Memoirs of the Countess de Valois de La Motte: Containing a Compleat Justification of Her Conduct, and an Explanation of the Intrigues and Artifices Used Against Her by Her Enemies, Relative to the Diamond Necklace

TOITHETTE.

MEMOIRS

OF THE

COUNTESS DE VALOIS DE LA MOTTEi

CONTAINING A COMPLEAT

JUSTIFICATION 01 HIR CONDUCT^ AND AN EXPLANA-
TION OF THE INTRIGUES AND ARTIFICES USED
AGAINST HER BY HER ENEMIES, RELATIVE TO

THE^DIAMOND NECKLACEi

ALSO
THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN

THE QUEEN and the CARDINAL DE ROHAN

AND CONCLUDING WITH

AN ADDRESS TO THE KING OF FRANCE,

SUPPLICATING A RE-INVESTIGATION OF THAT
APPARENTLY MYSTERIOUS BUSINESS.

TRANSLATED FROM TH£ FRENCHj WRITTEN BY HERSELF,

" If little faults, proceeding on dilkmpcr,
'* Shall not be wink'd at — bow fliall we ftretchour eyes
" When capital crimes, chew'd, fwallow'd and digelled,
•' Appear before us? Shakespear.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,

AND SOLD BY J. RIDGWAV, YORKL-STREET, ST. jAMEs's-S-U^

MDCCLXXXIX.

{^Entered at Stationers Ha!L]

_■ J l j' l

PREFATORY ADDRESS.

/ I ^O thofe who know the worth and confcious dig-

-■^ nity of VirtuCj the following Mennoirs containing

the vindication of injured Innocenciy will require no apo-

' logy; fince all of that defcription, will feel the necefiity

of tlieir publication.

Is there that Monjier of Virtue exifting, who can point

, the finger of fcorn zt foibles y which I candidly confefs to

be my lot, in conniTion with nny fellow creatures ; foibles

which have perhaps been the printary and unfortunate

means of rendering me the dupe to crafty policy and de-

\ figning artifice. THEDiAMONaNECKLACE, which was

-^ thefatal fpring of all my misfortunes, the fource of all my

miferics, has afforded matter of public fpeculation to

j^ almoft every rank of perfons, in almoft every kingdcnn

^^ in Europe.

i> A What

What various fentiments have been entertained of that
dark tranfaftion, what reports have been difTenminated^
what infinite pains have been beftowed, to make innocence
wear the face of guik, and to conceal the blackeft tur-
pitude under the mafk of purity.

Too fatally have the artifices of powerful guik hitherto
prevailed^ too fuccelsfully has chicanery and deception
influenced tlie general opinion of mankind ; and too long
hare they united to flander and ftigmatize with infamy
the name of the Countejs de Valois de la Motte.

Many circumftances, which I have made known in a
previous publication, have concurred to delay the ap-
pearance of thefe Memoirs, The time is at length arriv-
ed, when I fliall endeavour to vindicate my injured fame.-

Seated,. as I am^ in that happy kingdom, where
Liberty ftretches fordi her hand to the diftrelTed, and
affords a welcome afylum from the vindiftive terrors of"
opprefTive tyranny, I now proceed to remove the veil
which has fo long obfcured this myfterious tranfaaion,
and expofe to public view, Charafters, whofe crimes
receive additional force . from their elevated fituation.
In profecuting this intention, I fliall

^f mthing extenuate, nor Jet dowH aught in malice^'

Refcuing^

[ vli ]

Refcuing myfelf from unmerited opprobrium, if I am
neceffarily driven to drag to light the views of thofe, who
would have deftroyed mcj without claiming the privilege
of the law of retaliation, I iliall furely ftand acquitted in
the minds of the candid and impartial,

I flatter myfelf, that independent of my own vindica-
tion, thefe Memoirs will not prove unentertaining. The
Moral and Philofophic Reader, will therein find frefh
room for reflexion, and obfervation, on the depravity of
human nature; the Courdy and Polidcal Reader wilj
probably find a fatisfaftion in developing the myfl:erious
intrigues which were in agitation, at the period of the
tranfaftions ; and the Curfory Reader will, I hope, be
amply gratified, in finding thofe matters explained,
which have probably much excited curiofity.

From a mind long ufed to affllftion, every literary

defeft will be excufed. To addrefs myfelf to the Public

^ is not a matter of choice, but of neccfllty. If I have
it- "
given vent to my feelings, where the fling of injury mofl

feverely affrfted me, let it it be remembered, that I

have feverely fufFered, that I am ftill fmarting under my

griefs— that I am a woman !— If I fpeak forcibly, it is

not premeditated diftion, but the language of the heart.

Impreffed

[ viii ]

Imprefled with a due fcnfe of the liberality of the
Englifh nation, I chearfully fubmit my vinditadon e^
their candour. In that Supreme Power, who knows
our innioft thoughts, I truft, that I fliall yet be refcued
from the obloquy I have not merited ; in His name, I
pledge mylelf for the veracity of my afleitions— let the
circumftanccs impartially be weighed, and then let me
ftand, either acquitted with honour, or condemned to
lading reproach.

Countess de Valois de la Motte,

MEMOIRS

OF THE

COUNTESS DE VALOIS DE LA MOTTE,

WRITTEN BY HERSELF,

MUST I,-" Oh! painful tafk ! muft I inevitably
refumc that pcn> which twenty times has fallen

from my unwilling hand ? Muft I fupprefs thofe re-

morfeful agitations of a mind, which yet fiill of the once
loved images I am about to wound, ftartles at the fata-
lity that compels me to it?. I nduft; the convulfivc
pangs, the agonies Which I experience at the idea^ yield
at this inftant to the imperious claims of wounded ho-
nour, to the keen infpiratioris of fad defpair, for the pre-
fervation of a fame, more outrageoufly injured by my
filence> than it can have been by my fancied guilt, and
the barbarous punifhment inflicted it.

I am anxioiis to proclaim wherein I have been
faulty^ becaufe having ventured on the word honour ; I
cxpe6t, even in the recefs of folitude, the attacks of ma-
lignity; let the acknowledgement of being faulty^

foften the rigour of thofe who would carp at the ciaiml
of honour. Alas ! drenched with my own tears, loaded
with humiliations, overwhelmed with imputed igno-

B miny^

[ 2 ]

itiiny, I £I:all.not inake a vain difpky of pride ; what I
challenge of honour is no rriore than that feeble portion^
which unfortunate perfons ftillpreferve, who^ though op-
prefled with calunnny, are aflured of the rectitude of
their own inventions.

Daily proftrated before hinn^ who alone Can penetrate
into the.inmoft receffes of the hearr, I am pradcifed in
the avowal of my imprudencies : I fhali not fcek to dif-
guife them to the public, and I expeft from xhztjecond
judge, a confolation which the goodnefs of the former en-
courages me yet to hope.

Yes, I have committed faults; I confefs it but

fhouid not the puniftiment be proportioned to the guilt ?
If, from tlie expofure of my errors^ they lliould appear
to be but acceffories to crimes infinitely more weighty,
in which I found myfelf involved by a feries of events
arifing from each other ;— if the mod inexcufable of my
oiFences, be my inadvertently rendering myfelf an accom-
plice with perlbnages too mighty for my weaknefs to
refift, when once engaged; can the diftance of rank which
chance has placed between three culprits^ alone afcertain
the degrees of their refpeftive guilt, and muft that be
die juft ftandard of dieir chaftifement? Alas! have I
been fo unfortunate as to be ignorant of this truth?
Am I the firfl: inftance however, of the weak being
facrificed to the ftrong ? Oh no ! — but the records of
human wretchednefs afix>rd few inflances fimilar to
mine! Whoever honours my defence with the flighteft
attention, will be made fenfibfe, that it was not a diredt
effort of power which cruflied me, and that neither the
Queen, nor the Cardinal de Rohan had contrived
my ruin; but that it was the iniquitous conflift of theii*

dependant^.

[ 3 ]

tdependant interefts^ that precipitated me into dillrefs
and mifery.

Have I then uttered their names ?— Thofe perfonages
whom I aflerted to he once dear to me ? That generous
Prince to whom I had vowed a gratitude, which my
very difafters have not been able to impair ; that be-
guihng Sovereign, whom I may be faid to have idolized,
and whofe image I muft at this moment rernove from
my " mind's eye," that I may retain fufficient fortitude
to proceed. Yes, I have declared ihat' I muft ; I have
afiigned the reafon j but I have not yet faid any thing
of my forbearance, of my moderation, or the ftruggles
I have had to Ihake off the galling yoke of that necef-
fity. It is the criminal craftinefs of thofe, who at the
time of my fad cataftrophe, prevented the Queen from
holding out to me the hand of comfort and relief ^ which
has kept from her the knowledge of the weapons I ^m
provided with ; to wreft from fear, what I fhould have
been happy to owe to juftice, to humanity, to the re-
mains of paft regard.

Ever fince (by a kind of miracle) I fet my foot on
this protedting land, .where freedom fmiles alike on un-
happinefs and profperity; nothing has been left untried
to acquaint her Majefty, that I am pofTefTed of a corref-
pondcnce, the publication of which would produce the
effeft of extenuating my guilt, though at the painful
expence of expofing her ; of interefting the public ia
my fate, and fubftituting pity, for that ignominy, which
has hitherto been my torment. I have found all ave-
nues blocked up by defpotic favourites, who envelope a
Princefs, devoted, at once, to the cravings of their
infatiable covetoufnefs, and to the tyranny of their intri-
guing ambition^

In

[ 4 ]

In the affefting memorials which I have endeavoured
tofubmit to her Majefty's clemency j I recalled to view,
without complaint, the evils, the horrors of every kind
I have undergone, and proved to her, that my difcretion
and the fidelity of my attachment, were the only caufes
of my calamities. I offered, even, to facrifice the
means of my juftification, on terms which equity or
common jullice mufl: approve ; in a word, I only de-
manded the reftitution, or rather an equivalent for the
lofles, confequent to my unhappy profecution. In every
one of my letters I repeated, that " Since it had pleafed
" Providence I fhould furvive thofe fhocking barba-
*^ rities; fince it had refcued me from my own fury;
*^ its intention, doubtlefs^ was not, that I fhould perifh
^* for want of a fubfiftance ; that in the condition I was
*« reduced to, I was allowed to hope, that the Queen
" would, at leaft, caufe to be reftored to me, what the
" confifcation of my property had poured into the
" King's Exchequer.*'

Thofe memorials which contained a too faithful re-
port of the deftitute condition, under which the viftim
of duty and affedion laboured ; which echoed the cries,
of fufFering humanity, have undoubtedly not reached the
earof Majefty : Her eyes have not beheld thofe mournful
charaders, drawn with a trembling hand, upon the paper
moiftened with afflidion's tears ; nothing has induced
the recolleftipn of me to the mdft humane of Princefles ;

all, all have been intercepted ! Let thofe devouring

fiends, therefore, take to themfclves the mifchief that

may enfue ; up(jn their own heads be the neceffiiry

confequences of that defpair to which I am reduced.

I have

[ 5 ]

I have taken up my pen, and foregoing fleep, fore-
going the joiportunate cares of a body brought to de-
cay, that is no longer of any concern to me j I will not
lay it down, till I have eafed my foul of its overwhelm-,
ing load, by pouring forth all the fecret horrors it con-
ceals.

It has been my wifli, to fave the honour of the
Queen ; but in the abyfe, into which I am more and
more deeply plunged, can I at this day turn my
thoughts to any thing, befides the fhattered remains of
my own honour ? The, public muit at length pro-
nounce between HER MAJESTY and the atcmjhe has
xrujhed.

My mind is too much agitated to regard my ftyle ; I
am unufed to writing, and my hufband's military edu-
cation, places him in point of literature, nearly on a

level with myfelf. No matter, truth has its force,

grief has its eloquence ; the fentiments of forrow will
flow with rapidity, and defpair pofTefles energy amidft
diforderi with thefe incitements an author may claim
a perufal : I fhall therefore write.

Alas, that I could difpenfe with the mention of my
birth! My judges made no ajccount of it, can I then
reckon it as fomething ? No : but it were, perhaps, a
piece of pride, to diffemble that my father died at the
Hotel-DieUy in Paris. If the reader will pleafc to caft an
eye on No. I. of the annexed papers, he will there find
his fad genealogy. I Ihall not, furely be fufpefted of
vanity in fuch an invitation j but it appears a, neceflary
document, in as much as it accounts for the firft a£ls
of my life, juftifies the deviations of a natural ambition,
and gives a conception why^ fcarce emerged from ob-

fcurlty

[ 6 J

fcurity- and indigence, Jane de St. Remy de Valois
courted favour, in order to recover the rank, to which
(he was by birth entitled.

My father, it is true, had jufl ended his deplorable
career in the arms of charity ; but the very regifter of
his funeral told me, that the blood of the Valois flowed
in my veins. Could I then, implicitly, refign myfelf to
the idea, of tamely fubmitting that honoured name, to
fink into the grave in obfcurity. Perhaps had Heaven
endowed me with that refignation, it would have been a
gift more precious to me than exiflence ; but I received
it not in my birth, and unfortunately did not imbibe
the fentiments from the tuition of my fecond mother.

The tendernefs of the Marchionefs de Boulainvilliers,
who protefted me in wy childhood, would not permit
her to coimtera6t the early fymptoms of ambition, which
appeared in me, and which fhe looked upon as the no-
ble failing of great fouls i on the contrary fhe had en-
couraged me in the intention of putting in my claims^
the nature of which were as follow:

In the perufal of my genealogy, it may havb been ob-
ferved, that my progenitor, poffeffed in right of his
lady, the eftate of Fontette, and that from him to
my father inclufively, that eftate had regularly devolved.
All my anceflors had been born upon, and almoft all
had been entombed in it. My father alone, by means
of a natural propenfity to gaiety and extravagance, and
the confequent accumulated diflrefles, had firfl; parcelled
out, and aftewards compleatly alienated that demefne.
It pafiTed for a fad, and was indeed but too true, that
he had not received a fixth part of the value of the^va-
lious inhcrtiances, which he had fucceflively m.ortgaged.

Peo'

[ 7 ]

People were inceffantly telling me, I heard it from'every
quarter, that, with a fmaH degree of favour, if might be
eafy to regain poflefRon of that eftate.

Madame de Boulainviiliers, whofe klndncfs induced
her to take fome meafures to obtain that objeft, was
the firft to advife me to repair to the pkce, and to al-
certain how far my hopes might probably be realized.
It was, therefore, not only with her confent, but by her
exprefs advice, that in 1779 I repaired to Bar-fur-
Aube, where the information I gained, confirmed me
in the opinion, that had determined my journey. It
appeared to me evident, that with favour I might re-
cover part of the poiTeflions of my houfe, Impreffed
with this idea, my imagination could not entertain a
thought, which had not for its objeft the accomplifii-
ment of my favourite wifh, to obtain the necefTary fup-
port ; but fi'om that moment, I may venture to date
the origin of my ruin.

During my firft abode at Bar-fur-Aube I became
acquainted with Count de la Motte^ but as it is not a
novel 1 am writing, I fhall pafs over the circumftances
which brought him to a propofal of marriage, as well
as the motives that determined me to accept it. It
will be enough to fay, that our union being approved
of by M, de la Luzerne, Bifliop of Langres, on] the
overtures he was pleafed to make^ Mad, de Boulain-
viiliers, my excellent mother, yielded her confent, and
a few days after die nuptial band was tied.

My hufband was then in the Gens d'Armcs,»in which

corps his father had run an honourable career, glori-

oufly terminated at the battle of Minden,^ where he was

killed at the head of his company.

Men-

t 8 3

Monficur de k Motte thought that upon the circiim-
ftance of his marriage he might hope for fome military
promotion*

Marflial de Caftries commanded the GenS d'Armcs
which was then quartered at Luneville^ M. de la Motte
propofed my joining the garrifon with him, which I
only accepted, on condition I Ihould pafs in a convent
the whole time his ftay flibuld require. We therefore
fixed upon one about three leagues from Luneville, to
which I retired, but Was doomed not to enjoy long the
tranquility which was afforded me by that afylum;
The affiiirs of the navy department, entrufted to the
Marlhal de Caftries, not permitting him to revifit his
corpsj the intended felicitations could not take place.

Here the reader will be prrfented with a clew to my
misfortunes, which, if he will take hold of, 1 will lead
him ftep by ftep through the labyrinth in which I was
bewildered.

Never was woman lefs vain than myfelf of perfonal
charms ; I know not by what fatality my youth, that
healthful look which is called fr elhnefs, that vivacity, the
appendage of juvenility, fupplied in me the want of
beauty, fo far as to lay me open to the importunities of
prcfuming med.

The Marquis d'Autichamp, who commanded in the
abfencc of the Marfhal de Caftries, is the being,

to

whom I was firft beholden, for that diftruft which all my
life after,^ I conceived of the oter preffiiig civilities of
his fex. He expreffcd the moft ardent zeal to {enrc us,
he ftrove to perfuadc us we fnould do nothing at Lune-
ville; that there was a neeeffity of vifitirig Paris, where,

exchi'

[ 9 ]

cxclufive of the good offices we had to expe6t from the
Marfhall, and of thofe, which the maternal fondnefs of'
Madame de Boulainvilliers infurcd to us ; he would ex-
ert his intereft with his own private friends to get my
hufband into place. He found no difficulty in per-
fuading us that his advice was rational ; but when the
time came for our departure, for the metropolis, it ap-
peared that I, alone, was to folicit, under the aufpices of
the Marquis ; who condefcended to take the journey
with me. He pretended that my hufband, having al-
ready twice had leave of abfence, could not hope for a
third, and accordingly he refufed it him i the indifpen-
fible confcquence of which refufal was. Count de la

Motte quitted the corps. Thefe were the firft fruits

oi favour with the great. This refolution intimated

and fixed upon, we immediately took tlie road to
Strafburg; where the Marquis de Boulainvilliers and
his lady then Were ; but on the very day we reached
tlirt place, they had left it, to go to Saverne, at which
place we joined them the next day.

^t was there, for the firft time, I faw the Cardinal de
Rohan. To him I was prefcnted, and bi-it too well re-
commended by the Marchiunefs^ who, a few days. after,
let off on her return to Paris, inviting me,, together with
the Count, my hufband, to accept of an apartment in
her hotel in that city. It was not long before I follo\^ed
her; and my hufband, detained at Bar-fur- Aube by
family concerns, joined me fhortly after ^ but when he
arrived, my dear protedtrefs was no mere ; death having
juft robbed me of the only fupport I had left in the
world,

C Afe-

[ lo ]

A ftcond time become an orphan, by this unfortu-
nate incident, deprived of the wife counfels and exam-
ples which had hitherto direfted my conduft, I caft my
eyes on all around m6, and faw nothing but a frightful
void, a vail folitude, where apprehenfions, fince, too
fully verified^ fuggefted to me, that if I deviated from
the path of reditude, I fhould perhaps be loft.— —The
Marquis de Boulainvilllers remained, but of him I had
formed fo unfavourable an opinion, chat my firft deter-
mination was to quit his hotel. He guefled my inten-
tions ; to prevent which he affured me, that he fhould
confider -it as his duty to ftand in the place of the
Marchionefs ; that in him I fhould find a father. Ac*
cordingly, for fome time, he feemed to continue towards
us the kindnefs with which we had been honoured by
his Lady. Soon, however, I difcovered that this kind-
nefs was not wholly difinterefted, and 1 comprehended
his motives as fully, as if he had imparted to me his in-
tention.^ He had juft loft a wife, but chance had placed
another woman under his roof, and the fituacion was
become a matter of conveniencey which he pretended Mras
reciprocal', at leaft that was the light in which he repre-
fented it to me, and without much hefitation made mc
a downright propofaL

Alas ! faid I to myfelf, are fuch the charadleriftics of
men ? they are ftiU far from being reftored to my good
opinion: yet I think, for the credit of their fex, that few
of them are capable of fuch meannefs, not to fay bafe-
nefs of behaviour, as that I have experienced on this oc-
cafion.

The moment M, de Boulainvilliers was convinced of
the futility of his defigna, all his affiduous attentions

were

[ M ]

were converted into harfh and uncivil treatment. In-
deejl, it is not without a blufh, I fhall here produce
fome inftances of it. It will fcarce be credited, for ex-
ample, that not chufing openly to propofe our quitting
his houfe, he took the refolution of rendering it gra-
dually infupportable t6 usj caufing every day fome
necciTary article to be retrenched, and ufing every
mean fubflitution that could be made, in thofe which
he allowed. I know not whether the mentiojn of fuch
trivial circumftances fhould be admitted into a ferious
narrative, but as it concerns me to prove, that my ex-
iftence has been a feries of misfortunes, more or lefs
afflicting or humiliating, I thought it neceffary to jfhcw
that pafTingfrom under the protedion of Mad. de Bou-
lainvilliers to that of her hufband, was no fmall one.

My readers will readily conceive, that fuch conduft
foon occafioned a feparation. Nearly about the fame
time I refymed die fatal idea of feeking by powerful
patronage, to recover part of the poffeffions alienated by
my father, and efpecially the eftate of Fontette, I had
feveral acquaintances, amongft them were fome, whom
I ftyled friends, being fimple enough, too readily to
confide in friendfhip. The hopes of prevailing on thefe
to interfere drew me to Verfailles; where my time was
fpent in fruitlefs folicitations, during the fucceflive ad-
miniftrations of Meflrs. Joly de Fleury and d*Ormeffon,
which pafTed away like a fhadow ; afterwards under that
of Mr, de Calonne, which, on the contrary, appeared
fo long to France. Whoever is acquainted widi iiis in-
finuating afliduitics, can form an idea of the graces he
difplayed on the firft reception : I thought I could per-
C 2 ccivc

[ 12 ]

ccive the moment when he would propofe to fhare with
me the treafure entrufted to Madame d'Arveley (*>

The ancient fabvdift has whimfically deicribed the
a<^itation of the mountain, which was at length delivered
of a moufej I cannot help comparing to it the labour
of Mr. de Calonne, who undertook to augment to fif-
teen hundred llvres, the mighty penfion of eight hun-
dred, granted me at the time of my recognition, to en-
able me to fupport worthily^ the name of Valois. Juft-
ly incenfed at the Comptroller General, I fecretly pur-
"pofcd to ufe compulfive means, and to recover my ef-
tate of Fontettc independent of his affiftance ; and the
ftep which appeared to me beft calculated to efFeft this
purpofe, was to ingratiate myfelf into the favour of a
certain ferjonage. An opportunity foon after prefented
itfelf, wherein the fuccefs of my ftratagem would have
been tri,cd3 but my fituation did not permit me to em-
brace it, which will be amply explained, when my con-
nexions with the Cardinal are known ; this circumftance,

how-

* Madame d'Arveley was, at that period, wife to the
keeper of the Royal Treafury, during the adminiflra-
tion of Mr. Calonne, who had the bon heur to be in th?
homes graces of that lady, previous to Jiis exaltation.
Monfieur d'Arveley at his death, left her a confiderablc
fortune. ,Whetlier gratitude, or a natural propenfity to
be a financial minifter in private, fincc he was no longer
permitted to be fo in public, prevailed, is uncertain ;
.but fincehis involuntary flight from the ' Contbent, he
ha3 undertaken the management of the widow's concerns^,
.and has honoured her with the name of Calonne.

[ 13 ]

however, is not the lefs remarkable, as it determined
my fate, by opening to me the way, which afterwards
brought me to her Majedy's feet.

I have already protefted againft all prctenfions to
beauty ; but w^ere I to carry humility as far as a con-
feflion of homelinefs, I could not reverfe what has been ;
or counteraft the circumftance of his Royal Highncfs
the Count d*Artois, who faw me ar the parifh church of
Verfailles, having honoured me with a diftinftion which
I did not endeavour to obtain. The fteps taken by that
Prince to acquaint me with the generofity of his difpofi-
tion, reached the ear of the Princefs, his confort ; who,
fatisfied with my beh^iviour, vouchfafed to receive me
with kindnefs, and took me under her proteftion, placing
me oftenfibly under that of her royal fifter, Madame,
To conceive the motives of that precaution, it is only
neceflary to recollcft, that a very fnort time before that
period, Madame the Countefs d'Artois, had found her-
felf in very delicate gircumftances, which made her ex-
tremely circumfpe6l.

Although the point was thus fettled between the two
Princeffes refpefting me, I experienced equal effefts of
their goodnefs towards me. One day as I was paying my
court to them at Madame's,^ I was feized with a fudden
indifpofition that occafioned fome ftir in the palace.
The Queen being informed of it, was gracioufly pleafed
to exprefs fome concern. Her Majefty even fent for
Mrs, Patri, firft waiting-woman to Madame, to know
the particulars of that accident ; an inftance of regard
which her Majefty continued for fome days after.

Nothing efcapes the notice of courtiers; they obferved,
that, fr-om that moment, her Majefty honoured mc with/

ftgra-

I 14 ]

a gracious condefcenfion whenever I came into her pre-
fence , fonie fpeculations were even hazarded on the fub-
jedi but the man at Court who carried them the fartheftj
was the Cardinal de Rohan.

I have hitherto only mentioned that Prince, in refer-
ence to the incident which firft procured me the ho-
nour of feeing him. During the interval between that
period, and the one I am now adverting to, I muft own
1 had not loft figlit of him ; I had received kindnefles
from him ; gratitude, juftly due, innolably attached me
to him ; I had no fecrets concealed from him j he, none
from me.' We mutually read in each other's mind, our
refpeftive ambition. His, it is well known to every
one, was, to have become, at any rate, Prime Minif-
ter ; mine had no farther views, than to be Lady of ^l;e
Manor of Fontette.

Obftacles ahiiofl: infurmountable, and arifing from the
fame caufe, thwarted both our views. The Cardinal
fome year^ before, had the misfortune to incur the
Queen's difpleafure (*), The firft ftep towards fupreme
power, was of confequence, to recover her Majefty's fa-
vour : and as long as he could do nothing in his own be-
half, he had as little power to do any thing for me. It
may be remaiked, in that letter to which I have referred
the reader, tliat at the time I am fpeaking of, he had
made various attempts, all equally unfuccefsful, either
on account of the folly with which they were attended, or
through the perfidioufnels of the Princefs de Guemenee,
who, while Ihe feemed to have undertaken his recon-
ciliation with the Queen, had removed him from it inH-. /
*nitely more diftant, than he had been at the period Ihe
V appeared to intereft herfelf on his account.

Matters
* See No,, V.Che Letters.

[ ^5 ]

Matters were thus circumftanced, when that feeble
r*ay of favour which he faw fhine upon niy head, revived
his hopes, and re-animated his annbition. Nothing can
equal the aftonifhnnent into which he threw me, one
day, when happening to be in the royal gallery, her Ma-
jefty vouchfafed me one of thofe fmiles, which it is fo
difficult to appear infenfible of. Having, a moment af-
ter, by chance, raifed my eyes up to him ; I faw joy
fparkle In his countenance, and a defire at the fame
time to fpeak to me. This defire I fulfilled, and the
words which he addreffed me with, will never be effaced
from my remembrance. " Do you know, Countefs/*
faid he, ^^ that my fortune is in your hands, as well as
your own ?"— His fortune ! oh Heavens ! I fhuddcr
wheh I think that his misfortunes are not even yet
drawn to a conclufion ; that I am perhaps going to fill
up the meafure of them. As to my own fortune, thank.
Heaven, I now fee it drawing nigh ; I behold it in the
tomb, half open to receive me j but ac the mom.ent the
Cardinal was then fpeaking to me, my ideas were not
fo melancholy.

Though I had ken neither his fortune nor my own
in the Queen^s enchanting fmile, yet my heart was full
of it. When the firft furprlfe had fubfided, I afked the
Prince whether he wasjefting or in earneft? — " A man
*^ cannot be rriore in earneft than I am," anPvvered he,
" fit down and hear me attentively. In the firft place,
'^ convince yourfelf thoroughly of a truth, which, as it
*^ admits, in general, of very few exceptions in ths
" world, fo at Court it admits of none. It is this : It
*^ is not in the power of human wifdom to chain down
'^ Fortune; bhndfolded, and ever led by chance, the

« fickle

[ i6 3 ' .

^* fickle deity holds out her hand to all who Hand read/ 1
f^ to grafp it on her rapid pafTage ^ but if not feized \
*^ upon that very inllant, opportunity never nqorc re- ]

*^ turns. The moment of your good fortune is arriv- i

<f ed. 1 have not been the only perfon who has ob- |

« fcrved it, but having more intercft than any odiein '^
*' its confequence, my obfcrvation has been more atten-' /
" tive, and I have dilcovered to a certainty, that the i

" Queen has taken a fancy to you/' ^" A fancy," ',

cried I, " you mean ftie feels a benevolent compaffion |
" towards me." — " You may give" anlwered he, j
*^ what name you pleafe, to the fentiments Ihe honours ]
" you with'j all that is neceffary for you to know is, ;
" that there i%fometbmg in your form pleafmg to hevy aqd \
** that you muft not let the happy dilpofitions flie has ^
'^ fhewn towards • you . for fome time paft, grow cool, j
*' You iee that all favour centers in her; that every ]
'' where elfe there is nothing to be done : that Madame ^
" and the Countefs d'Artois are not only devoid of in-:^
" fiuence, but that their very proteftion ftamps the fcal'l
" of reprobation. Attach yourfelf then folely to the
" Queen ; and confider, (I tell you fo again) that your j
" fortune and mine are in your hands." j

The Cardinal concluded, by dcfiring me to write to ."
the Marchioness de Polignac ; but he could not 1
have given a worft advice. Though the Polignacs 'I
were then poffefled of the, almoft exclufive, right of pre- ;
lenution to the Queen ; they had luch mighty interefts "i
to manage, they were affailed by fo many fears, tor- ^
mented by lb manyjealoufies, that it was neceflary diejr |
ftiould be well aflured of their creatures, before thejr 1
brought them forward. I was not fuittd to their pur- |

pofc ^

[ 17 ]

pofe, they by no means found their account in intro-
ducing me> nor indeed did they give it the leaft coun-
tenance. They refufed me the requefted interview, and
confined their anfwer to this: ** That Mr. de Calonne
*^ having given the Queen an account of the addition
*^ lately made to my penlion, her Majcfty thought that
*^ I ought to reft fatisfied.'* Soon afterwards I learnt
there was not one word of truth in this bold aflertion,
and that they had not fo much as mentioned my name
to the Queen.

During the fhort interval, between the moment I am
now Ipeaking of, and that, wherein I had the honour to
approach the Queen ; I had daily opportunities of ob-*
fervingj that all the methods I took to efFed my pur-
pofe, were counterafted by the Polignacs, and that they
had fo thoroughly obftru6ted all the avenues to an ac-
cefs, that I one day faid to the Cardinal with ill-hu-
mour, I would hear no more about feeing the Queen.-—
*^ fVhy^ you are a childy' faid he ; " at the firji obJiacUy
'* you are for giving up the pointy but remember ^ " He that
" ftays in the valley will never get over the hill/' ^he
'' gale is propitious, you muji Jail into harbour. I am
*^ going to propoje a courje to you, the only one you have
" left to purfue. I forewarn you^ it is a coup d'eclat
" that I Jfjall advije you to adopt J'

Seeing me peiplexed and confufed, before I knew
what the bufmefs was i he made an end, by explaining to
me ^hat he meant by a coup d'klati He told me, I
muft not hefitate to throw myfeif at the Queen's feet,
but that he thought, in order to overawe our common
enemies die more ; I Ihould fcize the occafion to do it,
at the time of the proceffion of the Blue Ribbands,

D whic>

[ t8 ]

which was to take place on the ftcond of Fcbiuary. Ae-
cuftomed implicitly to follow his advice, I promifcd to
ad: as he Ihould di£late.

The great day at length arrived. Furnifhed with the
petition 1 was to prefent, and the moft ample inftruc-
tions to govern my conduft by, in every poiTible fitua*
tlon; I repaired, full dreffed, to the Caftle, and waited
in one of the faloons till the proceffion returned. As
the Queen paffed by, I fell at her feet, and delivered
my petition -, told her, in few words, that I v/as lineally
defcended from theVALOisj that I was acknowledged
as fuch by Lewis the Sixteenth; that the fortune of my
progenitors, not having been tranfmitted to me with their
name, I had no refource but in the King's munificence,
his Majefty being in pofleflion of the major part of the
cftates they had enjoyed ; that having found every ave-
nue to her Majeily's prefence fhut againft me, defpair
had determined me to take this ftep.

The Queen raifed me up with kindnefs, received my
petition with her ufual complacency, and feeing nie
tremble, condcfcended to bid mchopc. She then paffed
on, telling me to make myfelf eafy, aud promifed to
pay regard to the objeft of my requeft.

I withdrew, my limbs tottering under me, and had
fcarcely reached home, when I received a note from the
Cardinal, in confequence of which I went to him. After
acquainting him with what had paffed ; in purfuance of
his advice, I immediately wrote to Madame dc Mifery,
firft-Lady of the Bed-chamber, and waiting-woman to
tlie Queen, defiring her to deliver to her Majefty an
enclofcd letter, .which I took the liberty of addreffing to
hen

1 li^

[ 19 J

The fame evening I received an anfwer from that
ladyj containing an invitation to her apartment, at half
an hour pad feven. When I faw her, fhe told me fhe
had laid my letter on t*he Queen's mantle-piece, that
llie believed her Majefty was at that very moment talking
to Madame refpefting me, and added, that her Majefty
had not been to church that afternoon, on account of
the agitation my letter had thrown her into,

In the firft moment of our converfation, Madame de
Mifery hinted to me, " that the honour I was going to
'' have conferred on me, by being prefcnted to her Ma-
«^ jetty, muft be a fecret to all the world, not excepting
«^ Madame-, warning me, that the fmalleft indifcretion
^' would ruin me paft recovery/' (*)

Our converfation continued till eleven o'clock, when
the prefencc of her Majefty at length put an end to it.—
How beauteous did llie appear ! I had always confidered
her fo, when I beheld her, but the affability with which
flie received me at that inftance, added to the charms
of her perfon. I was again feized with a palpitation ;
when her Majefty was pleafed, a fecond time, to encou-
rage me, requefting my confidence, and ordered me to
fpeak to her with an open heart, refpefting whatever
concerned myfelf. At length I took courage, and after
fetting forth the nature of my claims, the fteps I had
taken with the Minifters, and with the PrinceiTes her
fifters-in-law, I concluded, by complaiaing with fomc
afperity, of the harfh treatment I had received from the
PoHgnacs. Her Majefty fmiled, and her looks at that
D 2 moment

* The reader is particularly requefted not to lofe rcr
membrance of this pofitive injunction, through the
courfe of thcfe Memoirs.

[ 20 ]

momentj indicated to me many things, the explanation
of which is found in her letters to the Cardinal. (*)

After a fhort recollection, her Majefty fpoke to me
nearly in thcfe terms : " I have perufed your memorial
" with attention and concern. I perceive that its objedt
^^ is to urge the Minifter to the reftitution of feme
*^ eftates, which have belonged to your houfe. I have
'^ peculiar reafons for not complying with your requeft^
*^ which fhall be made known to you, they being fuch
*^ as regard you perfonally. 1 cannot reconcile the de-
*^ fire I feel of ferving you publicly, -with that I expc-
^^ rience of feeing you familiarly 5 biit I may indireHly
" do you the good offices you defire of me. Send (ot
" your brother, (*) who being now the head of your
'^ houfe, it is more natural that he fliould perfonally
" folicit the favours to which it has a claim. I promife
'^^ you, I will ftrongly fuppprt his folicitations, therc-
f^ fore make yourfelf eafy."— Her Majefty terminated
the converfation, by prefenting me with a purfe, and
honoured me widi a firft falute 5 enjoining me to remain
at Verfailles, to speak to no person whatever of
THIS interview, or of the fuccefs of my petition, theft
quitted me, faying, <f JdieUy we pall meef again,*'

It is material to obferve, that in this firft interview,
her Majefty talked to nrle concerning Madame, in terms
extremely unfavourable ; that above all, ftie infiftedmuch
on theduplicity of that Princefs; recommending to me,

to

* S^e No. VlL
* The Baron cle Valois, at that time a Lieutenant ia
'the Niivy. It is well known botli in England and
France, how niuch he diftinguiflied himfelf on board
the SMrveillante.

t 21 ]

to beware of her; not to fay a word to her about my af-
fairs; and ad/ifmg nne, even, not to fee her any more;
which I could not but deem an exprefs prohibition.

It was faid that " wejhouldmeet again.'' Accordingly,
a few days after, I received a note, written by the hand
of Mademoifelle Dorvat, one of her Majefty's women,
containing an order for me to repair, between eleven
and twelve that night; to tlic little Trianon. Having
attended punftually to the appointed hour, I was intro-
duced into her Majefty's clofet by Mademoifelle Dorvat.
I received an explanation of what the Cardinal meant to
intimate, when he fpoke to me of*" fancf* and of there
being ^^fomething in my. form, fleafmg to her Majefty'—
Good Heaven ! thought I, how charming is the Queen I
what affability ! what an effufion of goodnefs !— -indeed,
I alfo felt niyfelf at that moment fomething more than
mortal.

Her Majcfty put an end to our long conference, by
evincing her munificence to me, in the gift of, pocket
book, containing to the amount of ten thoufand livres,
in bills upon the CaifTe d'Efcomptc. The laft words
were, as in the firft interview *^ AdieUy we fiall meet

'^ again,'' We did fo, both frequently and with long

interviews, and upon the fame footing.

This confeffion weighs down my foul, my heart trem-
bles, the pen drops from my hand — O my auguft Sove*
reign ! It is to you alone I now addrefs myfelf ! Recall
to your mind thofe charming moments, which I
fcarced are refledl on : recall to your memory, thofe
places in which they were pafTcd, and thofe in which I
expiated a guilt attributed to me, in confequence of my
concealment of them. Whatever be the contumely with

whicja

[ 22 ]

which it has fince pleafed your Majelly to overwhelm
me; you will neverthelefs find it imprinted on your me-
mory, that you then raifed me up to you i that you
placed yourfelf on an equality with me. But in vain
did you condefcend, before me, to divert yourfelf of
the avvfulnefsof Majefty; in the very manner of laying
it afide, your dignity appeared, and inwardly I exclaim-
edj, kis the rgpddcfs^ Flora, v/ho, derobing herfelf ofher
dignity, deigns to amufe herfelf with an humble flow-
eret. . You are fenfible. Madam, that in the firfl: in-
terview, and' thofe of the fame kind which fuccceded, I
never departed from that refpecT:, with which you even
obligingly upbraided me-.—and yet, it is that unhappy
being, whom tlie bare approach of your lips, ought to
render an obje6l ever facred : it is the woman, whom you
liad^honoured with the name of ^^ dear friend -y'^ it is that
unfortunate De Valois, whom you have forfake^^ given

up into the hands-— fhall I fay of executioners ? ah,

no !r— Let me recall the word But to return to the

Cardinal,

jFrom what I h^ve already related, it is manifeft, that
it was the unbounded ambition of that unhappy Prince,
which had conveyed, nay almoft dragged me into the
Queen's clofet. I have alfo faid, that I had conceakd
nothing fro!n him. As foon as he was able to applaud
himfelf on the fucccfs of his fpeculation j wlien from
the nature of die benefits I received from her Majefty,
he knew how to appreciate the degree of beneficence
Ihe honoured me widij he repeated widi warmth what
he had already told me of his fortune and mine, which
he pretended were in my hands ; and prevailed on me to
watch for, tofeize upon the firft opportunity diat offered,

of

[ 23 ]

of recalling him, without afFeding to do it, into the
Qjjeen's remembrance. It was not long before an occa-
fion offered, as favourable as it was poffible to wifh.

One day, when her Majefty had added a frefh favour
to the many which had fo juftly enfured her my tender
and refpedlful duty, fhe accidentally afked rpe how I
had been able to fupport myfelf before I approached htr
perfon. Then was the momentfor naming my benefac-
tor, without appearing to do it with a premeditated defign,
I; however, ufed a good deal of artifice, pretending
ignorance of the footing on which the Cardinal flood with
her Maieft}\ I avoided an air of conftraint agd referve,
which, had it been the leaft difcernible, might have cre-
ated a fufpicion, that I was deeper in the Prince's con-
fidence, than I ought to appear. I therefore fpoke of
him in** general terms, as a man of feeling, benevolent
and generous ; who, by thofe various good qualities,
had probably aqcuired the efteem and the favour of her
Majefty i and I v;armly enumerated the good offices he
had done me. The Queen liftened to me with fuch at-
tention, and regarded me with fo inquifitive an eye, that
I felt the neceffity of weakening the firft idea, that vi-
fibly offered itfelf to her mind ; by hinting, that this
munificence of the Prince was far from being confined
perfonally to me. As this was the firft time I had ut-
tered die Cardinal's name before the Queen, fo it was
the firft time I had obferved hov/ much her Majefty's
averfion to him, exceeded the idea he had given me.
She was for fome timx filent, feemingly wrapt in pro-
found refledion, and with tlie accent of a perfon who is
juft awakened, fhe faid to me : " What I have juft
'^ Jieard is plcafing to me, hutjurprifes me! I did not

'"''«" Ihlnk

[ ^4 1

*« think the Cardinal capable of fuch afVions ; he is faid
«^ to be of quite a different difpofition."

The Cardinars name heing once introduced, in the
frequent and familiar conferences I had v/ith the Queen,
I forefaw, that in introducing it again, I fhould no
longer have the fame difficulties to funncunt, I im-
parted my idea to the Prince, who conjured me not to
omit any opportunity of fpeaking of him -, he even pre-
pared me with inftru6lions, as to the purport of my dif-
courfc ; fuggeiled to me various introductions, and ap*
plied himfelf to train me up for the performance of my
part. The tafk, however, was not fo eafy as we had ima-
gined. The Queen never uttered die Cardinal's jiame,
nor fpokc of any thing that had the Icaft reference to
him i all my inllru<5lions were therefore entirely thrown
away, as I found no opportunity to introduce the fmall-
eft mention of him.

At length an incident occurred, which enabled me to
execute my purpofe. The Cardinal, having received
two hundred thoufand Hvres as a fot de vin ^, for renew-
ing the contrad for foraging the cavalry in Alfacc, made
me a prcfent of twenty thoufand. I thought myfelf
bound, not to let the Queen remain ignorant of this freih
inftance of generofuy, with which her Majefty feemed
afFcfted. I did not lofe fo favourable an opportunity of
acquainting her with my gratitude, and the Cardinars
kindnefsi but this time I proceeded farther dian the
former. It was natural^ that upon my having
related to the Prince, my firft converfation with the
Que«n, on his account^ he ihould at leaft have entrufted
me with his troubles. I owned it to her Majefty, and

^^ reprefentcd

A kind of fine or premium.

[ ^-5 1

might even then have perceived, that under" the deceitful
embers of an affeded tranquillity, already lay the fatal
fpark, that afterwards caufed the conflagj*ation in which
I was involved.

It cannot be too early to apprize the reader, that all
the tender, all the pafiionate things he will fee in the
correfppndence I am going to prodtice, were nothing but
diffimulation oh both fides. The Queen, who had vowed
his riiin, long before I brought the Cardinal into her
recolleftion, was ftill contriving it in her mind; and
when her attachment to the Emperor, her brodier,
yielded her up at Trianon, or elfewhere, to the ftudied
tranlports of the unhappy Prince^ (k is blocking to re-
veal, but I know it to a certainty,) Ihe ufed to caft
upon him the fame piercing looks, with which fh^ eyed
him the day that fhe demanded his head of the King,
Such, alfo, were they at the moment of the Gonverfation,
which I now defcribe. Neverthelefs, Ihe would liften
to me with cohdefcenfion. I inceflantly rcfirmed the
fubje'T:, and fometimes the aukwarcj manner in which I
introduced it, would raife a fmile in her Majefly's coun-
tenance.

The Cardinal exhorted ine to perfeverance, to which
1 myfelf was inclined, from a notion that I rather gained
ground daily. Emboldened by that confidencCi I one
day advifed the Cardinal to venture on a letter, pro-
mifing myfelf to be the bearer, to fei^e on the firft occa- -
fion jof delivering it that fliould offer, and to create one,
if none fpontaneoufly occurred. Three days after, the
moft favourable one prefcnted itfelf ; and from that pe-
riod begins the correfpondence, of which, what I have

E been

[ ^6 1

been able to fave, will find a place in thefe Memoirs ^ arid
eveiy one of the letters will be found connected with
the various fads, that I am going to fet down in chro-
nological fuccefTion.

Number II. of this colleftion is a literal copy of that
firft letter, written by my advice, it i* true, but not in
the manner that I fuggeftedjto the Cardinal. I wilhed
htm to exprefs no more than his defire of exculpating
himfelf I yet it will be feen, that, according to his'ufual
praftice, he is already impatient to difclofe fentiments,
which, had he experienced them, he ought to have re-
prefled ; and which, not experiencing, it was an unpar-
donable falfhood in him to utter. Behold him, at the
firft outfet, talking already of the rays of bope/hiningin
bis heart, of her Majefty's beauteous mouthy and of his own
Jlavery. • The Reader will moreover pleafe to obferve in
it, as a proof of what I have already adduced, that as I
had been the inftrument the Cardinal had made ufe of,
to put the Queen in mind of his exiftence, fo I became
the pretence which fanftioned,. as I may fay, his cljiinas
to her returning favour. My advice had been not to
mention me, but to kt. out with a written juftification of
himfelf, knowing that the .Queen defu*ed nothing far-
ther of him. But he was wont to treat me as a child,
and to that indifcretion he added the folly of alTuming
the title, which he ever after retained, of her Maje%*s
Jlave. Though I highly difapproved of fucli incon-
fiftencies, I was forced to fubmit, and delivered die
letter.

The fubfequent one, (No. III.) fufficiendy points
out what anfwer the Queen charged me . to give to die

firft.

[ 27 ]

firft. The only obfervation I have to make on it is>
that his communicating the contents of it to me, very
much offended me. It is obferv^able, that at the very
fetting out, it contains a doubt injurious to me, con-
cerning the degree of confidence with which the Queen
might honour me. I thought I difcovered that his ob-
jeft was to leave to her Majefty the choice of any
other intervening perfon, and of courfe, to facrifice me,
as foon as that other perfon, no matter who, Ihould offer,
provided only their fituation enabled them to finifh the
work begun by me. The inflant the Cardinal appeared
to difti ufl me, he became ' by me fufpefted, and I re-
folved to watch his proceedings. Though he could not
handfomely forbear communicating the letters he com-
mitted to my charge, I felt I fhould but imperfeftly
underftand the correfpondence, unlefs I alfo had a fight
of all thofe I conveyed to him from the Queen. I
therefore determined not only to read, but even take
copies of all that paffed through my hands, on both
fides. One motive that particularly ftimulated me to
this refolucion, fliall be more fully laid open in the
fequel of thefe Memoirs, all that I can now fay of it is,
that notwithftanding the general confidence the Cardinal
placed in me, he had fome intrigue, concerning which,
he Ihewed fomething more than mere referve. I faw
couriers arrive, with whom he was clofetted, and the
packets he received, or thofe he delivered, paffed out
of one hand into another with the greateft fecrecy, and
I have often heard die noife of the ftrong-box, where he
HO doubt laid them up. If I ventured to put a queftion
to him, I faw ferioufncfs and a tinfture of ill-humoun
wcT&zdow his countenance. Certainly, if I could

E 2 have

[ 28 ]

have furmifed, what I only came to the knowledge of
afterwards, that all Uaat myfterioufnefs had a reference
to politics, I Thould noc have been fo unjuft as to com-
plain of his difcretion -, but in general, I knew the Car-
dinal not to be difcreet, and I little fufpefted him of
meddling in politics ; fo that, I muft own, I thought
quite another fort of intrigue was on foot ; and I thank
Heaven that I yielded to the impulfe of my curiofity, and
got the better of the reluftance I experienced when I
came to the execution, 1 o that precaution, blameable
in fome refpefts, but juftified by the event, I am in-
debted- for the only weapons I have left agalnft the
obduracy of injuftice, and the rage of opprefilve power.
It is doubtiefs to be lamented, that out of nearly two
hundred letters, which the collection of this corrcfpond-
cnce would have been, had I been able to bring them
tpge.thcr, only thirty-one have fallen into my powers
but I atteft the truth, that I fupprefs none j that they arc
^11 I could pofTibly copy, becaufe moft of the others
being of little or no confequence, were burnt almoft as
(oon as received. Thofe from die Queen, which the
Cardinal would frequently pervife witli rapture, were not
depofited in his//'*?;;^ ^c;c', but in his fcrutore, where it
\vas eafy for me to find the means of looking over and
tranfcribing diem. As to thofe from the Prince, he
always fent them to me under a fmgle wafer, fo that,
excepting the breach of tuift, which 1 have explained
the m^t^ve of, I could copy them ofF at leifure; but I
did not take that trouble, when rhcy were of no fignifi-
cation, and this piovcd to be the cafe four times out
of five.

Fron^

[ =9 ]

From this e^xpofition it will eafily be conceived, that '
the extrad Iprefent to the reader is not the moft indif-
ferent part of the beforementioned correfpondence.
Previous to refumitig the thread of my narration, may I
be allowed to obferve, that as I never announced to the
public anything more, the conduit of certain idle indi-
viduals, and fenfelefs pamplileteers, muft appear very
extraordinary, who have for fome time paft been obfti-
nately bent upon advertising a libel of my compofing,
grounded on a correfpondence of which I fliould have
pretended that the originals were in my poffeffion. The

originals! How was it pofTible I fliould come by

them ? Was I not obliged to deliver to the refpeftive
parties all the Avritings and packets they mutually tranf-
mitted through my means to each other ? Had I in-
tercepted a fingle line, would not rrjy infidelity have
been difcovered at their next meeting ? Two words of
explanation would have accelerated my ruin. No, I
never had the folly to announce the originals, to promife
an impofTibility : but I havefald, in general terms, that
I would print letters from die Queen and the Cardinal.
I at length fulfil my engagement.

It may be (ten by the fecond letter of the Cardinal,
that the Queen had abfolutely refufed the interview foli-
cited in his firft, and left no hope that it would be grant-
ed, unlefs he fliould be able to clear himfelf, hy wriiingy
from an accumulation of heav)^ charges brought againfl
him. Her Majefty, when fhe commanded me to return
diat anfwer, had exprefled herfelf, as imagining it to be
an utter impoflibility that he could ever juffcify himfelf.
<^ I have againfl: him, faid flie, proofs, which it is not

" in

[ 30 ]

" in his power to 'invalidate/' I did not difguife from
the Cardinaly that her IVlajefty appeared but little difpofcd
to alter her mind refpeding him, and as I repeated to
him the Queen's own words, he faid fomething to me
wrapt in great obfcurity -, this, however, gave me a little
knowledge of the nature of that political intrigue, of
which I have faid a few words, and concerning which I
had been fo egregioufly miftaken. He gave ,nne to un-
dcrftand, that the Queen was not fuch an abfolute mif-
treis of jier own a6tions as I imagined j that flie flood as
much in need of him, as he did of her j that if ever he
fluoald ov/e his elevation to her, f]ie would be indebted
to him for the exercife of fovereignty, the ^ only objed,
not of her own perfonal ambition, but of that of the Em-
peror, her brother. That fingle word was the key to
all the myfterious tranfaftions between him and the va-
rious agents I frequently faw arriving, and who^ I fup-
pofed, were Germans. I underftood he was in corref-
pondcnce with the Emperor, 'and that probably it was
the wifh of the Queen, ^hat the Cardinal fhould be at
the head of affairs, in which fuppofition I was perfectly
right. However, as that idea could not efface the im-
preffions made on me by the Queen's laft words relative
to the Cardinal, I told him, but hoped I fhould be mif-
taken, that her Majefty ftemed more difpofed to injure .
him, than to labour towards his elevation, and that I
faw no way to remove her prepoffefTions, but his clearing
himfelf by a wriUen jujiificaiion, fince flie required it.
The note No. IV. was the immediate effeft of my ad-
vice. Theflave faid he obeyed, and announces parf of
his defence for the next day.

The

[ 3» ]

The article No. V. is extremely interefting, and de-
ferves to be read with that attention, which the Cardinal
at his firft fetting out reqiiefts of the Qiieen. It con-
tains the defence announced the day before, and refers
to fads, prior in point of date, which few of my rea-
ders would fufpedl the nature of. I think it necelTary^
therefore, to explain to them whatever in that long nar-
ration might be unintelligible. J have now bid adieu

to all manner of reftraint, and fuppofe myfelf, at this mo-
ment, in thofe regions of felicity and peace, where my
fufFerings will, I hope, procure me a place, relating
withoi^t interefl, or without paflion, to the celeftiai
inhabitants, the melancholy dreams I had upon earth.

That fame Cardinal, who is fo profufe of words, to

prove to the Queen, that all the accufations laid againft
him af c fo many falfities and mere flander, has repeat-
edly acquainted me, that her Majefty's grievances were
unfortunately well grounded. He has entrufted me
with the fecret, that at the time of his embafly to
Vienna, when the Queen was yet Archduchefs, embol-
dened by the levity of her behaviour, he had prefumed
to offer her an homage, which had not been rejeded ;.
that his happinefs had fleeted away as a dream ; that the
pointed preference which a German Officer had ob-
tained, before ,his eyes, had fo far turned his brain, as
to make him hazard indifcreet fpeechesj that he did not
doubt but the Queen had preferved the remembrance
of that im.prudence, to which he attributed the difgracs.
he had languilhed under, ever fince her Majefty's ac-
C-'fTion to the throne. ' He mentioned to me. one day,
that when the Archduchefs pafTed through Savcrne, on

her

[ 32 ]

her way to Verfailles, a ray of hope animated his fieare^
and encouraged him to haften thither to receive her,
in the palace of the Old Cardinal, his uncle, where
having ^thrown hirtifelf at her fctty to kifs the^hem of
her. robe, fhe had kindly raifed him up, and blufliing
held out her hand> which he faluted with the moft ex-

quifite fenfation! But, added he, th^t v/as thelaft

look of tendernefs I ever experienced from the Prin-
cefs. Hurried into the vortex of the court, iTie faw
herfelf furrounded with fo many adorers, that J was no
longer diftinguifhed in the crowd. The Count d'Artois
eclipf^d them all; yet the Count d'Artois was but art
obje£t of coquetry.

This confidential communication necefTarily gave'
birth to another, which muft alfo be imparted to tht
public. We fee by the Cardinal's own defence, that
he was fomething more than fufpefted of having fabri-
cated, at Madame Dubarry^s, the letters to which I have"
alluded. He hasr told me they v/ere the produce of his
jealoufy ; that the Enhprefs Queen, who loyed him,
having heard of the errors imputed to her daughter, had
applied to him, in order to gain the information fhe
defired ; that attributing to the intrigue of the Count
d'Artois, the diflike the Dauphinefs expreffed for him,
he had related the truth, without the leaft difguife;
that thofe fatal letters being found an^ong the papers of
the Emprefs, after her death, had been returned to the
Queen, by the Emperor.

Thunderftruck at this confefTion : '' How ! cried I,

has the Queen fuch papers in her hands, and yoii charge

"me to affure her of your innocence!" He flill drew his

arsrumcnts

[ 33 i

arguments from political confiderations, which muft In*
fiuence the Queen's conduft. " The Emperor, faid he,
*^ will hav^e at the head of affairs a Minifter devoted to
^^ him ; there is no refentment but mull give way." He
converfed like a man acquainted with the fpirit of courts,
and it.will fliortly be feen, that accordingly her Majefty,
J though furnilhed with fuch proofs of his perfidy, carried
her policy to that inconceivable length, as to deny to
him her having thofe proofs in her poil^ffion.

I rnuft recommend the moft ferious attention to
this circumftance ; it is of infinite confcquence to me
to evince to the world, that exccfs of diffimulation of
which the Queen was capable, A flriking inftance of it
occurs in the letter No, VI. It is manifeft, by the manner
in which the Cardinal there exprefles himfelf ;, that the
verbal anfWer I had conveyed to him, from the Queen,
befpoke an approaching pardon ; that confequently her
Majefty had afFedcd to be in a great meafure fatisfied
with that defence, although ihe had in her efcrutore all
that was requifite to convift the Cardinal, Accordingly
it is feen that thejlave writes with confidence to his dear
maftery and you behold him already fuing for kifles,
talking of fair hands, and of her charming mouth \ — the
Queen fufFers it all! She does yet more; fhe per-
mits me to give hopes of the return of lier good
graces ; nor is that enough ; fhe muft write herfelfy her
own hand muft confirm the afllirances I had given in
her name ; and above all, flie muft affirm, that ftie never
had knowledge of thofe letters, which the Cardinal him-
felf knew had been tr^nfmitted to her by the Emperor.
— What refinement of diffimulation in fo amiable a

F' Princefs?

