LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte to Lady Morgan, 11 August 1817
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
GO TO PAGE NUMBER:
Preface
Vol. I Contents.
Prefatory Address
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Vol. I Index
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter IV
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter XL
Vol. II Index
Creative Commons License

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Produced by CATH
 
Paris, August 11, 1817.
Dear Lady Morgan,

Sir Charles’s letter of which you inquire through Mr. Warden, was received by me a long time ago. Since then I have the pleasure of writing you a long letter with all the news of Paris. Your work on France has appeared through a French translation, in which they have suppressed what they thought best, and have arranged what they chose to give the public in the way best suited to their own purposes. I read it cursorily, in English, as the person who lent it me could permit me to keep it only six hours. It appeared to me, like everything you write, full of genius and taste. Its truths cannot at this moment be admitted here, but in all other countries it will have complete success. The violent clamour of the editors of the Paris gazettes proves that it is too well written; were it an insignificant production they would say less
66 LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR.  
about it. They are publishing it in America, where your fame has been as much extended as in Europe, and where your talents are as justly appreciated.

I have not seen Madame D’Houchin and M. Dénon for a long time. My health obliged me to spend some weeks in the country and Madame D’Houchin you know, wakes when other persons sleep, which renders it impossible to enjoy her society without paying the price of a night’s repose, and this to me is very difficult since I have lost my health. Your old friend and admirer, M. Suard, is dead of old age. I met him two weeks previous, at a party, where he enjoyed himself as much as any of us. His widow gave a dinner the day week after, because she was afraid of being triste, she said. Since then she receives as usual, and takes promenades on the Boulevards, because “bon ami m’a dit qu’il fallait vivre.” Her friends are encouraged to flatter themselves, that her great sensibility will not kill her; at the same time that it induces her to give them parties and attend their reunions. She grieves in the most agreeable way to all those who find her house convenient or her society desirable.

Madame de Villette is exactly as you left her. Mr. Warden and herself are my neighbours for the present; I shall bid them adieu in six weeks.

My desire to see my child is stronger than my taste for Paris. I really am of your opinion, the best thing a woman can do is to marry. It appears to me that even quarrels with one’s husband are preferable to the ennui of a solitary existence. There are so many hours besides those appropriated to the world, that one does
FIRST VISIT TO FRANCE—1815-1816.67
not know how to get rid of (at least one like me has, who have no useful occupation), that I have sometimes wished to marry from ennui and tristesse. You never felt ennui in any state, because, when absent from society, you cultivate talents which will immortalize you. I know no person so happy as yourself. Madame de Stael died regretting a life, which she had contrived to render very agreeable in everyway. Her marriage with Mr. Rocca is thought very superfluous. The liberal system she pursued through life forbids us to attribute other motives to her last matrimonial experiment,—unless that of tranquillizing the conscience of her young lover may be added. All her most intimate friends were ignorant that a marriage existed, and unless her Will had substantiated the fact, would have treated her marriage ceremony as a calumny. Marrying a man twenty years younger than herself, without fortune or name, is a ridicule in France, pire qu’un crime. Her son, by him, is called one of her posthumous works. What think you of the Manuscript of St. Helena being attributed to her and Benjamin Constant? Is it possible to carry absurdity and the desire of rendering her inconsistent further? I have heard persons gravely assert that she wrote it.

Adieu, my dear Lady Morgan; do not forget me when I shall be at a greater distance from you. Your recollection accompanies me to the New World, where I wish I may meet any one half as agreeable. My son is like you; they write me he is pétri d’esprit, and promises to develope great talents. I believe difficilement that any good awaits me, because I am constantly disap-
68 LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR.  
pointed and distressed. Do you think it easy to judge of the future capacity of a boy of twelve years? I fear he may not justify what his teachers now predict of him, and that after exciting my hopes he will become like the generality of people, médiocre and tiresome. I hope Sir Charles likes me always, and that my most affectionate regards, will be accepted with as much pleasure as I offer them through you. How is the bel esprit, Bess Sweeney? She was a successful impostor with many persons in Cheltenham, where she passed herself for your friend, for a wit, and for the object of Mr. North’s preference, all at the same time. She was a lofty pretender.

Yours, affectionately and sincerely,
E. P.

PS.—Write me addressed to my banker here. After my departure, Warden will send you my address, dans l’autre monde.