Daughter of _Philip_ of _France_, the late Duke of _Orleans_, by
_Henrietta_ of _England_, fell in Love with the Marchioness of[24] _St.
Sebastian_, Lady of Honour to the Princess of _Piedmont_, now Queen of
_Sardinia_. The Virtue of Madame _de St. Sebastian_, and the King's
Devotion for her, induc'd him to marry this Favourite. But not thinking it
honourable for a King to place a Subject on his Throne, he took a
Resolution to resign his Crown, before he contracted so unequal
a[25]Match. He imparted his Design to Madame _de St. Sebastian_, who did
all she cou'd to prevail with _Victor_ to continue upon the Throne; but
finding he was resolv'd not to make her a Queen, she consented to his
Abdication, still thinking herself highly honour'd to become the Wife of a
Prince, who had worn a Crown. King _Victor_ consulted with his chief
Favourites about his Abdication, who all advis'd him not to leave the
Throne. His Son King _Charles_ conjur'd him to keep Possession of it. _I
protest to your Majesty_, said this Prince, _I never once indulged a Wish
to govern, and think myself exceeding happy to be your First Subject_. But
all his Remonstrances were of no Effect; and the 5th of _September_, 1730,
was fix'd for the Day of Abdication. Upon that Day, all the chief Persons
in the Government, and the Senate, met in the great Hall of the[26]Palace.
There the King appear'd without any Mark of Royalty, accompany'd by the
Prince of _Piedmont_, and declar'd to the Assembly, that he was resolv'd
to yield the Throne to his Son; and that from that Moment he exempted
them, as he did all his Subjects, from the Oath of Allegiance they had
taken to him. He exhorted them, at the same time, to acknowledge his Son
_Charles_, Prince of _Piedmont_, for their King; and desir'd them to be as
Loyal to their new Sovereign, as they had been to him. Then the Act of
Abdication was read with a loud Voice, by the Marquis _del Borgo_,
Secretary of State, and _Charles_ was recogniz'd for King.
After the Ceremony was over, King _Victor_, with the Marchioness of _St.
Sebastian_, whom he had married, on Condition[27] that she shou'd wear no
other Title, set out for _Chamberry_, which he had chose for the Place of
his Retirement. But scarce a Month was past, ere he began to repent of
having given the Reins out of his Hands, though the King his Son behaved
as dutifully to him, as if he had been still his Subject. When King
_Victor_ resign'd, he advis'd his Son to cause the Lands of the Nobility
and Gentry to be survey'd, and to impose a Tax on them, in Proportion to
the Number of Acres. This Scheme, tho' it had a View to the Increase of
the King's Revenues, tended to the Ruin of the Nobility; for which Reason,
_Charles_ when he came to the Crown, did not think proper to put it in
Execution. _Victor_ being incensed at it, wrote about it to his Son,
rather in the Style of his Lord and Master, than his Father; and
perceiving that _Charles_ was still averse to his Counsel, he entertained
a Thought of reascending the Throne[28]. To this End, he secretly felt the
Pulse of the People, and found them all faithful Subjects to _Charles_:
Yet all this did not discourage him; he relied upon the Troops, which he
knew had an Esteem for him, and he thought they wou'd also be his Friends;
for most of the Officers having been preferr'd by him, he did not doubt
but they were still attach'd to him, and he flatter'd himself with their
Concurrence to his Designs. He wrote to the Marshal _Rhebinder_, in
general Terms indeed; but in a Style that was very soothing and tempting.
