ANECDOTES OF ILLUSTRIOUS FEMALES.

were first performed, after the Queen's arrival in this country, it cannot be supposed that she was sufficiently acquainted with our language to be able to declaim in

it.

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The total suppression of cathedral service in 1643, gave sacred music a severe wound; it checked its cultivation, and seemed almost to annihilate the power of restoring it, as all the church books were destroyed, as well as those of the Roman church, which had been retained since the reformation. Nothing but a monotonous psal

In 1634, Ben Jonson wrote an entertain. ment entitled Love's Welcome, and which was represented before their Majesties at Bolsover, the seat of the Earl of Newcastle.mody was to be heard in religious meetings;

The same year furnished a memorable era in the annals of music and poetry, by its having given birth to the masque of Comus, written by Milton, and set by Henry Lawes, who performed in it the part of Thyrsis. The masque was dedicated to Lord Viscount Brackley, who had performed the part of the Elder Brother, at Ludlow Castle: this young nobleman was only twelve years of age when it was first exhibited; his brother Thomas, who played the Second Brother, was still younger; and Lady Alice Egerton, who acted the part of the Lady in Comus, was but thirteen. At Gaddesden, in Hertfordshire, the monuments of all these illustrious performers are still to be seen.

organs were taken out of the churches, organists and choir-men turned adrift, and the whole art of music totally discouraged. This accounts for the barbarism into which music was plunged during the reign of James I. and that of his son Charles. A perpetual struggle took place between privilege and prerogative, democracy and tyranny: the crown was cautious of granting too much, and the people, almost all puritans and levellers, were determined not to be satisfied with any thing that was offered.

No war is so fatal to the progress of the fine arts as civil war; the sword then is sharpened by personal hatred: and this civil war was fomenting all the time the father of the martyred Charles was on the throne. The best musicians, during the triumph of the puritans, gained a scanty subsistence by private teaching: in the tranquil part of the reign of Charles I. they lived chiefly on the munificence of their sovereign, and on their household and chapel salaries. For they had not the

In the eleventh year of the reign of Charles I. his Majesty granted a very extensive charter to all the most eminent musicians living at the time, incorporating them by the style and titles of Marshal, Wardens, and Commonalty of the art and science of Musick in Westminster, in the county of Middlesex ; investing them with various extraordinary powers and privi-summer amusements of Vauxhall, or other

leges, which charter he confirmed in the fourteenth year of his reign.

public gardens, to resort to as an amelioration of their incomes.

ANECDOTES OF ILLUSTRIOUS FEMALES.

MARIA LOUISA, CI-DEVANT EMPRESS OF

FRANCE.

To a native dignity of mind, and a high sense of her illustrious birth, Maria Louisa united great sweetness of disposition and real tenderness for the feelings of others. One day while she was dressing for a grand court party, she asked for her diamonds. The lady who had the charge of her jewels searched in vain for the key of the casket in which the diamonds were kept, aud she, at length, confessed she could not find it. "Well, well," said Maria Louisa, in a tone

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which expressed some degree of displeasure, " let me have my pearls then." The pearl ornaments were no sooner put on than the Emperor entered. He asked her why she did not wear her diamonds? The little feeling of ill humour was over, and the Empress, instead of returning a direct answer, said, "Do I not look well as I am?"-" Oh! very well; you always look well," and the conversation was changed to another subject. Maria Louisa knew but too well the irascible temper of her husband, and was fearful of what might happen to the lady for this neglect.-Maria || walking in the Jardin des Plantes, the

Louisa possessed every amiable quality to endear her to those who intimately knew her, but she wanted that easy familiarity which, in France, serves to seduce the multitude. One evening when she was at the Theatre Français, a lady ventured to tell her that the audience was dissappointed at not seeing her, as she remained at the back of her box.-" What signifies that?" exclaimed Madame de Montebello, and continued to remark that her Majesty did not come there to be exhibited like a curiosity at a fair. These counsels caused the young Princess to appear in public with an air of lassitude and restraint: and to use the expressive sentence from the interesting publication from whence we have partly gleaned and abridged these anecdotes, "She froze the hearts which would have burned for love of her."-She conceived a sort of jealousy for Josephine, because she heard her unceasingly extolled for her charity and benevolence, and she was displeased whenever she heard her name mentioned. Yet the young Empress was very charitable; but she suffered herself to be deceived in the objects of her bounty. Josephine's lady of honour always superintended the application of her mistress's charity, and a small sum of money restored many families | replied the Empress, " a serious, thinking

gardener came up and returned thanks for the two hundred franks he had received from her Majesty: this fraud was overlooked, like many others, and thus the poor were deprived of the bounty the Empress intended they should enjoy.

