MRS. BRAY AND HER WRITINGS.

BY G. C. BOASE.

'NNA ELIZA BRAY was born in the parish of St. Mary, Newington, Surrey, on the 25th December, 1790, at six o'clock in the morning precisely. Her father, John Kempe, of a Cornish family, was born in 1748; became bullion porter in the Royal Mint in the Tower of London, which situation he held during fifty years, and died in the New Kent Road, London, 1st June, 1823. His wife was Ann, daughter of James Arrow, of Westminster. She was born at Tothill Fields, Westminster, 24th February, 1745-46, and died at Rodney Buildings, New Kent Road, London, 17th March, 1835.

The subject of this notice was born with a delicate constitution, and when five years of age had a violent inflammation in her eyes, from the effects of which she suffered throughout the remainder of her life. Up to the age of ten she took no delight in reading, till somebody gave her an abridgment of Robinson Crusoe; this she read with avidity and delight, and from thenceforth she was a student of many books.

About this period she was sent to school under her cousin and godmother, Miss Jane Wrather. Several of the girls at this establishment had brothers at Westminster School, and, knowing what was done there before the holidays, they obtained permission from their parents and from the schoolmistress to act a play among themselves before the breaking-up at Christmas. The play chosen was "The

[Vol. 4.

West Indian," in which the small part of Varland, the lawyer, was assigned to Anna Kempe; in it, however, she proved herself to be the best actor in the company. The love of acting was encouraged by frequent private performances in her father's house; and a friend, Mr. William Dowton, the celebrated comedian, at last made arrangements for her public appearance at the Bath Theatre. The night was fixed for the 27th May, 1815, the character to be Belvidera in "Venice Preserved," and the programmes were printed and publicly distributed. Miss Kempe proceeded to Bath by the coach to fulfil her engagement; the weather, however, was unpropitious; on the journey she caught a severe cold, entirely lost her voice, and on the longanticipated evening was ill in bed. opportunity passed, she continued ill for some time, and finally had reluctantly to admit that with weak health and shaken nerves she must give up all thoughts of entering on so laborious a career as the stage.

The

Years passed by, and in the year 1818, she was married to Charles Alfred Stothard. This artist, a son of Thomas Stothard, R.A., was born in London, 5th July, 1786. As early as 1802 he commenced making drawings from the monuments in the churches at Stamford. The first number of his great work, "The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain" appeared in June, 1811. In 1816, he was deputed by the Society of Antiquaries to make drawings from the tapestry at Bayeux. It was whilst on his route to Bayeux that he made the discovery of the monuments of the kings and queens of England in the ruins of the

abbey of Fontevraud. He made three journeys to Bayeux, in the last of which he was accompanied by his wife. In 1821 he was in England, collecting materials for continuation. numbers of "The Monumental Effigies," and whilst employed in Beer-Ferrers' Church, Devon, on the 28th May, fell from a ladder, and striking his head against a stone monument was killed on the spot. Mrs. Stothard's only child, Blanch Ann Eliza Stothard, was born on the 29th June following, but died after a short life of seven months' duration, in January, 1822. In the Gentleman's Magazine for March, 1822, p. 257, are found verses addressed "To an afflicted lady, on the much lamented loss of her highly talented and amiable husband, and the sweetest solace of that loss her only and infant daughter," these verses are dated "Bromley college, Feb. 13."

Mrs. Stothard's first literary work was entitled "Letters written during a tour in Normandy," brought out in 1820. On account of its being illustrated by her husband, it met with great success. Her next undertaking was, in connection with her brother, Alfred John Kempe, F.S.A., to continue and complete "The Monumental Effigies" left unfinished by her husband, and then to write an account of her late talented partner under the title of Memoirs of the late Charles Alfred

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Stothard."

