Millions in Debt: But by the Reduction of the Principal and Interest of
the Revenues of the Town-House, (of _Paris_) by strikeing off two fifths
upon all Contracts, and by reducing Interest to four _per Cent._ the Debts
of the State were reduced to one thousand eight hundred Millions; which
was the very Sum that was owing from the Crown, when _Lewis_ XV. came to
it. The Debts of the Government were afterwards reduced to one thousand
four hundred Millions, by sinking a Quarter, a half and three-fourths upon
the State Bills, as well as all other Debts owing by the King, as also on
Pensions, and by the Recovery of great Sums thro' the Chamber of Justice.
Mr. _Law_ thought he should be able to extinguish all the Debts, by a
Scheme which he form'd upon the Profits that were made by _Missisippi_.
For this Purpose he erected a Bank, and caused as many Shares to be
created, as amounted to one hundred and fifty Millions, at one hundred
Livres each, payable in State Bills, which, to the Advantage of the
Buyers, rose to no less than one thousand. After this, he created more
Actions, to the Value of one hundred and five Millions, payable in Money
or Effects, at one thousand _per Cent._ which, with the former one hundred
and fifty Millions, produced one thousand six hundred and fifty Millions;
a Sum more than sufficient to cancel all the King's Debts. Besides this,
Mr. _Law_ created Bank Bills for one thousand two hundred Millions, of
which he received the Value, either in Money or Effects. He raised the
Money higher, upon which there were at least three hundred Millions
Profit, that are not brought to the Accompt. He compelled all People to
carry their Money to the Bank, by certain Arrets, which injoin'd People at
first, to keep no more than one hundred Livres by them, and afterwards but
five hundred. So that in eight Months Management, he augmented the old
Debts of the State, that were one thousand four hundred Millions, to one
thousand six hundred and fifty Millions; which, added to the one thousand
two hundred Millions of the Bank, rise to two thousand eight hundred and
fifty Millions, due at this Time from the King. If to this we add the
_Præmium_ to which the Actions rose, which at one thousand eight hundred
among private People, make five thousand four hundred Millions more; to
which the one thousand two hundred Millions in Bank Bills must be added;
it will appear that the Public is charg'd with six thousand six hundred
Millions in Paper; and for the paying off of that Sum, there will be but
five hundred Millions in the Kingdom in Specie, when they are reduced to
their intrinsic Value. The King having received one thousand six hundred
and five Millions in Effects, of which he owed the greatest Part, and
Actions or Shares being taken instead thereof, which Actions, by secret
Management, rose to five thousand four hundred Millions among the
Subjects, Mr. _Law_ thereby gave the People the Opportunity of putting
three thousand seven hundred and five Millions in their Pockets.
An ACCOUNT of the BANK BILLS that subsisted, and of those that
were burnt.
Bills engraved 669000000
Bills printed 1927400000
----------
_Viz._
Bills of 10000 Livres 1134000000
1000 1123200000
100 299200000
10 40000000
----------
Total 2596400000
Bills burnt of 10000 Livres 562500000
1000 138528000
100 6026000
10 273460
----------
Total 707327460
There then remained therefore}
in Trade } 1989072540
The Fortunes made at _Paris_, during this _Missisippi_ Contagion, are so
extraordinary, that unless one had seen it, 'twere impossible to believe
it; and, what is still more unaccountable, the greatest were rais'd by
mere Scoundrels; for except a few of the Court Lords and Ladies, it look'd
as if Fortune had resolved to put the Gentry into Almshouses, for the Sake
of inriching a Parcel of Bankrupts, Lacqueys, Beggars, and other of the
Mobility[66]. And 'tis my real Opinion, that if God had not interpos'd,
Footmen would at length have been the Masters, and the Masters the
Footmen. The Handicraftsmen laid by their Work; there was nothing talked
of but Actions, and every Place echoed with _Missisippi_ and
_Quinquempoix_, which is the Street where all that hopeful Trade was
carried on.
