WERCHAUFFEN (Baron de), one of Schirmer’s aliases. (See Schirmer.)

WIERZCHOWNIA (Adam de), Polish gentleman, who, after the last division of Poland, found refuge in Sweden, where he sought consolation in the study of chemistry, a study for which he had always felt a strong liking.  Poverty compelled him to give up his study, and he joined the French army.  In 1809, while on the way to Douai, he was quartered for one night with M. Balthazar Claes.  During a conversation with his host, he explained to him his ideas on the subject of “identity of matter” and the absolute, thus bringing misfortune on a whole family, for from that moment Balthazar Claes devoted time and money to this quest of the absolute.  Adam de Wierzchownia, while dying at Dresden, in 1812, of a wound received during the last wars, wrote a final letter to Balthazar Claes, informing him of the different thoughts relative to the search in question, which had been in his mind since their first meeting.  By this writing, he increased the misfortunes of the Claes family.  Adam de Wierzchownia had an angular wasted countenance, large head which was bald, eyes like tongues of fire, a large mustache.  His calmness of manner frightened Madame Balthazar Claes.[*] [The Quest of the Absolute.]

[*] Under the title of Gold, or the Dream of a Savant, there is a
    play by Bayard and Bieville, which presents the misfortunes of the
    Claes.  This was given at the Gymnase, November 11, 1837, by M.
    Bouffe and Madame E. Sauvage, both of whom are still alive.

WILLEMSENS (Marie-Augusta). (See Brandon,[*] Comtesse de.)

[*] Lady Brandon was the mother of Louis Gaston and Marie Gaston.

WIMPHEN (De), married a friend of Madame d’Aiglemont’s childhood. [A
Woman of Thirty.]

WIMPHEN (Madame Louisa de), childhood friend of Madame Julie d’Aiglemont in school at Ecouen.  In 1814, Madame d’Aiglemont wrote to the companion, who was then on the point of marrying, of her own disillusionment, and confidentially advised her to remain single.  This letter, however, was not sent, for the Comtesse de Listomere-Landon, aunt of Julie d’Aiglemont by marriage, having found out about it, discouraged such an impropriety on the part of her niece.  Unlike her friend, Madame de Wimphen married happily.  She retained the confidence of Madame d’Aiglemont, and was present, indeed, at the important interview between Julie and Lord Grenville.  After M. de Wimphen’s arrival to accompany his wife home, these two lovers were left alone, until the unexpected arrival of M. d’Aiglemont made it necessary for Lord Grenville to conceal himself.  The Englishman died shortly after this as a result of the night’s exposure, when he was obliged to stay in the cold on the outside of a window-sill.  This happened also immediately after his fingers were bruised by a rapidly closed door. [A Woman of Thirty.]