This General, who was Commander in Chief of the Forces, being sensible of
what Consequence it was to deprive King _Victor_ of the least Hopes of
reascending the Throne, returned him Answer, that he owned he was obliged
to him for his Estate, Honours, and every Thing: 'Your Majesty, _said the
Marshal in his Letter_, has made me all that I am. I am under no
Obligation to King _Charles_; but my Engagements to your Majesty are
inexpressible; tho' of all the Favours which you have heap'd upon me, the
Honour of your Esteem was always to me the dearest. Give me leave
therefore, Sir, to preserve that Esteem, which I presume to say, I have
acquir'd by the Blood I have spilt for your Service; whereas, Sir, I
shou'd forfeit it, were I so unhappy as to be guilty of Perjury to the
King whom you have given me, and to whom you have injoined me Obedience. I
shall be as true to him as I was to your Majesty, and will shed the last
Drop of my Blood to maintain him on the Throne. I am however always ready
to give your Majesty the most sincere Marks of my Respect for your Person,
being fully persuaded, Sir, that your Majesty will lay no Commands on me,
but such as are agreeable to that Justice, which ever accompanied all your
Actions, _&c._'
This Answer was not sufficient to cool King _Victor_'s Ambition to resume
the Government. He wrote a second time to the Marshal _de Rhebinder_, and
to other General Officers. He assumed an imperious Style, and signify'd,
that he knew how to punish those that refus'd to obey him. All these
Letters were carried to King _Charles_, who being concerned to see his
Father so uneasy, said to those who brought them, What wou'd you have me
do? _He is my Father, I depend upon your Fidelity and resign myself to
Providence._
The King was still in Hopes, that he shou'd be able to make _Victor_ easy,
and was willing to have an Interview with him; and for that Purpose he
went with his Queen to _Evian_, and from thence to _Chamberry_, where
_Charles_ paid his Father a Visit, but found him very much out of Temper.
The Prince however bore all with the Dutifulness of a Son. But when he
took leave of _Victor_, he paid a Visit to Madame _de St. Sebastian_, with
whom he had a long Conference. He desir'd this Lady to pacify King
_Victor_, and to dissuade him from concerning himself any farther with
State Affairs. _He hath made me King_, said _Charles, and King I will be.
You can do any thing with him; therefore make him easy. If he does not
like this, let him choose any other Castle or Place in my Dominions that
he likes better, of which he shall have the intire Disposal_. They say
_Charles_ dropt a Hint in this Conversation, that he was inclin'd to yield
his Father a Province in Sovereignty; however, he promis'd great
Advantages to Madame _de St. Sebastian_, not only for herself, but for the
Son that she had by her former Marriage, and for her Brothers. This Lady
promis'd the King all that he desir'd, but kept her Word very ill; for her
Ambition to be Queen prompted her to make King _Victor_ every Day more and
more uneasy.
_Victor_ after this observed no Measures, and said publicly, that he would
reascend the Throne. To this End, he thought it necessary for him to be
nearer TURIN. He therefore wrote to the King his Son, that the Air of
_Chamberry_ was bad for his Health, and desir'd him to let him go and
reside at the Castle of _Montcallier_. _Charles_ was return'd to TURIN
when he receiv'd this Letter; but before he had Time to answer it, he
understood that the King his Father, and Madame _de St. Sebastian_, were
already come to _Montcallier_. He was not at all sorry for it, because,
as he knew King _Victor_'s Designs, he cou'd better observe his Motions,
when so near him: And King _Victor_, on his Part, was glad that he was at
_Montcallier_, in Hopes that the Neighbourhood of TURIN might give him a
better Opportunity of tampering with the Garison, and the commanding
Officer of the Place. He did all that was in his Power to gain them, and
gave such publick[29] Proofs of his Intention to reascend the Throne, that
_Charles_'s Ministers[30], fearing lest he should call in Foreigners to
his Assistance, unanimously advis'd the King to confine him. The young
Prince exclaim'd several times against this Proposition. _What!_ said he,
_make my Father a Prisoner! No, I can never consent to that_: And indeed,
it was a long time ere he cou'd agree to it; but at length he was
prevail'd on by the strenuous Solicitations of his Council; tho', when he
sign'd the Order for confining him, his Hand shook to such a Degree, that
the Secretary of State was obliged to guide it.
The Count _de la Perouse_, Lieutenant-General of his Forces, was charged
with the Execution of the Warrant for arresting King _Victor_, and had a
Detachment given him of three thousand Men, drawn out of the Garisons of
TURIN, and other neighbouring Places, to support him at the Undertaking.
