Part 32 (2/2)
”Who would have thought,” said he to raced minister could have been so idolized by a whole court? Would you believe that I receive a hundred petitions a day for leave to visit at Chanteloup? This is so new indeed! I cannot understand it”
”Sire,” replied I, ”that only proves howsuch a man in your employment”
”Why, yes,” answered Louis XV; ”it really see to proposethe throne in favour of the dauphin, he would only have needed to utter the suggestion to have it carried into execution Fortunately for randson is by no means partial to him, and will most certainly never recall him after my death The dauphin possesses all the obstinacy of persons of confined understanding: he has but slender judgment, and will see with no eye but his own”
Louis XV augured ill of his successor's reign, and iined that the cabinet of Vienna would direct that of Versailles at pleasure His late majesty was mistaken; Louis XVI is endoith many rare virtues, but they are unfortunately clouded over by his tiuised censure passed by the whole court upon the conduct of Louis XV was not the only thing which annoyed his majesty, who perpetually tormented himself with conjectures of what the rest of Europe would say and think of his late detere,” said he, ”that I am finely pulled to pieces at Potsdam My dear brother Frederick is about as sweet-tempered as a bear, and Itoa hundred comments and sarcastic remarks Still, as he is absolute as the Medes and Persians, surely he can Have no objection to us poor e in mine After all, why should I need his or any other person's opinion; let the whole world applaud or conde quite satisfied with the accounts I continued to receive from Chanteloup; above all I felt irritated at the parade of attachment made by the prince de Beauvau for the exiles, and I complained bitterly of it to the marechale de Mirepoix
”What can I do to help it,” said she; ” ruined her brother, will certainly cause the downfall of her husband I beseech you,conduct of the prince de Beauvau for a little while; he will soon see his error and amend it” He did indeed return to our party, but his obedience was purchased at a heavy price
Sorace of the duc de Choiseul, I received a letter from M de Voltaire This writer, who carped at and attacked all subjects, whether sacred or profane, and froreat nor small were exempt, had continual need of some powerful friend at court When his protector, M de Choiseul, was dish that the only person on whom he could henceforward depend to aid and support hi his first patron With these ideas he addressed toletter of condolence or, to speak ratulation It was as follows:-
”MADAME LA COMTESSE,-Faues, has announced to, me in my retreat the fall of M de Choiseul and your triumph This piece of news has not occasioned me much surprise, I always believed in the potency of beauty to carry all before it; but, shall I confess it? I scarcely knohether I ought to congratulate myself on the success you have obtained over your enemies M, de Choiseul was one of my kindest friends, and his all-powerful protection sufficed to sustain ainst the malice of my numerous enemies May a hu in you the saer to be found, what can be more natural than to seek the aid of Pallas, the Goddess of the line arts? Will she refuse to protect with her aegis the most humble of her adorers?
”Permit me, madam, to avail myself of this opportunity to lay at your feet the assurance of ive utterance to all e of infidelity from some, yet none shall ever detect e, 'tis time our choice was made, and our affections fixed Be assured, lovely countess, that I shall ever remain your attached friend; and that no day will pass withoutthe echoes of the Alps to repeat your much-esteemed name
”I have the honour to remain, malady, yours, etc, etc”
You ular an epistle to re words:-
”SIR,-The perusal of your agreeable letter race of the duc de Choiseul Be assured, that to his own conduct, and that of his family, may be alone attributed the ly express for the calamity which has befallen your late protector do honour to your generous heart; but recollect that your old friends were not the only persons who could appreciate and value your fine talents; to be esteelory which the proudesta Minerva, who, after all, was possibly no wiser than the rest of us, I shall always feel proud and happy to serve you with my utmost credit and influence
”I return you my best thanks for the wishes you express, and the attachment you so kindly profess You honourmy name amidst the bosom of the Alps! be assured, that I shall not be behindhand inthe saloons of Paris and Versailles resound with yours Had I leisure for the undertaking, I would go and teach it to the onlyit-at the foot of Parnassus
”I am, sir, yours, etc, etc”
You perceive, my friend, that I intended this reply should be couched in the wittiest style i it over at this lapse of ti ever penned; nevertheless, I flattered ht the tone and manner in which M de Voltaire had addressed hted with the flattering deference it expressed You know the vanity of men of letters; and M de Voltaire, as the first writer of the age, possessed, in proportion, the largest portion of conceit
CHAPTER XXVIII
A feords respecting Jean Jacques Rousseau-The comtesse du Barry is desirous of his acquaintance-The countess visits Jean Jacques Rousseau-His household furniture-His portrait-Therese-second visit from madame du Barry to Jean Jacques Rousseau-The countess relates her visit to the king-Billet from J J Rousseau to uillon
Spite of the little esti, you ranted that I entertained an equal indifference for all these gentle upon my ardent admiration of M de Voltaire; I have now to speak to you of that hich his illustrious rival, Jean Jacques Rousseau, inspired me-the man who, after a life so filled with constant trouble and misfortunes, died a few years since in so deplorable athisat Paris, in a state bordering upon indigence Ito my solicitation that he had been per successfully interceded for hiuier made no difficulty to my request, because he looked upon Jean Jacques Rousseau as the greatest enemy to a set of men whom he mortally hated-the philosophers Neither did M de Maupeou, from the moment he effected the overthrow of the parlia his protection upon a man whom the parlia aware of it, Rousseau owed toter's mistresses, I had a lively curiosity to know him; all that his enemies repeated of his uncouthness, and even of histhe powerful interest hich he inspiredthe idea I had previously foreance which he had recently taken for the injuries he had received froht only how I could effecthim by one means or another, and in this resolution I was confirmed by an accident which befell h Lyons in June 1770 subscribed for the statue of Voltaire-author It was the co for the fourth time, the ”Nouvelle Heloise,” and for the tenth, or, probably, twelfth, the account of the party on the lake, when the marechale de Mirepoix entered the room I laid lancing her eye upon the book I had just put down, srave studies, and taking it in her hand, exclai 'La Nouvelle Heloise'; I have just been havingits author”