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ANNA MARIA SCHURMAN.

THIS highly accomplished woman was born at Cologne, in 1607, and was descended from a noble family in that city.

From her childhood she showed an uncommon capacity and strength of understanding; at three years of age she was able to read extremely well, and at six she could, with a knife and scissars, cut out curious figures, such as animals and landscapes, in paper. As she advanced in years her mental talents increased wonderfully, and so in an equal degree did her desire of learning. She never rested until she had obtained the object of her inquiry; and she was possessed of so quick and penetrating a genius, that she easily

comprehended the most intricate subjects.

In her very infancy she applied herself to painting, in which she executed flowers and insects with a most lively resemblance to nature. It is likewise related of her, that without any other instrument than a knife, she cut out, in box, the bust of herself, her mother, and brother, so very curious, and such striking likenesses, as to astonish all who saw them. Even the first rate artists beheld them with admiration; and the celebrated painter, Honthurst, valued that of her brother at a very considerable sum.

At seven years of age she learned the art of embroidering in three hours; and in a little time she became mistress of music, both vocal and instrumental. Her writing, in the characters of vari

ous languages, was pronounced inimitable; and persons of the finest taste, and judgement considered themselves as obliged in getting some specimens for their cabinets of curiosities.

She modelled her own bust in wax, at a looking-glass, and decorated it afterwards with artificial pearls of her own making, which many persons imagined were real, till they were convinced of the contrary by pricking them with a needle.

Still these various pursuits were only relaxations from her studies, which she followed with such intenseness of application, that at the age of eleven she instructed her brothers in their lessons.

Her father perceiving her uncommon thirst for knowledge, gave her Seneca's morals to read, and took such great delight in aiding her inclination,

that comparatively in a very short time she not only understood the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldee, Arabic and Ethiopic languages, but also the English, French, and Italian. She was also well versed in geography, astronomy, and philosophy, and had a competent acquaintance with history and divinity.

With all this various and profound knowledge, she was remarkable for the humility of her disposition. Her prodigious acquirements, and the fame which they procured her, did not make her proud, or lead her into a vain conceit of her abilities.

At the age of fourteen she was courted in marriage by a gentleman of high rank and great wealth; but after deliberate consideration, she declined the

flattering offer, and devoted herself to a single life.

If any doubts could be entertained of the truth of the surprising things recorded of her literary accomplishments, they must be completely dispelled when it is known that her merits were celebrated by such men as Rivetus, Vossius, Spanheim, Salmasius, and Huygens. Those great scholars were proud of her correspondence, and by their means she became the friend of Gassendi, Balzac, Mersennus, Bochart, and other famous men in France.

Her fame, indeed, was so universally spread, that personages of the most exalted rank honoured her with their company and confidence.

When Christina, queen of Sweden,