A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Guizot, Charlotte Pauline
GUIZOT, CHARLOTTE PAULINE,
Was born in Paris, in 1773. Her father, M. de Meulan, lost all his fortune by the Revolution, and dying in 1790, left a widow and five children almost destitute. Pauline de Meulan, the eldest, commenced writing in order to contribute to the support of her family Her first attempt was a novel, which was successful, and then she became one of the most popular contributors to a journal established at Paris, called "The Publiciste." In 1807, while suffering under an illness brought on by over-exertion, which compelled her to give up writing, the only resource of her mother and herself, she received an article written in happy imitation of her style, accompanied by an anonymous letter, in which she was informed that till her health should be restored, a similar article should be sent to her for each number of the Publiciste. These articles came with the utmost regularity; and on her recovery, she discovered the writer of them to be M. Guizot. He had heard of her, read and admired her writings, and they soon became friends. In 1812, Mademoiselle de Meulan married her benefactor; and though she was fourteen years older than her husband, their union was a very happy one. The purity and severity of her moral nature exercised great influence over her husband; and she also assisted him in his literary labours. The perfect accord of their sentiments rendered this easy for her, and he thus gained for himself increased honour and fame. She died in 1827. Her first works were novels, called "The Contradictions," and the "Chapel of Ayton." She afterwards published "Essays on Literature and Morals." In 1821, she gave to the public a work for youth, called "Raoul the Scholar," which has been translated into English, and enjoyed extensive circulation. This was followed by "Letters on Domestic Education," the best monument Madame Guizot has left of her talents and fame. Among all the French female authors, no one has more consistently and constantly advocated the cause of truth and good morals than this excellent lady.