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10 - Women Writers’ Networks
- from Part II - Revolution to Restoration (1790–1815)
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- By Gillian Dow
- Edited by Patrick Vincent, Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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- Book:
- The Cambridge History of European Romantic Literature
- Published online:
- 10 January 2024
- Print publication:
- 09 November 2023, pp 319-351
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Summary
Translation plays a significant role in Chapter Ten, which maps out women writers’ contributions to a transnational European culture, focussing on British and French fiction. Although not exclusive to the Romantic period, connections between literary women were particularly productive. If Staël served as an important model, other influential women whose lives and works complicate notions of a distinct national literature also contributed to an international Romantic culture, including Brun, Genlis, Charrière, and Krudener. Popular genres that engaged with the foreign in the 1790s included émigré novels and travel writing. Women also participated in the public sphere through the unfairly trivialised salon culture. After reviewing a number of salons, including those of Albrizzi, von Kurland, Varnhagen, Moira, and the Hollands, the chapter then explores female contributions to education theory, including Madame de Genlis’s British legacy; women’s place in the novel market, contextualising Austen by placing her side by side with two little known novelists, Mary Charlton and Elizabeth Meeke; female translations as important forms of cultural mediation, particularly those of Isabel de Montolieu; and, finally, female-edited or -authored periodicals, concluding with Sarah Harriet Burney and her possible translation of Feijoo’s defence of women.
8 - Anglo-French Relations and the Novel in the Eighteenth Century
- from Part II - The Eighteenth Century: Learning, Letters, Libertinage
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- By Gillian Dow
- Edited by Adam Watt, University of Exeter
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- Book:
- The Cambridge History of the Novel in French
- Published online:
- 04 February 2021
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- 25 February 2021, pp 152-169
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The business of novels in the long eighteenth century was an international affair. This chapter argues that literary histories giving accounts of the ‘rise’ of the novel should look again at influential nineteenth and twentieth century national histories, and challenge them: the European novel can be seen to develop as a cross-channel product in the period. Taking a book-historical perspective, and giving evidence of reception of French Fiction in Britain via that most English of authors, Jane Austen herself, I document the presence of the French novel on British bookshelves. Via readings of the ways in which fiction crossed the channel, it becomes apparent that British anxieties about French fiction have their roots in the eighteenth century and – I argue – with the establishment of formal reviewing and periodical culture. Anglo-French exchanges in the novel in the long eighteenth century look very different if we look beyond the canonical texts and authors of the period. Now neglected eighteenth-century women writers – often translated, and themselves translators – adopted a feminised cosmopolitanism in their novels. I conclude that taking a cross-channel approach is the most appropriate way to write our histories of the novel in the eighteenth century.
11 - Translations
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- By Gillian Dow
- Edited by Peter Sabor, McGill University, Montréal
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- Book:
- The Cambridge Companion to ‘Emma'
- Published online:
- 05 September 2015
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- 25 August 2015, pp 166-185
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LETTER LX - The Viscountess to the Baroness
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Book:
- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 442-444
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Last night I took Constantia for the first time to one of the dressed balls; we staid to the very fast, and guess what time it was before we were in bed; absolutely half past three in the morning. – The Assembly was magnificent; an immense croud and all the prettiest women in Paris were there; but they only appeared to shew their fine clothes; for they came at two, and went away again at three; that is, as soon as they had been viewed by the whole Assembly, and when their rouge began to run, and their hair to get out of order: they gaped, complained of heat, and retired. Oh! in our time, people had more real spirit; I cannot conceive any thing more absolutely dull or inanimate than the flirtations now a-days; for they really consist in nothing more than grimaces and inquiries about dress. – I supped the other night with one of these fashionable flirts; it was Madame de Blemur; she is ugly, but thinks herself clever and agreeable; she has a flow of words, with a constant giggle which she styles wit; she has a positive manner, and her conversation is as insipid as it is common; and, when she particularly wishes to shew herself off, one may discover it in a moment, for she tosses herself about the room, never sits still, walks with a careless air, and even jumps to admire herself in the looking-glass; and finds a thousand occasions to shew a pretty foot, and she laughs quite loud. – These now are all the artifices of a fashionable Coquette: they appear to me perfectly innocent, because it is impossible that they can ever injure any one. – Constantia was with me the evening I met her, and all the company were full of her praises; indeed I never saw her look so well.