Yet the coldness of Maria Louisa's character, when not among her intimate friends, was so notorious that she has been reproached with extending it to her own || child.

to life and happiness. Maria Louisa deducted from the allowance made her for her toilette, a monthly sum of ten thousand franks for the poor: this was double the amount of what Josephine devoted to the same purpose; but unfortunately the business of dispensing it was left to Madame de Montebello's secretary, who was devoid of principle, delicacy, or prudence, and therefore appropriated to his own use a large portion of the money intrusted to his charge. One day when Maria Louisa had been to visit the Jardins des Plantes, she desired Madame de Montebello to present five hundred franks to the gardener; the secretary had orders to deliver them. A few days afterwards, as the Duchess was

Napoleon once complained to Maria Louisa of the conduct of her mother-inlaw and the Archdukes towards him: "As to the Emperor," added he, "I say nothing of him; he is a ganache (a stupid fellow)." Maria Louisa was not sufficiently versed in modern French to understand him, and asked her attendants what it meant? None of them durst venture to explain, and they told her it meant a serious reflecting man. She did not forget the term, and often used it in a very diverting way. Having once remarked in council, that Cambaceres did not utter a word, she said, "I should like to have your opinion on this business, Sir, for I know you are a ganache!"-At this compliment Cambaceres stared, and repeated in a low voice, "Ganache!"-"Yes,"

sort of man."-No one made any reply, and the discussion proceeded: this was at the time when Maria Louisa was appointed Regent.

Her perfidious advisers had prevented her accompanying her husband in his exile to Elba: only one of her ladies ventured to tell her that duty and honour required her not to quit him.-"You are the only person, Madame, who has told me so," said Maria Louisa; "all my friends, and particularly M. Caulaincourt, are of a different opinion."-" Madame," replied the lady, "I am, perhaps, the only one who does not betray your Majesty."The advice, however, was not attended

CHARACTERS OF CELEBRATED FRENCH WOMEN.

CHARACTERS OF CELEBRATED FRENCH WOMEN.

MADAME DE MONTEBELLO.

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apartment for nine days, without quitting her for a moment, reposing on a couch in the chamber of her mistress, and evincing the most tender care, anxiety, and attention during the painful and protracted labour.

Bonaparte was mightily attached to etiquette; and Madame de Montebello would often laugh with Maria Louisa at what she, the Duchess, called his long sermons, seldom giving him any other name than Monsieur Etiquette.

THIS female, who had risen from one of the inferior classes in France, was appointed first dame d'honneur to Maria Louisa on her marriage with Napoleon. To the countenance of a Madona she united extreme gentleness of manners, and was generally pleasing, though her natural character was cold and reserved. She delicately participated in the feelings of her royal mistress, sympathized with her, consoled her, and so completely insinuated herself Two parties then divided the court of into her confidence and favour, that the France, that of the old nobility, and of young Empress seemed only to exist in her those sprung from the revolution: from presence. Dreading the influence of the what has already been stated of Madame Queen of Naples, Madame de Montebello de Montebello it may easily be judged that put in practice every art to prejudice Maria she was the very life and soul of the second Louisa against her, exaggerating her errors party; and though her character was cold, and charging her with those of which she she was warm and hasty in her temper, was innocent. The most unfavourable trait and on some occasions made no attempt to in the character of the Duchess was that disguise her feelings, as may be seen by envy too often inseparable from vulgar the manner in which she spoke to her royal minds. Whenever her mistress seemed to mistress after the departure of Bonaparte distinguish any one she immediately became for Elba; some arguments having taken the object of the Duchess de Montebello's place relative to the propriety of Maria calumny and scandal. The Empress was Louisa accompanying her husband, Mayoung and credulous, and she was wrought dame de Montebello exclaimed, "I am upon to believe Madame de Montebello heartily tired of all this: I wish I were was the only youthful female of irreproach- once again quietly settled with my children able character at court: we leave the in my little house in the Rue d'Enfer!"reader to judge what that character was "It is unkind of you to tell me that, in reality. Though receiving continually Duchess," said the Empress, bursting into the most costly presents from her munifi- tears. The Duchess, however, declared, cent patroness, far from manifesting any that whatever might happen she was desentiments of gratitude, she was presump- termined not to go to Elba. And it was tuous enough to complain of the slavery always thought that she joined the plot and confinement to which she submitted, for separating Maria Louisa from her husas, she said, merely for the welfare of herband, lest she should be, in a manner, children. compelled to accompany her-a sacrifice Such a woman could not be supposed to by no means accordant with the character be without enemies in an intriguing court. || of Madaine de Montebello.

