Part 4.2 is the second part of Chapter 4.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 4.2, the author remembers her last meeting with Marie-Antoinette, whose Calvary had begun, in the summer of 1790.  

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 4, Part 2 (4.2)

After having been entrusted with a commission related to the Dutch refugees in 1788, my father was named minister to the Hague, and he was in that post at the time of our sojourn in England.  A quarrel between the Prince of Orange and the French ambassador made the Court of Versailles decide that it would no longer send a minister to Holland.  The Republic did not wish to receive anything but an ambassador.  This vexation prevented my father from taking up his post; all the more patience was required since he hoped to arrive thereby at the rank of ambassador, which could not be had at the start.  

The town of Versailles had reflected on the damage the Court’s absence was causing it.  The agitation had calmed, and it regretted the sad days of October.  On my mother’s return she could not have been better received by the very people who had railed against her the most at her departure; nonetheless, we did not stay there long.  We started by spending the summer at Bellevue, and the following winter we lived in an apartment in the Pavillon de Marsan at the Tuileries.  

Part 4.1 is the first part of Chapter 4.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 4.1, the Osmonds return to France in early 1790 after a brief, temporary exile in England.  Mme de Boigne backtracks a little to tell a story about her father’s interactions circa 1788 with a certain Buonaparte family in Corsica.  

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 4, Part 1 (4.1)

In the month of January, 1790, my father returned to France.  Three months later we rejoined him.  I have forgotten to say that he had quit the army in 1788 in order to embark on a diplomatic career.  He had previously been the colonel of the Barrois infantry regiment, which was garrisoned in Corsica.  He used to go there every year.  

One of these trips gave rise to an episode that was quite unimportant at the time, but which has become interesting since.  He was lodging at the home of M Malouet, the Intendant of the Navy and his friend, waiting for the wind to change and permit him to embark, when a Corsican gentleman asking to see him was announced.  He had him ushered in; after a few reciprocal courtesies, this gentleman told him he desired to return as promptly as possible to Ajaccio, and and that since the only felucca in port had been chartered by my father, he begged him to ask the owner’s permission to let him take passage on it.

“That is impossible for me to do, monsieur, for the felucca belongs to me, but I would be very happy to offer you a berth on it.”

“But, Monsieur le Marquis, I am not alone, I have my son with me and even my cook, whom I am taking back.”

“Well, then, monsieur, there will be room for you and all your people.”  

The Corsican thanked him profusely.  The wind changed after a few days, during which they frequently came to see my father.  They embarked.  When dinner was served, to which my father invited the passengers, consisting of some officers of his regiment and the two Corsicans, he tasked an officer, M de Belly, with calling the young man dressed in the uniform of the École Militaire, who was reading at the other end of the boat.  The latter refused to come.  M de Belly came back irritated and said to my father, “I want to throw him into the sea, that little lout.  He looks like a bad character.  Do I have your permission, Colonel?”

“No,” said my father, laughing, “I do not permit it.  I do not share your opinion; he looks like a promising character.  I am persuaded that he will make his way.”

That little lout was the Emperor Napoléon.  Belly has recounted this scene to me ten times: “Oh, if only the Colonel had permitted me to throw him into the sea” he would add, sighing, “he would not be upending the world today!” (It need hardly be pointed out that these words were spoken by the emigré Belly many years later.)

The day after arriving in Ajaccio, the elder M Buonaparte, accompanied by his whole family, came to make a visit of thanks to my father.  This was the day that his relations with Pozzo di Borgo began.  My father paid a visit to Mme Buonaparte.  She lived in Ajaccio in one of the best small houses of the city, on the door of which was written in snail shells, “Long Live Marbeuf.”  M de Marbeuf had been the protector of the Buonaparte family.  Gossip had it that Mme Buonaparte was very grateful to him.  At the time my father visited, she was still a very beautiful woman; he found her in the kitchen, without stockings, in a simple petticoat attached to a shirt, busy making preserves.  Despite her beauty, she seemed to him to be suited to her work.  

In Part 4.2, we will return to the ever-darkening clouds of the Revolution in the early days of the Court’s residence at the Tuileries.

