LAMBERT, ANNE THERESE, MARQUISE DE,
Was daughter of a master of the accounts, and was born at Paris in 1647. She lost her father at three years old; and her mother then married the ingenious Bachaumont, who took great pleasure in cultivating his step-daughter's talents. She married Henri Lambert, Marquis of St. Bris, in 1666; but he died in 1688. After this, she had long and troublesome law-suits; but succeeding in them, she took a house in Paris, to which it was considered an honour to be admitted. All literary persons resorted to it for the sake of conversation, as hers was almost the only house free from the vice of gaming. She died in 1733, aged 86. Her works were printed in two volumes, and are marked by fine sense, taste, and spirit. The principal ones are, "Avis d'une Mère à son fils, et d'une Mère à sa fille." These are not mere dry didactic precepts, but the easy and graceful effusions of a noble and delicate mind.
LAMBERT, MISS.
"The Handbook of Needlework" has made this lady's name familiar to the learned and the unlearned; with many it is the only book they peruse, and to it they return again and again with ever-new interest. Garrick was said by Dr. Johnson to contribute to the gaiety of nations; Miss Lambert may be truly eulogised as adding to the pleasure of nations, and filling up the blanks in many a droning existence, animating the stupid to interest, and rousing the indolent to exertion. Pedantry may strive to undervalue her labours, but her readers are more numerous, from the palace to the cottage, than those of the most admired poetess or novelist. Her book has penetrated into regions where Mrs. Norton is unknown, and even time-honoured Miss Edgeworth ignored; not only in the drawing-rooms of London and Washington, but in the wild settlements of Oregon (we speak it advisedly) and in the burning cities of Hindoostan, "The Handbook of Needlework" is a favourite volume.
LAMBRUN, MARGARET,
Was a Scotchwoman, one of the retinue of Mary, Queen of Scots, as was also her husband, who died of grief on account of his queen's execution. Margaret Lambrun then resolved to avenge the death of both by assassinating Queen Elizabeth; she therefore dressed herself like a man, took the name of Anthony Sparke, and went to the court of the English queen, carrying with her a brace of pistols; one for the queen, and the other for herself. But, as she was pressing through the crowd to get near her majesty, who was then walking in her garden, she dropped one of her pistols. This being seen by the guards, she was seized, and brought before the queen, who wished to examine the prisoner herself. When Elizabeth demanded her name, country, and condition, Margaret replied with great firmness:
"Madam, though I appear in this habit, I am a woman; my name is Margaret Lambrun; I was several years in the service of Queen Mary, whom you have so unjustly put to death; and, by her death, you have caused that of my husband, who died of grief to see so innocent a queen perish so iniquitously. Now, as I had
