DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0388
348
LOUISA, OR LADY OF THE HAY-STACK.
ing the steps she had taken, and particularly denied hav-
ing sent the letter to the Duke de Richelieu, signed “ the
Princess of Auersberg.”
It should be observed, that immediately on the re-
ceipt of this letter, the duke returned an answer to the
princess, stating, “ that in consequence of her recom-
mendation, he would treat Mademoiselle de Schonau
with all possible respect, and would render her every
service in his power.” M. de Chatelet, at that time the
French ambassador at Vienna, delivered this letter to the
princess, by whom it was answered. Had she not
written to the duke in favour of the stranger, it is natu-
ral to suppose, that she would have immediately replied,
she knew no such person as Mademoiselle de Schonau.
Hence it may be justly concluded, that she did write the
letter of recommendation, and was consequently ac-
quainted with the mystery of the stranger’s birth. The
presumption is confirmed by the subsequent conduct of
the empress, who expressly enjoined her ministers to
ask the Princess of Auersberg no question whatever on
the subject.
The information given by the prisoner concerning the
late Duke of York, is likewise of considerable impor-
tance. On his arrival at Bourdeaux, his royal high-
ness sent to inform Mademoiselle de Schonau, that he
had something of great consequence to communicate to
her, and requested her to appoint some time when he
might see her without the knowledge of any other per-
son. She replied, that as he wished for secrecy, she
thought the most suitable hour would be at six in the
morning, after a ball that was to be given by the Duke
de Richelieu. His royal highness came at the ap-
pointed time, when he told her, that the object of his
visit was to learn the amount of her debts, as he was
commanded by a lady of distinction to give her a sum
of
LOUISA, OR LADY OF THE HAY-STACK.
ing the steps she had taken, and particularly denied hav-
ing sent the letter to the Duke de Richelieu, signed “ the
Princess of Auersberg.”
It should be observed, that immediately on the re-
ceipt of this letter, the duke returned an answer to the
princess, stating, “ that in consequence of her recom-
mendation, he would treat Mademoiselle de Schonau
with all possible respect, and would render her every
service in his power.” M. de Chatelet, at that time the
French ambassador at Vienna, delivered this letter to the
princess, by whom it was answered. Had she not
written to the duke in favour of the stranger, it is natu-
ral to suppose, that she would have immediately replied,
she knew no such person as Mademoiselle de Schonau.
Hence it may be justly concluded, that she did write the
letter of recommendation, and was consequently ac-
quainted with the mystery of the stranger’s birth. The
presumption is confirmed by the subsequent conduct of
the empress, who expressly enjoined her ministers to
ask the Princess of Auersberg no question whatever on
the subject.
The information given by the prisoner concerning the
late Duke of York, is likewise of considerable impor-
tance. On his arrival at Bourdeaux, his royal high-
ness sent to inform Mademoiselle de Schonau, that he
had something of great consequence to communicate to
her, and requested her to appoint some time when he
might see her without the knowledge of any other per-
son. She replied, that as he wished for secrecy, she
thought the most suitable hour would be at six in the
morning, after a ball that was to be given by the Duke
de Richelieu. His royal highness came at the ap-
pointed time, when he told her, that the object of his
visit was to learn the amount of her debts, as he was
commanded by a lady of distinction to give her a sum
of