are indulg'd, of coming in for a Game and away, renders them fawcy. That
noted Comedian _Baron_, the greatest Coxcomb of all Men living before the
_Quinaults_, was one Day at the House of the Prince _de Conti_, the same
that had been chose King of _Poland_, where they were playing at
Lansquenet. _Baron_, pulling his Purse out with a careless Air, said to
the Prince, _Ten Lewis D'Ors upon the Knave, +M. de Conti+. Done,
+Britannicus+_, said the Prince _de Conti_, who knew that _Baron_ had
been just acting that Part in a Play. It is certain, that at many of the
Womens Houses, the Gamesters are as much pamper'd as a Father Confessor is
by his Female Votary. A greet many Houses subsist here by the Emoluments
of Gaming, where, were it not for the Money arising from their Cards,
their Suppers would be very light, and many that now ride wou'd go on
Foot. The Duke _de Gevres_, Governor of _Paris_, and the Prince _de
Carignan_, who have a Grant for licensing all manner of Gaming, have
farm'd it out, and get 120,000 Livres a-piece by it clear Money; which one
shall hardly find in any City in the World.
This Gaming puts me in mind of a Lottery they have here every Month, which
is a Sort of Game too, where the Banker is the greatest Gainer. These
Lotteries have been set on foot by the Parson of the Parish of St.
_Sulpice_, to help build his Church, and twenty Sols is the Price of each
Ticket; but they prove the utter Undoing of many a Lacquey and
Maid-Servant; which made a Friend of mine say, that the Parson of St.
_Sulpice_, out of Gratitude to the poor Devils, for burying their Wages in
his Lottery, could do no less, when they die, than bury their Carcases for
nothing. This Lottery is worth to the Parson about 20,000 Livres a Month,
besides the Sums he gets from the pious Contributions of several Persons
zealous for the House of God: Nevertheless these Works go on so slowly,
that the Parson's Trowel is not like to be laid aside yet-a-while, tho',
if his Church be ever finished, 'twill be the greatest and the finest in
the Kingdom; for all the new Works are design'd by _Giles Maria Oppenord_,
the Duke of _Orleans_'s chief Architect, and one of the most skilful of
his Profession in _France_.
The Parsonage of St. _Sulpice_ is the most considerable, not only of
_Paris_, but perhaps of _Europe_; for it brings in the Parson as much as
some good Dioceses do their Bishops. The Right of Presentation to it is in
the Abbat and Friers of the Abbey of St. _Germain_. The present Incumbent
is M. _Languet de Gergy_, who has one Brother that is Bishop of
_Soissons_[44], and another now an Ambassador at _Venice_[45]. The
Vigilance both of the Pastor, and of the Priests whom he employs for
administring the Sacraments, cannot but be commended: The latter form a
numerous Society, attend their Function with Application, and Divine
Service is perform'd in the Church with very great Edification. The
Society, and several Seminaries join'd to it, form together the most
numerous Body of Clergy in all the Kingdom. The Seminary of St. _Sulpice_
is one of the most frequented, because the Ecclesiastical Discipline is
there taught and practis'd with Care; perhaps too, because Subjects are
often taken from thence for the chief Dignities of the Church. Nothing is
more edifying than to see the Procession of this Parish upon the Day of
_Corpus Christi_, when there's a numerous Appearance of the Clergy in
magnificent Copes: The Canopy, under which the Holy Sacrament is carry'd,
is extraordinary rich. Twenty-four young Clergymen go before the Holy
Sacrament, and twelve always walk backward, perfuming the Host, as they
go, with Censers of Silver. There is not a Procession in the Kingdom that
is made with more Dignity and Order[46]. With your Favour, I will conclude
this Letter with the bare Mention of this Sacred Ceremony. As I propose
to go to-morrow to _Versailles_, I shall send you what Observations I make
there. I am, _&c._
[Illustration]
LETTER XL.
