The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-02-12

aud that Of late, she had evinced great
anxiety respecting her reputation her
mind having been continually rendered
uneasy by tie idea that injurious reports
concerning her, Sere in circul ,tion, and
that she was to he arrested and convey
ed to the hospital"
To these Two documents, the follow
ing biographical sketch is annexed, in
the Journal Of la Societe de Civilization.
Memoir OF the Widow Landon.
We annex, for the consideration and
study Of our readers. an account Of the
circumstances connected with the tragi-
cal event which caused the aforeg going
chronological examination and in or
der that all may have the means of en-
lightened conviction, we give it together
with report Of The striking facts by
which it was accompanied. We believe
that statement Of the principal events
in the life Of the widow Landon will not
be useless: as an examination of these
will explain the causes Of the dreadful
suicide which terminated her existence.
In this, one may see the result Of a whole
life for ii is but the last step into an
abyss, towards which this unfortunate
woman had been continually and gradu-
ally approaching. Ii also exhibits n
painful but instructive picture of the un.
equal contest between two opposite ten
dencies, one Of which appears as if i'm
PEELED towards the commission OF an ir-
revocably determined act, even withou,
power to avoid the use of the most ter
riic means among those which its exc
cu'ion seems to require.
The widow Landou, whose maiden
name was Marc-Brisile Bainyillain,
had resided for six months, in In house
No. As, rue de la cilIe-Es,rnrade.-
She wns forty years Of age. Her par
ents being poor, she was brought mp un
der the care of pious females, the lade s
Desbray, Of the community of Foreign
Missions +; who, from the time of lrer in
fancy, remarked her great dociliry, and
her strong affection for those from whom
she received kindness and attention.
She had scarcely attained her tenth
year, when circumstance of apparent
ly little Importance, left upon her mind
vivid impression and gave, birth to
nm idea or preseDiimcnt, which although
sometimes forgotten or obscured for a
moment, soon returned, md could ney-
or be obliterated.
The father of Brigite had died of a
wound IN his neck, which he had made
IN an attempt at suicide. Her mother
noticing, one day, probably for the first
time, projecting line on the neck of her
daughter, exclaimed with surprise, "Ah,
poor child there is consequence of
my terror" The curiosity of the girl
was awakened; and she mt length learn
ed from her mother, the circumstances
attending her fathers death, and the
means which he had employed in his
design Of self-des,ruction. The fe elings
of Brigite were painfully excited by this
narrative. Nothing, worthy of remark,
however, occurred during her youth, ex-
cept that her gaiety of spirits gradually
disappeared, and was at last succeeded
by gloomy melancholy and strong
desire for solitude. Nevertheless, she be-
came q wife and mother and the
happiness of a well assorted nnion ap-
pearcd, for sometime, to oppose aud
weaken the strength of that PRESENT.
mentor predisposition, beneath which
sho was destined to sink at last.
But she lost her husband and from
that hour, her melancholy sensibly in
creased, while her desire for solitude
was heightened, by tile value which she
attached TO her reputation. She was
still young and her youth, her widow
hood, her beautiful features, the touch
ing expression Of which had not been eff
fected even by misfortune her isolated
life, and indeed every circumstance con-
ncctcd with her situation, induced re-