A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Mary (Antoinette)
The duke de Choiseul, wishing to counterballance the power of Mad. Dubarry, mistress to Louis XV, thought nothing more likely than to marry the dauphin, grand -on of that monarch, to a grand-duchess of Austria, and thus put an end to the enmity of the two houses. As the herald of peace Antoinette arrived, and the beauty of her person, and graces of manner, concurred to render the impression favourable. Her complexion was very fair, her face oval, eyes blue, mild and intelligent, an aquiline nose, and a little mouth, with what is called an Austrian lip; fine light hair—a well-proportioned figure, and beautiful hands. She had not yet done growing: These attractions of person were seconded by an ingenuous and affable manner, her charms were those of naiveté. The king was enchanted with her, and his flattering reception hindered her from perceiving the little emotion her husband shewed. He had been taught by the duke de la Vauguyon to have a very low opinion of won en, and esteemed marriage only a duty owing to his rank. Many years are said to have passed before she inspired him with that tender and pure attachment, which afterwards ended but with his life. The nuptials were brilliant in the highest degree; but she was fatigued with the ceremonials and restraints of the French court. Madame Dubarry and her friends found that, directed by Choiseul, Antoinette would soon have all the power in her own hands; and, after many attempts, persuaded the king to banish that minister, who left Paris accompanied by many of the nobility. Had the dauphiness been older, she might have made use of her favour with Louis to have shewn him the snare in which his favourites were bringing him; but she was a child, whom her enemies amused by a thousand little arts, to prevent her taking any part in the affair.
Louis XV. died 1774, of the small-pox, which made him abandoned by all his family, but his daughters, who were affectionate children to a tender parent. They all fell sick of the same disorder, but recovered. Though given up to gaiety and dissipation, the credit of the young queen had daily gained ground with her husband. She wished to create a new situation for Madame de Lamballe at court, which the king did not disapprove; but M. Turgot, the minister, opposed it strongly on account of the pension.—The queen, astonished to prove this opposition, complained, and the minister was dismissed to make room for Neckar, who was more complaisant; but Mde. de Lamballe was soon supplanted by Madame de Polignac.
In 1777 the emperor Joseph, brother to the queen, visited France, under the name of count Falkenstein.—It was supposed he came in the hope of gaining pecuniary assistance to carry on his wars, and that the queen furthered this view as much as possible, but without success. From the tenderness she shewed towards him, a suspicion stole into the minds of the French, that he kept up a correspondence with him, detrimental to the welfare of the state; but no other proof of it has appeared.
The circumstances which led to their conceiving so bitter a hate towards her, the limits of this work do not allow us to state progressively. Heedless extravagance and dissipation seem to have been the source; faults certainly both foolish and unfeeling! but the sufferings she underwent, still fresh in the memory of every one, more than expiated them. A long confinement, a series of alarms and agitation, the violent death of a husband who tenderly loved her, and whom she seems to have loved, the mournful prospect for her children, and her own sad fate, must entitle her to the commiseration of every feeling mind.