de Lutsburg proved insufficient for her protection : she again became the object of persecution, and was again compelled to fly. In 1680, she passed once more into Holland, whence she departed to Franeker, in the province of Friesland, where, on the 30th of October, in the same year, she took a final leave of the world. Her constitution had been so good, that, in despite of all her vexations, and of a choleric and morose temper, she appeared at sixty years of age to be no more than forty. Her birth, the time of her commencing author, and her death, were each. signalised by the appearance of a comet; a circumstance which could not fail of proving favourable to the promulgator of a new religion. She is said to have exercised over her family and servants a government as cruel as that of the Sicilian court;' and to have justified this humour, so contrary to the meekness of the Gospel, by maintaining, that anger was the love of justice and true virtue; and alleging, as an example, the rigors used by the prophets and apostles. Having suffered some depredations upon her property by the dishonesty of those about her, she manifested a revengeful and vindictive spirit, severely censuring her friends for not pursuing these wretches with all the severity of the law. We must prevent evil,' said she, and oppose it with all our might, wherever it is found.' Her system, of which an extract has been already given, bore a resemblance to that of the Quietists, excluding external worship, and requiring a cessation of the powers of the human intellect, that God might fill the mind with his divine light. She had also some very singular notions respecting Antichrist, whom she was persuaded would be a devil incarnate, or produced by a demoniac human generation. She was inveterate against the church of Rome; nor did she treat the protestant societies with greater moderation. She had beheld this Antichrist, or devil incarnate, in a vision, from which she described in verse, his stature, complexion, and hair. She pretended to write poetry without having studied its rules. "She learned every thing from God," says a satirical writer, even the art of making verses; which she does in a manner that renders it manifest she had no other master." Her writings appear to have made more proselytes than her discourses: she had, after her death, many disciples in Scotland, both among ecclesiastics and laymen. One of her principal works, entitled "The Light of the World," was published in that country, in 1696; to which the translator added a long preface, declaring— that the maid ought at least to pass for an extraor dinary prophetess.' A controversy afterwards took place, respecting her doctrines, between Mr. Charles Lesley, a man of learning and merit, who exposed their absurdity, and Dr. Cockburn, against Messrs. Paret, de Cort, and the English translator of the Lux Mundi, who endeavoured to prove that Antoinette was divinely inspired, and had received a commission from God to reform the christian world. The Bourignonists replied, in an apology for their leader. The remains of this dispute still exist in some parts of North Britain. Bayle's Historical Dictionary-Biographium COUNTESS DE BREGY. CHARLOTTE SAUMAISE DE CHASAN, niece of the learned Claude Saumaise, was born in Paris, in 1619. She received an excellent education under the direction of her uncle, whose cares were rewarded by her proficiency in every elegant acquirement. She espoused, while yet in early youth, M. de Flecelles, count de Bregy, lieutenant-general of the army, counsellor of the sword of state, envoy-extraordinary to Poland, and afterwards embassador to Sweden. Celebrated for her wit, her beauty, and her talents, the countess was highly esteemed at court, and generally admired. She corresponded with Anne of Austria, to whom she was lady of honour; also with the queen of England; with Christine, queen of Sweden; and with the most distinguished and illustrious characters of Europe. Benserade addressed to this lady a complimentary epistle. The portrait she has drawn of herself is too curious to be omitted. My person,' says madame de Bregy, 'perfectly well proportioned, is neither too large nor too small. I have a certain negligent air, which convinces me that I am one of the finest women of my size. My hair is brown and glossy, my complexion brunette, clear and smooth. My features are regular, and the form of my face oval. My eyes are fine: a certain mixture in their colour renders them bright and sparkling. My nose is well formed; my mouth, though not small, agreeable; and my lips of a good colour. My teeth, exquisitely white and well arranged, are the finest in the world. My neck is beautiful, nor need I blush to display my hands and arms. My air is lovely and delicate. My glass persuades me that I see nothing superior, if equal, to the image which it presents to me. My appearance is youthful, my dress neat and tasteful. Such is my exterior form. "Others possibly are the best judges of our minds, since there is no mirror that reflects them faithfully. I am nevertheless persuaded that mine does not disgrace my person. It appears to me that I possess judgment to estimate things properly, though not by acquired knowledge*. My mind is at once penetrating, delicate, solid, and reasonable. I profit little by the wit of others; and succeed better when guided by my own discernment, than by the rules of art: I therefore use only my native good sense. I have frequently heard it observed (though, I confess, not without doubts of its truth), that in conversation with me, time passes more rapidly than in other society; and that, on serious subjects, my sentiments are worthy of being adopted. Of my humour I shall speak with the same sincerity.--I love praise, and return with interest the compliments paid to me; and, though somewhat haughty and scornful, I can be soft and conciliating. I neither oppose nor contradict the opinions of others; and I keep * It would be a curious question to ask, What is the knowledge or judgment which we do not acquire ? |