They all march'd out at the same Hour from their Quarters, without
knowing whither they were to go; and at Two o'Clock next Morning they all
came to the Place appointed at _Montcallier_. The Count _de la Perouse_,
attended by the Chevalier _de Solare_, Lieutenant Colonel of the Guards,
at the Head of a Detachment of Grenadiers, with their Bayonets screw'd to
their Musquets, went up to the great Stair-case of the Palace, which led
to King _Victor_'s Apartment, while the Marquis _d'Ormea_, Secretary of
State, who carry'd the Order sign'd by King _Charles_, secur'd the
Back-stairs with another Detachment of the Grenadiers. M. _de la Perouse_,
finding the Apartment shut, broke open the Door; and, after seizing a Page
in waiting, that was asleep in the first Anti-chamber, he made his Way
farther, and forc'd open all the Doors, till he came to the Chamber where
the King was a-bed with Madame _de St. Sebastian_. This Lady, hearing a
Noise, arose immediately, and having only Time to slip on a Night-gown,
ran to the Door; when seeing so many arm'd Men, she cry'd out, _Oh! Sir,
we are betray'd!_ They gave her no Time to say more; but two Officers
carry'd her into the next Chamber, where they caus'd her to be dress'd,
and afterwards conducted her to _Ceve_, a Fortress of _Piedmont_.
Neither the Outcry of Madame _de St. Sebastian_, nor all the Noise that
was made, had awak'd King _Victor_, who always slept sound. The Chevalier
_de Solare_ seiz'd the King's Sword, which he saw lying on a Table; and
the Count _de la Perouse_ went to the Bed-side, and open'd the Curtains.
Upon that, the King started out of his Sleep, and ask'd what was the
Matter. The Count _de la Perouse_ said to him, That he had Orders from the
King to arrest him. _What King do you mean?_ said _Victor_: _'Tis I that
am your King and Master; you ought to acknowledge no other. Your Majesty
has been so_, reply'd the Count, _but you are so no longer; and since it
has pleas'd you to give us King Charles for our Lord and Master, and to
command us to obey him, I hope you yourself will set us an Example of such
Obedience_. The King was in a violent Passion, threaten'd the Officers,
and refus'd to rise. The Chevalier _de Solare_ coming too near the Bed,
the King punched him with his Elbow in the Belly, and commanded him in
Wrath to withdraw. As he still continued obstinate in his Refusal to rise,
the Officers lifted him. up, and dress'd him. The King was heard to say,
in the mean time, that he only wish'd to sit two Hours on the Throne, that
he might hang up the Rascals that had misled his Son; and he nam'd the
principal Lords of the Court.
As soon as he was dress'd, the Officers surrounded him, and conducted him
down the great Stair-case to his Coach, that waited for him in the Yard.
The King, seeing the Anti-chamber full of Grenadiers, seem'd surpriz'd at
it; and the Soldiers, who as yet knew not on what Errand they were sent,
seem'd no less surpriz'd, when they saw their old King was to be carry'd
off a Prisoner. _What! Our King!_ said they softly to each other, _What
has he done? What is the Matter?_ The Count _de la Perouse_, fearing a
Mutiny, call'd out _Silence_, in the King's Name, _on Pain of Death_. The
old King found drawn-up in the Court-yard a Regiment of Dragoons, which he
had always valu'd above the rest of his Troops. The Sight of it affected
him, and he wou'd have spoke to it; but no Time was allow'd him, and he
was oblig'd to go into the Coach. The Count _de la Perouse_, and the
Chevalier _de Solare_, ask'd his Leave to sit with him; but the King
answer'd, That he would not suffer it: So they mounted their Horses, rode
by the Sides of the Coach, which was surrounded by the Soldiers, and
conducted him to _Rivoli_. I had almost forgot to tell you, that when he
went from _Montcallier_, he ask'd for three Things; his Wife, his Papers,
and his Snuff-Box, the last of which was all he obtain'd.
