Person, that Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_ often reproach'd him for it: He
took a Pleasure to go up to the very Breast-work of the Trenches; and
from thence with Screw-Guns he fir'd at the _Turks_, as if he had been
shooting at small Birds: On the other hand the _Turks_ did not spare him,
but sent their Balls whizzing about his Ears in Return for his Frolic. The
Count was present at the Battle of _Belgrade_, and saw that Place taken:
He afterwards went to _Vienna_, and staid there some Weeks, where he had
an Audience of the Emperor, not _incognito_, but as the Count _de
Charolois_. The Emperor receiv'd him at the _Favourita_ standing: His
Audience was attended with this odd Circumstance. The Count, being not
acquainted with the Ceremonial, did not know that he should find the
Emperor all alone; and therefore, when he enter'd the Closet, and saw a
Man in a very plain Dress leaning with his Back against a Table, he took
him for some private Gentleman; but in a few Moments he spy'd the Golden
Fleece: He was doubtful in his Mind, after all, whether 'twas the Emperor;
but he advanc'd, saying within himself, that in either case there was not
much Harm in being mistaken. The Emperor receiv'd him with very great
Marks of Distinction, and the Count kiss'd his Hand, because he had been
told it was the Custom, and that all the Princes of the Empire did the
same. He afterwards went to the Apartment of the Empresses, and had
reason, where-ever he came, to be satisfied with his Reception.
From _Vienna_ he return'd to _Munich_, after which he made the Tour of
_Italy_, and lodg'd at _Rome_ at the House of the Cardinal _de
Tremouille_, who had then the Care of the Affairs of _France_. After
having repass'd the Mountains, he came back to _Munich_, where he stay'd a
Year and an half, being always lodg'd and defray'd, together with his
Retinue, at the Expence of his Electoral Highness, who kept a Table for
him for twelve Guests, besides Hunting-Equipage, and Horses at his
Command.
Hunting is this Prince's chief Amusement since he return'd to _France_: He
appears seldom at Court, and neither meddles nor makes with Affairs of
State. They talk often of getting him a Wife; but he does not seem to have
any more Goût for the Sacrament of Marriage, than his younger Brother the
Count _de Clermont_, a young Prince of a lovely Person, a sweet Nature,
and who seems to have a way of Thinking becoming his Birth. They who
approach him, and know him intimately, have assur'd me, that he has all
the Qualities that can be to form hereafter a great Prince. It seems as if
he were design'd for the Church, since his most Serene Highness actually
enjoys several considerable Abbeys; but hitherto this Prince dresses in
the Lay Habit, and performs no Spiritual Function. While I was speaking of
the Count _de Charolois_, I forgot so tell you, that he is Governor of _la
Touraine_, in which Honour he succeeded the late M. _Dangeau_, first
Gentleman-Usher to the late Duchess of _Burgundy_. In his time _la
Touraine_ was not reckon'd among the great Governments; but as the Regent
was willing to give one to the Count _de Charolois_, after having granted
away the Reversions of all the great Governments, he thought of no other
Expedient, than to put _la Touraine_ in the Rank of the other Provinces.
The three Princes that I have just mention'd, are the Sons of Madame the
Duchess (of _Bourbon_) the legitimated Daughter of _Lewis_ XIV. and Madame
_de Montespan_; She is a Princess who has been cry'd-up in _Europe_ for
her Wit, Beauty, and the Charms of her Person. Tho' she is the Mother of a
numerous Family, she may still be reckoned among the Beauties of the
Court; and 'tis certain, that when the Duchess is with the Princesses her
Daughters, she seems rather to be their Sister than the Mother. This
Princess is immensely rich, those who manage her Affairs having acquir'd
a vast Estate in the contagious Actions of the _Missisippi_. She lives
with very great Magnificence, and has lately caus'd a Palace to be built,
which may be rank'd with the finest Structures in _Europe_. Her most
Serene Highness is often at _Chantilly_ with the Duke her Husband, but the
rest of her Time she divides betwixt the Court and City.
The Princess of _Conti_ the second Dowager, the Princesses of _Charolois_,
_Clermont_ and _Sens_, are her Daughters, and form one of the most
beautiful Families that ever was. 'Tis pity that Princesses so beautiful
and accomplish'd are not well match'd, but their Greatness is a Bar to
their Settlement in Marriage; besides, this Century has been more prolific
every-where in Princesses than in Princes. The Princess of _Conti_, who
has some Thoughts of a Wife for the Prince her Son, has just bought the
fine House which was built by the Count _de Belle-Isle_, out of the vast
Sums which he got by _Missisippi_ Stock; there she proposes to end her
Days, and she already appears but seldom at Court, which indeed the
Trouble of Dressing hinders a great many Princesses and Ladies from
frequenting. The Princess of _Conti_ was very young when she married, and
has had two Sons; but there's only one of them living, whom in his
Father's Life-time was styl'd the Count _d'Alais_, and is now the Prince
of _Conti_[51].
