THE CHEVALIER D’EON DE BEAUMONT
LONDON: PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT
STREET
[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE.
LA CHEVALIÈRE D’EON.
1782.
From a Painting in the possession of CHARLES LISTON, Esq. (LATE THE
PROPERTY OF CHARLES READE.)
_See Appendix._]
THE
STRANGE CAREER
OF THE
CHEVALIER D’EON DE BEAUMONT
MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY FROM FRANCE TO GREAT BRITAIN
IN 1763
BY
CAPTAIN J. BUCHAN TELFER, R.N.
F.S.A., F.R.G.S.
AUTHOR OF ‘THE CRIMEA AND TRANSCAUCASIA’ ‘THE BONDAGE AND
TRAVELS OF JOHANN SCHILTBERGER’ ETC.
‘L’homme d’esprit a dans sa plume un juge toujours prêt à le
venger des affronts qu’on lui fait’—D’EON
With Portraits and Facsimile
LONDON
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
1885
_All rights reserved_
A LA VILLE DE TONNERRE
PREFACE.
The Secret Correspondence established by Louis XV. in 1750-1752,
originally for the purpose of gratifying the Prince de Conti’s ambition
for sovereignty, in the interests of Poland, and of securing the alliance
and co-operation of several of the smaller Powers, against the aggression
of Austria and Russia, proved, in course of years, of inestimable benefit
to the King, personally. Insuperable timidity, and the consciousness
of a lack of self-confidence, were weaknesses that ill-befitted an
absolute monarch, for Louis XV. could never summon courage to confront
his ministers. The Chevalier D’Eon de Beaumont very tersely portrays the
besetting sin of his sovereign, where he describes it as a deficiency
in the needed strength of character to control, as became a king, his
ministers and ambassadors, all of whom he mistrusted and avoided, making
reparation in secret for the follies they committed publicly. ‘Après nous
le déluge’ are the well-known words of comfort offered by the Marquise
de Pompadour, into whose hands the direction of affairs was lapsing,
when seeing the King sorely oppressed with grief upon learning the news
of the disaster at Rosbach; and perhaps it is true that the secret
correspondence, of the existence of which the favourite was entirely
ignorant, was useful in averting the coming storm during the term of his
reign. Selfish and self-indulgent almost beyond conception, Louis XV. had
no spirit to grapple with difficulties where they presented themselves,
except in regard to the relations of France with Foreign Powers, when he
could perfectly well rouse himself to action; not openly, lest the views
of his ministers should be in opposition to his desires, but covertly
and frequently to their confusion. It was the duty of the secret agents
at the several capitals of Europe, who were always connected in some
way with his Embassies, to keep his Majesty informed of all that was
passing, and it became his custom to instruct them to bring about the
realisation of his policy, regardless of the directions of his ministers.
Louis XV. took an interest and a delight in foreign affairs, therefore to
him the secret correspondence had its uses; otherwise—it was leading to
destruction.
One of the earliest and most remarkable of the King’s secret agents,
for his employment as such dated from the year 1754 or 1755, was D’Eon
de Beaumont, who, as a diplomatist, evinced spirit equal to that of
Lord Whitworth under circumstances that have passed into history, and
exhibited much of the bravery and daring of the famous Hugh Elliot,
without, however, the similar advantage of being enabled to deal all his
blows by the light of day, his training from youth having been in the
direction rather of intrigue.
Since no history of Louis XV. can have any pretensions to completeness if
the name of D’Eon de Beaumont be excluded, it is not a little surprising
that the individual acts, as well as the official services of so
extraordinary a personage have never been brought together before the
world. This blank the author endeavours to fill.
In 1836, Gaillardet published a memoir of the Chevalier D’Eon,
meretricious and spurious in its details, which speedily reached a
second edition, and attained a popularity that caused it to be pirated
and reproduced, very extensively, in ‘Un Hermaphrodite,’ Louis Jourdan
indiscreetly lending his name for its authorship! Although Gaillardet
announced that his book was produced out of material supplied by the
D’Eon family at Tonnerre, its contents proved to be in great measure
scandalous fabrications. Feeling himself, as he advanced in years, called
upon to make some kind of reparation, this author gave, in 1866, a new
edition under the title ‘Mémoires sur la Chevalière D’Eon. La Vérité sur
les Mystères de sa Vie,’ in the preface to which, styled ‘Un Acte de
Contrition, &c.,’ he candidly avows that his first edition was in great
part a fiction. In this later edition Gaillardet reproduces, together
with other interesting matter, numerous documents that are preserved
at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where, by rare good fortune, he
obtained permission to search the archives; and that so distinguished an
academician as the Duke de Broglie (familiar to Englishmen as having been
first minister in the Conservative days of the French Republic), as well
as other well-known authors, should have availed themselves of this work,
may be accepted as sufficient guarantee of its worth and reliability. As
becomes a conscientious biographer, Gaillardet allows the documents he
produces to speak for themselves, without himself undertaking to pass
judgment on his subject; a safe course adopted in the following pages,
where scrupulous care is taken to authenticate all that is adduced.
In his engaging work, ‘Le Secret du Roi,’ the Duke de Broglie treats at
some length on the part taken by D’Eon in the secret correspondence of
Louis XV. Unhappily, the Duke seems desirous of avenging the agony of
mind his ancestor the Count de Broglio must have endured, upon certain
occasions of the threatening attitude assumed by the Chevalier, and he
evidently finds it impossible to forgive the Minister Plenipotentiary,
D’Eon, for being more clever, abler, and readier-witted than the French
Ambassador with whom it was his misfortune to be connected; for his
Grace takes frequent occasion to traduce him, and calls attention
to his ‘assertions mensongères,’ without clearly substantiating the
grave charges—a hard measure where the person assailed is beyond the
possibility of vindicating the accusation. The fact is that D’Eon related
unpleasant truths, and exposed startling facts, as will be manifested in
due course.
Few persons, in all probability, have left behind them so much matter in
MS. as did the Chevalier D’Eon, if we except perhaps the Duke of Berwick
and the noted Saint-Simon, of whom Chateaubriand said: ‘... il avait
heureusement un tour à lui; il écrivit à la diable pour l’immortalité.’
