the memoirs of marie antoinette-第23章
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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 form an intimacy with Cardinal de Rohan； whom she led； it is said； to hope for a reconciliation with the Queen。 All this affair was hushed up； but it shows that it was the Queen's fate to be incessantly attacked by the meanest and most odious machinations。
Another woman； named Cahouette de Millers； whose husband held an office in the Treasury； being very irregular in conduct； and of a scheming turn of mind； had a mania for appearing in the eyes of her friends at Paris as a person in favour at Court； to which she was not entitled by either birth or office。 During the latter years of the life of Louis XV。 she had made many dupes； and picked up considerable sums by passing herself off as the King's mistress。 The fear of irritating Madame du Barry was； according to her； the only thing which prevented her enjoying that title openly。 She came regularly to Versailles； kept herself concealed in a furnished lodging； and her dupes imagined she was secretly summoned to Court。
This woman formed the scheme of getting admission； if possible； to the presence of the Queen； or at least causing it to be believed that she had done so。 She adopted as her lover Gabriel de Saint Charles； intendant of her Majesty's finances；an office； the privileges of which were confined to the right of entering the Queen's apartment on Sunday。 Madame de Villers came every Saturday to Versailles with M。 de Saint Charles； and lodged in his apartment。 M。 Campan was there several times。 She painted tolerably well； and she requested him to do her the favour to present to the Queen a portrait of her Majesty which she had just copied。 M。 Campan knew the woman's character； and refused her。 A few days after； he saw on her Majesty's couch the portrait which he had declined to present to her； the Queen thought it badly painted； and gave orders that it should be carried back to the Princesse de Lamballe； who had sent it to her。 The ill success of the portrait did not deter the manoeuvrer from following up her designs； she easily procured through M。 de Saint Charles patents and orders signed by the Queen； she then set about imitating her writing； and composed a great number of notes and letters； as if written by her Majesty； in the tenderest and most familiar style。 For many months she showed them as great secrets to several of her particular friends。 Afterwards； she made the Queen appear to write to her； to procure various fancy articles。 Under the pretext of wishing to execute her Majesty's commissions accurately； she gave these letters to the tradesmen to read； and succeeded in having it said； in many houses； that the Queen had a particular regard for her。 She then enlarged her scheme； and represented the Queen as desiring to borrow 200；000 francs which she had need of； but which she did not wish to ask of the King from his private funds。 This letter； being shown to M。 Beranger； 'fermier general' of the finances； took effect； he thought himself fortunate in being able to render this assistance to his sovereign； and lost no time in sending the 200；000 francs to Madame de Villers。 This first step was followed by some doubts； which he communicated to people better informed than himself of what was passing at Court； they added to his uneasiness； he then went to M。 de Sartine； who unravelled the whole plot。 The woman was sent to St。 Pelagie； and the unfortunate husband was ruined； by replacing the sum borrowed； and by paying for the jewels fraudulently purchased in the Queen's name。 The forged letters were sent to her Majesty； I compared them in her presence with her own handwriting； and the only distinguishable difference was a little more regularity in the letters。
This trick； discovered and punished with prudence and without passion； produced no more sensation out of doors than that of the Inspector Goupil。
A year after the nomination of Madame de Lamballe to the post of superintendent of the Queen's household； balls and quadrilles gave rise to the intimacy of her Majesty with the Comtesse Jules de Polignac。 This lady really interested Marie Antoinette。 She was not rich； and generally lived upon her estate at Claye。 The Queen was astonished at not having seen her at Court earlier。 The confession that her want of fortune had even prevented her appearance at the celebration of the marriages of the Princes added to the interest which she had inspired。
The Queen was full of consideration； and took delight in counteracting the injustice of fortune。 The Countess was induced to come to Court by her husband's sister； Madame Diane de Polignac； who had been appointed lady of honour to the Comtesse d'Artois。 The Comtesse Jules was really fond of a tranquil life； the impression she made at Court affected her but little； she felt only the attachment manifested for her by the Queen。 I had occasion to see her from the commencement of her favour at Court； she often passed whole hours with me； while waiting for the Queen。 She conversed with me freely and ingenu
