366 Readings in European History 381. Marie Antoinette reports to her mother that she is now a queen. Madame du Barry sent to a convent. II. Accession of Louis XVI ; Marie Antoinette Louis XV died of smallpox May 10, 1774. Marie Antoinette, now become queen at eighteen, writes to her mother as follows : Choisy, May 14, 1774. Madame ', my very dear mother : Count Mercy x has doubtless informed you of the details of our misfortune. Happily his cruel malady left the king fully conscious to the last moment, and his end was very edifying. The new king seems to have gained the heart of the people. Two days before his grandfather's death he had two hundred thousand francs distributed to the poor, which produced a fine effect. Since the late king's death he has worked constantly, and replies with his own hand to the ministers, whom he is not able to see yet, and to many other letters. One thing is certain ; he has a taste for economy, and his greatest anxiety is to make his peo- ple happy. In short, his eagerness to learn is equal to his need of information, and I trust that God will bless his good will. The public are looking for many changes just now. But the king has confined himself to sending away that creature to a convent and driving from court all connected with her. The king owed this example to the people of Versailles, who at the time of the catastrophe attacked Madame de Mazarin, one of the most humble domestics of the favorite. I am often urged to preach clemency to the king toward a num- ber of corrupt souls who have been up to much evil during the last few years. . . . They have just come to forbid me to visit my Aunt Ade- laide, who has a high fever and pain in her loins ; they fear smallpox. I tremble and dare not think of the consequences. It is terrible for her to pay so speedily for the sacrifice she has made [in nursing the late king]. I am delighted that 1 The ambassador of the empire, whom Maria Theresa had selected as the special adviser of her young daughter when she went to France.
