the memoirs of marie antoinette-第52节

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important　matters；　the　same　habit　in　the　King　frequently　kept　from　her　particulars　which　it　was　necessary　she　should　have　known。　　Obtaining；　therefore；　only　insufficient　information；　and　guided　by　persons　more　ambitious　than　skilful；　the　Queen　could　not　be　useful　in　important　affairs；　yet；　at　the　same　time；　her　ostensible　interference　drew　upon　her；　from　all　parties　and　all　classes　of　society；　an　unpopularity　the　rapid　progress　of　which　alarmed　all　those　who　were　sincerely　attached　to　her。

Carried　away　by　the　eloquence　of　the　Archbishop　of　Sens；　and　encouraged　in　the　confidence　she　placed　in　that　minister　by　the　incessant　eulogies　of　the　Abbe　de　Vermond　on　his　abilities；　the　Queen　unfortunately　followed　up　her　first　mistake　of　bringing　him　into　office　in　1787　by　supporting　him　at　the　time　of　his　disgrace；　which　was　obtained　by　the　despair　of　a　whole　nation。　　She　thought　it　was　due　to　her　dignity　to　give　him　some　marked　proof　of　her　regard　at　the　moment　of　his　departure；　misled　by　her　feelings；　she　sent　him　her　portrait　enriched　with　jewelry；　and　a　brevet　for　the　situation　of　lady　of　the　palace　for　Madame　de　Canisy；　his　niece；　observing　that　it　was　necessary　to　indemnify　a　minister　sacrificed　to　the　intrigues　of　the　Court　and　a　factious　spirit　of　the　nation；　that　otherwise　none　would　be　found　willing　to　devote　themselves　to　the　interests　of　the　sovereign。

On　the　day　of　the　Archbishop's　departure　the　public　joy　was　universal；　both　at　Court　and　at　Paris　there　were　bonfires；　the　attorneys'　clerks　burnt　the　Archbishop　in　effigy；　and　on　the　evening　of　his　disgrace　more　than　a　hundred　couriers　were　sent　out　from　Versailles　to　spread　the　happy　tidings　among　the　country　seats。　　I　have　seen　the　Queen　shed　bitter　tears　at　the　recollection　of　the　errors　she　committed　at　this　period；　when　subsequently；　a　short　time　before　her　death；　the　Archbishop　had　the　audacity　to　say；　in　a　speech　which　was　printed；　that　the　sole　object　of　one　part　of　his　operations；　during　his　administration；　was　the　salutary　crisis　which　the　Revolution　had　produced。

The　benevolence　and　generosity　shown　by　the　King　and　Queen　during　the　severe　winter　of　1788；　when　the　Seine　was　frozen　over　and　the　cold　was　more　intense　than　it　had　been　for　eighty　years；　procured　them　some　fleeting　popularity。　　The　gratitude　of　the　Parisians　for　the　succour　their　Majesties　poured　forth　was　lively　if　not　lasting。　　The　snow　was　so　abundant　that　since　that　period　there　has　never　been　seen　such　a　prodigious　quantity　in　France。　　In　different　parts　of　Paris　pyramids　and　obelisks　of　snow　were　erected　with　inscriptions　expressive　of　the　gratitude　of　the　people。　　The　pyramid　in　the　Rue　d'Angiviller　was　supported　on　a　base　six　feet　high　by　twelve　broad；　it　rose　to　the　height　of　fifteen　feet；　and　was　terminated　by　a　globe。　　Four　blocks　of　stone；　placed　at　the　angles；　corresponded　with　the　obelisk；　and　gave　it　an　elegant　appearance。　　Several　inscriptions；　in　honour　of　the　King　and　Queen；　were　affixed　to　it。　　I　went　to　see　this　singular　monument；　and　recollect　the　following　inscription

