pt. i, pp. 213, 344, 535, pt. ii, 24, but the falsity of her pretensions was already apparent to every intelligent person who paid attention to the subject. Her next extraordinary freak was assuming the character of a theologian, by publishing in 1814, "St. Athanasius' Creed Explained, for the advantage of youth. By Olivia Wilmot Serres, niece," &c. &c. It will be observed she had already began to traffic in assumed names; for that of Wilmot was not given her in baptism. About the year 1817 she first discovered that she was not the daughter of Robert Wilmot, but of Henry Duke of Cumberland, brother to King George the Third. At first she was satisfied to be accounted illegitimate; but she shortly professed herself to be bis legitimate daughter; first her mother was Mrs. Payne, sister to Dr. Wilmot, and afterwards she became the Doctor's daughter. On these pretensions she proceeded to forward her claims to the Prince Regent and Royal family, and the officers of Government. She employed herself in fabricating several absurd and contradictory documents; the most weighty of which was a will of George the Third, bequeathing her 15,000l.; some of these were printed, for the amusement of the readers of the Gentleman's Magazine, in the number for July 1822. In the following June Sir Gerard Noel was induced to move for an investigation of her claims in the House of Commons, and was seconded by Mr. Hume; but Sir Robert Peel, in a clear and convincing speech, completely set the matter at rest, and enlightened the few who had been deceived by her extravagant assumptions. He pointed out that her documents were framed in the most injudicious and inconsiderate manner, many of the signatures being such as could never have been made by the parties to whom they were assigned. (see Gent. Mag. vol. xc, i. 637). He concluded by humorously observing that, “if these claims were given up, there were others which could yet be pressed. The lady had two strings to her bow. He held in his hand a manifesto of the Princess Olivia, addressed to the high powers of the Kingdom of Poland, and stating that she was descended from Stanislaus Au. gustus!" MRS. HEMANS. May 16. At Dublin, Mrs. F. D. Hemans, the most able of our female poets. For the following memoir of her history and writings we are indebted to the Athe næum. From this time, however, the Princess Olive was constrained to relinquish her carriage and footmen in the Royal liveries, which some simple tradesmen had permitted her to display, and her latter years were spent in obscurity and poverty within the rules of the King's Bench. Felicia Dorothea Brown was born at Liverpool, in the house now occupied by Mr. Molyneux, in Duke Street. Her father was a native of Ireland, her mother a German lady-a Miss Wagner-but descended from, or connected with, some Venetian family, a circumstance which Mrs. Hemans would playfully mention, as accounting for the strong tinge of romance and poetry which pervaded her character from her earliest childhood. When she was very young, her family removed from Liverpool to the neighbourhood of St. Asaph, in North Wales. She married at an early age-and her married life, after the birth of five sons, was clouded by separation from her husband. On the death of her mother, with whom she bad resided, she broke up her establishment in Wales, and removed to Wavertree, in the neighbourhood of Liverpool-from whence, after a residence of about three years, she again removed to Dublin, her last resting-place. From childhood, her thirst for knowledge was extreme, and her reading great and varied. Those who, while admitting the high-toned beauty of her poetry, accused it of monotony of style and subject, (they could not deny to it the praise of originality, seeing that it founded a school of imitators in England, and a yet larger in America,) little knew to what historical research she had applied herself--how far and wide she had sought for food with which to fill her eager mind. It is true that she only used a part of the mass of information which she had collected,for she never wrote on calculation, but from the strong impulse of the moment, and it was her nature intimately to take home to herself and appropriate only what was high-hearted, imaginative, and refined. Her knowledge of classic literature, however, may be distinctly traced in her 'Sceptic,' her 6 Modern Greece,' and many other lyrics. Her study and admiration of the works of ancient Greek and Roman art, were strengthened into an abiding love of the beautiful, which breathes both in the sentiment and structure of every line she wrote (for there are few of our poets more