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    304 MADAME RECAMIER.

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    » News Ojste Day To His In Wife The Autu...

    emptiness . I am between Eome and Lyons : it appears to me that I am completely taken out of my own existence . "

    During the great heat of summer , Madame _Recamier retired to Albanowhere Canova had apartmentsthe best part of which he

    , , placed at her disposal , and here , with her little niece , she passed a tranquil and happy time , enjoying to the full the enchantment of

    the season and the place , while every Sunday the Signora Francese played the organ in the parish church for mass and vespers .

    One incident of her stay at Albano left a painful impression in the midst of an otherwise calm and pleasant remembrance . A poor

    fisherman was condemned to death for supposed treasonable correspondence , and not knowing Madame Recamier ' s position with the

    Government , her intercession was sought . In spite of the hopelessness of her appeal she did her utmost , and pleaded hard with the

    French authorities ; but in vain ; she only received for answer that a person herself exiled had better not attempt to stop the course

    of justice . But we must pass over Madame Recamier ' s return to Homewhere she met many friends , old and newand follow her to

    , , _Naples , whither she proceeded in the December of 1813 . On the journey , which she made in company with some English

    acquaintance , a mistake about post-horses occurred , by which they profited at the expense of some important traveller , so important as to be

    highly indignant at the presumption and impertinence which had dared to inconvenience him . A loud and angry voice was heard

    declaiming against " these insolent people who have robbed me of my horses . " Madame Recamier , recognising _Fouche's voice , came

    forward laughing , and said , "It is I , M . le Due . " Without appearing to notice the embarrassment which her appearance caused himshe

    , entered into conversation with him , and discussed the aspect of political affairs with provoking composure . With some irritation ,

    he recommended her to be prudent as to what she did , and concluded by saying , " Remember , Madame , one should be yielding

    when one is weak ; " " And one should be just when one is strong , " was the reply .

    Madame Recaniier had some hesitation as to how far her presence at Naples would be welcome to her old acquaintance , the

    Queen ; but she was assured that she might count on a friendly receptionand she found one which was even more than friendly ; so

    , constant , so kind , and so flattering were the attentions lavished on her by Caroline Murat . It was at an important crisis for the fate

    of Naples that Madame Recamier arrived there . Murat was still in doubt how far he should cling to his brother-in-law , in spite of the

    23 ressing offers of Austria and England , and both he and his wife _ajDpealed to her for advice and support . As usual , she _sjooke with

    honesty and disinterestedness , and lost nothing in the regard of the king and queenalthough she spoke in vain .

    , During the absence of Joachim and the regency of the Queen ,

    Madame Recamier had the great happiness of interceding for , and

    304 Madame Recamier.

    304 MADAME RECAMIER .

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Jan. 1, 1861, page 304, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01011861/page/16/