ing them, maintained secret agents, of which his ministers in many cases knew nothing. The dignified manly conduct of the dauphin, the virtues of the dauphiness, made no permanent impression on him. He sometimes, however, seemed to feel remorse, es-law, but after two considerations, might demand unpecially after the death of the queen. But he soon sought and found solace in his old pleasures. From the year 1769 he was governed by Du Barry, who is said to have cost the royal treasury in five years, 180,000,000 livres.

certain limitations. The notorious edict which the chancellor Maupeou then issued, called the king the sole and supreme legislature of the kingdom, who permitted parliament indeed to protest against a new conditional obedience. Thus Maupeou made the absolute will of the monarch a constitutional law. A worthy counterpart of Maupeou was the comptroller-general of finances, the abbé Terrai, who impoverished the country, while he received an income of 1,200,000 livres. In proportion as the king was despised at home, the authority of France was lessened abroad. The partition of Poland took place in 1773, without the knowledge of France. After having sunk into a complete nullity, the king, whom no domestic misfortunes, not even his own attempted assassination in 1757 by a fanatic, Damiens, nor the public misery, could restore to consciousness, died of the small pox, on the 10th of May, 1774, leaving a debt of 400,000,000 livres.

As Louis became older, his bigotry and apathy increased, while he sank deeper in sensuality. His secret debaucheries dishonoured innocence, and poisoned the domestic happiness of his subjects. The public contempt was expressed in satires, caricatures, and songs, to which the people had already become accustomed under the regency. The hatred of the people gave credence to the most exaggerated accusations, and Louis, from fear and aversion, withdrew himself from the public eye. With this carelessness and apathy of the king, the French levity increased In proportion as the reign of Louis was weak and continually; every one was engaged with trifles and pernicious to the state, the spirit of the nation rose, selfish plans; the most important affairs of state on awakened by the times of Louis XIV. and by distinthe contrary were neglected. France at the same guished men in the arts and sciences. In Paris, time saw itself involved, in 1754, in a maritime war public institutions arose; palaces and churches were with England on account of the forts on the Ohio, built, &c.; the military school of Paris, and the and, as if this contest was of no importance, rashly Champs Elisées were laid out in 1751 by the minister took the side of Austria against Prussia in 1756. of war, Count D'Argenson; the intendant Trudaine The shrewd Kaunitz had gained the favour of the prosecuted with success the construction of roads. vain Pompadour, who was offended by the sarcasms The commerce of Lyons and Bourdeaux adorned of Frederic II. By her influence the duke de Choi- those cities with regal splendour. Stanislaus Lecseul was appointed first minister in the stead of the zynski restored the public prosperity in Lorraine, abbé Bernis, and on the 1st of May, 1756, a new and Pigal designed a splendid monument, which was alliance was concluded with Austria at Versailles, executed in Strasburg to the marshal Saxe, who which was unique in history. The French suffered died in 1750. Of the numerous painters of this pegreat losses by sea and land; even their military re- riod, the best were Lemoine and Vernet. But taste putation had declined since the battle of Rosbach, degenerated under the influence of a voluptuous and, after seven unhappy years, they had reason to court, and art paid homage to luxury. It delighted congratulate themselves when Choiseul concluded a in empty show, but at the same time carried manupeace with England at Fontainebleau in 1762, and factures to perfection. The ingenious Vaucanson the definitive treaty was settled at Paris in 1763, al- applied his talents to the improvement of the Gobethough France had to relinquish to England, Canada, lin manufactory. Louis XV. himself took an interest as far as the Mississippi, Cape Breton, and the is- in the porcelain manufactory established at Severes lands of Grenada, Tobago, St. Vincent, and Dominica, by the advice of Madame de Pompadour. At the same together with Minorca. Louis remained indifferent time he is said to have suppressed, from humanity, a to all these events. The first time that he saw Mar- means of destruction which would have been more shal Richelieu after the conquest of Mahon, he formidable than the Greek fire; but this is not historiturned to that general, who was adored by the whole cally proved. Enterprising and intelligent men like nation, with the question, "How did you like the La Bourdonnaye, the founder of the colonies of the Minorca figs?" The celebrated family compact of Isle de France and Bourbon, and even his calumniathe Bourbons, by which Choiseul hoped in the course tor Dupleix, extended the commerce of France. Louof the war, to unite for ever the policy of Spain, isiana, Canada, especially St. Domingo, and the Sicily, and Parma, with the French interest, was of Lesser Antilles, the colony on the Senegal, and the no great benefit to France. After the war, Choi- ports of the Levant, employed the French activity, seul's ministry was marked by several often violent and enriched the maritime cities. But by the unreforms; especially by the expulsion of the Jesuits just measures of La Bourdonnaye, the state deprived from France in 1764, and by the acquisition of Cor- itself of the advantages acquired in the East Indies sica in 1769. Shortly after, Madame du Barry, in over England; and while France lost Canada and connexion with the chancellor Maupeou, effected the several islands by the manner in which it carried on overthrow of the duke de Choiseul, and elevated to the war, it promoted the British power in India. his post the duke of Aiguillon. The quarrel of the The third estate, however, gradually acquired, by its latter with the parliament at Rennes, which had writ- wealth and intellectual advancement, consequence ten against him in a violent tone as former governor and influence. Public opinion assumed in the age of Bretagne, and the refractoriness of all the parlia-of Louis XV. the character of levity, frivolity, and ments, especially with respect to the new oppressive boldness, which was afterwards so strongly developed financial edicts, induced the king, in 1771, to banish in the revolution. the members of the parliament from Paris, and soon after to abolish the parliaments entirely, which were first re-established under Louis XV. in 1774, with

