Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-09-13


Whatever favorable prepnssessions one brings
to the examination Of the kings conduct, he is
nevertheless forced to confess weghty faults in
II which must infallIbly ruin their author We
are forced to admit that he has DISPLAYED no
knowledge fmen and things that he was igno-
rant 10 the last moment of the dispositions and
state of France; that he kneu not how 10 hold
the reins of government with steadiness that FIN
nally after reign of eleven months during which
ms authority was decaying from hour to hour, he
mas lost the throne in single day. 1 ask every
enlightened man if such prince can govern
France
demand if one can rally with any plausibility
round king who always takes to flight in try
.ng circumstances who never put himself at the
head OF party, even when two millions of men
We're are armed in his cause Who dared not re-
enter his native land but with an odious escort
OF enemies troops Task what guarantee, what
security King offers for the future, arrived at
an age when he can change no more, and all
whose errors are so inherent in his character.
tnat he might have committed them az 80 years
OF age as at 90. Louis XVIII. is not fit to gov
eIn lie neither knows how to exercise au,ho-
rity OF hmself nor To choose sklful ministers TO
exercise IT iii his name; he is neither man of
i'eaa 10 plan, nor man of execution. In fine ne
mas gwen us his measure by the efIeminacy of his
conduct on the throne, and the rapidity of
mat uhis prince is the phenix of the royal fami-
me Count d Artois has received from nature
neuner discernment Of mind nor clearness of
Judgment. Light and superficial, an education
IN which the pupil disappointed the cares OF the
master has left him uniformed A boisterous
and oisspated ycuth debarred him from every
thing solid, and rendered him incapable ofappli-
cation and study. He has brainless scull which
nr 4.
count q, Artois is better than his head. He some
times hits on few lucky phrases which make
Inuen "a ms BEHALF but good sense does not sup
P oIe Cl'eheeting advantage; reason comes not in
anu OF some aTniable qualities, and from a GER
tam facillty oFmanners, very frivolous advanta-
Be' npeed TO prince on the steps of throne,
n0 might please tor moment but viewed near
CT we necessarily behold an abs lutte unftness for
business despcnding incapacity; and this
Prihce saw vanish in an instant, the presages that
1aClnated the eye of admirers which he had con-
eiIated by engaging manners
90 not Wish 10 sketch in lively colors the ma
tlonai falling which sgTalized the entrance of d.
hrtois into the council it is enough that i,
bears the name of French, for me to desire ex-
punging such a stain from ourhistory Wemav
forgive this prince, but never name him for chief
he is ten times more imbecile than his brother
he IS totally destitute of genius. Easy TO be
,
ne mas Just passedfrom the domination of woman
under the empire OF courtesans and priests. 4
niind devotion supplies in his heart the place of
Ihe last mistress, al whose tomb he seems to have
ind the passions ofyou;h. With so few of the
quaiitications for goycrning-will it be believed
the count q Artois is not without ambition He
longs tor throne and promises imprudentlv to
ms cronles great changes in the order of things
II he once occupy the highest RANK In the saJoe
this Drnca II I, ,,r-,c L..
and by certain conceit in himself, has already
tried the part be hopes one day 60 play. There
was formed in his interior a little seperste gov
crilment. This government had its ministers
its administrators, judges and agents in France
II paraysed the exercise of the royal authority
IL defeated or retarded at least, by secret inhu
ahce, the execution 0fmeasures publicly ordered
III cond einned all the cessions which LOUIS 18th
Iefevsd himself obliged TO make 10 the nation.
.0iA ans'9eTfor the future when arrived at the
thronel is an expression tlWt escaped the indis-
cretion OF this prince, who never pronounced the
names OF constitution aud liberty, exceDt in the
last extremity when he thought that he could re-
gam by oaths and promises the decayed hearts
that had been lost. Such are the talents. tenn
per and conduct of the count d'Artois thus our
prospect was to have prince for king, stran-
ger to the knowledge of the age, faux lumineres
ia sleciel and who IS not even the shadow Of one
who could maintain himself single year on the
throne OF France Thus at the accession of count
Artois arevolution would happen in 6months,
and our country be aprey to fresh dssentions.
Whence comes it that talents and capacitv
degenerate IN this family with progress so swift
and rapid The duke of Angoulelnc, destitute
OF the external advantages of his father, but per-
sonsily brave they say, knows nottingham learn
nothing As soldier, a simple subaltern is
more accomplished than he III civil life he
knows not the very elements Of administration
and conceives nothing ofthe motion of a govern.
rnent. lie would be utterly incapable of the
throne, especially in the midst ofanation which
requires steady hand, strong and enlight-
enei head for its chief Of character mild
enough, OF an easy humor,he might gain some at
tachments but naughty, imperious wife, sour
Ell by misfortune, endowed with mind reflacto-
y against all culture, and superstitiou5 heart,
eXerc sts over this prince, fatal ascepdancy-l
tor the overlooking ofmishsp, the duke of An |
gouleme, though yet young, is absorbed in blind
1evotlouthat contracts both heart and soul. The
future presents no smiling aspect under such a
prince, and nevertheless We may regard him as
the gift ofheaven in comparison of hig brother
Nature has treated the duke Of Ber.i with less
1gor than the duke Of AngOuleme lie has more
mind, knowledge and docility. He is not def
cient in certain elevation of thought. of q
warmth Of soul from which he might derive some
5eneiit. sislful and prudent pfeceptor might
have made something Of the dulte Of Berri but
,1st at an early are among camps, LONG aban.
Toned to himself, he yielded, especially during
MS adjournment in England, to incredible de,
baucheries. lie has adopted the habits and
Of depraved society," lie is what we
sQll i'm lrance a loaf man