| Citation |
IL.780.013
22 May 1780:42 (2/102)
London. Extract of a letter from Paris January 6. A proof,
that a common stout young man has often a greater influence
upon the female mind, than the greatest philosopher, has
lately occurred here, in the singular instance of the widow
of the celebrated J. J. Rousseau, a lady of 55 years of age,
who has always been considered as a platonic lover, and an
example of chastity; and as she never loved her late
husband, has often declared it to be impossible for her to
love any man. This lady has, however, not been able,
notwithstanding the reiterated remonstrances of her
relations, and her late husband's friends, to withstand the
temptations of a young Englishman, who lived here as a
livery servant, with Mons. de Giradin, whom she has lately
married, and changed the celebrated name of Rousseau into
that of Collins. Whenever her friends, or any other persons
rally her on account of her recent marriage, all the answer
she gives are a few lines from an English ballad, which her
present husband has taught her to perfection:
"In spite of all my friends could say
Young Collins stole my heart away."
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