These lucky _Missisippians_ have nevertheless seen the Turn of Fortune's
Wheel. The Generality of those who had not the Precaution to send their
Money out of the Kingdom, were called to Accompt, and obliged to disgorge
a Part of their Gains. Whether the King got much by this Scrutiny, I know
not; but I believe it had the same Fate as the Chamber of Justice,
established in 1716, in the _Augustins_ Convent at _Paris_, for the
Prosecution of People employ'd in the Finances. This Tribunal, at the Head
of which was M. _de Portail_, now the first President, had condemned
several Tax Gatherers for an infinite Number of Misdemeanors committed in
the King's Finances. Some were punished as they justly deserved. A great
many were tax'd in Proportion to the Declarations they were forced to make
of their immense Wealth, which might have produc'd very considerable Sums
for the Ease of the Government, at that Time plung'd over Head and Ears in
Debt. But these Bloodsuckers of the People compounded for a Trifle of
Expence, by a few Presents to a Lady, or to some Nobleman who had the
Favour of the Regent. This was a Golden Shower, of which the least Part
fell into the King's Coffers.
I have made a terrible Digression. Mr. _Law_ carried me to _Missisippi_,
which is a long Voyage, and a Country from whence a Man can't return
whenever he has a Mind to it; but I am now come back to the Court. I have
mentioned the Ministers to you, but they are not the only Persons that
have a Seat in the Council. One of its Members is the Marshal _de
Villars_, who being of all the _French_ Generals, the Man that made the
most shining Figure during the last War, I think myself oblig'd to give
you a more particular Account of him.
_Francis Hector_, Duke _de Villars_, Marshal of _France_, and Dean of the
Marshals, is a Gentleman of a good Family, his Father having been a
Commander of the King's Orders. His Stature is above the middle Size, and
he has the Port and Step of a Nobleman. He has an agreeable winning
Countenance, and hazel Eyes, which are lively and sparkling. He is a Man
of Penetration, crafty, complaisant, and capable of great Affairs. He
talks a great deal; but what he says is to the Purpose. He is laborious,
attach'd to, and indefatigable in Business, a courageous good Soldier, and
a successful General. Satire charges him with Avarice, as it did the Duke
of _Marlborough_ his Rival: He is, withal, accused of being too haughty,
and too conceited of his Actions, and his Merits. This, indeed, may be
true enough; for I myself was Witness to a Conversation, in which he
discovered it sufficiently plain. 'Twas the Winter after the Battle of
_Denain_, when the Marshall being at Dinner with the late[67]M.
_d'Armagnac_, Great Master of the Horse, where I was likewise a Guest; he
talked a great deal about his Exploits, to which I listened so
attentively, that he took Notice of it; and being unknown to him, he
whispered the Master of the Horse in the Ear, to know who I was; and when
the Marshal was told that I was a _German_, he paid me a good deal of
Respect. Then resuming his Discourse, and addressing it to me, he talked
of his Victory at _Denain_, with an Air of mighty Self-Applause. _But
why_, said he, _did your People drown themselves? I am merciful, I would
have given them Quarter_; _and they ought surely to have asked it_. I
declare to you, that my Soul was all in Fire for the Honour of _Germany_.
Those Words, Mercy and Quarter, I took for an Insult upon my Country. I
was young and hot-headed, and was just going to return him an Answer that
would not have become me; however, I kept my Temper, and 'twas not till
the second or third Provocation that I made him Answer, _That I did not
think he ought to be surprized at what the +German+ Troops did, because
they had known his Valour sufficiently before the Battle of +Denain+, but
never had a Trial of his Clemency_. I saw that he did not relish my
Answer, upon which he shifted the Subject, and did not speak a Word more
to me all the Time.
Some time after the Peace, however, I made him Satisfaction: 'Twas at the
House of the Duchess _de Lude_, Lady of Honour to the Duchess of
_Burgundy_. There was a great deal of Company, and among the rest, the
Marshal _de Villars_. The Conversation fell upon the Custom of the
Ancients, to give Surnames to their Heroes; and the Moderns were blam'd
for not doing so too. _What Name should we find for you, Marshal?_ said
the Duchess _de Lude_. I replied immediately, _This would be no difficult
Task. I don't think that any Title would suit the Marshal +de Villars+
better than that of +Germanicus Franciscus+_. This Trifle hit the
Marshal's Taste so nicely, that he put on a smiling Countenance, and said
a great many obliging Things to me.
