Memoirs of Mirabeau (Volume 2); Biographical, Literary, and Political (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1835. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... BOOK VIII. By his wife Mirabeau had a son, whose features, character, and surprising faculties are equally extolled in the letters we possess. That child died October 8th 1778, the day on which it had attained its fifth year. That the father loved it tenderly, the letters from Vincennes furnish abundant proof; for parental affection was one of the finest virtues of that great mind, whose natural tenderness had been greatly increased by misfortune. Sophie herself bears witness to it; and we may conceive how much the situation in which both the lovers were placed at the time of the effusions to which she refers, adds weight to a testimony so honourable to both. "O my friend we are then no longer in possession of our child, for I considered your son as mine. With what pleasure would I have been a mother to him I but too plainly perceive your grief, though you attempt to disguise it. I know but too well how much you loved him; I remember how tenderly you spoke of him in the days of our happiness" " See particularly vol. i. p. 14; vol. ii. pp. 115, 379; vol. iii. pp. 219, 237; vol. iv. p. 329. See also Statements concerning Pontarlier; Lettres de Cachet, vol. ii. p. 99; Papers from Provence, &c. The death of this child plunged the family into deep dejection. "I write you only a line, my dear brother, but a most distressing one. Your house is annihilated by the death of our poor child. Victor died the day before yesterday (the 8th), this being the day on which he had attained his fifth year. God gave him to us, and God has taken him away. For some time past, God has made me feel his great mercy by granting me resignation to his will t." "I am informed,"replied the Marquis, "of the death of our child, the last hope of our race. I have hitherto thought I inheri...