PARIS, Wednesday, February 16, 1689.
The chevalier is still at Versailles, but I expect him this evening.
The marquis dined with me the other day; I conversed a good deal with
him, and I can assure you, with much satisfaction. There is an air of
truth and modesty in all he says, which does not in the least resemble
the style of these thoughtless youths who always appear fools or liars.
He related to me all the fatigues of his journey to Philipsburg, which
were very great; little D’Auvergne had the fever for four days, from
mere weariness; the marquis is strong, and bears this first trial with
great courage; he told me his other adventures, gave me an account of
all the blows that were given on each side of him, and the contusion he
received; and this, without ostentation, with a cool composed air of
veracity, which is highly pleasing. I love to converse with him, and
lose no opportunity of doing it; he supped yesterday with M. Turgot,
and some young folks, at the rich little La Martillière’s; he returned
at midnight. He is gone to the horse-market, being wholly taken up with
his company; he will write to you to-night: he loves you, and knows
your extreme affection; you do nothing for him to which he is not as
sensible as you can possibly wish: it is not even necessary to rouse
him upon this subject.
I dined yesterday with Mademoiselle de Boileau; it was a company
of wits; the Abbé de Polignac, the Abbé de Rohan, his doctor, Abbé
David, and Corbinelli. After dinner they discussed, very pleasantly,
the philosophy of your Father Descartes; it was with great difficulty
they could comprehend the motion God gives to a ball that is pushed by
another; they would have it that the first communicated its motion,
and you know how the Abbé Polignac and Corbinelli exclaimed upon the
occasion: this diverted me, and brought my dear little Cartesian to my
remembrance, whom even I could understand so readily. From thence I
went to Madame de la Fayette’s where, by good fortune, I found only M.
de Pomponne and M. de Barillon: we spent two hours very agreeably, and
the more so as we are seldom so fortunate. They say that the English
parliament has made the Prince of Orange king, because the former king
has deserted his kingdom, _and broken the treaty between sovereign and
subjects_; that his flight is an _abdication_; that they are determined
to render the throne elective; and that the parliament would not
allow the Princess of Orange to be queen: these were the reports of
yesterday, The chevalier will bring us news from Versailles. Some say
with regard to the King of England’s apathy, that by hearing him talk,
it is easy to guess why he is here.