按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
displayed too unreservedly the joy she felt； and the share she appropriated in the improvement。 One day Louis XVI。 saluted her ladies with more kindness than usual； and the Queen laughingly said to them； 〃Now confess； ladies； that for one so badly taught as a child； the King has saluted you with very good grace！〃
The Queen hated M。 de La Vauguyon； she accused him alone of those points in the habits； and even the sentiments； of the King which hurt her。 A former first woman of the bedchamber to Queen Maria Leczinska had continued in office near the young Queen。 She was one of those people who are fortunate enough to spend their lives in the service of kings without knowing anything of what is passing at Court。 She was a great devotee； the Abbe Grisel； an ex…Jesuit； was her director。 Being rich from her savings and an income of 50；000 livres； she kept a very good table； in her apartment； at the Grand Commun； the most distinguished persons who still adhered to the Order of Jesuits often assembled。 The Duc de La Vauguyon was intimate with her； their chairs at the Eglise des Reollets were placed near each other； at high mass and at vespers they sang the 〃Gloria in Excelsis〃 and the 〃Magnificat〃 together； and the pious virgin； seeing in him only one of God's elect； little imagined him to be the declared enemy of a Princess whom she served and revered。 On the day of his death she ran in tears to relate to the Queen the piety； humility； and repentance of the last moments of the Duc de La Vauguyon。 He had called his people together； she said； to ask their pardon。 〃For what？〃 replied the Queen； sharply； 〃he has placed and pensioned off all his servants； it was of the King and his brothers that the holy man you bewail should have asked pardon； for having paid so little attention to the education of princes on whom the fate and happiness of twenty…five millions of men depend。 Luckily；〃 added she； 〃the King and his brothers； still young； have incessantly laboured to repair the errors of their preceptor。〃
The progress of time； and the confidence with which the King and the Princes； his brothers； were inspired by the change in their situation since the death of Louis XV。； had developed their characters。 I will endeavour to depict them。
The features of Louis XVI。 were noble enough； though somewhat melancholy in expression； his walk was heavy and unmajestic； his person greatly neglected； his hair； whatever might be the skill of his hairdresser； was soon in disorder。 His voice； without being harsh； was not agreeable； if he grew animated in speaking he often got above his natural pitch； and became shrill。 The Abbe de Radonvilliers； his preceptor； one of the Forty of the French Academy； a learned and amiable man； had given him and Monsieur a taste for study。 The King had continued to instruct himself； he knew the English language perfectly； I have often heard him translate some of the most difficult passages in Milton's poems。 He was a skilful geographer； and was fond of drawing and colouring maps； he was well versed in history； but had not perhaps sufficiently studied the spirit of it。 He appreciated dramatic beauties； and judged them accurately。 At Choisy； one day； several ladies expressed their dissatisfaction because the French actors were going to perform one of Moliere's pieces。 The King inquired why they disapproved of the choice。 One of them answered that everybody must admit that Moliere had very bad taste； the King replied that many things might be found in Moliere contrary to fashion； but that it appeared to him difficult to point out any in bad taste？
＇The King； having purchased the Chateau of Rambouillet from the Duc de Penthievre； amused himself with embellishing it。 I have seen a register entirely in his own handwriting； which proves that he possessed a great variety of information on the minutiae of various branches of knowledge。 In his accounts he would not omit an outlay of a franc。 His figures and letters； when he wished to write legibly； were small and very neat； but in general he wrote very ill。 He was so sparing of paper that he divided a sheet into eight； six； or four pieces； according to the length of what he had to write。 Towards the close of the page he compressed the letters； and avoided interlineations。 The last words were close to the edge of the paper； he seemed to regret being obliged to begin another page。 He was methodical and analytical； he divided what he wrote into chapters and sections。 He had extracted from the works of Nicole and Fenelon； his favourite authors； three or four hundred concise and sententious phrases； these he had classed according to subject； and formed a work of them in the style of Montesquieu。 To this treatise he had given the following general title： 〃Of Moderate Monarchy 〃 （De la Monarchie temperee）； with chapters entitled； 〃Of the Person of the Prince；〃 〃Of the Authority of Bodies in the State；〃 〃Of the Character of the Executive Functions of the Monarchy。〃 Had he been able to carry into effect all the grand precepts he had observed in Fenelon； Louis XVI。 would have been an accomplished monarch； and France a powerful kingdom。 The King used to accept the speeches his ministers presented to him to deliver on important occasions； but he corrected and modified them； struck out some parts； and added others； and sometimes consulted the Queen on the subject。 The phrase of the minister erased by the King was frequently unsuitable； and dictated by the minister's private feelings； but the King's was always the natural expression。 He himself composed； three times or oftener； his famous answers to the Parliament which he banished。 But in his letters he was negligent； and always incorrect。 Simplicity was the characteristic of the King's style； the figurative style of M。 Necker did not please him； the sarcasms of Maurepas were disagreeable to him。 Unfortunate Prince！ he would predict； in his observations； that if such a calamity should happen； the monarchy would be ruined； and the next day he would consent in Council to the very measure which he had condemned the day before； and which brought him nearer the brink of the precipice。SOULAVIE； 〃Historical and Political Memoirs of the Reign of Louis XVI。；〃 vol。 ii。＇
This Prince combined with his attainments the attributes of a good husband； a tender father； and an indulgent master。
Unfortunately he showed too much predilection for the mechanical arts； masonry and lock…making so delighted him that he admitted into his private apartment a common locksmith； with whom he made keys and locks； and his hands； blackened by that sort of work； were often； in my presence； the subject of remonstrances and even sharp reproaches from the Queen； who would have chosen other amusements for her husband。？
＇Louis XVI。 saw that the art of lock…making was capable of application to a higher study； He was an excellent geographer。 The most valuable and complete instrument for the study of that science was begun by his orders and under his direction。 It was an immense globe of copper； which was long preserved； though unfinished； in the Mazarine library。 Louis XVI。 invented and had executed under his own eyes the ingenious mechanism required for this globe。NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
Austere and rigid with regard to himself alone； the King observed the laws of the Church with scrupulous exactness。 He fasted and abstained throughout the whole of Lent。 He thought it right that the queen should not observe these customs with the same strictness。 Though sincerely pious； the spirit of the age had disposed his mind to toleration。 Turgot； Malesherbes； and Necker judged that this Prince； modest and simple in his habits； would willingly sacrifice the royal prerogative to the solid greatness of his people。 His heart； in truth； disposed him towards reforms； but his prejudices and fears； and the clamours of pious and privileged persons； intimidated him； and made him abandon plans which his love for the people had suggested。
Monsieur
＇During his stay at Avignon； Monsieur； afterwards Louis XVIII； lodged with the Duc de Crillon； he refused the town…guard which was offered him； saying； 〃A son of France； under the roof of a Crillon； needs no guard。〃 NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
had more dignity of demeanour than the King； but his corpulence rendered his gait inelegant。 He was fond of pageantry and magnificence。 He cultivated the belles lettres； and under assumed names often contributed verses to the Mercury and other papers。
His wonderful memory was the handmaid of his wit； furnishing him with the happiest quotations。 He knew by heart a varied repertoire； from the finest passages of the Latin classics to the Latin of all the prayers； from the works of Racine to the vaudeville of 〃Rose et Colas。〃
The Comte d'Artoisi had an agreeable countenance； was well made； skilful in bodily exercises； lively； impetuous； fond of pleasure； and very particular in his dress。 Some happy observations