Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-21

dent Tor the annexed translation OF ietter III
the Courier DIES Etats Unis, giving sketchy &C.
count of this scandalous process, which occupied
all Paris at the last dates.
PARIS, 18TH December, 1851
Sir.-For several days past, public feeling has
been evidently excited BY the scandal OF law
suit, in which names the most elevated are CON-
promised. aud which produces, at each examina-
ton. the most unfortunate disclosures.
An action has been brought before the tribunal
of first instance, by the Princes of Rohan, to null
lily the will of the late Duke Of Bourbon. against
the Duke of Aumale, fourth son of Louis Philip.
and the Baroness, the avOwed mistress OF the
Duke Of Bourbon. The following is brief ana.
lyss of the history of this will.
The Duke of Bourbon was very rich; the Duke
Of Orleans still richer; but an economist and ia
Their of numerous family, he desired to augment
the fortunes of his children. The families of
Bourbon Condo, and Of Orleans, had been for
long time hostile to each other, on account OF po-
litcal animosities. The heir of the name OF Conde
considered himself as the representative Of the
monarchy. aud the family of Orleans lived in his
| remembrance only as connected with the times OF
! the revolution. The Duke of Bourbon could not
conceal his repugnanCe to his relatives, to whose
/ name he attached u sort of fatality. 1t was not
to any of them he destined his wealth, but to the
| Duke of Bordeaux. to whom he had announced
/ his intention. from the death OF the Duke of Ber
RI 1t IS difficult to change first resolutions;
this is the way in which it was undertaken.
| There lived with the Duke of Bourbon in the
closest intimacy, woman. who had over his
mind the most absolute control. 1t was Miss
Dawes, brought from England by the Duke of
Bourbon, and married To certain Baron de Ecu
chercs, who was satisfied in giving her his name.
Nothing could be done without the assist
ance of this woman: with her cooperation it
was easy to direct the mind of the old maa. to
to whom long habit and the weakness OF aye left
no power of resistance. They could not gain an
auxiliary more useful to them. Madame de Feu-
cheres, loaded with riches, accessible only
through her vanity. Women of cha, acter would
not see her, and the doors of respectable houses
were closed against her. Every day she was ex.
posed to new humiatons, which DESTROYED her
happiness, although surrounded by enjoyments.-
The entree to the Court was denied TO hcr;--the
gates Of the Palais Royal were opened to receive
her. She was seated near the Duchess OF Orleans
and the young Princess Every idea OF decency
gave way to interest. Not cOutent With this first
compaisance. the Duke Of Orleans succeeded,
after a long negotiation, IN obtaining for Madame
de Feucheres the entree to Court. lie wrote to
her affrctionate letters; he went To dine with her
| At last, by the assistance of this woman, by
her PRAYERS, menaces. and violences, the old
Duke of Bourbon, incapable OF resisting the tor
lures inflicted upon him by this Megara, resign
ed himself TO her will The viii 50 arjentIy
desired, was made from copy, prepared under
the eyes of the Duke of Or leans by one of his iD-
timate counse,lors. (Mr. Dupin the elder and
sent to the Bourbon Palace. to be presented to
the Duke of Bourbon Condo, by the honest Ma
LII L. t., fol ha
Ifortuaate old man for long time resisted; but
at last, after thousand instances of i'll treatment
from this woman. he signed, the 29th of August
| S29, the fatal Will which in the following year,
caused his own death.
| This will would have been revoked. The
DUKE Of Bourbon remained under the dominion
OF the woman whose victim he had become Som
after the events of July, 1880, he contemplated
to Fly from this wicked woman, and to quit France;
where his opinion ON the legitimacy of his rea-
tives, would not permit him to remain with honor
under what he considered the usurpation Of the
| Younger branch His plan of escape arrang
ed NJ de Chpulet. one Of the officers OF his pa
lace, was alone in his confidence. He had or
dered to st. Leu, where the prince resided.
courier, on the 9th August, 1880, at 10 O'Clock
in the morning. A large sum was realized in
gold, a carriage, was prepared by NJ. de Choulet,
who was to accompany him; in little time he
would have been at liberty. would have been re-
united to the elder branch of the BourbOns, and
would have revoked the odius will made in favor
of Madame de Foucheres. and family the OBJ
Ijects of his repugnance. The s5th Of August IN
the evening" the prince expedited second cou
rier to VI de Chouet, tn order him to he at 81.
Leu the eth al eight o'clock IN the morning in.
stead of ten. He persisted the following night,
the victim of the most attrocious cruelty. A door
opened into his a!cove: one person kept the kew
of this door. II" was found the next day, the
9th half suspended from the blinds of his sleep
ing chamber BY loose cravat, his knees touching
the floor. NJ. de Ch0ulet arrived the 18th, and
did not conceal his doubts Of this pretended sui
eide, The opinion of all the persons attached to
the house, and of all the inhabitants OF st. Leu,
accused tie baroness of Feucheres and his ne
phew. NJ. Dawes. who fled III few days to En-
gland. This man had the impudence within o
few months to return to France He came no
further than Calais: he was found dead in his bed