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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The principal authorities for the following work are the four volumes of Correspondence published by M. Arneth, and the six volumes published by M. Feuillet de Conches. M. Arneth's two collections[1] contain not only a number of letters which passed between the queen, her mother the Empress- queen (Maria Teresa), and her brothers Joseph and Leopold, who successively became emperors after the death of their father; but also a regular series of letters from the imperial embassador at Paris, the Co
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Importance of Marie Antoinette in the Revolution.—Value of her Correspondence as a Means of estimating her Character.—Her Birth, November 2d, 1755.—Epigram of Metastasio.—Habits of the Imperial Family.—Schönbrunn.—Death of the Emperor.—Projects for the Marriage of the Archduchess.—Her Education.—The Abbé de Vermond.—Metastasio.— Gluck. Proposal for the Marriage of Marie Antoinette to the Dauphin.—Early Education of the Dauphin.—The Archduchess leaves Vienna in April, 1770.— Her Reception at Stra
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
Marie Antoinette wishes to see Paris.—Intrigues of Madame Adelaide.— Characters of the Dauphin and the Count de Provence.—Grand Review at Fontainebleau.—Marie Antoinette in the Hunting Field.—Letter from her to the Empress. Mischievous Influence of the Dauphin's Aunts on her Character.—Letter of Marie Antoinette to the Empress.—Her Affection for her Old Home.—The Princes are recalled from Exile.—Lord Stormont.—Great Fire at the Hôtel-Dieu.—Liberality of Charity of Marie Antoinette.—She goes to t
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Marie Antoinette is anxious for the Maintenance of the Alliance between France and Austria.—She, with the Dauphin, makes a State Entry into Paris.—The "Dames de la Halle."—She praises the Courtesy of the Dauphin.—Her Delight at the Enthusiasm of the Citizens.—She, with the Dauphin, goes to the Theatre, and to the Fair of St. Ovide, and to St. Cloud.—Is enthusiastically received everywhere.—She learns to drive. —She makes some Relaxations in Etiquette.—Marriage of the Comte d'Artois.—The King's H
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LIFE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE. CHAPTER I.
LIFE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE. CHAPTER I.
Importance of Marie Antoinette in the Revolution.—Value of her Correspondence as a Means of estimating her Character.—Her Birth, November 2d, 1755.—Epigram of Metastasio.—Habits of the Imperial Family.—Schönbrunn.—Death of the Emperor.—Projects for the Marriage of the Archduchess.—Her Education.—The Abbé de Vermond.—Metastasio.— Gluck. The most striking event in the annals of modern Europe is unquestionably the French Revolution of 1789—a Revolution which, in one sense, may be said to be still i
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
Proposal for the Marriage of Marie Antoinette to the Dauphin.—Early Education of the Dauphin.—The Archduchess leaves Vienna in April, 1770.— Her Reception at Strasburg.—She meets the King at Compiègne.—The Marriage takes place May 16th, 1770. Royal marriages had been so constantly regarded as affairs of state, to be arranged for political reasons, that it had become usual on the Continent to betroth princes and princesses to each other at a very early age; and it was therefore not considered as
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
Feelings in Germany and France on the Subject of the Marriage.—Letter of Maria Teresa to the Dauphin—Characters of the Different Members of the Royal Family.—Difficulties which beset Marie Antoinette.—Maria Teresa's Letter of Advice.—The Comte de Mercy is sent as Embassador to France to act as the Adviser of the Dauphiness.—The Princesse de Lorraine at the State Ball.—A Great Disaster takes place at the Fire-works in Paris. —The Peasant at Fontainebleau.—Marie Antoinette pleases the King.— Descr
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
Marie Antoinette gives her Mother her First Impressions of the Court and of her own Position and Prospects.—Court Life at Versailles.—Marie Antoinette shows her Dislike of Etiquette.—Character of the Duc d'Aiguillon.—Cabals against the Dauphiness.—Jealousy of Mme. du Barri.— The Aunts, too, are Jealous of Her.—She becomes more and more Popular.— Parties for Donkey-riding.—Scantiness of the Dauphiness's Income.—Her Influence over the King.—The Duc de Choiseul is dismissed.—She begins to have Grea
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
Mercy's Correspondence with Empress.—Distress and Discontent pervade France.—Goldsmith predicts a Revolution.—Apathy of the King.—The Aunts mislead Marie Antoinette.—Maria Teresa hears that the Dauphiness neglects her German Visitors.—Marriage of the Count de Provence.—Growing Preference of Louis XV. for the Dauphiness.—The Dauphiness applies herself to Study.—Marie Antoinette becomes a Horsewoman.—Her Kindness to all beneath her.—Cabals of the Adherents of the Mistress.—The Royal Family become
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
Marie Antoinette wishes to see Paris.—Intrigues of Madame Adelaide.— Characters of the Dauphin and the Count de Provence.—Grand Review at Fontainebleau.—Marie Antoinette ill the Hunting Field.—Letter from her to the Empress.—Mischievous Influence of the Dauphin's Aunts on her Character.—Letter of Marie Antoinette to the Empress.—Her Affection for her Old House.—The Princes are recalled from Exile.—Lord Stormont.— Great Fire at the Hôtel-Dieu.—Liberality and Charity of Marie Antoinette.—She goes
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Marie Antoinette is anxious for the Maintenance of the Alliance between France and Austria.—She, with the Dauphin, makes a State Entry into Paris.—The "Dames de la Halle."—She praises the Courtesy of the Dauphin.—Her Delight at the Enthusiasm of the Citizens.—She, with the Dauphin, goes to the Theatre, and to the Fair of St. Ovide, and to St. Cloud.—Is enthusiastically received everywhere.—She learns to drive.— She makes some Relaxations in Etiquette.—Marriage of the Comte d'Artois. —The King's
