The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-01
MISCELLANEOUS.

Extraordinary intrepidity Of French Lady
Of Rank.-An instance of peculiar GOODNESS
and courageous decision, and of which the
circumstances are highly characteristic Of
the military spirit of the nation, has lately ap-
peared in several of the French journals.
The principal actor in the affair is Madame la
Baronne de G., whose conduct and bear
ing on the occasion, it will be allowed, justly
entitle her to the appellation of a genuine
daughter of Imperial France. 1t appears
that weak state Of health had rendered
change Of residence necessary to his lady,
and a house in the environs Of the capital---
No. 3, in the Ruelie de Piebus, near the Bar
rier du Trone, next door to that in which
Madame Beauharnois, afterwards the En-
press Josephine, formerly resided---was made
choice Of for that purpose. The insecurity
of the houses in the outskirts of the French
Metropolis is too proverbial not to have ex-
cited doubts in the mind Of La Baronne de
c., and she accordingly provided her
self with the means of defence in case of at
tack, viz: a brace of loaded pistols, which
were placed in drawer near the bedside.
Several months elapsed, and no circumstance
occurred to modest the quiet and security Of
the lady's retreat. A femma de chambre and
another female occupied the lower part Of the
house, their mistress residing on the first floor.
At length one particularly dark and rainy
night La Baronne was awoke by noise pro-
ceeding from the garden beneath her window:
and. opening the lattice with as little noise as
possible she distinctly saw three men endea-
vorlng to force open door which commune
Gated with the lower part OF the house with
out giving the least alarm, or calling up her
servants, she armed herself with her pistols,
and Immediately tired in the direction Of the
assailants the report of the pistols put the
parties to flight, and they made a hasty re-
treat over the garden wall, taking the direction
of the Ruelle de Piepus, while the lady con-
siderng all danger over, at least for that night,
resumed her pillow and calmly slep till morn
ing Notwithstanding the alarming nature of
this attack, and obvious insecurity of the re-
sidence she had made choice of, La Bardnne
de G., feeling no desire to become an OBJ
ject Of public attention, made no declaration
to the police, and, consequently, this trait of
energy and decision, for the time, remained
secret; eight and forty hours, however, had
scarcely elapsed, when she was again awoke
by similar noise in the garden, and again
distinctly recognised three men, apparently
the same, attempting TO force their way into
the house in direction different from that
which they had been previously driven. La
Baronne had immediate recourse to her pis-
tolls, which she fortunately kept charged, and,
taking more assured and deliberate aim than
on the former occasion, one of the men fell,
and the other preciptately made off; they
returned, however, in few minutes, and car
ried away their wounded companion. On
III fnl nhp nf
blood were visible in the garden and on the
wall over which the fugitives had made their
escape Still the Baronne, notwithstanding
the advice Of her friends, made no declaration
to the authorities, but, as measure of pru-
dence, she placed guard over the premises,
an old soldier of the imperial army, at pre-
sent the guard of the Place Royale Of whose
courage and fidelity she entertained no doubt.
This measure sufficed to ensure tranquility
during space of six weeks, when the Ba-
ronne considering further precaution unne-
cessary, discharged her Waterman. After a
lapse of few days the repose Of the lady
was again interrupted, about the same hour of
the night as on the previous occasions, and
she perceived several men in the garden; one
also was on the wall, apparently for the pur-
pose Of keeping watch. The Baronne de
c., seizing her pistols, discharged them
both a: the same instant, and her fire was i'm
mcdiately returned by pistol from the assail-
ants, the ball of which, passing over her head.
entered the ceiling of her chamber. Two
persons who happened to be in the house
FASTENED into the garden in pursuit of the
daring outrageous Williams, but they had con-
trived TO get clear Off On the following day,
Madame dc G. made declaration of the
whole of the facts at the prefecture de police,
and efiecual steps have been taken for her
future security 1t is hoped that the wound
ed man, who probably will be compelled to
apply for medical aid, will lead TO the dis
covery of this audacious and determined gang.
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