the memoirs of marie antoinette-第31章
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mself from the Queen and the Court to file and forge with me。 In order to convey his anvil and my own backwards and forwards we were obliged to use a thousand stratagems； the history of which would： never end。〃 Above the King's and Gamin's forges and anvils was an； observatory； erected upon a platform covered with lead。 There； seated on an armchair； and assisted by a telescope； the King observed all that was passing in the courtyards of Versailles； the avenue of Paris； and the neighbouring gardens。 He had taken a liking to Duret； one of the indoor servants of the palace； who sharpened his tools； cleaned his anvils； pasted his maps； and adjusted eyeglasses to the King's sight； who was short…sighted。 This good Duret； and indeed all the indoor servants； spoke of their master with regret and affection； and with tears in their eyes。
The King was born weak and delicate； but from the age of twenty…four he possessed a robust constitution； inherited from his mother； who was of the House of Saxe； celebrated for generations for its robustness。 There were two men in Louis XVI。； the man of knowledge and the man of will。 The King knew the history of his own family and of the first houses of France perfectly。 He composed the instructions for M。 de la Peyrouse's voyage round the world； which the minister thought were drawn up by several members of the Academy of Sciences。 His memory retained an infinite number of names and situations。 He remembered quantities and numbers wonderfully。 One day an account was presented to him in which the minister had ranked among the expenses an item inserted in the account of the preceding year。 〃There is a double charge；〃 said the King； 〃bring me last year's account； and I will show it yet there。〃 When the King was perfectly master of the details of any matter； and saw injustice； he was obdurate even to harshness。 Then he would be obeyed instantly； in order to be sure that he was obeyed。
But in important affairs of state the man of will was not to be found。 Louis XVI。 was upon the throne exactly what those weak temperaments whom nature has rendered incapable of an opinion are in society。 In his pusillanimity； he gave his confidence to a minister； and although amidst various counsels he often knew which was the best； he never had the resolution to say； 〃I prefer the opinion of such a one。〃 Herein originated the misfortunes of the State。SOULAVIE'S 〃Historical and Political Memoirs Of the Reign Of LOUIS XVI。；〃 VOL ii。
CHAPTER VII。
The winter following the confinement of the Comtesse d'Artois was very severe； the recollections of the pleasure which sleighing…parties had given the Queen in her childhood made her wish to introduce similar ones in France。 This amusement had already been known in that Court； as was proved by sleighs being found in the stables which had been used by the Dauphin； the father of Louis XVI。 Some were constructed for the Queen in a more modern style。 The Princes also ordered several； and in a few days there was a tolerable number of these vehicles。 They were driven by the princes and noblemen of the Court。 The noise of the bells and balls with which the harness of the horses was furnished； the elegance and whiteness of their plumes； the varied forms of the carriages； the gold with which they were all ornamented； rendered these parties delightful to the eye。 The winter was very favourable to them； the snow remaining on the ground nearly six weeks； the drives in the park afforded a pleasure shared by the spectators。
＇Louis XVI。； touched with the wretched condition of the poor of Versailles during the winter of 1776； had several cart…loads of wood distributed among them。 Seeing one day a file of those vehicles passing by； while several noblemen were preparing to be drawn swiftly over the ice； he uttered these memorable words： 〃Gentlemen； here are my sleighs！〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
No one imagined that any blame could attach to so innocent an amusement。 But the party were tempted to extend their drives as far as the Champs Elysees； a few sleighs even crossed the boulevards； the ladies being masked； the Queen's enemies took the opportunity of saying that she had traversed the streets of Paris in a sleigh。
This became a matter of moment。 The public discovered in it a predilection for the habits of Vienna； but all that Marie Antoinette did was criticised。
Sleigh…driving； savouring of the Northern Courts； had no favour among the Parisians。 The Queen was informed of this； and although all the sleighs were preserved； and several subsequent winters lent themselves to the amusement； she would not resume it。
It was at the time of the sleighing…parties that the Queen became intimately acquainted with the Princesse de Lamballe； who made her appearance in them wrapped in fur； with all the brilliancy and freshness of the age of twenty；the emblem of spring； peeping from under sable and ermine。 Her situation； moreover； rendered her peculiarly interesting； married； when she was scarcely past childhood； to a young prince； who ruined himself by the contagious example of the Duc d'Orleans； she had had nothing to do from the time of her arrival in France but to weep。 A widow at eighteen； and childless； she lived with the Duc de Penthievre as an adopted daughter。 She had the tenderest respect and attachment for that venerable Prince； but the Queen； though doing justice to his virtues； saw that the Duc de Penthievre's way of life； whether at Paris or at his country…seat； could neither afford his young daughter…in…law the amusements suited to her time of life； nor ensure her in the future an establishment such as she was deprived of by her widowhood。 She determined； therefore； to establish her at Versailles； and for her sake revived the office of superintendent； which had been discontinued at Court since the death of Mademoiselle de Clermont。 It is said that Maria Leczinska had decided that this place should continue vacant； the superintendent having so extensive a power in the houses of queens as to be frequently a restraint upon their inclinations。 Differences which soon took place between Marie Antoinette and the Princesse de Lamballe respecting the official prerogatives of the latter； proved that the wife of Louis XV。 had acted judiciously in abolishing the office； but a kind of treaty made between the Queen and the Princess smoothed all difficulties。 The blame for too strong an assertion of claims fell upon a secretary of the superintendent； who had been her adviser； and everything was so arranged that a firm friendship existed between these two Princesses down to the disastrous period which terminated their career。
Notwithstanding the enthusiasm which the splendour； grace； and kindness of the Queen generally inspired； secret intrigues continued in operation against her。 A short time after the ascension of Louis XVI。 to the throne； the minister of the King's household was informed that a most offensive libel against the Queen was about to appear。 The lieutenant of police deputed a man named Goupil； a police inspector； to trace this libel； he came soon after to say that he had found out the place where the work was being printed； and that it was at a country house near Yverdun。 He had already got possession of two sheets； which contained the most atrocious calumnies； conveyed with a degree of art which might make them very dangerous to the Queen's reputation。 Goupil said that he could obtain the rest； but that he should want a considerable sum for that purpose。 Three thousand Louis were given him； and very soon afterwards he brought the whole manuscript and all that had been printed to the lieutenant of police。 He received a thousand louis more as a reward for his address and zeal； and a much more important office was about to be given him； when another spy； envious of Goupil's good fortune； gave information that Goupil himself was the author of the libel； that； ten years before； he had been put into the Bicetre for swindling； and that Madame Goupil had been only three years out of the Salpetriere； where she had been placed under another name。 This Madame Goupil was very pretty and very intriguing； she had found means to f