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Court leaves Versailles for La Muette.—Feelings of the New Sovereigns.—Madame du Barri is sent to a Convent.—Marie Antoinette writes to Maria Teresa.—The Good Intentions of the New Sovereigns.— Madame Adelaide has the Small-pox.—Anxieties of Maria Teresa.— Mischievous Influence of the Aunts.—Position and Influence of the Count de Mercy.—Louis consults the Queen on Matters of Policy.—Her Prudence.— She begins to Purify the Court, and to relax the Rules of Etiquette.—Her Care of her Pages.—The
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
The Comte de Provence intrigues against the Queen.—The King gives her the Little Trianon,—She lays out an English Garden.—Maria Teresa cautions her against Expense.—The King and Queen abolish some of the Old Forms.— The Queen endeavors to establish Friendships with some of her Younger Ladies.—They abuse her Favor.—Her Eagerness for Amusement.—Louis enters into her Views.—Etiquette is abridged.—Private Parties at Choisy.— Supper Parties.—Opposition of the Princesses.—Some of the Courtiers are dis
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
Settlement of the Queen's Allowance.—Character and Views of Turgot.—She induces Gluck to visit Paris.—Performance of his Opera of "Iphigénie en Aulide."—The First Encore.—Marie Antoinette advocates the Re-establishment of the Parliaments, and receives an Address from them.— English Visitors at the Court.—The King is compared to Louis XII. and Henri IV.—The Archduke Maximilian visits his Sister.—Factious Conduct of the Princes of the Blood.—Anti-Austrian Feeling in Paris.—The War of Grains.—The K
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
Tea is introduced.—Horse-racing of Count d'Artois.—Marie Antoinette goes to see it—The Queen's Submissiveness to the Reproofs of the Empress.— Birth of the Duc d'Angoulême.—She at times speaks lightly of the King.— The Emperor remonstrates with her.—Character of some of the Queen's Friends.—The Princess de Lamballe.—The Countess Jules de Polignac.— They set the Queen against Turgot.—She procures his Dismissal.—She gratifies Madame Polignac's Friends.—Her Regard for the French People.— Water Part
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
Marie Antoinette finds herself in Debt.—Forgeries of her Name are committed.—The Queen devotes herself too much to Madame de Polignac and others.—Versailles is less frequented.—Remonstrances of the Empress.— Volatile Character of the Queen.—She goes to the Bals d'Opéra at Paris.— She receives the Duke of Dorset and other English Nobles with Favor.— Grand Entertainment given her by the Count de Provence.—Character of the Emperor Joseph.—He visits Paris and Versailles.—His Feelings toward and Conv
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
Impressions made on the Queen by the Emperor's Visit.—Mutual Jealousies of her Favorites.—The Story of the Chevalier d'Assas.—The Terrace Concerts at Versailles—More Inroads on Etiquette.—Insolence and Unpopularity of the Count d'Artois.—Marie Antoinette takes Interest in Politics.—France concludes an Alliance with the United States.—Affairs of Bavaria.—Character of the Queen's Letters on Politics.—The Queen expects to become a Mother.—Voltaire returns to Paris.—The Queen declines to receive him
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
Birth of Madame Royale.—Festivities of Thanksgiving.—The Dames de la Halle at the Theatre.—Thanksgiving at Notre Dame.—The King goes to a Bal d'Opéra.—The Queen's Carriage breaks down.—Marie Antoinette has the Measles.—Her Anxiety about the War.—Retrenchments of Expense. Mercy, while deploring the occasional levity of the queen's conduct, and her immoderate thirst for amusement, had constantly looked forward to the birth of a child as the event which, by the fresh and engrossing occupation it wo
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
Anglomania in Paris.—The Winter at Versailles.—Hunting.—Private Theatricals.—Death of Prince Charles of Lorraine.—Successes of the English in America.—Education of the Duc d'Angoulême.—Libelous Attacks on the Queen.—Death of the Empress.—Favor shown to some of the Swedish Nobles.—The Count de Fersen.—Necker retires from Office.—His Character. It is curious, while the resources of the kingdom were so severely taxed to maintain the war against England, of which every succeeding dispatch from the s
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CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Queen expects to be confined again.—Increasing Unpopularity of the King's Brothers.—Birth of the Dauphin.—Festivities.—Deputations from the Different Trades.—Songs of the Dames de la Halle.—Ball given by the Body-guard.—Unwavering Fidelity of the Regiment.—The Queen offers up her Thanksgiving at Notre Dame.—Banquet at the Hôtel de Ville.—Rejoicing in Paris. How irreparable his loss was, was shown by the rapid succession of finance ministers who, in the course of the next seven years, success
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CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
Madame de Guimenée resigns the Office of Governess of the Royal Children. —Madame de Polignac succeeds her.—Marie Antoinette's Views of Education.—Character of Madame Royale.—The Grand Duke Paul and his Grand Duchess visit the French Court.—Their Characters.—Entertainments given in their Honor.—Insolence of the Cardinal de Rohan.—His Character and previous Life.—Grand Festivities at Chantilly.—Events of the War.— Rodney defeats de Grasse.—The Siege of Gilbralter fails.—M. de Suffrein fights five
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CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Peace is re-established.—Embarrassments of the Ministry.—Distress of the Kingdom.—M. de Calonne becomes Finance Minister.—The Winter of 1783-'84 is very Severe.—The Queen devotes Large Sums to Charity.—Her Political Influence increases—Correspondence between the Emperor and her on European Politics.—The State of France.—The Baron de Breteuil.—Her Description of the Character of the King. The conclusion of peace between France and England was one of the earliest events of the year 1783, but it br
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CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XIX.