Like Saint-Simon, the Chevalier sketched admirable portraits, and like
Saint-Simon too, he commenced in early youth to write his impressions,
keeping to himself, through life, all he had written. There is
evidence, amongst the papers the author has consulted, that D’Eon never
contemplated an autobiography. ‘It has ever been my opinion,’ he wrote,
‘and I am even persuaded, that it is impossible for an author to write
a just history of his own life; for he is either lifted to the height
of vanity by pride so inseparable from the human heart, or else feigned
modesty debases him to hypocritical humility. There are, at Versailles,
public depôts of the Ministries for War and for Foreign Affairs, and
Louis XV. has left his private papers of the Secret Correspondence. It
is there that the faithful historian should seek the truth if he has the
courage to tell it.’ Unfortunately, there is reason for apprehending that
many MSS., some of consequence, are lost. Père Elisée, the Chevalière’s
medical attendant, had a large number of his papers, which were seen in
the possession of M. Nicolas de Chenart, about the years 1824-1828, by
a correspondent, in ‘Notes and Queries.’ They may now possibly form a
part or the whole of the collection of D’Eon MSS. at the British Museum,
and at Tonnerre where they are numerous. Another large portion passed
into the hands of Mr. Christie, to whom the Chevalière was indebted for
many favours. The first and last of these collections have been well
sifted by the author, the chief difficulty experienced being the making a
judicious selection. It was quite possible to have enlarged on the acts
and writings of the Chevalier or Chevalière D’Eon, by the introduction
of additional portraits, anecdotes, and letters of interest, but—happy
is the biographer who escapes the charge of tedious prolixity! The
author feels that although the material at his disposal has been greatly
condensed, the thread of the narrative is maintained in its completeness,
without the omission of any incident of importance in the life of the
most singular and of one of the most extraordinary individuals of the
last century.
There can be no exaggeration in the assertion that the life of the
Chevalier or Chevalière D’Eon de Beaumont is unique in the history of the
world. At any rate, the author is prepared to confess his ignorance of
any record of its equal.
Cases of females having occupied the position of men, whether for a
limited period or during their entire existence, are without number,
striking instances of both, within the recollection of the present
generation, being those of Captain (Marie Jeanne) Dubois, who served in
Napoleon’s Russian campaign, and of a medical officer in the service
of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, who have passed away of late
years. Upon the other hand, few men have disguised themselves as females,
the most notable example of the kind, perhaps, being that afforded
by the Comtesse des Barres, who for thirty years led a dissolute and
discreditable life, but was perfectly well known to be the Abbé de
Choisy. The biographer of this creature, Thoulier d’Olivet, says of
him: ‘But what sort of a hero is he whose portrait I am to describe?
A Court Abbé? ... what do I say? A Court Abbé! A coquette who had one
thousand times greater taste for beauty spots and ribbons, one thousand
times more the desire to please, than any professional coquette. It
may be said that Nature made a mistake, and that it was her intention
to create a female;’ then, quoting a lady’s estimate of the Abbé: ‘...
male or female, ever carrying matters to extremes, whether absorbed
in studies or in trifles. Deserving of esteem, because of undaunted
courage, contemptible because of the coquetry of a young maiden, and in
whichever character, at all times engaged in the pursuit of pleasure.’
The Chevalier D’Eon, whose ambiguity of sex was suggested in infancy
and maintained until death, cannot be classed with either of the above.
Female or male, D’Eon appeared as either in obedience to command, having
done good service to King and Country, and we have the authority of John
Britton, who was in the habit of meeting the Chevalière almost daily,
during a period of three years, that she was respectable and respected,
and of refined manners. The uncertainty of her sex occupied every mind.
In branding the tale of Pope Joan as being _false_ and deserving the
name, Gibbon shows himself to be at fault with regard to D’Eon. ‘... I
would not pronounce it (the tale) incredible. Suppose a famous French
chevalier of our own times to have been born in Italy, and educated in
the Church instead of in the army; _her_ merit or fortune _might_ have
raised her to St. Peter’s chair; her amours would have been natural....’
D’Eon’s immediate ancestors were in the habit, it would appear, of
writing their family name, Déon. Upon being accredited Resident, and
afterwards Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Great Britain, Louis
XV. was pleased to distinguish the Chevalier’s name by substituting E
for e, changing Déon to D’Eon, orthography the author has observed with
reference to the Chevalier. Late in life, the Chevalière wrote her name,
occasionally d’Eon, at other times D’eon, until the French Revolution,
when, for a season, her signature appears as Déon, bearing the prefix, La
Citoyenne Geneviève.
In concluding these introductory remarks, the author has one pleasant
duty left, that of offering his acknowledgments to Mr. JAMES H. B.
CHRISTIE, of Framingham, Norwich, and King Street, St. James’, and of
expressing his obligations to that gentleman for the liberality and
freedom with which he has been permitted to consult the interesting MSS.,
short of which it would have been simply impossible to produce, in its
present form, the account of this Strange Career.
LONDON, _December, 1884_.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
Birth of D’Eon de Beaumont and registry as a male
child—Parentage—Consecrated to the Virgin Mary and admitted
to the Sisterhood—Pursues studies as a boy—Early display
of abilities—As secret agent, is sent to Russia by Louis
XV.—Reception at St. Petersburg—Enemies and friends—Leaves for
Versailles—Invited to enter the service of Russia 1
CHAPTER II.
Sir Hanbury Williams and Count Woronzoff—The Empress
Elizabeth’s message to France—Chevalier Douglas, French Chargé
d’Affaires in Russia, with D’Eon as Secretary—Commencement
of the Seven Years’ War—Count Apraxin’s defection—D’Eon
leaves for Versailles—Trait of character—Reception by Louis
XV. and Ministers—Proceeds to Russia—The will of Peter the
Great—Bestoujeff’s opinion of D’Eon—Poniatovsky and his
diamond—D’Eon as a fencer—Bestoujeff’s arrest—D’Eon again
invited to take service in Russia 18
CHAPTER III.
Progress of the war—The Duke de Choiseul’s designs against
England—Change of policy—D’Eon’s advice to the French
Ambassador—Approved by Louis XV.—D’Eon’s failing health—The
Marquis de l’Hôpital—Baron de Breteuil admitted to the secret
correspondence—The King’s secret orders to D’Eon—Testimonies
to his abilities—Leaves Russia for the last time—Gift
from the Empress—On the staff of the Marshal and Count
de Broglio—Distinguished services during the campaign of
1761—Exile of the de Broglios—Death of Elizabeth 36
CHAPTER IV.
Portrait of Catherine II.—Her opinion of D’Eon and
its fidelity—Portrait of Lord Sandwich—Of the Duke de
Nivernois—D’Eon Secretary of Embassy in London—Two ‘smart
pieces of work’—Kindness to French prisoners—Treaty of
Peace with England—D’Eon takes the ratifications to
Versailles—Delight of King and Ministers—The Marquise de
Pompadour—The Count de Guerchy nominated Ambassador at St.
