A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Virmeiro, Countess
VIRMEIRO, COUNTESS,.
A noble Portuguese lady, obtained, in 1771, a prize proposed by the Academy at Lisbon for the best tragedy; and the laurel-crown was awarded to her. The title of her tragedy was "Osmia." On opening the sealed envelope accompanying the manuscript, there was found only a direction, in case "Osmia" should prove successful, to devote the proceeds to the cultivation of olive, a fruit from which the Portuguese might derive much advantage. It was not till ten years afterwards that the name of the modest writer was known. She died in 1773.