderful, than on the stage. Among her admirers, there are those who, judging from her readings, pronounce her the best Macbeth, and the truest Lear which have ever been applauded; while others deem she is inimitable in Falstaff. In 1850, she returned to England, and has since then been giving her Shaksperian Readings in London and the provinces.
KENT, DUCHESS OF
Is the sixth child and youngest daughter of Francis, Duke of Saxe Saalfield Cobourg, and was born August 17th., 1786. She was married to Enrich Charles, hereditary Prince of Leiningen, Her husband died in 1814, leaving her with two children, the Prince of Leiningen and the Princess Anna Feodoronna. She was then called to the regency, and her administration was popular and respected. In 1818, she married the Duke of Kent, son of George the Third, and on the 24th of May, 1819, her only child by his marriage, Victoria, Queen of England, was born in Kensington Palace.
The birth of this daughter was soon followed by the death of the Duke of Kent; and Great Britain is deeply indebted to the Duchess of Kent for the exceeding care she bestowed in training her illustrious daughter, so that she might be worthy to sway the sceptre of this great empire. But her royal father lived only eight months after her birth, and the bereaved widow was left to endure a thousand anxieties as well as sorrows. Her babe was delicate in constitution, and the means for educating her as the heir expectant of the most powerful monarchy in the world were inadequately and grudgingly supplied. None but a soul of the highest order could have successfully struggled with the difficulties which beset the course of the Duchess of Kent. She was equal to her task, fortunately for humanity; the whole world is made better from having on the throne of Great Britain a sovereign who is firm in duty. The sketch of Queen Victoria will be found in its place—we will only add here, that, for the right formation of her character, which makes duty a sacred principle in her conduct, she must have been indebted, in a great measure, to her early training. Let any mother, who has endeavoured to train her own daughter to perform the duties which, in private life, and in a
