The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume II Part 10

As the Secretary of War has been often chang'd of late Years, the Comptroller-General of the Finances has been much more so. From the Year 1711, when I first came to _Paris_, to this Day, I have known seven Comptrollers General, and not one of 'em died in the Office: So that this Post may well be compared to that of the Grand _Vizier_, which is alike struggled for, and alike fatal to those who are invested with it.

Of all the Men who have had that ticklish Employment of Comptroller-General in _France_, there is not one that has made a more s.h.i.+ning Fortune, and a Fortune that sooner slipp'd from him, than _John Law_. This Man, of whom many People have wrote and talk'd without knowing him, and according to their Pa.s.sions, was a _Scotsman_, born with a narrow Fortune, but strong Desires to inlarge it. He had travell'd through several Parts of _Europe_, and Gaming prov'd his chief Subsistence. He won considerable Sums in _Italy_, especially at _Genoa_; and there it was that he hatch'd all those Projects which he put in Execution in _France_. 'Tis true, that he did not come into this Kingdom, till he had offered his Services to _Victor Amadeus_, the King of _Sardinia_. This Prince told him, That his Dominions were too small for the Execution of so great a Design; but that _France_ was a Theatre, where he might expect to make his Market, and thither he advised him to go. _If I know the Humour of the +French+_, added the King, _I am sure they will relish your Schemes_.

_John Law_ took the Monarch's Advice, and shewed his Project to the Regent, who approved it; and the Projector soon found, that he had the Purses of the _French_ absolutely at his Command. As he was a Protestant, he made his Abjuration in the _Recollets_ Church at _Melun_, in the Diocese of _Sens_, in the Month of _December_ 1719, in the Hands of the Abbe[58]_Tancin_. In the Month of _January_ following, he was made Comptroller-General; but he quitted that Post in _June_; abruptly left _Paris_ on the thirteenth of _December_ 1720; and after rambling about for a while, not knowing where to fix, (for his own Country did not suit him) he died at _Munich_. The Generality of the _French_ accuse him of having exhausted _France_, and sent away immense Sums to Foreign Countries. How true this is, I know not, but 'tis certain, that _Law_, after his Disgrace, liv'd very meanly. His Widow and his Son, (Mr. _John Law_)[59]

who are actually at _Utrecht_, make no very great Figure there, which very many People ascribe to Policy. But for my own Part, who think more freely, and don't see what could hinder Mrs. _Law_ and her Son from making a Display of their Riches, in the Country where they live; I can't help crediting what People, and such as were _John Law_'s Intimates, have a.s.sured me for a certain Truth, _viz._ That _Law_ being puff'd-up with his Fortune, and not thinking it would be so short-liv'd, had no Thought of securing it in Foreign Countries; and that if he had such a Purpose, he had not Time to send any Sums out of the Kingdom. He was oblig'd both by Necessity, and out of Policy, to make Purchases in _France_; and accordingly he made considerable Acquisitions; but they were no more than a pleasant Dream to him, and the Loss of them only made his Disgrace the greater Affliction. I am of their Opinion, who believe that _John Law_ was richer when he came to _France_, than he was three Months after he left it. This Copy of Verses was made upon him, which, perhaps, you will not be sorry to see[60].

The t.i.tLE of it is, A COMMISSION of the OFFICE of COMPTROLLER-GENERAL of the FINANCES, for Mr. JOHN LAW.

_De par le Dieu porte-marotte, Nous General de la Calotte, Attendu que le Regiment Est oblige sensiblement Au Sieur +Law+, de qui la Science Et conduite dans la Finance Nous a donne maints Calotins, En inventant les Bulletins, Autrement dits Billets de Banque, Pour servir au jeu de la Blanque, Jeu non renouvelle des Grecs, Comme le Fade jeu de l'Oye, Mais imagine tout expres Pour exciter l'homme a la joye: Temoin les Plaisans viremens, Et continuels changemens, Que l'on a vu dans le Royaume De Quinquempoix & de Vendome, Et Princ.i.p.aute de Soissons, Ou l'Achat & le Dividende_ _Causoient un Rumeur st grande, Qu'on ne vit jamais tant de Rats Obseder gens de tous etats: Mari, Femme, Garcon & Fille!