faultlessly musical in their versification); and when, subsequently, she opened for herself the treasuries of German and Spanish legend and literature, how thoroughly she had imbued herself with their spirit may be seen in 1835.] " " her Siege of Valencia,' in her glorious and chivalric Songs of the Cid,' and in her Lays of Many Lands,' the idea of which was suggested by Herder's Stimmen der Völker in Liedern.' But though her mind was enriched by her wide acquaintance with the poetical and historical literature of other countries, it possessed a strong and decidedly marked character of its own, which coloured all her productions--a character which, though anything but feeble or sentimenHer imtal, was essentially feminine. agination was rich, chaste, and glowing; those who saw only its published fruits, little guessed at the extent of its variety. 6 It is difficult to enumerate the titles of her principal works. Her first childish efforts were published when she was only thirteen, and we can only name her subsequent poems- Wallace,' Dartmoor,' The Restoration of the Works of Art Dramatic Scenes.' to Italy,' and her These were, probably, written in the happiest period of her life, when her mind was rapidly developing itself, and its progress was aided by judicious and intelligent counsellors, among whom may be mentioned Bishop Heber. A favourable notice of one of these poems will be found in Lord Byron's Letters; and the fame of her opening talent had reached Shelley, who addressed a very singular correspondence to her. With respect to the world in general, her name began to be known by the publication of her Welsh Melodies,' of her Siege of Valencia,' and the scattered lyrics which appeared in the New Monthly Magazine, then under the She had predirection of Campbell. viously contributed a series of prose papers, on Foreign Literature, to Constable's Edinburgh Magazine, which, with little exception, are the only specimens of that style of writing ever attempted by her. To the Siege of Valencia,' succeeded rapidly, her Forest Sanctuary,' her 'Records of Woman', (the most successful of her works,) her Songs of the Affections', (containing, perhaps, her finest poem, C 6 The Spirit's Return',) her National Lyrics and Songs for Music,' (most of which have been set to music by her sister, and become popular), and her Scenes and Hymns of Life.' manner of Tieck, and Goethe's Kunst- "I have now," she says, (in a letter We should also mention her tragedy, The Vespers of Palermo,' which, though containing many fine thoughts and magnificent bursts of poetry, was hardly fitted for the stage; and the songs which she contributed to Col. Hodges' Peninsular Melodies.' In private life, Mrs. Hemans was remarkable for shrinking from the vulgar honours of lionism, with all the quiet delicacy of a gentlewoman; and at a time when she was courted by offers of friendship and service, and homages sent to her from every corner of Great Britain and America, to an extent which it is necessary to have seen to believe, she was never so happy as when she could draw her own small circle around her, and, secure in the honest sympathy of its members, give full scope to the powers of conversation, which were rarely exerted in general society, and their existence, therefore, hardly suspected. It will surprise many to be told, that she might, at any moment, have gained herself a brilliant reputation as a wit, for her use of illustration and language was as happy and quaint, as her fancy was quick and excursive; but she was, wisely for her own peace of mind, anxious rather to conceal than to display these talents. Her sensitiveness on this point, prevented her ever visiting London after her name had become celebrated : and, in fact, she was not seldom reproached by her zealous friends for undervaluing, and refusing to enjoy, the honours which were the deserved reward of her high talents, and for shutting herself up, as it were, in a corner, when she ought to have taken her place in the world of society as a leading star. The few who knew her will long remember her eager child-like affection, and the sincere kindliness with which, while she threw herself fully and frankly on their good offices, she adopted their interests as her own. She had been urged by a friend to undertake a prose work, and a series of Artistic Novels,' something after the Her health had for many years been precarious and delicate: the illness of which she died was long and complicated, but, from the first, its close was foreseen; and we know from those in close connexion with her, that her spirit was placid and resolved, and that she looked forward to