The king began
to despair of seeing any descendants in a direct line, unless
indeed heaven should smile upon the wedded life of the comte
d'Artois. Louis XV disliked the princes of the blood, and the
bare idea that the duc d'Orleans might one day wield his sceptre
would have been worse than death.
Many alliances were proposed for the prince. Marie Josephe,
infanta of Spain, was then in her twentieth year, and consequently
too old. The princess Marie- Francoise-Benedictine-Anne-Elizabeth-
Josephe-Antonine-Laurence-Ignace- Therese -Gertrude-Marguerite-
Rose, etc., etc., of Portugal, although younger than the first-
mentioned lady, was yet considered as past the age that would
have rendered her a suitable match for so young a bridegroom.
The daughter of any of the electoral houses of Germany was not
considered an eligible match, and the pride of the house of Bourbon
could not stoop to so ignoble an alliance. There was no
alternative left therefore, but to return to the house of Savoy,
and take a sister of the comtesse de Provence. This proposal
was well received by the royal family, with the exception of
the dauphiness, who dreaded the united power and influence of
the two sisters, if circumstances should ever direct it against
herself or her wishes; and I heard from good authority, that
both the imperial Marie Therese and her daughter made many
remonstrances to the king upon the subject.
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