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Biographical Sketch of
MRS ROBINSON
(with a Portrait [*])
As it is the professed purpose of this department of our Miscellany to portray the features of CONTEMPORARY GENIUS, our work would ill deserve the character of a FAITHFUL MIRROR, if we were to pass over the distinguished person who now engages our attention.
Mrs Mary Robinson is the daughter of Captain Darby, a gentleman who was born in America; who lost a large fortune, in a commercial speculation, that was likely to prove of national importance; who served with reputation in the British navy, and who was, afterwards, entrusted with the command of a seventy-four gun ship in that of Russia. Captain DARBY conducted himself with so much heroism, and so much professional knowledge, in the latter service, that he raised himself into the esteem of the late Empress, and experienced marks of her approbation. He died in the year 1787, at Bristol. His widow was left with three children, two sons, and the lady whose talents have since procured her character so much celebrity and admiration.
Mrs Darby, the mother of our heroine, was of an ancient and respectable family. She was grandaughter [sic] of Catherine Seys, of Boverton castle, Glamorganshire. Anne Seys, sister of this Catherine Seys, was married to Lord Chancellor King. Mrs Darby, we also understand, was collaterly [sic] a descendant from the great John Locke, a name that will stand for ever conspicuous on the records of philosophy and learning. This lady died under the roof of her daughter, from whom she had always experienced every tribute of filial regard, a few years ago.
The eldest brother of Mrs Robinson was an eminent and wealthy merchant, at Leghorn, who paid the debt of nature before his mother. Her younger brother, who, we are informed, was in the same firm, is still connected with the house, but has withdrawn himself into this country, till the affairs of Italy shall recover a degree of tranquillity, more suitable to mercantile pursuits.
[132] Miss Darby, very early in life, was distinguished for the most promising charms of person, and for mental acuteness and observation, far beyond what is usually discovered at that period. Whatever advantages, in education, she could obtain at the first seminary in Bristol, she acquired, and was afterwards removed to one nearer London, to complete her studies and accomplishments.
About the age of seventeen, Miss Darby was introduced to Mr Garrick, who was acquainted with her family, and who was induced, by the beauty of her person, her good sense, and elegant acquirements to advise her to think of the theatrical profession. Under his auspices, and with all the advantage of his friendly attention, and unrivalled judgment, she prepared herself for the perilous boards of a theatre. At this period, however, she attracted the notice of Mr Robinson, then a student in Lincoln's Inn, and a marriage was soon after the consequence.
Being more devoted to conjugal endearments than the graver businesses of the world, Mr Robinson became embarrassed, and Mrs Robinson was tempted to resume her theatrical intentions. At length she appeared on the stage of Old Drury, in the character of Juliet, which she supported with every requisite quality of softness, spirit, tenderness, and critical precision. The Duchess of Devonshire was the friend and zealous patroness of Mrs Robinson, on that occasion, and her Grace's countenance has never since been withdrawn from her.
Mrs Robinson remained on the stage, performing the first chars, in tragedy and elegant comedy, for about three years. The part in which she chiefly distinguished herself was Perdita, in The Winter's Tale; a part of little importance in itself, but rendered uncommonly interesting by the beauty, grace, and delicacy of the performer. On this occasion, a distinguished, blooming, and persuasive Florizel, stepped from the heights of life, and Mrs Robinson was induced to retire from the stage, by such attractions, and such prospects, as, we believe, few, in the same situation, would have been able to resist. Here we may, with propriety, turn to the literary character of our heroine, and leave to officious curiosity and malignant detraction the despicable task of recording the tales of calumny and falsehood.
The first effusion of Mrs Robinson's muse was a poem, entitled Captivity, suggested, as we understand, by that situation of her husband, which prompted her to resume her theatrical views. The poem passed merit, but not such as to afford a dawn of poetical splendor, which has since illumined the region of [135] literature. Many years after, she gave to the world a volume of poems, which afforded high gratification to all readers of taste, and which established her reputation, as one of the chief ornaments of British poetry. This volume was followed by another, which added to her reputation, high as it was, and which proved that her muse could take the loftiest flights, as well as give grace to sentiment, and energy to description.
It must be mentioned, to the honour of this lady, that she is above every feeling of jealous competition; and that, in a very animated poem, entitled Ainsi va le [sic] Monde, she has paid a liberal and elegant tribute to the genius of the late Mr Merry, who had just signalized his poetical powers, under the title of Della Crusca, which he assumed, on account of his being a member of the Florentine academy of that name.
As the public are now in possession of Mrs Robinson's works; as these works have received the warmest panegyrics from all approved critics; and as they are perused and admired by every body; it is not necessary for us to enter into any detail of their beauties. We may, however, be allowed to say, that her Monody to the memory of the Queen of France, and that also to Sir Joshua Reynolds, and her detached collection of Sonnets, comprising the history, or rather expressing the emotions, of the lesbian Sappho, may be classed with the most distinguished poetical works, for boldness of imagery, beauty of description, animation, grace and sentiment.
Having established her fame as a poet, Mrs Robinson then ventured to assert her merit as a writer of prose. She published a pamphlet, in favour of the unfortunate Queen of France, at a time when that illustrious victim of cruelty and injustice seemed most in danger of suffering under the remorseless fury of her savage enemies. Every topic, likely to occur to an intelligent mind and a feeling heart, was treated in this work with elegance and pathos. To this work the fair and compassionate author did not put her name. Her next avowed production was an amusing and interesting romance, entitled Vancenza, and we need not say more in favour of it, than to observe, that, in a short period, it passed through five editions. She has since published several other novels, more in the style of common life; in which she has exhibited great power of imagination, knowledge of human nature, acuteness of research, and skill in the delineation of char, as well as a vein of humour, in describing scenes of a whimsical and ludicrous kind, that could hardly be conceived to exist in the same mind. Mrs Robinson has also evinced her pretension to high rank, as a [136] dramatic writer, by a very affecting tragedy, entitled The Sicilian Lover.
Our admired poetess has one daughter, the offspring of her marriage, and her only issue. Miss Robinson is a very amiable, elegant, and accomplished young lady, who has shewn a strong proof of hereditary genius, in an interesting novel, entitled The Shrine of Bertha.
Our heroine, besides her other talents, has in a poem, entitled Modern Manners, displayed a satirical vigour, that might have ranked her high among the favourites of 'the least good-natur'd Muse,' if the benevolence of her disposition had not given a more literary direction to the inspirations of her genius. The following is the order of Mrs Robinson's works, viz. Poems. 2 volumes.
The Sicilian Lover. - Tragedy.
Legitimate Sonnets.
Monody on the Death of the Queen of Fr.
Monody on the Death of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Modern Manners. - Satirical Poem.
Vancenza. - Romance.
The Widow. - Novel. 2 volumes (translated into French and German.)
Angelina. - Novel. 3 volumes.
Walsingham. - Novel. 4 volumes.
Hubert de Sevrac. - Novel. 3 volumes. (translated into French.)
The False Friend. - Novel. 4 volumes.
[complete]
[*] Posting of portrait pending permission to reproduce.
Provided by Julie Shaffer, August 1999.
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