_SIR_, _Versailles, April 15, 1732._
I have been now just ten Days at _Versailles_, where I have had the Honour
of greeting the King and Queen, and all the Royal Family. I perceiv'd the
King since his Marriage is grown very fat, but he is still one of the
finest Princes in _Europe_. It may be said of _Lewis_ XV. that he is a
Prince born without Vice, and free from that Haughtiness, which is
commonly attach'd to Royalty: He is familiar with his Courtiers, reserv'd
to Persons that are unknown to him, and particularly to Ambassadors, and
more secret and circumspect than Persons of his Age. He has the Morals,
Behaviour, and Sentiments of a good Man, and from thence _France_ may
expect his Reign will be gentle and peaceful. It appears, as if _Lewis_
XV. will be content with the Government of one of the most powerful
Monarchies of the World, and that he will not be inclin'd to disturb
_Europe_, for the sake of conquering a Town or a Province. He has been
educated in such Sentiments of Justice, that his Neighbours ought not to
be afraid of him, since God has undoubtedly chose him to be one of the
Arbitrators of _Europe_, in order for the Preservation, and not for the
Destruction of Equity: _Lewis_ the _Pacific_ and the _Debonaire_ will be
his distinguishing Titles: Must not these be dearer to his Subjects, than
the bloody Title of _Lewis_ the _Conqueror_? And may he not be great, and
at the same time a Lover of Peace? Hitherto the King seems to follow the
Plans of Government chalk'd out by the late Duke of _Burgundy_, his
Father, whose Wisdom is still rever'd by _France_. God grant that he may
always take them for his Models, and that his Reign may be long, and end
as glorious as it begun!
I never cast my Eyes upon _Lewis_ XV. without admiring the Providence
which has preserv'd him, contrary to the People's Expectation. I have had
the Honour to see him Duke of _Anjou_, his Brother, the Duke of
_Bretagne_, being then alive. I have seen him the Dauphin of _France_, and
at length I have seen him on the Throne: He had at one time a pale
Complexion, which did not promise long Life. What Diseases has he not
labour'd under! yet he now enjoys a perfect State of Health, and the
Crown, which was so likely to devolve to collateral Branches, is
establish'd upon the Head of this young Prince, and like to descend to his
own Posterity. In fine, a King of _France_, Father of five Children living
before he is twenty Years of Age, is such a Phænomenon as is hardly to be
parallell'd in antient or modern History, and 'tis in my Opinion more
extraordinary even than the advanc'd Age, and the long Reign of his
Great-Grandfather.
The Queen is a Princess of exemplary Virtue, whose sole Application is to
discharge her Duties to God, the King, and her Children: She is extremely
gracious and civil, and has a great Happiness of expressing herself in the
_French_, _German_, and _Polish_ Languages: She had formerly a great Taste
for Music, and is now fond of Reading; but being entirely conformable to
her Husband's Sentiments, she takes no manner of Share in the Government:
She loves no Pageantry nor Ceremony, and the Rank of being the first Queen
in the World seems to have no other Effect upon her, than to render her
Virtues more venerable and conspicuous.
As for the Children of _France_, they are as yet too young to be
characteris'd. Mean time I assure you, 'tis a fine Sight to see them going
to the Queen's Apartment, or running along the Gallery, with at least
forty Attendants in their Train, including the Ladies and Chambermaids.
The Person intrusted with the Care of the Education of the Children of
_France_ is the Duchess _de Ventadour_; but as she is very far advanced in
Years, and not able to be with them every-where, the Duchess of _Tallard_,
her Grand-daughter, is join'd with her in the Commission. This Lady is the
Daughter of the Prince _de Rohan_, Brother to the Cardinal: The Choice
which has been made of her to succeed the Duchess of _Ventadour_, has been
applauded by the whole Court; and in short, there are few Ladies that have
a more noble Carriage, more Politeness, and sublimer Sentiments: And 'tis
very remarkable, that since the Birth of the Dauphin, _Lewis_ XIVth's only
Son, the Mother, the Daughter, and the Grand-daughter have always been
trusted with the Education of the Children of _France_.
