witness its famous demolition! "Your highness was a lieutenant-general in the service of the country twenty-five years ago," said Louis XVIII. when the duke was presented to him the day after his arrival, "and you are still the same!" Yes, there he was, standing in the same palace, bearing the same title, and yet once more destined to return to the shores of England, and seek the sylvan shades and retreat of Twickenham.

subject, servant, and soldier; dispose of me as your majesty pleases for the honor and the peace of France!"

Directed to proceed to Lyons to oppose the progress of the usurper, he pointed out the impossibility of success in such an undertaking, but undertook the command of the army of the north. There, with that same valiant Mortier Duke de Trevise, who was subsequently shot by his side on the Boulevard du Temple by the infernal. There is a very curious fact connected machine of Fieschi, the Duke of Orleans with this portion of the life of Louis Philippe visited Cambrai, Douai, Lille, and other which, when compared with another period fortified stations on a tour of inspection, of his history, cannot fail to strike with in- and did all he could to excite his soldiers terest the reader. I allude to the fact, that to fidelity, and the population to a love of Prince Talleyrand, who accompanied Louis peace. But his efforts were wholly unXVIII. to Compiegne, remarked to the availing, and after having ascertained beking, "that he saw no necessity for hasten- yond the possibility of doubt that, at least ing the return of the Duke of Orleans; for a period, the cause of the usurper would that the air of Palermo agreed with him so triumph, he addressed to Marshal Mortier well, that perhaps it would be best he a farewell letter, and returned to Twickenshould remain there." And yet, when ham, whither had preceded him his Duchafter a lapse of sixteen years, that same ess, the Duke of Chartres, and his second Duke of Orleans was raised to the throne son, the present gallant and very able of France, the Prince Talleyrand was prince, the Duke of Nemours. That scion amongst the first to do him homage, and of the house of Orleans was born at Paris negotiated with such ability with foregin on the 25th of October, 1814, and is at the powers the recognition of the Orleans moment I am writing this sketch visiting dynasty, that he obtained its admission the French provinces in company with his into the family of European sovereigns! duchess, in order that he may become inThis was a specimen of Talleyrand. Zeal- timately acquainted with the wants and ous for all, faithful to none; success- wishes of France, in the event of his auful for all, sincere to none; ever true to the rising star, the rising sun, and the smiling fortune; and ever false to the sinking star, the setting sun, and to misfortune and defeat. He had every vice,-and not one virtue:

gust father Louis Philippe dying before the Count de Paris shall arrive at his majority, in which case the Duke de Nemours would be regent. That duke is a Conservative. Possessed of great talents, considerable eloquence, presence of mind, decision of character, and a firm resolution to do and to say that which he believes to be right, no man of his family, or of his time is better qualified to become regent should that death occur, which would, alas! render a regency inevitable. For the sake of the peace of France and the repose of the world, may that day be yet far distant.

In the month of July, 1814, the duke returned to Palermo, and was accompanied by the same Baron Athalin, who afterwards became the private and left-handed husband of Mademoiselle Orleans, now Madame Adelaide, and for whose courage, honor, and devotedness to the Orleans dynasty, Louis Philippe has since rewarded him with every mark of esteem and gratitude. To The Duke of Orleans retired from France the palace of his ancestors Louis Philippe with mingled sentiments of regret and disnow returned. He was received with cold-couragement. He had ascertained the fact ness at court, and with suspicion by the that the eldest branch of the house of Bour. restored Royalists. This was unwise and bon could not rely on the support of the cruel. But new events changed the whole French army! and therefore that foreign aspect of affairs. Napoleon escaped from intervention and foreign occupation could Elba, and, on the 5th of March, 1815, land-alone secure to that dynasty possession of ed at Cannes. Louis XVIII. sent for the the throne. To what events a foreign ocDuke of Orleans. What was to be done? Sire," said he, addressing himself to Louis XVIII., "as for me, I am prepared to share both your bad and good fortune; although one of your royal race, I am your VOL. III. No. IV. 30

