Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/303

 HAMILTON. 299 and deciding the question by her own judgment. The result of this examination was, a conviction of their truth; and she observed, that the moral precepts connected with the doctrines of christianity, were too pure to be promulgated by an impostor. In the year 1785, Miss Hamilton sent her first contribution to the press, in a number of the Lounger, which was accepted by the editor without any knowledge of the author: of the same date is a sportive poem, called “Anticipation,” written with the facility and freedom of a practised pen, though it does not appear she at this period devoted much time to i t. The actual duties of domestic life, o f which she felt the full claim, left little leisure for solitary study, without encroaching o n the season o f repose. The morning hours were allotted t o household superintendence, and the even ing dedicated t o her uncle's amusement, t o which she most sedulously attended, urged thereto b y every feeling o f duty, gratitude, and affection. Nor i s i t probable, a t this period, she aspired t o literary fame; a fairer vision floated before her, a happiness dearer than distinction, ap peared t o court her acceptance; but the vision passed away, and she felt the pangs o f disappointment; yet her strong and well-regulated mind prevented i t casting a n invidious shade on her future existence. I n December 1786, Miss Hamilton experienced the delight o f seeing her valuable brother arrive from India; and t o her i t seemed a new era o f existence. I t was impos sible that she should not have been essentially benefited b y her daily intercourse with this enlightened man, who, from natural and acquired endowments, was eminently calculated t o enlarge her views, and t o regulate her opi nions, b y correcting the mistakes incident t o a self-taught recluse, and engrafting liberality and candour o n her native stock o f good sense, and mental independence. He taught her t o explore her own latent and hitherto un appropriated treasures. His conversation inspired her with a taste for oriental literature; and she spontaneously caught the idioms, a s she insensibly became familiar with