in many French families. Far from | have been her fine eyes and an expresclaiming an exceptional place for his ancestress, he says: Madame de Falaiseau truly belonged to that epoch, when moral strength proved superior to misfortune; she personifies its sentiments and character, and more than one family will find its history in the scat tered leaves which I have collected. 66 sion of great intelligence and kindness. At twenty-seven years of age she married a man of wealth and position, the Marquis de Falaiseau, who had formerly served in the army. He appears to have been a man of worth as well. Himself a Roman Catholic, as his father had been, he came of a HugueIn one respect Mme. de Falaiseau not family, a branch of which had emiwas not altogether typical of the grated to Holland. The marriage, in Frenchwomen of the emigration. She 1787, was happy. The young couple belonged, it is true, to a noble Breton divided their time between two châfamily, De Kerjean; but her mother teaux, belonging to the marquis, situwas a Portuguese, De Carvalho by ate in Orléanais, and Paris, where they name, whom her father had married at shared in the stirring life of the capital. Pondichery. He was nephew to the Two sons were born, one of whom died celebrated Dupleix, the great opponent in early infancy. Their happiness was of Lord Clive in India, who after a not immediately disturbed by the events brilliant career died in Paris in poverty which convulsed France in '88 and '89. and disgrace. M. de Kerjean had fol- It was but a short reprieve. In the lowed his uncle to Pondichery, and course of the year '90 a band of armed served with distinction under Bussy, peasants came to their château, claimDupleix's brave colleague. He shared ing admittance on the plea of searching in his uncle's good and bad fortunes, for arms, which they supposed to be and after his death returned to India to kept in readiness for a counter-revretrieve his misadventures. He died olution." The Falaiseaus were out; there, leaving his wife and three chil- but her widowed sister, Mme. du Camdren, who had remained in France, per, who was living with them, behaved amid straitened circumstances. The with great presence of mind. First she king gave a pension to Kerjean's widow hid away the family plate; then she let in acknowledgment of her husband's the men in and conciliated them by services. The family dispersed. The having a table bountifully spread for son was sent to school; the eldest them in the hall. This rather undignidaughter, to her grandmother at Brest; fied proceeding gave a wholesome diverwhile the mother and Adelaide, the sion to the "patriots"" minds, till M. coming Marquise de Falaiseau, lived in de Falaiseau, on his return, was able to a convent at Paris. Adelaide's girl-persuade them that his house was not hood was not happy. Her mother ap- an arsenal. The family, however, was pears to have been indolent, selfish, and in constant danger while remaining at cold-mannered, and to have passed her la Revandière. Therefore, they went life in vain regrets over her former to Paris, where they found their friends grandeur. The monotony of convent in a turmoil of agitation over the great life was relieved only by occasional vis- question of the day, whether to emiits to relations en province. Adelaide, grate or not. however, received what was then con- This question was a true apple of sidered a brilliant education. She discord in most families of the noseems to have early had a strong sense blesse. It divided men and women of duty and a serious turn of mind. At equally brave, honorable, and patriotic. the same time, she had the healthful M. de Broc distinguishes" l'émigration buoyancy of many strong natures, a de sûreté," which began as early as sound judgment, and great firmness of July, 1789, after the fall of the Bastille, character. Her portrait gives the im- and continued all through the Revopression of a handsome but not beauti- lution, from "l'émigration du point ful woman, whose chief attraction must d'honneur," which was an answer to the Comte d'Artois's appeal to the elector, and frequently attended the Royalists, in July, 1790, to take up arms large receptions at both courts. The in the king's cause. “L'émigration de other evenings were spent at one ansûreté," which took enormous propor- other's houses; Mme. de Falaiseau, in tions after the September massacres, her turn, giving a little supper about and carried away, it is said, two hun- once a week to twenty or thirty people. dred thousand persons, Republicans as Her husband, meanwhile, was ordered well as Royalists, bourgeois as well as to join his regiment, which was quarnobles, had for its very pardonable mo- tered in the environs. She afterwards tive the desire inherent in most men went to Mayence in search of privacy and women to keep their heads on their and quiet, and there, on July 17, gave shoulders. "L'émigration armée fût birth to a son, to whom the name of une faute," says M. de Broc; and this Charles Philippe