Laquais, Servantes, la Famille!

En un mot, sans rien excepter, Venoit jouer & blanqueter, Et s'y portoit de telle sorte, Qu'il falloit Gardes a la Porte Pour renvoyer chacun chez soi, Apres les trois coups de Beffroi.

La de tous Pas & Provinces, Marchands, Magistrats, Artisans, Prelats, Guerriers & Courtisans, Ducs & Pairs, & meme des Princes, Non du Pas, mais bien forains, Accouroient comme des Essains, Malgre vent, grele, pluye & crotte, Pour y jouer a la Marotte, En beaux & bons deniers comptant, Contre des Voleurs Calotines, Dont la +France+ & terres voisines Se pourront souvenir longtems._

_A ces Causes, vu l'Abondance Des Calotins qui sont en +France+ De tous Rangs & de tous etats, Par le moyen du dit Sieur +Las+, Nous lui consions nos Finances; Voulons que sur ses Ordonnances Nos fonds soient conomises, Augmentes & realises; Afin que selon son merite Chacun ait part, grosse ou pet.i.te, Dans nos immenses Revenus, Tant de gros Fonds que de menus.

Or comme un pareil Ministere Est sert etendu dans sa Sphere, Lui donnons pour premier Commis, +NOMPAR[61]+ qui des moins endormis Connoit la manuvre diverse De la Finance & du Commerce.

Lui donnons pour Profits & Droit, Pensions, Gages & Salaries, Le quart de tous les Angles droits, Que couperont les Commissaires Au papier qui sera vise, Et duquel en homme avise Il a si bien grossi le nombre, Que la +France+ y seroit a l'ombre, Si tous le Billets ra.s.sembles, Et les uns aux autres colles, On en pouvoit saire une Tente.

Au surplus de ladite Rente, Lui donnons notre grand Cordon, Pa.s.sant de la droite a la gauche, Ainsi qu'un legere ebauche De sa droiture, dont le fond Va si loin que [62]+Terra.s.son+ meme, Grand calculateur du Systeme, Ne pourroit pas le mesurer.

En outre, pour mieux honorer Le chef de ce grand Personnage, Qui fit bouquer tout homme sage, Et soi disant docte & profond, Lui donnons Calotte de plomb, De la haute et premiere cla.s.se; Et pour surcroit de telle grace, Joignons a ces [63]Coqs dont la voix Chanta la Justice au Francois, Papillons, Rats & Girouettes,_ _Hannetons Grelots, & Sonnettes.

En memoirs d'un si beau chant, Qu'au sortir de +France+ on publie Qu il va chanter en +Italie+, Ou sans doute il aura beau champ Pour exercer son grand Genie, Et sa connoissance infinie Dans l'art de decupler les sonds Par Billets payables a vue, Desquels aujourd'hui nous voyons En +France+ une si bonne Issue.

Ordonnons a tous les Pas De notre vaste Dependance, De l'ecouter dans ses avis, Sur-tout dans l'art de la Finance; Art qu'il possede eminemment.

Fait au Conseil du Regiment[64]._

'Tis certain, that never was any thing more splendid, than the short Reign of his Fortune. The _French_ perfectly idoliz'd, him, and even those who turned their Backs to his Altar, could not help admiring him as an extraordinary Man. The n.o.bility did not scruple to pay their Homage to him; and I have seen Dukes and Peers of _France_ waiting in his Antichamber, like the meanest Subjects. Towards the Close, there was no coming to the Speech of him without Money. The _Swiss_ must be feed for Entrance at his Gate, the _Lacqueys_ for Admittance into his Antichamber, and the _Valets de Chambre_ for the Privilege of Access to his Presence-Chamber or Closet. The Audiences too were very short, and People were quickly dismissed with very little Merchandise for a great deal of Money. Mean time he was civil, and his Fortune did not seem to have puff'd him up. He was a fine handsome Man, of a fair Complexion, as the _English_ generally are, and had a very n.o.ble Port. n.o.body understood _Algebra_ better than he did, and, let his Enemies say what they please, his System was good in itself, and might have been beneficial to _France_, if it had been punctually follow'd.

