The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-19
The Death of Count d'Orsav.

From the London Chronicle. August 6
Alfred Comte dOrsay died at Paris on Tuesday
last, and perhaps no man of ruined fortunes and
bl2hted hopes ever left so large number Of adj
miring and attached friends to mourn his loss The
solution of this social phenomenon is that his dis
position was singularly kind, sympathizing, and
| afectionate and although some of the selishness
of the man of the world chung to him. as the inevi.
table result of his course oflfe he never contracted
the hardness and insensibility of that character
His time, his influence, his firm Judgment and his
purse ESQ long there anything in it) were al
ways at the service of those who wanted them and
the foolish and wrong actions from which he saved
hundreds, by timely aid or spirited remonstrance
will form an ample set. off to those which, fear
with only too much reason, have been imputed to
himself.
He was born towards the commencement of 1913
His father was General Comte d'0rsay, distin-
guished soldier of the Empire, from whom, howev-
err we believe, he inherited little beyond his gallant
spirit, his handsome person, and his name. His
| only sister, the Duchess de Grammont, married.
| when very young, into one of the historic French
families, and, we need hardly add, is one Of the
| most beautiful and accomplished women in France.
He would, consequently, have wanted hardly any
advantage which birth connection could bestow
had his life been spent in his native country, and
had he followed the military profession, for which
he was originally destined. Unhappily for him,
and for Others whose fate in their wn despite
was inextricably blended with his, he ceased to re-
side in France before his career had well COM
menced, and he left the army under circumstances
which, after every allowance has been made for the
peculiar nature of the temptation to which he yield
ed, must be admitted to have cast a temporary
cloud upon his name.
1t is through no less a person than Lord Byron
that Count d'Orsay's name first became associated
with the notabilites of his age. II seems that, in
1919 or 1920, the Count had paid visit to London
OF some months duration, and had kept journal
Of his observations and impressions there In April
| 1873, Ryron became acquainted, at Genoa, with
Lord and Lady Blessington, with whom dOrsay
was then travelling, and it would appear, from the
| following letter, that the journal then sub
| mitted to the noble poets perusal:-
| ! return the Count y e Journal which is very
extraordinary production. and Of most melancholy
truth in all that regards high life in England know,
knew personally Of the personages and societies
which he describes and after reading his remarks have
the sensation fresh upon me as IL had them yes
terday would, however plead in behalf Of some few
exceptions. which will mention by and by The most
singular thing is how he should have penetrated not
the fact but the mystery Of the English enu at two
and-twenty. was about the age when made the
same discovery in almost precisely the circles or
nightly or daily and was acquainted more or less init
matey with most Of them)-but never could have de-
scribed it SO well HJn ere Francsis to effect this
few days afterwards, Lord Byron addressed
| d'Orsay himself as follows
My dear Count - gf you will permit me to address
you familiarity should be content with writing in
your language, like Grammont, and succeeding In
London, as nobody has succeeded since the days OF
Charles the Second and the records Of Antonio Haml
ton. without deviatDg into barbarous language
which you understand and write however: much better
| than IL deserFes.
My appreciation you pleased to term 1t, was
very sincere but perhaps not very impartial for though
| love my county. do not love my countrymen-at
least such they And besides the seduction
Of talent wit in your work fear that to me there
was the attraction OF vengeance have and felt
much Of what you have described 80 well have known
the persons and the unions so described lmany OF
hem that TO say and the portraits are so ike tn
cannot but admire the painter no less than bis perfor
| nance.
Bui am sorry for you for you so well acquainted
WIN ne az your age what will become OF you when the
lnuhion " tuil more disspated? But never mind-en
StS i've Nble you can and that you may have the
u enjoyment Of the many advantages OF youth talent
ana figure which you possess & the With of anEnplish.
mani tuPpose but y Is treason my mother
| Scotch ana my name and my family both Norman
| end as for myself, am ~ no country
| D0rsays acquaintance with Lady Blessngton,
] which irreslstbly sYpye0 tho whole current ot his