Marie was given, the appears to be the almost unanimous Comte d'Artois and the Princesse Cunéverdict of posterity. At the time, how-gonde de Saxe being sponsors. ever, though it was coupled with an Early in August the campaign, the unpatriotic alliance with foreign powers, issue of which was to dispel all the the call to arms was irresistible to thou- foolish illusions of the émigrés, began. sands of brave men, who found it M. de Falaiseau, like hundreds of other impossible to spend their days in forced officers, appears to have served in the inaction in France while their breth-ranks. Chateaubriand, in his "Méren were preparing (they thought) for moires d'Outretombe," gives a picturan easy victory over the enemies of their king. esque description of this extraordinary army, a description that must in some measure enlist the reader's sympathy in its favor. Une armée est ordinairement composée de soldats à peu près du même âge, de la même taille, de la même force. Bien différente était la nôtre, assemblage confus d'hommes faits, de vieillards, d'enfants. M. de Falaiseau was a cool and cautious man, disposed to grave deliberation after the manner of his Huguenot ancestors. He was slow in making up his mind; but he yielded at last to the arguments of émigré friends, and determined to serve in Condé's ill-fated army. He first went to Tournay, in・・・ Cet arrière-ban, tout ridicule qu'il Belgium, whither his wife followed him shortly afterwards, with her boy Alexis, and three faithful servants, notwithstanding her mother's violent opposition. The French colony at Tournay were in the highest spirits-excepting one or two grave and far-sighted men who, like M. de Falaiseau, mourned over the incorrigible levity of their countrymen. Even the increasingly severe measures adopted against the émigrés were looked upon as the harmless vagaries of a government whose days were counted. paraissait, avait quelque chose d'honorable et de touchant, parce qu'il était animé de de la vieille monarchie, et donnait une convictions sincères; il offrait le spectacle dernière représentation d'un monde qui passait. . . . Tout cette troupe pauvre, ne recevant pas un sou des princes, faisait la guerre à ses dépens, tandis que les décrets achevaient de la dépouiller, et jetaient nos femmes et nos mères dans les cachots. M. de Falaiseau's letters to his wife tally perfectly with this account. The émigré army was a mere strag gling, disorganized rear-guard, deci mated by disease, in consequence of In February, 1792, M. de Falaiseau hunger, cold, and exhausting marches joined the army at Coblence. His wife over ground soaked by perpetual rains. passed through Brussels, Liège, and On August 2 they entered France, and, Aix-la-Chapelle, on her way to Bonn, instead of the enthusiasm they had exwhere she stayed for some time. All pected, found scarce anything but coldthose places were centres of gay French ness or hostility. The early successes society. She then went to Coblence, of the Prussian and the Austrian armies the headquarters of the princes. She were followed by the decisive victory dined both with the princes and the of the Republican army at Valmy on September 20. There was no alterna- | way robbers. They were warmly retive but a rapid retreat, fraught with ceived by an aunt of Mme. de Falaiseau danger and humiliation to the unhappy and her husband, a M. and Mme. émigrés. They were overwhelmed with Floyer, who lived in a comfortable angry reproaches by their allies for house in Portland Place. She had the having misled them as to the true state intense happiness of meeting her sister, of France. The army of the princes Mme. du Camper. was disbanded, some few thousands entering the Austrian service. There had been little and very uncertain communication between them. The situation of the émigrés became Letters from émigrés might become widely different from what it had been death sentences to the recipients; before this disastrous campaign. Pity hence all sorts of precautions — asfor the vanquished was too often extin- sumed names, secret language, and the guished by dread of the victors. One use of invisible ink. Mme. du Camcountry after another sent them beyond per, a very brave, energetic woman, its borders. In a charming article in had endangered her life in her active the Revue des Deux Mondes, "Un Agent endeavors to save her sister's property. Secret de l'Emigration," the Comte The only chance of safety for people of Melchior de Vogüé says, in noting the gentle birth was in the most perfect misfortunes of the Royalist party : quietude. The black-mailing in France. Si vous voulez être juste, cherchez la at that time was appalling. Mme. du caste et le parti sur les échafauds, où l'on Camper repeatedly had to buy off two faisait son vieux métier, de mourir en former servants of M. de Falaiseau, souriant. . . . Cherchez dans les mansardes who threatened to denounce her for de Londres et de Vienne, sur les routes keeping furniture belonging to émigrés d'Allemagne