L30/11/329/49

Copy of a letter from Elizabeth Yorke , Lady Hardwicke to Mrs [Agneta] Yorke, sent from Paris. Account of the ‘busy doings of Paris’ including the wedding of of Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Sicile and Charles Ferdinand d’Artois, Duke of Berry. [Typed transcript available].

24 Jun 1816

From: 1816 To: 1816

Mentions the Duke of Wellington sitting under the central arch of the Louvre, waiting for the Royal entry. The Royals arrived in a beautiful procession; the King [Louis XVIII] and Madame d’Angouleme [Marie-Thérèse Charlotte of France] and the Duke and Duchess sitting backwards in their open carriage. The writer did not see the face of the ‘poor little bride’ The following day was the marriage; Notre Dame was furnished for the occasion. The English and Spanish ambassadors were each allowed to take with them in the front row of their gallery a lady of their own nation, and the writer got the benefit of this permission and 30 English ladies sat in the seats behind. Notre Dame was decorated, and the dresses of the officers of state and the multitude of attendants made a fine sight. Shouts outside announced the arrival of the Royal Family; a stillness succeeded as they walked up the church. Describes the demeanour of the bride and groom ‘at least he escaped the danger of looking like the clown in a pantomime; the solemnity of the place had infused some dignity into his vulgar face and he did not spoil the scene.’ The service was all in Latin and was inarticulately given by the old Archbishop of Rheims ‘it had no stage effect at all.’ Mention of Comtesse La Tour, the bride’s governess. The peers were dressed in purple velvet mantles lined with ermine and Henri Quartre hats and feathers. ‘The two Royal Duchesses dined alone together, which must have been some little repose for the bride, but at seven we wre all assembled at the Tuilleries in the Salle de Diane to see them play at cards, and afterwards to sup. Madame d’Angouleme presented the Duchess to a few people who stood near and with kindness; her manner is naturally very austere but she seemed to feel rather tenderly towards the newcomer…’ Supper was served in the Salle de Festin. The writer could see nothing and knew only from oral testimony that the King and his family ate with as good an appetite as any of their starving subjects could have done. They all retired at eleven. It was understood that the following day was to be one of quiet, but the Corps Diplomatique and a few of the first Englishmen were presented to the new Duchesse de Berry, and the two ambassadresses had their private audience. The Duc de Berry assisted her kindly. The King spoke to the Duke of Wellington; the Duchesse d’Angouleme told him ‘it is to your successful talents that we owe all the happiness of yesterday.’ On Wednesday the Bal Pare took place. The Duchess de Berry danced two quadrilles very ill, she have never learnt, and had taken a lesson only the same morning. She afterwards danced English country dances very tolerably. ‘She seemed very happy but with a pleasing timidity that perfectly excused any awkwardness, all the old folks seem glad to have got something new amongst them. She is said to be very gay, and will I dare say, furnish the Court with many little infantine anecdotes, which will do them a great deal of good.

item

Yorke, Elizabeth,
Yorke, Agneta,
d’Artois, Charles Ferdinand [Duke of Berry],
de Bourbon-Sicile, Marie-Caroline [Duchesse de Berry],
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of,
Louis XVIII,
Marie Thérèse Charlotte [Duchess of Angoulême]

family correspondence, Paris, specific marriages, governess, clothing, balls