SOME NOBLE SISTERS BY EDMUND LEE, _Author of "Dorothy Wordsworth."_ "And were another childhood world my share, I would be born a little sister there." GEORGE ELIOT. London: JAMES CLARKE & CO., 13 & 14, FLEET STREET. 1892. PREFACE. The object of the present slight work is to gather together, from various available sources, records of the lives of some of the world's notable Sisters. It does not pretend to be by any means exhaustive, but rather suggestive. The Editor hopes that, while it may be found to be interesting reading generally, to young women, for whom it is more especially designed, it may be stimulating and consoling. The absence of such a record hitherto can alone justify the appearance of this fragmentary and imperfect work. Such as it is, its preparation has necessitated no small amount of labour and research. If it should be the means of quickening some life, or of arousing some sleeping affection to a warmer zeal, or more active devotion, its object will be answered. The sources from which information has been obtained are varied. It should be stated that, in regard to the sketch of Susanne Kossuth, the facts are chiefly taken from a little work published many years ago in Boston, U.S.A. As to Eugénie de Guérin, the authorities are "Eugénie de Guérin: Journal and Fragments"; "Lettres d'Eugénie de Guérin"; and "Maurice de Guérin: Journal, Lettres, et Poemes," all published by Mons. Victor Lecoffre, Paris. For the extracts from the Journals of the Margravine of Baireuth, the Editor is indebted to "The Memoirs of Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina, Princess Royal of Prussia and Margravine of Baireuth," published by Mr. Colburn in 1812. The chief biographical information concerning Miss Caroline Herschel consists of her Memoir by Mrs. John Herschel, and to that most interesting book indebtedness must be acknowledged. Several of the lives mentioned have, during recent years, formed the subject of independent works; but a short record of them cannot be out of place in the annals of Noble Sisters. _Rydal Bank, Bradford, April, 1892._ CONTENTS. PAGE Introductory xi "Sidney's Sister" 1 Wilhelmina, Margravine of Baireuth 47 Susanne Kossuth Meszlenyi 109 Caroline Lucretia Herschel 137 Dorothy Wordsworth 156 Mary Lamb 177 Elizabeth H. Whittier 211 Eugénie de Guérin 229 INTRODUCTORY.