Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-25

when d'ago mr, wss ques ,iOus, Intrusive, and
| curious Beyond 6NsitasiOS, with ~ much pro-
jeSsed good nature as would serve 1T least Gily
Of our old English gcstiswoms9. She vas
not, IN good truth, devoid of the reality as well
as the ssmbllncs Of that quality; but sho over
acted tho phIlanthropist, and consequently did
not deceive those accustomed to look lower
than the surface. This good lady is still in
statu quo, and most likely to remain so. Un-
der colour oi taking her vacant cottage for
friend, party Of US went to Marqustra, to
learn what we could respecting Mrs. Jordan's
residence there. Tho old lady recognised her
name, but pronounced il in a way which it
was scarcely possible for ~ 10 recognise. A
long conversation ensued. in some parts
deeply interesting and in others nearly as lu-
dicrous as the subject could admit of. Mad
anne Ducamp repeated to US a hundred times,
in five minutes, that she had 'beaucoup, Jea-
ucOup de veneration pour cetts chere, chera
malbeureuse dame Anglaisep whom she as
sured us, with deep sigh, was sans doute US
ange superieur? She was proceeding to tell US
every thing she knew, or suppose could in
vent. when, perceivng child in the garden
pulling the flowers, she abruptly discontinued
her eulogum, and ran of TO drive away the
intruder; having done which, she returned to
resume: but too late! in her absence her place
had been fully and fairly occupied by Agnes,
an ordinary French girl, Madame Ducamp's
bonnie (servant of all UOrk) whom we soon
found was likely to prove a much more truth
telling person than her mistress. Agnes in
formed us, with great feeling, that the econ-
omy OF that charming lady was very strict |;
necessairement je crains,' added she, with =
slow movement; Of her head and truly elo-
qucnt look. They had found out (she said)
that their lodger had been once 'iche ct mag
nVque, but when there she was gerry, very
poor indeed. But exclaimed the poor girl,
her eye Frightening up and her tone becom-
ing firmer, that could make no difference to
me! 81 'aime, Jaime! TAI serui cette pauure
dame arec Ie meme seIe (peut-etre encore
plus) que 81 ellie cut etc use princesse' This
frank hearted display Of poor Agncs's senti-
ments was, however, not in fact called for in
speaking Of Mrs. Jordan, since she might have
commanded, during the whole period Of her
continental residence, any sums she thought
proper. She had money in the bank, III the
funds, and in miscellaneous pro: crty, and had
Just before received several thousands. But
she was become nearly careless as we'll Of Pc
cuniary other matters, and took up whm
(for it Was nothing morc) to affect poverty !;
thus deceivlng the world, and giving, herself,
a vantage ge-ground to the goss!p:ng and censo-
rous. Agnes information vent on TO show
that Mrs. Jordans wh olo time was passed in
anxious expectation Of letters from England,
and on the English post-days sic was peculiar
ly miserable. We collected from the girl, that
her garden and guitar were rer only resources
against that consuming nelanchoiy which
steals away even the elo,lents of existence,
and plunges both body ard sa.nd into a state
Of morbid languor-the fruitful parent Of dis
eaEe, insanity, and death. At this point of
the story, Madame Ducamp would no longer
be restrained, and returned TO the charge with
redoubied assertions of her own friendship to
the poor lady, and bonns nature IN general.
Did you know her, monsieur'' said she:-
alas! she nearly broke s,y heart by trying to
break her ODa.' Il have !elrd oi ner since
| arrived here, madame, ,epacJ oaut ously
All! monsieur. MONSIEUR reJoned Madame
Ducanp, 9 il you had known her as well as
Agnes and I did, you would nave loved her
just az mach. am sulc she had been accus-
toned TO grandeur, though could neyer clear
y make out the cause OF her roverses. Ahn
pursued Madame, she was iGaiidbie ct hOanete
beyond description; and though SO very poor,
pa her iOudSc like a goddess At this mo-
mcnt, some other matter, perhaps suggested
by the word lounge, came across the old wom-
nn's brain, and she again trotted OIL The
remaining intelligence which We gathered from
Agnes related chiefly TO Mrs. Jordans fond
ness for music and perpetual indulgence there
in and TO her own achievements in the mus-
cal way, whereby, she told US with infinite
n2iue'e, she had frequently experienced the
gratifcation Of playing and singing nsada e to
sleep! She said that there was some little mu-
tual difficulty in the first place to under
standing ca ch other, since the stranger was
ignorant of the French language, and she her
solf had not the honour to speak English.
However, continued Agnes, we formed a
sort Of language of our own, consisting Of
looks and signs, and IN these madame was
more elegant than any oihcrperson had ever
known Here the gir, recollections seemed
fairy 20 overcome her; and with that appar-
emily exaggerated sensibility which rs, never
thcloss, natural TO the character of her coun-
try, she burst into tears, eXcamns, Oh cicH
oh cicH ellie est morte! ellie est morte! "
:" After Mrs Jordan nad loft Bonlognc, il
appears that she repaired to Versailles, and
subsequently, in still greater secrecy, TO St.
Cloud, where, totally secluded, and under the
Hoine of Johnson, she ,ontinued TO await, in
state Of extreme depression, and with agitatcd
lmpatence, the answer TO some letters, by
which was to be determined hcr fu, uro CON
duci as 10 the distressing business hat hai led
her to the continent. Her soctudc arose no,
so much from the real import ancc Of this liar,
as from her Indignation ana disgust at tic III
gratitude which had been displayed to"ards
her, and which by drawing aside the curtain
from before her unwilling eyes, had exposed
novel and painful view OF hurnan nature lat
that period occupied a large hotel adjoining
The Bois de Boulogne No a miic interviewed
between MS; yet, until long after Mrs, Jordan's
dcceasc, ! never heard she as IN my nc,Vh-
borhood. There was no occasion whatever 10.
such an entire seclusion; but i.ie anguish Of
her mind had by this time so cni.cblod her,
that bilious complaint was generated, aud
gradually increased. is growlh, indeed did
not appear to give her much ms, ncss--so
detected and los: had she become. Day after
day her misery augmented, and at length she |
seemed we were told, actually 10 regard the |