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃TO　MARIE　ANTOINETTE。

　　　　　　　　　　〃Lovely　and　good；　to　tender　pity　true；　　　　　　　　　　　Queen　of　a　virtuous　King；　this　trophy　view；　　　　　　　　　　　Cold　ice　and　snow　sustain　its　fragile　form；　　　　　　　　　　　But　ev'ry　grateful　heart　to　thee　is　warm。　　　　　　　　　　　Oh；　may　this　tribute　in　your　hearts　excite；　　　　　　　　　　　Illustrious　pair；　more　pure　and　real　delight；　　　　　　　　　　　Whilst　thus　your　virtues　are　sincerely　prais'd；　　　　　　　　　　　Than　pompous　domes　by　servile　flatt'ry　rais'd。〃

The　theatres　generally　rang　with　praises　of　the　beneficence　of　the　sovereigns：　〃La　Partie　de　Chasse　de　Henri　IV。〃　was　represented　for　the　benefit　of　the　poor。　　The　receipts　were　very　considerable。

When　the　fruitless　measure　of　the　Assembly　of　the　Notables；　and　the　rebellious　spirit　in　the　parliaments；

　　　　　＇The　Assembly　of　the　Notables；　as　may　be　seen　in　Weber's　　　　　　　Memoirs；〃　vol。　i。；　overthrew　the　plans　and　caused　the　downfall　　　　　　of　M。　de　Calonne。　　A　prince　of　the　blood　presided　over　each　of　the　　　　　　meetings　of　that　assembly。　　Monsieur；　afterwards　Louis　XVIII。；　　　　　　presided　over　the　first　meeting。

　　　　　〃Monsieur；〃　says　a　contemporary；　〃gained　great　reputation　at　the　　　　　　Assembly　of　the　Notables　in　1787。　　He　did　not　miss　attending　his　　　　　　meeting　a　single　day；　and　he　displayed　truly　patriotic　virtues。　　　　　　His　care　in　discussing　the　weighty　matters　of　administration；　in　　　　　　throwing　light　upon　them；　and　in　defending　the　interests　and　the　　　　　　cause　of　the　people；　was　such　as　even　to　inspire　the　King　with　some　　　　　　degree　of　jealousy。　　Monsieur　openly　said　that　a　respectful　　　　　　resistance　to　the　orders　of　the　monarch　was　not　blamable；　and　that　　　　　　authority　might　be　met　by　argument；　and　forced　to　receive　　　　　　information　without　any　offence　whatever。〃NOTE　BY　THE　EDITOR。＇

had　created　the　necessity　for　States　General；　it　was　long　discussed　in　council　whether　they　should　be　assembled　at　Versailles　or　at　forty　or　sixty　leagues　from　the　capital；　the　Queen　was　for　the　latter　course；　and　insisted　to　the　King　that　they　ought　to　be　far　away　from　the　immense　population　of　Paris。　　She　feared　that　the　people　would　influence　the　deliberations　of　the　deputies；　several　memorials　were　presented　to　the　King　upon　that　question；　but　M。　Necker　prevailed；　and　Versailles　was　the　place　fixed　upon。

The　day　on　which　the　King　announced　that　he　gave　his　consent　to　the　convocation　of　the　States　General；　the　Queen　left　the　public　dinner；　and　placed　herself　in　the　recess　of　the　first　window　of　her　bedchamber；　with　her　face　towards　the　garden。　　Her　chief　butler　followed　her；　to　present　her　coffee；　which　she　usually　took　standing；　as　she　was　about　to　leave　the　table。　　She　beckoned　to　me　to　come　close　to　her。　　The　King　was　engaged　in　conversation　with　some　one　in　his　room。　　When　the　attendant　had　served　her　he　retired；　and　she　addressed　me；　with　the　cup　still　in　her　hand：　〃Great　Heavens！　what　fatal　news　goes　forth　this　day！　　The　King　assents　to　the　convocation　of　the　States　General。〃　　Then　she　added；　raising　her　eyes　to　heaven；　〃I　dread　it；　this　important　event　is　a　first　fatal　signal　of　discord　in　France。〃　　She　cast　her　eyes　down；　they　were　filled　with　tears。　　She　could　not　take　the　remainder　of　her　coffee；　but　handed　me　the　cup；　and　went　to　join　the　King。　　In　the　evening；　when　she　was　alone　with　me；　she　spoke　only　of　this　momentous　decision。　　〃It　is　the　Parliament；〃　said　she；　〃that　has　compelled　the　King　to　have　recourse　to　a　measure　long　considered　fatal　to　the　repose　of　the　kingdom。　　These　gentlemen　wish　to　restrain　the　power　of　the　King；　but　they　give　a　great　shock　to　the　authority　of　which　they　make　so　bad　a　use；　and　they　will　bring　on　their　own　destruction。〃

