Madame de Lamballe

Front matter

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Chapter I Page

Nangis. — Preparations of the inhabitants. — Arrival of the Due de Penthievre and his suite. — Interview at Montereau. — The Due de Penthievre. — Presentations. — Entrance into Nangis. — Celebration of the marriage by the Cardinal de Luynes. — Sojourn at the Chateau of Nangis. — Motives of the Due de Penthievre for marrying the Prince de Lamballe. — Dowry of Mademoiselle de Carignan. — Marriage contract. — Monsieur de Choiseul. — Voyage of Mademoiselle de Carignan. — Supper in the Hotel de Toulouse. — Marriage ode. — Presentation of Madame de Lamballe ........ 3

Chapter II

Portrait of Madame de Lamballe. — Hope of the Due de Penthievre. — Letter from Lamoignon. — Representation of the " Gouvernante." — Presentation of the Comte Mniszek. — Review on the Plain of Marly. — Change in the conduct of the prince. — Mademoiselle de la Chassaigne. — Grief of the Due de Penthievre. — The prince falls ill. — He sells his wife's diamonds. — Despair of Madame de Lamballe. — She is seized with nervous attacks. — Pittara. — The prince escapes from the Hotel de Toulouse. — The Due de Penthievre brings him back. — The prince in the home of M. de Wargemont, Chaussee d'Antin. — Search of the Due de Penthievre, — The prince in a deplorable condition. — He is taken to Luciennes. — His death. — Funeral. —

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Deep grief of the princess. — She wishes to retire to the Abbey

of Saint Antoine. — The princess at Rambouillet . . .15

Chapter III

Sojourn of Madame de Lamballe at Rambouillet.— Marriage of the Due de Chartres with Mademoiselle de Bourbon-Penthievre. — Character of the duke. — Souper des Veuves. — Reception at Issy. — Madame de Lamballe at Saint Denis. — Good works. — Verses by Florian. — Marriage of the dauphin with Marie Antoinette. — Madame de Lamballe presented to the dauphiness. — Plan of the journey to Havre. — Indisposition of the Due de Penthievre. — Honors of the Hotel de Toulouse. — The princess becomes intimate with the dauphiness. — Mercy-Argenteau, — Madame de Lamballe at every court ceremony. — Fontainebleau. — Presentation to the Comtesse de Provence. — Procession of the Fete-Dieu. — Sleigh-ride. — Dinner at the Dauphiness's. — Birth of the Due de Valois. — Letter from Florian. — Presentation to the Comtesse d'Artois. — Death of Louis XV. and accession to the throne of Louis XVL — Favor of Madame de Lamballe at court. — Representation of Gluck's " Iphigenie." — Trianon. — Portrait of Madame de Lamballe. — Nomination of the Princess for superintendent of the royal household. — Madame de Noailles. — Madame de Lamballe accompanies the Due de Penthievre to Rennes . . . .24

Chapter IV

Estates of Brittany. — Separation of the queen from Madame de Lamballe. — Overture from the Estates. — Gift offered to Madame de Lamballe by the Estates. — Representation of an allegory entitled " Le Couronnement d'un Roi." — Madame de Lamballe returns to Paris. — Reception given in the Salon d'Hercule in honor of the Archiduc Maximilian. — Intrigue for the position of superintendent. — The Duchesse de Cosse. — Nervous attacks of the princess. — Opinion of Marie-Ther^se.

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—Journey to Paris of the Princes de Carignan under the titles of Marquis de Marene, Comte de Salussole, and Comte de Villefranche. — They are presented to the king. — Desire of Madame de Lamballe to see one of her brothers settled in France. — Communication from the Comtesse d'Artois. — The Comte de Villefranche appointed colonel of a regiment of infantry. — Supper at the Hotel de Toulouse. — Birth of the Due de Montpensier. — Sojourn at Anet. — Return of the court to Versailles. — Dismissal of Madame de Cosse. — Departure of Madame de Noailles. — Letter from the queen to the Comte de Rosenberg. — Mesdames de Dillon and de Polignac. — Madame de Lamballe and the Duchesse de Chartres in Holland. — Letter from the queen to Marie-Therese. — Nomination of the princess to the office of superintendent. — Congratulations of the Estates of Brittany. — Reply of the princess 38