James’—The Duke de Praslin’s estimate of his qualities—The Duke
tests D’Eon’s loyalty towards himself—The Prince de Soubise at
Villinghausen—D’Eon’s respect for the de Broglios—Is invested
with the Cross of Saint Louis 56
CHAPTER V.
D’Eon becomes Resident and Chargé d’Affaires at the British
Court—Also the King’s special secret agent—Plans for the
invasion of England—Nicknames to secret correspondents—Louis
XV.’s letter to D’Eon on the survey of England—De Pompadour
discovers the secret correspondence—The King’s vexation—D’Eon
advanced to be Minister Plenipotentiary—How he received his
new honours—De Broglio’s anxiety for the safety of the King’s
papers—De Pompadour’s conspiracy to ruin D’Eon—Claims against
the Crown—Letter of State in favour of D’Eon 73
CHAPTER VI.
D’Eon charged with extravagance at the Embassy—Irritating
correspondence—Influx of French visitors—Odious proposal
to D’Eon—Is to return to subordinate duties on being
superseded—His remonstrances—The Earl of Hertford—The Count
de Guerchy’s arrival in England, and D’Eon’s letters of
recall—Secret despatch from Louis XV.—Official recall on the
plea of mental alienation—Disregard of the Ministerial orders 90
CHAPTER VII.
D’Eon’s interview with the Earl of Halifax—Refuses to surrender
the King’s papers to de Guerchy—Declines to take leave of
the King of England—A scene at the French Embassy—Another at
Lord Halifax’s residence—A third at D’Eon’s—Summoned by a
magistrate—De Guerchy’s hostile measures—D’Eon is dangerously
drugged at the table of the French Ambassador—Designs against
his liberty—Removes to Brewer Street, Golden Square—Childishly
annoyed—His extradition demanded—Warned to that effect by Louis
XV 109
CHAPTER VIII.
Refusal of the British Government to deliver D’Eon—A force
organised to kidnap him—Mines and garrisons his house against
intrusion—De Guerchy reports to Louis XV. his failure to obtain
the secret papers—D’Eon’s letter to his mother—Publication
of official and private letters of Ministers, Ambassadors,
&c.—Consternation produced in consequence—Applies to enter the
service of a foreign State—Appeals to de Broglio and Tercier on
his situation—A conciliatory letter the result 127
CHAPTER IX.
D’Eon’s intricate situation—Popular indignation in England at
the late peace—Letter of gratitude to Louis XV.; of reproach
to the Count de Broglio—Sued for libel—Retains the King’s
papers as security for his person—Illegal proceedings on the
part of the French Ambassador—Out-of-door precautions against
being kidnapped—English sympathy for D’Eon—Is found guilty of
libel, absconds, is searched after, and outlawed—Confession of
Treyssac de Vergy—De Guerchy’s charge against de Vergy 150
CHAPTER X.
D’Eon challenges the French Ambassador—Institutes legal
proceedings against him—Strong appeal to the Count de
Broglio, and indifference of the latter—De Guerchy _v._
De Vergy—De Vergy’s affidavits—Secret correspondence in
danger—Undignified conduct of Louis XV., who ‘feels he is in
a mess’—True bill against the French Ambassador for inciting
to murder—D’Eon’s disregard of his King’s intervention—De
Guerchy applies for a _nolle prosequi_—Attorney-General refuses
a certificate—Miscarriage of justice, and state of public
feeling—Count de Broglio’s conciliatory proposals—A royal
pension conferred on D’Eon—De Broglio’s advice—D’Eon surrenders
his secret orders from the King 170
CHAPTER XI.
D’Eon continues in the royal confidence—Secret correspondence
again in peril—D’Eon’s mother persecuted—De Guerchy’s
death—D’Eon’s last letter to him—De Vergy’s dying
deposition—His will—D’Eon as secret correspondent—His public
protest—The Musgrave scandal 189
CHAPTER XII.
D’Eon and Wilkes—Fickle Louis XV.!—Literary labours—Doubts
raised as to D’Eon’s sex—Princess Dashkoff—Heavy gambling
transactions on D’Eon’s sex—Insult resented—Irritation at being
thought a female—Indignant denial of being concerned in the
bets made—State of penury—Offers of relief from Poniatovsky,
now King of Poland—Saves England from war—Officially reported
to be a female—Personal appearance—Death of Louis XV.—D’Eon’s
estimate of the late King—Count de Broglio’s report on D’Eon to
Louis XVI.—System of secret correspondence abolished—D’Eon to
continue his reports in cypher 206
CHAPTER XIII.
The Count de Broglio’s offers for the surrender of the King’s
papers—D’Eon’s conditions—Failure of the transaction—Proposal
of marriage to (Mademoiselle) D’Eon—Beaumarchais—The Madame
Dubarry scandal—De Vergennes’ instructions to Beaumarchais—That
Minister’s high opinion of D’Eon—Beaumarchais’ success in
treating with D’Eon 227
CHAPTER XIV.
D’Eon surrenders the King’s papers—Earl Ferrers’ share in their
custody—Covenant between Beaumarchais and D’Eon, who receives
permission to return to France—and is ordered to resume female
attire 241
CHAPTER XV.
Revival of gambling policies on D’Eon’s sex—Renewed
protests—Admits being a female to the Count de
Broglio—Beaumarchais a hard master—He demands final
instructions from the King—Differences of opinion, and angry
interchange of letters 256
CHAPTER XVI.
Beaumarchais’ reprehensible behaviour—D’Eon challenges
Morande—Miss Wilkes’ curiosity—Feeling against D’Eon—Fresh
difficulties with Beaumarchais—Speculators on D’Eon’s sex
seized with panic—Lord Mansfield’s decision on the policies
effected—D’Eon appears in public as a female—Leaves for
France, wearing military uniform—The King’s second order to
resume female attire—Marie Antoinette furnishes _Mademoiselle
D’Eon’s_ trousseau—Visits her native town—Rejoicings at
her appearance—Presented at Court as a lady—The Queen’s
household—Deportment in society—Another trial before Lord
Mansfield 277
CHAPTER XVII.
Epistle to Lord Mansfield—Voltaire on D’Eon—Anxiety to get
quit of petticoats—Mademoiselle D’Eon de Beaumont in peaceful
retreats—Applies for active service in the fleet—Returns to
male attire, is arrested, and confined—Being liberated, goes
home—Arrival in London—Fences before the Prince of Wales—Mr.
