the memoirs of marie antoinette-第44章
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ication。
The majority of the deputies who came imbued with prejudices produced by error or malevolence； went to lodge with the most humble private individuals of Versailles； whose inconsiderate conversation contributed not a little to nourish such mistakes。 Everything； in short； tended to render the deputies subservient to the schemes of the leaders of the rebellion。
Shortly after the opening of the States General the first Dauphin died。 That young Prince suffered from the rickets； which in a few months curved his spine； and rendered his legs so weak that he could not walk without being supported like a feeble old man。
＇Louis； Dauphin of France； who died at Versailles on the 4th of June； 1789； gave promise of intellectual precocity。 The following particulars； which convey some idea of his disposition； and of the assiduous attention bestowed upon him by the Duchesse de Polignac； will be found in a work of that time： 〃At two years old the Dauphin was very pretty； he articulated well； and answered questions put to him intelligently。 While he was at the Chateau de La Muette everybody was at liberty to see him。 The Dauphin was dressed plainly； like a sailor； there was nothing to distinguish him from other children in external appearance but the cross of Saint Louis； the blue ribbon； and the Order of the Fleece； decorations that are the distinctive signs of his rank。 The Duchesse Jules de Polignac； his governess； scarcely ever left him for a single instant： she gave up all the Court excursions and amusements in order to devote her whole attention to him。 The Prince always manifested a great regard for M。 de Bourset； his valet de chambre。 During the illness of which he died； he one day asked for a pair of scissors； that gentleman reminded him that they were forbidden。 The child insisted mildly； and they were obliged to yield to him。 Having got the scissors； he cut off a lock of his hair； which he wrapped in a sheet of paper： 'There； monsieur；' said he to his valet de chambre；' there is the only present I can make you； having nothing at my command； but when I am dead you will present this pledge to my papa and mamma； and while they remember me； I hope they will not forget you。'〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
How many maternal tears did his condition draw from the Queen； already overwhelmed with apprehensions respecting the state of the kingdom！ Her grief was enhanced by petty intrigues； which； when frequently renewed； became intolerable。 An open quarrel between the families and friends of the Duc Harcourt； the Dauphin's governor； and those of the Duchesse de Polignac； his governess； added greatly to the Queen's affliction。 The young Prince showed a strong dislike to the Duchesse de Polignac； who attributed it either to the Duc or the Duchesse d'Harcourt； and came to make her complaints respecting it to the Queen。 The Dauphin twice sent her out of his room； saying to her； with that maturity of manner which long illness always gives to children： 〃Go out； Duchess； you are so fond of using perfumes； and they always make me ill；〃 and yet she never used any。 The Queen perceived； also； that his prejudices against her friend extended to herself； her son would no longer speak in her presence。 She knew that he had become fond of sweetmeats； and offered him some marshmallow and jujube lozenges。 The under…governors and the first valet de chambre requested her not to give the Dauphin anything； as he was to receive no food of any kind without the consent of the faculty。 I forbear to describe the wound this prohibition inflicted upon the Queen； she felt it the more deeply because she was aware it was unjustly believed she gave a decided preference to the Duc de Normandie； whose ruddy health and amiability did； in truth； form a striking contrast to the languid look and melancholy disposition of his elder brother。 She even suspected that a plot had for some time existed to deprive her of the affection of a child whom she loved as a good and tender mother ought。 Previous to the audience granted by the King on the 10th August； 1788； to the envoy of the Sultan Tippoo Saib； she had begged the Duc d'Harcourt to divert the Dauphin； whose deformity was already apparent； from his； intention to be present at that ceremony； being unwilling to expose him to the gaze of the crowd of inquisitive Parisians who would be in the gallery。 Notwithstanding this injunction； the Dauphin was suffered to write to his mother； requesting her permission to be present at the audience。 The Queen was obliged to refuse him； and warmly reproached the governor； who merely answered that he could not oppose the wishes of a sick child。 A year before the death of the Dauphin the Queen lost the Princesse Sophie； this was； as the Queen said； the first of a series of misfortunes。
NOTE： As Madame Campan has stated in the foregoing pages that the money to foment sedition was furnished from English sources； the decree of the Convention of August； 1793； maybe quoted as illustrative of the entente cordiale alleged to exist between the insurrectionary Government and its friends across the Channel！ The endeavours made by the English Government to save the unfortunate King are well known。 The motives prompting the conduct of the Duc d'Orleans are equally well known。
Art。 i。 The National Convention denounces the British Government to Europe and the English nation。
Art。 ii。 Every Frenchman that shall place his money in the English funds shall be declared a traitor to his country。