LETTER XI - The Baroness to the Viscountess
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 341-345
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We set out to-morrow, my dear friend, for Florence. It is impossible for me to regret Italy, when I am returning to France; yet my departure from Rome will occasion some melancholy emotions. You know my attachments to the C— d—ts; I cannot divest myself of the idea that I shall never see him again. He enjoys here every mark of respect that high rank, superior talents, great experience, a thorough knowledge of business and mankind, with the most serupulous integrity, can acquire. He possesses equally those qualities which command our esteem, and the virtues which gain our affections. He has the art of uniting to the appearance of a person in office the natural and easy behaviour and the free conversation of a private person. He has neither state nor pedantry. (True dignity is derived from the soul, and owes nothing to affectation.) His face, his discourse, his air, indicates his character: by seeing him, you know what he is. He possesses that happy and rare union of prudence and openness, of nobility and good-nature. I shall, besides, leave behind me at Rome the Count and Countess de Balmire, whom I shall always remember: Adelaide has a sincere regard for the Countess, and has been in tears these two days. Miss Bridget finds fault with a sensibility of which she has not the least conception; for she is most earnest to return to France; and, in spite of her concern, we pack up chearfully, and rejoice in the thoughts of being at B— in three months time. You, my dear friend, promised to be there to receive me, and spend with us two months; but you do not mention Madame de Valcy: should it be agreeable to you to bring her, I flatter myself you are assured that it would give me pleasure. I depend upon Mons.
LETTER XL - The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 399-401
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They are in the right, Madame, to say, that a mother is very proud the first time her daughter has an offer of marriage. I have just experienced that satisfaction. The Marquis de Hernay, a young man whom I saw in Italy, is very desirous of marrying Adelaide; he hinted the subject to me near three weeks ago. I gave an indirect answer, and spoke of it to my daughter the same day: at the first mention of marriage, before I had named the Marquis de Hernay, she changed countenance! What! Mamma, cried she, do you already think of marrying me? Not immediately, answered I, since you have a good fortune and are well situated. Nothing can determine me to marry you till your education is quite completed. But I can from this time, if you consent to it, enter into conditional engagements. In short, he that makes proposals … is the Marquis de Hernay … a very proper person, whose fortune and family … Oh! Mamma, interrupted Adelaide, smilling, was his family still more noble, and his fortune more considerable, it is impossible that man should be destined to call you mother. But Adelaide, you are very censorious … I think he does me great honour … but I confess, that he does not appear to me worthy of being your son … nor your husband. Do you agree to that? … Confess, Mamma, that you are of my opinion! … Let us speak seriously: why have you so great a dislike to him? … because, Mamma, you think him a coxcomb … I never told you so … but I observed it, and your opinion will always determine mine … Well, if it should be true that he is a coxcomb, if he is worthy … My dear Mamma shall find me a good husband and one who is not a coxcomb … Take care, Adelaide, that you form no idle chimeras, nor carry your delicacy too far … I cannot do that; for I assure you I never in my life considered the turn of mind I should desire in a husband.
LETTER XLIV - The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 406-408
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From St.***
Ihave made acquaintance, Madame, with a person you often met with at Narbonne in the Winter you spent there: it is Mons. the Count de Retel. He gave me the pleasure of talking of you, which was sufficient to make him agreeable. He has, besides great knowledge and understanding, a little roughness and singularity, but an excellent character and an air of freedom which pleases me much. He has a charming house about three quarters of a league from mine: he gives us the liberty of walking in his garden; which has been the means of bringing us acquainted. He has no great opinion of the knowledge or talents of women. He smiled when he saw the plan of my garden raised by Adelaide, as well as at the landscapes, flowers, and miniatures of her drawing. I suspect he may more than once have been deceived in this way, and that experience has made him incredulous. Rousseau says, ‘At Paris the rich understand every thing; the poor only are ignorant. This capital is full of artists of rank, particularly females, who finish their works, as Monsieur Guiallaum invented his colours. I only know three fair exceptions to this rule among the men, though there may be more, but I know not one among the Ladies, and I doubt whether there is any.’