[ 34 1

Princefs ? In a word, the Queen pafTes a fpunge Oyer
pall tranfaftions, and aflerts that all unfavorable impref-
fions are obliterated. (*)

The Emperor's inflru6lions mtifl: have been very po-
fitive, he muft have been heartily tired of the Count de
Vergennes, and highly Incenfed againft that Minifter,
to induce the (^leen, his fifter, to aft a part fo unwor-
thy both of her difpofition and her rank.

We are come to the moment, when in order to pal-
liate in fome refpedts, the Queen's conduft, it is necef-
fary to fhew, that nearly about this time, the correfpon-
dence, which> as I have already had occafion to fay, had
commenced between the Emperor and the Cardinal,
was extended to the Queen, and that the grand negocia-
tions, I fhall have to fpeak of hereafter, were at the eve
of been entered upon. It is to thofe confiderations,
infinitely more than to the fmall afcendartcy I had over
her Majefty, that the meeting muft be attributed, which
was thought to be my work, and at which I was myfelf
aftoniflied ; yet it would appear, that the Queen wilhed
me to believe, that the Cardinal owed all to me; my
influence feeming to increafe, in proportion as the Car-
dinal conceived hopes of recovering that which he had
loft. Her Majefty continued to fhowcr benefits upon
me, and each fucceeding day feemed to add to the con-
fidence with which ftie honoured me. I in reality was
become an important perfonage ; for furrounded as the
Queen was with the Cardinal's enemies, fince-flie had

reafons

* See No, VIL

[ 3i ]

reafons to treat him with regard, and fecretly to favour
him, flie could not^ have found a perfon more proper
than myfclf to fecond her views, as they fo perfeftly
coincided with my own, being direfted to nothing but
the CardlnaFs elevation.

Her Majefty ceafed not to recommend fecrecy to me;
but fo frequent were the perfonal intercourfes, that in fpite
of all my caution, I was fometimes fubjefl to difcovery;
and the number of perfons who fought after me,
made me fufficiently fenfible, that I had many felf-
created confidants, to whom my confidence had never
been imparted. I was obliged to be ever on the wing,
fo faft were letters multiplied on both fides ; I have feea
tJie Cardinal write four in a day.

I have already noticed, that I only took copies of
whatever appeared to me in any way remarkable : for
inftance, I did not mifs the letter No. VIII. It proves
how far thofc of my hireling detraftors fwerved from
truth, who have dared to afltrt, that I caufed to be
forged the letters that I conveyed to the Cardinal from
the Queen. Not to advert to the abfurdity of fup-
pofing, that the Prince did not know her Majefty's
hand-writing, it mil be allowed, at leaft, that if I could,
in that particular, fo grofsly impofe upon him, I could
not poffibly make him believe that the Queen ^^Jmiled
Upon him'' and ^^ publicly made himftgnals of intelligence,''
This is the language of die letter referred to; I cannot
have dilated it to him ; — I cannot have written for
him ; — I cannot have fafcinated his eyes, fo far as to
make him believe that the Queen '' Jmiled on biniy" if
fhe adually did not fmile ; that fhe " puUicly made him

F % finalk

[ 36 ]

" A^^^-f ^/ intelligencey' if no fuch fignals were publicly
made; if he fays, that '' he is the happieji of mortals for
"^ having feen thofe " finiksy' and '' fgnals of intclli^
gencer it is, becaufe he has feen them widi his own
eyes*

It is well known that I had no kind of intercourfe
with that mountebank Caglioftro, and that, confequently,
I did- not. fecond the impofitions by which he fported
with the Cardinal's credulity. The Queen had fmiled,
had put on a gracious countenance; the Queen there-
fore, at the period I am fpeaking of, was, or pretended
to be, freed from her prejudices; I had not, confe-
quently, deceived the Cardinal, when I firft gave him
hopes, and afterwards afifurance, of that revolution in

his favour, I had accefs to tlie Queen 1 had a Ihare

in her confidence; and long before ftie vouchfafedto/?w7ir
on the Cardinal, and publicly make him fignals of intelli-
gentey I had apprized him that fuch was her intention j
but that Ihe wifhed to maintain an appearance of referve,
to cover the reconciliation fhe confented to. Thofe who
have faid that I feigned to have influence ; that I forged
writings, that I had no accefs to the Queen's perfon,
were therefore Qanderers : and what was fhe herfelf, the
proud Auftrian, when at the very moment of her over-
whelming the Cardinal with all the awfulnefs of incenfed
Majefty, Ihe denied to him, in prefence of the King,
that ever Ihe had known me ? I hope that when I come
to that melancholy part of my' narration, the reader will
pleafe to rccolleft this obfervation, which my impatience
, has forced me to anticipate.

Notes

i 37 1

Notes and letters paffed in rapid fucceffion to and fro;
but the parties did not perfonally meet. The Cardinal
was urgent, I became impatient with the Queen. At
length, on the 15th of May, I obtained from her the
note numbered (IX.) It will diere be feen, that her
Majefty promifed " fhortly to gratify his defire of feeing
" her, and that pe found no fault with /V."— Mofl: af-
furedly that part of the note will not be perufed with in-
difference, where her Majefty .condefcends to read a lec-
ture on circumfpedlion and prudence to the man, whom
in her firft letter ihe ftyled, ^^ themoft indifcreet of men.'*
It muft be owned, it was fingularly curious that her
Majefty fliould take upon herfelf the taflv of inftruftrefs
to fo elevated a religious dignitary.

The paper No. X. requires- no explanation. Every
body underftands that the imperfonal " on,'' is the Kingj
who, already informed of the ^^ /miles zxid ftgnals of tnteU
" ligencey\ had urged fome ambiguous interrogatorieSp
We muft not anticipate by any hints the unravelling of
the ^^fcheme. which will furely give pkafure:'* I ftiall fre-
quently have occafion to fpeak of Trianon.

The letter No. XI. conveys at once an idea both of
the Cardinal's ftyle of gallantry, and of the indulgent
acquiefcence with which her Majefty received a formal
declaration of love. The Cardinal had not mentioned one
word to me of all he pretends to have faid i but in love,
as in war, ftratagems are allowable. However impor-
tunate I muft often have appeared to the Queen in the
Cardinal's behalf, I certainly never ftiould have taken
upon me to retail fuch fenfelefs ftuff tp her Majefty :

ay, I had taken fpecial care, every time that the Prince's

name

[ 38 ]

name was mentioned in converfation, to avoid all ex-
preffions that cotald attribute to his earneft folicitations
any other motive than that of dutiful refpe6t. It is true
the Queen had. even more than hinted to me, that fhe
was not ignorant of the motive which influenced the
Cardinal to court the return of her good grace^, But>
(I cannot too frequently repeat it) as her Majefty was her-
felf fwayed by political confiderations, Ihe did not think it
extraordinary, much lefs v/as fhe offended, that the Car-
dinal*5 proceedings fhould have ambition for their lead-
ing principle. But whatever motive might have in-
duced them, I made my reprefentations, which, ac-
cording to cuftom, proved unavailing, and I fulfilled
^my mifTion, that is, I delivered the letter, of the con-:
tents of which I had taken the liberty to exprefs my dif-
approbation. While die Queen was perufing it, I care-
fully obferved her countenance, and was aftoniflied at
' the ferenity with which Ihe went through all the trifling
nonfenfe it contained s but her Majefl:y has fince taught
me to wonder at nothing,
- . Having embarked in this flrange correfpondence, it
will be im.agined that my intention is to purfue it to the
moment when, for the firfttime, mention is made of the
fatal Necklace. That valuable bauble, which has
given birth to fuch unlverfal converfation and conjefture,
will certainly be flippofed to be the principal objeft of
thefe Memoirs. To that fubjedl alone I^fliquldhave
confined myfelf, had it not appeared to me effendal, daat
I fhould previoufly relate the circumflances which pre-
ceded that bufinefs, and brought on the horrid cataflrophr
that followed; for it is evident, tha^ from being ignora^

[ 39 ]

of the concatenation of thofe circumftances, nine out of
ten pcrfons who have fought to form an idea of
that intricate and unhappy affair, have either found
themfelves led into a labyrinth of confufion, or have
fornaed the mod unfavourable innprcffions of my con-
du£l, in confequence of the various libels publifhcd
againft me by thehirchngs of the houfe of Rohan.

I {hall for the reafons alledged, I hope^ ftand exCufcd,
if I continue to diffufe, over the particulars of this cor-
refpondence, all the! light that is requifite ; and it will be
found that thofe circumftances, which at the firft fight
might appear of trivial confequence in themfelves, be-
come of importance as they relate to me, and, of courfe,
to all tliofe who feel an intereft in, and feek after the
truth of that myfterious tranfaftion.

The paper No. XII. gives rife to reflexions of a very
fingular nature. A note from a nobleman of the higheil
rank, from the Lord High Almoner of France, com-
mences with the following words, which the Queen is
fuppofed to underftand: " the Savage!" — Now, as
none but the Queen, the Cardinal the Savage, and rnyfelf
are acquainted with the meaning of that term, it is not
foreign -to the purpofe to inform the non-initiated, that
this appelladon was the nickname of an obfcure man,
known but to few, under the title oi Baron de Planta, the
Cardinal's toad-eatery not to name him after Vokaire,
« the Prince' s friend,'' It will appear in the fequel, that
he fhared with the Cardinal in his perilous adventures.

On the perufal of this note, is it'poffible to reprefs a
fentiment, if not of indignmion, at leaft of the utmoft
aftonilhment? — To fee a mighty Queen, in other re-

fpefts

t 40 ] ■ i

i

fpefts fo haughty, doomed through a, guilty policy td^
bear with impunity fuch indecorums, not to fay inde-|
cencies. Neverthelefs, fuifome as the langoige of diisi
note is, it is evident that the Queen perfedtiy kijew, thad
this Baron de Planta was in the fecret as well as myiel^i
and that fhe was fo little offended at it, that fhe eveiir^
vouchfafed to fliew him a gracious countenance, or, aS;
the Cardinal exprefles it, ^^ fignah of inteWgenceJ' In-i
deed, it-muft be owned, her Majefly was very lavifh of^
thofe fignals. I underftood them well, and thought them i
truly enchanting J I do not wonder they turned the poor
Baron's brain; lefs favour from fuch a quarter, was^j
furely fufficient to bewilder the imagination of dxql
man. i

Keeping to the order of dates, I now come to an ^ra ]
which I cannot poffibly pafs without morje minute attention j
to it than I have paid to thofe v/hich have preceded. I ^
earneftly intreat the reader, before he proceeds a line fur- j
ther, to read attentively the paper (No, XIIL) which m
a literal copy of a letter, written by the Cardinal to the \
Queen, immediately after the fccne, in which Mademoi- ]
felle Oliva afted the part fo much talked of in the pro- ]
ceedings on my trial. j

When my relation draws to a conclufion; when the ^
various ftratagems are developed and expofed to view, j
which have been ufed to prevent my communicating any \
circunnftances which might refleft on the Queen; it will \
then be underftood, why, what I am now going to relate \
concerning that ftrange incident, differs fo eficntially from j
whatever was faid, at that jundure, upon the trial, j

The "i

[ 41 ]

The reafon of that difference is thus accounted for. Atthat
time they laboured to perfuade me, that fpeaking the truth
was endangering my life ; and now, I am convinced, my
hanour muft be facrificed, if I do not fpeak truth. I muft
therefore folemnly affert and declare to the world, that
as well refpefting the fatal jewel, as concerning other
fubfequent matters, I do proteft againft all that has been
faid, againft all that I myfelf faid before my judges;
trufting that this declaration will not be deemed extraor*
dinary, when it is confidered as being the refult of a mind,
now, not fettered by oppi*efiion, and which had in the
former inftance been aftuated by fear and apprehenfion,
and trembling under the fword of tyranny and injuftice.

One day that the Cardinal and myfelf were crofs exa-
mined on a delicate point, which neither of us. intended
to clear up, from a refped for the Queen ; I faid fome-
thing inconfiftent with the truth. « Ah, Countefs (faid
« the Prince) how can you confefs what you know to
'' be falfe?" " Like all the reft, my Lord, anfwcred I,
^' ever fince thefe gentlemen have put interrogatories to
" us, you know that neither you nor I have told them
« a fingle word ofthe truth/'

Nor was it poffible we fliouldi the queftions to be
put to us were ready prepared, nay, qften the an-
fwerstodiemi and we were obliged to frame our re-
plies in the manner prefcribed, or expeft death, in the
Baftillc. This our counfel inceffantly reprefented to us.
Let any one judge of the reliance to be had on a chain
of evidence, in which each interrogatory was cakulated
to bring fprdi the reply tliat had been previoufly at-
tached to it! In a word, all that I, at this period, and
G unenr.barrafled.

r 42 3

uncmbarraffed, have to fay, concerning the pan afted by
the Qycen in the whole of this unfortunate tranfactlon, I
was not permitted to ifete at the time of my trial
Hence the falfe notions which the pubhc have imbibed;
hence the difEculty of making truth counteraft fallliood;
hence the advantage my detraftors will have, by accufmg
me of being faifified, either at the time of my trial, or
at the prefect periovl.

With one word, I hope, however, I can refift their
malice. I was then compelled to falfhood, or deadi,
by the hand of an executioner j today I muji fp^sk
the truth, or die by my own; for I am made defperate, >
by imputed ignominies* There is no alternative left
me, but non-exiftence or the cleareft juftification.

I have flifficiently expofed the ambitious views, die
political confidcrations, that had brought together tVrO
beings, who. In the ipain, mutually defpifed and dc-
tefted eadi other ; there remains for mc to obferve, that
as witnefs to all that pafled, confidant to both the per-
fonages, I manifeftly faw that the demon of politics pre-
vented their proceeding to open extremities. It has
been but too well known hov/ little refervcd the Cardi-
nal was, in his fpeeches concerning the Queen j and his
reftraint was ftill lefs with me. On the odier hand^ the
Queen intimated to me from time to time, that Ihe was
made acquainted with his indifcretions, paft and prefent.
Madame de Gucmenee had filled her Majefly's. mind
widi prejudices almoft unconquerable, and had nearly
perfuaded her, .that theobjcft of the Cardinal's proceed-
ings, and of ail his contrivances, was to cxpofe her Ma-
jefty. ^ '

[ 43 ]

The Queen, one day in converfatron, faid to me,
fpeaking of the Cardinal: " Would you believe it? diis
*^ very morning a perfon worthy of credit and well ac-
'^ quainted with hinn, has alTured nie> he was- 'my bit-
" tereft enemy." I heard with attention, and felt con-
cern; for, from thence, I rather defpaircd of ever being
able to ePcablifh between two beings, fo ill difpofed to-
wards each orher, that cordiality, that harmony, fo ne-
ceffary, to their refpeftive views. Meanwhile the Car-
dinal was very urgent with me, and I took notice, that
for fome time paft, the Queen did not wait for my men-
tioning him to her, but often was before-hand with me,
by afkingqueftions, which, though feemingly indifferent,
had an evident tendency to lead the converfation to diat
particular fubjeft.

Before any mention was made of the girl Oliva^ the
Queen repeatedly introduced the delicate topic, which
I had always fou^t to elude. It is manifeft flie wanted
to bring me to an abfolute explanation, on the nature of
the fentiments I fuppofed the Cardinal entertained, or
that I might have obfeived, in his difcourfe, in his con-
fidential communications. Senfible that I had con-
veyed letters to her Majefty, which contained fentiments,
however foreign tothofe the Cardinal In reality pofTclTed,
yet were couched in fuch language they could not be
mifunderflood, and having noticed, as I have already
obfervcd, that her Majefly perufed them widiout any
tokens of difapprobation, I thought I might venture,
at length, to hint, that I believed the Prince, was pof-
/ffed with the moji lively pajfton for her per/on. One day,
therefore, when ftie was urging me on that head, upon

G 2. my

I 44 ]

my telling her that I. would warrant the Cardinal's fin-
cerity, on penalty of lofing her Majeft}''s favour: *^ Vcn-
" ture nothing rafhly> faid fhe; — fincere or not, the
** Cardinal wants me to credit his profefllons of fince-
" rity,— -Suppofe I do ? pray, tell me what arc eventu-
" ally his views ? He ought never to have hoped for one
** favourable look, yet I have granted him his pardon,
*^ He writes to]me-— I anfwer him— fcarce have I had lei-
" fure, in fome degree, to diveft myfelf of the unfavour-
*^ able fentiments which I have been forced to entertain
" of him, but he obftinately demands a private interview
<f — Is it in order to revive the ftories he forged about
*' his refidence at Vienna ?— Do you know what he has
** to fay to me?— Does heflill fee the Duke deLauzun,
" the Prince de Luxembourg?— Is he yet on good terms
" with Madame de Brionne ?— Does he ftill vifit at Ma-
*^ dame de Marigny's ?— They fay he fees a young lady
*^ of the name of St, Leger, who is reckoned very hand-
" fome?"

After a number of other queftions nearly of the fame
tendency, her Majefty feemed for an inftant to recol-
ledl herfelf, and then refuming her difcourfe, fhe pro-
ceeded thus.—" I have fufficiently fignified to you, on
" various occafions, how much reafon I have had to
" complain of the Cardinal, Though I have pardon-
'' ned, I have not been able to. forget his paft mifcon-
'' duc5l, of which I have told you that I have proofs
« irrefragable ; nor can I Ihut my eyes on the recent evi-
«, dence he has given of a culpability, highly deferving
" reprobation. From what you have been telling me
'' yourfelf, he takes upon him to afFeft towards me fen*
" timents, the more ofFenfive in proportion as diey are

the

[ 45 ]

*^ the lefs 'encouraged. You are not the only one he
« entertains with his idle dreams ; the Duke de Lauzun,
ff and the Prince de Luxembourg, whom I juft now
" mentioned defignedly, make it the fubjeft of their
" merriment. I have often had my name very unbe-
" comingly brought in 'queflion at the Hotel de Sou-
" bife, and I know that numbers who are deceived, by
*' his public converfation, think that I admit private
" meetings. How ! — would you have me expofe my-
" felf by receiving privately a man of fuch notorious
" indifcretion ? Who having prefumed to write roman-
^^ tic letters to me, would add to his folly by greater
*^ extravagances, by calling himfelf at my feet, talking
** of love, and by carrying perhaps ftill farther his rafh-^
'* nefs and his frenzy ? I tell you again that I fufpe6l
** 'him ; that J cannot impute fo extraordinary a beha-
** viour, but to a fettled fcheme to expofe rhy charac-
** ter, and that if I had not fome particular reafons for
" concealing from him my real fentiments, I would for-
** bid you ever to mention him to me, and efpecially
*^ charging yourfelf with his letters; I would moreover
" command you to let him knoW my will."

To fhefe circumftances, I reflefted I was no ftranger ;
but the Queen had particular reafons to keep upon good
terms with him, and I was aware of the cogency of
them, — *f If your Majefly, anfwered I, would permit
*^ me to plead the caufe of the abfent, I would take the
^^ liberty to obferve, that from the moment you have
*^ had the goodnefs to pardon what is paft, it is con-
" IJftent with your natural generofity to lofe rfemem-
« brance pf it^ Your Majefty's cenfure is not in con-

" fcquencc

[ 46 ]

" fequence of your own feelings, but is irritated by the
" envenomed ilings of envy and malice. If I have pre-
" fumed to give your Majefty an idea of the nature of
" thofe fentiments which 1 attribute to die Cardinal, I
'^ have taken care to make them confiftent widi the
'^ moft profound refped. Reafon and reflection render
*^ this latter fentiment, fuperior to every other, in his
^ " mind ^ the former is involuntary, and fuch as all men wha
" have the happinefs of feeing you, muft feel thcmielves
'^ infpired with. The reports refpefting kis pretended
'* imprudencies cannot but be flanderous j I would ven-
'* ture to take the moft facred afflirances of it j and for
" this reafon, that I never heard him fpeak of your
" Majefly but in terms of admiration, and certainly he
" puts on no conftraint with me."

Here the Queen took a few turns in her clofet, and
coming back to me, with a thoughtful look : « An idea
*' occurs to me, faid flie ;:- — Pray, what female ac-
" quaintances have you got ? Tell me the names of

'* fome of your intimates. 1 have my reafons for

'* afldng you diis queftion."

After I had named various perfons with whom I
was more or lefs connected, ilie faid to me : " Do you
" think you have fo much influence over any one of
*' thofe women, as to prevail on her to comply with
'' what I am going to propofe ? — ^You will abfolutely
^' perfuade me to grant the Cardinal an interview-—
" but I have my reafons for dreading an interview- —
^^ I lliall not be without uneafinefs till I have made
" trial of him. I will condefcend to fee bim^ without
'' Jeeing hbn.- — J know not whether you pcrfeftly un-

derftan4

' [ 47 ]

" derftand my meaning? 1 could wilh to be fatisfied

" of his behaviour to me, the firft time I fhould really
" grant him an interview. Were it not pofl:ble, under
" favour of the darknefs, to fubftitute fome other wc-
" man in my ftead, with whom the Cardinal might
'^ converfe, while he, at the fame time concludes, he is
*' addrefiing himfelf to me ? I could be near enough to
*' overhear their converfation. I fliould then know
^^ how to aft with refpeft to the real interview, and
" would refolve upon granting or denying it, according
" as hb beliaviour fhould appear, either to deferve it or
" not. Among the ladies you have been mentioning,
*^ do you know of none who would willingly fall in with
*' thia little piece of deceit, which is fuggefted by pru-
" denes ? The matter, however, may pej haps require
'' greater confideration than I have had time to beftow

" upon it. Come to-morrow, we will talk more fully

" on the fubjeft.''

Returning the ne^t day, in comphance with her Ma-
jefty's command, I found her determined on the exe-
cution of her projeft. The bufinefs feemed to wear fo
pleafant an appearance, that it drew from her, when
alone, involuntary peals of laughter. She fingled out
for the aftrefs, in the farce, that is, for her reprefenca-
tive, the Lacfy Baronefs of CruffoU whom I was frequently
with, and who, in reality, had a capacity to favour the
deception; but I reprefented, that however univerfal
the defire muft be of performing any thing pleafing to
her Majefty, I queftioned whether Madame de CruflbJ
could comply with the propofal, without previoufly con-
fulting her hulband, a circumftance whkh could not be

aj^reeable.

[ 48 1

agreeable. I obferved, bcfides, that the very natural
fear of being difcovered by the Cardinal, and detefted
in the perfornlanqe of fuch an impofitioa on him^ ap-
peared to me an infuperable bar*—" In that cafe/' faid
the Queen,' interrupting me, " I would make my ap-
« pearance, and extricate the Lady out of her diffi-
" culty. You may tell her, that fuch an aft of com-
'^ plaifance will very much oblige me.'*

This manner of expreffing herfelf was equivalent to
a com.mand, I no longer infifted, but quitted her Ma-
]efty, promifing my utmoft endeavour to procure her
fatisfaftion*

At that period of time, my hufband had no know-
ledge of the political intrigue between the Queen and
the Cardinal ; he only knew that I was admitted to her
Majcfly, and that it was to her liberality I owed the
affluence of which he was a partaker. The Cardinal,
from motives which I never fearched into, continually
recommended to me dijcreticn with regard to Mr. de la
Motte. Hitherto I had fcrupuloufly followed his ad-
vice, but the reflcftions I had made on the Queen's
ftrange and whimfical plan, on the ficklenefs of difpofi-
tion in the pcrfon flie had pitched upon, together widi a
multitude of other prevailing confiderations, determined
me to confuk him in fo delicate a conjun6hire, and I
difclofed to him the whole aftair. He turned pale while
he liftened to me, and his peremptory refufal of being
concerned in an intrigue, which he called dangerous,
put me grofrdy out of tem.per. 1 urged the matter forci-
bly, and by dint of perfeverance and perfuafion, I made
him at length underfland that his happinefs and.minc

depended

[ 49 ]

depended on the Queen, and that we mufi: yield a blind
compliance to all that (lie defired. I rccollefl: our paf-
fing the whole night in confidering whethen or not I
fliould venture on the ftep I was comnaiflioned to talce
with regard to Madame de Cruflbl. All circumftances
duly weighed, we agreed it was dangerous for ourfelves
to introduce her into the fcheme. That her farnily being
very ambitious, might avail themfelvcs of the opportu-
nity to fupplant us.— Ways might be found, faid M. de
la Motte, to fatisfy the Queen, without expofing anj-
one, but I will not explain my meaning before we agree
that the Caixiinal be let into the. fecret. I affented, and
gave him an account of all that had paffed, and of what
we were planning. I told him, it was a trial he muft
go through, or give up all hopes of a farther interview.

After paufing a while, he burfl: into a loud laugh.

*' How, then, fays he, can the Queen really think that

" I can be fo grofsly impofed on ? Well, no matter,

" I will comply with every thing. If (he is fond of a
^^ farce, we muft give her one. You may red alTured,
" jhe fhall never know that / was fonwarmdy' and I will
" play my part in fuch a manner as fhall leave her no
" fufpicion of my not afting it in earneft."

Every thing being tlius agreed upon with the Cardi-
nal, the only remaining pciat was, to meet with a wo-
man who y/ould anfwer our views. My hufband topk
upon him to find one, who Ihould be induced to do, for
a pecuniary confideration, what it \yas intended anotljer
fnould do from a motive of ambition. Chance, on this
occafion, ferved him better than all liis enquiries could
have done. The very next day, coining out of the P^-

I-I lais- '

lais^Royal Gardens, up a flight of Heps, wliich lead from
a very narrow, dark pafTage into the Itreet, he obferved
a woman, decently drcffed, holding a child of five or fix
years old by the hand. Seeing her puflied about by the
croud afcending'and defcendingj he offered hia hand,
which file refufed; hov/ever, he helped the child up to
t!ie top of the ftairs, where he again proferred to fee the
mother lafe home. This propofal, with fome apparent
relutflance, flle accepted. He therefore proceeded with
her to the ready furnifhed hotel wher^e flie refided, and
was not long before he difcovered by her converfation,
that fhe was pretty nearly fuch a machine as he was looking
for. Slight intimations which fhe gave of her fituation
not being the molt comfortable, fufficiendy declared flie
would not turn' a deaf ear to offers of a pecuniary na-
ture. From the account he gave me of his difcove;7,
I prevailed on him to go . to her again, and to malvc
fure of her by a prefent. Accordingly he did fo, ami
having renewed the former converfation relative to her
little difficulties, he difcovered that a fum of three o;
-four hundred livres was for the prefent the objeft of he
wilhes. He embraced this opportunity. to tell her, th.i
he vvould not only lend her that fum, but would pro-
cure her a more confiderable one, provided (he would
take an aftive part, in a trick that was to be put upon a
certain perfon* • Upon her enquiring what the bufineis
was, he told her that he was a married m.an, that tlie
Queen fhewed great confidence and kindnefs to his with
that her Majefty -was defirous of playing a trick upon
•^oneof the Lords at Court, which fhe had i^nparted m
lier, charging her with the management of the whole,
^ - . thi

[ SI }

tjiat in order to bring it about, flic ha^ need of a female,
whom Ihe could fijbftitute in her Majefty's place ; that
fhe, Mademoifelle OIha, feemed perfe£r!y well calculated
for afting tlie part, and that, if flie had no objeftion,
he would that very evening bring his wife to her, with
whom fhe might converfe on the fubjeft. She ap-
pearing to be difpofed co do v/hatever was required of
her, deleft her obferving to her, that the leaft impru-
dence on her part would be attended with her ruin.

That fame evening, therefore, according to agree-
ment, I repaired with my hufband to. the young woman's
lodgings, to whom I gave fome inftruftions concerning
what ihe .had to do, and we quitted her, leaving a bag
of 400 livres upon her drawers. The next day the
Count v^ent in his carriage, and conveyed her to Ver -
failles. I preceded them early in the morning; they ar-
rived at the cbfe of day, but I apprized them that the
C^^ueen, not having had timely notice, her Majefty had
appointed the next night at half paft twelve. I ha^
fcarce had a minute's talk with her Majefty, whofe prc-
fcnce was then rendered by etiquette indifpenfable elfc-
where; fo that I had faid to her but thefe two words, as
well as I can remember: " JWs ready.:' " ^Q-morrow:*
anfwered fhe, *' at tkefame hour:" But the next day \
had the honour to fee her again in the forenoon, and to
acquaint her witli our fortunate encounter with Oliv,a v
at which fhe laughed heartily. She dien fettled widi
me the fcene of adion, but as I was infinitely lefs ac-
quainted than her Majefty w'ith the fituation of the
ground, I went to reconnoitre it, and prevailed on the
Cardinal to accompany mc, in order to determine the

H % ref^^eftivQ

refpeftlve pofitions, JTo that the Queen might hear all
from the fpot which flie had chofen for that purpofc.
To render the fcene intelligible, we muft neceffarily
delineate the theatre on which it was exhibited. This
was the arbour at the lower end of the grafs-plat. The
arbour on the left hand path to it, is encompafTed with
a hedge of horn beam, fupported hy ^ ftrong v/ooden
lattice work i at the diftance of rliree fttt is another,
before you eome to the inward part of the arbour, fa
that the fpace intervening between the two quickfetSj^
forms a walk that leads you round the inclofure, with-
out letting you into the arbour itfelf Each of the in-
clofures has its diftinft pafTage, and their entrances are
at oppofite fides. The Queen had taken her ftation in
the Walk between the two lattices, which in that place
clofe together in fuch a manner, tliat no paffage or com-
munication is left between the two hedges. Her Ma-
jefly was attended by Mademoijelle Dorvat. The Cardi-
nal, who had reconnoitered the ground, had placed him-
felf cloie to the hedge, whither my hufband conduced
Mademoifelle Oliva, concerning whom, I muft here fay
a few words to relieve the reader's attention.

The poor girl was as fine as hands could make her,
and had fpared no coft, to drcfs herfelf in the moft ex-
quitite tafte. From the queftions fhe had aflced nne
firice her arrival at Verlailles, it was eafy to perceivL
that fhe expected fome great adventure, and had pre-

pai-ed herfelf accordingly. " But," faid Hie to me,

" what will the nobleman fay to me? Ifhefhoiik'

" put fuch and fuch a qtieftion, what fhail I anfwer

him. If he offers to falute ine, muft I let him TV"

« Witliov;

cc

[ S3 1

« Without doubt/' anfwercd I.-^-*^ IF he fhoulH re#
'^ quire any thing more?** — ** I don't think he will."—
Nothing cov.]d be rnore comic than the creature's em-
baraffment, who in tlie main was only folicitous for the
unravelling of the plot, becaufe fhe knew the Queen
Wdtild be a fpeftatiTfs of it.

At the appointed hour I brought the fignal, by giving
to Ma^emoifcile Oiiva the rofe which the Queen had
charged me to have deliver by her to the Cardinal.
Having placed her in a proper fituation, I withdrew. I
was not ten fteps diftaiit from the Queen, when Oliva's
timidity put me greatly in pain for her conduit; no
doubt the Queen experienced the fame fenfation, for in
fpite of all her referve and caution, flie could reftrain
herfelf no longer, but cried out to her, " Courage,
*^ don't be afraid." (This Oliva confeffed inherdepo-
fitions.) The Cardinal being arrived, the converfation.
commenced. He, who was tpite unconcerjied, fince
he was in the fecret, gave the poor girl every encourage-
ment, by only afking her triSing queilions, and making his
converfation meer matter of compliment. What difcon-
certed her mofl: was, his talking to her of *^ f aft faults
*^ being forgiven,'* of his gratitude, and his making fair
promifes for the time to corner all which ftie could not
pofTibly underftand the meaning of, and therefore an-
ifwered at random with the monofyllables yes or no.
The Cardinal made die moft he could of thofe mono-
fyllables, ;to exprefs his happinefs J uttering the prettieft
things imaginable-i but took no other liberty but tliat
of gently raifing her foot, which he moft refpedfully
killed. It was then that Mademoifelle Oliva delivered

him

[ 54 ]

hhn the rofe, which he laid upon his heart, faying «* He
** fhouW prefervc that pledge as long as he lived"
calling it " ^e rofe of haffinejsr (*) Htre I recol-
ledted the Queen's inftruflions. All explanations were
uver, nothing , remained but infipidchit chat, when \
lufhcd forth and announced the approach of Madame
and Madame Countefs d'Artois; the conference was
broken off as quick as lightning;. Oliva making her wav
back to the bench wliere my hu/band was waltin*^ foj-
her;, the Cardinal joining the Baron dc Pianta, whom
he had left at a fmall diftance to watch, came up with
him to my poft, and pr;:vailed on me to follow him be-
yond the avenue, behind which he fqueezed himfelf up
10 fee die Queen go by. Catching a glance of her at
the inftant flie turned off tlie grafs-plat, up the walk that
leadii to the terrace, he dcfircd nae to go after herMa-
jefly, and endeavour to fpeak to her, ' to know whether
flie V/3S iatisfied. \ accordingly tripped along after
her, and overtaking her at her entrance into the Caftle^
fhe took me up ftairs with her \ told me in fubftance^
that fhe had been highly entertained, paid me a few
compliments, and forbid me to tell the Cardinal that I
had feen her diat night. I had no need to tell him of
K, fince it was at hla requeft I had foUovycd die Qiieeiij

and

* The Cardinal has fince had a cafe made for the
Rofe ; and fome time after, changed the name of n
favourite walk of his at Saverne^ intQ diat of " H^
Yv'ay of die Rofe,

[ S5 1

nnd it would have been hard for me to conceal it (royri
him, as he v/as waiting for me with the Bar®n de Planta
^t the foot of the little ftair-cafe; a circumftance the
Baron mentioned in his crofs examination, intending to
prove that I had admifTion to the Queen,

God both fees and hears me. I in his prefence take
this folemn oatli, that, were I in my laft moments, I
would repeat all that I have here written as being the
genuine truths yes, in my laft dying will, I would not
alter a letter of this declaration, the firft it has been in

my pov/er to make with freedom. But, perhaps, fome

perfons will fay; is it probable that a Queen of France
Ihould entertain herfelf with fuch low contrivances ? If
' the Queen of France was indeed v;hat fhe ought, to be,
or rather, v/as not what fhe is, thefe memoirs v/ould not
have been written-— I Ihould not have the painful taflc
toaccufcher of the blackeft ingratitude, of the moft
fhocking infenfibiiity. . If die Queen of France were not
what {lie is, Ihould I have been to her what a defencelefs
bird is in the hands of a froward child, who, after being
amufed with it for a few moments., ftrips it of its feathers^
one by one, and then throv/s it into the defi:ru£tive ta-
lons of a devouring animal ? Were not the Queen of
France what llie is, would that kingdom have become a
fcene of anarchy? Would an ignorant pedagogue of an
Abbe, (*) a troublefome babbler, the brother of an ob-
fcure ^xcoucheur^ turn the ftate upfide dov/n, and fubvert

its

* The Abbe de Vermont.

[ 56 ]

its conftitution ?(*) It would be truly an excellent argir-
ment to advance, that any act of criminality whatever is
improbable, bec^ufe attributed to Majefly ! Whoever is
verfed in hiftory muft know, that thrones are no protec
tion againft even the blackeft crimes by wliich humanity is
too frequently degraded. I have made this obfervation
xneerly to oppofe fuch an argument as I have mentioned
being advanced againft the circumftances I have related,
efpecially as there are ftill nnore improbable matters to,
fucceed.

After having given way to the natural feverity, whic^
unavoidably rifes, on the recolleftion of my injuries, 1 am
myfelf again. I muft bejuft— -I have been guilty of
foibles, and of very great ones in this adventure, roman-
tic as it is. I do not diflfcmble with my own heart, that
my giving the Cardinal a fore-knowledge of the Queen's
projeft, was a breach of conlidence to her Majefty, but
I therein yielded to my hufoand's reprelentations, to the
fuggeftions of my own ambitious views. I frankly ac-
knowledged

* It would require a long note on this article ; but I
am too full of my own fubjedt to enter -into political dif-
cuffions. I fliall only tell thofe of my Englifh readers,
who may be ignorant of It, that when the Dauphin was
to be married to the Archduchefs, Mr. de Chqifeuil ap-
plied to the Archbiihop of Touloufe (now of Sens) to
have a tutor. The Archbifliop gave him the Abbe de
' Vermont, whofe gratitude, feconded by the Queen's all-
prevailing power, has fignaljzed itfelf by getting his be-
nefaftor appointed Prime Minifccr.

[ 57 ]

knovvledged that I was guilty, and endeavoured to atone
foric in the firft, pages of thefe Memoirs; but I at the
lame time fubmitted, whether there ought not to be a
proportion between the guilt and the punilhment ? and
whether it.was juft, that the leaft criminal of three ac-
complices, fhguld alone \indergo the punilhment of a
crime common to them all ?

In the circumftance I have juft alluded to, I confefs
that I ought to have refufed my compliance with the
Queen's whimfical defire -, or, if I did yield to it, to have
kept her fecret* But what fort of a charafter in the fame
fccne do thofe perfons fill, whom I may juftly call my
accomplices? ^ ^lecHy who after telling me all the
horrible things I have related, againft a many whom
^^ Jhe has reajons to keep upon terms withy' defcends to
make herfelf fport, by contriving a mock intrigue be-
tween him and an infigniiicant -girl, humiliating herfelf
fo much as to fubmit herfelf, as fhe imagined, to be the
fubjeft of thofe fooleries that very man was guilty of
. towards the girl ! A Prince^ who knows that he has kif-
fed that fame girl's flipper, and then writes to the Queen
to thank her for her favors. Such are however the per-
fonages who (as 'I have already obferved) by the junc-
tion of their Unequal and difcordant powers^ have crufh-
ed me to atoms »

The farce was over: the Cardinal was pleafed with
himfelf for the dexterity with which he had taken ad-
vantage of the pretext to write fooleries to the Queen,
and her Majefty had been entertained^ without fceming
yet, to have formed any intention of permitting real in-
terviews, poftponing them under various pretences; and

\ evading

I 58 ]

evading a compliance with the Cardinars earnefl: and
continued folicitations. Her anfwers hitherto conveyed
by me were generally, " That flic was bufied m feeking
" fome plaitfible means, which, withoiit giving a hold
" to fcandal, might open to him afi cafy accefs to her
" perfon.*' A circumftance which is explained in Let-
ter XIV. ferved the Cardinal to his wifh. That circum-
ftance he availed liimfdf of, to write the letter alluded
to. The obfcrvations to be made upon that letter are
fo apparent, that it would be needlefs to point them out
to tiie intelligent reader. Still left fhall I offer any on
^No. XV. that letter alfo fuff.dently fpeaking for itfelf.

I have already taken notice, that the Savage was the
Baron de Planta, and that the Baron de Planta was the
. Czr&Vx:d's Jhadow. On that day, or to fpeak more pro-
perly, diat night, which was the fcene of aftion in the
garden, die Jloadow had followed the body to Trianon,
As to the reft t!ie reader will form v/hat conclufions he
pleafes. With regard to No. XVI. fome furprize will
natiirdly be created by the words " Thou—thme — thei^
which in this letter are for the firft time uftiered into the
correipondcnce : and I may again be accufcd of producing
improbabilities; but thofe who may accufe mcmuftbc
ftrangers to what a degree Sovereigns, of cither fcx, re-
lax their dignity, when once they have thrown off the
dull etiquette which they are obliged to maintain, how-
ever .irk fome. But a truce to matters of fuch trifling
import, I ftiall proceed to bufinefs of jnore confc-
quence.

A certain company had prefented to the Cardinal,
through the medium of my application, a plan for th.

Ilcgulation

[ 59 ]

Regulation of the Finances. The nature of it was,
as nearly as I can recolleft, a fupprelTion of the
cuftom of farnaing the Revenues, the Aids, the Land-
Tax, the Twentieths, the Tenths, &c.— — The Com-
pany engaged, provided thofc fupprefTions took place,
to bring into the King's coffers annually forty mil-
lions of livres more than the ufual receipts produced,
and to pay one year in advance. The Queen, in con-
fideration of this plan being adopted, was to receive
" four millions;'* Mr. de Calonne *^ one million,*'
and one other million was allotted to me,, with ^^ fifty
thoufand livres per annum. The fchemc the Company
had planned, was to raife upon all inheritances, a cer-
tain fum, inflead of all the taxes with which the eftates
flood charged. The heir, it was intended, fliould pay,
upon taking poflefllon of his inheritance, ten per cent, on
the value ctfall the property he became pofTefled of, and
this fum fhould liberate him, for life, from any future
tax. By this plan there would certainly, in a fhort time,
have been no taxes fubfifling throughout France. The
Cardinal had feveral times mentioned this projeft
to the Queen, and it was aft^r receiving the me-
morial, and the particulars concerning it, that her Ma-
jefly wrote the letter now under the reader's confidcration.
That, from the Cardinal, to which this is an anfw^,
contained reflexions on the Comptroller General, who.
at that time was Mr. de Calonne. I recolleft the nature
of them. ^He ^as apprehenfive, left the Minifter, whofe
avarice, luft for power, and craftinefs, was perfedly
known to him, would, after having invefligated the mat-
ter, affe5f a difapprobation of the fcheme, and lay it

1% afi^Cj

[ 6o 1

afide, in order to bring it forwards at'a fubfequent period,
under fome other appellation. To corroborate this, it
is a fad, the Cardinal never did prefent it to Mr. de Ca-
lonne : and \?vhen I urged him to it, he would anfwer,
" I will not make advances towards any man whom I Jhall
" Jhcrtly be in a capacity to command,'' As to what regards
rm in that letter, the cafe is briefly this : When Mr.de
Calonne was called to the adminiftration of the finances,
he received me with that fpecious kind of civility, which
is fo frequently fubflituted for fiiendfhip, but which is
only a mafk for deceit. He, indeed, attended to my
claims, the juftice of which he could not but acknow-
ledge, and for a long time buoyed me up, with the fan-
guine hopes he had flattered me with on the very firft
audience. All that apparent courtefy, terminated as I
have before mentioned, in the vafl: augmentation of/^z;^
hundred livres, to my exifling penfion of eight hundred.
The Cardinal, who had expefted as well as myfelf, that
I fliould have jpnet with a lefs parfimonious treatment, took
the firft favourable opportunity to fpcak to the Minifter
in my behalf, who, to exculpate himfelf, and alfo pre-
vent further folicitations, anfwered, that " he had done
*^ all that he was able with the Kitig and ^een\ whoy
*^ them/elves, had fixed the augmentationy fo that there wai
^^ no fuch thing as bringing forward that fubje^ again,'' It
is upon the Cardinal's reporting this impudent falfehood
to the Queen, that W Majefty denies the faft, but
though fenfible of the Minifter's rapadty, yet flie
thought proper to excufe him, hy allowing that his
fituation, as a Minifter, muft often force him to de-
viate from the truth.

We

I 6i ]

We come now to the Letter No. XVII. which requires
explanation. It muft not be forgotten, that the word
^^ Minijler'' means the King^ I have hitherto but
(lightly hinted at thofe " objects," which are treated
of in this letter. Thofe *^ objects," fo difpleafing to
the Queen, <^ who take advantage of- her imprudencies,
*^ to ^maintain their power of vexing and thwarting her,"
are the Polignacs; " 'tis they," according to her Ma-
jefty, " who have abufed her confidence, her ccndefcen-
fion, and have contrived, by their knowledge of certain
circumftances, to connoul her at their difcretion,"

In what does the abufe, here complained of by tlie
Queen, confift. In haying intercepted and obftinatcly
kept in their pofleir^on letters and papers, written proofs
of tho{c imprudertcies, of which her. Majefty accufes her-
felf The Queen, then, had palpably committed what;
fhe terms '' imprudencies," antecedent to thofe, in which
fhe made me an accomplice? Is it then fo improbable
as my flanderers woukl have it believed, that fhe com-
mitted or authorized die *« imprudence" of the arbour, the
^' imprydence"of the falfe fignature, the « imprudence"
of taking the necklace to pieces, and that feries pf other
*' imprudencies" which form the principal tranfaftions of
her life. In what do the '' imprudencies confift, of which
the Polignacs had, and ftill carefully preferve the written
<5vidence§? " In notes, in letters written with her Ma-
^^ jefty's own hand, in appointments arid rendez-vous,
*^ imorudendy addreffed, as well to the Count d'ArtoiSy as
" to other perfons at Court, and ftill more imprudently
f^ entrufted to faitlilefs hands." In what more do thefe
?^ imprudencies" cynfift? ''■Tn memorials, with poft-

*^ fcripts

r 62 ]

" fcripts to them, in her Majefty's writing, containing
'^ the proofs of unheard of exaftions, in conveyances of*
*' money, loans, good-wills, favors fold for money, &c;
" &c. &c. all pafllng thrcugh the hands of the female

'' Treafui-er, Poltgkac!" What has refiilted flcm

thofe fiift mendoned " imprudencies?** That theQiicen,
fearing the Polignacs, has been obliged to keep on gcod
terms with them — that if fiie withdrew from them her
fecret favoui", flie continued to them the appearances of
it in public : while I, who^have not been fo daring as to
intercept and detain originals^ and have only taken exaft
copies to produce, am repulfed widi hai^fhnefs and dif-^
dain ; and the fame hand that feeds the avarice, the
boundlefs luxury of diofe who have abufed tiufts infi-
nitely more than I have done, refufes me the reftitution
of property, which was taken from me for having re-
jefted the propofal of betraying the fecrets of my So-
vereign;, nor is it confidered that fuch refufal, as barba-
rous as it is iniquitous, deprives nle of all means of fnb-
fiftence !— Whatever be the effervefcent heat into which
thefe reflexions throw me, whenever they occur, I willi
I could fupprefs the letter, and the S which will be taken
for the initial of the word sopha, and that licentious
paflage wliich fettles the place of rendez-vous: it may
particularly be fuppofed, that I Ihotild have a great pro-
]>enfity to retrench from thofe fcenes of gaiety, the part
which I am made to aft in them, but were I to leave
out afinglc/word, I fhould then leave an opening for
my opponents, vrfip would not fail to deny me all credit
whatever. I Ihall therefore fubmit every fyllable to tlie
public eye* . •

The

[ ^3

^

The fubfequent letter, No. XVIII. needs no com-
ment. As I had long fince loft fight of this corref-
pondence, in reading over this number, I can fcarcc
believe my own eyes. I recoUeft, that about thfc time
of its date, the Queen was enraged againflt Madame de
Polignac, and that feeing her Majefty determined to urge
matters to the " utmoft extremity, I took the liberty to
offer fome obfervations tending to difTuade her from it.
At that period, indeed, fhe was harraffed to an incon-
ceivable degree, and the " leeches*' ihe fpeaks of had
formed a kind of party, which was growing extremely
formidable. Another circum.ftance, I recalled ftruck
me at the time, is, that for all the feeming heat that
I'uns throuq-h the letters I am now come to, the Queen
greatly exaggerated her reftraint, and made a pretence
of it to baffle, as far as pofTible, the Cardinal's importu-
nities. He, who in the main was not much more fin-
cere in his demonftrations of eagernefs, commonly had
recourfe to the pen: whence that multiplicity of idle
noteSi, of which I have already faid, that at icaft two
hundred had pafled through my hands. I fiiall turn
from the unaccountable things in this letter relating to
the King; move /hocking ones \\i\\ h^ i^t^tn in the fequel
ofthe correfpondence. Upon &e whole, it is an abo-
mination which I Ihudder at> v/hlle I am bringing it to
light; but mankind v/iil be fenfible, at leaft in England,
that the production of it was indifpenfable for n^y own
juftification; for in all cafes of impeachment and recri-
mination, the prudent Englifh regulate their judgment
by the character the firfl: accufer bears. ' With refpeft to
the ftrft lines of No. XVIII. there v/ill be found in^ a

note

[ 64 1

note of* fome length (page 65) particulars concerning
the Prefident d'Aligre, who is the perfon here alluded
to. In the fame note I will explain who " thofe per-
« fons are that are iuppoied to be ignorant of nothing;'
The letter No. XIX. is nearly an appendix to the
foregoing. Rage againft Madame Polignac breaks out
in it with redoubled vehemence, but the fpirit of diffi-
mulation appears With lefs feftraint. Mention is made
again of the King, who through the whole correfpon-
dencej ads a part which he doubdefs would not have
chofenj had he been confulted. This circumftance
feems to introduce, rather naturally^ an obfervation
which, as it was my intention to make, may be as aptly
fluted to this place as any other.

It muft have been obferved in No. XVIII. that the
Queen "knows how to chain up the lionj" thatlheis
accuilomed " to make him fee and believe what flie
" pJeafes/' She fays in this, that " fhe knows how to
" wind him up to what pitch ibe has a mind." It is in
this confidence that Ihe 'has long fince " wound up"
the King's mind on my account> and has made it her
bufinefs, to prepare him for t!ie publication of my Me-
moirs, ' which were fo long ago reported to be preparing

for pubHc view, But, deluded .Princefs!-— what will

that precaution avail you ? When you formed it> you
knew not the-nature of the attack you dreadcd.-^ Your
fycophants have blinded you by a mifinformation, by
telling you that all the papers were feized and burnt;
tliat there exifted no trace, no veftige of your corref-
pondence v/ith the Cardinal. Breteull himfeif has de-
ceived you, and ftill voluntarily deceives you— for he is

well

[ 65 ]

\^?ell acquainted with all that I have in my pofieffion; he is
jiot ignorant how I preferved that treafure from the fhat-
tered remains of all that once belonged to me : but I
furmife, he has his reafons for permitting you to re-
main in ignorance : at this moment I remove the cloud,
which obfcured it from your fight; yeSj it is from this
moment that you will at length know, with certainty,
that whatever is contained in that correfpondehce de-
ftruftive to you, exifts in the moft connffted, moft
complete, moft authentic ftate. You may, perhaps,
aflert that they are fiftions ? I queftion even your cou-
rage to do it, for you are furrounded widi people wlio
know your ftyle, your manner* Many there are who
have had a knowledge, more or lefs exa£t, of the greater
part of thofe fa£ts I here relate. (*) By placing them
again in a confpicuous point of view, thofe perfons will

recall

* With concern I fee myfelf obliged to ufe frequent
repetitions ; but I have not the prefumption to rely fo
far on the public attention, as to think that>all I have
written remains imprefled on the mind : I therefore beg
leave to remind the reader, of wliat I have fet forth in
various parts of thefe Memoirs, concerning the inviol-
able fecrcfy enjoined upon me by the Queen, from the
firft moment I had the honour to approach her, which
I have more particularly faid in another note, and
which being a very fhort one, I fhall here tranfcribe.

" The reader will pleafe to recolleft, what I obferved
" in the beginning of thefe Memoirs, of the abfolute

K " fecrefy

[ 65 ]

recall every thing to mind, as if they had perfonally be-
held them. The bare indiicretions of the Cardinal,

have

" fecrefy the Queen had recommended to me. It is
" inconceivable how far the faithful obfervance of dm
" command has been fatal to me; and how great the
" advantage which has been taken of it, to do mc rhe
« injuftice of denying my ever having intimately con-
" verfed with the Queen. Her Majcfty has carried the
" matter ftill farther, by telling the King: " She knr^v
" nothing at all ofmeT To that daring affcrtion, I am
going to anfwer by this fecond note.

I fhall not mention thofe of the Queen's immediate
attendants, who have been acquainted, almoft as well
as her Majefly and myfclf, with the nature of our inti-
macy. I fhall name no one among the croud of inferior
tools of intrigue, who, to make fomething of the fnialltft
difcoveries, arc always on the watch, carry their audacit)'
fo far as to peep through key -holes, and are unfufpeclcdly
privy to the moft fccret afts of intimacy. Many of them
I could name, but Heaven forbid ! They arc perfons
deftitute of fupport, and would lofe their places, * ad-
cumftance which I Ihould much regret; but I will point
out fome, who being independant of the world, ait
more enabled to bear the effedts of die Queen's petty
vengeance. I pleaded guilty of faults at my firft fettir.g
out, what follows will conftitute part of my confeffion.

The Firft Prefidcnt d'Aligre, had rendered mc kr
vices long before my connexion with the Queen. Whcr

MadaiPc.

[ ^7 ]

have infinitely multiplied the number of perfbns ini-
tiated in tkq fatal myfttries, to which 1 was but a too

frequent

Madame, and Madame d'Artois took me under their
proteftion, and gave themfclves feme trouble in foli-
citing for me, that Magiftrate was the firft to apprife
mei that the Queen could not endure thofe two Prin-
cefTes^ that the very circumftance of their interefting
themfelves for m.e, was fufficient to make her Majefty
create difficulties and multiply obftacles. ^^ Of this
*^ daily inftances are Ceen. The Queen has engroffcd
" all favours, and whenever fhe finds an opportunity to
*^ mortify her fifters-in-law by a refufal, ill-fortune fol-
" lows thofe whom they patronize, for fhe feizes it with

<« amazing avidity." In general, the counfels which

Monfieur d'Aligre gave me, were afterwards highly ufe-
ful to me, I was at that period compelled, from various
circumftances, to launch into expences, which were by
no means compatible with the contrafted ftate of my
finances. Monfieur d'Aligre had lent me fundry fums
of money, at different periods, to the amount of two
thoufand crowns. This debt, I for fome time paft re-
gretted, I had not the power to have difcharged at die
Inftant I had the fatal, though then flattering fortune to
intereft the Queen in my behalf. Her Majefty's gene--
rofity, having rapidly fupplied me with the means, I
pleafed myfelf with the thought? of furprizing Monfieur
d'Aligre, and went to him, poiTefied of twenty thoufand
Jivres, in bills on ihe Caifle d'Efcompte, which I had

[ 68 ]

frequent witnefs. 'Confide'r, befides, Madame, that if
ealamlty and diftrefs are at pfefent doomed to be my

lot,

juft received (as I have before faid)_^ With much dif-
ficulty I prevailed on'him to accept of his two thoufand
crowns, nor did I fucceed, until feeing I had fourteen
thoufand livres left in hand, he yielded to my prefTmg
entreaties.

By a few words which he let fall, on feeing me miftrefs
of fo large a fum, confidering my means, he feemed ta
fufpeft my having received it from "the Cardinal, with
whom he knew I was on terms of friendlhip. My deli-
cacy was hurt, and feeing no other alternative, buf that
I muft fubmit to the fufpicion of a perfonal flain, or an
indifcretion, I entruftfcd him with the whole affair, ex-
cept what regarded the C3iY<isn3.Vs political intrigue, not
daring to proceed fo far, knowing the mortal hatred the
Prefident entertained againft him. He therefore had no
farther knowledge, than that the Queen had viewed me
with a favourable eye, had taken upon herfelf the care
of m.y forume, and in the mean time gave proofs of her
attention by her munificence. He was delighted with
my being communicative, gave me excellent* counfels,
and encouraged me to benefit by them, whenever]
ihould think I had further occafion.

Monfieiir d'Aligre did not come at the knowledge of
what paflTed between the Queen and the Cardinal, until
towards the period pointed at in the Queen's letter, No,

XVIII.

[ ^9 ]

lot, public hatred and contempt muft follow you.
Flatter not yourfelf with die idea of fecuiity, becaufe

from

XVIII. to which I promifed to advert in this note. In
order to explain, what is meant in its commencement.

Thatietter here powerfully affifts me in proving that
the Queen, v/ho pretended, and who told the King that
" ^tf had mt the leaji knozvkdge of me^^ yet fufpe6ted, as
early as the i8th of Auguft, 1784, that the Prefident
d'Aligre had fought to dive into the motive that actuated
her Majefty in die affair of the S^umxe-Vingts Uojpitali
and fuppofed that the Magiftrate, unable to make any
difcovery, had fpoken of it to certain people, who are
deemed ignorant of nothing. Thofe certain people were
not in the plural; the Queen meant to fpeak only of thcr
Baron de Breteuil, as Lfhall prefently explain.
. The Queen, as appears by her letter, had commif-
fioned me to fee the Prefident d'Aligre, in her name;
to prevail on him to put a flop to the law-fuit carried
on by die Adminiflrators of the Quinze-Vingts againfl:
the Cardinal. It v/as on that occafion that the Magif-.
trate expreffed the ajloniflrment referred to in the letter:
he put many oueftions to me, as may well be imagined,
on the very furprizing nature of her Majefty's concern
for the Cardinal; but the Queen was miftaken, when Ihe
faid, that '^ he could malce no difcovery," for I reveal-
ed every thing to him; and far from his having fought to
get the fecret out of the Baron dc Breteuil, it w^as, on

the

[ 70 ]

from the exalted height 'of a throne, yoti look down
upon your fuppofed viftim ftriiggling in tlie dull; from

that

the contrary, the Baron de Breteull who perfuaded him
to a difclofure^ as I was Ihortly after informed.