"The Marriage of Figaro"—Previous History and Character of Beaumarchais. —The Performance of the Play is forbidden.—It is said to be a little altered.—It is licensed.—Displeasure of the Queen.—Visit of Gustavus III. of Sweden.—Fête at the Trianon.—Balloon Ascent. In the spring of 1784, the court and capital wore wrought up to a high pitch of excitement by an incident which was in reality of so ordinary and trivial a character, that it would be hard to find a more striking proof how thoroughly un
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CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XX.
St. Cloud is purchased for the Queen.—Libelous Attacks on her.—Birth of the Duc de Normandie.—Joseph presses her to support his Views in the Low Countries.—-The Affair of the Necklace.—Share which the Cardinal de Rohan had in it.—The Queen's Indignation at his Acquittal.—Subsequent Career of the Cardinal. Marie Antoinette had long since completed her gardens at the Trianon, but the gradual change in the arrangements of the court had made a number of alterations requisite at Versailles, with whic
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CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXI.
The King visits Cherbourg.—Rarity of Royal Journeys.—The Princess Christine visits the Queen—Hostility of the Duc d'Orléans to the Queen.— Libels on her.—She is called Madame Deficit.—She has a Second Daughter, who dies.—Ill Health of the Dauphin.—Unskillfulness and Extravagance of Calonne's System of Finance.—Distress of the Kingdom.—He assembles the Notables.—They oppose his Plans.—Letters of Marie Antoinette on the Subject.—Her Ideas of the English Parliament.—Dismissal of Calonne.— Character
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CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII.
Formidable Riots take place in some Provinces.—The Archbishop invites Necker to join his Ministry.—Letter of Marie Antoinette describing her Interview with the Archbishop, and her Views.—Necker refuses.—The Queen sends Messages to Necker.—The Archbishop resigns, and Necker becomes Minister.—The Queen's View of his Character.—General Rejoicing.—Defects in Necker's Character.—He recalls the Parliament.—Riots in Paris.— Severe Winter.—General Distress.—Charities of the King and Queen.— Gratitude of
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CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Reveillon Riot.—Opening of the States-general.—The Queen is insulted by the Partisans of the Duc d'Orléans.—Discussions as to the Number of Chambers.—Career and Character of Mirabeau.—Necker rejects his Support. —He determines to revenge himself.—Death of the Dauphin. The meeting of the States-general, as has been already seen, was fixed for the 4th of May, 1789; and, as if it were fated that the bloody character of the period now to be inaugurated should be displayed from the very outset, t
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CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Troops are brought up from the Frontier.—The Assembly petitions the King to withdraw them.—He refuses.—He dismisses Necker.—-The Baron de Breteuil is appointed Prime Minister.—Terrible Riots in Paris.—The Tri-color Flag is adopted.—Storming of the Bastile and Murder of the Governor.—The Count d'Artois and other Princes fly from the Kingdom.—The King recalls Necker.—Withdraws the Soldiers and visits Paris.—Formation of the National Guard.-Insolence of La Fayette and Bailly.—Madame de Tourzel beco
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXV.
Necker resumes Office.—Outrages in the Provinces.—Pusillanimity of the Body of the Nation.—Parties in the Assembly.—Views of the Constitutionalists or "Plain."—Barnave makes Overtures to the Court.—The Queen rejects them.—The Assembly abolishes all Privileges, August 4th.— Debates on the Veto.—An Attack on Versailles is threatened.—Great Scarcity in Paris.—The King sends his Plate to be melted down.—The Regiment of Flanders is brought up to Versailles.—A Military Banquet is held in the Opera-hou
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CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Feelings of Marie Antoinette on coming to the Tuileries.—Her Tact in winning the Hearts of the Common People.—Mirabeau changes his Views.— Quarrel between La Fayette and the Duc d'Orléans.—Mirabeau desires to offer his Services to the Queen.—Riots in Paris.—Murder of François.— The Assembly pass a Vote prohibiting any Member from taking Office.—The Emigration.—Death of the Emperor Joseph II.—Investigation into the Riots of October.—The Queen refuses to give Evidence.—Violent Proceedings in the A
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CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The King accepts the Constitution so far as it has been settled.—The Queen makes a Speech to the Deputies.—She is well received at the Theatre.—Negotiations with Mirabeau.—The Queen's Views of the Position of Affairs.—The Jacobin Club denounces Mirabeau.—Deputation of Anacharsis Clootz.—Demolition of the Statue of Louis XIV.—Abolition of Titles of Honor.—The Queen admits Mirabeau to an Audience.—His Admiration of her Courage and Talents.—Anniversary of the Capture of the Bastile.—Fête of the Cha
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Great Tumults in the Provinces.—Mutiny in the Marquis de Bouillé's Army. —Disorder of the Assembly.—Difficulty of managing Mirabeau.—Mercy is removed to The Hague.—Marie Antoinette sees constant Changes in the Aspect of Affairs.—Marat denounces Her.—Attempts are made to assassinate Her.—Resignation of Mirabeau.—Misconduct of the Emigrant Princes. But men less blinded by the feverish excitement of revolutionary enthusiasm would have seen but little in the state of France at this time to regard as
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CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Louis and Marie Antoinette contemplate Foreign Intervention.—The Assembly passes Laws to subordinate the Church to the Civil Power.—Insolence of La Fayette.—Marie Antoinette refuses to quit France by Herself.—The Jacobins and La Fayette try to revive the Story of the Necklace.—Marie Antoinette with her Family.—Flight from Paris is decided on.—The Queen's Preparations and Views.—An Oath to observe the new Ecclesiastical Constitution is imposed on the Clergy.—The King's Aunts leave France. The las
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CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXX.