Striking events, such as the trial of the unfortunate John Calas, and the execution of the young chevalier De Labarre, for sacrilege, brought new

cited opposition, and the boldness of the age loved to defend rash and splendid errors, if they afforded opportunity for the exhibition of acuteness. No work was more destructive of public morals than Voltaire's "Pucelle"-a talented poem, which the

opinions into general circulation. But the evil genius of France willed that the decline of morals and religion, contemporary with the abuses of arbitrary power, with prevalent prejudices and the oppressions of the priesthood, should change the light of truth, just springing up in France, into a destroy-licentious spirit of the times of the regency alone ing fire, and the defensive weapon of knowledge into a two-edged sword; that the egotism of sensuality should gain possession of the territory of reason, and that brilliant wit should be more esteemed than a serious purpose and a solid character. This unhappy concurrence of public misery with general licentiousness, stifled those improved views, and that scientific cultivation which Montesquieu and others, to whom France was indebted for its intellectual influence on the higher classes of society in a great part of Europe, exerted themselves to disseminate. The ignorant, stupified Louis had an abhorrence of all intellectual cultivation. He feared talented writers, and frequently said of them, that they would be the cause of ruin to the monarchy. He, nevertheless, followed, in the first part of his reign, the advice of Cardinal Fleury, who highly esteemed the sciences, and subsequently yielded to the opinion of the court, and especially of Pompadour, who took a pleasure in being denominated the patron of genius, and a judge of the excellent.

could have inspired. But better men, such as Turgot and Malesherbes, laboured, not without the approbation of the better part of the public, to counteract this pestilence, and saved the honour of sound reason. Such a production is Duclos's "Considérations sur les Moeurs," of which Louis XV. himself said, "It is the work of a man of honour." Thomas, Marmontel, and Laharpe remonstrated loudly against atheism. Rousseau roused the most violent anger of the antiphilosophers by his "Emilie." Jesuits and Jansenists united against him, and notwithstanding the general admiration which he received, he was obliged to leave France. Such was the revolutionary spirit of the age of Louis XV. The contempt for the court and royalty produced by his reign, the exhaustion of the state caused by his extravagance, the rise of a critical and liberal spirit, and the corruption of state and church, gave birth to the revolution, and the debased state of the public morals, poisoned by the example of the court, stained it with hideous excesses. The favourite residence of this monarch is delineated beneath.

