Memoir of the Duchess of Orleans

Front matter

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Part I. Memoir, By The Maequess De H

PAGE I.

Birth of the princess Helen — Death of her mother — Marriage of her father to the princess Augusta of Hamburg — Development of the princess' heart and mind — Death of a young friend — Presentation to the court of Weimar — Confirmation in 1830 — Death of her brother Prince Albert 9

Failure of the health of the duchess— Sojourn at Plombi&res— Sudden death of the duke of Orleans 43

V. Hope of the duchess in God — Letters 57

YI.

Kevolution of the 24th of February — Escape from France 70

YIL Letters from Eisenach and elsewhere — Sojourn in England — ^Death of Louis Philippe and the queen of the Belgians — Kesideuce at Kitley. 92

YIIL

Eesidence at Thames-Ditton— Letters— Illness of the duchess 126

Last will and testament of the duchess 148

CONTENTS.

Part II

BIOGBAPHICAL SOUVENIKS AND OKIGINAL LETTERS COL- LECTED BY PEOF. G. H. DE SCHUBERT.

PAGE I.

The way of life— Birth of the princess, January 24, 1814— Death of her mother, February 20, 1816— Gelations of the author with the grand duke's family 151

II.

The vine stock in the garden — The new mother — Letter of the princess at nine years of age 157

III.

The happy inspiration— Character of Helen— Her first friend 164

IV.

Friedensburg — Retired life of the grand duchess — M. Eennecke, preceptor to the princess — Order of the day and daily tasks — Method of education — Maternal solicitude — Mademoiselle Nancy Solomon — Circle of Friedensburg — Harmony of views — Letters from the period of childhood—Journey of Prince Albert, and sojourn in Switzerland— A poem 168

V.

Joy and sorrow— Death of Ida de Bassewitz— Confirmation— Poems of her early youth 187

VI

A new school of life— Letter from Friedensburg— Journey into Switzerland and return into her country — Four new letters 191

VIL Shadows and lights— Illness of the gi-and duchess— Sojourn at the baths of Tceplitz— King Frederick William III. of Prussia— Intellectual pleasures at Dresden and Jena — Precursory symptoms of a change of fortune — Disquietade with regard to the life of Prince Albert— Last letter from the prince (1833)— His illness at Ludwigslust— His death (October 18, 1834) — ^Letter from his sister 207

CONTENTS. 7

PAGE

VIII

Life a dream — New future — Visit of the duke of Orleans at Berlin — Illness of the princess — Opposition to the marriage — Departure from Mecklenburg — Arrival in France 224

IX

First interview — Marriage — Impression that the new duchess produced., . . 231

X

Louis Philippe in the family circle — Sketch of the king's youth — The July revolution — Members of his family 240

XL New life of the family — Circle of Neuilly — Family fetes — Happiness and humility , 243

XII

Letter written in a garden — Souvenir to the address of an old friend 253

XIIL The voice of filial gratitude — Eeturn of the grand duchess from Mecklenburg to Ludwigslust— First letter of the duchess of Orleans to her mother (1837)— Family life at the court of France 257

XIV

Birth of the count de Paris (August 24, 1838)— Letters from the duchess to her mother and the author — Joy of the royal family — Departure of the duke of Orleans for Algiers (1839)— The duchess accompanies him to the place of his embarkment — Sympathy of the Protestants — Tolerance of Louis Philippe— Letters from the duchess (1840)— Birth of the duke de Chartres (November 9, 1840) 268

XV

Enigma of the present life — ^A year of trials (1842)— Death of the brother of the duchess (March 7)— The duke of Orleans accompanies the duchess to Plombi^res— Death of the duke (July 13, 1842)— Letter to the grand duchess, written before the catastrophe — The arrival at Plombi^res — Grief of the duchess— Letter to her mother — General sympathy — Letter written from Eu to the author 289

XVI

Day Dawns— Letter to her mother, dated Dreus (1843)— Christmas festival — Anniversary of the duke's death (1844) — The new year of 1845 — Extracts from various letters written to the grand duchess 300 b CONTENTS.

PAGE

XVII

Progress of outward life— Affection of the people for the duchess — Consolations in her children — Taried relations — Yisit of Mademoiselle Eantzau — Letters written in 1846 and 1848— Solicitude of the duchess in the education of her children 309

SVIII.

The February revolution and its consequences — The 24th of February — Flight from Paris — Short stay at the waters of Ems — Letter to the aw thor — Arrival at Eisenach 882

XIX

Information derived from the best source — Eespect of the Parisian people for the exiled duchess —Visits— Maternal joys — Voyage to England and confirmation of the count de Paris (1850) — Death of Louis Philippe — Profound retirement and inward peace (1851) — Gratitude in the midst of trial 840