For my part, I know two exceptions already, which are Madame d’ Ostalis and Adelaide, and therefore I believe there may be more; though I have not seen any other female artists draw landscapes from Nature, or make good and correct likenesses in their portraits. But at length Monsieur de Retel has seen Adelaide drawing in a garden: he has seen her paint from Nature; he has examined into her improvements, and is now convinced there is no treachery. This discovery has made him go from one extreme to another; for he is become one of Adelaide's greatest admirers.
LETTER LII - The Baroness to Madame d’ Ostalis
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 424-425
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From Paris.
Ihave just experienced a very great pleasure, my dear child. A Tragedy of Porphyry's has been performed this evening for the first time; and it has had, as it truly deserved, the most brilliant success. It did not require the advantages of being well acted, or the addition of beautiful scenes; it will bear reading, and will confirm the good opinion the first representation of it has given. Porphyry has learnt by this the advantages which an Author derives from bearing an excellent character. He is certain before-hand of having the good-will of the Public, and that there will be no cabal against him. He has only written valuable Works. He has never taken notice of the criticisms which have been made by the envious and severe, and he does not pride himself on his moderation. We generally atrribute great merit to people who have a number of enemies. The reason is, because we see so many persons boasting of being hated, and repeating frequently, with such emphasis, my enemies, which in fact means my rivals. Porphyry is privately much afflicted at having gained enemies; but, so far from being proud of them, he has not even made a single complaint against them, which has much softened them. Incapable of envy or resentment, he can forgive their injustice, and finds a noble pleasure in extolling his rivals. He has always been intimately connected with the most celebrated men of letters; he was at all times desirous of their friendship and advice, and took every possible opportunity to oblige them. He thinks with La Bruyere, who says, ‘Come in; all my doors are open to you … Come always without ceremony; you bring with you that which is more precious than silver or gold: if I can oblige you, tell me so. What is there I can do for you? If it is to quit my books, my studies, my works, even this line which I have begun? What a pleasing interruption for me to be useful to you! &c.’ … With such an obliging disposition, can any one be more capable of gratitude? If you solicit a favour for him and succeed, he will be infinitely obliged; if you are not successful, he will not be less grateful.
LETTER LXVII - The Baroness to Madame d’ Ostalis
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 461-466
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Wednesday.
Mons. d’ Aimeri is still nearly in the same state, yet they say he has less fever; but I find him more dejected, more depressed, than he was yesterday. He has been shut up for an hour to-night with two notaries: in short, he takes all the precautions of a man who thinks himself at the last extremity. At the same time I observed a change in him today which struck me; it appeared to me, as if he wished to flatter himself, or rather to deceive us, in regard to his health. He told me to-day, for example, that he had slept pretty well last night, which is not true. He added, that he was in less pain than yesterday; he no longer talks of his fatal presages; his heart appears quite hardened and he shews an insensibility which even extends to his grandson. I believe that his remorse, and his apprehensions, naturally violent at this time, give him up to the most cruel terrors; to such dreadful ideas that he can only think of himself. Nothing makes us so selfish as being in imminent danger; and how dreadful is that which looks him in the face! … His tortured soul seems excluded from all hopes; he is inaccessible to the soft sentiments of friendship and to all kind of consolation. I spent three hours with him: I observed also, that he could not without extreme pain hear the Chevalier de Murville's will mentioned; but unfortunately Mons. de Valmont has not yet exhausted that subject of conversation, and it is absolutely impossible to make him understand, that it displeases Mons. d’ Aimeri. He answers, that certainly his father-in-law must be delighted at Charles's having an estate of an hundred thousand livres a year; and of course he talks of nothing else; and still keeps praising this good Chevalier de Murville, whom he knew formerly only a poor Gentleman of Picardy, but whole person deserved to have made his fortune; for he was as handsome as an Angel. You know Mons. de Valmont; therefore can both hear him and see him.
