Shortly after the opening of the States General the first Dauphin died.  That young Prince suffered from the rickets, which in a few months curved his spine, and rendered his legs so weak that he could not walk without being supported like a feeble old man.

[Louis, Dauphin of France, who died at Versailles on the 4th of June, 1789, gave promise of intellectual precocity.  The following particulars, which convey some idea of his disposition, and of the assiduous attention bestowed upon him by the Duchesse de Polignac, will be found in a work of that time:  “At two years old the Dauphin was very pretty; he articulated well, and answered questions put to him intelligently.  While he was at the Chateau de La Muette everybody was at liberty to see him.  The Dauphin was dressed plainly, like a sailor; there was nothing to distinguish him from other children in external appearance but the cross of Saint Louis, the blue ribbon, and the Order of the Fleece, decorations that are the distinctive signs of his rank.  The Duchesse Jules de Polignac, his governess, scarcely ever left him for a single instant:  she gave up all the Court excursions and amusements in order to devote her whole attention to him.  The Prince always manifested a great regard for M. de Bourset, his valet de chambre.  During the illness of which he died, he one day asked for a pair of scissors; that gentleman reminded him that they were forbidden.  The child insisted mildly, and they were obliged to yield to him.  Having got the scissors, he cut off a lock of his hair, which he wrapped in a sheet of paper:  ‘There, monsieur,’ said he to his valet de chambre,’ there is the only present I can make you, having nothing at my command; but when I am dead you will present this pledge to my papa and mamma; and while they remember me, I hope they will not forget you.’”—­Note by the editor.]

How many maternal tears did his condition draw from the Queen, already overwhelmed with apprehensions respecting the state of the kingdom!  Her grief was enhanced by petty intrigues, which, when frequently renewed, became intolerable.  An open quarrel between the families and friends of the Duc Harcourt, the Dauphin’s governor, and those of the Duchesse de Polignac, his governess, added greatly to the Queen’s affliction.  The young Prince showed a strong dislike to the Duchesse de Polignac, who attributed it either to the Duc or the Duchesse d’Harcourt, and came to make her complaints respecting it to the Queen.  The Dauphin twice sent her out of his room, saying to her, with that maturity of manner which long illness always gives to children:  “Go out, Duchess; you are so fond of using perfumes, and they always make me ill;” and yet she never used any.  The Queen perceived, also, that his prejudices against her friend extended to herself; her son would no longer speak in her presence.  She knew that he had become fond of sweetmeats, and offered him some