settled as minister over the religions society in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, and whose Biography was but a few years ago published.

We have no reason to believe, however, that either of these persons was
her earliest choice, especially the latter, or that, in this case most
certainly, there could have been at all that sacred congeniality of
spirit so deeply necessary to woman's nature, bearing out from her bosom
that deathless affection which nor pride, nor affluence, nor folly, nor
love of conquest, with the victory every where certain, could in any
wise overcome.

The feeling that existed on her part was of circumstances only,
influenced by strong parental predilection, and the desire which so
often obtains in the heart of a true woman--that of soothing the love
she cannot return, resolving itself at length into pity.

We might here also dwell upon the idiosyncrasies of genius as applicable
to her case, which are generally banned, of whatever character they may
be, and evermore shut out all sympathy, till, in despair or despite,
folly is made crime. But since sin must ever be arraigned for itself,
and error is prone to plead for mercy, I leave no word here that can be
misconstrued or misapplied. Certain it is that Elizabeth Whitman was
marked as one of strangely fluctuating moods, as the truly gifted ever
are, and of a wild, incomprehensible nature, little understood by those
who should have known her best, and with whom she was most intimate.
Over this, in tracing her history, it were well to pause, were it not
that thus we might give countenance to this prominent fact of modern
days, that the eccentricities of genius are often substituted for genius
itself, or are made its prime characteristics, as the gold of the
jeweller is recommended for its beauty and strength in proportion to its