Born at Versailles the 5th of August, 1775, the Duke of Angouleme had just entered on his fiftieth year.  A tender and respectful son, an irreproachable husband, a brave soldier, he was lacking in both brilliant and solid qualities.  His awkward air, his bashfulness, his myopia, his manners rather bourgeois than princely, were against him.  He had nothing of the charm and grace of his father.  But when one knew him, it was easy to see that he had unquestioned virtues and real worth.  To Charles X. he was a most faithful subject and the best of sons.  In contrast with so many heirs apparent, who openly or secretly combat the political ideas of their fathers, he was always the humble and docile supporter of the throne.  The Spanish expedition brought him credit.  In it he showed courage and zeal.  The army esteemed him, and he gave serious attention to military matters.  A man of good sense and good faith, he held himself aloof from all exaggerations.  At the time of the reaction of the White Terror, he had repudiated the fury of the ultras, and distinguished himself by a praiseworthy moderation.  He had great piety, with out hypocrisy, bigotry, or fanaticism.  The Count of Puymaigre, in his curious Souvenirs, says:—­

“The Duke of Angouleme appeared to me to be always subordinated to the will of the King, and he said to me one day very emphatically that his position forbade any manifestation of personal sentiment, because it was unbecoming in the heir apparent to sustain the opposition.  Though very religious, he did not share the exaggerated ideas of what was then called the ‘congregation,’ and I recall that one day he asked me brusquely:  ’Are you a partisan of the missions?’ As I hesitated to reply, he insisted.  ’No, my lord, in nowise; I think that one good cure suffices for a commune, and that missionaries, by treating the public mind with an unusual fervor, often bring trouble with them and at the same time often lessen the consideration due to the resident priest.’”

Married, on the 10th of June, 1799, to the daughter of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, the Duke of Angouleme had no children; but though the sterilty of his wife was an affliction, he never complained of it.  He was not known to have either favorites or mistresses.  The life of this descendant of Louis XIV. and of Louis XV. was purity itself.  There were neither scandals nor intrigues about him.  By nature irascible and obstinate, he had modified this tendency of his character by reason and still more by religion.  Assiduous in his duties, without arrogance or vanity, regarding his role as Prince as a mission given him by Providence, which he wished to fulfil conscientiously, he had not the slightest mental reservation in favor of restoring the old regime, and showed, perhaps, more favor to the lieutenants of Napoleon than to the officers of the army of Conde, his companions in arms.  To sum up, he was not an attractive prince, but he merited respect.  The Count of Puymaigre thus concludes the portrait traced by him:—­