Page:Historyoffranc00yong.djvu/224

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200 niSTORY OF FRANCE. [chap. back the shattered power of the Church. Of Charles's two sons, the elder, the Duke of Angouleme, had married Maria Theresa, the daughter of Lewis XVI. She was so resokite a woman that Napoleon called her the only man of the family, but too grave, sad, and stern to be much loved. She had no children, and the hopes of the royalists were fixed on the Duke of Berry, until he was murdered at the opera on the night of the 13th of February, 1822, leaving a daughter and a posthumous son named Henry. There was much discontent and secret conspiracy through- out Europe, which the Congress of Vienna had parcelled out rather according to the claims of sovereigns than those of nations. In Spain there was a revolution which compelled Ferdinand VII. to accept a constitution, but in 1823 French troops were sent under the Duke of Angouleme, which re^ored the king to power, and he at once destroyed thii constitution. There was jealousy between the old returned nobility and those who held Buonaparte's newly-coined titles, but, as long as Lewis XVIIl. lived, disputes were kept in check by his unfailing tact and courtesy. He was a true son of Lewis XIV. in attention to etiquette, even when so gouty and feeble that he could hardly support hmiself. He used to say, " Punctuality is the politeness of kings." As his health declined matters fell more into the management of Monsieur, and Lewis, seeing what would be the end ot his narrow policy, implored him to save the kingdom for his grandi hikl, Henry, Duke of Bourdeaux. 2. Charles X., 1824. — Lewis XVTll. died on the 17th of September, 1824, and was sucrccded by Charles X , the last king who was crowned at Rheims. He began his reign with the desire of bringing back the ascendency of the clergy and of the crown, and giving most of his confidence to the old emigrant nobility. Under their influence and that of the Jesuits, steps were taken which angered the people. It was proposed that books and newspapers should be inspected before publication, and, when the Chamber of Deputies threw out the bill, there was an universal illumination. The charter was thought to be attacked, and when the king reviewed the National Guard, one legion greeted him with cries of " Long live the Cliartcr," and the Duchesses of Angouleme and Berry with " Down with the Jesuits." The National Guard was dissolved, and great discontent followed. This reign however was remarkable for some important foreign