A few days after my interview with Monfieur d'Ali-
gre, by order of the Queen, I had occafion to write to
the Baron de Breteuil, to defire a meeting; I had a
favour to folicit for a perfon whom I valued. He
made aniwer, that at the receipt of my letter, he was
getting into his carriage to go to Verfailles, where he
fhonld flay three or four days ; that he was perfuaded,
affairs more agreeable than his were^ would fummon me
thither, and that he fhould be at my command. I did
not wait till he explained himfelf, to underftand that he
was acquainted with the nature of my agreeable affairs.
1 every day found out fome apparent confidant j I knew
not whence or how they could be fo well informed.
Hic Baron did not keep me pn the rack for want of
letring me know> from what fource he had derived his
information. The firft thing he did, on fight of me,
was to compliment me on my intimacy with a per/on who
xvotdd do every thing for me.— As I feemed not to under-
ftand his exordium, he told me, that my difcredon fiir-
prifed him, the more as I had granted my confidence
to one, who did not deferve it as well as he did; that
his intent was not to wreft my fecrct from me to make
advantage of it, and do nne a prejudice, but rather tQ
dired me> and Ihew nne the road I fhould purfue.— -

ThQ

[ 71 ]

that duft I fhall probably raife fuch a cloiid of damrting
fafts, as may overwhelm you, and perhaps reduce yoH
to a level with myfelf.

The

The different parties were at ftrife who fhould be my
advifer : I had then as many counfellors as the King,

The Baron feeing that I perfifted in my referve, de-
fccnded into particulars, that convinced me Mr, d'AU-
gre had told him all I had entrufted him with. With-
out naming the Cardinal, to whom he is die moft deadly
enemy, he faid to me, " You have connexions with
*^ a man who will be your ruin. He is an ambitious,
*^ vain, empty man, indifcreet above all, and will break
^* his neck in the end. Be you as difcreet with others
*^ as you are with me ; and beware that a wrong ftep,
" an inconfidcrate fpeech, does not lofe you the Queen's

*' good graces. 1 have fearched to the bottom of

" every circumftance, and fliall keep the knowledge I
*^ have gained within my ovv'n breaft. I have nothing
*' more to fay on that head,"

We afterwards converfed on the fubjeft that brought
xne to him ; having perufed my petition, he told me,
there was nothing he could refufe m.e, and that he
would go and give orders that my client fhould have
a place. He added, as he lefc me, that I fliould always
find him difpofcd to do me v/hat fervice refted in his
power, and to give me fuch counfcls as I might (land
m need of.

Much

[ 72 ]

The letter No. XX. merits to be read with the
greateft attention. Here, for the firll time, we are

prefcftted

Much about the fame time J heard, that I was the
occafion of great uneafinefs to the Ladies de Polignac.
Thofe haughty women, who had been fo rude to me,
that I might almoft call their behaviour outrageous, had
heard fome fecret whifpers of the bufinefs I took fo
much pains to conceal. Their favour was already mud
on the decline, they had butfeW means left of watching,
as they ufed to do, the Queen's condu(5l ^ and they were
refolved, coil what it w^ould, to fatisfy theinfelves con-
cerning the reports buzzed about with regard to me.

In the firfl pages of thefe Memoirs I mentioned the
Marquis d'Autichamp, and obferved that his behaviour
forced M.de la Mot te, my hufband, to refign his com-
miflion in the Gens d'Armes; fince that event, which
occafioned much converfation, I had not fttn the Mar-
quis. He at that time lived in the ftrifteft intimacy
with the Countefs Diana de Polignac. She heaiingthat
he had formerly known me, fpoke of it to the Duchefs
de Polignac, and they jointly took a refolution to depute
him to me, to endeavour at finding out what was going
on.

The Marquis d'Autichamp was connefted with the
Baronefs Dubourg, daughter-in-law to Mr. de Cromot,
which Lady I often vifited. He made that a pretence
to come up to me at Verfailles, and tell me, that he had
long fought an opportunity of meeting with mc^ that

the

[ 73 ]

L

prefented with that politkal intrigue^ which had as it were
from neceffity induced the intrigue of gallantry.

I have

the nmoment Madame Dubourg had told him I fome-
tlmes vifited at her houfe, he had multiplied his vifits to
her, but had never been fo happy as to fee me there : he
fpoke of my hufband, faying he fliould take the greateft
pleafure in being ferviceable to him, and convincing
him he had never fought to do him an injury, as my
hufband had imagined. He concluded by requefting
my perniiffion, which T granted him, of paying his re •
fpefts to me. His iirft vifit was fhort, he mentioned
nothing particular to me, but tliis might be occafioned
by theprefence of Mr. Rouill6 d'OrfeuIl, Intendant of
Champaign, who flayed with me the whole time. In
taking his leave^ he faid he had fomething to impart to
me; I anfwered, he might call on the morrow, that he
would find me alone.

Accordingly the next morning he came : What he
had to fay to me fo particular, required fome intro-
duftion ; who could be more converfant in thofe prefa-
tory fpeeches than a courtier. He began by enter-
taining me with his intrigue with the Countefs Dianai
gave me to underftand, what I knew full well, th^t it
was a mere matter of policy. As he was fenfiblc that
I had reafon to co^nplain of both the fifters, he endea-
voured to perfuade me it was the Countefs d'Oflun,
Lady of die Bedchamber to the Queen, who was the
contriver of the mifchief, and the perfon who had pre-

L vented

[ 74 ]

I have fpokcn of a kind of midway eftabliflied at Sa-
verne, to ferve as a central point to the emiflaries of

the

vented the Duchefs of Polignac frona receiving me, by
telling her, the Queen was tired to death with my foi;,
citations, and refolved not to grant me any thing. The
Marquis added, that '' this Madame d'Oflun notwith^
" {landing her blandifhments, was a bad woman ; very
" dangerous, very jealous, and wanton to a degree."
Then pafled on to the Countefs Diana^ whofe pencknt
for him he had juft been relating^ He told me, " fte
" was an intriguing woman, but full of witi and taking
" the lead in every thing 5" that " it wa!^. for that
" reafon he paid her a painful attention." " As to
" the Duchefs of Polignac," continued he, " flie is a
" charming woman, I have the greateft value for her,
^« the Queen has a ftrong attachment to her, but, no
" longer, any love. This Queen of ours," added the
Marquis, " is fomewhat fickle and inconftant in her
" partialities. It requires a great deal of addrtfs and
'^ adroitnefs to fix her fleeting favour. It is the Coun-
^^ tefs Diana that informs me, you are the reigninifd'
'^ vourtie : I was not at all furprifed at it. As flie aiked
" me feveral queftions about you, I told her you was
" neither ambitious nor malevolent, ftill lefs revenge-
*' ful; in general very obliging, and indeed too gene-
" rous ; that your only failing was an excefs of viva-
" city, bordering upon giddincfs. She anfwerednie,
" that was not difpleafing to the Queen.

* ' Ik

[ 75 1 ,

the Emperor and of the Queen ; I have already obferved
that the Cardinal was extremely incommunicative in that

particular.

i

He next entered into long details on the Queen's
difpofitiort and partialities, and fummed up all in an
offer of counfeh, afluring me, that « he would direft
« me in fuch a manner as to get me many friends, and
" preferve the Queen's kindnefs towards me, &c. &c.

I was not feduced, the firfttime, by fofair m outfide,
but his vlfits growing frequent, and the counfels he gave
me appearing to be the refult of good will, I infenfibly
threw" otF m.y referve, and in the unguarded franknefs of
my heart, beftowed upon him an unlimited confi-
dence. Here is then one confident more, who has
known all that I recolleft, all that the Queen muft no
doubt have forgotten, fince fo fran is her retentive fa-
culties, that (he does not fo much as remember that fuch
a being as the Counrefs de la Motte ever was known to
her, muchlefs poflefled her confidence-, but I m.ufthave
recourfe to thofe who may refrefh her memory as need
requires. I IhaU therefore name alfo the Bailli de Cruf-
fol, admitted to all her Majefty's parties of pleafure,
who, unable to doubt of my intimacy with her, for a
long time exerted his utmoft endeavours to wreft from
me the avowal of it, but finding he could not fucceedj
he concluded, like the Baron de Breteuil, by telling, me
" he knew it all." I (hall alfo name die Abbe le KeH
Almoner, Confeflbr to the Baftile, and fpy in chief to
the Government, who, being urged to make me fpeak,
' to

[ 76 ]

paiticular. I could only, from our cpnverfation, fbrm
conjectures, grounded on a variety of circumftances

which,

to diirft me, to make me declare whatever ferved the
views of thofe whoft intereft it was to deftroy me, at
length forced from m*e the fecret of the whole intrigue.
I fhall fay the fame of the Commiflary Chcnon, who
knew every thing, when he examined me in the Baftile;
of Monfieur Tillet, Adminiftrator of the horrid houfe I
was confined in; of Sifter Martha, under whofe imme-
diate infpeftion I had been placed; of my lawyer, Mr.
Doillot, to whom. I had given in writing all the fafts I
this day relate. I ihall further name the Sieur Bazin,
confidant of the fecret pleafures of her Majefty, and Go-
vernor of Triaron. I fhall take the liberty to afk him,
whether he knew ;;2i?.^— whether he knew the Cardinal?
whether he did not convey letters from the Queen to
the Cardinal, and from the Cardinal to the Queen? —
^vhedier he did not entruft the moft fecret particulars he
knew to a miftrefs he had in common with a certain
German Baron, who made that a pica to folicit my pro-
tefliionwith the Queen. Laftly, I name Mr. PuifTant,
a Farmer- General, to whom I had infinite obligations,
who having long aflured me he knew, from a multitude
of perfons, my connexions with the Queen, after long
denying it, I was compelled to a confeffion. The fame
befel me with a number of perfons of die firft diffinftion j
and I can fay, that fpitc of all the caution I obferved,

the

[ 77 ]

n^'lilch, Without giving me any precife Idea of the nature
of this fecret communication, yet aflForded the ftrongcft
prefumptive evidence of the exiftence of a clandeftine
and fctded correfpondence between the Emperor on one
hand, and the Queen and the Cardinal on the other.

Firft, I often faw German officers arriving, and hold-
ing long and myfterious conferences with the Cardinal.
Secondly, My hu/band was frequently charged by the
Prince with the delivery, at particular places, efpecially
at the Port St. Antoinc, of packets to couriers, who ap-
peared to him to be Germans. Thirdly, The Queen\
fentiments refpefting the Cardinal were eftabllflied, in
my opinion, from having often heard her fay, flie had
reafons to keep on terms with him. I could, therefore,
attribute to nothing but political reafons of the moft de-
licate nature, not only fo extraordinary a coalefcence,
which I had looked upon^ as impoffible, until the Em-
peror's influence had wrought the miracle; but alfo the
confequent familiarities and deviations from decorum.
Fourthly, The futility of the Cardinal's affefted myftery
and referve, whillt he often unguardedly betrayed cir-

cumftances.

the nature of my intimacy was very irfuch like the fecret
in a play.

I have even recently difcovered, in London, tracks
of a like confidence, made widi ftill lefs referve than to
any other perfon; having had occafion to fee die French
AmbaiTador, he reminded me of my having at die time
completely initiated his brother, the Bifliop of Langres,
into all the particulars of the farcical fecret.

[ 78 ]

cumftanccs, which could not but confirm my fufpicions,
He more than hinted to me, that very foon I fliodd be
amazed;— that he Ihould be Prime-Minifterj-.thathe
Ihould not be dlreftly obliged to the Queen for his ele-
vation i—diat, on the contrary, he fhould have compd-
led her to promote it; and that, of courfe, he Ihould not
confider himfelf to be under the necefnty of giving ex-
traordinary demonftrations of gratitude. Fifthly, and
laftly, I was privy to all their correfpondence. That
part of it which I am about to communicate, made me
confider the Emperor as the primeval fourcc of the
tranfaiflions I was witnefs to, and of the revoludon they
were intended to produce. What the mighty objcft was
that precipitated the Cardinal's departure for Savcrne, I
will not take upon me to fay ; I will only relate what I
heard reladve to it about that time, andfince, fromper-
fons who were imagined to be v/ell informed. It was
pretended by fome, that the occafion was the idea of re-
covering Lorrain, but I proteft 1 am ignorant of any
fuch intention, though not equally fo of a pecuniary
negociation that was at the fame time ujx>n the tapis.
The Emperor was in want of fix or (even millions of
livres, which he could not hope to obtain from the
Comptroller General, a man too clofely connefted with
the Count de Vcrgcnnes to be entruftcd. The Queen
and the Cardinal were to procure that fum for him by
fome other mode ; for the latter, thinking he was fccure
in the fruition of his wifhes, had aftually made a pro-
mife to the Emperor, to obtain for him what he defired
He accordingty made numbcrlcfs applications to the
Jew Cerfbcrci but Cerfbcre, to whom the Cardinal was

abtady

[ 79 1

already deeply indebted, refufed granting him any far-
ther loan. The Cardinal, by this refufal, was under the
mortifying neceflity of declaring to the Queen his inabi-
lity to comply with the wiflies of the Emperor.

1 intreat the reader's particular attention to this cir-
cumftance; that the motives which prevailed on the
Queen to pardon the Cardinal,, to take him. into favour
again, and probably fomething more, by reviving what
Ihe calls thejiories of Fiema^' may be inveftigated, and
traced to their fource, by the clue which I have given in
the above relation. Laftly, let him not lofe fight of the
neceffity which the Emperor confidered himfelf under of
having the Cardinal's concurrence to^ and afliftance in,
the promotion of his defigns.— *We fee the pecuniary
negociation terminating in air. If the Cardinal does
not prove more fucccfsful in Lorrain, will [the rapidity
of his downfall be a matter of wonder?

The Queen, ftung to the quick, but flcilled, as flie
herfelf acknowledges, in the arts of diffimulation, pre-
tended to be fatisfied with the Cardinal's apologies for
his incapacity to fulfill his promifc to her brother, and
preiTed his departure for Saverne, with a view artfully to
put him to the fecond ordeal, and in hopes to determine
the Emperor to withdraw his proteftion, in cafe he
fhoulcf a fecond time mifcarry in tranfa6l;ing the affair
concerning Lorrain, which I can aver Ihe fecretly wlfhed
him to do. She therefore undertook, folely, to ralfe the ,
beforementioned fum of fix or feven millions of livres.— -
Poor St. James was obliged, I believe, to furnifli party
but it was Laborde who advanced the principal fum,

and

i 8o ]

and this circumftance proved the origin of his favour
with the Queen.

Irecollea:, if I am not iniftaken, that Mr. de C^-
lonne, to whom her Majefty often had recourfe, fre-
-quendy advanced fumsj till the revenuas were paid into
the Royal Exchequer.

But let us return to No. XX and XXI. The poor
Cardinal is obliged to fee ofF to Saverne, charged as he
imagined, with the confidence of the Queen. He is in
readinefs to facrifice ally ally except bis love; we per-
ceive him jealous j he leaves the career open to the
handfome Ferjenney Colonel cf the Royal Suedois y and
leaves the Court with the moft difmal apprehenlions.—
However> he muft in preference to all other confidera-
tions^ bufy KimkM with. the gr^ndxbjen -, he will be pre*
ceded at Saverne by a courier bearer af a -packet : he has
taken his meafures to avoid all furprife, and In cafe of a
mifhapy to deftroy every evidence. Does not diis wear
the appearance of fome fecret machination ? Yet, it is
in the myfterious chaos of this letter, we muft look for
a foludon of every thing that relates to this unhappy
affair, I again fay, the Cardinal, myfelf, and in fome
refpefts the Qiicen herfelf, became victims to the unen-
lightened policy of Joseph IL but what an enormous
dilpaity. in the facrifices !

It is ncedlefs for me to point out the paflage in No.
XX. that regards the Polignacs, as it cannot efcape
obfervation ; but I cannot omit mentioning what I re-
colled hearing the Cardinal fay on this occafion, be-
caufe, jt will explain what he meant, by fpeaking of
" authority:' Th& meaning was, that her Majefty had

no

[ 8i ]

no other courfe to take, hnt Jpeedily to make him Prime
Minifter; that then " the Polignacs Ihall have work
enough upon their hands/' Thefe^ 6r words to the
fame efFetSl, was the language he made ufe of. «^ Ere
LONG," faid, he, " I will avenge the Queen, you,

" AND MYSELF, UPON OUR COMMON ENENflES."

It will not appear extraordinary, that in the letter No*
XXL the Cardinallhould mention the reliance he placed
on me, to give her Majefly information of the pains he
had taken, to have the packet which is mendoned in the
foregoing letter fafely delivered J for on this occafion, as
on many more of a fimilar nature, he had recourfe to
the Count, my hufband. Had I not previoufly ex-
plained the nature of this letter, and given an intimate
knowledge of the ftrange intrigue to which it relates, it
muft naturally have been conjeftured, from the contents
of it, that the Cardinal had taken leave of his fenfes,
and had written it in a fit of delirium. The Cardinal
was doubtlefs uneafy, but was not "jealous:" my un-
eafinefs, however, was far greater, becaufe it was better
founded ! I forefaw that the period was not far diftant,
in which the Queen would exert herfelf to get him out
of the way I and unable to judge with precifion cither
of the urgency or importance of his mifllon to Saverne,
I dreaded its being only an artifice which the Queen had
recourfe to, for faving appearances, and handfomely
diverting herfelf of his importunides.

It appears, that there were two reafons afTigned for

his journey. In the firft place, the Queen made him

believe, that liis abfence from Verfailles was neceflary j

and, in the next, that hisprefence at Saverne was indif-

M penfiblc

penfible. I could not much credit the cxiftence of the
latter 'necefTity 5 it appeared to me fufpiciousj.becatifel
knew the former to be little more than ideal. Her Ma-
jefty exaggerated the alarms relative to the interviews
which had taken place; the h& wasj the obfervations
that had been made upon them, were by no means of
that magnitude which the Queen pretended, and wiflied
the Cardinal'to conceive.

When I came to thfe knowledge of the letter No*
XXII, immediately after the Cardinal's deparuire, it
baniflied the firft idea I had conceived. The Queen,
on delivering to me this letter, appeared more than
commonly uneafy. I apprehended that papers of ex-
treme confequence were in queftion ; my ideas began to
unravel> and I was not without fome apprehenfions, that
the Cardinal had embarked in fome aft of treafon.

That idea affcded me fo violently, that for fome time
my indifpofition was fuch as to create uneafincfs; for
diat was a period of my life in which there were many
who intereftedthemfelves in what concerned me; amongft
' thofe I thought I might reckon the Queen, but her Ma-
jefty has fince given me reafon to conclude, that kr
fielings were folely of a defcription too grofs, to admit of
zuj other fympathy than that which was derived from
the moft fenfual communication.

But to return to the letter: what her Majefty then
writes to the Cardinal, relative to the abufe of her con-
fidence, by the Polignacs, appeared infincere to me at
the very time : for llie had told me, " fhe was certain
of their infidelity." Why fhe acknowledges no more than
a hzxtjujpcion^ to the man, whom Ihe employs in tlie

moll

^d

[ 8j ]

moft delicate and the mod perilous tranfadlions ; whom
fhe calk by the very familiar appellations of <^ thou"*
and " theey"' and is fo treated by him; is what no one
can conceive that is not conv-erfant with courts.

The conclufion of this letter has fomething more re-
markable in it, than the Reader would probably be
aware of, were I to omit explaining what is meant by
^^ fhe piece of well placed (economy T That phraft, before
it was committed to wanting, had been repeated to me
at leaft twenty times, on the occafion of die unfortunate
necklace. The Queen could never relilh that piece of
(economy y which flie often itxratAJordidnefs, In the Ga-
zettes, where every thing is reprefented in a manner,
beft adapted to the intereft of the occafion, credit has-
b-^en given to the Queen for the following fayingj
^* / had rather have onejhip more of the line y than a neck-
lace,'" It is a piracy committed on the King; the ex-
preflion was his Majefty's.-- -The Queen would have
given (to me a latitude of fpeech) an hundred men of
war, for that necklace. She has furely purchafed it at
a dear rate, fince that coftly bauble robs her of her
peace of mind for the remainder of her days; for cal-
lous Ihe muft be in the extreme, if flie pofiTeffes a mo-
ment's quiet, from the fling of felf conviftion and re-
proach, for the turpitude of her conduft refpeding the
Cardinal, and the barbarous and ungrateful tenor of her.
bahaviour to me, who have certainly, with all my foibles^
merited of her a far different return.

The Letters No. XXIII. and XXIV, relate endrcly
and folely to that political intrigue, with the particulars
of which I was not permitted to be acquainted. Tli^

L ^ * • acknow-

I H 1

acknowledgement of my ignorance in that bufmefs, will
I hope, affifl: in eftablifliing my credit with the candid
reader, for fidelity and veracity in the relation of thofe cir-
cumftances, wherein I was perfonally aftive, and with
the nature of which I was thoroughly acquainted, by
precluding the charge of a falfe afFedlation of know^
ledge, I do not polTefs. Thefe letters are however nc
ceflary links of the great chain. Although I cannot
give the reader a proper clue, to lead him through the
fccret paths of this political labyrinth, and point out the
fartictdar views, which were the objefts of the parties,
yet I lliall fo far turn thefe letters to my advantage by
fair conclufions, drawn from concurrent circumftances,
as to ufe them for foils, by placing my accomplices and
myfelf in a comparative point of view, and leaving my
readers to judge of the proportional demerits of our in-
dividual conduft.

While I appear degraded by an ambition, that re-
duced me to {loop tothechara6^erofa fycophant^ in what
light muft the guilty confederates be viewed, who were
concerned in that intrigue in which I had no lliare ? I
repeat it again, do not all thofe fignificant notes, writ-
ten to each other at the period of the journey to Savme^
wear on the face of them, the feal, the ftamp, the cha-
raderiftic impreffion of a treafonabJe machination ? That
magic ink fent as a prefent ! was the fitteft medium to
communicate the dark and iniquitous myftery.

Had I committed all the crimes attributed to me j
had I aftually ftolen the necklace; what would my cul-
pability be, compared with that of a Queen, facrificing
the ilate that maintains her, to the unpardonable ambi-

tioa

r 85 1

tion of her brother, in pretended amity with the King
her liufband -, or with a Lcrd High Jlmoner of the fame
kingdom, who, indebted for every thing he poflefles, to
the bounty and indulgence of his Sovereign, bafely and
trcafonably plots with a foreign power to injure his
benefaftor, and deprive him, if he can, of a part of his
dominions ?

The letter No. XXV. by giving an idea of the im-
portance, and almoft of the nature of the Cardinal's
mifTion, confirms what I have faid of the Emperor's
dilpofitions towards him. The reader may there dif-
cover that he expefts a revolution i that he anticipates
fome events, the completion of which is, as he fays,
very near at hand ; fo far as to offer to the Queen the
" f^pport^'' which himfelf expects from the Emperor.
It is evident, that the words " in order to enjoy doubly
" the advantages and the refources agatnji contingencies^''
can advert to nothing but money, which the Queen,
who was ever under fome dilemma, was inceflandy in
want of: and the rapacious cravings of the Cardinal
were fuch, as would have fwallowed up three kingdoms.

The letter No. XXVI. will naturally recall to the
reader's mind, that from the Queen, wherein her Ma-
jefly recommends to the Cardinal to be " perplexed and
*^ ohjcure'^ We have feen it acknowledged that " the
" Jlave yields obedience,'* I do not recolledl to what pur-
pofe the wifh the Cardinal exprefles, of " beingjervice-
" able' to me, at the period in queftion, could pof-
fibly anfwer, nor what mutual benefits could arife from
his public reception ^ but I perfeflly recoUeft, that die
deftre for the approximation of that event, was by no

mean?

means mulual between the Queen and the Cardinal*
and that exprefTion concurs with a thoufand more that
wcFC familiar to him, in proving how much, in that
intrigue, the unhappy Prince laboured to impofe upon

himfdf.

The Queen's anfwerj No. XXVII. relates to two
objefts made known already. The accident that befel
the letter, was occafioned by the inflammable nature of
the fecre^ ink ufed by the Cardinal, of which we have
feen that he ftnt a bottle to 'the Queen. As to the
Abbe, is name his found in the preceding letter, which
clears up what her Majefty fays of her agreement with
the Archduchefs her filler. The moft remarkable thing
in that letter is the concluding fentence ; as it evinces
how mucli the Queen took to heart the bufinefs which
was committed to the Cardinal's management. Her
Majefty pretends that the duration of his exile, which
in reality fiie had no dellre to abridge, would be depen-
dant on the expedition he Ihould ufe in executing the
commifTion he was entrufted with j but it is inconceiv-
able how gready her removal had relieved her j never
had I ken her in fuch Ipirits before,

I am come at length to that part of the correfpond-
ence, wherein, for the firft time, mention is made of the.
FATAL NECKLACE. The reader, from the pcrufal of
No. XXVIII,' will immediately perceive, with me, that
the Queen has been long coveting that piece of female
ornament^ but prevented by the King's ceconomic dif-
pofition, had manifefted, by fome means or other, to the.
Cardinal, the moft anxious defire to hcome pjfejfed of ih

I 87 ]

The note \h queftion contains a poficive avowal of her
having employed him for that purpofe.

What is it her Majefly complains of in this billet,
evidently written under the influence of ill hunaour ?
That the Cardinal has not ufed, in the negociation Ihe
had entrufted him with> all the " myfterioufnefs'' which
(he had charged him to obferve. When I have de-
veloped all the circumftances neceffary for an expofition
of this affair, it will then be apparent, why " the flavc**
had deviated from the fpirit of the injunctions he had
received from " the Mafter/'

It is certain that the Queen> when fhc commifiloned
him to make that purchafe for her, had told him, that
flie would enter into " private arrangements'* with him;
but as neither his means nor his credit were extenfive
enough to enable him to treat fo very confiderable an
objeft in his own name^ he had found himfelf under the
necefiity of declaring, that he purchafed on the Queen's
account. And indeed it appears clearly, by the fecond
letter, which her Majcfty immediately v/rites to him,
(No. XXIX.) that, in the intervening fpace of time,
he had owned to her the motive of his condud:, and
it appears alfo, that on my parr, I had faithfully re-
ported every diingj:o the Queen. But all thofe circum-
ftances will unfold themfelves better, as they fucccfilvely
arife in their proper places, in the account which I have
promifed. Before I enter upon it, however> I beg the
reader will form to himfelf a competent idea of the re-
fpeftive fituatiohs we then individually ftood in, the
Queen, tlie Cardinal and myfelf. Each in a propor-
tionate expenfive ftile of lik ^ each daily reduced to ex-

tremiticsi

[ 88 J

tremities ; every where finding the harveft ft engrofTed
by the Polignacs, that they had not even left for us the
gleanings.

The Qiieen, as much from obflinacy, as through a
tafte for iliew and fplendor, pafllonately defirous to pur-
chafe the necklace, which, as flie couid nor obtain, by
furmounting the King's parfimony, the Cardinal un-
dertook to accomplifh for her, inceflantly buoying him-
felf up with the idea of being, the next day, Prime
Minifter, and^ in confequence, enabled to repair his lliat-
tered fortune j and therefore thinking no facrificc too
great to gratify the inclinations or v;ifhcs of her, ftoni
whom he looked for his elevation and aggrandizement j
though I was continually preaching up ceconomy, and
reading leftures to the Prince on that head. It is material
to comprehend this laft point rightly, becaufe it accounts
for the Cardinal's concealing from me, the engagement
he had entered into, of procurmg the necklace for the
Queen. I was therefore unacquainted with diisfrelh
piece of extravagant folly, when chance y not to fay fata^
lity, rendered rpe, in fpitc of myfcif, the chief inftru-
ment in that negociation, of which, it was intended,
that I fhould remain in perfeft ignorance.

One Monfieur Laporcc, a lawyer, had, fome time be
fore;> introduced himfelf to me, with prefenting th^:
financial fcheme I have already had occafion to men-
tion. Although that was the firft time he had ever
converfed with me, after explaining the objeft of
his vifit, he gave me to undcrdand, that he was cer-
tain, there was no perfon podlflTcd more powerful
means to infure the fuccefc of that affair, than I did,

diough

mk

M9 ]

through my intereft with the Queen. ^— I have me^-

tioncd how thofe papers delivered to me by Mr. Laportc
had been difpofed of by the Cardinal, and only mention
them a fecond time to point out the manner in which
I became acquainted with that gentleman, for as every
efFed has its primeval caufe : lb it appears neceflary that
I fhould trace the origin from whence my misfortunes
iiave proceeded.

Laporte being ^ very a<flive man, and having thus
gained an introdu6lion, he attended morning, noon, and
night at my houfe 5 and it feemed as if the fuccefs of
the affair depended folely on my will. He frequently
made a pretence of bringinc; me news of one of his chilr
dren, to whom I happened to be a fponfor, with the
Count du Creft. He had not failed to impart this con-
fequential bufinefs to one Achette, his father-in-law^ an
intimate friend of Boemer the jeweller. The two laft-
mentioned perfons happening to be at Verfaiiles toge-
ther, the former took it into his head to enquire of the
latter. Whether he ftill had his necklace upon his
hands ? " Unfortunately I have," anfwered the jeweller,
*' it is a great burthen upon me ; I would willingly
" give a thoufand louis d'ors to any one that could
*' procure me a purchafer for it." It'is naore than pro-,
bable, that in this very firft converfation on the fubjeft,
my name was brought in queftion, and that Achette
made known to Boemer on what account .his fon-in-
law had accefs to me, and to the Cardinal, nay, the one
niuft, in this interview, have promifed the other to pro-
cure him aq introduftion, for it was not long afterwards
^hen he was mentioned to me.

N I Hd,

[ 90 ]

I had known neither of them, and I was. ignorant that
Boemer was jeweller to the Crown ; and I was equally
fo that he was in poffeffion of a very coftly ornament,
which he had endeavoured to fell to ihe Queen.

One day that Laporte had dined at nny houfe, be-
ing left alone with me, he, for the firft time, made
mention of feveral particulars relative to the fat4 ml
tace^ and as he, no doubt, had concerted witli Achette
and Boemer, plainly told me, that Boemer grounded
all his hopes on me; that if I would but "/^j a word to
" ibe ^een^' he was perfuaded that her Majefty
would fp much the lefs hefltate at making a purchafe,
Ihe had already been defirous of i| and the jewellers were
inclined to affent to any arrangement that might be
agreeable to her Majefty. He added, it would be do-
ing an eflential fervice to the jewellers, and to him (La-
porte) in particular, as, in cafe of fuccefs, he had been
pronnifed a thoujand louts iorsy which would enable
him to purchafe an . office he had in view. I anfweredj
tliat I had never known any thing of the circumftance
of the Queen's having kept the necklace during a whole
fnonthy that, in general, I was unacquainted with what
pafied in her Majefty's houfaold, and did not intermed-
dle in fuch affairs. To Ipeak the truth, I fhould have
dreaded having any concern with this bufinefs, becaufe
the Queen would not have failed to conjefture, that 1
had a particular intereft in 'the fale of it. Having much
more momentous objedls to folicit, I did not chufe to
afford opportunity for a fulpicion to be formed, of iry
being of a difpofition with which her Majefty upbraided
fome of thofc ahput her ; viz., that, " they wijhed t^

t 9^ 1

" fr^ ai &veri thingy and turn all tQ their own advan-
*^ tage." Here dropped the converfation the firft day
that Boemer was brought into queftion. But about a
week after Laporte appeared again, renewed the fubjeft,
and met with a fecond repulfe, I declaring to hina pofi^
foively^ that I would not fo much as hear it mentioned
again.

Nothing can conquer the affiduitles and importunity
of perfons of intrigue. I was, on afubfequent day, at my
toilet— Mr. Achette's name was announced, whom I
had never {t^n before. Recollefting the name, and
judging he came to trouble me with the fame propofals
"with which his fon- in -law had teazed me, I direded the
fervant to fay I was gone out ; and, that he might not
have a fight of me, as he croffed through the apartment,
I attempted to flip out at a door that opened on the
landing place^ where I aftually met Mr. Achette, at-
tended by two other perfons. Thus compelled to give
audience, I went back into my apartment, defired them
to be feated, and aiked the perfon who introduced them,
what had brought them to my houfe ?

This Achette is a man of infinuation and adroitnefs,
and very loquacious ; after having highly extolled my
generofity, my good nature, my inclination to oblige all
who had the happinefs of gaining admiffion to me, with
many fuch introduftory cornpliments, he prefented Mr.
Boemer, who, he told me, was the proprietor of that
necklace, of which his fon-in-law had fpokcn to mc,
that he was not come to perfift in the entreaty which I
had rejeded, but merely with an intent to (hew me that
piece of ornamental workmanfliip, before he fent it into

N 2 Portugal,

[ 9^ 1

Portugal, whidier he intended to have it immediately
conveyed. '' It could cojl nothing to fee,'' as thofe gen*
tlemen exprefled it. I permitted them to open the
caiket, and after furveying the necklace, I fent a requeft
to the Count, my hulband, to come down and view it,
as a curiofity.

Hearing fomcthing faid about jewellers^ he imagined
they had brought me fome articles to tempt me with,
and fent me in anfwcr, th^t he had no money to lay out in
jewels. On being acquainted, however, that his at-
tendance was requefted, not to purchafe, but merely to
infpedl the jewel, as a matter of curiofity, he came down,
caft a tranfient eye on the fplendid bauble, and walked
back, without afking a fingle quellion. I was therefore
left alone with my three vifitors, who looked at each
other with an air of perplexity, till their orator, Mon-
fieur Aphette, renewed the converfation, " Is it Qot a
" pity Madame," fays he, " that fo magnificent a jewd
•* fhould go out of the kingdom, while we have a Queen
" whom it would fo weU befit, and who has fo great an

*' inclination for it ?" -" Of that I am ignorant;*

anfwered I, '* nor do I comprehend why you apply to
" me to convey your propofals to her Majefty.~I pro-
" teft to you I have no opportunity of making theai
" known to her, as / have not the honor to approach kr
« per/on. — " Madam," fays Achette, with a fly and
fignificant look, " we are not come here to explore your
" fecrets, ftill lefs to fuggeftany doubt concerning what
'' you are pleafed to tell us y but believe me, I am wcU
'' acquainted with Verfailles, and with what is done
" there ; and when I took the liberty to bring my friend

" £0

i 93 1

•^ to yoilj it was \vith a perfuafion, that if you would
^« honor liim with your intercft, no perfon at Court is
« better able than yourfelf to do him the fervice we pre-
'^ fume to folieit." Boenier*s mouth was already open*
I forefaw that he was preparing to add fomething about
acknowledgement, and prefents ; I therefore made hafte
to interrupt the difcourfe, and in order to extricate my-
felf from the difficulty, I told them that I would fce>
whether through my connexions^ I might not be able to do
them fome fervice indire5fly.

Three weeks had elapfed, during which tiitie I had
' heard nothing of the difaftrous necklace, the remem-
brance of which had fo fooil been done away, that I had
not even thought 6f hientioning a Word of it to the Car-
dinalj when one day he paid me a vifit. He had on
his finger a very handfome ring, which I did not take
notice of After talking to me on fome fubjcfts relating
to the Queen, of whom he made complaints; afFefting
at the fame dme, by his aftions, to difplay his hand in
every poflible direction p— « but you pay me no com-*
" pliment," fays he, " on my new ring ! it is an ex-
" change I have made for odd diamonds, and other
" ftoiieSj of which I was tired."—" 'Tis a handfome,
^' a very handfome ring*', laid I," " but I faw fome-
" thing finer a few weeks ago 5" and then told him
nearly all that I have been relating of the proceedings of
Laporte, Achette, and Boemcr. I was ftruck with the air
of eagernefs and furprife that was evident in his counte-
nance.—" It is a veiy ftrange thing!" fays he to me,

'' Have you fpoken of it to the Queen ?" " No/'

n-pJicd I, " I would not take it upon me."—" It is very

ftrange,"

[ 94 1

ftrange," added tKe Cardinal, '^ that thole people fiiouU
« have made application to you !" — And did they tell
" you, they knew that the Qyeen had a great defire to
«« have that necklace ?'* — " They aflured me fo," con-
tinued I, — " I have fome reafons to believe it,*'— Here
die Cardinal feemed to mufe, confidering I fuppofe,
whether he fliould explain himfelf to me ; and having
determined in the negative, he turned ofF the converfa-
tion. Two or three days afterwards, I received a note
from him, defiring me to fend him the jeweller's addrefsj
which being unacquainted with, fent to Laporte for it.
He gave my fervant a written one, which he imme-
diately carried to the Cardinal.

The well known derangement of that Prince's affairs^
his refervednefs with me, on that head,— his Inter-
rogations relative to die jeweller,— —the fudden demand
for his addrcfs, altogether made me immediately fufpeft,
that his intention was, to make what tliey call ajobb
of it J that is, to purchafe the necklace, in order to con-
vert it into money. I knew him to be extremely adroit
in fuch negQciations. 1 moreover knew that he, at that
inftant, had much at heart the filencing his moft cla-
morous creditors 3 ever fince the Queen had told him,
that the way to render himfelf acceptable to die King,
was to fatisfy the demands of thofe to whom he flood in-
debted, and fettle his houfliold on a more orderly
footing. He had repeatedly faid to me, that fince her
Majcfly had gracioufly given him that piece of advice,
he was become the greateft oeconomift in the kingdom;
that by means of confiderable reduftions he had intro-
duced into his expences, he hoped, in a few years to

be

[ 95 ]

be entirely unembarraffcd , It was true, he added,

that fome of liis debts became payable at fo early a pe-
riod/ that the difcharge of thpm could not wait for the
rather tedious- produce of his oeconomic favings. Hence
I could not queftion but the necklace was an objeft
which he had in view^ as likely to be produdive of the
means for difcharging debts of that defcription. He
came to fee nae the next morning. He fpoke neither
of thp jeweller or of the necklace, but nnuch about his
own " prudence and reforms." " The Queen is in the
*' right of it/' faid he, ^' I was ruining myfelf. The
" King loves order and oeconomy.— I was informed,
" that whenever I had been propofed to him, for the
** adminiftration of his kingdom, he would have had
" no other objection, than the mifmanagement of my
*^ own affairs ; which the Queen aflured me his Majefty
^^ was well acquainted with. — In reality, ought I not to
" facrifice fomediing to weighty confideradons ? By re-
** trenching from my prefent enjoyments, I ftiall have
/^ them tenfold hereafter.— The moment in which the
^^ Queen is to fulfill her engagements with me, is nearer
^' at hand than you imagine ; fhe is ready prepared for
/^ the King's anfwer j—lhe knows he will not fail to
" exclaim againft my extravagancies, my debts, &c.
" Then, if iu be demonftrated to him, that my m.odc
*' of living is changed, that I have introduced order
" into my houfliold, made great reforms, cleared off
'' debts with the bare furplus arifing from my retrench-
f^ ments; dien the King will have nothing to objeft, and
" the malicious infinuations of my enemies will be
'* f'ienced, I am meditating ftill farther reforms, and I

" met;n

[ 96 ]

'•^ mean to pradife, within my own walls, the fyftem of
«*^ cecononny I propofe to adopt in the adminiftration of

« the ftate." Sully could not argue better, faid I,

laughing 3 Heaven kc«p you in thefe good difpofitions.
I did not think fit to tell him my opinion of the matter,
fince he did not difclofe to me any thing relative to tlie
plan wliich I fuppofed him to be meditating. When
he had left mc, 1 gave way to a few reflexions, and it
appeared to me fomewhat extraordinar)^ th^t with all
this difplay of oeconomy, the Cardinal fhoulcj, from the
ilrange idea of clearing off his exifting debts, by con-
tracting a future enormous one for an article, by whidi
it appeared probable he would be a confiderabie lofer.

Thefe reflexions, which had at firft originated in ^
v^^ilh for the Cardinal's welfare, recurring to me ; I con-
fidered whether the purchafc of the necklace, for the pur-
pofes I fuppofed, would not bring me into difEculties. J
had been at firfl applied to for facilitating the fale of
that ornament; / had given the jeweller's addrefs to
the Cardinal ; there was a pofFibility of his mentionin?
me in his dealing with them ; and a ftill greater of the
odium refleding upon me, if the negociation, which I
might appear to be a firft promoter of, fhould be at-
tended with any difagreeaGle confequences. My alarm
feemed to be well grounded, from iny knowledge of
the Gardinal's fituation, for little could \ comprehend
how he would be able, upon reafonable terms, to make
good a fum of" fixtcen hundred thoufand livres."

Maturely confidering the matter, I concluded that I
ought, at all events, to conduft myfelf in fuch a manner,
that it fliQuId be impofliUe to fty that i had been any

ways.

C 97 ] •

ways concernedin it. I tkerefore repaired to the jewellers,
an4 told them, that the Cardinal, to whom I had
Ipoken of their necklace, haring fent to me for their
addrefs, I conjeftured hewas meditating the purchafc of
It, though he had not given me any verbal reafon to
tliink fo ; that in, cale my conjecture was well founded^
1, begged of them to remember, th^t I had not been in the
fm^Ueft degree inftrumental in promoting the faje of it
to the Cardinal, that I had abfolutely no con(;:ern in it j
bjJt notwithftanding this, it was by no means my inten-
i;ion to create apprehenfions in them, but that I exhorted
them, when they concluded an agreement for fuch fale,
to take all cuftomary precaut;ions to infure an exaftitude
in the payments. '

By purfuing this meafure, whicli I thought prudeag^
dictated, I did not forefee the difficulties I was pre-
paring for the Cardinal : I own I had confidered my-
(elf only ; that 1 dreaded the larcafms fo liberally circu-
lated at Court, where no tranfaftion can take place,
^j[ithout a general curiofity beiijg excited, tq know what
kind of intercft aftuates the party concerned. I muft
therefore acknowledge, that from my not confidering the
confequent embarraffment refulting to the Cardinal,
from the cautionary fteps 1 had taken refpefting myfelf,
I was the caufe of that mifunderftanding which enfued
between the Queen and him, and occafioned him to re-
ceive the difagreeable letter alluded to. The fad: was,
that the jewellers,^ tq whom I had recommended fuch
precaution, aftually followed my advice fo minutely,
diat they compelled the Cardinal, not only to-declare, that
h^ was treating for die Queen, but even to produce ^

Q proQ

C 98 I

proof of it. This lafl; circumft?.ncc was what gave place
to the pretended bargain, which I fhall prefently
ipeak of.

Before I proceed, may I be allowed to afl< the fe^
vereft, the moft prejudiced of my readers, whether, if it
be admitted, that even at that period, (as it has been im-
pudently afferted) I had caft an eye of appropriation
on the necklace, I jEhould have debarred myfelf from
the only pradlicable method of getting it into my pof-
feffion, by depriving the Cardinal of the means of pro-
curing it. I afk, at the fame time, whether, on the fame
fuppofition of my having, even at that period, preme-
ditated the theft of the necklace, it was not my intereft
to let the Cardinal be the purchafer in his own name,
inftead of exciting in the Jewellers a diftrufl, which by
neceffitating the Queen's interpofition, produced thtfcr-
gerjy which was attempted to be affixed upon me ? The
jewellers had fpoken to me, in fuch a manner, as to
convince me, tliat as the necklace was a heavy charge
upon their hands, they woyld have parted with it on
the moft eafy conditions, to any one that i:ad offered
them the fecurities it was requifite they fhould demand.
Now, the Carflinal^ involved as he was, enjoyed im-
menfe revenues, upon which he could have given fecu-
rities that would not have been rejefted. Had I not
therefore yielded to my apprehenfions of being involved
in fome perplexity; had I not impeded their treating
with him on his own account, he certainly would have
got pofTeflion of the necklace without any difficulty,
which I could then, at my perfect convenience and eafe,
have Jtolen away^ without recurring to the expedient of

a /tfr^^Of'

[ 99 ]

forgery. Thus there was not even a probabllityj where-
on to ground a charge of forgery againft me, any more
than the theft y which was only imputed to me, becaufa
the ^een mufl be exculpated, the Cardinal exonerated,
and the whole of the ignominy, of ncceflity, heaped on
my devoted head ; a fevere inftance of party and cabal,
as I Ihall hereafter prove. Even now I muft repeat, it
is apparent as the day at noon, that had I meditated the
imputed peculation, I fhould not have afted as I did,
and have prevented the objedt of my defire from paf-
fing into diofe hands, out of which alorie I could pur-
loin it; A few particulars concerhing tlie pretended for-
gery, will refleft an additional light on the dark tranfac-
tion I am now expofing to the unprejudiced eye of
public candon

I muft now make a retrofpcftive reference to a pe-
riod of time, antecedent to the date of die letter I have
been adverting to (No. XXVIIL)

I have explained the motives which induced me to
aft as I didi refpefting the jewellers, and which aroftj
from the reflcftions that occurred to me on the fubjeft,
and led me to condlidl myfelf in that manner, in confe-
quencc of the intention I imagined the Cardinal had of
procuring the necldace, and in that to find a refource to
extricate himfelf from his immediate difficuldes.

Several days had elapfed^ without my having heard
from the Prince i a circumftance rather unufuah
The Queen, whom I had the honour to fee during that
interval, faid nothing in her converfation with me that
had any reference to the necklace. All I learnt was,
that fhe had feen the Cardinal two days before, and her

O 2 M^efty

[ roo ]

Majefly expreflfcd her furprize that I h:id brought her
no account of ** a commiffioh her Majefty had charged
" him with.*' I could anfwer oiily by the trltth, whith
was, that I had not km Jiim fincc a particular day,
whieh I mentioned. Until I received further informa^
tion I had not entertained any idea that the coinmif-
fion her Maiefty had mendoned related to the necklace.
HaviHg paid my refpefts to the Qacen, I returned
home to dinner, when my porter delivered a note from
tlie Cardinal, wherein he acquainted me, that be fliould
be at my houfe at fix o'clock that evening, and requeft-
ing my being at home, becaufe he had Ibmething of
confequence to deliver to me. I fent him word I lliould
be ready to receive him, and accordingly he came.
As his abfence had been longer than ufual, I reproached
and interrogated him. — *^ So, fo, fays the Prince, you
" are curious, you want to know every thing !•-- -Well
" then, let your curiofity be fatisfied---The bufinefsis
^^ done — the bargain is ftruck— I have purchafcd tlic
** necklace for t1ie Queen. Don't you exclaim againft
" the extravagance— I know what I am about— Befides
'*^ it is agreed upon— -In a word, I have ' private ar-
* rangements' ^^ with her Majefty— Here is the packetj
" fhe muft have it to-day : fet ofF immediately.

Great was the fatisfadtion I felt when I found I had
been miftakcn in my conjeftures 5 that inftead of a bad
policy, the Cardinal had adopted a very good one, in
gratifying the Queen's inclination. I made dierefore no
other anfwer, than that I could wifh I had wings j bur
for want of thofe, I took a phaeton to convey m^ more
fpeedily, and reached VerfaiilesJby nine o'clock, whence

I repairetl

I repaired to die palace. The Queen was with the
PoligMcs: the perfons who had accefs to her Majefty onr
fuch occafions, were not in her apartments : it was grow-^
ing late, and I was extremely fatigued 5 I refolved, for
thefe reafons, to take my repofe, and defer the exe-
cution of my commiflion until the next day. Previous
to my going to bed, according to the habit, I have faid,
1 had contradled, I took a copy of the letter fronri the
Cardinal, and read the whole of the conditions of the
bargain with the jev/ellers, which he had taken upon him
*^ to have fanftioned by the Queen's approbation," The
obligations were written " in his own hand."— I entreat
it may be obferved, that they were ** in the Cardinal's own
'^ hand writing," and that I was ignorant of the nature
of them^ as of the bargain itfelf, till the moment the
Cardinal had given me the information, and I had, at
the time I am fpeaking of, perufed the papers.

It appeared to me fo much the more natural that the
Queen fliould be difpofed to fign this paper, from the
circumftance of the Cardinal having faid to me, as I have
mentioned, diat he had " private arrangements with
" her Majefty." I found myfelf, diercfore, perfeAIy
cafy concerning an affair, which, as it has been feen, h^
given me fufficient grounds for difquietude.

Next morning I difpatched a lervant to Madem.oifeile
Dorvat, to know if I could fee the Queen ; flie fmt
me word that the whole morning was engaged, and that
ftie could not anfwer for any other moment in the
courfc of the day. I was fenfible diaffuch an uncer-
tainty, ill-fuited with the Cardinal's impatience, and not
thinking there was an abfolute neceffi^y that I fhculd ,

perfonally

[ loa J

tlcliver the packet, provided it was delivered, I fent it
to Mademoifelle Dorvat, with a note, to defire ihe would
with all fpeed convey it according to its addrefs ; adding^
that I 6nly waited for her anfwer, to fet off on my re-
tiirh to Paris.

Two hours after, Mr. I/Efclot, Groom of the Cham-
bers, brought nic a parcel, fealed up, with a jflioit note,
in wfiich the Queen comrhanded me to ufe the iitmofl:
difpatchj and return that fame evening to Verfailles, I
haftened my departure in order to accelerate my return.
By the way I opened the packet I was charged with for
the Cardinal, and therein found the articles of the bar-
gain, juil as I had read them the day before, kmpprovd^
tinfgnedy and accompanied with that letter from the
Queen (No* XXVIII) which I have already twice re-
ferred tOi, and which is perfectly explained by circiim-
fiances fmce related, ft is manifeft, that her Majefty
had agreed with the Cardinal, to negotiate ;rnW^^r-
rangiment$y but not to put her name to any bargain with
the jewellers. The Cardinal^ who had been Compelled
to accede to this lafl condition, had written to the
Queen, that it miuft be a matter of indifference to her
Majefty to fign or not figUi fmce the articles and the
approbation would remain in his hands. But the
Queen, it fecms, nbt having the fame conception of the
bufinefs, fent him back the paper, with the rebuke in
the note that accompanied it.

No fooner was I got back to Paris than I fent to the
Cardinal, who being abfent from home, a note was left
with his Swifs fervant, requefting he would come to me
on the receipt of it. He did not come till ten at nighty

pretending

[ ^03 1

pretending he had been detained by bufmefs qf the
higheft confequcnce. I anfwered, I was forry for it,
for he made me mifs an ^ppointnnent the Queen had
given me for that very evening ; and at the fame time
delivered the packet from her Majefly, His firft con-
cerf' was to fee whether the bargain had met with the
Queen's approbation. When he found it jqft as he had
fcnt it, he changed colour, and his conftcrnation was
flill more ftrongly mai ked, when he read the letter with
which it was accompanied, (No. XXVIII) He com-
municated the contents to me, and talked for fome time
like a man whofc mind was deranged; when on my
putting a few queftions, with a view to bring him to

himfelf, he faid to me ^* I am forry I made a myf-

f' tery to you of this bufinefs, whilft I was tranfa£ling
f' it i you, perhaps, would have advifed me better. I
^^ have told you that I had bought the nec^ace for thft

^i Queen, and that the bargain was concluded. Here

*^ it isj this very paper, written with my own hand,
" that you have carried to the Queen, and which her
^^ Majefty fends back to me, with as much ill-hunrjour,
" as if I had departed from the tenor of the articles

^.^ ftipulated between her and me. You fhall pre-

^^ fently judge whether I am in the wrong or not,"

" You muft recolleft, that when on account of my
" ring, you told me of the application the jewellers had
*^ made to you, I thought it was a ftrange circumftancc.
*^ I did not then explain to you, why it v/as fo. It was,
*^ becaufc but a few days before, the Queen having
<^ told me that the necklace was deftincd for Portugal^
'^ (how that informationjcached her I can not tell) and

" feeming

[ 104 ]

<< feeming ftill to regret it, I had told her, there were
*' means to poffefs it, without being obnoxious to the
« King, by making fome flight alterations, as well in
« the pattern, as in the form of the moft remarkable
*' ftones, Thefe firft overtures having led us into a
" more connefted converfation, and the Queen's dc-
*' fire fcerning to grow more keen, in proportion r$
*' fhe conceived it more eafy to difguife the jewel, I
^f had no difficulty left but about the payment, the
*' means of which were far from being in her Majefty*s
*^ power at a moment's command. I proffered the ex-

<f ertion of all my abilities and credit. Her Majcfly

*■* thanked me obligingly, and faid to me, that in cafe
^' fhe fhould accept of my offers, ftie fhould engage
'.^.with me by frivate arrangement Sy with which I was
** to make thofe correfpond that I fhould perfonally
^' enter into with the jeweHers. The matter fcerning
**. to me righdy underflood, I came back to Paris, dc-
V. lighted with my being empowered to do any thing
^ that was pleafing to her Majefty,

*/. The next day I fent; for the jewellers addrefs, and
^v went to them immediately, under pretence of getting
*^ fome jewels fet, which I had^ purpofely taken with
** me. The converfation once begun, I made it turn
^y upon the necklace, which was immediately exhibited
*^ to me, and while I was furveying it, Boemer related
^' to me all that had paffed. I then faid, L had -in charge
<' to enquire the price of it ; and- that in cafe die perfon
" for whom I Ihould purchafe, did not chufe to appear,
%^ I would enter into a private agreement widi him.

[ ^05 ]

*^ This firft advance, that did not wear the appeif-
^"^ ance of difficulty, being concluded, I fet out fot
^^ Verfailles. That very evening I faw the Queen, I
^^ Informed her, that the necklace Was in my power,
'^ confequently at her Majefty's command, which I was
*^ conae to receive. She anfwered (obferve her own
" expreflions) " I fliall approve of every arrangement
" whatever that you fliall take, provided my name does
" not appear in it." Thus authorized, I returned to
" Paris, fent for thfe jewellers, talked of bringing the bu-
" finefs to a conclufion, and of fettling the ultimate
^^ price; but to my furprife no longer fouftd the fame
*^ difpofitions, the fame eageriiefs in them. (*) They
^^ raifed difficulties, put queftions* to rne, fuggefted

" doubts arid fears. To remove all obftacles with a

" fingle word, I declared that I was purchafing for the
** Queen, that particular reafons made her Majefty de-
" firous of keeping the tranfaftion a fecret for fome

p " time;

* It Is here my readers will be fo good, as to recoi-
led, what I rrientioned (page 97) concerning the ftep
I took, widi the jewellers* As I hope they will be
pleafed to re-perufe that paffage, I fliall make no farther
obfervations. But is it not evident from the Cardmars
narrative, that, had I not charged the jewellers to aft
cautioufly, they would have tranfafted with him per-
fonally on his own account, and would not ha^e infifted
on the Queen's approbation ; that confequently the pre-
Unded forgery had not taken place, and the theft of the
necklace would have been eaficr and lefs dangerouj.

[ to6 j

^' time; but tliat I, fully fatisfied witli the arrangcrtifijt
" fhe vouchlafed to make with me, was charged
'^ to make with them any that fliould be fuitable to
*^ them, and appear reafonable to nie. I then called
" for pen, ink and paper, pcrfonally drew up the arti-
'^ cles of die bargain, fuch as I knew would meet with
" her Majefty^s approbation, and imparted them to the
'^ jewellers. They were fatkfied with the conditions •,
*< but one of them (Bafanges) obferved to me, that
" being indebted a very confiderable firm to Monficur
" de St. James, they could not Conclode with me,
" previoufly to theit makirig him acquainted with the
" arrangement. To put an end to all difficulties I then
« faid to them, ^'"Hear me; I have a means of ex-
*' citing in Mr. de St. James himfelf all tlie confidence
" requifite : I will bring you the agreement juft as it
« now is, approved and figned by the Queen j but, asp-
" will tint abjoluuly have her name to appear in it^ it will
" be feen by none but Mr. de St. James and your-
«^ felves, ajAd IhaU afterwards remain in truft widi me^
" tin final payment, for which I muft neceflarity be-

•' come fecurity. ^Will you repine that confidence

*^ in me ? Will you be fatisfied V* They unanimoufly

" anfwered Tes protefted to me, that fetting afide

" the circumftance of the fum due to Mr. de St. James,

" they would be fatisfied with my bare word. 1 left

*^ them, and immediately wrote to the Queen, giving
*' her an account of the particulars of my agreement,
" and intreacing her Majefty's approbation in die mar-
" gin to die wridng which I fent to her. I obferved
^ to her, that feeing it is exprefsly ftipulated, it flioiild

*^ remain

^yf

[ i®7 ]

^^ remain in my hands, her Majefty's intentions would
" be complied with, k^r nam would not appear — -Be-

*' hold the anfwer I have received : Such is my re-

" ward for the pains I have taken, for the zeal I have

** evinced of the facrjficcs it will perhaps coft me ;

" for, in ihort, I am bound as fecurity, and God know?
" whether Ihe will pay ; whether her blood fuckers will
^^ leave lier the means of paymcnt-r-O women— women!