LETTER XIV - The Baroness to the Viscountess
- from VOL I - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 32-34
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Ineither give my children Fairy Tales to read, or The Arabian Nights, nor even Madame d' Aulnoy's Fables, which were composed for this purpose. There is scarcely one of them which has a moral tendency. Love is the subject in them all. You find a Princess persecuted on account of her beauty. A Prince, handsome as the day, dying for love of her, and a wicked, ugly rival, consumed with envy and jealously! Tho’ the moral of these little stories may be good, children cannot improve by them; and only struck with the wonderful, they will remember nothing but the enchanted gardens and diamond palaces; all these ridiculous ideas give them only false notions, stop the course of their reasoning, and inspire them with a dislike for instructive reading. Locke complains that there is not a single work existing proper for infancy; I know not one in the French language, though it would be so useful. The fixing our first principles and turn of mind depends greatly on the impressions we receive in infancy: it is therefore necessary these books should be written with great simplicity; that they should be equally interesting and instructing, and to vary the form of these little histories will also be proper. And I believe, if the subjects were well chosen, and the charms and simplicity of Nature were properly described, it would make such works more valuable than you have any idea of: now, I hear you exclaim, and you repeat twenty times: 'Where is a book so ‘useful?’ 'Where can it be met with?’ I will tell you, and will even produce it to you, whenever you chuse to have it. And as there is no great wisdom required in the composition, but only Nature and common sense; I will without evasion tell you I am myself the Author. We call it the ‘Castle Evening.’ The subject of it is, a good mother retired to the castle with her three children, the eldest of whom is only seven years old, and who every evening, if they are very good, tells them a little story.
LETTER LIX - Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Book:
- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 441-442
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From St. ***.
How happy we are, Madame! … How great will your felicity be, what joy will you feel! Ah, who is more sensible of it than myself? … Our children are equally distinguished; they are well! … We shall see them in three months … I send you all the particulars, and not only the letter Mons. d’ Almane has written to you, but that which I have received from him, as I imagine it will give you still more pleasure, and I have nothing I wish to conceal from you! … When this precious packet was brought me by the Chevalier de Herbain, I was with Madame de Limours, Constantia, and my daughter. I trembled so much I could scarce open my letter or speak … At length I found it was from Mons. d’ Almane … I opened it; and judge what I felt on reading these words: ‘Glory and happiness, my dearest friend!’ … I could not utter a word, – I threw myself on my knees … My dear Adelaide came and flung her arms about my neck; all my friends surrounded me; their joy added to my felicity … Why were you not here, Madame? How delightful would it have been for me to embrace you at that moment! What would I not have given, had you been here, that we might have read our letters together! … Poor little Constantia was much affected, and the name of Theodore escaped her lips! … and she shed a torrent of tears! … Nevertheless, when I read an account of the action, I observed that Adelaide's transport and emotions infinitely exceeded her cousin's. Great souls alone are capable of feeling sentiments of this kind! … After Constantia had heard that Theodore had received no wounds, the rest of the account appeared to have very little effect on her.
LETTER XXV - The Viscountess to the Baroness d’ Almane
- from VOL I - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 65-67
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Ineed not acquaint you, my dear friend, that Madame d’ Ostalis was this morning, the 4th of Jan. happily delivered of a son, because I knew before she was put to bed, she wrote you a billet to acquaint you with the news. But at least you shall hear from me, that our amiable Nun, Cecilia, arrived last night. I have seen her, I have wept with her, and I have passed an hour and a half alone with her. If you wish to know the particulars, attend to me. On getting up from table to-day, I received a letter written in an unknown hand; I looked at the signature, and saw Cecilia. I instantly rung, and ordered my carriage, and then read my letter, which was only to express her thanks, &c. But it was written in the most elegant and interesting stile imaginable. It recalled to my mind that affecting letter she wrote to her sister in the first moments of her despair. I forgot that ten years are elapsed since that time; I forgot that she was now a reasonable being, and had derived consolation from experience. My heart was deeply affected; and in this disposition I got into my carriage; during my ride, I found myself so much interested for her, that I entered her apartment with the same tenderness and emotion that I should have experienced had it been the same morning she had taken the veil. I went in hastily, and found her sitting at a little table writing, and alone. As soon as she heard my name announced, she rose from her seat, came to me, and I embraced her with great tenderness. For a few moments I was unable to speak, having an inexpressible weight on my spirits: and I found that great misfortunes inspire one with as much respect and admiration, as we feel for persons possessed of superior qualities. Nothing appears to me more noble, than a person who has been persecuted by fortune, and who has submitted with resolution to her destiny.