The Mob attacks the Castle at Vincennes.—La Fayette saves it.—He insults the Nobles who come to protect the King.—Perverseness of the Count d'Artois and the Emigrants.—Mirabeau dies.—General Sorrow for his death.—He would probably not have been able to arrest the Revolution.— The Mob prevent the King from visiting St. Cloud.—The Assembly passes a Vote to forbid him to go more than twenty Leagues from Paris. The mob, however, was more completely under Jacobin influence; and, at the end of Februar
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CHAPTER XXXI.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Plans for the Escape of the Royal Family.—Dangers of Discovery.— Resolution of the Queen.—The Royal Family leave the Palace.—They are recognized at Ste. Menehould.—Are arrested at Varennes.—Tumult in the City, and in the Assembly.—The King and Queen are brought back to Paris. Marie Antoinette, as we have seen, had been anxious that their departure from Paris should not be delayed beyond the end of May, and De Bouillé had agreed with her; but enterprises of so complicated a character can rarely b
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CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Marie Antoinette's Feelings on her Return.—She sees Hopes of Improvement.—The 17th of July.—The Assembly inquire into the King's Conduct on leaving Paris.—They resolve that there is no Reason for taking Proceedings.—Excitement in Foreign Countries.—The Assembly proceeds to complete the Constitution.—It declares all the Members Incapable of Election to the New Assembly.—Letters of Marie Antoinette to the Emperor and to Mercy.—The Declaration of Pilnitz.—The King accepts the Constitution.—Insults
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Composition of the New Assembly.—Rise of the Girondins,—Their Corruption and Eventual Fate.—Vergniaud's Motions against the King.—Favorable Reception of the King at the Assembly, and at the Opera.—Changes in the Ministry.—The King's and Queen's Language to M. Bertrand de Moleville.— The Count de Narbonne.—Pétion is elected Mayor of Paris.—Scarcity of Money, and Great Hardships of the Royal Family.—Presents arrive from Tippoo Sahib.—The Dauphin.—The Assembly passes Decrees against the Priests and
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Death of Leopold.—Murder of Gustavus of Sweden.—Violence of Vergniaud. —The Ministers resign.—A Girondin Ministry is appointed.—Character of Dumouriez.—Origin of the Name Sans-culottes.—Union of Different Parties against the Queen.—War is declared against the Empire.—Operations in the Netherlands.—Unskillfulness of La Fayette.—The King falls into a State of Torpor.—Fresh Libels on the Queen.—Barnave's Advice.—Dumouriez has an Audience of the Queen.—Dissolution of the Constitutional Guard.— forma
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CHAPTER XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Insurrection of June 20th. Both Jacobins and Girondins felt that the departure of Dumouriez from Paris had removed a formidable obstacle from their path, and they at once began to hurry forward the preparations for their meditated insurrection. The general gave in his resignation on the 15th of June, and the 20th was fixed for an attack on the palace, by which its contrivers designed to effect the overthrow of the throne, if not the destruction of the entire royal family. It was organized wi
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Feelings of Marie Antoinette.—Different Plans are formed for her Escape. —She hopes for Aid from Austria and Prussia.—La Fayette comes to Paris. —His Mismanagement.—An Attempt is made to assassinate the Queen.—The Motion of Bishop Lamourette.—The Feast of the Federation.—La Fayette proposes a Plan for the King's Escape.—Bertrand proposes Another.—Both are rejected by the Queen. We can do little more than guess at the feelings of Marie Antoinette after such a day of horrors. She could scarcely ve
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Preparation for a New Insurrection.—Barbaroux brings up a Gang from Marseilles.—The King's last Levee.—The Assembly rejects a Motion for the Impeachment of La Fayette.—It removes some Regiments from Paris.— Preparations of the Court for Defense.—The 10th of August.—The City is in Insurrection.—Murder of Mandat.—Louis reviews the Guards.—He takes Refuge with the Assembly.—Massacre of the Swiss Guards.—Sack of the Tuileries.—Discussions in the Assembly.—The Royal Authority is suspended. The die wa
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Indignities to which the Royal Family are subjected.—They are removed to the Temple.—Divisions in the Assembly.—Flight of La Fayette.—Advance of the Prussians.—Lady Sutherland supplies the Dauphin with Clothes.—Mode of Life in the Temple.—The Massacres of September.—The Death of the Princess de Lamballe.—Insults are heaped on the King and Queen.—The Trial of the King.—His Last Interview with his Family.—His Death. From the 11th of August the life of Marie Antoinette is almost a blank to us. We m
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Queen is refused Leave to see Cléry.—Madame Royale is taken Ill.— Plans are formed for the Queen's Escape by MM. Jarjayes, Toulan, and by the Baron de Batz.—Marie Antoinette refuses to leave her Son.—Illness of the young King.—Overthrow of the Girondins.—Insanity of the Woman Tison.—Kindness of the Queen to her.—Her Son is taken from her, and intrusted to Simon.—His Ill-treatment.—The Queen is removed to the Conciergerie.—She is tried before the Revolutionary Tribunal.—She is condemned.—Her
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PREFACE
PREFACE
[1] One entitled "Marie-Antoinette, correspondance secrète entre Marie- Thérèse et le Comte Mercy d'Argenteau, avec des lettres de Marie-Thérèse et de Marie-Antoinette." (The edition referred to in this work is the greatly enlarged second edition in three volumes, published at Paris, 1875.) The second is entitled "Marie-Antoinette, Joseph II., and Leopold II," published at Leipsic, 1866. [2] Entitled "Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, et Madame Elizabeth," in six volumes, published at intervals from
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
[1] Sainte-Beuve, "Nouveaux Lundis," August 8th, 1864....
