husband and children if they were willing to give her up. They evaded the question; but she in direct terms informed them, that she had sometimes felt a repugnance to death on their accounts, but assured them, that God had now made her entirely willing to give them all up, and in about an hour after expired. Her letters, &c. have been published in one volume, 18mo.

ROBINSON.

MARY ROBINSON, distinguished for her talents as a writer, was descended from a respectable and ancient Irish family. Her father, Mr. Darby, was nephew of the celebrated philosopher Dr. Franklin. She received the first rudiments of her education at Bristol, the place of her birth, and gave many striking specimens of future genius, by an early and astonishing admiration of letters, of which poetry seemed her favourite study. At six years of age, she could write with a feeling far beyond her years, and a degree of propriety which never could have been instilled into her young imagination by a country school, had not the dawn of poetical inspiration, which has since burst forth with so much splendour, already begun to display its influence over the mind of the infant poet. At ten years of age she removed to London, and in five years afterwards she married Mr. Robinson, a student in Lincoln's Inn. This hasty match, of which love was only the basis, was, as may be supposed, attended by misfortunes. After undergoing a variety of vicissitudes, she resorted to the stage for a

living, and for more than three years she performed at Drury Lane theatre. In the spring of 1783, she was attacked with a violent and dangerous fever, which terminated in a rheumatic fever, and reduced her to the feebleness of an infant, which obliged her to be carried in the arms of her attendants to the last moment of her life.

After trying every expedient for the purpose of relief, and finding all ineffectual, she resigned herself to her affliction, and once more resorted to the muse for consolation. In the year 1790, she produced her first prose work, entitled "Vancenza, or the Dangers of Credulity," the whole edition of which was disposed of in one day, and it has since gone through ten editions. Shortly after this publication, at the request of her literary friends, among whom were Edmund Burke and Sir Joshua Reynolds, she was prevailed upon to publish her poetical works, which exhibit splendid proofs of her talents. She afterwards published "The Widow," a novel, in two volumes; " Angelina," a novel; "Hubert de Sevrac," a romance; 66 Walsingham;" "The False Friend," and "The Natural Daughter," 'all of which rank among the first publications of their kind.

She continued thus growing in literary fame till the moment of her decease, which took place in the month of February, 1796.

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ROLAND.

MADAME ROLAND, whose maiden name was Philipon, was the daughter of an engraver of Paris, who had acquired a considerable fortune by his trade. At an early period of life, she displayed symptoms of that strength of understanding, which was evinced in so extraordinary a manner as she increased in years. She received the instructions of her various masters with a quickness of apprehension which made them anxious to impart to their pupil the knowledge they had obtained, and when she had made herself complete mistress of all they were capable of teaching her, they desired permission to visit at her house as friends, merely for the pleasure of conversing with her. The perfect symmetry of her form, the dignity of her manners, and her great acquirements, procured her many admirers, who were eager to obtain her hand in marriage. But this happiness was reserved for Monsieur Roland, to whom she was afterwards united. Her first year of marriage was spent in Paris, and during this period she assisted him in his literary occupations; as great part of the New Encyclopedia was the production of his pen. She wrote early and late to facilitate its execution, yet neither neglected her family concerns or her child. In the year 1784, they made the tour of England together; and, in 1787, they travelled through Switzerland. Her observations upon the country and people, have been given in her memoirs, to which I refer my readers for variety of interesting and entertaining remarks. Mons. Roland having been made

inspector of commerce and manufactures in the generality of Lyons, his wife, even then, aided him in the employ. About this time, also, he formed a connexion with Brissot to publish a paper, which was afterwards written with all the ardour and spirit of freedom that inspired the ancient heroes of Rome. During the time that he filled his official station under government, he conducted himself with that inflexible regard to justice, that obtained him the highest applause. He was afterwards elected a member of the municipality, and corrected many abuses in the administration of public affairs. On the 29th of February, 1791, he arrived with his family at Paris, after an absence of five years; then it was he became acquainted with Brissot, Carzales, Barere, and Robespierre. Soon after this, he was raised to the important station of minister of the home department; Brissot and Dumouriez were his colleagues; and, upon his first appointment, it appears that he was sincerely attached to the king. Too soon, however, an alteration took place in his sentiments; he openly disapproved the measures which were pursued; the public weal appeared to him to be in danger, and he thought it incumbent upon him, either to provide for the general safety, or relinquish his post. After mature deliberation, he addressed a letter to the king, which was followed by his discharge from office. After the revolution of the 10th of August, he, however, was again recalled. I must now pass over the eventful scenes which followed, and merely say, that he experienced those vicissitudes which are attached to human life; for, from being the favourite of the people, he became inimical to them, and had he not fled from their resentment, he

doubtless would have been guillotined. The most unjust censures were not only thrown upon the conduct of the ex-minister, but his wife was made a sharer of his disgrace; she was accused of spending the public money in sumptuous entertainments, though she never gave a dinner more than twice a week; the utmost economy was observed on these occasions, and her guests were never treated with more than one course. For three months previous to the arrestation of this undaunted woman, she was advised by her friends to secure her own and her daughter's safety by retreat, but she entertained an idea, that it was only for the guilty to avail themselves of flight. Upon the revolutionary committee issuing a warrant for apprehending her husband, she drove to the national assembly, to represent the injustice of the proceeding, and to demand their interference in his cause; and, though she could not obtain admission, she expressed her sentiments to those members whom she accidentally saw. Upon returning home late in the evening, a man, unperceived by the porter, slipped into the house, and demanded to see Mons. Roland, who had fortunately escaped at the back door. About midnight, a large body of men surrounded her mansion, and demanded Mons. Roland, but after searching the house, they went away dissatisfied, leaving a centinel at her door. After finishing a letter, which she was writing when they entered, she retired to her bed, but was soon roused from her peaceful slumbers by the entrance of her maid. Without any appearance of alarm, she arose and dressed herself with the nicest care, entered the apartment with an undismayed countenance, and demanded what business they had with her.

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