Her Royal Highness, the Widow of the Regent, who is Daughter to _Lewis_
XIV. by Madame _de Montespan_, is the first in Rank at Court, and she is
the only Princess that has a Right to sit at Table with their Majesties,
when they dine in State; but 'tis a Prerogative that she does not often
make use of, because she has such a Dislike to Dress, that she appears
little at Court; and when she comes to the King or Queen, 'tis in private:
She commonly resides at _Paris_, or at _Bagnolet_[47]: She is the only
Princess of the Kingdom that has Guards, and enjoys the Honours of a
Daughter of _France_. King _Lewis_ XIV. granted all these great
Distinctions to the late Duke of _Orleans_, in Favour of this Marriage, to
which that Prince agreed against the Consent of his late Father, and the
express Prohibition of his Mother; who was so exasperated against her Son,
for not resisting _Lewis_ XIVth's Will and Pleasure, that she lifted up
her Hand against him, when he told her that he was just marry'd, would not
see her Daughter-in-law for a long time, and never could endure the
Thoughts of the Match, till she saw her Grand-daughter marry'd to the Duke
of _Berry_. Since that time, she has not been so strongly prejudic'd
against her, but acknowledges her Royal Highness's Virtues, and always
kept a good Correspondence with her. This Princess lives very retir'd in
the Midst of the Court, and is very much employ'd in Works of Piety.
Her Son, the Duke of _Orleans_, is a Prince of exemplary Devotion, being
almost continually at Prayer, or performing Works of Charity: He made two
or three Attempts to retire from the World, but the King thinking his
Presence necessary in his Council, would not consent to it. His most
serene Highness is the first Prince of the Blood, and Governor of
_Dauphiny_; and he was once Colonel and Captain General of the _French_
Infantry, but he resign'd that Post some Years ago. This Prince marry'd
the Princess of _Baden_, by whom he has a Son styl'd Duke of _Chartres_, a
hopeful young Prince, who is educated at St. _Cloud_, remote from the
Grandeur and Hurry of the Court.
The Duke of _Orleans_ has also four Sisters in the Kingdom, the eldest of
whom is the Abbess _de Chelles_, who was formerly styl'd Mademoiselle _de
Chartres_. This Princess, in spite of all the Persuasions of the late
Regent and the Duchess, who did their utmost to divert her from it, took
the Habit of a Nun, tho' she was one of the most amiable Princesses in
_Europe_, and might have made a great Prince happy.
The second Sister is the Queen of _Spain_, the Dowager of _Lewis_ I. whom
she marry'd when he was Prince of _Asturias_, before his Father resign'd
the Crown of _Spain_ to him; but the young King did not live long to enjoy
it, and after his Death, the young Queen Dowager having a Desire to return
to _France_, their Catholic Majesties consented to it, and the King of
_France_ allow'd her the Castle of _Vincennes_ to reside in, where for
some time she liv'd: She had not been there many Weeks, when she receiv'd
a Visit from the King, who said, before he went, that his Visit would be
short. _I am not very talkative_, said his Majesty, _and they say, that
the Queen of +Spain+ does not talk at all; so that I don't believe we
shall have much Conversation_: And indeed the Visit was very short. The
Queen receiv'd the King at the Step of the Coach, and the King taking her
by the Hand, led her into his Chamber, where two Arm-Chairs were plac'd
for them under a Canopy. The King seated himself on the Right Hand, and
after a few Words spoke by the Duke _de Bourbon_, and the Duke _de
Noailles_, who, as Captain of the Guards, stood behind the King's Chair,
his Majesty rose, and went away with the same Ceremonies as he came. Some
time after this, the Queen of _Spain_ went to visit the King, when her
Guards were plac'd in all the Posts of _Versailles_, the King's Guards
being order'd to make room for them. The King receiv'd the Queen as she
alighted from the Coach, and every thing pass'd with the same Formality as
at _Vincennes_. The Queen of _Spain_, after some Stay at the Castle of
_Vincennes_, went to live in those Apartments at _Luxembourg_, which had
been the Residence of her Sister the Duchess of _Berry_; but some time ago
she retir'd to a Convent, and her Family, which was at first exceeding
numerous, was very much reduc'd. If we except the vain Honours of Royalty,
she would have been far more happy, if she had never been a Queen; for
then she might have marry'd again; whereas now she must continue a Widow,
and pass the Prime of her Days in Solitude and Retirement.