LETTER L - Madame d’ Ostalis to the Baroness
- from VOL I - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 136-138
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Iam this day, my dear aunt, three-and-twenty years old; and I cannot celebrate my birth-day better than in conversing with you; but, when I think, that for these three long years I have been separated from you, and that I shall still be deprived of the happiness of seeing you for another twelvemonth, my heart is very melancholy … The only thing which I receive consolation from is the thought of having conducted myself at this distance from you in the same manner as if you was always with me; in short, the having exactly followed the rules you gave me, and the advice which you have constantly pointed out to me in your letters, those dear letters in which I find so much to make me amends for the distance which is between us. You will never be told on your return to Paris, that your child is guilty of coquetry; this odious vice, for which you have given me so just and so serious an aversion. I have never turned the brain of any one, and I can even boast, that it has never been said, that any person has fallen in love with me. It is true, I have followed your advice, and always preserved a proper behaviour, with that mild tranquillity which you recommended to me; that I have made use of no arts, and have never gone into company by myself, that is, without my mother-in-law, till within these two years; and almost always with Mons. d’ Ostalis: that I never received company at my own house till last year, and that those I associate with are very sensible as well as reasonable people; that I neither go to Balls nor Operas, nor ride on horseback: and therefore it is not astonishing, that I should have preserved my reputation without blemish. This is a cause of great happiness to me, and I value it at too high a price not to endeavour to keep it.
LETTER XVI - Baron d’ Almane to the Viscount de Limours
- from VOL I - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
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- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 37-40
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No, my dear Viscount, I do not at all repent the part I have taken, nor do I for one moment regret the pleasures of Paris, or the intrigues of the Court! If you knew with what an eye we consider these things at this distance, and how trifling and frivolous they appear, when they are coolly considered, you would the more readily believe me. I am however far from thinking that happiness consists only in solitude. It is certainly incompatible with vice and wickedness. But, otherwise, it is derived from various contrary causes. Wisdom and enthusiasm both equally serve to procure it; and reason and virtue will always maintain a right to create it, in every place and situation; in the midst of the tumult of Courts, as well in a cloyster, or a desart. And old people, men of the world, or those retired from it, may, by being just and good, enjoy that desired comfort, which the designing wicked man can never know! Believe me, my friend, our passions can never procure it for us. I have felt their influence, have known all the illusions of love; but in this tumultuous state the soul is agitated above its powers, and seems rather to be exhausted than satisfied, by what it experiences. These delights and transports, which almost deprive us of our reason, undoubtedly form a situation too active and violent for our weak minds; and become painful to us by their excess.
If you had not told me, my dear Viscount, a thousand times, that you had spent your life in studying different opinions, without ever adopting one, I should have been convinced of it by your last letter. You shew me in that all the advantages you have received from a good education; but you evidently prove, that you have not sufficiently reflected or meditated on that important subject, since, often praising my intentions and plans, you end all on a sudden with asking me this question: ‘Do you really think that education can extirpate our vices, or imbue us with virtues; and that it is of any use to us?’ I have certainly given testimony that I think so, by the sacrifices I have made in order to educate my children.
LETTER XVI - The Baroness's Answer
- from VOL II - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
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- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 219-220
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All your observations, my dear friend, are perfectly just. It is very true, that the world is infinitely more dangerous now, than it was in our day: but I think a young woman well born and educated may very easily avoid all the rocks it presents. The greatest is certainly, as you remark, the excessive liberty which custom has granted to all young women for some years. But when my daughter enters into company, she will certainly possess a clear understanding, sound principles, purity of heart, discernment, noble sentiments, and a great desire to distinguish herself by her conduct and virtue. I will then give her this picture of the world, which you have drawn so correctly, and will say to her, ‘Remember that the liberty young women now enjoy, prejudices their reputations much more, than it can assist their pleasures: never avail yourself of it, if you would wish to be esteemed irreproachable.’ But, you will ask me, are you very sure, that in spite of fashion and example Adelaide will have the courage to follow this advice? Doubtless she will; or all I have done for her, will be lost and useless. I will go farther and assert, that she will follow this advice without constraint, and even with delight. When one is truly virtuous, and firmly resolved to continue and at exhibitions, with their naked throats, hair flowing on their shoulders, disordered and without powder; that dress at once so negligent, and so studied; and all this after spending three hours at a toilet. – I think the men ought to be less attracted by these affectations of negligence, and abandoned airs, than by those noble and decent dresses we were obliged to wear in our youth. Oh, my dear friend! what a cruel thought it is, that Adelaide and Constantia are on the eve of entering a world so full of dangers! How shall we arm them against all these perils, or how prevent them from availing themselves of the ready path to error and destruction?
