when I reflected that she suffered no cold; and yet, perhaps, this severe weather affected her also, for after only two days of dangerous illness she died. I have now buried my whole family."
Probably our readers would like to have a description of this excellent as well as eminent woman, who has shown an example of noble virtues under very adverse circumstances, and therefore is entitled to high estimation. Mrs. Inchbald was a strict Roman Catholic. One who knew her well thus describes her personal appearance: "'The fair muse,' as she was often termed, was, when between thirty and forty, above the middle size, rather tall, of a striking figure, but a little too erect and stiff. She was naturally fair, slightly freckled, and her hair was of a sandy auburn hue. Her face and features were beautiful, and her countenance was full of spirit and meekness." This description is from a decided admirer of hers, who winds up with observing, that "her dress was always becoming, and very seldom worth so much as eight pence"
INGEBORGE, or INGELBURGA
Wife of Philip Augustus, King of France, was born in 1175, and was the daughter of Waldemar, King of Denmark, and of his wife Sophia, a Russian princess. In 1193, she was selected, from motives of policy, by Philip Augustus, then a widower of twenty-eight, as his wife. She is represented as very beautiful and discreet, but the king, almost from the first interview, conceived a strong aversion to her, and on a frivolous pretext of Ingeborge's just discovered relationship to his first wife, he assembled the nobles of the kingdom at Compiegne, November 5th., 1193, who declared the marriage null and void. Ingeborge was present on this occasion, but having no counsellor, and not understanding the language, knew nothing of the business that the nobles were transacting, till she was informed of their decision by her interpreter, when she burst into tears, and appealed unto Rome. She was taken to an abbey, where she was kept in confinement, and almost without the necessaries of life. The pope, urged by the King of Denmark as well as by Ingeborge, refused to sanction the divorce; but Philip Augustus imprisoned the legates, and married Agnes, daughter of Berthod, Duke of Merania, a descendant of the Emperor Charlemagne. Ingeborge appealed in rain to Pope Celestine the Third; but, on his death, he was succeeded by Innocent the Third, who immediately took very severe measures, and in 1199 Philip Augustus was excommunicated, and his kingdom declared under an interdict. All the churches were closed, no baptisms, marriages, or burials were allowed to be performed, the dying were refused the benefit of the priest's services, and all the religious duties were suspended. In those days of superstition, this terrible sentence fell with tenfold weight on the people; and moved by their distress, after having resisted the papal authority for eight months, Philip at length sent Agnes to the royal castle of St. Leger, and allowed Ingeborge to return to him. But she still complained, and justly, that she had only exchanged one prison for another, and was treated with no respect. Meanwhile there was a solemn assembly held at Soissons, to give a final judgment on the demand the king made for a legal separation. The king was surrounded by a crowd of lawyers who vied with each other in urging the justice of his claim. Ingeborge was alone and defenceless; after waiting a few moments for her advocate,
