17th.—In the evening the wedding ceremony was performed at Notre-Dame. I had a ticket, but did not go, as I was afraid of the crowd. I understand it was well regulated. At six I went to the Tuileries “au Jeu de Roi.” Card-tables were set in the Galerie des Cerfs, and in the midst a large round one for the King and Royal Family. They came in
about seven, the Duke de Berri dressed à la Henri Quatre, Madame leading the bride. I happened to be near the table, and she introduced me to her. The Peers who had been witnesses of the marriage wore mantles; the uniforms were very fine, and the scene splendid. Those who had tickets for seeing the banquet followed the King when he left the Gallery. As I passed out I observed the Place du Carrousel full of people, which, with the cries of “Vive le Roi!” and the illumination, had a very fine effect. At eleven I went to a ball at the Duke of Wellington’s: his house[[70]] handsome, and the gardens prettily illuminated.
18th.—Anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. There was a pause in the fêtes. The Royal Family went to dine at St. Cloud.
19th.—Colonel Palmer brought me a letter from Princess Charlotte, expressing a wish to see me in England, with a very handsome message from her husband. In the evening I was at the “bal paré” at the Tuileries, in the Salle de l’Opéra, where the banquet had been held. The whole of the Royal Family were present. The Duchess de Berri danced a French and an English country dance with the Duke d’Angoulême, and waltzed with her husband. At ten they retired.
20th.—A review of twenty-four thousand men, and a “bénédiction des drapeaux” in the Champ de Mars. The old Archbishop of Rheims performed the ceremony, and Madame and the Duchess de Berri tied the “cravates,” white handkerchiefs, round the staffs of the colours. I was in the tent of the Etat-Major-General. It was a long ceremony, but very interesting.
24th.—I went in the evening in court dress to the Tuileries[[71]] “aux premières loges.” The King and all the Royal Family there to see the representation of “Adélaïde du Guesclin,” and “Les Etourdis, ou Le Mort Supposé.” Talma and Mademoiselle George acted in the first, and Mademoiselle Mars in the second. I admire Talma and Mademoiselle Mars exceedingly. The company produced a fine effect. The Maréchaux de France had seats on the left hand of the Royal Family, as also had the Ambassadors and their suites; the ladies being on the right hand. There were also upper boxes in which the company were dressed, but not in court dresses. The pit full of gentlemen with swords and bags, or uniforms.
25th.—I dined at the Ambassador’s, and found everybody much annoyed[[72]] at the allusions to England in “Adélaïde du Guesclin.” It was certainly an ill-chosen play, but I have since heard that it was selected by the actors. In the evening I went to a ball at the Duke of Wellington’s, where Monsieur, the Duke d’Angoulême, and the Duke and Duchess de Berri made their appearance and danced—Monsieur excepted. On my return home I heard that some confusion had been occasioned by a cartridge having been thrown into the kitchen window. Colonel Fremantle and another officer went down and extinguished the fire, but it gave rise to some conversation next day, though not so much as the allusions to England at the theatre.
CHAPTER VI.
RETURN TO ENGLAND—MEETING WITH THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE—FRANCE UNDER THE BOURBONS—PARISIAN SOCIETY.