The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-08 00:00:00

FOR, THE SUN.

TRAGICAL HISTORY ofMA RQUISE DE GANGES.
MR. EntTon.—The following Tragical Event
recorded in the Causes Cedibres, may perhaps in-
terest some of your Readers. A. P.

Madame de CHATEAUBLANG MIS th© only
daughter of a tradesman of Avignon. But the immense wealth
she was to inherit from her mateznal grandfather, and thcbun-
cimmon beauty of her person, attracted the notice of many
youths of noble extraction. At the early age of thirteen, she

married the Marquis de (latellane, and was universally con-
sidered as the most beautiful woman at the Court of Louis
XIV. The Marquis was lost off the coast of Sicily, and his
wife became a widow when she was only 22 years of age.
Young, beautiful, and rich, she could not fail having many
suitors, and at length bestowed her hand upon the Marquis de
Ganges ; two children were the fruits of this marriage; but
time gradually lessened the mutual attachment of the parents.
,The Marquis, though he neglected his wife, saw with jealousy
and anger the attention-which a young and beautiful female re-
ceived- wherever she went ; and although the purity of her con.
duct afforded him no just cause for blame, yet did his own be-
haviour towards the Marchioness become harsh, and even out_
rageous. Thus did matters stand between them, when the
Chevalier and the Abbe de Ganges, became inmates of their
brother's house. The former was for disposition compara-
tively harmless ; but the Abbe, who concealed under the
mask of good humour and playful wit, the most profound
dissimulation, and a heart capable of the most daring crimes,
soon so worked upon the weak mind of the Marquis, that he
became the abject slave of his bold and unprincipled junior.—
This wretch, smitten by the charms of his sister-in-law, un
dertook to seduce her ; and although he experienced on her
part only the most marked coolness, and evident signs of dis-
gust, he continued for a time to press his suit with all the art
of which he was master. At length, chance having offered him
favourableoppartunity, he unblushingly avowed his criminal
passion, and besought his sister-in-law to yield to his desires ;
and when he,found his suit rejected with the coolest contempt,
he reminded her that, possessing the entire confidence of her
husband, her peace and comfort depended upon himself.—
But e'en these threats could not induce her to be-
tray her duty. In the meantime, she had the mortifi-
cation' to discover that the Chevalier was also become
her admirer. The Abbe having perceived this, encou-
raged his brother to prosecute his designs ; but the Che-
valier's fate proved similar to his own, and the wily discoveries
of his worthless brother soon changed his love into the most
deadly hatred. The Abbe, thus rid of rival, renewed his suit,
when ho found the Marchioness still insensible to his love, he
induced her husband to ill-treat her, and informed her she
could expect no better treatment, unless she yielded to his
wishes.

In the mean time, the death of her grandfather left her sole
heiress to his immense fortune ; and as the law of the land
placed it at her sole disposal, her husband now treated her
with more kindness, but soon after announced his intentioh of
♦isitin„ his.estate of Ganges, situated near an obScure town of

Languedoc. This determination filled his wife with such
prehensions, that before her departure she made a will, be-
queathing her fortune to her mother, leaving her to appoint
any one of the Marquis's children as her heir. And in the
presence of the chief magistrates of the place, solemnly de-
elated that every subsequent will, made by her, must be con-
sidered at of do value. No sooner was the party settled at
qanTes than the Abbe took every opportunity of inducing the
51archionerif-Ocancel the above.. mentioned will. To avoid his
imPortunities, she at length consented ; but when he heard the
nature of than left at Mignon, and discovered that his sistet.in-
law and deceived him, he resolved to make her feel the effects
of his vengeance.

On the ilth of May, 1667, the Marchioness was to take a
dose of physic; but disliking the colour, she did not take it :
and spent the afternoon in' bed but in the company of several
ladies, when they withdrew, the Abbe accompanied them to the
door, but soon the hapless Marchioness saw him re-enter her
bed-room, his eyes flashing fire, his hair standing on end; and
his mouth foaming with rage. He locked the door, then, ac-
companied by the Chevalier, who had drawn his sword, he
approached the bed. of their victim, and informed her she must
chose either the sword, or a poisonous draught, which the Abbe
held in one hand, whilst the other grasped a pistol. The tears,

the entreaties of the Marchioness,were of no avail,and she drank
the contents of the fatal. cup ; but putting her head under the
bed cioathes she contrived to spit out a portion of it. Then
seizing the time they had gone in search of a Priest to confess
her, she leaped out of a window, and thrusting her long pin
into her throat, contrived to throw up a large portion of the
poison. She then fled to.the house of a Gentleman in the
town, whither she was pursued by the Abbe, and the Chevalier,
who declared she was insane. Here site endeavoured to move
the Chevalier to compassion ; but the wretch plunged his sword
twice into her bosoth ; and seeing she was endeavouring to • fly,
he ran his weapon five times into her back, and quitted the
house. The shrieks of the Marchioness brought several persons
into the room ; and as one of these called cut at the window for
a surgefon the Abbe fearing she might yet recover, returned to
his victim, placed the muzzle of his pistol on her bosom, and
drew the trigger, but the deadly weapon missed fire. lie now
attempted to knock her brains out whit the butt end, but being
overpowered by the persona present, he at length quitted tile
house, and, along with his brother, row sought his safety in
flight. The Marquess, who was away from home during this tra-
gedy, hastened tohis wife, and put on theeppearance ofgreat dis-
tress. His wife died on 7th June 1667, and he was immediately
apprehended.' The Chevalier and the Abbe had effected their
escape, they weree`havevcr,-Condernned to be broken alive on
the wheel ; and the Marquis was sentenced to perpetual banish- ,

ment, to degradation from nobility, and all his estates were de-
clared forfeited to the King. No one knows what became of
him afterwards. The Chevalier is said to have been killed at
the seige of Candia. As to the worthless Abbe, we are sorry to
say, that coder a feigned name,ite eventually settled at Amster.

darn, where he changed his religion, and acquired great consio
toleration, under the name of La Martel Here.

The Paris Papers of Tuesday came to hand
this day. They have news from Madrid,
which inform us that the new Council of State
had been formed, and the Consultative Junta
dissolved ; but they say nothing in confirtna-
tion of the accounts received yesterday of
the fire in the Escurial. In other respects
these papers are destitute of interest. The
French 5 per cents. at three o'clock on Tuesday
were 97. 15., and the 3 per cents. 66. 9.5. The
following are extracts :

44 PRESBURGH, Nov. 22.
" In the 20th Sitting of the Diet, held on the

r 15th of this month, the answer of the Emperor
was again read, and a discussion rose upon it,
which continued the following days in committee,
until the 20th (Sunday), when the 21st Sitting
took place. His Royal Highness the Archduke
Palatine left this for Vienna yesterday, to pre-
sent the result of this sitting to his Majesty.
66 MADRID, NOP. 24.

" [Private Correspondence.]--A note of M.
(le Oubril, and the reply to it of the Duke of
Infantado, relative to the mission of M. Zea, is
circulated here; they are evidently forgeries.--
I assure you, the Russian Minister has not ad-
dressed any note to our Cabinet, and the object
to be obtained by the assertion was to cause it
to be understood that there was a misunderstand-
ing between the two Governments. The Em.