A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Montmart, (Mary Magdalen Gabrielle)
In her childhood made herself mistress of Spanish, Italian, and Greek. At the age of fifteen, she was presented to Maria Theresa, when that princess arrived at Paris, and was much admired by the whole court for her eloquence and facility in speaking Spanish. She was intimately acquainted with ancient and modern philosophy and theology; signalized herself in some highly celebrated translations; and employed her pen on morality, criticism, and natural philosophy. Her letters were esteemed such a treasure, that Lewis XIV. always expressed great pleasure at receiving any. Her poems are said to have been few, but beautiful; and those, after once reading to her friends, she committed to the flames. She was chosen abbess-general of the congregation of Fontevrard, which presides over a great number of monasteries, and counted among its abbesses 14 princesses, five of the house of Bourbon. This high office she discharged with great ability.