On this day, Louis XV dines at La Meutte with gentlemen only. The Duc de Chartres is present. His Majesty then reviews the French and Swiss Guards on the plain of Sablons. The Dauphin leaves Versailles at 1pm and arrives half an hour before the King, and is saluted when he arrives. Two unfortunate incidents take place at the review. A woman is run over by a carriage and M d’Alègre, the brother of the Abbé d’Alègre, suffers a broken kneecap when he is kicked by M de Montbibaut’s mare. This M d’Alègre was recently married to Mlle de Sainte-Hermine.
Commentary:
The heir of the Duc d’Orléans is customarily titled Duc de Chartres. The present Duc de Chartres is just short of his 14th birthday.
Pictured: Louis-Philippe d’Orléans (1725-1785), Duc de Chartres, later Duc d’Orléans, in 1735.
The King of France’s heir is titled Dauphin. The current Dauphin is Louis XV’s third child and only surviving son by Queen Marie.
Pictured: Louis-Ferdinand (1729-1765), Dauphin de France, aged 9, by L. Tocqué or his studio.
The little château at La Meutte is known in our day as La Muette, but it is not the same building. The present, larger château was built nearby in the early 20th century and is now the headquarters of the OECD.
Pictured: La Meutte in Louis XV’s reign. Although he extends it, it never amounts to more than a hunting lodge.
There is no further word on the injured people.
If you have questions that I have not addressed in the commentary, please ask in the comments.
Less is often more. And there was a lot of incident here.