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Once more, and with increased vehemence, was heard the cry: A bas l'Autrichienne! During the American war of the Revolution, Marie Antoinette was always favorable to the Colonial cause, protecting La Fayette and encouraging all volunteers of the nobility, who embarked for America in great numbers.
The failure of the crops throughout the land, want, the cries of distress from a famishing people, the disordered finances of the state such was the suite which accompanied Politique before the queen; pamphlets, pasquinades, sarcastic songs on Marie Antoinette, whom no more the people called their queen, but already the foreigner, L'Autrichienne such were the gifts which Politique brought for the queen.
A young girl, of pleasing appearance and respectably attired, came forward and bitterly reviled in coarsest terms l'Autrichienne. The queen, struck by the contrast between the rage of this young girl and the gentleness of her face, said to her in a kind tone, "Why do you hate me? Have I ever unknowingly done you any injury or offence?"
To make the matter worse a catastrophe marked the wedding ceremonies, and at a great illumination given by the city of Paris, a stampede occurred, in which hundreds of lives were lost. The Austrian princess, l'Autrichienne, as she was called from the first, did not mend matters by her conduct.
The principal of these authors were LA HARPE, DUCIS, and CHENIER. The last, who, besides, is famous as member of the National Convention and other Legislative Assemblies, composed the tragedy of Charles Neuf, in which Madame VESTRIS, playing the part of Catherine de Medicis, affected, I am told, to advance her under-lip, a l'Autrichienne, in order to occasion comparisons injurious to the ill-fated Marie-Antoinette.
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