LETTER XIX - The Baroness to the Viscountess
- from VOL II - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 224-225
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Ihave, my dear friend, something to tell you, which I own hurts me much; and I even feel I shall not have resolution to talk to you myself of a scheme, which, believe me, will cost my heart as much as yours. I am again obliged to separate myself from you, and for a long time. I shall spend the winter at Paris; but we set out in the spring for Italy, not to return for eighteen months. You will doubtless say, that my children are very young to travel; yet you must allow their reason far exceeds their years. Moreover, it is neither men nor laws that we are to study in Italy: my children will acquire a taste for the polite arts, and perfect themselves in drawing. Whilst they amuse themselves in admiring the monuments and ruins of Roman grandeur, they will gain a complete knowledge of that interesting history. In short, my son, conducted by a father, whose tenderness can only be equalled by his knowledge, will learn to write a good journal, and in it nothing frivolous; in a word, reap all the fruits of travelling. I shall bring back Adelaide at fourteen, an excellent musician, an adept in drawing, talking and singing like a native Italian; and intirely divested of all those little feminine delicacies, which nothing but travelling can radically cure. She will neither fear the sea, nor bad roads; sleep as well in an alehouse, as in her own apartment. She will learn to be contented with a bad supper, and to do without a thousand things she now looks on as absolutely necessary. I also see in this project many more advantages than I can enumerate in one letter, but which you shall be informed of, and I am sure will feel their importance. Do not, my dear friend, add to the grief I experience in separating myself from you, the chagrin of seeing you fretful and unjust.
LETTER LXIX - The Baroness to Madame d’ Ostalis
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Adelaide and Theodore
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- Pickering & Chatto
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- 05 December 2014, pp 470-472
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Saint ***.
Tuesday April 18.
She is married! … O God, grant that it may be for her happiness! … that hope alone directed me. Neither interest nor ambition determined my choice: I may therefore be allowed to expect from this union all the joy of my life.
You will credit me, that I never closed my eyes this night: No sooner did I behold the first dawn of day, than I rung. I rose hastily, and was going down to Mons. d’ Almane, when my daughter came into my room: she threw herself into my arms; afterwards she fell at my feet, bathed in tears, and eagerly embracing my knees … Oh, Mamma! exclaimed she, you are going to give me a new master; but in delegating to him those sacred rites which you have over your daughter, promise me at least to preserve and exert them yourself in their full extent. On my part I vow you the same submissive obedience I have ever paid you. The first and dearest wish of my heart is, to take you for my model, to copy you, if it be possible; to observe all your advice, to devote my love to you. I am sensible, that all your happiness depends on my conduct. Ah! I will justify your expectations! … Did I not respect my duties, I would fulfill them, to insure your felicity; I would fulfil them for your sake, who was to me in the place of a Governess and an instructress; who was my dear benefactress, my tender mother! … At these words she raised her arms towards me; and looked at me with those melting eyes, which so justly describe the tenderness and purity of her soul! … I raised her up, and embraced her a thousand times. I could not speak, but she saw into my heart
In about half an hour Mons. d’ Almane and Theodore came to seek us. My son, already dressed, hastened us to our toilets.
LETTER XX - The Chevalier Herbain to the Baroness
- from VOL II - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Book:
- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 225-228
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Summary
Imust absolutely, Madame, ask you the reason of Madame d' Ostalis's conduct and behaviour. I can no longer bear it; she is become quite unsociable. I allow she has still many good qualities: she has sense and sweetness; she speaks ill of nobody; she seems to blame nothing she sees; but there is vast hypocrisy hidden under that apparent mildness, or, to speak more properly, she has a manner of criticising still more severe than detraction; for she censures not by her words, but by her actions. I am going to relate a few anecdotes, that will convince you to what a height she carries her dissimulation and malice. It is about three weeks ago, since I took a little trip into the country to visit Madame de R—, where I found a good deal of company, and Madame d' Ostalis: She behaved pretty well for the first twenty-four hours. After dinner the men went to billiards, and the ladies retired, and shut themselves up in a little closet, to untwist gold at their ease. Madame d' Ostalis's complaisance made her quit her embroidery to read aloud foolish novels, which must have tired her, and which none of the rest attended to. One day, that we were all assembled in the hall before the hour of walking, Madame de R— suddenly observed, that the fringe on my dress would be excellent for untwisting; at that instant her sprightliness induced her to cut off one of my tassels. I was directly surrounded by ten women, who with an enchanting grace and vivacity, stripped me, ran away with my dress, and put all the fringes and gold bindings into their work-bags. Madame d' Ostalis alone did not condescend to take the least bit, alledging, that she did not understand untwisting; but she laughed heartily, and seemed to think it a very good joke.
