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le, you should have seen how she listened; not atter, and yet she seemed to be speaking, so much her flexible features display. Her eyes eagerly joks and motions of those who spoke, as if to seize they were uttered. She took an interest in all en on political subjects, which at this time were of conversation.

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than inner, ne more company; and every one, on approachesume Necker, had a word to say to her daughter of

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exciting that little imagination, already so brilliant.' Extrabry treatment this, it will be agreed, of a little being already Simful of sensibility, that 'the praise of her parents would fill eyes with tears, and the mere sight of a person of celebrity use her heart to palpitate!' But M. and Madame Necker, though evoted parents after their respective fashions, seem to have been little prudent as they were of one mind in respect to their aughter's upbringing. The mother is everywhere described as noble-minded woman, of fine understanding, and accomplished, hough somewhat formal manners. The daughter of a Protestant clergyman in the canton of Bern, she had herself been so carefully trained, and had acquired so much by profound study. that she had unfortunately, become convinced that there was nothing in natural bent, and everything in a proper method. In the last degree true to her principles, she studied herself, society. individuals, the art of writing, of housekeeping, and above all, that of preserving the purity of her principles; then reduced all these to system, and from this system deduced precise rules for the regula tion of her conduct. No great wonder, then, that, as Madame de Saussure allows, 'there was a stiffness in her and near her,' and that her daughter should have respected rather than loved her.

The father, on the other hand, though full of benevolence and practical wisdom in general, appears to have been somewhat selfindulgent as a family man, and even slightly capricious towards his model-consort. She is said to have possessed his love, confidence, and admiration in a high degree; but we suspect a less pretending woman might have suited and pleased him in a yet higher degree. Indeed, he confided to Madame de Saussure one day, that the only fault he had to Madame Necker was her faultlessness 'that there was nothing to pardon in her.' He was solemn and reserved in society, perhaps as much from caution as profundity: was probably tired of being always wise, and would, not unnatu rally, have preferred unbending and being amused rather than edified in the leisure of his home. Instead, therefore, of shewing an ardent interest in the ingenious speculations of his accomplished better-half, he rather discouraged her zeal; actually prohibited her from spending her time in composition; would not allow her to have a writing-table in the room, in case he might at any time

be annoyed by the fear of interrupting her; took a mischiev、 pleasure in thwarting her in the education of her daughter; and, short, shewed himself to be quite as selfish and intolerant as the most ignorant and narrow minded of men.

But from the first, there seems to have been an affinity even stronger than is usual between the father and daughter. As a child, he adored her, could not bear her to be out of his sight, or to have her contradicted; was perpetually caressing her, joking with her, and encouraging her in her wildest sallies; and afterwards took the deepest interest in her growing powers, considering her throughout his life as th women. And her love for him was manifested equary early. It seemed to grow with her growth, assumed the evervarying tints of her ardent temperament and brilliant genius, and may be said to have been the ruling passion of her entire existence.

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Our Gibbon, the historian, had an attachment to Madame Necker" in her girlhood, and proposed to marry her, but broke off the match. We hear of him afterwards as a constant visitor and cherished friend of the Necker family in Paris, Mr Carlyle, in his History of the French Revolution, accounts for the marriage not going forward, by a supposition that his father most probably kept his own gig, and so would not hear of such a union;' and he humorously pictures the future Madame de Staël as romping about the knees of the Decline and Fall-Necker not jealous.' Whether she ever romped, however, seems to be doubtful. She is said to have had a premature youth instead of infancy; and, indeed, the only childish trait recorded of her, is in a proposal she gravely made to her mother at the age of ten, that she should marry Mr Gibbon for the purpose of securing to her parents the gratification of his society!

