The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-01 00:00:00

THE LAST MOMENTS OF THE
DUC HESSE D'ANGOULE ME.
The following interesting account has been trans-
mitted to the Legitimist journals from Frohsdorf,
by a member of the household of the laie Princess :
" Oa the 12th October the Countess de Marnes
appeared to be in the enjoyment of perfect health.
The Frenchmen by whom she was surrounded at
that period, and who had been drawn to Frohsdorf by
the wish to render homage to her on the day of her
fete, were astonished at witnessing the kind activity
she displayed in showing them the environs of her
residence, and at the vivacity with which she ex-
pressed her sentiments towards her country ; they
were only rendered sad when they heard her say
with emotion, Dear France ! I am too old ever to
see it again! May God protect it ! and may my
nephew one day be able to make it resume the course
of its glorious destinies I The disinterested hope of
a happiness which I shall not share in on earth suf-
fices for my consolation.' On that day she received
a letter from the Archduchess Sophie, the mother
of the Emperor, announcing her intention of visit-
ing her on the occasion of her fete. Its the
event of your being prevented from receiving me,'
mil she, I will delay my visit, but I do not re-
nounce it; for, my dear aunt, I shall consider it a
fête for me to see you.' Alas! that file was doomed
to be cruelly disturbed. On the 130 a, during mass,
the Countess de Marnes felt the first symptoms of the
disease which was fatal to her. Finding herself
fainting, she left the chapel, but struggling against
her feelings she went into the salon some minutes
after, in order not to cause alarm to her family. The
paleness and contraction of her features alarmed us;
the Count and Countess of Chambord begged her to
return to her apartment, and sent for Baron Thevenot,
her physician, who prescribed what he thought requi-
site for her. On the 14th the Archduchess Sophia
and her suite arrived from Schcenbrunn. The Coun-
tess de Marnes insisted on getting up to receive her;
the physician was compelled to entorce his advice that
she should remain in bed, which he said she could not
leave without immediate danger. The Archduchess
came to see her in her bedroom ; they had a long
conversation together ; the august invalid spoke freely
and with affection of all that most interested the
maternal heart of the Archduchess. Illness seemed to
have been forgotten ; it appeared as if it had yielded
to medicine. On the 15th, the day of her
*Me,
Monsignor Viale, the Apostolic Nuncio, came to
visit her, and celebrate mass at Frobsdorf. The
Archduke Maximilian d'Este also arrived to pay his
respects to her, but Dr. Thevenot forbad her receiv-
ing any visitors fearing the agitation which began to
manifest itself, and was symptomatic of approaching
fever. The Count and Countess of Chambord were
alone permitted to offer her their congratulations;
and this day, which was to have been such a happy
one, was very melancholy. As a symbol of the des-
tiny of this Princess, her fête-day was immediately
followed by the terrible anniversary of the execution
of Queen Marie Antoinette. This melancholy day,
which she passed in mourning and in most absolute
solitude, recalled all the most painful reminiscences of
her mind, and the most dangerous effects were anti-
cipated. Nothing shall prevent me,' she said, from
going tomorrow to the chapel to render to the
memory of my mother those duties in which I have
never failed.' During the night her illness increased
in the most alarming manner ; by the side of the
bed watched incessantly Madame de Sainte-Preuve,
whom she had protected from her childhood, and
who is the granddaughter of her governess,
Madame de Freminville. My dear child,' said
the Countess to her, we must part. Do you
hear what is taking place in my chest ? Do not de-
ceive yourself, it is the death rattle. Mme. de Sainte-
Preuve, who was kneeling beside her bed, could not
restrain her tears. What is this that moistens my
hands ?' exclaimed the Countess, in all the delirium
of fever. She then prayed fervently and said the
litanies; she frequently repeated, Holy patriarchs,
holy angels, protect my nephew ! Save France I My
God, unworthy as I am, in your mercy receive my
soul. Hear the prayer of your humble servant, who
is on the threshold of eternity !' Notwithstanding the
dreadful night she had passed, and the rattle which
continued, she endeavoured in the morning to get
out of her bed, in order to go and pray for her mo-
ther. Her attendant succeeded in preventing her by
saying that the nuncio was coming to perform the
service for Marie Antoinette. Express to him how
grateful I feel to him,' she replied. The Abbe Tre-
' buquet then proposed to her to receive the communion ;
she joyfully acceded to this proposition, which restored
calmness to her soul, and raised it towards God with
the exalted piety for which she was remarkable. Dr.
Sceburger, first physician to the Emperor, came to
unite his skill to that of Dr. Thevenot; they held a
consultation on the state of the patient, and on the
best means of saving her. They found that her
disease was inflammation of the lungs, of such a
violent kind as to be almost beyond the reach of
medical treatment. During the night, however, and
on the following morning, a favourable reaction ap-
peared to manifest itself, which inspired some hope.
Taking advantage of this unlooked- fur amelioration,
the Countess de Marnes had herself moved on to a
sofa and carried into her saloon. She was, at her
request, placed near her sccretaire, the drawers of
hich she opened, in order to arrange her papers.
She questioned me with perfect calmness and lucidity
on all tne affairs connected with the charitable esta-
blishment which she had placed under my direction,
informing herself in detail of the interest of every
one, even the most humble, and giving orders on
some particular matters to her secretary, M. Sainte-
. Preuve. She afterwards asked me to read several
letters which had been addressed to her, and gave
me precise directions as to the answers to be sent.
Now,' she said to me, I wish to see Charles de
Sainte Mauro; his presence reminds me of his ex-
cellent mother, whom I so much loved, and whose
death was caused by her affection for me. You will
afterwards call Stanislas de Blacas ; I have some com-
munications to transmit through him to his brother
and to his family. I should be also glad to see M. de
Vilette, but he is deaf; I should be obliged to raise
my voice, and my chest is too fatigued; I am grieved
at this, us he is so attached to my nephew. You will
also afterwards call to me the good Mme. de Chaban-
nes ; I wish her to give news of me to Mine. de
Rouge, who will be distressed at having left Frohs-
dorf at the moment I was taken ill. You will write
to the Duchess de Levis, and tell her how much I am
gratified by her amiable letter and her desire to see
me again. I would see her myself with great plea-
sure, but lam so old and so ill ! God's will be done.
I will speak more fully on the subject to M de Levis.'
I brought the persons to her whom she had men-
tioned, and they stopped with her for a few minutes.
After this, she said to me, Now call M. Charlet to
me, and tell him to bring all his papers with him ; I
have something to which I attach great importance to
arrange with him, while I have yet strength.' The
matter in question was a list of unfortunate persons to
whom she wished to send pecuniary assistance. Her
last act was thus one dictated by that spirit of bene-
volence which had alleviated so many misfortunes.
Doctor Thevenot begged her to remain quiet, as he
apprehended a return of those symptoms which had
so much alarmed us on the previous night. In fact,
the fever had begun to reappear in the most alarm-
ing manner, and during the night her brain was af-
fected. From that time she was constantly offering
up prayers. My God,' she would exclaim, I beg
pardon for my faults ; assist your humble servant at
this moment which is to decide my eternal state.'
Doctors Th6venot and Sceburger passed the night
near her, employing all the resources of science in
her behalf, but, alas I without success; her strength
became exhausted, and her movements paralysed.
Nevertheless, when the Count de Chambord spoke to
her, her intelligence seemed to revive; to that well-
loved voice she replied with maternal tenderness,
Adieu, I am exhausted.' rhese were the last
words she spoke. Madame de Sainte-Preuve, stoop-
ing over her bed, moistened the parched lips of the
august patient ; she understood her slightest move-
ment, and attended to every look with the in-
telligent and tender zeal of a sister of charity watch-
ing an expiring mother. The Abbe Trebuquet read
the prayers for the dying, which the Countess fol-
lowed with great fervour, but the rattle became every
moment weaker. The Count and Countess de Cham-
bord, with all the bousebould friends and dependents,
were on their knees at prayer. A sudden and deep
silence chilled every heart. Over the head of the
dying Countess was a painting representing the con-
soling angel pointing out to Louis XVI. the glory of
heaven. The worthy priest raised his arms and the
cross towards this painting, thus uniting the idea of
the great expiation of Calvary with the painful
souvenirs of the 21st January, and the present sacri-
fice of proscribed virtue expiring in exile. Our hearts
understood his feelings, and repeated with his daugh-
ter of S lint Louis, and of Louis XVI., ascend to
heaven."
_ _