Angelo—Mademoiselle D’Eon and Phillidor at chess—Advertised
sale of library—Treatment by a British peer the cause
thereof—Earl Ferrers’ bond—Sale of jewellery 299
CHAPTER XVIII.
D’Eon (_la citoyenne Geneviève_) offers her services
to the Legislative Assembly—Is ordered to join
General Dumouriez—Detained in England—Her English
friends—Fences in public—Is seriously wounded—Distressing
times—Last days—Death—Autopsy and appearance of the
body—Administration of property—General character—Pursuits
and habits late in life—Maxims on religion—Coldness of
temperament—Reflections—Fugitive pieces 322
ARGUMENT 347
APPENDIX 365
INDEX 369
_ILLUSTRATIONS._
PORTRAIT OF LA CHEVALIÈRE D’EON, 1782 _Frontispiece_
ARMS OF THE CHEVALIER D’EON DE BEAUMONT _p._ xxii
PORTRAIT OF D’EON DE BEAUMONT, AGED 25 _to face p._ 14
PORTRAIT OF THE CHEVALIER D’EON, 1770 ” 208
FACSIMILE OF AN AUTOGRAPH TITLE-PAGE IN THE CHRISTIE
COLLECTION OF D’EON MSS. ” 258
_Erratum._
_For_ 32 Brewer Street, Golden Square, as being the residence in London
of the Chevalier D’Eon during thirty-three years, _read_ 38 Brewer
Street, Golden Square.
_WORKS REFERRED TO IN THE FOOTNOTES._
B.M. MSS., _D’Eon MSS. at the British Museum_.
Ch. MSS., _D’Eon MSS. in the possession of Mr. Christie_.
Angelo, Henry, _Reminiscences of—with Memoirs of his late Father and
Friends_. London, 1828. 2 vols.
Boutaric, M. E., Archiviste aux Archives de l’Empire. _Correspondance
secrète inédite de Louis XV. sur la politique étrangère, etc._ Paris,
1866. 2 vols.
Broglie, Le Duc de, _Le Secret du Roi, correspondance secrète de Louis
XV. avec ses agents diplomatiques, 1752-1774_. 3ᵉ édition. Paris, 1879. 2
vols.
Campan, Madame, _Mémoires sur la vie privée de Marie-Antoinette, etc._
Paris, 1822. 3 vols.
Dutens, Louis, _Mémoires d’un Voyageur qui se repose, contenant des
Anecdotes Historiques, Politiques et Littéraires, relatives à plusieurs
des principaux personnages du siècle._ Londres, 1806. 3 vols.
Flassan, Raxis de, _Histoire Générale et Raisonnée de la Diplomatie
Française, etc. etc._ Paris, 1811. 2 vols.
Fortelle, De la, _La Vie Militaire, Politique et Privée de Mademoiselle
Charles Geneviève Louis Auguste Andrée Timothée D’Eon de Beaumont, etc.
etc._ O quam te memorem Virgo! Paris, MDCCLXXIX.
Gaillardet, Fred., _Mémoires sur la Chevalière D’Eon, etc._ Paris, 1866.
Kirby, R., _Wonderful and Eccentric Museum, etc._ London, 1803.
Lacretelle, Chas., _Histoire de France pendant le dix-huitième siècle,
etc._ Paris, 1819. 6 vols.
La Messalière, _Voyage à Pétersbourg, etc._ Paris, 1803.
_Lettres, Mémoires, et Négociations Particulières du Chevalier D’Eon,
etc. etc., with MSS. Notes by D’Eon._ Londres, 1764.
Loménie, Louis de, _Beaumarchais et son Temps, etc._ 4ᵉ édition. Paris,
1879. 2 vols.
Mémoires de la Chevalière D’Eon, _MSS. work addressed to the Count de
Vergennes by the Chevalière, and preserved at the Ministère des Affaires
Étrangères._ Quoted by Gaillardet and De Broglie.
_Pièces Relatives aux Lettres, Mémoires et Négociations Particulières du
Chevalier D’Eon, etc. etc._ Londres, MDCCLXIV.
Rede, L. T., _Anecdotes and Biography, etc._ London, 1799.
Roche, James, _Critical and Miscellaneous Essays by an Octogenarian,
etc._ Cork, 1850. 2 vols.
Taylor, John, _Records of my Life, etc._ London, 1832. 2 vols.
Vandal, Albert, _Louis XV. et Elizabeth de Russie, etc._ Paris, 1882.
24 livres tournois = 1_l._ 1_s._
3 ditto = 1 écu
1 écu = 2_s._ 7½_d._
[Illustration]
CHARLES-GENEVIÈVE-LOUIS-AUGUSTE-ANDRÉ-TIMOTHÉE
CHARLOTTE-GENEVIÈVE-LOUISA-AUGUSTA-ANDRÉE-TIMOTHÉE-MARIE
D’EON DE BEAUMONT.
Doctor of Civil and of Canon Law, and Advocate of the Parliament of
Paris. Censor Royal for History and Belles-Lettres. Sent to Russia,
first secretly, then officially, with the Chevalier Douglas for the
Purpose of re-establishing friendly Relations between that Country
and France. Secretary of the Embassy Extraordinary at the Court of
Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Elizabeth. Captain of Dragoons and
Aide-de-Camp to Marshal the Duke and to the Count de Broglio. Secretary
of the Embassy Extraordinary from France to Great Britain for concluding
the Peace of 1763. Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis.
Resident, and afterwards Minister Plenipotentiary from France to Great
Britain, and, finally, a Lady at the Court of Marie Antoinette, and an
occasional and honoured Inmate at L’Abbaye Royale des Dames de Hautes
Bruyères, La Maison des Demoiselles de St. Cyr, and at the Monastère
des Filles de Ste. Marie.
THE CHEVALIER D’EON DE BEAUMONT.
CHAPTER I.
Birth of D’Eon de Beaumont and registry as a
male-child—Parentage—Consecrated to the Virgin Mary and
admitted to the Sisterhood—Pursues studies as a boy—Early
display of abilities—As secret agent, is sent to Russia
by Louis XV.—Reception at St. Petersburg—Enemies and
friends—Leaves for Versailles—Invited to enter the service of
Russia.
‘The deeper the search in the annals of my family,’ wrote the
subject of this Memoir, ‘the purer, more stainless, and more
distinguished will it prove to be. One member only, Eon de
l’Étoile,[1] was condemned by the Council of Rheims in the year
1148; but how many emperors, kings, and men of letters have
been condemned and proscribed by popes and councils, legally
or illegally. There is a vast difference between condemnation
by the priesthood for gross errors in matters of religion,
and condemnation by judges for the crimes of high treason,
assassination, murder, and poisoning.