Within a period of two years she married the Rev. Edward Atkyns Bray; he was of Trinity College, Cambridge, B.D. 1822; was appointed Vicar of Tavistock in 1811, which appointment he held until his decease, 16th July, 1857, aged 78. He was the author of Poems, 1799; Idylls, 1801; Funeral Ode on Lord Nelson, 1801; Sermons selected from the Works of the most Eminent Divines, 1818; Discourses adapted to the Pulpit from Tracts of Eminent Divines, 1821; and a Sermon, 1833. Mr. Bray was a stout old-fashioned tory, a kind of man one does not expect to find in a town belonging to the family of Russell. It was very pardonable in Mrs. Bray to believe that in her husband the Church

possessed one of her most powerful preachers; but as he not unfrequently gave political sermons that were distasteful to the majority of his hearers, or else preached learned discourses which they did not understand, some difference of opinion may exist as to the amount of benefit he conferred on the Church. Many stories are told about the attempts of the rustics to find out what some of Mr. Bray's words meant. "Trismegistus," asked a farmer of his friend as they walked up the street from the church together, "Who is Trismegistus?" "Lord lov'e," was the reply, "how should I knoa? why there's no end to the 'postles."

Mrs. Bray's first work of fiction was "De Foix; or, Sketches of the Manners and Customs of the Fourteenth Century. An historical romance," 1826; and from this time onwards her appearances before the public were very frequent. On the publication of her novel, "The Talba; or, Moors of Portugal," in 1830, she introduced herself to Robert Southey; he afterwards visited her at Tavistock, and was in literary communication with her to the date of his death, after which time his widow, Caroline, corresponded with Mrs. Bray. In the same year in which her second husband died she removed to London after a residence of thirty-six years at Tavistock. The serenity of her declining years was disturbed by the public report that when at Bayeux in 1816 she had stolen and taken away a small piece of the tapestry. The small piece in question having come into the hands of the authorities at the South Kensington Museum was by them restored to the Custodian of the Tapestry at Bayeux. The custodian it appears was accustomed to inform visitors that "Madame confessed the theft on her death bed." A letter from her nephew, Mr. Charles Kempe, to The Times produced a leading article, and it was proved that Mrs. Bray could not possibly have taken away the fragment, as at the time it was stated to have been stolen she had never seen Normandy. She died at her residence, 40, Brompton Crescent, London, Sunday, 21st January, 1883. She believed

profoundly in herself and her works, and made no secret of it; but there was a childlike openness and sweetness in her self-confidence which attracted instead of repelling. The autobiography of Mrs. Bray recently published does not contain all the information about this authoress which one had a right to expect; it is very discursive, and what is generally known as "light reading." The editor, Mr. John A. Kempe, has taken very little trouble about the book; their is neither table of contents nor index. No list of Mrs. Bray's works is given, nor is any attempt made to supply deficiencies in dates, &c., left by the deceased lady. Even the date of birth on the title-page differs from that given in the body of the book. A caution must be added as to the name of this authoress: nearly all her works are said on the title-pages to be by "Mrs. Bray," but there is also another lady who writes under the same appellation, namely Emily O. Bray, who was born at Buryhill, Dorking, in 1847, and is the wife of Mr. Reginald M. Bray. I believe all the following works are by E. O. Bray: Our duty to animals, 1871; Month at the sea-side, a sequel to Willie and Mary, 1872; Madge, a tale, 1873; Petite; or, the story of a child's life, 1873; History of Jacka-Nory and his brother, a Cornish story, 1876; Paul Bradley, a village tale, 1876; Ten of them; or, the child of Danehurst, 1877; We four, a story, 1881. There is also a third lady, the wife of Mr. Charles Bray, who is also known in the literary world as Mrs. Bray. She has published "Physiology for schools." Lond., Longmans, 1860, 12mo., and other works. The books in the following list being all modern and easily procurable, it has not been thought necessary to give the collations. Some of Mrs. A. E. Bray's works are said to have been translated into German.

Annexed is a bibliography of her own works and of those she edited. When not otherwise mentioned, it is to be understood that the words, "By Mrs. Bray," appear on the title page:—

Letters written during a Tour in Normandy, Brittany and other parts of France, in 1818, with numerous illustra tions afters the drawings of Charles A. Stothard, F.S.A. By Mrs. Charles Stothard. Lond. Longmans, Nov. 1820, 4to, £2 12s. 6d.

