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ch a festival。 She ordered me to go； and desired me to observe everything closely； in order to give a faithful account of the whole affair。
The tables were set out upon the stage； at them were placed one of the Body Guard and an officer of the Flanders regiment alternately。 There was a numerous orchestra in the room； and the boxes were filled with spectators。 The air； 〃O Richard； O mon Roi！〃 was played； and shouts of 〃Vive de Roi！〃 shook the roof for several minutes。 I had with me one of my nieces； and a young person brought up with Madame by her Majesty。 They were crying 〃Vive le Roi！〃 with all their might when a deputy of the Third Estate； who was in the next box to mine； and whom I had never seen； called to them； and reproached them for their exclamations； it hurt him； he said； to see young and handsome Frenchwomen brought up in such servile habits； screaming so outrageously for the life of one man； and with true fanaticism exalting him in their hearts above even their dearest relations； he told them what contempt worthy American women would feel on seeing Frenchwomen thus corrupted from their earliest infancy。 My niece replied with tolerable spirit； and I requested the deputy to put an end to the subject； which could by no means afford him any satisfaction； inasmuch as the young persons who were with me lived； as well as myself； for the sole purpose of serving and loving the King。 While I was speaking what was my astonishment at seeing the King； the Queen； and the Dauphin enter the chamber！ It was M。 de Luxembourg who had effected this change in the Queen's determination。
The enthusiasm became general； the moment their Majesties arrived the orchestra repeated the air I have just mentioned； and afterwards played a song in the 〃Deserter；〃 〃Can we grieve those whom we love？〃 which also made a powerful impression upon those present： on all sides were heard praises of their Majesties； exclamations of affection； expressions of regret for what they had suffered； clapping of hands； and shouts of 〃Vive le Roi！ Vive la Reine！ Vive le Dauphin！〃 It has been said that white cockades were worn on this occasion； that was not the case； the fact is； that a few young men belonging to the National Guard of Versailles； who were invited to the entertainment； turned the white lining of their national cockades outwards。 All the military men quitted the hall； and reconducted the King and his family to their apartments。 There was intoxication in these ebullitions of joy： a thousand extravagances were committed by the military； and many of them danced under the King's windows； a soldier belonging to the Flanders regiment climbed up to the balcony of the King's chamber in order to shout 〃Vive le Roi！〃 nearer his Majesty； this very soldier； as I have been told by several officers of the corps； was one of the first and most dangerous of their insurgents in the riots of the 5th and 6th of October。 On the same evening another soldier of that regiment killed himself with a sword。 One of my relations； chaplain to the Queen； who supped with me； saw him stretched out in a corner of the Place d'Armes； he went to him to give him spiritual assistance； and received his confession and his last sighs。 He destroyed himself out of regret at having suffered himself to be corrupted by the enemies of his King； and said that； since he had seen him and the Queen and the Dauphin； remorse had turned his brain。
I returned home； delighted with all that I had seen。
I found a great many people there。 M。 de Beaumetz； deputy for Arras； listened to my description with a chilling air； and； when I had finished； told me that all that had passed was terrific； that he knew the disposition of the Assembly； and that the greatest misfortunes would follow the drama of that night； and he begged my leave to withdraw that he might take time for deliberate reflection whether he should on the very next day emigrate； or pass over to the left side of the Assembly。 He adopted the latter course； and never appeared again among my associates。
On the 2d of October the military entertainment was followed up by a breakfast given at the hotel of the Body Guards。 It is said that a discussion took place whether they should not march against the Assembly； but I am utterly ignorant of what passed at that breakfast。 From that moment Paris was constantly in commotion； there were continual mobs； and the most virulent proposals were heard in all public places； the conversation was invariably about proceeding to Versailles。 The King and Queen did not seem apprehensive of such a measure； and took no precaution against it； even when the army had actually left Paris； on the evening of the 5th of October； the King was shooting at Meudon； and the Queen was alone in her gardens at Trianon； which she then beheld for the last time in her life。 She was sitting in her grotto absorbed in painful reflection； when she received a note from the Comte de Saint…Priest； entreating her to return to Versailles。 M。 de Cubieres at the same time went off to request the King to leave his sport and return to the palace； the King did so on horseback； and very leisurely。 A few minutes afterwards he was informed that a numerous body of women； which preceded the Parisian army； was at Chaville； at the entrance of the avenue from Paris。
The scarcity of bread and the entertainment of the Body Guards were the pretexts for the insurrection of the 5th and 6th of October； 1789； but it is clear to demonstration that this new movement of the people was a part of the original plan of the factious； insomuch as； ever since the beginning of September； a report had been industriously circulated that the King intended to withdraw； with his family and ministers； to some stronghold； and at all the popular assemblies there had been always a great deal said about going to Versailles to seize the King。
At first only women showed themselves； the latticed doors of the Chateau were closed； and the Body Guard and Flanders regiment were drawn up in the Place d'Armes。 As the details of that dreadful day are given with precision in several works； I will only observe that general consternation and disorder reigned throughout the interior of the palace。
I was not in attendance on the Queen at this time。 M。 Campan remained with her till two in the morning。 As he was leaving her she condescendingly； and with infinite kindness； desired him to make me easy as to the dangers of the moment； and to repeat to me M。 de La Fayette's own words； which he had just used on soliciting the royal family to retire to bed； undertaking to answer for his army。
The Queen was far from relying upon M。 de La Fayette's loyalty； but she has often told me that she believed on that day； that La Fayette； having affirmed to the King； in the presence of a crowd of witnesses； that he would answer for the army of Paris； would not risk his honour as a commander； and was sure of being able to redeem his pledge。 She also thought the Parisian army was devoted to him； and that all he said about his being forced to march upon Versailles was mere pretence。
On the first intimation of the march of the Parisians； the Comte de Saint…Priest prepared Rambouillet for the reception of the King； his family； and suite； and the carriages were even drawn out； but a few cries of 〃Vive le Roi！〃 when the women reported his Majesty's favourable answer； occasioned the intention of going away to be given up； and orders were given to the troops to withdraw。
＇Compare this account with the particulars given in the 〃Memoirs〃 of Ferribres； Weber； Bailly； and Saint…Priest； from the latter of which the following sentence is taken：
〃M。 d'Estaing knew not what to do with the Body Guards beyond bringing them into the courtyard of the ministers； and shutting the grilles。 Thence they proceeded to the terrace of the Chateau； then to Trianon； and lastly to Rambouillet。
〃I could not refrain from expressing to M。 d'Estaing； when he came to the King； my astonishment at not seeing him make any military disposition。 'Monsieur；' replied he； 'I await the orders of the King' （who did not open his mouth）。 'When the King gives no orders；' pursued I； 'a general should decide for himself in a soldierly manner。' This observation remained unanswered。〃＇
The Body Guards were； however； assailed with stones and musketry while they were passing from the Place d'Armes to； their hotel。 Alarm revived； again it was thought necessary that the royal family should go away； some carriages still remained ready for travelling； they were called for； they were stopped by a wretched player belonging to the theatre of the town； seconded by the mob： the opportunity for flight had been lost。
The insurrection was directed against the Queen in particular； I shudder even now at the recollection of the poissardes； or rather furies； who wore white aprons； which they screamed out were intended to receive the bowels of Marie Antoinette； and that they would make cockades of them； mixing the most obscene expressions with these horrible threats。
The Queen went to bed at two in the morning； and even slept； tired out with the events of so distressing a day