Chapter V

Fears of Mercy. — Rule made by the Abbe de Vermond. — Refusal of the Due de Penthievre. — Tears of Madame de Lamballe. — The king signs the brevet. — Height of the princess's favor. — Parties at the Petit-Trianon. — Kindness of the queen. — Anecdote concerning the Duchesses de Bourbon and de Chartres and Madame de Lamballe. — The princess attends the ball given at the marriage of the king's sister. — Drive to Sceaux. — The court at Choisy. — Walk along the Seine. — Lines of Baculard d'Arnaud. — The princess abuses her credit. — Separation of the Comte and the Comtesse de la Marche. — Madame de Lamballe costs the State more than 100,000 crowns. — Intrigue of Mercy-Argenteau. — Apartments of the princess at Versailles. — Purchase of the Hotel du Maine. — Court balls. — That of the Due de Chartres. — The queen wearied by the princess. — Despotism of Madame de Lamballe. — Struggle between Mesdames de Lamballe and de Polignac. — The princess continues to lose the confidence of the queen. — Scheming of the Polignacs. — First Equerry to the queen. — Madame de Lamballe ill. — Favor of Madame de Lamballe again wanes. — Mademoiselle

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Rosalie of the Opera. — Poor health of the princess. — What Lauzun says in his " Memoires." — Plombieres. — Journey to Nancy. — Toul. — Homage to the princess by " L' Histoire de Lorraine." — Return to court. — Increased favor shown Madame de Polignac. — Jealousy of Madame de Lamballe. — Manoeuvres of Madame de Polignac. — Difficulties in etiquette obviated by Madame de Lamballe 51

Chapter VI

Arrival of the Due and Duchesse des Deux-Ponts. — Reception and visits. — The queen sups at Madame de Lamballe's.— Importunities of the princess. — Easter. — Arrival in Paris of Joseph II. — Adventure of the carriages. — Account by Bachaumont. — Letter of Joseph II. to Mercy- Argenteau. — Dinner at the Trianon. — Madame de Lamballe displeases him. — The Princesse de Conti, the Princesse de Lamballe, and the Due de Penthievre pay their respects to Joseph II. — Visit at Sceaux. — Adieu of the emperor. — Nervous attack of the queen. — Madame de Lamballe at Plombieres. — Fontainebleau. — The queen spends her days at Madame de Polignac's. — Public opinion. — "La Grammaire des Dames," by the Chevalier de Prunay. — " Les quatre Heures de la Toilette des Dames." — Card-playing at the queen's and at Madame de Lamballe's. — The queen obliged to establish harmony between Madame de Polignac and the princess. — Ball at the Opera. — The Comte d'Artois. — The friends of the princess urge her to give balls. — Opinion of Mercy-Argenteau on the superintendent. — Triumph of Madame de Polignac. — The Choiseul party. — Madame de Lamballe's trip to Holland. — Error of Madame de Genlis. — Conflict between the superintendent and the Abbe de Vermond. — The princess merely tolerated. — Resignation offered. — Illness of Madame de Polignac. — Madame de Lamballe attempts to win back the favor of the queen. — Death of the mother and the father of Madame de Lamballe. — Letter from Marie Antoinette. — Mourning of the court. — Lines on the queen. — The Princesse Marie-Therese Charlotte. — Queen attacked by measles.

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—Madame de Polignac— Visit to the Rue de Bourbon, Paris.— Communion.— Madame de Polignac at Spa.— Madame de Lamballe at Bourbon.— Decreasing favor of Madame de Lamballe. — Increasing favor of Madame de Polignac. — Complaints of the princess. — Accusations against the princess . . .67

