LYSER, CAROLINE LEONHARDT,
Was born in 1814, In Zittau, and removed in 1832 to Dresden, where she was married to the author and painter, John Peter Lyser, In 1839, she made her débût at Nuremberg as an improvisatrice, where she was received with enthusiastic applause; she afterwards appeared with the same success in many other large cities of Germany. She wrote "The Chaplet of Songs" in 1834, "Characteristics for German Women and Girls" in 1838, "Master Durer," a drama, in 1840, and many novelettes. In 1850, she published an annual, called "The Gift of Autumn." None of her works have been translated into English; but in Germany her songs are very popular.
MACAULAY, CATHARINE,
A celebrated female historian and politician, was the youngest daughter of John Sawbridge, Esq., of Ollantigh, in Kent. Catharine was born about the year 1733. During her infancy her mother died, and left her and an elder sister to be brought up by 4 governess, who, it appears, was very unfit for such a responsible task. The two sisters seem to have been left almost wholly to the guidance of their own feelings and instincts. Catharine, at an early age, found constant access to her father's large library, and rummaged and read whatever she fancied. Her first favourites were the periodicals, the Spectator, Rambler, Guardian, etc.; next, history attracted her mind; and at length Rollin's spirited account of the Roman republic struck on the master chord of her noble nature, and made her a republican and a writer of history.
She took the name by which she is best known from her first husband. Dr. George Macaulay, a London physician, to whom she was married in 1760. It was soon after this date that she commenced authoress, by the publication of her "History of England from the accession of James the First to the elevation of the House of Hanover," the first volume of which, in 4to., appeared in 1763, and the fifth and last, which however only brought the narrative down to the Restoration, in 1771. The work also went through more than one edition in 8vo. On its first publication it attracted considerable attention, principally from the double piquancy of the sex and the avowed republicanism of the writer; but, notwithstanding some occasional liveliness of remark, and its notice of a good many facts omitted by most of our other historians; yet, as its spirit was purely republican, its advancement to a standard work was rendered impossible in England. The style is nervous and animated, although sometimes loose and inaccurate, and the reflections of the author are often acute and sagacious, always noble and benevolent. The five volumes of the History were followed, in 1778, by another, entitled "The History of England from the Revolution to the present time, in a series of Letters to the Rev. Dr. Wilson, Rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and prebendary of Westminster," 4to., Bath. The six letters of which this volume consists come down to the termination of the administration of Sir Robert Walpole, in 1742.
In 1785, Mrs. Macaulay visited the United States, and travelled
