The National Register. — London, England, 1820-05-07 00:00:00

1 -. t ta vi,, I. at ELc L Our thug, ConiStitution anti I ab)l. No. 1,259.—V0t. XIII.] THE HISTORY OF MA RIANXE MO NT.IIOII EA^Cr s 11CLATZD IT FILISZLI. • -..... (From the Loam Megarine.) " I am aware of the manners and customs of the English ; of their reserve towards, but high respect for strangers, more particularly thole of the female sex.— Isolated in a measure by nature from the neighbouring continent, the inhabitants of this country have long since learned the delightful art of liVing among them. selves, and of finding in the bosom of their own homes domestic joys infinitely dearer than the rouud of volup tuous dissipation, experienced in the great cities of the continent. Depending (Toil their own+ resources for comfort and amusement, they sought fellowship with the neighbouring nations only to extend their commerce which has been celebrated all over the world—hence they were carelen of cultivating a general acquaintance ship with those whom they imagined could add little to the sum of their enjoyments, and who might possibly be the means of introducing among them, under the garb of pleasure, of vices which they had scarcely heard the name. From these circumstances, the character of the English was not properly known until tee late revo lution in France; even the French themselves, who had greater advantages than almost any other nation in this respect, were either unwilling, or really incapable of marking their peculiar traits of disposition, or of appro. ciating their respective merits. One national feature, however, was too prominent not to be universally re garded and admired; their noble sense of honour, to which may be united an irresistible and almost chival rous bravery; these were associated in the breast of a foreigner with the name of an Englishman, and served as a passport into almost every society. These obser venous may appear impertinent and irrelevant to my history, but upon reflection you will deem them expe dient, were it only to exams my present freedom with a stranger, certainly interesting, but tilt within these few hours pmfeetly unknown." I made a suitable aeknow ledgimMt for so handsome a compliment, and she pro ceeded. 4, Previous to the revolntion, my father possessed a lugs estate near Marseilles, where he constantlys.ve sided with my mother, in order to attend to the education of his threcsoos. Every thing seemed to conspire to render them happy; bleated with an ample fortune, bequeathed to him by a distant relation, at the oge of 40 he retired from the partnership of a princiiiad bank ing-house in Paris, to enjoy the more agreeable charms of a country life. The majestic Rhone flowed through the domain in its progress to the Mediterranean, and fertilized the soil. My mother, whose constitution was extremely delicate, and whose health had been impair ed . by a long residence in the capital, soon found die gentle and salubrious breezes of the south . produce su invigorating change. Her disposition and temper were the most amiable, her affection for my father almost bordered upon idolatry, arid she imagined herself thrice blessed in tracing his resemblance in his three little ones. A widowed relative, an aged but indigent priest, who was tutor to my brothers, and three domestics,. composed the family. About this time, symptoms of discontent had been frequently manifested against the reigning king, but they were apparently quelled by the still powerful influence of the nobility and clergy. At so great a distance from the scene of politics. and hi no small degree secluded from intercourse with the neigh bouring gentry, my mother only knew of these disturb ances from my father, who, fearful of the consequences, concealed from her any acts of peculiar atrocity, and scarcely informed her of any agitation of the public mind, in consequence of the deranced state of the finances. But in the following year, 1759, the german insurrection, which had been so long bur;ed in obscu rity, suddenly burst forth, tinder the popular and in viting form of the tree of Liberty, in the dangerous shadow of which was soon destined to expire so much that Was virtuous, dignified and Imety in the French nation. The insurrection that ensued at Paris of the removal of die popular • •ti r, M--, was in some measure allayed by the king surrendering himself ' to the people; but the extramaiiiiary measure of the national assembly, in overturning all established cus toms, and completely disorpnizing the.. former state of government, together with their coutiseatilig the posses. sionsol the clergy, abolishing all nobility, and ultimately sacrificing their King, soon destroyed the rentatioi.g hopes of their sober and well-disposed countrymen. Die dreadful eflects of the revolution were felt at the extre mities of the kingiloin,and tisousands,with scarce a wreck of their fortunes, were escaping from the scene of desti tic. thin to (jemmy and Switzerland, or to the stilt more hospitable:toil of Gicat Britain. Circumstances could be disguised no longer, and my fattier, aIIXIOUS fur the safety of his family, resolved if possible to quit his native country for ever. Accordingly, collecting all his his timetables, he hired a packet, and embaiking at midnight. dirt eted his coutse to the capital of the Pove's territories, trout whence svon afterwards lie was com pelled to depart for Naples, where he reinainetl