New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-08
EUROPEAN GOSSIP.

EUROPEAN GOSSIP.
From Our GOs.ipps Correspondent. ..l-
LONDON, July 20, 1857.
1.-THE mind is its own place, and IN itself
Can make heaven Of hell, bel! Of heaven"
This is the greatest truth ever sung by poet;
and never perhaps has this philosophical sentiment
found better application than in the glasgow
poisoning case, which still forms the all absorb
ing matter of discussion in every English home.
Madeline Smith is one of those unfortunate girls
destined and formed by nature to adorn household
and to bless a man with heaven OF love,
but who, because they bestOw their affec-
lions on an unworthy subject, become base hber-
tines, deprayed and guilty women and " make
bell of their heaven" As may be expected most of
the ladies who speak of this fallen angel, find no
terms strong enough for condemnation, and
are generally inclined to deny to their
wretched sister every womanly feeling. /
happen to be intimately acquainted with a
distinguished professional gentleman who was,
for several years, the musical teacher Of Miss
Smith in school at Upper Clspton, and he, q cold
and sharp observer, says that he never knew more
amiabe, delicate, and tender feeling girl than che
at the age of seventeen. She had always an sf.
fectionate heart, and NO ono would have imagined
that this quiet and pleasing lake would one day be
troubled and agitated by such fearful storm OF
passion. And this appreciation OF her character
must be true, since the mistress OF the school and
all her former Cove rnesses tell the same story 1t is,
then, question Of high social interest, to know how
this blooming girl became 90 quickly corrupt and
miserable Outcast.
Like many young lady Of superior Intelligence
and warm heart Miss Smith fell passionatey in
love with worthless fellow. L'Angeiier has gone
to bis account, and we will not be hard on man
who has paid the penalty Of life fer his crime; for
xk.lx auc,x,,l lIv
PRAYING the greatest gift Of Heaven--a pure and
loving woman. Think only that he actu'ly re-
preached his paramour one day that she loved him
merely because he was handsome" and you will
see at one glance Of what stamp his mind was
How well he succeeded in the work of seduction is
superabundantly known BY tho letters which she
wrote to him, and which were read in Court. These
terrible notes seem to be written win the pen WIN
which Rousseau's Heloise addressed Saint Preux
Some Of these passionate epistles were even 80
madly debauched that the Lord Advocate shrunk
from reading them in public Well-intOrmed per-
sons tell me that among other disgusting details,
two consecutive abortions are described IN them
But still che was aware of her shame and tried to
extricae herself from the abyes Of corruption into
which she had been dragged. She feels tor the
proud and decoreus family to which she belongs;
She feels for her mother, and writes to her base
lover, d" In the name Of her who gave me the light
"of day, save me from shame" And who knows
but the unfortunate girl might have been tender
and faithful wife to the man who proposed to give
her his name? She begs, she entreats her accom-
plice in terms which would have moved stone to
return her these fatal letters which he threatens to
use against her engine OF continuous terror and
opprts sion. He refuses not because he wants to
marry her. but because he boasts OF such fair mis-
tress, and is not inclined to spare his victim. And
who ould not forgive her the moving and despairing
letter which abe writes in consequence From that
moment the struggle between L Angelier and hersef
is but a duel, which she fights with her own weapons
The public look at it in this light. A few weeks
ago, at Edinburgh they would have torn her TO
pieces, and now the announcement Of the verdict
notwithstanding serious warning OF the LORD Jus
tice Clerk, elected cheers from the crowd 10 the
Court and was even echoed back by the large con-
course outsde. This difference in the public feel
ing may early be accounted for. Alter L. Angehers
death, it was said that his mistress had Polsone
him because sue wanted ~ MaIry richer man
and the people were implae.tiss q: such base and
eei,sh calculation. But the trial gave evidence that
AFFECT selEsbness was Oh the side of the man. through
whose vile agency guilty love and incredible menls
sufIerings were brought on gentle and untorphat
piIl. Feelings of sympathy and cOmmiserat0n wer
in consequence prevalent, and the most earnes
moralst was satiffed with repeating the words
the prayer, LEAD us not into temptation"
MISS smith ii not seut W eue eonV"e, uc' ~ 80
she is guilty. she il punished; from position Of hon
orable esteem, she is hurled to infamy; the wnoie
world is made acquainted with her failings ana nes
vices; whatever she held most sacred is deed, and
all the blossoms cf her life are bighted by wicked
and degrading passion. Is blemished reputation.
a suspicion Of the deepest dye, brand Of woeful
dshonor, not sufficient in the eyes Of virtuous
women, who are Without pity for this SHINING Mag
| dalen'
On the stage, Madame Ristori and les Bosf,s
,aris;ens have been the great "lions" Of the year
The Italian tragediaD met even with more enthu.
sastic pubIic than the one which she found last
season and. as wrote some time ago,
Rachel alone ever gathered together such a crowd
of devoted and moved admirers. No ono who has
,;,nas.sJ her Gamma or M.dea will ever forget the
deep impression he has reserved; a single hash OF
her expressive eyes Is whole drama, 70, Maosm =,
| Rjstor, hQs mQst betutfu ETxe eyer '.ey "s ~