20th.—A review of twenty-four thousand men, and a “bénédiction des drapeaux” in the Champ de Mars. The old Archbishop of Rheims performed the ceremony, and Madame and the Duchess de Berri tied the “cravates,” white handkerchiefs, round the staffs of the colours. I was in the tent of the Etat-Major-General. It was a long ceremony, but very interesting.
24th.—I went in the evening in court dress to the Tuileries[71] “aux premières loges.” The King and all the Royal Family there to see the representation of “Adélaïde du Guesclin,” and “Les Etourdis, ou Le Mort Supposé.” Talma and Mademoiselle George acted in the first, and Mademoiselle Mars in the second. I admire Talma and Mademoiselle Mars exceedingly. The company produced a fine effect. The Maréchaux de France had seats on the left hand of the Royal Family, as also had the Ambassadors and their suites; the ladies being on the right hand. There were also upper boxes in which the company were dressed, but not in court dresses. The pit full of gentlemen with swords and bags, or uniforms.
25th.—I dined at the Ambassador’s, and found everybody much annoyed[72] at the allusions to England in “Adélaïde du Guesclin.” It was certainly an ill-chosen play, but I have since heard that it was selected by the actors. In the evening I went to a ball at the Duke of Wellington’s, where Monsieur, the Duke d’Angoulême, and the Duke and Duchess de Berri made their appearance and danced—Monsieur excepted. On my return home I heard that some confusion had been occasioned by a cartridge having been thrown into the kitchen window. Colonel Fremantle and another officer went down and extinguished the fire, but it gave rise to some conversation next day, though not so much as the allusions to England at the theatre.
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RETURN TO ENGLAND—MEETING WITH THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE—FRANCE UNDER THE BOURBONS—PARISIAN SOCIETY.
[ON the 29th of June, Miss Knight left Paris and travelled by way of St. Germain and Mantes to Rouen, and so on to Dieppe, whence she crossed over to Brighton, and arrived in London on the 3rd of July.]
July 4th, 1816.—The weather so cold and uncomfortable that I was obliged to have a fire. London is still full, but growing thinner. The state of the country is rather alarming, owing to the riots and the general discontent.