The benevolence and generosity shown by the King and Queen during the severe winter of 1788, when the Seine was frozen over and the cold was more intense than it had been for eighty years, procured them some fleeting popularity.  The gratitude of the Parisians for the succour their Majesties poured forth was lively if not lasting.  The snow was so abundant that since that period there has never been seen such a prodigious quantity in France.  In different parts of Paris pyramids and obelisks of snow were erected with inscriptions expressive of the gratitude of the people.  The pyramid in the Rue d’Angiviller was supported on a base six feet high by twelve broad; it rose to the height of fifteen feet, and was terminated by a globe.  Four blocks of stone, placed at the angles, corresponded with the obelisk, and gave it an elegant appearance.  Several inscriptions, in honour of the King and Queen, were affixed to it.  I went to see this singular monument, and recollect the following inscription

“To Marie Antoinette.” 
          “Lovely and good, to tender pity true,
          Queen of a virtuous King, this trophy view;
          Cold ice and snow sustain its fragile form,
          But ev’ry grateful heart to thee is warm. 
          Oh, may this tribute in your hearts excite,
          Illustrious pair, more pure and real delight,
          Whilst thus your virtues are sincerely prais’d,
          Than pompous domes by servile flatt’ry rais’d.” 
The theatres generally rang with praises of the beneficence of the
sovereigns:  “La Partie de Chasse de Henri iv.” was represented for the
benefit of the poor.  The receipts were very considerable.

When the fruitless measure of the Assembly of the Notables, and the rebellious spirit in the parliaments,

[The Assembly of the Notables, as may be seen in “Weber’s Memoirs,” vol. i., overthrew the plans and caused the downfall of M. de Calonne.  A prince of the blood presided over each of the meetings of that assembly.  Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII., presided over the first meeting.

“Monsieur,” says a contemporary, “gained great reputation at the Assembly of the Notables in 1787.  He did not miss attending his meeting a single day, and he displayed truly patriotic virtues.  His care in discussing the weighty matters of administration, in throwing light upon them, and in defending the interests and the cause of the people, was such as even to inspire the King with some degree of jealousy.  Monsieur openly said that a respectful resistance to the orders of the monarch was not blamable, and that authority might be met by argument, and forced to receive information without any offence whatever.”—­Note by the editor.]

had created the necessity for States General, it was long discussed in council whether they should be assembled at Versailles or at forty or sixty leagues from the capital; the Queen was for the latter course, and insisted to the King that they ought to be far away from the immense population of Paris.  She feared that the people would influence the deliberations of the deputies; several memorials were presented to the King upon that question; but M. Necker prevailed, and Versailles was the place fixed upon.