As for Mademoiselle _de Charolois_, all the Charms imaginable are united
in her Person: She has a noble Aspect, a very lively sparkling Wit, and of
all the Duchess's Daughters she is the most like her Mother, and has the
most sprightly Ideas. During the Regency of the Duke of _Orleans_, when
Money was become extraordinary scarce, Mademoiselle _de Charolois_
appear'd at the Royal Palace with two _Lewis d'Ors_ in her Ears for
Pendants; upon which the Duke of _Orleans_ asking her the Meaning of that
new Fashion, she made him Answer, that she found _Lewis d'Ors_ scarcer
than Diamonds, and that therefore she wore them as such. Mademoiselle _de
Charolois_ lives in the little Hôtel _de Bourbon_, which formerly belong'd
to _Anne_ of _Bavaria_ the Palatine, the Widow of _Henry Julius_ of
_Bourbon_, Prince of _Conde_, Grandmother to the Princes and Princesses of
the _Conde_ Family. This Princess has a Family here independent on Madame
the Duchess (of _Bourbon_); but she generally follows the Court, and as
she is very fond of Hunting, and rides well, she makes one at all the
King's Matches.
Mademoiselle _de Clermont_ is not only very beautiful, but has an Air of
Quality, good Nature and Modesty, which distinguishes her from all the
Grandees of the Court. Calumny, which does not always favour the Royal
Blood here, could never shed its Venom upon this Princess, and the whole
Court ever admir'd her for her Sobriety and Virtue. She is Superintendante
of the Queen's Houshold, and went in this Quality with the Ladies of
Honour to meet her Majesty at _Strasbourg_.
Mademoiselle _de Sens_, with her Beauty, is both graceful and modest: She
was brought up under her Grandmother the Princess; and after her Decease,
the Duchess of _Brunswic_, her Great Aunt, Mother to the Empress _Amelia_,
who spent her latter Years in _France_, had the Care of her Education, and
form'd her one of the most amiable Princesses upon the Earth.
The _Conti_ Family, which is the third Branch of the Princes of the Blood,
consists at this time of two Dowager Ladies, a young Prince, and a
Princess, call'd Mademoiselle _de la Roche-sur-yon_. The Princess of
_Conti_, the first Dowager Lady, is the legitimated Daughter of King
_Lewis_ XIV. by Mademoiselle _de la Valiere_: This Princess is celebrated
for her Beauty, Wit, and noble Air, which she still retains: She happen'd
to be a Widow when she was very young. Some say that the King of _Morocco_
demanded her in Marriage, but I have been assur'd by many People, that
'tis a mere Fiction. Be this as it will, such a Match was not practicable;
for tho' Religion had been altogether out of the Question, King _Lewis_
XIV. would never have sacrific'd a Daughter so dear to him, and one who
was the Ornament of his Court, to a _Marabou_[52]. The Princess of
_Conti_, since the Death of her Brother the Dauphin, has not appear'd in
public, and only visits the King and Queen privately in their Majesties
Closet. Her Occupations are Works of Piety and Charity, and her Life is an
Example of Virtue: She commonly resides in her Hôtel at _Paris_, which is
beautiful and magnificent, and formerly belong'd to the Marshal-Duke _de
Lorges_.