with his family in tolerable security, till the French entered the city in Jeuuary 1799, which they were Collltteited to SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1820. abandon, in consequenceof its recapture by Lord Nelson, in the month of June following, on the very day I was horn. Since her departure from tier native land, my her's health visibly declined. She never mentioned the happy days she had spent in the south of Frunce but with tears in her eyes, and she would even weep aloud, when the thought of -breathing 'her last sigh in a foreign land took possession of her soul. Although very young, I well remember weeping myself when I saw the big drops suffusing her light blue eyes, and even now I seem to feel the preseureof her hand,as she would clasp me to her bosom, with all the tenderness of ma ternal love. lint a short time before her death, when she appeared unusually pale, I asked her why . she I.soked so beautiful ; her answer mado an impression on my heart which [never can forget—' Ma 'Jenne enigonne e'est parceque J'irai bientot au ciel.' A few (lays after a severe shock of au earthquAce was felt at Naples, which so alarmed her that notwithstanding her assurance that none of our friends had received injury, she expired a few hours afterwards in the arms of my father, invoking heaven for his and her children's prosperity, and thank ing him for all his kindness to her, which, she said, were she to live for ever, she should be unable to repay. The loss, although not sudden, so materially affected his mind, that in order to dissipate his melancholy, the physicians recommended a change of scene, and advised him if possible to eng., L e in some pursuit. My brothers were all provided for; the eldest, now nearly twenty years of age, had been for some time in a commercial house of great eminence, with every prospect of future success. The second, at the age of seventeen, had pro cured a commission in the Nospolitaii army ; and the third was then completing his studies at the University. I alone was incapable of providing for myself, and con sequently my parent's greateatleare ; at one time he pro leaving me with his relative, whilst he pursued pro posed s intended journey, but I bail so endeared myself to him by my innocent prattle, and the resemblance I bore to my mother, that he ultjapraely resolved I should accompany him; Vienna was the place of our destina tion. Behold me now an orphan. only three years of age, commencing my travels, afid beginning my acquaint ance with the world at a period when many have not quitted the cradle. An old domestic and a nurse were our only attendants. We reached the Austrian capital in ten days, and took up our abode in one of the sub urbs, in a small but elegant house, with an extensive 'garden. My father, when he had become reconciled to the place, spent a great portion of his time in the arch ducal library, which was much frequented by foreign ers, and supposed to contain a valuable collection of printed books and manuscripts. The museum also afforded him great amusement ; hut he invariably spent the morning and evening at 'home, instilling into my mind the virtuous principles sled interesting character of my departed mother. It was no small pleasure to him to perceive with what delight I listened to the encomi ums on her worth ; and he has since told me, I used fre quently, at the end of his discourse, to climb upon his knees, and ask him when I should be like my mother. It was our destiny, however, to encounter more mis fortune: the French army was making rapid strides through the Continent; and in lens the city was forced to surrender. At the peace of Presburgh, which, hap pened in the same year, it was given tip to Austria, and tie were again in some degree restored to our former quiet. About this time I was ins ited by an English lady, a widow, residing with her brother in an adjoining chateau, to commenei my studies with her daughter, fur whom the most approved masters were provided. The notedly pleased me, and my father, ambitious that I should excel in all useful knowledge, consented to my remit% al. " 'Mrs. Darner had passed the meridian of life, but was still a fine woman , there was a dignity in her car riage, which intimated an acquaintanceship, and even a familiarity, with the first-rate society, but there was also a suavity in her manners and address which few iv 'n of fortune possess :it acted as a beautiful foil to the hauteur acquired by moving in the higher circles-- 11er husband had been dead nearly two years, and she still retained the garments of woe, which gave an addi tional degree of interest to Iter tine appearance. We rect 111111 l enced our studies together, and made tolerable itrutue , s i t , th e usual ~hie of private education —At the end of two years we began to study histuly ; Mrs. D. herself alaulged that of England for our use, and carefully explained to us all difficulties in our ',ingress. ller remarks were like beautiful flowers strewed over a wade and apparently desolate plain, luring us onward till we were capable of comprehending the importance of our tonsil!. In this manner we insensibly imbibed a predilection for all that w is English, which ton kind in sunettess by every means its her power stieugthetied and encouraged. " 11uw true is it, that similiarity of pursuit and dis. position strengthens the bonds of trienthhip. Many who have fonewd early and ardent intimacies, when separated, have soon become carelei Of their former companio ns, and mingling in the busy scenes of the world, have even forgot the very names of those who trice were their inseparable friends; bUt we never cease to remetuber those whom a unity of taste unites with us in a powerful [news 94d• but invisible chain of mental affection. 