(82) PRICES OF Foreign funds in LONDON, DURING THE YEAR. French,. The highest and lowest prices in each month are marked. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. July. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 881 771 794 84 88 89 90 93 90 90 90 92 35 88 90 84 80 771 78 85 RETROSPECT AND SELECTIONS RELATIVE TO LITERATURE, ARTS AND SCIENCES, CHAPTER I. BIOGRAPHICAL ANECDOTES AND CHARACTERS. 1.-Memoirs of the Private Life of Marie Antoinette Queen of France and Navarre, with Anecdotes, &c. of the Reign of Louis XIV. Louis XV. and Louis XVI. By Madame Campan, first femmede-chambre to the Queen. MADAME de Campan was the confidant of Marie Antoinette; and attachment to the Queen appears to be the ruling affection of her mind. She had, doubtless, opportunities which none beside could possess of obtaining information relative to the subject upon which she writes. Professing ourselves to be of no party whatever, we shall consider it our duty to register her details. The unfortunate queen, as well as other characters who are yet moving upon the stage, or have so lately passed off it, are too near the eye to be judged impartially; but it is by collating statements like these that posterity will give a more impartial award of praise or of censure. Madame de Campan was first introduced at Court as reader to the Princess Victoire, daughter of Louis XV. and she remained there till the volcano of popular fury overwhelmed her sovereign, and separated the devoted attendant from her royal mistress and friend; but in all her reverses the same intense affection seems to have remained, and her memory retained the same admiration of her unfortunate queen. She observes, "I have lived long, fortune has afforded me opportunities of seeing and forming an opinion of the celebrated women of several periods. I have been intimate with young persons whose elegance and amiable dispositions will be remembered long after they have ceased to exist; but never have I found, in any class or age, a woman of so fascinating a character as Marie Antoinette; one who, notwith |