ABSTRACT

The leading traits in the character of Mary Wollstonecraft were activity, taste, sensibility, and a peculiar quickness of perception: her heart beat high with sentiments of generosity and a most comprehensive benevolence: her affections glowed with singular ardor towards all who became interested in her heart. It is probably from their not observing this virtuous and dignified simplicity, which indeed constitutes one of the brightest ornaments of our nature, that spine persons have been led to attribute views and intentions to her, from which she would have revolted with the utmost abhorrence. The shady side of Wollstonecraft’s character seems to have been marked with an asperity in reprehending, with an irritability of temper, and too great a disregard of public opinion. The causes of the two former of these foibles are easily traced to that quickness of sensibility which was in her peculiarly innate, if any affections of the mind may with propriety be so denominate.