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¦ n ;* rv are entries of disappointments in payments of i » iary «« woman to the writer , and of actual paymon ? Jrni&e- while , in another part of the same docume T Sere xs found a page of accounts , in which , on the Editor side , stands the following :-' Memoirs . May 20 th . loo Sfffi • • ' ' * '' ' » 1 ° 6 pQtCer credits are mentioned , amounting to ] 17 3 3 27 13 9 Paid . 8 2-0 j £ 19 11 9 ' « Thus the Diarist very properly charges , not only for his 1 hmir in wr iting the original of the pretended ' Autobiotfrflolrr' but ** «» Py ™§ r of the * " * manuscript . No iCvubt this was in the terms arranged in the three agteernpnts ( March 1 and 9 , and April 12 ) already mentioned . "One public journal has vouched that the woman conducted herself with entire respectability upon English soil . Without polluting these pages with any of the disgusting Stalls which it would have been proper for the defendants , iii the case of Derra v . Dawson and others , to have proved , and which they were prepared to prove had not the nlaintiff broken down , it is quite sufficient to take , on this Snatter , words of this Diary Such entries as the f ollowing are conspicuous : —' Beck is a real hag ; lne lesson has been useful to Beck ; ' ' Quarrel with Beck ;' 'Beck grows daily tamer ; ' 'The Baroness furious on account of — -1 ' ¦ ' Beck a harpy ; ' Ac . Ac . " The remaining evidence consists of three letters . One from General Kmety , stating that Von Beck mentions his name in her book " several times , always coupled with insipidly absurd untruths . " Another from Baron Csesar Mednyansky , showing that there are only two ladies living who bear the name of Baroness Beck , both born Horeczky , the name Racidula gave as her maiden name ; and that there never were any other ladies of that name married to any gentleman of the Beck family of late years . Baron Mednyansky ' s statement is circumstantial ; he himself is a friend of the family . The third letter is from Captain Hahn , who states , from personal knowledge , that he found that Racidula had been a domestic servant at Vienna . These are Mr . Smith ' s new allegations in proof of the imposture . But we think it right to reprint the following , in order that another opportunity may be given to those who ought to refute it if they are able : — Statement of Charles de Soden . " , Sussex-street , University-street , Aug . 26 , 1851 . " In reply to the inquiry contained in your kind note , I beg to inform you that the person styling herself ' Baroness de Beck is the same who , accompanied by Dr . Heinemann , offered personally her services as a spy and informer to the recently established foreign branch of the English police force . This I know from good authority , and I know likewise that for a fortnight or three weeks she has obtained for such services the sum of 6 J . 16 s . 8 d . per week . It is also no secret to me that the soi-disant Baroness introduced herself to the Commissioners of the Police by forwarding a letter written by Dr . Heinemann , and containing an enclosure , which consisted of Dome articles and regulations adopted by an association of the German Communists in London . With regard to Mihaloczy , he himself has admitted to me that the baronesa instigated him to the attack on your husband , and that she has defrayed all the expenses of the subsequent proceedings . Should it be requisite , I will with much pleasure substantiate the above statement by the production of unexceptionable evidence . Trusting you will use your best endeavours in placing the illiterate she-impostor before the public in her true character , and in tearing the mask from her unblushing countenance , I bog to subscribo myself yours very respectfully , ( Signed ) " Chahles db Soden . "
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THE NORWOOD NUNNERY . Thb case of Griffiths v . De l'Espinasse , came on for trial at Guildford , on Thursday , and occupied the court till Saturday . Mr . Montague Chambers , Mr . Dawson , and Mr . Lush conducted the case for the plaintiff ; Mr . Sergeant Sheo , Mr . Bramwoll , and Mr . Willes appeared for the defendant . The plaint iff , Henrietta Griffiths , was a girl of fifteen or sixteen years old . She had lost both her parents , and was dependent upon an aunt for subsistence . In the year 1849 , she was placed by Cardinal Wiseman at
the convent of Norwood , of which the defendants , Madame do l'EBpinasso and Madame Theodosie , were the superiors . There were two classes ) of inmated in the convont , one consisting of young ladies who paid U ( M . a year for their board and education ; the other called the orphanage class , and consisting of prior children ; for whom only 15 £ . a year was rteoeived . The household work of the establishment seems to have been performed by the children of the orphanage cIrhh . They usually rose at half-past four in tile morning , and went to bod at nine .
