"Biographical Sketch of Colonel Denham, the African Traveller," in the "Naval and Military Journal," was much admired. The genius of both these ladies was similar in kind; they described scenery vividly, and in appeals to the tender and heroic passions, were effective and successful; but their works want the permanent interest of real life, variety of character, and dialogue. The career of Miss Porter was not marked by any striking event; she won her celebrity by her genius, and the excellence of her character brightens the picture, and makes her fame a blessing to her sex. Miss Porter died May 24th., 1850, at the residence of her brother, Dr. Porter, (the last survivor of the family,) at Bristol. She was nearly seventy-four years of age.
PORTIA,
Daughter of the celebrated Cato of Utica, was married first to Bibulus, by whom she had two children. Becoming a widow, she married her cousin Marcus Brutus. When Brutus was engaged in the conspiracy against Caesar, he attempted, but in vain, to conceal the agitation of his mind from his wife, who did not venture to urge him to let her share in the secret, till she had given decisive proof of her strength of mind. She accordingly gave herself a deep wound in the thigh, and then, when pain and loss of blood had confined her to her bed, she represented to Brutus, that the daughter of Cato, and his wife, might hope to be considered as something more than a mere female companion. She then showed him her wound, and Brutus, after imploring the gods that he might live to prove himself worthy a wife like Portia, informed her of the conspiracy.
When the important day arrived, March 15, B.C. 44, she sent messenger after messenger to bring her word what Brutus was doing, and at length fainted away, so that a report reached her husband that she was dead.
Brutus perceiving that he had not accomplished his object by the assassination of Caesar, left Rome for Athens. Portia accompanied him to the shore and then left him, as he thought it necessary that she should return to Rome.
After the death of Brutus, Portia resolved not to survive him, and being closely watched by her friends, snatched burning coals from the fire, and thrusting them in her mouth, held them there till she was suffocated, B.C. 42.
POSSONBY, CATHARINE,
Has written chiefly for the magazines and annuals. Her poetry exhibits tenderness of feeling, and the religious sentiment which always elevates the fancy. She has also written several prose works. "The Countess d'Auvergne; or, Sufferings of the Protestants in the Sixteenth Century," is a work of literary merit, and interesting in its displays of Christian heroism.
POSTANS, MRS.,
Is author of "Cutch; or, Random Sketches taken during a Residence in one of the Northern Provinces of Western India." She resided many years in the province of Cutch, and her work is considered one of the most faithful pictures of Life in India, giving a