Chapter VII

Visit of the Due and the Duchesse de Chartres, of the Duchesse de Bourbon, and of the Princesse de Lamballe to the Loge de la Candeur. — Discourse. — Harmony of the lodge. — Verses. — Dialogue between a M. and a proselyte. — Toasts and canticles of the Order of Adoption. — Amusements. — Representation of "L'Ami de la Maison."— Ball.— Different signatures. — French Masonry. — Madame de Lamballe at their ceremonies. — Founding of the Loges d'Adoption about the middle of the eighteenth century.— The Grand Orient takes them under its protection. — The Masonry of Adoption. — General rules. — Model of a certificate. — Quests and great works. — Fires. — Three poor young girls married.- The children of Masons taken into apprenticeship. — The Mother Lodge assumes the education of all male children from the Parish of Saint Eustache born the same day as the dauphin. — Banquet. — The Princesse de Lamballe elected January 10, 1781, Grand Mistress of all the regular Loges Ecossaises of France. — Minutes. — Changes of the Loge of the Contrat Social. — The Chevalier de Bourbon. — The Abbe Bertolio. — A rare pamphlet 83

Chapter VIII

Trouble of the superintendent. — Mizet and Joseph Loques. — Letter to Madame de Guebriant. — Calumnies. — Letter from Monsieur de Paulmy. — Madame de Lamballe decides to go to Marly. — The queen and Madame de Polignac, — Card-playing. — Useless efforts of Madame de Lamballe to win back the queen's favor. — Marie Antoinette goes once a week to Paris to see Madame de Polignac. — Indifference to Madame de Lam-

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balle. — Marriage at Saint Malo. — The prince recalled to Turin, — His union annulled in 1780 again celebrated in 1781. — Madame de Polignac has wholly replaced Madame de Lamballe in the queen's affection. — Madame de Polignac. — La Muette. — Marly. — Inconsistency of the queen. — ^Visits to Madame de Polignac. — Return to court. — Comedy at Trianon. — Claims. — Admission refused Madame de Lamballe. — The Comte de Polignac elected hereditary duke. — The queen at Claye. — Trip to Fontainebleau. — Death of the Prince Victor Amede'e de Savoie- Carignan. — Visit of the queen to Madame de Lamballe. — Death of Marie-Therese. — Abbe de Vermond. — Mesdames de Lamballe and de Polignac. — Annuity of forty thousand livres to the princess. — Conditions of the rules of ready-money. — Greed of the Polignacs. — Duchesse de Gramont. — Succession of the Due de Villeroy-Maurepas. — Due de Lorges. — Marriage of Mademoiselle de Polignac with the Due de Guiche. — Diary of Louis XVI.— Confinement of the queen. — A dauphin. . 103

Chapter IX

Madame de Lamballe sponsor. — Ball to the royal family. — Marriage of Mademoiselle d'Amblimont to the Comte de Lage de Volude. — Presentation of the young comtesse at court. — Fetes by the city of Paris. — Madame de Lamballe attends all ceremonies. — Departure of the queen from La Muette. — Visits to Notre Dame, Sainte Genevieve, and at the Hotel de Ville. — Supper at the Temple. — Ball at the Hotel de Ville. — Ball given by the Body-guard in the Opera House at Versailles. — Measles attacks the Duchesse de Chartres. — Death of Mademoiselle d'Olreans. — Journey of the Comte and the Comtesse du Nord. — Visit to the Trianon. — Chantilly. — Choisy. — Sceaux. — "Memoires" of the Baronne d'Oberkirch, — Reception to the Comte and Comtesse du Nord. — Collation. — Drive. — Ball at Versailles. — Opinion of the Baronne d'Oberkirch. — Supper at the princess's. — Death of Louis Samuel de Tascher. — Florian. — Garat. — At the Abbe Espagnac's. — Madame de Gilibert. — Verses. — Description of the f^te at the

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Invalides. — Baptism of the daughter of the Comtesse de Lage de Volude. — Purchase of the house at Passy. — The princess returns to the Due de Penthievre. — Portrait of the duke by Bachaumont. — Opinion of the Comtesse de Lage de Volude. — The Due de Penthievre's mode of life. — Verses of Coulanges. — Belle-Chasse. — Anecdote by Grimme, , , .118