The declaration alleged that the defendants , having undertaken to provido proper fboil and nourishment to the plaintiff , had neglected to do m ; that thoy had worked nor beyond her strength , and had improperly confined ami othorwino ill-treated her , to each ait
feetent that she had been much injured in health , and had lost the sight of one eye . It seems that the girl was in a bad state of health when she entered the convent , and was generally of a very scrofulous habit . Mr . Montague Chambers opened the case with a detailed account of her grievances . He then called Griffiths herself as witness . After stating the circumstances of her entering the convent , she went on to describe their diet . Their breakfast consisted of soup , made of peas and rice , which was also oiven to them for dinner sometime , with the
addition—about three times a week—of meat , of which they had as much as they could eat . For supper , they had vegetables , such as cabbage . There was a punishment , which they called " the trial class . " They were made to sit on a low stool , facing a whitewashed wall close to them , and they were not allowed to look round or speak . They were kept thus from four o ' clock in the morning till nine at night , and this was often continued for several days . Griffiths then told it strange story , about Cardinal Wiseman coming to visit the convent , and about a robe which she was to present to him as having been made by her class , although in fact she
had never seen it before . According to her account , she displeased the superiors because she would not tell him that she had had a hand in the making of it . For this offence , she stated that she had been placed in the kitchen for punishment . The damp and cold of the kitchen , together with the hard work which she was set to there , made her ill . When Dr . Chapman , the medical attendant of the convent , noticed that she had grown worse and worse , he was told that she had not taken her medicine . She told the doctor that she had always taken what was given to her , and for iaying this she had to undergo the punishment of prostration .
This was lying on the face upon the floor . She was afterwards kept in a small , dark closet , being threatened with the " trial class" if she should attempt to go out . For three months she was kept there , from four in the morning till nine at night , without being allowed to go out for any purpose . There was neither chair nor table in the room , and she was obliged to lie on the floor . One day they forgot to bring her any food , and left her in the closet all night . At one time she was placed in the trial class for refusing to go to confession , her eye being then very bad . Dr . Chapman then ordered her beer and meat twice a day , but no alteration was
made in her food . She had sometimes water , coloured with beer , to drink . She continued to get worse . At one time her aunt saw her , and was very much shocked at her appearance . In reply to some inquiry of the superior ; the aunt was told that they did not allow any one to interfere in cases of illness . They would not allow her aunt to take her to an oculist , until the aunt threatened to apply to a magistrate . She was at length taken to Dr . Alexander , who said that her life depended on the way in whioh she was treated . Her aunt offered to send her some stout , but the superior would not allow it . When she at last left the convent ,
and went to live with her aunt , she was told by the assistant superior , that if she said anything about what took place in the convent , she would be damned . On crods-examination , she admitted that the doctor had ordered her to be kept in the shade , on account of the state of her eyes , and this might have been the reason of her confinement in a dark room . Mr . Alexander , the oculist , said she had been brought to him from Norwood ; the sight of her lef t eye was completely gone , and her right eye was in much danger . The second time ho saw her she appeared no better , but a fortnight af ter she had been removed from the convent he found her considerably improved .
A clerk to the plaintiff ' s attorney proved that , for a week before the trial , he had endeavoured to serve Cardinal Wiseman with a subpoena , but had been unable to get access to him . He had applied to the secretary of Cardinal WiBeman for his address , but the secretary had refused to give him any information . He had not served the aunt with a subpebna , as she had promised to l > e present at the trial . Mr . Sergeant Sheo , in his defence , urged tho jury to
consider tho character of tho defendants , who were ladles of superior education , and , from benevolent motives , had takert iipoh themselves the task of instructing poor persons , in order to give them a better ehahco of providing for themselves . Ho submitted that tho conehad boon trumped up , to increase tho prqjudico against such institutions , and urged that if tho charge had l > ecn honestly made , tho aunt horsolf would liave been prosont . Ilo then called witnesses , who contradicted almost every statement of tho plaintiff .