66

cupation would lead, how it might be op posed, and what would follow that opposition, he could not possibly predict or foresee; and when he arrived at Twickenham he did not hesitate to state that he

could not imagine what might be the result! away, Louis Philippe returned to France of the new struggle. But THE HUNDRED in the spring of 1817. From that moment DAYS of rule, and that battle of Waterloo, he resolved to devote himself to the manwhich in spite of all the falsehoods which agement of his extensive domains, and have been published respecting it, was one which had not been sold under the usurpof the greatest, most important, and honor- ing governments of the republic or of able to British arms and valor, ever fought Buonaparte; to the administration of his in any land, soon put an end to the ephem- sumptuous household; and, above all, to eral success of the usurper, and recalled the education of a numerous and charmto the throne of France the house of ing family, redolent of health, wit, and Bourbon. beauty. The enemies of the Duke of Orleans The management of his estates, the liwere not, however, few or inactive. The quidation of his debts due upon them, and Jesuits and the Court of Rome, the emi- their restoration to order, occupied the grants and their families,-all sought by duke during a period of nearly ten years; forged documents and signatures, and by and, although it has been the habit to acevery other unworthy and disgraceful cuse that prince of having devoted a large means, to interrupt the cordiality which portion of that time to intrigues against the existed between the house of Bourbon reigning dynasty, nothing can be farther Capet and that of Bourbon Orleans, and to removed from the truth than those allegacause it to be believed that the head of the, tions. Louis Philippe is essentially a family latter house was conspiring with the Lib-man; attached to family and quiet purerals, to depopularize the then reigning suits; fond of literature and literary men; dynasty, as well as to create a party for and naturally much more disposed to folhimself. When he returned to the French low and adopt the habits and pursuits of an capital, he found therefore little cordiality. English country gentleman, than to engage When he carried by his manly eloquence in diplomatic negotiations or in political in the chamber of peers the rejection of an pursuits. It was not, then, natural for address invoking the king to exercise Louis Philippe, with his far different and measures of vengeance against Marshal opposing tastes and inclinations, to enNey and Labedoyère, and others, and which gage in political intrigues, and in secret would have virtually deprived his majesty opposition to the king's government. Beof the free and unbiassed exercise of his sides which, he owed too many obligations judgment and compassion, he was suspect- to Louis XVIII., for the assistance afforded ed and denounced; and Louis XVIII. was to him in procuring possession of his paprevailed on to recall that ordinance by trimonial estates, and for the millions of virtue of which princes of the blood royal francs assigned to him under the act of insat in the chamber of peers. They were demnity, to be so ungrateful and disloyal. not to appear in the chamber in future That the duke believed that some further without special authorization. This was a political revolution might occur in France blow so direct and violent levelled against is certain; but that he contributed to bring the Duke, and which was followed by so about, either directly or indirectly, the decided a refusal of the king to avail him- events of 1830, I do most unhesitatingly self of his assistance in the formation of his and wholly deny. Undoubtedly, his assonew government, that he deemed it at once ciates were neither Romish priests nor Ulmore expedient to retire to England, and tra-royalists; and it cannot be denied that from the quiet scenery of Twickenham to Foy, Constant, Perier, and Manuel, were watch the progress of events and the meas- amongst the constant visitors at the Palais ures of the Bourbon government. There, Royal, Neuilly, and Eu. Nor will those who for nearly twelve months, he "looked write or speak conscientiously of Louis through the loopholes of retreat," and ex- Phi ppe attempt to deny that his political amined, though from a distance, the pro- views were rather those of Lord Grey than ceedings of the Ultra-royalists. Talley- of Mr. Pitt, of Mr. Fox than of Lord Liverrand was at the moment occupied with the pool, or of Mr. Canning than of Lord Casproject of sending the Duke of Orleans tlereagh. But Louis Philippe, whether as permanently to Palermo; but the answer Duke of Orleans or as king, was, and is, of received from the prince was so manly, de- opinion, that in countries governed by cided, and constitutional, that the artful limited monarchies, changes should be efcourtier and diplomatist was wholly de- fected solely by the parliament, and not by feated. the populace; and that no excuse can be offered for those who conspire under con