^* — and efpeeially PringefTes ! but wqrfe than all of

'* them. Queens!— She writes to me as to a valet; — If
'^ Jhe bad not required myjlerioufmfs^ /he would not have

^^ employed m^, What name then docs flie give to all

f^ that I have done, if not that oi myfierioufnefsV^

He was in a perfeft rage, appearing every moment
ready to tear the agreement to pieces, and, as he ex-
prelled it, ^' to send the Viziership, with the Sul-
*^ TANA, TO THE Devii,./* I let him, for a while, give
yent to his Ipleen, and when I faw he was become more
calm,- 1 obferved to him, that ^' I faw nothing fo very
^^ ofFenfive in the Queen's lett<?r, as he iinagined to
" himfelf, that to me it appeared a mere mifunder-
^^ ftanding, owing to the vague expreffion, " that her
*f name/hould not be feeninit^' that though Ihe fent
'^ back the agreement, Ihe did not fay fhe would not
" have it concluded, but fcemed to intimate, it Ihould
^^ be drawn up in Iqme other manner ; fo that the firft
^f thing I conceived to be done, was to confult her Ma-
^^ jefty i a meafure fo much the more indifpenfible, as
" on fending me back with the agreement, Ihe had en-^
?* joined my return to her the fame evening:— that
f feeing the impoffibiHty of my getting back to Ver-
P 2 " failles

[ io8 ]

" failles time enough that day, I would {ct off early the
*f next, in order to feize the firft moment her Majefly
^^ would be vifible* I added, that I hoped -to bring
" him better news, and to make the Queen undcrftand
" what had probably efcaped her in his letter, that pro-
" vidcd the approbation remained in his hands, her
" Majefly V name would not in reality be feen." The
Cardinal was appeafed, feemed to approve of my obfer-
vations, and allowed that it was at any rate necefTary I
Ihouid repair the next day to Verfailles, fince I was com-
manded.— In Gonfequence of this he gave me the agrec^
ment, and took his leave, in order, as he faid, to my
retiring betimes to reft, and being ready to depart early
in the morning.

On my arrival at Verfailles, I heard from Mademoi-
felle Dorvat, that the Queen had expefted me the night
before till after twelve o'clock; that Ihe had been much
out of temper^, and employed the whole time in writing.
A few hours after I received two lines, to this purport:
" People cannot receive you to-day j remain at
*^ Versailles, you shall be apprized of the hour
^^ WHEN People are visible.'' This was a very for-
mal meflage, which difplayed very little earneftnefs in
the bufinefs, and which I viewed as an unfavourable
cm.en for the fuccefs of my embafly. The next day I
went abroad to pay a vifit ; at my return I found a note
ftill more laconic:'' " to-night, at half pasx nine,"
I attended, almoft trembling, at the appointed hour,
and had the fatisfaftion to find that my forebodings had
deceived me. The Queen received me with her ufual
CQurtcfy and affability. After a few obliging fpeeches,

^ddreffed

'[ 1^9 ]

addreficd perfonally to me " Apropos,*' fays fhe,

^^ do you bring me nothing from the Cardinal?"

** I have a paper," anfwered I, " to deliver to your
^^ Majefty, on condition it Ihould be demanded of me,
^^ and to receive your commands concerning the con-
" tents." Then drawing the agreement out of my
pocket, I took the liberty to fet before her the fituation
the Prince was in, the difficulties he had to conquer, the
addrefs with which he had fucceeded, in bringing the
Jewellers over to his terms, by giving them, in faft, no
other fecurity but his own, fince he retained, in his own
hands, the writing, to affure himfelf that her Majefty's
name fhould never appear, " I comprehend all that,"
faid the Queen, *^ but I had pofitively told him, that I
** would enter upon no arrangement but with himfelf^
" and here he propofes to me a direct one with the
'^ Jewellers. Now (as I wrote him word) had I been
*^ inclined to treat with them, I flood in no need of his

'^ afliftance, Now my name is aftually mentioned ;

" it is an unpardonable indifcretion he had better

'^ have given me notice, than to take upon him a bufi-

" nefs he was unable to execute." Might I prefume

" to .rcprefent to your Majefty, that he had not forefeen

'" that difficulty; that zeal alone had made him pro-

^^ ceed into this negociation that upon the firft over-

f^ tures he had made, the jewellers feemed dilpofed to
*^ take his own perfonal fecuricy ; but when it came to
*^ the point, they fpoke to him in a manner that made
*^ him too clearly underftand, they fufpefted him of a
^* defign" to purchafe the diamonds in order to convert
^^ them into money,-— -Thinking then tliat he Ihould

" equally

[ iio ]

«^ equally fulfill your Majefty's views, by fecuring every
« writing, wherein your name muft of neceflity be leen,
«^ he mentioned your Majefly's name, in order to in-
" duce their confidence} nor do I think that they, ap-
5' prilled as they are, that it is your Majefty's abfolute
*« will the tranfaftions Ihould be kept a fecret, will dare
" to mention it to any one whatever." *^ From aU that
« you tell me," returned her Majefty, " I am forry

" that I wrote to him as I did. 1 will give you a

*^ letter to him. But is there not fomc degree of un-

" flcilfulnefs in his conduft ? If no more was requh

*' fite than to infpire confidence, was there no other
" way? He is perhaps ignorant of rx, but I

ff TELL IT to you, that I HAVE CONTRACTED WITH

*^; THE King a formal enqagem|:nt, not to set

" MY name to any thing WITHOUT FIRST COMMU'

** nicating IT TO HIM j die thing is therefore imprac-
" ticable. See between you, what can be done, or let
*^ us give up the idea of a purchafe It appears tq

^' ME, TH4T THE WRITING BEING ONLY A MATTER OP
^^ FORM^ THAT THOSE PEOPLE BEING UNAOQUAIHTED

f' WITH MY I^AND-WRITING YOU WILL CONSIDER

V OF IT : BUT, ONCE MORE, I CANNOT SET MY NAM?

^' TO IT. However, let the matter end which way it
,!^ will, tell the Cardinal, that the firft time I fee him,
!' I will cpmmunicate the nature of thofe arrangements
?^ I mean to make with him."

To draw as an inference, from this ^onverfatioHj tha|
the Queen ihould have advifed me to commit a forgery,
might feem a kind of facrilege, Voffihly^ flie did not
form a more oiaft idea of what die nature of a forgery

>vas^

r in ]

l^as, th^m I myfelf did, before I was made lenfiblc of the
confcquences j it is likewife poffible, that the obferva-
tion fhe made of the jewellers being unacquainted with
her hand^-writing, did not mean that another might be
fubftituted in its ftead j for, upon farther refleftiori, I
found it rhight have quite another rrieaning ; though the
fad is, that t then affixed that meaning to thofe ex-
prefllans.

I did not diffemble, when 1 took up mj pen to com-*
mence thefe Memoirs* I confefled I had committed
many imprudencies— this was one of the moft grievous;
1 can fcarcf plead ignorance to affift me in my juftitica-
tioni though it was in faft the real principle of my fault*
Unaccuftomed to refleft, hurried away In the vortex of'
courtly compliance j plunged into that kind of delirium
which the fpirit of intrigue difFufed in every thing about
me ; corrupted^ in fliort, by the bad example inceffantly
before my eyes, and habituated to treat too lightly all
that is Gonnefted with moral duties, I faw nothing more
in fuch a tranfadion, than one of thofe ordinary irnpafi-
tions AVhich people allow themfelves in the world, when
tliey are confcious within themfelres, that in reality
they mean no injurious deception^ '^ In reality what
" matters it," faid I to myfelf,- " whether the jewellers
*' fee the ^eeH^s writing, or that oi any other hand, fmce
*^ they are to fee it but for an inftant j that it will not
'^ remain in their hands, that it is immaterial to their
" fccurity, fmce they have they Gardinal's bond, and
" that in caft the Cardinal fliouid not be able exadly to
" make good his payments, at die different inftalments,
*f tlie Queen, who means to keep the affair a fecret,

" would

«^ would^ of ncccffity, fulfil the private engagements
" which ftie afTures me fhe will enter into with him."
Secretly arguing thus> and not arguing long, not being
accuftomed to very deep refledtion : I determinedj tha-
for form's fake^ fomething muft be fbewn to the jevv
cUers, which they might take for the Qjjcen's approba-
tion ; thdt the Cardinal muft not be confuked about this
mcafure, which he would perhaps think himfelf bound
to reject, but which Jie would be pleafed with mc for
putting in prafticei after it had produced its effcfti
befides, (continuing rny reverie) I am fo much
the lefs in danger of expofing myfelf, as, in fad. If the
Queen did not precifely luggeft the idea of my figning
her name, Ihe left to my option the choice of the
means. She told mc " thofe people knew 7tQtbing ofhu
" hand writing^'' and that was what gave rife to the
idea which I fix upon ; revolving all thefe things in my
mind, I drew near to Paris— m^y refolution v;as taken—
I was going on my arrival to put down in the margin,
approved by me^ the ^een : but upon refleftlon I afod
myfelf, whether or not, In cafe the Queen had not been
reftrained-by her agreement with the King, Ihe would
thus have fubfcribed herfclf, but could not folve my
doubt. A blunder muft however be avoided, for that
would have deftroycd the whole plan. I propofed to
myfelf to confuk my huft>and, who knew better
what fignature the Queen made ufe of. I dwek fomc
time on this latter idea, but gave it up, upon recollect
ing all the difficulties he had ftarted, concerning the
affair of reprefenting the Queen by Madame de CruffoL
Being returned home in tliis ftate of perplexity, I con-

fidered

[ "3 1

confidered whether I knew any one to whom I could tin-
bofom inyfelfj when Mr. Retaux de Villec's name was
brought in j I was particularly acquainted with him, he
was on the point of obtaining, through my folicitation,
a military employment: he could hardly refufe me a
fervice to which I affixed little confequence. I kept
him to dinner, after which, I took him afide to have a
private convcrfation with him. He was in the fecret of
my connexions with the Queen and the Cardinal : I
believe, I had even hinted to him, the political effort die
latter attempted to make, by procuring, on his own cre-
dit, for the Queen, a piece of ornamental drefs, which
fhe had for a. confiderable time been defirous of obtain-
ing. I cold him w^hat turn that bufincfs had lately
taken, the Cardinal's embarraffment, the Queen's dif-
content, the explanation I had with her Majefly, and
the conftruffions I had put tapon what fhe faid to me,
when fhe obferved that the jewellers did not know her
hand writing.

I was jufl communicating to him the courfe I had
taken, in confequence of that convcrfation, when a
letter from the Cardinal was brought me ; he faid he
was extremely uneafy, and being unable to come himfelf,
begged to fee me at his own hotcL I fent for anfwer
I would be with him in lefs than an hour ; that in the
mean while I might afTure him every thing went on ex-
tremely well,

The porter being gone, Villet and myfelf refumcd
our convcrfation. He told me, that *' not doubting
" but the Queen had made ufe of the expreffions I had
** been reporting to him, it appeared to him as it did to

Q^ " me,

[ 114 ]

'^ me; that fhe mennt to infinuate that it w^s of little
" confequence) what hand the approbation was written
*^ bvyi'fince the jewellers Were unacquainte4 with her
^* Majefty's writing: but'* added he " neither the Queen
*^ nor you furmife what hazard is encountered in coun-
" tcrfeiting the hand writing of any perlbn. It is an aft
^^ which the law deems criminal, under the denomina-
^^ tim of for^ry. Doubtlefs*' continued he " you
*^ would not advife me to the commifilon of a crime,
*^ but this we may do. Setting off upon the principle
" laid down by the Queen, that thofe people do not
^^ know her hand writing, it is an equal wager they do
'^ not know what her fignature is. Your idea of lign-
.^' ** ing only Antotmtte is a downright forgery \ but the me-
*^ tamorphofc of an Auftrian Princefs into a French one,
*' (to fay for Inftance; Antoinette of France)hz% abfolute-
^'^ ly no meaning at ail. Were the bufinefs indeed, to
^ fwindJe a\vay the necklace, v/henever die villainy was
" difcovcred, ftich a fignature would ftand as a proof of
*f its but there being no doubt of the jewellers receiving
*' their payments, fince they will be pofTefled of the Car-
'* dinars fecurity, fecretly backed by the Queen's, I
*^ think one may, without great fear of detection, yield
" compliance to circumftances, which I fhali do in the
'' manner I am going to explain-: Firfl, I fliall not
"- counterfeit my hand : Secondly, I fhall beftow on the
" Queen the inaccurate title oi Antoinette of France, the
'' writing beiQg prefented by the. Cardinal, they will not
" Icrutinize it, and you Ihall promife me to burn it in
" my prefence, when the jcweilecs; axe paid, and thebu-
*^- finefsrended/' .l.gavchdm- ^nyiViord of. honour it

Ihould

[ 115 1

fliould be To, and he figned the approbation conform-
ably, to onr agreemenr. I immediately left him and
hurried away to the Cardinars. I have fiiid, that for an
•inftant I entertained the thought of giving up to him the
agreement approved, without telling him, juft then*,
how I had managed the bufinefs'; but when I entered
his houfe, ^s he made me wait a litde, I reflefted that
Villette arid myfelf were not very competent judges,
that the taufe might be more ferious than we were fenfible
of, and that on fuch a fuppofition, the Cardinal might
eventually be drawn .into a difagfeeable premunire; I
determined to give him a full account of the whole tran^-
faaion, but firft 1-wilhed to afcertain, whether, in cafe
I had chofen not to tell him till he had made ufe of it,
hx^ would have difcovered the impofition. My firft
woixl to him on his appearing was, therefore, " Here f>
*^ is at kjtr He examined die approbation, obferved
nothing particular, and faid to me "^^ Hen it is at laji/"
I burft into a fit of laughter, and then related all that
had pafTed, nearly in the fame terms I have been repeat-
ing it. He then looked the paper over with more at-
tention than before—" You are right ;" faid he " An-
'' toinctte of France, and Queen of the Moon are the
*^ fame diing: but I have been taken in with it, and I
" don't think thofe people have a fharper eye, or a rca-
" dier underftanding than itiyfelf. I. call to mind near-
" ly what you tell me of the Queen ; I think I ha^^^e
^' heard her Majefty, or fomebody belonging to her,
" fay, that fince her purchafe of St. Cloud, flie had pro-
** mifed the King AOt to fet her name to any thing, with-
<^ out firft imparting it to him. But why did fbe not

Q^Z " re-

E 1x6 ]

'^ remind me of it when fhc talked of a private agrec-
.<« ment to be entered into with me ? ^Was I net to un-
<^ derftand its being written ?—-However you affureme
" fhe is appeafed, that's the moft eflential point ; the
"necklace, I hope will compleatthe reft. I will go
^' immediately and conclude the bufmefs ; perhaps I
" fhall not even Jhew .them diis paper. I have fecn
" them fmce your laft journey,: their- 'confidence is re-
'' ftored ', I fhall tell them tlie bargain which I hold in
-1* my hand is Receded to and figned;-' and 'at the fame
5^ time fliall prefent them r with my perfonal engage-
^^m.ent,/'

After difcourfing a moment on other topics, I quitted
the Cardinal, from whom I heard nothing the next day,
although he had concluded, on that very day, (30th of
January) with the jewellers.; The enfuing day I receiv-
ed from him two letters, one for the Queen, the other
for myfelf, in which he urged my departure to Verfailles,
in order to deliver the former as foon as poffibk, and to
me he gave notice, that the necklace would, in the
courfe of the day, be at his houfe 5 that on the fubfequent
day he Ihould have the happinefs to deliver it hinifelf in-
to the Queen's hands, I therefore aded as his precur-
for. The Queen was fomev^hat indifpofed, and I could
not fee, her Majefty, who fent m.e a note for him, which
I have loft, the copy of^ but nearly of the following te-

^' Take care to be to oight at nine o'clock in the
" Countefs's apartment, with the box in queftion, and in
" youp ufual drefs, and .do not go oyt of it till you have
^* lieard from m<3.":

On

[ "7 1

On the Cardirial's arrival I fent him this note; at half
paft eight he came to me difguifed, and carrying under
his arm the box containing the necklace. He laid it
down on a beureav, and remained in cxpeftation of
hearing from the Queen, as exprefled in the note. He
converfed with me on various fubjefts, which it is need-
lels to repeat, relative to his amours, and the facrifices
he made to politics; At half paft nine, Lefclaux, that
fame groom of the chamber, who is faid (page 102) to
have delivered me a note from the Queen, her Majef-
ty's trufty m.elTenger, and by her employed on fundry
delicate occafions, as I fhall more amply unfold 3 Lef-
claux, 1 fay, a man perfeftly known to the Cardinal,
the neccfiary confidant of all the litde irregularities,
mentioned in die cbrrefpoudence, came with a note from
the Queen in thefe terms :

" The Minifter, (die King) is adually in my apart-
" ment ; I know not how long his ftay will be : you
^^ know the perfon whom I fend, deliver the box to him^
" and ftay where you are. I do not defpair of feeing
^' thee to day,;'

The Cardinal, after perufal of the note, (written, as
well as die foregoing one, by the Queen's own hand,
which he but too w^ell knew,) himfelf delivered to the
faithful Lefclaux, the box and necklace, as he had him-
felf laid them down on my efcrutore. Lefclaux went
a\yay, faying he had orders to be in waiting at M. de
Mifery's till twelve o'clock, ^Accordingly, at half paft
eleven he returned with another note, of which I do not
exadly recolleft the terms, but was in fubftance, that
" ftie was very naiigh groffed C' that " the Minifter was

" tQ

[ ii8 ]

"to neep with her i" fhe acknowledged the receipt
of the box, and concluded by telling him, "Ihc
«^ Wb\5ld fee him tlie following day."

All thefe facts being inconteftible, how could the Cardi*
nal afterwards be prevailed upon to fay, in order to get
himfelf out of difficulty, that <* he did not know what was
become of the necklace ? and what :is (till more unac-
coimtable, what proves the abfolute defign of deftroying
me to. fave him is, that he fbould have laid to my charge
the difappearance of the necklace, whereas he never en-
trufted me with it ; but he himfelf delivered it into the
h^nds of a trofty fervant of the Queen's. Was it
not -mor^ natural, more juft> be fliould call Lefdaiix to
account for it ? Ye^, undoubtedly ;' bnt by bringing
Lefdayx forward, the Queen would have been expofed,
and he was forbid, as weM a$ rr\yftl(, to litter a
word, tending to expofe the Queen. There lies
the, myftery of this iniquity. There the fatal neck-
lace has pafled, almofh in an inftant, from the hands
of the jewellers into thofe of the Cardinal, and from his
into thofe of a well known emiflary of the Qrieen. I
b^ar*a thoufand voices crying out: IFh^t bec^Me of it
aflerwards? to which I could anfwer I do not how : and
afk, as Cain did, whether it was given me to keep?—
and indeed it woukl be impoffible for^me to have known
what became of ii, if a number of circumftanc^s, which
I am about to relate, allowe<i me to doubt of its being
almoft immediately taken to pieces i^and if, from the
fame fource, I camiot declare the ufe it was abfolutelf
put to, at Icaft I jQiall be able to fliew what it was in-
tended for. But before I enter-^pori a complete eluci^

[ "9 J

dation of thoie points, the moft important of all, I mull
refume the thread of the occurrences, following, as I
have hitherto done, the order of time, and concatenation
of things.

I have to run through a period of above fix months,
that is to fay, from the ifl: of February, 1785, the day
on which the necklace was delivered, uli the 15th of
Auguft, the date of the cataftrophe.

On the 2d of February the Cardinal received a letter
From the Queen, which he communicated to me, and
which I could not pofTibly take a copy of, which is a
great difappointment to the public. That letter outdid
in licentioufnefs all that I have antecedendy laid before
the reader's eye. The Minifter, (the King) was treated
in it with an indecency, perhaps never equalled, between
obfcure individuals, plagued with domeftic fquabbles-
Her Majefty fct out with bitter complaints on the fa-
tiguing and tedious ceremonies of that day, which had
deprived her of the pleafure of receiving her de-ar flavc ;
in the next place Ihe fpoke of the difagreeable night llie
had palled with the King : all her expreflions were thofe
of contempt and loathing ; iht particularly alluded ta
the vice of drinking, and the condition it reduces thofe
to who give themfclves up to it. She called upon the
Cardinal to lament her hard fate, which condemned her
to yield her perfon to the tranficnt brutality of fuch a
man, as ihe had no other way to make him do what
Ihe required of him, &c. &c. It was a very long and
curious letter : it appointed no meeting, and but very
fiight mention was made m it of the jewel, which had
hccn (by. her) admired. But thofe ,word^ few as they

were.

[ i20 ]

^tte^ proved fufficlcnt for the Cardinal at the time, wfio
in reading them faid to me, the veffel has Jailed Jafe inu
harbour ; a proof that he underfl-ood the Queen acknow.
ledged to him the receipt of the necklace. This he
has fince been pleafed to forget.

Three or four days aft-r, that is to fay, on the 5th or
6th, I went, to the Queen's apartments with, the Cardi-
nal, but was witnefs neither to their converfation, nor to
what pafTed between them ; ail I know is, that they were
alone, that I overheard more fighs than words, and that
I concluded they perfeftly underfloodeach other's mean-
ings

Three or four weeks then elapfed, without any thing
remarkable occurring. Letters without number and
without end; appointments baulked, renewed, thwarted,
fuceefsful; above all, plenty of pofting for me from
Paris to Verfailles, from Verfailles to Paris, to Trianon,
&c. &c.

It was about that time the Queen wrote to the Cardi-
nal, that foniebody had aflured her, the necklace was at
leaft two hundred thoufand livres too dear ; and that if
the Jewellers would not accede to fuch an abatement, Ihc
was determined to return them their ornament. The
Cardinal, as ufual, flew into a rage, made ufe of abufive
language, and curfed the whole fex : yet v/hat could he
do? He muft needs be Prime Minifler. He had not
la\d himfelf under fo many reftraints, given himfelf fo

much pains, fo eafily to give up the game. He fcnt

fur Boemer and Baflanges, and communicated her
•Majefty's letter, which to them appeared very extra-
ordinary. Indeed it rarely happens that after a bargain

[ I^-l 1

is concluded, and figned, and the property delivered,
the purchafcr Ihould demand an abatement in the price
agreed upon. Such extraordinary and irregular pro-
ceedings can only be adopted by extraordinary per-
fonages, but that was exaftly the prefent cafe* On the
part of the jewellers, the fear of difpleafing on the one
liand, and on the other, that of being obliged to take
back a burthen which had long laid heavy on their
handsj perplexed them ; but the former confideration
preponderated, and after much rcmonflrating, diey ac-
quiefced in the propofal, and confentcd to make the
abatement.

This is a clrcumftance, amongfl: others, which my ad-
verfaries have had the cruelty and folly to lay to my
charge, and reported that it was a manoeuvre of mine.
In the name of common fenfe, where lay the fineffe of
it? — What^could it lead to? What benefit could ac-
crue from it to me ?

It has already been fecn, that when, for the firft
time, the purchafe of the necklace was brought into
queftion; fufpefting the Cardinal of an intent to turn it
into money, and apprehenfive left I ihould be drawn
into a fcrape, in the more than poffible contingency of
non-payment i devoted as I was to the Cardinal, I
thought myfclf obliged to fee Boemer, to forewarn him,
and prevail on him to ad cautioufly. It has alfo been
feen, what confequences had nearly refuked from my
conduft in that buCnefs ;— in ftiort it cannot have cA
caped the reader's recolIeAion, that the negociation
had, by that means, been almoft broken off. If Ic
could be fuppofcd, as fomc people have had the auda-

R . city

city to cleclarCj th^t from the very firfl: moment in
which I faw the necklace, I had formed the idea of ob.
taining it by fraud, it is manifcft that, on the firft op-
portunity, my conduft was fuch, refpefting it, as en-
tirely counterafled any intention of the kind, and pr^
vented even the poffibiiity of ever its coming into my
poflefTion : fince I was (lopping the only channel dirougli
which it could reach my hands, namely, through thofe
of the Cardinal. I flatter myfelf, I have fufficiently de-
monftrated the abfurdity of the firft piece of calumny
my enemies have laboured to load me with.

The iecond is yet more abfurd, if poffible. What
finefle could they lay to my charge, what private ad-
vantage could I derive from the delivery of a letter to
the Cardinal from the Queen,' the purport of which was
to demand an abatement in a fum which, even according
to the hypothefis of my infamous detradlors, was never
to be paid ? Without recurring to the obfervations alrea-
dy made on the fubjeft of letters, fidtitious and falfe, (*)
fucli as_ that which it was faid I had manufaftured,

to

(*) What a ftrange extremity was the Cardinal's h-
mily reduced to ! when Solicitor Target declared to
them, in full aJfemUy^ that they had no other way of
faving the Prince, than by denying every thing, even
to the fmalieft knowledge of the Queen's hand-writing ;
but, as all fenfible perfons, who have examined the
matter with an impartial eye, have uniformly obferved—
who can be perfuaded that. a courtier, who has known

thf

[ 123 ]

to play off that great trick of fineflc I have alludetl to, I
will confine myfelf to a very plain argument. The neck-
lace was gone out of the Cardinal's hands. Either Lefciaux
was a knave, fet on by mf to purloin it, or he was a faith-
ful, fei'vant who had delivered it to the Qyeen that very
evening. If the latter, how dare they aflc me to account
for it ?— if the former, l^daux had returned me the
necklace^ thus purloined; it was in my,poireflion~my
views were accomplilhed— my avarice gratified. The
Cardinal was fecurity, he had entered into private ar-
rangements — he had one with the Queen. What was
it to me, whether the Queen or the Cardinal Jhould
pay fixtcen, or fourteen hundred thoufand liyrcs ? Nay,
what was it to me, whether they paid either or ncidier
of thafe fums ? for if 1 afted a villainous part, my
thoughts would have correfponded in every paiticular,
and I had cai'ed little, whether the Jewellers were ruined
or not. Befides — I hope I may flatter myfelf that the
reader Ibares the indignation I experience.-— Befides, 1
iliy— -fuppofing me capable of having conceived, of

having

the Queen from her youth, who faw her frequently and

familiarly when flie was yet Archduchefs, even though he

had not fcen her ftill more famili^^rly fince her being

Queen of France, and mull, in his capacity of Lord High

Almoner, have received orders from her hand, and an

hundred times ken her writing, in the hands of twenty

other perfons at Court, whom he had vifited, and who

were likely to have received it frequently? who, but

. mull be confidently perfuaded, that her writing was as

familiar to him as his own ?

R 2

[ 124 ]

i aving executed the projeft of t'lat daring theft, the
moment the ftroke was ftruck, that I rolled in diamonds)
taken to pieces, is it confonant to fenfc, that I fhouW
have been fuch a fool, as to have cxpofed myfelf to a
compulfivc reftitution ? for the lettter, which I am faid
to have had the incomparable addrejs to forge, inti^
mated that, unlefs the Jewelers would confent to the
abatement, their ornament fhould be returned to

them (*).

A blind fatality feems decreed, by Providence, to go-
vern the adipns of thofe whofc wicked deeds have made
them forfeit its protedion,and leads them on infenfiblyip
errors which muft eynctyally deflroy tfiem ! The flandcr-

oiu

(*) I am fo much afraid of fome of my readers not
attending minutely to circumftances, that I muft afk
pardon of the reft for the impatience I occafion in them,
by fuggefting reflexions which would not efcapc them.
Here is one of a very decifive nature, and which relates
alfo to the fenfelefs allegation which I have already 1
truft, viftorioufly combated- If it be wholly improbable
that I fhould be fo ftupid as to forge a letter, that
might have compelled me to reftore my fuppofed plun-
der; that letter was however written, fincc mention is
made of it in the trial, by the CardinaFs own council.
If it could not be written by me, it muft affurcdly be
fo by the Queen, whom^ alone, the price of the neet
lace concerned. If it. was written by the Queen's handj
the Cardinal has then, on this occafion at leaft, fecn her
Majcfty's writing, he could then compare it widi ahuu-
dred other letters that had paffed through my hands.

[ '25 ]

cus imputations which I have been already am mad \^crt-
ing upon, are fo charafteriftic of folly, they fo manifcftly
difcover the blind precipitancy of malice, driven to its
laft efforts, that had I no further proofs to adduce, of
the abfurdity and impotence of my opponents, I might
think myfelf at liberty to difpenfe with any other argu-
ments in favour of my innocence : but I have a fuper-
abundance ; and however powerful thofe may be, which
I can deduce from reafon, I ftill! have a greater re-
liance upon thofe wfiich may be inferred from fafts.
Let us therefore proceed to fafts, and to thofe I intreat
a double portion of atccntion.

The fccond arrangement was, as I have ftated, con-
cluded upon J the Jewellers had confented to a reduc-
tion of two hundred thoufand livres, as demanded by
the Qiieen, from the price of the jewels as originally
agreed for ; the necklace was in her Majefty's pofTefTion,
Ihe might do with it what fhe pleafed. It was not
long before I faw my conjefture verified, that her Ma-
jefty would vary its appearance in fome manner or
other, fo as to deceive the King ; an idea, which it has
been fcen, was fuggefled to her by the Cardinal.

From that period, to the time when the charge
was made againft me, of having purloined that
unfortunate jewel, there gradually arofe clouds, which
could not fail fenfibly to alarm me. The appointments
between the Queen and the Cardinal became lefs fre-
quent—her *Majefly appeared gloomy — her temper
was vlfibly foured, and I had much to fuffer perfonally
from that change of difpofition, I faw cleaily that Hie
fought, without wilhing to appear aftive, to ftmijh me

for

r ^^6 ]

for the Ihare I -had in bringing her and the Cardinal on
a more intimate footing ^ he feeming, daily, to grow
iTiore infupportable to her: I have faid, to punijb-Ai
% no exaggeration. She, no longer, fpokc tome of the
the Cardinal It was, no doubt, to praftice thofe petty
cruelties, till- Ihe could get rid of ; me, for I cannot
queftion but fhe had already formed that idea, when ihe
refumed that of undoing the Cardinal. It was proba.
bly, I fay, with both thofe views, daat, one day, after
beftewing on me fome of her /k;^^/' looks; (he faid,
prefenting me.^y^ith :a box, ^VHerej its a long while
^^ fince I have given you any thing; but don't tell the
<^ Cardinal that I have made you this prefent, nor even

** fhat you havefepii^nfie^ Do you hear? Do not talk

^ io him of me*\r^ "?iv:[ :

My conduft towards tl^e Queen had been certainly
wroiig— — r avow it— 7r'I h^ve already confeffed, that in
the affair of Mademoifelle Oliva, I had revealed the
fecret her .Majefty had imparted to me, to the Cardi-
nal ; the fame incitements made me,* on this fecond oc-
cafion, repeat^ tfe.er fame trivial breach of confidence.
After I had examined the contents cf the box, without
being able, in any degree, to eftimate the value, my
firft concern \vas, to fly to the Prince^ and acquaint him
with the Queen's bounty, telling him, all that had
paffed at Verfailles, and conjuring him to be fecret.
After he had, in a curfory manner, looked over the
diamonds, which he poured out upon his 'table, he faid
tome, " This appears to me fomething confiderablc!
" What do. yoy intend to do with them?"— -I an-
fwered, that my /intention \yas to fell the greateft part,
and have the reft fet for my own ufe. He furveyed

diein.

[ 1^7 ]

Aem ortce riiorC) and eventually propofed my leaving
them with him, till the next day ; which I did without
hcfitation. It was highly fortunate for me that I did
To; fince, by compelling the Cardinal to own, that he
had ferit them back to me again, I produced an indif-
putable proof, that I had fhewn them to him, at the
moment of my receiving them; and that, confequently,
t had not ftolen them. I withdrew, therefore, leaving
my diamonds loofe upon the table ; and the Cardinal, as
he faw me out, told me, he would weigh them, and
let me know within a trifle, what was their real value.
Accordingly, the next day, his Swifs fervant brought
them back to me in a parcel, carefully tied up and
fealed, with the addition of a note, to the following pur-
port, " I will fee you to-morrow before I depart for
" Verfulles, and will fpeak to you, more confidentially,^
«^ concerning the objeft, I fend you back: let me pre-
'* vail on you to part with it, as foon as pofiiblt."
My hufband hitherto uninformed of, what, I then

called my good fortune. Oh Heavens! ^-How

much I was deceived!-— Before I communicated any
thing of the circumftanccs to him, I fet apart the flones
which encircled the button, and thofe that partly formed
tlie drops; which I purpofcd felling /^w^/^/y, in order
to purchafc witli the money they fliould produce, vari-
ous articles I wilhedto be poffefTed of. The remainder
1 then gave to my hufband, who immediately faid,
thofe ftoncs appeared to him to belong to the necklace,
and that therefore before we tried to difpofe of them,
we muft difclofe the matter to, and confult with the
Cardinal that probably, it w^ould be necelTary to ufe

prudential

t 128 j

prudential meafures In ol-der that the diamonds^ through
the quickncfs of circulation in trade, might not fall into
the hiands of Boemer arid Bafangcs.

While we were talking about it, the Cardinal came
in, but he was then in hafte, and only jiift had time to
tell me, he would fee me at his return from Verfailles,
and that in the interim he advifed me not to fliew my
diamonds to any perfon whatfoeven

At his return he called upon me, and told me he had
feen the Queen^ who had not made the lead mention
of the necklace to him ; that he could not account for
her filence— that having examined the diamonds h^
had fent mc back, he had difcovered the moft remark-
able ftones of that piece of ornament ;— that he did not
think it extraordinary, that the Queen fhould chufe to
make fome alteration, in its form, but that it^was rery
muchfo, fhe had not mentioned a word to him refpefting
k- That it would vex him extremely^ if the Jewellers
Ihould happen to hear that their piece of workmanfhip
had thus been taken to pieces. " This would not fail,
" prefently, to be the cafe,'* added he, " if you Were
" to feek to difpofe ofthofe irregular Ihaped ftones in
" Paris. I therefore advife you to get them fold at
« Amftcrdam. Believe me, the Queen has not the
^' fmalleft notion of the value of the prefent fhe has
*^ made you. Thofe flat oval ftones, not correfpouding
" with the defign of her Majefty*s intended fuit of dia-
'* monds, ftie has looked upon them as trifles, but I
" alTure you^ that you are pofl:efred of more dian die
*' amount of three hundred thoufand livres, and that you
" cannot to© foon^ nor too privately difpofe of them."

Having

[ 129 3

Having communicated this convcrfation to my huf-
band, he approved of the Cardinal's advice j as it was
conformable to the fentiments he had held of the bull-
nefs. In confequence thereof he, that fame day, called
upon a jew named Franks, who upon certain ftipulated
conditions, undertook a journey to Amflerdam, for the
purpofe of difpofing of the jewels ; but the troubles
that had arifen in Holland, rendering the tranfadlion
impradicable at that time, the Jew returned without
cfFefting the bufineis. Then, it was, that my Jiufband
determined to vifit England. Chevalier O^Neil, a cap-
tain of grenadiers, and a knight of St. Louis, having
propofed accompanying him, they begaa. their journey
on the 1 2th of April.

I propofe to give the moft accurate and circumftan-
tial account/ of Mr. de la Motte's operations in London
during that, his firfl vifit j but as more important mat-
ters claim an immediate preference, I beg leave to poft-
ponc that account, and to give it a place at the conclu-
fion of my Memoirs,

From the firft of February to the 1 2th of April, to
which period I have now advanced, it has been fcen, that
the Queen's coolncfs and referve towards the Cardinal had
made a rapid progrefs j the frequency of their meetings
conflandydiminifliedi the interviews were pafled in alter-
cations ; the Cardinal had almoftloft fight of the necklace;
only fometimcs would fay to me " It is very particular
" Ihe makes no ufe of her diamonds j— there's no ap-
*^ pearance of any of them— have you feen any thing
" new about her drefs ?" t6 all which, I anfwered, as
the fadl was, in die negative i but he now feklom fpoke

S to

t ^30 1

to trie 6n the fubjeft. Grievances of a much more fe-
rious nature, lay at his heart. Firft, he began to fuf.
pcft the Queen (and I belieVe nofc without foundation)
of having prejudiced him in the opinion of the Empe-
ror, from whom he now ceafed to receive any commu-
nications. In the next place he reproached her with
having trifled with him, in fufFering fojitive agreements
intend into by hefy to be tedioufly protrafted in the exe-
cution. He did not explain the nature of them, but I
fufRciently conceived, that he meant the fromifed mi-
fiijiry. He befides took umbrage that the Queen did
not, as he expefted, receive him publicly. As fhe was
now lefs difpofed than ever fo to do, fomc people hav-
ing at that time awakened all her foriner prepoiTenions
what does this unfortunate, madly do, but determine
upon compelling her Majefty fpecdily to keep her
word with him ? It is impoffible for my reader to fur-
mife the method, he had formed the refolution to adopt.
It will never be conjeftured that it was- — by making
her experience thejeveritks of ahfence.

He one day imparted lo me a dream, telling mc very
carneftly, *< That woman flood' in need of him — fhe
" could not do without him— that the only way, tocom-
*' pel her to give him confequence, and to get himfelf
'^ acknowledged her favourite ^ was toredre, and pretend
" difcontent/' — He amazed me and made me tremble
for him,

I fhall not feek to make a merit of my remonftrances
to him on this fubjeft — alas ! he 'never, at any time,
paid die leaft regard to them; fuch blindnefs, fuuh
folly, never fure exifted. I told him pofidvcly, that at

the

C '3^ 3

the moment he was fpeaking to mc, I could not but
think him delirious, on the brink of a precipice, putting
a fillet over his eyes before he took the leap : I even
fhed tears. — He made no account of any thing I could
either fay or do.

Ten or twelve days after my hulband's departure, the
Cardinal fet out for Saverne, fully perfuaded, it would^
not be long before he was recalled. I was fo much the
more deeply afFeded, as he had entrufted me with a
converfation, which a few days back had palTed between
him and Queen ; and which, as I conceived muft have
been infinitely difpleafing to her Majcfty. The fubjedt
had again been about a fum of money, he was at that
time unable to procure for her. In anfwer to fomething
rather harfh, which the Queen had faid to him, he re-
plied, (according to the account he gave me) " Madam,
*^ you are acquainted with the ftateofmy affairs j ever
*^ fince the bankruptcy of Madame de Giiemenee, I
" find it hard to obtain credit. Were I in a different
^^ fituation, a matter which depends on you, I iliould
" find means and refources, which I do not now pqf-
*^ fefsj and all Ihould be at your command. Without
<• elevation I can do nothing, as a proof of which, with
" all the efforts of my zeal, I have not been able to
" get the fum you required."

He had not feen the Queen from the time of that inter-
view, until he retired to Saverne, towards the end of
April. Between that period and the 2 2d of May, when
the Queen difpatched mc to Saverne, to deliver a packet
10 him, of which I ihall make mention j I continued to
pay my court to her Majefty, who never fpoke of him

to

[ 132 ]

to me, but in a difagreable ftrain. I plainly faw that
a great deal of jealoufy, was blended with a thoufand
other caufes, to four her temper; that the continual re-
ports made to her Majefty of the CardinaPs intrigues,
of his indifcretions, of the unpardonable imprudencics he
had been guilty of, in fj>eaking of her Majefty, to no-
blemen, whom he thought his friends; had exafpcrated
her to a degree that left no hopes for the recovery of br
good graces.

Matters were in this ftate, when on the 22d of May,
as I have already obferved, the Queen ordered me to
fet off for Savcrne, and to deliver into the Cardinal's
own hands, a packet which fhc entrufted me with;
charging mc to take the greateft care of it. 1 departed
that very day. It may eafily be imagined, I would
have given the world, to know the contents of the pac-
ket; but, It was wrapped up with a filk twiftfealed
every way ; fo that there was no fuch thing as gratifying
my curiofity, unlefs I would refolve to make a confef-
fion of it, which was too delicate a point. I hoped that
the Cardinal would let me into the fccret, but he did
not ; fo that 1 never precifely knew what the myftc-
rlous packer contained r though, by the GardinaPs de-
jeftion, I but too well apprehended, that the purport
of my commiffion was diftreffing to him, and that the
packet was the precurfor of a confirmed difgrace. He
muttered many vague complaints ; informed me that he
fhould go off to Paris the next day; without letting mi
know whether he was fent for, or whether it was a refo-
lation he had himfelf formed, to ward off the blow that
threatened him. .IJowevcr thatwas^ he returned to Parist

and

[ 133 1

znd wrote to Verfailles— *but was not fcnt for thither.
The Queen's refolution was irrevocably fixed. His
kft piece of folly had extremely irritated her, and the
Cardinal's enemies, as I had foretold, had availed them-
felves of his abfence, to demonftrate to her Majefty, the
danger of having any connexion whatever with a man,
who was morally and fhyfically ruined. I particularly
mark thofe laft exprefhons, becaufe, they are thofe,
which Mademoifelle Dorvat made ufe of at the time,
in fpeaking to me of the Cardinal, She, no doubt, had
learnt them in the right quarter. Meantime, he unre-
mittingly continued writing to the Queen ; who did not
yet chufe to difcover her refentment, or who, more pro-
bably, was not yet wound up to that pitch, to which
the Baron de Breteuil ftrove to exafperate her, and
which at laft he effe<5led to the higheft extreme. The
Queen, indeed, fome times condefcendcd to write a few
lines in anfwer to him, from which I had but two op-
portunities of taking copies ; thofe copies are two notes,
of the 6th and 9th of July. Although the former,
does not actually coincide with the period of time,
which at this moment fixes my attention ; as it contains
nothing circumftantial relative ^to a particular event, and*-
can only point out, indeterminately, the dilpofition and
referve of the Queen, at an epocha fo clearly connedled
with that of the cataftrophe, I fhall place it here.
There is a little diffimulation, not to fay falfliood, dif-
cernible in it, but the reader cannot have loft fight of
thofe letters wherein her Majefty accufes herfelf of that
failing, which will ftill more fenfibly be perceived in
Ko, XXXI. the laft of the correfpondence, when by

com-

1 134 ]

romparing the dates, it will be apparent, how nearly
that of July i9thj approaches to that of the rfth of An-
gull.

I have juft now fpoken of the Baron de Breteuil; it
is him at prefent, who is going to play tlie principal
charaftcr in the horrid drama.

I fliall not repeat what I have already obferved, thai:
retailer of lettres de cachet y that thunder-bearer of defpo-
tifm was the Cardinars mortal enemy. I think I haTe
pointed out the fourcc of that implacable enmity. As
die fupreme head of the higher police, one may con-
ceive, that with the help of fifty dioufand fpies in his^
pay, few diings are hidden from him. He had, long
iince, been informed of the necklace negociation, and
had conceived hopes of fabricating, on that foundation,
the utter ruin of tlie Cardinal. With tliis view he paid
llrift attention to every tranfa<5tk)n. He had feveral
times fent for the Jewellers, who, each time, had given
intimation of it to the Cardinal.. The Cardinal had in
confequence enjoined them to fecrecy, and even advifcd
them to fay, *' that the necklace was fent abroad'' The
Iviinifter impatiently waited for the term, on which the
firft payment became due, in ht^^es of making the
Jewellers publicly vent their complaints, in confequence
of a failure therein, which he flattered himfelf would be
the cafe. The Cardinal on his fide, deftitute of the
means within himfelf, looked forward with the moft
anxious expedation, that the Queen would filfil, with
regard to him, what he called her private engagements.
On the 19th of July he received from her the letter,
(No XXXI.) which I have announced as being the

laft.

[ ^3S 1

laft of the correfpondcncc. The very firft paragraph
is fufficlent to give one an idea of tlae Cardinal's embar-
rafTment ; but I will render it yet more apparent, and
adduce an additional circumftance to the many, that
concur in my juflification, by tranfcribing a memoran-
dum of the Cardinal's, brought forward at the trial; and
which his eminence acknowledged to have been written
by his valet de chambre, by his direftion, and indited
by himfclf in thefe terms :

July ^2 or 25, fent a fecond time for B. (Boemer or
Bafanges) think it is to fpeak to him again, of what was
faid to him the firfl: time, concs^rning the fccrecy in
queftion.— If fcnt for by the Minifter (Breteuil) let him
lay, " that the matter in debate has been fent abroad,*'

Thcfe perplexed expreffions, which the Cardinal cauf-
ed to be committed to paper, in prder to help his me-'
mory, in cafe of need, evidently prove that he, Well irt-
formed of the Baron de Breteuil's meafures, was wliolly
intent on fecuring rhe Queen's fecret from difcovery.
He was peirfuaded, therefore, that the Queen had the
necklace ?— That, in whatever mode fhe was pleafed to
difpofe of it, fhe was bound to pay for it? — Befides, the
payment of thirty thoufand livres on account of the
intereft, befpoke her intention of doing honour to her
private engagements; fo that, all rightly confidered, the
Cardinal made hiqnfelfeafy, and ftill imagined, for one
moment, that he purfued^ the road, to what he called
elevation. The Jewellers, after fome rcprefentationsj
refufed the 30,000 livres, in part of the intereft, but
accepted of them on account of the capital, and

and

t ^36 ]

gave their receipt, acknowledging to hav^ received that
fum from her Majefty, &c. (*)

The Baron de Breteuil, infornaed of this laft tranfac-
tion, left no means untried to raife difqojietude in the
Jewellers; and before he knew from the Qi^een, whether
or not, fhe had authorifed the Cardinal to treat with
them, he boldly took upon himfelf to declare, thattlic
aflertion was falfe, that die Cardinal had impofed upon
them; adding, that they had no other courfe to take,
but to prcfent a memorial, preferring their complaint to
her Majefty.

The Jewellers being alarmed, gave the Minifter an
cxaft account of the whole tranfadtion. Amongft the
number of circumftances which excited his attention, that
of the lignature, ^^ Antoineite de France'' was fingularly
ftriking, and that circumftance Mr. de Breteuil feized with
the utmoft avidity. AfFefting the indignation of a zea^
lous fubject, he immediately requefted a private audience
of the Queen, in which he fet forth to her Majefty, with
particular energy, the whole of the difcovery he had
made.

It requires no great degree of penetration, to conceive,
that the Queen, thus taken unawares, did not think pro-

* This Is a third fneje) of the nature of thofc I have
already had occafion to fpeak of. It has been faid, on
my trial, that I myfelf furnilhed 30,000 livrcs, • I have
not yet been able to conceive, what I could get by
parting with 30,000 livres : my flanderers were never
able to make it appear, fo I leave it, ftill to be furmifed
by them»

[ 137 ]

piqr to make a confidential declaration to the Minifleri
there was lefs danger in afFedling furprifc and indigna-
tion. The poflefljon, or any Jcnowlege of the necklace
being once dbnied, colild not but be denied for ever.
There was no poflibility bf* retracing j there was no al-
ternative between expofing herfelf, and making a facri-
fice to her own credit, of two ilnhappy perfons. Mn
de Bretetiil, tranfported with joy at the profpeft of hav-
ing his views gratified, again fent for the Jewellers, and,
without telling rhem that the Queeli had explained her-
felf to hi-m, urged them ftill ctofer to prefent a memo-
rial to her Majtfty. The Jewellers followed his inftruc-
tions, and on the perufal of the firft line, her Majefly
cries out, with affefted furprize: " fFh'at do th'efe people
" mean? I believe they are parting with their fenfes!"

I mAift obferve, that the prefentation of the memorial
did not follow the Minifter^s cont^erfation with the
Queen, fo clofely, as thofe two fafts fee^ con-
nefted, by my mariner of relating them. A fpace of
time had elapfed^ betw'een the two periods, die latter of
which was the 2d of Auguft, and of that time I muft
give an account.

My htifband was returned from London, I have
|)romifed I would relate the particulars of his journey at
the end of my Memoirs. Towards the clofe of July,
probably the day after the ftep taken by the Baron de
Bretcuil widi the Queen, I was told that my houfe was
befet with fpies. The Cardinal, to whom I fpoke of it,
anfwered : " he was perfuaded his own was> in the fame
" manner — that he could not conceive the meaning of
" it/* '' If diat is the cafe," faid I, « I'll fpeak of it to

T « the

'^' the Queen.'* For that purpofe, I immediately de-
parted for Verfailles. I imparted, What had pafled, toher
Majefty, who anfwered me in very vague terms, and
afFefted to turn the difcourfe to other fubjefts. In
the coiirfe of convcrfation, flie afl^ed me, whether, in
the prefent fcafon, I was not generally accufbomed to go
into the country ? Though fomewhat furprifed with
the queftion, I anfwered, that my fole defire was to pafs
near her Majefty all the moments Ihc deigned to beftow
upon me; tliat 1 would never abfent myfelf any farther
than 1 received her exprefs command fo to do. I then
withdrew in a violent ftate of agitation ! I was fenfible
that my fate was linked to that of the Cardinal, and that
was a reflexion which produced very melancholy ideas*
1 went immediately to his hotel, confidering him already
as the author and partner of my calamity : I informed
him of every occurrence; he Ipoke little, appeared
thoughtful, and more deeply affefhed than ufual

The next dayj after having fcen the Jewellers, who
were evidently in league with the Baron de Brcteuil, he
returned in a rage, bitterly inveighing againft the Queen
Never had I heard him, before> vent fuch coarfe, fucli
unguarded expreffions. He was, it is trae, in no dan-
ger, from giving a loofe to his rage before me, but I re-
flefted, with the utmoft apprehenfion, that he had been
as little upon his guard in the prefcnce of the Jewellers;
that he had even proceeded to difcoverios of the mofi
fecret nature, and which conveyed the moft indelicate
ideas ; that, in a word, judging from his language to me,
I feared he had fpoken of the Queen, in fuch terms, as
were fcarcely applicable to thofe beings, with whom her

>•, Majefty

[ 139 ]

Majefly was pleafed to make me take up my abode, as a
reward for my fidelity. Ail was in an undefcribable fer-
ment ; I concluded the CardinaPs ruin was abfolutely
inevitable, and in that ruin expefted to find myfelf in-
volved ; when, I received from the Queen a little box,
containing three bills on the Caiffc d'Efcompte, of a
thoufand livres each, and one hundred louis d*ors in calh,
together with a note in her Majefty's hand writing (which
note was burnt at Bar-fur-Aube, with a hundred more)
purporting, that for particular reafons, which fhe would
communicate at a fit time, and in a proper place, Ihe
defired I would fet out for the country, promifing that I
fhould hear from her, and afluring me of her kin4'
nefs.

The Cardinal, to whom, unfortunately, I had con^
traded a propenfity for difclofing every thing, read, iu
that note, the prediftion of his immediate difgrace.
He hurried to confult Caglioftro, and received from
that empiricy the fatal counfcls that produced his and
my misfortunes. Thefe fatal counfels were to the fol-
lov/ing purport: Firft to prevent the Cardinal from
entering pito any perfonal negociation, for the fatisfac-
tion pf the Jewellers, who would have thus been paci-
fied. Next, he inftilled into the Cardinal a notion,
that the Queen would never dare to open her niouth
upon the bufinefs, but would be obliged fecredy to
compromife it. In the next place ^le fuggefted to him
themonftrous idea of terrifying me, and inducing me,
^)y that means, to remove myfelf to a place of fccurity,
to the end diat, in cafe the Queen fhould deny her
having received the necklace, he mighc then advance
T % the

[ HO ]

the €ircurnftance of my flight to a foreign coim-
try, as a fnoft inconteftibic evidence, and a tacit
avowal of my being guilty of committing a
fraud upon the Jewellers, and being poffeffed of the
diamonds. Such were the dark, the bafe, the trea-
cherous counfels of that malignant monfter — fuch was
the unpardonable weaknefs -ef the unftcady and timid
Prince, that he lifcened to the fubtle and cruel deluder,
and determined to follow his advice.

Accordingly, the Cardinal called upon me at teji
o'clock, on the evening of that day, and pretended he
had made important difcoveries. He endeavoured to
perfuadc me, that the Queen had formed the blacked
fchemes againft himfelf and me. The note and the
prefent I had juft received from her Majefty, certainty
did not, by any means, appear to correfpond with fuch
a determination j nevcrthelefs, taken thus by furprife,
and being off my guard, not taking time for reflexion^
and accuftomcd, as I had been, to pay an implicit
deference to the will and advice of the Cardinal, I was
^t this inftant confounded. He feized the moment, to
bear me away, by telling me, I was ruined if I did not,
with my hufband, take refuge in his hotel. Taking
with me my waiting woman, a trufly fervant, who had
often been witnefs at Verfailles, to the meetings that
the Cardinal and myfclf had with the Queen, I blindly
fuffered myfelf to be led by this perfidious counfe!,
derived from the wretch Caglioftro, and leaving in-
ftruftions for my hyfband, upon his return home,
went with the Cardinal, attended by my womaBj through
bye ftrcets, to his hotd.

When

[ HI 1

When Mr. de la Motte came home, the porter de-
livered the note I had left for him ; by which, I barclv
let him know, that on the receipt of it he muft
attend at the Boulevard, where he would meet Mr. de
Carbonniere, who would conduft him to me. Unable
to conjefture what could poffibly have happened, for he
was yet ignorant of the prefcnt fcene of confufion, he
implicitly complied with my inftruftions. He found
Mr. de Garbonniere attended by two Heydukes, com-
pletely armed. He was^myfterioufly condufted to the
hotel. To the enquiries he made upon the road, he
could procure no other anfwer, than that the Cardinal
would give him an explanation. Being arrived in the
Court, the Cardinal cried out : " Ah Fleaven bepraifed!
there is nothing more to fear." Mr. de la Motte came
up flairs, and as he was rufhing towards me, to enquire
what had happened, the Cardinal accofled him with
thefe words : << All this furprifes you, becaufe you are
** ignorant of every thing ; but be under no uneafinels,
** you are now fafe ; I now defy the Queen, whom I
" laugh at, and her whole gang; we fhall fee what
" turn matters will take — it is late, go to your reft —
*^ I will fee yoq to-morrow early, and we will talk to-
^^ gether on the fubjeft."-— He withdrew, {hut all the
doors, and carried away the keys.

My huft>and appeared like a man juft awaked from a
diftreffing dream. When I had explained to him the
nature of the circumftances, he reproached me, in the
fliarpeft terms, for complying with fuch abfurd ad-
vice,

<^ On

[ Ui ]

I

*' On the fuppoficion," faid he, '' that it is, at bell:,
'' but an abfurd and unnecclTary precaution, which
" you are advifed to ; but by the air of farisfa^tion I
" difcovered in the Cardinal, at having us in his pof-
" fefTion, I cannot but fufpeft fonne worfe intention ;
'* and diat a man of his diipofition may, under fuch
" circumftances have fome artifice in view ; we muft,
*' at all events, as foon as it is day, get out of this vo-
•^ luntary imprifonment." After paffing the night in
forming various conjeftures on the fmgularity of the
circumftances, we had the fatisfaclion to fee the Cardi-
nal enter, at feven o'clock in the morning.—'^ It wa.s
" highly ncceflary," faid he to us as he came in " that
** you wer,c removed lafl night, and have taken refuge
** with me,— -I believe there is a fufpicion of your
" being here, we Iliall fee ro night, and take the ne-
*^ ceflary precaudons for fending you ofSrto Couvrai ;
" your houfe and mine have been furrounded all night,
" but ther^ is nothing to be feared here."

Mr. de la Motte ftill fufpefting the Cardinal of hav-
ing fome ill defign, fuggefted by Caglioftro, determined
not to ftay till night, and faid to him refolutely, " My
" Lord, I can make nothing of what you fay; having
" no manner of fliare in your intrigues with the Queen,
" not likely to be called in queftion for them, and hav-
" ing nothing to reproach myfclf with, I have nothing
" to fear. You will therefore give me leave to return
'' to my own houfe this very inftant, where, being
'' near my departure for the country, I have people
" employed packing up my things, and fervants, who
" muft be unc^y at my abfence." — And indeed we

had

[ H3 3

had, at that time, furniture packed up for Bar-fur- Aube>
and the waggons were to go off the next day ; a circum-^
ftance which did not befpeak much uneafinefs about ouf
fituationj fince we were to follow our furniture fo much
the eai-lier, as I meant to comply with the Queen's
conamands, and abfent myfelf, as I thought, for fonie
time.

The Cardinal, difappointed by the refolute air with
which this anfwer was accompanied, exerted himfelf
to the iitmoft, to bring my hufband to his lure -, but
finding it imprafticable, he faid to him, *^ Since you
'^ will run to your ruin, I clear my hands of it ; but
*^ wait> at leaft, the return of my courier, who will
^^ bring me news from Verfailles.'* He infifted fa
ftrongly on this point, that Mr, de la Motte acquicfced,
on condition he fliould write a few words to his porter,
to make his people eafy, refpefting his abfence.

The courier arrived, and this was the account the
Cardinal gave us, addreffing his fpeech to my hufband,
of the intelligence he had brought: ^^ Wellj your
'^ fchemes arc baffied, I am now certain fearch is made
" after you, and that you will be arrefted if you gd
" out— The following is the courfe you muft abfo-
" lutely take:— I will caufe you to be conveyed to
" Couuraiy there you fhall find a carriage that fhall take
" you to Meaux. The Poft-mafter, with whom you
" muft make yourfelveS pals as being of my retinue, will
*^ furnilh yoii with horfes; you will then crofs over
^' the RhinCj and come to a village in Germany, where
^' yeu will fettle yourfelves with a perfon to whom I
'' ihall recommend you. There you may remain, un-

" known

[ i44 ]

*^ known to every body, till affairs have taken a more
" favourable turn. I will protide you, however, ;vitli

" a paflport and all neceflary letters." " I have the

" honour to tell you again/* ahft^-ered my htifband,
" that, I do not conceive what / can prjonally have to
•' feari yet, as I am ignorant how far the Countefs
" may have carried her imprudence, in the unhappy
" intrigue you have engaged her in ! and as; when a
*^ perfon has powerful enemiesj there is no knowing
*^ what may happen, 1 fhall certainly not forfake her,
" but fhare with her in her exile, if you judge it ab-
** folutely neceflary \ but I have the honour to fore-
" warn you, that before I think of a journey into Gef-
" many, I am determined to fpend fome time at Bar-
" fur-Aube, to fetde my affairs, and prevent the afto-
" nilhment and noife which would naturally take plaee
" from fo fudden and extraordinary an abfence."

