The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-10


Prom the Boston Mail. Aprh7l
We have read. with what patience and oomposurs
We could, the memoirs Of Margaret Fuller. the
Countess Ossol, published by Phillips & Samson,
and, from what wo have been able to rccoleot of tho
substance of the production, are prepared to say.
that if the friends Of that lady had consulted tho
well being Of her Posthumous famo, they novor
would have submitted such work to the inspection
Of tho public. Miss Fuller, the Countess Ossoli,
tho daughter Of the late Timothy Fuller, of
Massachusetts, man Of some little eminenco in his
day He was Tor several years o member Of Con-
giess and as such was distinguished for his fnatcal
party spirit and logged disposition. About tho
year 1872 he published pamphlet, in which no as
sailed the moral character Of Mr. CLAY with great
vchemence, and accused him of every species of
moral dellnqIency-with the PRACTICE Of every Woo.
Inc pamnhlet was very popular in Now Eng
land al the time it was giyon to tho world,
ard securd for it's author unboundied applause.
Soon afterwards coalition was formed betwee
Dir. John Quincy Adams and Mr.. Clay, the de-
tail of which is familiar 10 every we'll road po-
htician The pamphlet at once became an "ob-
solee idea" and was suppressed by tho friends
of tho parties to tho coalition. Liberal extracts
were made from it. however, by the party press
which are still extant, and may well DO re-
gaided as curiosities in American literature. Two
made for entire copy of the pamphlet but all our
efforts in that way proved unsuccessful
Margaret Fuller, after tho death of her father.
and tor anght we know prior to his demise, was
and successful. 1t would seem, however that she
soon imbbed strange notions in relation to society
and arrived at the conclusion that everything in
this world was enormously organized. She was for
Kind OF universal reform and s0t her wits to
work to insure a new organization. Especially
was sho inclined to establish :" Woman's Rights"
on a solid basis.
About the year 1874, she came to this oity (says
the New York -dtaS), and was engaged by Mr..
Horace Greeley assistant in tho literary de-
partment OF his newspaper. She wrote q good deal
and wrote we'll. Indeed, she was regarded as a
woman OF decided genius. She resided in tho family
OF Dir. Greeley, though it does not appear that she
was very intimate with that gentleman. Ho says
that he always treated hor with respect and kind
ness, though he often quarrolled with her. because
she would drink strong rotations of tea AID co.Iee
Mr.. Greeley intimates that she very ofton Injured
her nervous system by drinking her iyorito liuuis
According to Mr. Greeley, Margaret was not Of tho
most amiable temperament; was often captious and
snubbed him.
The memoirs Of tho Countess Ossoli doveopo a
queer set OF opinions on the part Of thor horono
1t seems that she had odd idea Of the married
state, and regarded it as an institution that did not
impose any very rigid moral obligations duties.
AS much as this we infor from her defence of tho
prOfigate Madame George Sand, who appears to her
the model of female rcstal. In describing inter-
view she had with that extraordinary sonsuast and
libertine, che thus defends her profigacy:-
Her way Of talking is just like her writing
lively picturesque with an UNDERGONE Of deep feel
ing, ana tho Same skill in striking tho nail on tho
head, every and them with blow.
" We did not talk at all personal or private
matters. | saw, as one secs in her writings, tho
want of nm independent interior life but did not
feel it as fault, here is much her of her kind
heartily enjoyed the sense Of prolific, ardent
genius. i liked tho woman in her, too, very
much; never liked woman better.
For tho rest ! do not care to write about 1t
much, for cannot, in tho room and timo I have to
Al. IL
near us ! can express tho total, it is this
s., and others who admire her, arc anxious
to make q fancy picture Of ber, and represent
hor as an Helena in the 8 Seven Chords Of
Of tho present state Of society. But to mo
the truth to DO this sho has tho
purity in her soul, for she knows we'll how
to love and prize its beauty; but sho hcr-
no defence, but only to DO understood; she
has bravely acted out her nature, and always with
good intentions She might have lovod ono man
if she could have found ono contem-
porary with her who could interest and command
her throughout her range; but there hardly .
possibility Of that for such a person. Thus she has
naturally changed the object of her affections and
several times. Also there may have beca something
OF the Bachalite in hor life, and of tho ovo o. night
and storm, and the free rapturcs amid which roamed
on tho tuountain-tops the followers Of Cybcl, tho
great goddess, tho great mother. But she was
Lever course never gross, and am her genc-
Gus heart has not failed 10 draw somc rich drops
rom every kind of vino press. Whom she has toao
with an intimacy sho likes to break it of suddenly
and this has happened often, both with mon and
women. Many calumnies upon her are trace bio to
this cause "
According to Madame Ossoli's account Of herself,
she picked up husband, at random in Rome,
without ceremony introduction, and lived With
him on ber own terms and conditions. Indeed, it
does not appear that she was ever MARI I" hin
She found him in grove, ncar st Peters, in Romo
and adopted him. She says that it was to endangor
his welfare to marry her, he being Catholic aud
sho Protestant II she married him at all in oon-
foimity with any law of civilized fc, or in accord
ance with the rules Of any church. she has not, 50
far have read, afforded any proof Of tho fact.
We do not believe that the public morals or tho
literature of the country will 10 advanced by tho
memoirs Of Madame Ossoli.