d her illustrious friend in Paris. Close was their
union, great their joy. It was engrossing admiration and devotion on
one side; absorbing sympathy, respect, and gratitude, on the other.
The power and charm of Madame Recamier were not merely in her
ravishing beauty, imperturbable good nature, and all-subduing
graciousness, but also in her mind and character. Madame de Stael,
who was a great critic, and no flatterer, says to her,

"What a charm there is in your manner of writing! I wish you would
compose a romance, put in it some celestial being, and give her your
own natural expressions, without altering a word. You have a
character of astonishing nobleness; and the contrast of your delicate
and gracious features, with your grand firmness of soul, produces an
incomparable effect."

The last letter written by the dying author to her friend concluded
with the words, "All that is left of me embraces you." The survivor
paid the pious rites of affection to the departed, with the devotion
which had marked their whole relation. And when, years afterward, on
the loss of her property, Madame Recamier betook herself to the
Abbaye-aux-Bois, in her humble chamber, where she was more sought and
admired than ever in her proudest prosperity, the chief articles to
be seen, in addition to the indispensable furniture, were, as
Chateaubriand has described the scene, a library, a harp, a piano, a
magnificent portrait of Madame de Stael by Gerard, and a moonlight
view of Coppet. Madame de Stael had once written to her, "Your
friendship is like the spring in the desert, that never fails; and it
is this which makes it impossible not to love you." Death caused no
decay of that sentiment, but raised and sanctified it. Her translated
friend now became an object of worship; and she devoted her whole
energies to extend and preserve the memory of the illustrious writer.

The self-forgetting sympathy of Madame Recamier, and the magical
atmosphere of loveliness she carried around her, obtained for her
many warm friendships with women. Foremost, by far, among these was
that with Madame de Stael. But others also were very dear. The widow
of Matthieu de Montmorency was extremely attached to her, wrote her
touching letters, and took every opportunity to see her. Madame de
Boigne, too, was joined with Madame Recamier in a relation of respect
and affection truly profound and vivid. This lady was greatly
distinguished for her beauty as well as for her v