‘The possession of a name and noble descent, of which the
origin is lost in obscurity, has ever been considered amongst
civilised nations a more respectable title than one of recent
date, owed to the favour of a king—favour accorded more
frequently to weakness than to courage, to vice than to virtue.
We know the secret motives by which kings are guided in their
public acts, since the time that they have become attended
by valets, mistresses, ministers, cabinet ministers, and
historiographers.’[2]
On the first page of a well-thumbed devotional pamphlet in MS., given to
D’Eon de Beaumont upon his entering the Collège Mazarin, at Paris, in
1740, appears the following in that person’s own hand:—
‘I was born on the 5th, and baptised on October 7, 1728, at the
parish church of Notre Dame, Tonnerre. I was confirmed in front
of the high altar of the parish church of St. Sulpitius in
Paris; and on Thursday, June 18, 1744, I communicated for the
first time in the chapel of the Virgin at the parish church of
St. Sulpitius, Paris.’[3]
The baptismal certificate is as follows:—
‘On October 7, 1728, was baptised
Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Thimothée, son of the
noble Louis Déon de Beaumont, director of the King’s demesnes,
and of dame Françoise de Charenton, his father and mother
legitimately married, born on the 5th of the present month.
His godfather is M. Charles Regnard, advocate of Parliament,
bailiff of Cruzy; and godmother, dame Geneviève Déon, wife of
M. Mouton, wine merchant at Paris, all of whom affix their
signatures:—
‘G. DÉON.
‘C. REGNARD.
‘MOUTON.
‘BORDES, Dean of Tonnerre.’
[Sidenote: PARENTAGE AND EARLY YEARS.]
Louis Déon de Beaumont was advocate in Parliament, King’s counsellor,
sub-delegate of the Intendance of the generality of Paris, and for
some time mayor of Tonnerre. His brothers were André-Thimothée Déon de
Tissey, advocate in Parliament, censor-royal, chief secretary of police
in Paris, and principal secretary to H.R.H. the Duke d’Orleans; Jacques
Déon de Pommard, advocate in Parliament, one of the first secretaries to
the Count d’Argenson, Minister of War; Michel Déon de Germigny, knight
of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, one of the twenty-five
gentlemen of the King’s Scottish Guard. They were the four sons of André
Déon, advocate in Parliament, who died in 1720; whose father was Louis
Déon, lord of Ramelu, esquire, captain of infantry: all of whom lie
interred within the church of L’Hôpital Notre Dame de Fontenilles, at
Tonnerre.[4]
In the preamble to her holograph will, headed ‘Soli
Deo Honor et Gloria,’ in which she styles herself
Charlotte-Geneviève-Louise-Augusta-Andrée-Timothea-Marie D’Eon de
Beaumont, it is stated:—
‘Although already provided with six names, my mother having
in her special devotion consecrated me in my infancy to the
Virgin, the additional name of Marie was given to me at my
confirmation by Panquet de Gersy, archbishop of Seurre. This
name has become precious to me, because Marie has become
my protectress in heaven, as Marie Antoinette was my queen
protectress on earth, after my return to France.’
In another place D’Eon states that when in her fourth year she was
publicly consecrated to the Virgin Mary, in front of the high altar, at a
solemn service held for the occasion. She wore the robe of the sisterhood
of the Virgin Mary until her seventh year, when she resumed boy’s
apparel by direction of her father. To her mother’s fervent devotion and
enlightened piety in the protection of the Virgin Mary was attributed
the safety of the ‘disguised daughter’ in all the perils she encountered
in the course of her extraordinary career—by sea and by land, at foreign
courts, at sieges, in combats and in battles.[5]
From the age of seven to twelve D’Eon remained in charge of M. Marceney,
curé of the Church of St. Peter, and was then sent to the Collège
Mazarin. He completed his studies with considerable credit, obtaining
the degrees of Doctor of Civil and of Canon Law, and being subsequently
called to the bar of the Parliament of Paris. He also became royal
censor for works on history and belles-lettres. In 1749, whilst serving
as secretary to M. Bertier de Savigny, he had the misfortune to lose in
the course of five days his father, an uncle, and an income of fifteen
thousand livres. Louis Déon had rendered himself so beloved by the poor
in his district that for some time after his death they used to resort
in crowds to his grave and weep over it, and lament the loss of their
friend and benefactor. It is related of him that when on his death-bed,
and after having received the last sacrament, he sent for his daughter
(afterwards the Chevalier), and taking her by the hand, said tenderly,
‘Do not be uneasy, my daughter—it is as natural to die as it is to live.
I am quitting a bad for a better land. I have been at much pains to teach
you how to live, and I must likewise teach you how to die.’ And giving
her his blessing, he expired.[6]
Although D’Eon had lost his father, he was not left friendless; for he
remained under the protection of several persons of influence, who had
known the relatives he had lost, there being amongst them the Prince de
Conti, the Abbé de Bernis (subsequently Minister for Foreign Affairs),
the Marshal de Belle-Isle (afterwards Minister for War), also the Duchess
de Penthièvre and the Count d’Ons-en-Bray, whose funeral eulogiums,
inserted in the ‘Année Littéraire,’ were the earliest products of his
pen. These writings were succeeded by an historical essay on finance in
France, and ‘Notes on the Life and Works of the celebrated Abbé Lenglet
de Fresnoy,’ printed in the ‘Année Littéraire’ for 1755, literary labours
which served to bring him into notice at an early age as a thoughtful and
careful writer.
D’Eon was passionately fond of study, and would only quit his books for
what became his sole recreation in life—the art of fencing, in which he
proved a great expert, as shown by his election to the superintendence
of the School of Arms. D’Eon’s tastes inclined him to a military life,
rather than to what the necessities of his situation were calling him;
but his destiny summoned him to take a part in the political transactions
of his country, with what success it is the object of this work to show.
[Sidenote: FRENCH ENVOYS TO RUSSIA.]
In his desire to renew with Russia the friendly relations interrupted
since the day when the Marquis de la Chétardie was unceremoniously
escorted to the frontier (June 13, 1744), Louis XV. had dispatched to St.
