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peachable, and who was the chosen witness of the event. The royal family arrived, the cannons were fired, and great joy was evinced by the soldiery. The infant was shown at the windows to the populace; orders were given for every soldier who wished to do so, to enter the room and see the child; and, in the afternoon, the duchess had her bed moved to the windows, where she showed herself with her child in her arms to the people, who rent the air with their acclamations. Poems, drawings, and felicitations arrived from all parts, and were renewed at the baptism of Henri Dieudonné, and in a few days all the communes of the kingdom purchased the noble castle of Chambord (a monument of the time of Francis I.) and presented it to the royal infant.

The interval which elapsed between the birth and exile of the Duke de Bordeaux was occupied on the part of the Duchess de Berri in patronizing the arts, keeping up her extensive charities, superintending the education of her children, or visiting Dieppe, Chambord, the southern provinces, and La Vendée; in the latter she made acquaintances and imbibed notions which wholly guided her in her after-conduct. She gradually resumed her former habits, and became, as it were, the centre of gaiety and vivacity in the court. When Charles X. ascended the throne, and the Duchess de Berri became Madame, she mainly contributed to the gratification of the two great wishes of the Duke d'Orleans, viz. the title of Royal Highness, and the passing of a law which gave him a legal right to his appanage. Nor did she less actively espouse his interest in the succession to the Condé property, exclaiming when it was concluded, "Ah tant mieux! ces d'Orleans sont de si bonnes gens!" In short, she never suffered any opportunity to pass unheeded of serving this family, or giving them pleasure; the Duke de Chartres was the principal person at all her fêtes, and no sooner was any displeasure felt at the Tuileries when the Duke d'Orleans openly encouraged or countenanced the liberal party, than she instantly used every endeavour to remove it.

We consider the description of the fête given at the Palais Royal to the King of Naples as another proof of the veracity of our author, for he even mentions the saying of M. S—, who, knowing the times most intimately, and all that was passing round him in and out of the edifice in which he then was, observed, "This is really a Neapolitan fête, for we are dancing over a volcano."

The particulars of the revolution of 1830 are too recent, and too well known for us to repeat them here; we will therefore content ourselves with observing, that throughout those me

morable days the Duchess de Berri evinced so much energy and courage, that she formed a strong contrast to her royal relations. It was she who discovered the tri-coloured flag waving over the Tuileries; it was she who urged the employment of those measures which, if vigorously followed up, would have saved the crown for her son, and which were not only suggested by the faithful counsellors of the king, but would have been immediately put in force by them, and which they tried to wring from his infatuated majesty with tears and on their knees. For hours were the horses harnessed to the duchess's carriage, that she might go and show herself and her son to the Parisians; but nothing could induce the king to give his consent or his aid towards such a proceeding, and he, as it were, suffered the younger branch of the royal house to step upon his throne, without a single effort to prevent it. At the same time it must be said, that Charles X. and the elder branches had the most perfect confidence in the fidelity of Louis Philippe, and, when he was made lieutenant-general of the kingdom, they believed in the protestations which he sent to them by M. Mortemart, "that he had been forced into that situation, and that he would suffer himself to be torn in pieces before the crown should be placed upon his head."

The royal exiles proceeded to England, receiving in most parts the warmest marks of interest and sympathy, and in their first place of refuge, Lulworth, the duchess laid the plans for her future attempts to place her son upon his inherited throne. These projects prevented her from accompanying the family to Holyrood, but she went to bid them farewell before she began her operations. It was from Bath that she started: there she had waited for a short time in order to fortify her constitution for all she was about to encounter, lodging in a small house consisting of six rooms. Madame de Bouillé was her sole companion, one female and one male domestic formed her establishment; her table was more than frugal, and nothing could exceed the economy and simplicity of her mode of life. She had given up her luxuries that she might not give up her charities. Her pensioners were still paid, and the hospital at Rosny knew no deficiency. At all times her superfluity had been bestowed on indigence, and she now took her superfluity from her necessities.

Before we follow the duchess through her subsequent attempts, let us take a short review of him who had assumed the rights of her son. His early years saw him hurled from his inheritance by a ferocious mob, the fury of which had been excited and increased by his father, who with a view to his own aggrandizement blindly

led them on to his own destruction. His son became a starving exile, and was obliged to earn his subsistence by his own exertions; we then see him taking advantage of a favourable moment, and applying for reception to those of his family who were yet mourning the consequences of his father's errors. They not only generously admitted him to their court, but gave him their daughter in marriage. This daughter has proved to be one of the best of women, and doubtless by her relationship and character has strengthened his interest. At the restoration he also was restored to his rich inheritance by the courtesy of the king, and, when the Neapolitan family returned to their rights, he enjoyed the handsome dowry of his wife. But this was not enough; he coveted his inheritance as a law, and, being only serene highness as the younger branch, he longed for the title of royalty. The sharp-sighted Louis XVIII. was inflexible on these points; in vain did the duke declare at every opportunity how much he felt aggrieved, and that every spark of ambition would be gratified were but these two matters of law and title settled to his satisfaction. Louis, on one occasion, made the following reply to the Duke de Berri, who had formed a little conspiracy in the family, in order to obtain the desired grants: "The Duke d'Orleans is near enough to the throne; for the sake of my nephews I ought not to bring him still nearer." It was Charles X. who unresistingly complied with all that was asked, and that too at the moment when the duke was increasing his fortune and influence in every way which could be least agreeable to the king. It is now well remembered by the unfortunate party how well the ultra-liberals were received at Neuilly-how close the friendship which subsisted between the duke and those men who afterwards aided him in the ultimate object of his life; it is well remembered that not long before the abdication of Charles X., his carriage was suffered to pass in silence, while the hedges of people on each side deafened the duke, and impeded his progress, by their marks of affection and approbation. In consequence of this popularity he was called upon to assume the office of lieutenant-general of the kingdom, and Louis Philippe was not the man to refuse to step over the narrow division between that and royalty. This step taken, he has gradually shaken off those who helped him to this height, and who would have interfered with his projects of absolutism, in which he now out-herods Herod.

