the memoirs of marie antoinette-第30章
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read； he asked his judges if he might not be allowed to find a substitute。MADAME CAMPAN。＇
I knew for a certainty that the King spoke to M。 de Maurepas； before two of his most confidential servants； respecting the risk which he saw the Queen ran from these night walks upon the terrace of Versailles； which the public ventured to censure thus openly； and that the old minister had the cruelty to advise that she should be suffered to go on； she possessed talent； her friends were very ambitious； and longed to see her take a part in public affairs； and to let her acquire the reputation of levity would do no harm。 M。 de Vergennes was as hostile to the Queen's influence as M。 de Maurepas。 It may therefore be fairly presumed； since the Prime Minister durst point out to his King an advantage to be gained by the Queen's discrediting herself； that he and M。 de Vergennes employed all means within the reach of powerful ministers in order to ruin her in the opinion of the public。
The Queen's accouchement approached； Te Deums were sung and prayers offered up in all the cathedrals。 On the 11th of December； 1778； the royal family； the Princes of the blood； and the great officers of State passed the night in the rooms adjoining the Queen's bedchamber。 Madame； the King's daughter； came into the world before mid…day on the 19th of December。＇Marie Therese Charlotte （1778…1861）； Madame Royale； married in 1799 Louis； Duc d'Angouleme； eldest son of the Comte d'Artois。＇ The etiquette of allowing all persons indiscriminately to enter at the moment of the delivery of a queen was observed with such exaggeration that when the accoucheur said aloud； 〃La Reine va s'accoucher；〃 the persons who poured into the chamber were so numerous that the rush nearly destroyed the Queen。 During the night the King had taken the precaution to have the enormous tapestry screens which surrounded her Majesty's bed secured with cords； but for this they certainly would have been thrown down upon her。 It was impossible to move about the chamber； which was filled with so motley a crowd that one might have fancied himself in some place of public amusement。 Two Savoyards got upon the furniture for a better sight of the Queen； who was placed opposite the fireplace。
The noise and the sex of the infant； with which the Queen was made acquainted by a signal previously agreed on； as it is said； with the Princesse do Lamballe； or some error of the accoucheur； brought on symptoms which threatened fatal consequences； the accoucheur exclaimed； 〃Give her airwarm watershe must be bled in the foot！〃 The windows were stopped up； the King opened them with a strength which his affection for the Queen gave him at the moment。 They were of great height； and pasted over with strips of paper all round。 The basin of hot water not being brought quickly enough； the accoucheur desired the chief surgeon to use his lancet without waiting for it。 He did so； the blood streamed out freely； and the Queen opened her eyes。 The Princesse de Lamballe was carried through the crowd in a state of insensibility。 The valets de chambre and pages dragged out by the collar such inconsiderate persons as would not leave the room。 This cruel custom was abolished afterwards。 The Princes of the family； the Princes of the blood； the chancellor； and the ministers are surely sufficient to attest the legitimacy of an hereditary prince。 The Queen was snatched from the very jaws of death； she was not conscious of having been bled； and on being replaced in bed asked why she had a linen bandage upon her foot。
The delight which succeeded the moment of fear was equally lively and sincere。 We were all embracing each other； and shedding tears of joy。 The Comte d'Esterhazy and the Prince de Poix； to whom I was the first to announce that the Queen was restored to life； embraced me in the midst of the cabinet of nobles。 We little imagined； in our happiness at her escape from death； for how much more terrible a fate our beloved Princess was reserved。
NOTE。 The two following specimens of the Emperor Joseph's correspondence forcibly demonstrate the vigour； shrewdness； and originality of his mind； and complete the portrait left of him by Madame Campan。
Few sovereigns have given their reasons for refusing appointments with the fullness and point of the following letter
To a Lady。
MADAM。I do not think that it is amongst the duties of a monarch to grant places to one of his subjects merely because he is a gentleman。 That； however； is the inference from the request you have made to me。 Your late husband was； you say； a distinguished general； a gentleman of good family； and thence you conclude that my kindness to your family can do no less than give a company of foot to your second son； lately returned from his travels。
Madam； a man may be the son of a general and yet have no talent for command。 A man may be of a good family and yet possess no other merit than that which he owes to chance；the name of gentleman。
I know your son； and I know what makes the soldier； and this twofold knowledge convinces me that your son has not the disposition of a warrior； and that he is too full of his birth to leave the country a hope of his ever rendering it any important service。
What you are to be pitied for； madam； is； that your son is not fit either for an officer； a statesman or a priest； in a word； that he is nothing more than a gentleman in the most extended acceptation of the word。
