Manchester Memoirs, Vol. liv. (1910), No. 0. 9 



mind to exhibit great progressive elegance and show that 

 her genius is not Hkely to lie dormant." In Septenriber 

 Felicia read and admired Roscoe's poem on the Park 

 Dingle and about the same time seems to have become 

 acquainted with the works of Burns, a copy in four 

 volumes having "been lent to her by Miss McAdam, a 

 Liverpool friend. In October, 1808, she was on a visit to 

 Denbigh. 



Felicia Browne had about this time an attack of 

 patriotism. It was excusable in her case. Her country 

 had all her lifetime been engaged in a great Continental 

 struggle. All her brothers were or were hoping to be in 

 the army. In August, 1808, one of these brothers, Tom, 

 was on duty at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and another, George, 

 was embarking at Cork, in the fourth expedition for Spain 

 or Portugal, with Sir David Baird, " the service," writes his 

 mother, " which I am most pleased that he should be sent 

 upon." The young poetess had military news not only in 

 the newspapers, but in letters from her brothers at the 

 seat of war. During this period also Mrs. Browne read 

 aloud to her children Robertson's " History of Charles V." 

 The result of all this exciting reading is to be found in 

 Felicia's second book, which followed the first within a 

 iom months, and bore the topical title, " England and 

 Spain."' While the elder sister was writing patriotic 

 poetry for publication, the younger one was writing 

 poems not for publication, and making herself useful. 

 Writing to Mr. Nicholson, she says, " I must tell you that 

 I made two excellent apple dumplings the other day, 

 which is more than Felicia ever has done, but she desires 

 me to say, that she would be very happy to make her 

 first attempt on one for you." 



Throughout 1808, Mrs. Browne was making full use 

 of Mr. Nicholson, very apologetically it is true. " I really 



