Prison Journals During the French RevolutionDuras, Louise Henriette Charlotte Philippine (de Noailles) de Durfort, duchesse de
History
Prison Journals During the French Revolution
Duras, Louise Henriette Charlotte Philippine (de Noailles) de Durfort, duchesse de
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Personal narratives
This friend whom Father Carrichon met was Father Brun, Priest of the
Oratory, jointly with whom I had charge, at Juilly, of the Hall of
the _Minimes_ (the youngest pupils of the College), among whom were
Messieurs Alexis and Alfred de Noailles. I had informed Monsieur Brun
on the same day as Monsieur Carrichon (July 22, 1794) of our
anxieties and our desires for Mesdames de Noailles. These two friends
met in the Rue de Faubourg St. Antoine, accompanied the victims, gave
them their blessing, and did not withdraw until after the completion
of the final sacrifice.--_Note by Monsieur Grelet_.
LETTER FROM MADAME LA DUCHESSE
DE DURAS, Née NOAILLES,
TO MONSIEUR GRELET.
Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart,
all ye that hope in the Lord.--Ps. xxxi. 24.
How much you need to apply these sacred words to yourself in the trying
situation in which Providence has placed you! We have already tested
your courage in a most wonderful way; it will not fail you, because it
rests on the law of God, and in him alone you have put your trust. What
would the father and mother of these unfortunate children feel if you
should abandon them? But what am I saying? They will deserve the
continuation of your tender cares on account of their sweetness and
perfect obedience. I love to believe that they will inherit some of the
virtues of the angel whom we mourn. That lovely mother opened her pure
heart to you; you should inculcate in her children all that she valued,
all that she felt. She regarded you as their brother, and treated you
as such. It is as a sister, and also one who shared her confidence,
that I am now speaking to you; for I am not sure of having an
opportunity of telling you with my lips all I think. If Heaven spares
my life it will be a precious moment to me (who could imagine one more
so?) when I find myself once more with you and them, talking together
of our dear lost ones, and encouraging one another to profit by their
admirable examples. We will say to them, 'Be Christians and you will be
faithful to every duty; study human sciences, because they will help
you to be useful to humanity; but above all, and before everything
else, be good.'
I think it is necessary that they should know perfectly well how to
calculate, etc.
I have given up everything; I have ceased to think of anything earthly,
and keep my mind fixed upon heaven. I must close. I am, perhaps,
speaking to you for the last time. I know not what Providence has in
store for me; but whatever it may be I shall never cease to remember
the debt I owe you, which can only be equalled by my confidence in you.
EXTRACT FROM THE 'MÉMORIAL EUROPÉEN,' APRIL 24, 1809.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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