'GASKELL, MRS. ELIZABETH C., authoress, wife of the Rev. William Gaskell, Unitarian minister, resident at Maachoster. This lady differs from most authoresses in many respects. She did not commence literary pursuits, or rather, did not cultivate literature actively, until comparatively late in life. Her works are not com posed of those grave experiences of life at eighteen where the world, in evening dress, is surveyed through an opera•glass. Nor does Mrs. Gaskell interfere with the graver descriptions of politics. In her own words, she "understands nothing of Political Economy." Iler position, as wife of a minister, gave opportunity for the study of all classes of society ; and especially for the contrasts between the rich and the poor. Her observations have formed tho basis of a series of fictions in which the social character and condition of the manu facturing districts in the 19th century are most forcibly described; and in which the necessity for reform is dramatically inculcated, whilst plans for effecting it are wisely left to other hands. Mrs.. Gaskell's first novel, 'Mary Barton,' published in 1848, is a striking view of a state of society which is already to some extant passing away. A 'Tale of Manchester Life,' it represents the struggles between the mill-owners and tho workmen, showing especially the evils that result from strikes, and the causes which load to them. Mrs. Gaskoll thinks that the operatives, through extreme ignorance induced by poverty and wretchedness, cannot understand how a master may become more and more 'wealthy, year by year. without wronging those by whose labour their fortunes aro made. They do not understand
the rights and the pains of capital ; but, on the other hand, the masters do not always uuderstaud Rs duties. ' Mary Barton ' at once placed its authoress in a very high position amongst the writers of the highest class of fiction. Four editions have bean followed by one in a cheap form. For several years after this Mrs. Gaskell devoted herself to periodical literature. She had previously contributed to ' Hewitt's Journal,' and other magazines ; and, on the establishment of Household Words,' she became one of its meet constant and valued writers. The Moorland Cottage,' a Christmas story, was published in the winter of 1850 ; and her second novel, ' Ruth,' early in 1853. In 1855 Mrs. Gaskell published ' North and South,' a novel, reprinted and almost rewritten from 'Household Words.' From the same source have also been collected the series of papers entitled ' Cranford,' and ' Lizzie Leigh,' Ac. All have enjoyed great popularity, and, like the novels, are now accessible in a cheap form. 'Cranford,' especially is noticeable; depicting the life of a village—au old subject treated in a very novel manner : a village inhabited exclusively by single ladies or widows, all of limited means; and whose various characteristics, idiosyncracics, peculiarities, or eccen tricities, are given with a quaint, sometimes melancholy, humour. Mrs. Gaskell has also contributed to the ' Daily News,' amongst other occasional matter, a memoir of her lamented friend, Miss Bront6 (Currer Bell), and this subject, in an extended work, is now occupying her attention.