Tribute," under the name of "The Arctic Expedition," suggested by a visit to the Isabella and Alexander discovery ships, which visit led to an acquaintance with Captain Franklin, one of the gallant adventurers, that ended in marriage, after his return from the expedition, in the month of August, 1823. The year previously appeared Miss Porden's principal work, an epic poem on the subject of the third crusade, entitled "Cœur de Lion," dedicated by permission to the king. In June, 1824, the birth of a daughter encouraged hopes in her friends, that a strong tendency to a pulmonary complaint, increased by the bursting of a blood-vessel, in 1822, might be counteracted; but these flattering expectations were soon destroyed, and she died, February 22nd., 1825.
FRANTZ, AGNES,
Has written many romances, poems and saga, which have given her considerable distinction among the female writers of Germany.
FRANZ, AGNES,
Born at Militsch, in Silesia, in 1795, was the daughter of the government councillor, L. Franz. She passed her youth at Schweidnitz, where she wrote the greater number of her fugitive pieces. Her poems were first published in 1826; her Parables were published at Wesel in 1829; Flowers that Pass, at Essen in 1833. Her collected works were published in 1824 at Breslan, under the title of "Glycerion;" and under that of "Cyanen" in 1838, at Essen. In 1834, she edited a portfolio on the Lower Rhine.
FRATELLINA, GIOVANNA,
An Italian artist, was born at Florence in 1666. She possessed some talent for historical painting; but her chief excellence consisted in painting portraits. As she executed equally well in oil, crayons, miniature, and enamel, Cosmo the Third, and most of the princes and princesses of Italy, sat to her. Her own portrait in the ducal gallery, painted by herself, is a happy instance of her talent. It represents her in the act of taking the portrait of Lorenzo, her only son and pupil, who died in the bloom of life. It is painted in crayons, and equals the best productions of Rosalba.
FREDEGONDE,
A woman of low birth, but of great beauty, in the service of the Queen Andowere, wife of Chilperic, King of Normandy, resolved to make herself a favourite of the king. To effect this, she induced Andowere, who had just given birth, in the absence of Chilperic, to her fourth child, a daughter, to have it baptized before its father's return, and to officiate herself as godmother. The queen did so, not aware that by placing herself in that relation to her child, she, by the laws of the Roman Catholic church, contracted a spiritual relationship with the child's father that was incompatible with marriage; and the bishop, probably bribed by Fredegonde, did not make the least objection. On Chilperic's return, Fredegonde apprised him of this inconsiderate act of his wife, and the king, struck by her beauty, willingly consented to place Andowere in a convent, giving her an estate near Mans, and took Fredegonde for a mistress.
