66 Memoirs of the Baroness de Staël-Holstein. the archangel Raphael, as the guardian of France, to a ploughman near Chartres, and of the commission which the latter was entrusted to bear to the King. The particulars are here narrated at length, and may be amusing--nay, perhaps edifying, to some credulous persons, whose faith will not be staggered by an archangel's appearing out of the usual costume, and taking upon himself the garb of THIS [VOL. 2. a country farmer, buttoned up in a long great coat, and his head covered with a high crowned hat. This masquerade is totally contrary to all ancient usage, no less than to the Horatian rule; and yet the editor of the narrative has very gravely supported the credit and propriety of the incongruities which abound in the tale by scriptural authorities, and among the rest, the apocryphal story of Tobit. MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. From the New Monthly Magazine. THE BARONESS DE STAËL-HOLSTEIN. To make her husband known, and to gain him the favour of literary men, the dispensers of fame, Madame Necker formed a literary society, which used to meet once a week at her house. Besides Thomas, Buffon, Diderot, Marmontel, Saint Lambert, and other ce ebrated writers who attended these meetings, they were honoured with the presence of the most distinguished residents of foreign courts, and among others of the Count de Creutz, the Swedish ambassador, whose mild philosophy, modest virtue, and eminent talents, every where received an equal share of esteem and admiration. HIS lady, whose literary performan- tions on the founding of Hospitals, and ces have ranked her as one of the her Thoughts on Divorce, breathe an arfirst, if not the very first, of the female dent zeal for the happiness of her fellowwriters of the age, was the daughter of creatures; and her sentiments were the celebrated minister Necker. She was always in unison with her writings. born in 1768, at Paris, where she was educated under the immediate superintendance of her parents. She had not reached her tenth year, when her father, who had acquired a considerable fortune as a partner in the house of a banker named Thellusson, and who, by some political pamphlets, particularly an eulogy of Colbert, which was crowned by the French Academy, had acquired an incipient celebrity, was appointed to the directorship of the finances of France under Lewis XVI. Her mother, Susan Curchod, who had attracted the admiration of Gibbon during his residence in Switzerland, was the daughter of a Protestant clergyman. A virtuous education and solitary studies, says Marmontel, adorned her mind with all that instruction can add to an excellent understanding. She had no fault but a too passionate attachment to literature and an unbounded desire of obtaining a great celebrity for herself and her husband. But, of all the academicians with whom Madame Necker associated, in order to strengthen her mind by the aid of their genius, she placed none upon a level with Thomus and Buffon. The former she used to call the man of the age, and the latter, the man of all ages. The veneration and attachment she felt for these two persons, bordered on adoration; she considered their authority as part of her creed. It was particularly in the school of Thomas, a school so fertile in tinsel wit and confused metaphysics. that she became a slave to that affected style which, as it is continually aiming at elevation and grandeur, conceals her a amiable mind, and fatigues, without interesting the reader. No sooner was M. Necker appointed to the management of the finances, than Madame Necker made his power serve to enlarge the exercise of her active benevolence. She contributed to the improvement of the internal regulations of the infirmaries of the metropolis, and undertook the special superintendence of hospital which she founded at her own expense, near Paris, and which became the model of foundations of that kind. All her literary productions attest her care for suffering humanity. Her Essay on too precipitate Burials, her Observa Under the guidance of such a parent. her daughter acquired with ease, that variety of knowledge which astonishes in her writings, and that brilliant superiority of style which renders then so delightful, VOL. 2.] Memoirs of the Baroness de Staël-Holstein. 67 notwithstanding a degree of affectation in conversation. She spoke little, but in which they occasionally betray. Charm- aphorisms, and with the evident intention ed with their early display, her parents to produce effect. The unhappy anxieneglected nothing to cultivate her talents. ty to become renowned, which she derived They were soon enabled to devote all from her father, and the pedantic tone their time to this object in a rural retreat. which she could not help contracting in Her father, impelled by an eager de- the society of her mother and M. Thosire to become eminent, which torment- mas, must no doubt have been disagreeed him during the whole course of his able to a man, simple and unaffected in lite, published the Account rendered to his words and actions. But it was chiefthe King of his administration; and ly the great superiority of her talents availing himself of the unexampled ap- over those of the Baron, that soon deplause with which it was received through- stroyed that happy harmony which reigns out France, demanded to be admitted among couples more equally allied in this into the privy council. In vain his