THE LONDON GAZETTE, Oct 31.

WAR-OFFICE, Ocr. 31.

80th Foot—En dorgo sullivan to be Lieutenant,
by purchase, vice o:iphant, who retires, Oct. 31.
87th Foot—Lieutenant John Elliot, from 18th Foot,
to be Lieutenant, vice Earristead, who exchanges, Oct. 31.
8,111 Brigadc—Second Lieutenant Arthur Nixon to be
First Lieutenant, by purchaie, vice Baird, who retires,
Oct. 31.

3rd Wfst India R,gitnent —Ensign James Bolton
Knott, to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Slater,
deceased, July 22; Ensign William Beverley Robinson
to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Halahan, de-
ceased, Aug. 26; Ensign Henry James Rainsford to be
Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Horsley, appointedito
the Gold Coast Corps, Oct. 31; Company Sergeant-
Major Thomas Ilanrehan to be Ensign, without pur-
chase, vice Rainsford, Nov. 1.

UNATTACHED.-Major Thomas Middleton Biddulph,
from 7th Light Dragoons, to bo Lieutenant-Colonel, by
froai 50th Foot, to be Captain, without
purchase vice Tovey, who retires; Lieutenant Henry
13sEvEL—Lieutenaut-Colonel Lord Edward say, of
pWu ri lel hi aatisle,Wi Oct. 31. '