"This city, as, my dear friend, I have before observed to you, is the capital of French Flanders, as it was anciently called Flandria Gallica; and is one of the most populous, rich, and magnificent cities in the entire circle of French Flanders.
"You will here, no doubt, my dear Madam, pause, and naturally enough inquire why I should make this long detour, when my ultimate destination is Brussels;—what necessity should urge me to visit Amiens?—why should I proceed to Lille?—why not start straight forward at once for Brussels? I shall explain to you the cause, my dear friend, as I hate mysteries, and prefer being candid in preference of appearing absurd or inconsistent. There have been for these many years some near and dear female connexions of mine, and likewise of the duke, who long since have forsook the world, and who are abiding in this country, all of whom have taken the veil; two sisters are stationed at Amiens within the convent, or Abbaye de St. Sepulchre; and two other relatives have retired here into the convent des Sœurs Noirès. These ladies are now far advanced in years, and fast approaching that goal that one day we all must ultimately reach. Could I then, my dear Madam, remain in the same country, inhale the same air, and withal placed within a reasonable distance, and it resting wholly in my power and inclination whether I should see them for once, and perhaps for ever! or decline doing so? I could not—I would not decline it! No earthly consideration could warp or cause me to forego this duty! I have seen these venerable saints, for such I believe them to be, and I am gratified that they are happy; at least to me they appeared to be so, as they did to my daughter and sisters. This must be the last time probably that I shall ever see them imprisoned within those sad monastic walls, the world forgetting, and by the world forgot! and the leave which I took of them resembled that sad, solemn, and final farewell, which we receive from the departing voice of those we regard at the close of their earthly pilgrimage!
"You shall hear from me again so soon as I am established at Brussels, where I purpose to remain for a year certainly, and for which city we start on the morrow. Until then, dearest friend, adieu.
(Signed) Katherine Tyrconnel."
"P. S.—Please, my dear, most kindly to present all our united remembrances to your truly worthy lord and prelate. Once more farewell."
The day subsequent to the writing of the foregoing epistle, as has been determined upon, the duchess and Adelaide, the Ladies Letitia and Lucy, escorted by Sir Patricius Placebo, departed from Lille on their route to Brussels. The journey occupied the space of nearly three days; at the expiration of which the illustrious voyageurs safely arrived at the noble, the ancient city of Brussels; the drivers were directed to stop at the hotel Du Flanders, in preference to the hotel d'Angleterré, as it was the wish of the duchess to remain retired from any observance or unnecessary intercourse with her countrymen; and instructed by the political tone and temper of the times, courted privacy, not publicity; and this was now the more necessary, as acts of attainder had been proclaimed by King William against all the adherents and partisans of King James the Second.