Petersburg, in the year 1754, the Chevalier de Valcroissant on a secret
mission for that purpose—a mission, however, that came to an untimely
end; for the Chevalier, being unprovided with any kind of credential or
letter of recommendation, was taken up on suspicion of being a French
spy, and confined in the fortress of Schlusselburg, on the Ladoga,
whence it was not deemed prudent, for the time being at least, to seek
to liberate him.[7] The Empress Elizabeth had already made advances of a
friendly nature to the French Court, and in view of her possible treaty
of subsidies with England, the King resolved upon another effort towards
reconciliation, taking more effectual precautions to ensure success.
The person selected for this important, secret, and even hazardous
service, was a native of North Britain, named Mackenzie, but known as
the Chevalier Douglas, who represented himself as having followed the
fortunes of the Pretender and obliged to seek refuge in France, bringing
with him ‘nothing but his nobility,’ when in reality he was a Jesuit in
disguise, had lived at Liège during the late war, employed as a spy by
Holland, and had afterwards entered the service of the Prince Waldeck.[8]
When invited to proceed to Russia he was tutor in the family of the
Intendant of Paris, and passing under the name of Michel.
The importance and delicate nature of the negotiations upon which Douglas
was about to be employed—and not Douglas only, but D’Eon also, sent
with the King’s approval, at the strong recommendation of the Prince
de Conti (whose special _protégé_ he was), to accompany Douglas—will
best be estimated upon knowledge of the instructions—widely though
they differed—supplied for their respective guidance. They show that
whilst Douglas was secretly to watch and note events as an apparently
indifferent observer, it was intended that D’Eon should pass his time
in closest intimacy with such Russian ministers as might be favourably
disposed towards France, and reach, were it possible, even the Empress
herself.
[Sidenote: THE CHEVALIER DOUGLAS’ INSTRUCTIONS.]
_Instructions to the Chevalier Douglas on proceeding to Russia._
‘June 1, 1755.
‘The general situation of Europe, the troubles in Poland during
the past year, others apprehended in the same quarter, the part
taken in them by the Court of Petersburg, the probability that
it is about to conclude, shortly, a treaty of subsidies with
England through the Chevalier Williams, appointed Ambassador
by his Britannic Majesty to the Emperor of Russia; everything
points to the necessity for watching the proceedings and
attitude of that Court with the closest attention.
‘His Majesty has not been represented there by any ambassador,
minister, or even a consul, for a long time past, so that
its condition is almost entirely unknown, especially as the
character of the people, and the jealous and suspicious
despotism of their ministers, disallows such correspondence as
is customary in other countries.
‘It is considered desirable to despatch a competent person,
with the view of obtaining reliable information on what is
passing at the Court of Russia; he will not let it appear
that he is in any public or private capacity, and will return
immediately to make his report. A Frenchman would not answer
the purpose. Notwithstanding the friendship which the Empress
of Russia is supposed to entertain towards his Majesty, and her
partiality towards the French nation, a subject of the King
would be watched too closely by the ministry in Russia to be
of any service, under whatsoever pretext he might cloak the
object of his journey. It is on this account that —— has been
chosen, who, being a subject of the King of Great Britain, will
not excite suspicion. The favourable reports that have been
received of his intelligence and zeal give reason to hope that
he will execute this commission with success.
‘It is intended that he should take his departure in the
quietest manner possible, as a gentleman travelling solely
for his health and amusement. Such is the custom amongst many
of his countrymen, so that he will not attract attention.
He must not appear to have any relations with his Majesty’s
ministers, whether in France or in the course of his travels,
and he must not see any of them at the several places through
which he will pass. He will be supplied with an ordinary
passport. To avoid being interrogated at any of the great
courts in Germany, his presence perhaps exciting curiosity,
it is desirable that he should enter Germany through Swabia,
whence he will pass into Bohemia under pretext of visiting for
his own instruction the several mines in that kingdom. His
acquaintance with mineralogy will afford a pretext for this
journey. From Bohemia he will pass into Saxony, visiting the
mines at Freiberg for similar reasons. Having there satisfied
his curiosity, he will go on to Dantzig, either by way of
Silesia, Warsaw, and Thorn, or by Brandenburghian Pomerania,
proceeding to Frankfort-on-the-Oder, and thence to Dantzig by
such route as may best suit him. He will make a stay of some
days in this city for the purpose of thoroughly examining the
causes that have led for some years past to the continued
strife between the chief magistrate and the burgesses, and to
discover, if possible, the cause of these dissensions, what it
is that foments them, and if they are encouraged by any foreign
power. Thence he will continue his journey through Prussia
and Courland, where he will also make a stay under pretext of
needing rest; but for the purpose of learning the state of that
duchy, what the nobles think of the exile and deposition of the
Prince of Courland, and the views of the Russian Ministry for
the government of that principality. He will also make himself
acquainted with the manner in which justice and the revenues
are there administered, and the number of Russian troops in
occupation. From Courland he will pass into Livonia, and follow
the high road to St. Petersburg. His first care on arrival
will be to make known, without any affectation, the reasons
for undertaking his journey, which is one of pure curiosity.
He will endeavour to make the acquaintance of those able to
supply him with the information of which he is in search. He
cannot observe too great caution in his mode of procedure to
obtain information; he must not evince partiality for any one
nation more than for another. Although the causes that have
necessitated his departure from England would appear to prevent
him from making the acquaintance of the Chevalier Williams;
still, if as he asserts, he is quite unknown, he might make it
a point to see him as every Englishman would his minister. He
will make himself acquainted as secretly as possible with the
success of that minister’s negotiations for the troops with
which England is to be supplied, and with the number of troops
that Russia has actually at command; with the condition of her
fleets, her ships and galleys; with the state of her finance,
commerce, and the disposition of the nation towards the present
ministry; the degree of Count Bestoujeff’s influence; that
of Count Woronzoff; of the Empress’ favourites, whether in
affairs of State or in the pursuit of pleasure; their probable
influence on ministers; the concord or jealousy that exists
amongst ministers, and their bearing towards the favourites;
with the fate of Prince Ivan, the late Tzar, and of the Duke
of Brunswick, his father; the affection of the nation towards
the Grand Duke of Russia, and especially since the birth of
his son; whether Prince Ivan has secret partisans, and if they
are supported by England; the desire of the Russians to live
in peace, and of their disinclination for war, more especially
in Germany; the views of Russia in regard to Poland, for the
present, and in whatsoever eventuality in the future; with her
projects on Sweden; with the impression produced by the death
of the Sultan Mahmoud, and Osman’s accession to the throne;
with her conduct in regard to the Porte; with the causes that
have led to the recall from the Ukraine of Count Razoumoffsky,
hetman of Cossacks; with what is thought of the loyalty of
those people, and the manner in which they are treated by the
Court of Petersburg; with the Empress’ sentiments towards
France, and those with which she is in all probability inspired
by her ministry, to prevent her from renewing correspondence
with his Majesty; with the factions by which the Court may be
divided; with those of her subjects, male or female, in whom
the Empress is able to confide; with her sentiments and those
of her ministers towards the Courts of Vienna and London;
with all, in short, that can be of interest to his Majesty’s
service, and satisfy his curiosity. He will obtain all this
information so far as such an uncommunicative country will
allow him to. He will take notes on all these subjects to
serve for a memoir which he will draw up, and send to France
only after he will have quitted Russia, unless the Swedish
minister at Petersburg, who will receive instructions to
forward despatches to Stockholm by courier, should send any to
Sweden. He must never risk anything through the ordinary post
except notice of his arrival, and a report of the progress he
is making in obtaining information as required above; and to
do this he must employ, in a few words, figurative language,
agreed upon beforehand, and send his letters to addresses with
which he will be furnished.