Having obtained leave of absence on account of her health, her enemies availed themselves of this circumstance to propagate a report that she had retired to conceal the consequences of which Napoleon was the author.

The birth of the young Napoleon placed her character in the fairest light, as she appeared to be actuated by real attachment to the Empress. She remained in her

It has been remarked above that on some occasions she scorned to disguise her sentiments, and had a strange affectation of ignorance when it suited her purpose. Dining one Friday with Cardinal Caprara, she refused every thing that was offered her at table. His eminence asked her if she had lost her appetite?" No, my Lord," replied she; "but I see only fish and eggs, and I eat nothing but carnivorous animals!" HISTORICAL AND SELECT ANECDOTES.

ANECDOTE OF FREDERIC THE GREAT.

On the death of one of his chaplains, Frederic was desirous of replacing him by a man of talent, and he took the following method to ascertain the candidate's qualifications. He told the applicant that he would himself furnish him a text to preach extempore from the following Sunday. The clergyman accepted the offer; and the whim of such a sermon was spread widely abroad, while at a very early hour the chapel royal was crowded to excess. The King arrived just at the conclusion of the prayers, and on the clergyman's ascending the pulpit one of his Majesty's aides-decamp presented him a sealed letter. The preacher opened it, and found nothing but a piece of blank paper: he lost not, however, his presence of mind on this critical occasion; but turning the paper about on both sides, he said, "My brethren, here is nothing, and there is nothing; out of nothing God created all things;" and he then proceeded to deliver a most admirable sermon on the wonders of creation.

ANECDOTE OF LOUIS BONAPARTE.

THIS young man always bore a good character; particularly for continued acts of charity and benevolence. The most amiable trait in his conduct is his particular attention to distressed artists. Under such circumstances Louis is sure to become a purchaser; and, when at Naples, was the constant patron of modest and suffering merit. At the time that his brother Na. poleon quitted Elba, he was much agitated, and pathetically exclaimed, "Mon Dieu! ne trouverai-je donc pas un asyle pour vivre tranquille?"

ANECDOTES OF YOUNG NAPOLEON.

As soon as young Napoleon could speak, he, like most other children, was very fond of asking questions. He was always much diverted by looking at the people in the garden of the Thuilleries, who frequently collected under his windows to obtain a sight of him. He soon remarked that many persons entered the palace with rolls of paper under their arms, and he asked his governess what it meant? She

informed him they were unfortunate persons who came to solicit some favour of his father. From that time, whenever he saw a person with a petition, he cried, and let no one rest till it was brought to bim, and he never failed to present to his father, at breakfast, whatever he had collected the preceding day.

He one day observed a woman in mourn ing under his window, with a little boy, who was also dressed in mourning: the child held up a petition to the young Prince, who immediately inquired why the poor little boy was dressed in black? His governess replied, that it was doubtless because his father was dead; and on young Napoleon expressing a wish to speak to the child, they were called in, and the lady proved to be a widow whose husband had fallen in battle, and came to solicit a pension. Young Napoleon presented her petition to his father, saying, " Here is a pe, tition from a very unfortunate little boy; you have been the cause of his father's death, he has nothing in the world left; pray grant him a pension."-Napoleon granted it.

ANECDOTE OF THE DUKE OF BASSANO.

THOUGH charged with the diplomatic affairs, at one time, of Europe, he was enslaved by the charms of a handsome young Countess; who, at first, treated him with the greatest severity; till, weary of his importunities, she planned a ruse de guerre to get rid of him, and seemed to relax from her former rigidity.

One evening the Duke received a note from her, informing him her husband was from home, and that she would have for him a tête-à-tête supper at half past ten. Maret presented himself at the garden door, where a waiting maid was stationed who led him silently and mysteriously into the apartment of the Countess. An ele gant collation was served up, without any servant making his appearance; the wait. ing maid brought in and carried out the dishes; the last of which disappearing, Maret was left with his fair enslaver. A loud knocking was soon heard at the door. " Who can possibly knock at such an

THE GLEANER'S PORTE-FOLIO.

hour?" said the Countess. The waiting maid ran in, crying out, "It is M. le Compte, Madame, M. le Compte!"-" My husband," said the lady, " is as jealous as a tiger; we are lost. Hide yourself; per-colleagues supped at Madame Tallien's;

THE GLEANER'S PORTE-FOLIO;

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