The most powerful and permanent influence on the spirit of the nation was exerted by Voltaire, who commenced his splendid career in 1716 with the tragedy of "Edipus." Louis had an aversion to him, but the marchioness induced him to appoint Voltaire his historiographer and groom of the chambers. Meanwhile, the preference visibly manifested by the court towards the poet Crebillon inspired the author of the " Henriade" with a disgust at residing in Paris. Simultaneously with him, the immortal Montesquieu awoke the powers of reflection and of wit in the nation. His "Lettres Persannes" kindled the spirit of public criticism, and his work "Sur les Causes de la Grandeur et de la Décadence des Romains," like his "Esprit des Lois," became a classic manual for the study of politics. About this time, the interest LOUIS XVI., who was destined to ascend the universally felt in scientific subjects induced Cardi- throne of France on the eve of a great political connal Fleury and Count Maurepas to persuade the king vulsion, and to atone with his life for the faults and to ascertain the truth of Newton's opinion respecting follies of his predecessors, was the grandson of the form of the earth by the measurement of a de- Louis XV., and the second son of the dauphin, by gree in a high northern latitude, and under the equa- his second wife, Maria Josephine, daughter of Fredetor, which was undertaken in 1735 and 1736, and to ric Augustus, king of Poland and elector of Saxony. patronize Cassini's map of France. After 1749 Louis was born on the 22nd of August, 1754, and Rousseau, Diderot, D'Alembert, Duclos, Condillac, in 1770 married Marie Antoinette of Austria. The and Helvetius are found in the ranks of the great countess Marsan, governess of the royal family, had writers of France. The greatest agitation in public a large share in his education, and even after he beopinion was caused by the "Dictionnaire Encyclo- came king, Louis listened to her representations, of pédique" of Diderot and D'Alembert, against which which the abbé Georgel relates a remarkable instance the clergy, particularly the Jesuits, and the ministers, in his memoirs. With the best intentions, but enrose en masse. No less attention was excited by the tirely inexperienced in matters of government, this work of Helvetius, "De l'Esprit." Even the ladies unfortunate prince ascended the throne in 1774. He took a very active part in the contest of philosophy. modestly declined the title of le Desire, given him Bureaux d'esprit were formed, and from the philo- by the nation, which he excused from the tax usual sophical circles at the houses of the baron of Hol- on the occasion. After the death of the dauphin hach and Helvetius there proceeded several works in 1765, his grandfather had intentionally kept him in support of materialism and atheism, especially from acquiring the knowledge connected with his from 1758 to 1770. The most celebrated of them is destination; and the countess Du Barry sought to the "Système de la Nature." Religion was shame- revenge herself for the contempt exhibited towards lessly assailed by La Mettrie, D'Argens, and the abbé her by the serious, strictly moral prince, whom she de Prades, who, banished from France, sought refuge hated, by making him ridiculous in the eyes of the with Frederic II., but whose opinions found reception king. The ministers, also, secretly spread the opiin France. Condemnation by the Sorbonne only ex-nion that the prince was severe and far removed from BIOGRAPHY.-VOL. II.

