The General mentioned by Yorke was a member of a very ancient family,
whose archives date back to the tenth century. A Count D’Estaing saved
the life of Philippe Augustus in battle. As a reward the D’Estaing
family were granted the privilege by that King of quartering the Royal
arms of France upon their escutcheon. An Admiral D’Estaing, uncle of
General D’Estaing, was one of the most distinguished French naval
officers of the eighteenth century; his opinions were liberal, and he
at first favoured the Revolutionary changes. He was, nevertheless, a
devoted friend of Marie Antoinette, and when she was tried in October
1793, made an effort to assist in her defence. He fell in consequence
under the suspicion of the Committee of Public Safety, and was
condemned and executed. When sentence of death was pronounced upon him,
he exclaimed: “You had better send my head to the English; they will
pay you highly for it.”