The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France by Charles Duke Yonge (sight word readers .TXT) 📕

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.--Fete at the Trianon.--Balloon Ascent.

CHAPTER XX.

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 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.

CHAPTER XXI.

The King visits Cherbourg.--Rarity of Royal Journeys.--The Princess Christine visits the Queen.--Hostility of the Duc d'Orleans 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 of Archbishop Lomenie de Brienne.-- Obstinacy of Necker.--The Archbishop is appointed Minister.--The Distress increases.--The Notables are dissolved.--Violent Opposition of the Parliament.--Resemblance of the French Revolution to the English Rebellion of 1642.--Arrest of D'Espremesnil and Montsabert.

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 the Citizens.--The Princes are concerned in the Libels published against the Queen.--Preparations for the Meeting of the States-general.--Long Disuse of that Assembly.--Need of Reform.--Vices of the Old Feudal System.--Necker's Blunders in the Arrangements for the Meeting of the States.--An Edict of the King concedes the Chief Demands of the Commons.--Views of the Queen.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Reveillon Riot.--Opening of the States-general.--The Queen is insulted by the Partisans of the Duc d'Orleans.--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.

CHAPTER XXIV.

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.--Terrible Riots in Paris.--The Tricolor 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 becomes Governess of the Royal Children.--Letters of Marie Antoinette on their Character, and on her own Views of Education.

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-house.--October 5th, a Mob from Paris marches on Versailles.--Blunders of La Fayette.--Ferocity of the Mob on the 5th. --Attack on the Palace on the 6th.--Danger and Heroism of the Queen.--The Royal Family remove to Paris.--Their Reception at the Barrier and at the Hotel de Ville.--Shabbiness of the Tuileries.--The King fixes his Residence there.

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'Orleans.--Mirabeau desires to offer his Services to the Queen.--Riots in Paris.--Murder of Francois.-- 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 Assembly.--Execution of the Marquis de Favras.

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.--Fete of the Champ de Mars.--Presence of Mind of the Queen.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Great Tumults in the Provinces.--Mutiny in the Marquis de Bouille'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.

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.

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.

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.

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 offered to him at the Festival of the Champ de Mars.--And to the Queen at the Theatre.--The First or Constituent Assembly is dissolved.

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.--Petion 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 the Emigrants.--Misconduct of the Emigrants.-- Louis refuses his Assent to the Decrees.--He issues a Circular condemning Emigration.

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.--Formation of a Camp near Paris.--Louis adheres to his Refusal to assent to the Decree against the Priests.--Dumouriez resigns his Office, and takes command of the Army.

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Insurrection of June 20th.

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.

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.

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.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The Queen is refused Leave to see Clery.--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 last Letter to the Princess Elizabeth.--Her Death and Character.

INDEX


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.--Schoenbrunn.--Death of the Emperor.--Projects for the Marriage of the Archduchess.--Her Education.--The Abbe 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 in progress, but which, is a more limited view, may be regarded as having been, consummated by the deposition and murder of the sovereign of the country. It is equally undeniable that, during its first period, the person who most attracts and rivets attention is the queen. One of the moat brilliant of modern French writers[1] has recently remarked that, in spite of the number of years which have elapsed since the grave closed over the sorrows of Marie Antoinette, and of the almost unbroken series of exciting events which have marked the annals of France in the interval, the interest excited by her story is as fresh and engrossing as ever; that such as Hecuba and Andromache were to the ancients, objects never named to inattentive ears, never contemplated without lively sympathy, such still is their hapless queen to all honest and intelligent Frenchmen. It may even be said that that interest has increased of late years. The respectful and remorseful pity which her fate could not fail to awaken has been quickened by the publication of her correspondence with her family and intimate friends, which has laid bare, without disguise, all her inmost thoughts and feelings, her errors as well as her good deeds, her weaknesses equally with her virtues. Few, indeed, even of those whom the world regards with its highest favor and esteem, could endure such an ordeal without some diminution of their fame. Yet it is but recording the general verdict of all whose judgment is of value, to affirm that Marie Antoinette has triumphantly surmounted it; and that the result of a scrutiny as minute and severe as any to which a human being has ever been subjected, has been greatly to raise her reputation.

Not that she was one of those paragons whom painters of model heroines have delighted to imagine to themselves; one who from childhood gave manifest indications of excellence and greatness, and whose whole life was but a steady progressive development of its early promise. She was rather one in whom adversity brought forth great qualities, her possession of which, had her life been one of that unbroken sunshine which is regarded by many as the natural and inseparable attendant of royalty, might never have been even suspected. We meet with her first, at