The French Nun

Here is a story of a nun from France who found herself seduced by a Count. While seduction always makes for a story within itself, I feel that the real twist in this tale is the way in which Angelica, the nun, first entered the convent and how she was later released from her vows. 

The Times, Thursday, Sep 07, 1786; pg. 3; Issue 523; col C

This is the story of the French nun:

There is in France, amongst other religious nuisances, an order of nuns, who, of all their vows, keep most rigidly that of poverty. They are on this account permitted, once a year, to go about and solicit the charities of all good Christians, and never return empty handed. As these alms are by them collected during lent, they are generally called Hirondolles de Careme. They always go in pairs, when upon those expeditions, an old and a young one, the latter as much as possible handsome, gay, and lively. They fondly imagine, that the sanctity of their habit and profession is a sufficient guard against any attempt from profane men, and yet these young saints often become the heroines of some love adventure. 

Monsieur le Compte de __, never failed giving those pretty mendicants the most cordial reception, for which reason he was constantly visited, annually, by the two same sisters. This year he observed; that they had sent a new face, and enquiring of the old one what might be the reason. "Here," said she; "Monsieur, this parcel will tell you more about the poor sister Angelica, who has been very ill for these three months past; so saying, she left the bundle on the table and retired in some confusion. The Comte, as soon as she went out of the room, and indeed the house, which she quitted abruptly, uncased the parcel, and, to his utter astonishment, found it contained a beautiful child, about two months old. The sweet innocent child smiled at the Comte, who taking it up eagerly into his arms, kissed and bedewed its cheeks with the tears of sensibility.  Indeed, continues our correspondent, I do not recollect to have ever witnessed so affecting a scene, but more was to come; as I was more collected than the Comte, I perceived and pointed to him a letter pinned to the child's breast; he snatched it up; tenderness, indignation, and heart felt concern were visible by turns in his countenance during the perusal, and he imparted to me the contents.

Sister Angelica, the fair writer of the moving epistle, upbraided him for his perfidy in seducing her when she was last at his house, but fairly confessed that her inclination had but too well pleaded his cause in her heart. The rest of the letter was filled up with expressions of the liveliest contrition for her past folly, recommending the infant to his particular care, and concluded by acquainting him that she was the sole daughter of the Marchioness de __, who, as it is but too common in France, had, for the sake of a brother, since dead, forced her into a convent, and to take the veil.

The Comte who is, without exception, one of the best and most tender hearted men, could not stand against such a tale of woe, instantly took the proper steps which the law directs in such cases, where compulsion has been used. His cause was that of humanity, he pleaded it feeling, and soon set the unfortunate victim at liberty, and crowned so noble a work by giving her his hand, as the only means of atoning for his past offences. The Marchioness is since dead, and the Comtesse is now in possession of 60,000 livres annual income in her own right. 

In the end, it seems that Angelica has made for herself a pleasant life - that is, however, with the assumption that the correspondent was correct when writing that the seduction was of her own inclination as well as the Count's. She is released from the vows she was forced to take, free from the family that released her into a life she did not want, happily rich, and, hopefully, quite content with her Count and child. Perhaps all ended well for the young French nun.