very

The inconceivable rapidity of the revolution of July left an impression that the royal party still remained in full strength; how was it possible to believe that a popular commotion, hatched by three days' sun, was firm and lasting? that a government of

fifteen years had not struck sufficient root into the soil to bud forth again, even when cut off by the hand of faction? its indigenous rights, the interests it had created, the sympathies which it had excited, the devotion with which it had been encircled, would they not lead to a re-action, and the more especially when it was recollected that this government had fallen while yet in a condition to struggle, and had retired when full of resources? Civil war, therefore, appeared to be only deferred, and its head-quarters seemed to be La Vendée. To La Vendée then did the duchess determine to go, taking with her the wishes and approbation of all the royal family. From the king she received the following

letter:

se concer

"M chef de l'autorité civile dans la province de tera avec les principaux chefs pour rédiger et publier une proclamation en faveur de Henri V., dans laquelle on annoncera que Madame, Duchesse de Berri, sera regente du royaume pendant la minorité du roi son fils, et qu'elle en prendra le titre à son entrée en France, car telle est notre volonté. Edinbourg, 27 Janvier, 1831. Signé CHARLES."

Thus Charles, by a new act, confirmed the abdication made at Rambouillet, and renewed at Lulworth; and, under the title of Countess of Sagana, the Duchess de Berri left England on the 17th June, 1831. She crossed over to Holland, went up the Rhine as far as Mayence, traversed a part of Germany, the Tyrol, Lombardy, and reached Sestri, without being recognised. The French consul at Genoa revealed to Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, that she was in his dominions, and the cabinet of the Palais Royal complaining thereof, he was obliged to request her to retire. This was the first shock which she received, but she rendered full justice to the feelings of the king of Sardinia, who was mortified at being obliged to act such a part, and gave her word to the royalists who had come to concert measures with her in Italy, that she would enter France at their first summons: she coasted along till she came to Massa, a small city on the borders of the sea belonging to the Duke of Modena, who, as long as she remained there, treated her with the utmost kindness and consideration. She left this abode for a short time to go to Naples, which she had quitted fifteen years before with the prospect of every earthly felicity. As she returned through Rome, the pope particularly recommended a converted Jew, named Deutz, to her, as a zealous and faithful servant. man joined the little knot of royalists at Massa on his way to Spain and Portugal, to which countries he had a secret diplomatic mission. His appearance excited a strong feeling against him, and our old acquaintance in Portugal, the Viscount Santa

VOL. XIX. NO, XXXVIII.

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This

rem, immediately formed a correct judgment of him; but the venerable priests in whose company he travelled, his great learning, and his exceeding outward piety, scarcely admitted of suspicion.

At Massa the duchess trained herself for her enterprise, took long walks, passed whole nights in writing, held councils, and entered into all the details of business. Her letters from France at length arrived, and in April 1832 she left Massa, appointing the royalists of the south and west to hold themselves in readiness. She reckoned much on her reception in Marseilles, and there did she land, taking up her abode in a small house a league distant from the city. A want of unity and organization among her partisans caused the total failure of this first trial, and, in the midst of her agony and suspense, the duchess received a note saying, "The blow has been struck in vain, we must leave France." "Leave France!" exclaimed the duchess," it is only necessary to leave this place, that our friends here may not be compromised, or ourselves arrested." She was aware of the consequences of this failure, and that it involved all the southern provinces; but, declaring that war, not flight, was her object, she gave orders for departure. No carriage, no horse, was to be had, and the princess started on foot, with her little suite and a guide. The guide lost his way, led them through the most rugged paths, till at last the princess, overcome with fatigue, wrapped herself up in a mantle, threw herself on the ground, and slept soundly. When she awoke she was benumbed with cold, and so ill that her companions became alarmed; they however discovered a hut, where they contrived to light a fire, and the princess again lay down till further help could be sought, and some conveyance obtained. This was the first night of the duchess's campaign, and to those who recollect the extreme delicacy of her form it will be another proof of that power of mind which enabled her to survive this and many other worse nights. During the whole of her unfortunate expedition, her presence of mind never forsook her; when her companions were bewildered or alarmed, it was she who contrived the disguise or escape, and she played her part to perfection; sometimes in the habit of a peasant boy, when she was called Petit Pierre, sometimes carried in the arms of the guides, either to avoid slipping into the bogs or rivers, or being recognized by the remarkable smallness of her feet; sometimes in the clothes of a market girl, when she rubbed her legs with mud, to hide their delicate fairness; sometimes playing the part of a relative in a family to which she was personally a stranger she was excellent in all, and appeared to be as much at home as in the midst of the royal court.

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