LAMARTINE'S MARRIAGE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2497, 6 January 1877, Page 4

LAMARTINE'S MARRIAGE.

The story of the marriage of Lamartine, the great French poet and statesman, is one of romantic interest. The lady was of an English family named Birch, and very Wealthy.' She first fell in love with the poet from reading his " Meditations Poetiques/' She was slightly past the ; bloom of youth, but still young and fair. She read and re r re.ad the "Meditations," and nursed the tender sentiment in secret. At length she saw Lamartioe in Genoa, and^her love became a part of her very life. Not long after this she was made acquainted with the fact that the poet was suffering, even to unhappiness, from the embarrassed state of > his pecuniary affairs. Miss Birch was not long in deciding upon her course. She would Dot allow the happiness of a lifetime to slip from JLier if she could prevent it. She wrote to the poet a frank and womanly letter, acknowledging her deep interest and profound..respec t and offering him the bulk of her fortune, if he were willing to accept it. Of course, Lamartine could not but suspect the truth. Deeply touched by her generosity, he called upon her, and found her to be not only fair to look upon, but a, woman of a brilliant literary and artistic education. He made an offer of his hand and heart* and was promptly and gladly accepted, and in after years Alfanse de Lamartine.owed not more to his wife's wealth than to her sustaining love ( and inspiring enthusiasm.