The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France

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 Antoine...

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 make...

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...

[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...

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 re...

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...

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 Eti...

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 Ministe...

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...

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 Asse...

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 Sutherl...

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 th...

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...

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...

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.--M...

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 frequente...

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...

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 arre...

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.--T...

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 Atte...

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."--Sh...

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...

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 Mada...

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...

Mercy's Correspondence with Empress.--Distress and Discontent pervade France.--Goldsmith predicts a Revolution.--Apathy of the King.--The Aunts mislead Marie Antoinette.--Maria...

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...

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 Characte...

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.--Mirab...

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.-...

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 An...

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...

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....

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 whi...

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...

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 prepar...

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...

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 d...

"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.--Displ...

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 t...

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.--Ha...

[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...

[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 o...

[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 d...

[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 l...

[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...

[13] It is worth noticing that the French people in general did not regard the power of arbitrary imprisonment exercised by their kings as a grievance. In their eyes it was one...

[6] They, with several of the princes of the blood and some of the peers, as already mentioned, had been banished for their opposition to the abolition of the Parliaments; but n...

[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 be...

[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 regular...

[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.

[6] The dauphin was too ill to be present. The children were Madame Royale and the Duc de Normandie, who became dauphin the next month by the death of his elder brother.

[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 rei...

[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 inst...

[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 havin...

[7] It is remarkable, however, that, if we are to take Lamartine as a guide in any respect, and he certainly was not in intention unfavorable to La Fayette, the marquis was even...

[9] The Marshal Prince de Soubise, whose incapacity and cowardice caused the disgraceful rout of Rosbach, was the head of this family; his sister, Madame Marsan, as governess of...

[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 f...

[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 la...

[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 "six...

[5] Letter of the Count de Fersen, who was at Brussels, to Gustavus (who, however, was dead before it could reach him), dated March 24th, 1792. In many respects the information...

[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. e...

[9] "Je me flatte que je la mériterai [l'amitié et confiance] de votre part lorsque ma façon de penser et mon tendre attachement pour vous, votre époux, vos enfants, et tout ce...

[9] La Muette derived its name from _les mues_ of the deer who were reared there. It had been enlarged by the Regent d'Orléans, who gave it to his daughter, the Duchess de Berri...

[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...

[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 a...

[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'e...

[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,"...

[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 Montmédy for the sake of...

[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 inclinat...

[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, surt...

[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 rema...

[9] "Il lui [à l'Assemblée] importait de faire une épreuve sur toutes les Gardes Nationales de France, d'animer ce grand corps dont tous les membres étaient encore épars et inco...

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 make...

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...

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 Mad...

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 frequente...

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...

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.--M...

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."--Sh...

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...

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 S...

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 Antoine...

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...

Troops are brought up from the Frontier.--The Assembly petitions the King to withdraw them.--He refuses.--Ho dismisses Necker.--The Baron de Breteuil is appointed Prime Minister...

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 Asse...

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 wh...

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.-...

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 Inroad...

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...

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.--T...

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....

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...

[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 r...

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 Eti...

Mercy's Correspondence with the Empress.--Distress and Discontent pervade France.--Goldsmith predicts a Revolution.--Apathy of the King.--The Aunts mislead Marie Antoinette.--Ma...

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 re...

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...

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.--Mirab...

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 Sutherl...

[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 ob...

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 Attem...

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 d...

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 t...

St. Cloud is purchased for the Queen.--Libelous Attacks on her.--Birth of the Duc de Normandie.--Joseph presses her to make France support his Views in the Low Countries.--The A...

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...

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 An...

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.--Ha...

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 arre...

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...

"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.--Displ...

The Réveillon 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 Characte...

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...