When the period of reaction had passed

stitutional governments. I am anxious, and calm settling down to existing insti then, to assist, at least, in removing a gen. tutions on the part of the middling classes eral impression, which I think on the whole in France, which was necessary to assure unfounded, that the Duke of Orleans, either to a thoughtful mind either security for the under the reign of Louis XVIII. or under present, or confidence for the future. There that of Charles X., conspired against the was an evident conviction that something government of his country, or against the else had to transpire, that an attempt monarch on the throne. I know he often would be made by the court to unsettle the disapproved the policy of Talleyrand, of settlement of 1815, and that this attempt Villele, and of Polignac; but as the Prince might lead to new disasters. That the of Wales, the Duke of Kent, and the Duke Duke of Orleans was, therefore, disposed of Sussex, were not conspirators, though I to stand aloof from a line of policy he did regret that they all once belonged to the not approve is certain; but he never conopposition ranks in parliament, so neither spired against that policy. It is by no was the Duke of Orleans. This is the line means improbable that he resolved on the of distinction to be drawn :-and for want education of his sons in the public schools, of it being attended to, the conduct of partly with the view of showing that he was Louis Philippe during the restoration has in no wise 'mixed up with the re-actionary been either not understood or greatly mis-views and the counter-revolutionary deterrepresented.

minations of the high Roman Catholic party, but it by no means followed that he desired either to excite distrust in the minds of the people against the eldest branch of the Bourbons, or to form a political party in his own favor. I firmly be

No family circle in the whole world was more united and happy than that of the Duke of Orleans at the period of which I am now speaking. Those who were admitted to the château of the duke were in love with all they saw and all they heard.lieve that the principal reasons why the They are delicious creatures, those Orleans girls," exclaimed the Duchess of Berry, as they left on one occasion the favorite evening's "causerie" apartment of Charles X.; "there is not such another family in your majesty's dominions." The system of education adopted by the duke was admirable; and this thought reminds me of a few words written about that same Prince de Joinville who has lately escorted our fair queen from Eu to Brighton, and has expressed in touching and feeling terms his admiration of her character and of the whole British nation.

Duke of Orleans determined on educating his sons in the public schools were; first, because he was of opinion that they would receive in them a far better education than at home. And, secondly, because, since, owing to the birth of the Duke of Bordeaux, his branch of the Bourbon race would not probably ever be called to the throne; that his own children should belong rather to the upper ranks of French society than be regarded merely as princes, and Bourbons.

The marriage of the niece of the Duchess of Orleans with the Duke of Berry was an "I saw the young Prince de Joinville," | event of great importance in the history of wrote Madame de Genlis, "who was only two years old, but who spoke as distinctly as a child of six or seven; he was also as polite as he was handsome and intelligent: in fact, the whole family of the Duke of Orleans is truly the most interesting I ever knew. Its members are charming by their personal attractions, by their natural qualities and education, and by the reciprocal attachment of parents and children."

the former family. Lively, gay, witty, generous, and open-hearted, the Duchess of Berry captivated all parties, and even gained the affection of the Republicans themselves. Few women have ever lived whose passions have betrayed them into more acts of indiscretion and impropriety than this unfortunate lady; and yet, few have ever possessed such admiring and devoted followers. She had the art of making herself The determination of Louis Philippe to loved to a greater degree than almost any confer on his sons the benefits of a public other woman of her time; and to this day education in the schools of Paris has been the name of the Duchess of Berry carries a unjustly and unkindly ascribed to a wish talismanic influence with it, even in the to render his branch of the Bourbon race liberal circles and saloons of Paris. That more popular than that of the eldest branch. marriage then introduced more frequently I sm satisfied that this is a libel. It is the Duke of Orleans to the court, but the true that the duke did not believe that the priest party was always opposed to him; revolution of 1793 or 1788 had been ter-caused him invariably to be distrusted; and minated. He did not witness that quiet induced Louis XVIII., and subsequently

Charles X., to believe that, in him, the eld-acter, and his affection for the French peoest branch had a dangerous and decided ple, endeared him to all who knew him; foe. It was, therefore, that the former and the conduct of the Orleans family on prince refused to confer on him the title of that occasion tended to increase that affec"Royal Highness." tion for them, which the Duchess of Berry never hesitated to avow.