the approach of the last struggle without a fear. had called on the deceased, told him, that after Dr. Pinckard had examined her throat, he turned round to write her a prescription, but before he got to the table he fell down, and in less than two minutes was a corpse. Dr. Williams of Bedfordplace, and Dr. Moore of Lincoln's-innfields, deposed that they were present at the examination of the body, and they had ascertained that the deceased laboured under a disease termed angina pectoris for a considerable length of time. They fouud partial ossification in the vessels about the heart, and also inflammation of the aorta. The jury returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God." GEORGE PINCKARD, M.D. May 15. In Bloomsbury-square, aged 67, George Pinckard, esq. M.D. Physician to the Bloomsbury Dispensary. Dr. Pinckard was a distinguished member of the College of Physicians, and in extensive private practice. In early life he was attached to the medical department of the army, having accompanied the expedition of Sir Ralph Abercromby to the West Indies, towards the close of the last century, as Physician to the Forces. He was afterwards promoted to the rank of Inspector-General of Hospitals, and continued for many years to superintend the entire medical department of that unHe had a mind enriched healthy station. by the stores of literature, and was the author of several works. Among these, his "Notes on the West Iudies," published in three octavo volumes, 1806, is regarded as a production of standard utility as a medical guide to the climate, abounding in original and intelligent views of the state of society, and accurate statistical the Dr. Pinckard was information. founder of the Bloomsbury Dispensary, and continued the Physician for upwards of thirty years. To his professional exertions, and unremitting solicitude for its welfare, that charitable institution mainly The severe owes its flourishing state. visitations of bodily pain, to which for the last ten years he was occasionally subject by the disorder which so abruptly cut short his existence, compelled him to relax somewhat in the number of his personal attendances at the infirmary, and at the bed-side of the poor; but his mind continued to the last to watch over and In a pamphlet promote its interests. published shortly before his death, he has left proofs of the intelligence of his mind, and of his active benevolence in the cause of the poor. A coroner's jury assembled to inquire into the circumstances of his sudden death. Dr. Rehard Pinckard, his nephew, said he resided in the same house with the deceased, and on Friday morning, May 15, his uncle proceeded to take breakfast, witness reading to him during the time. While thus engaged, a patient called, and Dr. George Pinckard went down stairs to him. In a minute or two witness heard a sound as if something had fallen heavily, and shortly afterwards the bell rang. The female patient who Dr. Pinckard was married June 27, 1817, to Miss Eastwood. RICHARD SHARP, ESQ. March 30. At Dorchester, on his road from Torquay to London, aged 76, Richard Sharp, esq. of Park-lane, and Mickleham, F.R.S. and S. A.; a gentleman well known in the literary world as "Conversation Sharp." Though a great part of his life was spent in the superintendence of extensive commercial concerns, of which the responsibility rested on himself alone, he made such good use of his leisure, as to merit and receive the title of a man of letters, not the least distinguished of his time. His "Letters and Essays in Prose and Verse," recently published, show that, if he had more exclusively devoted himself to study and composition, he might have taken a high station among our moral philosophers and moral poets. His taste and judgment were so correct, that Sir James Mackintosh, who was well acquainted with him, said that Mr. Sharp was the best critic he had ever known. His advice, which was equally valuable in matters of speculation and of practice, was always at the service of his friends, in whose reputation and success in life he never failed to take a lively and a generous interest. He was not less distinguished by his benevolence and kindness of heart, than by his powers of conversation. At the general election of 1806, he was returned to Parliament for Castle Rising, for which he sat till 1812, and was afterwards chosen for Portarlington, for which borough, we believe, he sat until 1820. In politics he was in principle a steady and consistent Whig; and though he had latterly retired from Parliament, no one was more watchful of political events, or more anxious for the extension of civil and religious