ernment had not the power of raising money, but depended solely on requisitions, our condition would be truly deplorable -if the revenue of this commonwealth were to depend on twenty distinct authorities, it would be impossible for it to carry on its operations. This must be obvious to every member here; I think therefore, that it is necessary for the preservation of the union, that this power shall be given to the general government. But it is urged, that its consolidated nature, joined to the power of direct taxation, will give it a tendency to destroy all subordinate authority; that its increasing influence will speedily enable it to absorb the state governments. I cannot think this will be the case. If the general government were wholly independent of the governments of the particular states, then indeed usurpation might be expected to the fullest extent: but, sir, on whom does this general government depend? It derives its authority from these governments, and from the same sources from which their authority is derived. The members of the federal government are taken from the same men from whom those of the state legislatures are taken. If we consider the mode in which the federal representatives will be chosen, we shall be convinced, that the general, will never destroy the individual, governments; and this conviction must be strengthened by an attention to the construction of the Senate. The representatives will be chosen probably under the influence of the members of the state legislatures: but there is not the least probability that the election of the latter will be influenced by the former. One hundred and sixty members represent this commonwealth in one branch of the legislature, are drawn from the people at large, and must ever possess more influence than the few men who will be elected to the general legislature.

The reasons offered on this subject, by a gentleman on the same side [Mr. Nicholas] were unanswerable, and have been so full, that I shall add but little more on the subject. Those who wish to become federal representatives, must depend on their credit with that class of men who will be most popular in their counties, who generally represent the people in the state governments: they can, therefore, never succeed in any measure contrary to the wishes of those on whom they depend. It is almost certain, therefore, that the deliberations

of the members of the federal house of representatives will be directed to the interests of the people of America. As to the other branch, the senators will be appointed by the legislatures, and though elected for six years, I do not conceive they will so soon forget the source from whence they derive their political existence. This election of one branch of the federal by the state legislatures, secures an absolute dependence of the former on the latter. The biennial exclusion of one third, will lessen the facility of a combination, and may put a stop to intrigues. I appeal to our past experience, whether they will attend to the interests of their constituent states. Have not those gentlemen who have been honored with seats in Congress, often signalized themselves by their attachment to their seats? I wish this government may answer the expectations of its friends, and foil the apprehension of its enemies. I hope the patriotism of the people will continue, and be a sufficient guard to their liberties. I believe its tendency will be, that the state governments will counteract the general interest, and ultimately prevail. The number of the representatives is yet sufficient for our safety, and will gradually increase -and if we consider their different sources of information, the number will not appear too small.

MARY TUCKER MAGILL

[1830-1899]

J. R. GRAHAM

MARY TUCKER MAGILL was born August 21, 1830, at

"Hazlefield," in Jefferson County, now West Virginia; and died in Richmond, Virginia, April 29, 1899.

She came of distinguished ancestry. Her father, Alfred Thruston Magill, M.D., held the chair of medicine in the University of Virginia from 1833 until his death, in 1837, at the early age of thirtytwo years. Dr. Magill was the son of Colonel Charles Magill, an officer of the Revolution, a friend of Washington, a charter member of the Society of the Cincinnati, a district judge of the Federal Court, and for many years a leading lawyer and wealthy landowner of Frederick County, Virginia. His mother was the daughter of the Reverend (and Colonel) Charles Minn Thruston, who in 1776 left the ministry of the Church of England to take command of a regiment in the Colonial Army.

Miss Magill's mother was the eldest daughter of Henry St. George Tucker, presiding judge of the Court of Appeals of his State, and for many years the law professor of the University of Virginia. The late Hon. John Randolph Tucker was her uncle, and the present Bishops of the Diocese of Southern Virginia-Reverend A. M. Randolph and Reverend B. D. Tucker-are her cousins.

It may be said that our author's taste for literature came by inheritance. After the death of her gifted father, much of Miss Magill's early life was spent in the home of her grandparents, the Tuckers, at the University, and in Richmond; and in the schools of these places she was carefully educated. In the year 1848 Judge Tucker removed to Winchester, Virginia, and there Mrs. Magill and her family continued to reside until their home was broken up by the events of the Civil War.

