Galantes, in which are interwoven the news of the day, and things which chiefly concerned herself.
This learned man having remarked the aptitude of his niece to acquire knowledge, undertook himself the care of her education, he remarked, that she avoided the ordinary amusements of childhood; that she had a good memory, and soon acquired a complete knowledge of French literature; on which he determined to teach her the dead languages; in which she made a rapid progress, not only acquiring Latin and Greek, but excelling in poetry, rhetoric, and philosophy. After she lost her uncle, in 1653, she also studied Italian; she held a correspondence with all the literati of that age, and wrote in her own language with the same purity and elegance with which she spoke it.
DURAND, (CATHERINE BEDACIER, afterwards Madame) a distinguished French Novel Writer. Died 1736, at an advanced Age.
The titles of her works are, La Comtesse de Mortane; Memoires de la Cour de Charles VII.; Petits Soupers de l'Ete; le Comte de Cardomie, ou la Constance Victorieuse; Histoire Sicilienne; les Belles Grecques, this is a history of the most famous Grecian courtisans; l'Histoire de Henri, Due des Vandales; Comedies en Proverbes, and some poetical pieces, which are not worth much.
