opening of States General of lySp 7 



women and children could be seen peering from the chimneys 

 and on every face was a look of satisfaction. A jester might 

 well have said that the crowd scarcely resembled an assembly of 

 creditors who could not be paid. Nothing could be more splendid 

 than the royal cortege. The beauty of the horses, the splendor 

 of the harnesses, the richness of the carriages, the profusion of 

 gold and diamonds on the garments of the princesses and of the 

 king and queen were calculated to give an idea of the grandeur 

 of France."-" 



Ferrieres, in his memoirs, gives an account of the procession 

 from the point of view of a participant. " The nobility," he says, 

 " wore black coats, vests and facings of gold cloth, silk mantles, 

 lace cravattes, hats decorated with plumes and cocked a la Henri 

 IV; the clergy, their cassocks, great mantles, square hats; the 

 bishops, their violet robes and their surplices ; the third estate, 

 black silk mantles and batiste cravattes. . . . Along the streets were 

 hung the tapestries of the crown; regiments of French and Swiss 

 guards formed a line from Notre-Dame to St. Louis; an im- 

 mense crowd of people watched us pass in respectful silence; 

 the balconies were decorated with rich cloth, the windows filled 

 with spectators of all ages and of both sexes, and with charming, 

 elegantly gowned women; the variety of hats, of plumes, of attire, 

 the sympathy pictured on every face, the joy shining in every eye^ 

 the clapping of hands, expressions of affectionate interest, the 

 expectant looks which watched for us and which still followed 

 us after we were lost from view . . . made a delightful, enchant- 

 ing scene, which I would try in vain to reproduce. Bands of 

 musicians were placed at intervals, making the air resound with 

 melodies ; the military tramp of the procession, the noise of 

 drums, the sound of trumpets, the solemn chant of the priests, 

 each heard in turn without discord, without confusion, enlivened 

 that triumphant march of the Eternal."-^ 



27 Vicomte de Grouchy et Antoine Guillois, La revolution frangaise, 87. 



-^ Ytvnkr&s, j\Iemoires,ig,20. Ferrieres tells us that this description was 

 written at the time the events took place. He says : " Je cede au plaisir 

 de retracer ici I'impression que fit sur moi cette auguste et touchante 

 ceremonie; je vais copier la relation que j'ecrivis alors, encore plein de ce 

 que j'avais vu et de ce que j'avais senti." 



209 