liberty, and the improvment of the moral condition and happiness of society. Mr. Sharp has left behind him upwards of 250,000l. He has bequeathed to Miss Kinnaird, his niece, to whom he was most affectionately attached, 150,0007, and he has fairly distributed 100,0001. among his other nieces and nephews. SIR GEORGE TUTHILL, M.D. April 7. In Cavendish-square, Sir George Tuthill, Knt. M. D. Fellow of the College of Physicians. He was of Caius College, Cambridge; in 1794 was fifth Wrangler; and was subsequently elected to present a University address to the King. Sir George Tuthill's entrance upon his professional career was considerably protracted, owing to an untoward circumstance, from which he was somewhat romantically delivered. Previous to the war with France, having proceeded to Paris, he was, with his lady, included among the numerous detenus at that period. When he had continued in captivity for some years, Lady Tuthill was at length recommended to appeal to the generosity of the First Consul; and, being provided with a petition, she encountered Napoleon and his suite on their return from hunting, and respectfully presented her memorial. The result was propitious, and in a few days they were on their road to England. This accomplished physician was for many years attached to Bethlem and the Westminster Hospitals, and was highly esteemed by his professional brethren for his extensive professional acquirements, and general erudition. Under a cold exterior, Sir George Tuthill carried a very warm heart, and was much beloved by his patients and friends he was pecu. liarly straightforward in his transactions, and was always actuated by the finest feelings of a gentleman and honourable man. His friendship was not readily given; it was never slightly withdrawn. Sir George was strictly a sententious speaker-he spoke in quick, short sentences, seldom uttering a word more than the occasion required, or omitting one that was necessary. He was for many years a lecturer on the practice of physic, &c, and, at one time, boasted the largest class in London; of late, his practice had been chiefly devoted to diseases of the brain, and his name has usually been included among the evidences in the Commissions de lunatico inquirendo. He was appointed to deliver the Harveian oration at the College of Physicians, on the 25th of June, and with his friends Sir Henry Halford and lately deceased colleague Dr. Maton, was actively engaged in effecting such wholesome reforms in the College as he deemed the improvement in the present state of medical science had GENT. MAG. VOL. IV. rendered necessary. He was, however, a firm opponent to radicalism in the profession. Sir G. L. Tuthill received the honour of knighthood, April 28, 1820. Sir George's malady was inflammation of the larynx-his medical attendants were Sir H. Halford, Dr. Warren, Dr. Watson, and Mr. Laurence. Mr. Knox, of the Westminster Hospital, also sat up with him. He died after an illness of 10 days. His funeral took place on the 14th April at St. Alban's. Many individuals of rank were desirous of paying the last sad token of respect to his memory; but Mr. Basil Montagu, his executor, directed that his funeral should be strictly private, in obedience to the wishes of Sir George, who was known to have an aversion to the pomp and show of mourning. He has left a widow and daughter. His library, containing a good collection of books in medical, botanical, and miscellaneous literature, was sold by Messrs. Sotheby on the 26th and 27th of June. MR. WILLIAM BLANCHARD. May 9. At Chelsea, aged 66, Mr. William Blanchard, the eminent comedian. He was a native of York, where he was brought up by an uncle, the printer of one of the newspapers, who apprenticed him to the same business. At the age of seventeen, however, he left home to join a company of comedians at Buxton, in Derbyshire, then under the management of Mr. Welsh. He made his debut under the assumed name of Bentley, in the part of Allen a Dale in Robin Hood, and a favourable reception induced him to pursue his theatrical career. His success continuing, he was induced after a year or two to appear in his proper name, and performed some of the most usual tragic characters, as Romeo, young Norval, Barnwell, &c. When he had attained the age of twenty, he became a manager on his own account, and opened theatres at Penrith in Cumberland, Hexham in Northumberland, and Barnard Castle and Bishop's Auckland in Durham, After a few seasons he relinquished management a poorer man than when he commenced. In 1793 he was engaged by Mr. Brunton, for the Norwich company; in which he had abundant opportunities