Chapter X

The king buys Rambouillet. — Reply to Turgot. — Pamphlets on the court customs. — Approach of Easter. — The Bishop of Saint Papoul. — Visits of the Baronne d' Oberkirch to Madame de Lamballe. — The King of Sweden in Paris ; also Prince Henry of Prussia. — Visits to the Due de Penthievre and to Madame de Lamballe. — Presentation of Monsieur de Fersheira to the duke. — Chevalier du Authiers and Monsieur de Las Cases. — The Princesse de Conti, the Duchesse de Chartres, and the Princesse de Lamballe call on the King of Sweden. — Visit to the Due de Penthievre. — Comte de Haga. — The Duchesse de Bourbon and Madame de Lamballe in their apartments. — Balloon ascent at Versailles. — Chateauvillain. — ^Verses by Florian in honor of the princess. — Fire in the Hotel de Toulouse. — Purchase of the Hotel Louvois. — Due de Normandie. — Madame de Lamballe at Deslon's. — The great pill-doctor of France. — Fetes in Paris on the birth of the Due de Normandie. — The queen sups with the superintendent and attends the Comedie Italienne. — Death of the Comte de Villefranche . 132

Chapter XI

The Affair of the Necklace. — Arrest of Cardinal de Rohan at Versailles. — Madame de la Motte imprisoned. — The queen an object of hatred. — Baptism of the Due d'Angouleme. — Absence of the Princesse de Lamballe. — Letter from Marie Antoinette to the princess. — The queen sups at the superintendent's. — The Polignacs. — Dismissal of the duke. — Birth of the Prin-

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cesse Helena Beatrix Sophie. — Princesse de Chimay. — Diary of the Due de Penthievre. — Arrival in Paris of the Archiduc Ferdinand and of his wife Marie Beatrix d'Este. — Supper of the Princesse de Conti. — Visit of Madame de Lamballe to the Archiduc and the Archiduchesse. — Presentation of the Comtesse de Faucigny. — Bois-Robin. — Account of Bachaumont. — Assembly of the Notables. — Meeting of Parliament. — Agitation. — Madame de Lamballe absent from court. — Goes to England. — Morning call of the queen on Madame de Lamballe. — Negotiations with Monsieur de Calonne for the destruction of certain documents. — Absence of the princess caused by ill-health. — Madame de Polignac presents her resignation. — The queen at Trianon. — Exile of the princes of the blood. — Villers- Cotterets. — Madame de Lamballe at the queen's reception. — Protection of Florian. — The queen at the play. — Madame de Lamballe accompanies the queen to service. — The Bishop of Laon. — Baptism of the Dues de Chartres and de Montpensier. — Reception to Florian. — Succession of the Abbe Millot. — Death of the Cardinal de Luynes. — The chair of the Archbishop of Sens. — Address of Florian. — Journeys of a princess. — Fontevrault. — Honors rendered by the regiment. — Dinner at the archbishop's .......... 146

Chapter XII

Debut of Mademoiselle Charlotte la Chassaigne. — Ill-health of the Due de Penthievre. — The queen at service. — Troubled times. — At the Petits Carmes. — The Nobility and the Third Estate. — States-General. — Attitude of the queen. — Comtesse de Lage. — Dauphin's illness. — Opinion of the doctors. — Death of Louis Joseph Xavier Fran9ois, dauphin of France. — Lamballe at Meudon. — Lying in state of the body. — The Due de Normandie, dauphin. — Taking of the Bastille. — Letter from the Due de Penthievre. — The princess in Switzerland. — " Memoires de Fortaire." — Lamballe at Aumale, and at Eu. — Departure of the Comte and the Comtesse d'Artois. — Madame de Polignac offers her resignation as governess of the Children of France. —

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The queen undertakes their education. — Second resignation accepted. — Madame de Tourzel. — Lamballe comes to the royal family. — Return of the king and his family to the Tuileries. — Madame de Lamballe in Paris. — Contrast between her past and present character. — Marie Antoinette at the Trianon. — Louis XVI. hunts. — Letter from the king, the queen, and Madame Elisabeth to Madame de Lamballe 162