You may be thankful to that destiny； which； in refusing talents to your son； has taken care to put him in possession of great wealth； which will sufficiently compensate him for other deficiencies； and enable him at the same time to dispense with any favour from me。
I hope you will be impartial enough to see the reasons which prompt me to refuse your request。 It may be disagreeable to you； but I consider it necessary。 Farewell； madam。Your sincere well…wisher； JOSEPH LACHSENBURG； 4th August； 1787。
The application of another anxious and somewhat covetous mother was answered with still more decision and irony：
To a Lady。
MADAM。You know my disposition； you are not ignorant that the society of the ladies is to me a mere recreation； and that I have never sacrificed my principles to the fair sex。 I pay but little attention to recommendations； and I only take them into consideration when the person in whose behalf I may be solicited possesses real merit。
Two of your sons are already loaded with favours。 The eldest； who is not yet twenty； is chief of a squadron in my army； and the younger has obtained a canonry at Cologne； from the Elector； my brother。 What would you have more？ Would you have the first a general and the second a bishop？
In France you may see colonels in leading…strings； and in Spain the royal princes command armies even at eighteen； hence Prince Stahremberg forced them to retreat so often that they were never able all the rest of their lives to comprehend any other manoeuvre。
It is necessary to be sincere at Court； and severe in the field； stoical without obduracy； magnanimous without weakness； and to gain the esteem of our enemies by the justice of our actions； and this； madam； is what I aim at。 JOSEPH VIENNA； September； 1787。
（From the inedited Letters of Joseph IL； published at Paris； by Persan； 1822。）
CHAPTER X。
During the alarm for the life of the Queen； regret at not possessing an heir to the throne was not even thought of。 The King himself was wholly occupied with the care of preserving an adored wife。 The young Princess was presented to her mother。 〃Poor little one；〃 said the Queen； 〃you were not wished for； but you are not on that account less dear to me。 A son would have been rather the property of the State。 You shall be mine； you shall have my undivided care； shall share all my happiness； and console me in all my troubles。〃
The King despatched a courier to Paris； and wrote letters himself to Vienna； by the Queen's bedside； and part of the rejoicings ordered took place in the capital。
A great number of attendants watched near the Queen during the first nights of her confinement。 This custom distressed her； she knew how to feel for others； and ordered large armchairs for her women； the backs of which were capable of being let down by springs； and which served perfectly well instead of beds。
M。 de Lassone； the chief physician； the chief surgeon； the chief apothecary； the principal officers of the buttery； etc。； were likewise nine nights without going to bed。 The royal children were watched for a long time； and one of the women on duty remained； nightly； up and dressed； during the first three years from their birth。
The Queen made her entry into Paris for the churching。 One hundred maidens were portioned and married at Notre…Dame。 There were few popular acclamations； but her Majesty was perfectly well received at the Opera。
A few days after the Queen's recovery from her confinement； the Cure of the Magdelaine de la City at Paris wrote to M。 Campan and requested a private interview with him； it was to desire he would deliver into the hands of the Queen a little box containing her wedding ring； with this note written by the Cure： 〃I have received under the seal of confession the ring which I send to your Majesty； with an avowal that it was stolen from you in 1771； in order to be used in sorceries； to prevent your having any children。〃 On seeing her ring again the Queen said that she had in fact lost it about seven years before； while washing her hands； and that she had resolved to use no endeavour to discover the superstitious woman who had done her the injury。
The Queen's attachment to the Comtesse Jules increased every day； she went frequently to her house at Paris； and even took up her own abode at the Chateau de la Muette to be nearer during her confinement。 She married Mademoiselle de Polignac； when scarcely thirteen years of age； to M。 de Grammont； who； on account of this marriage； was made Duc de Guiche； and captain of the King's Guards； in reversion after the Duc de Villeroi。 The Duchesse de Civrac； Madame Victoire's dame d'honneur； had been promised the place for the Duc de Lorges； her son。 The number of discontented families at Court increased。
The title of favourite was too openly given to the Comtesse Jules by her friends。 The lot of the favourite of a queen is not； in France； a happy one； the favourites of kings are treated； out of gallantry； with much greater indulgence。
A short time after the birth of Madame the Queen became again enceinte； she had mentioned it only to the King； to her physician； and to a few persons honoured with her intimate confidence； when； having overexerted her strength in pulling lip one of the glasses of her carriage； she felt that she had hurt herself； and eight days afterwards she miscarried。 The King spent the whole morning at her bedside； consoling her； and manifesting the tenderest concern for her。 The Queen wept exceedingly； the King took her affectionately in his arms； and mingled his tears with hers。 The King enjoined silence among the small
