Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/344

 All this has an air of ostentation which seldom accompanies real sensibility; but the subsequent conduct of the lady was entirely consistent with her first demonstrations. She turned a deaf ear to many suitors who sought her hand, and devoted herself to the education of her two sons, and the administration of their property. Her labours were crowned with remarkable success; the one becoming a distinguished general, highly valued by his sovereign; the other a cardinal, eminent for piety and learning. Her leisure, in the meantime, was employed in the study, not only of elegant literature, but of theology and philosophy. Her brother Uberto, being made governor of Bologna, in 1528, by Clement the Seventh, she removed her residence to that city, where she frequently entertained at her house the eminent literati of the day. She enjoyed the highest esteem among her contemporaries; and appears to have been as remarkable for her virtues as for her knowledge. Her works consist of a collection of elegant letters, and many poems, some of which are on religious subjects.

GARRICK, EVA MARIA, of the celebrated David Garrick, was born at Vienna, February 29th., 1725. Her maiden name was Viegel, under which appellation she attracted the notice of Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, as a dancer, and by her command changed it to Violette, a translation of an anagram of her name. In 1744, she arrived in England, bringing with her a letter from the Countess of Stahremberg to the Countess of Burlington, who received her as an inmate of Burlington-house, and treated her with the greatest affection. Tills circumstance gave rise to a very general but erroneous idea, that Eva or Violette was a natural daughter of the earl's, born before his marriage with the countess; but the dates of the respective events prove the inaccuracy of the supposition. While under the protection of this noble family, Mademoiselle Violette formed an attachment with David Garrick, and on the 22nd. of June, 1749, the nuptials were celebrated, with the sanction of the earl and countess; a marriage portion of six thousand pounds being bestowed upon the bride by the former. In 1751 and in 1763, Mrs. Garrick accompanied her husband to the continents and in 1769, the Journals of the day speak highly of the grace and elegance displayed by her at the Stratford jubilee. After the death of her husband, though strongly solicited by several persons of rank and fortune, (among others by the learned Lord Monboddo,) to re-enter the marriage state, she continued a widow, residing in her house on the Adelphi terrace, where she died suddenly in her chair, October 16th, 1822, and was buried in the same vault with her husband, near the cenotaph of Shakspere, in Westminster Abbey, on the 25th. day of October in the same year.

GASKELL, MRS. L. E. the year 1848, appeared anonymously, a most graphic picture of Manchester operative life, entitled "Mary Barton;" it was at once recognised as the work of an acute and powerful mind, and attained great popularity, nor was it long before the name of the author transpired; Mrs. Gaskell, the wife of a Unitarian Minister, residing at Manchester. In 1850 appeared from her pen, a little Christmas