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
[1] "Histoire de Marie Antoinette," par E. and J. de Goncourt, p. 11. [2] How popular masked halls were in London at this time may be learned from Walpole's "Letters," and especially from a passage in which he gives an account of one given by "sixteen or eighteen young Lords" just two months before this ball at Vienna.— Walpole to Mann , dated February 27th, 1770. Some one a few years later described the French nation as half tiger and half monkey; and it is a singular coincidence that Walpole's
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
[1] The word is Maria Teresa's own; "anti-français" occurring in more than one of her letters. [2] Quoted by Mme. du Deffand in a letter to Walpole, dated May 19th, 1770 ("Correspondance complète de Mme. du Deffand," ii., p.59). [3] Mercy to Marie-Thérèse, August 4th, 1770; "Correspondance secrète entre Marie-Thérèse et la Comte de Mercy Argenteau, avec des Lettres de Marie-Thérèse et Marie Antoinette," par M. le Chevalier Alfred d'Arneth, i., p. 29. For the sake of brevity, this Collection will
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
[1] Dates 9th and 12th., Arneth, i., pp. 16, 18. [2] Marly was a palace belonging to the king, but little inferior in splendor to Versailles itself, and a favorite residence of Louis XV., because a less strict etiquette had been established there. Choisy and Bellevue, which will often be mentioned in the course of this narrative, were two others of the royal palaces on a somewhat smaller scale. They have both been destroyed. Marly, Choisy, and Bellevue were all between Versailles and Paris. [3]
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
[1] See the "Citizen of the World," Letter 55. Reference has often been made to Lord Chesterfield's prediction of the French Revolution. But I am not aware that any one has remarked on the equally acute foresight of Goldsmith. [2] Letter of April 16th, 1771, Arneth, i., p. 148. [3] Arneth, i., p. 186. [4] Maria Teresa to Marie Antoinette, July 9th, and August 17th, Arneth, i., p. 196. [5] "Ne soyez pas honteuse d'être allemande jusqu'aux gaucheries…. Le Français vous estimera plus et fera plus d
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
[1] Mercy's letter to the empress, August 14th, 1772, Arneth, i., p. 335. [2] Mercy to Maria Teresa, November 14th, 1772, Arneth, i., p. 307. [3] Marie Antoinette to Maria Teresa, December 15th, 1772, Arneth, i., p. 382. [4] Her sister Caroline, Queen of Naples. [5] Her brother Leopold, at present Grand Duke of Tuscany, afterward emperor. His wife, Marie Louise, was a daughter of Charles III. of Spain. [6] They, with several of the princes of the blood and some of the peers, as already mentioned
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
[1] They have not, however, been preserved. [2] Mercy to Maria Teresa, June 16th, 1773, Arneth, i., p. 467. [3] "Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI., et la Famille Royale", p. 23. [4] Marie Antoinette to Maria Theresa, July 17th, Arneth, ii., p. 8. [5] "Histoire de Marie Antoinette," par M. de Goncourt, p. 50. Quoting an unpublished journal by M.M. Hardy, in the Royal Library. [6] It is the name by which she is more than once described in Madame du Deffand's letters. See her "Correspondence," ii., p. 3
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
[1] Mercy to Maria Teresa, August 14th, 1773, Arneth, ii., p. 31. [2] The money was a joint gift from herself as well as from him. Great distress, arising from the extraordinarily high price of bread, was at this time prevailing in Paris. [3] The term most commonly used by Marie Antoinette in her letters to her mother to describe Madame du Barri. She was ordered to retire to the Abbey of Pont-aux-Dames, near Meaux. Subsequently she was allowed to return to Luciennes, a villa which her royal love
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
[1] The title by which the count was usually known: that of the countess was madame. [2] St. Simon, 1709, ch. v., and 1715, ch. i, vols. vii. and xiii., ed. 1829. [3] Ibid., 1700, ch xxx., vol. ii., p. 469. [4] Arneth, ii, p. 206. [5] Madame de Campan, ch. iv. [6] Madame de Campan, ch. v., p. 106. [7] Id. , p. 101. [8] " Sir Peter . Ah, madam, true wit is more neatly allied to good— nature than your ladyship is aware of."— School for Scandal , act ii., sc. 2....