The Day after he came to _Rivoli_, as they were clapping iron Bars, and
double Shutters, to the Windows of his Apartment, the King ask'd the
Glazier what he was going to do! _I am going_, said the Man, _to put on
double Shutters to your Windows that you mayn't catch Cold this Winter_.
_How now, Varlet!_ said the King, _Do you think I shall spend all the
Winter here?_ _Ah! by my Faith_, reply'd the Glazier, _you will pass this
winter here, and I believe many more_.
This Prince is attended with Care, and treated with all the Respect due to
his Person; and they say, he begins to be sedate. The Chevalier _de
Solare_, and two Captains of the Guards, are set over him, with whom he
sometimes plays at Billiards. They have Orders to treat him with all
manner of Respect; but to give no Answer to any of his Complaints[31].
In the whole Course of this Affair, 'tis fortunate for King _Charles_,
that not one of his Subjects has fail'd in his Allegiance to him; he has
not been oblig'd to stain his Government by any bloody Execution; nor has
he caus'd above three Persons to be apprehended, among whom were King
_Victor_'s two Physicians, that carried his Letters; but they are lately
set at Liberty, and a good Understanding is like to be quickly restored
between the father and the Son.
They say, that Madame _de St. Sebastian_ is fallen into a deep Melancholy;
and that she lives intirely upon Broth, which is of her own making. After
her Disgrace, her Son, who was an Ensign in the Guards, was no longer seen
at Court. The young King missing him, ordered the Marquis _d'Ormea_,
Minister and Secretary of State, to acquaint him, that he might come to
Court, and continue in his Employment; and that his Majesty assured him he
did not intend that he should be a Sufferer for any Crime whatsoever,
which Madame _de St. Sebastian_ had committed, and that he would take Care
of his Fortune.
The _Piedmontese_ are charm'd with their new King, and indeed, he is a
Prince that has the Qualities of a good Monarch: He is humane,
compassionate, generous and beneficent. He is a little under Size in
Stature, but very well shaped, dances well, loves Pleasures, and
particularly Hunting. Without Flattery, one may say, he is endowed with a
great many Virtues; and that if he has Faults, 'tis only owing to the
Human Nature, with which intire Perfection is incompatible.
The Queen[32] is of the Family of _Hesse Rhinfels_. She is tall and
slender; her Air is both majestic and modest; she is fair, and has a very
fine Complexion, is a Princess of solid Piety, charitable to the Poor, and
ready to do Good to all Mankind, but particularly to her Family. She is
the Mother of two lovely[33] Princes, and a Princess, and seems very
attentive to give them an Education suitable to their Birth.
The Ceremonial of this Court is pretty much the same with that which is
observed at the Court of _France_, The King and Queen always eat together,
and permit none to be Spectators but the Officers of their Houshold. The
Ladies must not come to the Palace, without being in the Court Dress, the
Queen alone wearing a Mantua. Her Majesty has six Ladies of Honour to
attend her, who must be all Wives, and as many Maids of Honour. She has a
Drawing-Room every Night, when the Queen is seated in an Arm-chair, the
young Princess of _Carignan_, and the Queen's youngest Sister, sitting on
Folding-chairs, two Rows off, by the Side of the Queen's Chair; and all
the Ladies stand, with the Gentlemen behind them. This Drawing-Room holds
for about an Hour, when the Queen rises, and, saluting the Princesses and
Ladies, retires. After this, all the Nobility repair to some House where
there is an Assembly. The gayest of all is held at the House of the
Marchioness _de Prie_, whose Husband was Lieutenant Governor of the
_Netherlands_, who often gives a Ball, at which the King is sometimes
present.