Madame Dossvillo , who had Wm the superior when Griffiths first came to tho convent , and had been succeeded by Madamo lie rEupinasso , guve noino account of tho mode of life of the orphanage chug . She Btiid they had meufc four times a-week . The children wore
never kept in the " trial class" room for any length of time , but were always allowed to take exercise during the day . They were placed with their faces to the wall , to avoid the temptation of speaking . Griffiths appeared very weak and feeble when she came to the convent ; she was treated with every kindness and attention . A certain amount of food was allowed for the children , but she believed they alwayB had more . Madame De l'Espinasse , who succeeded Madame Dossville , did not think that she had ever punished Griffiths in any way , or ordered any punishment to be inflicted on her . She had never placed her in the trial class or in the kitchen . The directions which Dr .
Chapman had given as to her treatment had been carried out in every particular . It was by his directions that she was placed in a dark room . She was placed in several rooms , one of which was very small , being eight feet by five , but she was not kept long in this room . She had a seat in each room . She was kept apart from the others , at first , because she had an eruption on the skin . She could not have been forgotten for a day and * a night when she was in the darkened room : the arrangements of the convent would render such a thing impossible . She was never forced to go to confession , nor was any threat ever
made use of to compel her to do so . She was never punished by prostration . Madame De FEspinasse never refused to allow her to go with her aunt to see the oculist . Her aunt never made any complaint as to her treatment , but , on the contrary , expressed great gratitude for the kindness shown to her . Madame de l'Espinasse continued the system of diet which had been practised by Madame Dossville , with but little alteration . She provided meat for the children five times aweek . The meat given to them was of the same kind as that provided for the boarders , who paid 30 Z . a-year . The weekly consumption of meat was from 350 to 370
pounds , and there were about 100 inmates in the house . The children were allowed to go out to walk for an hour af ter dinner , and , in summer , for half an hour after breakfast . There were generally about thirty children in delicate health in the establishment , and these were allowed more meat . [ It seems as if there must be some error in this statement , as there were but thirty-two in the orphanage class ; — - especially when compared with the subsequent statement of Mr . Chapman , that the health of these children was remarkably good . ] Fifteen , only , of the orphanage class were paid for entirely , the rest being partly supported by the establishment . Madame De l'Espinasse positively declared that Griffiths was never treated in any way differently from the others , except in
accordance with the medical directions . She was , in fact , treated rather more favourably than the others , as they had an especial interest in her . On cross-examination , Madame De L'Espinaase said that one child wished to remain in the trial class room for an indefinite period , in order that she might correct herself . The chief severity of this punishment was , that they were separated from the other children , and were not allowed to speak to one another . They were never more than six hours during the day in that room , except in rainy weather , when they might have been there twelve hours . It was not by tho desire of the aunt that Griffiths left the convent , but , when the aunt took her away the first time , Madame Do l'Espinasso wished to get rid of the girl altogether . She was never locked up in a dork room * but remained there voluntarily .
Mr . Chapman , the medical officer to tho convent , said , that the general health of tho establishment was very good , and tho health of the orphans in particular . He had seen Griffiths in January , 1850 , and had been struck with her scrofulous appearance . He had no reason to suppose that she did not have proper food or that his recommendations had not been complied with . Ho had no doubt that tho complaint in her eye reaulted from a scrofulous habit of body . He thought tho diet of tho establishment was quite sufficient for the children . Tho kitchen of the convent
was well ventilated , and ho saw no dump about it . Mr . W . Street , a surgeon at Norwood , called at tho request of the plaintiff's friends , confirmed Mr . Chapman s opinions as to the treatment of Griffiths . From all that ho had Been , the convent appeared to bo conducted with great care und kindness , particularly in cases of Mucks . He did not think that a child of the age of Griffiths was at all likely to bo injured by being kept in tho trial class-room at intervals during the day .
Miss Eliza Forlwa Leith , ono of tho nuns at Norwood , was next called , und confirmed the former statemen t * respecting tho diet at tho establishment . Meat waa provided for tho children five times u week , and tho quantity was ample . Tho brcukfuut soup , however , wus made of dripping and broth . Six poor person * wore supported by what wus lof t ou the pla te throughout the establishment . Sho hod the charge of tho chiflfl in which Griffith * wan placed , and a » fiur
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Atrcpsf 14 , 1852 ] THE LEADER . 760
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 14, 1852, page 769, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1947/page/5/
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