Well may the learned barrister close his account of this festival with
the remark--that the life of the Dame Lebrun was a continued series of
amusements; and this cruel husband, when he was not the object or the
cause of her pleasures, was at least made the confidant of them all. As
a proof of this confidence, a history is given of certain proceedings in
the ninth year of their marriage, in which it will be seen that the
Bacchus of the divertisement is not kept entirely in the background. In
the month of February, in 1769, she paid a visit to Havre to see the
sea. To show the terms they were on, it would be necessary to quote the
letters of the Dame Lebrun at full length. It will be seen how
unreservedly she entered into the pleasures of the place, and how
minutely she recorded them all to a man, whom she well knew that her
descriptions would enable to share them as if he had been at her side.
But in the absence of the entire correspondence, which it would be
tedious to transcribe, we content ourselves with copying out the
passages, where the friendship and intimacy that then united the husband
and wife are most strongly marked.
"We arrived in perfect health, my dear friend, on Tuesday, at two
o'clock. I trust you also are flourishing. Take care of yourself, and
write me how you are. M. and Madame Grimod, as also M. Sieuve, charge me
with a thousand messages. M. Grimod insists on your coming as soon as
possible, that you may see the sea. I also wish you could see it. In
looking at it, I have often thought on the effect it would have on you;
and I should be delighted if you could enjoy the prospect along with me.
I tell you I now eat fish as you do. This very day I have eaten a dozen
oysters, a bit of skate, some smelts, and some fresh cod--I think I
shall finish by devouring all the fish in the sea. I wish I could send
you some of the oysters of this place: they are as large as your hat.
Adieu, my dear friend; I embrace you from my heart. I have told you all
I have seen, and I will tell you all that may occur worth talking of
when I arrive. _Friendly regards to Julia. I hope to find her in good
health, and that she has taken care of yours._"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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