When the Count de Villele prevailed on the offended monarch to avenge himself on the Chamber of Peers by creating seventysix new members of that Assembly, the Duke of Orleans sighed over a policy, which was conducting throne, government, and country, to the verge of a terrible and awful abyss. Yet, still faithful to his principle of obedience, he inculcated submission to the wishes of the king, although he hailed with internal pleasure the accession of the Martignac ministry.

The death of Louis XVIII., in some respects, however, changed the position of the Duke of Orleans. The latter was received with greater kindness at court, his children were regarded with more attention and affection; and, during the first month of the reign of Charles X., the advice of the duke was not wholly neglected. But this state of things was not of long duration. The old Roman Catholic party once more rallied: the Court of Rome installed itself at the Tuileries: doubts were entertained whether the new monarch should take the oath of fidelity to the When, at last, the ill-advised monarch charter and that unhappy and misguided dismissed that admirable cabinet, and called man, who possessed a noble and benevolent to his counsel the ultra-monarchists of heart, was at last prevailed on to believe former days, the Duke of Orleans "hoped that it was possible to re-establish in France for the best; would never admit it to be the old French monarchy of 1780. From possible that Charles X. would violate his that moment the Duke of Orleans resolved oaths and most solemn engagements: careon standing aloof, as far as possible, from political events. He determined, yet more than ever, to consecrate his life to his large and admirable family, and to encourage the arts, science, and literature; to relieve the distresses of the unfortunate; to administer his own vast domains; to aid all improve- It was at this period, 1829, that the Duke ments in manufactures, commerce, and of Orleans paid his last visit to Great Briagriculture; and to be the encourager and patron of all that could tend to embellish and adorn that France he loved so dearly, and that illustrious family of which he was the head.

When Charles X. announced to the national guards of Paris their dissolution, because some cries had been uttered at a review unfavorable, not to the king, but to his government, the Duke of Orleans was silent. "Another step, deplorable and false, has this day been taken," said the duke to an intimate friend; "but I am only a subject; and, although I greatly fear that this indicates a desire for counter-revolution, my course is clear-to obey and be silent."

When Count de Peyronnet's bill for restraining the liberty of the press was brought into the House of Peers, the Duke of Orleans regarded it as the presage of a coming storm; but he raised not the drapeau of disobedience, whilst he rejoiced at the repudiation of the measure.

When the Duke of Berry was assassinated, the Duke of Orleans and his family were plunged into the deepest grief. They really loved him. His blunt and honest char

fully abstained from becoming a member of any opposition society: and kept more closely than ever to those family occupations and pursuits which were the charm of his life and the secret of all his happiness.

tain. There he saw men of all parties, and from him they learned the imminent perils to which the French monarchy was exposed. He revisited the scenes of former years, but he secretly resolved never again to quit France, much as he loved the peaceful tranquillity of Twickenham.

It is not true, as his enemies have alleged, that the Duke of Orleans was then secretly arranging for the proclamation of himself as king of France in the event of a revolution. It is not true that his visit to England had any thing of a political character about it. The duke dreaded and believed in a revolution, and feared that not many years would elapse ere it would occur; but events moved more rapidly than he anticipated, and the folly and weakness of the Polignac administration hastened a dénouement which he most undoubtedly apprehended and feared, but which he did not believe was so near at hand.

