The French Court and Society. Reign of Louis XVI. and First Empire

Front matter

THE FRENCH COURT AND SOCIETY REIGN OF LOUIS XVI. Es* FIRST EMPIRE CHARLOTTE CORDAV LONDON: HIIHARD BENILEY AND RON. 1861- THE FRENCH COURT AND SOCIETY REIGN OF LOUIS XVI. AND FIRST EMPIRE BY Catherine Cfmrlotte, laop 3lacfcson AUTHOR OF 'OLD PARIS,' *THE OLD REGIME,' ETC. 1 La France agenouillee, attend Cesar. ' VOL. II. LONDON RICHARD BENTLEY & SON Publishers in ©rtiinarg to f^er ffiajestg tfje dneen Printed by R. & R. Clark, Edinburgh. PORTRAITS. Charlotte Corday .... Frontispiece The Empress Josephine To face page 220 The Empress Maria Louisa . . . „ „ CONTENTS

Chapter I

The Revolution — Legends of the Revolution — The 5th of May 1789 — The Bas Breton deputy — A day of hope — Overruled by M. Necker — The assembling of the States — Royalty, nobility, and the canailtt — The entry of Mirabeau — A sensation — A memorable day — The financial budget — The address of M. de Barentin — The boudoir ministry — Exit of the grandees — Exit of the canaille Pages 1-16

Chapter II

Waiting in vain — The five weeks' struggle — Death of the dauphin — Court etiquette — The last vacant niche — The National Assembly — A royal seance announced — " Au Jeu de Paume !" — The cable cut ; the vessel launched — The disciples of Beccaria — Joining the National Assembly — The three orders assemble — The Rights of Man — Open air political reunions — The gardes fran^aises — The meditated coup d'etat — A bold stroke of policy — The king of the canaille — M. Necker receives his conge . . 17-35

Chapter III

" By order of the king" — Sunday in old Paris — " Vive la liberte 7" — Camille Desmoulins — Green or red? — "Vive Necker!" "Vive cVOrleans ! " — A deputation to the king — The Baron de Besenval — The bourgeois soldiers — A search for arms — "Beware! Beware!" — Paris betrayed — A raid on Les Invalides — "La Bastille! La CONTENTS. VIII Bastille!" — A shout of triumph! — Pressed to surrender — Sur rendered, not taken — A hideous spectacle — Cagliostro's prophecy — A day of doubtful glory—" It is a revolt then ?"— Hasty departures — The sovereign people — The abbe, too, must away — The king visits Paris — The National Guard — The tricolore — Return of the citizen king ..... Pages 36-63

Chapter IV

Recalled — From Bale to Paris — A triumphant return — "Au Ministre adore" — A general amnesty — The amnesty revoked — "The St. Bartholomew of abuses " — The fourth of August — The Assembly Constituent — A revolutionary sect — Defective pedigrees — What is the "Tiers Etat"?— The blessings of freedom— "Vive le Tiers Etat!" ...... 64-77

Chapter V

Futile intrigues — Count Fersen — Count Fersen's mission — Establishing the Constitution — Rights of Man — Trees of liberty — A jest of the Count d'Artois — Cazotte's prediction — The cart and the scaffold — A warning note — Predestined victims — Consternation in Paris — A mysterious lady — A wearer of royal robes — Release of the captive queen — The roarings of a tempest — Mirabeau destitute — Apathy of mind ...... 78-95

Chapter VI

The royal hunt — A prospect of famine — A military banquet — A fatal want of foresight — Fruitless projects — "The king is lost!" — "A Mort la Messaline !" — Attack on the Hotel de Ville — Supplicating the king — March of the patriot soldiers — Preparing for a defence — The pretty young poissarde — The escape frustrated — Waiting the course of events — A strong-minded woman — The Avant-coureur — Unjustly blamed — Adieu to Versailles . . 96-113 CONTENTS. IX

Chapter VII

"Sang de Foulon" — Revolutionary fashions — Death of Joseph II. — The patriotic fund — " Bijoux d. la constitution" — Madame de Genlis' brooch — Louis Philippe — The new departments — The iron safe — A neglected royal dwelling — The Due de Liancourt's dinners — Pity for Louis XVL — The "Salon" of 1789 and 1790— An eloquent lesson of liberty — Sandals and togas — "Charles the Ninth " — An ardent patriot — Slaying royalty — Talma — The dramatist, Chenier — A popular drama . . . Pages 1 14- 134

