CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

Louis XV. on his death-bed-The King's Confession-Ma-
dame du Barry-The King's Monologue-Marie Antoi-
nette, the Dauphiness-The Dauphin's Aunts-Political
Alliance between France and Austria-Position of the
Dauphiness at Versailles-Letter of the Queen-Empress,
Maria Theresa, to the Dauphin on his marriage—The
Dauphin's brothers-The Dauphin's charity-Political
disunion in the Royal Family of France-" Vive le Roy!'
The new King and the new Queen--General aspect of
affairs in France, A.D. 1774—The dawn of Revolutions—
Contemporary chronicles of Madame du Barry, of the
Duc d'Aiguillon, of Chancellor Maupeou, and of the Abbé
Terray-The Princess Louise (Nun of St. Denis)-Letter
of Pope Clement XIV. to her-Burial of Louis XV.-The
new and the old nobility of France in 1774-Court Por-
traits of that time-The first Act of King Louis XVI.—-

The first act of Queen Marie Antoinette-Madame du

-

Barry "at home"- -The Abbé Terray, Finance Comp-

troller of Louis XV.-Turgot, Finance Comptroller of

Louis XVI.-Malesherbes-The Church in France, 1774-5

-The Queen of France, 1774-5-Courtiers' debts in

France, 1774-5-Pamphlets in France, 1774-5-Coro-

nation of King Louis XVI. -Voltaire in 1774-5-

Mirabeau in 1774-5-Biographical sketch of Mirabeau

-Royal Allegories of 1774-5-Recall of the Duc de

Choiseul to Court-Position of William Pitt (Lord

Chatham) in 1774-5-Growing signs of Rebellion in

America, 1774-5-Contemporary Chronicles of Politi-

cal Parties at Versailles, 1775-Recall of the Ancient

Parliament to Paris-Popularity of Louis XVI. and

of Marie Antoinette-Aspect of affairs in America, 1775

-John St. John's Address to the House of Commons on

behalf of the Crown-Parliamentary promises in Eng-

land, 1775

1

CHAPTER II.

War Chants in America-Thomas Paine ("Common

Sense") in America-Pennsylvanian "Cato "-George

Washington, his early life and daily habits-Model slave

estate of the 18th century-George Washington in Con-

gress, and in command of the Army-Dr. Benjamin

Franklin, his early life, &c.-Dr. Franklin's own account

of his own condemnation-Dr. Franklin before the

Privy-Council-His vow-Horace Walpole on American

affairs in 1774-Autograph (unpublished) letters from

Dr. Franklin to his son-Lord Chatham (William. Pitt)

-Dr. Franklin's own account of his acquaintance with

Lord Chatham-interviews between Dr. Franklin and

Lord Chatham-Dr. Franklin in the House of Lords-

Lord Chatham's motion, Lord Chatham's speech-Sunday

visit of Lord Chatham to Dr. Franklin-Attack of Lord

Sandwich on Dr. Franklin in the House of Peers-Dr.

Franklin's return to America (1775)—The first blow

struck in America-Dr. Franklin's letter to Mr. Strahan,

M.P.—Dr. Samuel Johnson upon American affairs—Dr.

Franklin and Dr. Johnson-Rumours in Paris of Vol-

taire at Ferney-John St. John again-Foreign mercen-

aries and Frederick the Great-Statue of the King in

Philadelphia-Dr. Franklin at the ruins of Scoon-Irish

and Scotch American emigrants-Original (unpublished)

"Memorial from an American Royalist and Colonist”-

Old Feudalism the hot-bed of young Democracy

64

CHAPTER III.

M. le Marquis de Lafayette. (His own account of his early

life and flight to America)—M. le Comte de Ségur. (His

own account of himself when forced to remain at the

court of Versailles)-Queen Marie Antoinette-The Prin-

cesse de Lamballe. (Her own account of how the friend-

ship began between the Queen and herself)-The King's

sister-Christopher Gluck, the composer-Music, the

Drama, and Court politics in France-Beaumarchais and

the Barber of Seville-New Philosophy in Paris and at

Versailles-The Emperor Joseph II. in France—The

Emperor's arrival at Versailles, his conversation there—

The Queen's rebuke to the Emperor-Public toilettes-

Horace Walpole-Picture of the toilette of a French belle

of the 18th century-Turgot, Minister of Finance at

Versailles-Turgot's early life-Lent in 1775—The

people clamour for bread at Versailles-The King's

placard-Resignation of Turgot and Malesherbes-Cu-

rious MS. (Bibliothèque Impériale) concerning Protes-

tants-James Necker, the Protestant-James Necker's

previous life James Necker, Director-General of Finance

at Versailles.

109

CHAPTER IV.

Louis XVI. the King, and Louis XVI. the Man-"Reflec-

tions" of Louis XVI. upon peace and war-Dr. Ben-

jamin Franklin's arrival in France-Dr. Benjamin Frank-

lin's "Electrical Kite"-Madame la Marquise du Deffand

receives Dr. Franklin-Her account of her company-

Appearance of Puritan philosophers in France-Dr.

Franklin's own idea of his mission in France-His

letter to Sir Joseph Bankes upon war- Reception

of Dr. Franklin, by Count de Vergennes, Minister of

Foreign Affairs-Lord Stormont, English ambassador

at Versailles-The Queen at Trianon-Practical joke of

the Duc de Chartres-Dr. Franklin's Memorial to the

Court of Versailles--The Cabinet of Versailles "de-

clares its intentions"-Public presentation of Dr. Frank-

lin to Louis XVI.-Dr. Franklin applauded at Ver-

sailles-Letter of Sir Guy Carleton on Indian affairs

(original, unpublished)-Letter of Lord George Ger-

maine to Sir Guy Carleton (original, unpublished)—

Eighteenth century American newspaper advertisements

-Original Notes on North American Indians-Montaigne

on North American Indians-Dr. Franklin on North

American Indians-Original Letter to Lord Dunmore

concerning North American Indians-Original Memo-

rial from American Indians-Letter from Lord Wey-

mouth to Sir Guy Carleton, concerning the Count de