‘So soon as he feels that he has fairly well obtained all the
required information, he will make a report to that effect, and
will then receive orders to return to France, either by the
same route or through Sweden, again under pretext of visiting
mines, that he may continue to conceal the real object of his
journey. On the manner in which he will execute so important
and delicate a commission, will depend the prospect of his
Majesty again making use of his talents and zeal, as also the
favours with which his Majesty will mark his appreciation of
his services.’
[Sidenote: SECRET AGENT TO LOUIS XV.]
_Figurative language to be employed by the Chevalier Douglas in
his correspondence committed to the ordinary post._
‘The basis of the figurative language will be the purchase of
furs. The “black fox” will signify the Chevalier Williams; if
he succeeds, the “black fox” will be dear, because orders to
purchase have been received from England.
‘The words “ermine is in demand,” will signify that the Russian
party dominates, and that consequently no foreigners are in
favour. If, on the contrary, the Austrian party, at the head
of which is M. de Bestucheff, preponderates, word must be sent
that the “lynx” is also in demand.
‘To designate the waning influence of M. de Bestucheff, this
phrase is to be employed: “the price of _sobols_ or sables
is falling;” or “they stand at the same price,” to indicate
that his influence continues the same. “Squirrel skins”
are to signify troops in the pay of England. To understand
this clearly, the number of skins to be sent will always be
augmented by two-thirds to signify the number of troops, so
that ten skins will signify thirty thousand men, and twenty,
sixty or seventy.
‘—— will not write to say that he will send the furs, but he
will simply advise that he will bring them with him upon his
return.
‘In passing through Dantzig —— will send one of his servants
to Graudenz, a small town in Polish Prussia, there to post a
letter, in which he will advise as to what he may have learnt
at Dantzig on the subject of the existing dissensions between
the chief magistrate and the burgesses. This letter to be
addressed to ——.
‘These letters will be in the form of bills of exchange, and
according to the greater or less success in the inquiries made,
upon which will depend the length of stay; notice should be
given whether or no remittances are needed. If nothing can
be done, —— will report that the climate is injurious to his
health, and that he is in want of a remittance to enable him to
go elsewhere.
‘If —— is not to go to Sweden, he will receive for answer that
since his health suffers, it is considered to his advantage
that he should return directly. If, on the contrary, it is
deemed expedient that he should proceed, the same will be
intimated to him in the form of advice. If it is considered
necessary that he should return, the remark will be made to him
that a muff has been obtained here, and that consequently he is
requested not to purchase one.
‘The whole of this, written in small characters and epitomised,
will be placed by —— in the false bottom of a tortoise-shell
snuff-box, which will not induce any suspicion.’[9]
The duties confided to D’Eon were entirely distinct and of a more
intimate nature. He was supplied by M. Tercier, chief clerk at the
Foreign Office and in charge of the King’s secret correspondence, with a
quarto copy of Montesquieu’s ‘Esprit des Lois,’ the binding, in double
boards, being cunningly devised to hold papers. The documents thus
concealed and entrusted to D’Eon included private letters from the King
to the Empress Elizabeth; a cypher for the intelligence of her Imperial
Majesty and Count Woronzoff, the Vice-Chancellor, in their correspondence
with Louis XV.;[10] a cypher for D’Eon’s own correspondence with the King
and Tercier, and another cypher for D’Eon’s use in communicating with the
Prince de Conti, Tercier, and M. Monin. He received strict injunctions
that none of the King’s ministers, not even any ambassador his Majesty
might have at St. Petersburg, should be allowed to entertain the
slightest suspicion of this secret intercourse; he was ordered to furnish
the King with copies of all letters received from the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, together with the Ambassador’s replies, noting thereon
his own observations, and he was further required to thwart clandestinely
any transactions on the part of the King’s ministers, so long as they
were in opposition to the secretly known royal will and pleasure.[11]
Douglas then left Paris in the summer of 1755 as a British tourist, an
amateur geologist travelling in search of health and amusement, and
having got to Anhalt, he there waited until D’Eon joined him. Proceeding
on his journey, Douglas strictly followed the route traced out in his
instructions, and when at Dantzig, where as at Amsterdam and Leipzig
he had large credits, he announced his intention to visit the mines in
Sweden; but suddenly changing his mind, he started for St. Petersburg,
where he arrived in the earliest days of October. He lost no time in
making his appearance at the British embassy, and introducing himself as
a subject of the King and a relative of the Earl of Morton, requested Sir
Hanbury Williams to present him at Court. This the British Ambassador
refused to do unless he was properly assured of his identity. Scarcely
was Douglas gone, than the Swedish minister called to ask Sir Hanbury
whether he objected to his presenting the Chevalier Douglas at Court. Sir
Hanbury promptly replied that he did not see what business the Swedish
minister had to present the King’s subjects, and if he ever attempted
such a thing, he would take it very ill; upon which the Swedish minister
said that he should no longer meddle in the affair. Douglas then went
to see Count Esterhazy, the Ambassador from Vienna, whose suspicions he
immediately awakened by explaining his presence at St. Petersburg as due
to the advice of his physicians that he should seek a cold climate for
the benefit of his health. Finding all access to the Russian Court thus
closed against him, Douglas precipitately left the capital and returned
to France, bitterly complaining of Sir Hanbury’s treatment in every town
through which he passed.[12]
[Sidenote: AT THE COURT OF RUSSIA.]
