France and Germany attentive to her person, alarmed for her safety, forgetting the projects, which enveloped their own destinies, to deliberate upon her; the decemvirate of the new republic, this government so strong and so terrible under its usurped power, alarmed and troubled by the image of a woman, on whose head centred the rights and the hopes of the Lorraines and Bourbons, and who must excite great solicitude in their breasts; I represented to her Europe attentive to her new trial, which was another outrage committed against the most illustrious sovereign houses, watching scrupulously the degree of audacity of the persecutors, and ready to prevent by an avenging explosion a second regicide. Finally, after having in a manner given her a glance of the luminous ray, which, from the tomb where she languished, would eventually guide her to the Temple of glory; after, by a prophetic anticipation, vibrating in her ears the acclamations of posterity, I descended from those sublime, to sweeter and more natural affections; I mentioned her children. I, above all, repeated the name of the young and tender Charles, so interesting and so

well beloved, the precious shoot of a trunk levelled by a premature death, growing under a shower of blood and tears, and buffeted by the tempest. Oh! irresistible power of maternal love! At this endearing name her proud countenance became pale, her eyes sparkling with pride were obscured with tears, and through that cloud of sadness, the complaisant smile of nature opened those lips before closed in despair. I am still a mother, exclaimed she, I will live. Oh! M. de Fermont, whence do you derive those irresistible means, those vanquishing accents, which always triumph over those resolutions, which we think unalterable?

But, continued the widow of Louis, before you are informed of the resources, which Michonis possesses ⚫in the interior of this prison, of those of Toulan, and of a small number of devoted friends, who act without, the confession, which I shall make to you, will enlight en you to shape the counsels, which I am about to ask, on the conduct that you must pursue. You will know some persons, upon whom probably my fate depends at this day, and will indicate what must be done

to curb their power, their vengeance, and wicked

ness.

As she ended these words, Antoinette rose and went to a corner of her room concealed by a curtain, which veiled the cot bed, on which she indulged repose. Under the miserable bed was concealed a scrawl of

paper, which she took out. Then returning towards us, as long as my unfortunate husband lived, I buried in the bottom of my heart the principal cause of our misfortunes; it would have been too cruel for him to have seen himself reduced to charge me with a part of them. Yet it is but too true. Inexperience and levity brought me by degrees thus far, and I know not what fatality rendered me an accomplice in the crimes of which I am the victim. Now, that Louis XVI. is no more, I alleviate the sorrows of my widowhood, and the horrors of my prison, in writing those sad memoirs. I no doubt add poison to the cup, which time forces to my lips, but methinks I diminish its bitterness.

This debut induced Michonis to retire in spite of the queen's entreaties. You may remain two hours

with Madame, said the administrator; I want that time to visit the prisoners. I should be suspected,' did I stay any longer. He went away, the queen began to read her manuscript, which she afterwards intrusted with me, and which her death, allows me to communicate to you.

EXTRACT OF THE MANUSCRIPT OF MARIA ANTOINETTE, ENTITLED, ONE OF THE

CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.

(VOUCHER, No. 19.).

Providence never did reveal its existence more, and manifest its power with more splendour, than in producing from the actions, which checker the life of man, a memorable event, which constitutes its moral lesson. But to render this event useful, that this moral lesson might turn to the profit of man, it has decreed that the one and the other should always operate in an inverse direction with the corrupt desires, and might serve to overwhelm with shame, and sometimes chastise the vicious or criminal, and cover with a lasting glory the worshippers of virtue. Thus, while

the ambitious, arrived at the summit of greatness, seek in vain, under purpureal curtains, sleep, which deserts his eyelids, the peaceful cottager leaving his daily labour finds it undisturbed on his hard couch. Thus also, in the embraces of a chaste wife, the honest man experiences a voluptuousness, which the libertine cannot procure from the mercenary favours of an impure courtesan.

These reflections, the tardy fruit of misfortunes, are not foreign to my history. The tragical destiny of、 Louis XVI. has proved, that the weakness of a government, was necessarily its destroying vice; more courageous, my husband would have been accounted less guilty; he never would have rendered the scaffold illustrious, had he stained it with the blood of conspirators. For my part, if, as it is probable, I ascend it, I shall have been conducted to it by my carelessness and levity. The motive of my triumphs will become the pretence of my fall, and the same people, who copied my errors with a vile imitation, will punish me with a bloody death for the success, which they have afforded me. Immortal Maria