Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-09
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

MADAME RECAMER's AccorNr or nER
FIRST MEETING WITH MADAME DE STAEL.-
The Edinburgh Review in the course of an
article on the "Sourcairs and correspondence
ct Nine. RecamirS," gives the following ex-
tracts
"One day, day which formed an epoch
in my life W. Recamier arrived at Clichy,
| accompanied BY lady whose name he did
not tell me, and whom he left alone with me
| while be went to speak to some persons iu
the park This lady came to speak about
the sale and purchase Of house. Her dress
was strange She wore morning gown and
little dress bonnet oramented with flowers
| took her for foreigner Twas struck with
the beauty and expressiyenoss Of her eyes
could not account for what felt, but il is
certain that ] was more intent on observing,
and 50 to say, diyining her, than in address
ing her in the usual phrases of ciyility. She
said to me, with a lively and impressive
grace, that she was really delighted to
make my acquaintance, that NJ. Necker was
her father" At these words | knew her
to Madame de Stael Esdid not hear the rest
Of her sentence blushed, and my embar-
rasSment was extreme. had Just read her
"Lettres sur Rousseau" and was intensely
interested in them. expressed what | felt
rather by looks than words She awed
while she attracted NE. You Immediately
felt her to be person perfectly natural, aud
Of superior nature. She, on her side, fixed
her large eyes upon me with kindly curiosi-
ty, and paid me compliments on my face,
which would have been exaggerated aud to
direct, if they had not seemed to escape her in-
voluntarily; which gave an irresistible charm
to her praises. My embarrassment did not
injure me in her opinion. She understood
il, and expressed desire to see me frequent
ly on her return to Paris She was going ID
Coppet Madame de Stael was then but as
q transient vision 70 me- but the impression il
left was most lively. thought Of nothing
but Madame de Stael, SO strongly had herar'
dent and powerful nature acted upon mine"
-(Yol. j. p. "A.
Such was the first meeting Of these two re-
markable women, the beginning Of a friend
ship which for strength and fidelity, will
stand comparison with any friendship that
has subsisted between the most magnanimous
men, Both had great Weaknesses but the
qualities and the sentiments that could in
spire and maintain such friendship through
al the temptations and terrors Of such per-
iod, in the hearts Of two women, the most ad
mired the most fattered the most eager for
admiration the most dependent on the opn
ion and sympathy IF Others that ever exist
ed suffice To convince us Of the afectionate,
generous nature which was almost the only
gift they had in common. Their pretentions
we're indeed of totally different kind, but
we all know that this will not disarm the
jealous rage for popularity, or envy, Of any
kind ofsuperiorty.
There is a curious example of this in no
less a person than Napoleon Bonaparte.-
Nine Recamier's first offence against him was
that she attracted the eyes Of IN assembly con
yened to do him honor. II was at the grand
reception given by the Directory, 1897, 70
the conqueror, Of Italy in the great court ot
the Luxembourg.
AT the end Of the court was an altar, and
upon il q statue Of Liberty; at the foot Of this
symbol the five directors clad ir Roman cos
tune, the ministers, ambassadors, and var
ious fuuctonaries ranged on an amphithea
ire; behind them, benches for invited guests.
Qu one of these were seated Madame Recam-
er and her mother She had never seen Gener-
Al Bonaparte, but shared in the general eu
thusiasm for the youthful conqueror. At
that time he was very thin, and his head had
a striking character Of grandeur and firm
ness Madame Recamier, where she sat.
could not distinguish his features, which she
had very natural curiosity 70 see and
while Barras was making a loud speech, she
rose from her feet 10 look at him. At this
movement which disclosed her whole per
son, the eyes of the crowd were turned upon
her, and She was greeted BY long murmur
of admiration This noise did not escape
Bonaparte. lie turned his head suddenly 70
the spot 10 which the public attention was
directed, to see what object could have diver
ted it from himself; he beheld young lady
dressed in white, and threw at her q glance,
the sternness ofwhich she could not sus-
tain, and instantly sat down" Vol !. p.
2O.)