Q

occurred resembling those which subsequently marked the revolution. The timid and inexperienced Louis believed himself hated by the nation, and was indulgent towards the seditious; finally, by the advice of Turgot and Muy, he acted with vigour, and the disturbances, called in Paris la guerre des farines, were quieted after the amnesty of May 1775.

the indulgent kindness of his grandfather. He was retiring, silent, and reserved, and did not dare to express his benevolent feelings, so that his reserve passed for distrust. He felt himself a stranger at a court where he was surrounded by vice under a thousand glittering forms. As he heeded not flattery, he was indifferent to the courtiers. The duke Choiseul therefore said, that, on the most desirable throne of The coronation of the king on the 11th of June, the world, he was the only king who not only had 1775, was followed by the appointment of the virtuno flatterers, but who never experienced the least ous Malesherbes as minister. He was the friend of justice from the world. In his countenance, which Turgot. Their united influence might, perhaps, have was not destitute of dignity, were delineated the done much towards reforming the old abuses, but prominent features of his character-integrity, inde- unhappily, the new minister of war, the count of St. cision, and weakness. He was injured, however, by Germain, was too violent in his innovations. The a certain stiffness of demeanour, repulsive to the corps that were disbanded or diminished, and the communications of friendship. His manners had offended military nobility, loudly expressed their nothing of the grace possessed by almost all the dissatisfaction at the system of innovation, which princes of the blood. In confidential intercourse was disliked moreover by the higher classes. "The alone, he frequently expressed himself sensibly and state will perish," was the general cry, and the paringeniously, but blushed if his observations were re-liament refused to register five edicts of the king. peated. Facility of comprehension, industry, and an Louis resolved, indeed, to maintain his authority by extraordinary memory, made him successful in his a lit de justice, on the 12th of March, 1776; but the studies; but, unhappily, they had no immediate re- queen, a princess who was equally superior to her lation to the duties and knowledge of a prince. Up- husband in vivacity of understanding and in wit, and right, pious, and indulgent, he was philanthropically loved splendour and pleasure, supported the oppodisposed, both towards his nation and towards indi-sition together with Maurepas, who was Turgot's viduals. The virtues of his father, the quiet, domestic secret enemy. Her the king could not resist. He life of his mother, had deeply impressed upon him a moral religious feeling. But his example was destined to show how insufficient on a throne are the virtues of a private man.

monarchy. Louis himself was averse to engaging in this war, but he was out-voted in the council of state, the ministers hoping to establish French commerce on the overthrow of the English.

hesitated: the deficit produced by the payment of debts and the expenses of the coronation in 1775 inspired him with distrust of Turgot's philosophical views. Malesherbes gave in his resignation, and He chose Count Maurepas as his minister of state, a Turgot was obliged to follow his example. The man of talent and experience, but of little solidity of privileged party was victorious, but the hatred of character, and desirous of shining in epigrams. In the third estate, and the desire of all enlightened and the room of the abbé Terrai, he committed the finan- well disposed persons for a thorough reform was incial department to the enlightened, able, and upright creased. They did not wish to overthrow the whole Turgot, who resolved to remedy the abuses of the system until the North American revolution threw state by thorough reforms on strict philosophical, a firebrand into this inflammable mass. The day on and, in some degree, physiocratical principles, and which Louis concluded the treaty with the United looked upon the privileged orders as the sources of States in 1778 decided his fate; for the war to which all evil. But the friends of ancient abuses, the high it gave rise from 1778 to 1782, and which cost France, nobility, the court, and the clergy, immediately according to Audouin, 1,400,000,000 livres, accusformed a combination against him. When the par- tomed the nation and army to republican ideas, and liaments were restored, by the influence of Maurepas, produced a cureless deficit; this, a meeting of the against the judgment of Turgot, the contest of opi-states-general; and this, the fall of the monarch and nion between old and new views more than ever embarrassed the government. The count of Vergennes was at the head of foreign affairs; Count Muy was minister of war, and Sartine, of the marine. The new theories which Turgot proposed in the After Turgot's removal, the extravagance of the council of state, had indeed the approbation of the court increased: while Louis refused himself any philosophers: even the talented men and women, great expenditures he yielded too easily to the tastes whom Madame Helvetius, Madame Geoffrin, Mlle. of the queen and the princes of the blood. Luxury Espinasse, the princess of Beauveau, and the duchess and splendour made the expenses of the court very D'Anville, collected around them, took a lively in-great; they played high, they built, they exhibited terest in Turgot's liberal plans, which were loudly praised by Joseph II. and Leopold; but his opponents found a support for their resistance in the old parliaments. The most oppressive feudal services, arbitrary exactions, slavery in the mountains of Jura, and the rack, were abolished, and many useful regulations established; but Turgot could not overcome the king's dread of an open struggle with the clergy, the nobility, and parliament. These bodies united against the minister, and the people, who were on his side, could not, without representatives, afford any assistance against such a league. The foes of the minister stirred up the populace, and on the occasion of an edict declaring the corn-trade free, scenes

