The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-12
THE DUCHESS OF BERRY AND HENRY w.
THE DUKE OF BORDEAUX.

But what was the situation of the Duchess of Ber-
ry Why did she not rush from the palace Of ST.
Cloud, and taking the young Duke of Bordeaux in
her hand, present him the troops and the people
aud exclaim, " Behold your Kingi" Did she want
nerve and courage for such undertaking? Ger
tanly not Her romantic history in La Vendee,
where she had performed such prodigies of valor,
would at give the lie to such a suppositon,
could il even for a moment have been INDUCED.
There were two reasons rather three, why such
line Of conduct was not pursued by Madame la Ouch
ess. The first that she lacked at that critical
moment energetic and decided advisers. Second,
King Charles y would scarcely allow the young
Duke Of Bordeaux TO leave his side And third, the
Duchess of Berry was yey inaccuratey informed as
to the real state Of affairs both before and after the
fatal ordinances Of her father and monarch. The
Count de Menars had undoubtedly informed the
Duchess as TO the state of Paris up TO Tuesday even
ing, and on Wednesday morning she communicated
TO Charles all her uneasiness and anxiety
The monarch imperturbable, and assured the
Duchess there was no reason for any apprehension
respecting the result. Even the arrival of a young
artist at the palace charged to take the portrait Of the
king, and who gave graphic ard fearful account Of
the scenes he had witnessed, did not move that
prince, who, after having listened with attention TO
the recital said Ce nest rien tout celia nira sor
&c nest presque rien. Tenez, mon cher, que
avez de mieuz a faire cest de commencer mon por-
trait" And then Charles y sat down before the
artist, and his features did not evnce the slightest
change. Not so the painter he could not proceed.
The king perceived IT, En- ben!" said the monarch
with unruilled composurc, " &c pour Ia semai
prochaine." When the artist withdrew the Ouch
ess Of Berry gave herself up to agony Of grief aud
Charles X. and the Duke d'Angouleme both sought
to console her. That was the moment in which she
stood in need Of WISE firm and courageous advisers.
But there none who stepped forward and the
Of her son was lost. | know very well that
there arc some persons still accurately informed
with regard to the events of 1890, who maintain that
had the Duchess of Berry acted as have suggested
she should have done, she would have been made
prisoner, and that her son would have been shot |
do not believe this The moment for such line of
conduct as that have described would have been on
the Thursday afternoon, the forces Of the
King had retired to the Bots dc Boulogne, and when
the Duke de Ragusa repaired TO st. Cloud. The
whole city at that time in state Of understandable
apprehension. No government had been organized;
the fear OF bombardment very general new bar
ricades had been everywhere thrown up; il was not
believed by any one that the conflict had terminated
the heights of Montmartre looked TO with the
most fearful anticipatons. The Hotel de Vile was
the spot to which report after report brought Of
the arrival Of fresh troops from distant garrisons and
Of the determination Of Charles X to lombard Paris
the next day; and these reports soon became known
to the whole population. That then was the moment
when if the heroic Duchess Of Berry had appeared
without soldiers guards in the midst Of the people
and had exclaimed, "Charles X and the Duke d,An-
gouieme have abdicated, the ordinances of Sunday
asst are withdrawn, the Chambers are TO meet imme-
uldtelyj Cd0s'h oliel y prime minister, and now
behold your king-l1enry V ~ have not the small.
est doubt that her mission would have been crowned
with success and that all other hopes and combna-
lions would have been at once abandoned. | admit
thai to have met the popuace TO have faced the yet
'vengeful and but partially avenged Parsians would
have required much nerve, vigor, and presence and
strength Of mind. But it is precisely because the
Duchess of Berry was one Of Million and because
her maternal love and energy were Of the first order
that therefore advert to this subject
No real great effort made for the son of the
Duchess until II was Z" too late !" and he was neither
to be seen nor heard Of at a moment when all was
critical and important II is not impossible that the
Duke himself may be visiting England when these
pages shall appear and thai they may come under hia
notice. To him say, Prince, your cause was ne
elected when there was time to save IT, Il il now
too Late" Frmers Ma asins,