In accordance with her mother's system of education, she studied assiduously from her earliest days. She not only listened to literary and political conversations, and witnessed theatrical exhibitions of all kinds before entering her teens, but had even then begun to exercise her understanding by literary composition. She composed eclogues and portraits. At fifteen, she made extracts from the Spirit of Laws, with observations, and wrote a very remarkable letter to her father on his publication of the Compte Rendu an account rendered to Louis XVI. of the exact state of the public funds--which he recognised from the fervency of its style. The Abbé Raynal tried to prevail on her to write something on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes for his great work.

Nor was the element of novel and romance reading wanting to complete this unique education, in the selection of which Madame Necker, more severe than vigilant, did not always preside. Nothing was so delightful to the young mademoiselle, as to shed torrents of tears over the sufferings or noble traits of fictitious heroes and heroines, many of which her lively and ardent imagination completely realised. The carrying away of Clarissa Harlowe always

est until table, you should have seen how she listened; not ad loving ehe utter, and yet she seemed to be speaking, so much companied bid her flexible features display. Her eyes eagerly helping to looks and motions of those who spoke, as if to seize continual joefore they were uttered. She took an interest in all nical persesaid, even on political subjects, which at this time were was, nevelg topics of conversation.

clear and dinner, came more company; and every one, on approachamidst tdame Necker, had a word to say to her daughter of eagerly hent or raillery. She answered all with perfect ease and finally They took pleasure in attacking her, embarrassing her, came exciting that little imagination, already so brilliant.' Extrafelt 'fary treatment this, it will be agreed, of a little being already redimful of sensibility, that 'the praise of her parents would fill eyes with tears, and the mere sight of a person of celebrity use her heart to palpitate!' But M. and Madame Necker, though voted parents after their respective fashions, seem to have been little prudent as they were of one mind in respect to their aughter's upbringing. The mother is everywhere described as noble-minded woman, of fine understanding, and accomplished, hough somewhat formal manners. The daughter of a Protestant clergyman in the canton of Bern, she had herself been so carefully trained, and had acquired so much by profound study, that she had, unfortunately, become convinced that there was nothing in natural bent, and everything in a proper method. In the last degree true to her principles, she studied herself, society, individuals, the art of writing, of housekeeping, and above all, that of preserving the purity of her principles; then reduced all these to system, and from this system deduced precise rules for the regulation of her conduct. No great wonder, then, that, as Madame de Saussure allows, 'there was a stiffness in her and near her,' and that her daughter should have respected rather than loved her.

The father, on the other hand, though full of benevolence and practical wisdom in general, appears to have been somewhat selfindulgent as a family man, and even slightly capricious towards his model-consort. She is said to have possessed his love, confidence, and admiration in a high degree; but we suspect a less pretending woman might have suited and pleased him in a yet higher degree. Indeed, he confided to Madame de Saussure one day, that the only fault he had to Madame Necker was her faultlessness that there was nothing to pardon in her.' He was solemn and reserved in society, perhaps as much from caution as profundity; was probably tired of being always wise, and would, not unnaturally, have preferred unbending and being amused rather than edified in the leisure of his home. Instead, therefore, of shewing an ardent interest in the ingenious speculations of his accomplished better-half, he rather discouraged her zeal; actually prohibited her from spending her time in composition; would not allow her to have a writing-table in the room, in case he might at any time

be annoyed by the fear of interrupting her; took a mischiev pleasure in thwarting her in the education of her daughter; and, short, shewed himself to be quite as selfish and intolerant as the mosi gnorant and narrow minded of men.

Buom the first, there seems to have been an affinity even stronge han is usual between the father and daughter. As a child, he auured her, could not bear her to be out of his sight, or to have her contradicted; was perpetually caressing her, joking with her, and encouraging her in her wildest sallies; and afterwards took the deepest interest in her growing powers, considering her throughout his life as the first of women. And her love for him was manifested equally early. It seemed to grow with her growth, assume arying tints of her ardent temperament and brilliant genius, aid may be said to have been the ruling passion of her entire existence.

