Madame de Guimenée resigns the Office of Governess of the Royal Children.--Madame de Polignac succeeds her.--Marie Antoinette's Views of Education.--Character of Madame Royale.--The Grand Duke Paul and his Grand Duchess visit the French Court.--Their Characters.--Entertainments given in their Honor.--Insolence of the Cardinal de Rohan.--His Character and previous Life.--Grand Festivities at Chantilly.--Events of the War.-- Rodney defeats De Grasse.--The Siege of Gibraltar fails.--M. de Suffrein fights five Drawn Battles with Sir E. Hughes in the Indian Seas.--The Queen receives him with Great Honor on his Return. CHAPTER XVIII. Peace is re-established.--Embarrassments of the Ministry.--Distress of the Kingdom.--M. de Calonne becomes Finance Minister.--The Winter of 1783-'84 is very Severe.--The Queen devotes Large Sums to Charity.--Her Political Influence increases.--Correspondence between the Emperor and her on European Politics.--The State of France.--The Baron de Breteuil.-- Her Description of the Character of the King. CHAPTER XIX. "The Marriage of Figaro."--Previous History and Character of Beaumarchais.--The Performance of the Play is forbidden.--It is said to be a little altered.--It is licensed.--Displeasure of the Queen.--Visit of Gustavus III. of Sweden.--Fête at the Trianon.--Balloon Ascent. CHAPTER XX. St. Cloud is purchased for the Queen.--Libelous Attacks on her.--Birth of the Duc de Normandie.--Joseph presses her to make France support his Views in the Low Countries.--The Affair of the Necklace.--Share which the Cardinal de Rohan had in it.--The Queen's Indignation at his Acquittal.— Subsequent Career of the Cardinal. CHAPTER XXI. The King visits Cherbourg.--Rarity of Royal Journeys.--The Princess Christine visits the Queen.--Hostility of the Duc d'Orléans to the Queen. --Libels on her.--She is called Madame Deficit.--She has a Second Daughter, who dies.--Ill Health of the Dauphin.--Unskillfulness and Extravagance of Calonne's System of Finance.--Distress of the Kingdom.--He assembles the Notables.--They oppose his Plans.--Letters of Marie Antoinette on the Subject.--Her Ideas of the English Parliament.-- Dismissal of Calonne.--Character of Archbishop Loménie de Brienne.-- Obstinacy of Necker.--The Archbishop is appointed Minister.--The Distress increases.--The Notables are dissolved.--Violent Opposition of the Parliament.--Resemblance of the French Revolution to the English Rebellion of 1642.--Arrest of D'Esprémesnil and Montsabert. CHAPTER XXII.