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
[1] "Elle avait entièrement le défaut contraire [à la prodigalité], et je pouvais prouver qu'elle portait souvent l'économie jusqu'à des détails d'une mesquinerie blâmable, surtout dans une souveraine."—MADAME DE CAMPAN, ch. v., p. 106, ed. 1858. [2] Arneth, ii., p. 307. [3] See the author's "History of France under the Bourbons," iii., p. 418. Lacretelle, iv., p. 368, affirms that this outbreak, for which in his eyes "une prétendue disette" was only a pretext, was "évidemment fomenté par des ho
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
[1] "Gustave III. et la Cour de France," i. p. 279. [2] The Duc d'Angoulême, afterward dauphin, when the Count d'Artois succeeded to the throne as Charles X. [3] Marie Antoinette to Maria Teresa, August 12th, 1775, Arneth, ii., p. 366. [4] "Le projet de la reine était d'exiger du roi que le Sieur Turgot fût chassé, même envoyé à la Bastille … et il a fallu les représentations les plus fortes et les plus instantes pour arrêter les effets de la colère de la Reine."— Mercy to Maria Teresa , May 16t
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
[1] "Le petit nombre de ceux que la Reine appelle 'sa société'"— Mercy to Marie Teresa , February 15th, 1777, Arneth, iii., p. 18. [2] "Il faut cependant convenir que dans ces circonstances si rapprochées de la familiarité, la Reine, par un maintien qui tient à son âme, a toujours su imprimer à ceux qui l'entouraient une contenance de respect qui contrebalançait un peu la liberté des propos."— Mercy to Maria Teresa , Arneth, ii, p.520. [3] Brunoy is about fifteen miles from Paris. [4] "Au reste
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
[1] When Mercy remonstrated with her on her relapse into some of her old habits from which at first she seemed to have weaned herself, "La seule réponse que j'aie obtenu a été la crainte de s'ennuyer."— Mercy to Maria Teresa , November 19th, 1777, Arneth, iii., p. 13. [2] See Marie Antoinette's account to her mother of his quarrel with the Duchess de Bourbon at a bal de l'opéra , Arneth, iii., p. 174. [3] "Il y a apparence que notre marine dont on s'occupe depuis longtemps va bientôt être en act
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
[1] "La cour se précipite pêle-mêle avec la foule, car l'étiquette de France veut que tous entrent à ce moment, que nul ne soit refusé, et que le spectacle soit public d'une reine qui va donner un héritier à la couronne, ou seulement un enfant au roi."— Mém. de Goncourt , p. 105. [2] Arneth, iii., p. 270. [3] Madame de Campan, ch. ix. [4] Ibid ., ch. ix. [5] Chambrier, i., p. 394. [6] "Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI., et la Famille Royale," p. 147, December 24th, 1778. [7] Garde-malades was the nam
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
[1] "On assure que sa majesté ne joue pas bien; ce que personne, excepté le roi, n'a osé lui dire. Au contraire, on l'applaudit à tout rompre."— Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI. et la Famille Royale p. 203, date September 28th, 1780. [2] In May, 1780, Sir Henry Clinton took Charleston, with a great number of prisoners, a great quantity of stores and four hundred guns.—LORD STANHOPE'S History of England , ch. lxii. [3] "Cette disposition a été faite deux ans plutôt que ne le comporte l'usage établi p
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CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
[1] "Gustave III. et la Cour de France," i., p. 357. [2] Chambrier, i., p. 430; "Gustave III.," etc., i., p. 353. [3] "Gustave III.," etc., i., p. 353. [4] "Mémoires de Weber," i., p. 50. [5] "On s'arrêtait dans les rues, on se parlait sans se connaître."— Madame de Campan, ch. ix. [6] L'Oeil de Boeuf. [7] Madame de Campan, ch. ix.; "Marie Antoinette, Louis XII., et la Famille Royale," p. 238. [8] "Un soleil d'été"—Weber, i., p. 53. [9] La Muette derived its name from les mues of the deer who we
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CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
[1] Mercy to Maria Teresa, June 18th, 1780, Arneth iii., p. 440. [2] Le tabouret. See St. Simon. [3] See infra , the queen's letter to Madame de Tourzel, date July 25th, 1789. [4] "Souvenirs de Quarante Ans," by Mademoiselle de Tourzel, p. 20. [5] "Filia dolorosa."—Châteaubriand. [6] Napoleon, in 1814, called her the only man of her family. [7] Madame de Campan, ch. x. [8] Mémoires de Madame d'Oberkirch, i., p. 279 [9] The Marshal Prince de Soubise, whose incapacity and cowardice caused the disg
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CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
[1] Joseph to Marie Antoinette, date September 9th, 1783.— Marie Antoinette, Joseph II., and Leopold II. , p.30, which, to save such a lengthened reference, will hereafter be referred to as "Arneth." [2] She was again expecting a confinement; but, as had happened between the birth of Madame Royale and that of the dauphin, an accident disappointed her hope, and her third child was not born till 1785. [3] Date September 29th, 1783, Arneth, p. 35. [4] Ministre de la maison du roi. [5] Arneth, p. 38
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CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XIX.