Part 3.4 is the fourth of five parts of Chapter 3.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 3.4, the author recalls the confusion, missteps, and dangers of the events of October, 1789.

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 3, Part 4 (3.4)

One day, I was out playing at the home of the little de Guiches, and I was fetched away much earlier than usual.  Instead of the servant ordinarily charged with carrying me home, I found my father’s trusted valet.  I had an English nursemaid who spoke French badly; she was given a note from my mother.  While she was reading it, I returned to my little companions’ room, and already everything was upside down, there was weeping, and packing had got started.  I was bundled into a fur-lined coat and the valet took me up in his arms.  Then, rather than taking me to my parents,’ he settled me with my nursemaid at the home of an old English master, who lived in a small fourth-floor room in a distant part of town.  

The following night I was fetched away to the countryside, where I remained for several days without news from anyone.  I was already old enough to suffer a great deal from this exile.  It was around the time of the troubles of the month of June and the time of the departure of the Comte d’Artois, his children, and the Polignac family.  On my return, I found that the eldest of the little de Guiches was gone and his sister hidden at the home of her maid’s parents.  The motive of all this anxiety for us children had been the rumour put about that the people, as a handful of miscreants was then called, were on their way to come and take the nobles’ children away and make hostages of them.  

A great fright engendered by this separation remained with me, and when the events of 6 October occurred, my thoughts were occupied by the fear of being sent away from our house.  

Part 3.3 is the third of five parts of Chapter 3.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 3.3, the author recounts her father’s refusal to attend the opening of the Estates General in May, 1789, and the offence he gave to Madame Adélaïde on that score.   

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 3, Part 3 (Part 3.3)

My father made no mistake about the gravity of the circumstances.  The ceremony of the opening of the Esates-General was solemn and accompanied by magnificent proceedings that attracted foreign visitors from every corner of Europe to Versailles.  My mother, attired in full court dress, had my father informed that she was leaving.  Not seeing him arrive, she went to his room and found him in his dressing gown.

“But you must hurry, we shall be late.”

“No, for I’m not going. I do not want to see that unfortunate man abdicate.”

That evening, Madame Adéläide spoke of the splendid view in the hall.  She addressed my father with a few questions about the details.  He replied that he had no idea of them.  

“Where you were sitting, then?”

“I was not there, Madame.”

“Were you ill?”

“No, Madame.”

“How is it that when others have come from so far away to attend this ceremony, you did not trouble yourself to cross the street?”

“It is just that I do not like funerals, Madame, still less that of the monarchy.”

“And I do not like that at your age you think you know better than everyone else.”

So saying, the princess turned on her heels.

It should not be concluded from this that my father did not want concessions to be made. On the contrary, he was persuaded that the times demanded them imperiously, but he wanted them made according to a plan agreed upon in advance, and he wanted them to be generous and freely given, not extorted. He watched the Estates General open with mortal anguish because, abreast of everyone’s vague aims, he knew that no one had fixed the actual goal at which they had to stop, whether in terms of demands or in terms of concessions.   

Furthermore, he had no confidence in M Necker. He believed that the latter was disposed to place the King at the top of a slope, not with the intention of pushing him down it, but with the arrogant notion that only he could hold him back, and thus render himself indispensable.  

Madame Adélaïde’s anger did not have long to wait before events calmed it.  

Part 3.4, in which Mme de Boigne recalls the events of October, 1789, should appear sometime in the first week of May, 2018.

Part 3.2 is the continuation of Chapter 3.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 3.2, which is quite short, the author relates an anecdote involving Louis XVI and her pet dog, discusses her relationships with the royal children, and notes the darkening shadows of the oncoming Revolution.

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 3, Part 2 (3.2)

I often used to encounter the King in the gardens of Versailles, and no matter how far away he was when I spotted him, I always ran to him.  When one day I failed to do so, he had me called.  I arrived all in tears.  

“What’s the matter, my little Adèle?”

“It’s your beastly guards, Sire, who want to kill my dog because he runs after your chickens.”

“I promise you that will never happen again.”

And indeed an order was issued to allow Mlle d’Osmond’s dog to chase the fowl. 