The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain, 147 etchings by Charles A. Stothard, with historical descriptions and introduction by A. J. Kempe (his brother-in-law). Lond. 1817-32, fo. £19 large paper, £28. Mrs. Stothard assisted her brother in the completion of this work. Memoirs, including original journals, letters, papers and antiquarian tracts of the late Charles Alfred Stothard, with connective notes of his life, and some account of a journey to the Netherlands. By Mrs. Charles Stothard. Lond. Longmans, 1823, 8vo, 15s.

De Foix; or, Sketches of the Manners and Customs of the Fourteenth Century, an historical romance. Lond. Smith and Elder, 1826, 3 vols. 8vo, £1 7s. Price after wards reduced to 12s.-New and revised edition. Lond. Chapman and Hall, 1884, 8vo, 3s. 6d.

The White Hoods, an historical romance. Lond. Longmans, 11th Feb., 1828, 3 vols. 8vo, £1 11s. 6d. The Remainders passed to Smith and Elder, who reduced the price to 125.-New and revised edition. Lond. Chapman and Hall, 1884, 8vo, 3s. 6d.

The Protestant, a tale of the reign of Queen Mary. By the author of De Foix. Lond. R. Colburn, Nov., 1828, 3 vols. 8vo, £1 11s. 6d. -New and revised edition. Lond. Chapman and Hall, 1884, 8vo, 3s. 6d.

Fitz of Fitzford, a legend of Devon. Lond. Smith and Elder, Feb., 1830, 3 vols. 8vo, £1 7s., afterwards reduced to 12s.-New and revised edition. Lond. Chapman and Hall, 1884, 8vo, 3s. 6d.

The Talba; or, Moor of Portugal, a romance. Lond. Longmans, Dec., 1830, 3 vols. 8vo, £1 7s. The Remainder passed to Smith and Elder, who reduced the price to 12s.-New and revised edition. Lond. Chapman and Hall, 1884, 8vo, 3s. 6d.

Fables and other Pieces in Verse by Mary Maria Colling, with some account of the Author, in Letters to Robert Southey, Esq., Poet Laureate. Lond. Longmans, 1831. 12mo. Published by subscription.

Trials of Domestic Life. Lond. R. Colburn, 1834, 3 vols. 8vo. 1 IIS. 6d..-Another edition. Lond. 1848, 3 vols.

12mo.

Warleigh; or, the Fatal Oak, a legend of Devon. Lond. Longmans, Nov., 1834, 3 vols. 8vo. 1 11s. 6d. This title is frequently found misprinted as Warleigh; or, the Fatal Oath.-New and revised edition. Lond. Chapman and Hall, 1884, 8vo, 3s. 6d.

The Borders of the Tamar and Tavy. Lond. John Murray, Feb., 1836. 3 vols. 8vo, £1 45. Mr. Bohn purchased the remainder copies, and gave the work a new title-page as follows:

Traditions, Legends, Superstitions and Sketches, of Devonshire, on the Borders of the Tamar and Tavy, in a Series of Letters from Mrs. Bray to Robert Southey, Esq. Lond. Bohn, 1838, 3 vols. 8vo.

The Borders of the Tamar and Tavy, their Natural History, &c. A new edition. Lond. W. Kent and Co.; Plymouth (Brendon), printed in 1879, 2 vols. 8vo, £1 Is. Trelawny of Trelawne; or, the Prophecy, a legend of Cornwall. Lond. Longmans, 5th Dec., 1837, 3 vols. 8vo, 11 Is. 6d. -Second edition, 1845, 8vo.

Trials of the Heart. Lond. Longmans, 1839, 3 vols. 12mo. I IIS. 6d. New edition. Lond. Longmans, 1845, 8vo, 6s

The Mountains and Lakes of Switzerland, with descriptive Sketches of other parts of the Continent. Lond. Longmans, 1841, 3 vols 12mo, LI IIS. 6d. Henry de Pomeroy; or, the Eve of St. John, a legend of Cornwall and Devon. Lond. R. Bentley, 1842, 3 vols. 8vo. 1 8s. 6d. A new edition, revised and corrected by the Author (with the White Rose, a domestic tale). Lond. Longmans, 1846, 1 vol. 8vo, 6s.

