Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28
coRINNE AT HoME-A RrHIsIscEscr OF 1916.
ron THE NATIONAL INrELLIoEXcER


Monsieur MAURICE, the worthy Mayor Of Geneva, had
given note Of introduction Madame DE STAEL, and
set out in roitrs de place had engaged for the
occasion to visit her a Cops nine or ten miles
from town. My companions the very opposites OF
each othera free and easy, unpolished though talent
ed Virgnan reserved elegant and accomplished lord
ing Both young neither having yet at mans
estate but how different In every particular OF manner
and condition
The American was fair specimen of native spirit with
all its wild concets standing out in bold relief and exut
in independence which form at defiance and scorned
its trammes To the air. tone, and manner OF the Eng
shman might be applied the totus ters aque rondus Of
the poet for there not the slightest asperity per-
cepble in either The first errng more through iguo-
Of etiquette and the forms Of poeness than dis
position to contemn them either brusque or too civil
the last the perfection Of good breeding which is
felt rather than seen, and cannot be defned for It
siss in unobusve exercise Of courteous actions and in
tentions forming delightful aggregate but having no
prominent feature for description to portray As have
said both young alike in years. but differing wide
ly In maturity Of ntelect conduct, and feeling The
American was o man, the Briton boy-elegant ac-
complishsd, integept; but s boy, and residing at
Geneva for the completion Of his studies The world
new 70 him. Nature stih held dominion over him. and
though habit association, and circumstance had given
and becoming confidence to his department it was
evident he yet child in his ensibes and his per-
ceptions There was nothing about him Of that pre-
cocousness Of manhood usual with American youth
but which, in that Of his country is neither desired
condition unknown to the rising generation with u.s.
The other had acted, struggled, and suffered. His
mind had already become laboring faculty. his heart
had thus early been shaken TO its foundations and
experienced in aiicton at age when its pulsations
should only vibrate to realities and anticpatons OF de-
light. He had killed in duel got up frolic by his
college associates his friend and cassmatc and had fled
from his native land to avoid the legal consequences of
this unfortunate act-unpremeditated too he often
assured me, for he had fired pistol BEFORE and he
and his antagonist cut their names together on tree
encompassed by heart, before they exchanged shots
This terrible circumstance in the outset of life had given
to his mind naturally of poetic cast colorng Of ean
choy though like that Of yaques playful in its Sadness
and this with kind and social disposition, with genius
say the least Of it, amusing in its eccenrcities had
made him many friends in his exile. The Englishman
had in all probability known pain beyond those
the most favored flesh is heir to- His beautiful exterior
showed symptom of physical disturbance; his placid
countenance bespoke mind at ease, as yet untaskcd
but by his mater heart unexercised but in the dis
charge Of its agreeable functions He was developing
like some favored exotic which art is dressing fair
proportions and future rufuness while the indigenous
plant left to accident and storm, and though not al
ways retarded in growth, IS often marred In symmetry
and grace and not unreouenty distorted to useessness
Whore be these results of different nurture now Marx
the sequel: The scion Of nobility is fourshing state
ly tree, arrived at full and venerable maturity the
stranger stands the grave Of poor reads his brief
epitaph unconscious that beneath him lies the victim of
ardent generous brilliant but prematurey exercised en-
dowments
1t was lovely day in june and our drive afforded US
all the qualification we had expected from Swiss scenery
and the novelties Of e customs, and manners to which
our attention was continually attracted We, however,
conyersed but little, for the Engshman reserved
more from difdence than hauteur and my countryman
was in all likelihood sharpening his wits for the encoun
ter that awaited them confess this to have been the
case with myself and silent and thoughtful from
reluctance expend word idea when the occasion
for my best exercise Of both was near at ba and
when both might prove nadequate the dsmsnd sbont
to be made ON them had lately made the tour of Ity
with Corinne in print, but, although such deghtful cc
munion had made familiar in sentiment, had mis-
riyinps of myself and Of her when we should meet in
person.
We were not precisely in revere but rather permitting
powers to repose preparatory to the employment in
for them indulgng in such anticpations as
were natural the occasion, until the carriage stopped
at noon in time for breakfast the gates of the chateau,
and we were ushered into the drawing room, where
we found large company assembled awaiting It's an
nouncement. Among these were Schegel Moroseni au.
thor Of work on the peninsular in which he had
been engaged, and from which he had brought many
token in sabre cuts which dsfgured his fine face and
son: Mr. now Lord, Brougham; Monsieur Auguste de
Stae to Madame her lovely paquan!e ana sprauee
daughter the Duchess de Broge Monsieur le Duo, her
liege lord; and Monsieur de Rocco, pana de Ia ani
In this bright galaxy appeared the genius Of the place.
Madame Ia Baronne, redolent Of intellect, animated
voluble charming; Cornne you closed your eyes ana
received your impression of her through the hearing
you opened them the illusion vanished for the individual
who gave to sounds and sentiments so engaging
was insignificant in person, commonplace In feature and
tawdry in appare below mediocry in all the ex
terns requisites Of female atractveness though it
evident m undue portion Of her sexs imputed fobe had
taught her to think otherwise.
She received us with great cordaty, and began i'm
medately to express her regard for her graft
tude for the favor her writings had received from them
and above all her delight at recent letter from Mr.
jefferson (which she read to u.s., " 30 full she remark
ed Of good sense and agreeable compliment that she
was determined to have printed satin and framed
to be hung up in her houdor." But" she continued,
have lust had the most attering tribute to my exer-
ons ever vet conferred them My bust they tell me-
is to be placed in Of your academies of arts and
sciences the only representative Of purely literary cha
deemed worthy of niche among the savans Of the
ags-a compliment" she added with great apparent ex-
ultation that cannot be enhanced"
aPardon me- Madame 10 Baronnc," replied, II can
add to it."
s.No, monsieur, she exclaimed with vehemencs, "cest
impossible"
ly seen at Bartolin the sculptor in Florence her bust
in marble preparing for this purpose that she be
in stone while science and philosophy
figured in plaster asking her to determine whether this
to be attributed to the gaantry Of nay countrymen
as evncng their respect for the woman to their good
Judgment which prompted il as homage to talent?
III the matter be referred to me, madame" con-
tinusd 81 shall certainly this occasion give them cre
dit for both in perfect confidence Of truly representing
their intentions"
1t is needless to describe the effect Of this fortunate
hit upon one to whom the devotion of heart and eyes
quite desirable the applause of the taste and
laurel crown or to add that was after welcome
guest at Copet
Breakfast being announced proceeded to do justice
the good things before US, while such general
versation prevailed keen appettes permitted to
gage in AS the meal drew o close, observed
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