Chapter VIII

An exciting period — A fashionable mania — Robespierre's protest — A lively subject — Mirabeau and the queen — Poetically ugly — Saving the monarchy — Too late! too late! — "La grande trahison!" — Proposed Federal site .... 135-144

Chapter IX

Levelling the Champ de Mars — The eve of the Federal fete — Arrival of the Federals — Marching to quarters — Bishop Talleyrand — The Oriflamme of France — " Au sein de safamille " — The Constitutional oath — An enviable privilege — The people's thanksgiving — Frenchmen and freemen — Poor Madam Necker ! — The icy hand of death — Retiring into private life . . . 145-158

Chapter X

The Legislative Assembly — Mirabeau and Barnave — " The heroine of the Gironde" — Roland's letter to Louis XVI. — Planting a tree of liberty — The king's great courage — Bonaparte and Bourrienne — A bold front — The duke's manifesto — The queen's letters to Fersen — Count Roederer and the queen — Lodged in the Temple — Lucile Desmoulins — The queen's sponges and brushes — A grand turn out — Qualms of conscience . . . . 159-174 CONTENTS. X

Chapter XI

The Convention — The year one of the Republic — Sentence of death — Marat and Robespierre— Charlotte Corday — The antechamber of death — A startling contrast — The witnesses— Condemned to death — The execution — Sanson overworked — Despatched in batches — A reunion of old friends — Cecile Renault — Playing the god — Perish the traitor ! the tyrant ! .... Pages 175-190

Chapter XII

General Paoli — The Bonaparte family — General Cartaux — The siege of Toulon — Sergeant Junot — Robespierre's protege— General Hoche — Provisionally suspended — Bonaparte a prisoner — Junot's defence of his friend — The irony of fate — The future Emperor — Railing at Fate — Junot in love with Pauline — A faithful friend — A hand, a heart, and a year — Freron's "jeuncsse dorce" — The " bals des victimes " — Marie Antoinette's laces — Bonaparte's star looms clearer —Agitation and alarm — Bonaparte reinstated — The 13th Vendemiaire — Bonaparte's recompense . . . 191-214

Chapter XIII

Supplying the army — A lucky fellow — Bonaparte and his aide-de-camp — A gratifying change — First meeting with Josephine — Diane- Hebe — Le bon Bouilly — Offers of marriage — Departure for Italy — Madame Campan — Grandes dames of the empire — The impetuous tide of victory — A wife and a thousand louis d'or — " Soldiers of Italy!" — The price of an armistice — An independent conqueror — Spoken reveries — Bonaparte's views and aims — The dolcefar nientc — Josephine's victories — A portrait of Bonaparte — An admiring contemporary — ' ' Necker's intriguing daughter" — General Augereau — The Treaty of Campo-Formio — Jealous relatives — A present to Josephine — The return to Paris . . . 215-242

Chapter XIV

Signs of a change — The Regency of the Revolution — The Prince of the Republic — Enter Aspasia and Pericles — Fruits of the 1 8th CONTENTS. XI Fructidor — An attempt to veil vice — Barras' grand dinners — A long stride forward — The return of old friends — Building a fortune — The contractors' wives — Monsieur and Madame Privas — Adieu! ma bonne dame — Results of the Revolution — M. de Talleyrand — The Luxembourg Fete — The peacemaker — La grande Nation — The fraternal embrace — Examining the crown diamonds — Rival beauties — Imperial rehearsals — The tricolore insulted — A hasty departure — The Chateau of La Malmaison . . . Pages 243-267

Chapter XV

The scientific party — Departure for Egypt — False hopes — The returned exiles — Memories of the past — The salon Talleyrand — Madame Grandt — A political debating club — Madame de Stael — A "chevalier des dames " — Josephine's Thursday rhtnions — Josephine's extravagance — Artists mid, litterateurs — " L'Abbedel'Epee" — "Les deux Journees " — La belle laitiere — Le Chateau de Mortfontaine — M. de la Trenise — The battle of Aboukir — The return from Egypt — Reproaching the Government — The martyr's prayer — A presentiment fulfilled ..... 268-290

Chapter XVI

Love and jealousy — Madame Recamier — The word divorce first uttered — Josephine in disgrace — Reconciliation — Ineligible visitors — A change of scene — " Get up, little Creole, get up" — Taking possession — A forgotten inscription — "Vive le General Bonaparte!" — Violets and snowdrops — Josephine's coup d'essai — Death of the trees of liberty ..... 291-304

