A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Staal, (Madame la Comtesse de)
STAAL (MADAME LA COMTESSE DE), a Writer of distinguished Abilities, known first by the name of Mademoiselle de Launai, was born at Paris.
Her father, who was by profession a painter, was for some reasons obliged to quit France, and settle in England, leaving his wife and daughter in Paris; who, having nothing to support them, were reduce to the utmost indigence, till relieved by some friends, who generously contributed to their support. The prioress of a convent, at Rouen, very humanely took care of Mademoiselle de Launai, whom she educated, and treated in all respects like the other pensioners, though some were of high rank, "by which means," says Mademoiselle de Launai, in her Memoirs, "I received an education much superior to what my birth and condition entitled me. It happened to me, just the reverse to that which we find in a romance, where the heroine is brought up as a simple shepherdess, and at last finds herself an illustrious princess: whereas, I was treated in my infancy as a person of distinction, and afterwards discovered, to my great mortification, that I had sprung from nothing, and had nothing in the world belonging to me. My mind not yielding to my bad fortune, I never was able to submit easily to be under the subjection and tyranny of others, or suffer quietly those indignities to which my situation so often subjected me."
In short, Mademoiselle de Launai, after having acquired a taste for the elegancies of high life, and experiencing every kind of indulgence, found herself, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, reduced to the most humiliating condition, turned out into the wide world, without friends or money, and deprived of every means of support, by the unfortunate death of the lady abbess.
At length, through the recommendations of the Abbé de Vertot and M. Brunel, she was appointed to be waiting maid to the Duchess du Maine, a princess of the blood royal. But finding herself unable to discharge the servile duties of that office, she was again reduced to extreme poverty; and perhaps would never have experienced a better fate, but for the following accident.
A young girl, named Tetard, by the persuasions of her mother, counterfeited being possessed. All Paris went to see her, and nothing else was talked of but this pretended demoniac. It was on this occasion that Mademoiselle de Launai wrote a letter to M. Fontenelle, which contained such good sense, such shrewd observations, and was written in so elegant a stile, that Fontenelle shewed it to many persons of the first condition, among whom was the Duchess du Maine; who, recollecting that the writer of it had served her in the capacity of a waiting-maid, immediately sent for her, and lamented that she had not been acquainted with her extraordinary merit before. The duchess, who was a patron of genius, was delighted to have near her a woman of spirit and taste. She gave magnificent fetes at Sceaux (a seat of the Duchess); Mademoiselle de Launai planned them in future, and thus had a field to exert her taste and genius in, and even her literary talents, as she wrote verses for some of the theatrical pieces, by which she gained great applause; and by her modesty, prudence and judgment, soon acquired the esteem and confidence of the duchess, and was admired and respected by the whole court. But at length, being involved in the troubles and disgrace of her mistress, under the regency of the Duke of Orleans, she was confined two years, in the Bastille; but she bore her misfortune with philosophy; and a circumstance which happened there, soon gave a charm to all its horrors.
During her stay she became acquainted (if we may use that expression when the parties never saw each other) with the Chevalier de Mesnil, (also a state prisoner) who lodged in the next room to her, and with whom she conversed, and corresponded. Their love was reciprocal; and this correspondence had so many charms for Mademoiselle de Launai, that she even dreaded to receive her liberty.
"It is an error," said she, in a letter to him, "to think we are free in the midst of society, or in public. Where is the freedom, if the least of our actions are liable to be scrutinized? We are slaves to the tyranny of custom, and the fashions of the world; we dare not even think or act agreeable to our own inclinations or sentiments; our judgments are misguided, and our reason is seduced; in solitude only, we can enjoy the free liberty of thought, or be taught to form a just idea, and have a true knowledge of ourselves; for, I confess ingenuously, I never till now was well acquainted with myself; in studying ourselves impartially, and examining our nature with a strict attention, we gain a complete knowledge of mankind in general, for each individual will find within himself an epitome of the whole world."
Recovering her liberty, she however lost her lover, whose infidelity for some time caused her much affliction. But she was soon addressed by many others; though far from handsome, she possessed attractions infinitely superior to personal beauty. Monsieur Dacier, having lost his wife, endeavoured to find consolation in an union with Mademoiselle de Launai; but the Duchess du Maine would not consent to the match. In short, Mademoiselle de Launai began to be tired, and discontented with her situation, which was at best only a genteel servitude, and formed a resolution of retiring to a convent. The Duchess, to whom she was of the utmost use, opposed this very strongly, and immediately concluded a match between her and Captain Staal, lieutenant of the Swiss-guards, afterwards Marechal de Camp; upon which she was appointed dame d'honneur to the duchess, eat at the same table, and accompanied her illustrious mistress in her coach.
Her memoirs, written by herself, were not published till after her death. The first volume of which, contains an account of Lewis XIVth's reign: the troubles in which the princes of the blood were involved at that monarch's death, &c. Her stile is correct and elegant. Two of her comedies, one entitled L'Engoûment, and the other La Mode, have been held in the highest estimation. She died, 1750.
A lady of great wit, and of high rank, had drawn a portrait of Madame de Staal's person and character, which that lady looked upon to be so full of partiality and flattery, that she did not approve of it, and drew it herself in the following manner.
"Launai is of the middle size, lean, parched, dry, and disagreeable; her mind and character resemble her figure, no deformity or irregularity, but nothing pleasing. Her bad fortune has contributed to make her of value. She very fortunately received a most excellent education, and has most religiously adhered throughout her conduct, to those principles of virtue, which from a long and early practice became natural. Her greatest folly has been, to appear always reasonable; and like simple women, who by pinching up their bodies in stays, think to make their shapes fine; so she, by possessing too much reason, has found it very troublesome. The satisfaction she feels from being exempt from vanity, manifestly indicates she is not without it. She has spent her life in serious reflections and occupations, rather to fortify her reason than to ornament her mind, in which she has made but little progress. The love of liberty is her predominant passion; an unfortunate passion indeed, for one who has passed the greatest part of her time in servitude. Her condition therefore, has always been insupportable to her, notwithstanding all the unexpected advantages she has found."
Some have ventured to say, she was not so amiable as she appears in her writings; that she was negligent in her dress, capricious and pedantic; but add, that nothing ever equalled the gaiety and vivacity of her wit, when she was in good humour with herself, and with those about her: but this praise they lower, by saying she was satirical.