The　double　representation　granted　to　the　Tiers　Etat　was　now　the　chief　topic　of　conversation。　　The　Queen　favoured　this　plan；　to　which　the　King　had　agreed；　she　thought　the　hope　of　obtaining　ecclesiastical　favours　would　secure　the　clergy　of　the　second　order；　and　that　M。　Necker　was　sure　to　have　the　same　degree　of　influence　over　the　lawyers；　and　other　people　of　that　class　comprised　in　the　Tiers　Dat。　　The　Comte　d'Artois；　holding　the　contrary　opinion；　presented　a　memorial　in　the　names　of　himself　and　several　princes　of　the　blood　to　the　King　against　the　double　representation。　　The　Queen　was　displeased　with　him　for　this；　her　confidential　advisers　infused　into　her　apprehensions　that　the　Prince　was　made　the　tool　of　a　party；　but　his　conduct　was　approved　of　by　Madame　de　Polignac's　circle；　which　the　Queen　thenceforward　only　frequented　to　avoid　the　appearance　of　a　change　in　her　habits。　　She　almost　always　returned　unhappy；　she　was　treated　with　the　profound　respect　due　to　a　queen；　but　the　devotion　of　friendship　had　vanished；　to　make　way　for　the　coldness　of　etiquette；　which　wounded　her　deeply。　　The　alienation　between　her　and　the　Comte　Artois　was　also　very　painful　to　her；　for　she　had　loved　him　almost　as　tenderly　as　if　he　had　been　her　own　brother。

The　opening　of　the　States　General　took　place　on　the　4th　of　May；　1789。　The　Queen　on　that　occasion　appeared　for　the　last　time　in　her　life　in　regal　magnificence。　　During　the　procession　some　low　women；　seeing　the　Queen　pass；　cried　out　〃Vive　le　Duc　d'　Orleans！〃　　in　so　threatening　a　manner　that　she　nearly　fainted。　　She　was　obliged　to　be　supported；　and　those　about　her　were　afraid　it　would　be　necessary　to　stop　the　procession。　The　Queen；　however；　recovered　herself；　and　much　regretted　that　she　had　not　been　able　to　command　more　presence　of　mind。

The　rapidly　increasing　distrust　of　the　King　and　Queen　shown　by　the　populace　was　greatly　attributable　to　incessant　corruption　by　English　gold；　and　the　projects；　either　of　revenge　or　of　ambition；　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans。　　Let　it　not　be　thought　that　this　accusation　is　founded　on　what　has　been　so　often　repeated　by　the　heads　of　the　French　Government　since　the　Revolution。　　Twice　between　the　14th　of　July　and　the　6th　of　October；　1789；　the　day　on　which　the　Court　was　dragged　to　Paris；　the　Queen　prevented　me　from　making　little　excursions　thither　of　business　or　pleasure；　saying　to　me；　〃Do　not　go　on　such　a　day　to　Paris；　the　English　have　been　scattering　gold；　we　shall　have　some　disturbance。〃　　The　repeated　visits　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans　to　England　had