Here the converfation growing fomewliat warm, and
my hufband threatening t6 jump out of the windovt',
into the garden, the Cardinal yielded. " You arc
^^ pervcrfe,'' faid he to him, « and that perverfenefs
" will be your ruin: you are fufpieious of nothing;
" you do not know the people you hate to deal widi;
« they are capable of every thing. Till to-morrow take
" time for reflexion — this day I will not permit you
" to go out of my houfe— -this is juft the hour that
" fpies prowl about. I fh/ill fee you to-morrow morn-
« ing ; if you are ftill in the fame mind, the doors fhall
" then be opened to you."

The Cardinal was as good as his word, ntxt morn-
ing, and permitted my hufband to depart j after taking

his

[ HS 1

Kis word of honour that, let what would happen, he
would not difcover my place of retreat; he promifed
alfo to return that night, and to eonfider on tlie propofed
journey to Germany.

He found every thing quiet at home, the porter
telling him he had feen no ftrange face. In the courfe
of that day, he went about his bufinefs, appeared in
public, at the Palace Royal, in a word, he made hind-
fclf confpicuous every where, without difcovering in any
place the lead fign of fpies being abroad. Having, the
next day, fome packages to fend offj he endeavoured to
difengage himfelf from his appointment with us ; for
which purpofe, going to the Boulevard, at the ftated
hour, he told Mr. de Carbonniere, that he could not
abfolutely attend him chat evenings but the next day
would come and fetch me away. He then went home
to bed, a circumftance extremely lucky, by producing
to him on the morrow, circumflances of fuch a nature,
as fet forth, in the cleareft light, the manoeuvres of the
fiaron de Breteull.

Early in tlie morning, as he was in the court-yard,
viewing the people who were bufily engaged in loading
the waggons; Bafangcs, whom he had not feen for a
long time, prefcnted himfelf at the gate, and feeing the
Count, went up to him and alked him. Whether I was
ftirring?-—

As what I am now relating, and what is immediately
fubfequent to it, is only known to me by report from
my hufband ; I here requeft him to take my pen, anci
continue the particulars to the public, with the fame

U fimpligity>

i h6 1

iimplicity, the fame veracity, he ufed in his accounts to
me, and to eKprefs himfclf as nearly as pofilble in the
fame terms. While he proceeds with that part of the
narrative, I will colle£t every neceffary circumftancq'
for concluding my Memoirs,

// mujl he remembered^ it is ft$%v Count de La Motte
who writes,

Bafangcs accofting me, afked whether he could fee
tik Coimtefs, to whom he had fomething important to
conrirnunicate. I told him fhe was at Verfailles \ that
if he would go into the* houfe, \<^e cotild converfe more
conveniently; which propofal he accepted.

^' What I had/' faid he> " to impart to your lady,
"'^ is, that I faw the Cardinal yefterday, who was greatly
'• agitated : I am extremely concerned for his difgrace ;
*^ and /hall he Jorry if Mr. Boemer floould contribute tc
" bring him into greater diftrejs. (*) His eminence makes
** complaints to us, exclaims in our prefence, againft
^^ the indignity with which he is treated. However he
'* may, in this refpeft be afFefted,. the circumftance has
*^ no analogy to the bufinefs which now requires a fet-
'' tlement between us. Whether it was for the Queen
'* or for any other perfon that he proctired the neck-

« lace,

^ It was with Boemer that the Baron de Breteuil
was plotting, fo that this teipperate conduft, from the
mouth of Bafanges his partner, feems to me very figni-
ficant.

C H7 ]

'^ lace, it matters not to us; we were not even defirous
*^ of knowing it» One day he told us, that we ought to
^^ make ourfelves eafy j that he had concluded all the
*^ necc/Tary arrangements about the payments, that it
*^ was juft we fl:ould be paid, and that he would pay
"us. Then walked haftily about the room, writhed
*> himfclf about, made fpecches which I cannot repeat,
" and concluded by telling us, " thd^tjlnce the receip of
" the necklace was denied to blm^ he might as well deny it
*^ too.'' That was certainly done, to create a great deal
*^ of uneafinefs in us, for we have no deed, we are en-
" tirely dependant upon his integrity, and Vv^ere he to
" deny the receipt of it, as he threatened to do, we
'' could have no recourje hut to authority. (A leflbn
" this from the Baron de BreteuiL) In this flate of
*^ anxiety, I came to confult tlie Countefs, and endea-
*^ vour to know from her, what is the Cardinars final
" refolution: we wifli him no harm, and fhould be
'^ vaftly forry for the conjequences that might enfuefrom

" this affair, BUT.**— —He paufed on the word

but^ which to me appeared expreflive. It was manifeft
they were prefTcd to render the matte^ public i but were
ftill withhi^ld, by the fear of lofing the price of die
necklace, as they were poflTeflcd pf no written fecuricy
fom the Cardinal to prove the purchafe, ^he cafe in
reality was alarming to them; Caglioftro'^inceflantly
urged the Cardinal to deny even the negociation for the
necklace. In the fteps taken with them, by the Queen,
at the inftigation of Brcteuil, fhe gave them no hopes-
of payment, and certainly the Baron de Breteuil vvas:
not inclined to t^ike it upon himfelf All things tJierefore

confidcred

r 148 1

confidered, though they were no {lrangei;s to the de-
rangement of the Cardinal's afFairs, yet they knew he
had fo many refources, ftich immenfe revenues, if unin-
cumbered ; that they preferred any fcttlement what-
ever with him, to all the promises made by Brctcuil
They were moreover fo much the more inclined
to clofe with every propofal that might proceed
from him ; as they were fenfible, and had the candour
to confefs, pretty openly, that they faw they were in-
tended to be made the inftruments of the Cardinal's ruin ;
but the burthen of the fong ftill was, , ^^ in th^ end of all
" Ms J who wiU pay us for our necklace ?'^ Bafanges re-
peated this to me at leaft ten times. At length after a
very tedious converlation, in which I had but a fmall
ihare; fenfible that 1 had no influence over the Cardinal,
and being well acquainted that Caglioftro poffefTed it,
in the fulieft extent, he left me, begging I would Tend
him notice when the Countefs returned. ^^ It is to be
hoped,'' faid he, as he went out, " that fhe will bring
** us good news/'

Towards the clofe of the fame day, I returned to
the Cardinal's, who came home a moment after my ar-
rival, I related to him, the converfation I had that
morning held with Bafanges, in confequence of that
which had previoufly paffed between him and the two
partners. He did not wait till I had concluded, and I
obferved that in the progrefs of my relation, he grew
infenfibly warm. He began to inveigh againft the Queen,
m terms offevere reproach, fcarcely applicable to the moft
diflblute, and at the fame time moft difguftful of com-
mon creatures. It would be ofFenfive to all who have

the

[ H9 1

Ae leaft fenfe of delicacy to prefent to their view, thq
fliocking images which his momentary rage and diftem-
pered imagination at that time delineated. I Ihall confine
myfelf to faying, that more than ©nee, not only before
me, but in prefence of other perfons, the incenfed Car-
dinal allowed himfclf to exprefs in the coarfeft terms^ and
with the moft indecent particulars, circumftances which
created loathing and difguft evenlimongft thofe fcenes
of fancied enjoyment, which his ambition had made him
fb eager to obtain. The declarations, of this kind, repeat-
edly made, during the impetuofity of the Cardinal's paf-
fion, before feveral v/itnefTes were, no doubt, deemed too
atrocious to be forgiven, and certainly are a fufficient
explanation, and if I may be allowed to fay fo, fomc
excufe for the cruel profcription which an implacable fe-
male refentment occafioned to be pronounced againft
him. (*)

I thought

* Unhappy Prince ! no doubt but he knew it to be
fo, and to whom was he indebted for that knowledge?
To the Countefs, who feeing him under the influence
of the moft ungoverned paflion, faid to him, nay re-
peated to him on ten different occafions, that he had but
one means left to fave himfelf; which was, to throw
himfelf at the King's ftety and difclofe the whole bufi-
nefs, except what ought to be ^concealed from him as a
hufband. That was, to reprefent his intercourfc with the
Queen, as a mere matter of policy; in which he had
bc<rn led by his ambitious views, and in the courfe of

whith

[ ^5o ]

I thought he never would have ceafed, however he
found himfclf weary, and after an inconfiderable relt,
he again introduced thp fubjecft of the journey to Ger-.
many ; which was what Caglioftro had moft earneftly
recommended. I was really deafened with die violence
of his exertions during the ebulition of his rage. I con-
fidcred, however^ that the Countefs muft^ of neceffity,
abfcnt herfelf, and that I ihould difobhge her if I did
not accompany her 5 in a word, as it was neceffary
fome refblution Iliould be taken in the end, I told die
Cardinal that I confcnted to go into Germany j but that
}t was an indifpenfible- provifo, that I fliould previoufly
pafs a few days at Bar-fur-Aube ; and that during my
flay there, I w^ould fpread a report that I was going to
Spa. T}ie Cardinal again talked of danger, perverfc-
nefs, and obflinacy, but I would not recede the lead
fj-om my intention. He then took up a card, on wliich
he marked down the day of my departure from Paris,

die

'which he had, in order to ^adfy the wiflaes of her Ma-
jefly, extended his credit beyond his abihdes; and
amcngft other circumftances in the purcliafe of the ncck,-
lace, ' Ten times had he promifed her, that he would
follow her advice, and as often did the infamous Cag-
lioftro diffuade him from it. It was that vile empiric,
who was virtually the ruin of die Cardinal, my wife and
myfelf. His infadable covetoufnefs, by oppofing the
Princess entering into terms with the Jewellers, as he
had promifed i v/as what efpecially brought on the cataf-
trophe.

[ ^51 1

the time of our progrcfs to Bar-fur-Aube^ tthat of our
ftaytherCj and laftly that which it would require tocou
vey us to Germany. The whole time neceflary for theft
purpofes was eftlmated at 14 or 15 days. He gave me
dircftions what route we were to purfue, and an account
of the place at which it was purpofed we were to fetde ;
but as to the paflport and letters he had promifed
me, Gaglioftro had obferved to him> not without a de-
gree of reafon, that, if after accufing us with having de-
frauded the Jewellers of the necklace, (*) it were dif-
covered that he had been afliftant tOj or winked at our
flight, the cifcumftance would inevitably fix him as a
partner in the guilt. He therefore told me, with refpcfl;
to thofe documents, that I no occafion for them. We
then left him, without urging him further on that
head, as in truth, I wa$ far from being refolved on
taking the journey to Germany, which in fact I faw no
neeeffity for;, and indeed at this time the Cardinal's cun-

dud

"^ This mean ev^afive manner, was not in the Cardi-
nal's difpofrtion ; but Cagliollro fo well prepared him^
that at the monrrent when die King had occafioned him'
to be arretted, he repeated like a parrot the words taught
him by that wretch, " I have been deceived by a wo-
" man named Valois de la Motte, who I am told is
^' gone abroad."— He believed we abfolutely were, and
hoped that by means of the inftruftions he had given
us, We fhould not be difcovercd. In the mean dmej
as it will be feen, we were quiedy feated at Bar-fur-
Aube, knowing him to be in the Baftile,

Su£t appeared to me extremely fufpicious. The even't
has manifefted that the doubts and diftruft I then en-
tertained, were but too well grounded.

That flanderous deelaratlon which he made to the
King, at the moment of his arrcft (a declaration, fo ri-
diculou?, when all the cireumftances previous to it are
confidered) produced, without the le^fl: advantage to
himfelf, the moft fatal effeft to lis ; who were far from
conceiving, how we could be involved in his difgrace.

We were at Bar-fur- Aube, where we had already
pafTed a fortnight in perfeft quiet. On the iyth of
Auguft, we vifited at the Duke de Penthievre's feat, at
Chatcau-Vilainj it was the eve of that Prince's depar-
ture. Thence^ we had taken the road to Clervaiix,
•where we arrived at the clofe of the day. We had juft
received information, tlut the Cardinal was in the Baf-
tile, and on that bare information, if we had been con-
fcious to ourfelves of any criminality, we were at liberty
to^ have embraced fo favourable a moment to evade all
purfuit. We had with us at the time all our diamonds, a
good carriage, four frefli horfes, and four more that had
brought us from Chateau- Vilain; we might that vtij
night Jiave efeapcd out of the kingdom— but what did
we do ? We returned home to Bar-fur- Aube.

In confequence of the intelligence we had juft receiv-
ed, the firft care, I ought to fay, the firft duty of the
Countefs was, to burn all the letters, or notes, flie re-
colleded to have in her poficfTion, either of the Queen's
or the Cardinal's ; which employed her two full hours,
before fhe went to bed. The next day, i8th, wheni
rofe, I perceived a heap of black afl\es, which I took up

to

[ iS3 ]

to throw into' the fire-place. I had fcarce done, when
my valet acquainted me, that two gentlemen defired to
fpeak with me. Being introduced, one of them told me
to make no difturbance, that they had orders from the
King to feize on all my papers. Without the leaft op-
pofition, I delivered up all the keys of my efcrutores,
chefts of drawers, &c.

While they were employed in fecuring all the
papers, which they put into a box, and which I
fealed widi my own feal, the Countefs was rifing.
One of them took me afide, and told me, they
had orders to take the Countefs into cuftody, who was
to be prefent at the breaking open of the feals. That
ftie need not be terrified, as they Ihould take her to the
Baron de Breteuil's, where matters would prefently be
fettled.

I imparted this circumftance to her, which ihe
heard with great compofure, afking only for time to
prepare for the journey. I afked thofe men, whether I
was free to accompany my wife ? They anfwered, that
they faw no impropriety in it; purfuant to which, I
went into my apartment to drefs, and ordered the car-
riage to be prepared. When I returned to them, they
obferved to me, that if I went off with them, it would
be believed they had orders to arreft me, with the Coun-
tefs; that it would be more eligible for tne to ftay a few
hours in town, to appear publicly, and then to follow
them. " Befidesj Taid they, you have better horfes
<* than we have; we go no farther th^n Nogent to-night,
<^ it will be eafy for you to overtake us." In confequence
of this advice, vyhigh to me feemed rational, I deter^
mined to flay, intending to follow them in about two

X hoursi.

hours.-r-Would to Heaven I had done fo; 5t will fhon!;
be feen, of what confequencc that would have been to
the Countefs and nnyfelf,

I hid hardly loft fight of the carriage, when 1 fhut
myfelf up in my apartment, fituated in awing, oppofice
to that which contains the apartment of the Countefi
I had in it an efcrutore, made at Paris, by my diredtlon,
with a fecret place to conceal money or papers. The
exempts had fcarched it, but had not difcovered this
fecurity, which was very ingcnicufiy contrived. At
the time of oqr laft removal from Paris, the Countefs
had put fome papers into it, which flie chofe to con-
ceal from me : and luckily, when fhe laid her hands on
all flie thought flie had been pofleflcd of, in order
to burn them, fhe had not recollefted thofe flie had
placed in this repofitory.

When the exempts had fearched that efcrytore, they
had found a fmall pocket book containing 35 thoiifand
liyres worth of bills on the CaifTc des Formes, and had
made feizure of them, though I had ftrongly remon-
ftrated that thofe papers were bills, and not any papers
they could be ip fcarch of (*). Their anfwer was that

their

(*) It is almoft fuperfluous, no doubt, to point out
a fccond time to the cbfervatior of the reader, that, \'
we had tiu)ught it poffible, we fliould be brought int^)
qucftion, in the fmalleft degree, by the CardinaFs dif-
after ; it was cafy for us to fecure thofe effefts, our
regdy money and jewek, from the fearch of the Police,

[ ^ss Jl

their orders were to feize all written papers^ without re-
garding what they were.

The Baron de Breteuil perfonally infornied of the
whole correfpondence, as we have feen that he gave
broad hints of it to the Countefs; was perfuaded, that
among her papers would be found letters from the
Queen and the Cardinal ; and had forbid his emiflaries
to caft a profane eye upon them, to the end that, him-
felf being fole mafter of the Queen's fecret, he might
make a merit with her of his difcretion and aflivity ;

but

but our attention "had been folely confined to papers
which might be liable to expofe the Queen and the
Cardinal ; and indeed papers were the only thing fought
after. This circumftance, gave room for a remark
made by the Countefs on the morning of her entrance
hto the Baftile : Mr. de Crofne, the Lieutenant of the
Police, coming to interrogate her, told her, that tlie
Cardinal accufed her of having defrauded him of a
necklace, under jpretence of the Qiieen's having a defire
for it. After Signifying to him her furprife, ihe faid,
flie could not imagine how the Cardinal could hava
accufed her of a thing, he knew to be falfe ; that how-
ever, even admitting the faft, (he wondered, that in-
ftead of feizing on all her jewels, ia order to afcertain
the crime, and convidl her, they IhouJd have confined
themfclves to a ftri6b inquifition after all papers in her
pofTefTion, a very needlefs proceeding in fuch a cafe^
It was on tliat occafion, that flie iniifted on producing
all the jewels the£xempts had left in her efcrutoroi

X 2

t HS ]

but chance had otherwife direflec!. Cafting my eyes
upon the efcrutorej which I hadjuft fcen fo fcandaloiifly
plundered, a thought came into my head to open the
private recefs, when, I was not a little furprifed, to
find in it a parcel of papers, wrapped up, tied round
with packthread, in a bag that had held money. I
locked my door, examined thofe papers, and judging
them to be of ferious confequence, I was at firft
tempted to burn them. Providence held back my
arm.

The Duke de Penthievre pafled through Bar-fur-
Aube> that morning : an officer in his retinue, whom I
met, as I was returning from handing the Countefs to
her carriage; acquainted with what had juft happened,
told me, that in a bufinefs like the prefent, I Ihould be
to blame to remain as unconcerned as I feemed to be ;
and that the moft prudent courfe I could purfue was to
fecure myfelf, till I heard what turn things were likely
to take ; my relations and friends whom I faw in the
courfe of the day, gave me the fame advice* I, in con-
fequence, refolved to pals over into England, where I
had formed eonneftions during my firft journey, and
had left fome diamonds, which it was natural I fliould
procure.

The Countefs ftt out at eleven o'clock in the morn-
ing, I took my departure at ten at night, with a hun-
dred louis d*ors in my purfe, and two parcels of pearls,
which Ihali be fpoken of hereafter; leaving with my
Brother In law, all my jewels, thofe of the Countefs,
and the keys of all that belonged to us. I faw my
fifter as far /as Meux, wkere we parted ^ I gave her

my

[ 157 ]

my addrefs in London, perlliaded that the firft let*
tcr I received from her, would give me intelligence
that the Countefs was at liberty, and waiting for mc
at Paris, ~~

I arrived at Boulogne on Saturday evening
the 2oth of Auguft ; on Monday the 22d, about
twelve o'clock, I embarked, and being arrived in
London, alighted at the fame ^ hotel I had lodged at
when I previoufly came over to England. My firft
vifit was to Mr. Gray the Jeweller, with whom, as
I before obferved, I had left fome diamonds to be
fet in a necklace and ear-rings, intended, when I--tie-
livered thenx to him, for the ufe of the Couatefs,
I found them completed, and had it not been for
that refource, I fhould have been reduced to the laft
extremities of want, having fupported myfelf a con-
fiderable time on the produce of them.

Three days after my arrival, I found out Mn
Linguet the counfellor, to whom I gave a faithful
account of the whole affair, as I have now related
it. He advifed me not to make myfelf uneafy a-
bout the fate of the Countefs ; as, by what he had
learnt from perfons well informed, the Queen's - in-
tention, apparently, was merely to ruin the Cardinal,
and that the necklace had ferved as a medium and
pretence. He further advifed me to fend my fervant
to my fifter, at Paris, in order to gain Intelligence of
what paflTed, as nothing could be done, he faid, till
certain information was obtained ; in confequence of
which a plan of future conduct might be laid down.

The ne>:t day I fent my valet de chambre, who the

moment

[ 158 ]

niomcnt he got to Paris was taken up ; nor have I ever
feen him fincc*

Two days after this, an Irifli pricft paid mc a vifit;
he was a friend of M^Dermot's (*) and told me the
latter was at Lancafter, that if I had any thing to im-
part to him, he would write to him that day, and would
take charge of any commifllon. I returned^ him thanb,
but declined his offer.

All my acquaintance were out of town, and I was
greatly at a lofs how to pafs my time ; on parting with
the Irifli prieft, who, no doubt kept his eye upon me^
I repaired to the Hay-market theatre. As it rained
when the entertainments were over, I took a hackney
coach home. Scarce had the coach reached Picadilly,
when I received fo violent a blow upon my head, that I
was ftunned for fom.e moments. Luckily I had a
round hat on, which had partly warded off the ftrokc,
and prevented my receiving further injury. At firft I
thought the coich had overturned, but recovering, and
finding it was going on, I endeavoured to find out what
had given me fo rude a fhock. Turning myfelf round
I perceived a hole in the back glafs, and rifing to exa-
mine it, I faw a man with both hands on the flraps by
which the fervants hold. In one of his hands he held,
what I took for a cane ; I then conjeftured that the
man, attempting to get up behind, as is frequently die
cafe, and miffing his aim, the point of his cane had

flruck

(*) It will prefently be feen who this M'Dcrmott
was, and the part he adled in this affair.

[ 159 ]

ftruck againfl: the glafs, broken It, and with the forc3-
given me a blow. I therefore replaced nnyfelf on
the back feat, and inadvertently threw myfelf into thfc
right hand corner, in doing which, chance befriended
jne, more than prudence ; for in the inftant the coach
turned down Duke-ftreet, to pafs into Jermyn-ftrect,
where I lived, there came through the fame hole, the
blade of a fword, which pafTing on a level with my
eyes, broke the glafs of the window on that fide where-
on I fat. Had I been fcated towards the middle, in a
lefs recumbent pofture, the weapon would certainly
have pierced my throat. Apprifed at length of the dan-
ger I was in, and having no arms, I pulled the check-
firing : upon which the coachman got down ; I made
him obferve the two glaffes broken, and a man running
away full fpeed ; but not knowing a word of Engliib,
and only able to exprefs myfelf in dumb fhow, the
coachman again got upon his box, without being able
to underftand any thing more, than that I had broken
his glalfes j the payment for which he demanded, as foon
as he had kt me doWn at the hotel, where I at lafh
found fome one who could underftand me. I related
what had juft happened to me, and received in anfwer,
barely, an advice to take care of myfelf. On the mor-
row I faw Mr. Linguet, who faid to me that my life
was oot fafe in London : that the ftroke was levelled
at me, either by the Queen, or the Cardinal : that I had
as much to fear from the one as the other : that he
comprehended why my exiftence difturbed them equally;
that in fhort I muft abfolutely conceal myfelf in the
moft fequeftered place, taking care to remit my addrefs

[ i6o ]

to him, as foon as I had fixed upon a refidence ; that he
niight be able to convey to me whatever news my valet
cie chambre might bring back, and direct rac what
courfe to take^ as circumftances fhould point out.

1 departed the fame dc^y, with a, fcrvant. for my in-
terpreter, who never left me from that moment untjl
' my return to London. After having wandered through ;
various places, thinking that M*D<rrmGt might bcl
fcrviceabie to mc in fuch a critical junfture, I deter-
mined to go to him at Lancafterj^ where arriving, J was
told he was at a place twenty miles difcant. I went
thither. lie w^s greatly furprifed to fee me ; he knew
of the melancholy adventure of the Cardinal and the
Coynt^jfs, and imagined that I was alfo in the Baf-
tile. During this interview and the fucceeding oneSj,
I entrufted him with the particulars relative to the in-
trigue between the Queen and the Cardinal, and reveal-
ed the affair of the necldace, with all its circumftances,
1 fhewed him that which I had juft taken out of the hands
of Mr. Gray, as likewife the ear-rings. Generally
fpeaking, I laid myfelf open infinitely too much, and
w'hat followed, evinced, that as faft as I fupplied him
with information, I did but ftimulate in him a defirc
of making his advantage of it. Accordingly, after two
days communication on my part, and confideration on
his, he advifed me to crofs over into Ireland, and affiime
another name. He furnifhed me w-irh various letters
of recommendation, and we agreed upon his fctting off
next day for London, where lie fhould fee Mr. Lin-
guer, and fend over to me my valet de chambre^s dif-
patches ; in fcort, that in all occurrences whatever, he

fhould

[ ^6i ]

iliould fo aft as to prevent or reftify any circumftance
that might militate againft me. Thus we parted at
Lancafter^ nor did I hear any thing of him afterwards,
till I was given to underftand, that the Cardinal had
fent for him> at a great expcnce, to put his name to a
depoficion, prepared by Target the hwyevi He had al-
ready began his ifnpoftures and treacheries at London,
wjiere dcpofitions had been didated to him, which are
a collection of ill-contrived /^^//>i, fo demonftrated td
be, hyfam (*). And yet upon fuch a bafis of falf-

hoodi

(*) The Capuchin, M'Dermot, having given irt
a depofition at London, at the inftigation of Carbon-
nicres ; afterwards repaired to Paris, at a vaft expcnce,
to bear evidence to a heap of falfhoods that proved
nothing. I am going, on this occafion, to relate the
behaviour of the Soliciitor and Recorder, in endeavour-
ing to intimidate the Countefs, when fl:ie entered the
Council Chamber, She perceived in the countenances
of thofe two gendemen a certain gloomy afpefti
a dejefted air, which fhe had not before perceived. The
Solicitor, Dupuis de Marce, addreffcd her in thefc
terms, and widi a ghaftly tone of voice : ** Madam, I
" am forry to tell you, that you are going to be con-
** fronted with a perfon that comes a great way off,
" and whom you undoubtedly do not expeft." The
Countefs, imagining, at firft, that it was me, repeated
what flie had fiiid a Iiundred times before : that my pre-
fence could not but be advantageous to her, perfuaded
that I fhould fpeak truth and convid the Cardinal.
Y " Madam,

[ ^62 ]

hood/ deles the fhamelefs Target, raife the rkliculoifs
luperftrudure of* that bombaftic memorial, which forced

tears

" Madam, I am afraid of throwing you into fits^*'
*^ Be not afraid of any fuch thing,*' anfwered fhe, "the
" prefence of that perfon cannot but give mc pka-
'' fure." Seeing, at laft, that he could not fucceed in
intimidating her, he faid to Fremyn, fetching a deep
figh : '* go then, Fremyn, and bring that perfon here/'
Fremyn got up, went and opened a door, through which
the Countefs faw a hypocritic looking figure conic clofe
up to her, with his eyes caft upon the ground ; at whofe
unufual fight fhe exclaimed : " What ! another wretch
*^ for the purpofe of fubornation ! let us fee how well
'^ this being is inftru6ted." They firft read over to
him his own depofition, which had certainly been drawn
up by the lawyer Target. Accuftomed as Ihe was to
hear this language daily, fhe perfectly knew again the
ftyle and phrafeology of a man, verfed in chicanery. At
theconclufion of the reading, which Ihe often interrupted,
byobfervations, tending to humble the villain, and exprefs
the contempt and abhorrence flie was infpired with,
againft thofe who had any fhare in fcfch iniquitous prac-
tices ', ihe faid, that depofition was a heap of frlf-
hoods, abominable lies, and that he who was fo infa-
mous as to utter them, deferved exemplary punifhmenl.
As he was rapidly proceeding on the fecrets, he faid I
had imparted to him, concerning the connections ot
the Counccfb with the Queen and tlie Cardinal; Ihc re-

pre-

[ i63 1

tears from the Cardinal, when he faw that every thing
in it was falfe.

Every

prefentcd to him, that fince I Tepofed fo great a con-
fidence in him, I muft have told him the place of my
concealment. She infifted on obtaining from him a
declaration of it, that I might be brought face to face
with him ; to which he anfwered, that he knew nothing
about it. Dupuis de Marce and Fremyn, who had
their views in finding her guilty, often faid to her (e^^e-
cially when flie prefTed her arguments home upon the
Capuchin, and ufcd exprefiions fuiced to his villainy,)
" But, Madam, you cannot tell what your hufband may
" have told the Abbe M'Dcrmot in their converfations
" together: he is a man of integrity, incapable of com-
" ing hither to deceive." ^^ We Ihall fee that prefently,"
*^ faid Ihe, *^ fince Mr. de la Motte is not here to con-
" vift him in thofe points that concern himfelf, I am go-
" ing to do it, from the obfervations I have made upon
" his depofition." He had told a long-winded ftory
about the jewels, which he faid, he had fcenme have, at
my firft journey to London. The Countefs had taken
notice of a number of abfurdities, among others, of the
mention he made of a fuperb pair of flioe buckles fet
with brilliants. Luckily I haci left them at Bar-fur
Aube, and they were depofi ted in one of her boxes^, at
theBaftlle. She had them brought, not without great
difficulty, and the knavifh Friar was humbled at the
fight of the /^/^r^ jewel— woith about iwo guineas; fo it

Y 2 fated

[ i64 ]

Every body knows that he rejeffced it, forbad ks ap-
pearing, folemnly denied the whole contents, and cried
out in his indignation, that he vyould not be made to
appear a fool.— To which Target replied, " My Lord^
^^ your fannily will have it fo : there's no other way for
f^ you to fave yourfelf ''

Being arrived at Dublin, I, in perfon, delivered the
letters I had received from M^Dermot to their re-
fpeftivc addrelTes, was perfecSlly well received, and in a
fcv/ days introduced into the genteeleft companies. I
|iad even an opportunity of feeing the Lord Lieutenant,
who made a number of enquiries concerning the Car-
dinal's ficuation, and faid fome polite things to mci
among the reft, that v/hen he was in town (for he then
reficled chiefly in the country) he fhould be glad to fee
rne. In the courfe of the converfation he affefted to
admire a fteel chain which I vyore to my watch. To this
hung my feal, which he examined, a circumfiance that
left me no doubt but he knew who I was. It will be
fhortly fecn, by the fecrets Count d'Adhemar afterwards
difclofed to me, that I was not miftaken.

I had been almofl: three weeks at Dublin, without
'hearing from M*Dermot, which made me very un-

eafyi

with the reft of his evidence. After flie had ufed him
as he merited, flie told the Solicitor, that ihe fuppofed
he prefentiy would fend for the cobler at the corner of
the ftreet, to give evidence againfther; hailing made
thi? remark, fhe left the place incenfed and enraged at
the villains and their condud.

[ ^65 ]

eafy j but If he did nor write to me, he did to others j
and appeared inaftive with regard to me.

I was often invited to parties of pleafure in the nei^^h-
bourhood of Dublin; to which I iifed to refort without
the attendance of my fervant. I one day returned from
one of them much indifpofed; I loft my appetite, but
attributed my condition to the uneafinefs and vexation
which preyed upon me. Dragging every where a liftlefs
cxiftence, fufpefting that I was known in Dublin, in a
word, tormented by unpleafing prefentiments, though
very lucky ones for me, I refolved to quit that ifland,
and pafs over to Scodand, I told my acquaintance I
was going to fee the famous Lake of Killarney, that I
fhould then take Cork in my way back^ having an in-
clination to view it. Purfuing a direct contrary road,
I got to a fmall fea-port town oppofite the coaft of
Scotland. My diforder grew every moment worfej I
was not to be knov/n again. I had been eighteen days
without performing the moft natural and indifpenfible
functions of nature, when I arrived at Glafgow. I fent
for a phyfician, who after much examination and quef-
tioning, told me there was fomething very extraordi-
nary In my malady, which he could make nothing of;
and that he advifed me to repair without lofs of time to
Edinburgh, where I fhould meet with more afliftance
from the faculty, than in anyplace in the world. In the
mean while he gave me fome cooling draughts, that
proved ineffeftual. Arriving early next day at Edin-
burgh, I fent for a phyfician and a furgeon, of the higheft
repute ;. v/ho having confulted together for a confidcrable
time^ left me, faying they would come again next day,

to

[ i66 ]

to judge of the effbtl; produced by the medicines thty
would fend me. The next day I found inyfelf
much worfe> and a few days after I was not able to
leave my bed. It was at this utmoft extremity, I
difcovered, by their qucftions, and the medicines they
adminiftcred to me, that poilbn had fucceedcd a difap-
pointed alTafrination ; they telling me, that eight days

later, it had been impofllblc to fave me. Whofe

hand had direded the murderers fteel ? whofe hand haci

filled the poifoned cup ? What follows will but too

clearly point it out. The French Ambaflador left n^e

no doubt. 1 Hiall not explain myfelf more clearly,

at prefent than it ■vyill be feen, he himfclf did itj^— but;
certainly without intention.

The confequence of this fecond attempt upon my
lifcj w^s pafiing three months in my bed, and between
four and five, without leaving my apartment ; during all
which time I heard not one word of die Cardinars
affain When I was ir> a condition to bear readings my
feryant propofed bringing to me a mailer of languages,
whom he met with^ every day, ?it the tavern, whence
my table was provided; and to prevail with me to re-
ceive him, he told me, the man taught Italian at the
Dukes of Gordon and Buccleugh; that he daily heard
my affair talked over, and that I mught without affec-
tation, draw from him intcrefting particulars. Had 1
been fure of getting intelligence, I could have pe-
netrated to the centre J I therefore relifhed the pro-
pofal, and faw the man that fame evening ; to whom I
faid, that by way of recreation, I had an inclination to
learn Italian. He was very loquacious^ and witliout

my

[ i67 ]

my leading him to the topic I wifhedj he Wendedj with
his medley of news, the names of the Cardinal, of the
Coimtefs de la Motte, of Caglioftro; told me, there had
appeared Memoirs under thofe three names, but that
was the extent of his knowlege. As I had noticed at
Glafgow, that a certain coffee-houfe took in the Leydcn
Gazette, I took coach and went thither, when calling
for the whole file of papers, I turned them over haftily,
and with a furprife equal to my indignation, faw, by
fragments from thofe memoirs, the infidious turn that
had been given to the defence of the Countefs. I
curfed, without knowing him, the fenfelefs or knavifli
lawyer, who had fo abfurdly or bafely perplexed a bufl-
nefs, of itfclf fo plain. I fpent two days and two nights,
in writing out all that feemed to bear on the moft efTen-
tial points, and then returned to Edinburgh ; firmly re-
folved to difpatch an exprefs to Mafter Doillot, whom I
was not acquainted with, and whom I flill lefs knew^to
have been chofen and dircftcd by the Baron de Brc-
teuil. The circle of my acquaintance in Edinburgh
being rather contrafted, I unfortunately (*) caft my eyes
on the Mafter of Languages ; who being in almoft a

ftarving

* Very unfortunately indeed. This was ftlll worfe
than M'Dermot. The man I am fpeaking of, and
who is to adl fo atrocious a part, in what I have left to
relate of my perfonal concerns, was an arrant adven-
turer, who went by the name of Benevent, but known
in England by that oiCoJta, for which he hod exchanged
hi^ real name of Miis,

[ i68 3

ftarving condition, fcemed likely to be difpofcd fof
undertaking a journey, that would bring him fome pecu-
niary advantage.

As he, immediately on my rettirn, took it into his
head to tell me a long ftory of his misfortunes, a tale he
had already repeated over and over again; I embraced
the opportunity to hint to him, that I had it in my
power to render him a fervice. I difclofed myfelf to
him, and propofed his taking a trip to Paris, in order to
deliver to a lawyer, fome papers I would entruft hlni
with. His nnfwer was, an offer of doing any thing that
might be pleafing to me. Next morning he came to
tell me, that he had confidered of my propcfali that
fince the delivery of a parcel^ was all that was requi-
'fite>' his wife could perform the bufinefs as well as him-
felf, nay better ; as fhe would be lefs liable to fufpicion,
and her journey would be attended with lefs expence. I
was fatisfied with his advice; wrote a letter to Maftef
Doillot, in form of a memorial, in which I informed
him of all that had happened ; alked counfel of him, re-
lative to the conduft it was necefl?ry for me to adopt i
and pofitively affured him, I was determined to return
to Paris, in order to fhare my wife's fate, to defend hen
mdio /peak the truth, if forced to it : Thofe were my
exprcffions. (*) I added, that I only waited for his an-
fwcr to take my departure.

I fenr

~ * That doating .fool Doillot, in his' Memorial, which
he drew up in confequence of my letter, but ftill under

• -■ the

[ 1^9 ]

I fent this Cofta to take a place for me in the coach
for Edinburgh, gave his wife the money neceflary-for
her journey, delivering the packet deftined for Doillot,
and added neceflary inftruftions to prevent her meeting
with dlfagreeable incidents. She fet out the following
day, the fecond or third of April, 178R.

On her arrival at Paris Ihe procured a conveyance to
the Sieur Doillot's, to whom Ihe fignified her being
pofleflcd of papers of confequence, intended for him.
The old, fquint-eyed, clownifh fellow, whimfically fan-
cied, that he difcovcred this woman to be a man,

a fpy in petticoats, and refufed to fpeak to her ; until
fhe had undergone an examination by his wife: an
inquifition, which Madame Doillot very gravely
made; and on that lady's report to her fpoufe, of the
regular conformation of the faid meflenger, the limb
of the law vouchfafed to examine the writings, which

Z he

the murderous influence of the Baron de Breteuil, who
had forbid him to mention the Queen's name, and
charged him to criminate the Cardinal without reftraintj
that venal idiot, I fay, quotes, in his wretched rhap-
fody; intituled '*^ A Summary, &c." the identical pa-
ragraphs in my letter. He there fays in italics, that
lam ^' determinately difpfed to attempt every thing prac-
*^ tic able, to unite my fate with that of my vjife,'' But
that is fwallowed up in a flood of lies ; die more crimi-
nal, as he knew the truth, and the Countefs had given
him, in writing, all thq particulars, exaftly as we now
rdat€ them,

[ I70 1

he alfo found in proper order. He then advifed Mrj?.
Cofta to rcnnain at the hotel where fhchad alighted, till
fhe heard from him. What docs this faithful counfel of
the Countefs next do ?-— inftead of immediately fending
back the meffenger with the anfwer, which his employ-
ment by the Countefs, required he fhould fend me;
inftead of affording her time to get out of the kingdom,
before he communicated my letter, in cafe he thought
Jiimfelf obliged fo to doj he, that inftant, flew to the
Baron de Breteuil's, pitifully, to know his orders. He
called, in his way thither, at the Lieutenant de Police's,
to prepare him for the reception of fuch orders ; and
fearing that the police, accuftomed to fecrecy, would
not ring an alarm, he officiated himfelf, by proclaiming,
wherever he pafled, that he had received letters from
Count de la Motte, who was coming over to fiirrcnder
lijmfelf a prifoner ! What was the confequence ? the
Cardinal's family was informed that I was preparing to
vifit France, in order to fj^eak the iptifh ;— the truth was,
to that family a thun5er-boIt. How could the blow be
warded off ? by applying/^rm'/y, yes, very fecretly, to the
Count de Vergennes; who while aiTefting defircus to have
nie in his clutches, employed all tlie petty refources of
his jobbing politics, ja reality to prevent my appearance.
My readers will certainly exprefs figns of the utmoft
contempt, when they prefcntly underfland the methods
ufed by that, then, greai ftatefman, though now fo liule.
The fa6l is, that, notwithflanding what the romancing
d'Adhemar has fined told me, he (de Vergenncs) hear-
tily hated the Queen, and if I am not miftaken in the
conjedures I have formed, and which are not wholly

con-

[ 771 ]

confined to myfelf, he had reafon to rue it on his death
bed. Hating the Queen, he was confequently the fe-
cret fupporter of her enemies. The Cardinal was be-
conne one of them ; he muft therefore be lupported :
but that could not be done, if Vcrgennes had openly
declared himfelf j he therefore found it confiftent with
prudence and his own refined policy, oftenfibly to blame
him; at the fame time that he privily took m.eans for
his fafet)', in proportion fo he exaggerated his crimes.

Let us revert to Doillot and Breteuil : all thofe ho-
tieft people ought to be coupled together. The mimf-
terial BaroHy after taking a few days confideration, fent
for the Iaw}'er Doillot, and told him, he might write
me word, that the bell courfe I could take, was to re-
pair to Paris, without a moment's lofs or tim.c, and to
affure me, in his name, that I had nothing to fear.
Doillot accordingly wrote the fame day, ' and perfonally
delivered the letter to Mrs* Cofta, charging her to fet
out, and toufeailponible fpeed. Purfuant to his direc-
tions, this female courier began her journey back on
Eafter Sunday, 1786.— but fhc proceeds not far.

Whilft the Doillots and the Breteuils were concerting
meafures, without properly underftanding each other j .
the crafty Vergennes had difpatched a melTengcr to
Count d'Adhemar. The fcheme was, then, to fecure me
at Edinburgh, and a Secretary of the Jmhajfador was
charged with the honorable commiffion. The bufineis
was to fecure me, dead or alive^ but the former was infi-
nitely preferable; fo that, had the Secretary (whofe name
was d'Arragon, prov^sd fuccefsful, I certainly never

Z % Ihould

[ ^T\ ]

Jliould have feen Paris \ an afiertion I Ihall fliortly render
more than probable.

This rcfolution once formed, it became neceffary to
avoid putting me on my guard, and confequently
Cofta's wife was to be prevented from delivering to me
Doillot's letter. Mr. de Vergennes provided againft all
thofe obftacles : he let her depart, and when at a cer-
tain didance from Paris, he caufed her to be arretted,
and carried to the Baftile, whcr€ flie was detained two
days.

During thefe tranfaftions in France, I perceived in
Scotland, that I was dogged about and watched. I im-
parted my obfervations.to my zvortby companion Cofta;
who was already in the Ambaffador's confidence, and
had been honoured by feveral interviews with d'Arra-
gon. He anfwered me, there was no probability of
fuch a circumftance : that my urieafinefs might prefent
to my imagination, objefts which had no exiftence : that
however, if I did niot think myfelf fafe at Edinburgh,
I Ihould do well to change my fituation, and immedi-
ately propofed the town of Newcaftle upon Tyne for
my retreat. The truth was, he had met with too many
obftacles to the execution of his orders at Edinburgh j
the feizure of my perfon, which he was corjimiffioned
with. He flattered himfelf that by drawing me to
a lefs confiderable town, where I had no acquaintance,
he ftiould more eafily effea his purpofe : I fell into the
fnare, and fet out for Newcaftle. The kidnapping
d'Arragon the fame day took the road to London, to
carry information to the Ambaflador, of the frelh dif-
poficions taken by Cofta j and as the expence of cou-
riers

[ 173 ]

Hers was an objeft of no confequence in fo capital an affaii' j
Count d'Adhemar difpatched one ro the Count de Ver-
gennes, to inform him of the new turn matters had
taken. When this Pacificator of Europe heard, tliat the
fcheme had been obftrufted at Edinburgh ; judging t!ve
farther confinement of Mrs. Cofta needlefi, he had her
brought fecretly out of the Baftile, efcorted by two
exempts of the police, who took her to the Baron de
Breteuirs, That minifter, whom the Counteis fo well
pointed out, by the appellation of the thunder-bearer of
defpotifniy caufed a hundred louis d'ors to be given her
forfmart money, and a letter for me, figned Doillot;
not written by Doillot, but in the office of the fupreme
head of the police, who, moreover, made her the faireil
promifes, if fhe prevailed on her hu/band to enter into
their views : that is, to deliver me up, alive or dead.

Whenllie left the minifter's hotel, one of the exeh'u>ts
took her to his houfe, and never left her afterwards, till
he conduded her to Calais, and faw her fafe on board
a veflel. Arriving at Dover,/ fhe found the never-
failing d'Arragon waiting for her on the fhore.— -What
honours laviihed on a poor creature, who, at the mo-
ment of my writing this, receives her daily food at my
^ fervant's table ! Scarce had fhe fet one foot on land,
when the ready d^Arragon refpeftfully gives her his
hand, makes her his property, puts her into a chalfe,
and carries her to the indolent Adhcmarj who, on fo extra*
ordinary an occafion, probably condefcended to half raife
himfelf from his eafy chair. He ratified the promifes fhe
had received from the Baron de Bretcuil, and rcfrefhed

her

[ 174 ]

her memory, by repeating to her, with much amplifi-,
cation, the inftruftions given to her at Paris.

It is now neceflary to inform die reader, that Cofta

had written to his wife to join them at Newcaftle, where

we then were, as foon as fhe arrived from France j

and, in cafe that letter Ihould not be received at London,

he had left one to the fame purport at Edinburgh, at

the houle wherein he had lodged ; but thofe caudons

were fuperfluous : d^Arragon, who had got our addrefs,

almoft as fbon as wc had fixed our abode at Newcaftle,

gave it to Cofta's wife ; whom he fent off, telling her,

he would follow her in two or three days* Upon her

arrival, which was whilft I was at dinner, llie delivered

to me, at her jfirft entrance, the pretended letter from

Doillot, whofe hand writing I was a ftranger to ; fo that

in that relpeft, it was an eafy matter to impole up'on

me t but when, on perufal, I found it was not an an-

l\ver to mine, in any article, I began to entertain fufpi-

cions, which gained ftrcngth, when queflioning the

woman, I received anfwers expreffive of the utmoft em-

barraffment on her part ^ fhe blufhed at every word, and

although I affecfted to fix niy eyes on tirc letter, fhe had

delivered to me, they were not fo much employed as to

let the winks and figns of encouragement, from the

hufband, efcape me.

I had already feen and heard enough not to doubt^
that I was fallen into very bad hands : and the refolu-
tion of removing fecredy from diem, immediately fuc-
ceeded the birth of my fufpicions. But, in order not
to give them any alarm, I avoided putting caprious
queftions, affcfting rather to believe all the woman told

mc>

t 175 1

tfie, and dinner being over, I feized the moment of their

withdrawing, to call my fervant, to whom I difclofed

iiy fufpicions, fo mucfi the more confidentially, as,

: jckily, he dctefted equally both the hufband and the wife.

i therefore acquainted him with my intention of leaving

lem at N^wcaflle; charged him to pack up my things .

itGrerly, and to have a chaife in r.eadinefs at twelve or

one o'clock in the morning. My orders being given, I

went up gently to the door of the room, into which

thekhonefl couple had withdrawn. Unable to diftin*

guilh their difcourfe, v^'hich was in Englilh, I bounced

into the room : and, as I made my appearance nnex-

peftedly> I'found fpreadup on the table, the chairs, and

ven the bed, all the articles purchafed by Cofta's wife,

it Paris, with part of her hundred louis d'ort. I had

need of no more than one glance of my eyes, and

therefore immediately retired, faying, "you are bufy,ril

' go and take a walk."

Gofta, who knew me, furmifed that what I had jhH
ctD) would fill me with conjeftures, and, probably,
would drive me to fome refolution that would baffle all
his hopes. To prevent, what he deemed, the greateft
nisfortune that could befal him, and infpire me widi
onfidence^ he determined to entruft me, with part of
vhat was plotting againft me. He told me, his wife
lad been in the Baftile, how^lhe had got out of if, had
-een carried to the Baron de Breteuirs, her pafiage over
'^a, the meeting with d'Arragon at Dover, and the cx-
i^eftation of the fpeedy arrival of that little man-catcher^
it Newcaftle. After he had thus, as he termed it, un-
ymhened his hearty he fwore to mc an inviolable fidelity 5

an

[ 176 ]

an Qath which I took for no more than it was worth. I
made him however promife, at all events, that he would
do nothing without confulting me j afliiring him diat I
would furnifh him v/ith means of getting money from
the Government of France j provided he afted in con-
cert wnth me, and make no fecret of any thing; this he
promifed to do, and I declined for die prefcnt leaving
Ncwcaftle,

Two days after this, at ten o'clock at night, while we
were at fupper, Cofta received a letter from d'Arragon,
to acquaint him with his arrival, and defired his com-
pany at the inn; to whicli the former repaired, and
ijid not return for two hours. Upon my afking him
y/fiat the bufinefs was ? he told me, that the French
Ambankdor's Secretary was coming, to have me carried
qff; that he was attended by two exempts of the police,
named Grandmaifons- and Quidor; tliat they expeded a
veffel, that failed from Dunkirk, with a fwarm of myrmi-
dons of the police, under the command of the exempt
Surbois; that they had all affumed titles, and changed
their names ; diat their pretence, in order to give no
umbrage in Newcaftle, was a trial of die trade of pit
coal I ^ that they were furniflied with letters of recommen-
dation for that purpofe, I afked Cofta, what he had
faid to them? " Nothing, anfwered he, except re-
*^ quefting time to refleft till to-morrow, I am, pur-
*^ fued he, to fet out at fix in the morning widi d*Ar-
" ragon, to furvey the harbour, and fetde the mode of
" conveying you on board a ihlp." I advifed him to
promif;^ every thing, to give every poffible affurance ;
but iirft to fee that he had a thoufand good guineas

paid

I

[ 177 ]

paid down to him ; " which when you have fecured,
" faid I to him, you will tell them j that, all rightly
" confidered, the forcibly carrying off a man, in fo fre-
«^ quentcd a port, and at fuch a diftance from the town,
« is a thing impra6ticable ; that they may go back to
^' London, and affure the Ambaffador, that in four days
« you will be there with me i and that, in fome way
" or other, you will engage to convey me to, Paris,
^^ for the fum of ten thoufand pounds fterling. You
*^ know that I fent your wife to Paris, to furnilh me
<^ with means of repairing thither myfelf. I now de-
" Glare to you, upon the word of an honeft man, that
" I am going to take my departure for London, where
" I intend to fee the Ambaffador ; then take myfelf to
" Paris, and be the means of your getting ten thoufand
*^ pounds fterling.

The firft demand of the thoufand guineas, was
granted at a word, with a trifling defalcation of fixty,
which honefi D'Arragon withheld for his fees: As to the
ten thoufand, they were promifed, on condition, that the
fame D'Arragon ftiould make a ftoppage of one fifth on
his own account. What a worthy man, is this Monfieur

D'Arragon ! How calculated for how fitting to the

truft — how creditable to the office he this day holds,
o( Secretary to the French Ambaffador^ If more is want-
ing, let me give a more fubftantial proofs which only
came to my knowledge, fubfequently to the plan I had
been forming with his counterpart, the no Icfs worthy
Mr, Cofta. The honeft little myrmidon was provided
with a phial, filled with a liquor, which he faid, had
the property of putting a man to fleep for only four
A a and

r 178 ]

and twenty hours fucceffively, and he had tried to make
Cofta adminifter that fmall dofe to me, in fome tea or
wine ; the vehicle was no doubt to be at my own
choice ; telhng him, that when once that gentle foporific
had taken efFe£t, I might be put into a fack, hke a
bundle of foul linen ; be carried down to the harbour
under favour of darknels^ conveyed on board, by 'way
of a portmanteau, be thrown into the hold, and, I
hrave no doubt, in the end, be caft into the fea. It is
more, than demonftrated, that they had no occafion for
me alive, which I fhall prefently put beyond all queftion.
Thefe agreeable particulars I have from Cofta's wife,
who let me inro many other circumftances equally fatif-
faftory.

Notwidiftanding this apparent confidence, by which
Cofta had fought to enfure mine, he had abfolutely en-
tered into the plot; the ten thoufand pounds were ready,
and if he did not get them by making ufe of the phial,
it was, becaufe my man was 'ah invincible obftacle in
his way; who muft have been m^de to fwallow die like

dofe in order. alfd to turn him into ^ portmanteau ;

and that was a thing fomewhat more than diiEcult. I
watched him narrowlv; he knew how far he was Rrown
obnoxious to my fufpicion ; the leaft motion that he
had made, bearing marks of an attempt to feize me,
would have been his undoing, with fo much tlie greater
certainty, as from my knowledge of the number and
even the names of die fatdlites, employed in this un-
dertaking, I might have informed againft them, and
have produced proofs of their villainy. Where a halter is

fufpended

[ ^79 ]

fiifpendcd before a man's eyes, he will look twice before
he leaps once.

Thefe gentlemen retainers to the police, apprehenfive
that nothing could be done at Newcaftle, fet out for
London, juft as they had come from it^ but fully per-
fiiaded, in confequence of Cofta's promifeSj that their
prey would not efcape them.

I reached London a few days after them; and that
very night D'Arragon found out Cofta, and told him,
the Ambailador wanted to fpeak to him the next morn-
ing. Fie came himfelf to fetch him, and took him to
a ftreet, where they met his Excellency, who conde-
fcended to get into a hackney coach with diofc two wor-
thies! Such was the council-chamber where the noble
Triumvirate deliberated on th^ methods of carrying me
away. D'Arragon faid he had thought upon a plan, and
he would anfwer for the fuccefs, and that was, to precure
fome perfon to fwear a debt agalnft me of fix thoufan4
pounds fterling. He had bribed a fherifF's officer,
who was to have arrefted me, and had engaged to put
me on board a (hip, provided the AmbafTador would be
anfwerable for the events that might enfue, and defray
the expence.

Cofta who thought I could not be impofed upon by
fuch defigns, faid, that it was a ftale trick, and that' 1
Ihould not fall into the fnare ; that at the moment I was
arrefted, I would caufe myfelf to be conveyed on foot
to Newgate, folbwed by a mob of people, which would
marr their intention. He concluded by telling the Am-
baflador, tliat he would weigh the matter .ifipre rna-
' A a 2. ' ' r,

[ iSa ]

turcly, and that on the nnorrow his Excellency ihould
hear from him.'

Acquainted with the appointment, I formed a refo-
lution to prevent the effeft of it, by writing diredVly to
the Ambaffador ; with a view to bring him to a compro-
mife with me, and divefl: him of the confidence he had
in his Cofta; by letting him know that, through the means
of the very ager^t he had employed, I had information
of the whole tranfa6lion» I acquainted him that, after
the fteps I had taken towards my return to Paris, I was
furprifed at the attempts, the artifices ufed by him to
enfhare me ; that I wiflied to have an explanation witli
him j and ended by telling him, I would meet him
wherever he fliQuld think proper to appoint, his own
houfe excepted. He gave me the meeting the fame day
at Lady Spencer's, to whofe houfe I repaired with Coft^
and my own fervant, who ftaid at the door, purfuant to
my orders. The company was not rifen from table, but
Count d'Adhemar appeared in the parlour I had been
fhewn into, at the very moment that nny n^me was an-
nounced. He took mc to the recefs of a window, that
Cofta might not overhear our converfation. After I had
given him a curfory account of the contents of thefe
Memoirs ; had laid before him the Cardinal's conduft
refpefting the Queen, his unguarded fpeechcs, his fenfe-
Icfs projefts, his frantic ambition, the necefTary con-
fequences of the fliattered ftate of his affairs; the mif-
fortune of the Co^ntefs being attached to him through
gratitude, &c. &c. in {hort, almoft all that the Coun-
tcfs has already written; I aiked him, with what view
fome perfons feemed fo obftinately bent on entrapping

me,

[ i8i ]

mc, fince I had ofFered to betake myfelf to Paris of
my own accord; and that I was now ready foto do, if
they would only give me the fecurities ufual in fimilar
cafes, and that, under no pretence whatever, fhould any

attempt be made upon my liberty. ^^ ^hat is ex-

" aBlyy faid he, what thoje perfons wiH not do, (*) But
" hear me, I have thought of another way ; come to
** my houfe to-morrow -, I will acquaint you with it,
" and wc will have a thorough cdnverfation on all mat-
** ters which concern you ; I give you my word as a
<* gentleman^ that you have nothing to fear. You kno'vo

that

' * Thofe few w^ords dropped from the Ambaflador's
mouth are a folution to the whole affair. Why would
not thofe perfons have me appear? Becaufe I pould
have told the truth. I had declared to many perfons,
that my intention was to demand of the Judges in open
Parliament; whether, in cafe I uttered all that I knew,
they would take me under their proteftion, fave me
from the Baftile, and appoint the Conciergerie for my
prifon, till the definitivie fentence was pronounced. That
was, what " thofe perfons would not do J' Why therefore
try to carry me off? It is evident as I have faid, that it
was not for the fake of having me alive and capable of
fpeahng the truth, which they dreaded ; but dead and
filent as the tomb. It is confequcntly, equal prefump-
tive evidence that the pretended fleeping draught was
downright potfon. But my interview with the Ambafla-
dor altered all thofe difpofitions which my worthy
friends had' made, as I am going to fet forth.