The Marshal _de Villars_, in his Youth, was a Page to _Lewis_ XIV. He
enter'd into the Service very young, and distinguished himself at his
first setting-out, so that he really owes his Advancement more to his
Services and Merit, than to Fortune. After the Peace of _Ryswic_, he had
the Care of the King's Affairs at the Emperor's Court; but was recalled
from thence a little before the War began, upon Account of the Succession
to the King of _Spain_, _Charles_ II. When the War was declared, M. _de
Villars_, at that time Lieutenant-General, was in the Army in _Germany_,
commanded by the Marshal _Catinat_. The Marquis _de Villars_, with a
Detachment from the Army, attack'd the _Imperialists_ near _Fridlinguen_
in 1702. The _French_ said, that he won the Victory; the _Germans_ say,
No. Which Party is in the Right, I can't tell; but be it as it will, the
Staff of a Marshal of _France_ was M. _de Villars_ Reward for the Battle.
The same Year the Duke of _Savoy_ entring into an Alliance against the two
Crowns, at the very Time that he assured them of his Attachment, the
Treaty which that Prince made with the Emperor and his Allies, was kept
secret for a while, tho' not so secret but the Elector of _Bavaria_ knew
of it; and his Electoral Highness reproaching the Envoy of _Savoy_ with
it, that Minister actually swore he knew nothing of the Matter, and that,
moreover, he did not believe it; upon which the Marshal _de Villars_, who
was present, clapp'd his Hand upon the Envoy's Shoulder, and repeated
this Verse to him out of _Racine_; _Tu ne le crois que trop, malheureux
+Mithridate+_, _i. e._ Ah! poor _Mithridates_! thou believest it but too
much. In 1704, the Marshal _de Villars_ was recalled from the Army in
_Germany_, to command in the _Cevennois_, where he gained Palms and
Olives, as well as Laurels; for by his good Nature and Moderation he
pacified a Rebellion, which the too great Severity of his Predecessor, the
Marshal _de Montrevel_, had but the more inflamed.
After this, he had the Command of the Army in _Germany_, and kept it till
1709, when he went into the _Netherlands_ to relieve the Duke _de
Vendosme_, who was sent into _Spain_. M. _de Villars_, when in _Flanders_,
retriev'd the Honour of _France_, which had been sully'd there by several
Defeats. For tho' the _French_ suffer'd another at the Battle of
_Malplaquet_, yet they made so brave a Stand, that the Allies could not
help admiring their Courage. The Marshal _de Villars_, being wounded in
the Knee, was obliged to retire, and to leave the Command to the Marshal
_de Boufflers_, who drew off the Army in good Order. They give out, that
when the Marshal _de Villars_ heard the News, he said, _+Villars+ was not
there; he could not be everywhere_. The Allies paid dear for this Victory;
for they lost twenty-three thousand Men, besides a considerable Number of
Officers of Distinction. They might say as _Pyrrhus_ did, after the Defeat
of the _Romans_, _One more such a Victory, and I am undone_. The _French_
lost eight thousand one hundred thirty-seven Men; and during the whole
Course of the War, there was not a more bloody, nor a more obstinate
Battle.
The Campaign of 1712 was the most glorious to the Marshal _de Villars_, of
any that he ever made; for he therein gained the Victory at _Denain_, and
in two Months time took from the Allies what had cost them several
Campaigns.
'Twas about the same time, that, upon the Death of the Duke _de Vendôme_
at _Vinaroz_ in _Spain_, _Lewis_ XIV. conferr'd his Government of
_Provence_ upon the Marshal, who was also made a Duke and Peer. They tell
a Story, that when he went to take Possession of his Government, and the
Deputies of the Province presented him with a Purse full of _Lewis d'Ors_,
One of 'em said, _Here_, my Lord, _is such another Purse as that we gave
to the Duke +de Vendôme+, when, like you, he came to be our Governor; but
that Prince refus'd to take it_. _Ah!_ said the Marshal _de Villars_,
squeezing the Purse, _M. +de Vendôme+ has not left his Fellow behind him_.