Chapter XVII

Clearing the ground — Le Couvernement, c'est moi — Fouche and Talleyrand—The sociable fusion — Proposals for peace — Setting out for the wars — Across the Alps to Marengo — Impelled by Fate — Celebrating Marengo — The fete of flowers — Hope deferred — Bribing M. de Talleyrand — A national recompense — The offer of CONTENTS. St. Cloud declined — Bonaparte's toast — General Junot — In search of a wife — An ancient pedigree — Madame de Permon — A midnight ceremony — Duroc and Hortense — The peace of Luneville — The peace of Amiens — Carnot's remonstrances . Pages 305-32S

Chapter XVIII

Flte of the Concordat — An old fashion revived — A fortunate coincidence — The Consular Court — Private letters from Paris — La politesse still survives — A bridal dress — Reviving the old regime — La Marquise de Montesson — The honour of cousinship — The restraints of etiquette — The consular household — Improvements in Paris — Reading the great man to sleep — Teaching grand manners — Mademoiselle Georges — Lucien's second marriage — The new coinage — A Court mourning — A disconsolate widow — Pauline becomes "a real princess" — Pauline's ears — Splendour and simplicity — M. le Prince and Mdme. la Princesse — The presentation — Bitter tears ..... 329-354

Chapter XIX

Lord Whitworth — English travellers in France — Renewal of hostilities — The visit to Belgium — The return to Paris — A change in costume — Madame de Genlis — The First Consul in full dress — Theatricals at St. Cloud — The hereditary succession — Napoleon's vast ambition — Joseph's advice to Napoleon — "Aut Cæsar, aut nihil" — The camp at Arras — A proposal to sleep on — Surrendering a pig-tail — Arrest of the Due d'Enghien — The execution — The empire announced — The Legion of Honour — Regretting the Republic — The tribune, Curee— A man of strong prejudices — An old edition of Virgil — Singular coincidence — Wounded vanity . 355"38o

Chapter XX

The coronation — Arrival of Pius VII. — The nuptial benediction — The eventful 2d of December — The pontifical cortege — The crown of Charlemagne — The crowning of Josephine — The Emperor and CONTENTS. XIII Empress — The presentation of the eagles — Madame Decadi's marriage — Louis XVIII. and Gustavus IV. — The iron crown — Doing credit to the Empire — The Governor of Paris — The Arch- Chancellor — An artiste adinaire — Full dress dinners — A more genial host — The France of other days — " Cine Attcsse serenissime " — The modern Charlemagne — The viceroy — The princess Elisa — The princess Pauline — A chilling reception — The "third coalition " — Trafalgar and Austerlitz — A batch of new kings — "King Franconi "--Madame Mere — A revival . . Pages 381-411

Chapter XXI

The divorce again on the tapis — Establishing the dynasty — The imperial mausoleum — Following the headquarters — Queen Louise at Jena — Marriage of Jerome — A fresh crop of laurels — Wanted, a rich heiress — Count Louis de Narbonne — The exiles of Coppet — A courtier of the old school — A mysterious story — Reinforcing the noblesse — " If anything should happen " — Convention of Cintra — Count Metternich — The blockade — Plots, intrigues; Europe arming — A new campaign — The archduchess, Maria Louisa — Prayers for the Emperor — The Peace of Vienna . 412-433

Chapter XXII

The zenith of glory — The hour of trial — The guide of Napoleon's actions — Poor Josephine ! — La Malmaison — The Austrian marriage — A dutiful daughter — The imperial nuptials — The new Empress — " From gay to grave " — The old love and the new — The king of Rome — General Count Neipperg — The Russian campaign — Consolation — His Majesty of Rome — Death of Josephine — Return of Louis XVIII. — Saint Helena . . . 434-452 THE FRENCH COURT AND SOCIETY REIGN OF LOUIS XVI. & FIRST EMPIRE

Chapter I

The Revolution — Legends of the Revolution — The 5th of May 1789 — The Bas Brecon deputy — A day of hope^Overruled by M. Necker — The assembling of the States — - Royalty, nobility, and the canaille — The entry of Mirabeau — A sensation — A memorable day — The financial budget — The address of M. de Barentin — The boudoir ministry •Exit of the grandees — Exit of the canaille. f^TT^f T forms no part of the plan of the Mt y^f writer of these volumes to attempt — — — I to follow in detail the progress of the French Revolution. Far abler pens have already told the harrowing tale of a nation's madness, and the wild excesses of a people drunk with blood. But so inexhaustible is the theme, so absorbing and undying the national VOL. II. B LEGENDS OF THE REVOLUTION. 2 interest in that great and terrible drama, that again and again its scenes are revived and new episodes introduced — the tender, the romantic — heightening by vivid contrast the horrors of sanguinary deeds ; with which sometimes a characteristic touch of grim humour is blended, causing a shudder rather than a smile.