[ 182 ]

" that I am of the Queen's party. Intimately connected

**^ with Madame de Polignac, confequently a profeffd

<^ enemy of die Cardinal's; the Qvieen has fworn his

" ruin: you can, better than any one in the world,

^' , facilitate the accomplifliment of her Maj^lly's wilhes,

"_ fince your Lady has fuch an ill-judged partiality for

" hirn, fo dangerous to himfelf. I know, that in even the

^' commencement of the affair, flie had very bad coun-

" fels given her, which fhe imprudently followed, and

^' which would infallibly bring her to her ruin, if there

*^ were not means of prevention to be found— -luckily

'^ there is one way left : your prefence and depofitions

. *^ would ^rttlrely overthrow all that has hitherto been

*^ done, and the bufinefs would take quite a different

" turn." Here, afking me the particulars of certain

points which I had but flightly touched, I faw that my

anfwers afforded him infinite fatisfadlion, joy fparkled

in his eyes, he already faw the Cardinal brought to the

fcaffold.

Before I departed, I told him I was determined, let
what would befal others, to reveal the whole matter,
having nothing in view but the fafety of the Countefs,
and the honour of us both ; but that I feared the houfe
of Rohan would have intereft enough to ward off the
blow and get judgment pafTed before my arrival. To
that hcanfwered, that I had nothing to fear; that " the
^* Bourbons ought to prevail over the RobanSy and that
"-^ policy required that the Kihg fhould be right I that his
"^ Majefty referring the cognizance of that affair to his
" Parliament, was prejudging him guilty, and that he
" muft of neceffity be fo criminated. The .Queen"

con-

oncinued he, " is concerned In it, in every relative
ff view, from athoufand confiderations 5 therefore, from
^f the knowledge you muft neceflarily have, of every
" fituation In the a£ting of that fctne, you can have no-
'^ thing to fear from the Influence of the Rohans, when
'^ in competition with the Bourbons, in the fa^y or to

fpeak nrore properly, In the formy the Cardinal pleads
*^' againft your Lady and yourfclf ^ for yojii ^re .meirly
"the reprcfcntatives, the real party is* the. Queen ;
" think, therefore, of making advantage of v/hat I tell

you. At tht^ commencement of the afFaIr, I could
'^ have had you taken up at Dublin, the Duke of Rut-
'' land (*) had written to m€ in confequence, pro-
'^ mifing to facilitate the means. I had tranfi^nittcd to
" Verfaiiles an account of his letter, but, as ' at that
' period, they thought they had enough to convict
''the Caj-dinal upon, your prefence was. not deemed
'' neceilajy, and I received for anAver, that I need not
'' proceed any farther, but let you retriaih quiet.

However, when fome time after, the Rohans were ken
' to get the upper hand, then it was that no ilone was

left unturned, to get pofleffion of your perfon : the
'' Queen would have facrificed half the kingdom to that
'' objeft. So circumftanced are things at prefcnt : tha<

is the prlnciDle of my aftivity : nor fhall IdilTemble^
" that your letter having given me a fenfible pleafure,
'^ I immediately fent oJEF,a courier to Verfaiiles, to ac-

* That fame Lord Lieutenant who had examined my

't'al, but, « de mortuis nih nift bonum:'

^^ quaint

[ 184 ]

" quaint Mr. de Vcrgennes I was to fee you this day,
" and to concert with him about your departure. I
" inclofed your letter in the packet, to the end that
" Mr. de Vergennes, feeing with his own eyes, that
•' you are ready to attend, may. give immediate orders
*^ to fufpend all proceedings till your arrival ; fo you
" fee you have nothing to apprehend from a precipitate
« trial."

I quitted the AmbafTador with a promife of returning
to him the next day, and reflcdting on all that he had
communicated to me, I eafily acccounted for the dif-
ferent views, which had actuated die conduct of differ-
ent people relpefting me, according to the difference
of circumftances, and faw how little the life of an indi-
vidual is valued, when It ferves the purpofes of power,
to put a period to it.

The following day, punctual to my appointment, I
repaired to the Ambaffador's, who, in almoft the firft
fentence that efcaped his lips, elucidated with more ac-
curacy than the preceding day, the caufe that, after
wilhing to have me a corpfe in their pofiefTion, they now
wifhed to have me a living evidence. "It had been
" feared" faid he to me, " lest you should es-

" PQUSE the CaRDINAL^S INTEREST, PREFERABLY TO

*^ THAT OF THE QuEEN. At prefent I am eafy, and
" the contents of your letter, which I enclofed in mine,
" as I informed you yeflerday, will give frefh fpir its to
" the party, and I queflion not, but they will fpeedily
" tranfmit to me every neceffary warrant I have re-
^^ quired, for your fecurity j but, liflren to me. Since
'' yeflerday. 1 have had leifure to rcfieft, and have to-

« tally

[ i85 ]

<^ tally altered the difpofitions we had agreed upon. I
" am going to naake you perceive, there would be an
«^ inconvenience in precipitating your departure. You
ff are fenfible, that being abfent, you are in the wrong ;
<f that the Rohans accufe you of flying with the rennain*-
f^ der of the necklace; and, that they have in general fuc^
" ceeded in empoifoning the public mind with that idea-.
" If under fuch circumftances you were fecn, on a fud-
" den, to appear at full liberty, and under proteftion ;
'f every body would exclaim,-— There he is ! he fears
" nothing ! if he had any compunftion for his guilt, he
^^ would not venture to Iliew himfelf, or quit the afylum
" where he has fo long lived In fecurity. On the other
" hand; your depofitions being dellrudive to the Car-
" dinal ! his family would cry out : Yes, there he is.
" fliielded by the power and influence of the Queen !
" It is the Queen who fends for him, after having him
« properly inftrufted at London! He brings his depofi-
" fitions in writing, or elfe they have been diftated to

" him, and he has imprinted them on his memory

" he alone was wanting to confummate the Cardinal's

" ruin! and all which would produce the effed of

<^ of public obloquy to you. But there is another way,
«* in which you may appear before your judges, and
" which anfwering the fame purpofe with refpedto you;
" cannot render the Queen liable to fuch reproach. Fa-
" vour me with your attention.

" The Cardinal, continues the Amba(rador> politi-
" cally affefts to fay, in all places, that he ardently
" wifhes for your prefence.---The King, fuppofed to
'' be informed of that circumilance, may fay, « I chofe

B b " ^^

[ 186 y

'" to give him that fatisfaftion ; and accordingly ordered
*^ all neceflary preparations for apprehending Count dc
'^ la Motte^ which have proved inefFeftiial; but he,
'^ apprifed of the attempts made againft him, applied
" of his Own accord, to my Ambaffador to his Britan-
*' nic Majefty^ and fignified his defign of retirrning to
^^ Paris, if I would grant him a fafe conduft and fe-
*^ curity. There being no other way of fecuring him,
*^ and it having been reprefented to me^^ that the Car-
" dinal looks upon his prefcnce, as efTcntial to his
" carrying on his fuit at law, I have granted to the
" faid Count de la Motte, the fafe condu£t petitioned
*' for.

" On that foundation, the Cardind and his family,
*^ can have nothing to alledge ; and you will find your-
<^ felf at liberty, in Paris, in the midft of people of
** undeiftanding, who will direft you in every point.
*^ I only tell you, before hand, you will be obliged to
" pafs a day or two in the Concicrgerie prifon, in order
" to obtain a replevin of the warrant for yotir arrcft;
" a mere matter of form, that cannot be difpenfed with.
" I will write^ again to Mr. de Vergennes, to give him
*^ a more cireumflandal account of what you have ise-
" lated to mc yefterday, and in this fccond interview ;
*' and will prefs him to fend to me, by the return of the
" Courier,, the paffport, whicli you will be fuppofed to
^^ have from the King himfcif,

" D'Arragon, my Secretary, Ihall be bearer of the
'* packet : you may hold yourfelf in readincfs for your
"departure, T am ftire the paffport will be here in
*• eight or ten vdays at fartheft."

Ire-

[ ^«7 ]

I reprefcnted to Mr. d'Adhemar, that my property
having been feized upon, and having very little moncy^j
it would be impofllblc for nae to gee my bufincfs fettled
and appear as I had before done, and befitting my
rank ; to which he anfwered, " that ought to give you
" no uneafinefs ; I have at my difpofal, a confiderablc
^* fum remitted over to me to proceed againft you, but
" I fliall be much more flattered with applying it to-
" wards doing you a fervice, and, if you have need of
" Jive or fix tboujand louis d'orsy I will fupply you witi}
'' them."

Circumftances being thus arranged between us, he
faidj " the only thing remaining to be known y was^ what
" IJhouldJay in my defence?'' I made anfwer: " that
" as to the ftory of the necklace, I did not well know
" what turn to give it, fo as not to expofe the Queen
" more or Icfs j that as to any thing elfe, I v/as not at
" a iofs/' He recommended to me, never to fay that
the Countefs had accefs to the Queen : ftill lefs, that I
knew of the Cardinal's having carried on a correfpond-
ence with her Majefty, and had appointments with her
at Verfailles and Trianon; " Only fay," added he,
'' that the Cardinal fhewed you a number of letters,
" which he afTured you were written to him by the
" Queen; adding, that he has often faid, that he ufcd
" to have fojfeffion of her : contrive, when you repeat
" all that he has tqld you on that fubjedl, to embellifh
" the ftory; be particular not to omit his indecent
*' fpecchcs I take it for granted, the ^een will not he
'' dijfeajed with it : but beware of faying a word about
B b 2 the

[ i88 ]

" the following gentlemen : dc Polignac, Coign)%
" Vaudreuil, Dillon, -Ferfenne (*).

'^ As to the bufinefs of the necklace, I would advifc
" you to fay, that you are perfiiaded the Cardinal gave
" it partly, or wholly, to your Lady; your Lady
" would never allow that to be the cafe, but I am cer-
*^ tain it really was fo/'

I felt the blow, bnt neither anfwered in the affirma-
tive or negative. Having afterw^ards talked to him of
the Baron de Breteuil, he told me to be fure " not to
" pronounce his name, and above all, not to take any
** fteps rpfpefting him 5 becaufe, that would be too
'' pointed. Follow my advice," purfued he, " Mr.
*^ de Vergennes has the reputation of being an upright
" man, ^ incapable of caballing' (f) to gratify the
" Qiieen's defires ; neverthelefs, without its appearing,
*< he is of her party ( j:). He was highly incenfed at
*^ the behaviour, the fcandalous IJ^eeches, and fenfelefs
" ambition of the Cardinal; and fhared with the Queen
*^ in her refentment. It is at his houfe you muft
" alight, though you have a pafTport— tell him you
*^ are come to furrender yourfeif his prifoner ;— you

" will

* It muft be confeflcd that the AmbafTador of his
Moft Chriftian Majefty was very kind, to give me thus
gratuitoufly, a lift of the Mefed tribe, in cafe I had not
poffeffed one of my own— even fomewhat more co-
pious.

t Thejufticeqf this aflertion will prcfemly be rnade
evident.

I The reader will Ihortly perceive what foundation
the Count had for this affertion alfo.

[ »89 ]

'^ will find that produce a good effeft, and that your
'^ conduft therein, will meet with his approbation."

Upon my acquainting him that my intention was to
deliver up to that Minifter^ the necklace which I have
mendoned. Gray had fet ; Mr. D'Adhemar highly ap-
proved of my defign, and told me, " that the King
*f would be pleafed with, and reward me for my, difin*
<^ tcreftednefs : for," added he, " that necklace is your
" own, and you may difpofe of it as you think proper/*

After a very long converfation to the foregoing effedl,
I took my leave. At parting, he told me to remain
cafy, till I heard from him; that D'Arragon fhould go
off in two or three days, as he had other difpatches to
lend by him, *^ There is no hurry at prefent," he re-
peated to me, " nor any thing to be feared ; Count de
" Vergennes has previous intimation,"

He defired I would change my name, to conceal my
return to London, and avoid the tattling of the Courier
de PEurope."

Every thing appeared to proceed with the mofl: perfeft
cordiality; — but his Excellency was drawing his conclu-
fions from falfe premifes. The Count de Vergennes was
any thing, but attached to the Queen's party, as the
AmbafTador fuppofed (who from the nature of his con-
nexions ought to have known better;) being, on the
contrary, bound by the ftrongeft ties to the Rohans.
When, dierefore, the crafty Minifter, faw by the Am-
ba0ador's letter and mine, that there was no time to
lofe, to extricate the Cardinal; in lieu of granting a
delay of fifteen days, which the Countefs had requefted,
he hurried on the final fentence ; which to the aftonifh-

<« mcnt

[ ^9^ 1

mcnt aitd high indignation of the AmbafTador, and of
bis party^ wa3 pronounced the day before, or, on the

very day of D'Arragon's arrival ! It is true the Count

de Vrrgennes has been punifhed for his perfidioufncfs ;
but it is no lefs true, that the unfortunate Countefs dc
la Motte fell a victim to it; and that even the death of
that Minifler has but feebly avenged her.

As foon as Count d'Adheinar received diat piece of
intelligence, which aftonilhed him, he wrote to me, mak-
ing an appointment in Hyde Park, (I am in pofleflion
of his letter.) I attended, and found him gloomy, difap-
pointed and vexed. He told me, he could not con-
ceive, why they had, in fuch a manner, precipitated the
judgment on that trial, (though for my part, I had fore-
told it, as has been feen ;) that there was fomething un-
accountably myfterious in it, which he could not un-
ravel; that upon the whole, " there was nothing in it
" dij^acefulto us!!! that I mull not let it affeft me;
" that it need not hinder my departure for Paris, where
" my prefence was more than ever requifite." I alked
him, to what purpofe ? he anfwered, that " when the
" King had referred the cognizance of the affair to the
" Parliament; the necklace was the only circumftance
" mentioned in the commiflion; the Queen's name had
'* not been brought into queftion ; that, unfortunately,
" the counfels given to the Countefs, having terminate4
" to her difadvantage ; the Cardinal had gained a fupe-
♦' riority, and grounded on it his defence; but that
" wh^n his unbecoming fpeeches againft the Queen
'• came to be difcufTed; and the papers which he had
" fhewn, he would be at a lofs what anfwer to make. —
*^ It is a fault committed in die drawing up of the pa-

" tent

[ 191 ]

" tent ofcommifTion," added he> " that fuggefted to
« the party, which the Rohans have in the Parliament
"the idea of adhering t© the literal meaning / and
*' confining themfelves folely to the biifinefs of the
'' necklace, which has not furnilhed a fufficient ground
whereon to convid: the Cardinal -, but now, that point
is definitively fettled ; I give you previous notice of
what will prefently happen; in order to make you
- ienfible, how necefTary your prefence will be at Paris,
" The Attorney General is going to prefer afrejh complaint
" againji the Cardinal (ov criminal attempts upon the
" ^leeny—for the language he has ufed—the letters he has
" exhibited— the meetings by nighty &c. ^c. and forth-
" with a decree of arreft will be iflued out againft him*
" I can aflure you he will not have^. the fame good for-
" tune on this fecond tiial, .which he had on that, re-
' fpefting the necklace. When you are at Paris, riiat
" bufinefs will be renewed 5 for diere are Ilatutes ex-
** tant, by virtue whereof, the Parliament will be ob-
" liged to begin the whole procefs over again; be there-
" fore at eafe, and communicate to no perfon whatever
" haspaflTed between us."

I thought I difcovered fome appearance of probabi-
lity and encouragement, in what the Ambaflfador now
fuggefted. I Withdrew in better fpirits than I came;
but a few days afterwards D'Arragoncame from him,
'0 inform me, that " particular reafons had determined
^ the Qyeen to drop the profecution; that no fecond
" complaint was to be preferred ; that it would give
" room for the circulation of many malicious fpeeches,
' a circumftance her Majefty wilhed to avoid ; and^
' that Ihe rather chofe to revenge herfelf, by exerting

'' the

[ 192 i

" the whole weight of fupreme power to deprive the Car-
*^ dinal of his blue ribband, and his humours as well as
*^ his places at Court, and banifhing binnjtoexifl: amongft
" a herd of Monks in die favage parts of Auvergne."

While he communicated to me this piece of intelli-
gence, which was like an electric fhock, D'Arragou
had without doubt, received his inftrudions) and with
all that hypocrify and infinccrit}'-, which AmhafTadors are
ever amply provided with from their refpcitivc courts ; af-
feded to pour the balm of comfor t into the wounds, he con-
cluded muft be infli(5led,byfuch afatalflab to my hopes*

" You muft be fenfible/' faid he, " that the courfe
** which the Qyeen has taken^ by no means leflens die
*^ merit of your conduct; which his Excellency has not
^^ concealed from her^ that, Pac will not abandon either
*^* you or your lady, and that fhe will gratefully reward
'^ the defire you |iave expreiTcd to oblige her. The
" Ambaflador is going to Vcrfallles, and has charged
" me to tell you, that he will omit no opportunity to
" ferve you, arid during his abfence you may difpofe
<' of me, on all occ'afions, where you fhall think I can be
'^ any ways ferviceable to your intereft,

I wrote to the AmbafTador before his departurej
but— received no anfwer. At his return from France
I wrote two letters, (which at that time made their ap-
pearance in the public papers*) of which he took as litde
notice as of the former*

it

* Vide Morning Chronicle, for December 29, 1786,
and January i, 1787.— Morning Poft of March 2, and
.6, 1787. — The above two letters were inferted in the
Exeter Flying Poft, March 8, 1787.

[ 158 ]

It is a matter of no confequence— -I do not mean to
reproach him with it.— He had been in a capacity to
know wiiat pafled : he was not ignorant that when the
Queen exprefled a defire of faving the Countefs, from
the iniquitous fentencc pafled againft her, thofe people,
whonni ihe calls her ^^ blood suckers/' and notorioufly
the Able de Vermonty perfuaded her Majefly, that if
^f file only appeared to know the Coiintefs, flie would
" certainly expofe herfelf in a fhocking manner," which
would be infinitely exaggerated by avowing in her con-
duft, any concern for her.

From the plain ftatetncnt of fafts, which I have re-
lated, I ihould deem it an infult to the reader, were I
to offer a fingle refleftion upon the fubjeft. It is plain
that the Cardinal's life was fufpended but by a thread,
that, had the flighteft breath broken that thread, the
Countefs muft have been cleared from all impeachment.
It renaains therefore to determine, whether the viftori-
ous influence of the Rshans, had been able to eftablifh a
guik, which the Queen's influence would have done
away, if it had poiTefled fufficient power.

Before I conclude my tafk, and relinquifh my pen to
the Countefs, whofe fubftitute I am at prefent, I will
endeavour to prevent an ungrateful office to her, which
ilie had mentioned, but that relates to matters more
familiar to mc than to herfelf I m.e^n the account fhe
promifed to give of that portion of the diam.onds^ which
the Qneen had bellowed upon her -, — probably without
her Majefty's being aware, that their value amounted to
one eighth part of what it really was. The following ac-
count wiU Ihew what they produced, and the ufe I
Q Q made

t ^94 ]

ritiade of them* I fliould have fold them in Paris open-
ly, had not the Cardinal obferved to us, that they might
poffibly fall into the hands of the Jewellers, a eircum-
ftance which could not but have proved difagreeable to
the Queen.

I arrived in London on the lydi of April, with Che-
valier O'Neil, who was perfeftly acquainted with the
objedofmy journey* As he knew the Countefs was
admitted to the Qjcen, I made no myftery to him, of
the prefent flie had received from her Majefty, nor of
my motive for parting with them in London. I had a
letter of credit on Meff. Morland and Co. ,to whom I
went the day after my arrival. On making enquiry for
the moft capital jewellers, I was direfted to JefFerys
and to Gray; I firft faw JefFerys, told him I had fome
diamonds to difpofe of, and left him my addrefs. The
next morning he came to my lodgings, where I Ihewed
hinn the eighteen oval ftones that belonged to the neck-
lace, and acquainted him with the price which the Car-
dinal had fixed. He requefted me to let him take them
home, in order to examine them, and offered me his
acknowledgement, which I accepted of He promifed
to bring me an anfwer in four days ; the next day I kt
out with Chevalier O'Neil for Newmarket. During
five days that we remained there, I gained by betting,
nine hundred and fixty guineas : fixty of which I ex-
pended in travelling expences, the purchafe of cloaths,
and various other articles ; Chevalier O'Nell has made
affidavit of thefe circumftances.

Being returned to London, I went to Jefferys, who
told nie> that a gentleman had offered four thoufand

pounds

pounds flcrling i that he could not pay ready ^ money,
but would give notes at fix and twelve months date, and
would find ample fecurity. I told him 1 would cop-
fidcrofit, took back my diamonds, and returned him
his acknowledgment. The fame day I w^nt to Gray's,
left with him the largeft oval ftone, and direfted him to
come to me the next day, wlaen I would let him fee a
greater quantity ; the lame day I purchafed of him a
felf-winding watch. The next day he came, with a,
Jew named EHalbn, 1 entrufted him with the fame
ftones I had left in JefFerys' hands ; he told me he had
already examined them, and that a broker whom Jef-
ferys employed^ had brought them to him. I then let
him know the offer that j efferys had made me, and the
terms of payment, adding, that not knowing J efferys,
nor the perfon he had recommended to me, I did not
chufe to part with fo confiderablc a property upon cre-
dit. That befides, I propofed flaying but a few days
in London, whither I might probably never again re-
turn, and that I did not think proper to leave any thing
behind me that might create any anxiety. He anfwer-
ed, that I was in the right, and that if we agreed on the
price, he would pay me ready money, I told him my
price, he took away the diamonds, and promifed to
bring an anfwer the following day ^ which he did, hut
ftill accompanied by Gray. He made me an olfer of
three thoufand guineas, v/hich I would not accept.
After pointing out flones that had flaws and other de-
fefts, they left me, with an affurance that thc^' offer
they made me, for ready money, was very adequate ;
and diat I IKould not meet with a more eligible offer.
C c 2 I kt

[ ^96 3

I let them go away, telling them I would keep iny
diamonds, rather than part with diem at that price.
Next morning they returned, and aficed to iurvey the
diamonds a fccond time: I permitted them. O^Neil
was prefent, as well as my valet de chambre. Eliafon
then drew out of his pocket, a pearl necklace, confiding
of tvv'o very beautiful rows, a fnufF box fet with bril-
liants and pearls, with a medallion on the lid, and fc-
veral parcels of pearl feed. He vahied rhofe different
articles at about five hundred and fixty pounds flcrling,
1 faid, that if he would give me four thoufand pounds,
together with thofe articles, the bargain was ftruck.
He exclaimed loudly, and then made a motion to go,
ofiering three thoufand pounds, and the articles I had
felefted; a propofal v/hich I rejefted. In the interim
JelFerysmade a fecond application, I told him my re-
folution wa-s to fell them for ready money only. I
then delivered to him thirteen ftanes of the firft quality
' I poflciTed ; the two fineft, which belonged to the neck-
'lace, not having been given to die Countefs ; and no
doubt but the Queen made a prefent of them to Made-
moifelle Dorvat, or fome other woman in her intimacy,
for there were fcveral which were fimilar. 1 had feleft-
ed two, one intended to be fct in a ring for the Coun-
tefs, the other for myfelf. Rcgnier, my jeweller at
Paris, (tt them both before my departure for London.
Both myfelf and the Countefs commonly wore them.
TJie Cardinal has leen them bodi.

I called the next day at Gray*s, to purchafe feveral
articles in ftecl ; there I found Eliafon, who told me 1
was over tenacious, that liis oflFcr was a very fair one.

He

[ 197 ]

He {hewed me fome very fine pearls for a pair of brace-
lets, and a ring, fornning a neck button ; I went Into a
feparate apartnnent, where we entered into a bargain.
After two hours difficulty on both fides, we at length
ao-rced for the eighteen oval ftones ; viz. three thoufand
pounds fterling ready money, die [pearl necklace of two
rows, valued at two hundred pounds, the fnufi' box one
hundred and forty, the pearl feed one hundred and
twenty, and a diamond ftar which I took in Gray's Ihop,
valued at three hundred.

This was the firft bargain. When 1 had received
the money and jewels, he told mc that JefFerys' broker
had brought him other diamonds, which were no doubt
my property; that if I chofe t^ fell them, I had better
do bufinefs with him than with another : diat I fhould
crain by it the commiffion and fome ready money. I
went the fame day, and took out of JefFerys* hands,
the thirteen ftones I had left in his pofTeffion. He had
come to the knowledge of my deahng widi Gray, and
being vexed at having miffed the opportunity of mak-
ing the purchafe himielf, he, upon that account, pre-
tended, as will be feen hereafter, drat he had afted,
refpefting the diamonds, with more propriety than
Gray, for that lie, JefFerys, furmifing the diamonds to
have been ftolen, had given notice at a public office,
(which in fad was a faUhood) and had refufed to buy
them. He afterwards the more readily made a declara-
tion to this purpofe, before % certain notaiy named
Dubourg, as will hereafter appear, at the requeft of Mr.
jde Carbonniere, agent for the Cardinal; as he faid he
|/believed me to be in Turkey, and depended upon never

feeing

[ »9S j

feeing me again in England. His behaviour to me,
when I returned to London, will fhew how delicate this
JefFerys was in his condud : fmce he came to me, after
judgment was pafled, to a(k me whether I had not
diamonds to difpofe of, telling me, he would be the
pujschafer, and allow me a greater advantage than Grey
would. It will foon be feen what anfwer I made him,
and the method I took, in order to make apparent what
the jufLificatory writings, produced by the Cardinal,
confifled in.

The thirteen ftones taken from JefFerys, I carried to
Gray, telling him I would come the next day to his Ihop
myfelf, and that he might appoint Eliafon to be there
at the fame hour. 1 he departure of Chevalier O^Neil
prevented my keeping the appointment. He had re-
ceived a letter from his brother, and another from his
Colonel, requiring his return with all pofTible fpeed, to
join his regiment by the 15th of May. He had not
been able to obtaiu a longer leave of abfence as .he
hoped j the troops the Emperor was then marching to-
wards Holland, were the occafion of the orders he had
received ; he was therefore forced to leave me in Lon-
don. He took charge of feveral purchafes I had made,
and of the parcel of pearls \ had got in exchange. As
he went by the coach, he took his place the day before,
at Mr. Guyon*s office, where he found the Capuchin
M*Dermot a profeffed fpy, who for the things made
known to me by his o\^n confefTion, and thofe certainly
are the moft harmlefs, deferves to be made an example

of

t 199 ]

of (*). The Capuchin knew Chevalier O^Neil, with
whom he renewed acquaintance; and finding in the
courfe of converfation he had come over widi me, he
begged he would introduce him to me, which the Che«
valicT did. He told me, that as I did not underftand
Englifh, he would be my interpreter, and do me all
the litde fervices in his power. I accepted of his oblig-
ing offers, and that day he dined with me. He had
been procurator of his order, at Vafly, fix leagues di-
ftant from Bar-fur- Aube; he knew my family, and had
fcen me, by his account a child. He faid he had been
employed by Mr. de Choifeul, and the fuccceding mi-
nifters, that he had done great fervice to the ftate ; that
to reward him, he had only, a hundred louis d'ors pen-
fion fetded on him from the Marine funo : that he fcvir-
ed left fome minifter,* in a fit of ill humour, fiiould take
off his penfion : that in order to protect him from that
difagreeable event, and at the fame time leflen the bur-
then to government, he petitioned that his penfion
might be converted into, or changed for a church liv-
ing, and then, that he might be fecularifed. He added
that he had prefented a memorial to Madame Louifa^
who was his -proteftrefs, but that he feared the matter
would be protrafted ; that he had fuftained a great lofh
when Mr. de Choifeul refigned, as it was under his
miniftry he had rendered' thole fervices^, he expedted to

re ;

* This is the fame M^Dcrmot I have already liad
occafion to diftinguifli in thefe Memoirs s at this period

our acquaintance commenced.

[ ^oo ]

receive confiderabre rewards From him, and fucli had
aftually been promifed hifn. Having by degrees gain-
ed my confidence, and got intelligence at his laft paff-
ing through ~ Bar-fur- Aube, that the Countefs had ac-
cefs to the Queen, was beloved by her, and that all our
fortune canae from her, his eagernefs to pleafe me may
eafily be gueffed at. Infmuating and hypocritical, he
made himfelf ufcful to me, and as he was a prieft well
known to many of the Catholic nobility and gentry, he
introduced me into fome of the beft families. I made
a number of excurfions with him round London, and in
thole little trips it was, he told me v/hat he . had heard
at Bar-fur- Aube ; he talked of the Cardinal, and faid
if I had a mind to fcrve him, I had it in my power;
rhrtt the Cardinal could get him fecuiarifed as he had
obferved, by firfl: giving him a finecure place under
him, and then caufe his penfion to be .changed for a
living, by which a Hiving would be made to govern-
ment. I advifed him to draw up a memorial, which
I would willingly take charge of, adding I would do all
in my power to oblige him. In this my firft excurfion,
I did not communicate to him any thing relative to the
intimacy between the Queen and the Countefs, much
lefs of the Cardinal's; he knew nothing of my having
diamonds 5 in fhort I acquainted him with no particu-
lars ; but barely that I had money to remit to Paris.
He anfwered that he knew a merchant in the city,
named Motteaux, that if I negociated it through his
means, he woilld allow me the fame advantage as to
traders, whereas Mr. Hammerdey would deal with me,
as with a nobleman. He calculated the benefit I

ftiould

!■

[ 201 ]~

jliould reap by placing that fum with Mr. Motteaux :
and, as it feemed to me rather confiderabie, and he
perfuaded me that Mr. Hammerfley would not make
me the fame allowance, I determined to go to Mr.
?vIoLteauXj whither hq accompanied me. I delivered to
him the three thoufand pounds fterling, I had already
received on the former bargain.

Let us return now to the thirteen diamonds I had left
with Gray. I gave him an appointment for the next
day. When the Chevalier O^Neil was gone, I went
to riiat jeweller, who immediately fent into the city, to
kt Eliafon know I waited for him at his houfe. He
came, but we made no bargain ; eight or ten days paff-
ed away in fruitlefs meetings and confiderations. They
often told me, they wondered how a gentleman fhould
have fuch a knowledge of diamonds, as to afcertain the
exaft value of them ; but that I certainly was fenfible,
that fuch articles were hard to be difpofed of ; that they
fliould perhaps be obliged to keep them two or diree
vears upon their hands ; during which time the intereft
of the money was loft, and other things, to the fame
purport. At length, after nnuch trouble and attend-
ance, we came to a fettlement for. the thirteen ftones,
at the fum of two thoufand pounds fterling, ready mo-
ney ; a ring, convertible into a neck button, valued at
two hundred pounds fterling, and for which, I lately
got but one hundred i a parcel of very fine pearls for
themoundng of a pair of bracelets, valued at a \i\}n^
dred and fifty pounds; another parcel of pearls for fixty
pounds, and a pair of girandole ear rings, valued at
five hundred pounds. Such were the two bargains I

[ 202 ]

made with EHafon, in prefencc of Gray. Six diamonds,
\vhich formed the rofe of two oval ones, I exchanged at
Gray's for a medallion fet round with brilliants, two
fteel fwords, a fhirt pin, a pair of afparagus tongs, and
a wine fyphon. Four more diamonds which were be-
tween the rofe and the four taflels, were likewife ex-
changed at Gray's for a ring, flill in my poffeflion, a
fmall hoop of diamond feeds, a lady's ppcket cafe fattin
and gold, with all its furniture, a pair of fteel buckles,
and a miniature.

I had fixty diamonds left, arifing from the taflels, twen-
ty two from the fcollops, and the ftone which formed
the button. Out of the fixty I fclefted twenty-eight,
which I gave to Gray, to fet in drop ear-rings : and
two and twenty of the fcollops to make into a necklace
of oae fingle row; I then had left only thirty -two ftones
arifing from the taflels, and the flrone forming the but-
ton. I chofe the fixteen finefl:, which I kept unmount-
ed, and the remaining fixteen I parted with to Gray,
at the rate of eight pounds the karat, out of which I
bought in his ftiop fund'y fmall matters, not worth men-
tioning. Thus terminated all my negociations for dia-
monds in London.

I had ftill remaining the button flone, which I fliewed
to Mr. Morland, aflcing him whether he could not find
an opportunity of felling it to my advantage ; he faid
he would let an acquaintance infped: it, and let me
know his anfwer in two or riiree days. He did fo, by
telling me, he had the fl:one in his bank, and that one
thoufand guineas had been ofi^ered for it, which he be-
lieved might be carried to twelve hundred. He pro-

pofcd

[ ^03 }

pofed my calling in Pall-mall to rake the diamond^ and
from tlience go into the city, to Mr. DuvaFs, the per-
Ibn who made the offer ; but that he believed it was not
for himfelf. We met with Mr. Duval^ who Ihewed me
feveral articles in jewellery. I told him my defign
was not to purchafe any, fince I was on the con-
trary come to treat with him about a diamond^ which
Mr. Morland had given him to infpe<5l. After furvey-
ing it a fecond time, he told me, that the pcrfon to
whom he had fhewn it, offered but one thoufand pounds,
which .he (Duval) looked upon to be its full value. I
took back the diamond, and refolved to keep it till I
found a means to dlfpofe of it more advantageoufly.
The fame day I gave it to Gray to fet in a ring. Let
us now proceed to thofe that were fold and exchanged
at Paris. Before my departure for England, the Coun-
tefs had delivered to Mr. Tilleux fome diamonds,
which flie had kept privately, that had formed part
of the fcollops and knots of the taffels : ftie defired him
to fell them for her, and pay her the money ; charging
him not to make me acquainted with it. He fold the
whole parcel to one Paris, a jeweller, for the fum of
twenty eight thoufand French livres. Two ftones, part
of the fcollops, were exchanged by me, for two pendu-
lum clocks, at one Turet*s, in St. Honore Street, with
twenty-five louis d'ors in addition. One diamond in
like manner from the fcollops, was fet in a ring by Reg-
nier my jeweller. I had a chain in fmall briUiants,
which Franks the Jew had fold me : that I gave to
Rcgnier, adding a few fmall diamonds, which belonged
to the knots of the taffels, the whole of which he made
D d 2 into

[ 204 ]

into a chain, which the Cardinars counfel valued ^x. forty
tboufand livres, I with much difficulty parted with it
{ox fixty pounds Jierlitig m London. It was nearly the
iame with every particular: they were, in order to obtain
their ends, obliged to multiply the price for which
every article fold, in a like proportion; and thus, from
this falfe eftimation, endeavour to prove that the whole
of the necklace had been in my pofrefTion.

I had now left, in all, Sixteen diamonds, which I had
brought back to London, four and twenty very fmall
ones, which were on the fides of each oval ftone, • at the
bottom of the taffels, the encircling of the two large oval
ftones, two fmall ones on each fide of the button, fixteen
of the fame fize, fix of which held the two oval ftones
between the fcollops, and the twelve others, which were
immediately adjoining to the ribband at, top ; the rofes
and what held the taflTels were not yet taken to pieces.
I delivered the whole to Regnier, out of all which, he
felefted the bcft diamonds, and nearly of an equalit}^, to
encircle the top of a box, and mount a fmall pair of
drop ear-rings, which the Countefs wanted to make a
prefent of. The remainder I direfted him to fell, for
which he got thirteen, or fourteen thotifand livres. Thefe
made up die number qf what I fold, as well at Paris as
in London, Let us now recapitulate.

.1 jreceived in ready money in Ljondony five thou/and
pounds fterling from Mr. Eliafon, and fifty or fixty
ppunds from Mr. Gray.

In exchange I received a medallion;^ a pair of giran-
dole ear rings, a ring, a fhrit-pin, a hoop, two fteel
fwords, a pair of fteel buckles, one pound of pearl feed,

two

C 205 ]

two rows of pearls forming a necklace, a mount for
bracelets, a fmall parcel of pearls, a neck button, con-
vertible into a ring, a fnuff box, a. pair of afparagus
tongs, a wine fyphon, a lady's pocket cafe, fattin and-
gold, with appurtenances, a miniature, a pen-cafe of
rofes valued fixty pounds ftcrling. Some few other
finall articles I had from Gray's fhop, as needles,
knives, fteel forks, fpring-pincers, fciflars, a pair of
filver buckles, an opera-glafs, a finall fteel watch chain. .

I fold at Paris to Mr. Paris feveral diamonds, to the
amount of twenty eight thoufand livres, and I received
near fifty louis d'ors, for a part of the pearl feed carried
from London by Chevalier O'Neil, the remainder of the
pearl feed was fold to Mordecai, a Jew, refiding in Rue
aux Ours,

I have already faid, I had delivered to Gray twenty-
two ftones to fet in a necklace, and twenty-fix for drop
ear-rings. I had acquainted him with the day of my
departure, and he had promifed the work fliould be
compleatcd; yet the day previous thereto, he fliewed
me all the pieces, only fketched, aflfuring me there was a
rear deal more work than he had at firft imagined ; and
that if would leave them with him, he had an oppor-
tunity of conveying them to Paris within a fortnight;
I kfc him the diamonds with my'addrefs, and fet out
upon my journey on a Sunday morning with the Capu-
chin M'Dermot, ^ho attended me as far as Dover; At
parting with him, I made him a prefent of a box, with a
very handfome painting on the lid, and defrayed his

journey back to London.

When "

{ 206 ]

When I left Paris, I had taken credit for two diou-
fand crowns 3 I won at Newmarket near a thoufand
pounds fterling; out of both which fums I expended an
hundred guineas in fadkry, harnefs and race-horfe body-
cloaths, a hundred guineas more for a phaeton, a hun-
dred and fifty guineas in Englifli ftufFs and cloacbs, for
' myfelf and fervants ; the reft was fpent in travelling and
during my fix weeks ftay in London j which will not
appear extraordinary, when it is known I had taken up
my refidence at one of the principal hotels in that town,
tliat I kept two fervants, a hired coach and two faddle
horfes, that I often gave entertainments, and that
keeping the moft fafliionablc company, I was obliged
to play and enter into cxpenfive pleafures.

All I now had left of the wreck of the famous neck-
lace, were two rings, one for myfelf, the other belong-
ing to die Countefs ; a fmall diamond mounted on a
plumb-coloured ftone,a pair of drop ear-rings, and a cir-
cle on a black tortoifelhell box, and what I had left with
Gray, namely, the necklace of twenty-two ftones and
the ear-rings.

Thus have I given a minute detail of the diamonds I
poflefled, and lof the manner in which I had difpofed of
them.

From the account I have kept, and have juft fet
forth, of all the diamonds I had in my pofTefilon, or that
of the Countefs, belonging to tlie necklace, and by
comparing it with an exa£t reprefcntation thereof, en-
graved on a fcale, of the fize of the diamonds, it appears
that the Queen had kept two hundred and fifty-six
DIAMONDS of thefame magnitude i ninty-eight fmaller

ones

[ ^^7 1

ones of the fame form, and the tv/o finest dia-^
MOJ^DS of the firft fize. The two hundred and fifty-fix
diamonds were what compofed the moft beautiful part
of the necklace, on the account of the aflcmblage and
the regularity of fo great a number of ftoncs.

Mr. Duval v/ho has retired from bufinefs, and left:
it to his brother, fjrnifhed the Queen of England with
a number of diamonds like thofe her Majefty kept, to
mount a pair of bracelets. The Queen of France had
given orders to the fame Mr. Duval to procure her fome
like them ; but he told me, he never could get a fuffi-
cient quantity together. As he knew the necklace, and
had it in his hands, I pointed out to him upon the draw-
ing, what portion I had poffefled, and what the Queen
had retained; which occafionedhim torecolleft the order
he had received from her Majefty to procure fuch dia-
monds. As file had a great defire of having bracelets,
counterparts of thofe of the Queen of England, it is proba-
ble, that thofe ftie k^pt will one day be employed to that
ufe. The Countefs aiferts, that her Majefty having once
denied, flie will ever deny ; and that fuch is her difpofition,
that flie would fooner caufe the diamonds, to be thrown
into the fea, than leave tokens fubfifting, of an adiion
which has been attended with fuch horrid confequenccs
to us.— —This is poflible ; the only inference I mean to
draw, from this long cxpofition, is^ that our perfecutors
having never been able to prove our difpofingof a fingle
carat, more than what I have ftated \ they cannot be cre-
dited upon that ground, when they flander us fo un-
defervedly, by faying that we ftole the necklace ; all that
they can allege widi plaufibility is, that we cannot ad-
duce

[ 103 1

(luce proof of tlie Queen's donatbn. How do they

know ? — --Her Majefty may perhaps have a reflexive,

conipimctivc moment i we await it on her death-bed

let them do the fame.

It niuft be in the reader's recolleftion, that I departed
from Bar-fur-Aube v;ith a hundred louis d'ors, and diat
I left my family polTeflcd of all my own jewels and thofc
of die Countefs j and in general of all the property I
had i that circumftance, which evidently vouches in fa-
vour of my innocence, and proves how far I was from
farcleeing what has occured, has, however, contributed
nioft, to afford my enemies grounds for criminating
afferdons; the houfe of Rohan giving out that I was
gone off with the remainder of the necklace. Thofe re-
ports obtaining credit, it was undoubtedly a duty in-
cumbent on my family to produce my diamonds arid
thofe of the Countefs ; the more fo, as flie had given
an exaft lift of them a few days after her arrival at tlie
Baftile; but calculating and hoping that the family of
Rohan would prevail over us by our deftrudion, and
that they would confequenitly h? able to appropriate
to themfelves, not only our jewels^, but the greateft
part alfo of our plate and efFeds, they neglefted
to take one fingle ftep towards altering or weakening

the fufpicions drawn from my departure; nor, will

their fliameful avcrice prefently be doubted of.

Shortly after the judgment, feeing in the public
papers that they had given up nonc-ofour jewels; I
jent to them an cxprefs, in hopes they would at Icaft de-
liver to him a part: but what did they do? After ex-
claiming in abufive terms againft me ; tlicy fent him back^

without

t 209 ]

without even giving him wherewith to bear his expences.
Rightly judging I Ihould not ftop there, and that one
Way or the other I fhould force them to a rcftitution) they
determined on making a facrilBce, hoping they might with
impunity keep all they had robbed my houfe of. They in
confequence put into the Countefs's cafket her bracelets,
a ftar of brilliants, a medallion, a pair of girandole ear-
rings, a plume-bearer, a black tortoifefhell box with a
circle of brilliants on the lid, a pearl necklace, a paiF
of garnet bracelet clafps fet in gold, and three or four
rings, valued at the utmoft at thirty or forty guineas.
They afterwards pretended uo have found this cafket in a
place where I had hid it, before my departure j and to
manifeft their own honefty and difintereftednefs, they fent
it to the police; perfuaded, that after that voluntary re^
ftitution, no fearch would be made at their houfes, and
that they might fafely write to me (as they aftually did)
that all my property having, in general, been feized j it was
very aftonifl:iing I fhould daily fend meflengcrs to them,
to make indifcreet demands : that once for all I ought
to convince myfelf they had nothing belonging to me;
they concluded their epiftle by obferving, that as I had
difgraced them, I muft expert no affiftance at their hands.
Soon after tlie receipt of this letter, I received from
Paris a ftatement of all that had been fold at the Hotel
de Bullion. Being by this means affured of their
knavery, I immediately difpatched another exprefs, with
a letter, couched in terms that fo alarmed them, as to
compel a promifc that they themfelves would repair ta
London, and deliver to me, what they had (as they
pretended) been " fo lucky as to favc." The period

E e tbcy

[ 2IO ] '

they had fixed on being pafTed, arid receiving no letter
fro|Ti them, I fenr another melTenger with frelh inftruc-
tions. When they found there was no farther room for
tergiverfation, they deternnined upon fetting out.

The inhabitants of Bar-fur-Aube, loudly reporting
that my relations had kept part of my jewels, and in-
cenfed at their behaviour in that refpedl, and the plun-
dering of my houfe, (fincethe alarm that had been given
them, had forced a furrender of part of my plate, which
they had buried under a dunghill) fufpefled, that the
different perfons I had fcnt over, were come to claim
the efFefts I had left with them. The latter thinking
to baffle the people of the town, and divert their atten-
tion^ fpread a report that they were going to Paris, but
took the road to Boulogne ; having the precaution, pre-
yioufly to difpatch the perfon 1 had fent to them, and
efpecially to prevent his paffing through Paris, appre-
hcnfive that he might there fay fomething difad/an-
tageous.

Coming to London a few days after the Countefs,
(who at the period I am mentioning had made her ef-
cape :) to whom they had refufed 25 louis d'ors as fhe
pafied through Bar-fur-Aube, they delivered to mc a
ring, which had formed the ftud of the necklace, a watch
chain which I fold for 50 pounds fterling, and a box I
had taken in exchange, and which I fold to Gray for
fixty pounds. Reftoring thefe three articles, they told
me, that they were all they had been able to preferve of
our jewels. Having had full leifure to invent thefe fal-
Gtie$, and perfuaded that I could not have been inform-
ed of their .conduft, and the depredations diey intended

on

[ i" ]

on my property^ they fparcd no pains to convince mc
of the truth of what they had advanced; which would
indeed have appeared feafonable, had my intelligence?
not been fo well founded.

Affefting to be fatisfied with what they had delivered
me, I, the fame day, pirocured a writ to be ilTued, hop-
ing thereby to frighten them into a furrender of the
remaining jewels ; but they imagining, from the enqui-
ries they had made, and the advice they had received,
previous to theif departure, that I could not by any
means moleft thena ; they pretended, to Ihew thk ut-
moft indignation at my conduft, and finally declared
they had nothing left- belonging to me j that they had
fold every article, and that, could they have forefeen
the ingratitude I now evinced towards them, for what
they had done, they would have given up all my jewels,
and even have deprived me of the three articles they had
juft delivered.

Judging from their refolute tone, that fomething
more than words was requifite to bring them to a fenfe
of juftice, I infifted no farther ; but urged by neceflity,
put the writ into the hands of a Iheriff's officer, who foon
after, though m.uch to my regret, arrefted my uncle, a
man of propert}', childlefs, enjoying the firft offices in the
place of his refidence, and poffeffing the efteem of all its
inhabitants, and whom I really refpefted. The cafe
was otherwife with his beloved confort, a defpicable wo-
man, detcfted by all who knew her ; who, I am certain
had prevailed on her hufband to be guilty of fuch a piece
of meannefs and injuftlce. The moment ftie faw him
arrefted, fhe came to me, urging my acceptance of

E e 2 bill?

r c 1 2 ]

bills to the amount of my claims ; ftill aflunng me ftic
had nothing of mine, and that fhe was going to part
with fomc of her own property to purchafe her hufband's
releafe. Finding flie could not make me accede to the
terms fhe propofe«l, fhe concluded on acknowleging
every thing, and fhe adually departed to fetch, what
fhe abfolutely afTerted upon oath, to have been furren-
dcred to government.

On her return fhe gave up two rings that had belong-
ed to the necklace, a pair of drop ear-rings, out of
which ihe had taken four diamonds (which I only per-
ceived after we parted) a hoop-ring, a neck-but-
ton, a hair ring, fet round with flones, and another
ring of fmall value. The day after this forced rcftitu-
tion, my relations returned to their own home, where
tlaey Ihared the remainder of die fpoils, nor have I
heardof them fin ce, but to be informed, in a circum-
ftantial manner, of all the havock they have made in my
houfe at Bar-fur-Aube, and of the contempt they have
drawn upon themfelves by their behaviour towards me.

As they are capable, after all they have done,
of faying, diat they cairiC over to bring me the re-
mainder of the necklace, I think myfelf bound to
^dd, that, of all which they reftored to me, diere wxre
but three Hones belonging to the necklace, and of which
I have fpciken above. Every thing elfe, as well as
what was fold at the Hotel de Bouillon in Paris, was
(within a very faiall matter) our property before we ever
heard the necldace mentioned.

1 have parted with every article, which they brought
to me, to Mr. Gray of NcwBond-llxeet, for the fum of

two

C 213 1

tm> thoufand two hundred pounds fcerling. Thus hav-
ing explicidy, and with great ^veracity, ftated every cir-
cumftancc wherein I was particularly concerned^ I re-
iiqquifh the pen to the Countefs,

(Here the Countess re/umes the Narration,)

The Count, my hufband, having concluded that part
of our hiftory, which, as he was fingly concerned in the
tranfaftions, he could witli greater accuracy relate, 1
now refume vay narrative, and think I naay fafely affirm,
that, whatever prejudices, the iniquitous fentence pro-
nounced againft me, rcfulting from the Intrigues both
of the Queen and the houfe of Rohan, may have given
birth to ; thofe who feel the ftrongeft impulfe, cannot
doubt, after viewing our account, fupported by fo many
concurrent and undeniable fafts, that we have cruelly
been made a facrifice to pride, ambition, and revenge.

The bare converfa?ion of Count de la Motte with the
French Ambafllidor, by difclofing the machinations agi-
tated by the Queen's party, furely gives a perfed idea
of thofe that have real^ been put in fraBice by the Rohan
party: but I do not exped the public to reft tlieir
opinions upon mere aflertions, I mean to unfold thofe
intrigues of my adverfanes of wliich I can produce po-
fitive proofs \ and even in thefe I fliall not be able to
difplay one tenth part of their iniquitous conduft.

Before I enter into thefe particulars, it is important
to obferve that, by an unaccountable fatality, annexed
to the nature of the circumftancesj the Queen, whofe
caufe, in the main^ was united with mine i or of whom,

(as

[ 214 ]

(as Count Adhemar very Well obierved) I was only the
reprefentative, could not' be brought forward in the
bufinefs; as the tenor of the Letters Patent, affording
the over-ruling party of the Cardinal, a pretence for
confining the enquiries folely to the affair of the neck-
lace, bioifhed from- difcuflion every thing foreign to
that fubjeft.

By th'efe means, • the 'bafenefs of the Queen, as I have
obierved, not being brought into qucftion, and lier Ma-
jeily not having an intereft in the proceedings, I found
myleif alone, unfu^pdrted, and without fortune, having
to'fb'uggle" againft the intereft, wealth, and reputation
of an illuftrious and powerful houfe, and to aggravate
thefe circiimftances, 1 had fing:lv to flTuo:ffle ac:ainft the
fecret influence of the Queen herfelf, whom my- forced
precaution, relative to the Cardinal^ had incenfed againft"
mc. Is it a v^on'der,- if I funk under the combined
povv'cr of fuch adverfarics ?

'Gn the fuppofition,' which is a natural one, that the
moment I faw myfelf involved, in that unhappy affair,
(fetting afide a regard for the truth, fuperior to* that of
my own fafety) I had thought fit to have coalefced with
one or other of the parties concerned, I fliould not have
been able to ha.ve accomplifhed it. I never had, for a
fingle inftant^ the liberty to confult either juftice, my
own inclination, or my real interefl; perpetually befec
with the agents and emiffaries of both parties, I faw no-
thing but rocks on every fide. I could not even open
my mouth, nor- make the leaft obfervation, but I heard
it repeated to me : "If you do that you are undone !"—
alas ! gracious Heaven! cried I inceffantly, whom muft-

I liften

I ^^5 1

I liftcn to ? — •whom believe ? — More tortured with that
uncertainty, than nneafy about the real bufmefs itfelf, I
grew tired of everlaftingly thinking on one obie6t, aiid
fell into diat ftate of infenfibility that produces a kind of
torpid indifference to confcquences, whether good or
evil. On one point only my ideas poffefled a degree of
ftabilily, becaufe it was what I had long fmce fbrefeen,
I refle£ted thus:— -the Queen is bent upon the Cardi-
nal's ruin— but the Cardinal has been my benefafcor : —
v;ill it not be monftrous in me to become the inftru-
ment of his deftruAion ?— the Queen has alfo been nhy
benefatftrefs ; if I am avcrfe to ferving the purpofes of
her revenge, I ought at leafc to reverence her fccrets,---
Ail that might have been reconciled, had difcretion
been all that was requifite. But what was I to anfv^/er
to eternal queftions, moft of them infidious ones? how
extricate myfelf out of chat wildernefs of interrogatories,
crofs examinations, &c. capable of perplexing an abler
head than mine ? The confufion of mind thence arifing,
is the only reafon I can give for the frequent contradit-
tions into which I was betrayed.—-" fay t£/tot%" . on©
told me, " or you are undone V' I (iA.id.wbiU: " fay.
Mack'' fuggeftcd another, "• or it is all over with you j"
and of confequence I faid i^Iack. " Do not fpeak of
fuch a thing,*' faid a third, ** you would ruin all :" I
was queftioned concerning this very thing, and anfwer-
ed incoherently, and little did I fufpeft that all thofe
inconfiftencies would combine to criminate and ftand as
proofs againft me. But, let us pais througli fome of
thefe gradations, by v;hich I was led to the precipice :
fome, 1 fay, becaufe it would requiie volumes to par-^-

tlculaiize

t 2i6 ]

ticularize them all. From my entrance into the Baftile,
until the day of abomination, not one ftt^p was I per-
mitted to take> not a fingle word was fuggefted to me,
but what tended towards the confumalation of my
ruin.

The firft thing neceflary to be known is, that a few
days previous to that, which I juft now called the dof
ef ahominationy I received a letter, which, I to this day,
impute to the Baron de Breteuil j the purport of which
was, that my fafecy depended on myfdf ; that I had no-
thing to do, but to place every diing to the account of
the Cardinal and of Caglioftro. (*)

On

* A manifeft proof that the anonymous letter re-
ceived by me three or four days previous to the arreft
of the Cardinal, was fcnt me by the Baron de Breteuil,
appears from this circumftance. It is well known, that
when he entered officially the Cardinal's hotel at Paris,
hoping to find there the correfpondence, and enraged on
hearing that a courier difpatched to the Abbe Georgel,
had frijftrated him in obtaining that objecft, as the pa-
pers had all been committed to the flames ; he cried
out, upon feeing the buft of Caglioftro, " I meet every
" where with nothing but the figure of that mounte-
" bank; but, patience, I hope there will be an end of
" it foon."— -I was at that moment very quiet at Bar-
fiir-Aube, and he only expreffed himfelf thus, becaufe
tinder a perfuafion that I Ihould implicidy follow the
counfcls he had given me m his letter.

[ ^^7 3

On the nth of Auguft, when was! carried to the
\Mkj (already inccnfed againft the Cardinal, who, in
olcr to cnfnarc the Queen and fave himfelf> threw all
the blame upon me j) I perceived the Commiflary Chc-
non advancing towards me ; who, having had his leflbn
from the Buron de Breteiiil, afl<:ed me what I Ihould fay

in my defence ? RecoUcding then the letter I had

received, but unwilling to go as far as the anonymous
writer adviied me I anfvvcred, that I would fay, the
Caidlnal had made me a prefenc of a quantity of dia-
monds, without my having a knowledge whether or not
they belonged to the necklace. He advifed me not to
purfue that method, reprefenting that it would prepofTefs
lie King againft me. That would be acknowledging my-
If a miftrefs to the Cardinal j and in that cafe it would
..ppear no wonder he ftiould have made me fueh a pre-
fcnt, " fay rather," added he, that " he gave them to
« be difpofcd of by you, to his advantage,- and that you
" have remitted to him the fums received for them- —
" that will wear the greater air of probability, and be
" infinitely more decent foT you."

This was the firft advice, that I confefs myfelf wealc

noygh to follow, and which, while it produced my ruin,

Tcferved the Cardinal ; becaufr, it was not pofTible for

"iie to prove that 1 had paid him the money; whereas

had I purfued the mode I had planned,, and faid that

^le had given me a grpt number of diamonds ; he Would

uve been unable to prove the contrary : but it was not

'H fome confiderable time after that I felt die difference

>f thofe two declarations. The commiflary, whom I

i'lainly perceived to be the inftrument of the Baron dc

p f Breteuil,

[ 218 ]

Breteuil, had made ic his bufincfs to prevent me as much
as poffible from reflecting on my fituation, and in order
to fix my whole attention, had given me to underftand
that the Qiieen would protefl, and fpeedily bring me
our of the Baftile: " An additional reafon,'* faid hero
me, " for avoiding to fpeak of any prefent you have re-
" ceived ; because the Cardinal would not fail to an-
*^ fwer, that you had told him, thofe diamonds wei-e
*^ prefented to you by the Queen i in which cafe, her
" Majefty would be expofed, a ciraimftance you muft
" take fpecial care to avoid/' In vain I reprefented
to him, that did I not comprehend how I could difpenfe
■ with mentioning the name of the Queen, in a bufinefs, of
which flie had been the eflcntial fource. He anfwered,
" Jfyou name hevyyou are undone,'' (•^)

The

* When I received a fecond vifit from the Commif-
fary Chenon^ he communicated a letter, he faid he had
received from Baron de Breteuil, whofe writing I knew
again. He gave him notice what CSunfel he had cho-
sen, and pointed out the methods of engaging dicm to
undertake my defence. He advifed me to write to
them, in fuch manner as to make them fenfible, that by
pleading for me, they would certainly do what was
^highly pleafing to the Queen, the Baron de Breteuil,
: &c. without however naming them. In order to leave
no doubt remaining, he perfuaded me to add, that they
imight go to the police, and receive the information of
ttvhat I had advanced. Tliis appeared to me to be an

excellent

[ 219 ]

The La'vvyer Doillot, whom Mr. de Breteiiil In like
lanjier fcnt mc fcr a Counfd, began alfo by forbidding

nac

excellent piece of advice^ and looking on the Baron de
Breteuil as entirely governed by the Queen, I wrote
without hefitation what the commiflary diftated to me.
He took upon him the charge of conveying the let-
ters. Thofe, to whom they were addreffed, did not de-
lay (after they had been to Mr. De Crone's) to prefent
themfelves to defend me j but the vanity and jealoufy
of Mr. Dbillot, made him rejeft two celebrated Coun-
fellorSj and it was at that moment he publifhcd his
firft memorial, which is a mixture of nonfenfe and falf-
hood. At the fame period the commiflary Chenon had
defired me to give him, in writing, all that I had ver-
verbally communicated to him^ intending, as he faid,
to lay it before the Baron de Breteuil, who being in-
formed of the whole connexion, would be the more
concerned for me. As I was one day employed in that
bufinefs, which I had almoft brought to a conelufion.
Doillpt came in ; 1 related to him what was pafling be-
tween the commiflary and the Baron de Breteuil, and
iliowed him the miCmorial I was preparing for hiiTi.
He began to exclaim againfl: me, called me child, per-
fuaded me, from fevcral circumfl:ances which he related,
that the commiflary fought to deceive me, and con-
cluded, by prevailing on me to permit no more of his
vifits; a piece of advice I pundtually followed. At his
leaving mc he took up and pocketted the memorial.

