Descendants of the Stuarts

OF THE STUA.RTS. 285
had each affected to be personally innocent, and
thrown the blame of their accusation on each other.
The duke had even written to his sister that they
ought to have stripped him and put him into petti-
coats for having been led by his Avife : so that when
they were freed from captivity, the first task of the
Princess of Conde was to endeavour to reconcile
the acrimonious pair. This she at last effected by
bringing her daughter by appointment to Vauri-
gard, and introducing her to her husband; when
taking her by the hand, and leading her up to the
duke, she said, " I bring you a lady who will be very
glad to see you;" her husband at the same time
advancing, received the penitent cordially, they
conversed together for some time ; and then their
reconciliation was effected.*
This was the last public action of the good Princess
de Conde. She died at Asnieres, near Paris, where
her eldest daughter also had breathed her last, on the
twenty-third day of Pebruary, 1723, in the seventy-
fifth year of her age; having been previously preceded
to the tomb by her youngest daughter, the Duchess
de Vendome.
The character of Anne needs little comment.
Though plain in person, and devoid of those outward
charms which graced her celebrated mother, she
gained no small share of admiration at Court, on
account of her highly cultivated understanding;
by no one being her literary powers more esteemed
* Duchess of Orleans. Dangeau. St. Siirion.