Can it inftantly repoffefs itself of thefe feelings and inclinations, which every attempt had been made to eradicate?--When in earliest fpring, you have killed the root, will you call for the luxuriance of a Summer's fhade? In all other fituations of life, the force of habit and education is admitted-No perfon in Paris marrying a girl, who, from her infancy, has been bred at St. Cyr, expects to find at once the manners and principles of a finifhed precieufe; as reafonably might the beau at Pekin require, that the maid, who, to attain one fpecies of beauty, has been cramped and crippled from her cradle, fhould dance at her marriage, with the activity of a Chinese Heinel ---From thofe only who are born to royalty, are fuch inconfiftencies required-We are readily fuffered to confider ourfelves as creatures of a political relation and importance, till it is the intereft of the ftate to portion us into exile-But is the Queen to be still more infignificant than the Princess? Is the policy of her marriage the only ftate bufinefs the is capable of underftanding? Was the negociation for her affection the laft fhe is to be confulted in? Is The to be related to the empire on whofe throne fhe fits, only by the alliance the has given it? And, in fhort, to be made ufe of in the grand political engine, as the pivot on which nations are united and brought into Co-ope co-operation, yet in the working of it, to be denied the credit of being a part of the machine? I wish thofe, who are so defirous of feeing fuch a prodigy of domestic majesty, would alfo draw out the plan on which fo amiable a scheme is to be carried into execution-I confefs myself, that I have no very accurate ideas of a Paris Penelope- Perhaps, to give the true dignity to fuch a state, they would have the whole business of domeftic felicity and conjugal tenderness, between a royal Pair, conducted with the fame ceremony with which the alliance commenced. And, really, it would be an injuftice, that they, whofe obedient affections were won by : proxy and embaffies, fhould be put to the fatigue of fupporting the tender connection without fimilar interferences. On this plan, a due dignity might still be preferved-the form of demanding an audience fhould precede each familiar vifit; and no private conference fhould ever degenerate into a tête à têteBillet-deux embafies might be frequent, through which the foft intercourse of fighs and compliments might be carried on with a fuitable decorum---Exclufive treaties, with regard to fmiles and the doux yeux, would be adjusted by a pacte de famille; and, though no appearance of favouritifin, fhould exilt, yet the fovereign might be permitted to kis bands, on being prejented---with an heir-- It . It would be unpolite to require the con ftancy of either to be guarranteed---However, on the absence of the monarch, he might appoint a refident, with limited powers, or to act only as Chargè des affaires. Excufe my writing with fuch levity: but there is a ridicule in the injustice of all arguments against the privileges of our fex, of whatever rank, which makes it impoffible to anfwer them with fericufness. ---In short, I have confidered what pursuits are best calculated to give fatisfaction to my own mind.---I feel no real delight in the elegant diffipations of a court, though I affect to lead them. The admiration I receive is too much chastized by respect to situation, to Alatter mere female vanity; the gratifying which is the only true inducement to be graceful or amiable.-------To deter me from the purfuit of politics, or a defire of governing, let fuch dull moralifts as the Bishop quote the Salic law, and all the common place inferences which ungallant policy has drawn from it.---On a true female fpirit it must act rather as an inducement.---It would be impious in any of us to pretend that the Original Interdiction would have operated otherwife on our minds BorM minds than it did on our first parents: and had Eve partaken of a throne in a country like France, the mere provocation of the Salic Law would have prevented her knowing reft till the had acquired a fhare in the government.--- MARIE, TO MONSIEUR DE SARTINE Friday Night, half after ten. MY DEAREST LOVE, Y O U will certainly rob the world of your life, and of courfe of mine, if you continue to study politics at night as well as day; at least, I shall be jealous of the Queen or Madam Sartine; I have made a pleafant little party, for to-morrow night at my villa. The Duke of Chartres and Count D'Artois have promised me to come, and I have just fent to invite Prince Naffau, and Marquis de Genlis.---The beautiful D'Ervieux, Madammoiselle Michelot, and a world of wit and beauty.---They are to be with me at twelve ---but can't you contrive to come a quarter of an hour before 2---Don't disappoint me--Adieu |