Chapter XIII

The royal family at the Tuileries. — Arrival of Madame de Lamballe. — Humiliation of the royal family. — Madame de Lamballe in the Pavilion de Flore. — Letter from the queen. — The Children of France. — Treasury exhausted. — Decrees of Parliament. — Patriotic gifts. — The Due de Penthievre sends his plate to the mint. — Poisoning of the princess. — Princess wants to rent Passy furnished. — Salary of the surgeon. — The " Courrier Franjais." — Repairs at Passy. — The Due de Penthievre at Amboise. — Letter to the Cardinal de Bernis. — Letter from the queen to Madame de Lamballe. — The king hunts. — Diary of the king. — Visit to the Hotel de Ville. — Madame de Lamballe returns to Paris. — Receptions. — Death of the queen's brother. — The Due de Penthievre at Fontevault. — Visit of the princess to Clermont. — Reception of the Tourangeaux. — Return to Amboise. — Private life of the Due d'Orleans. — Separation of his money from that of his wife's. — Letter from the Duchesse d'Orleans the day following the September massacres. — Measures taken by the friends of Lamballe 175

Chapter XIV

First months of 1791. — The Tuileries. — Restlessness of the people.— Fears at the chateau. — Arrival of the Duchesse d'Orleans at Eu. — The Parisians at Bellevue, etc. — King ill in March. — Death of Mirabeau. — Vicq d'Azyr and Cabanis. — Vote of the clergy. — The king tries to go to Saint Cloud. —

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Stopped by the soldiers. — Plans for flight. — La Fayette. — The troops not warned. — Return to their quarters. — Madame de Lamballe's ignorance of the flight. — Farewell of the queen. — Preparations. — Arrival at Aumale. — Details by Fortaire. — Farewell of Madame de Lamballe. — Orders of the Due de Penthievre to start for Eu. — At Boulogne. — At sea. — M. de Fersen. — Comphausbad. — Comte de Ginestous. — Return of the royal family to Paris. — Accusation of Carra. — Advice of friends.— Advice of Madame de Lage de Volude. — Correspondence of the comtesse. — Life of Lamballe abroad. — The emigres. — Amusements. — Suffering of the princess. — Her constant thought of the Tuileries. — Correspondence between Marie Antoinette and Madame de Lamballe. — Louis XVI. 's promise. — Dauphin. — Journey to Spa, — Conference with the King of Sweden igl

Chapter XV

Spa. — The " Lion Noir." — The Comte de Haga. — Society at Spa. — Return to Aix. — Dinner to the King of Sweden. — Souvenirs of the Comte de Las Cases. — Offers of the King of Italy. — Madame de Lamballe suddenly decides to return to France. — Appreciation of Madame de Tourzel. — Fortaire. — Madame de Lamballe's departure. — Journey. — Return to Paris. — Reception of Lamballe. — Anet. — Ill-health of the Due de Penthievre. — His correspondence with the Cardinal de Bernis. — Federation. — Decree of June igth. — Barnave and Lameth. — The due and his parish of Saint Eustache. — Coat-of-arms torn from the church. — At Eu. — Schism. — Orders of Holy Spirit and the Golden Fleece. — Madame de Lamballe's reception at court. — King's reply. — Queen's reply 208

Chapter XVI

The princess opens her salon. — M. d'Amblimont sups at the princess's. — Receptions, etc. — Picture of the court. — Madame Elisabeth. — King and queen. — Queen's letter to the Duchesse

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de Polignac. — Spies. — Petion. — Opinion of Madame de Tourzel. — Anxiety of Madame de Lamballe. — Death of Emperor Leopold. — Order for the arrest of Delessart. — The princess writes to M, de Breteuil. — Plan of putting queen in convent. — Queen's fear. — The Austrian committee. — Orators of the Palais Royal, etc. — Bertrand de MoUeville. — Carra, etc. — Meeting of May 23d. — Speech of Chabot. — Madame de Lamballe still in Paris. — Condition of the duke. — His mode of life. — Letters to the Cardinal de Bernis. — Reception of bishops, aristocrats, horses, and baggage of the Comte d'Artois. — Intervention of the municipal officers of Houdan — Assassination of the King of Sweden. — Death of the Comte de Dillon. — Unexpected adventure of the duke's surgeon. — The Comtesse de Joinville. — Weakness of the duke. — Tree of Liberty .... 226

