Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1853-03-30 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SUICIDE OF A FRENCH DUCHESS.  ! Another suicide is that of the Duchess de B---, which took place at her little chateau near Illois, and of ' which, of course, nobody speaks at all, because the family, being rich and powerful, do not like such naughty things to be uttered concerning any of its members; but, in spite of precaution, the ugly facts have got abroad, and have even reached Paris. Last autumn the Duchess ! was amongst us, the gayest of the gay, for she hail earvised the grief occasioned by the desertion of her lover to whom she had once fancied she had bestowed her heart ! and soul, and whom in a moment of anger she had dis! missed his presence, sever dreaming he would take his ! punishment an series:, and consider the dismissal as float. No, not even when she received his written farewell, , although he declared it an eternal on,, did she believe it was really meant. But years passed away without receiving a line—without beholding him again. De had disappeared from Paris, as many do suddenly without , warning, and are seen no more. The poor little duchess at first had shut herself up to mourn the injustice and ngratitude of man, and after a while gave way to indig. I station, and then suffering herself to ne convinced that no man was worth either sorrow or anger, she returned to the gay world, over which she resumed her sway without dispute. She was the great promoter of festivals and gaiety of every kind, and one of the most inveterate sight-seers the world ever produced. Now, among other ' sights winch die season has afforded, none have been considered inure curious than the installation of the new superior of La Trappe, and to the convent hurried the fair duchess at the beginning of last month, with a view of indulging the curiosity to which she had become an indefatigable slave. Father Ansehne, with his two acolytes, did the honours of the convent to the ladies with urbanity and zeal, and the Duchess de B— was the honoured guest, having the first seat at the table and precedence in the chapel. After the repast the Duchess was led to view the arrangements of the convent, as tar as women are allowed; the gardens, the kitchens, and wash houses—all being outside the gates—together with the house were strangers are received. She visited all with much delight, even to the woodhouse, where a solitary brother was busily occupied in sawing and piling wood. lie turned as she entered; he gazed at her intently. but uttered not a word, while site exclainted his Christian name and sunk to the ground in a swoon. The Superior merely ordered two of the brothers to convey her to the ioth roomy, wink ho continued hie round of visits with the rest of the company, and the brother went on sawing his logs in the lonely woodhouse, without a word or movement which could betray that his heart had preserved the slightest souvenir of other days, or that he had not beheld the Duchess de B— before that hour. The latter returned home to Blois that night ; she came no more to Paris, but we used to hear that she had shut herself up mutely from society; and last week news was received of her death by an overdose of laudations, which drug she had been in the habit of taking for the last few months, in order to procure sleep. None of these things ever appear now in our journals, and 1 am sure they are quite as important as the edicts of the Emperor with regard to the canons of St. Dennis anti their new costume, or the decree concerning the senators and their new livery.  A young man, named Evan Jones, a native of Pontypridd, reached Australia in April last. He wrote on the .20th Dec. to his mother until brother ; they received the letter on Saturday week, with a cheek for £270. lie ass's he has got almut £6OO more, and expects in a few months to tn.tke up £lOOO, and then will return. The sufferings and privations at the diggings are beyond description, he writes. All his companions, who went out with him, are doing equally as Well as himself.