the memoirs of marie antoinette-第27节
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The Comte d'Artoisi had an agreeable countenance； was well made； skilful in bodily exercises； lively； impetuous； fond of pleasure； and very particular in his dress。 Some happy observations made by him were repeated with approval； and gave a favourable idea of his heart。 The Parisians liked the open and frank character of this Prince； which they considered national； and showed real affection for him。
The dominion that the Queen gained over the King's mind； the charms of a society in which Monsieur displayed his wit； and to which the Comte d'Artois＇Afterwards Charles X。＇ gave life by the vivacity of youth； gradually softened that ruggedness of manner in Louis XVI。 which a better…conducted education might have prevented。 Still； this defect often showed itself； and； in spite of his extreme simplicity； the King inspired those who had occasion to speak to him with diffidence。 Courtiers； submissive in the presence of their sovereign； are only the more ready to caricature him； with little good breeding； they called those answers they so much dreaded； Les coups de boutoir du Roi。＇The literal meaning of the phrase 〃coup de boutoir；〃 is a thrust from the snout of a boar。＇
Methodical in all his habits； the King always went to bed at eleven precisely。 One evening the Queen was going with her usual circle to a party； either at the Duc de Duras's or the Princesse de Glumenee's。 The hand of the clock was slily put forward to hasten the King's departure by a few minutes； he thought bed…time was come； retired； and found none of his attendants ready to wait on him。 This joke became known in all the drawing…rooms of Versailles； and was disapproved of there。 Kings have no privacy。 Queens have no boudoirs。 If those who are in immediate attendance upon sovereigns be not themselves disposed to transmit their private habits to posterity； the meanest valet will relate what he has seen or heard； his gossip circulates rapidly； and forms public opinion； which at length ascribes to the most august persons characters which； however untrue they may be； are almost always indelible。
NOTE。 The only passion ever shown by Louis XVI。 was for hunting。 He was so much occupied by it that when I went up into his private closets at Versailles； after the 10th of August； I saw upon the staircase six frames； in which were seen statements of all his hunts； when Dauphin and when King。 In them was detailed the number； kind； and quality of the game he had killed at each hunting party during every month； every season； and every year of his reign。
The interior of his private apartments was thus arranged： a salon； ornamented with gilded mouldings； displayed the engravings which had been dedicated to him； drawings of the canals he had dug； with the model of that of Burgundy； and the plan of the cones and works of Cherbourg。 The upper hall contained his collection of geographical charts； spheres； globes； and also his geographical cabinet。 There were to be seen drawings of maps which he had begun； and some that he had finished。 He had a clever method of washing them in。 His geographical memory was prodigious。 Over the hall was the turning and joining room； furnished with ingenious instruments for working in wood。 He inherited some from Louis XV。； and he often busied himself； with Duret's assistance； in keeping them clean and bright。 Above was the library of books published during his reign。 The prayer books and manuscript books of Anne of Brittany； Francois I； the later Valois； Louis XIV。； Louis XV。； and the Dauphin formed the great hereditary library of the Chateau。 Louis XVI。 placed separately； in two apartments communicating with each other； the works of his own time； including a complete collection of Didot's editions； in vellum； every volume enclosed in a morocco case。 There were several English works； among the rest the debates of the British Parliament； in a great number of volumes in folio （this is the Moniteur of England； a complete collection of which is so valuable and so scarce）。 By the side of this collection was to be seen a manuscript history of all the schemes for a descent upon that island； particularly that of Comte de Broglie。 One of the presses of this cabinet was full of cardboard boxes； containing papers relative to the House of Austria； inscribed in the King's own hand： 〃Secret papers of my family respecting the House of Austria； papers of my family respecting the Houses of Stuart and Hanover。〃 In an adjoining press were kept papers relative to Russia。 Satirical works against Catherine II。 and against Paul I。 were sold in France under the name of histories； Louis XV11。 collected and sealed up with his small seal the scandalous anecdotes against Catherine II。； as well as the works of Rhulieres； of which he had a copy； to be certain that the secret life of that Princess； which attracted the curiosity of her contemporaries； should not be made public by his means。
