Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/467

  of the marshal of that name; and distinguished herself, not only by her literary talents, but also by her opposition to the philosophical party among the French literati of the last century, with whom her mother had been intimately connected. In 1771, the Marquis de Croismare, a man of wit, and a friend of Madame de la Ferté Imbault, founded the burlesque order of the Lanturelas, of which he appointed that lady the grand-mistress, while he was himself the grandmaster. This whimsical institution gave rise to a great many songs and lively verses; and it attracted so much attention that Catharine the Second was accustomed to advise all the Russian nobles who visited Paris, to become Lanturelas, an honour which was sought by several sovereign princes. The Marchioness drew up a series of extracts from the writings of the ancient Pagan and Christian Philosophers, for the instruction of the grand-children of Louis the Fifteenth; and she wrote a great number of letters to persons of rank and celebrity, which remain in manuscript in the hands of her husband's relations. She died at Paris, in 1791.

LAFITE, MARIE ELIZABETH DE, born at Paris in 1750, and died at London in 1794. She wrote "Repsonses á Demeler ou Essai d'une Maniere d'éxercer l'attention;" "Entretieres, Drames, et Contes Moraux, à l'usage dea Enfans." She also translated into French, some of the works of Wieland, Gellert, and Lavater.

LAMB, LADY CAROLINE, of the Earl of Besborough, was born in 1785. The history of Lady Caroline Lamb is painfully interesting. She was united, before the age of twenty, to the Honourable William Lamb, (Lord Melbourne,) and was long the delight of the fashionable circles, from the singularity as well as the grace of her manners, her literary accomplishments, and personal attractions. On meeting with Lord Byron, she contracted an unfortunate attachment for the noble poet, which continued three years, and was the theme of much remark. The poet is said to have trifled with her feelings, and a rupture took place. For many years Lady Caroline led a life of comparative seclusion, principally at Brocket Hall. This was interrupted by a singular and somewhat romantic occurrence. Riding with Mr. Lamb, she met, just by the park-gates, the hearse which was conveying the remains of Lord Byron to Newstead Abbey. She was taken home insensible: an illness of length and severity succeeded. Some of her medical attendants imputed her fits, certainly of great incoherence and long continuance, to partial insanity. At this supposition she was invariably and bitterly indignant. Whatever be the cause, it is certain from that time her conduct and habits materially changed; and about three years before her death a separation took place between her and Mr. Lamb, who continued, however, frequently to visit, and, to the day of her death, to correspond with her. It is just to both parties to add, that Lady Caroline constantly spoke of her husband in the highest and most affectionate terms of admiration and respect. A romantic susceptibility of temperament and character seems to have been the bane of this unfortunate lady.

Lady Caroline Lamb was the authoress of three works of fiction.