où les poteaux indicateurs relatives. People could not stir withdisaient: "Territoire interdit aux vaga-out passports. Mme. du Camper actubonds, aux mendians et aux émigrés, ally presented herself three times before partont où les pauvres proscrits vivaient the red-capped, smoking, swearing, d'humbles industries, quand ils ne mou-jeering members of the "Revolutionary raient pas de faim." Committee," to obtain one for going to England. The kindly intercession of a stranger, on a fourth and more informal interview, was successful. It often happened that the notice to quit was immediate. The sovereign of a very small German State once said to an émigré," Je vous donne vingt-quatre For a brief time Mme. de Falaiseau heures pour sortir de mes Etats." gave herself up to happiness with that Monseigneur," was the prompt reply, unreasoning reaction against sorrow "il ne me faut qu'un quart d'heure." which often follows on the strain of The Falaiseaus were at Bonn in Oc- intense and prolonged anxiety. This tober of the same year (1792). One could not last. Stern realities had to day, after dining with the elector, they be faced. If the family were not to suddenly heard that all the émigrés had remain penniless, steps must be taken received orders to leave. They set off to have their names taken off the fatal for Holland, going as far as Nimègue list of émigrés. The execution of the in their own travelling coach, and thence king, on January 21, 1793, somehow in a crowded boat to Rotterdam. After hastened their departure. They went a three days' passage across the Chan- to Abbeville, where they stayed in a nel, in rough weather, the horrors of large house, which the which were enhanced by the fear of being captured by a French vessel or betrayed by their own captain, they arrived at Harwich, and went by land to London. They were enthusiastic over the beauty of the country and its air of prosperity, but in great dread of high LIVING AGE. VOL. LXXXIII. owner had turned into an hôtel garni. It is characteristic of those terrible times and of the French nation that the inmates all had assumed names, that they were of every shade of opinion, that this strange company met every evening for music and conversation, and that every 4283 one told his or her history, and that stitution. This proved the least advenalmost all told stories in a different turous of the three journeys. sense M. de Falaiseau was obliged to leave Mme. du Camper, who had accom- France in October. He joined his fampanied them, first returned to Paris, ily at Brussels, and earned some money where she began by getting certificats by giving lessons in shorthand. The de résidence for five thousand francs. approach of the victorious French army Her courage and activity were ad- obliged them to fly again. The close of mirable. Pleading with one person, 1794 found them at the Hague, where bribing another, she ran about seeking they met a number of other émigrés, ways and means of obtaining M. de among whom were several old friends. Falaiseau's "radiation." There were By this time, it appears, they had little two rival companies who offered their else to live on than the gradual sale of good offices to the émigrés. The sum Mme. de Falaiseau's jewels, which were of forty thousand francs was the price valued by a Hague jeweller at a sum stipulated for M. de Falaiseau's "radia- scarce exceeding £200. tion." To raise it, she was obliged to By far the saddest trouble of their sell furniture. Mme. de Falaiseau came life was the perpetual anxiety on acto Paris to see her mother; but, al- count of their friends in France. The though provided with the indispensable only source of information left to them certificat de résidence, it was unsafe was the official list, published every for her to remain longer than twenty- fortnight, of those who had perished four hours. The danger to which he on the scaffold. The names of those exposed himself did not deter M. de dearest to them did not appear. They Falaiseau from frequent journeys to afterwards learned that Mme. du CamParis. Abbeville at length became un-per had very narrowly escaped the safe; and the family went to Lille, guillotine. She was denounced" and which was soon after threatened by for- put into prison, and may have owed eign troops. M. de Falaiseau deter- her deliverance to a romantic incident mined to send his wife and children which I will relate. A M. Leger, across the frontier, accompanied by a whose acquaintance she had made in faithful maid, a citoyenne de confiance, business transactions, had long disas she was called in the jargon of the played great and disinterested activity time. It was a dangerous move. Dis- in her service. He now claimed the guised in a coarse peasant dress, and release of her as his wife, while letspeaking the patois of the district as ting her know that she might safely well as she could, Mme. de Falaiseau, sign the needful papers, as he would happily, escaped the suspicion of being consider them null and void as