Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-09-11
Prom the y. Orleans Pieayune.
THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT;
OR, THE BrRIAL or rHE MINIATURE.

THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT;
OR, THE BURIAL THE MINIATURE
Our acquaintance and intercourse with natives Of France
have been very limited. The opinion which it has enabled
rs TO form OF their character whether correct or otbe-
Is that they are people OF deeper thought and more IN
tense feeling than the world give them credit fo--ha he
hea the bright and bubbiing which the buoyaut
Nyaey OF their temper floats there deep undercur.
rent where the finer affections of nature though con-
ceaIed r"m vulgar gaze, live and borne along m the
warm aud gushing cddies IT the heart.
few short months since in another CITY than this a.,
became acquainted with Lieut.. l.. He then tenan,ed
small room-he now occupies still smaller place in the
ST. Louis street cemetery. There rest his mortal remains
he died on Thursday night, Of yellow fever lie was
small man. OF some sixty years age and in the prime of
lie must have been vigorous and muscular life of yici
STUDIES ana hardshps had impaired his appearance an
on ana age rusty nge, and if left of honor
on MS orow the troubles of chequered life left their deep
traces on his cheek Before the sickness which so sudden
~ attacked HIM, his clothes, though old and treadbare
were worn with taste which told OF the gentleman in diff
caes-Ihc breast of his blue ffock brushed almost TO
wheness, was ornamentcd with short piece OF red n
band, having narrow black border. This an insg-
MIA OF the honorable service which he had render, m
country 1t was conferred him by Napoleon and was
memorial which he regarded with the cherished aior of
gallant Frenchman. When he walked he carried jg,
bamboo tassced cane, and was accompanied by a prov
thoughtful looking French terrier, the only living thing
winch followed his fortunes. lie was a man of naturally
hne nste and varied intelligence. He delighted in draw
ing particularly for in the naval service of his
country his lie had been spent from MS boysh DAYS Ha
wing Oeeh long prisoner OF England, he learned
our Nernacnar language and spoke with engaging &C
cent, and considerable When we became ac
iulintcd with him. temporarily stavi,r in I,usc
occupied exclusively by Frcnchmcu he alone OF them all
understanding speaking the English language This of
e' might account Tor the intimacy which spfang up So
suddenly between but quietly polite was his nannc-
anu 80 instructive and interesting his conversation, that he
would attract respect and attention under any ccumstan
His life for he more than once ran it over for rs was
succession OF interesting events and startling incidents
series OF dss0ving scenes which low grief glory and
sotow-bu, never shame-apPeared destiny's
with rapidly fatal to his peace of mind At the age of
twelve he entered the French navy mildly" was
with his ships crew, made prisoner the battle Traal
gar-thnt British victory which Admiral Nelson his
he-wnlc yet boy; was conveyed England and kent
prisoner OF OF the scap1r, towns for some
yeurs lie contryed, after acquiring knowledge OF the
English language to oliecth escape and that Of his
more aged comrades mn captivity escaped 10 Fance i'm.
parted valuable information 10 las governments entered
navy again. distinguished himself bv his bravery; was r.
warded by Napoleon with the inland OF the Legion OF Ho
nor Teed al the peace on small pension; married wife
whom he loved had by her an only chlld-a daurler-
tie inheror OF all her beauty and all her virtues; cot co.
ve.nment appointment IN Agfrs where he lost his beloved
WIFE with the cholera, and where her picture IN beauty
aud pury, his darling daughter, accidentally and IN
fortunately drowned Unable Withstand tie retrospec
on OF those scenes where IN the society OF his wife and
VI'u Tue only Uuy nappy moments Ct ms lite had been
passed he resigned his situation and quilted Agiers He
rrned to France with his mind IN mounirp-bis heart
daTkened ty Buteven MS native country for whose
time he so often pered his life, and whose national glory
was the idol Of ms youthful wurshp-sven France with all
It's greatness and all its gaiey, him cherries aud
uLaUIGctlNt lie was but longer If nd al
t"oush trends esayed 10 cheer HIM and acquantauce5 TO
anuSe the iros OF misfortune had congeaed the more
Joyous and happy impulses Of his nature all efforts to
dissolve ms gTei were Unavaitng.
Then loa,heI he ia hs native land to dwell
Which seemed to him lone than Erentes sad cell
With the hope OF bcnumbing, not banshing all thoughts
OF the past aud dpeing some least If the dark
which lowered on tue future he tor this the New
World, with other friend than Him who is the common
Trend ~ mankind. By teaching French and drawing IN
several ol the cities Of the Union and We. Indies he con
tnued 10 obtain precarous means oil support He was
OesI"'s s engaged on WORK embracing charr-iouudcd
Oh aciua! observation and personal knowledge the n
cpgl ports Of Europe and Asia About this f, mad ,poS
o'eTurcs O. the Government: and had he lived e, c,,e
H. be would, m oil probability have received from a sum
which would place him above the apprehension of want IN
ms old age. Providence however has ordered il otherwise
ON Monday he took the yellow fever, aud WednCs-
DAY night he was corpse To the last OF hrs ex.
i-tence lac retained the Of his faculties few hours
before his death visited him. The negro nurse Sat M the
too, Of his bed M dog with look of melancholy oh
seemed all but human, by its side. lie was gazing
wisulv IN the face Of ms dying and friend; the lat
ter vas still more aieniy suNcying-wh an eve swimming
IN tears Of diving gei, comuved with feyersh painanob
,'t 'i small dimensions which he held m his handt
the miniature Ut his wiichs beloved Antonete He did
not notice our presence m asked him how he was; he
then kissed the miniature, laid on ms heart shook bs
head, and sand he was "wcII-wcr Becoming moro COM
posed. he said he felt he had long tl i've and hc
Cd ~ H. lie would soon again, hc hoped. rc5n the
oi las dear Aniuiuctte and his cttc never more
70 separate, while lasted the long day OF eternity.
Pointing TO the miniature which lay on his fast hrobbing
heart he requested and enoined that might be LETT there
over his corpse IN the coffin We gave him assurance that
would lie ordered also that the uband bespeaking the
honor OF his order be buried with him. lie said he had AL
ready committed his faithful "Ponlo" the kindness Of
frend and thus his last oral statement ended 4 few min
ues more, and the spirit OF the brave and aectionate
Frcnch Lieutenant He'd from ne mortal tenement forever
On Thursday dark featured horse hcarse might be
seen slowly moving along toward. the cemetery II car
ned 10 the grave the corpse OF Lieut. L. and the nina
urc Ut bis Ant1iuctc. The train consisted of proty
black, French terrior-thc chief and only m5urncr IL NAV
be- sad-uuI SOLITARY carriage, r which were two gentle
men. Peace 70 the names OF the French Lieutenant!