The War in the _Netherlands_ being finish'd by the Peace at _Utrecht_, the
Marshal _de Villars_ had again the Command of the Army in _Germany_. When
he took his Leave of the King, he said to him, _I most humbly intreat your
Majesty to consider, that I leave you in the midst of my Enemies, whilst I
am going to fight yours_. He actually took _Landau_ and _Fribourg_, and
afterwards return'd to _Versailles_, to receive the King's Orders to go
and treat of a Peace with Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_. During the Campaign
his Enemies told the King, in hopes his Majesty would blame him for it,
that he had laid out the Sum of 1800,000 Livres in the Purchase of an
Estate. The King asking him one Day at Dinner, if it was true that he had
made such a Purchase; _Yes, Sir_, replied the Marshal, who suspected that
those who told the King of it were then at the Table, _I have bought an
Estate which cost me 1800,000 Livres; and if the War continues, and your
Majesty trusts me with the Command of your Army, I hope to purchase a more
considerable one next Year at the Expence of your Enemies_. But instead of
making another Campaign, the Marshal went to _Rastadt_, where he and
Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_ sign'd the Preliminaries of the Peace, which
those two Generals concluded afterwards at _Baden_ on the seventh of
_June_ 1714. Since that time the Marshal has always resided at Court. The
_French_ look upon him as the Restorer of their Reputation in the
_Netherlands_, the Support of the State, and the chief Captain of his
Time: He is loaded with Wealth and Dignities: He is a Duke and Peer, a
Marshal of _France_, a Grandee of _Spain_, a Knight Commander of the
King's Orders, a Knight of the Golden Fleece, and Governor of _Provence_.
He has an only Son, for whom he has obtain'd the Reversion of his
Government[68].
Perhaps I have detain'd you too long about the Marshal _de Villars_; but I
thought the little Particularities I have given you would do you a
Pleasure, and that you would not be sorry to know some Circumstances of a
Man, who, after all, has been much cry'd-up in _Europe_. I shall be more
brief in my Account of the other Noblemen, and of these I shall name but
two or three, of whom you have heard some Talk, and such as are in most
Reputation with us.
_James Fitz-James_ Duke of _Berwic_, a Peer and Marshal of _France_, a
Peer of _England_, a Grandee of _Spain_, a Knight of the Garter, and of
the Golden Fleece, is the legitimated Son of _James_ II. King of _Great
Britain_[69]. He follow'd his Father to _France_, where he served with
Distinction. In 1706 he had the Marshal's Staff given him; and in 1707 he
commanded the Army of the two Crowns in _Spain_, where he defeated the
Lord _Gallway_ near _Almanza_. The King of _Spain_, to reward him for such
great Service, made him a Grandee of _Spain_, and gave him the Duchy of
_Liria_, which M. _de Berwic_ yielded to his eldest Son, who is actually
in Possession of it. In 1714 the Marshal-Duke of _Berwic_ reduc'd
_Barcelona_ under the Obedience of _Philip_ V. This City had refus'd to
acknowledge that Prince, and tho' abandon'd, and without any Hopes of
Relief, continued the War with an Obstinacy of Men who seem'd to be
desperate. The very Women, the Priests, Friers, all were Soldiers in
_Barcelona_; and during the Siege, which held sixty-one Days with open
Trenches, after a Blockade of eleven Months, there were five hundred and
forty-three Friers and Priests kill'd and wounded in the Sallies and
Attacks. The City was taken on the eleventh of _September_ by Storm: The
Battle lasted from Four o'Clock in the Morning till Eleven, when the
Inhabitants retir'd into the new Town, which is only separated from the
other by a single Wall. They surrender'd next Day at Discretion to the
Marshal-Duke _de Berwic_, who gave them a verbal Promise to save their
Lives, and to protect the City from Plunder, on their paying down a large
Sum of Money. _Barcelona_ being thus reduc'd, the Marshal return'd to
_France_ loaded with Wealth and Honours. Upon the Death of King _Lewis_
XIV. he was admitted to the Council of the Regency, and sent soon after to
command in _Guienne_. The Regent gave him the Command of the Army against
the King of _Spain_, which his Royal Highness had before offer'd to the
Marshal _de Villars_; but that Nobleman told him, He would never draw his
Sword against a Prince who might one Day become his Sovereign, a Prince
for whose Service he had already spilt some Blood, and one for whom the
Kingdom had expended such a Treasure. The Marshal-Duke of _Berwic_, being
not so delicate, accepted of the Command, took _St. Sebastian_, and obey'd
the Regent much more than he was bound to do in Duty.
