22nd.—Arrived at Windsor, and stayed there till the 1st of October. On the 25th, I went to see the monument erected by subscription to the late Princess Charlotte. Matthew Wyatt was charged with the execution of it, though he was brought up to painting, not to sculpture. Mr. O’Reilly, the surgeon and apothecary, has the key, as his Majesty is not on good terms with the canons. It is not to be open to the public until the King has seen it. The chapel in which it is placed is the first to the left of the end door which fronts the choir. It has painted glass, representing, I think, St. Peter and St. Paul, and the light which falls on the monument from the left is of a gold colour, and that from the right purple, or rather lilac. The figure of the Princess, covered with a sheet, is represented as on her death-bed, but appears convulsive. Four veiled mourners are at the corners. Above the lid is another figure of the Princess, as rising to heaven and drawing aside a curtain. It is certainly a resemblance, but too large. There is an angel on each side, one of whom holds the child.
[On the 14th December, Miss Knight was once more in Paris. She herself says that Monsieur—at this time Charles X.—once observed to her: “Vous aimez maintenant vivre en France; mais je me rappelle que vous m’aviez dit en Angleterre que vous n’aimeriez pas d’y aller.” “Naturellement, Monseigneur,” she replied; “la France n’était pas alors chez elle.” He smiled, and said, “Mais l’Angleterre a été toujours chez elle, et toujours les livres ouverts pour vous.” Though not very appropriate, another anecdote of Monsieur related by Miss Knight may be here introduced. “I recollect,” she says, “being one evening at the Tuileries (I believe it was the first time I went to Monsieur’s; it was in 1816), and while we were standing round in the usual circle, a lady, rather advanced in years, seemed anxiously looking for the moment when her turn should come to be spoken to by Monsieur. She caught his eye while there were still one or two between them, and he bowed and smiled. When he came up to her he spoke kindly, and addressed her by her name. “Ah, Monseigneur!” she cried, apparently much agitated, “il y a si longtemps que je n’ai pas eu l’honneur de voir votre Altesse Royale, et pourtant elle se souvient de moi! Les années changent tout——” Monsieur interrupted her, and said, “Les années! Quant aux dernières vingt-cinq il ne faut plus les compter.”]
[1826.]
January 11th.—Went with Mrs. Lutwyche to the “reception” at the Palais Royal. All Paris there in full dress, and the room very hot. The young Duke de Chartres, who is little more than fifteen, appeared in full uniform of Hussars, and went round with his father, mother, and aunt. He looked remarkably handsome and elegant. It is said that Duke Mathieu de Montmorency is appointed governor to the Duke de Bordeaux. There have been riots[[102]] at St. Petersburg, on account of the refusal of the Grand-Duke Constantine to ascend the throne.
26th.—In the evening to the Duchess of Orleans’, where a small party had been invited to meet the Dauphin, who dined there. Cards, backgammon, books of prints, &c.
February 1st.—At the Duchess de Narbonne’s, where there was a large party to hear Mdlle. Delphine Gay[[103]] recite verses of her own composition. Her mother was with her, and I understand they are rather rich people in the class of employés. They were much dressed. The poetess is pretty, and when she recites has expression in her eyes and tone, but her voice is harsh. She recited a passage from a poem of her own on the restoration to life of the widow’s son, and afterwards another fragment on the triumphant entry of King Alfred. It seems she has recited some of her verses before the French Academy.
27th.—At the Duchess de Narbonne’s, where many ladies and gentlemen were assembled to hear M. de St. Priest,[[104]] a very young man, read a tragedy he has written, entitled “Clotilde.” Clotaire and Sigebert, the two sons of Clovis, are at variance, and their mother, Clotilde, endeavours to reconcile them, but, according to history, it finishes most horribly. There are many fine lines in the play, and also interesting situations.
March 19th.—At the Ambassador’s Chapel. Bishop Luscombe preached. He was consecrated by the Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and is on the Continent to exercise his functions as a prelate without any particular diocese: watching over the flock of travelling English. He is said to be a very respectable man, and his sermon was good.
April 12th.—Celebration of the anniversary of the King’s entrance into Paris in 1814. There was a review in the Champ de Mars, but the wind and rain were unfavourable to it. I dined with Madame de Labédoyère, and in the evening accompanied Lady Mary Hill to the Duchess of Hamilton’s. The Duchess sang delightfully, as also did the Countess Apponyi, the wife of the Austrian Minister. The Countess is an excellent musician, and sings with great taste.
30th.—At the Ambassador’s Chapel. Mr. Sidney Smith preached on the immortality of the soul, as announced by the dissatisfaction felt here, the desire to be remembered after death, &c. &c.