part, that her father, who had hesitated about devoting her to the musical profession, at once decided on doing so; and shortly after she accepted an engagement at Padua, from which place she went to Venice, where Pasta was then singing, and became not only the rival of that celebrated cantatrice, but the favourite of the Venetian public. In 1833, she sung at Milan, and in 1834 at Borne, where two operas were written expressly for her. Her fame spread over all Italy, and wherever she went—at Florence, Naples, Genoa, Pisar—she was hailed with enthusiastic applause. In the winter of 1837 she was at Paris, and there may be said to have set the seal to her reputation as one of the most brilliant and versatile singers who had ever delighted an audience. Madame Persiana has several times visited London. Of her domestic life but little appears to be known.
PETIGNY, MARIA-LOUISE, ROSE LEVESQUE,
Was born at Paris, in 1768. Her father, Charles Peter Levèsque, was a well-known French writer on history and general literature, and became a member of the National Institute. His daughter, educated by him, displayed a genius for poetry; her "Idylles" and fugitive pieces were highly praised by Palesot and Florian. Gessner called her his "petite fille." She married M. Petigny, of Saint-Romain. The time of her death is not mentioned.
PETRONILLA, DONA,
Daughter of Ramiro the monk, was betrothed in her infancy to Raymond, Count of Barcelona. The conditions of this marriage, that united Catalonia to Arragon, in 1137, were, that the count himself should never bear the title of "King," but merely that of "Prince" of Arragon, and that the offspring of the queen should succeed to the throne and kingship; that the arms of Catalonia should be united with those of Arragon, but that the standard-bearer should always be an Arragonian; and that the Arragonians should invoke the name of St. George, as that of their patron.
Petronilla gave birth, in 1150, to her eldest son, Raymond, who succeeded to the throne under the name of Alfonso; and subsequently to Pedro, who inherited Sardinia, Carcassone, and Narbonne. She had also two daughters, Aldonza or Dulcis, who, in 1181, married Sancho, Prince of Portugal, and another, whose name is not recorded, though she is said to have married Armengaul, Count of Urgel.
The queen, being extremely ill previous to the birth of her eldest child, made a will, providing that should the infant prove a son, he should succeed to the crown, but, if a daughter, the throne should be inherited by her husband. This will, excluding a female from inheriting the crown, was ever after quoted as a precedent against the sovereigns of Arragon, when they attempted to bequeath the crown to a daughter.
Raymond dying in August of 1162, Petronilla reigned one year, during the minority of her son, but on his attaining his thirteenth year, in 1163, by the advice of the nobles, resigned the crown to him. The queen died on the 3rd. of October, 1173, in Barcelona. She was a wise and good ruler over her people.
PFEIFER, CHARLOTTE BIRCH,
Is noted as an actress and play-writer. She entered upon the
