“Brienne, Archbishop of Toulouse, and afterwards of Sens, suggested the appointment of the Librarian of the College des Quatre Nations, the Abbe Vermond, as instructor to the Dauphine in French.  The Abbe Vermond was accordingly despatched by Louis XV. to Vienna.  The consequences of this appointment will be seen in the sequel.  Perhaps not the least fatal of them arose from his gratitude to the Archbishop, who recommended him.  Some years afterwards, in influencing his pupil, when Queen, to help Brienne to the Ministry, he did her and her kingdom more injury than their worst foes.  Of the Abbe’s power over Marie Antoinette there are various opinions; of his capacity there is but one—­he was superficial and cunning.  On his arrival at Vienna he became the tool of Maria Theresa.  While there, he received a salary as the daughter’s tutor, and when he returned to France, a much larger one as the mother’s spy.  He was more ambitious to be thought a great man, in his power over his pupil, than a rich one.  He was too Jesuitical to wish to be deemed rich.  He knew that superfluous emoluments would soon have overthrown the authority he derived from conferring, rather than receiving favours; and hence he never soared to any higher post.  He was generally considered to be disinterested.  How far his private fortunes benefited by his station has never appeared; nor is it known whether, by the elevation of his friend and patron to the Ministry in the time of Louis XVI., he gained anything beyond the gratification of vanity, from having been the cause:  it is probable he did not, for if he had, from the general odium against that promotion, no doubt it would have been exposed, unless the influence of the Queen was his protection, as it proved in so many cases where he grossly erred.  From the first he was an evil to Marie Antoinette; and ultimately habit rendered him a necessary evil.

“The education of the Dauphine was circumscribed; though very free in her manners, she was very deficient in other respects; and hence it was she so much avoided all society of females who were better informed than herself, courting in preference the lively tittle-tattle of the other sex, who were, in turn, better pleased with the gaieties of youth and beauty than the more substantial logical witticisms of antiquated Court-dowagers.  To this may be ascribed her ungovernable passion for great societies, balls, masquerades, and all kinds of public and private amusements, as well as her subsequent attachment to the Duchesse de Polignac, who so much encouraged them for the pastime of her friend and sovereign.  Though naturally averse to everything requiring study or application, Marie Antoinette was very assiduous in preparing herself for the parts she performed in the various comedies, farces, and cantatas given at her private theatre; and their acquirement seemed to cost her no trouble.  These innocent diversions became a source of calumny against her;