MADAME LAFFARGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 15 January 1853, Page 10

MADAME LAFFARGE.

The notoriety acquired by Madame Laffarge, whose trial for poisoning her husband created so extraordinary a sensation some years ago r . imparts a sort of morbid newspaper interest to her death, which has occurred at a place called Ussat. She had repaired to the baths of this li place for the recovery of her health, which had ' been shattered by confinement, and by her own obstinacy in the mode of life she had adopted. At first it was thought that she was regaining her strength, but this proved to be a mistake. The terrible expiation of twelve years of imprisonment, and the recent death of a French colonel, who had taken her under his protection,, had wrought so fearfully on her frame that the , vital powers sank at last. She died on the 7th Sept., after a short agony. Upon her history,. and the warning close of it, the Presse contains the following statement: — '. Up to the last hour of her existence, Madam Laffarge protested her innocence.. There are letters from her which are remarkable in the • highest decree for depth of sentiment and ability of style. Her death has plunged her uncle, M. Collard, the director of the Lunatic Asylum at Montpellier, an eminently worthy man, into an affliction difficult to describe. The eyes of Madame Laffarge were closed by her cousin. Madle. Collard, who for ten years never quitted her in her captivity. The death.of Madame Laffarge was caused by a pulmonary complaint. She was in her thirty-seventh year. Shortly before her death she expressed a wish to be buried at Tarascon by the side of Colonel Andoury, a friend of her father, and who until his death, about two months since, had shown her all the

affection of a parent. Her wish has been complied with." A Bordeaux journal publishes the following further details relative to Madame Laffarge:—"Madame Laffarge had been sent to the baths of Ussat by the physicians of Moatpellier. For a long time past her health had been completely lost, and when her prison doors were opened to her, she was a perfect skeleton. The baths and the air of the mountains appeared, however, to revive her exhausted strength; and the favourable change which took place after her arrival at. Ussat inspired hopes that her life might be preserved. The idea was strengthened from the assiduous care and attention which she received from Madlle. Collard, who has shared her captivity with her, and whose devotedness had amounted to perfect martyrdom. Providence, however, decided otherwise. It was at the moment when the health of Madame Laffarge appeared to be improving, that death struck her in an almost sudden manner. Two days before her death she took a walk in the park and attended divine service in the church. As soon as her symptoms became more violent she sent for M. Bonnel, the cure of Ornolac, who hastened to the bedside of the sufferer to give her religious consolation. After having made full confession, she received the sacraments of the church with the most fervent piety; those who.were with ter were deeply affected. Some hours before her deathf the cure having requested the persons present to unite their prayers to his for her recovery, she said, 'No, Monsieur le Cure, I do not desire.it; I have suffered enough on earth, I no longer hope for anything but to be united to God.' To all the questions usually put by the priests to dying persons she replied, with the greatest serenity. 'Do you pardon your enemies ?' asked the priest. 'They have killed me,' replied Madame Laffarge, wbut I freely pardon them, and wish them as much good as they have done me evil.' She then expired. Up to the last moment she retained the most perfect lucidity of mind and admirable firmness. The mortal remains of Madame Laffarge will be deposited in the cemetry of the little village of Ornolac, situated in the midst of the mountains of Ariege."

. Madame Laffarge appears to have been a woman possessed of some talent and accomplishments, which, if rightly directed, might have led to a happier destiny. During the period of her confinement she wrote two or three volumes of "Memoirs of her Life;" and has left a work in MS. behind, called " Ten Years' Captivity." Alexander Dumas, in one of the recent volumes of his auto-biography, alludes to her as having known her in her youth as Marie Capelle.