Tea at Trianon: Letter from Louis XVI on July 13, 1789

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Letter from Louis XVI on July 13, 1789

Here is a letter written by Louis XVI to Maréchal de Castries, asking him most politely to come to Versailles. It is written by the King's own hand, not by a secretary. Notice his small, neat and orderly script, except for his large signature. The letter shows that Louis was concerned about a potential uprising and wanted to have his best officers and advisors at hand. Perhaps the errors betray his agitation; he was obviously aware a crisis was escalating. In French it says:

Vous savez M. le Maréchal le cas que j’ai toujours fait de vos services et de vos talents. Vous n’ignorez pas les circonstances qui m’ont déterminé à changer le Ministère. J’ai mis le [Maréchal] de Broglie à la [tête] de l’armée et M. Foullon sous lui pour les détails, en supprimant le Conseil de la Guerre. J’ai rappelé le Bon de Breteuil au conseil en lui donnant la place de Chef du Conseil des Finances comme l’avait eu M. de Vergennes et j’ai donné les Affaires Étrangères à M. de la Vauguillon. Vos n’ignorez pas non plus [monsieur le Maréchal] l’état de fermentation et de désordre où sont les [têtes]. C’est dans ces moments-là que j’ai besoin de personnes qui me sont vraiment attachées auxquelles je puisse prendre confiance et qui jouissent de l’estime publique. Il y a longtemps que je songeais à vous mais tant que M. Necker était ici, comme vous étiez son ami mais d’avis différents, je n’ai pas voulu vous en parler de peur de vous mettre dans l’embarras vis-à-vis de lui. M. de la Luzerne m’a aussi donné la démission de sa place. Je désirerais [monsieur le Maréchal] que vous reprissiez votre place au Conseil et le département que vous avez géré avec distinction pendant 7 ans, ce serait un vrai service que vous me rendriez et j’aurais le plus grand plaisir à vous voir ici, mandez-moi quelles sont vos vues.

A translation:

You know, M. le Maréchal, the case I have always made of your services and your talents. You are aware of the circumstances that led me to change the Ministry. I put [Marshal] de Broglie at the [head] of the army, and M. Foullon under him for the details, by suppressing the War Council. I recalled the Baron de Breteuil to the council, giving him the place of Chief of the Council of Finances, as had M. de Vergennes, and I gave Foreign Affairs to M. de la Vauguillon. Do not ignore either the state of fermentation and disorder where the leaders are. It is in these moments that I need people who are really attached to me to whom I can gain confidence and who enjoy public esteem. I've been thinking about you for a long time, but as long as Mr. Necker was here, as you were his friend but with different opinions, I did not want to talk about it for fear of embarrassing you or him. M. de la Luzerne also gave me the resignation of his place. I would like you to take your place on the Council and the department you have managed with distinction for 7 years, it would be a real service to me and I would have the greatest pleasure to see you here, and ask you about your views.