There's an Air of Ease and Freedom in this City, which is not to be
enjoy'd in all _Italy_ besides; and the _Piedmontese_ don't think
themselves _Italians_; so that I am often ask'd, Whether I came last from
_Italy_? Or, Whether I am going to it? I could like to live in this City
better than in any other. I think this Mixture of the _French_ Manners
with the _Italians_ is perfectly agreeable and just. The People here live
well. There are several Noblemen that keep a good Table, and are very
civil to Strangers. For this, the Marshal _de la Rhebinder_ is
particularly noted. This General is a Native of _Livonia_: He commanded
the Elector Palatine's Troops in _Italy_, and then went into the Service
of the Duke of _Savoy_, in Quality of Lieutenant General, and Colonel of a
foreign Regiment of Foot. King _Victor_ created him a Velt-Marshal, and he
is actually Commander in Chief of the King of _Sardinia_'s Troops.
The Marquis _d'Ormea_ is the Chief or President of the Council, first
Secretary of State, and Prime Minister. He was heretofore in the
Confidence of King _Victor_. That Prince had sent him to _Rome_, where
the Marquis _d'Ormea_ obtained great Advantages of Pope _Benedict_ XIII.
for the King his Master; particularly the Nomination to all Benefices.
This Minister was recall'd in the first Year of the Pontificate of
_Clement_ XII. when his Holiness was so inclement as to revoke all that
his Predecessor had granted. Not long before King _Victor_'s Abdication he
returned to TURIN. King _Charles_ does nothing without him. He is a
Gentleman of Good-nature, an Enemy to Subterfuges, and is sacred to his
Promises. I knew him at _Rome_, and have the Honour of seeing him here as
often as the Multiplicity of his Affairs will permit him to receive my
Visits. Every body here applauds and speaks well of him, which is not
always the good Fortune of People elsewhere, that are in Places: This
Minister has a Brother a[34]Cardinal, and an only Son, who is a very
lovely Youth, and has a natural Inclination to tread hereafter in the
Steps of his Father.
The Youth here don't seem to be so hair-brain'd as they are elsewhere: I
don't know whether they are really wiser, but however they seem to be so
in Public. Were I to advise a Father of a Family, it should be to send his
Children to the University here, than which I question whether there's a
better in _Europe_, as well with regard to the Masters of the Exercises,
as to the Care taken of the Youth, who are boarded, dieted and instructed
in all the Sciences and Exercises, and divided into two Classes; of which
the one only studies the Law, and therefore does not pay so much as the
other; but they must be all Gentlemen. They are only allow'd to go abroad
on certain Days of the Week; but then they may appear at Court, and go
where they please, except to Houses of Gaming.
The Out-parts of TURIN are infinitely pleasant. The Country is adorned
with a great many pretty _Cassines_ or Pleasure-Houses, which are only
separated by Meadows, that are constantly water'd by a Number of little
Brooks. I take the Air every Day upon the _Esplanade_, between the City
and the Citadel, where there are fine Walks, and one often meets with very
pretty Women. The Blood here is perfectly good, and all the _Piedmontese_
Ladies have a great deal of Life and Spirit. I am very sorry to leave
them, but the Misfortune is unavoidable, and Haste presses me to be gone.
I propose to be in ten or twelve Days at _Lyons_, if I don't stay at
_Chamberry_; but this you will know by my next Letter. Don't fail to write
to me at _Paris_, and believe me to be, _&c._
[Illustration]
LETTER XXXVII.
_SIR_, _Lyons, March 2, 1732._
Tho' I had pass'd Mount _Cenis_ twice before, and travers'd _Savoy_, yet I
thought the Passage of the _Alps_ as disagreeable as ever; and am heartily
glad to find myself in this City, which is better than all _Savoy_ put
together.
From _Turin_ I went and lay at LA NOVALAISE. I first pass'd by the Castle
of _Rivoli_, which stands on an Eminence, and to which there's an Avenue
from _Turin_ in a strait Line of three Leagues in Length. Then I travell'd
thro' SUSA, which, by the way, is a very dirty Town, upon the Banks of a
River form'd by Torrents from the neighbouring Mountains, which seem, as
it were, to bury _Susa_ alive. This City, and the Valley in which 'tis
built, are commanded by the Fort DE LA BRUNETTE, an important Place, which
King _Victor Amedeus_ caus'd to be erected for the Defence of _Piedmont_.