Art。 iii。 Every Frenchman who has money in the English funds or those of any other Power with whom France is at war shall be obliged to declare the same。
Art。 iv。 All foreigners； subjects of the Powers now at war with France； particularly the English； shall be arrested； and seals put upon their papers。
Art。 v。 The barriers of Paris shall be instantly shut。
Art。 vi。 All good citizens shall be required in the name of the country to search for the foreigners concerned in any plot denounced。
Art。 vii。 Three millions shall be at the disposal of the Minister at War to facilitate the march of the garrison of Mentz to La Vendee。
Art。 viii。 The Minister at War shall send to the army on the coast of Rochelle all the combustible materials necessary to set fire to the forests and underwood of La Vendee。
Art。 ix。 The women； the children； and old men shall be conducted to the interior parts of the country。
Art。 x。 The property of the rebels shall be confiscated for the benefit of the Republic。
Art。 xi。 A camp shall be formed without delay between Paris and the Northern army。
Art。 xii。 All the family of the Capets shall be banished from the French territory； those excepted who are under the sword of the law； and the offspring of Louis Capet； who shall both remain in the Temple。
Art。 xiii。 Marie Antoinette shall be delivered over to the Revolutionary Tribunal； and shall be immediately conducted to the prison of the Conciergerie。 Louise Elisabeth shall remain in the Temple till after the judgment of Marie Antoinette。
Art。 xiv。 All the tombs of the Kings which are at St。 Denis and in the departments shall be destroyed on August the 10th。
Art。 xv。 The present decree shall be despatched by extraordinary couriers to all the departments。
End of The Memoirs of Marie Antoinette； V4 by Madame Campan
MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE； QUEEN OF FRANCE
Being the Historic Memoirs of Madam Campan； First Lady in Waiting to the Queen
BOOK 5。
HISTORIC COURT MEMOIRS。
MARIE ANTOINETTE。
CHAPTER I。
The ever…memorable oath of the States General； taken at the Tennis Court of Versailles； was followed by the royal sitting of the 23d of June。 In this seance the King declared that the Orders must vote separately； and threatened； if further obstacles were met with； to himself act for the good of the people。 The Queen looked on M。 Necker's not accompanying the King as treachery or criminal cowardice： she said that he had converted a remedy into poison； that being in full popularity； his audacity； in openly disavowing the step taken by his sovereign； had emboldened the factious； and led away the whole Assembly； and that he was the more culpable inasmuch as he had the evening before given her his word to accompany the King。 In vain did M。 Necker endeavour to excuse himself by saying that his advice had not been followed。
Soon afterwards the insurrections of the 11th； 12th； and 14th of July ＇The Bastille was taken on the 14th July； 1789。＇ opened the disastrous drama with which France was threatened。 The massacre of M。 de Flesselles and M。 de Launay drew bitter tears from the Queen； and the idea that the King had lost such devoted subjects wounded her to the heart。
The character of the movement was no longer merely that of a popular insurrection； cries of 〃Vive la Nation！ Vive le Roi！ Vive la Liberte！〃 threw the strongest light upon the views of the reformers。 Still the people spoke of the King with affection； and appeared to think him favourable to the national desire for the reform of what were called abuses； but they imagined that he was restrained by the opinions and influence of the Comte d'Artois and the Queen； and those two august personages were therefore objects of hatred to the malcontents。 The dangers incurred by the Comte d'Artois determined the King's first step with the States General。 He attended their meeting on the morning of the 15th of July with his brothers； without pomp or escort； he spoke standing and uncovered； and pronounced these memorable words： 〃I trust myself to you； I only wish to be at one with my nation； and； counting on the affection and fidelity of my subjects； I have given orders to the troops to remove from Paris and Versailles。〃 The King returned on foot from the chamber of the States General to his palace； the deputies crowded after him； and formed his escort； and that of the Princes who accompanied him。 The rage of the populace was pointed against the Comte d'Artois； whose unfavourable opinion of the double representation was an odious crime in their eyes。 They repeatedly cried out； 〃The King for ever； in spite of you and your opinions； Monseigneur！〃 One woman had the impudence to come up to the King and ask him whether what he had been doing was done sincerely； and whether he would not be forced to retract it。
The courtyards of the Chateau were thronged with an immense concourse of people； they demanded that the King and Queen； with their children； should make their appearance in the balcony。 The Queen gave me the key of the inner doors； which led to the Dauphin's apartments； and desired me to go to the Duchesse de Polignac to tell her that she wanted her son； and had directed me to bring him myself into her room； where she waited to show him to the people。 The Duchess said this order indicated that she was not to accompany the Prince。 I did not answer； she squeezed my hand； saying； 〃Ah！ Madame Campan； what a blow I receive！〃 She embraced the child and me with tears。 She knew how much I loved and valued the goodness and the noble simplicity of he