far as an "émigrée," not without frequent their mutual relations were concerned. alarms; and, escorted by two trustwor- She signed; but may have owed her thy guides, the party arrived at Tournay liberation more to the fall of Robessafely. She had not been there long pierre than to this step. However, when an irrepressible desire to rejoin when M. Leger wished to return her her husband overcame her. Rightly or the important document," her gratitude wrongly, she fancied her presence and his devotion," to use her own would advance his interests. She again words, "prevented her doing so." donned her peasant dress, secured The marriage, soon after, proved guides, and reached Lille safely, after a happy. very narrow escape from being shot by some skirmishing troops. M. de Falai-prospect of soon being driven away seau showed little appreciation of his wife's ill-timed heroism. He sent her away a few days later in company of a poor old nun who was being persecuted for refusal to take the oath to the Con The Falaiseaus meanwhile had the from Holland as they had been from Belgium; for the French army was steadily advancing, and the Revolutionary party in Holland were eager for their arrival. The prospect was doubly trying to Mme. de Falaiseau, as she was | were often more hostile than the French expecting the birth of a third child Republicans themselves, the adherents shortly. Their slender means necessi- to the house of Orange showed great tated daily privations, aggravated by an kindness to the émigrés. unusually cold winter. Her husband found himself obliged to go to England in search of employment. Still, her courage and nerve did not fail. An admirable letter written to her husband at this time a letter almost quite free from the affectation and "gush" of the times gives a distinct impression of the writer as a good woman whose sim- to church together to render thanks, ple faith in God and deep family affections were the basis of a strong and fine character. One passage must be given in her own words: On January 21 Mme. de Falaiseau, who had kept up bravely during all this terrible time for the sake of her child, gave birth to a girl. Her joy was great. The daughter was destined to live for eighty-four years. On the same day a boy was born to the De Berghes; and three weeks afterwards both ladies went although there was some risk in ap- I feel strong enough to bear any situation, howsoever trying, without being unhappy, provided I have those I love with me. I shall feel happy in any position in which Providence may place me if I have my hus- Mme. de Falaiseau was racked with band and children and may be reunited anxiety on account of her husband, of with my mother and my nearest relatives. whom she know nothing. The fate of The émigrés were fast preparing to the émigrés, many of whom had been leave. The offer of some kind friends captured and brought to prison at Amto take the little boys with them to sterdam, while others were in hiding in England was gratefully accepted, al-different places, hung in the balance though the separation was a terrible for some time. The tide, however, trial to the poor mother. Mme. de Fa- had turned in France after the fall of laiseau's condition made it impossible Robespierre. Instead of the sentence for her to undertake a sea voyage. She of death, which was feared (on good joined her fortunes to those of a coun-grounds) by those who had borne arms trywoman, the Princesse de Berghes, against the Republic, all the émigrés, whose situation was similar, and they without distinction, were condemned determined to seek some place of safety to exile; and Hamburg was assigned in Germany. It was, however, found equally impossible for the ladies to cross the Zuyder Zee, which was only partly frozen. Consequently, they remained at Amsterdam. As there was far more danger for the men than for the women, they insisted on the men of the party leaving. M. de Berghes afterwards returned. It was with much difficulty that they found people willing to take in lodgers of so dangerous a character. Mme. de Falaiseau and her maid had to be satisfied with a damp back room, while the De Berghes family, with three children and four servants, occupied the garret of the same house. It may be mentioned that while the so-called patriots, who had imbued revolutionary ideas, as their destination. On April 13 a ship was specially appointed for them. Mme. de Falaiseau and some others begged as a favor to be sent by land. The request was granted, and they left on May 1. Mme. de Falaiseau praises the courtesy and kindness which she everywhere met from the Republican officers. M. de Falaiseau was still in England, where he put his two boys to school. He afterwards joined his wife at Hamburg. They spent the remaining years of exile there in hardship and poverty, relieved by their affection for each other, the kindness of friends, and the pleasant social intercourse which the émigrés managed to secure amid the most adverse circumstances. After a |