The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-25


be II remembered, over whom you exerted an
almost absolute power, as is testified by doe.
umenls under their hand and yours. II is there
fore permitted to believe that you have been
far. very far, from conducting yourself in these
unhappy circumstances as you ought to have
done
Iwonld not for the whole world that could
be accused of being wanting in respect TO the
memory of Madame de Praslin, hut you de-
mand the truth from me. and am bound 10
tell il in its tolaity. | do not accuse her heart,
do not accuse her sentiments, but do her
character, al moments irritable and frsclious,
which rendered her incapable Of conducting so
many children of ages, minds and characters,
completely opposite. Neither had she in her
tenderness for them that laisser aler that facili-
ty which gains the heart Of youth irritable in
petty circumstances where indulgence would
have been necessary, she, on the contrary, man
Tested, rs il 10 make up for such useless rigor,
too great an extent of weakness when circum
stances would have demanded the severity OF
| a mother. These were the reasons which had
induced M. de Prasn 10 insist on an education
completely isolated but unfortunately his do.
nestle tastes and the pleasure which he found
in the society of his daughters caused him by
degrees TO relax for himself this measure of is>
olation. Madame de Prasn became annoyed
at this, for until then she had submitted with
out any apparent difficulty to the order OF things
that had established. On my entering the house
she had announced 10 me that matters would
go on in that way. and that she would abstain
from interfering up TO the time that her daugh.
tiers should be Of an age to enter the world
1t results from what you have just said that
the authority which had disappeared entirely
| from Madame de Praslin's hands passed into
yours; and, still more, that the affection which
was due by the children to their mother was
concentrated in you. Surprising that you did
not exert yourself 10 bring about that state Of
things, it is impossible but that you must have
perceived 1t. and il was your duty to prevent
such result, which allows us TO attribute 10
you in great part, several of the fatal results
which emanaled from in
never said to myself, al will Withdraw from
this mother the affection of her children 10 fix
il on myself;" but loved them--I devoted
myself to them, their pleasures were my plea
sures, their pains my palms. For six years
watched over them night and day, with so.
licitude that never gave way. These children
loved me with all the enthusiasm Of their age,
and loved them with all the affection that may
be supposed consistent with mine. was with
out family lies without friends, all my SENT
ments were concentrated IN my duties, al once
SO agreeable and so easy.
Did not moment arrive when you perceived
that you had become between M. and Mde. de
Praslin subject OF dissension--a stumbling
block, and did you then do all in your power
10 change so affecting state OF things, either
by sacrifices imposed by your self love, 'or by all
the means lhatyou ought 10 employ with the
children to induce them TO feel for their mother
sentiments which they ought never 10 cease 10
feel towards her, and which II was your bound.
en- duty to nourish 2
Ast what related to me personally in the
GOODNESS between M. aud Mde de Praslin, al
first considered il Of little importance, in conse.
quence of the facility with which | saw her
conceivihg The same impressions with respect
TO all the persons in intercourse with her nus.
band. At later period, when these circu IN.
stances aPpearedto assume some gravity in the
eyes Of The world, songh, an explanation with
her on the subject, and Expressed myself clearly
and wi,hou, cifeppmlocuitiop. She then appeared
10 yiew.this susceptibility Of niue AZ a grea
excess az self love, in the secondary position
in which found myself with respect to beI
and NJ. de Praslin; being hurt al finding myself
repulsed in a confidence which | considered
honorable for me, refrained Iron. recurring ID
the subject, Az 70 The children, could moi a
mo'h'r Gave drawn them back 10 herself had
she wished i, ~.
Al the commencement, you said that M. de
Prasln at last lived principally with you and his
children
M. de Praslin did not live principally with
me and his children: only at the country long
walks, and in town, the habits Of Madame de
Praslin, who did moi quit the drawing room OF
her father except 10 enter into society, caused
that IN the play hours in summer and during the
long evenings of winter, M! de Praslin walked
out with US. or passed his evenings III the
schoolreom circle. The children were admitted
but for a few instanis TO their grandfather, and
Mde. de Praslin never asked US 10 pass our
evenings in her drawing room.
In your system Of reply you throw all the
blame on Madame de Prasin, and that language
is most painful for us to hear, after having
heard moment ago the two letters read which
that excellent person addressed to you--one on
New Years Day, in which she offered you so
generously an oblivion of all the differences
which existed between you and her; she might
have said pardon, but did not do 50 the other,
written when you were leaving her roof, in
which she assures you her proection-a this,
too, be il borne in mind, when she assured you
a pension Of ,50Uf per Year,
You inlerrogated me on the course followed
relative to the children, and eadeayored to
make it as clear as possible, As 10 what is per.
sonal 10 mo, the conduct OF Mde de Prasln
was TO me as 10 all who were acquainted with
her, unequal, and often incomprehensible. |
was often cruelty wounded in my self love and
my other feelings; at other times was treat
ed with interest and affection. Often after
having thus wounded me- she would make me
some rich present; and even just before left
her house, when she had refused TO meet me
at meals, when, in the eyes Of the whole house.
hold, was disgracefully sent away rather than
honorably dismissed. Mde. de Praslin having
met me by chance, all at once evinced great
kindness, and even sent me books 10 amuse
me-
That is a proof the goodness of Mde. Pras
lin, a goodness manifested so frequently, and
which was so remarkable, when displayed al
ter so great causes Of displeasure. But was
not that kindness proof that the dispeasure to
which you aIude was caused rather by an il.
ritabililY Of character, which she could not con.
troll than by facts which she considered grave!
There was, unfortunately, hut too much
e. al 4 A