for the display of his talents. In particular his performance of rustic characters, old men, smart servants, sailors, &c. obtained him some applause, and rendered him an established favourite throughout that circuit. His increasing reputation attracted the attention of the managers of Covent Gar den, who at once engaged him for five O year; The Origin and Importance of Life, at Northampton, and at Carshalton, for the Royal Humane Society, 1789; Christian Politics, or the Origin of Power and the Grounds of Subordination, at Northampton 1792; The Sin of Wastefulness, at St. Vedest, Foster-lane, 1796; Deliverance from our Enemies, at the Thanksgiving, 1797; The Faithful Soldier and True Christian, and The Miseries of Rebellion considered, two sermons at Northampton, 1798; The Difference between the Death of the Righteous and the Wicked, illustrated in the instances of Dr. Samuel Johnson and David Hume, esq. before the University of Oxford, 1806. April 15. At Stoke, Plymouth, the Rev. Robert Turner, M.A. April 20. At Lopen, near Crewkerne, aged 85, the Rev. John Templeman. April 21. Aged 67, the Rev. J. Flockton, Vicar of Shernbourne, Norfolk, to which he was collated in 1831, by the Bp. of Ely. April 21. Aged 67, the Rev. Thomas Mears, Rector of All Saints' and St. Lawrence's, and Vicar of St. John's, Southampton. He was of Wadham college, Oxford, M. A. 1792. He had performed his clerical duties in Southampton for upwards of forty years; but was presented to the livings by the Lord Chancellor, in the year 1817. The rectory of All Saints will in future be held distinct from that of St. Lawrence. On Mr. Blanchard was twice married, and had several children. His health, neither benefited by poverty, misfortune, nor seeking means to forget them, had been for some time impaired. On the Tuesday previous to his death, he dined at Hammersmith, and about 6 in the evening quitted his friends for his residence at Chelsea. his way, he must have had a fit and fallen into a ditch, from which it appears that he could not extricate himself until nearly 3 o'clock in the morning. On the day after, he got up and shaved himself, but in the course of the evening was visited by another severe fit, which was succeeded by one on the Thursday, still more violent, and on the following day he died. His remains were interred in the burialground of Chelsea New Church, attended to their final resting-place by his youngest son, aged 15; Mr. Fearman, his son-inlaw; his brother-in-law, Mr. Harrold; Mr. Fisher, father of Miss Clara Fisher; Mr. W. Evans, Mr. Thomas Grieve, Mr. Drinkwater Meadows, Mr. F. Matthews, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Tilbury. All the members of the dramatic corps would, from the high esteem they entertained for poor Blanchard, have attended bis obsequies, had not his own particular relations wished the ceremony to be performed as privately as possible. He was fortunately a very old member of the Covent-garden Theatrical Fund, and hence his widow will receive for life an annuity of 101. per annum, There is a portrait of Mr. Blanchard in the European Magazine for July 1817. CLERGY DECEASED. March 26. In Upper Gower-street, aged 77, the Rev. William Agutter, formerly Chaplain and Secretary to the Asylum for Female Orphans. He was of Magdalene college, Oxford, M. A. 1781; and published the following sermons: The Abolition of the Slave Trade considered in a Religious Point of View, preached at Oxford, 1788; On the death of his friend, the celebrated Rev. John Henderson, at Bristol, the same April 26. At Teignmouth, aged 76, the Rev. George Fortescue, Rector of St. Mellion, and St. Pennick, in Cornwall, to the latter of which churches he was presented in 1789, and to the former in 1793. He was of Merton College, Oxford, B.C.L. 1785. April 27. At Thorpe, Surrey, aged 66. the Rev. John Leigh Bennett, Vicar of that parish. He was of Braze-nose college, Oxford, M. A. 1796; and was presented to Thorpe in 1806, by the Lord-Chancellor. The death of his youngest son is noticed in p. 101. April 29. At Antingham, Norfolk, (found hanging in bis school-room) the Rev. John Hubbard, Vicar of Little Horstead, to which Church he was instituted in 1823 on his own presentation. At Dewsbury, Yorkshire, aged 56, the Rev. John Buckworth, Vicar of that parish. He was of St. Edmund hall, Oxford. M. A 1810, and was presented to Dewsbury in 1807 by the Lord Chancellor, having previously laboured for two years as Curate of that extensive parish. April 29. At Morden, Surrey, aged 90, the Rev. John Witherington Peers, D.C.L. more than 57 years Rector of that parish, and for 65 years incumbent of |