once her tenderness and her great mind: "Adieu, my dear

" daughter; we shall soon be far from each other. Be just, hu

mane, sensible.of the duties of your rank, and I shall be " proud of the pangs which I have now long to suffer. You " are gifted with all the means of pleasing; reflect how you " may use them for the happiness of your husband; but do so " much good among the French that they may think I have " sent them an Angel." Her agitation stifled her voice, and again she pressed her daughter to her bosom. Every body was in tears. The Dauphiness fainted, and as soon as she recovered her senses was hurried to the carriage that was waiting for her.

Page 7, line 11, after-captivated all hearts.

The persons who were in the suite of the Dauphiness endeavoured to make the way agreeable, and to multiply her recreations. One of the ladies who accompanied her said jokingly; "Do you long very much to see the Dauphin?" To this indiscreet question, addressed to a young inexperienced female, the Dauphiness gave an answer which showed the strength of her understanding. In a tone full of dignity, she said: "Madam, I shall be at Versailles in the course of five "days; on the sixth I shall more easily be able to answer you." Then instantly assuming the greatest loveliness, she tried to make the lady forget the formality of her reply.

Having passed the extensive provinces under her mother's dominion, and enterred the territory of France, on being told of it, fresh tears started from her eyes: all she said, however, was, "I shall never see her more." It was but an exclamation of filial piety.

On her arrival at Strasburg, the Chapter, the body of the Nobility, and the members of the Municipal Magistracy were presented to her by the Commandant of the Province. She replied with dignity and affability to the different speeches ceremony required she should hear. Tired however of these reiterated compliments, she said to one of the ladies of her suite: "I hope that all these praises will not for ever follow " me. As I have yet done nothing to deserve them, I shall "set about making myself worthy of them." Long after she passed through Strasburg, the inhabitants continued to speak with rapture of the beauty, wit, and modesty of the Dauphin's bride.

On the road from Strasburg all the country people left their work, and flew to pay homage to a Princess who was married to that Dauphin whose virtues rendered him so dear to France. The roads were strewed with flowers, and the girls had dressed themselves in their best clothes to present their nosegays to MARIA-ANTOINETTA, who smiled at the sprightliness of some, condescended to answer the compliments of others, and was affable to all. At twenty leagues from Strasburg, the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages had assembled. On every side were heard the shouts of Vive la Dauphine! Vive le Dauphin! The way was stopped by the crowd of people: the window-blinds of the Princess's carriage were drawn up, and all the spectators had time to contemplate her beauty, her enchanting smile, and her sweet countenance. " How beautiful our Dauphiness!" was the observation of the young peasants to one another. A lady in the carriage directing her attention to this expression, so flattering to a young woman; " Madam," said the Princess, "the French look at me with " partial eyes."

At some leagues from Châlons, an old Parish Priest, at the head of his parishioners, approached the carriage. He did not raise his eyes to the Princess, but kept them respectfully downwards. For the short speech he had prepared, he had taken this text from the Song of Solomon; pulchra es et formosa; fair thou art and beautiful. Having proceeded a few sentences, just as he was repeating his text, according to the mode of preachers, he happened to cast his eyes on MARIA-ANTOINETTA: he instantaneously forgot his speech, stammered, and stopped. The Archduchess immediately offered to accept the nosegay he had in his hand. Affected with her goodness the Priest addressed her thus: "Madam, do not be surprized at my want " of recollection: Solomon himself, at sight of you, would have " forgotten his fair Egyptian, lost the thread of his speech, " and addressed to you, with much more justice, the words, " pulchra es et formosa."

Wherever the Princess made any stay, she gained the hearts of every body, by her extreme mildness, affability, and beneficence. All who saw her went home enchanted with her, blessing her, and congratulating themselves that she would one day be their Queen.

Some Professors and their pupils, from towns beyond Compiégne, waited upon her, and paid their compliments in latin; and great was the astonishment of those little Ciceros, when the Princess answered them in the same language, with inconceivable fluency.

The Court was at Compiegne, and the Duke de Choiseul went to meet her at some leagues distance from that place: a favour to which he was well entitled. The Princess received him as a friend whose counsels might be of use to her, and supply her want of experience.

Louis XV, who had gone to Compiègne on purpose, went out with a great retinue to meet the Princess in the forest. As soon as she saw the King, she alighted from her carriage, and ran and threw herself at his feet. Louis, greatly affected, raised and embraced her affectionately. The beauty of her person, and the frankness of her manners, were admired by the whole Court. Louis XV, naturally very polite, and who could observe the rules of propriety, took upon himself to present the young Princess to her intended husband. The Dauphin advancing with a lively air, seized one of her hands, and kissed it with rapture. The admiration with which he gazed at her from time to time made her cast down her eyes, while a lovely blush overspread her cheeks.

When she retired at night the ladies. who attended her to her chamber told her, that she had charmed every body, but particularly the Dauphin. "Iam regarded here with too much " indulgence," replied MARIA-ANTOINETTA; "my heart is "contracting debts which it will never be able to pay, but I "hope I shall at least have credit for my desire to do it."

The day after her arrival at Compiegne, she set out with the whole Court for Versailles. At St. Denis she requested to see Madame Louise*. This homage paid to virtue and true piety, gained the merited respect and praise of every worthy mind.

The carriages now proceeded towards Versailles, and all the inhabitants of Paris and the neighbouring towns crowded the road between St. Denis and the Porte-Maillot the coaches formed a double row, and the people applauded with intoxication. The horses that drew the Princess were obliged to walk; the people pressed about her carriage to look at her and look again. She was made to observe what rapture her arrival excited., In her reply, she insinuated that she had imagined all these plaudits were intended for the King. "The French," said she, " do not see their King often enough: they cannot treat " me more kindly than by convincing me that they love him " whom I have already habituated myself to consider as my "new father."

The Court supped at the palace of La Muette, where by the King's favour Madame du Barry had the honour of sitting at the same table with the Princess, who, too young to form a judgment of the situation of that favourite at Court, was sen

The Aunt of Louis XVI.

sible that it was her own part to respect the will of the King. She did not appear the least embarrassed, was polite, and even when asked her opinion of the Countess du Barry, condescended to answer that she thought her charming. The expression was noticed and repeated; it was the eulogium of the beauty of Louis's mistress, but it was also the only one she merited, and the whole Court applauded the justness of the reply.

From La Muette the King went to Versailles, and on the next day, the 16th of May 1770, MARIA-ANTOINETTA OF LORRAINE, being dressed in her bridal clothes, was led in triumph to the Palace Chapel, where at the foot of the altar she received the nuptial benediction, and was united to the young Prince, who was to be the successor of Louis XV.

At three o'clock in the afternoon the sky was covered with clouds; Versailles was overflowed by torrents of rain, violent claps of thunder rent the air, and the crowd of people whom curiosity had collected in the gardens were obliged to retire. The evening was gloomy throughout the town, the fire-works were not played off, and no effect could be produced by the illuminations.

A magnificent supper was served at the Palace, and never had the Court of Versailles been more brilliant. Curiosity, the desire of appearing, the wish of obtaining a look, had drawn together an immense crowd of the Nobility, who appeared in all the splendour that rank and opulence could bestow. The Dauphiness having observed in the number of those presented to her many Noblemen whom she had seen at the Court of Vienna, said to the Princess de Chimai: " I had heard that " nothing was equal to the magnificence of the Court of Ver" sailles, but never was told that it was the point of union of all " those we are, or should wish to be, acquainted with." It was by amiable remarks, and always well-timed, that MARIAANTOINETTA enraptured the hearts of the French.