Nature and Art have alike contributed to fortify it. 'Tis provided with a
good Garison, and all Necessaries to sustain a Siege; and if it had been
built in the Time of _Lewis_ XIII. I doubt whether that King, and his
Minister the Cardinal _de Richelieu_, would so easily have passed the
Mountains.
LA NOVALAISE is a sorry Town, with a wretched Inn, which is the more
disagreeable, because Strangers are oblig'd to stop there to unload their
Effects, and put them on the Backs of Mules to carry them to the other
Side of the Mountain. I was carried over it in a matted Elbow-chair by
four Men, who relieved one another at proper Distances, and often took me
upon their Shoulders; so that if I had been ever so little given to
Chimeras, I should have fansied myself a Pope.
At the Top of the Mountain is a[35]Lake, and also an Hospital, which I
thought made but a poor Appearance. Pilgrims are there entertain'd, and
other Foot Passengers, for three Days; and there are two Priests to
receive the Passengers, and to serve the Church. This is a very laudable
Foundation in a sorry wretched Country, where, notwithstanding this
Provision, People are often found dead in the Snow. Those poor Reverends
may boast, that they live in one of the saddest Places in the World, their
greatest Amusement for nine Months in the Year, being to see the Snow
fall, and to blow their Fingers. The Descent from Mount _Cenis_ on the
Side of _Savoy_ is by much the[36] easiest, where in the Winter-time
People have the Pleasure of rolling down in a Sled, which the Country
People call _se faire ramasser_. This Way of travelling is very commodious
and diverting, and so swift, that an Arrow from a Cross-bow does not fly
faster. I knew an _English_ Gentleman that stay'd a Week together at
_Lanebourg_, and who, after he had come down this Mountain, went up again
and again, purely for the Pleasure of _se faire ramasser_.
LANEBOURG and its Inn are no better than _La Novalaise_; but one is
oblig'd to stop again here for fresh Horses. Those who don't travel Post,
and make use of the Carriers of _Turin_ or _Chamberry_, are seldom put to
this Trouble, because most of these People have Pack-horses on both Sides
the Mountain, and have nothing to do but to send their Baggage away, which
is very quickly loaded. From _Lanebourg_ to _Chamberry_ all the Road is
bury'd, as it were, by Rocks and Mountains, and frightful Precipices:
There are Rails indeed, but not strong enough to stop a Carriage: I saw a
Cart drawn by four Horses tumble down one of those Precipices, by which
the Horses were kill'd, and the Cart with its whole Lading, which
consisted of Porcelain and Glass Wares belonging to the Prince of
_Carignan_, broke in a thousand Pieces: The Carrier, tho' he was not at
all to blame, drew out his Knife in order to stab himself, and wou'd
actually have done it, if my Postilion and other People had not hinder'd
him.
I pass'd thro' several little Towns in my Way hither, that are not worth
mentioning; ST. JOHN DE MAURIENNE is the chief, because 'tis the See of a
Bishop, and the Capital of a Province of that Name; 'tis a very antient
County, and the first Inheritance of the Princes of _Savoy_; this Valley
extends from the _Alps_ to the River of _Isere_ on one Side, and from the
_Tarentaise_ to the _Dauphinois_.
CHAMBERRY, the Capital City of _Savoy_, is not a Town where you must
expect sumptuous Fabrics, the Houses there making but a mean Figure, yet
the Place is not for that Reason one jot the less agreeable; 'tis situate
on the Banks of the River _Orbanno_ in a very little Plain encompass'd
with Hills, where there are charming Walks, and special Company. There's a
great Number of Nobility, who indeed are not the most money'd Men; yet
they make good Entertainments, and keep a great deal of Company. The
Ladies are beautiful, and the Gentlemen handsome, the common People
good-natur'd and civil, and the _Savoyards_ in general are a very good
Sort of People. They are accus'd of being too thrifty, but perhaps 'tis
more out of Necessity than Inclination; for when a Man is oblig'd to
support the Dignity of a Noble or Gentleman, and has but a small Fortune,
he is forc'd to be a good Husband whether he will or no.