| Citation |
RNYG.783.198
31 Dec 1783:13,14 (758)
To the Litterati. An Account of the celebrated Miss Seward,
of Litchfield.
This amiable young lady, whose very extraordinary genius
entitled her to rank in the highest class of female
excellence, is the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Seward, Canon-
Residentiary of the Cathedral Church of Litchfield, and
Rector of Eyam, in Derbyshire. . . . [53 lines give her
family and literary background]
Miss Seward paraphrased several of the Psalms in her ninth
year, and their harmony is said to have been astonishing.
In her tenth, Mr. Seward having one day engaged to give her
half a crown, if she would compose a copy of verses on the
first fine day of a very backward spring, she in a few hours
entitled herself to the reward by producing a little poem,
which opened in the following manner:
Fairest quarter of the year,
Dost thou, then, at last appear,
Clad in this thy golden dress,
Bright presage of happiness!
. . . [col. 2, after 16 lines of prose]
To mark how fair the primrose blows,
How soft the feather'd muses sing,
My wandering step had press'd the dews,
My soul, enraptur'd, hail the spring.
. . . [7 more verses of 4 lines each]
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