to that country, where she remained some years. She was distinguished for the excellence of her Scottish poetry. She died unmarried at Carlisle, in 1794, at the age of forty-six. Her lyrics have been greatly admired for their harmonious versification, and their truth and tenderness of feeling. Among these, "The Nabob," "The Waefu' Heart," and "Auld Robin Forbes," are selected as most beautiful. Her poetical works were collected in 1842, and published in one volume, with a memoir by Patrick Maxwell.
BLANCHARD, MADAME,
Was the wife of Francois Blanchard, one of the first aeronauts, a Frenchman by birth, who died in 1809. After his death Madame Blanchard continued to make aerial voyages. In 1811, she ascended in Rome, and after going sixty miles, she rose again to proceed to Naples. In June, 1819, having ascended from Tiivoli, in Paris, her balloon took fire from some fireworks she had with her, the gondola fell from a considerable height into the street de Provence, and Madame Blanchard was instantly killed.
BLANCHE,
A native of Padua, was celebrated for her resolution. On the death of her husband, at the siege of Bassano, Acciolin, the general of the enemy, offered violence to her person, when she threw herself into her husband's tomb, and was crushed by the falling of a stone that covered the entrance, 1253.
BLANCHE DE BOURBON,
Second daughter of Pierre de Bourbon, a nobleman of France, married Pedro, King of Castile, in 1352. She was cruelly treated by her husband, who was attached to Maria Padilla, and was at last imprisoned and murdered, in 1361, aged eighteen. Her misfortunes were avenged by Du Guesclin, at the head of the French army. Her beauty and virtues made her a great favourite, not only with the mother of Pedro, but the whole Spanish nation.
BLANCHE,
Of Castile, Queen of France, was the daughter of Alphonso the Ninth, King of Castile, and of Eleanor, daughter of Henry the First of England. In 1200, she was married to Louis the Eighth of France; and became the mother of nine sons and two daughters, whom she educated with great care, and in such sentiments of piety, that two of them, Louis the Ninth, and Elizabeth, have been beatified by the church of Rome.
On the death of her husband, in 1266, he showed his esteem for her by leaving her sole regent during the minority of his son, Louis the Ninth, then only twelve years old; and Blanche justified by her conduct in the trying circumstances in which she was placed, the confidence of her husband. The princes and nobles, pretending that the regency was unjustly granted to a woman, confederated against her; but by her prudence and courage, opposing some in arms, and gaining over others with presents and condescension, Blanche finally triumphed. She made use of the romantic passion of the young Count of Champagne; to obtain information of the projects of the malcontents; but her reputation was endangered