We are left quite in the dark as to the means by which D’Eon succeeded in
obtaining admission at Court, but the matter was doubtless arranged by
the Vice-Chancellor Woronzoff, friendly to France, through the Swedish
minister, to whom Douglas had brought letters of introduction from the
Swedish minister at Paris, or possibly through Michel, a French banker,
as stated by La Messalière. There is good evidence in support of the
tradition that D’Eon was received by the Empress in female habiliments,
that in this disguise she ingratiated herself with her Majesty, gained
her confidence, and interesting her in the object of his mission, had
succeeded in reviving her old feelings of attachment towards France and
towards Louis XV., her suitor of days gone by.[13] It is certain that
the ill-humour and coldness of the Russian Court towards England in the
course of the year 1756, was of much earlier date than the Neutrality
Convention between Prussia and England (January 16, 1756), and this was
attributed by Sir Hanbury, together with the Empress’s delay in signing
the ratifications to her Treaty of Subsidies with Great Britain, entirely
to the success of French influence after Douglas had first made his
appearance;[14] but Douglas not being at all in Russia between the end
of October 1755, and the end of April 1756, such exercise of French
influence could only have been due to elaborate intrigues on the part of
D’Eon during the several months he spent at Court as reader (_lecteur_)
to the Empress,[15] an appointment conferred upon him, perhaps, with the
design of cloaking his real profession.
In early life D’Eon was of peculiarly prepossessing appearance; his
manners were gentle and engaging, his disposition soft and amiable, all
of which, with his general physique, eminently adapted him to personify a
female; and if there is no direct proof in substantiation of the oft-told
tale that D’Eon appeared at the Court of Elizabeth in female attire,
there is at least valuable evidence in support of it.
It may be mentioned in regard to D’Eon’s looks, that during his second
stay at St. Petersburg, when secretary of Embassy, a Russian officer one
day observed to him that with his hair so neatly powdered he greatly
resembled the infant Jesus. D’Eon, who throughout his career showed the
greatest aversion to any kind of remark on his feminine appearance, and
disliked, besides, all that was Russian, very pertly replied: ‘Yes, you
are right, for I happen to be in a very dirty manger.’[16]
[Illustration: _To face page 14._
D’EON DE BEAUMONT.
AGED 25.
_See Appendix._]
During Douglas’ absence D’Eon was putting his intelligence and tact
to the best use in the service of his master, his task being rendered
somewhat easier by Elizabeth’s kindly feelings towards France and the
French, which had never entirely changed,[17] even though her two
favourites, the Marquis de la Chétardie and the Count Lestocq, had long
since been disposed of; the first, as already stated, by being thrust
out of the empire, the latter—of whom in allusion to his treachery her
Majesty said: ‘If Lestocq could have poisoned all Russia with one dose,
he would assuredly have done so’—by being tortured and exiled to Oustouk.
D’Eon had wisely commenced by insinuating himself in the good graces of
the Vice-Chancellor, whose predilections were completely French, and who
being married to the Countess Skavronsky, a cousin of the Empress, proved
his powerful support and shield against the Grand Chancellor Bestoujeff
Riumin, the known leader of the Prussian party hostile to France.
But five years before this Bestoujeff had so effectually prejudiced the
mind of Elizabeth against Prussia, that her ambassador, Gross, very
hastily and unceremoniously took his departure one morning from Berlin,
without in the least troubling himself to announce his intentions to
anybody. Since that time, Bestoujeff fancied he saw good cause for
changing his views.
[Sidenote: THE GRAND-DUCHESS CATHERINE.]
Peter, the son of Anna Petrovna, by her marriage with Charles
Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, could never forget his German
birth and parentage, and even after being created a Grand Duke of
Russia, he continued to attach far greater importance to his title of
Holstein-Gottorp, remaining perfectly indifferent to the interests
of the Russian people, and maintaining about him a suite and retinue
consisting entirely of Germans. His consort, Catherine of Anhalt-Zerbst
(afterwards Catherine II.), sought, on the contrary, to identify herself
with the country of her adoption, embracing the religion, and following
the manners and customs of the people. Politically, she desired a good
understanding with England, entirely deprecating alliance with France
and Austria; and when the report of the probable arrival of a French
ambassador was gaining ground, she expressed her uneasiness to Sir
Hanbury, saying she should act up to anything he might suggest to prevent
such a thing. Sir Hanbury reminded Catherine that her known confidence
in Bestoujeff had made the Schouvaloffs her secret enemies; but that the
latter, in themselves, had neither sense, courage, nor money enough to do
any harm to her succession, although the arrival of a French ambassador
might change the scene, for he would do all in his power, sparing neither
pains nor money, to injure her. Catherine’s feelings were perfectly
well known to Elizabeth, who used to say of her that ‘she was a clever
woman, only she prided herself on being more clever than anybody else.’
The most powerful man at Court because the greatest favourite was Ivan
Schouvaloff. He was fond of everything that was French, understood their
language, followed all their fashions, and was known to have always
wished that a French ambassador might arrive at St. Petersburg. Small
causes produce great effects, and the reconciliation proceeding between
Russia and France was partly owing to the caprice of that young man.[18]
[Sidenote: RETURN TO VERSAILLES.]
Bestoujeff, foreseeing the more probable course of events, seized the
opportunity for turning his coat, and assuring the grand-duchess of
his devotion to her person and to her views, and for expressing to the
grand-duke, her husband, his own desire for the maintenance of good
relations with Prussia. English, French, Austrian, and even Prussian
gold was being freely scattered at St. Petersburg,[19] but in the end
D’Eon, Schouvaloff, and Woronzoff obtained every advantage over the
grand-ducal party. Consenting to receive a French representative at
her Court, Elizabeth wrote privately to Louis XV. to that effect, the
letter being carried to its destination by D’Eon, in his volume ‘Esprit
des Lois,’ after Douglas’ return from Versailles. We cannot undertake
to fix the date of D’Eon’s departure from St. Petersburg nearer than
that a letter of June 12, 1756, from Sir Hanbury Williams to the Earl
of Holdernesse, announces ‘a creature of the Vice-Chancellor is soon to
set out from hence to Paris to negotiate this affair.’ In parting with
D’Eon, the Empress invited him to enter her service, promising honourable
and lucrative employment; but D’Eon was too deeply attached to his own
country to entertain such a proposal; and resisting the offer, said
that the renewal of friendly relations between the two countries, the
advantages of which he had already pointed out, would afford him the
opportunity for serving the interests of Russia without neglecting those
of the Court of France; a reply which served to increase the esteem
already entertained for him by Elizabeth.