A French critic, writing on the subj'ect in the pages of the " Revue Suisse," says : " The souvenirs of the great Revolution have a tendency to become for us what the semi fabulous traditions of a Hercules and a Theseus were for the Greeks. Poetry and the drama seek in it their favourite themes, and the history of that great event, not yet a century old, is gradually giving place to legends that each one interprets according to his own feelings or fancy." Doubtless there is truth in this. Imagination has occasionally added some trait of horror to crimes sufficiently revolting in their own naked barbarity. Sinners have been invested with the aureola who had little claim to saintship. Many a mere virago has been put on a pedestal and named a heroine. There can be very few persons, however, who are not familiar with the principal scenes of the great Revolution.

It will be therefore sufficient THE 5TH OF MAY 1789. 3 briefly to notice in these pages those only that more immediately concern its outbreak, and relate to the misguided and unfortunate Marie Antoinette ; serving also to connect the period when salons degenerated into debating clubs, and the Court and society of the old French monarchy ended, with that of the renaissance of the social rdunion under the Consulate, soon to be followed by the splendours of an Imperial Court. It was the 5th of May 1789 — one of the most memorable days in the annals of France. The tapestry displayed on the 4th, on the occasion of the procession of the States General to the church of St. Louis, still decorated the fronts of the houses in the principal streets of Versailles. The assembling of the States had brought a further large influx of visitors from Paris and the adjacent villages and towns — each estate of the realm being fully represented — the people, like their delegates, far out numbering the rest.

Within the usually quiet precincts of the palace a numerous throng was collected, THE BAS BRETON DEPUTY. 4 anxious to catch a glimpse of the aristocratic and high ecclesiastical deputies. Some rolled by in gilded chariots befitting the wearers of mitres and plumes. Others, the poorer clergy and humbler members of the Tiers Etat, — com pelled to go to and from Paris since the previous evening, and now travelling together, seemed already inclined to fraternize, — had picked up for their conveyance some very shaky vehicles, which, as well as their horses, had a most tumble-down look. The greater part, how ever, of the plebeian deputies, being lodged in the neighbourhood, made their way to the Grande Salle des Menus on foot, amidst the vociferous cheering of the multitude. Conspicuous amongst them, though in appearance not of them — for he wore the ordinary dress of the agricultural class ; the vest, belt, and gaiters of the Bas Breton — slowly advanced an aged man, with blanched hair flowing over his shoulders, sunburnt face, and deeply furrowed brow.

He was a small farmer from Brittany, and his name Gerard. Though one of the deputies of St. Martin de Rennes, a district of that province, he cared not, apparently, to disguise himself in the black woollen garb of a vilain of the A DAY OF HOPE. 5 feudal times, prescribed for the despised Tiers Etat, by the queen and her friends, in the boudoir council of the Duchess de Polignac. The morning of the 5th dawned brightly. Versailles, with its tapestries, its garlands of flowers, its throngs of gailydressed visitors, wore a festive, smiling air. To many it was indeed a joyous day — a day of hope — the assembling of the States General, in itself a Revolution, having for many months past been looked forward to as the dawn of national liberty. There may have been hope also, though scarcely mingled with joy at that time, in the heart of the king.

But his extraordinary apathy of feeling at least saved him from those acute sensations of fear and trembling which agitated the queen — agitated her almost to fainting when, on the previous day, the sinister cry of " Vive d'Orleans ! Vive d'Orleans ! " met her ear as the royal part of the procession, otherwise unheeded, passed slowly along the crowded streets. The Due d'Orleans at that cry, affecting an open disregard of the etiquette regulating the march of the procession, chose to separate himself from the princes of the blood and to mingle with the noblesse, showing also OVERRULED BY M. NECKER. some indication of a desire to join the deputies of the Tiers Etat. Again, on this 5th of May, the queen is destined to hear the same applauding cry. It resounds, too, in the midst of the pomp and pageantry intended to overawe the representatives of the people, — to impress them with a sense of their utter insignificance, and the humble part they must expect to play in the national conferences they are so grudgingly summoned to join.