Above the King's private library were a forge； two anvils； and a vast number of iron tools； various common locks； well made and perfect； some secret locks； and locks ornamented with gilt copper。 It was there that the infamous Gamin； who afterwards accused the King of having tried to poison him； and was rewarded for his calumny with a pension of twelve thousand livres； taught him the art of lock…making。 This Gamin； who became our guide； by order of the department and municipality of Versailles； did not； however； denounce the King on the 20th December； 1792。 He had been made the confidant of that Prince in an immense number of important commissions； the King had sent him the 〃Red Book；〃 from Paris； in a parcel； and the part which was concealed during the Constituent Assembly still remained so in 1793。 Gamin hid it in a part of the Chateau inaccessible to everybody； and took it from under the shelves of a secret press before our eyes。 This is a convincing proof that Louis XVI。 hoped to return to his Chiteau。 When teaching Louis XVI。 his trade Gamin took upon himself the tone and authority of a master。 〃The King was good； forbearing； timid； inquisitive； and addicted to sleep；〃 said Gamin to me； 〃he was fond to excess of lock…making； and he concealed himself from the Queen and the Court to file and forge with me。 In order to convey his anvil and my own backwards and forwards we were obliged to use a thousand stratagems； the history of which would： never end。〃 Above the King's and Gamin's forges and anvils was an； observatory； erected upon a platform covered with lead。 There； seated on an armchair； and assisted by a telescope； the King observed all that was passing in the courtyards of Versailles； the avenue of Paris； and the neighbouring gardens。 He had taken a liking to Duret； one of the indoor servants of the palace； who sharpened his tools； cleaned his anvils； pasted his maps； and adjusted eyeglasses to the King's sight； who was short…sighted。 This good Duret； and indeed all the indoor servants； spoke of their master with regret and affection； and with tears in their eyes。
The King was born weak and delicate； but from the age of twenty…four he possessed a robust constitution； inherited from his mother； who was of the House of Saxe； celebrated for generations for its robustness。 There were two men in Louis XVI。； the man of knowledge and the man of will。 The King knew the history of his own family and of the first houses of France perfectly。 He composed the instructions for M。 de la Peyrouse's voyage round the world； which the minister thought were drawn up by several members of the Academy of Sciences。 His memory retained an infinite number of names and situations。 He remembered quantities and numbers wonderfully。 One day an account was presented to him in which the minister had ranked among the expenses an item inserted in the account of the preceding year。 〃There is a double charge；〃 said the King； 〃bring me last year's account； and I will show it yet there。〃 When the King was perfectly master of the details of any matter； and saw injustice； he was obdurate even to harshness。 Then he would be obeyed instantly； in order to be sure that he was obeyed。
But in important affairs of state the man of will was not to be found。 Louis XVI。 was upon the throne exactly what those weak temperaments whom nature has rendered incapable of an opinion are in society。 In his pusillanimity； he gave his confidence to a minister； and although amidst various counsels he often knew which was the best； he never had the resolution to say； 〃I prefer the opinion of such a one。〃 Herein originated the misfortunes of the State。SOULAVIE'S 〃Historical and Political Memoirs Of the Reign Of LOUIS XVI。；〃 VOL ii。
CHAPTER VII。
The winter following the confinement of the Comtesse d'Artois was very severe； the recollections of the pleasure which sleighing…parties had given the Queen in her childhood made her wish to introduce similar ones in France。 This amusement had already been known in that Court； as was proved by sleighs being found in the stables which had been used by the Dauphin； the father of Louis XVI。 Some were constructed for the Queen in a more modern style。 The Princes also ordered several； and in a few days there was a tolerable number of these vehicles。 The