re- respect. The distance was indeed imligion was urged as an obstacle. He mense. flattered himself that the fear of losing those light graces by means of which bim would overcome this religious scru- French vivacity frequently conceals a ple: he threatened to resign; but he want of intellectual resources. became the victim of his presumption. It was, however, in consequence of His resignation was accepted on the this marriage, that Necker settled again 25th of May, 1781. He retired to in France, at a time when the prodigality Switzerland, where he purchased the of his successor must necessarily have baronial estate of Copet, and he there increased his reputation. But as M. de published his work On the Administra- Calonne had attacked the veracity of his tion of the Finances. The Baron had even few of Account presented to the King, in the Alter a few years, Necker reappeared speech he pronounced at the opening of occasionally at Paris. Those of his the meeting of the Notables in 1787, friends who were really such, and not Necker sent a justification of this account the friends of his situation, visited his to Louis XVI.; and although the monhouse as they had done while he was in arch expressly desired that it might office. Count de Creutz introduced to not become known, his love of importhim the Baron de Staël Holstein, who ance and glory could not keep him from was attached to the Swedish embassy, publishing it. As soon as the king was and the latter was immediately admitted informed that his answer to the speech into Necker's society. Young and of Culonne was printed, he banished him handsome, he had the good fortune to to the distance of forty leagues from Paplease his daughter. The King of Swe- ris. The Baroness de Staël, who in den shortly after recalled Count de the month of August of the same year Creutz to place him at the head of the department of foreign affairs, in his own country, and he was succeeded by the Baron, who soon became the husband of a rich heiress who had been courted in vain by many French noblemen. His happiness, however, was not much to be envied; not that Madame de Staël was The period of this second ministerial without attractions. Her person, though reign, which on the 11th of July 1789, not handsome, was pleasing; her de- ended in a second evil, is the time when portment dignified. She was of the Madame de Staël entered the path of litmiddle size, graceful in her expressions erature. She began with some Letters and in her manners. She had much vi- on the Writings and Character of J. J. vacity in her eyes, and much acuteness in Rousseau, which met with deserved apher countenance, which seemed to height- plause. Before she had reached the age en the pointed wit of her remarks. Her of twenty, she had tried her talent in faults consisted in too great a carelessness writing three short novels, which she in dress, and an extreme desire of shining printed at Lausanne in 1795, with an had given birth to a daughter, accompanied her father in his exile. It lasted only four months. On the 25th of August, 1788, the king recalled Necker into administration immediately after he had published his work On the Importance of Religious Opinions. 68 Memoirs of the Baroness de Staël-Holstein. [VOL. 2. Essay on Fictions and a poetic Epistle her busband, they were still wearing the to Misfortune, composed during the ty- same dress in which, after the grand dinranny of Robespierre and his infamous ner, during which no one had suspected coadjutors; the whole under the title of their agitation, they had silently quitted a Collection of detached Pieces. In one France, their home, and their friends. of these novels, called Mirza, Madaine Necker set off from Brussels accompade Staël appears to have anticipated the nied only by the Baron de Staël, to go plan which the African Society of London to Basle through Germany. Madame is now endeavouring to realize. She Necker and the Baroness de Staël folmakes a traveller in Senegal relate that lowed. They were overtaken at Franc"the governor had induced a negro fa- fort by letters from the king and the mily to settle at the distance of a few national assembly, which recalled Necker leagues, in order to establish a planta- for a third time into administration. As tion similar to those of St. Domingo; soon as Madame de Staël and her mother hoping, no doubt that such an example had joined him at Basle, he resolved to would excite the Africans to raise sugar, return to France. This journey from and that a free trade with this commo- Basle to Paris was the most interesting dity in their own country would leave moment of Madame de Staël's life. no inducement to Europeans to snatch Her father was as it were borne in them from their native soil,in order to sub- triumph, and she anticipated for the ject them to the dreadful yoke of slavery." future none but happy days. This publication was followed by her But these deceitful hopes soon vanishEssays on Fictions, in which she has en- ed. During the fifteen months of his deavoured to prove, that novels, which being in office for the last time, Necker should give a sagacious, eloquent, pro- was constantly involved in a fruitless found, and moral picture of real life, struggle in behalf of the executive power, would be the most useful of all kinds of and as he saw no prospect of being fictions. The imitation of truth con- useful, he retired to his estates at Copet stantly produces greater effects