ANECDOTES and REMAINS

OF PERSONS CONNECTED WITH THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

Madame Lafayette.

This lady, the wife of a man whose history is blended with two important revolutions, was a marchioness before the late changes in France; the family name of her husband was also both spelled and pronounced differently, being then De la Fayette; but the de being a mark of nobility, as having a feudal allusion (the French term it, a nomme de terre) it was, of course, omitted on the extinction of titles.

Madame Lafayette is an eminent instance of the instability of greatness, the mutability of fortune, and the inefficacy of wealth. Descended from an ancient lineage, united to an amiable and illustrious husband, who possessed estates in Europe, America, and the West-Indies; she, nevertheless, has not been exempted from the must bitter calamities that can afflict suffering humanity.

When Lafayette resisted the commands of the sole remaining legitimate power in France, his “widowed wife” was arrested. Under the despotism of Robespierre, she escaped death only by a miracle (part of her family was actually immolated to his vengeance) but what to some will appear more terrible, she experienced an unremitting captivity of fifteen months, during which, she suffered all the horrors of a close confinement, being immured within four walls, subjected to a scanty and precarious diet, secluded from her children, and prohibited even from the light of heaven.

On the death of the tyrant, the voice of humanity was once more heard, and she was liberated, and restored to the arms of her afflicted daughters. But she was a wife as well as a mother! and her beloved husband was still in bondage; for he who had endeavoured to avert the execution of Louis XVI. (such is the gratitude of courts) was languishing in an Austrian prison!

She accordingly repaired to Hamburgh, accompanied by her children only, for she had not wealth sufficient to hire a single domestic, and she possesses a lofty sense of independence, which taught her to reject pecuniary assistance, even from her few remaining friends. As soon as her health was a little restored, she posted to Vienna, and prostrated herself at the feet of the emperor.

Francis III. is in the flower of his youth. The chilling hand of age has not yet rendered him morose; and surely victory cannot have blunted his feelings, and made him at once haughty and insensible! No! no! there is not a prince of his house, from the obscure count de Hapsburg, of a former period, to the late powerful tenant of the Imperial diadem, who has had more occasion to find and to feel that he is a man.

Weeping beauty did not supplicate in vain; the German monarch raised her from her lowly posture, and promised better days. With his permission, she flew on the wings of affection, and, strengthened by conjugal love, knocked at the gate of the fortress that confined her dearly beloved husband, whose speedy deliverance (vain idea!) she hoped instantly to announce.

The massive bolts of the dungeon give way, the grating hinges of the iron doors pierce the ears; she and her virgin daughters are eyed, searched, rifled, by an odious and horrible gaoler; and those, who, but a moment before, deemed themselves deliverers, now find themselves captives!

Reclining in the bottom of thy dungeon, these tears cannot be seen, these sighs cannot be heard, nor can the quick decay of youth and beauty, cankered in the bloom, and dissolving amidst the horrors of a German prison, be contemplated. But the heart of sympathy throbs for you, ye lovely mourners; the indignation of mankind is aroused; the present age shudders at your unmerited sufferings; and posterity will shed a generous tear at their recital. Anguish may not yet rend the bosoms of your persecutors, but a dreadful futurity awaits them, and, were it possible to escape the scourge of offended heaven, they will yet experience all the vengeance of indignant history!

Champagneaux

Was the editor of one of the three-score newspapers, that imparted the revolutionary stimulus to France. He is the father of a numerous family; a man of unimpeached morals, and was attached to liberty from principle, at a time, and in a country, when it was not unusual to be so, from mere speculation! He was selected by Roland on account of his industry and talents; and was put by him at the head of the principal division of the home department. In short, during his administration, he became, what is termed in England, under secretary of state.

Camus,

This is another of Roland’s élèves, and does great credit to his discernment. Soon after the resignation of his friend, he quitted the home department, and was elected a member of the Convention, and is now Archivist to the present legislature. He was one of the deputies delivered over by Dumouriez to, and confined by, the Prince de Cobourg. From an Austrian prison he has been restored to the exercise of his legislative functions, (for he is one of the two thirds) and, on the first vacancy, is likely to become a member of the Directory.

NEW-YORK.

MARRIED,

On the evening of the 8th instant at the seat of Colonel Ramsay, Carpenter’s Point, Cæcil county, by the Rev. Mr. Ireland, Mr. Septimus Claypoole, of the city of Philadelphia, to the amiable Miss Elizabeth Polk.

On Saturday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Milldollar, Mr. Eleazer Reid, of this city, to Miss Catherine Ackerson of Orange County.

Claypoole’s marriage may be a “professional courtesy” listing. Claypoole (~1764-1798) published the American Daily Advertiser. After his death it became Poulson’s (1800-1839), and then merged with the North American, surviving in various forms until 1869. Elizabeth Polk was a niece of Charles Willson Peale.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

From the 11th to the 17th inst.

	Thermometor observed at				Prevailing winds.		OBSERVATIONS on the WEATHER.
	6, A.M. 3, P.M.				6.	3.	6.	3.
	deg.	100	deg.	100
June 11	66		80		nw.	do.	clear h. wd.	do. do.
12	64		81		w.	sw.	clear lt wd.	do. do.
13	70		76		sw.	se.	rn lt. wd.	do. do. t. lg.
14	64		78		nw.	do.	clear lt. wd.	do. do.
15	66		85		sw.	w.	clear lt. wd.	do. do.
16	60		77		e.	do.	r. t. lg. cl. lt. w.	do. do.
17	66		77		w.	n.	r. t. lg. cr. l. w.	do. do. r. hl.