I have had the pleasure of receiving your agreeable letter of the 29th of October, and have executed all your commissions except that auprès de Madame de Genlis. I have been so unwell and occupied with moving my lodgings and receiving my friend Miss Clagston, that it has been quite impossible for me to visit the penitent at the Carmelites, however, I shall certainly go to her or write her, you may be assured. Your fairy prince, the dearest little prince in the world, has been enchanted at your recollection of him, and charges me to tell you everything that is true and agreeable for him. He means to go to Dublin in the spring, and intends writing to you—bientôt en attendant ce qui arrivera d’ici au printemps. La princesse m’a chargée de vous remercier de ce que vous avez ecrit à son égard et de la conserver dans votre souvenir. In fact, if I were to write all that your admirers and friends tell me, I should never put my pen down. Madame D’Houchin, the Gerards, &c., desire me to talk to you of them, and all think it quite absurd for you to leave Paris. I meet the Beauveaus at Madame Rumford’s every week, when there is an assemblement of gens d’esprit, not that I mean to call myself one of them; however, people say
46 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
By the way, although I sent my love to Mr. North, I was very angry with him; he wrote me once after I saw him at Cheltenham, to which I very goodnaturedly replied, and he never gave himself the trouble to acknowledge the reception of my letter. Lady Falkener, a very bad person and a great intrigante, wanted to marry an old maiden sister to him, and fancied that he liked me better, in consequence of which she tor-
FIRST VISIT TO FRANCE—1815-1816. | 47 |
Dear Lady Morgan, I have been very ill and very triste, tout m’ennuie dans ce monde et je ne sais pas “pourquoi, unless it be the recollection of what I have suffered. I think the best thing for me to do is to return to my dear child in the spring; I love him so entirely, that perhaps seeing him may render my feelings less disagreeable. I hate the séjour of America, and the climate destroys the little health which has been left me; but any inconveniences are more supportable than being separated from one’s children. How much more we love our children than our husbands—the latter are sometimes so selfish and cruel, and children cannot separate their mothers from their affection.
I have seen all the persons who interest you since the reception of your letter, except Monsieur Dénon; but Madame D’Houchin has seen what you have written, and will tell him everything. Adieu; write me sometimes, I entreat you, and believe me truly and affectionately
PS.—I hope Sir Charles does not forget me, and beg him to accept my best wishes and recollections. I am going to Madame La Rochefaucauld’s, with whom you are so great a favourite, this evening.