On the appointment of the Polignac cabinet, the Duke of Orleans felt it to be his duty to endeavor at least to open the eyes of his sovereign and relative, Charles X., to the dangers of his position, and to seek to prevail on him to avoid a collision which could

KING OF THE FRENCH.

not but terminate in a fearful revolution. | the chiefs of the successful movement, he Verbally, and by writing, did he approach could not be found, and his retreat was not the king, and in terms the most respectful, known to his most familiar friends. At but still the most decisive, did he labor to im- length the cry was heard, "Long live the press on the mind of the monarch that the Duke of Orleans!" and the Scandinavian extreme principles of the Polignac adminis- pedestrian, the Swiss professor of mathetration were too well known to be endured. matics, and the dollarless wanderer in At length came the visit of his august America, was proclaimed father-in-law, the King of Naples, in May, 1830, and the Palais Royal became a scene of festivity and splendor worthy of the most joyous and magnificent days of former ages. Charles X. and his family were present at the splendid banquet, but the words, "We are dancing upon a volcano," were uttered by M. de Salvandy, and the duke replied, "Yes; there is indeed a volcano, but I have nothing with which to reproach myself. I have done all I could, but my efforts have been useless."

The fête did not terminate without disturbances. Chairs and tables were burnt, and monuments and statues destroyed in the garden of the Palais Royal. The inflamed state of the public mind gave vent to some rude and boisterous expressions of dissatisfaction; and the words of Napoleon passed from mouth to mouth, "It is the beginning of the end."

The history of that creation, and of the leading events of the reign of that extraordinary man from 1830 to the period of the visit of the Queen of Great Britain to France in September, 1843, will form the third and concluding part of these reminiscences; and these I propose to submit to the readers of REGINA in the number for November.

But I cannot terminate this rapid sketch of that portion of the life of Louis Philippe, during which he was Duke of Orons, without inviting those readers to remen.' . that whilst I am the historian of a successful revolution, I am not its eulogist or admirer; and that, whilst I deplore that Charles X. should have thought it necessary to resort to the letter of one article of the charter in order to destroy the spirit That was a striking moment in the life of the remainder, I cannot but insist that of Louis Philippe, when, two months after- when the revolutionists of Paris and the wards, he read in the columns of the Moni. members of the Chambers of Peers and teur, atNeuilly, the fatal ordinances of July, Deputies visited on the head of the Duke 1830! M. Dupin rushed to the château of Bordeaux the errors and mistakes of his all was agitation and alarm. But the duke dethroned grandfather, they committed an had resolved not to alter his independent act of injustice and of vengeance which and dignified attitude. He had come to the history will rightly designate, and which resolution to remain in France let what all wise and good men will concur in dewould occur; and no longer to be exposed nouncing as violent, unprincipled, and exto the insults, ignominy, persecutions, and cessive. The fact that the Duke of Orsorrows of foreign exile. Although the leans, in the exercise of a sound, manly, duke had been prepared for some coup and patriotic judgment and will, preferred d'état, the ordinances of July greatly ex- the throne to banishment, and the preserceeded his worst expectations, and the re-vation of some kind of monarchy to the essistance of all ranks of the people by no means surprised him. Yet, again, to him his duty was clear. He remained at home, in the bosom of his family, attended no meeting, gave no advice, entered into no correspondence with the revolutionary party, and so acted during Sunday, Mon. day, and Tuesday. On Wednesday, having been apprized that an attempt would be made to arrest him, the duke concealed himself at the house of a friend, and but a short time had elapsed after his departure, before the soldiers of the Polignac cabinet arrived, to carry that intended arrest into effect. So wholly did the duke isolate him self from the revolution and its agents, that even when his presence was called for by

The

tablishment of a ruthless and anarchical democracy, neither consecrates the justice of the change, nor removes the odium from its principle. But to that act of injustice the Duke of Orleans was no party. I saw, heard, and knew all that passed. chances lay between the Duke of Bordeaux, Napoleon II., the Republic, and the Duke of Orleans, and no man who saw, heard, and knew all that passed at that period of time, can possibly deny the fact, that wholly unsolicited on his part, and wholly unexpected, a vast majority of the property, intelligence, and good feeling of the country, heartily concurred in proclaiming the Duke of Orleans

KING OF THE FRENCH.