1 always think of Julia Denser, whenever I hear Rossaeu's dream, or read Requites Luth de la Montagne.' " An unexpected and much greater trial than any I had yet experienced was aw •• g met yet. My mother's death was assuredly the most fatal, but it hap pened at a period when I could calculate neither the immediate loss, nor ascertain how my future happiness might be affected by it. Bin Julia was my earliest com panion ; as we grew up, our society was cemented try friendship, and rendered doubly sweet by the endearing charm of sympathy. All our actions were in unison ; each anticipated the wishes of Menthe! ; in our studies, our pleasures, our very foibles, nay, in every thing but death we were undivided." My companion *mild proceed no further, her voice became inaudible through extreme agitation, as the re membrance of departed joys pierced her very soul. She sobbed aloud, and the swelling of her bissom visibly proclaimed the fearful strife within. It was in vain, I endeavoured to console her; she had touched upon a chord which had vibrated to her heart, and this lively emotion of sensibility might have even proved danger ous, had not a copious stream of tears washed away the bitterness of her recollection, leaving only that de licious melancholy feeding span its sorrow, which Os • sian elegantly describes as " the joy of grief." I could not prevail upon her to resume her narrative, but before we parted I learned that her brother (the sol dier) had been sacrificed to the merciless demon of war, when the French Emperor planted his tree of li berty in Italy—that having visited England with Mrs. Dallier, who had taken tip her residence in the Metro polis, she was about in return to Rome, where her fa ther purchased a small villa with the prospect of pass ing the remainder of his days in peaceful repose—" lint I shall pass through Marseilles," said she, " on my way thither, that I may witness the scene of my mo ther's much happier days, and put forth my tears ou the spot hallowed by her memory, and associated in the breast of my father, with recollections that will only cease to actuate him when death shall have destroyed that image which was the object of her affection, and almost the idol of her idolatry. I shall return to the bosom of my parent with a mind subdued by misfor tune, but surrounded by all that is interesting and in spiring its the garden of Nature and the abode of the fine Arts, it may yet receive a toile and temperament capable of administering to his pleasures and soothing his declining age." Interesting girl," said I, involuntarily pressing her fingers to my lips, as bidding her a hest and final adieu ; interesting girl, may the pleasurable sensations thou Ilan enkindled in my breast return to thee a hun dred fold. May thy future journey through life be un chequered by the clouds of misfortune, the darkness of of adversity, or the eventinl storms of war. May thy succeeding years be joyous, as were the days of thine infancy; and when thou meetest with one who shall he touched with the story of thy sorrows, with a heart capable of sympathizing with thy virtues, let him be come the enthusiastic sharer of all thy . pieasurra —let him wear thee next his side as the fairest and most fragrant Hower in the garden of his existence—let him become at once, thy protector, thy husband, thy friend. Rut doubly crust the wretch, if such a one there be, who, muter the specious appearance of virtue, would plant in thy chaste bosom the contaminating weed of guilt, or the more rankling thorn of remorse. Fare well; and forget not, when walk ng iii the galleries and proud arcades of Rome, amid thy soul-elevating and inspiring thoughts, one, who, hi whatever cir cumstances and situations he may be thiown, will re gard the interesting transactions of this short hour as the most delightful period of his existence, and cease not to breathe omit his fervent prayers to the protector of virtuous innocence for thy present and eterna felicity !" A violent explosion, similar to the firing of a musket, took place on Sunday night about o'clock, in the Place du Carousel in Paris, and ex cited an alarm for the safety of the Royal Family, The guard was immediately under arms. Upon ex amination the remains of an exploded petard was found, but at a great distance from the apartments occupied by the Royal Family. The petard was probably thrown there by mime mischievous wag,. for it was similar to th os e which are used in al - titicial fire-works. Court of Ercluvuer.—On Thursday morning, at half-paat 10 o'clock, Mr. Denman. lull dressed, made his appearance in the Court of Exchequer. He was immediately addressed by Baron Graham / senior Baron, in the at;senceot the Chief—" Mr. Denman, the Queen having appointed you her ' 4 olicitor-Ge. neral, come forwaed, and take your place within the Bar." Upon which Mr. Denman advanced, bowed to the Court and the Bar, and then took his seat al directed, anti inuatediatey after left the Court. .....—•• , • 4 .......- 1 . • t -... ,L..../ , . r ....... .r . .. , ~ ,: e .,),-: ' il . `. . ' r L ....e. •*". • 1