For this he was continued in the Command of _Guienne_, and particularly of
_Bourdeaux_. For some time past the Marshal-Duke has been very much at
Court, and often at his Ducal Lordship in _Picardy_[70].
_Victor-Maria_ Duke _d'Estrées_, whom I ought to have mention'd before the
Duke of _Berwic_, as being the oldest Marshal of _France_, is
Vice-Admiral of the Kingdom, a Duke and Peer, a Grandee of _Spain_, a
Commandeur of the King's Orders, and a Knight of the Golden Fleece. He is
the last of his Family, which has been render'd illustrious by all the
great Dignities of the Kingdom ever since[71] the charming _Gabriella
d'Estrées_, who was Mistress to _Henry_ IV. He lives with as much Splendor
and Magnificence as most Noblemen in _France_: His House is open to all
Foreigners of Distinction, and Men of Knowledge and Learning are well
receiv'd in it. The Marshal has a fine Library, a most beautiful Cabinet
of Medals, and a complete Collection of antique Stones that are grav'd.
Besides the Estate of the Family of _Estrées_, of which he is the only
Head, he made great Acquisitions by _Missisippi_ Stock, and there are few
Sovereigns that have finer Diamonds. Since the Troubles that arose in
_Bretagne_ during the Regency of the Duke of _Orleans_, the Assembly of
the States of that Province is always held by this Nobleman. The Nobility
of _Bretagne_ extol him very much, and find a great Difference between
their Treatment by this Marshal, and the rigid haughty Air with which the
late Marshal _de Montesquiou_ carried it to them during the Regency. Tho'
the Marshal _d'Estrées_ is very much attach'd to the Court, yet he is
often at _Paris_, where he has a very fine House, and is visited by the
greatest and the best People in the Kingdom. The Marshal's Lady, who is
_Noailles_, Sister to the Countess _de Tholouse_, was formerly a Lady of
the Bed-chamber to the Duchess of _Burgundy_; she has all the Politeness
of the ancient Court, and tho' she is past the Bloom of her Youth, she is
still one of the most amiable Women at Court, and by her Management there
is not a more agreeable Family than hers in the Kingdom. I am, _&c._
[Illustration]
LETTER XLII.
_SIR_, _Paris, May 22, 1732._
Yesterday I loiter'd away a good deal of Time with a Couple of
_Englishmen_, to whom, as they call it in _Italy_, I was a _Cicero_[72].
Nevertheless, you must not expect me to give you an Account of every thing
I saw; and besides, so much has been already said of _Versailles_, that
you shall hardly find one Book in twenty, almost, but what treats of the
Beauties of this Royal Palace.
After having shew'd my _English_ Gentlemen the Castle, the Chapel, the
Stables and the Park, I carried them to the Royal Abbey of _St. Cyr_,
which they had heard so much Talk of, that they long'd to see it: 'Tis a
grand stately House, and worthy of the Magnificence of the great Monarch
who founded it, at the Solicitation of Madame _de Maintenon_, for the
Education of two hundred and fifty young Damsels, whose Families are not
able to give them a Maintenance suitable to their Birth. Immediately after
the Demise of _Lewis_ XIV. Madame _de Maintenon_ retir'd to _St. Cyr_, and
there she always dwelt till she died. She went thither indeed, even
during the King's Illness, as soon as she found that the Physicians had
given him over; the King, however, contrary to all Expectation, recover'd;
and not seeing Madame _de Maintenon_, ask'd where she was: Upon this the
Lady return'd, when the King gave her a handsome Reprimand for abandoning
him, and desir'd her to stay with him as long as he had any Remains of
Life. Madame _de Maintenon_ obey'd, but the King's Breath was no sooner
out of his Body, than she took Coach, and went to _St. Cyr_, with a Design
never to stir from it as long as she liv'd.