From the beginning of that war the subject of this memoir ardently espoused the cause of the Confederacy; and like most of the ladies of Winchester, old and young, devoted herself to the relief and comfort of the sick and wounded of the army. Many Confederate soldiers, to this day, recall with gratitude her kindness to them in their suffering and need. When the Federal troops occupied the town, her zeal for the South attracted their notice, and in

the spring of 1863, in punishment for the imprudent use of her pen, she was sent under military escort through their lines. During the remainder of the war she served as clerk in a government department in Richmond.

The disasters of the war fell heavily on her family. Everything that the enemy did not destroy was invested in Confederate bonds; and when hostilities ceased almost every vestige of property had been swept away.

By the advice and with the aid and encouragement of friends, Mrs. Magill and her two (then) unmarried daughters opened in Winchester a boarding and day school for young ladies, the principal care and management of which devolved upon Miss Mary. For the responsibilities thus imposed, her strength of character and executive ability, combined with her own thorough education, admirably fitted her. This enterprise from the beginning was largely patronized and was eminently successful.

But our future author had already heard the call of the pen, and had begun her career as a writer. Her earliest efforts were limited to short articles-chiefly stories-which, as their merit became known, were eagerly taken by the literary journals and magazines of that day. The acceptance these fugitive pieces received, and the pleasure she herself took in this work, were allurements to larger undertakings. To this allurement she yielded; but in doing so much of her time was necessarily diverted from the duties of the school, of which she was practically the head; and, as these duties required her undivided attention, the school at length was given up and other employment secured that would allow more time for her literary pursuits. For a few years she taught in the Augusta Female Seminary at Staunton, Virginia. But there, too, she found her duties too exacting and resigned them for work in Washington, District of Columbia, which promised larger opportunities and better advantages for the employment of her pen. A few years later she removed to New York City, where the remainder of her active life was passed in giving lessons in elocution to private classes, lecturing on current events, and in other specialties.

During a part of this time Miss Magill traveled quite extensively; she made several trips to Europe, visiting nearly all places of special interest both in Great Britain and on the Continent. One summer was spent with friends on a ranch in California. A few years later she repeated her visit to the Pacific Coast, extending her trip to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, spending most of the summer and part of the autumn in careful study of the country and of the customs and characteristics of the natives. She had a wide acquaint

ance also with the older portions of our country, as there were few important places east of the Mississippi that she had not visited.

These visits were not made for pleasure merely, though she derived intense enjoyment from them. They were made mainly for that better equipment for literary work which personal observation and study would give. Her well-trained mind readily perceived whatever would most contribute to this end, and facts about persons, places, and events were carefully stored in her retentive memory to be afterward used for the gratification of her friends and the instruction of her classes. Much of the information gained by travel was given to the world in her published writings, which were widely read, and yet it was in her free and unrestrained intercourse with those who enjoyed her personal acquaintance that the most interesting and often amusing accounts of her observations and adventures were given; for in addition to being a woman of decided ability with her pen, Miss Magill was a brilliant talker. Her wide experience of the world, her careful observation of what she had seen, her command of language and of striking phrases, her keen wit and genial humor, and her copious fund of stories, made her an entertaining and accomplished raconteuse. To these attractive qualities, her sympathetic nature and the warmth of her friendship lent additional charms; and she was everywhere received as a welcome guest. In such demand were her visits that a considerable part of her time during the last few years of her life was spent in the homes of her many friends.

Among her numerous accomplishments Miss Magill's talent as an elocutionist should not be overlooked. In this attractive art her skill was quite remarkable and was early used for the entertainment of her friends. Later this gift was studiously cultivated, with such success that she employed it in various ways as a means of livelihood. Her repertoire embraced selections both humorous and pathetic. In the former, especially in "dialect" pieces, she excelled, her command of tones and her powers of imitation being of an order rarely surpassed.

It is a pleasure to add that the great intellectual activities of this gifted and beloved woman were crowned with a Christian character of rare strength and loveliness. In her youth she had consecrated herself to God; and the engrossing pursuits of her busy life, though attended by many trials, never weakened her faith in her divine Redeemer or disturbed her hope of acceptance with Him.

Quite early in her career her vision became seriously impaired. Frequent treatments for cataract and glaucoma by skilful oculists brought no material relief, and for many years her work was car