[1] "Le roi signa une lettre de cachet qui défendait cette représentation."—Madame de Campan, ch. xi.; see the whole chapter. Madame de Campan's account of the queen's inclinations on the subject differs from that given by M. de Loménie, in his "Beaumarchais et son Temps," but seems more to be relied on, as she had certainly better means of information. [2] See M. Gaillard's report to the lieutenant of police.— Beaumarchais et son Temps , ii., p. 313. [3] "Il n'y a que les petits hommes qui redo
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CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XX.
[1] "De par la reine." [2] Madame de Campan, ch. xi. [3] "'La légèreté à tout croire et à tout dire des souverains,' écrit très justement M. Nisard ( Moniteur du 22 Janvier, 1886), 'est un des travers de notre pays, et comme le défaut de notre qualité de nation monarchique. C'est ce travers qui a tué Marie Antoinette par la main des furieux qui eurent peut-être des honnêtes gens pour complices. Sa mort devait rendre à jamais impossible en France la calomnie politique.'"—Chambrier, i., p. 494. [4
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CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXI.
[1] "Le duc déclarait de son côté à Mr. Elliott que … si la reine l'eût mieux traité il eut peut-être mieux fait."—Chambrier, i., p.519 [2] Sophie Hélène Béatrix, born July 9th, 1786, died June 9th, 1787, F. de Conches, i. p. 195. [3] See her letter to her brother, February, 1788, Arneth, p. 112. [4] "C'est un vrai enfant de paysan, grand frais et gros."—Arneth, pp. 113. [5] Feuillet de Conches, i, p. 195. [6] Apparently she means the Notables and the Parliament. [7] The Duc de Guines. [8] See a
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CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII.
[1] Feuillet de Conches, i., p. 205. [2] M. Foulon was about this time made paymaster of the army and navy, and was generally credited with ability as a financier; but he was unpopular, as a man of ardent and cruel temper, and was brutally murdered by the mob in one of the first riots of the Revolution. [3] The king. [4] Necker. [5] Feuillet de Conches, i., p. 214. [6] Ibid ., p. 217. [7] On one occasion when the Marquis de Bouillé pointed out to him the danger of some of his plans as placing th
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CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
[1] It was called "L'insurrection du Faubourg St. Antoine." [2] The best account of this riot is to be found in Dr. Moore's "Views of the Causes and Progress of the French Revolution," i., p. 189. [3] Madame de Campan specially remarks that the disloyal cry of "Vive le Duc d'Orléans" came from "les femmes du peuple" (ch. xiii.). [4] Afterward Louis Philippe, King of the French. [5] "View of the Causes and Progress of the French Revolution," by Dr. Moore, i., p. 144. [6] The dauphin was too ill t
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CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXIV.
[1] A letter of Madame Roland dated the 26th of this very month, July, 1789, declares that the people "are undone if the National Assembly does not proceed seriously and regularly to the trial of the illustrious heads [the king and queen], or if some generous Decius does not risk his life to take theirs." [2] This story reached even distant province. On the 24th of July Arthur Young, being at Colmar, was assured at the table-d'hôte "That the queen had a plot, nearly on the point of execution, to
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXV.
[1] "Mémoires de la Princesse de Lamballe," i., p. 342. [2] Les Gardes du Corps. [3] Louis Blanc, iii., p. 156, quoting the Procédure du Châtelet. [4] "Souvenirs de la Marquise de Créquy," vol. vii, p. 119. [5] There is some uncertainty where La Fayette slept that night. Lacretelle says it was at the "Maison du Prince de Foix, fort éloignée du château." Count Dumas, meaning to be as favorable to him as possible, places him at the Hôtel de Noailles, which is "not one hundred paces from the iron g
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CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVI.
[1] Madame de Campan, ch. xv. [2] F. de Conches, p. 264. [3] Madam de Campan, ch. xv. [4] See a letter from M. Huber to Lord Auckland, "Journal and Correspondence of Lord Auckland," ii, p. 365. [5] La Marck et Mirabeau, ii., pp. 90-93, 254. [6] "Arthur Young's Travels," etc., p. 264; date, Paris, January 4th, 1790. [7] Feuillet de Conches, iii., p. 229. [8] Joseph died February 20th. [9] "Je me flatte que je la mériterai [l'amitié et confiance] de votre part lorsque ma façon de penser et mon ten
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CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVII.
[1] Arthur Young's "Journal," January 4th, 1790, p. 251. [2] Feuillet de Conches, i., p. 315. [3] "Le mal déjà fait est bien grave, et je doute que Mirabeau lui-même puisse réparer celui qu'on lui a laissé faire."— Mirabeau et La Marck , i., p. 100. [4] La Marck et Mirabeau, i., p. 315. [5] Ibid. , p. 111. [6] Feuillet de Conches, i., p. 345. [7] Mirabeau et La Marck, i., p. 125. [8] He alludes to Maria Teresa's appearance at Presburg at the beginning of the Silesian war. [9] "Il lui [à l'Assemb
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
[1] We learn from Dr. Moore that there was a leader with five subaltern officers and one hundred and fifty rank and file in each gallery of the chamber; that the wages of the latter were from two to three francs a day; the subaltern had ten francs, the leaders fifty. The entire expense was about a thousand francs a day, a sum which strengthens the suspicion that the pay-master (originally, at least) was the Duc d'Orléans.—DR. MOORE'S View of the Causes, etc., of the French Revolution , i., p. 42
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CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXIX.