Courtenay of Walreddon, a romance of the West. Lond. R. Bentley, 1844, 3 vols. 8vo, 1 11s. 6d.-New edition. Lond. Longmans, 1845, 8vo, 6s.

The Novels and Romances of A. E. Bray. Lond. Longmans, 1845-46, 10 vols. 8vo, £3.

The Father's Curse, and The Daughter's Sacrifice. Two tales. Lond. 1848, 8vo.

The Life of Thomas Stothard, R. A., with personal reminiscences by Mrs. Bray. Lond. J. Murray, 1851, 4to, LI IS.

Novels and Romances by A. E. Bray. Lond. Longmans, 1853, 10 vols. 12mo, 6s. each. Passed to Thomas Tegg, who reduced the price to Is. 6d. per vol.

A Peep at the Pixies or Legends of the West, with illustrations by H. K. Browne, Lond. Grant and Griffith, 1854, 8vo, 3s. 6d. ; coloured 4s. 6d.

Handel: his Life, Personal and Professional, with thoughts on Sacred Music. By Mrs. Bray. Lond. Ward and Co., 1857, 8vo. 25.

Poetical Remains of the late Rev. E. A. Bray; selected and edited, with a Memoir of the Author by Mrs. Bray, Lond. Longmans, 1859, 2 vols. 8vo, 12s.

A Selection from the Sermons, General and Occasional, of the Rev. E. A. Bray. Lond. Rivingtons, 1860, 2 vols. Svo, 14s.

The good St. Louis and his times. Lond. Griffith and
Farran, 1870, 8vo, 7s. 6d.

The Revolt of the Protestants of the Cevennes, with some
Account of the Huguenots in the Seventeenth Century.
Lond. John Murray, 1870, 8vo, 10s. 6d.
Hartland Forest, a legend of North Devon.
mans, 1871, 8vo, 4s. 6d.

Lond. Long

Joan of Arc and the times of Charles the Seventh King of France. Lond. Griffith and Farran, 1874, 8vo, 7s. 6d.

Roseteague; or, the Heir of Treville Crewse. Lond.
Chapman and Hall, 1874, 2 vols. 8vo, £1 Is.

Silver Linings; or, Light and Shade. Lond. Griffith and
Farran, 1880, 8vo, 7s. 6d. ; reduced Nov. 1883, to
3s. 6d.
Autobiography of Anna Eliza Bray (born 1789 sic, died
1883), edited by John A. Kempe. Lond. Chapman and
Hall, Feb., 1884, 8vo, 10s. 6d. with a portrait.
Reminiscences of Thomas Stothard, R. A., By A. E. Bray.
Gentleman's Magazine, N.S. vol. ii, 321-323 (1834).
Cothele and the Edgcumbes of the Olden Time. By A. E.
Bray, ib., xl. 351-357, 444-50 (1853).

[The above is re-published, by permission, from the Library Chronicle, August, 1884. EDITOR.]

*

PHILOSOPHERS OF SOMERSET.

BY MRS. EDMUND BOGER.

ROGER BACON, 1214-1292.

REATEST among, not only the Philosophers of Somerset, but the Philosophers of Europe of that age; and having regard to the ignorance and obstacles he had to overcome-probably the greatest in the world, stands the name of Roger Bacon, known in his own day as "Mirabilis Doctor." There was a quaint custom in that age of giving the most celebrated teachers of the day some appellation by which they were distinguished among the learned. Thus Thomas Aquinas was the Angelical Doctor; Alexander Hales, of Gloucester, the Irrefragable Doctor; but none so well deserved his title as Roger Bacon, the Wonderful Doctor.

It is remarkable that both the year of the birth and death of Roger Bacon are carefully recorded. He was born at Ilchester in the year 1214. "The life of Roger Bacon," says Greene, "almost covers the thirteenth century. He was the child of royalist parents, who had been driven into exile and reduced to poverty by the civil wars. From Oxford, where he studied under Edmund of Abingdon-otherwise known as Edmund Rich or St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury-he went to Paris.