The Scheme was calculated for keeping two Thirds more of Species in the Kingdom, than of Bills, in which Case there would always have been Money enough to have paid off those Bills. But this did not satisfy the Avarice of the Under-strappers; and in 1720, when the Bank Bills were put down, there were two Thirds of Bills in the Kingdom, to one Third of Money, _viz._ five hundred Millions of Money, to a thousand Millions in Bills; and M. _d'Argenson_, the Protector of the four Brothers of the Name of _Paris_, prevailed on the Regent to circulate 1760 Millions of extraordinary Bills not registered, with which People bought and sold Shares; and during this Commerce, the Bills were realiz'd by the Brokers into Species; insomuch that, according to a Computation then made by _Bareme_, they say, that at the Time of the total Suppression of the Bills, which was in _October_ 1720, there were more Livres _Tournois_ in the famous Bank of _Missisippi_, than there had been Minutes since the Creation of the World. All this Variety of Bills had so stupified the _Parisians_, and they gave them such intire Credit, that before the Arret of the fifteenth of _May_ 1720, which sunk the Bills from ten _per Cent.

per Mensem_ to half their Value, a _Parisian_ did not care to be paid in Specie; for he thought Bills were far better, not only because they were not liable to be lower'd, but because they were more ready to count, and especially to carry. A Man that had Millions in his Pocket did not perceive the Weight of 'em, whereas but one hundred _Louis-d'ors_ are too heavy; and, how was it possible for a Man to carry them in his Pocket without being tir'd? While Peoples Fortunes were in Paper, I could boast of having had a Letter-case once in my Hands, in which there were Notes to the Value of thirty-two Millions. If they had been my own, I question whether I should have let them lie in Bank Bills, with the Hazard of losing half the Value. What follows, is a short, but curious Account of this Scheme[65].

_Lewis_ XIV. a little before he died, was two thousand two hundred Millions in Debt: But by the Reduction of the Princ.i.p.al 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 _Praemium_ 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 G.o.d 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 n.o.bleman 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 s.h.i.+ning 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 n.o.bleman. 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 s.h.i.+fted 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 d.u.c.h.ess _de Lude_, Lady of Honour to the d.u.c.h.ess 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 d.u.c.h.ess _de Lude_. I replied immediately, _This would be no difficult Task. I don't think that any t.i.tle 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 a.s.sured 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 b.l.o.o.d.y, 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 Vendome_ 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 Vendome+, 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 Vendome+ 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 Circ.u.mstances 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 n.o.blemen, 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 n.o.bleman 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 Lords.h.i.+p in _Picardy_[70].

_Victor-Maria_ Duke _d'Estrees_, 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 ill.u.s.trious by all the great Dignities of the Kingdom ever since[71] the charming _Gabriella d'Estrees_, who was Mistress to _Henry_ IV. He lives with as much Splendor and Magnificence as most n.o.blemen 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 _Estrees_, 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 a.s.sembly of the States of that Province is always held by this n.o.bleman. The n.o.bility 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'Estrees_ 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 d.u.c.h.ess 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._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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 t.i.ttle 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

_Tres baute & tres puissante Dame Madame_ FRANCOISE D'AUBIGNE, _Marquise de_ MAINTENON; _Femme Ill.u.s.tre, Femme vraiment Chretienne; Cette Femme forte que le Sage chercha vainement dans son Siecle, Et qu'il nous eut propose pour modele, s'il eut vecu dans le notre.

Sa Naissance fut tres n.o.ble.

On loua de bonne heure son Esprit, & plus encore sa Vertu.

La Sagesse, la Douceur, la Modestie sormoient son Caractere, Qui ne se dement.i.t jamais.

Toujours egale dans les differentes situations de sa vie; Memes Principles, memes Regles, memes Vertus.

Fidele dans les exercices de Piete, Tranquille au milieu des agitations de la Cour, Simple dans la Grandeur, Pauvre dans le centre des richesses, Humble au comble des honneurs; Reveree de_ LOUIS LE GRAND, _Environnee de sa gloire, Autorisee par sa plus intime confiance, Depositaire de ses graces, Qui n'a jamais fait d'usage de son pouvoir, Que par sa bonte.