DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70031#0228
DUKE OF ORLEANS. [trance.
pedity which we are desirous of seeing in princes. But
being anxious to merit by a naval campaign the re-
version of the post of grand admiral, which the Duke
de Penthievre, his father-in-law, then possessed, the
conduct he manifested at the battle of Ouessant, in
1778, became a constant source of ridicule and dis-
grace. The object of the raillery of the people and
of the epigrams of the court, he regarded as the most
cutting reproach his nomination to the post of com-
mandant-general of the hussar^, which was given to
him in recompence for his services at sea.
Dissatisfied with the court, the Duke of Orleans
appeared solicitous of humiliating it, by a line of con-
duct unworthy of his birth. We behold him trans-
forming the palace of his ancestors into a place of
traffic and licentiousness, delivering himself up to
speculations of shameful cupidity, despising in the
education of the princes, his children, all established
principles and customs, and even decency itself, seek-
ing, by an aerostatical ascension, a glory ill-suited to
his rank; an attempt in which the malignity of the
public did not permit him happily to succeed.
Either through excess of indulgence, or disgust,
the court appeared indifferent to his proceedings;
but by opposing in the parliamentary assemblies the
edicts of the council, he compelled Louis XVI. to
banish him, and the people, seduced by specious
appearances, thought they beheld in him the defender
of their rights. Nevertheless, though he had greatly
incurred the displeasure of the king, upon the death
of the Duke of Orleans, in 1787, the house and the
honours attributed to the first prince of the blood,
were bestowed upon him. But this debased noble-
pedity which we are desirous of seeing in princes. But
being anxious to merit by a naval campaign the re-
version of the post of grand admiral, which the Duke
de Penthievre, his father-in-law, then possessed, the
conduct he manifested at the battle of Ouessant, in
1778, became a constant source of ridicule and dis-
grace. The object of the raillery of the people and
of the epigrams of the court, he regarded as the most
cutting reproach his nomination to the post of com-
mandant-general of the hussar^, which was given to
him in recompence for his services at sea.
Dissatisfied with the court, the Duke of Orleans
appeared solicitous of humiliating it, by a line of con-
duct unworthy of his birth. We behold him trans-
forming the palace of his ancestors into a place of
traffic and licentiousness, delivering himself up to
speculations of shameful cupidity, despising in the
education of the princes, his children, all established
principles and customs, and even decency itself, seek-
ing, by an aerostatical ascension, a glory ill-suited to
his rank; an attempt in which the malignity of the
public did not permit him happily to succeed.
Either through excess of indulgence, or disgust,
the court appeared indifferent to his proceedings;
but by opposing in the parliamentary assemblies the
edicts of the council, he compelled Louis XVI. to
banish him, and the people, seduced by specious
appearances, thought they beheld in him the defender
of their rights. Nevertheless, though he had greatly
incurred the displeasure of the king, upon the death
of the Duke of Orleans, in 1787, the house and the
honours attributed to the first prince of the blood,
were bestowed upon him. But this debased noble-