Manley, and born in Guernsey, where her father was governor. She became an orphan early, and was deceived into a false marriage by a relation of the same name, to whose care Sir Roger had bequeathed her. He brought her to London, but soon deserted her, and she passed three years in solitude. Then the Duchess of Cleveland, mistress of Charles the Second, took her under her protection; but, being a very fickle woman, she grew tired of Mrs. Manley in a few months, who returned again to her solitary mode of life.
Her first tragedy, called "The Royal Mischief," was acted in 1696, and brought her great applause and admiration, which proved fatal to her virtue. She then wrote "The New Atalantis," in which she spoke freely of many exalted persons; several of the characters in the book being only satires on those who brought about the revolution which placed William and Mary on the throne of Great Britain.
To shield the printer and publisher of these volumes, against whom a warrant was issued, Mrs. Manley voluntarily presented herself before the court of King's-bench as the unassisted author of the "Atalantis." She was confined for a short time, but admitted to bail, and finally discharged. She lived for some time after in high reputation as a wit, and in great gayety. She wrote several dramas, and was also employed in writing for Queen Anne's ministry under the direction, it is supposed, of Dean Swift. She died, July 11th., 1724.
MANZONI, GIUSTI FRANCESCA.
This erudite lady was as highly esteemed for her virtue and prudence as for her extraordinary intellect and the fertility of her imagination. Her death, which happened in 1743, was universally lamented. She was a member of the academy of the Filodossi or Milan. The subjoined is a list of her works:—"An Epistle in Verse to the Empress Maria Theresa;" "Ester," a tragedy; "Abigalle," a sacred drama; "Debora," an oratorio; "Gedeone," an oratorio; "Sagrifizio d'Abramo;" "Translation of Ovid's Tristitia."
MARA, GERTRUDE ELIZABETH,
Daughter of Mr. Schmaiing, city musician in Cassel, was born about 1749. When she was seven, she played very well on the violin, and when she was fourteen, she appeared as a singer. Frederic the Great of Prussia, notwithstanding his prejudice against German performers, invited her to Potsdam, in 1770, and gave her an appointment immediately. In 1774, she married Mara, a violon-cello player, a very extravagant man, and he involved her so much in debt, that, in 1786, Frederic withdrew her appointment. from her, and she went to Vienna, Paris, and London, where she was received with great enthusiasm. In 1808 she went to Russia, and while at Moscow she married Florio, her companion since her separation from Mara. By the burning of Moscow she lost most of her property. She passed the latter part of her life, which was very long, at Reval, where she died, in 1833. She possessed extraordinary compass of voice, extending with great ease over three octaves.
MARATTI, ZAPPI FAUSTINA,
Of Rome. Her poems appear to have contributed to the improvement of style which took place in the Italian poetry when she
