FROM REVOLUTION OF JULY TO DEATH OF THE KINO. 169 



and knows the court well, and lias a happy facility in describ- 

 ing character. The Duchesse de Broglie, from a feeling of 

 religious fanaticism, has unfortunately withdrawn from general 

 society ; she is one of the noblest women of whom Paris can 

 boast. The Marquise de Dolormien and her sister the Comtesse 

 de Montjoye, who are in attendance upon the queen and Ma- 

 dame Adelaide, are women of considerable culture ; they were 

 educated at Brunswick, and their lively and agreeable con- 

 versation is tinged with a tone of thought essentially German. 

 The two political intrigantes, Princess Lieven and Comtesse 

 Flahaut (formerly Miss Keith), will no doubt spread their nets. 

 With much cunning and knowledge of the world, they are wholly 

 devoid of sensibility. Of quite another order is the Duchesse de 

 Dixo, who will, I hope, be much in the society of the princess. 

 In her a deep interest in politics, in which no personal con- 

 siderations are allowed to mingle, has in no way impaired the 

 tenderness of womanly feeling. She is in every way most 

 estimable. The wife of Gabriel Delessert, the present prefect 

 of police, is the daughter of the Comtesse de Laborde, once 

 renowned for her beauty ; and her father, Comte Alexandre de 

 Laborde, is well known by his travels in Spain and Asia Minor. 

 The brother of Gabriel Delessert resides at Cassel, and is the 

 author of the " Voyage pittoreseque a Petra." They are a very 

 remarkable and accomplished family, and are distinguished by 

 their love of art. With many of the family you are doubtless 

 already acquainted. Baron Benjamin Delessert, the head of 

 the house, and his sister Madame Gautier, for whom Kousseau 

 wrote his " Lettres sur la Botanique," invariably take the lead 

 in every benevolent undertaking. Though Protestants, they 

 exercise a widespread influence in Paris from their wealth and 

 noble patriotism. The fascinating Madame Delessert, whose 

 sisters are also remarkable for their beauty, is a frequent guest 

 at the Tuileries. 



'I trust that in some of these benevolent schemes the 

 Princess Helena will have the opportunity of meeting with 

 Madame Gautier. Unfortunately, Madame de Saint-Aulaire 

 and her intelligent daughter, who is well versed in German 

 literature, are now at Vienna, as also the charming Countess 

 Apponi, a great musical genius and a brilliant diplomatist.' 



