| Citation |
VGW(PU.780.001
13 May 1780:22 (255)
A late London paper has the following curious extract of a
letter from Paris dated January the 6th.
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 John James Rousseau, a lady of
fifty five 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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