LETTER II - The Baroness to the Viscountess
- from VOL II - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Book:
- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 172-186
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Yes, my dear Friend; we arrived at Lagaraye the night before last; Mons. d' Almane, Dainville, and my son having made most part of the journey on horseback; poor Theodore was extremely fatigued. You will be much surprised that we have not yet seen Mons. de Lagaraye; but every thing we hear augments our desire to be acquainted with this truly incomparable man. As you insisted on a very exact recital, without the omission of a single circumstance, I must begin my narration from Saturday, the day of our arrival. We alighted at a pretty good inn, and in half an hour a venerable old man, of the most interesting appearance, came into our room, and intreated us to dine with him the next day. We accepted the invitation; and the old man resumed his discourse by saying, you are come to see two angels sent from Heaven to bless this country … They not only attend the sick, but feed the aged and infirm, employ the young, and make all happy. With your permission I will be your guide to morrow; and I am certain that all you see, will make you revere a thousand times more a character which fame can but imperfectly paint; it is only by having access to him, hearing him, witnessing his actions, that you can give him due praise. During this discourse, which raised our curiosity to the height, I considered attentively and with astonishment the person who delivered it, and could not dissemble my surprise at finding his manners and expressions so far superior to his appearance, which was only that of a peasant. He replied, with a smile, my history is really singular, and if it excites your curiosity, I will relate it to-morrow, with double pleasure, as it will be at the same time a tribute of gratitude to Mons. and Madame de Lagaraye. I live and am happy, and entirely through their munificence. He finished these words with eyes swimming in tears; we surveyed each other, and a sentiment of tenderness inexpressible made ours also overflow.
LETTER LXIV - The Baroness to Madame d’ Ostalis
- from VOL III - ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Edited by Gillian Dow
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- Book:
- Adelaide and Theodore
- Published by:
- Pickering & Chatto
- Published online:
- 05 December 2014, pp 450-452
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Tuesday.
O! my daughter, they are here! … I have seen and embraced them! … They are here; and neither grief nor joy has been fatal. Scarce was I out of bed this morning, when I heard a carriage in the Court: thinking it mine, I finished dressing, when my door suddenly flew open, and I saw Mons. d’ Almane and Theodore … At the same instant, Adelaide, amazed, ran in and threw herself into her father's arms. What a scene! … what happiness! after a year's absence, after having felt so many fears and anxieties! you, my daughter, who know my heart; you alone are capable of judging of the extent of my felicity! … The meeting of Adelaide and the Chevalier de Valmont was at noon! He is so affected, so transported with his good fortune, that he is deprived of speech. He can only gaze on Adelaide, embrace his mother, and kiss my hands. Adelaide blushes more than usual, and redoubles her tenderness to me. Her eyes frequently are filled with tears, when she looks at me; but she does not avoid the Chevalier, nor even omit any opportunity of shewing her attention to him, or saying an obliging thing. Theodore takes a lively share in his friend's happiness; to-morrow evening he will be acquainted with his own; for Mons. d’ Almane has sent an express to the Viscount who has been absent a week, and they only wait for his return to declare the marriage of Constantia and Theodore. You cannot form an idea of the affectionate joy of Mons. d’ Aimeri, yet the indelible remembrance of the hapless Cecilia troubles him in the midst of his transports! Have I deserved so much happiness! said he to me this evening, I always dread losing it … He pronounced these words in a voice that penetrated me: one single subject of remorse suffices to taint the purest felicity … To enjoy true happiness, one must have merited it.