登陆注册
5288200000078

第78章 CHAPTER XII.(1)

The Queen did not sufficiently conceal the dissatisfaction she felt at having been unable to prevent the appointment of M. de Calonne; she even one day went so far as to say at the Duchess's, in the midst of the partisans and protectors of that minister, that the finances of France passed alternately from the hands of an honest man without talent into those of a skilful knave. M. de Calonne was thus far from acting in concert with the Queen all the time that he continued in office; and, while dull verses were circulated about Paris describing the Queen and her favourite dipping at pleasure into the coffers of the comptroller- general, the Queen was avoiding all communication with him.

During the long and severe winter of 1783-84 the King gave three millions of livres for the relief of the indigent. M. de Calonne, who felt the necessity of making advances to the Queen, caught at this opportunity of showing her respect and devotion. He offered to place in her hands one million of the three, to be distributed in her name and under her direction. His proposal was rejected; the Queen answered that the charity ought to be wholly distributed in the King's name, and that she would this year debar herself of even the slightest enjoyments, in order to contribute all her savings to the relief of the unfortunate.

The moment M. de Calonne left the closet the Queen sent for me:

"Congratulate me, my dear," said she; "I have just escaped a snare, or at least a matter which eventually might have caused me much regret."

She related the conversation which had taken place word for word to me, adding, "That man will complete the ruin of the national finances. It is said that I placed him in his situation. The people are made to believe that I am extravagant; yet I have refused to suffer a sum of money from the royal treasury, although destined for the most laudable purpose, even to pass through my hands."

The Queen, making monthly retrenchments from the expenditure of her privy purse, and not having spent the gifts customary at the period of her confinement, was in possession of from five to six hundred thousand francs, her own savings. She made use of from two to three hundred thousand francs of this, which her first women sent to M. Lenoir, to the cures of Paris and Versailles, and to the Soeurs Hospitalieres, and so distributed them among families in need.

Desirous to implant in the breast of her daughter not only a desire to succour the unfortunate, but those qualities necessary for the due discharge of that duty, the Queen incessantly talked to her, though she was yet very young, about the sufferings of the poor during a season so inclement. The Princess already had a sum of from eight to ten thousand francs for charitable purposes, and the Queen made her distribute part of it herself.

Wishing to give her children yet another lesson of beneficence, she desired me on New Year's eve to get from Paris, as in other years, all the fashionable playthings, and have them spread out in her closet.

Then taking her children by the hand, she showed them all the dolls and mechanical toys which were ranged there, and told them that she had intended to give them some handsome New Year's gifts, but that the cold made the poor so wretched that all her money was spent in blankets and clothes to protect them from the rigour of the season, and in supplying them with bread; so that this year they would only have the pleasure of looking at the new playthings. When she returned with her children into her sitting-room, she said there was still an unavoidable expense to be incurred; that assuredly many mothers would at that season think as she did,--that the toyman must lose by it; and therefore she gave him fifty Louis to repay him for the cost of his journey, and console him for having sold nothing.

The purchase of St. Cloud, a matter very simple in itself, had, on account of the prevailing spirit, unfavourable consequences to the Queen.

The palace of Versailles, pulled to pieces in the interior by a variety of new arrangements, and mutilated in point of uniformity by the removal of the ambassadors' staircase, and of the peristyle of columns placed at the end of the marble court, was equally in want of substantial and ornamental repair. The King therefore desired M. Micque to lay before him several plans for the repairs of the palace. He consulted me on certain arrangements analogous to some of those adopted in the Queen's establishment, and in my presence asked M. Micque how much money would be wanted for the execution of the whole work, and how many years he would be in completing it. I forget how many millions were mentioned: M.

Micque replied that six years would be sufficient time if the Treasury made the necessary periodical advances without any delay. "And how many years shall you require," said the King, "if the advances are not punctually made?"--"Ten, Sire," replied the architect. "We must then reckon upon ten years," said his Majesty, "and put off this great undertaking until the year 1790; it will occupy the rest of the century."

The King afterwards talked of the depreciation of property which took place at Versailles whilst the Regent removed the Court of Louis XV. to the Tuileries, and said that he must consider how to prevent that inconvenience; it was the desire to do this that promoted the purchase of St. Cloud. The Queen first thought of it one day when she was riding out with the Duchesse de Polignac and the Comtesse Diane; she mentioned it to the King, who was much pleased with the thought,--the purchase confirming him in the intention, which he had entertained for ten years, of quitting Versailles.

