The person whom I hope to see correct herself [the Duchesse de Berry]
has judgment and a good heart. One might hope for her return to better
ways if she were not in the midst of such bad company; her aunts and
cousins on the maternal side also set her a bad example, for they
lead the most irregular lives. The mother acts only from caprice;
one day she hates her daughter without knowing why; another she
approves of all she does, good or bad; that makes me fear that the
good resolutions made at Easter will have no results, and that the
devil will return to the house he left, accompanied by seven other
evil spirits more wicked than himself, as Holy Scripture tells us.
In short, one sees and hears nothing here but grievous things; I can
do nothing; and I am most sincerely afflicted. My daughter did not
stay here long enough for her good example to have any effect. They
asked me how I managed to bring her up so well; I answered: by always
talking reason to her; by showing her why such or such a thing was
good or bad; by never passing over any foolish caprice; by striving
as much as possible that she should not see bad examples; by not
disheartening her with attacks of ill-humour; by praising virtue,
and inspiring her with a horror of vice of all kinds. That is how I
brought up my daughter, who, thanks be to God, has won the respect
of all. But it is not to be supposed that we can bring up children
without giving ourselves great trouble; vigilance and activity are
indispensable.
In Germany there is one good thing: those who put no curb upon their
conduct are despised. Here it is not so; youth imagines that the
lectures of old persons are simply the result of bitterness in those
who did the same things themselves in other days. People with bad
reputations are just as well received and treated as those who have
always led good lives; and it is that sight which ruins youth.