The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France | Page 5

of the Name
Sans-culottes.--Union of Different Parties against the Queen.--War is
declared against the Empire.--Operations in the
Netherlands.--Unskillfulness of La Fayette.--The King falls into a State
of Torpor.--Fresh Libels on the Queen.--Barnave's Advice.--Dumouriez
has an Audience of the Queen.--Dissolution of the Constitutional
Guard.--Formation of a Camp near Paris.--Louis adheres to his Refusal
to assent to the Decree against the Priests.--Dumouriez resigns his
Office, and takes command of the Army.
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Insurrection of June 20th.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Feelings of Marie Antoinette.--Different Plans are formed for her
Escape. --She hopes for Aid from Austria and Prussia.--La Fayette
comes to Paris. --His Mismanagement--An Attempt is made to
assassinate the Queen.--The Motion of Bishop Lamourette.--The Feast
of the Federation.--La Fayette proposes a Plan for the King's
Escape.--Bertrand proposes Another.--Both are rejected by the Queen.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Preparation for a New Insurrection.--Barbaroux brings up a Gang from

Marseilles.--The King's last Levee.--The Assembly rejects a Motion for
the Impeachment of La Fayette.--It removes some Regiments from
Paris.-- Preparations of the Court for Defense.--The 10th of
August.--The City is in Insurrection.--Murder of Mandat.--Louis
reviews the Guards.--He takes Refuge with the Assembly.--Massacre of
the Swiss Guards.--Sack of the Tuileries.--Discussions in the
Assembly.--The Royal Authority is suspended.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Indignities to which the Royal Family are subjected.--They are
removed to the Temple.--Divisions in the Assembly.--Flight of La
Fayette.--Advance of the Prussians.--Lady Sutherland supplies the
Dauphin with Clothes.-- Mode of Life in the Temple.--The Massacres
of September.--The Death of the Princess de Lamballe.--Insults are
heaped on the King and Queen.--The Trial of the King.--His Last
Interview with his Family.--His Death.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Queen is refused Leave to see Cléry.--Madame Royale is taken
Ill.-- Plans are formed for the Queen's Escape by MM. Jarjayes, Toulan,
and by the Baron de Batz.--Marie Antoinette refuses to leave her
Son.--Illness of the young King.--Overthrow of the
Girondins.--Insanity of the Woman Tison.--Kindness of the Queen to
her.--Her Son is taken from her, and intrusted to Simon.--His
Ill-treatment.--The Queen is removed to the Conciergerie.--She is tried
before the Revolutionary Tribunal.--She is condemned.--Her last Letter
to the Princess Elizabeth.--Her Death and Character.
INDEX

LIFE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE.
CHAPTER I.

Importance of Marie Antoinette in the Revolution.--Value of her
Correspondence as a Means of estimating her Character.--Her Birth,
November 2d, 1755.--Epigram of Metastasio.--Habits of the Imperial
Family.--Schönbrunn.--Death of the Emperor.--Projects for the
Marriage of the Archduchess.--Her Education.--The Abbé de
Vermond.--Metastasio.-- Gluck.
The most striking event in the annals of modern Europe is
unquestionably the French Revolution of 1789--a Revolution which, in
one sense, may be said to be still in progress, but which, is a more
limited view, may be regarded as having been, consummated by the
deposition and murder of the sovereign of the country. It is equally
undeniable that, during its first period, the person who most attracts and
rivets attention is the queen. One of the moat brilliant of modern
French writers[1] has recently remarked that, in spite of the number of
years which have elapsed since the grave closed over the sorrows of
Marie Antoinette, and of the almost unbroken series of exciting events
which have marked the annals of France in the interval, the interest
excited by her story is as fresh and engrossing as ever; that such as
Hecuba and Andromache were to the ancients, objects never named to
inattentive ears, never contemplated without lively sympathy, such still
is their hapless queen to all honest and intelligent Frenchmen. It may
even be said that that interest has increased of late years. The respectful
and remorseful pity which her fate could not fail to awaken has been
quickened by the publication of her correspondence with her family
and intimate friends, which has laid bare, without disguise, all her
inmost thoughts and feelings, her errors as well as her good deeds, her
weaknesses equally with her virtues. Few, indeed, even of those whom
the world regards with its highest favor and esteem, could endure such
an ordeal without some diminution of their fame. Yet it is but recording
the general verdict of all whose judgment is of value, to affirm that
Marie Antoinette has triumphantly surmounted it; and that the result of
a scrutiny as minute and severe as any to which a human being has ever
been subjected, has been greatly to raise her reputation.
Not that she was one of those paragons whom painters of model
heroines have delighted to imagine to themselves; one who from

childhood gave manifest indications of excellence and greatness, and
whose whole life was but a steady progressive development of its early
promise. She was rather one in whom adversity brought forth great
qualities, her possession of which, had her life been one of that
unbroken sunshine which is regarded by many as the natural and
inseparable attendant of royalty, might never have been even suspected.