Chapter XVII

Conflict between the king and the Assembly. — Decree for the deportation of priests, etc. — The Tuileries invaded. — The dauphin. — Courage of Madame de Lamballe. — Petion. — Roederer. — Petion and Manuel suspended. — The Mayor of Paris restored to office. — Fete of the Federation. — The king and the royal family at the Champs-de-Mars. — Merlin, Chabot, and other patriots murdered. — Arms in the cellars of the chateau. — The king contemplates flight. — The people wish to attack the Tuileries. — Camp around the chateau. — The battalions of the National Guard hasten to the protection of the king. — The faubourgs in arms. — Preparations for defence at the chateau. — Princesse de Lamballe, Madame de Lage deVolude, and the Comtesse de Ginestous. — Arrival of the Marseillais. — Condemnation of Girard. — The Comtesse de Lage in Paris. — ^Visit of the princess. — Situation of the royal family and the princess. — The king resolved to oppose with arms any attack on his house. — Scepticism of Madame de Lage de Volude. — Madame de Lage de Volude leaves Paris. — Agitation in the faubourgs. — The Tuileries about to be attacked. — The Swiss from Courbevoie and Rueil. — Officers and soldiers passing through Paris. — The tocsin sounds. — Impressions at the chateau. — Assas-

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sination of Mandat. — The princess spends the night with the royal family. — Dejection of Madame de Lamballe. — Review.— Exhortation of the queen. — Colonel Pfyffer. — King seeks refuge in the Assembly. — Deputy from the National Guard. — " If the king goes to the Assembly he is lost." — The National Guard of the chateau makes common cause with the battalions from the faubourgs. — The secretary's box. — Madame de Lamballe has a nervous attack. — Is carried to the Feuillants. — Sounds of cannon, groans, and cries, — Decree of the Assembly. — The royal family at the Feuillants. — Nomination of commissioners. — Attitude of the king and the queen. — Grief of Marie Antoinette. — The Luxembourg. — Manuel. — Transfer to the Temple. — Illuminations. — Installation. — Madame de Lamballe separated from the other prisoners. — Discussion in the Commune. — Madame de Lamballe arrested. — Arrival of an officer to remove Madame de Tourzel to the Commune. — The queen and Madame de Lamballe. — Heart-breaking parting. — "If we are not fortunate enough to see each other again, take care of Madame de Lamballe " . . . 243

Chapter XVIII

The lower rooms of the Temple. — The Hotel de Ville. — Examination. — Billaud-Varennes. — The princess examined at three o'clock in the morning. — Shall the prisoners be taken back to the Temple ? — La Force. — Madame de Lamballe's state of mind. — Grief of Madame de Tourzel. — Her daughter Pauline. — Care of the room, work, and reading. — Plan for a new mode of life. — Account in the " Moniteur." — Seals will be put on the papers. — Smuggled letters. — Uncertainty at La Force. — Visit of Manuel. — A letter from the Due de Penthievre. — The prisoners may write and receive letters. — Order for the prisoners to walk in the courtyard. — Colonges. — Health of Madame de Lamballe. — Arrival of the hostile army. — Departure of Pauline. — Madame de Lamballe's sympathy. — Madame de Tourzel's " Me'moires." — Madame de Lamballe burns her letters. — Six armed guests. — Princess climbs to the window ledge. — Is aimed at. — Calm within the court-

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yard. — Madame de Tourzel refuses to leave the princess. — The courtyard. — Cowardly and insulting mockery of the princess. — Farewell scene. — In the registrar's office. — The tribunal. — Declaration of the princess. — Called on to swear Liberty, Equality, etc. — Order to take the princess to the Abbaye. — Cries of death. — They drag away Madame de Lamballe. — Blow from a sword. — She is seized by the arms. — Murderers. — Contradictory reports of historians. — The head of the princess at a wine merchant's. — The head carried to the Temple on the end of a pike. — Council at the Temple. — Commissioners. — Plans of defence. — National Guard line up without arms. — Tri-colored scarf. — The crowd harangued. — Marie Antoinette must come to the window. — The commissioners throw themselves before the first gate of the Tower. — " To the Palais Royal ! " — Commissioners from the Assembly. — Petion. — The royal family sent to a rear room. — Santerre .,,.,...... 262

