Mme. de Berry has nursed her mother through an illness with the
devotion of a Gray Sister. I should be very ungrateful if I did not
feel attachment to her, for she shows me all possible friendship and
treats me with such politeness that I am often quite touched by it.
The Maintenon was so afraid that the king would like the Duchesse de
Berry, and thus be detached from the dauphine, that she did her as
many ill-turns as she could. But after the death of the dauphine she
patched matters up, though, to tell the truth, the liking of the king
for the duchess was never great.
Nothing new from England: the king is defiant and suspicious. The
English are wily and think only of their own interests; they see
very well that they can fish in troubled waters, and that as long as
there is ill-will between father and son, the king will not think
of tightening his authority upon them. They therefore endeavour to
keep up the ill-temper that is natural to him. I do not believe he
will return to Hanover as soon as some people think. I heard from
the Princess of Wales yesterday that she had written to the king a
most submissive letter; the king answered it harshly and made her
many reproaches on her behaviour. He will get himself laughed at for
behaving in that way; for the good reputation of the princess is
perfectly established. I cannot comprehend the king's behaviour.