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Parliaments produced the strongest sensation; Paris was in a delirium of joy; and not more than one person in a hundred foresaw that the spirit of the ancient magistracy would be still the same; and that in a short time it would make new attempts upon the royal authority。 Madame du Barry had been exiled to Pont…aux…Dames。 This was a measure rather of necessity than of severity; a short period of compulsory retreat was requisite in order completely to break off her connections with State affairs。 The possession of Louveciennes and a considerable pension were continued to her。
'The Comtesse du Barry never forgot the mild treatment she experienced from the Court of Louis XVI。; during the most violent convulsions of the Revolution she signified to the Queen that there was no one in France more grieved at the sufferings of her sovereign than herself; that the honour she had for years enjoyed; of living near the throne; and the unbounded kindness of the King and Queen; had so sincerely attached her to the cause of royalty that she entreated the Queen to honour her by disposing of all she possessed。 Though they did not accept her offer; their Majesties were affected at her gratitude。 The Comtesse du Barry was; as is well known; one of the victims of the Revolution。 She betrayed at the last great weakness; and the most ardent desire to live。 She was the only woman who wept upon the scaffold and implored for mercy。 Her beauty and tears made an impression on the populace; and the execution was hurried to a conclusion。MADAME CAMPAN。'
Everybody expected the recall of M。 de Choiseul; the regret occasioned by his absence among the numerous friends whom he had left at Court; the attachment of the young Princess who was indebted to him for her elevation to the throne of France; and all concurring circumstances; seemed to foretell his return; the Queen earnestly entreated it of the King; but she met with an insurmountable and unforeseen obstacle。 The King; it is said; had imbibed the strongest prejudices against that minister; from secret memoranda penned by his father; and which had been committed to the care of the Duc de La Vauguyon; with an injunction to place them in his hands as soon as he should be old enough to study the art of reigning。 It was by these memoranda that the esteem which he had conceived for the Marechal du Muy was inspired; and we may add that Madame Adelaide; who at this early period powerfully influenced the decisions of the young monarch; confirmed the impressions they had made。
The Queen conversed with M。 Campan on the regret she felt at having been unable to procure the recall of M。 de Choiseul; and disclosed the cause of it to him。 The Abbe de Vermond; who; down to the time of the death of Louis XV。; had been on terms of the strictest friendship with M。 Campan; called upon him on the second day after the arrival of the Court at Choisy; and; assuming a serious air; said; 〃Monsieur; the Queen was indiscreet enough yesterday to speak to you of a minister to whom she must of course be attached; and whom his friends ardently desire to have near her; you are aware that we must give up all expectation of seeing the Duke at Court; you know the reasons why; but you do not know that the young Queen; having mentioned the conversation in question to me; it was my duty; both as her preceptor and her friend; to remonstrate severely with her on her indiscretion in communicating to you those particulars of which you are in possession。 I am now come to tell you that if you continue to avail yourself of the good nature of your mistress to initiate yourself in secrets of State; you will have me for your most inveterate enemy。 The Queen should find here no other confidant than myself respecting things that ought to remain secret。〃 M。 Campan answered that he did not covet the important and dangerous character at the new Court which the Abbe wished to appropriate; and that he should confine himself to the duties of his office; being sufficiently satisfied with the continued kindness with which the Queen honoured him。 Notwithstanding this; however; he informed the Queen; on the very same evening; of the injunction he had received。 She owned that she had mentioned their conversation to the Abbe; that he had indeed seriously scolded her; in order to make her feel the necessity of being secret in concerns of State; and she added; 〃The Abbe cannot like you; my dear Campan; he did not expect that I should; on my arrival in France; find in my household a man who would suit me so exactly as you have done。 I know that he has taken umbrage at it; that is enough。 I know; too; that you are incapable of attempting anything to injure him in my esteem; an attempt which would besides be vain; for I have been too long attached to him。 As to yourself; be easy on the score of the Abbe's hostility; which shall not in any way hurt you。〃
The Abbe de Vermond having made himself master of the office of sole confidant to the Queen; was nevertheless agitated whenever he saw the young King; he could not be ignorant that the Abbe had been promoted by the Duc de Choiseul; and was believed to favour the Encyclopedists; against whom Louis XVI。 entertained a secret prejudice; although he suffered them to gain so great an ascendency during his reign。 The Abbe had; moreover; observed that the King had never; while Dauphin; addressed a single word to him; and that he very frequently only answered him with a shrug of the shoulders。 He therefore determined on writing to Louis XVI。; and intimating that he owed his situation at Court solely to the confidence with which the late King had honoured him; and that as habits contracted during the Queen's education placed him continually in the closest intimacy with her; he could not enjoy the honour of remaining near her Majesty without the King's consent。 Louis XVI。 sent back his letter; after writing upon it these words: 〃I approve the Abbe de Vermond continuing in his office about the Queen。〃
CHAPTER V。
At the period of his grandfather's death; Louis XVI。 began to be exceedingly attached to the Queen。 The first period of so deep a mourning not admitting of indulgence in the diversion of hunting; he proposed to her walks in the gardens of Choisy; they went out like husband and wife; the young King giving his arm to the Queen; and accompanied by a very small suite。 The influence of this example had such an effect upon the courtiers that the next day several couples; who had long; and for good reasons; been disunited; were seen walking upon the terrace with the same apparent conjugal intimacy。 Thus they spent whole hours; braving the intolerable wearisomeness of their protracted tete…a…tetes; out of mere obsequious imitation。
The devotion of Mesdames to the King their father throughout his dreadful malady had produced that effect upon their health which was generally apprehended。 On the fourth day after their arrival at Choisy they were attacked by pains in the head and chest; which left no doubt as to the danger of their situation。 It became necessary instantly to send away the young royal family; and the Ch