The Project Gutenberg EBook of Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 2 August
1848, by Various

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Title: Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 2 August 1848

Author: Various

Editor: George R. Graham
Robert T. Conrad

Release Date: September 10, 2009 [EBook #29959]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: handwritten inscription--your obedient servant,
Maria Brooks.]

GRAHAM'S MAGAZINE.

VOL. XXXIII. PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST, 1848. NO. 2.

THE LATE MARIA BROOKS.

BY RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD.

[WITH A PORTRAIT.]

This remarkable woman was not only one of the first writers of her
country, but she deserves to be ranked with the most celebrated
persons of her sex who have lived in any nation or age. Within the
last century woman has done more than ever before in investigation,
reflection and literary art. On the continent of Europe an Agnesi, a
Dacier and a Chastelet have commanded respect by their learning, and a
De Stael, a Dudevant and a Bremer have been admired for their genius;
in Great Britain the names of More, Burney, Barbauld, Baillie,
Somerville, Farrar, Hemans, Edgeworth, Austen, Landon, Norman and
Barrett, are familiar in the histories of literature and science; and
in our own country we turn with pride to Sedgwick, Child, Beecher,
Kirkland, Parkes Smith, Fuller, and others, who in various departments
have written so as to deserve as well as receive the general applause;
but it may be doubted whether in the long catalogue of those whose
works demonstrate and vindicate the intellectual character and
position of the sex, there are many names that will shine with a
clearer, steadier, and more enduring lustre than that of MARIA DEL
OCCIDENTE.

Maria Gowen, afterward Mrs. Brooks, upon whom this title was conferred
originally I believe by the poet Southey, was descended from a Welsh
family that settled in Charlestown, near Boston, sometime before the
Revolution. A considerable portion of the liberal