Marie Antoinette's hatred of the Due d'Orleans is the chief cause of his popularity ; for the people see in her their enemy, though no hero in him. She would have persuaded the king to run counter to the will of the nation and refuse to convoke the States ; probably he would have done so had there not been moments when Court sur veillance was withdrawn, and he was open to opposite counsels. Being promised, she sug gested the assembling of the States at Soissons, or other town not less than fifty or sixty leagues distant from Paris. In this she was overruled by M. Necker. He saw greater danger in adopting a course so likely to exas perate the already excited people than that the queen sought to avoid by it. Ultimately THE ASSEMBLING OF THE STATES. 7 Versailles was fixed on as the most suitable locality both for the installation of the Etats Generaux, and for the holding of their con ferences.

This assembling of the Three Estates of the Realm in the great hall of Les Menus of Ver sailles, this solemn opening of their first session, is a grand and imposing spectacle. The hall is draped with violet satin, woven in gold with the fleur de lys and the arms of France. The king presides. He is seated on a throne of violet velvet, with canopy of the same richly embroidered with fieurs de lys and fringed with gold. The queen is also there ; her seat placed a little below the king's. On the left are ranged the princes and princesses of the blood ; on the right the dukes and peers. Around them are the great officers of the household. All wear their robes of State. Towards the further end of the vast hall, and ranging from the centre towards the sides, are the deputies of the noblesse and the clergy ; forming most effective and picturesque groups.

Behind them are eight heralds -at -arms in glittering costume. The Keeper of the Seals, in his robes of office, stands near the steps of the throne, not far from which is placed a table ROYALTY, NOBILITY, AND THE CANAILLE. covered with green cloth, with seats around it for the ministers. Ladies and gentlemen in full Court dress occupy, as spectators, the seats between the pillars on both sides of the hall. The rows of benches behind the heralds, and at the extreme end of the building, are not yet occupied. But when this grand assemblage of royal and noble personages have taken the places severally assigned them, a door opening on a passage that leads to some stabling in the rear of the palace, is suddenly thrown back. A crowd enters, pressing forward with some confusion ; for both passage and entrance are narrow, and these five or six hundred men have been massed together and waiting under a shed for the last three hours, with the further humiliation and trial of temper of being then called over severally by name, though possess ing each his billet or card of entry.

But the boudoir council rates them as canaille; such treatment is, therefore, good enough for them. And, indeed, they are but a homely looking set. Their humble, dingy attire strik ingly contrasts with that of the glittering throng into whose august presence they now are graciously admitted, and by whom, as they cross the hall, they are passed, as it were, in THE ENTRY OF MIRABEAU. 9 review. These men are the deputies of the Tiers Etat or Third Estate of the Realm. Some of them probably have never before witnessed a scene of such dazzling splendour as that which now meets their gaze within the Grande Salle. It has been calculated that the effect of this royal state and magnificence will greatly tend to repress whatever aspiring thoughts those rustic and plebeian breasts may have cherished.

The very names of these men have furnished infinite amusement to the company of triflers forming the queen's and Count d'Artois' intimate circle. The king himself, taking up the list of deputies, asked, with a derisive smile, as he glanced over it, " What would have been the general opinion concerning him had he formed his Council from men obscure in name and birth as these?" He forgot that they were not obscure in the districts they represented ; and that, though unknown to him, they were well known to their fellow-citizens who had elected them. Few, perhaps, besides Mirabeau — who enters with a haughty, defiant air, that raises murmurs among the noblesse, but excites the admiration of Madame de Stael, who says, " He was grand in his ugliness " — could have pro- A SENSATION. 10 duced his four quarterings, or his de or de la, denoting that he was somebody.

Yet they were the dlite of their class. Among them were men of education, distinguished talent, and brilliant oratorical powers. Generally, too, they were animated by a loyal and patriotic spirit. This frankly responded to by the king and the two upper estates, it seems not only possible, but even very probable, that the tottering throne of France might not yet have fallen, but, by united effort, have even been firmly fixed on an enduring basis. But the deputies are now in their places, and the king, putting on his plumed hat, rises to address the assembled States. A momentary fluttering of feathers ensues, for the noblesse cover also at the signal given by the king, and the dignitaries of the Church put on their square-topped caps. Unhesitatingly the com monalty follow the example of their betters, and don their quaint, coarse felt hats.

