Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/247

Rh works; a regulation not less prudent than humane, since it renders their punishment of some advantage to the state."

of Christian Augustus, prince of Anhalt–Zerbst, and born at Stettin, in the king of Prussia's dominions, May 2, 1729. Her name, at that time, was Sophia Augusta Frederica. A lady of quality, who frequently saw her, describes her in the following manner. "Her deportment, at that time, was remarkably good; she grew uncommonly handsome, and was a great girl for her years. Her countenance, without being beautiful, was very agreeable: to which the peculiar gaiety and friendliness which she ever displayed gave additional charms. Her education was conducted by her mother alone, who kept her strictly, and never suffered her to shew the least symptom of pride, to which she had some propensity; accustoming her, from her earliest infancy, to salute the ladies of distinction who came to visit the princess, with the marks of respect that became a child."

She lived till her fifteenth year alternately in Stettin, and in Dornburg or Zerbst, always accompanying her mother on little journies to Berlin, and different places in Germany, which contributed much to form her mind and manners. She was early addicted to reading and employment. At Brunswick, in 1743, she was duly instructed in the doctrines of the Lutheran religion, by the