"Sadak and Kalasrade," and four tragedies, the first entitled "Julian," which was represented at the great London Theatre in 1823, Mr. Macready played Julian. Her next was "Foscari;" then "Rienzi" and "Charles the First;" all were successful. "Rienzi," in particular, long continued a favourite. She also edited four volumes of "Finden's Tableaux,' and contributed many articles, both prose and poetical, to other annuals and magazines. An edition of her dramatic works was published in two volumes, in 1854; and shortly before this her last tale "Atherton," a pleasant story told with all the freshness and love of nature which characterizes her earlier sketches of country life, although the author's physical powers were then so greatly impaired as to render any enjoyment of the external beauties of nature impossible.
Miss Mitford died at Swallowfield Cottage. near Reading, which her writings have made a classic spot, in 1855, she being then her her sixty-ninth year.
The following extract from a note written to a friend a short time before her death, will serve to show the cheerfulness and beautiful serenity of her mind during the closing hours of her career, which had been one of no little trouble and suffering: "I take for granted that you know my afflictions; but God is very merciful—He has left unwithered my intellect and my affections, and, at this very moment, I am sitting at the open window, inhaling the sweet summer air; ajar of beautiful roses on the windowsill within-side; a perfect sheaf of fresh-gathered meadow-sweet, sending in its almondy fragrance from without; and although too much sunken in the chair to look down on my little flower-beds, 1 have the blue sky, the green trees, and the distant harvest-fields for a prospect. There is consolation here—the best consolation, next to the goodness of God, is the beauty of nature."
MNISZECH, MARINA,
Czarina of Muscovy, was the daughter of a Polish nobleman, George Mniszech, palatine of Sandomir. He was ambitious, bat without the ability to conduct his ambition, and he deserves the appellation of an intriguer rather than a politician. It has been often seen how trivial incidents sway the destinies of individuals; and a long train of events, romantic and horrible, which form the destiny of Manna, may be traced to the circumstance of a pardon granted by the palatine to an old woman condemned to death, who held the social position of a witch. This personage being introduced into the palace for the exercise of her profession, casting her eyes upon the extraordinary beauty and grace of the daughter of George, boldly predicted that she would one day occupy a throne. This prediction was taken seriously; the child was educated for her future elevation, to which she looked forward with confidence. A noble youth called Zarucki, with whom she had been educated, conceived for her a most violent passion; but her thoughts were bent upon ambitious elevation, and she received his sentiments with indifference. He will appear at another period of her life.
By a train of almost incredible events, which read more like the wildest imaginings of fiction than the records of sober history, our heroine was placed on the throne of Russia, being as the wife of Demetrius, a real or assumed son of Ivan the Fourth, crowned
