study of wisdom and knowledge, as the means of moral improvement, and real happiness. "I could wish," says she, "that all young persons might be exhorted to the practice of virtue, and to increase their knowledge by the study of philosophy, and more especially to read the great book of nature; wherein they may see the wisdom and the power of the Creator, in the order of the universe, and in the production and preservation of all things. That women are capable of such improvements, which will better their judgments and understandings, is past all doubt, would they but set about it in earnest, and spend but half of that time in study and thinking, which they do in visits, vanity and folly. It would introduce a composure of mind, and lay a solid basis for wisdom and knowledge, by which they would be better enabled to serve God, and to help their neighbours." On the monument erected to her memory, is the fol lowing inscription: Ann Baynard obiit Jun. 12, Ann. Etat. suæ 25, Christi 1697. O mortales! quotus quisque vestrum cogitat, In English.—Ann Baynard died on the 12th of June, in the twenty-fifth year of her age, and of Christ 1697. Mortals, how few among your race Have giv❜n this thought its weight, BEAUFORT-BERNERS. 13 BEAUFORT. COUNTESS D'HAUPOULT BEAUFORT, a late writer, whose works are said to be highly interesting in incident and style, has published “Childeric, king of the Franks,” in two volumes: "Severina," in six volumes: "Clementine, or the French Evelina," four volumes: "Arindal, or the Young Painter," two volumes: "Alexis and Constantine," two volumes, &c. Also "A course of Ancient and Modern literature for the use of young women," fourteen volumes. BERNERS. JULIANA BERNERS, one of the earliest female writers of England, and entitled to some notice in this work, was born about the year 1388. She received every advantage of education which the age afforded; and is, by various writers, celebrated for her accomplishments, learning, and uncommon endowments. She was nominated prioress of Sopewell nunnery, near St. Albans. Here she lived in high esteem. She was very beautiful, of great spirit, and loved masculine exercises, such as hawking, hunting, &c. She composed two treatises on hawking and heraldry, which were so much esteemed, as to have been published in the infancy of the art of printing. It was afterwards republished in 1481 and in 1486, in a small folio; and again, at Westminster by Wynkyn de Worde in 1496. The last impression of it was in 4to., London, 1595, bearing the following title: "The Gentleman's Academie, or the Book of St. Albans : B containing three most exact and excellent books, the first of Hawking, the second of all the proper terms of Hunting, and the last of Armory, all compiled by Juliana Berners." That part of her work which relates to hunting, is written in rhyme. The book on armory begins with the following curious piece of sacred heraldry: "Of the offspring of the gentilman Jafeth, come Habraham, Moyses, Aron, and the profettys; and also the kyng of the right lyne of Mary, of whom that gentilman Jhesus was borne, very God and man; after his manhode kynge of the land of Jude and of Jues, gentilman by his modre Mary, prince of cote armure, &c." At the sale of the library of the Duke of Roxburgh, an imperfect copy of Wynkyn de Worde's edition of this book sold for 147 pounds sterling. BOCCAGE. MARY ANN LE PAGE DU BOCCAGE, an eminent literary lady of France, and a member of the academies of Rome, Bologna, Padua, Lyons, and Rouen, was born at Rouen, Oct. 22, 1710. She was educated at Paris in the convent of the Assumption, where she made a very rapid progress in every branch of education. At a very early age she acquired a knowledge of the English language, and translated Pope's Temple of Fame into French. Afterwards she gave ample proof of her poetical talents, by gaining the first prize given by the academy of Rouen. This procured her the homage and the society of the most eminent wits and scholars of the day, and from this time she published nothing without her name. Having acquired an uncommon relish for the "Paradise Lost" of Milton, she translated a part of it into French, and was highly complimented by Voltaire on her success. She imitated also, but with much more success and more ease, Gesner's "Death of Abel." But her fame rests principally on an epic poem, entitled "The Columbiad, or Discovery of America," in ten cantos, which procured her the highest reputation from the literati of her own country. In 1750, she set out on her travels through England, Holland, and Italy, and published the result of them in "Letters" on her return. Her personal appearance procured her friends and admirers wherever she went; and when she again took up her residence in France, her house became the rendezvous of the most distinguished men of genius of the age, all of whom she survived. She indeed outlived two ages of literature, the latter of which was shortened by the horrors of revolutionary cruelty, from which by some means she was enabled to escape. She died, August 10, 1802, at the very advanced age of ninety-two. Her private life is represented as exceedingly amiable, and her accomplishments, taste, and manners of the highest order. Her works are printed in three volumes, 8vo. BROOKE. FRANCES BROOKE, whose maiden name was More, was the daughter of a learned divine, and the wife of the Rev. John Brooke. This lady was no less admired for the suavity and gentleness of her manners, than for the various talents she possessed. Her first literary performance was a periodical work, entitled "The Old Maid," which has since been printed in one volume. In 1756 she published “Virginia,” a tragedy, and in 1763 the novel of "Lady Juliet Mandeville," which excited considerable attention. She is also the author of "Lady Catesby's letters to her Friends;" "Emily Montague;" "Lady Henrietta Compley," translated from the French; "Memoirs of the Marquis of St. Forlaix," four vols. ; "Excursion," two vols.; "Siege of Sinope," a tragedy; "Elements of the History of England;" "Rosina and Marian," musical dramas, the former of which claims the pre-eminence, and is still popular. The domestic happiness which subsisted between Mrs. Brooke and her husband was of the most tender and lasting kind; and when death put a period to his existence, she survived his loss only a few days. He expired the twentyfirst and she the twenty-sixth of January, 1789. BURY. ELIZABETH BURY. This learned and pious lady was born in England about the year 1664, and was the only daughter of - Lawrence, Esq. Her genius led her to the study of almost every thing; and, having a fine understanding, accompanied with a faithful and retentive memory, she soon became a proficient in whatever part of knowledge she was desirous to attain. She commonly entertained herself with philology, philosophy, and ancient and modern history; sometimes with music, vocal and instrumental; some |