Miss Seward's first acquaintance with young André, her interest in his love-affair with Honora Sneyd, and her pleasant epistolary and personal intercourse with him until his departure for America, have been referred to in the early portions of the brief notice of that young soldier's career contained in this volume. During his service in America she was his constant correspondent; and she first informed him of the death of Honora a short time before his own tragic exit from earth. The circumstances attending the death of her friend inspired Miss Seward to write her most notable and most admired poem, "Monody on Major André." She was then thirty-three years old. It was printed for the author at Lichfield early in 1781. Being consonant in its utterances with the feelings of the British public at that time, it had a large sale, and produced a powerful sensation. She received congratulatory letters from literary people and others in various parts of the kingdom. No man was more delighted with it than was Dr. Johnson, "the colossus of English literature." Johnson was a fierce Tory, and hated the Americans with a spirit of savage ferocity. On one occasion, while at Lichfield, he said, "I am willing to love all mankind, excepting an American." He called them "rascals," "robbers and pirates," and angrily exclaimed, "I'd burn and destroy them!" Boswell says Miss Seward, who was present at this outburst of passion, and whose feelings were favorable to the American cause, boldly rebuked Johnson, saying, "Sir, this is an instance that we are most violent against those we have most injured." This delicate but keen reproach irritated Johnson still more, and, says Boswell, "he roared out another tremendous volley, which one might fancy could be heard across the Atlantic." But Johnson and Anna Seward remained good friends until a short time before the death of the former. They corresponded with each other, and frequently met in social circles. I have said Dr. Johnson was delighted by Miss Seward's "Monody." He exhibited that delight in the most public manner by writing and publishing in the "Gentleman's Magazine," over his own signature, the following poetic epistle to the author: "To Miss Seward, on her Monody on Major André: "Above the frigid etiquette of form, With the same animated feelings warm, I come, fair maid, enamored of thy lays, With tribute verse, to swell the note of praise. Nor let the gentle Julia's[65] hand disclaim The bold intrusion of an honest strain. Nor is it mine alone--'tis the full voice Of such as honor with no vulgar choice,[66] Of such as feel each glowing line along Once the bright subject of an humble song.[67] The treasures of the female heart make known By copying the soft movements of her own. Woman should walk arrayed in her own robe, The hope, the boast, the blessing of the globe. "_Shrewsbury._ S. Johnson."