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The Napiers were blessed in both parents； but especially in their
mother； Lady Sarah Lennox； who early sought to inspire her sons'
minds with elevating thoughts； admiration of noble deeds； and a
chivalrous spirit； which became embodied in their lives； and
continued to sustain them； until death； in the path of duty
and of honour。
Among statesmen； lawyers； and divines； we find marked mention made
of the mothers of Lord Chancellors Bacon； Erskine； and Brougham
all women of great ability； and； in the case of the first； of
great learning； as well as of the mothers of Canning； Curran； and
President Adamsof Herbert； Paley； and Wesley。 Lord Brougham
speaks in terms almost approaching reverence of his grandmother；
the sister of Professor Robertson； as having been mainly
instrumental in instilling into his mind a strong desire for
information； and the first principles of that persevering energy
in the pursuit of every kind of knowledge which formed his
prominent characteristic throughout life。
Canning's mother was an Irishwoman of great natural ability； for
whom her gifted son entertained the greatest love and respect to
the close of his career。 She was a woman of no ordinary
intellectual power。 〃Indeed；〃 says Canning's biographer； 〃were we
not otherwise assured of the fact from direct sources； it would be
impossible to contemplate his profound and touching devotion to
her； without being led to conclude that the object of such
unchanging attachment must have been possessed of rare and
commanding qualities。 She was esteemed by the circle in which she
lived； as a woman of great mental energy。 Her conversation was
animated and vigorous； and marked by a distinct originality of
manner and a choice of topics fresh and striking； and out of the
commonplace routine。 To persons who were but slightly acquainted
with her； the energy of her manner had even something of the air
of eccentricity。〃 （9）
Curran speaks with great affection of his mother； as a woman of
strong original understanding； to whose wise counsel； consistent
piety； and lessons of honourable ambition； which she diligently
enforced on the minds of her children； he himself principally
attributed his success in life。 〃The only inheritance；〃 he used
to say； 〃that I could boast of from my poor father； was the very
scanty one of an unattractive face and person； like his own； and
if the world has ever attributed to me something more valuable
than face or person； or than earthly wealth； it was that another
and a dearer parent gave her child a portion from the treasure
of her mind。〃 （10）
When ex…President Adams was present at the examination of a girls'
school at Boston； he was presented by the pupils with an address
which deeply affected him； and in acknowledging it； he took the
opportunity of referring to the lasting influence which womanly
training and association had exercised upon his own life and
character。 〃As a child；〃 he said； 〃I enjoyed perhaps the greatest
of blessings that can be bestowed on manthat of a mother； who
was anxious and capable to form the characters of her children
rightly。 From her I derived whatever instruction （religious
especially； and moral） has pervaded a long lifeI will not say
perfectly； or as it ought to be； but I will say； because it is
only justice to the memory of her I revere； that； in the course of
that life； whatever imperfection there has been； or deviation from
what she taught me； the fault is mine； and not hers。〃
The Wesleys were peculiarly linked to their parents by natural
piety； though the mother； rather than the father； influenced their
minds and developed their characters。 The father was a man of
strong will； but occasionally harsh and tyrannical in his dealings
with his family； （11） while the mother； with much strength of
understanding and ardent love of truth； was gentle； persuasive；
affectionate； and simple。 She was the teacher and cheerful
companion of her children； who gradually became moulded by her
example。 It was through the bias given by her to her sons' minds
in religious matters that they acquired the tendency which； even
in early years； drew to them the name of Methodists。 In a letter
to her son； Samuel Wesley； when a scholar at Westminster in 1709；
she said： 〃I would advise you as much as possible to throw your
business into a certain METHOD； by which means you will learn to
improve every precious moment； and find an unspeakable facility in
the performance of your respective duties。〃 This 〃method〃 she went
on to describe； exhorting her son 〃in all things to act upon
principle；〃 and the society which the brothers John and Charles
afterwards founded at Oxford is supposed to have been in a great
measure the result of her exhortations。
In the case of poets； literary men； and artists； the influence of
the mother's feeling and taste has doubtless had great effect in
directing the genius of their sons； and we find this especially
illustrated in the lives of Gray； Thomson； Scott； Southey； Bulwer；
Schiller； and Goethe。 Gray inherited； almost complete； his kind
and loving nature from his mother； while his father was harsh and
unamiable。 Gray was； in fact； a feminine manshy； reserved； and
wanting in energy；but thoroughly irreproachable in life and
character。 The poet's mother maintained the family； after her
unworthy husband had deserted her； and； at her death； Gray placed
on her grave； in Stoke Pogis； an epitaph describing her as 〃the
careful tender mother of many children； one of whom alone had the
misfortune to survive her。〃 The poet himself was； at his own
desire； interred beside her worshipped grave。
Goethe； like Schiller； owed the bias of his mind and character to
his mother； who was a woman of extraordinary gifts。 She was full
of joyous flowing mother…wit； and possessed in a high degree the
art of stimulating young and active minds； instructing them in the
science of life out of the treasures of her abundant experience。 （12）
After a lengthened interview with her； an enthusiastic traveller
said； 〃Now do I understand how Goethe has become the man he is。〃
Goethe himself affectionately cherished her memory。 〃She was
worthy of life！〃 he once said of her； and when he visited
Frankfort； he sought out every individual who had been kind to his
mother； and thanked them all。
It was Ary Scheffer's motherwhose beautiful features the
painter so loved to reproduce in his pictures of Beatrice； St。
Monica； and others of his worksthat encouraged his study of
art； and by great self…denial provided him with the means of
pursuing it。 While living at Dordrecht； in Holland； she first
sent him to Lille to study； and afterwards to Paris； and her
letters to him； while absent； were always full of sound motherly
advice； and affectionate womanly sympathy。 〃If you could but see
me；〃 she wrote on one occasion； 〃kissing your picture； then； after
a while； taking it up again； and； with a tear