than are towards the end of 1790. Madame de produced by supernatural means. She Staël shortly after followed him thither. disapproves of novels founded upon She returned to Paris in the first months historical acts. She pleads for natural of 1791, and took perhaps a more lively fictions, and wishes to see the gift of concern in the political events of the day exciting emotions applied to the pas- than became the wife of a foreign amsions of all ages-to the duties of all bassador. It has even been asserted, situations. But she was not long per- that, moved by the misfortunes with mitted to enjoy her first literary suc- which Louis XVI. was threatened, she cesses in peace. The crisis of the re- formed the project of saving him by volution, which embittered her life, was fast approaching. affording him a secret retreat at an estate of the Duke of Orleans in NormanOn the 11th of July, 1789, her father dy, which was then to be disposed of; was going to sit down to table with se- but the king preferred to entrust himself veral guests, when the secretary of state to Count de Fersen, and took the road for the naval department came to him, to Montmedia. She has also been retook him aside, and delivered to him a proached for her intimacy with Talleyletter from the king, which commanded rand, Noailles, the Lameths, Barnave, him to resign and to quit the French Count Louis de Narbonne, Verginaud, territory in silence. Madame Necker, and other distinguished members of the whose health was rather precarious, did constituent and first legislative assemblies; not take with her any domestic, nor any and it has been said that she accompanied change of apparel, that their departure Count Narbonne on his circuit to inspect might not be suspected. They made the fortresses of the frontiers, immediuse of the carriage in which they gene- ately after his having been called to the rally took a ride in the evening, and head of the war department towards the hastened onwards night and day to Brus- end of 1791. Be this as it may, it is cersels. When the Baroness de Staël tain that she continued at Paris with her joined them three days afterwards with husband till the reign of terror. It was VOL. 2.] Memoirs of the Baroness de Staël-Holstein. 69 not till 1793 that she fled with him to work has been acknowledged alike in Copet, and thence came to England, France, in England, and in Germany. It where she resided several months. They abounds in interesting remarks, and views did not return to France till the year 1795, many objects in a novel and striking after the Duke of Sudermania, regent of manner. Its style is elegant throughout, the kingdom of Sweden, during the mi- and but very rarely obscure. It was nority of the unfortunate Gustavus Adol- translated into English in 1798. phus IV., had appointed Baron de Staël his ambassador to the French Republic. It was also nearly about this time that Madame de Staël published her Thoughts on Peace, addressed to Mr. Pilt and the French People,to which Sir F. d'Ivernois replied by his Thoughts on War. In Madame de Staël was with her father at Copet when the French troops entered Switzerland. By one of the decrees passed during the reign of terror, Necker, although an alien, had been placed on the list of emigrants, and any one whose name was on that fatal list was to be It is possible that, born with a lively condemned to death if found on a terridisposition, and anxiously wishing for tory occupied by the French armies. But the return of order and tranquillity, Ma- the French generals shewed him the dame de Staël frequently exerted all her most respectful regard, and the Directory eloquence to animate her friends in those afterwards erased his name from the list. disastrous times, to put an end to troubles This moderation induced Madame de that were continually renewed. Staël to repair once more to her husband 1795, Legendre, that Parisian butcher, in France. But at the end of a few who was the friend of Marat, Danton, months, weary of the various persecuand Robespierre, declaimed more than tions to which she was unceasingly exonce against her as being at the head of posed, she hastened back to her father, the intrigues that had a tendency to mo- upbraiding herself for being unable to live deration. She says somewhere in her like him in solitude,and to exist without that work on literature: "If, to heighten her competition of thoughts and glory which misfortune, it were in the midst of po- doubles our existence and our powers. litical dissensions that a female should acquire a remarkable celebrity, her influence would be supposed unbounded, though null in reality; she would be accused of the deeds of her friends; she would be hated for whatever is dear to her, and the defenceless objects would be attacked in preference to those who ought yet to be feared:" and it was her own experience which suggested these expressions, Madame de Staël had felt what she complains of; during the internal dissensions of France she was crushed by all parties, astonished to find her an interested bystander during the conflict of their passions. In 1798 the declining health of Baron de Staël again called his wife to Paris, where he expired in her arms. About this time she published a work On the Influence of Revolutions upon Literature; and a dramatic piece of her composition entitled, The Secret Sentiment. After the death of her husband she spent the greatest part of her time with her