My successes were no less great with the young generation.  The Dauphin,²⁰ who died at Meudon, loved me extremely, and incessantly asked for me to come play with him, and the Duc de Berry²¹ got himself in trouble because at a ball he only wanted to dance with me.  Madame²² and the Duc d’Angoulême²³ favoured me less.  

The misfortunes of the Revolution put an end to my successes at Court.  I do not know if they acted on me in the way of a homeopathic remedy, but it is certain that despite these beginnings of my life, I have never had the instincts of a courtier, nor a taste for the society of princes.  Events had become too serious for anyone to be able to be amused by the antics of a child; 1789 had arrived.  

Notes:

20.  The first son of Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette; born in October, 1781, died in June, 1789.  

21.  Charles-Ferdinand, second son of the Comte d’Artois, born in 1778.

22.  Marie-Thérèse, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, born in 1778.

23.  Louis-Antoine, eldest son of the Comte d’Artois, born in 1775.   

Part 3.3 will deal with the opening of the Estates General and the events of October, 1789.  Look for it here on the blog or on the Versailles Century Facebook page next week!

Part 3.1 is the beginning of Chapter 3.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 3.1, the author relates how, as the only non-royal child at Court, she was spoiled by members of the royal family, including the King and Queen.

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 3, Part 1 (3.1)

I was literally raised on the knees of the royal family.  The King and Queen above all heaped kindness on me.  At a time when, as I have already said, children were put out to nurse, then to be weaned, and then sent to a convent, and when, dressed as little ladies and little gentlemen, they only appeared, sulky and grumpy, to be put on display, I, with my cambric frock and a profusion of blonde hair that adorned a pretty little figure, was extremely striking. My father amused himself developing my intelligence, and I was quite sincerely found to be a little prodigy.  I had learned to read with such great facility that at three years old I read and declaimed Racine’s tragedies for my own pleasure and even, it was said, for that of others.   

It pleased my father to take me to the theatre at Versailles.  I was taken away after the first play so as not to keep me up, and I remember that sometimes the King would call me into his box to have me recount the play I had just seen.  I added my own reflections, which were usually a great success.  To tell the truth, one day I said to him in the midst of my literary remarks that I felt a great desire to ask a favour of him; encouraged by his indulgence, I confessed that, since my ears were going to be pierced the next day, I coveted two of the smallest pendants of the chandeliers in order to have some earrings made.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts. In Part 2.6, the author describes Mme Adélaïde’s rather fraught relationship with her chief lady-in-waiting, the Duchesse de Narbonne, who seems to have been a bit of a bully.  This Duchesse de Narbonne (1734-1821), born Françoise de Chalus, had been a mistress of Louis XV.  What’s not explained in the original footnote at the bottom of the page is that it’s possible that Mme de Narbonne’s two sons, including the Comte Louis de Narbonne mentioned in this excerpt, were the King’s sons, and therefore Mme Adélaïde’s half-brothers.  If true, it makes Mme de Narbonne’s hold over Mme Adélaïde more understandable.

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter Two, Part Six (2.6)

Mme de Civrac hosted a salon for Mme Victoire that was suitably full of courtiers.  Mme de Narbonne, however, added hardly anything more to the princess’s service than did the people who were invited to meals. Her arrogant personality did not permit any other relations.  It was put about in libels of the time that the Comte Louis de Narbonne was Mme Adélaïde’s son.  That is false and absurd, but it is true that the princess made enormous sacrifices for him.  Mme de Narbonne, otherwise so imperious, submitted to every one of Comte Louis’ whims.  When he committed an extravagance and was short of money, Mme de Narbonne would be in an insufferable mood, which she took out mainly on Mme Adélaïde, making her home life intolerable.  After a few days, the poor princess would buy her peace and quiet back at at exorbitant price.  This is how Comte Louis found himself supplied with enormous sums that were procured without the least effort on his own part, and which he spent with equal ease. In any case, he was the most agreeable and the least malicious of men; a scamp, to be sure, but only because he was always indulged.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts.  In Part 2.1, the author highlights the lack of interest that the courtiers at Versailles took in the outside world, which is revealed in an amusing exchange between her father and Mme Adéläide, the most senior princess at Court after the King’s wife and sisters-in-law.

