THE DUCHESS DE BERRI AT MASS AT THE CHAPELLE ROYALE


I had the honour of being invited to an evening party at the Tuileries
in the winter of 1816, and was in conversation with the Countess de
l'Espinasse, when the Duchess did me the honour to ask me if I intended
going to St. Germain to hunt. I replied in the negative, not having
received an invitation; upon which the Duchess graciously observed that
if I would attend mass the following morning in the Royal Chapel, she
would manage it. Accordingly I presented myself there dressed in a black
coat and trousers and white neckcloth; but at the entrance, a huge Swiss
told me I could not enter the chapel without knee-buckles. At that
moment Alexandre Gerardin, the grand veneur, came to my assistance;
he spoke to the Duchess, who immediately gave instructions that Mr.
Gronow was to be admitted "sans culottes." The card for the hunt came;
but the time to get the uniform was so short, that I was prevented going
to St. Germain. At that time the fascinating Duchess de Berri was
the theme of admiration of everyone. All who could obtain admission
to the chapelle were charmed with the grace with which, on passing through
the happy group who had been fortunate enough to gain the privilege,
she cast her glance of recognition upon those who were honoured with
her notice. When again I had the honour of being in the presence of
the Duchess, she inquired whether the hunt amused me; and upon my telling
her that I had been unable to go, in consequence of the want of the
required uniform, the Duchess archly remarked "Ah! M. le Capitaine,
parceque vous n'avez pas jamais des culottes."


LORD WESTMORELAND