Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/719

Rh  of her jewels and a few legacies, she disposed of in favour of her brother.

Her Memoirs, written by herself, and published after her death, draw in a very lively and entertaining manner, the picture of the court of Lewis XV: They attribute to her the encouragement given to the porcelain manufactory. If Madame de Pompadour would have made her influence felt this way alone, it would have been well; but she would govern, and she had not the sensibility and love of real glory of Agnes Sorel. Her choice of ministers was directed by such motives as could not render them happy ones, and France might well ask of her, her Well-Beloved before she knew him, for they were not the same. Some people believe that she rendered France a great benefit by the expulsion of the Jesuits; which was her work, and that of M. de Choiseul. Some lament it; and think the revolution would never have happened, had it not taken place.

herself very much to the study of philosophy, and gave strong proofs of an exalted courage; for guessing that Brutus, her husband, was preparing for some grand enterprize, she cut herself with a knife, to try, by her constancy and patience in suffering pain, whether she could keep a secret. At which