races, they gratified every whim, and Louis's dissatisfaction, which often withdrew him from these entertainments, was regarded as the indication of an ordinary mind. The regularity of his manner of life, in which study and domestic pleasures were intermingled with business, made no impression on the gay spendthrifts. Louis did not possess the art of inspiring the court and princes with respect. He paid the debts of Count Artois. The queen also gave herself up to her love of gayety. Taste and love of the arts, clothed in all the humours of the fashion, reigned in the festivals of Versailles and Petit Trianon. Maurepas either did not see whither all this must lead, or, with his characteristic levity, yielded

to necessity. Pleasure was his element. He re- | which was estimated at more than 140,000,000, rendered mained the directing minister till his death in 1781, Calonne's plans suspected. An opposition was formed, sharing the confidence of the king with the talented and Calonne received his dismissal. Parliament requeen, and with every one who could deceive the fused the imposition of two new taxes, which would monarch under the appearance of zeal for the com- have been burdensome to the large landed propriemon welfare. The changes in the ministry of the tors, and demanded the convocation of the estates. finances, which was committed in turn to Clugny, The nation heard the proposition with exultation; Taboureau, Necker, Joly de Fleury, and D'Ormesson, the court trembled. Louis ventured on a lit de jusincreased the confusion. The existence of great abuses tice, but the parliament declared it void. The king was notorious; but the extirpation of their deep- banished the parliament to Troyes, and thus war was rooted causes was impossible. The dismissal of declared between the throne and nation. The goNecker, who had become an object of great dislike vernment, moreover, had acted without dignity in by his vain compte rendu, was considered as a public regard to the contest of the Dutch patriots with the misfortune by the third estate, whose favour Necker hereditary stadtholder in 1787, and thus entirely lost exerted himself to acquire. Thus, long before the the respect of the people. The king himself manirevolution, a real anarchy prevailed in public opinion, fested a good nature, bordering on weakness, to his which penetrated even to the council of state." nearest connexions, who, like the duke De Coigny, After the peace of Versailles in 1783, which brought consented only with the greatest reluctance to the some advantages-not however sufficient to repay restrictions of the royal household. A negotiation the expense incurred-the frivolous Calonne, liberal was finally commenced with the parliament; it rein promises, few of which were redeemed, was ap- turned; the measures on both sides became more pointed minister of finance. In foreign affairs, for violent; the rebellion broke out in Brittany in June example, in the dispute about the Scheldt, Vergennes 1788; the nobility and the officers of the regiment maintained, though not without sacrifice of money, Vassigny, then, for the first time, dared to carry arms the honour of the French crown; but the commer- against the commands of the king. Even the clergy cial treaty of 1786 with England was deemed the loudly demanded the convocation of the estates. The greatest error of his administration, although it was weak prime minister, Brienne, opposed in all his proa consequence of the peace of Versailles. He was jects, resigned, and Necker entered the council in also blamed for having rejected the closer connexion 1788 as minister of finances. Louis convened a seproffered by Joseph II., and for thus causing the cond time the notables to settle the form of the esapproximation of Austria to Russia. The king him- tates and the manner of voting. On the 5th of May, self