Pontécoulant was overwhelmed, recounted the usefulness and number of his former services, and then concluded by asking what orders she would be pleased to give, with respect to what was to be done with the resignation. The sight alone of the Prince of Beauveau was sufficient to excite generosity in the heart of another, and that of MARIA-ANTOINETTA already fostered the principle in its fullest influence." The Queen," said she, "remembers not the quar"rels of the Dauphiness, and I now request that "the Marquis of Pontécoulant will no longer "recollect what I have blotted from my memory."

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I take the years as they occur, passing from one to the other; and, from among numerous instances of a similar nature, I shall select one as a striking manifestation of that beneficence which can never be forgotten.

In 1776, the Queen, in one of her walks, saw an old infirm woman, seated at the foot of a tree*, surrounded with a number of small children. The heart of MARIA-ANTOINETTA yearned at beholding this picture of the two ex

*In the village of St. Michael, not far from Versailles.

treme periods of human existence. She went up to the poor old creature, and questioning her with much sweetness, learned from her that all the young folks belonged to one family, but that the intermediate generation was passed awaythe poor children having lost both father and mother, and were now left destitute of all other resource but that which this worthy grandmother supplied, who was herself groaning under the accumulated burden of poverty, hard work, and old age. The Queen, on hearing this account, instantly ordered abundant relief to be given to the whole family for their temporary support; and fixing her eyes, that overflowed with compassion, on the youngest of these orphans, exclaimed, "This child I shall take care of, and

bring up myself!" From that day the fortunate infant was taken to the apartment of her royal benefactress, and became the object of her playful attentions and tenderest caresses; while all, who were the delighted witnesses of this circumstance, put up their prayers to Heaven that the Queen might become a mother.

During the ensuing winter, which was very severe, the King and Queen took their several routes among the cottages of the poor, visiting and ordering fuel and sustenance for their respec

tive inhabitants. The following verses, written upon this occasion, were in every one's mouth:

O Princesse, dans qui la France
Sous les traits d'Hébé voit Pallas,
Heureuse par ta bienfaisance,
Les vrais plaisirs guident tes pas :
Ton bonheur est d'entendre dire:
"Elle fait chérir son empire;
"Du peuple elle comble les veux;
"Et sensible à notre misère

"Elle veut, imitant sa mère,

"Etre celle des malheureux."

In thee, O Princess, France beholds combined
The bloom of Hebe, and Minerva's mind;
Thy graceful steps the purest pleasure guides,
While o'er thy joys beneficence presides:
How swells thy heart at accents such as these!
"Her sole ambition is her people's ease;
"No other happiness than their's she knows,
"Their every wish is her's, and her's their woes;
"For this she imitates her mother's grace,

"To be a mother to Misfortune's race.

One instance of public esteem followed close upon another-all subjects were made to have allusion to the Queen's beneficence. Voltaire entreated a lady, belonging to the palace, to intercede for him with the Queen, that he might obtain her permission for Le Kain to play Orosmanes at Ferney. His patroness urged his pe

tition with persuasive effect, the Queen granted it in the kindest manner, and the

poet in raptures thanked them both. But when Le Kain entered his house at Ferney, Voltaire's first salute, or rather his first exclamation, was—

Acteur, sublime et soutien de la scène
Quoi! vous quittez votre brillante cour,
Votre Paris embelli par la Reine!
De nos beaux arts la jeune Souveraine
Vous fait partir pour mon triste séjour !
On m'a conté que souvent elle-même
Se dérobant à sa grandeur suprême,
Sèche en secret les pleurs du malheureux.
Son moindre charme, est, dit-on, d'être belle.
Ah! laissons là les héros fabuleux,

Il faut du vrai ne parlons plus que d'elle.

Welcome, thou pride and guardian of the stage!
Say, can my solitary roof engage

Thy steps to wander from that splendid scene,
Where Science hails thy youthful Sov'reign, Queen?
From thine own Paris canst thou come away
That shines in all the radiance of her ray?
Such is her will-a will all hearts obey.

I've heard how oft where Want in secret wails,
Her form sublime in Pity's guise she veils,
To cheer with grace meek Charity has giv'n-
No mortal charm-a grace she gain'd from Heav'n!
'Tis not for fabled heroes then to share

Our hours of converse-Truth demands our care,
And bids us all her fav'rite's fame declare.

But her country did more than praise, it imitated the bright pattern of royal beneficence. Thus, while succour was afforded to the distressed, the virtuous were encouraged; rewards were every where decreed to those who excelled in prudent and moral conduct; to pious children, and tender mothers; for worthy actions, and useful efforts. In one place was held the feast of the worthy-in another, the feast of morals. In the Isle of France, Picardy, Franche-comté, and Normandy, several of these interesting and salutary institutions were established. But that which took place in the latter province, at Canonles bonnes gens, in the month of October 1776, was fraught with peculiarly affecting circumstances. On the right and left of a pedestrian statue of Henry IV. two pictures were respectively arranged, the one representing the King visiting in disguise the habitations of the poor, in the neighbourhood of Versailles, during the preceding winter, with this inscription:

Quel nouvel hôte est entré sous nos toits *?

What stranger guest thus cheers our lowly dwellings?

The second depicted the adventure of Achère. In the arms of the Queen, the wife of the poor

Quis novus hic noştris successit sedibus hospes ?

VOL. I.

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