and died January 3rd., 501. Five years after her death, Clovis erected the church of St. Genevieve, where her relics were preserved with great care.
St. Germain, Bishop of Auxerre, observing her disposition to sanctity, when she was quite young, advised her to take a vow of perpetual virginity, which she did. After the death of her parents, Genevieve went to Paris; and when the city was about to be deserted, in consequence of the approach of the Huns under Attila, she assured the inhabitants of entire safety if they would seek it by prayers. Attila went to Orleans and returned without touching Paris; and this event established Genevieve's reputation. In a time of famine she went along the Seine, and returned with twelve large vessels loaded with grain, which she distributed gratuitously among the sufferers. This increased her influence, so that Merovæus and Chilperic, kings of France, paid her the highest respect. From her fifteenth to her fiftieth year, she ate nothing but barley-bread, excepting now and then a few beans; after her fiftieth year, she allowed herself milk and fish.
GENLIS, STEPHANIE FELICITE, COUNTESS DE,
Was born near Autun, in Burgundy, in 1746. Her maiden name was Ducrest de St. Aubin. Though of a good family, she had no fortune: but her beauty, accomplishments, and skill on the harp, introduced her into the highest circles, where she had the opportunity of cultivating her mind and improving her knowledge of the world. She received many offers of marriage, and accepted the Count de Genlis, who, before he saw her, had fallen in love with her from reading one of her letters. The union was not a happy one; and the tongue of scandal did not spare the character of Madame de Grenlis. By this marriage, however, she was allied to Madame Montesson, who was privately married to the Duke d'Orleans; and thus it happened that Madame de Genlis was chosen by the Duke de Chartres as the governess of his children. She conducted the education of these children entirely herself, and wrote her first works for their instruction. She produced in rapid succession "Adele and Theodore;" "The Tales of the Castle;" The Theatre of Education;" and "The Annals of Virtue;" all of which were much praised. Though she was a warm friend to the revolution, her connexion with the Duke d'Orleans rendered her so unpopular, that, in 1793, she was compelled to leave France.
She relates herself, in her "Précis de ma Cenduite," that Petion conducted her to London, that she might meet with no obstructions to her journey. About the time of the September massacres, 1792, the Duke of Orleans recalled her to Paris. As the governess of his daughter, the young Duchess of Orleans, and the friend and confidant of the Duke, she had become suspected. She therefore retired, with the princess, to Toumay, where she married her adopted daughter, the beautiful Pamela, to Lord Fitzgerald. Here she saw General Dumouriez, and followed him to St. Amand. Not approving of the plan of the General, (who had the sons of the Duke of Orleans with him,) to march to Paris and overthrow the republic, she retired with the princess to Switzerland, in 1793, where they lived in a convent at Bremgarten, a few miles from Zurich.
The daughter of the Duke of Orleans having at length gone to join her aunt, the Princess of Condé, at Friburg, Madame de Genlis
