Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-19
From Memoirs Of the Duchess Of .Abranfes'
MADAME DE STAEL.

MADAME DE SIAEL.
AFTER the death of NJ. Necker, in 1904. Ma
dame de StaeI, finding herself relieved from all
restraint. and the mistress Of a splendid fortune,
asp,red to figure upon the stage Of politics.. 10
this she was urged BY vivid recollection OF the
commencement of the revolution, the date OF her
first acquaintance With the world. and her ear.
Iy success.-She was enticed to enter this arena,
by the desire Of of exercising the power which
she regarded as an attribute Of her superior ge-
nius.
But this love of authority took possession OF
her at fatal moment, viz: at time when ell the
efforts Of an hercrlean government were exerted
to free society from the action OF individual IN.
luence, and to concentrate all power in ITSELF
Thus contest ensued, between the individual
influence which Madame de Stael wished to ex-
ercise, and the resistance which was opposed by
the government Of the empire. This contest
lasted eight years, at the expiration OF which time
Madame de Stael withdrew from the conflict be-.
tween stupendous moral power, and a physi.
cal power stronger than had ever before existed
During this period Madame de Slae published
COninne, and her great work on Germany; the
materials for the latter she collected in JOURNEYS
undertaken to escape from the imperial authority.
aud to syiupathise with the victims of that autho'
vive. The idea of this work was suggested by
the labors she undertook, and executed conjoint
ly with NJ. Schlegel, to explore the literary world
of Gertnanv; a world which was then new. and
entirely unacquanted with the ideas, traditions,
and even the rules which were the pride of
French literature.
Madame de Stael felt the necessity of eman-
cipating herself frum these ideas, traditions. and
rules; she was endowed with a genuine poetic
feeling, horror of bad taste, and power OF
charming by the harmony OF language, which
gave rise to frequent controversies between her
and NJ Schlege, who, as it may be obser we'd from
his lectures, did not allow himself to be fascinat
ed by Racine's harmonious vers,fcation. 1t was
only necessary Tor Madame de Stael to recite
some passages uf Racine, IN stir up one OF these
disputes whence einabale,l thousand ideas as
novel as PROFOUND, on the mysteries OF our moral
nature.
One Of Madame d. S,ael's favorite amuseme nts
at ihi. time, consisted in dramatic representation
Her fine voice aud energetic gestures gave her a
great advantage IN the performance oil tragedy.
In these representations she was assisted by
Count Eirzar de S,bran, NJ Charles de Labe.
doyere and Don Pedro de SOusa. now Marquis
de Palmella. Her style of acting belonged to
the school which had preceded Talma; for in
spite Of her admiration of that trasrd,an, she Vas
not his disciple. Madame de Stael attached NJ
great value To her talent for dramatic perfor.
nance. tits curious that she excelled in the re.
presentation Of soubreties.
| The Count de Sabran wrote pieces for these
private threatricals, and Madame de Stael her.
self wrote " Agar, la Sunamite," and two other
pieces, which we're subsequently, printed and
much admired. At these performances at Cop.
pet, the audience consisted of Madame de Sta
els acquaintance in the neighborhood, and very
| frequently friends who came from considerable
distance to see her. Among these friends
must mention Prince William of Prussia. Baron
de Voght, Bonstettin, the poet Werner, NJ. de
Montmorency. (who every year made pilgrim
age to the Val.Sainte and Coppe) and Madame
de Recamier, who joined to exquisite beauty. a
fund Of talent and amiability which were duly
appreciated by Madame de Stae.
AS long as Madame de Stael could assemble
around her. this circle of friends, existence was
endurable to her, even in exile. But when, be-
meath her hospitable roof. and on one and the
same day, sentence of exile was pronounced up
on Madame de Recamier and NJ. de Montmoren.
cy, the distress of her feelings overcame her for
titude. Her extreme horror Of solitude, and the
modification Of believing herself the immediate
cause Of the condemnation Of her friends, deter.
mined her to leave France until happier days,
and to seek elsewhere the liberty which France
denied her.
We deprecate any meddIing with this Southern
O r.. NJ