The third Sister of the Duke of _Orleans_ is Mademoiselle _de Beaujolois_,
who was design'd as a Match for the Infante, Don _Carlos_; but when the
Infanta of _Spain_ was sent back from _France_, return'd to this Kingdom
with the Queen, her Sister: She is one of the most beautiful and most
amiable Princesses upon Earth, worthy to reign, and worthy of the
Infante[48].
Mademoiselle _d'Orleans_[49], her Sister, is a very charming Princess,
with an exceeding graceful Air, and Behaviour fully answerable to her
Birth.
Next to the Family of _Orleans_, the first in Rank is that of _Conde_,
which consists of three Princes, and six Princesses: The Duke _de Bourbon_
is the chief, who is great Steward of the King's Houshold, and Governor of
_Burgundy_, His Highness lost one Eye in Hunting, by an unfortunate Shot
from the Duke of _Berry_: He was marry'd very young to Mademoiselle _de
Conti_ his Cousin, who died without Issue. He was also but young when he
made the Campaigns in _Germany_, in Company with his Brother-in-law the
Prince of _Conti_. After the Decease of _Lewis_ XIV. the Duke went to Law
with the legitimated Princes, and caus'd the Duke _de Maine_ to be
degraded from the Rank of Prince of the Blood, to which he had been
promoted by an Arret solemnly register'd in Parliament during the Life of
the late King. The Duke of _Bourbon_ demanded, as first Prince of the
Blood, whom he then represented, by reason of the tender Age of the Duke
of _Chartres_, now Duke of _Orleans_, to have the Superintendance of the
King's Education, to which Post the Duke _de Maine_ had been nominated by
the late King's last Will: He obtain'd his Demand, and the Duke _de Maine_
retir'd to _Seaux_. The Duke _de Bourbon_ had after this a great Share in
the Affairs of the Regency, and the Duke of _Orleans_ took care to keep
him in good Humour. At the unexpected Death of the Regent, the Duke, being
then at _Versailles_, went to the King, and demanded the Post of Prime
Minister, vacant by the Death of his Royal Highness, and obtain'd it. The
late M. _de la Vrilliere_, Secretary of State, being perhaps a little too
forgetful of his Obligations to the Son of a Prince who had heap'd Favours
upon him, drew up the Patent instantly, and caus'd it to be sign'd by the
King, before the Duke of _Chartres_, who was at the Opera at _Paris_,
could hear the News of his Father's Death; so that tho' he went Post to
_Versailles_, and demanded the Office of First Minister, the Duke of
_Bourbon_ told him, that the King had dispos'd of it to himself. The Duke
was no sooner vested with the Authority of Prime Minister, than he made
great Alterations in the Government; but these are the Subject of History
rather than of a Letter. M. _le Blanc_, who had been Secretary at War,
and was the Darling of the Officers, was committed to the _Bastille_; and
M. _de Breteuil_, who had been formerly Master of the Requests, and
Intendant of _Tours_, succeeded him in that Office; which was the
Consequence of a Misunderstanding, or rather a Hatred, between two Ladies,
who were the Mistresses, the one of the Duke of _Bourbon_, the other of M.
