“This violent crisis had disturbed her whole organisation.  A cruel disorder, which required a still more cruel operation, soon manifested itself.  The presence of her family, a tour which she made in Switzerland, a residence at Baden, and, above all, the sight, the tender and charming conversation of a person by whom she was affectionately beloved, occasionally diverted her mind, and in a slight degree relieved her suffering.”  She underwent a serious operation, performed with extraordinary promptitude and the most complete success.  No unfavourable symptoms appeared; Madame Campan was thought to be restored to her friends; but the disorder was in the blood; it took another course:  the chest became affected.  “From that moment,” says M. Maigne, “I could never look on Madame Campan as living; she herself felt that she belonged no more to this world.”

“My friend,” she said to her physician the day before her death, “I am attached to the simplicity of religion.  I hate all that savours of fanaticism.”  When her codicil was presented for her signature, her hand trembled; “It would be a pity,” she said, “to stop when so fairly on the road.”

Madame Campan died on the 16th of March, 1822.  The cheerfulness she displayed throughout her malady had nothing affected in it.  Her character was naturally powerful and elevated.  At the approach of death she evinced the soul of a sage, without abandoning for an instant her feminine character.

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: 

Ah, Madame, we have all been killed in our masters’ service! 
Brought me her daughter Hortense de Beauharnais
Condescension which renders approbation more offensive
Difference between brilliant theories and the simplest practice
Extreme simplicity was the Queens first and only real mistake
I hate all that savours of fanaticism
If ever I establish a republic of women.... 
No ears that will discover when she (The Princess) is out of tune
Observe the least pretension on account of the rank or fortune
On domestic management depends the preservation of their fortune
Spirit of party can degrade the character of a nation
Tastes may change
The anti-Austrian party, discontented and vindictive
They say you live very poorly here, Moliere
True nobility, gentlemen, consists in giving proofs of it
We must have obedience, and no reasoning
What do young women stand in need of?—­Mothers! 
“Would be a pity,” she said, “to stop when so fairly on the road”
Your swords have rusted in their scabbards