BAILLIE, JOANNA, a modern poetess of distinguished merit, was b. in 1762 at Both well, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her father was a Presbyterian clergyman. She received a superior education, and soon began to manifest those talents which subsequently excited the admiration of the public. Her career was a singularly happy one, but devoid of all striking incident. At an early period, she went to reside in London, where her brother, Matthew Baillie, had established himself as a physician. Here she remained till her death, which occurred on the 23d of Feb., 1851, when she had attained the venerable age of 89, No authoress ever enjoyed a larger share of the esteem and affection of her literary contemporaries. All vied in showing her a courteous respect, and even America sent its votaries to her little shrine at Hampstead. Her great est achievement is undoubtedly the Plays on the Passions, which, though erroneous in conception, arc full of noble and impressive poetry, and often characterized by intense drarnatic.power. The principle upon which Miss B. proceeded in the construction of these works, was to take a single passion as the subject of a play, and to exhibit its influence on an individual supposed to be actuated by nothing else. In point of fact, such persons do not exist in society; men arc swayed by a variety of conflicting emotions; and even when any one of these becomes dominant, it does not wholly destroy the rest, otherwise the victim of a ruling passion would lapse into a monomaniac. The leading personages
of Miss B.'s plays are, therefore, rather impersonations of certain elements of human nature, than genuine human beings. They are vivid poetical studies in psychology; not mirrors held up to nature, like the brilliant and variegated creations of tquikspeare. Still, there are scenes, in her tragedies especially, where the interest of the reader is intensely excited by the great art shown in the minute delineation of a particular pas sion, and where lie is forced to forget the artificial theory of the authoress. . The first volume of the Plays of the Passions appeared in 1798, and met with success. Four years afterwards, she published a second volume; in 1804. Miscellaneous Plays; in 1812, the third volume of her Plays of the Passions ; and in 1836, three volumes of dra matic poetry. The most popular as well as the most powerful of her works is the tragedy of be 31entfort. It was brought upon the stage in London. Iiemble acting for eleven nights the character' of the hero. Many of Miss minor pieces arc very sweet, simple, and beautiful; and are marked by a sprightly grace of versification, and a play ful serenity of spirit, which pleasantly remind one of the persbnal character of the au thoress herself.