struggle his property was destroyed; and, dying in poverty, be had nothing to leave for the support of his daughters. They resided in Rhode Island, about six miles from Newport; and there, in a little cottage, this poor girl was born, about the year 1804. Her training was religious, though she had few opportunities of leaning; and when, at the age of nineteen, her strength became utterly prostrated by severe sufferings from a chronic disease of the bones and nerves, or rather of her whole physical system, she began her intellectual life, self-educated by her own sensations and reflections; and her soul was sustained in this conflict of bodily pain with mental power, by her strong and ardent faith in her Saviour. She enumerates among her greatest sufferings, her inability to sleep. For many years she was unable to close her eyes in slumber, except when under the powerful effect of anodynes; and it was during these long, dark watches of the night, when every pulse was a throb of pain, and every breath an agony of suffering, that she composed her soul to contemplations of the goodness of God and the beauties of nature, and breathed out her strains of poetry.
Her poems were collected and published in 1834, with an auto-biography sadly interesting, because it showed the hopeless as well as helpless condition of Miss Taggart; enduring death in life. The work has passed through several editions. Miss Taggart has been I released from her unparalleled sufferings. She died in 1849. Her poetry will have an interest for the afflicted; and few there are who pass through the scenes of life without feeling a chord of the heart respond to her sorrowful lyre.
TALBOT, CATHARINE,
Was lineally descended from the noble family of Talbots, Earls of Shrewsbury, and was niece to Lord Talbot, created Earl of Chancellor in 1733 Her father, Mr. Edward Talbot, married the daughter of the Key. George Martin, and died suddenly before the birth of Catharine. The fatherless daughter and her mother found a home, in every sense of the word, with Dr. Seeker, Archbishop of Canterbury, whose wife was the friend of Mrs. Talbot. This worthy prelate, having no children, bestowed much affection on Catharine, and took great pleasure in cultivating her mind and encouraging her literary tastes. By constantly associating with him, she reaped all the advantages of his extensive learning, accurate knowledge of the Scriptures, and his critical acquaintance with the sciences and languages connected with that important study.
But the circumstance which had the greatest influence in stimulating the talents of Miss Talbot, (for we do not think that she possessed what is termed genius,) was her acquaintance and intimate friendship with Mrs. Elizabeth Carter. This acquaintance began when Mrs. Elizabeth Carter was twenty-three and Catharine Talbot twenty years of age, and continued till the death of the latter, at the age of forty-eight. Miss Talbot and Mrs. Carter corresponded for many years; and these letters show that the former had an excellent understanding, and a heart warm with piety. After her death, her manuscripts were collected and published, under the supervision of Mrs Carter. These works are, "Reflections on the Seven Days of the Week," "Essays and Miscellaneous Works," and "Correspondence between Mrs. Carter and Miss Talbot." In esti-
