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

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59<br />

In March 1797, this Henriette went to Lausanne <strong>and</strong> in May from there to<br />

her father's home at Mecklenburg.<br />

IV<br />

CORRESPONDENCE WITH JEAN-FERDINAND OPIZ<br />

On the 27th July 1792, <strong>Casanova</strong> wrote M. Opiz that he had finished the<br />

twelfth volume of his <strong>Memoirs</strong>, with his age at forty-seven years 1772.<br />

"Our late friend, the worthy Count Max Josef Lamberg," he added, "could<br />

not bear the idea of my burning my <strong>Memoirs</strong>, <strong>and</strong> expecting to survive me,<br />

had persuaded me to send him the first four volumes. But now there is no<br />

longer any questions that his good soul has left his organs. Three weeks<br />

ago I wept for his death, all the more so as he would still be living if<br />

he had listened to me. I am, perhaps, the only one who knows the truth.<br />

He who slew him was the surgeon Feuchter at Cremsir, who applied<br />

thirty-six mercurial plasters on a gl<strong>and</strong> in his left groin which was<br />

swollen but not by the pox, as I am sure by the description he gave me of<br />

the cause of the swelling. <strong>The</strong> mercury mounted to his esophagus <strong>and</strong>,<br />

being able to swallow neither solids nor fluids, he died the 23rd June of<br />

positive famine . . . . <strong>The</strong> interest of the bungling surgeon is to say<br />

that he died of the pox. This is not true, I beg, you to give the lie to<br />

anyone you hear saying it. I have before my eyes four hundred <strong>and</strong> sixty<br />

of his letters over which I weep <strong>and</strong> which I will burn. I have asked<br />

Count Leopold to burn mine, which he had saved, <strong>and</strong> I hope that he will<br />

please me by doing it. I have survived all my true friends. 'Tempus abire<br />

mihi est' Horace says to me.

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