father at Copet and Lausanne. In 1800, when Buonaparte passed through Geneva, he had the curiosity to visit Necker at Copet, where Madame de Staël happened to be with her father. The interview was not long, but it has been reported that Madame de Staël reThe last illness of her mother recalled quested a private audience, during which her to Copet. To assuage her grief for she spoke to the First Consul of the the loss of a parent, and to repel the powerful means which his situation afmalicious attacks to which she was ex- forded him to provide for the happiness posed for opinions which were not hers, of France; and made an eloquent disMadame de Staël composed at Lau- play of some plans of her own, which sanne the first part of a philosophical she thought particularly calculated to acessay On the Influence of the Passions complish this object. Buonaparte apupon the Happiness of Individuals and peared to give her an attentive hearing: Nations, which she published at Paris in but when she had done speaking he sar1796, and of which she printed the sec- castically asked :-" Who educates your ond part in 1797. The merit of this children, madam?" ་ 70 eagerness. Memoirs of the Baroness de Staël-Holstein. [VOL. 2. Madame de Staël, now determined to travel, visited Italy. To this journey It was chiefly in Switzerland that Ma- father at Geneva, on the 9th of April, dame de Staël wrote the novel called 1804. Soon after this event she selected Delphine, which was printed at Geneva the most interesting of his papers, and in 1812. The moral object of this novel published them at Geneva in 1804, with has been equally censured in France, a short account of his character and priEngland and Germany; and yet it has vate life, under the title of Manuscripts been read every where with the same of Mr. Necker; published by his Daughter. She took care to insert in Madame de Staël could not habituate them a compliment paid to the character herself to live in a country of which she of Buonaparte. But this flattery prowas not a native, and where sciences are duced no alteration in the disposition of much more cultivated than literature, the First Consul towards Madame de Her father perceived her struggles be- Staël. The sentence of her banishment tween her predilection for the bril- was not revoked, and the novel of Corinliant societies of Paris and the sorrow na, which appeared soon after his elevashe felt at the idea of leaving him, and en- tion to the imperial throne, rendered it couraged her partiality for France. Ac- irrevocable. tuated probably by the secret desire of shining at the court of the First Consul, or at least of collecting in the French the world is indebted for Corinna or metropolis the meed of praise due to her Italy, which is considered as the most literary successes, she easily yielded to splendid monument of the taste, erudithe persuasions of her father, and re-ap- tion, lively sensibility, and ardent imagi peared at Paris in 1803. But her resi- nation of its author. dence in that city was not of long duration. Whether the activity of her superior genius was still feared, or she had ventured too sarcastic observations upon the events of the day, or whether the First Consul had so little generosity as to revenge himself on the daughter for a work published against the consular government by the father, Buonaparte soon pronounced against her a sentence of an editor, and published two volumes of banishment to the distance of forty leagues from Paris; and it has been reported that Madame de Staël had the firmness to say to him: "You are giving me a cruel celebrity; I shall occupy a line in your history.' After the completion of this work Madame de Staël resided some time at Jena, where in the society of some of the most eminent scholars she devoted her attention to the study of the literature, philosophy, and manners of Germany, with a view to qualify herself to exhibit a picture of them to her countrymen. Meanwhile she undertook the modest office of Letters and Reflections of the Prince de Ligne, which were translated into English by Mr. D. Boileau. Driven from Germany by the military operations in 1813, Madame de Staël repaired to Sweden, and at Stockholm formed a close inMadame de Staël at first retired to timacy with the Crown Prince, BernaAuxerre; but not meeting with suitable dotte, to whom she dedicated in a very society, she removed to Rouen. As this flattering style an Essay on Suicide. The city is only thirty-two leagues from Pa- result of her observations on Germany ris, she fancied she might draw a little had meanwhile been printed at Paris unnearer to the metropolis, and took a der the title of De l'Allemagne, in three house in the valley of Montmorency; but 8vo. volumes, but the whole edition was the French government ordered her to destroyed by command of Buonaparte. withdraw within the limits assigned in As England now offered the only market the sentence of her exile. She then set where she was likely to obtain a suitable out attended by her eldest daughter and remuneration for her labour, the author accompanied by M. Benjamin Constant, passed from Sweden to this country. for Francfort, and thence proceeded to Here she is said to have received upBerlin, where she formed the plan of her wards of 2,0001. for her work, and it acwork on Germany. From that capital cordingly appeared during her residence she was summoned by the death of her in London in French and English. The |