“What has been seen at Dieppe alone, is a young Princess, braving all the dangers of a wild sea, re maining on the end of the jetty to direct the succor of the fishing-boats that were seeking refuge in the harbor.  She seemed placed there by the Deity as a protecting angel, and the sailors who saw her took courage again.”

She withdrew from the dangerous place, which she called her post, only when all the barks had entered port.  One man only had perished.  Before even changing her clothing the Princess sent relief to his widow.

By her kindness, her charity, her grace, Madame won all hearts.  Her protection revived at Dieppe the commerce in ivory and laces.  She gave two brevets, one in her own name, the other in that of Mademoiselle, to the best two manufacturers in the city, and made considerable purchases.  She founded at her expense, under the direction of the Sisters of Providence, a manufactory of laces where a large number of young girls obtained at the same time the means of living and the benefits of a Christian education.  Between the Princess and her good city of Dieppe there was a constant exchange of delicate attentions and proofs of sympathy.  When she was spoken to of preparations for departure, “Already?” she said sadly.  She left the 19th of September, 1826, and returned the following year.

The 6th of August, 1827, Madame made an entry to Dieppe by the hamlet of Janval.  A great crowd went to visit her, and greeted her with enthusiastic cheers.  The 13th of August, the city offered her a great ball, at which more than twelve hundred persons attended.  On the 16th, the portrait of the Princess was unveiled at the Hotel de Ville.  At the moment that the veil was raised, the band of the fifth regiment of the royal guard played the air of Vive Henri IV. amid long applause.  The mayor of Dieppe, M. Cavalier, pronounced a discourse in which he expressed the gratitude of the inhabitants, and promised that the cherished image should be surrounded, age after age, by the veneration of a city whose history was one of constant devotion to its Kings.  In the evening Madame gave a soiree at which the hereditary Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt was present.  Rossini was at the piano and sang with his wife and with Balfe; Nadermann played the harp.

The Duchess of Berry made numerous excursions by sea, even in the worst weather.  One day, at least, she was in some danger.  The sailors admired her good spirits and her courage.  “Oh,” they said, “she is indeed a worthy descendant of Henry IV.”

The 4th of September, 1827, Mademoiselle, with her governess, the Duchess of Gontaut, came to join her mother at Dieppe.  The little Princess was to be eight years old the 2lst of the month.  A formal reception was given her.  Her arrival was announced by the noise of cannon and the sound of bells.  The Baron de Viel-Castel, sub-prefect of the city, made a complimentary address to her.  She responded in the most gracious manner, “I know how much you love my mother, and I loved you in advance.”