betrayed weakness in dismissing the minister 1789, the states-general met. Amidst the conflicts before the accomplishment of his plans which he had of the privileged orders and the new opinions, the at first approved. Louis took pleasure in literary king remained gentle and timid, deserted and alone. occupations, and engaged with fondness in public "God forbid," said he to the nobility, who would enterprises. He framed, with much sagacity, the not unite with the third estate, "that a single man plan and instructions for Lapérouse's voyage round should perish for my sake." His sole object, which the world in 1786, and several passages in those in- he pursued with earnestness of purpose, was the comstructions express, in a touching manner, the bene- mon weal; but around him every thing vacillated; volent feelings of this artless prince. He often la- how could he show firmness? The democrats hated mented Lapérouse's unhappy fate with the words, him as a king; the emigrants and the aristocrats, "I see very well that I am not fortunate." His who remained in France, deemed him incapable of kindness of disposition made him particularly inter- governing. He himself made the greatest sacrifices ested for the poorer clergy. He followed, however, to the state, even such as endangered his personal the maxim of Louis XV. not to give bishoprics or security, for instance, the disbanding of his body rich benefices to any but nobles. He drew a line of guard. He could not, nevertheless, escape the most division equally unjust, and far more pernicious with envenomed calumny. Among other things it was respect to the army, in which military rank was con- reported, that by a secret act he had protested against fined exclusively to the nobility. The third estate every thing which had been extorted from him in could not speak out; so much the more bitterly and limitation of the ancient royal prerogatives. Meanviolently did the populace complain of the court and while, even amid the grossest calumnies, a flattering higher classes, when, in consequence of the infamous word was sometimes heard. When Louis XVI. ataffair of the necklace, the process against the cardinal tended the national assembly in February 1790, the prince of Rohan was commenced in 1785. The libel national guard of Versailles caused a gold medal to of the branded countess De la Motte and her hus-be struck, on which was represented a pelican feedband, disseminated the grossest calumnies against ing its young with its blood. The device was Franthe innocent queen, which were but too easily cre- çais, sous cet emblème adorez votre roi ! The 12th, dited by the people. By this means the throne was 13th, and 14th of July, 1789-the night of the 4th disgraced in public opinion; and the duke of Orleans, of August-the horrors of the 5th and 6th of Octothe implacable enemy of the queen, was accused of ber-the flight of the king in June 1791, intercepted using the infamous La Motte as the tool of his hatred. at Varennes, when Louis from his hesitation to use In this fermentation of public sentiment, Calonne force, prevented the success of Bouille's plan for his persuaded the king to convene the notables in order escape, and at the same time excited public opinion to find some resources for the exhausted treasury. against himself by the declaration which he left beUnhappily, the count of Vergennes died on the 13th hind-the acceptance of the constitution of Septemof February, 1787, and on the 22nd of February the ber 1791, which declared his person inviolable--the king opened the assembly with a speech, which was attack of the populace of Paris on the royal palace not favourably received. The deficit which the comp- on the 20th of June, 1792, when Louis with equal troller-general had stated at 112,000,000 francs, but firmness and dignity rejected the demands of the in

