The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France

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 Etiquette.--Character of the Duc d'Aiguillon.--Cabals against the Dauphiness.--Jealousy of Mme. du Barri.-- The Aunts, too, are Jealous of Her.--She becomes more and more Popular.-- Parties for Donkey-riding.--Scantiness of the Dauphiness's Income.--Her Influence over the King.--The Duc de Choiseul is dismissed.--She begins to have Great Influence over the Dauphin.

Mercy's Correspondence with the Empress.--Distress and Discontent pervade France.--Goldsmith predicts a Revolution.--Apathy of the King.--The Aunts mislead Marie Antoinette.--Maria Teresa hears that the Dauphiness neglects her German Visitors.--Marriage of the Count de Provence.--Growing Preference of Louis XV. for the Dauphiness.--The Dauphiness applies herself to Study.--Marie Antoinette becomes a Horsewoman.--Her Kindness to all beneath her.--Cabals of the Adherents of the Mistress.--The Royal Family become united.--Concerts in the Apartments of the Dauphiness.

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 the Hunting Field.--Letter from her to the Empress. Mischievous Influence of the Dauphin's Aunts on her Character.--Letter of Marie Antoinette to the Empress.--Her Affection for her Old Home.--The Princes are recalled from Exile.--Lord Stormont.--Great Fire at the Hôtel-Dieu.--Liberality of Charity of Marie Antoinette.--She goes to the Bal d'Opéra.--Her Feelings about the Partition of Poland.--The King discusses Politics with her, and thinks highly of her Ability.

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."--She praises the Courtesy of the Dauphin.--Her Delight at the Enthusiasm of the Citizens.--She, with the Dauphin, goes to the Theatre, and to the Fair of St. Ovide, and to St. Cloud.--Is enthusiastically received everywhere.--She learns to drive. --She makes some Relaxations in Etiquette.--Marriage of the Comte d'Artois.--The King's Health grows Bad.--Visit of Marshal Lacy to Versailles.--The King catches the Small-pox.--Madame du Barri quits Versailles.--The King dies.

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 of the New Sovereigns.-- Madame Adelaide has the Small-pox.--Anxieties of Maria Teresa.-- Mischievous Influence of the Aunts.--Position and Influence of the Count de Mercy.--Louis consults the Queen on Matters of Policy.--Her Prudence.-- She begins to Purify the Court, and to relax the Rules of Etiquette.--Her Care of her Pages.--The King and she renounce the Gifts of Le Joyeux Avénement, and La Ceinture de la Reine.--She procures the Pardon of the Duc de Choiseul.

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 and Queen abolish some of the Old Forms.-- The Queen endeavors to establish Friendships with some of her Younger Ladies.--They abuse her Favor.--Her Eagerness for Amusement.--Louis enters into her Views.--Etiquette is abridged.--Private Parties at Choisy.--Supper Parties.--Opposition of the Princesses.--Some of the Courtiers are dissatisfied at the Relaxation of Etiquette.--Marie Antoinette is accused of Austrian Preferences.

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.--Marie Antoinette advocates the Re-establishment of the Parliaments, and receives an Address from them.-- English Visitors at the Court.--The King is compared to Louis XII. and Henri IV.--The Archduke Maximilian visits his Sister.--Factious Conduct of the Princes of the Blood.--Anti-Austrian Feeling in Paris.--The War of Grains.--The King is crowned at Rheims.--Feelings of Marie Antoinette.-- Her Improvements at the Trianon.--Her Garden Parties there.--Description of her Beauty by Burke, and by Horace Walpole.

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.--She at times speaks lightly of the King.-- The Emperor remonstrates with her.--Character of some of the Queen's Friends.--The Princess de Lamballe.--The Countess Jules de Polignac.--They set the Queen against Turgot.--She procures his Dismissal.--She gratifies Madame Polignac's Friends.--Her Regard for the French People.-- Water Parties on the Seine.--Her Health is Delicate.--Gambling at the Palace.

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 frequented.--Remonstrances of the Empress.-- Volatile Character of the Queen.--She goes to the Bals d'Opéra at Paris.-- She receives the Duke of Dorset and other English Nobles with Favor.-- Grand Entertainment given her by the Count de Provence.--Character of the Emperor Joseph.--He visits Paris and Versailles.--His Feelings toward and Conversations with the King and Queen.--He goes to the Opera.--His Opinion of the Queen's Friends.--Marie Antoinette's Letter to the Empress on his Departure.--The Emperor leaves her a Letter of Advice.

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 on Etiquette.--Insolence and Unpopularity of the Count d'Artois.--Marie Antoinette takes Interest in Politics.--France concludes an Alliance with the United States.--Affairs of Bavaria.--Character of the Queen's Letters on Politics.--The Queen expects to become a Mother.--Voltaire returns to Paris.--The Queen declines to receive him.--Misconduct of the Duke of Orléans in the Action off Ushant.--The Queen uses her Influence in his Favor.

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 breaks down.--Marie Antoinette has the Measles.--Her Anxiety about the War.--Retrenchments of Expense.

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 d'Angoulême.--Libelous Attacks on the Queen.--Death of the Empress.--Favor shown some of the Swedish Nobles.--The Count de Fersen.--Necker retires from Office.--His Character.

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 the Dames de la Halle.--Ball given by the Body-guard,--Unwavering Fidelity of the Regiment.--The Queen offers up her Thanksgiving at Notre Dame.--Banquet at the Hôtel de Ville.-- Rejoicings in Paris.

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.--The Grand Duke Paul and his Grand Duchess visit the French Court.--Their Characters.--Entertainments given in their Honor.--Insolence of the Cardinal de Rohan.--His Character and previous Life.--Grand Festivities at Chantilly.--Events of the War.-- Rodney defeats De Grasse.--The Siege of Gibraltar fails.--M. de Suffrein fights five Drawn Battles with Sir E. Hughes in the Indian Seas.--The Queen receives him with Great Honor on his Return.

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 devotes Large Sums to Charity.--Her Political Influence increases.--Correspondence between the Emperor and her on European Politics.--The State of France.--The Baron de Breteuil.-- Her Description of the Character of the King.

"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.--Displeasure of the Queen.--Visit of Gustavus III. of Sweden.--Fête at the Trianon.--Balloon Ascent.

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.

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 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 Loménie 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'Esprémesnil and Montsabert.

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.