and as early as March of the following year appeared a handsome quarto volume, copiously illustrated, aud entitled "Excursions in Madeira and Porto Santo, during the autumn of 1823, while on his third voyage to Africa, by the late T. Edward Bowdich, Esq., conductor of the mission to Ashantee," etc.; the remainder of the title being occupied with the heads of the matter, added by the clever and indefatigable widow, to complete the narrative; which she did in such a manner as at once to give her a high position in the society of naturalists, and to gain for her general applause and sympathy.
While a widow, she spent some years in Paris, and was much in the society of Baron Cuvier and other illustrious French savants. On the death of the great naturalist, she repaid his many marks of kindness and esteem by a biographical memoir of some three hundred pages, being assisted in the work by some of the baron's most scientific and intimate friends. Previous to the publication of this work, she had issued her "History of British Fresh-Water Fishes," with illustrations drawn and coloured by her own hand; Cuvier, in his "Règne Animal," pronounced this to be tres belles.
Somewhere about 1830 she married Mr. Lee, and returned to England. From that time we find her name constantly on the publishing lists, chiefly as author of books for the young, founded on her travelling experiences, and natural history researches. Her "Elements of Natural History," and the volume on "Taxidermy," now in its sixth edition, are on the Privy Council List of Class Books, for national education; and, as a recognition of her services and ability, she was, two years before her death, which took place on the 23rd. of September, 1856, awarded a pension of fifty pounds per annum. In private life she is said to "have been beloved by all who knew her. Her talents she used invariably unselfishly; her spirit was oppressed with no pride of intellect or vanity."
This amiable and ingenious lady was born in London, in the year 1760. Her father, originally bred to the law, was an actor of merit, whose conduct gained him admission into the best circles, and who gave his children an excellent education. At an early age, the subject of this article exercised her pen in composition, and in 1780 produced the diverting comedy entitled the "Chapter of Accidents," which met with considerable success. With the profits of this play, on the death of her father, which took place the following year, she was enabled to open a school at Bath, which, aided by her sisters, she conducted for several years with great reputation. Her next performance, published in 1784, was the well-known novel entitled "The Recess, or a Tale of Other Times," the story of which is founded on the fate of two supposed daughters of Mary Queen of Scots, by a secret marriage with the Duke of Norfolk. It is ingeniously and pathetically wrought up, but some severe casuists have condemned the unfair liberty which it takes with some historical characters. This romance, which became very popular, was followed in 1787 by a ballad called "A Hermit's Tale, found in his Cell," In 1796, Miss Lee produced a tragedy called "Almeyda, Queen of Granada;" but although aided by the great talents of Mrs. Siddons, it did not
