This etext was produced by David Widger
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By CONSTANT
1895
In the month of May, 1801, there came to Paris, on his way to takepossession of his new kingdom, the Prince of Tuscany, Don Louis theFirst, whom the First Consul had just made King of Etruria. He traveledunder the name of the Count of Leghorn, with his wife, who was theinfanta of Spain, Maria Louisa, third daughter of Charles the Fourth; butin spite of the incognito, which, from the modest title he had assumed,he seemed really anxious to preserve, especially, perhaps, on account ofthe poor appearance of his small court, he was, notwithstanding, receivedand treated at the Tuileries as a king. This prince was in feeblehealth, and it was said had epilepsy. They were lodged at the residenceof the Spanish Embassy, formerly the Hotel Montessori; and he requestedMadame de Montessori, who lived in the next house, to reopen a privatecommunication between the houses which had long been closed. He, as wellas the Queen of Etruria, greatly enjoyed the society of this lady, whowas the widow of the Duke of Orleans, and spent many hours every day inher house. A Bourbon himself, he doubtless loved to hear everyparticular relating to the Bourbons of France, which could so well begiven by one who had lived at their court, and on intimate terms with theroyal family, with which she was connected by ties which, though notofficial, were none the less well known and recognized.
Madame de Montesson received at her house all who were most distinguishedin Parisian society. She had reunited the remnants of the most selectsociety of former times, which the Revolution had dispersed. A friend ofMadame Bonaparte, she was also loved and respected by the First Consul,who was desirous that they should speak and think well of him in the mostnoble and elegant saloon of the capital. Besides, he relied upon theexperience and exquisite refinement of this lady, to establish in thepalace and its society, out of which he already dreamed of making acourt, the usages and etiquette customary with sovereigns.
The King of Etruria was not fond of work, and in this respect did notplease the First Consul, who could not endure idleness. I heard him oneday, in conversation with his colleague, Cambaceres, score severely hisroyal protege (in his absence, of course). "Here is a prince," said he,"who does not concern himself much with his very dear and well-belovedsubjects, but passes his time cackling with old women, to whom he dilatesin a loud tone on my good qualities, while he complains in a whisper ofowing his elevation to the chief of this cursed French Republic. Hisonly business is walking, hunting, balls, and theaters."—"It isasserted," remarked Cambaceres, "that you wished to disgust the Frenchpeople with kings, by showing them such a specimen, as the Spartansdisgusted their children with drunkenness by exhibiting to them a drunkenslave."
"Not so, not so, my dear sir," replied the First Consul. "I have no desireto disgust them with royalty; but the sojourn of the King of Etruria willannoy a number of good people who are working incessantly to create afeeling favorable to the Bourbons." Don Louis, perhaps, did not meritsuch severity, although he was, it must be admitted, endowed with little