_le Blanc_. All the Friends of the latter, among whom was M. the Count _de
Belle-Isle_, shared in his Disgrace. The four Brothers of the Name of
_Paris_ had the Management of the Finances, of which Brothers two had been
Soldiers in the Guards; but they had the Cunning to extricate themselves
from that melancholy State, and to render themselves necessary to the
Government during the Time of the Regency. M. _d'Argenson_ Keeper of the
Seals had been their Patron, and rais'd them upon the Ruins of Mr. _John
Law_, and his System. Whatever was done by these Brothers is foreign to my
Purpose: Their rapid Fortune drew Envy upon them, and they soon became the
Objects of the public Hatred.
The most remarkable Transactions of the Duke's Administration, were the
sending back of the Infanta, and the Marriage of the King. The Duke,
foreseeing the Inconveniencies to which _France_ would be liable, if the
King should die without Issue, thought it best to prevent so fatal an
Accident, which it had not been possible for him to have done without
marrying the King. The Infanta of _Spain_ was a Child, and it would be at
least eight Years before they could hope for any Issue from her; whereas
by marrying the King to another speedily, there was a Chance of having a
Dauphin very soon, who would secure the Tranquillity of the Kingdom. His
most Serene Highness therefore propos'd this Affair to the Council, which
at first he found very much divided about it; for they were apprehensive
of the Resentment of the King of _Spain_, and the Duke himself was
heartily sorry, that he was under a Necessity of giving their Catholic
Majesties just Cause of Disgust for the sake of the public Good: The
Council being at last agreed, they pass'd a Resolution unanimously to send
back the Infanta. This was accordingly notified to the Court of _Spain_,
where News so unexpected was receiv'd with all the Indignation possible.
The Infanta was sent back. The Duchess of _Tallard_ had the Care of
conducting her to the _Spanish_ Frontier. All the Honours due to the
Daughter of a great King were paid to this Princess, and every thing that
could be thought of, was done to soften the Displeasure of their Catholic
Majesties for her Return. All _France_ murmur'd in secret at the Departure
of this Princess; for she had won the Hearts of all who had seen her, by a
Behaviour and a Genius so vastly above one of her Age, that they
prognosticated she would one Day be a great Queen. Not long after she was
sent away, the King was married to a Princess so happy in Childbearing,
that Heaven thereby seems to applaud what the Duke has done, and the
People, quite forgetting the Infanta, bless his Name.
The King, after he had been married a few Months, thought it was not
convenient for a Prince of the Blood to have the Direction of his Affairs;
and therefore he displac'd the Duke of _Bourbon_ from the Post of Prime
Minister, and made the late Bishop of _Frejus_, now the Cardinal _de
Fleury_, the sole Depositary of his Authority. The Duke receiv'd Orders to
retire to _Chantilly_, a Seat he has near _Senlis_; and there his Friends
put it into his Head to marry a second Wife: Several Princesses were
propos'd to him, but he determin'd his Choice for _Eleonora_ of
_Hesse-Rhinfelds_, Sister of the Princess of _Piedmont_, now Queen of
_Sardinia_[50]; and the Brother of this Princess, having a Proxy sent to
him from the Duke, married her at _Rotenbourg_, in Presence of the Count
_de Gasse_, whom the Duke had sent to assist in his Name at this Ceremony.
The young Duchess no sooner arriv'd in _France_, but her Beauty, and the
Charms both of her Person and Mind, made her admir'd by the whole Court,
of which she is now one of the principal Ornaments: She is belov'd and
respected by all Mankind, and every body pities her, that the Duke has not
all that Tenderness for her which she deserves, and which it were to be
wish'd he had for the Support of the _Conde_ Family, of which the two only
Princes remaining, _viz._ the Counts _de Charolois_ and _Clermont_, are
not married.