The legitimated Princes, Sons of _Lewis_ XIV. are the Duke _de Maine_, and
the Count _de Tholouse_. The former is Grand Master of the Ordnance,
Colonel-General of the _Swiss_ and _Grisons_, and Governor of _Guienne_:
He married _Louisa-Benedictina_ of _Bourbon-Condé_, by whom he has two
Sons and a Daughter. The Duke _de Maine_ possesses the Sovereignty of
_Dombes_, which the late Mademoiselle, Daughter of _Gaston_ of _France_,
Son of _Henry_ IV. left him by Will. This Prince signaliz'd his Valour in
his Youth: He has the Misfortune to halt, but he has a superior Genius,
and is a Man of true Christian Piety. The late King distinguish'd him
above all his Children, of which he gave an illustrious Proof, when he
appointed him Superintendant of the Education of _Lewis_ XV. and when he
made him a Sharer in the Authority of the Regency, together with the Duke
of _Orleans_, whom he would have been glad to have intirely excluded from
it, if his Royal Highness's Birth had not given him an absolute Title to
it. Some Years before this, the said King, by a Declaration the most
solemnly register'd that ever any was, had recognis'd the Ability of the
Duke _de Maine_, the Count _de Tholouse_, and their Posterity, to succeed
to the Crown on Failure of Issue by the lawful Princes. The Princes of the
Blood, in Complaisance to _Lewis_ XIV. before whom every Knee was bow'd,
did not oppose a Declaration so little for their Honour: But in the
Beginning of _Lewis_ XVth's Reign they commenced a Suit upon it against
the legitimated Princes. The Arret which call'd them to the Succession of
the Crown was revok'd, and the Count _de Tholouse_ was the only one that
retain'd for his Life the Honours that were annex'd to the Dignity of
Prince of the Blood. The Duke _de Maine_ and his Children were depriv'd of
these great Prerogatives, and reduc'd to the Rank of their Peerage. Some
Years after, however, it pleas'd the King to restore those Honours to the
Duke _de Maine_, and to his Sons the Prince of _Dombes_, and the Count
_d'Eu_; but these Princes continue excluded from the Crown.
I have already acquainted you how the Duke of _Bourbon_ depriv'd the Duke
_de Maine_ of the Superintendance of _Lewis_ XVth's Education: But that
was not the only Circumstance that mortified him; for at that Juncture the
Point that seem'd to be solely in View, was to undo every thing that had
been done by _Lewis_ XIV. And the Duke, together with his Employments and
Honours, also lost his Liberty. He was accus'd of holding a Correspondence
with the Prince _de Cellamare_, the _Spanish_ Ambassador, who endeavour'd
to excite the _French_ to a Rebellion against the Regent, by promising
them Assistance from the King his Master: Hereupon the Duke _de Maine_ was
arrested, and committed Prisoner to _Dourlens_ in _Picardy_, where he was
closely confin'd. They who are not the most zealous of this Prince's
Friends, agree that he supported this Reverse of Fortune with an heroic
Constancy. I heard it said by the People who were set to watch him, that
they never saw him once deviate from that Serenity of Mind, and that good
Nature which accompany all his Actions. But the Duchess of _Maine_ did not
receive the News of his Disgrace with the same Tranquillity; for being
born with all the high Spirit of the Great _Conde_ her Grandfather, she
rav'd against the Regent, but especially against her Nephew the Duke, whom
she look'd upon as the Author of her Misfortunes. They say moreover, that
the Duke _de Maine_ himself was rattled by her before he was confin'd.
'Twas on the Day that _Lewis_ XV. came to the Parlement to hold his first
Bed of Justice, when the Duke _de Maine_ was turn'd out of that Share
which the late King's last Will gave him in the Regency. As this Duke came
home from the Parlement, he found his Wife in the utmost Impatience to
know what had been done; of which when he had given her an exact Account,
the Duchess could not bridle her Passion, but looking on her Husband with
Indignation, she said, _I have nothing left then to possess, but the Shame
of having married you!_ When she received Orders to quit to the Duke of
_Bourbon_ that Apartment which she had in the _Thuilleries_, while the
Duke _de Maine_ was Superintendant of the King's Education; _Yes_, said
she, _I will quit it with a Vengeance_, and at the same time order'd it to
be stripp'd quite bare of Furniture; and for the more Haste she dash'd the
Looking-glasses, China, and all Goods of that Sort in Pieces.
Nevertheless, when she was apprehended, and during the Time that she was
detain'd, she was not heard to utter a Complaint or a Murmur; but
supported her Disgrace with that Magnanimity for which she is admir'd, a
Quality which elevates her so far above other Women, and sets her on a Par
with the greatest Men.
The Duke and Duchess of _Maine_ are often at _Seaux_, a fine House but a
little Distance from _Paris_, on the high Road to _Orleans_, built by
_John Baptist Colbert_. Here they have always a gay Court. This Duchess is
so much in Love with the Arts and Sciences, that all Men of Letters look
on her as their Patroness; and there are few Poetical Compositions which
are not first presented to her. The last Time I paid my Court to her, the
following Piece, compos'd of no more than two Rhymes, was read there, and
so highly applauded, that I herewith send you a Copy of it[53].
The Prince of _Dombes_, the Duke of _Maine's_ eldest Son, is a tall
handsome well set Gentleman, and has the Reversion of his Father's
Offices. Whether the Count _d'Eu_ has any Employments, I know not. Both
these Princes are commonly at Court. Mademoiselle _du Maine_ is a very
amiable Princess, whose Education has been fully answerable to her Birth,
and who, by her Manners and Politeness, approves herself the worthy
Daughter of her Mother.