surgents, and on the 22nd openly declared that vio- | tears, and hastened to relieve it. Unknown, he allelence would never induce him to consent to what he viated misfortune in the cottage and garret. When considered hurtful to the general welfare-the catas- he was first saluted at court as dauphin, after the trophe of the 10th of August, to which Louis sub-death of his father, the duke of Burgundy, he could mitted, because he had not the courage to overcome not restrain his tears. Still greater was his grief at the danger-his arrest in the national assembly to the death of Louis XV. "O God," he cried, "shall which he had fled for refuge-finally, his trial before I have the misfortune to be king!" His favourite the convention, where he replied to the charges with maxim was, "Kings exist only to make nations happy dignity and presence of mind;--these were the most by their government, and virtuous by their example." important events in the history of the king. He ex- The establishment of the mont de pieté, the caisse hibited, under these circumstances, the courage of d'escompte, the abolition of feudal services, of torture, innocence and a strength of mind before unknown and of slavery in the Jura, are only some of his bein him. As a prisoner of the municipality of Paris, nevolent measures. He caused the state prisons to in the Temple, he was denied till shortly before his be examined, and liberated the unhappy victims of death, pen, ink, and paper. His usual employment despotism. Louis declared that he would never sign was instructing his son and reading. He read al- beforehand a lettre de cachet. His great object was most every day portions of Tacitus, Livy, Seneca, the happiness and love of his people. On his jourHorace and Terence; in his native language, chiefly ney to Cherbourg in 1786, where he had undertaken travels. On the evening before his death, he found the construction of the celebrated harbour in 1784 that he had read 157 volumes in the five months to which he had appropriated 37,000,000 livres, he and seven days of his imprisonment. He evinced received the most unequivocal marks of the love of himself a loving husband and an affectionate father, the French. He wrote at the time to the queen, and in his private capacity no candid man can with-"The love of my people has touched me to the hold from him his esteem. On the 15th of January, heart; think you not that I am the happiest king on 1793, Louis was declared guilty of a conspiracy earth?" And in his will he says, "I forgive from against the freedom of the nation and of an attack my whole heart those who have conducted themselves on the general security, by a vote of 690 out of 719; towards me as enemies without my giving them the on the 17th of January he was condemned to death, least cause, and I pray God to forgive them. And I exthe law requiring for condemnation two thirds of the hort my son, if he should ever have the misfortune votes having been repealed on the 16th during the to reign, to forget all hatred and all enmity, and estrial, and a bare majority declared sufficient. After pecially my misfortunes and sufferings. I recomrepeated countings it was found that 366 votes were mend to him always to consider that it is the duty of given for death, making, consequently, a majority of man to devote himself entirely to the happiness of five in 727. On the 21st of January, 1793, he was his fellow men-that he will promote the happiness guillotined in front of his former palace, in his thirty- of his subjects only when he governs according to ninth year, the appeal to the nation proposed by his the laws-and that the king can make the laws readvocates, Malesherbes, Tronchet, and Desèze, hav- spected and attain his object, only when he possesses ing been rejected on the 19th by 380 votes out of the necessary authority." In the same spirit he 690. He died with the courage of Christian faith. wrote to Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII.," I subHis last words, which asserted his innocence and for- mit to Providence and necessity, in laying my innogave his judges, were drowned in the rolling of drums cent head on the scaffold. By my death, the burden and in the cry Vive la republique ! of the royal dignity devolves upon my son. Be his father, and rule the state so as to transmit it to him tranquil and prosperous. My desire is, that you assume the title of a regent of the kingdom; my brother Charles Louis will take that of lieutenant-general. But less by the force of arms than by the assurance of a wise freedom and good laws, restore to my son his dominions usurped by rebels. Your brother requests it of you, and your king commands it. Given in the tower of the Temple, January 20, 1793." Louis was buried in the Magdalen churchyard, Paris, between the graves of those who were crushed to death in the crowd at the Louvre, on the anniversary of his marriage in 1774, and the graves of the Swiss who fell on the 10th of August, 1792, in his defence.

Even in his youth Louis manifested a sensibility unusual in the higher classes. He needed not the sight of misery; when he heard it spoken of, he shed

LOUIS XVII. was the second son of Louis XVI. and of Maria Antoinette, and was born at Versailles on the 27th of March, 1785, and in 1789, after the death of his elder brother, received the title of dauphin. He was four years old when his mother presented him to the seditious populace of Paris, and carried him to the capital on the terrible 5th and 6th of October. Confined with his parents and his aunt Elizabeth in the Temple, his innocent gaiety and affectionate disposition were the chief solace of the unhappy prisoners. On the death of Louis XVI. he was proclaimed king by the royalists, and his uncle assumed