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter 2 (Part 2.1)

From Sunday to Saturday one lived quietly at Versailles in a way that was horribly dull for people who tore themselves away from their usual society to come and serve there without being well established.  However, it was a life not without interest for people who were definitively established; it was, in a way, a country house life of which the gossip revolved around important affairs.  Most had no notion of the national interest while following the intrigues that exiled M de Malesherbes from the centre of power or brought M de Calonne to it.  However, enlightened minds, such as my father’s, were interested in things other than a dispute over music or a rupture between Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Princesse de Luxembourg, which were the great events in society at the time.

No one thought of public policy in general.  If anyone did, it was done unreflectingly and motivated by a private interest of fortune or faction. Foreign governments were as unknown to us then as that of China is to us today.  My father was considered a bit of a pedant for taking an interest in European affairs, and he read the only journal that took some notice of them.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her grandnephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts.  In Part 1.7, the final part of Chapter One, Mme de Boigne relates the strange tale of a pair of imposters posing as Greek refugee princes who hoodwinked Louis XVI, his ministers, the court, and high society.    

A Childhood at Versailles, Chapter One, Part 7 (1.7)

The Court of France’s predilection for foreigners was exploited in a rather singular way by two illustrious Greeks, hounded from their homeland by Muslim provocations.  The Prince of Chios and Prince Justinian, his son, direct descendants of the Byzantine emperors, came to request the hospitality of Louis XVI at the beginning of his reign.  He accorded it to them nobly and grandly, as befitted a king of France.  While waiting for the claims he was making to the Sublime Porte for the restitution of his property to be resolved, the Prince of Chios was begged to accept a hefty pension, and Prince Justinian entered French service by taking command of a fine regiment.

These Greek princes lived off the royal munificence for some years, and were well received in the best society in Paris and at Versailles.  Their accent, and a bit of oddness in their manners, assured their success.  One day, when, for the hundredth time, they were dining at the table of the Comte de Maurepas, the latter saw the Prince of Chios, who was seated next to him, turn pale and look troubled.

A Childhood at Versailles consists of the first 5 chapters of the memoirs of Mme de Boigne (1781-1866), née Adèle d’Osmond, who was a French salon hostess and writer.  She was born in the Château de Versailles and lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette until her family fled to England during the Revolution.  Later in her long life, she married a rich soldier of fortune 30 years her senior, hosted a brilliant salon in Paris, and became an intimate of the last French queen, Marie-Amélie, consort of King Louis Philippe (r. 1830-1848).  Childless herself, Mme de Boigne addressed her memoirs to her nephew.  The memoirs were not published until 1907, under the title Récits d’une tante, or An Aunt’s Tales.  They’ve never been published in English, as far as I know, so I’ve decided to translate the first 5 chapters, the ones that take place mainly at Versailles, and post them here on this blog for interested readers to enjoy for free.

The chapters are quite lengthy, so I’ve broken each one into several parts.  In Part 1.5, Mme de Boigne describes the behaviour that set malicious tongues wagging about Marie-Antoinette.    

“This excellent prince (Louis XVI) had a great deal of difficulty in overcoming a timidity of spirit, joined to boorishly free manners, the fruit of his childhood habits, which did him no favours with those who only saw this uncouth shell.  With the best intentions of being obliging to someone, the King would advance towards him until his back was against the wall.  If he could not think of anything to say, which happened often, he would give a great bark of laughter, turn on his heels and walk away.  The victim of this public scene always suffered from it, and if he was not a regular at Court, he would go away furious, persuaded that the King had wanted to do him some kind of insult.  In private, the King complained bitterly of the way he had been raised.  He used to say that the only man for whom he felt hatred was the Duc de La Vauguyon⁷, and in support of this sentiment he cited instances of the abject toadying addressed by the Duc to his brothers and himself.  Monsieur had less repugnance for the memory of the Duc de La Vauguyon.

M le Comte d’Artois shared the King’s opinion.  His happy disposition, his charm, perhaps even his frivolity, made him the spoiled favourite of the whole family.  Though he committed stupidity after stupidity, the King scolded him, pardoned him, and paid his debts.  Alas, the one that could never be made good was the discredit heaped on his own head and on the Queen’s!