Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-03
From the Madisonian.
ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.
Story of MademoiseHe dc Tournon, Rela.
led bg Hrroaret. Queen of Narurre.

queen OF Navarro. VINO seems - naNe otcH pcofeN
by every body but her husband, Henry w., who
divorced her Her Majesty, who was sister Of
Kings Charles TX. and Henry Ill, and much used
by them for court purposes, on account OF her WI
and persuasveness, Is relating journey which she
had been advised to make into the Netherlands, IN
company with the Princess de la Roche Sur on;
and we have retained, in our extract, the cireum-
stances immediately preceding, and following the
ady's story, sort OF frame and contrast to the
picture, and specimen Of those gay court ENJOY
ments which invested whatever happened in those
times, however tragical.
The Bishop of Liege, who is the sove-
reign of the city and country, (says the
royal autobiography received me with
all the cordiality and respect that could
be expected from person of his dignity
and great accomplishments. lie was, ~
deed, a nobleman endowed with singular
prudence and virtue; agreeable in hisper-
son and conversation, gracious and mag
nificent in his carriage and behaviour
to which | may add that he spoke the
French language perfectly well.
He was constantly attended by his chap
ter, with several OF his canons, who are
all sons of dukes, counts. or great Ger
man Lords. The bshopric is itseifa sove.
reign state which brings in considerable
revenue, and includes number oitlne CT
ties. The bishop is chosen from amongst
the canons, who must be Of noble descent
and resident one year. The city IS larg-
er than Lyons, and much resembles IT
having the Mouse running through it,
The houses in which the canons reside,
have the appearance of noble palaces.
The streets of the city are regular and
spacious, the houses Of the citizens well
built, the squares large, and ornamented
with curious fountains; the churches ap-
pear as if raised entirely of marble, OF
which there are considerable quarries in
the neighborhood they are all OF them
ornamented with beautiful clocks, and ex-
hibitions of moving figures.
The bishop received me as | landed
from the boat, and conducted me to his
magnificent residence, ornamented with
delicious fountains and gardens, set off
with galleries all painted, superbly gilt, and
enriched with marble beyond description.
The spring which affords the waters of
Spa, being distant no more than three or
four leagues from the city OF Llege, and
there being only village, consisting Of
three or four small houses on the spot,
the Princess of Roche Sur Yon was adyl-
sed by her physicians to stay at Liege,
and have the waters brought to her, which
they assured her would have equal etiica.
cy, if taken up after sunset and before
sunrise, as ifdrank at the spring. | was
we'll pleased that she resolved to follow
the advice of her doctors, as we were
more comfortably lodged, and had an
agreeable society for besides has grace,
so the bishop is styled, as king is ad.
dressed his majesty and prince his high.
ness, the news ofmy arrival being spread
about, many lords and ladies came to VS.
it me. Amongst these was the countess
d'Aremberg, who had the honor to accom-
pany Queen Elizabeth TO Meziers, TO
which place she came to marry hing
Charles, my brother, lady very high IN
the estimation Of the empress, the empe-
ror, and all the princes in chrlstendom.
With her came her sister, the Landgra'
vine, Madame Gutenberg, her daughter,
Mons. Gutenberg, her son, gallant and
accomplished nobleman, the perfect image
of his father, who brought the Spanish
succours to King Charles, my brother,
and returned with great honor and addI-
tional reputation. This meeting, SO hon
orable to me, and so much to my satisiac-
ton, was damped by the grief and con-
Germ occasioned by the loss of Madomoi-
selle de Tournon, whose story being OF a
singular nature, / shall now relate to you
agreeably 10 the promise made in my
last letter.
Madam de Tournon, lady Of my bed
chamber, had several daughters, the cid
est of whom married Mons. de Balenson,
governor for the King Of Spain, in the
county of Burgundy. This daughter up
on her marriage, had solicited her moth
err TO admit OF her taking her sister, the
Young lady whose story am now about
to relate, to live with her, as she was 60
ing to a country strange TO her, and where
in she had no relations. To this her
mother consented and the young lady
being universally admired for her modes
" and graceful accomplishments, for which
she certainly deserved admiration, attract
ed the notice of the Marquis de Varenbon.
The Marquis was the brother OF NJ. de
Balenson, and was intended for the church;
but, being violently enamored of Made.
moiseile de Tournon (whom as he lived
in the same house, he had frequent oppor-
tunites of seeing,) he now begged his
brothers. permission TO marry, not having
vet taken orders. The young lady's fam.
ily, to whom he had likewise communicat-
ed his wish, readily gave their consent,
but his brother refused bis, strongly adyls-
ing him to change his resolution, and put
on the gown.
Thus were matters situated, when her
mother, Madame dc Tournon, thinking