wounded vine-dresser was seen fainting, and her royal mistress endeavouring to recover her; underneath this picture was inscribed the following line: Et ses pleurs ont montré qu'elle étoit vraiment Reine *. In the front of this sacred decoration, amid the immense concourse of people who had flocked to this feast from the neighbouring villages and cities, and in the presence of many persons of consequence and landed estate, were proclaimed, a good mother, a good chief of a family, and two good daughters. The good mother was the wife of a mechanic, who, notwithstanding she had brought up eleven of her own children, had taken into her family a poor abandoned orphan whom she suckled, and supported till he married. To this young man, she requested the reward given to herself might be transferred. The good chief of a family was a husbandman, who, at the age of twenty, lost his father; he immediately became himself a father to his three brothers and five sisters; brought up and supported them all, and by the labour of his Et vera effusis lacrymis patuit Regina. hands got together sufficient property to portion off in marriage two of his sisters. The good daughters were two village girls, who went out to service by turns, so that the one was enabled to take care of an aged father, who was in his ninety-first year, and had long lost the use of his limbs, while the other provided for his subsistence. Thus, crowned with general applause, these virtuous persons were conducted to church, to return thanks to Him who is the author of all good. Two clergymen, belonging to the household of the Count d'Artois, and charged by him with an offering, preached two very affecting sermons; after which, the good mother, the good daughters, and the good chief of bis family, were attended back again by the same party to a repast, during which they were waited upon by the greatest persons in the assembly; and the healths of their most illustrious patrons were drank amid the blessings and joyful shouts of all present. A man, who came thither as a spectator only, who was a post-master, yielding to a generous impulse of his soul, suddenly came forward, and requested that he might be allowed to pay the land-tax of that year for all the inhabitants of three parishes. His request was granted with an universal burst of acclamation ; and thus it was that one good deed produced poor another. The royal beneficence spread its influence through all ranks of society, and while it gave consolation to some, it afforded to others an exalted example; checking the progress of calamity, and furthering that of virtuous exertion. The people also, in the praise they bestowed upon upon the model, felt a blended wish to form themselves after it, and from celebrating the good deeds of others became desirous of acting well themselves. Such was then the state. of the public mind; such were then the feasts: that engaged the attention of the French nation. The following year (1777) was distinguished by the tour which the Queen's brother, the Emperor Joseph, made through France. He appeared at Court, viewed the capital, and visited all the finest provinces of this great kingdom. Then it was that every where one uniform emulation reigned, one great and generous rivalship between the purest affections, and the most amiable demonstrations of attachment. The King and the people, the former idolizing his Queen, and the latter enthusiastically attached to both, were equally anxious to shew Joseph II. how fervently his sister was beloved. The Queen, on her part, was also eager to prove to her brother how entirely she possessed the tender regards of her virtuous consort, and the affections of her grateful subjects; while the Emperor, on his part, seized every opportunity of evincing the inward joy he felt, at beholding the promised happiness which all things throughout this glorious empire seemed then to be preparing for his illustrious sister. Among various pathetic scenes which these diverse emotions of tender interest produced, there occurred one in particular which it is impossible to describe; all that we can do, is to give an imperfect sketch of it-imagination must fill up the picture: The Queen came to Paris to see the Play of Iphigenia in Aulis. The Emperor sate next to her at the theatre, and the Royal Family filled up the box. The audience received them with the liveliest testimonies of joy; but all this was trifling when compared to the transport which was excited by an incident in the piece. At that part in which the young and beauteous Iphigenia passes in triumph through the midst of the Grecian camp, a chorus of Thessalians exclaims, Que d'attraits! Que de Majesté ! Behold her beauteous and majestic form! Scarcely were these words uttered when the al Chantez, celebrez notre Reine. The people in every part of the theatre stood up, and joined their voices with those of the actors. The Queen, who was standing, leaned upon her brother, entirely overcome by her sensibility, and the grateful pleasure that filled her breast; she endeavoured to withdraw herself from the homage so eagerly pressed upon her; and, although amid the confused sensations that rushed in upon her at once, she was incapable of giving expression to her feelings, she nevertheless succeeded most effectually in manifesting |