Chapter XIX

Accounts of some historians. — Madame de Lamballe's body taken to the District of the Quinze-Vingts. — Trial concerning the removal of the body. — Second trial about the head. — Marie Antoinette's ring. — Opinions of the newspapers. — Ideas of the horrors committed in Paris, etc. — The Comte de Fersen. — Circular of the Vigilance Committee of the Commune. — Danton. — Desforges. — A document bearing his name on the margin. — The circular is the work of Marat. — Billaud-Varennes harangues the murderers. — Note from Maillard. — Panis informed of the plans of the murderers. — Address of the National Assembly. — Reaction. — Address of the Mayor of Paris to the Assembly. — Exhortations of Petion to the Parisians. — Letter from Rallaud to the president of the Convention. — Sent back to the Committee of Six. — The decree promulgated. — The Convention retracts. — New decree 280

Chapter XX Page

Reaction and judgment of the September massacres. — Addresses from the districts of the Fraternite and of the Unite. — Account of the Citizen Franconville. — Decree of the Committee of General Safety of the Convention. — Seventeen citizens sent to the Criminal Tribunal of Paris as instigators of the massacres of September. — Motives for the arrest of Gonnord. — Order for the arrest of Gonnord. — Sentence pronounced the 22d Floreal, year IV. — The Amnesty of Brumaire, year IV. — Verses by Lebrun. — M. de Fleurieu. — Robespierre. — Madame de Lamballe as intermediary. — Conditions imposed by the Constitutionalists. — Organization of a newspaper. — Cessation of the duties of public prosecutor. — The king unable to keep his promise. — Abbe Georgel. — Various errors. — Another version of the death of Madame de Lamballe. — Politics of Mirabeau. — Anger of the queen. — Madame de Lamballe's name the first on the list of massacres. — Supper of the triumvirs. — Anniversaries of the death of the princess and of the Due de Penthievre. — Funeral oration. — Masses continued under the Empire and the Restoration. — Church of Saint Leu. — Plan for a monument to the memory of Madame de Lamballe. — Lines by Delille. — Prediction of Nostradamus as applied to Madame de Lamballe ...... 304

Chapter I

A little town, quaintly nestling on a fertile plateau, boasting no vanity from its choice site, but preserving all the modesty of its surroundings — such is Nangis.

Nevertheless, like others, it has had its day in the past, and, like them, can claim a place in history. Thus we see it as a frame to the picture which naturally has its place in the beginning of the study we are about to undertake.

Scarcely had day dawned on the 31st of January, 1767, a memorable date in its annals, when Nangis broke through its ordinary calm and awoke to active life.

On that day its inhabitants were to have as guests the Prince de Lamballe and his future wife, the Princesse de Carignan, and this royal union was to be blessed in the old church, of which the town was justly proud, a fine specimen of Gothic architecture, with its beautiful lines and remarkable purity of style. The people on this occasion acted as always under similar circumstances.

At the entrance of Nangis they erected a triumphal arch on which they raised an enormous escutcheon with the coat-of-arms of the town, the azure shield with six besants of silver. By their hands every house was adorned with flags, and poles to which oriflammes were suspended were placed at equal distances along the streets.

Notwithstanding the attention demanded by these preparations, anxiety and curiosity reached a high pitch. At the least noise, at the rolling of a carriage, the gates were immediately opened and the windows were filled with heads, eager to question the road from Montereau.

The agitation was no less apparent in the streets. Citizens went and came, attracted by the unusual presence of horsemen who had passed and repassed at full speed since morning, and whose duty it was to announce the arrival of the Princesse de Carignan's carriages. When the equipage of the Due de Penthievre appeared the crowd was in an uproar. The good duke, so universally beloved and respected, was radiant J this marriage carried out his most cherished wishes, and the joy depicted on the face of his son added to his happiness.