The Count _de Charolois_ is tall, handsome, and well-set: His Entrance
upon the Stage of Action was much taken Notice of; for a Thirst after
Glory was the Passion of his Soul, as soon as he came to the Years of
Understanding. The War being kindled in _Hungary_, and Prince _Eugene_ of
_Savoy_ having gain'd a Victory near _Temiswar_, which reviv'd that Hero's
Reputation in _France_, the Count _de Charolois_ had a mind to learn the
Art of War under so great a Master, and to make the Campaign which
immediately follow'd that of _Temiswar_; but he did not dare to discover
his Intention, and fearing that he should not obtain the Consent, either
of the Duke of _Orleans_ the Regent, the Duchess his Mother, or the Duke
his Father, he resolv'd to set out privately, being sure that he should be
applauded for his Undertaking, if he could be so happy as to put it in
Execution. He imparted his Design in Confidence to M. _de Billy_, one of
his Gentlemen, and to _Renault_ his first _Valet de Chambre_, and with
these two Attendants he set out from _Chantilly_ on Pretence of Hunting.
He travell'd five or six Post-Stages with the very Horses that belonged to
the Duke his Father; after which he left them to the Care of the
Post-master, and hir'd fresh Horses, with which he reach'd _Liege_; where
he rested some Days, and having provided himself with Linen, went to the
Court of the Elector of _Cologn_, whom he had known in _France_: His first
Visit at _Bonn_, was at the House of M. _de S. Maurice_, the Elector's
Prime Minister; but he did not find him at home. M. _de Billy_ thereupon
desir'd to speak with his Lady, and told her, that a certain Punctilio of
Honour had oblig'd him to come from _France_ with the young Gentleman in
his Company; but Madame _de S. Maurice_, not thinking he was a Prince of
the Blood, and taking the Count _de Charolois_ for some petty Officer,
gave him a very cold Reception: However, she sent for her Husband, who was
then attending the Elector's Person; and when the Count _de S. Maurice_
came, he presently knew the Count _de Charolois_, paid him all due
Respects, and hasten'd to notify his Arrival to the Elector, who at first
was concern'd to hear it, because his Electoral Highness knew not but he
might disoblige the Court of _France_ by receiving the Count, who he
imagin'd had left the Kingdom upon some Disgust. Nevertheless, after
reflecting with himself, that whatever the Count _de Charolois_ might have
done, the Court of _France_ could not be angry with him for paying a
Regard to his Quality as Prince of the Blood, he sent to invite him to his
Palace. The Count went thither accordingly, by the Name of the Count _de
Dammartin_, which he always travell'd With as long as he was absent from
the Kingdom. The Elector receiv'd him With all the Marks of the highest
Esteem, kept him several Days at his Court, and then furnish'd him with
Money for his Journey to _Munich_; where he no sooner arriv'd, but he
wrote to the Duke his Father to send him Remittances, and the necessary
Equipages for the Campaign which he was then going to make.
Tho' the Count _de Charolois_ did not find the Elector of _Bavaria_ at
_Munich_, yet he was as well receiv'd as if he had been there; and the
Electress, tho' he had not been to see her, no sooner heard of his
Arrival, but she order'd all due Honours to be paid to him. When the
Elector return'd to _Munich_, he was overjoy'd to find this Prince there,
and offer'd to make his Peace in _France_, in which he succeeded so far,
as to get his Departure out of the Kingdom approv'd by the Duchess and the
Regent. When the Count's Domestics were arriv'd, he set out for _Hungary_,
and pass'd through _Vienna_ without saluting the Emperor, or the Empress
Dowager his Cousin German. The Empress Was so offended at it, that she
wrote to her Aunt, who was the Prince's Grandmother, and signified to that
Princess, that she did not think it handsome for a Prince of such Descent
as the Count _de Charolois_, to pass through _Vienna_ to serve in the
Imperial Army, without having seen the Emperor. The Count's Relations did
not fail to reproach him for his Want of Respect to their Imperial
Majesties. He excus'd himself, by saying that he did not know what
Treatment he ought to expect; but the Answer he receiv'd, was an Order
from the Regent in the King's Name, to wait on their Imperial Majesties as
he return'd from the Campaign.