Y(n The

[ 220 ]

mc ever to utter the Queen's name, afluring me, from
good authority, that fie would protcSl me. On the other
hand, the Cardinars party fought to engrofs me to them-
felves. De Launey, Governor of the Baflilej devoted
to the houfe of Rohan, had placed near me, a certain
Abbe Leqi^ele, Chaplain to that horrid prifon; wkofe
principal employ was to pafs from the Cardinal's apart-
ment to mine, from mine to the Cardinal's, and to
concert our refpeftive anfwers againft the time we were
to undergo our examinations.

It may readily be fuppofcdj, thofe anfwers were fo cal-
culated, tliat, without my perceiving it, mine had al-
ways a tendency to confirm the probability of the Car-
dinal's. I indeed fometimes experienced moments of
diftruft, but that villain of an Abbe was fo dextrous,
Ihewcd fo much concern, and afFedled fo much regard
for me, diat I acqulefced in every thing he propofed.
He was informed of every thing, brought me meffagcs
from the Cardinal, and was always apprifing me of the
objefts to which the examination would be pointed.
'^ Tp-rnorrow," he would fay to me, " you will be
" brought face to face with the Cardinal; he will per-
^^ haps b;e brought to fay to you, fuch and fuch things ;

" beware

The King may require of that lawyer to produce the
memorial, as alfo the one he made me afterwards write ;
he will judge, by the reftmbLmce, that 1 never varied,
when I fpoke the truth ; and that the circumftances I
this day relate, are abfolutely the fame as thofe I com-
mitted to paper zx the periods I am fpeaking of.

Cf

[ 221 ]

'f beware of contradifting him ; all that, is only matter.
'' of form, the trial will never be brought to iffue ; it

is impoffible it ever fliouldj the Pope is 1 in-

« terefted in it ; — the Chapter of Strafburgh is moiing

" heaven and earth, you will perceive, and the Car-

'^ dinal charges me to affure you, that this affair will
*^ terminate without a judgment, and the Queen will
*^ be non-fuited. (*) The aiisfortune is, that he cannot

" expolc

* Since I have been in London, I have read, in the
^journal of a writer, intitled " Secret Memoirs for the Hif-
iory of the Republic of Letters in France^' a letter from
Abbe Georgel to the Princefs of Marfan, I deemed it
fo much the more neceflary to infert it herfe, as the rea-
der will judge by its contents, that Abbe Lequele drew
his information from the fame fource as Abbe George],
and chat in lieu of Baron de Planta, I unfortunately was
pitched upon for the viftim to be facrificed to difgractd
fotver.

Sept. x8, 1785.
Madam,
CEASE to be uncafy concerning our dear Cardinal,
lie bore with all the dignity of a Rohao, the unthought
of blow aimed agalnft him. His health continues good,
in his confinement ^ the feverities of which are mode-
rate, and his foul is at peace, as much as that of an
illuftrious man, under fuch accufations can be, who fore-
fees he nevcF ihall be judged. But if authority recedes,

will

[ 222 ]

*^ cxpofe her without endangering the lofs of his own

1^ head. lam prjuadedy that after the Jervices he has

" done

will not that be a juftification? The King with the ad-
vice of his coynci], has juft referred the matter to the
Parliament. The letters- patent are regiftered. The
whole procedure may very likely terminate there ; for
In fliort> die trirj of a mere clerical perfon cannot be
carried on but before the Ecclcfiallical Judge. Have a
Bifhop, a Cardinal lefs imrnunities? l^ht hiftory of
France pr^jcnts us with feven CardiaaU impeached by
our Kings; not one could perfonally be brought to trial;
the Chancellor d^Aguefleau himfelf allows, that out of
twelve inftances, th^re are eleven in behalf of the church;
nor can he deny it$ being the firft body in the ftate. In
1754 the trial of Cardinal de Retz wa? referred to
the Parliament by letters-patent, which unqueftionably
ferved as a precedent to thofe of 1785. But three years
after, a folemn declaration repealed the decree; confirm-
ing the ancient right of Bifhops, to be tried only by their
own metropolitans.

The calc was a crime of h^h-treafpn, and all the
])retenfions on the part of the Crown was, diat a crime
of that nature fufpended all immunities. So that when
there is nodiing that concerns the King or ftate, no
doubt but die common-law is in its full force. You
now fee, Madam, what all the buftle of the day may
come to. Do not however think, tha^ there is any un-
Ikillfulnefs in the Keeper of the Seals, and die Count

de

[ 223 ]

*^ done yen, you could not without a heart-breaking farroxv
" bring him to the jcaffold:' " What am I to do then ?"
anfwered I keenly, " if I can neither impeach the Car-
*^ dinul nor the Queen, it will all fall Upon me!" — -

" In

• d^ Vergennes; they both know what they are about; the
one is converfant in the French law, the other under-
ftands the Roman politics ; they alone could-affbrd light,
but they are our friends. They are adbuated by xhtjame
viewsy the fame aver/tons. They know that tl?e Ele-ftor
of Mcntz will demand a revocation, that Home wiii lay
claim, that the clergy will remonftrate, that even the
empire will murmur. They have hitherto been filent,
and paid a feeming deference to the apparent equity of
committing the matter to a national tribunal. If the
clamours are not fufficiently powerful^ the proceedings of
the Parliament will continue^ -but in fuch a manner as
to operate neither againft the accufers nor the accufedi;
if difficulties increafe^ the King will letraft, which will
be fo much the more in our favour, as there will be
greater perplexity in the cariying on the bufmefs, 'Ther.e
will then no longer be but one vi^im requifite tofacrifice to
offinded pQ'-^er. Why fhould not the Baron, who was
only an agent, be difmiffed as the principal ? We Ihoirid
completely triumph i all interefls would be reconciled,

revenge would be gratified, and refpedive enmities

would ceafe. Madam, I have communicated fads, let
thofe fails be a fecret for your life.

[ ^^4 J

" In your fituation / would tell the truth ; I fee no barm
" in booing received diamonds of the ^een.

** No>-— but there is danger in telling it; becaiife it
" is telling diat fhe received the necklace, and that is

** what flie wont allow." Generally fpcakmg, at that

time I faw no one but the Abbe Lequcle, who often
came, and cold mCj the Cardinal grew very weary of the
protraction of his trial, and that his health declined
daily. I, complaining on my fide, and with greater
leafon, afked him, if there was no pofTibility of putting
a period to the bufinefs? A thought that inftant oc-
curred to me of writing to the Qiieen, I imparted to him
my idea, which met with his appmbarion, he, even
charging himfelf with the delivery of the letter. I wrote
therefore in hjs prefcnce neailv In thcfe terms.

Madam,

NOTWITHSTANDING all the feverities of my
fituation, not a finglc complaint hascfcaped me ; all the
infidious methods that have been pradifed to extort
confefTions from me, have ferved only to ftrengthcn me
in the refolution, of never faying any thing, by which
you may be brought into queftionj yet, perfuaded as I
am, that my fidelity and difcretion ought to facilitate
my being extricated from my difficulties, I own to you,
that the efforts of the family of the " Slave,'* make me
fear I Ihall become a viflim. Three mondis examination
of anxieties of every kind, the defpondency of feeing
myfclf accufed (I, who am innocent) has greatly weak-
ened

[ 2-5 ]

cned my fortitude, and makes me apprehenfive I fhall
not be able, much longer, to be fteady in that refolve.
You have it in ^your power to put an end to this un-
happy bufinefs, by caufing it to be negociated by B,
He may give to the Minifter what turn his intelligent
mind may fuggeft to him> avoiding particularly to bring
you into queftion. The dread I am under of feeing
myfelf forced to a full difcovery, drives me to the mea-
fure I now adopt, perfuaded Madam, that you will give
orders to have this unfortunate matter brought ro a
conclufion.

1 am with the rnoft profound refpeft".
Madam's moft obedient fcrvant,

COUNTESS DE VALOIS DE LA MOTTE,

J^ril 13, 1786. .

I gave him my letter to read, which he approved of,
and propofed my communicating it to the Cardinal. As
the latter was at leaft as much interefted as myfelf, in
having the proceedings terminated. I faw no impro-
priety in fo doing: I delivered to him my letter, and
pointed out the manner of conveying it fafely, by in-
clofing it under three covers. He put it into his pocket,
and after an hour's converfation on various topics, he
pretended to go, then flopping for a confiderable time,
as if full of thought, and at laft obferved to me, that,
upon mature reflexion, it was not poffible for him to de-
G g liver

[ t26 ]

liver fuch Ji letter, without rendering himfeir liable to
be alfo furnifhed with an apartment in the Battile ; for
it being univerfally known, that he was the only perfon
I converfed with, people would naturally turn an eye of
fulpicion upon him, as to the delivery of fuch a letter
from me. He therefore returned it, faying he would
fpeak of it to the Cardinal, and that fome perfon fliould
be thought of, that might undertake the commiffjon,
without incurring the fame degree of danger.

Thus it was that wretch, by buoying me up with
hdpesj found means to induce a converfation with me,
and to take advantage of every unguarded word that
might efcape me.

The examinations being ended, I had the precious
permiflion to fee my council Doillot, who, if not natu-
rally difhoneft, was influenced by the Baron de Breteuil;
confequently full of lio other confideration than that of
bringing the Cardinal to the block, and preventing the
Queen's being, in any manner whatfoevcr, betrayed and
expofed.

His firft vifit to me, after the conclufion of the
examinations, will evince, by the account he brought
how many ihifts and ftratagems had been ufed
to difguft him, and prevent his drawing up his fe-
cond memorial. Wilhing to be informed of the rc-
fult of the examinations, he went to Mr, Laurencelle's,
deputy to the Attorney General, who after much tergi-
verfation, and pretended impoflibility for him to com-
municate any thing, faid, at laft, tliat I had made a full
confefTion, of which he had proof in writing j that the
defpondency I had fince fallen into, for having- made

fuch

[ 2^7 1

fucli declaration5, had rendered it impoffible for me to
be ken ; that a few days before, I had bitten off the
tliumb of my turn-key, Sf. John.
, Doillot, ftunned with this information, anfwered that
he could not believe it, after all I had told him, and the
writings I had given to him. The deputy feeing him in
this ftate of uncertainty, and looking upon him, as aU
ready difpofed to believe whatever he might fuggeft,
imparted to him the examinations, wherein he read the
confeffionl had made. Stupified with amazement, in-
cenfed at having been fo grofsly deceived, he walked
haftily about the room, curfing thofe who had prevailed
on him to undertake my defence, &c. Qrowing fome-
what calm, and recollefting all the methods ufed to im-
pofe on me, as well as himf^lf ; he requefted to look;
over the examinations a fecond time, and particularly
to afcertain my fignaturc, as alfo thofe of the odier par-
ties, which Laurencelle ablblutely refufed his afTent to,
Sufpefting therefore a defign to deceive him, an4
prevent his coming any more to me in the Baftile,
he withdrew, determined to fearch into the truth. - He
in confequence of what had pafled, paid me a vifit, in
fpite of all oppofition to his family and friends. His
ferious and inquifitiye countenance, on entering the
apartment, appeared to me fo much the more extraor-
dinary, from having written down and recapitulated all
that paired during the whole time of the examinations.--
I could not imagine what^ had produced fuch an altera-
tion : at length, after fignifying his furprife at my chear-
fulnefs, he acquainted me with all that had happened at
Laurencelle's> with the reports that were circulated, with
Q g 2- the

[ 2lZ ]

the pretended confeflion I had made^ and particularly
v/ith my fit of rage, in which Thad bitten off my turn-
key's thumb. Poor St. John, who was preft^nt at this
llory, could not contain himfelf, but after bearing tefti-
mony of the truth, faid, that " the Governor, who was
*^ fold co\the family of Rohan, was the fabricator of
*^ thofe calumnies 5 and that he was ready to ftand be-
*^ fore his face^ and reproach him \^'iih his infamous be-
^^ haviour from the very beginning of the bufincfs."
He added, that " far from my being outrageous, as it
*^ v/as pretended, I had been too mild ; and that in my
^^ place, he fliould not have been able to bear with
*^ .thofe -villains, but would have torh their eyes out,"

I then delivered to Doillot my examinations, which I
had taken care to write dov^n at each fitting ; and after
reading them over, and being delighted with them, he
required me to fign my name at the bottom of every
page, in order to leave no doubt of their authenticity j
then went out triumphantly, promifing to have all the
particukrs I had been relating to him immediately
printed. Before I let him depart, I told him of the
fnare which the knavifli Abbe had laid for me^ to
which he anfwered, that ^^ I muft be good indeed, to
*^ puzzle my brain with fuch a parcel of pitiful fluff;
*^ that he was glad my letter had not been conveyed to
" the Qu.een, as it xould not but have produceH a bad
" effcft, and indifpofed her to be inimical to me;
*' that in^ a v/ord, once for all, I ought to be pcrfuad-
" ed, I fliould come off with flying colours." He was
all this time drawing up memorial?, writing briefs, void
of common fcnfe, Ihapdefs affemblages of abfurdities

and

[ '2-9 1

and falllioods ; making me declare in every page, that I
had never feen the Queen, and forcing me to affirm
it before my judges: whereas my natural and fare de-
fence was, to fay (what was inceffantly in my heart and
on my Jips) that the Queen had loaded me with favours,
ever fince the period, when through the accident I be-
fore mentioned, I'had been fo happy as to intereft her
Majefty in my behalf.

When Dojllot was departed. Abbe Lequele came to
know whether I had not charged him with die letter I
had written to the Queen ? I anfwered I had not.—
" You did very right," replied he, " T have talked the
" matter over with the Cardinal, who thinks it would
" have pafTed through the hands of Baron de Breteuil,
*^ who would not have failed making his advantage of
" it, by hindering it from reaching the Queen.'*

I preferved the letter to the moment of my appearing

before die Parliament, determined (if I difcovered an

intention of facrificing m.e) to drop it as I went out,

which would necefTarily have brought on an explanation,

that I would have entered into, by divulging the whole

affair.

Uiifortilnately for me, I faw myfelf encouraged and

applauded, and in confequence of the hopes all along
given to me, during the trial, I went back, perfuaded
I fhould gain my caufe. On my entering the keeper's
parlour, I related to his wife, who v/as very kind to me,
all that had jufl been tranfafted j imparting the circum-
ftance of the letter, which I fliewed her 5 fhe called in
her hufband,' who, terrified beyond meafure, fhut the
door, upon us, and immediately burnt the letter.

From

[ ^JO ]

From every thing I have related, it appears that I
was nearly in the cafe of a patient, to whom one phyfi-
cian fays : " If you eat you will die of indigeftion C'
another, " if you do not cat you'll perifh through mere
" want." The fad is, that die I muftj for (eeing be-
fore my eyes the Jword or poifofty in cafe I mentioned
the Queen's name, I took care not to do it; but then
by not naming her, I fixed upon myfelf the guilt of
purloining the necklace.— And indeed, from the mo-
ment it was apparent the Cardinal would extricate him-
felf, cither through the treachciy or inability of my
counfel, it became cldar, that a vi£tim muft fall, and
that I was deftined to be the facrifice. It is at once
fliocking and remarkable, that both the judges and
evidences united to aim the mortal blow at me. The
epitome of the examinations (which the public never
had knowlege of, but through the unfaithful narrative
of the impudent lawyer Target) would imprefs the mind
with horror, if. the records that contain it, were expofed
toeviryeye. I will adduce a few paffages^ which 1
cannot have forged.

We muft not lofe fight of a fafb I have already men-
tioned, and which is now univerfally known ; that is,*
that as well in the previous interrogatories, as in the ex-
aminations, neither the Cardinal nor myfelf ever uttered
one word of truth ; the realbn of wliich is very pLiin :
that is, had we done fo, it was under penalty of forfeiting
our lives. Neither the Cardinal nor myfelf were to
name the Queen ; what therefore could we lay, that
bore refemblance to what the truth really was ?— Se-
cpndly, as I have alfo previoufly obfcrved, both of us

being

being prepared to utter nothing but untruths, our de-
pofitions, declarations and various fpeeches, were a
ready calculated game, in which it is evident, that, fee-
ing the immenfe inequalities of our ftations, the ad-
vantage coitld not be on day fide ; for I played the
weak hand againft whom ? a great Queen and a power-
ful Lord ! Was it pofilble that evidenccSi of the caft of
thofe who appeared in this affair, fhould waver a mo-
ment between me and cither of my adverfe parties ?—
and indeed, what was the confequencc ? Why, that in
all the affidavits, obtained at 1 vaft expence, marks of
bribery and corruption flare me in the face ? I afk
pardon of Monfieur Dupuis de Marce, folicitor in the
iniquitous profecution, but I can prove him to have
prevaricated to a fcandalous excefsi Let its refer only
to one circumflance, the iniquity of the fentencc, which
crowned all the iniquities praftifed againfl me. lier
Majeflry was a powerful Queen, the Cardinal as power-
ful a Prince: I had nothing but the narae of Valois to
render me of any confcquence. It has been Teen that,
being equally made the viftim of misfortune, from the
advice di^^ated by the malice of my enemies, and the
interefts which I had occafioned, I was led aftray by
the counfels of both friends and foes. There remains for
me to prove the corrupt evidence produced againft me,
and the prevarication, with which I charged the Solici-
tor; and by quoting inllances of the fonr.er, I fliall
furnidi feme of the latter,

Firfl, having unhappily entrufted that villain Le-
quele with the particulars of the afFair, who, a fpy of
the Governor*s, and a creature of the CardinaFs, was

necef-

C i3^ 1

necefTarily a moft dangerous confident ; it is made ma-
nifeft by die event, diat he at the fame time communi-
cated to the Cardinal's counfel, and to his own patron,
what I had communicated relative to-Villette and the
girl Olivia, and that it was purfuant to that imprudent
ftep of mine, that the Rohans ftimulated the authority
of their friend de Vergcnncs^ to have thofe two perfons
taken into cuftody, in order to inftruft tliem, and make
them depofc v/hatcvcr fi:iould be judged fuitable to their
purpofe.

Scarce had Villette entered the Bafiile, when they
enfured him his fafety, and furnifhcd him with the
means, by fuggefting the idea of writing to Count de
Vergenhes, who, certainly muft , be fuppofcd to have
perfonal intereft in the bufinefs. He therefor^ wrote to
that minifter, that he had matters to impart of the ut-
moft importance, which he could entruft to none but
himfelf. The wily ftatefman, who had advifed this plan
of proceeding, but would not appear the leaft con-
cerned in the profecution, caufed him to be tokl, it was
impoJible for him to grant Villette an audience, buc
that he might with equal fafety " entruft every thing
v^ith the Governor." He might as well have'faid " to
the Cardinal and his counfel"

Villette having objefled to difclofing himfelf, he was
advifed to write a fccond letter to Mr de Vergennes,
wdth a fincere confeflion of all he knew : to which he
anfwered, he would willingly comply, but for the fear of
cxpofing the Queen. '* WclF' fald they to him, ^^ do
'' not expofe her j cannot you omit her name, and tell
every thing elfe you know ?" As he feemed perplexed,
they faved him the trouble of arrahging his depofitions,

and

{ 0.33 ]

and die very firfl day they were given to him ready
prepared. They pointed Qut to hini the nature of thofc
confeffions he was to avoid, and fuggefting fuch as he
was to ftibftituce in lieu of them -, and in the fame man-
ner as die Baron de Breteuil, Count D'Adhemar, the
CommllTary Chcnon, and others, calling themfelves parti-
fans of the Queen, had didtated to my hufband and me,
" Lay all to the Cardinal's account:" the partifans of
the Rohans faid to the witneffes whom they inftriidted,
" Lay every thing to the charge of the Countefs de la
^f Motte/* But it will be faid to me, ^^ What proofs
" have you for thefe affertions ?— they may be flander-:
<f ous" — what proofs ? I could bring many, but one
only is fufficient. It is this : in whatever light the af-^
fair is confidered, Villctte, by his ov,n confeffion, was
at leaft guilty of a fpecies of forgery, which if not deem-
ed of a nature to incur a capital, at leaft deferved fome
kind of punifhment. Was he punifhed ? No, — on the
contrary his circumftances were rendered eafy, he had a
ffttlement made upon him, in a word he ^as rewarded !
—for what ? — for the docility with which he complied in
being filent upon the Queen's account, and in placing
tvcry thing criminal to mine. Needs there any farther
proof of flagrant corruption ?— Informed as I am, to the
minuteft particulars, how that fcene of iniquity was
carried on, I regret that I am obliged to declare from
v/jiom my intelligence was received ; but whatever I do
not reveal in thefe Memoirs, will be through wane or
recolleftion. I fay therefore, that my author, for thofe
particulars, is the Chevalier du Puget, ibe King's
lieutenant of the BaftHe, who w^ prefent at all thofe
* H h vile

[ ^34 1

vile cabals carried on by the Governor. The indigna-
tion he conceived in confequence of them, determined
him to inform me, that I might make my advantage
of them. Accordingly on a crofs examination with that
Villctte, I made him confcfs the matter, and then, ob-
ferving to him there were, exclufive of the Governor,
other perfons who prevailed on him to make depofitions
concerning fuch and fuch particulars, he had the ho-
nefty to fay, ^^ It Is true, it was thofe two Gentle-
men, pointing at the fame time to the Solicitor and the
Recorder !-— How wonderful the integrity of that Soli-
citor!— I know not what it brought him in, but the,
fum muft have been large, if proportioned to the infamy
he had brought upon himfelf I fhall return to him
more than once. I beg permifTion to fay a few words
concerning 'poor Oliva. I fhall firfl obferve, that flie
w^as fo fimple, fo very fimple, that all the wilyncfs of
|he de Launay*s (*), of the de Puis de Marcc*s (f ), of
the Fremin's (j:), never could make her fay yeSy in-
ftead of no ; black in lieu of white ; and indeed for that
reafon all her depofitions and examinations remained
buried in the Baftile. She never could be diverted
from the native fimplicity of her narrative : ' ingenuoufly
relating' the adventure of the green-arbourj and main-
tiiining to the very laft, the Queen's being prefcnt. In
varft did they obferve to her, that timidity had made
h'er'fte one objeft inftcad of another, that flie might be

deceived

* Governor of the Baftile. f The Solicitor*
% The Recorder,

JUj

[ ^35 ]

deceived through the darknefs of the night : in ihort
that ihe was pur-blind j Oliva not apprehending that her
anfwers were prompted to her, in order to bring her oR]
perfifted ftcrutly, and her laft word was : " I am very
« certain that I both faw and heard the Queen, and that
" {lie fpoke to me/' It muft be readily conceived that
when they came to confront her with mci they fpared no
pains to bias her ; there v/as no poflibility of burying
the words Ihe fpoke before me, as the interrogatories
might be t for that reafon they dreaded to let her fpeak.
To obviate this pofitive inconvenience, the Solicitor
thought to furmount the difficulty, by putting the quef-
tions to her, in fuch a manner, that Jlie had nothing to
do, but anfwer by a mere negative or affirmative. I did
not kt tilat efcape me, but defir^ed Mr, Dupuis de
Marce ^^ to fufFer her to fpeak, and not to be her mouth-^
*^ piece." (a trivial expreffioil, which occurred to me
I know not how) He bluflied— was flung with rage— -
and getting up like a demoniac, put an end to the fcA
fion ! ! ! Apropos, of this feffion fo haflily put ah end
to, k is now time for obferving, that he never did other-
wife, biit, daily, had recourfe to' that artifice. When-
ever the Cardinal was in a dilemma, and* that the wor-
thy Solicitor, or the Recorder Fremin, could not by
their fignificant looks and glances, either filence him, or
fuggeft his anfwers, they immediately quitted their feats ;
at other times, wherl they faw me grow w^arm, and ap-
pear ready to eonvift the Cardinal by fame unanfwer-
able argument, they would fodth me, would afFc6t tol
pacify me, to make me lofe the thread of my difcourfe ;
which I could not recover again, either becaufe the
J-I h 2 flurry

[ 236~ ]

flinty of my (pints threw my ideas into conflifioii, of
that they did riot allow me leifure to recolledtniyfelf.---
The cafe was not the fame in refpeft to the Cardinal ;.
they would flop him fliort in the middle of a fentcnce.
I have often fecn the Solicitor, and the Recorder Fre-
min, as red as fire, rife up with emotion, and fay to the
Cardinal, .'' Hold your tongue— you have no me-
" mory-'-you are contradifting what you depofed on
" fuch a day/' Thofe gendemen had flill another re-
fource. Whatever was faid in favour of the Cardinal,
was committed to writing with incredible eagernefs and
punftuality ; but if they came to any circumftance that
tended, the leaft in the worldi to cxpofe him, I was
forced to exert myfelf, even pafilonately, to make
die Recorder take it down, who ftill found ways to baf-
fle me. It is a faft, that upon a lecohd pe^rufai of the
depofitions, or perfonal examinations before each odier,
of the preceding day, I feveral times perceived them to
be altered; and obtaining no redrels when I made men-
tion of itj I frequently arofe and declared " I would
" attend no more, and that fince thofe gentlemen were
" bent upon finding me guilty^ they might as well pafs
" judgment on me unheard, my prefence being ufe -
*^ lefs."

At one time I held my refolution for a whole tveek,
nor could be prevailed upon, but by prefTing foUcita-
tions on all hands, to return to what I called the
" Jhar ofJacrtficeJ' It was in thefe fcenes of iniquity
that thofe vile men prefumed to call me a " wicked wo-
" man :*' and I am indebted to them for a name, which
prejudice, arifing from their conduft, has too often at-
tached

C m ]

tached to me. Surely that epithet muft revert to my
accufers, to thofe who not content with all the prevarica-
tions and artifices I have been difclofing, had moreover
the villawy to alter and interpolate the records, by add-
ing or luppreiring on their ftamped paper, as btft fuited
their purpofesi by omitting what Operated againft them,
or by introducing fpeeches that were never fpoken. I
once very diftinftly overheard the honejt Dupuis de
Marce hy to the Recorder, ** Sei your lines a little
nh from one another'* Another legerdemain trick I
beg leave to expofe : I had one day floutly infilled on
fomcthing confequential, that had dropped from the
Cardinal, beins taken down. The Recorder anfwerin<]:i
" he had no room lefty but would add it on the next ieafy^
I would not leave him till he had noted it in the mar-
gin, (*) which he did; but they took care that day,
not to require my fignature to it. Two days afterwards

I WiiS

* The Cardinal having maintained on feveral occa-
fions, that he ufed Co fend me by his Swifs porter and
his valet de chambre foury five and fix louis d^ors in
cards. Being one day terrified with the rullling I occa-
fioned by various papers I had in my pocket, and un-
mindful of his former depofitions \ he faid he was fure
I had received at nvo inftallmenny five hundred thou-
sand LivREs which had been placed in the hands of his
notary. I permitted him to proceed to the end ; not
failing afterwards to make him obfcrve the contradic-
tion; pointing out to him^ that fince he was fure, I had

received

asfH

[ ^^38 ]

I was prefented with, a paper to fign, at the. fa,me time
with the examination of the day ; on my perufing which,
I difcovcred it wastlie very fame, on which I had caufed
a note to be fet down in the margin ; but that note was
no longer to be found there. 1 exclaimed agalnft fuch
a piece of perfidioufnefs i I was anfwcred with prevari-
cating arguinencs, and the note was not reftored.

Another day I was in reality '* wicked'' as thofe gen-
try were pleafed to call me. They confronted me widi
Caglioftro, and that Mountebank, a^. rud^ as he is
ihamelefs, took the liberty to treat mc with unbecoming
language, which proved wonderfully entertaining to Mr.
Dupuis de Marce. I quickly put an end to the fcene^
ty^._tlirowing a candleftick at the quack's head, and
turning towards Monfieur the Solicitor, I told him, that
if he had an inclination to heighten the demumeni of the
farce, I rcquefted he would fupply me with a broom-
ftick. It was on that occafion I difcovered a frefli piece
of villainy in the junto. Caglioftro enraged and foaming
at the mouthi faid to me—" He will come, thy Villettc,

« he will come; it is he that will fpeak." -From

Ivhat did he know that? How did he know it?

Why did he know it? It was then the time for in-

terro -

received five hundred thou/and livres, it was not probable
he fhould repeatedly have fent me five - or fix louts. I
compelled the Recorder to write down that depofition ;
on his reprefenting he had no more room, and that he
Would add, it next time> I caufed it to be put in the
margin.

t ^39 1

t^rmgarories and examinations-^— I faw no fotil livin^y,
and that knave Caglioftro knew every thing ! Can there
be a more ftriking proof of the fcandalous confederacy
tharrei^^ed between the accufed, the profecutors, the
evidences and die judges? (*)

I know

* My rencounter with Caglioftro originated from a
circumftance rather hidicrous. He obftinately denied
tk cabaliftic fccnes afted at the Cardinal's, particularly
the one in which he had caused my niece to see
THE Queen in a bottle, accompanied by the
Grand Cophti, and the Angel Michael, who

WERE declaring TO HER MaJESTY SHE SHOULD BE
DELIVERED OF A MALE CHILD, &C. On that OCCaflOn

as I had feen the letter No. XXXII, I told him, I

knew how much the Queen defpifcd him, that Ihe
called him a meer mountebank, an impoftor, in fhort
I acquainted him with thofe terms ofdifdain, in which
flie had refufed the Cardinal her confent to fee Cag-
lioftro.-—" apropos," faid I to'him, " Grand Cophti,
" has your prayer produced its efFeft? If it has fo much
" efficacy, why don't you ufe it to get out of this
'* place?" It was on that account he flew into a rage,
and talked to me impertinendy. The Solicitor afked
what die purport of that . prayer was j but as I had
already entertained him fufficiendy, I did not think pro-
per to afford him farther fatisfaftion : I anfwcred, that
Caglioftro perfeftly underftood me, and that was fuffi-
cientj but I will Ihew more complaifance to the public.

The

I ^40 ]

I know not whither my recoUeftion would carry me,
were I to yield to all the fuggcftions, with which my
mind is full. At the prefent moment, when I am fen-
fible I muft have exceedingly wearied the reader with
the dull details of fo complicated an examination ; I fee

myfelf

The trutli is, that at the period when the Queen wrote
to die Cardinal, the fubjoined letters -in which flie com-
plained of the " vexatioys behaviour of the Polignacs,
&c/' Caglioftro, whom he confulted, -if his fingers did
t)ijt ache, told him, " he had a fecret for getting rid
^^ of people who gave umbrage;" and at the fame time
^^ gave him two prayers v/ith the manner of ufing
" them." The Prince's firft care was to fend them to
the Queen, recommending p her the ufe of them, and
to put faith in them. As I had the cha,rge of delivering
diofe precious amulets, the Queen imparted them to me
ia 2L loud fit of laughter, and afl^ed whether the Cardi-
nal was going out of his wits, or if he took her for a
fimpleion ? I do not remember the very words of thofe
prayers, but perfedly well their ufe. One was to be
applied below the left breaft, die other in the pocket on
the fame fide, and when the Queen had a mind to
make any one fall at her feet, fhe needed only to place
her two hands on the two prayers while Ihe recited them^^
at that inftant all were to be proftrate, all were to be

at her command, and perform her will : a circum-

ftance which, after exciting her mirth, made the Queen,
hj to me : " I may very likely make trial of it."

[ ^41 ]

jTjyfelf furroundcd with a Croud of perverfe wirnelTes,
who, however difgraceful it may be to them, feem to
folicit a little corner in my memoirs.

I cannot withftand the temptation of laying a word,

concerning the part affigned to the Queen Dowager,

the immaculate Du Barre of monaftic memory. The

evidence of that woman fet forth, that I had been at her

houfe to folicit her frote^ion ! and that I had left with

her a memorial figned Mary Antoinette de France, The

faft is, that I only went to her houfe out of curiofity,

in a good coach and four, that at that period I ftood fo

Jittiein need of her proteftion, that their Royal Highnefles

Madame, and Madame Countess D'ARToiSjhad taken

me under theirs. Upon her lignifying to me, that fhe

thought the branch of Valois had been extinft; I gave

her a memorial to which was annexed my genealogy,

figned " Mary Antony D'Ozier de Serigny,

Judge of the nobility of France." This flie was

pleafed to transform into "^"^ Mary Antoinette of

'^ France," faying, that diatwas my fignature. When

ilie was confronted with me^ fhe took it into her head

to affuine towards me an air of haughtinefs and info-

Icnce. I hafteitedto fet her in her proper place, by

making her fenfibk of the diftance between her birth and

minei "upon which fhe cried out, " It is very hard I

^' muft be brought hither to be humbled by Madam/'

The Solicitor then faid to her, loyd enough for me to

hear him, « WtH well. Madam, never mind, you will

fliortly be. revenged." Hepxce it is plain the fcheme of

thofe gentry was no fecret.

I i J afk

t H2 i

I afk Madame dd Barry's pardon, If I name, her wkri
fuch bad company, but in truth, without affeftatioil,
the name of De Brugniere, is that which occurs next im^
mediately after hers.

That exempt of the pcJlice depdfed, " that he had
** ftcn in the hands of a Jew, (whofe name I do not
" call to mind) fome diamonds which the SieurViU
" Iccte had carried to hini for fale, and which were^ he
'^ faid, at lead izs large as his tJjumb V Take notice,
that the Sieur Brugniere's thumb is as broad as a half
crown piece ! th^fe are the very diamonds that were fold
to Paris the jeweller, for the fum of fifteen thoufand
livres. The honefi De Brugniere was convifted/ by xht
Jews evidence, on that dircumftance.

As I had given in an exa6l account of all my own
diamonds, and thofe of my hufband, there had been one
required of my waiting woman, hoping it would differ
from mine. The Solicitor vexed to fee them tally fo
well, fought, artfully, to make her magnify the fize of
feveral diamonds, belonging to niv hufband ; but fhc,
afting on principles of honefly, which the exempt of the
police was not mafter of^ refufed compliance, and dc-
fcribcd all our jc^vels as they really were.

To thofe I have mentioned let me add another ho-
ncft man ! Regnier, my own jeweller, had been brought
over to give in a lift of diamonds bought of me, which
he had valued at a large amount. Seeing through
the knavery of it, I required his books to be produced,
but this was a fatisfadlion I never could obtain.

Grenier who had come to me with La Porte^ about
the projedl of finance I have mentioned in the former

part

^

t 243 ]

pait of thcfc Memoirs, has, as well as the Capuchin
M^Dermot, given in a very long depofition^ manufac-
tured by the lawyer Target, which was ftill morefhock-
ing, and difcovered a greater degree of collufion. Gre-
nier is a man of very circumfcribed intellefts, and by no
means equal to the producing of fo well written a per-
formance. It laboured efpecially to prove that I had told
him I was accuftomed to fee the Queen; and that, while
in my bath, I had fhewn him letters, which I faid I had
celved from her Majefty, direfted " to my coufm the
Countefs de Fakis." What a piece of abfurdity !

La Porte's evidence except in a few inftances is exaftly
the fame. Baron de Planta, in order t^ prove alfo that I
vifited the Queen, faid, he accompanied me as far as her
Majefty's apartment, that he waited for me at the bot-
tom of the back ftairs, whence he faw me come out j
he added, that he had knowlege of fcveral confiderable
fums, I had received from her Majefty. I took care
not to make any comments on the Baron's depofition,
who did not perceive that it flatly contradifted what the
Cardinal had depofed. The Solicitor and the Recorder
were filent, imagining that my memory was not more
tenacious than that of the Baron, but when they faw
that in fpite of their reprefentations, I infifted all he had
laid Ihould be taken down in writing, then it was they
railed againft the Baron, and refufed me the fatisfaftion
1 required. Incenfed at this behaviour, I withdrew in
a ragej faying, that fince they were determined at all
events to find me guilty, they might as well condemn
me unheard ; that moft alTuredly, they fhould fee me
no more. I above related the Governor's promifes and
I i 2 foli-

[ 244 1 .

folic! tatiors to get me again to the council hall, which
would be better denominated the hall of defolation.
• Bohemer in his Hrft memorial to the Queen, makes
no mention of my name -, his depofition rather tended
to exculpate than to criminate me ; but what I have to
charge him with is, that he did not relate all that he
knew. He was one day taking with him to his country
houfe, a man whofe name was Pagan : as they pafied
before the Baftile, he made him take notice of the place
where the Cardinal ufed to walk, faying to him, *^ The
^ Cardinal's life was in my hands, Jiis fate depended on
•*'me, but I faid nothing: people owed me a grudge
*^ for it yonder, (meaning at Verfaiiies) I thought for
'' a while I Iliox^ld lofe my place, but you. know every
*^ thing is at laft forgotten/'

.Father Loth, a Minim friar, another notorious vil-
lain, who -^vas under the greateft obligations to me, and
to whom (when I quitted Paris) I had left the manage-
ment of all my concerns, was the man who evinced the
moft zeal for tlie houfe of Rohan.. His project, as well
as the Capuchin M^Dermot's, was to get himfelf fecu-
lariled, which, he thought he could not more rcLjdily
obtain, than by running about in quefl of falfe evidence,
and himfelf making depofitions Ihocking to ccmmoh
feiafe. Hearing that he liad htm icndeavouring to pre-
vail on a young perfon who had jived ."with me, to make
^ falfe affidavit, ^ I rj^quired htr to' be fent for, flie cam.c
^<?^or^ingly, and ..made afRdavji: pf.-tlie /circumftance.
JJup-ui^de Marine cou}d not forbear teftifying his indig-
m^imi ^fp&cially,whpri informed of the fervices I had
done-hitor': 1 b^elievQ. h^ haa before thi$ time repeated his

infa-

[ ^45 I

infamous behaviour, for from that moment he has been
dcfpifed and forfaken by every body.

Of the whole body of witnefles, that were colleded
together againft me, none, [except the Sieur de Vil-
lette, who accufed me of prevailing on him to fign Mary
Antoinette of France^ of which I have related the
particulars) pretended to have any of the necklace;
why therefore was I condemned as having ftolen it ?
what proofs were there to maintain fuch an accufation ?
— none. Mr. St. James, whofe depofitions contained
very pointed fafts,. and Bohemer, were two dreadful
evidences againft the Cardinal. It was given out that
one was a fooly who did not know what he was faying;
the other deaf, and had mifunderftood one thing for
another ; yet the Cardinal fhewed thofe two individuals
(who gave evidence of it) letters from the Queen, and
faid he had feen in her Majefty's hands six hundred
THOUSAND livres, which he would not take charge of»
If pains had not been taken to ftifle the truth, on the
very lips that ftrove to utter it, would circumftances fo
material have been paffed over fo flightly as they were ?
—what is the ufe then of evidence ? — let us examine
what thofe exculpatory writings were, which the Cardi-
nal publiflied, in oixler to eradicate the impreffion he
dreaded, and which muft naturally refult from fuch a
multiplicity of facts. Wc have fecn, that one Jefferys
a jeweller in Picadilly, to whom my hufband had firft
delivered a quantity of diamonds, had made him an
offer of " four thoufand guineas," payable by inftall-
ments ; which offer he declined. This Jefferys, vexed
to hear that he had ft ruck a bargain with Mr. Gray,

embraced

r C46 ] '

embraced the opportunity to be revenged, as he ima-
gined, of his fellow jeweller, by laying, at the infllga-
tion of Carbonnieres, an inforation as falfe as could be
made, with an intent to make Gray pafs for a man of
little probity, in having purchafcd, as he termed them,
tlolen diamonds. JefFerys in the firft place faid, that
immediately on having the diamonds in his hands, he
went to the office and laid an information ; that he had
returned the diamonds, being, unwilling to purchafe
chem, from his perfuafion of their having been ftolen.
This was the declaranon fent to Paris, and figned by an
horwft French notary named Dubourg^ who from that
time to this, never would communicate the original dc-
ciaration, faying he had fent it to Paris, and " never
kept duplicates of thofe kind of things," A notary, and
rj^ot. keep the teftimonials of the bufinefs tranfafted ! ! !(*)
As foon as Jefferys had heard that my huftand had con-
cluded a bargain with Mr. Gray, he renewed his appli-
catioti to him, tfelling him, " he would have made him
V greater allowance, had he- knpwn he would have ac-.

"* cepted

* This Dubourg, whom the family of Rohan ought
not to have abandoned after his ready compliance with
^heir inftrudions, has lately been obliged to folicit MefL
D'Arragon and Barthelemy for Hvo guineas, to convey
him to aconventofMonks, where he is to take the cowL
It is on the teftimony of that linfey-wolfey Friar, that
the family of Rohan has prefented juftificatory writings,
calculated to fupport their falihoods, and drawn up by
that fame Dubourg,

[ ^-47 ■]

♦< cepted of jewels in exchange, and afked, vchether hfe
«f had any more diamonds?" Mn de la Motte pro^
duced what he had left> wliich Jefferys took away v/ith
him for exarninatiori, but my hufband finding he had
carried them to the perfon with whom he had made the
former bargain, took them out of his hands, and con^
ckided a bargain with the fame perfon himfelf.

When Count de la Motte came back to London;
Jefferys went to him and affured him, that his declara-
tion had been interpreted quite otherwife than he had
intended, and concluded by aflcing, whether he had any
more diamonds : faying, that in order to prove the fal-
fi&/ of what had been afierted, he was ready to purchale
them. The Count, defignedly, gave him a ring of the
value of about one hundred guineas, wliich Jefferys
took with him, and a few days after returned to make
an offer. As my hufband did not purpofe parting with
it, and only made it a pretence to afcertain his conduft
towards him ; he difmifled the jeweller, paying him a
bill of two guineas for buckles he had bought ofhim.

Such has been the confident behaviour of that firft
fiirnilher of '' juftificatory writings;*' let us proceed to
the fecond t

Gray, in giving an account of the various bargains
my hufband entened into with him, faid, he was. periua-
dcd the Count had never fold for the account of any
other perfon than himfelf, and' that he never uttered
cither the Queen's or the Cardinal's name. That de-
claration, though confonant to truth, made, at that
time againft us, in confequence of my having been ad-
vifcd to lay, that tlie Cardinal had delivered diamonds

to

[243 ]

to me, to be fold for his emolument ; and that I had
paid him the price arifing from the fale. Add to thofe
two declarations, that of the Capuchin M'Dermot, and
they contain the entire fubllance of the juflificatory
writings, on 'which fo much reliance has abfurdly been
placed.

I have declared my apprchenfions of never coming
to a conclufion ; my memory nowfuggefts a few impor-
tant fa6ts, out of which I fliall feledt the moft ftriking :
happy, ify while I fpare the reader the perufal of tlie
reft, I ever can myfelf forget them.

During the laft interrogatory, Monfieur Titon de
Villotran took me by the hand, and faid to me, ^^ My
^^ dear Countefs, believe me, fpeak the truth ; it is the
" only way you have t6 fave yourfeif ^ we have un-
*^ doubted proof, that you ufed to fee the Queen ; why
^' will you not confefs it ? Be convinced therefore^ that
*^ what I fay is for your good/'— My counfd and every
perfon about me, had fo terrified me, and at the fame
time perfuaded me, I ought above all, to avoid uttering
the Queen's name, that I had the weaknefs to yield an
implicit compliance to their counfels.

As to Mademoifelle Dorvat, fhortly after my misfor-
tunes commenced, llie was fent out of the way, to the
fartheft part of a diftant province. Such is the reward
beftowed by the Queen, on perfons the moft intimately .
connefted with her;

I will fave the reader the relation of a greater num-
ber, of the like particulars, which might prove tire-
-fome, without any of diem feparately taken appearing
a fufEeieut mean^ of conviclion. It would be very

difficult

[ ^49 ]

^difficult for me to diffufe a clear and intelligent light,
that could pervade through a heap of intrigues, which
fo many powerful and compUcatcd interefts, fcrved to
render a m.ais of confufion; but the attentive and impar-
tial reader will difcover> in the artlefs fimplicity of my
narrative, the leading truths, which have been attempt-
ed to be obfcured, and enveloped in darknefs. Such
readers will perceive, that if I am compelled to bring
forward circumftances,\vhich appear fo ftrange and unac-
countable, that they muft be thought to run counter to all
probability ; yet what they have previoufly had exhibited
to them, was equally extraordinary, and more unaccount-
able. Who has yet been, or perhaps ever would be
able to penetrate into this labyrinth of intrigue, had I
not removed die cloud of obfcurity with which it v/as
enveloped, and produced a clue to trace the paths of in-
tricacy, which lead to its inmoft recefs ?

Hov; is it poffibie to reconcile the certainty of the
v^TjJecret and very intimate connexion which fubfifted be -
tween the Queen and the Cardinal; with the reloludon,
fuddenly taken, of bringing him to the fcafFold?-— How
would it be fuppofed that the Cardinal could be fo Am-
ply weak, fo much a dupe, to a woman like me 5 to
have been guilty of fuch a number of fenfelefs, mean,
inconfiftent follies, as he has been charged with, in or-
der to exculpate himfelf, and criminate mc. What con-
ftruftion can be put upon the romantic adventure of the
girl Oliva; |he ufe made of the forged fignatiue} the
abfoJute difappcarance of the principal parts of the fa-
mous necklace i and the ftrange manner in which die
Queen is involved in both adventures ? In fliort how
can k be diought natural, that having firft been kindly

K k coun-

[ ^5^ ]

countenanced by the fmilcs of Majcflyi afterwards ar*-
refted^ but treated with particular caution throughout the
whole legal procedure, alternately pra<5Hfed upon by
promifes and threats ; that I fliould, in' tjie end, prov<^
the only vi6lim^ felcfted from a number, who were ac-
cufed, to be given up to the fevcrity of jufticc -, and, am I
doomed to lay it, that the hand of the executionef Ihould
be the remuneration for that filcnce, fo ftrongly rccom-
commended to me ?

I have produced the key which unqueftionably
folves thefe a^nigmas, it is the real, fincc it is the only
one, and it is.impoffible to find another. There toukl
not exift fuch extreme perverfcnefs without fome power-
ful motives, fuch violent party intrigues, without un-
common caufes, I have made apparent thofc motives
and thofe caufes, by barely relating my hiilory -, and un-
flvillcd in the method of giving a polifhcd glofs to proofs,
I truft to the impreffion, which the perufal of my plain
and fimplc narrative, may produce in unprejudiced minds.
'The evil which may enfue, mufl reft on ' diofe
who have compelled me for the prefervation of my ho-
nour, to produce perfons and circumftances in dieir na-
tive form and colour, 1 wilh it were in my power to
excufe, what I have been under a nccefllty to reveal. I
am far from thinking, that the auguft Princefs, whole
victim 1 am become, would have doomed me to the
infamous treatment I have undergone, or that, from
her' own will, fhe would ever have proceeded to the ex-
tremities into which a chain of concurring circumftances
Qcceftai^ily drew her. Let what my pen has dropped,
v/idiout method, upon tlie papcr^ be coUeded together

ami

[ 251 }

arnl placed in order, and it will be fecn, that notwith-
ftanding the diforder of my ideas, and artlciTnefs of my
manner, the origin of that feries of events may be
traced, and caufes be difcovered from the effefts they
have produced. It has been feen, that born of the blood
of the Valois; poor, prcud znd amhitiouSy I blindly gave
myfelf up to every means of obtaining the fupport I
hoped fur; that my intimate acquaintance with the Car-
dinal de Rohan, the man the bcft fuited to ferve my
views, foon led me on to an intimacy of another kind
with the Queen : that the Cardinal, long fince aiming at
minifterial omnipotence ; imagined from my intimacy
with die Queen, I fliould prove a niedium, by which
he would obtain the fruition of his wiflies, and concir
liate all differences which fubfifted, from the recollec-
tion of thofe indifcretions, that had drawn upon him the
frowns of Majcfty. It has alfo been feen^ that he did
not depend folely on that fupport i that the politics of
the Emperor, with whom lie had kept up an intercourfe,
were coincident with his views; but by what means I am
at a lofs to conjefture, unlefs by his inducing the Em-
peror to believe he could be very ufeful to him; if
his Imperial Majefly would affift him in procuring for
him the reins of government. It has further been
fecn, that the Queen, from an unjuftifiable partia-
lity and attention to her brother's interefts, concluded
fhe ought to facrifice her refentment againft the Car-
dinal, to the profecution of every plan for the promo-
tion of their interefts; and even chcrifhed this unpar-
donable crime to fuch an excefs ; as to receive to her
arms the man whom fhe had, in her mind, previoufly
intended to decapitate, as unrelentingly, as flic has fince

K k 2 carried

. C ^5^ ]

carried on the fhocking profecution, aimed at his life j
the whole weight of which, and its horrid confequences,
have artfully been contrived to be the lot of female
weaknefs, of the unhappy Valois de la Motte.

The reader muft have nocicd that the Cardinal, " ruined''
(as a creature of the Queen's obfervcd) ^^ both in a moral
*' and fhyftcal vicWy' adding to his otlier faults an unpar-
donable indiferetion, that of proclaiming every where
thofe fecrct interviews of gallantry, which men of honour
ever hold facred) and even fpeaking in terms of regret
of the moments in which he was indulged with favours
of fo peculiar and tender a nature, by reladng to me,
to the Prince of Soubife, the Duke of Lauzun, the
Prince of Luxumbourg, the Princefs de Guemenec,
Madam de Brionne, the Baron de Planta, to the Jewel-
lers, and to tv/cnty other people, how, when and in
v/hat manner he had thofe marks of favour conferred upon
him at Trianon, and this to fome perfons, accompanied
with the moft indelicate and Ihameful anecdotes of the
condudt of himfelf and his friend, counfellor and chymiji
Cagliostro. In fhort, all thofe monftrous reports hav-'
ing reached the Queen's ear, a very Ihort time after the
delivery of the necklace, his ruin was irrevocably doom-
ed, and, indeed, was a circumftance at which no perfcn
fcemed furprifed. But what would appear. aftonifhing be-
yond meafure, in a private individual was, that the Queen,
before fhe took any fteps towards her revenge, did not
return the necklace. The aftonifhment, I confefs, is
'natural, but her prudence is on a parallel with her itn-
' fibility, 'her partialities, her afFeftions 5 a mind for ever
wavering; without confideration, without liability.

Ir

[ ^53 ]

Ir may be recollected, that the Queen was taken by
furprize, when the Baron de Bretevll, having wrefted
the fccret from the Jewellers, made a merit of impart-
ing his difcoveries to her Majefty ; who, in that mo-
ment;, exclaimed, ^^ ! never heard a fyllable of that neck-
" lace,"'— It is not aftonifhing, that fhe fhould think
herfclf bound to abide by that falfe alTertion. The an-
fwer of the Cardinal, on the fame fubjed, was very
fimilar j who, at the moment, when overawed by die
prefence of Majefty, zKo ^yLclzitntd—^^ I have been di-
" ceived'^ He could never afterwards affert any thing
of 'a different tendency; fo that thofe two aflertions,
however inconfiderately made, equally concurred in
giving credit to the charge which was brought againft
me.(*) But, if the alledged theft had been proved, as
any perfon unacquainted v/ith the fads would be tempted

to

* The Cardinal found no other way to extricate him-
felf, but by accufing mc of having ftolen the necklace 5
had he been convinced that there was a fhadow of
truth in his malicious charge, he could have expreffed
nothing but contempt and indignation for me ; that he
held, apparently, fentiments of a different nature, I am
about to prove. I have already faid, that Abbe Le-
quelle was commiffioned by him to vifit me every day,
and enquire after my health, and to explain to me the
reafons that compelled him to be. my accufer; as he
could not introduce the Queen in this myfterious fcene,
without cxpofing himfdf to the chance of having had ad-

mmiftcred

[^54]

to believe, firxe I .have undergone the puniniment due
to fuch a crime ; why then was fo much gold, fo many
favours laviflied away, to prevent my innocence from
being proved ? Why that fubornation of witnefles, who,
inftead of being committed, fome to the houfe of cor-
re6lion, others to the galleys, according to their differ-

nlftered to him, a mefs oiVcrJaillesJonp^^'ox perhaps fome-
thing worfe— •" Imagine to yourfclf," faid he, ** that if
" it were proved the Cardinal had been on fuch fccret
" terms of intimacy with the Queen; he would firft be
*^ tortured, and afterwards lofe his head on a fcaffold
« &c,"^

Our firll interview, in prefence of the Solicitor and
the Recorder, has fomething remarkable in it, and will
enable the Reader to judge, whether the Cardinal thougI:t
me guilty or not: When I entered the Council-cham-
ber, he came up to me, took me by the hand, and laid,
^^ Good morrow. Lady Countefs, how fares it with you ?**
Then joining his hands, and lifting them towards Hea-
ven, he exclaimed, ^^ Ah! how unfortunate we arer-—
Several times after the feffions were ended, the Cardinal
went afide witli me, from thofe gentlemen, to converfe
privately. The Chevalier Dupujet, the King's Lieute-
nant of the Baftile, having perceived us thus in clofe con-
ference, upon opening of the door, fignified to me his
aflonifhrnent at it. He will not be backward (in cafe
thofe gentry fhould chufe to deny it) to relate the cir-

cumftance.
* A dofe of poifcn.

i 255 1

ent defer ts, have been carefled, rewarded, provided for^
and proteded ? Wherefore that connivance, fully prov-
ed, between one party accufed, the accufers, the wit*
neffes and the judges? Six of us were equally in-
volved in the accufacion; why, out of thofe fix indivi-
duals, more or Icfs • guilty, is the Countefo 'de la Motte
alone judged to be fo, alone condemned to punifhment ?
I flatter myfeif, that eveiy body will anfwer, in my be-
half—" Becaufe the profecution really exifted between
the Qyeen and the Cardinal only; and that I having had
rhe fatal misfortune of being their confidant, they refpec-
lively found it their intereft to make me the facrifice, in
order to preferve themfelves/' *^ I dent know that ^xg--
'^ man Dela Motte^' faid the Queen, ^^ ^hat woman De
'-' la Motte has deceived me j* faid the Cardinal, and the
obfequious herd, implicitly obedient, became the lying
echo's of the Queen, and of die Cardinal, as their va-
rious interefts direfted the found. — Onequeftion more —
If the Queen never knew me^ and if I deceived the Cardinal^
why v/as fuch particular caution ufed, never to have the
(^lecn's name uttered in the coiirfe of the proceedings?
and why, when after it was decreed, that the bufinels

was

ciimftaace. On many occafions, Mr. Dupuis de Marce
caught us making mutual fighs to each other ; and as he
had obferved to the Cardinal, fuch behaviour was repre-
henfiblc, and no ways confonant to his affertions ; the
latter concealed himfelf from him, and gave me to un-
derfland, by winks and nods^ the motives of his con-
ftraint.

t 456 J

was to be renewed, a new trial to take place, and a coilr -
plaint to be preferred againft the Cardinal, by the At-
torney General, for an attempt made on her Majefty-—
wherefore, 1 fay, did the Queen recede ?— Wherefore had
Ihe the littlcnefs to fay, on fuch an occafion, where her
honour was fo intimately concerned, that flie would
confine herfelf to divefting the Cardinal of his ribband,
his offices, and his liberty ? It was, bec^uk fie could not
take away his life: becaufe fhe dared not attempt it: it
was, becaufe, all the villainies, which will only be
brought to light, at the moment thefe memoirs a{n>ear
before the public, would have been divulged by bringing
on that fecond trial. It was not in order to prevent its
being proved, that I bad deceived the Cardinal^ that th<*r
Queen quafhed the fecond impeachment; it was to
conceal her ' own intrigued with the Cardinal and me i
that fhe bemeaned herfelf fo far, as to decline the inter-
ference of the Courts of Juftice. Now, if from thefc
circumftances, the natural ihference is drawn, that the
*'more the Queen infifted on not knowing me, the more
manifeft it appears that I aflu^Uy knew her; from the
moment that this Royal falfhood is afcertained ; that,
whicli the Cardinal was guilty of, when he faid, that 1
had ^' deceived himy'" becomes ftill more apparent ; and
it muft plainly appear, that I have had inflided on
'me; the punifhment of a ^r-^/d*;;//^^ crime, 'which the ar-
tifices and power of my adverfaries procured me to be
convi(5led of 5 in order, if polTible, to obliterate the
'traces of crimes, of which they had a^ually been
'the perpetrators. " '

If

[ 257 3

Ifarefleftion upon niy unhappy and unmerited fuf-
ferings could influence the ' mind of the Queen, could
teach her to regret; the caufc, and create in her a wifh
to recompence me, what is there, even in the power of
royalty, which could polTibly make me ample amends ?
Could fhe efface thofe horrid recolleftions, which muft,
during my life, inevitably occur— could her utmoft
munificence remove from my " minds eye," by day,
by night, nay almoft every inftant of my wretched
cxiftence, the hideous pidure of the miniftcr of
kf revenge ? I may, however, be miftaken ; per-
jiaps, the orders they had received were lefs favage
than the. mode in which they executed them. I was
once induced, from the attempts that were madt?, to
imagine they had received fccret inftruftions to deftroy
me between the prifon doors ; but the monfters were
certainly fruftrated in their intentions, fo that, in lieu
of an inftantaneous death, which would have been my
wilh ; they inflifted on me a lingering dilTolution, of
which I daily fee the approach. From the confequence
of being cruflied, as it were, under a prefs, between the
mafly doors of my infernal manrfion, fuddenly and vio*
lently clofed upon me, by the unfeeling and favage fero-
city of my jailors ; I ftill drag on, in the midft of conti-
nual pain, a wretched exiftence, to which I have incef-
fandy wifhed that Providence had put a period. Never
have I, however, indulged that wifh fo ardently as at
this day, at the moment I conceive myfelf avenged ; —
yes I now (hall die in peace— nay I could receive the
awful fummons with pleafure, if I might be allowed ta
indulge the fatisf^jftory idea that the perufal of my Me-
LI moirs

[ 258 ]

moirs^'^has, in any manner, ferved to eradicate ^thofc
imprefllons, which nay filence has too long fufFered to
take root ;-— how would that pleafure be enhanced, with
what rapture would my foul flit to the regions of eternal
]uftice and mercy, if my unhappy fate, related with the
ftridleft regard to truth, ihould have occafioned the te?ir
to fall from the eye of fenfibility ; fhould have created
for me, one pitying pang from the feeling heart ; and
produced a figh from thofe, to whom I was once en-
deared by every focial tye.

