RESPECT OF PERSONS IN THE WORLD TO COME.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPROTATOR."]
Sin,—In the Spectator of April 19th, a correspondent, noticing your allusion to a French nobleman's observation upon the above subject, refers you to Carlyle as having, on the authority -of Dulaure, attributed the words cited to a "lady Marechale." They were not spoken by a marechale at all, but by Madame Thianges, a sister of Madame de Montespam, as remarkable as the latter for her wit. Like the young man whom David -Copperfleld met at Mr. Spenlow's, she had withal the pro- foundest faith in blood. Hence it came that, being present when the possible outlook of a dissipated French Prince, then recently deceased, was being discussed, she demurred to the more serious view of his case entertained by the company. The Prince's life, she would admit, had been too possibly irregular; " cependant ii faut tout attendre de la misericorde divine, principalement k regard d'un personnage de sa qualite; je anis persuadee que lorsqu'il s'agit de prononcer l'arret d'une personne de si haute extraction, Dieu, s'il faut la condamner, y regarde l deux fois." See the foot-note in Anquetil, "Louis XIV., sa Cour, et le Regent," Vol. I., p. 142. 'Re mentions that a modern writer has told the story "sons le nom d'une marechale." He may mean Dulaure, who lived
Previous page
