130 AUTOGRAPH LETTERS. 



MADEMOISELLE EMILIE NADAU TO MAULLE. STAPPAERTS, IN BRUSSELS. 



Dated, Hasan, 10 leagues from Algiers, Dec. 4, 17C3. 



I SHOULD never finish, my dear cousin, if I were to relate only one 

 half of what has happened to me since we parted. So long a time has 

 elapsed since you heard from me,, that you will have thought me, without 

 doubt, no more of this earth. But, I must make a beginning. This 

 first letter, my amiable friend, will only afford you a few particulars, 

 but every time a vessel sail's for Europe, (for, as you perceive by the 

 commencement of this, that I am in Africa,) you shall receive a letter 

 from her, whom neither time nor distance will make you forget ; but I 

 am, at least, certain of this, you shall never be forgotten by me. The 

 last time I wrote, I informed you of the disagreeable affairs in which 

 my father was involved, as Governor of Guadeloupe. We have now 

 discovered the motives by which his enemies were actuated. (The 

 writer here enters into detail, not of sufficient interest to translate.) 



My brother Edward determined to depart for Guadeloupe, to clear 

 up the conduct of my father, and to afford him consolation in his mis- 

 fortunes. He was the more particularly induced to take this step, a 

 circumstance which I only learned afterwards, in consequence of the 

 persuasions of my eldest sister, who you must know loves and is be- 

 loved by an English officer, Captain Marshall, who commands a vessel 

 cruising off Guadeloupe. Well, it was so arranged that we should set 

 off immediately, and my brother, my two sisters, and myself, arrived in 

 Brest, from which a vessel was ready to sail for the West Indies. We 

 had only been four days at sea, when a large ship of war, belonging to 

 a rich Jew, Ben Grami, of Algiers, attacked us, and we were taken 

 prisoners. I cannot think of that moment without shedding tears. A 

 hundred terrible looking men, with turbans on their heads, and swords, 

 or pistols, in their hands,, rushed into the ship. We fell upon our knees 

 and begged for mercy. What became of the persons on board our ship 

 I know not ; myself and sisters, more dead than alive, were put into 

 a boat and conveyed to the Jew's ship. We were treated with great 

 respect : the captain's cabin was given to us, and no insult was offered. 

 At length we arrived at Algiers, and I shed a torrent of tears when I 

 was separated from my sisters, but I had no power to resist. I was put 

 into a curiously formed carriage, in which there were no windows, only 

 close lattice-work, through which I could see, without being observed, 

 and taken twelve or fourteen leagues into the country, to the residence 

 of the Jew, Ben Grami, who followed me in another carriage. It is 

 impossible to see a more delightful dwelling ; nothing had been spared 

 to make this place a terrestial paradise. I was extremely fatigued and 

 overpowered with the heat of the climate : but the apartments that were 

 assigned me, were charming and as cool as those you occupy in the 

 Rue Verte, under the ramparts. Their beauty and magnificence cannot 

 be exceeded : the walls of my boudoir were covered with the hand- 

 somest Sevre porcelain finely painted ; the ceiling is gilt, and studded 

 with curious ornaments in mother of pearl ; the carpet and sofas are 

 Persian, of rich silk, and are truly superb. The proprietor of this 

 enchanting place, whom I had not seen till my arrival here, was a 

 handsome and tall man, with a large beard and black piercing eyes. 

 After I had reposed a few hours he sent a female slave to wait upon 



