Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/566

 554 GAILLAC GAINES came famous by her ballads, while she studied under Fetis and other masters. Her comic opera Les deux jaloux became exceedingly popular in 1813, but her subsequent operas were less successful, though Boieldieu was her collaborator in Angela. La serenade, however, was much applauded at the Theatre Feydeau in 1818. GAILLAC, a town of France, in the depart- ment of Tarn, on the right bank of the river Tarn, an affluent of the Garonne, 12 m. W. by S. of AIM ; pop. in 1866, 7,870. It is in a fer- tile region, abounding in vineyards, and sur- rounded by suburbs, one of which contains a large square, but the streets are exceedingly narrow. It contains two old churches, a com- munal college, a military prison, and an agri- cultural society, and various industrial estab- lishments. Gaillac produces white and red wines of superior quality, the latter celebrated for enduring long sea journeys. GA1LLARD, Gabriel Henri, a French historian, born at Ostel, near Soissons, March 26, 1726, died at St. Firmin, near Ohantilly, Feb. 13, 1806. He studied lav/, but devoted himself to literature, and was the lifelong intimate friend of Malesherbes. He spent the latter part of his life in the utmost seclusion, living in the most frugal manner. His principal works are histories of Francis I. (8 vols.), of Charlemagne (4 vols.), of the rivalry between France and England (11 vols.), and between France and Spain (8 vols.) ; Dictionnaire his- torique (6 vols., 1791), in the Encyclopedic moderne; and Melanges litter air es (4 vols., 1856-'7). Several of his works passed through new editions. Though his arrangement of his- torical events is loose and his style rather stilt- ed, he is regarded as a conscientious and pains- taking historian. GAINES. I. Edmund Pendleton, an American general, born in Oulpeper co., Va., March 20, 1777, died in New Orleans, June 6, 1849. He entered the army as ensign in 1799, was for many years actively employed in frontier duty, and was instrumental in procuring the arrest of Aaron Burr. About 1811 he resigned his commission, but at the commencement of the war of 1812 returned to the army, with which he remained connected until his death. At the battle of Ohrystler's field, Nov. 11, 1813, he rendered important services by covering the retreat of the American forces with his regiment, the 25th, and he subsequently com- manded at Fort Erie when the night assault by the British troops under Gen. Drummond was repulsed. For his conduct during the siege of this place, where he was severely wounded, he was made brevet major general, and received the thanks of congress and a gold medal. He received similar testimonials from the states of Virginia, Tennessee, and New York. He was engaged in the Creek and Seminole wars, after which he had routine duty only. II. BIyra Clark, an American heiress, wife of the preceding, born in New Orleans about 1805. Her father, Daniel Clark, born in Sligo, Ireland, about 1766, emigrated to New Orleans, where he inherited his uncle's property in 1799. He was United States consul there before the acquisition of Louisiana, and repre- sented the territory in congress in 1806-'8. He died in New Orleans, Aug. 16, 1813, and his estate was disposed of under the provisions of a will dated May 20, 1811, which gave the property to his mother, Mary Clark, who had followed him to America and was living at Germantown, Pa. His business partners, Relf and Chew, were the executors. Clark was re- puted a bachelor, but was known to have had a liaison with a young French woman of re- markable beauty, Zulime des Granges, during the absence of her reputed husband in Europe. Two daughters were born of this connection, one at Philadelphia, in April, 1802, the other (Myra) in New Orleans, probably in 1805. The latter was taken to the house of Col. Davis, a friend of Clark's, nursed by a Mrs. Harper, and in 1812 went with Davis's family to reside in Philadelphia, where she passed by the name of Myra Davis. In 1830 Davis, being then in the legislature, sent home for certain papers ; and Myra, in searching for them, discovered some letters which partially revealed the circum- stances of her birth. In 1832 she married "W. W. Whitney of New York, who in following up the discovery received from Davis an old letter which gave an account of a will made by Clark in 1813, just before his death, giving all his large estate to Myra and acknowledging her' as his legitimate daughter. Whitney and his wife went to Matanzas, Cuba, saw the writer of the letter, and, after collecting other evi- dence, instituted suits to recover the estate, which included some of the most valuable property in New Orleans. On the trial of one of these causes, Mrs. Harper testified that four weeks before his death Clark showed her the will he had just made in favor of Myra, per- mitting her to read it from beginning to end, and acknowledged the child's legitimacy. Baron Boisfontaine testified that Clark told him the contents of the will and acknowl- edged the child. On this and other similar evidence the lost or destroyed will was received by the supreme court of Louisiana (Feb. 18, 1856) as the last will of Daniel Clark, though of the document itself no vestige had ever ap- peared. But by the law of Louisiana a testator cannot make devises to his adulterine bastard. It was proved by the testimony of two sisters of Myra's mother, one of whom swore she was present at the ceremony, that Clark privately married her in Philadelphia in 1803, a Catholic priest officiating ; she having previously learned that Des Granges, her supposed husband, had a prior wife living, and was therefore not legally her husband. Clark's contemplated acknowl- edgment of the marriage was said to have been frustrated by suspicions of her fidelity; and, deserted by him, she contracted a third mar- riage. In another suit the United States supreme