the memoirs of marie antoinette-第57章
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！
＇The following extract is from the 〃 Memoirs〃 of the Abbe Georgel： 〃The sittings were long and multiplied； it was necessary to read the whole proceedings； more than fifty judges sat； a master of requests； a friend of the Prince； wrote down all that was said there； and sent it to his advisers； who found means to inform the Cardinal of it； and to add the plan of conduct he ought to pursue。〃 D'Epremesnil； and other young counsellors； showed upon that occasion but too much audacity in braving the Court； too much eagerness in seizing an opportunity of attacking it。 They were the first to shake that authority which their functions made it a duty in them to respect。… NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
M。 Pierre de Laurencel； the procureur general's substitute； sent the Queen a list of the names of the members of the Grand Chamber； with the means made use of by the friends of the Cardinal to gain their votes during the trial。 I had this list to keep among the papers which the Queen deposited in the house of M。 Campan； my father…in…law； and which； at his death； she ordered me to preserve。 I burnt this statement； but I remember ladies performed a part not very creditable to their principles； it was by them； in consideration of large sums which they received； that some of the oldest and most respected members were won over。 I did not see a single name amongst the whole Parliament that was gained directly。
The belief confirmed by time is； that the Cardinal was completely duped by the woman De Lamotte and Cagliostro。 The King may have been in error in thinking him an accomplice in this miserable and criminal scheme； but I have faithfully repeated his Majesty's judgment about it。
However； the generally received opinion that the Baron de Breteuil's hatred for the Cardinal was the cause of the scandal and the unfortunate result of this affair contributed to the disgrace of the former still more than his refusal to give his granddaughter in marriage to the son of the Duc de Polignac。 The Abbe de Vermond threw the whole blame of the imprudence and impolicy of the affair of the Cardinal de Rohan upon the minister； and ceased to be the friend and supporter of the Baron de Breteuil with the Queen。
In the early part of the year 1786； the Cardinal； as has been said； was fully acquitted； and came out of the Bastille； while Madame de Lamotte was condemned to be whipped； branded； and imprisoned。 The Court； persisting in the erroneous views which had hitherto guided its measures； conceived that the Cardinal and the woman De Lamotte were equally culpable and unequally punished； and sought to restore the balance of justice by exiling the Cardinal to La Chaise…Dieu； and suffering Madame de Lamotte to escape a few days after she entered l'Hopital。 This new error confirmed the Parisians in the idea that the wretch De Lamotte； who had never been able to make her way so far as to the room appropriated to the Queen's women； had really interested the Queen herself。
＇Further particulars will be found in the 〃Memoirs of the Comte de Beugnot〃 （London： Hurst & Blackett； 1871）； as he knew Madame de Lamotte from the days of her early childhood （when the three children； the Baron de Valois； who died captain of a frigate； and the two Mademoiselles de Saint…Remi； the last descendants of the Baron de Saint…Remi； a natural son of Henri II。； were almost starving） to the time of her temporary prosperity。 In fact； he was with her when she burnt the correspondence of the Cardinal； in the interval the Court foolishly allowed between his arrest and her capture； and De Beugnot believed he had met at her house； at the moment of their return from their successful trick； the whole party engaged in deluding the Cardinal。 It is worth noting that he was then struck by the face of Mademoiselle d'Oliva； who had just personated the Queen in presenting a rose to the Cardinal。 It may also be cited as a pleasing quality of Madame de Lamotte that she； 〃in her ordinary conversation； used the words stupid and honest as synonymous。〃 See 〃Beugnot；〃 vol。 i。； p。 60。＇
CHAPTER XIV。
The Abbe de Vermond could not repress his exultation when he succeeded in getting the Archbishop of Sens appointed head of the council of finance。 I have more than once heard him say that seventeen years of patience were not too long a term for success in a Court； that he spent all that time in gaining the end he had in view； but that at length the Archbishop was where he ought to be for the good of the State。 The Abbe； from this time； in the Queen's private circle no longer concealed his credit and influence； nothing could equal the confidence with which he displayed the extent of his pretensions。 He requested the Queen to order that the apartments appropriated to him should be enlarged； telling her that； being obliged to give audiences to bishops； cardinals； and ministers； he required a residence suitable to his present circumstances。 The Queen continued to treat him as she did before the Archbishop's arrival at Court； but the household showed him increased consideration： the word 〃Monsieur〃 preceded that of Abbe； and from that moment not only the livery servants； but also the people of the antechambers rose when Monsieur l'Abbe was passing； though there never was； to my knowledge； any order given to that effect。
The Queen was obliged； on account of the King's disposition and the very limited confidence he placed in the Archbishop of Sens； to take a part in public affairs。 While M。 de Maurepas lived she kept out of that danger； as may be seen by the censure which the Baron de Besenval passes on her in his memoirs for not availing herself of the conciliation he had promoted between the Queen and that minister； who counteracted the ascendency which the Queen and her intimate friends might otherwise have gained over the King's mind。
The Queen has often assured me that she never interfered respecting the interests of Austria but once； and that was only to claim the execution of the treaty of alliance at the time when Joseph II。 was at war with Prussia and Turkey； that； she then demanded that an army of twenty…four thousand men should be sent to him instead of fifteen millions； an alternative which had been left to option in the treaty； in case the Emperor should have a just war to maintain； that she could not obtain her object； and M。 de Vergennes； in an interview which she had with him upon the subject； put an end to her importunities by observing that he was answering the mother of the Dauphin and not the sister of the Emperor。 The fifteen millions were sent。 There was no want of money at Vienna； and the value of a French army was fully appreciated。
〃But how；〃 said the Queen； 〃could they be so wicked as to send off those fifteen millions from the general post…office； diligently publishing； even to the street porters； that they were loading carriages with money that I was sending to my brother！ whereas it is certain that the money would equally have been sent if I had belonged to another house； and； besides； it was sent contrary to my inclination。〃
＇This was not the first time the Queen had become unpopular in consequence of financial support afforded by France to her brother。 The Emperor Joseph II； made； in November； 1783； and in May； 1784； startling claims on the republic of the United Provinces； he demanded the opening of the Scheldt； the cession of Maeatricht with its dependencies； of the country beyond the Meuse； the county of Vroenhoven； and a sum of seventy millions of florins。 The first gun was fired by the Emperor on the Scheldt 6th November； 1784。 Peace was concluded 8th November； 1785； through the mediation of France。 The singular part was the indemnification granted to the Emperor： this was a sum of ten millions of Dutch florins； the articles 15； 16； and 17 of the treaty stipulated the quotas of it。 Holland paid five millions and a half； and France； under the direction of M。 de Vergennes； four millions and a half of florins； that is to say； nine millions and fort
