the memoirs of marie antoinette-第50章
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discerned a party spirit in these combinations； and sided wholly with his enemies。
After those inefficient comptrollers…general； Messieurs Joly de Fleury and d'Ormesson； it became necessary to resort to a man of more acknowledged talent； and the Queen's friends； at that time combining with the Comte d'Artois and with M。 de Vergennes； got M。 de Calonne appointed。 The Queen was highly displeased； and her close intimacy with the Duchesse de Polignac began to suffer for this。
Her Majesty； continuing to converse with me upon the difficulties she had met with in private life； told me that ambitious men without merit sometimes found means to gain their ends by dint of importunity； and that she had to blame herself for having procured M。 d'Adhemar's appointment to the London embassy； merely because he teased her into it at the Duchess's house。 She added； however； that it was at a time of perfect peace with the English； that the Ministry knew the inefficiency of M。 d'Adhemar as well as she did； and that he could do neither harm nor good。
Often in conversations of unreserved frankness the Queen owned that she had purchased rather dearly a piece of experience which would make her carefully watch over the conduct of her daughters…in…law； and that she would be particularly scrupulous about the qualifications of the ladies who might attend them； that no consideration of rank or favour should bias her in so important a choice。 She attributed several of her youthful mistakes to a lady of great levity； whom she found in her palace on her arrival in France。 She also determined to forbid the Princesses coming under her control the practice of singing with professors； and said； candidly； and with as much severity as her slanderers could have done； 〃I ought to have heard Garat sing； and never to have sung duets with him。〃
The indiscreet zeal of Monsieur Augeard contributed to the public belief that the Queen disposed of all the offices of finance。 He had； without any authority for doing so； required the committee of fermiers…general to inform him of all vacancies； assuring them that they would be meeting the wishes of the Queen。 The members complied； but not without murmuring。 When the Queen became aware of what her secretary had done； she highly disapproved of it； caused her resentment to be made known to the fermiers …general； and abstained from asking for appointments；making only one request of the kind； as a marriage portion for one of her attendants； a young woman of good family。
CHAPTER XII。
The Queen did not sufficiently conceal the dissatisfaction she felt at having been unable to prevent the appointment of M。 de Calonne； she even one day went so far as to say at the Duchess's； in the midst of the partisans and protectors of that minister； that the finances of France passed alternately from the hands of an honest man without talent into those of a skilful knave。 M。 de Calonne was thus far from acting in concert with the Queen all the time that he continued in office； and； while dull verses were circulated about Paris describing the Queen and her favourite dipping at pleasure into the coffers of the comptroller… general； the Queen was avoiding all communication with him。
During the long and severe winter of 1783…84 the King gave three millions of livres for the relief of the indigent。 M。 de Calonne； who felt the necessity of making advances to the Queen； caught at this opportunity of showing her respect and devotion。 He offered to place in her hands one million of the three； to be distributed in her name and under her direction。 His proposal was rejected； the Queen answered that the charity ought to be wholly distributed in the King's name； and that she would this year debar herself of even the slightest enjoyments； in order to contribute all her savings to the relief of the unfortunate。
The moment M。 de Calonne left the closet the Queen sent for me： 〃Congratulate me； my dear；〃 said she； 〃I have just escaped a snare； or at least a matter which eventually might have caused me much regret。〃 She related the conversation which had taken place word for word to me； adding； 〃That man will complete the ruin of the national finances。 It is said that I placed him in his situation。 The people are made to believe that I am extravagant； yet I have refused to suffer a sum of money from the royal treasury； although destined for the most laudable purpose； even to pass through my hands。〃
The Queen； making monthly retrenchments from the expenditure of her privy purse； and not having spent the gifts customary at the period of her confinement； was in possession of from five to six hundred thousand francs； her own savings。 She made use of from two to three hundred thousand francs of this； which her first women sent to M。 Lenoir； to the cures of Paris and Versailles； and to the Soeurs Hospitalieres； and so distributed them among families in need。
Desirous to implant in the breast of her daughter not only a desire to succour the unfortunate； but those qualities necessary for the due discharge of that duty； the Queen incessantly talked to her； though she was yet very young； about the sufferings of the poor during a season so inclement。 The Princess already had a sum of from eight to ten thousand francs for charitable purposes； and the Queen made her distribute part of it herself。
Wishing to give her children yet another lesson of beneficence； she desired me on New Year's eve to get from Paris； as in other years； all the fashionable playthings； and have them spread out in her closet。 Then taking her children by the hand； she showed them all the dolls and mechanical toys which were ranged there； and told them that she had intended to give them some handsome New Year's gifts； but that the cold made the poor so wretched that all her money was spent in blankets and clothes to protect them from the rigour of the season； and in supplying them with bread； so that this year they would only have the pleasure of looking at the new playthings。 When she returned with her children into her sitting…room； she said there was still an unavoidable expense to be incurred； that assuredly many mothers would at that season think as she did；that the toyman must lose by it； and therefore she gave him fifty Louis to repay him for the cost of his journey； and console him for having sold nothing。
The purchase of St。 Cloud； a matter very simple in itself； had； on account of the prevailing spirit； unfavourable consequences to the Queen。
The palace of Versailles； pulled to pieces in the interior by a variety of new arrangements； and mutilated in point of uniformity by the removal of the ambassadors' staircase； and of the peristyle of columns placed at the end of the marble court； was equally in want of substantial and ornamental repair。 The King therefore desired M。 Micque to lay before him several plans for the repairs of the palace。 He consulted me on certain arrangements analogous to some of those adopted in the Queen's establishment； and in my presence asked M。 Micque how much money would be wanted for the execution of the whole work； and how many years he would be in completing it。 I forget how many millions were mentioned： M。 Micque replied that six years would be sufficient time if the Treasury made the necessary periodical advances without any delay。 〃And how many years shall you require；〃 said the King； 〃if the advances are not punctually made？〃〃Ten； Sire；〃 replied the architect。 〃We must then reckon upon ten years；〃 said his Majesty； 〃and put off this great undertaking until the year 1790； it will occupy the rest of the century。〃
The King afterwards talked of the depreciation of property which took place at Versailles whilst the Regent removed the Court of Louis XV。 to the Tuileries； and said that he must consider how to prevent that inconvenience； it was the desire to do this that promoted the purchase of St。 Cloud。 The Queen first thought of it one day when she was riding out with the Duchesse de Polignac and the Comtesse Diane； she mentioned it to the King； who was much pleased with the thought；the purchase confirming him in the intention； which he had entertained for ten years； of quitting Versailles。
The King determin
