ed escutcheons, helmets, and blue ribbons interwoven
with chains. This tree rose out of a wood-pile on which lay a heap of
crowns, tiaras, cardinals' hats, Saint Peter's keys, ermine mantles,
doctors' caps, and titles of nobility. A royal crown was among them,
and beside it the escutcheons of the Count de Provence, the Count
d'Artois, and the Prince de Conde. The organizers of the fete hoped to
induce the King himself to set fire to this pile, covered with feudal
emblems. A figure representing Liberty, and another representing Law,
were placed on casters by the aid of which the two divinities were to
be rolled about. Fifty-four pieces of cannon bordered the
Champ-de-Mars on the side next the Seine, and the Phrygian cap crowned
every tree.

{251}

At eleven in the morning the King and his cortege arrived at the
Military School. A detachment of cavalry opened the march. There were
three carriages. In the first were the Prince de Poix, the Marquis de
Breze, and the Count de Saint-Priest; in the second, the Queen's
ladies, Mesdames de Tarente, de la Roche-Aymon, de Maille, and de
Mackau; in the third, the King, the Queen, their two children, and
Madame Elisabeth. The trumpets sounded and the drums beat a salute. A
salvo of artillery announced the arrival of the royal family. The
sovereign's countenance was mild and benevolent. Marie Antoinette
appeared still more majestic than usual. The dignity of her demeanor,
the grace of her children, and the angelic charm of Madame Elisabeth
inspired a tender respect. The little Dauphin wore the uniform of a
National Guard. "He has not deserved the cap yet," said the Queen to
the grenadiers.

The royal family took their places on the balcony of the Military
School, which was covered with a red velvet carpet embroidered with
gold, and watched the popular procession, entering the Champ-de-Mars by
the gate of the rue de Grenelle, and marching towards the Altar of the
Country. What a strange procession! Men, women, children, armed with
pikes, sticks, and hatchets; bands singing the _Ca ira_; drunken
harlots, adorned with flowers; people from the faubourgs with the
inscription, "Long live Petion!" chalked on their head-gear; six
legions of National Guards marching pell-mell with the _sans-culottes_;
red {252} caps; placards with devices either ferocious or stupid, like
this one: "Long live the heroes who died in the siege of the Bastille!"
a plan in relief of the celebr