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Old Age and Death The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt ...

Old Age and Death The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt ...

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51<br />

In May 1793, Da Ponte wrote from London: "Count Waldstein has lived a<br />

very obscure life in London, badly lodged, badly dressed, badly served,<br />

always in cabarets, cafes, with porters, with rascals, with . . . we will<br />

leave out the rest. He has the heart of an angel <strong>and</strong> an excellent<br />

character, but not so good a head as ours."<br />

Toward the end of 1792, Cssanova wrote a letter to Robespierre, which, as<br />

he advises M. Opiz, the 13th January 1793, occupied one hundred <strong>and</strong><br />

twenty folio pages. This letter was not to be found at Dux <strong>and</strong> it may<br />

possibly have been sent, or may have been destroyed by <strong>Casanova</strong> on the<br />

advice of Abbe O'Kelly. <strong>Casanova</strong>'s feelings were very bitter over the<br />

trial of Louis XVI., <strong>and</strong> in his letters to M. Opiz he complained bitterly<br />

of the Jacobins <strong>and</strong> predicted the ruin of France. Certainly, to <strong>Casanova</strong>,<br />

the French Revolution represented the complete overthrow of many of his<br />

cherished illusions.<br />

On the 1st August 1793, Wilhelmina Rietz, Countess Lichtenau (called the<br />

Pompadour of Frederic-William II., King of Prussia) wrote to the<br />

librarian at Dux:<br />

"Monsieur<br />

"It seems impossible to know where Count Valstaine [Waldstein] is<br />

staying, whether he is in Europe, Africa, America, or possibly the<br />

Megamiques. If he is there, you are the only one who could insure his<br />

receiving the enclosed letter.<br />

"For my part, I have not yet had time to read their history, but the<br />

first reading I do will assuredly be that.<br />

"Mademoiselle Chappuis has the honor of recalling herself to your memory,

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