This was not easy. It required not only
the good-will of the Chateau, but the vote of the Chambers, and
the majority was hardly favorable to the Duke of Orleans, of whom
it cherished the same suspicions as Louis XVIII. The Duchess of
Berry pleaded warmly the cause of her aunt's husband, and
conspired with Charles X. against the Right, the members of which
in this case believed it a service to royalty to disobey the King.
The opposition to the project seemed likely to be so strong, that
the government was obliged to commit a sort of moral violence upon
the Chamber of Deputies. The King directed his ministers to join
in some way the question of the apanages of the House of Orleans
with the disposition of his own civil list. The King thought that
the sentiments of the Chamber for himself and his family would
make them adopt the whole en bloc. It was a device of his
kindliness, a sort of smuggling in the King's coach, as was said
by M. de Labourdonnaye. A large number of deputies demanded a
division of the question. The ministers had to make great efforts
and mount the tribune many times to defend the measure, which
passed only by a very feeble majority. The Duke of Orleans, now at
the very height of his desires, thanked Charles X. with effusion.
Nor was this all; from the millions of indemnity to the emigres,
the Duke of Orleans drew 14,000,000 francs.
Pages:
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94