The Count _de Tholouse_, great Admiral of _France_, is the second Son of
King _Lewis_ XIV. by Madame _de Montespan_. In the last War he commanded
the Naval Army of _France_. He is one of the handsomest and comeliest
Lords at Court. He is noble and magnificent in every thing that he does,
and they say, he is generous. He is very polite, and has always been as
much esteem'd for his Merit, as for his Rank of a legitimated Prince,
which he has preserved, tho' his Brother was divested of it. It was
believed for a long time, that this Prince would not marry, and that his
great Estate would fall to the Children of the Duke _de Maine_; but he
married some Years ago, _Maria Victoria_ of _Noailles_, Widow of the
Marquis _de Gondrin_, Son to the Duke _d'Antin_, by whom he had a Son, who
is now the Duke _d'Epernon_. The Count _de Tholouse_ has had a Son by her
also, who is called the Duke[54]_de Ponthievre_; by which Title, the Count
has the Rank of a Peer in Parliament. This Prince, since his Marriage, has
commonly resided at _Rambouillet_, where the King frequently makes Parties
for Hunting. His Majesty shews a very great Regard for the Countess of
_Tholouse_, which gives her Authority to talk to his Majesty with a great
deal of Freedom. The _French_ say, she was the Occasion of the Duke of
_Bourbon_'s being put out of the Ministry. 'Tis certain, however, that the
King was at _Rambouillet_, when the Duke _de Charost_ went and told the
Duke, That it was his Majesty's Pleasure, that he should quit the Station
of Prime Minister. The Duke being at _Versailles_ when he receiv'd the
unwelcome News, they say, he desired to speak with the King and Queen; but
that the Duke _de Charost_ told him, he had Orders for his Removal to
_Chantilly_. His most Serene Highness obey'd, and did not appear to be
afflicted for the Loss of his Authority, so much as for the falling-off of
his Friends and Creatures. The Marchioness _de Prie_, Lady of the
Bed-chamber to the Queen, whom he honoured with a very singular Esteem,
received Orders to leave the Court, and to retire to _Normandy_; where,
during her being in Favour, she had purchased a considerable Estate. The
Brothers of the Name of _Paris_, those Objects of the Public Odium, were
divested of their Authority. M. _de Blanc_ came again into the Ministry:
M. _de Belle-Isle_ regain'd his Liberty, and obtained the Command of the
Troops of the Government of _Metz_, and the three Bishopricks. The
Marchioness _de Prie_ had the Mortification to see her Employment of Lady
of the Bed-chamber fill'd up by the Daughter of M. _le Blanc_, to whom she
was a declared Enemy, and whom she had endeavoured to ruin. This Lady was
not able to support herself long under her Disgrace; for having been used
to bear a Sway, she could not reconcile herself to Retirement; but
languished for a while, and at length died of a Colic, which gave her
horrid Pains. She was not much regretted, because she had made few
Friends; Ambition and Self-Interest had taken intire hold of her. She
thought her Disgrace unsufferable, and the little Reflection she made upon
the Revolution of Fortune, rendered hers but the more intolerable. I will
hereafter give you an Account of the Cardinal _de Fleury_, and of the
Persons now of the First Rank at Court; but at present my Pen is ready to
drop out of my Fingers; for 'tis One o'Clock in the Morning, and if I
write any more, I shall but give you my Dreams. Therefore I am, with all
the Esteem, possible, _&c._
[Illustration]
LETTER XLI.
_SIR_, _Versailles, May 1, 1732._
In my last Letter I mention'd the Princes and Princesses of the Blood
Royal to you; in this I am to give you an Account of those Persons at this
Court, who are in the most exalted Stations.
The Cardinal _de Fleury_, by his Dignity of Cardinal, and much more by his
Character, as the Depositary of the Royal Authority, has the first Rank in
the State next to the Princes of the Blood. This Prelate, tho' far
advanced in Years, is brisk and lively to Admiration. His Stature is
somewhat above the middle Size; he has a happy Physiognomy, to which
Fortune has not given the Lye; and he is humble, good-natur'd and civil.
You know that he was Bishop of _Frejus_. He resign'd that See to excuse
himself from the Pastoral Charge of Souls, when the late King _Lewis_ XIV.
nominated him, by his Last Will, Preceptor to the young _Dauphin_, now
King _Lewis_ XV. This was almost the only Article of _Lewis_ the Grand's
Will, which the Regent put in Execution. M. _de Frejus_ won the Heart of
the young Monarch to such a Degree, that the Prince was intirely wrapp'd
up in him; and his Affection for him has increas'd so much ever since,
that now it may be literally said, that the Cardinal _de Fleury_ is the
Depositary, or Trustee, of the Royal Authority. The Regent, a Prince of
Penetration, if ever there was one, quickly perceived what an Ascendant M.