This audacity causes a momentary yet no slight sensation. It is contrary to all precedent ; but so much of the old Court etiquette has been set aside with impunity by the privileged classes during the last twelve months that this violation of it by the lower strata must pass unnoticed A MEMORABLE DA Y. 11 too. Otherwise the Third Estate of the Realm should not only have remained uncovered, but, according to olden custom, have knelt while listening or replying to the gracious words of their sovereign lord and king. Louis XVI. speaks with some emotion. Per haps he is not quite sincere when he declares that it gives him heartfelt happiness to see gathered around him the representatives of the nation of which it is his highest glory to be the ruler. He mentions the public debt and the penury of the State, and announces a dimi nution in his future household expenditure.

He complains of the feverish restlessness of the people, but suggests no measures for allaying it. He recommends union to the Three Estates — trusts that a happy accord may reign in their councils, and this "5th of May be ever memorable as the beginning of an era of happiness and prosperity for France." With one knee on the steps of the throne, the Keeper of the Seals, M. de Barentin, then delivers a long and tedious discourse in a tremulous, feeble voice. It is little more than a panegyric, setting forth the great virtues of the king and the benefits he has conferred on his subjects. Also his extreme indulgence in THE FINANCIAL BUDGET. 12 extending " pardon even to those advocates of false and extravagant maxims, by favour of which they had sought to substitute pernicious chimeras for the unalterable principles of the monarchy."

Much impatience is evinced dur ing the delivery of this injudicious harangue. But to the Keeper of the Seals succeeds M. Necker. He is greeted with enthusiasm by the deputies of the Tiers Etat, and also by part of the noblesse. For the moment he is the popular minister. What he has to say has been eagerly awaited. He speaks for three hours, and his financial budget is the chief theme of his discourse. It is sufficiently able and lucid, and but slightly dashed with his customary sentimentalism — M. Necker on this occasion confining himself to the discussion of matters with which he is perhaps more thoroughly acquainted than any other financier of the day. As he proceeds, a feeling of disappointment comes over the assembly. It is more especially noticeable in the deputies of the Third Estate.

Probably M. Necker becomes conscious of this falling off of interest in his discourse ; for, when about to conclude, he seems to remember that he has yet some remarks to offer on the vexed THE ADDRESS OF M. DE BARENTIN. 13 subject of the method of taking the votes of the three orders of the States General, whether on questions of finance or of proposed reforms in the system of government which may be submitted to them for discussion. It is of vital importance to the deputies of the people that this question should be promptly and permanently settled. By right it devolves on the king to determine it ; as also clearly to define the rules that should govern the conduct of business in the General Assembly of the States. It is so new a thing to both nobles and people to participate in any act of government, that naturally they seek for direction at the outset.

The king has expressed a hope that harmony may reign in their councils, but has suggested no regulations for their guidance. He has, however, through the address of M. de Barentin, given them to understand that the subjects he will allow them to discuss are few indeed. Yet the public look to the Assembly of the Three Estates for " the regeneration of France." And Louis XVI. would have done well to associate himself with them, and to have taken the lead in this great national work.1 But in fact he rather looks forward to the dis- 1 Mignet's " Histoire de la Revolution Frangaise." THE BOUDOIR MINISTRY. 14 sensions that may arise in the councils of the three orders to furnish him with a pretext for annulling the new power he has so unwillingly called into existence. Unhappily, too, he is now swayed by the short-sighted and vindictive policy of the queen and her favourites, and the arrogant opinions of the Count d'Artois and his partisans.

No pains have been spared, no flattery or seduction omitted, to gain over the most influential deputies of the two privileged orders to the views of the boudoir ministry ; that, by systematically opposing the pretensions of the Third Order to interfere in affairs of State, they may the more effectually crush those pre sumptuous plebeians. The future of France — the Revolution itself, whether it should be or should not be — de pended on the separation or coalition of the three orders, which (as the deputies of the Third very reasonably suggested) formed no general assembly if divided. Convoked not merely to consent to the imposition of certain taxes, and to limit the liberty of the press, but for higher and legislative purposes, unanimity in their views was essential, and more likely to be attained, they conceived, by assembling EXIT OF THE GRANDEES. 15 in one apartment than in three.