The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-09
From the London Court Journal.
EXTRAORDINARY DELUsION.

The utmost interest has been experienced in
the fashionable circles all over the continent, by
the publication of the brochure of the Princess
de S., which, printed at first In small numbers
for private circulation only, has gradually
spread itself throughout the aristocratic and
religious cOteries of Europe. 1t is now exact
ly a year since the young Princess Eleanore
de s., in the prime of her youth and beauty, q
young wife, adored by her husband, and much
beloved by her family, died suddenly at the
hotel de s.. in Paris and was buried with great
pomp at Pere La Chaise, where splendid
monument, by Lechene, recording her age, her
lineage, and virtues, has Just been put up by
her disconsolate husband.
In spite of the high position held by the
Princess, and from her great wealth and beauty
having become the observed of all observers,
there has always existed an extraordinary feel.
ing of mystery in the public mind with regard
to the circumstance of her death. The Prin.
cess, child of immense imagination and pow
er, left at an early age an orphan, with the con.
seriousness of beauty and the command OF
boundless wealth, finding herself suddenly
transported to her guardians old castle in the
Hartz, was not likely to enjoy either content
or happiness and here her temper and dis.
position grew so wild and untractable, that, after
repeated efforts of home education, it was
deemed advisable to send her to be trained into
rule discipline by seclusion in a convent.
Just then her guardian being appointed am
bassador to Paris from the Court of W., it was
thought the best opportunity for placing the
child in the Rue de Varennes, where she could
be better trained to habits of obedience than
elsewhere. But, alas this first experiment
proved totally abortive. Three unsuccessful
efforts at escape were followed by decided
attempt to set fire to the furniture Of her room
where she was confined and the governess,
fearful of the effect of such example on other
pupils, and weary of the attempt of tanning this
wild, vehement spirit, reluctantly restored the
young lady to the care of her guardian. A
COUNSEL de famille was held, and it was resolved
to send the culprit, now no longer mere child,
but fine, high-spirited girl Of fifteen, to Eng
land, to complete her education, with the hope
that the conviction of being thus alone in a
foreign country, dependent upon her good
behaviour to insure the kindness of those about
her, might have the desired effect.
The young lady was accordingly placed
at -, at Hammersmith, and for time the
in her temper. But, after while, it appears
that the bursts of violence to which she gave
way, and the fits of depression which succeed
ed, BECAME SO alarming as to cause serious
fears of her health. Letter after letter was
despatched to her guardian frora the young
lady herself, begging to be taken into favor,
declaring that the climate of England was
weighing her to the earth, and the discipline
of Hammersmith breaking her heart.
The Prince de s. arrived at Hammersmith
one Sunday morning. He returned no answer
to the last letter despatched by his ward, and
she was therefore not aware Of his intention
of arriving. The lady commissioned to be bear
er of the news reported to have found her on
her knees alone in her room, praying, with a
most fearful expression Of countenance; and on
being informed of her guardians arrival, she
had uttered most unearthly shrek, and rush
ed down the stairs like one possessed. The
guardian was much pleased with the progress
and Improvement, and brought her back to Paris
triumphantly, as specimen of the good train
ing of the ladies of Hammersmith. There was,
Indeed, no token Of the old indomitable spirit
left within her. She was silent end subdued,
submissive to all, and only urgent in her sup.
plications never to be left alone or in the dark.
She always persisted in maiptaining that il was
useless to Icy any plans for her welfare, for that
she should die before she was twenty-onel Even