_de Frejus_ had over the young Monarch; and being apprehensive of what
might be the Consequences of it, he was continually contriving how to
remove the Prelate from Court. With this View he offered him the
Archbishoprick of _Rheims_, which was vacant by the Death of the Cardinal
_de Mailly_; but M. _de Fleury_, who resigned the Bishoprick of _Frejus_,
that he might not have the Charge of Souls, was so far from accepting one
of the greatest Archbishopricks in the Kingdom, that he absolutely refused
it. The Duke of _Orleans_, who was intent upon carrying his Point, offered
to make him a Cardinal; for he hoped, that the Pope's ill State of Health
would quickly bring on a Conclave; and that then M. _de Frejus_ would be
obliged to go to _Rome_, where he thought he shou'd be able to continue
him, on Pretence of managing the King's Affairs there; and that then the
young Monarch's Fondness to see his Favourite would by that Means
insensibly be weaned. But M. _de Frejus_ saw the Hook that was hid under
this Bait. The red Hat did not dazzle his Eyes; and he knew moreover, that
if he kept close to the King's Person, he could be sure of a Hat whenever
he pleased. However, he thank'd the Duke of _Orleans_, and told him, he
had no such ambitious Views, and that he preferred his Station in the
King's Council, before all the Dignities, to which, in his Goodness, he
had Thoughts of promoting him. The Duke of _Orleans_, however chagrin'd at
the Prelate's Moderation, was forc'd to keep it to himself; he was afraid
to make use of his Authority; for it was not long before this, that he
banish'd the Marshal _de Villeroy_ to _Lyons_, at which the People
grumbled; and to put away the Preceptor too, would have rais'd a Clamour
against him, throughout the whole Kingdom. M. _de Frejus_ continued at
Court as a Member of the Privy Council, and there was not a Courtier who
gave more constant Attendance; and in this Station he supported the
Ministry of the Cardinal _du Bois_, the Duke of _Orleans_, and the Duke of
_Bourbon_; but he confin'd himself all the while within the Bounds of his
Office. At the King's Marriage, he accepted of that of Great Almoner to
the Queen, and by that Means his Attachment to the Court became more
strict. When the Duke _de Bourbon_ was disgrac'd, the King offered the
Place of Prime Minister to M. _de Frejus_, who, indeed, accepted of that
eminent Post; but 'twas on Condition, that he should not be compelled to
take the Title, and that he might always lay an Account of every Thing
before the King.
The Bishop of _Frejus_ being thus become Master of the Government, it was
but reasonable that he should be adorned with the Purple, to give the more
Lustre to his Character. Mean time _France_, had no Hat to demand, for the
Number of her Cardinals was completed. The Emperor having a Pretension at
that Time to a Hat, the King desired him to yield it to him for his First
Minister; and the Emperor, overjoy'd that he could oblige the King, and
that he could make the Minister some sort of Amends for his pacific
Sentiments, gave him his Nomination accordingly. Pope _Benedict_ XIII.
sent the Cap to the Bishop, who then assumed the Title of Cardinal _de
Fleury_; and with this Title he now governs the State, not with the
general Applause of the _French_, because the Thing is impossible; but at
least, with the Approbation of his King, of Foreigners, and indeed, of
every Man in the Kingdom, who is thoroughly inform'd of the State of
_France_ in particular, and of _Europe_ in general. Yet those who have the
least Affection for the Cardinal, must acknowledge his Disinterestedness
and Integrity; for the worst Enemy he has, cannot accuse him of amassing
Riches, or of coveting to aggrandize his Family; in which respect he is,
perhaps, negligent to a Fault, his Kindred having the Character of Persons
of Worth.
The Cardinal's Expences are as much circumscrib'd as his Dignity will
admit of. He is very regular in his Way and Manner of Living, and no
doubt, 'tis the strict Regimen which he observes, that keeps him in so
vigorous a State of Health: For he gives very great Application to
Business, And I don't think he can be upbraided with wasting of Time in
his Diversions.
The _French_ (I speak of those who hope to make their Fortune by the
Sword) find fault with his Temper as too pacific. _We are despis'd_, (say
they) _our Neighbours make Treaties and Alliances without us, and +France+
is no longer what she was in the Time of +Lewis+ XIV._