gave her no support or countenance in the prosecution of her extraordinary claims, to which she devoted the remainder of her life. Indeed, it has been stated by a nephew of the Baron, that his uncle was in receipt of a large annual allowance from Louis Philippe, then King of the French, to induce him to withold his aid from his energetic, though ill-judging, lady.

Maria Stella arrived in Paris, we know not in what year, but during the reign of King Louis XVIII. She established herself in a handsome hotel, and immediately published in all the principal newspapers this advertisement-" If the heir of the Comte de Joinville, who travelled and resided in Italy in the year 1773, will call at the Hotel dehe will hear of some

rue

thing greatly to his advantage."

Having laid this trap, Lady Newborough waited at home next day to watch the result. In

Cornwall. He hung out false lights from the rocks of Dago; which caused the shipwreck of many vessels, which the Baron and his followers plundered, having murdered their crews. However, this very singular man was, it is said, a person of most polished manners, who had spent his early life in courts, to which he was well entitled from his high birth and great connexions.

the course of that morning, she heard the sound of a heavy man and two sticks, on her stairs, and the door of her saloon being thrown open, Monsieur l'Abbè de was announced. Α very corpulent clerical gentleman, supported on crutches, advanced towards her, and addressing her with an air of perfect good breeding, inquired whether Miladi was the publisher of the advertisement in the newspaper which he held in his hand, and to which he pointed. Maria Stella remembered her own affiche, and answered in the affirmative. "Eh bien, Miladi," replied the courtly Ecclesiastic; "je viens de la part de Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans." Astonished at the success of her scheme, Lady N. enquired in what way the Duke could be interested by her advertisement? "Assurement, miladi, son Altesse y'est vivement interesseè, car il est l'heritier du Comte de Joinville." "How so?" demanded Lady N. "Peut etre, miladi ne sait pas," replied the Abbè, que le pere de son Altesse, feu Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans, etait aussi Comte de Joinville, et prenait ce titre là quand il était en voyage. ait, dans cette année là, naissance de Monseigneur, le Duc actuel." Delighted at the statement, Lady N. gently expressed surprise, when the Abbè rejoined, "Eh

66

D'aillieurs il voyagen Italie, avant la

bien, Miladi, est ce qui c'est une grande heritage que son Altesse va recevoir?" At a question so very characteristic, coming from an agent of the clever, money-making, Louis Philippe, Lady Newborough had some difficulty in repressing a smile. She, however, gave the Abbè to understand that there was no question at issue concerning any succession falling into the hands of his employer; but that she was anxious to discover the identity of a birth connected with the sojourn of the late Comte de Joinville, or as he informed her, the late Duke of Orleans, in Italy in 1773. The Abbè evidently perceived that he had committed an egregious blunder, and made most unfortunate admissions. Rising rather precipitately, he stammered something about a particular engagement which caused him to hurry away; and, protesting that he would speedily call again, when he would be entirely at the service of Miladi, and assist her in the prosecution of her researches, he made a succession of profound bows, and hobbled out of the apartment. Lady Newborough discovered that this polite gentleman who had shown himself so unwary a diplomatist, was, nevertheless, a very clever man, and the confidential agent of the Duke of Orleans. Indeed, he was currently said to be his illegitimate brother, and the natural son of Egalité! For no other than he was Count de Joinville.

Maria Stella was now thoroughly persuaded that she was, indeed, the eldest child of the late Duke of Orleans; and, in fact, along with Mademoiselle Adelaide, his only surviving child; Louis Philippe, the present Duke, being, in her estimate, only a changeling, and all his younger and real sons having died. It may be supposed that she was not a little elated at having, as she thought, made the certain discovery that, next to the Duchesse d'Angoulême, she was first princess of the blood of France, and the rightful heiress of immense wealth.

But this discovery was the ruin of her happiness, and produced nothing to her in after-life but discomfort and misery; so that it would have been well for her, if she had ended her days in the persuasion that she was nothing more, by birth, than the daughter of the low-born Chiappini. The prosecution of her princely claims caused the destruction alike of her fortune and her peace of mind She appears to have had no judgment, and no knowledge of character. She allowed herself to be imposed upon by one swindler after another. She was betrayed and made a prey of. Her claims never met with fair play. As to whether they were true or whether they were false, we will not venture to pronounce an opinion. But this is very evident, that they never received that support or consideration to which they were entitled,

Lady Newborough, Baroness Ungarn Sternberg, from the moment that she discovered herself to be a princess, became a most unfortunate woman, and lived and died unhappy.

She made many attempts to bring her case forward, unaided by husband or son, and she became the prey of a succession of sordid and unworthy advisers. She conceived herself to be persecuted by the powerful influence of the Duke of Orleans, and by the overwhelming authority of her rival when he became King Louis Philippe. It may, consequently, be supposed that a weak, unfriended, and injudicious woman could effect little in opposition to a King. She has now been removed for many years from this earth to the land "where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest."

It would be tedious to enter more at length on this subject; suffice it to say, that the claims of Maria Stella never were investigated. And their truth or falsity will probably remain a mystery until the time when all secrets shall be revealed.

It may be remarked, as very improbable that a recently married and youthful pair like Egalité (the former Duke of Orleans) and his Duchess, should so completely have despaired of male issue as to change their daughter for another man's son.