GREAT MEN'S FIRST LOVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 8247, 13 August 1887, Page 6

GREAT MEN'S FIRST LOVES.

It is said that people seldom marry their first loves, and the adage is exemplified in the histories of not a few of the world’s great men. When Napoleon was a young man of twenty-six, a rising general of aitillery, he lodged for some time in the rickety old Hotel do Mirabeau, near the Tuileriea. Citizen Rouget, the proprietor, had an only daughter, Fanchette, who fixed her affections on their young lodger. The attraction was mutual, and Rouget pere was willing to consent to the marriage, provided his son-in-law elect would leave the army and become hia successor in the business of inn-keeper. It is doubtful whether, under any circumstances, this offer would have tempted the ambitious Bonaparte, but fate provided a reasonable excuse for escape. During the fighting in Paris, a ball broke poor Panchette’s leg, and it had to be amputated. A wooden substitute was provided, but adieu to all hopes of marriage with the clever young officer! Her chances of matrimony were not altogether spoiled, for she made an excellent match with a young Parisian tradesman, and, when Napoleon heard of it, he sent her hia compliments and a magnificent present When Isaac Newton, then a mere boy, was living at Grantham preparing for the University, he fell deeply in love with a young lady named Mias Storey, and would have married her, had not grim poverty forbidden. He, however, remained faithful to her during his bachelor existence, and was always her friend, though she, with the inconstancy of her sex, proved consolable, and married twice! Edward Gibbon, the historian, who spent a large part of his life in Switzerland, there gave his youthful affections to Susanna Churchod, the daughter of a clergyman of the canton of Berne. However, she was destined for other things. She accompanied a lady to Paris as governess to her son and there met Neckar, the famous financier, to whom she was married in 1765. During the next year was born the bright-eyed child destined to astonish and instruct the world as Madame de Stael-Holstein. Madame Neckar is decribed as a clever, sensible woman, much given to metaphysical speculations. Lord Bacon’s first attempt at matrimony was in the direction of Lady Hatton, widow of the renowned Sir Christopher, and sister of Burleigh. Although backed up by Essex, he was ousted by Coke, afterwards his great rival. Her ladyship probadly repented of her choice—at any rate on one occasion she was obliged to seek help against her husband from her rejected lover. Cote desired that one of his daughters should marry a Yilliers, to which his wife would by no means consent. She earned the young lady off into the country. Coke followed with a warrant, broke open the door, and made off in triumph with his prize. Off flew the dis-

tracted mother to Lord Bacon. Ho was lying down, but she could not wait. She "bounced against his door,” says .the chronicler, till the affrighted Lord Keeper called for his men. Once admitted to his presence, she pleaded her cause so well that she obtained a warrant for the recovery of her daughter. Lawrence, the painter, after paying attentions to Maria Siddons, daughter of the famous actress, and engaging her affections, jilted her for her sister. The poor girl pined away and died of consumption in 1795, aged nineteen. Of Turner it is told that he was engaged to a lady, but owing to his not writing to her regularly during a prolonged absence, she thought he had given her up, and on his return he found her already the wife of another.

Edward Irving fell in love with his old friend and pupil, Jane Welsh, who afterwards became the wife of the sage of Chelsea. There is no doubt that she returned his feelings. She herself admitted to loving him " passionately.” But unfortunately he had already formed a sort of engagement with a Miss Martin, of Kirkcaldy, who held tenaciously to her rights and ultimately married him.