9176. WRIGHT (Frances), Works of.—
Miss Wright had before favored me with the
first edition of her American work; but her
“Few Days in Athens”, was entirely new, and
has been a treat to me of the highest order.
The matter and manner of the dialogue is
strictly ancient; and the principles of the sects
are beautifully and candidly explained and contrasted;
and the scenery and portraiture of the
interlocutors are of higher finish than anything
in that line left us by the ancients; and like
Ossian, if not ancient, it is equal to the best
morsels of antiquity. I augur, from this instance,
that Herculaneum is likely to furnish
better specimens of modern than of ancient
genius; and may we not hope more from the
same pen?—
To Marquis Lafayette. Washington ed. vii, 326.
Ford ed., x, 282.
(M.
1823)