war, which was the cause of her going to Antwerp. Hore she discovered the design formed by the Dutch, of sailing up the Thames, in order to bum the English ships; she made this discovery through her lover, Vander Albert, a Dutchman.
Mrs. Behn could not doubt the truth of this communication, and sent information of it immediately by express to England. But her Intelligence (though well grounded, as the event showed) being disregarded and ridiculed, she renounced all state affairs, and amused herself during her stay at Antwerp, with the pleasures of the city.
After some time she embarked at Dunkirk, for England, and in the passage was near being lost; the ship was driven on the coast for four days, but by the assistance of boats the crew were all saved.
Mrs. Behn published three volumes of poems; the first in 1684, the second in 1685, the third In 1688. They consist of songs and other little pieces, by the Earl of Rochester, Sir George Etherage, Mr. Henry Crisp, and others, with some pieces of her own. To the second volume is annexed a translation of the Duke de Rochefoucault's moral reflections, under the title of "Seneca Unmasked." She wrote also seventeen plays, some histories and novels. She translated Fontenelle's History of Oracles, and Plurality of Worlds, to which last she annexed an essay on translation and translated prose. The Paraphrase of Ænone's Epistle to Paris, in the English translation of Ovid's Epistles, is Mrs. Behn's; and Mr. Dryden, in the preface to that work, pays her the following compliment:—"I was desired to say, that the author, who is of the fair sex, understood not Latin; but if she do not, I am afraid she has given us who do, occasion to be ashamed." She was also the authoress of the celebrated Letters between "A Nobleman and his Sister," printed in 1684; and of eight love-letters to a gentleman whom she passionately loved, and with whom she corresponded under the name of Lycidas. She died, after a long indisposition, April 16th, 1689, and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey.
BEKKER, ELIZABETH,
An ornament of Dutch literature, was born at Flushing, in 1738, and died at the Hague, in 1804. Few female authors have united to so great talents such dignity and purity of morals. Several of her numerous works are considered classics in Dutch literature; especially her romances of "William Leevend;" "Letters of A. Blankhart to C. Wildschut;" and the "History of Sara Bürgerhart." She wrote her most important works in conjunction with her friend Agatha Deken, and the share of each of them in the composition is unknown. Agatha Deken survived her friend only nine days.
BELLAMY, GEORGIANA,
An actress of some celebrity, was born in 1733. Her mother was a Miss Searle, the mistress of Lord Trelawney, who afterwards married Captain Bellamy. He separated from her on discovering her infidelity. Miss Bellamy was brought out by Mr. Garrick, at the Covent-Garden theatre, at the age of fourteen, and met with much success for some years. She died at Edinburgh, in deep distress, in 1788. Her life was a series of errors and misfortunes. She wrote her own memoirs in six volumes.
