to a gentleman who was her distant relation:  yet, far from adopting the immoral principles not unjustly ascribed to your country, she conducted herself with a prudence and reserve, which even in France made her an object of general respect.  About three years after her husband’s departure the revolution took place, and not returning, he was of course put on the list of emigrants.  In 1792, when the law passed which sanctioned and facilitated divorces, her friends all earnestly persuaded her to avail herself of it, but she could not be prevailed upon to consider the step as justifiable; for though Monsieur de St. E__m__d neglected her, he had, in other respects, treated her with generosity and kindness.  She, therefore, persisted in her refusal, and her lover, in despair, joined the republican army.

At the general arrest of the Noblesse, Madame de St. E__m__d and her sisters were confined in the town where they resided, but their father was sent to Paris; and a letter from one of his female relations, who had emigrated, being found among his papers, he was executed without being able to see or write to his children.  Madame de St. E__m__d’s husband had returned about the same time to France, in the disguise of a post-boy, was discovered, and shared the same fate.  These events reached her love, still at the army, but it was impossible for him to quit his post, and in a few days after, being mortally wounded, he died,* recommending Eugenie de St. E__m__d to the protection of his father.—­

* This young man, who died gallantly fighting in the cause of the republic, was no republican:  but this does not render the murder of his father, a deaf [There were people both deaf and dumb in the prisons as conspirators.] and inoffensive man, less abominable.—­The case of General Moreau’s father, though somewhat similar, is yet more characteristic of the revolution.  Mons. Moreau was persuaded, by a man who had some interest in the business, to pay a debt which he owed an emigrant, to an individual, instead of paying it, as the law directed, to the use of the republic.  The same man afterwards denounced him, and he was thrown into prison.  At nine o’clock on the night preceding his trial, his act of accusation was brought him, and before he had time to sketch out a few lines for his defence, the light by which he wrote was taken away.  In the morning he was tried, the man who had informed against him sitting as one of his judges, and he was condemned and executed the very day on which his son took the Fort de l’Ecluse!—­Mons. Moreau had four sons, besides the General in the army, and two daughters, all left destitute by the confiscation of his property.

—­A brother officer, who engaged to execute this commission, wrote immediately to the old man, to inform him of his loss, and of his son’s last request.  It was too late, the father having been arrested on suspicion, and afterwards guillotined, with many other persons, for a pretended conspiracy in prison, the very day on which his son had fallen in the performance of an act of uncommon bravery.