Our Gibbon, the historian, had an attachment to Madame Necker in her girlhood, and proposed to marry her, but broke off the match. We hear of him afterwards as a constant visitor and cherished friend of the Necker family in Paris. Mr Carlyle, in his History of the French Revolution, accounts for the marriage not going forward, by a supposition that his father most probably kept his own gig, and so would not hear of such a union;' and he humorously pictures the future Madame de Staël as romping about the knees of the Decline and Fall-Necker not jealous.' Whether she ever romped, however, seems to be doubtful. She is said to have had a premature youth instead of infancy; and, indeed, the only childish trait recorded of her, is in a proposal she gravely made to her mother at the age of ten, that she should marry Mr Gibbon for the purpose of securing to her parents the gratification of his society!

In accordance with her mother's system of education, she studied assiduously from her earliest days. She not only listened to literary and political conversations, and witnessed theatrical exhibitions of all kinds before entering her teens, but had even then begun to exercise her understanding by literary composition. She composed eclogues and portraits. At fifteen, she made extracts from the Spirit of Laws, with observations, and wrote a very remarkable letter to her father on his publication of the Compte Rendu-an account rendered to Louis XVI. of the exact state of the public funds-which he recognised from the fervency of its style. The Abbé Raynal tried to prevail on her to write something on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes for his great work.

Nor was the element of novel and romance reading wanting to complete this unique education, in the selection of which Madame Necker, more severe than vigilant, did not always preside. Nothing was so delightful to the young mademoiselle, as to shed torrents of tears over the sufferings or noble traits of fictitious heroes and heroines, many of which her lively and ardent imagination completely realised. The carrying away of Clarissa Harlowe always

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appeared to her to have been one of the real events of her youth. It is no wor er, then, that a régime calculated to give intense and unnatural. tivity to the intellectual and moral being, should have injured the physical powers. Dr Trouchin is called, and prescribes total rela ation from study, and to pass the whole day in the open air with youthful companion. An entirely poetical life succeeds. Steve Young ladies wander delightedly amidst the thickets of The twse clothed as nymphs or muses; recite verses, compose and poems nd write and act plays. Life is saved, and bodily health restory But the new régime offers nutriment in still greater abgily nce to the imagination,

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'And pours it all upon the peccant part.'

are adame Necker was vexed and disappointed at this breach in the routine of her daughter's education. To give up the regular acquisition of knowledge was, in her opinion, to renounce all hope of distinction. She had none of the pliability which enables us to vary our means. She is said to have conquered nature too successfully, to have been much under the dominion of instinct. The charms of her daughter's infancy had, therefore, had but few attractions for her, and now that she was unable to train her reason according to preconceived ideas and rules, she could no longer take an interest in the work as her own. What was worse, she could not repress a feeling of jealousy when she witnessed the delight her husband took in their daughter's quick-wittedness and originality of expression-qualities so opposite to her own, that she could not flatter herself he was admiring and loving her over again in her offspring. In truth, though the young lady had inherited many of the distinguished mental qualities of her mother, as nature had, in addition, lavished on her the gift of a brilliant genius, it is not wonderful that she soon outgrew her preceptress. She had the same ardent mind, strong feelings, love of the beautiful and sublime, and value for talents and eminence of every kind; but becoming every day more and more conscious of powers within herself, of which, as it seemed to her, her mother's lessons rather restrained than assisted the natural and perfect development, she grew impatient and distrustful of minute rules and methods; and though still dutiful both in conduct and demeanour, was inclined to go over to the opposite extreme in opinion, and to believe that all might be achieved by a good heart and happy spontaneous impulse. She desired, therefore, to become the representative of the natural, as her mother was that of the acquired qualities and endowments; and this idea, though but half formed and imperfectly followed out, perhaps too long influenced her judgment.

But let us try to picture our heroine, as large-hearted, sanguine, and impulsive, she now stood on the threshold of her remarkable career. Beautiful she could not be called-her features were too strong for that; but she had splendid eyes, and long dark eyelashes, a lively colour, and altogether an animated flexible countenance, in

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