MEMOIRS
OF THE
Princesse de Ligne
EDITED BY
LUCIEN PEREY
TRANSLATED BY LAURA ENSOR
IN TWO VOLUMES.—VOL. I.
LONDON
RICHARD BENTLEY & SON
Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen
1887
Printed by R. & R. Clark, Edinburgh
CONTENTS
| PART THE FIRST | |
| Introduction | [ix] |
| CHAPTER I | |
| Ignace Massalski, Prince and Bishop of Wilna—The Radziwill andthe Massalski—The feudal lords in Poland—Civil wars inPoland—The Bishop in exile—His arrival in Paris with hisniece—Letters from Madame Geoffrin—Answer of the KingStanislaus-Augustus—The Abbaye-aux-Bois | Page [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| The Memoirs of Hélène Massalska—Her entry at the Abbaye-aux-Bois—Thedormitory—Illness of Hélène—Sister Bichon andParadise—La Grise and Mother Quatre Temps’s punishments—Theorder of truth—Wars of the “blues” and the “reds”—TheComte de Beaumanoir’s scullion—Madame de Rochechouart | [19] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| The story of the Vicar of Saint Eustache—Hélène in the whiteclass—Death of Mademoiselle de Montmorency | [56] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| Moles and niggers—Mutiny in the Convent—Marriage ofMademoiselle de Bourbonne—The first communion | [90] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| The Convent duties—The Abbess’s department—Balls at the Abbaye-aux-Bois—Madamede Rochechourt and her friends | [114] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| The record office—Madame de Saint Germain and her rasp—Theballets Orpheus and Eurydice—The refectory—Thegates and the tower—The community and the cellars—Storyof Mademoiselle de Saint Ange—Madame de Sainte Delphineand the library | [136] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| Mademoiselle de Choiseul and her mother—Madame de Stainville’sromantic adventures—Mademoiselle de Choiseul’s wedding—Takingthe veil | [153] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| Madame d’Orléans, Abbess of Chelles—A visit from the Archbishop—TheJansenist nuns—The dispensary—Madame de Rochechouart’sfête day—Her illness and death | [182] |
| PART THE SECOND | |
| CHAPTER I | |
| The Prince-Bishop and Stanislaus-Augustus—The Diet in 1773—Seconddismemberment of Poland—Prince Xavier and histutor | [217] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| Hélène’s suitors—The Duc d’Elbœuf and the Prince de Salm—Negotiationsof marriage—The Marquis de Mirabeau and theComtesse de Brionne—Madame de Pailly—The Bishop ofWilna’s refusal—A fresh suitor—The Prince Charles deLigne | [230] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| The de Ligne Family—Prince Charles—War in Bavaria—Engagementat Pösig—The Prince de Ligne’s letter to his son—TheTreaty of Teschen | [256] |
INTRODUCTION
The prominent position assumed by women during the eighteenth century has always been considered a characteristic trait of that period. We do not here refer to the intrigues or friendships of the younger women. We allude rather to the influence of women of a certain age, who, as mothers and advisers, formed so powerful an element in society.