The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 02 (of 12)Hazlitt, William
General
The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 02 (of 12)
Hazlitt, William
English essays -- 19th century
_27th._—Mr —— at Debrett’s, wished the Orange men of Ireland might raise
another rebellion, and be all cut off and totally destroyed. Such is the
miserably vicious state of the minds of the two opposite parties.
Nothing will satisfy either, but the extirpation and blood of their
opponents. Dined with Mr F——. A Mrs. Remorande came to consult him on
law business. Her husband, an Irish officer, in the French service, was
guillotined by Robespierre; and she, finding means to secrete five
hundred pounds, remitted the money to England. The person afterwards
refused payment. She employed an attorney, and was told by another, one
M——, the first intended to cheat her; and prevailed on her to let him
continue the suit. She complied, and he soon obtained the money; but
instead of receiving it, as she expected, an information was laid
against her, and she was taken on suspicion before the Duke of Portland.
Her story being heard, the villainous artifice of M—— was seen through,
and she was released. He used fresh endeavours, and she was taken before
the Westminster justices; but again set free. M—— had given
instructions, in his own hand-writing, to his servant, how to proceed in
accusing her. These were obtained: he was prosecuted, and promised, if
they would stop proceedings, the money should be repaid. Her counsel
incautiously took his word; and as it was a criminal prosecution, when
it was dropped, he was no longer in danger, and mocked their credulity.
He was arrested, however, for the debt, and put in the Fleet prison,
where he now lies. This woman’s story in France was still more
remarkable. The outlines of it were these. The papers announcing her
husband’s death had arrived, and the tragedy was generally known to the
inhabitants of St. Omer’s, but not to her. The people around her were
afraid to tell her of it. She is a woman of quick faculties, observed
something remarkably unusual, gloomy, and strange in their countenances,
and could not conceive the reason. One of them advised her to go to the
play, because she was in need of amusement. This ridiculous advice she
innocently followed; and her acquaintance at the play were so astonished
at the indecency of such conduct, that she came away uncommonly agitated
by behaviour she thought so affronting. Still she found the same
mournful faces, and at last conjured some of them in God’s name, to tell
her what was the matter. One advised her, if she had any property, to
secure it, for she was in danger. This alarmed her suspicions concerning
the true cause, and they were confirmed by another, who answered her
next question, by replying, “_il est parti_, he is gone.” The famous
tyrant, Le Bon, soon afterward came to Saint Omer’s. Her person was
seized; her property confiscated; her two children were torn from her;
and she was ordered to prison. In the delirium of her distress, she
braved this demon, called him _Scelerat_, and said, though he aimed at
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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