Emilie de Lavalette. "The wither'd frame, the ruin'd mind, BYRON. Emilie de Lavalette. BORN 1780. DIED 1820. REVOLUTIONS, like earthquakes, produce startling combinations and phenomena, which defy all human expectancy. The convulsion of France demonstrated this truth, hurling long-seated power from its high estate; enthroning beggars, with precarious occupancy, to sway the destiny of long-descended sovereigns; entangling old friendships in the meshes of distrust; subverting order, and instituting affinity between the most heterogeneous social elements! It is obvious that whole histories might still be written, as many have already been, upon the various phases of the wild phantasmagoria which troubled the world with a nightmare of terror, and pressed out of individual hearts, genius and goodness from some, and hideous crime and blasphemy from others. Suffering then, as it always does, made many heroines; and the rapid change of circumstances raised singular rulers, for the hour, upon the thrones of genius as well as of more material dynasties. We will, for the present, choose one from the crowd of competitors, in whose conjugal devotion the truest elements of heroism were concentrated; nor do we think our selection will be impugned, by any impartial reader of the life of Madame de Lavalette. In the early part of the year 1815, the emperor Napoleon escaped from Elba, and speedily arriving at Paris, expelled Louis XVIII. from the kingdom. The victor of Marengo and Austerlitz was received by numerous friends with the liveliest joy, though that joy was clouded by the threatening aspect of the future. Among them, one of his truest as well as most confidential advisers, was the Count de Lavalette, formerly an aide-de-camp of Napoleon, and connected with his imperial master, by the ties of marriage. Lavalette had originally been intended for the priesthood, but while studying for this purpose, the commencement of the revolution transformed him into an officer of the National Guard. He subsequently volunteered during the Italian campaign, and rapidly rose to promotion; his admiring devotion to the interests of Napoleon being so conspicuous, as to win the affection of his chief, who appeared to rely not less upon the coolness of his judgment, than upon the disinterested fervency of his attachment. In consequence of this, Lavalette speedily became one of the emperor's trusted agents, |