The Wilmingtonian., 1823-10-02
[From the Saturday MagaSine.
A sketch of the Life of
THE COUNTESS DE vERUE.

Among the blessings enjoyed under a 7epubli-
can government, one of the most exalted is the
purity of manners in the more dis
tinguished members OF the state. Men sufficient
ly wise and virtuous to act rs free citizens under
Ia free government, never confer the generous
tribute of public respect upon those whose pr-
va,e conduct is moral reproach to the nation.-
There are, doubtless, errors OF principle and OF
life among many OF the elevated men in republics;
but those unblushing vices which assal humble
and domestic happiness with impunity IN a mon
arcliy, are prac,ised only under the covert ot se-
crecy in a commonwealth. What guilty passion
dares to devise and to do in violation OF purity
and peace, it dares not proclaim in country
where no man is above the authority otlaw, where
public sentiment is more powerful than the law,
where it cherishes innocence and protects weak
ness, and where the young, the susceptible, and
the beautiful, are considered too sacred, too estl-
Imable and too lovely, TO become the prey otpas-
ison, without a retributun of society upon the
Ioiiender--a 7etribu,ion which, if it neither vindi
Gates nor restores an unwary victim, covers the
sscriicer with an odium, hateful as his crime, and
terrible as his remorse.
I These reflections were suggested by genuine
story; it presented to our mind this fact that no
man in our country could enjoy honour and pow.
er after committing the crime it records; neither
can any one among us live in dread Of invasion
upon his heart and happiness, without the poor
redress OF beholdng an unprincipled lioertlne
made as contemptihle as he is cruel and dissolute
Among the distinguished iavourites of Victor
|Amadeus, King Of Sardinia and Duke of Savoy
was the Count de Nerue, young man whose
character had in it little of the courlier. Perhaps
he loved his master principally, because he wa.
secretly disgusted with royalty, because like Dio
clesian and Charles '. he sighed to resign the
,sceptre, and indulge himself in retired and indie
pendent pursuits, and because he communicated
his wearincss of the world. and his desire OF :
better happiness than he had yet tasted, wthou
reserve or listrust to his young friend. The
confidence of the sovereign induced correspond
ling degree of freedom in the subject, and he fail
!ed not to suggest many benevolent and enght
ened projects, by which the King could make hi
own life more happy in the Improvement AM
felicity of his people; but the selishness of Anna
deus was little disposed to this counsel; his ow
personal qualification was much nearer to hi
heart, than any blessings, which an active, vigo
rous discharge of his high duties could have be
stowed on the nation, and which by the reflection
of happiness, might have become his own.
From childhood the Count de Verue had bee
|afIanced to Joanna Baptista, only daughter Q
1.-The Duke de Luynes, but the young couple wer
not presented TO each other till Baptista was six
I,een an age when she was considered marriage
liable. Preconcerted matches almost always II
|lerdct mutual love, but the Count de Verue
lnistory furnishes all exception. He had expires
Ised no disncnation to the disposers of his fate
vhen he was informed of the reasons why the
wished to unite their children, he felt none
lcompy with their mutual desire, he anticipate
mo circumstance to create rePugnance, and l
the joyous excitement of hope and fancy he in
|patienly waited for the day which should intro
b duce him to his destined bride. The day arrived
and the Duke de Luynes presented the youn