Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/140

126 esteemed for her great qualities, her learning, and agreeable manner of writing. She had studied her language with care, and wrote equally well in verse and prose.

of many useful works, but more particularly, of an eloquent discourse, which won the prize at the academy of Nancy, her native place, on the question, "Whether it would be most useful, in this age, to write a work purely on literature or morality?" Mademoiselle Bermann, then only eighteen years of age, decided for the latter, with much good sense and solid reasoning, conveyed in eloquent language. She received the most distinguished marks of approbation; and her portrait is still to be seen in the great hall of that society. F. C. &c.

to have inherited her wit and elegant taste, for she was nearly related to those great models of French poetry Corneille and Fontenelle, with whom she constantly corresponded. It has been supposed, that, in her dramatic writings, she received assistance from the latter: however that may be, his friendship was an honour, and her fine abilities were conspicuous in many things in which she must have depended on herself. She