同类推荐
  • 元始天尊说北方真武妙经

    元始天尊说北方真武妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 迁都建藩议

    迁都建藩议

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 惜香乐府

    惜香乐府

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说慢法经

    佛说慢法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说新岁经

    佛说新岁经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 驿动的村庄

    驿动的村庄

    作品所描写的农村生活是历史的,八爷和枯心柳像一块被岁月雕琢的石碑矗立在牛家庄村口;它又是现实的,日益发展的新形势,时刻影响着和改变着牛家庄人的思想观念;它更是将来的,作品中从丈量测绘牛家庄的这块土地开始,这里的人们就开始沸腾了,时代前进的步伐浪潮般汹涌而至,人们各自在这块黄金宝地上纷纷登场亮相,扮演着各自不同的角色。至此故事在您的关注下将一步步推向高潮,最有看点最精彩,甚至催人泪下的场景将渐渐被作者揭开神秘的面纱。感谢您在庞大的创作群体中有幸关注了我的作品,我会一丝不苟把故事给您讲完,让您陪伴我一起来触摸时代的脉搏,感受智慧和坚强的农民是怎样活着的,而他们就在你身边,和你一样都有着美好的梦想和对未来美好生活的追求和向往,为了中国梦他们和您并肩在路上,为这个社会传递着正能量。
  • 灰塔的黎明

    灰塔的黎明

    嘿!对,就是你!你这么行色匆匆的要去哪里啊?哦,我知道,我知道生活不易,不过也别太拼命了。你问我在这里干什么?哈哈,我只是坐在这里,讲一些老掉牙的故事,关于巫师,巨龙……你知道的,那些曾经在我们梦里出现过的东西。嘿,你猜怎么着,如果你不那么着急的话,为什么不坐下来听听它们呢?我虽然自认不是个好的说书人,可我敢保证这故事我绝对用了心!来听听吧,也许,它能让你重新梦到,那些早就被我们忘了的……传奇。书友群:193123031欢迎前来催稿
  • 重生霸宠,摄政王爷太狠辣

    重生霸宠,摄政王爷太狠辣

    她是左相府倾世嫡女,毫无心机的她被庶妹算计,渣男虐待,惨死冷宫。一朝重生,她势要渣男庶妹付出惨痛的代价!
  • 萌妃来袭:杀神王爷别玩火

    萌妃来袭:杀神王爷别玩火

    一朝惊变,本该是翱翔九天的凤,却流落异乡,饱经苦楚。他,冷月国傲世无双的冷面传奇,却将她视为心间上的座上宠。相国追杀?仇人找上门?情敌来踢馆?为她,他摒弃世俗目光,说是“妖女”又何妨?可是,谁能告诉她,当遥远的记忆开始复苏,强加的恨意,滔天的妒火,他还能否成为自己的唯一救赎?
  • 无法停留的我们

    无法停留的我们

    外表高冷但其实很孩子气的顾凌恒与叛逆但很仗义的叶柔嘉在朋友的介绍下于高中时期相知相爱,在面临高考所带来的重重压力,爱情与个人前途命运的艰难抉择中,两人最终只将甜蜜留在了青春美好的高中时期。
  • 佛说圣最胜陀罗尼经

    佛说圣最胜陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神级升级系统

    神级升级系统

    【2019最火爆爽文,万人追读】“只要我再升十级,就能再次开启基因锁,到时候我就能毁灭这个星球!”穿越未来,重生在一个学院垫底废柴的身体上,在这丧尸与巨兽共存的未来世界,林修意外获得升级系统,超越人体极限,吞噬星空!
  • 现在贤劫千佛名经

    现在贤劫千佛名经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 留守在北大荒的知青

    留守在北大荒的知青

    “北大荒”,这是一个令无数知青心动的名字。从1968年到1976年,54万来自大城市的知青奔赴黑龙江,踏进衰草寒烟的北大荒。1976年大批知青返城时,一部分知青却留了下来。40年过去,昔日的姑娘小伙如今已是白发老人,人生最美好的年华都奉献给了这片原本陌生的土地。从黑龙江畔到红兴隆垦区,到处都留下他们的足迹。在哑丈夫与哈尔滨之间如何选择?曾经许下的婚姻誓言在回城的诱惑下能否信守?让孩子呆在身边还是回城读书?被人指为“封锁毛泽东思想”的孙绩威为什么没有返城?还有“不要前程要爱情”的周军岳,勇挑重担抚养精神病人的康金环,不能床前尽孝只能面对母亲坟墓的张玉林……
  • 超级篮球教练系统

    超级篮球教练系统

    一名普通的大学生穿越到2006年的火箭队球探身上,在超级篮球教练系统的帮助下,成为了妙手生花的篮球教父!