attempts at suicide. But it is a striking proof of her vigour of intellect that the "Letters from Norway" were written at the time when her mental dLstress was at its height, and in the interval between her two attempts at self-destruction.
In 1796, Mary Wollstonecraft became acquainted with William Godwin, the celebrated philosopher and political writer. A mutual attachment was the result; and as they, unfortunately, held similar opinions respecting the ceremony of marriage, they lived together, unwedded, for six months; when finding the necessity of legitimatizing the child which would otherwise be an outcast from her birth, they were married. Mrs. Godwin died in child-bed a few months afterwards, leaving her infant daughter, who subsequently became the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley, and has given ample proof that she inherits the talents of both her parents.
Mr. Godwin mourned the death of his wife deeply. In 1798 he edited her posthumous works, and also published a small memoir of her, which is eminently marked by genuine feeling, simplicity, and truth. The style of this memoir is different from the other productions of Godwin, which he ascribed to the influence the genius of his wife had exercised over his own mind; he concludes thus: "This light was lent to me for a very short period, and is extinguished for ever."
GOMEZ, MAGDALENE ANGELINA PAISSON DE,
A French author, was the daughter of Paul Paisson, a player, and born at Paris, in 1684. She married M. de Gomez, a Spanish gentleman of small fortune, in whose circumstances she was deceived. She, however, procured sufficient, by her writings, to live at St. Germaine-en-Laye; she died there in 1770. Her works were numerous, chiefly romances, which were well written, and have been much esteemed. Those most celebrated were "Les Journées Amusantes," eight vols.; "Crementine," two vols.; "Anecdotes Persans," two vols.; "Les Cent Nouvelles," eight vols. She also wrote several tragedies, which were unsuccessful.
GONZAGA, BARBA VON,
Duchess of Wurtemburg, was the daughter of Louis the Third, Duke of Mantua. She married the Duke of Wurtemburg, Eberhard with the beard, in the year 1474. A devoted student herself, she became the patroness of learning and literary men in her husband's domain. Through her influence was the university of Zuliengen established. She died, 1505, mourned by her subjects, and by the whole literary world.
GONZAGA, CECILIA DE,
An Italian lady of high birth, gave proofs, even when a child, of a remarkable fondness for learning. Her father, John Francis Gonzaga, Lord of Mantua, procured the best masters to instruct her, and at the age of eight she is said to have known Greek. She was religious and charitable as well as learned, gave marriage portions to poor young women, and repaired and beautified convents and churches; in order to do this, she was obliged to use the greatest self-denial in her personal expenses. Her father, for a long time, resisted her desire of taking the veil, but he at length