[1] The Marshal de Bouillé, who was La Fayette's cousin, says, in October of this year, "L'évêque de Pamiers me fit le tableau de la situation malheureux de ce prince et de la famille royale … que la rigueur et dureté de La Fayette, devenu leur geôlier, rendent de jour en jour plus insupportable."— Mémories de De Bouillé , pp. 175, 181. And in June he had remarked, "Que sa popularité (de La Fayette) dépendait plutôt de la captivité du roi, qu'il tenait prisonnier, et qui était sous sa garde, que
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CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXX.
[1] Feuillet de Conches, ii., p. 14, date March 7th. [2] Arneth, p. 146, letter of the queen to Leopold, February 27th, 1791. [3] Feuillet de Conches, ii., p. 20, date March 20th, 1791. [4] Letter of M. Simolin, the Russian embassador, April 4th, 1791, Feuillet de Conches, ii., p. 31. [5] "Souvenirs sur Mirabeau," par Étienne Dumont, p. 201. [6] In her letter to Mercy of August 16th, of which extracts are given in ch. xi., she takes credit for having encountered the dangers of the journey to Mon
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CHAPTER XXXI.
CHAPTER XXXI.
[1] Chambrier, ii., p. 86-88. [2] Lamartine's "Histoire des Girondins," ii., p. 15. [3] Moore's "View," ii., p. 367. [4] The Palais Royal had been named the Palais National. All signs with the portraits of the king or queen, all emblems of royalty, had been torn down. A shop-keeper was even obliged to erase his name from his shop because it was Louis.—MOORE'S View , etc., ii., p. 356....
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CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXII.
[1] A certain set of writers in this country at one time made La Fayette a subject for almost unmixed eulogy, with such earnestness that it may be worth while to reproduce the opinion expressed of him by the greatest of his contemporaries—a man as acute in his penetration into character as he was stainless in honor—the late Duke of Wellington. In the summer of 1815, he told Sir John Malcolm that "he had used La Fayette like a dog, as he merited. The old rascal," said he, "had made a false report
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
[1] "Mémoires Particuliers," etc., par A.F. Bertrand de Moleville, i., p. 355. Brissot, Isnard, Vergniaud, Gaudet, and an infamous ecclesiastic, the Abbé Fauchet, are those whom he particularly mentions, adding: "Mais M. de Lessart trouva que c'était les payer trop cher, et comme ils ne voulurent rien rabattre de leur demande, cette négociation n'eut aucune suite, et ne produisit d'autre effet que d'aigrir davantage ces cinq députés contre ce ministre." [2] Feuillet de Conches, ii., p.414, date
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
[1] Letter to Madame de Polignac, March 17th, Feuillet de Conches, v., p. 337. [2] The Monks of St. Bernard were known as Feuillants, from Feuillans, a village in Languedoc where their principal convent was situated. [3] Lamartine, "Histoire des Girondins," xiii., p.18. [4] The messenger was M. Goguelat: he took the name of M. Daumartin, and adhered to the cause of his sovereigns to the last moment of their lives. [5] Letter of the Count de Fersen, who was at Brussels, to Gustavus (who, however,
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CHAPTER XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXV.
[1] "Gare la Lanterne," alluding to the use of the chains to which the street-lamps were suspended as gibbets. [2] Madame de Campan, ch. xxi. [3] Dumas, "Memoirs of his Own Time," i., p. 353....
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
[1] To be issued by the foreign powers. [2] Feuillet de Conches, vi., p. 192, and Arneth, p. 265. [3] The day is not mentioned. "Lettres de la Reine Marie Antoinette à la Landgravine Louise," etc. p. 47. [4] The bearer was Prince George himself, but she does not venture to name him more explicitly. [5] Lamourette might correspond to the English name Lovekin. [6] Letter of the Princess Elizabeth, date July 16th, 1792, Feuillet de Conches, vi., p. 215. [7] It is remarkable, however, that, if we ar
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
[1] See ante . [2] "Histoire de la Terreur," par Mortimer Ternaux, ii., p. 269. For the transactions of this day, and of the following months, he is by far the most trustworthy guide, as having had access to official documents of which earlier writers were ignorant. But he admits the extreme difficulty of ascertaining the precise details and time of each event. And it is not easy in every instance to reconcile his account with that of Madame de Campan, on whom for many particulars he greatly rel
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
[1] "Dernières Années du Règne et de la Vie de Louis XVI.," par François Hue, p. 336. [2] For about a fortnight they had two, both men—Hue, the valet to the dauphin, as well as Cléry; but Hue was removed on the 2d of September. He, as well as Cléry, has left an account of the imprisonment till the day of his dismissal. [3] "Journal de ce qui s'est passé à la tour du Temple," etc. p.28, seq. [4] "Mémoires Particuliers," par Madame la Duchesse d'Angoulême, p. 21. [5] Decius was the hero whose exam
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
[1] Cléry's "Journal," p. 169. [2] In March, having an opportunity of communicating with the Count de Provence, she sent these precious memorials to him for safer custody, with a joint letter from herself and her three fellow-prisoners: "Having a faithful person on whom we can depend, I profit by the opportunity to send to my brother and friend this deposit, which may not be intrusted to any other hands. The bearer will tell you by what a miracle we were able to obtain these precious pledges. I
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