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riends and by that crowd of courtiers which had so long cringed before him； his only consolation was the piety of his daughters。SOULAVIE； 〃Historical and Political Memoirs；〃 vol。 i。＇
The Comtesse du Barry had； a few days previously； withdrawn to Ruelle； to the Duc d'Aiguillon's。 Twelve or fifteen persons belonging to the Court thought it their duty to visit her there； their liveries were observed； and these visits were for a long time grounds for disfavour。 More than six years after the King's death one of these persons being spoken of in the circle of the royal family； I heard it remarked； 〃That was one of the fifteen Ruelle carriages。〃
The whole Court went to the Chateau； the oiel…de boeuf was filled with courtiers； and the palace with the inquisitive。 The Dauphin had settled that he would depart with the royal family the moment the King should breathe his last sigh。 But on such an occasion decency forbade that positive orders for departure should be passed from mouth to mouth。 The heads of the stables； therefore； agreed with the people who were in the King's room； that the latter should place a lighted taper near a window； and that at the instant of the King's decease one of them should extinguish it。
The taper was extinguished。 On this signal the Body Guards； pages； and equerries mounted on horseback； and all was ready for setting off。 The Dauphin was with the Dauphiness。 They were expecting together the intelligence of the death of Louis XV。 A dreadful noise； absolutely like thunder； was heard in the outer apartment； it was the crowd of courtiers who were deserting the dead sovereign's antechamber； to come and do homage to the new power of Louis XVI。 This extraordinary tumult informed Marie Antoinette and her husband that they were called to the throne； and； by a spontaneous movement； which deeply affected those around them； they threw themselves on their knees； both； pouring forth a flood of tears； exclaimed： 〃O God！ guide us； protect us； we are too young to reign。〃
The Comtesse de Noailles entered； and was the first to salute Marie Antoinette as Queen of France。 She requested their Majesties to condescend to quit the inner apartments for the grand salon； to receive the Princes and all the great officers； who were desirous to do homage to their new sovereigns。 Marie Antoinette received these first visits leaning upon her husband； with her handkerchief held to her eyes； the carriages drove up； the guards and equerries were on horseback。 The Chateau was deserted； every one hastened to fly from contagion； which there was no longer any inducement to brave。
On leaving the chamber of Louis XV。； the Duc de Villequier； first gentleman of the bedchamber for the year； ordered M。 Andouille； the King's chief surgeon； to open the body and embalm it。 The chief surgeon would inevitably have died in consequence。 〃I am ready；〃 replied Andouille； 〃but while I operate you shall hold the head； your office imposes this duty upon you。〃 The Duke went off without saying a word； and the corpse was neither opened nor embalmed。 A few under…servants and workmen continued with the pestiferous remains； and paid the last duty to their master； the surgeons directed that spirits of wine should be poured into the coffin。
The entire Court set off for Choisy at four o'clock； Mesdames the King's aunts in their private carriage； and the Princesses under tuition with the Comtesse de Marsan and the under…governesses。 The King； the Queen； Monsieur； the King's brother； Madame； and the Comte and Comtesse d'Artois went in the same carriage。 The solemn scene that had just passed before their eyes； the multiplied ideas offered to their imaginations by that which was just opening； had naturally inclined them to grief and reflection； but； by the Queen's own confession； this inclination； little suited to their age； wholly left them before they had gone half their journey； a word； drolly mangled by the Comtesse d'Artois； occasioned a general burst of laughter； and from that moment they dried their tears。
The communication between Choisy and Paris was incessant； never was a Court seen in greater agitation。 What influence will the royal aunts have；and the Queen？ What fate is reserved for the Comtesse du Barry？ Whom will the young King choose for his ministers？ All these questions were answered in a few days。 It was determined that the King's youth required a confidential person near him； and that there should be a prime minister。 All eyes were turned upon De Machault and De Maurepas； both of them much advanced in years。 The first had retired to his estate near Paris； and the second to Pont Chartrain； to which place he had long been exiled。 The letter recalling M。 de Machault was written； when Madame Adelaide obtained the preference of that important appointment for M。 de Maurepas。 The page to whose care the first letter had been actually consigned was recalled。
The Duc d'Aiguillon had been too openly known as the private friend of the King's mistress； he was dismissed。 M。 de Vergennes； at that time ambassador of France at Stockholm； was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs； Comte du Muy； the intimate friend of the Dauphin； the father of Louis XVI。＇？？ D。W。＇； obtained the War Department。 The Abbe Terray in vain said； and wrote； that he had boldly done all possible injury to the creditors of the State during the reign of the late King； that order was restored in the finances； that nothing but what was beneficial to all parties remained to be done； and that the new Court was about to enjoy the advantages of the regenerating part of his plan of finance； all these reasons； set forth in five or six memorials； which he sent in succession to the King and Queen； did not avail to keep him in office。 His talents were admitted； but the odium which his operations had necessarily brought upon his character； combined with the immorality of his private life； forbade his further stay at Court； he was succeeded by M。 de Clugny。 De Maupeou； the chancellor； was exiled； this caused universal joy。 Lastly； the reassembling of the 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