She had the Consolation, however, of receiving Visits there from all the
Princes and Princesses of the Blood; and even the late Madame the Regent's
Mother, who never visited Madame _de Maintenon_ in the King's Life-time,
thought she could not excuse herself from making her a Visit. The Regent
went thither likewise, and told her, she might depend upon his punctual
Regard to every Tittle that the late King had order'd in her Favour by his
last Will and Testament. Madame _de Maintenon_ return'd him Thanks, and
said, that as she was resolv'd to be retir'd for the Residue of her Life,
she desir'd but 40,000 Livres a Year for her Subsistance. Four Years after
this she died, and was interr'd in the Church of _St. Cyr_, in the Middle
of the Choir, in a Tomb of plain black Marble, with the following Epitaph
engrav'd on it; which I lik'd so well, that I have copied it Word for
Word, and send it to you, because I don't believe you have seen it
elsewhere.
CY GIT
_Très baute & très puissante Dame
Madame_ FRANCOISE D'AUBIGNE,
_Marquise de_ MAINTENON;
_Femme Illustre, Femme vraiment Chrétienne;
Cette Femme forte que le Sage chercha vainement dans son Siecle,
Et qu'il nous eût proposé pour modele, s'il eût vêcu dans le nôtre.
Sa Naissance fut très noble.
On loua de bonne heure son Esprit, & plus encore sa Vertu.
La Sagesse, la Douceur, la Modestie sormoient son Caractere,
Qui ne se démentit jamais.
Toujours égale dans les differentes situations de sa vie;
Mêmes Principles, mêmes Regles, mêmes Vertus.
Fidèle dans les exercices de Piété,
Tranquille au milieu des agitations de la Cour,
Simple dans la Grandeur,
Pauvre dans le centre des richesses,
Humble au comble des honneurs;
Révérée de_ LOUIS LE GRAND,
_Environnée de sa gloire,
Autorisée par sa plus intime confiance,
Dépositaire de ses graces,
Qui n'a jamais fait d'usage de son pouvoir,
Que par sa bonté.
Une autre Esther dans la faveur,
Une seconde Judith dans la Retraite & l'Oraison:
La Mere des Pauvres,
L'Asyle toujours sûr des malheureux,
Une vie si illustre
A été terminée par un mort sainte
Et precieuse devant Dieu.
Son Corps est resté dans cette sainte maison,
Dont elle avoit procuré l'établissement;
Et elle a laissé à l'univers
L'exemple de ses vertus.
Décédée le 15 d'Avril 1719.
Née le 28 de Novembre 1635._
i. e.
HERE LIES
_The most high and most potent Lady_
_The Lady_ FRANCESE D'AUBIGNY,
_Marchioness of_ MAINTENON.
_A Wife illustrious_[73], _a Woman truly Christian;
That virtuous Heroine whom the wise Man sought in vain in his Time,
And whom he wou'd have propos'd to us for a Pattern, if he had
liv'd in ours.
She was of Birth most noble,
Her Wit was early commended, and much more her Virtue.
Sobriety, good Nature and Modesty, form'd her Character,
From which she never derogated.
Always unchangeable in the various Situations of her Life;
The same Principles, the same Rules, the same Virtues.
Sincere in the Exercises of Piety,
Tranquil during the Storms at Court,
Plain in the Midst of Grandeur,
Poor in the Centre of Wealth,_
_Humble at the Summit of Honours;
Rever'd by_ LEWIS LE GRAND,
_Environ'd with his Glory,
Vested with his most intimate Confidence,
The Depositary of his Favours,
Who never made use of her Power
But to do Good.
Another_ Esther _in Favour,
A second_ Judith _in Retirement and Prayer:
The Mother of the Poor,
The never-failing Asylum of the Unfortunate.
A Life so illustrious
Was cut off by a Death Pious,
And precious in the Sight of God.
Her Body lies in this Sacred House,
Of which she procur'd the Establishment:
And her Virtues she has left
To the World for a Pattern.
She departed this Life_ April 15, 1719.
_Being born the 28th of_ November 1635.
My _Englishmen_ thought the Panegyric upon Madame _de Maintenon_ a little
too much strain'd. I confess that I think she is well equipp'd with a
Character; and if it be true, that she was as humble as her Epitaph
imports, I make no doubt, but if she had liv'd to see such an Encomium, it
would have put her Modesty sadly out of Countenance: For 'tis certain,
that this Lady had a very great Fund of Virtue and Piety; and I have heard
it said by Persons, who otherwise had no reason to be fond of her, that
'twas impossible to be acquainted with her, and not to esteem her.