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

No. 1,259.—V0t. XIII.]

THE HISTORY OF
MA RIANXE MO NT.IIOII EA^Crs
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