my own reserved. I can with truth say, that I was born modest * and discreet, while pride has preserved in me these qualities. I am not only proud but indolent; and these defects have been productive of others. I take no pains to court favour; not even by flattery. I neither trouble myself to seek pleasure nor amusement; yet, to those who are at the pains to procure them for me, I hold myself greatly obliged. I appear lively and gay, but in moderation. I take care to offend no persons, unless they wilfully draw it upon themselves; and even then I avenge myself by raillery rather than by serious anger. I detest mimics, who begin with their enemies, and end with their best friends. I have no turn for intrigue; yet, should I engage in one, I am convinced I should conduct myself with prudence and discretion. I am resolute, persevering to obstinacy, and secret to excess. In one respect I own myself the most unjust of human beings: I wish evil to those who conform not to my desires. Such as are desirous of forming a friendship with me, must be at the trouble of making all the advances in return, I make them amends, * This appears not perfectly evident from the lady's account of herself. . and omit no opportunity of doing them service; I defend them against their adversaries, I speak in their praise, and sanction nothing which might prove detrimental to their interest. Time, which effaces impressions from the minds of others, gives strength to mine. I am truly disinterested, but not easily duped. I never choose a friend because he can do me service; but should he neglect the opportunity when it occurs, I regard him no longer; he forfeits my friendship. I have not sufficient virtue to disregard wealth and honours, but enough to be satisfied and resigned to my lot. To say truth, I am neither good nor bad enough to serve myself. I am not devout; though I have through life desired to become so. I am greatly affected by the merit of others, and apt to overrate my own; but my presumption * extends but to the qualities of the heart. I am long in deliberating; but, when once resolved, it is difficult to divert me from my purpose. I strictly observe a promise, and do not easily pardon a breach of faith in others. In asking favours for myself, I cannot persist; I had rather resign my expectations, than obtain them by servility. My attach * To this the reader perhaps may not quite agree, ment and fidelity are secured by gratitude rather than by hope. Many of my faults proceed from pride; none from meanness. If unable to conquer the pride which governs my actions, I direct it to those purposes which capacitate me to appear without blushing." Confessions of this nature, notwithstanding the vanity and egotism they may display, are always interesting. Madame de Bregy preserved her charms and her talents to an advanced age, and died at Paris, April 3d, 1693. She was interred with her husband at St. Gervais, and an epitaph inscribed over their remains. Dictionnaire Historique des Femmes Célébres-Ann Thicknesse's Sketches of the Lives and Writings of the Ladies of France. MARCHIONESS DE CHATELET. GABRIELLE-EMILIE DE BRETEUIL, marquise de Chatelet, descended from an ancient family of Picardy, was born on the 17th of December, 1706. While yet in early youth, she discovered uncommon capacity and vigor of mind. Captivated by the charms of poetry, she studied in their own. language the first poets both of ancient and mo dern times. Homer, Virgil, Tasso, and Milton, became familiar to her: her ear was peculiarly sensible to the power of harmony, both in poetical and prose compositions. As she advanced towards maturity, she was led by an acute and comprehensive mind to the study of the severer sciences: her attention was particularly engaged by the mathematics, to which for a time she wholly devoted herself. She may be said to have rivalled Newton and Leibnitz. Her "Institutes of Physic," which she addressed to her son, is a commentary on the philosophy of Leibnitz, which she cleared from its obscurity, and rendered more intelligible. The introduction to this work was praised by the learned as a master-piece of eloquence and reasoning. It does not appear that she was a disciple of this philosopher, whose system of "Monades and Pre-established Harmony," she professes only to regard as ingenious. She held in the same estimation the “Elements" of Descartes. She composed also a treatise on the nature of fire, which was published in 8vo. She likewise entered into a course of study of the works of Newton, which are written in Latin, and on which she published a Commentary, entitled "Principes Mathematiques de la Philosophie Naturelle," in two volumes, 4to. ; a work which is considered as a chef-d'œuvre. Intense application wasted her strength, debilitated her frame, and gradually conducted her to a premature grave. She studied with Voltaire the principles of Newton, at Cirey, in Champagne; where, having retired together, to avoid interruption, they resided for several years. Mr. Koenig, an eminent mathematician, spent two years with them in this retreat. Voltaire caused a gallery to be erected at Cirey, where their experiments on light and electricity were performed. In the midst of these profound occupations, madame de Chatelet preserved her predeliction for poetry, of which she was an exquisite judge. Voltaire went from Cirey to Brussels, to solicit a suit which had been long pending between the family of de Chatelet and the house of Honsbrouk; and which menaced both with ruin. This affair was happily accommodated by the joint exertions of Voltaire, with M. Raesfeld, president of Cleves, on the condition, that an hundred and thirty thousand French livres should be paid to the marquis de Chatelet. * The study of an abstract science in a dead language, it must be allowed, requires no common powers of mind. |