All I have now lefc to do, is to form my accents by
thofe of the Royal prophet^; to diredt to my fovereign,
the humble fupplication which David addreffed to God,
and to fay with hands uplifted towards him :

" From the depth of the ahyjs I have raifedmy cry unto thee\
" P my Kingy my Kingy gracioufly hear my voice r

Yes, humane fovereign ! righteous monarch ! patri-
otic prince ! turn afide your attention for an inftant,
from the immenfe concerns which claim and urge it i
your people will forget a momentary abfence in con-
fideration of the motive : deign to beftow one gracious
thought, honour with one condcfcending look, the
maft unfortunate of your fubjefts. She has a claim
to your commiferation. Sire, frorh the very reafon that
people have fought, have found fuccefsfui methods to
debar her from it. Your Majefty has long been unin-
formed, but muft now at length be made acquainted
with the infidious contrivances which have been prac-

tifed

I

[ ^59 ]

tifed, to conceal from you the knowledge of thofe dread-
ful truths contained in thefe Memoirs.

I am not ignorant, that at the period of the miniftcrial
examinations, your Majefty vouchfafed to command
that all the records of the proceedings and depoficions,
Ihould be laid before your royal prefence; had thefe
commands been faithfully fulfilled, I had been faved,
my innocence had been viftorious. But what. Sire, has
been die conduft of my enemies ? (and who alas, is the
fmak enemy who takes precedence of them all!) they
pretended, that the original records, blotted and disfi-
gured, were not fit to be prefented to the eyes of ma-
jefty, and then fubftituted for them, copies, in which the
fafts were falfely Hated, apparent proofs of my guilt
were adduced, and even a fiftitious confefTion of it was
added to the lying fcroU j in which was forged fuch in-
decent, fuch dilhoneft, fuch Ihocking cxpreflions, faid
to have proceeded from me, that, after perufing part of
them, your Majefty, fpitting upon thofe fuppofititious
writings, faid, " Fye upon the filthy creature]

" Tll read no j^IORE of IT.'*

Sire ! can the moHjuft of King's, thus permit the
dc^mon of intrigue, to compel an a£l of injuftice, fo fo-» -
reign to his native benevolence ? But, Sire, you, in
your wifdom well know, that it is not the firft time, the
lan£tity of princes has been impofed on. Had not the
knowledge of all the fafts that muft have concurred to
prove my innocence, been fecreted from your Majefty j
if even the Minifter, who in thofe detefted times, en--
joyed the largeft portion of your confidence, had not
ftood up between the truth and your Majefty i you

L 1 2 would

[ ^3^ ]

would have known that Count dc Vcrgrnnes flirred
heaven and earth, to prevent my huft>and's appearing^
to tear off the veil that Ihrouded the real culprits ; and
you would have commanded that unfortunate man,
whom they meant to affociate with me in my ignominy^
to be confronted with my opprefTors.

Then, Sire, would truth have been viftorious ! then
would the mifcreants mentioned in thefe Memoirs, the
perfidious Dupuis de Marce, Laurcncelle and his abet-
tors, have trembled ; then would they never have dared
to prefent unfaithful copies of the proceedings, which
had they not been falfified, would, by. overwhelming
my adverfariesi have born folemn teftimony of my iil-
nocence. /

Vouchfafe, Sire, to meafure back your fteps ; vouch ■•
fafe to have the genuine records laid before you, if they
cxift ; if they do net, the fraud committed by my foe.^
is afcertained. Be gracioufly pleafcd of your royal
bounty and juftice, to order that the lawyer Doillot
jiumbly fubmit to your Majefty's perufal the papers that
I had entr\ifted to his care, the onlyvouchers to the
truth ; be pleafed likfewife to command that dtfcndcv of
my caufe, vifibly brow-beaten, to declare, wherefore,
being furnifhed with thefe writings, and all the docu-
ments I was able to afford him ; he allowed himfelf the
licence of drawing up memorials, filled with improba-
bilities, lies, and fooleries, without attempting a fingle
mode of rational juflification.

Perhaps, Sire, the day of retribution is come. 1

would not fay perhaps y v/tr^ I certain that thefe Me-
' moirs

moirs will appear in your auguft prefenccj I would then
cry out — " I am now avenged,'^

In this hope, which I am fond of indulging^ I caft
myfelf at your Majefty's feet. — Let not my approach
alann you, Sire; innocence cannot fade away, even
under the malignant blafts of malice ; you are able*
with ^ breath, to reftore it to its wonted bloom, a fmgle
word from you would reinftate me in my honour^ before
i quit your knees ; command onlyj that my cause

MAY AGAIN BE PLEADED, AND THAT IT BE SUBMITTED
rofHE DECISION OF STRICT AND IMPARflAL JUSTICE.

My hufband is ready. Sire, to perform what he has
not ceafed to petition for the liberty of doing, to furren-
der hinlfelf to the prifon of the Concergerie s I will ac-
company him thither ; order its gates to be opened td
us 5 let there be produced before us, all the perfona
more or lefs involved in this dark tranfaftion.

Then, Sire, your Majefty, being informed of the
firft impofition on your goodnefs, will happily be guard-
ed againft a fecond. *
i Then the truths which yoiir juftice and clemency
fought for in vain, at the time of the firft trial, will ap-
pear to you triumphant ! then ftiall the unhappy De
Valois, cafting herfelf at your Majesty's feet, prefume ,
to petition a laft favour: the forgiveness oi hkp

ENEMIES.

London^ January i> 1789.

(Signed) ,

January ly^j^. \ y

Affidavit of Mrs. Costa.
Middlesex, Londany Decmher 9, 1788, '

TO WIT.

I, the under-written Benjamlna Cofta, depofe and
aOert as follows : That on the third of April, 1786, 1 de-
parted from Edinburgh, in order to deliver at Paris,
a packet of letters and . papers frorn Count de la Motte,
to a lawyer of the name of Doillot: that .after perform-
ing the faid commiffion, I took my way back to Eng-
land, with the aforefaid lawyer's anfwer to the Count :
tKat at the town of Aire, in Artois, I was taken up by
people difpatched after me from the police at Paris, and
carried back to the Baftilc, whence, after two days con-
finement, I was taken out and carried before the Baron
deBreteuil, one of the Minifters of State, who told mc
he had received a letter from my hufband, " who," he
added, " has great confidence in you 5" then referred
me to the Lieutenant of the Police, who was to give
me one hundred louis d'ors, which the latter accord-
ingly did, after taking, in my prefence, a copy of the
letter which I had from Mr. Doillot the lawyer, in an-
Twer to Count de la Motte : that I was then difmiffed
under the efcort of Bailiffs of the Police, who took me
poft down to Calais, where I pafled the fea, and on my
arrival in London I had an audience of Count d'Adhc-
mar, to whom the Police at Paris had referred me for
my inftrudions. His Excellency bid me tell my hulband
to take a houfe near Newcaftle-upon-Tyne, to facilitate
the conveying off the Count de la Motte, and that my
fortune fhould be made; adding that d'Arragon fliould
fet out next day for Newcaftle. Being myfelf arrived
Acre, I heard from my hulband, that he had received
one thoufand guineas from the Secretary d'Arragon, of

which

Affidavit of Mrs. Costa.

which fumi fa^y in notes to the amount' of nine hundred
and forty guineas in my hufband's pofleflion, fixty gui-
neas having been defalcated by the laid d*Arragon for
his own ufe. That my faid hufband informed me he was
to receive moreover, ten thoufand pounds fterling, for
delivering up the faid Count dc la Motte to the French
Miniftiy, the Sieur d'Arragon referving to himfelf alfo
one fifth part of the faid fum :' that my hufband had
been folicited by the faid d'Arragon, to adminifter to the
faid Count de la Motte, the contents of a certain phial,
which were to put him to ileep for tlie fpace of four
and twenty hours, during which they fhould put him
into a fack, and convey him to a fhip lying ready in the
harbour, the Captain of which was one Sui bois, an ex-
empt of the French Police 5 that my hufband abfoluteiy
declined adminiflering the draught contained in the
faid phial. That the pretence for the faid vefTers (of
which the whole crew were a fwarm of retainers to the
police, in difguife,) failing to Newcaftle, was to make
experiments on pit coal. That my hufband having all
along difcovered to Count de la Motte, the whole ma-
chination, the latter, unwilling that Mr. Cofta fhould
lofe the money promifed him, fuiFered him to aft as if
in concert with the people fcnt to apprehend the Count ;
in confequence of which we all came up together to
London, where my hufband had a meeting in a hack-
ney coach, with Count d'Adhemar, and his Secretary
d'Arragon, apparently on the fubjeft of betraying the
Count dc la Motte. In witnefs whereof I have figned

the prcfcnt atteflation.

BENJAMINA COSTA.

i)iworn before me^

ibis ^ib cf December y 1788.

Wm. HYDE.

No.- I.
JUSTIFICATORY PIECES.

MEMORIAL.

Cmerning the Houfe of Saint Remy di VaMsy fprung froM
the natural Jon ^ whom Henry the Second^ King cf France ^^^^^ ^^/^^^
had by Nicole de S&vignyy Lady and Baronejs d^ St. Remy, Rcmy de Fa*

HENRY the Second, King of France had by {*)%„, ^,,1 I
Nicole de Savigny, Henry de Saint Remy, thzt^/tf^^^^^^f*
follows. The faid Nicole cie Savigny, flyled High and^^^^^^o.^^^^^
Fuiffant Lady, Lady of Saint Remy, Fontelle dii Cha-^'^^"*'^-
tellier and Ncez, married John de Villcj Knight of the
King's Order, and made her laft will on the I2th of
January 1590, in which flie declared " That the late
King Henry the Second had made a donanon to Henry p

Mcnfieury his fori, the fum of 36,000 crowns fol, which \

ftie had rec^eived in- 1558/'

Henry de Saint Remy, called Henry Monfteur, is ftyledli. Decree.
High and Puimint Lord, Knight, Lord of the Manors, ^J;j;^^^^^^^^^
and Baroii du Chatellier, Fontette, Noez and BeaUvoir,
Knight of the King's Order, Gentleman of the Bed-
(^hamber in ordinary. Colonel of a regiment of horfe,
ind of foot, and Governor of Chateau - Villain ;
married by contract Oiftober 31, 1592, articled at
Effoye, in Champaign, Dame Chrrftiana de Luz,(t)ftyled

(*) Genealogical Hiftory of the Houfe of France, by
Father Anfelme^ vol i. p* 136,

Hiftory of France, by the Prefident Henault, 3d
Edition, in 4to. p. 315. '

(t) The two younger fifcers, Mariria and Magdalen

de Luz, were married, the one to Francis de Choifeul

* A Baron

[ ^ 1

mtor*

High and Puiflant Lady, relicl of Claud de Frefnay,
Lord'of Loqpyj Knight of the King's Order, and daugh-
ter of Hon. James de Luz, alfo Knight of the King's
Order, 'and of Lady Michelle du Fay, Lord and Lady
ofBazoilleSj died at Paris on the, 14th of February,
1621, and had ofhis marriage the fon who follows.
IIILDegree Renatus de Saint Remy, ftyled High and Puiffant
|rw P^'oge-^^^^^ Knight, Lord and Baron de Fontette, Gendeman
in Ordinary to the King's Bed-chamber, Captain of a
hundred men at arm.s, died March 11, 1663, and had
married, by articles entered into April 25, 1646, at
^ EiToye, Jacquette Breveau, by whom amongft others,
he had the following fon :
Y.Decree Peter John de Saint Remy Valois, ftyled High and
^^ather, PuifTant Lord, Knight, Lord of Fontette, Major of the
regim.ent of Bachevilliers horfc, was born September g^
1649, and baptized at Fontette, Ofbober 12, 1653;
married firft to Demoifellc Reine Margaixt de Courtois,
and a fecond time by articles paffed on January 18,
^673, at Saint Aubin, in the diocefe pfToul, to Demoi-
felle Mary de Mullot, daughter of Paul de Mullot^
Efq. and of Dame Charlptce de Chaflus, died before the
14th of March, 1714^ and of his fecond marriage had
a fon who follows :
■^J^^^/"- -^"^^^^^^^^ Renatus de Saint Remy de Valois, ftyled
Knight, Baron of Saint Remy, and Lord of Luz, was
baptized at Saint Aubin-aux-Auges, in the diocefe of
Toul, the 12th of April, 1678, ferved the King during
teri years, as garde-du-corps to his Majefty, in tlie
I3uke de Charoft's company, quitted the fervice to

Baron de Ambouville ; and the other to Benjamin de

Sanciere, Lord and Baron of Tenance.

marry

E 3 ] . '

marry by articles of the 14th of March, 17 14, Demoi-^
fclle Mary Elizabeth de Vicnne, daughter of Nicolas
Francis de Vienne, Knight, Lord and Baron of Fontette,
Noez, &c. Counfellor to the King, Prefident, Lieute-
nant-general in nnatters both civil and criminal, in the
Royal Bailiwick of Bar-fur-Seine, and of Dame Eliza-
beth de Merille, died at Fontette on the 3d of Oftober,
1759; and of his marriage had two fons: firft, Peter
Nico'as Renatus de Saint Rcmy de Fontette, born
aiFontette, June 3, 17 16, received in 1744 a Gende-
mm Cadet, in the regiment of Graflin, where it is af-
fed he was killed in an engagement againft the King's
enemies ; and fecond, James, who follov/s,

James de Saint Remy de Valois firft called de Luz,VI.Deorbb
and afrerwards de Valois, ftyled. Knight, Baron de
Saint Remy, was born at Fontette, December 22,
1717, and baptifed January i, 1718. In his baptifmal
. atteftation, which contains his name and condition, his
father, thereat prefent, is called and ftyled, " Meffire
** Nicolas Renatus de Sainc Remy de Valois, Baron de
^'St. Remy:*; and his aunt, who was one of the fpon-
fors, is therein called " Demoifelle Barbara Therefa,
daughter of late Meffire Peter John de Saint Remy de
Valois/' Both of them figned their names to it, Saint
Remy de Valois. He ^fpoufed, in the parifh church
of St. Martin, at Langres, on the 14th of Auguft,
1755, Maiy Joflel, by whom he already had a fon, who
follows : and died al the Hotel DieUy in Paris, February
16, 1762, according to the regifter of his death, in which
he is called and ftyled " James de Valois, Knight, Ba-
ron de Saint Remy/'

James

[ 4 1

VIIDEeREB Jam^s de Saint Remy de Valois, born February d^,
recreating, j^^^, ^^^ baptized the fame day, in the parochial
church of St. Peter and St. Paul, in the city of Langres;
acknowledged and bapti2:ed hf his father and nriother id
the aft of their efpoufals of the 14th of Augiift, of the
fame year.
"^ — Jane de St. Rertiy de Valois, borrl at Fontette, July

Mary Anne de Saint Remy de Valois, born alfb at
FDnte.tte, Oftober 2, 1757.

We^ Anthony Mary d'Ozier dc Serigny, Knight,
Jiidge at Arms of the Nobility of France, Knight, ho-
norary Grand Crofs of the Royal Order of St Maurice
of Sardinia, do certify unto the King, the truth of the
fafts certified in the above Memorial, by us drawn up
from authentic records. Iri witnfefs thereof we have
figned the prefent certificate, and caufed it to be counter
figned by our fecretary, who has put to it the feal of our
arms. Done. at Paris, oh Monday the 6th day of the
month of May, in the year 1776: (ftgned) D'Hosier
DE Serigny : (lower down) by Monfidur the Judge at
Arms of the Nobility of trance: Duplessis, (and
Jealed.)

We, the underfigned Judge at Arms of the Nobility
of France, &c. do certify that this copy of the prefent
Memorial is confornriable to the record preferved in oui*
repofitory of nobility; in witnefs whereof \Ve have fign-
ed it, and Caufed it to be counter-figned by'bur Secre-
tary, who has affixed to it the fcal of our arms. Done;
at Paris, en Thurfday the i jch day of the month of
Odober, in the year 1785. *y?^/^i D'Hosier de Se-

RIGNV.

. By Monfieur the Judge at Arms of the Nobility
of France. Signed Duplhssis.

[ 5 3

No. II.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

March ai, 1784.

M A D A M,

"THE charming Countefs has im-*
Jjarted to me^ how much you feemed afFedted with the
account Ihe gave you of the little fervices I have ren-
dered her. The concern alone which fhe irlfpircs, in-
duced me to feize every opportunity of obUging her;
for certainly I was very far from forefeeing Ihe would
one day be in a capacity of mentioning me to you, in
iuch a manner as to remove the evil impreffions which
my enemies have ever given yoxl^'of my difpofition.
Chance has therefore befriended me, more than my
own endeavours ; for you know all the efforts I have
made to fpeak to you, only for one inflant, without
ever being able to compafs it. Perfons whom I ima-
gined my friends, and who were pofTeffed of your
confidence, have Availed themfelves of the defire I
had of terminating my difgrace, to make me com-
mit afts of imprudence, take faJfe fteps, and almoft
furely to work my ruin ^ and were it not for a circum-
ftance, as extraordinary as that which this day afFords, I
ihould always have appeared a monfter in your eyes,
without even an opportunity of eftablilhing my innocence.
But hope begins to Ihine in my heart, and I prefume to
* 3 think

[ M

think you will not difdain to hear me. Let but ycUr
beauteous mouth pronounce the word yeSy you will be-
hold your (lave at your ktU and this day will be the
happieft of his life.

No. III.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QIJEEN.

March 2% y 1784.

" WITH forrow I ana informedj that
you will not vouchfafe me a private interview^ till I
have produced the moll authentic proofs of your having
been impofed upon. You require of me, in writing,
a compendious plea towards my juftification. Although
fecure of the perfon through whofe hands it would be
conveyed to you, I muft own, that as yet not knowing
what degree of confidence yoii repofe in her, I would
not lightly entruft a writing, containing anecdotes in
wliich'your Majefty fliould be brought in queftion. As
I cannot poffibly employ the hand of a third, I ought
(efpeciaily after all that has befallen me) to be extremely
cautious. 1 prefume to believe, that your Majqfty will
not look upon this aft of circumfpeftion as a refufal to
connrply with your will. I wait .for further commands,
and in confequentc of-the con verfationL have Md with

' ' the

[ 7 ]

Covintels (which fhe will impart to you) I hope, that in
order to avoid any thing's falling into unfai^ful hands,
yoti will permit me to lay before you, by word of mouth,
the particulars you require of me. I remain, in expec-
tation of your ultimate will and pleafure, the moft fm-
cere and moft devoted of your fubjcfts.

No. IV.

I.ETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

J^p'il 3, 1784.

^^ I am bound to fubfcribe to the will of
my Mafter, and look upon myfelf as too happy in his
condefcending to liften to any thing relating to his
llave. The dear Countefs raifcd me to the fummit of
happinefs, by telling me, that you could wiih to find
me innocent. Yesi I am fo, and can give you the
' moft convincing proofs of it. So great is the joy which
that idea produces in me, that every objeft to me no
longer wears the fame appearance. You will difcover
!)ymy ftyle, that my imagination -is exalted ^ I could
wilh to defcribe to you all the fenfacions I expe-
rience, but my ideas fucceed each other fo rapidly, that
I find it impofllble to write coherently. This moment

B2 t:

*

[ 8 ]

of blifs has obliterated all die pangs I have fn-
duredi and I the more willingly forgive the authors
of thenrij as I conceive what facrifices may be gladly
made to m^rit and preferve your kindncfs.^ — I no lon-
ger delay fending you part of what you afk of me, re-
ferving for a verbal explanation what was the aim of the
Princefs of Guemence, when fhe wifhcd to puzzle you
with a ftory, in which the Duke de Layzun, and the
Prince of Luxembourg were brought in as parties con-
cerned. Difcoveries which I have fincc made, have

let me into the knowledge of my dear niece's dilpo-
fition. I know diat it was fhe who contributed moft
to my dilgrace, and raifed me enemies, who have been
but too fuccefsful in continuing it. She has, however,
been punifhed for it, and the contempt fhe inspires you
with, perfuades me, that you will eafily perceive the fal-
fity of all the flanderous tales flie has devifed, in order
to efFed my ruin.

" I at this inftant receive a note from the Countefs,
who tells me fhe is fetting off for Verfailles -, I fend
her this letter, and to-morrow will difpatch a courier,
who will deliver to her what you require. — The matter
is fettled. Your faithful flave/'

I

LETTER

[ 9 ]

No. V.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

Jpril ;{y I784»
Madam,

" PERUSE me attentively, judge of
my defire to be again favourably received, by niy
recent behaviour, and do juftice to him who has fuf-
fered all undefervedly,

Madame de Guemenee, to remove from my mind

every f'afpicion which her conduft might raife, and to

draw me into an unbounded confidence, told me, that

Jhe was almofl: perfuaded you was acquainted with the

various letters I had written, in order to raife an obftacle

to your marriage with the Dauphin ; that thofe letters

had been forged at Madame du Barry's, and afterwards

hy her fhewn to Lewis the Fifteenth, in one of thofe

moments when Ihe knew how to malce him believe what

flie pleafed j that this firft difcovery was the motive of

the hatred and contempt you had conceived for her and

for me : that in the next place you had been affured,

that I, ftimulated by revenge for Ae little regard paid

to my counfels, had written to the Emprefs, tp inform

her of your intimate conneftion with the Count d'Ar-

tois ; that the letter was written in the plameft terms,

and that probably the Chancellor, the Duke d'Aiguil-

Ion, and Madame du Barry, had improved upon the

ex-

V lo ]

exprefTions, as the difference of ftyle evidently flicwed
thofe perfonages were concerned in it. That is, faid flie,
the information I have gained. If in reality thofe writ-
ings ever exifted, and you were the au^thor of them, you
muft never expefl: forgivenefs, nor fliall I, by any
means, take a fingle ftep towardis obtaining it for you ^
but if, on the contrary, you was barely the agent in
that tranfaftion, and that Madame du Barry, to whom
you could rcfufe nothing, (after the fervices ftie had
done you) prevailed on you to lend your name to that
odious villainy, it will be eafy for me, by fome well
timed obfcrvations, to reconcile matters : hut previous
to my taking the firft ftep, I require of you a fincere
avowal of all that pafTed. This account, which 1 fliort-
en confiderably, threw me into a ftate which I ca.nnot
clefcribe : aftonilhmcnt, indignation, rage feized on my
ipirits, and made rne pour forth againft thofe monfters,
a torrent of epithets they well deferved, but which ref-
ped; forbids me to repeat. Grown fomewhat calmer,
1 faid to Madame de Guemenec, it was impofllble fuch
detefted fallhoods could ever have been j that I had ab-
folutely no knowledge of them, and that I could not
perfuade myfelf any one had been daring enough to ufe
my name, as a vehicle to information fo bafe and
injurious, I cannot think, continued fhe, that you
aft a ftudied part^, or that the difcovery of thefe monf-
trous deahngs, leads you to fuch violence of paffion in
order to perfuade me that you are innocent. I know
your difpofition, and that you are incapable of iijcli
deceit: but that thofe guilty writings have exifted^
as alio that tlie Queen is come to die knowledge

[ " 3

bftiiem, Is a fad; but to tell you In what manner, 13
more than I know. It is your intereft to help me in
difcoveririg the authors, I may pcffibly facilitate you
the means : but let us have a little patience.— —The
entrance of the Prince de Guemenee' put an end to
this converfation, and fhortly after I took my leave^
fearing left he fliould obferve my emotion. Several
weeks elapfed, widiout a pofllbility of finding an oppor-
tunity to renew the conference ; I was only tranfiently
informed there was nothing new ftirrirlg> and that a fa-
vourable rridment was watched for, to enter upon an ex-
planation, though matters Were not to be hurried on,
but that great refervednefs muft be ufed in bringing on
the tapis anecdotes, that had occafioned many difap-
pointmenfs ; and that an able courtier fliould never ftir
up difagreeable recolleftions ; that I might depend on
her defire of ferving me, alid live in hopes of feeing my
difgrace brought to a fpeedy conclufion, Thofe flatter-
ing promifes contributed a little to reftore me to my
tranquility; for, from the period of my firll interview
I had ceafed to exift, and I own to you, that I was
thrown into fo great an agitation, by the macliirfa-
tions that had been put in pradlice againft me, that I was
repeatedly tempted to throw myfelf at your knees,
and befeech you to hear me ; but a- fliort refleftion, and
die fear of making an eclat, prevented me. Above all,
the hope Madame de Guemence gave me, every time I
met her, allured my refolution to fuch a degree, chat
fhe managed to make me believe whatever fhe would-
I was one Sunday evening with the Prince de Soubifc,
who was waiting fer his carriage to retufn to Paris,

when

when a groom of the chambers to Madame de Gueme^
nee, came to defire my attendance on her, while you
were at the card-table, intimating, that ihe had fome-
thing to communicate. The fatisfaftion I difcovered
In her countenance, on my entering her apartment,
proved to me a good omen : nor was I miftaken in it.
i have good news, faid Ihe^ to impart to you, fit you
down and you jfhall hear.—- -I faw the Queen yefterday,
and by an unexpe£tcd piece of good luck, the conver-
fation turned upon you, without my bringing it about.
I eagerly feized the opportunity to tell her, fhe had been
cruelly deceived by the reports that had been con-
veyed to her : that from the time of your having in-
curred her difplealure, your exiftence was the moft
wretched that could be ; and that were it not for the
hopes you entertained of one day juftifying yourfelf,
you would ere this have left the court, and retired to
Saverne. If what you tell me were true> anfwered fhe,
he would have ibught tlie means of juftification, yet
hitherto I do not perceive he has taken any method
whatever to efFeft it* This anfwer afforded me an
opportunity of relating to her the converfation you
and I had together, to which I added feveral other cir-
cumflances, which could not fail to perfuade her of the
fallacy of the fads reported to her: but I perceived by her
anfwer, that more than one conference would be requi-
fite to convince her : for which reafon I did not think it
expedient to carry things any farther^ or fo propofe a
premature explanation, which might have ruined all.

" I have an infallible way, and if you will fecond me, I
make no doubt of fucceeding in the cnterprize.

She

[ ^3 ]

She has for fome time paft wiflied to have "a fmall*
white fpaniel dog ; I know that the breed is frequent-
ly met with in the Upper Alface -, if you could, through
means of your acquaintance there^ procure me fuch a
little creature, I would make her a prefent of it, rc-
ferving to tell her it came from you, as opportunity fhall
ferve.

" I was fo lucky as to procure the charming little dog
which you was fo fond of, and took fo great a liking to.
Madame de Guemenee failed not to apprize me of
it, afTuring me that flie had told you, that 1, hearing of
the defire you had for a little Alfati'an dog, had made
all pofiible enquiry after onet arid that having, been fuc-
cefsful, I had brought one to her with an Arabian name,
the meaning of which was " faithful and unhappy '*
that this account, far from leflening your fondefs for
the little unfortunate being, had encrcafed it: from
which fhe drew the mofl favourable omen, and hoped
that I fhortly Ihould be obliged to change the name of
my reprefentative.

" I knew not in what words to exprefs npy grati-
tude to her I fhe was fenfible of the excefTive joy fhe
gave me, and availed herfelf of it, to requefl of me the
loan of a pretty confiderablc fum. I would have part-
ed with my whole fortune, thinking m.yfelf too happy in-
being ufeful to a woman to whom I v/as fo greatly be-
holden. The eafy compliance Ihe had met with, en-
ticed her to make farther demands, which I could not
refufe; fhe always knowing how to accompany them
with hopes, with foothing promifes, and at the fame
time with difficulties fhe would find ways to overcome,

* C all

f 14 ]

all which flic did In order to gain time. But my
finances being greatly deranged, by the funis I had been
obliged to borrow for her, and finding my refources ex*
haufted, fincc I had been feveral times obliged to give
her a denial, fhe imagined, that to throw a mafk over
all her iniquities and falflioods, the only way for her
was to ruin me entirely in your opinion. She knew
that the Princefs de Marfan had fpoken to me concern-
ing your litde dog, telling me flic fliould be glad to
fee mc come into favour again ; that I ought to depend
on your indulgence, fmce you had accepted of what
came from me. . Fear of my difcovering the truth, made
her contrive a very fure way of rendering me odious.
You are acquainted with the imprudent fteps I took,
they were her work, and at the moment I thought I was
complying with your commands, flie was perfuading
you it was a raflinefs to be condemned in me, that I
only afted thus to expofe you, and that I was in confe-
deracy with two or three other perfons, whom fiie nam-
ed to you. Thinking her work imperfed, flie wiflied
to put a finifliing hand to it, and to give me the fatal
blow. To^compafs this flie mufl: firft affign to me the
reafons why i flill proved unfuccefsful. She is fruitful
in expedients, infinite are the refources of her imaglna-
rion. I was fubdued to her will, I implicitly believed
every thing.

" You was to give an entertainment at the Litiie
.Trianon, but the time appointed was yet diftant. Dur-
ing the intervening fpace, I prepared all things necef-
fary for my difguife. The long v/iflied for day being
come, and following my dear niece's infl:ru6i:ionf?, 1

flipped

[ «5 ]

flipped into the gardens, where I was not long, before
I was furroLinded and purfued, like an owl that had in-
truded into that enchanted grove. The fliouts of
Mpnfieur I'Abbe, and other very mortifying epithets,
made me fee clearly that I had been pitched upon to
ferve for fport to the whole afiembly. Irritated at liav-
ingbeen difmiffed in fuch a manner, I withdrew, rage and
defpair filling my brcaft, fully determined to be reveng-
ed as foon as I found an opportunity. This fcene caufed
in mc lb great a revolution, that I had a fcvere fit of
iilnefs. The authorcfs of my misfortune made more-
over a handle of my unhappy fituation, to fpread a re-
port that I walked in my deep, and that my night ram-
bles in the gardens had brought en my diforder. She
nfcd every method to turn me into ridicule, and to raife
me frcfli enemies, who fince have not ceafed to pcrfe-
<;ute me.

" Thcfe are events which you have ever been ignorant
of, and will ferve to fliew how far I have be en the
dupe of my finccrity.

'' As JO the difappearing of your little dog, I will
tell you what I have heard concerning it, as alfo many
other ftorics laid to my account, and in which I never
had any fhare : having fought, through all the unfortu-.
nate periods that enfued, every opportunity to afford
you inftances of my refpeft, and fincerc attachment.

" Thcfe are very tedious particularities, which have.
made me forget the hour. I hope, however, that my
courier will arrive time enough to, deliver my letter. I
wait with great impatience for the Countefs : Heaven
grant Ihc n\ay bring me good news. — Ever faidiful and
unhappy.'*

* C a LETTER

[ i6 ]

No. VI.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

April lo, 1784.

Madam,

" I EASILY conceive, that after all
that has pafTed, it would be a contradiftion in your con-
duft towards me, if you were feen to grant me openly,
and fa fpeedily, a proteftion, which thofe about you
have perfuaded you I was undeferving of. It would
doubtlefs be. founding an alarm for all my enemies, who
would not fail to come together on that occafion. But
all their efforts would prove unavailing, if my dear
Mafter has a defire to pardon his Slave. Sovereign,
equally powerful and refpedled, your will muft ever be
a law, which your attendants will be too happy infub-
niitting to ! If, however, you have particular reafons for
acting with referve till a certain period,'! v/ill conform
to whatever may be pleafing to you, and v/ill, to the
utmoft of my power, remove whatever might difturb the
quiet and happinefs of my dear Mafter.

I dare to hope, that to indemnify your fubmifllve
Slave for all the contradi£lions he will be forced to ex-
perience, you will condefcend again to enable him to
kifs that beauteous' hand, and hear that charming jnouth
pronoi^nce his pardon,"

LETTER

[ ^7 I

No. VIL

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

April 28, I784,
y I READ with indignation the
manner in which you have been deceived by your
niece. I never had any knowledge of the letters you
mention to me, and I queftion whether they ever
cxifted. The perfons you complain of have in reality
contributed to your difgrace, but the methods they ufed
to efFcdl it, were very different from thofe you fuppofe.
I have forgotten all, and require of you never to fpeak
to me of any thing that has reference to what is paft.
The account which the Countefs has given me of your
behaviour towards her, has made a (longer imprcffion
on me, than all you have writtten to me. I hope
you will never forget that it is to her you are indebted
for your pardon, as alfo for the letter I write to you.
I have always looked upon you as a very inconfiftent
and indifcreet man; which opinion neccflarily obliges
me to great refervednefs, and I own to you, that no-
thing but a conduft quite the reverfe of that you
have held, can regain my confidence and merit my
eftccm."

LETTER

i: i8 }

No. VIII. ]

\

4

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE I
QUEEN.

May 6, 1784.
^' YES ; I am the happieft mortal
breathing ! My Mailer pardons me j he grants me his
confidence, and to compleat my happineft, he has the
goodnefs to fmile upon his Slave, and to give him pub-
licly fignals of a right underftanding. Such unexpeded
favours caufed in me ib great an emotion, that I for
a moment was apprehenfive left the motive fhould be
fufpefted by the extraordinary anfwers which I made.
But I foon recovered, when I faw my abfence of mind
was attributed to quite another motive ; upon which I
aflumed an air of approbation, in order to divert obfer-
vation from the real objeft. This circumftance is a
warning to me, to direft henceforth my words and ac-
tions in a more prudential manner,
H^ " I know how to appreciate all the obligations I am
under to the charming Countefs. In whatever fituation
I may chance to be, I fliall be gratefully mindful of all

that {he has done in my behalf, So much for that,---

All depends on my M after. The facility he has of

making beings happy, makes his Slave wifli for the
means of following his footfteps, and being the echo of
his good pleafijre."

LETTEI^

[ ^9 ]

No. IX.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

May 15, 1784.

^' I CANNOT dlfapproveof the de-
fire yoii have of feeing me; I could wifii, in order to
facilitate you the means, to remove all obftacles that
oppofc it, but you would not have me aft imprudently
to bring about more compendioufly a thing which you
muft be perfuaded you will fliortly obtain. You have
enemies, who have done you much diflervice with the
Mmiftefy (the Countefs will tell you the meaning of that
word, which you muft ufe for the future.) The turning
of them out cannot but be advantageous to you. I
know the changes and revolutions that are to happen,
and have calculated all die circumftances which will
infallibly bring forward the opportunities v/hich I de-
fire. In the interim be very cautious, above all dif-
creet; and, as there is no forefecing what may happen,
be referved, and greatly perplexed in what you hereafter
write to me."

LETTER

[ ^o 3

No. X.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

May 23, 1784.
" MENTION was made of you to me
yefterday, in a manner tliat induces me to think there is
a fufpicion of fome intelligence. I cannot conceive
\vhat can have given rife to fuch a fuppofition. What-
ever the intention was, it was not gratified; I give you
notice of it, that you may be upon your guard, and
avoid all furprize, I fhall go this week to T-— n, and
fiiall there fee the Countefs, to whom I will communi-
cate a fcheme that will certainly be pleafing to you/'

No. XL

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

June 2, 1784.
Madam,

" THE Countefs mifunderftoodwhati
faid to her relative to my requcft of entreating from
you an interview. I Iliould be very unjuft, and truly

remain

[ --I ]

indifcreet to folicit that favour, whilft thofe obftaeles
remain which you fo kindly acquainted nae with. This
is exadly what I jeftingly faid to her, not thinking flic
would report it to you. " Charming Countefs, you
" are very amiable, and doubtlefs deferving of the at-

" tachment that is conceived for you How happy

" are you ! You will to-morrow fee my dear Mailer,
" you will be at his feet, whilfl: his faithful Slave lives
" under a continual reftraint, deprived of the only plea-
" fure he could have of feeing, admiring, adoring him,
" and fwearing at his feet that his refpeft, his attach-
^' ment, his love, will only end with his life. You have
" it in your power to crown all my wifhes i it depends

'^ greatly on you. Hear me-— I Ihould indeed be

^ ^^ forry, did fiiy Mafter imagine, that my whole con--
^^ duft had no other tendency but towards ambition,

" and the defire of being avenged of my enemie?.^

" The requeit I preferred to him of receiving me, may
'^ have raifed thofe lufpicions in him ; which, in order to
" remove from his mind, and perfuade him that I have
" no other aim, or defire, but to pleafe himj tell him
'^ that I would very willingly confent to pafs for ever in
" the public eflimation for a man in difgrace, and
« who richly deferves it, if he would vouchfafe mc
" the 'favours he grants to you. This confefllon is as
'' fincere as the defire I have of feeing my wiflies ac-'

" compliflied." The Countefs- laughed heartily at

the notion, and made her account of entertaining you
with it. The manner in wliich fhe related to you our con-
verfation, is no doubt what oc(pafioned your reproaching

* jy me.

me. My crime is vciy pardonable, and indeed I rely
much, on your indulgence. You are fo kind, fo ready
to relieve the wretched, that your flave cannot per-
fuade himfelf you will much longer debar him from
embracing your knees."

No. XIL

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

June 12, 1784,
'^ The favage is delighted— he has juft mentioned to
me, with rapture, the fignal of intelligence and kind-
nefs which he received from the Matter — I, in order to
perplex him, endeavoured to infinuate, that it was to
the Countefs, and not to him it was direfted, which
threw him into a violent rage. You fee how jealous
people are ofpleafing you, and obtaining a fingle look
from you. From that inftant the favage has been
happy, and I am pcrfuaded there is nothing in the
world he would not undertake ro merit your efteem and
countenance. He hopes you will become reconciled to
his figure, and that his qualifications will make you re-
gard him with a more favourable eye.

" I was in hopes of hearing from you before my depar-
ture, but the Countefs has juft told me, that your toilet
and the etiquette of the day had not left you one mo-
ment's

mcnt's lelfure. I am highly pleafed with the Minifter ;
I don't defpair of feeing him one day adt as my me-
diator."

No. XIII.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

July 29, 1784.

*^ MY adorable Mailer, permit your
Slave to exprefs his joy for the favours you have con-
ferred upon him.- — That charming roje lies upon my
heart— I will preferve it to my lateft breath. It will
inceffantly recall to me the firft injftant of my happi-
nefs.— In parting from the Countefs I was fo tranf-
ported, that I found myfelf imperceptibly brought to the
charming Ipot which you had made choice of. After
having crofled the Ihrubbery, I almoft defpaired of know-
ing again the place where your beloved Slave threw him-
felf at your feet.— Deftined, no doubt, to experience,
during that delightful night, none but happy fenfations,
I found again the pleafing turf, gently prefled by thofe -
pretty litde feet— I rufhed upon it, as if you had ftill
been there, and kiffed with as much ardor your grafly
feat J as that fair hand which was yielded to me with a
grace and kindnefs that belong to none but my dear
Mafter.— Inchasjted, as it were, to that bewitching fpot,
I found die greateft difficulty in quitting it: and I

* D 2 A^oiiI4

[ H ]

fliould certa'nlythave fpent the night there, had I not
been apprchenfive of makirtg- my attendants ijneafy,
who knew of my being out. Soon after my return
home I went to bed, but prefled for a confiderable time
a reftlefs pillow. My imagination, ftruck with your
adorable perfon, was filled, during my flumbers, with
the moft delightful fenfations.-— Happy night ! that
proved the brighteft day :n my life !— Adorable Matter,
your Slave cannot find exprefTions to defcribc his feli-
city !— you yefterday witnefTed his embarrafTment, his
bafhfulnefs, his filcnce, the natural efFcfts of the moft
genuine love ! you alone in thje univerfe, could produce
what he never before experienced.— Enveloped in thefe
pleafing fenfatlons, I fometimes imagine it to be only a
vifionary felicity, and that I am ftill under the influence
of a dream : but combining all the circumftances of my
happinefs, recalling to mind the enchanting found of
that voice which pronounced my pardon, I give way
to an excefs of joy, accompanied with exclamations^
which, if they were overheard, would argue diftraftion.
Such is my condition, which I deem fupremcly happy,
and wifh for its continuance the remainder of my
life.

" I Ihall not depart till I have heard from you/'

LETTER

I ^s 1

No. XIV.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE

QUEEN.

Jugu^ 9, 1784.

" I THINK I have found out the
opportunity and pretence tfie Mafter is wifliing
for.— Nat long fince I imparted to him the fears of his
Slave, and the dangers he is expofed to, in confequence
of the fufpicions . which his affiduities have raifed. A
difcovery would undo him for ever, by the infinuations
which would nccefiarily enfue, and the Mafter, fpite of
his authority, \yould find himfelf forced to facri.fice his
Slave, left himfelf fhould be expofed, through an endlefs
circulation of tittle-tattle.

'^ We are fometimes under a necefTity of beftowing
our confidence upon perfons who arc placed near us,
on whofe fidelity perhaps, we can but little depend, and
who often avail themfelves of circuniftapces to draw us
into inconfiftencies, which we are not at firft aware of.
Their aim is tp become poflefTed of weapons, which
they know how to turn againft us^, in order to prefervc
their fway, and incapacitate us froni ^fting in con-
formity with our wifties. Such is the fituation of the
Mafter— thwarted in his views, his projefts, his very
conduit : he fees, but too late, the danger there is in
giving one's felf up without referve: efpecially to the
wicked, who know how to make their advantage of
every thing. Not knowing as yet the reafons of the
refervednefs he is to put on, nqr the nature of his confi-
dence

[ 26 3

dcncc, I can give him no counfcl, nor inveftigate the
means of avoiding what might prove difpleafing to
him— you comprehend my meaning.---! mnft then con-
fine myfelf to pointing out the method offending open-
ly for his Slave, without the Minijier, the P. the V. the
B. &c. being able to pafs any refleftion oh that proceed-
ing. That firfl ftep being fettled^ nothing will be more
eafy tlian to, continue vifits, which will be fandtioned on
one fide, and a matter of indifference on the other.

*^ You have at the prefent moment a young perlbn
who works under your immediate infpedion— I know
that that perfon*s works have been pleafing to you, and
that you wifh to patronize her. She has made a clergy-
man, a relation of her's, to whom Ihe is under great ob-
ligations a partaker of your bounty. The latter is come
to confult me, and afk whether he might hope to obtain
a vacant place, which would be demanded of me by
you. Being made acquainted with all the particulars,
1 direfted him to draw up a menx)ir, which will be
dehvered to the little one, with all inftruftions requlfite.
You will find the petition at the bottom of your bafket,
and will judge by the contents of it, that the Slave muft
necefiarily be fent for, to receive his orders from the
Mafter, to whom this unaffefted tranfaftion, and the
pager defire of complying with his will, muft undoubt-
edly afford an opportunity offhewing his indulgence^
and of infenfibly forgetting what has pafled,

" The Countefs will ftay till Thurfday, that Ihe may-
bring me back your determination of your commands.

'' M. B. S. T. C, B.—You comprehend my mean-'
ing,"

LETTEI^

t V ]

No. XV.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

Augufi\2y 1784.
" THERE is a proverb which fays,
" no good fortune ever comes alone"— my fad adventure
will prove the proverb falfe. Do not be darnned, pre-
pare, on the contrary, to laugh heartily, and to make
game of me at our next meeting. After the moft com-
plete happinefs, I was ftealing away to the, paflage you
knowj when paffing along a quick-fet hedge, a loud noile
made me apprehenfive fome body wanted to furprife me
—terrified to the laft degree, I made but one jump to
get out of reach. My haftinefs having prevented my
taking the ufual precautions, and ftill lefs noticing that
the rain had made the ground flippery, I found myfelG
I cannot well fay how, in the very middle of the ditch.
The Savage, who was waiting for me on the other fide,
perceiving in my comical fall, nothing more than an ex-
cefsofclumfinefson my part, burft out into an excef-
five fit of laughter, holding his fides, and writhing him-
Bfin the moft whimfical manner. A few fignificant
words ftifled, for an inftant, his immoderate rifibility,
and he helped me out of the mare, into which I had
funk pretty deep. You know the ferious turn of the
Savage, would you ever have thought, that after I had
apprifed him of the caufe of my fright, he would have

fallen

[ a8 3

fallen a laughing afrefli ? Undoubtedly not. Well, off
he goes, twifting himfelf about, rolling upon the grafs,
unable to utter a finglc word; Seeing nothing move
on the oppofite fide, I waited with tolerable compofure
to fee the end ef this extraordinary nnerriment. When
he was grown a little more fedate, I told him fomewhat
feriouflyj that I would be careful never after to take him
along with me, fince, in fo delicate an occurrence, he
behaved with equal folly and indlfcretion, '* Do not
^^ condemn me unheard," anfwered he, " hear me-— It^s
*' a rabbit or a partridge that has lightened you-— you
*^ thought you faw the whole gang at your heels, and
*^ Without reflefling in the lead, you came and played
'^ the di-dapper to avoid being feen by them.— Suppofe
*^ yourfelf in my place : as I neither perceived nor
" heard any thing that could occafion fo precipitate a
" retreat, my firft motion was to laugh. You relate
*^ your fright, I guefs at the motive that gave rife to it ;
^^ I then furvey you, behold you all over mud, with
" your breeches torn from one end to the other — who
" the Devil could forbear laughing ?"■-— I myfelf look,
and fee the truth of his account, our eyes meet, end we
join in chorus. So far all was right, except the tearing

of a pair of breeches, and a rather filthy mafquerade

but the difcovery of my thumb's being out of joint,
brought on a litde gravity in our progrefs. Having
Itolen in unperceived at home, the Savage performed the
office of a furgeon; thanks to his balfam, I am in much
icfs pain to day. The Countefs, whom I faw this morn-
ing, finding me With my hand muffied up, naturally alked
what had happened to me. Though fure flie woukl

run

[ ^9 J

run her jokes upon me, I told her my faid mifhap, at
which fhe laughed fo immoderately^ that flie was forced
to leave me, and go into another apartment. The
marks flie had left in the drav/jng-room of her excef-
five rifibility, making me apprehend a fecond iliower,

I withdrew without feeing her again. The charming

laugher will not fail of telling you what fhe calls my
aukwardnefs, but I hope that for this time her mirth
will not terminate in the fame manner.

No. XVI.

LETTER FROM THE QLJEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

Auguji 15, 1788.
" LAST night I received the packet^j
the inftruftions, and reflexions thou -fendeft me con-
cerning Calonne. I know him to be a man who would
not mifs an opportunity of fctting himfelf ofFat the ex-
pence of any perfon whatever 5 but I likewife know,
that when I have recommended to him any matter what-
foever, he will pay regard to it^ and net feek to thwart
me. The objeft of which thou fpeakeft to me relative
to the Countefs, has no manner of reference tp this^ I
am well pleafed with thee for thy demand upon him;'
hut the matter of fad is, that at that period I only knew
Ac Countefs by fight, and for having heard her fpoken

*E of

C 30 ]

of by MadamCi who was her well wirticfi The enco-
miums fhe pafTed on her, and the circumftanccs of the
ad bf February did all the reft. A minifter is often
forced to contrive fallhoods and be guilty of injufticei
efpecially when furc of impunity ; he was ignorant at
that moment of my concern for her, nor do I wonder
at his ufing my name, or that of the Minijfer, in order to
avoid all farther folicitations from thee. Moreover as it
is an affair of the firft magnitude, and that requires ma-
ture deliberation, we will take all neccflary meafures
not to meet with any obftacles, and at the fame time
revive the faying of the Doftor: all is for die bell.
Farewell/'

No. XVIL

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

Juguji 16, 1784*
" AN obfervation made to me yefterday
with an air of curiofity and fufpicion will prevent m.y
going to day to T n; but will not for all that, de-
prive me from feeing my amiable Slave. The Mini-
fter fets out at eleven to go a hunting at R— — , his re-
turn will be very late, or to fpeak more properly, next
morning. I hope during his abfcncc to make myfcif
amends for the tcdioufnefs and contradidion I have ex-
perienced

[ 31 ]

perienced for thefe tvvo days paft. Imprudent condnd:
has brought me to that pafs, that I cannot without
danger remove objefts that are difpleafing to me, and
who haunt me. They have fo thoroughly ftudied me,
and know fo little how to feign and diflemble, that they
attribute my change to nothing but a difcretionj which
to them appears blame-worthy; it is therefore very
cflTential to be on one's guard;, to avoid all furprize.

'^ The daring queftion put to me, perfuades me that
my confidence has been abufed as well as my good nature,
and that advantage has been taken of circumftances to
fttter my will, I have a way of coming at information
concerning it, but L will firft confult thee. As thou
wilt play the principal part in the fcheme I have de-
vifed, we mull needs agree as well on this point as we

did laft Friday on the S . This comparifon will

make thee laugh no doubt, but as it is a juft one, and I
defire to give thee a proof of it to night, before we talk
of ferious matters, obferve exaftly what follows. Do
thou afllimc the garb of a meflenger, and with a parcel
in thy hand be walking about, at half paft eleven, under
the porch of the chapel : I will fend the Countefs, who
ftiall ferve thee for a guide, and condufl: thee up a lit-
de back ftaircafc to an apartment, where thou wilt find
ihf objefl: of they defircs/'

f E 2 J.ETTER

[ 3^^ 1

No. XVIII.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

Juguft 18, 1784.
'' SINCE the ftcp I dircfted the Coun-
tefs to take with the Prefident d'Aligre, concerning your
affair of the Qiiinze-Vingt ; I fufpeft (from his afto-
nifhoient) that he has endeavoured to pry into the mo-
tives which aftuated me, and that unable to make any
difcovery, he has fpoken of it to certain ferfonsy who arc
fuppofed to be ignorant of nothing, and who, perhaps,
on diis occafion, have diflembled their behaviour to
ftiew they ftill polTefs my confidence. The reftraint I
am under, by theu^ redoubled afllduines, the continual
chit-chat with whith I am plagued, their anxious and
inquifitive looks when 1 aniw'er a queftion, in fhort,
every thing perfua4es me, that they fufpecl our fecret
intelligence, and that they are ufing every mediod to
acquire the certain knowledge of it.

" This morning the Minifter converfcd with me con-
cerning thee with an air of kindnefs, which induces me
to believe he has received fome information. As it is
not the firft time that has happened, and I never failed
to acquaint and confult thofe perfons I fufpeft as the
authors, whofe view is to chain me down ftill more, I
fiiall not fiil to impart to them my aftonifhment, with
fuch circumftances, as will enable me to judge whether
my fufpicions arc well or ill grounded*

« Thou

[ 33 ]

« Thou art rrwvSh m the right In telling me, that I
am in a wood, fjrrounded with whatever is dangerous
and venomous on the face of the globe ; but, in fhort,
we muft howl with the wolves till we have muzzled them.
As to the Minister^ I know his coarfe fpun fincffes,
and his foible for me ; they know his brutality, and what
account is to be made of the fii-ft ftroke from his tuflc,
and that is what gives me fpirits ; they know, that in
circumftanccs more delicate than the prefent, I have
chained up the lion, and have made him fee and believe
whatever I pleafed.

" Thou knoweft what it is prevents my getting rid of
my leeches, help me to find out the way, and to deprive
them of the means of hurting me, and thy delires fliall
foon be gratified.

" I expeft thee to night at the fame hour and place ;

I hope before that happy moment to have got all out of

the Minister .

J. t. R. t. B. a. V. C. S. Adieu.

No. XIX,

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

Jugu^ 1 8, 1784.

" I WRITE to thee in hafte, to give

thee notice that it is impoffible for me to receive thee

to-night J I have gained more information than 1 could

wilh, and though enraged at tlie kcnc I have juft had

with

[ 34 ]

wth la P , I will conceal my rcfentment, and

carry my diffimulation to the utmoft. I know that
anger is of no fervice, and therefore take the refolution
moft fuitable, though contrary to my own inclination.
I will not leave the Minifter till I have wrought him to
my purpofe, which objeft accomplifhed, I am not at a
lofs to find a fhelter, and if the bomb-fhell burfts, I
iliali be able tq make the fplinters fall on thofe who fet
fire to it. Do not depart till to-morrow at one o'clock,

and fail not to be this evening in the walk to T as

I doubt not (from what I have heard) but all thy fteps
are watched, it is a material point to perplex the inqui-
ficive, and rendei" it impoiTible for them to realife their
fulpicions.

*^ The Countefs will (lay here to-morrow, and inform
thee of all that has pafied. Depend on my attachment,
and be perfuaded that I fliall know how to treat, as I
ought, ungrateful people, who are become thy enemies:,
bccaufe thou waft not introduced by them. Above all
be difcreet ; I rely on the Countefs as on myfelf."

No. XX,

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THF.
QUEEN.

Mguji 21, 1784.
'' IT would indeed be unjuft, after the confidence you
have granted me, in the prefent circumftances, if I did

not

I 35 1

not adopt the line of conduft you have prcfcribed for
me. Be aiTured that I will facrificc every thing to tli^
quiet ^nd happinefs of my dear Mafter. Whatever may
ccur during my abfencCj (which is become neceflary)
le will call to mind my fincerity, my zed to ferve him,
and itiy moft tender love. I am not fuperftitious^ yet,
Ihall I tell thee ? I have forebodings which I dread ta
fce realized ; the more I refleft on the fecrets thoti haft
communicated to me, the more I perceive the poflibi-
lity of a reconciliation. The abfent are always in the

wrong.— When once I am got to S a thoufand

w^ys will be found to do me prejudice. I fliall not be
at hand to clear myfelf— flander, aided by anonymous
letters flying from all fides, will be the weapons ufed by
my enemies,— and then, to fupport them, will come
the handfome F . He is not, I grant thee, an am-
bitious man ; he is young, amiable, and afpircs folely

to the happinefs of pleafing you— but the C is aa

old ftager, whofe affairs are greatly involved, and Vt'ho
is fijfceptibie of no attachment, any farther than the
gratification of his intereft and ambition. Such are, . I
am f^ire, part of their attempts, and the terms in which
they Will addrefs you ; ifinfufficient to fway you, tHey v/ill
have recourfe to the laft contrivances.— I confefs to you,
'tis there I dread them moft— it would be an unpardon-
able villainy, but from their indelicacy, and their ex-
treme carefulnefs in laying hands upon and preferving
thofe writings, it is plain they did it only with an intent
to make an ill ufe of them. However, from all the re-
fieftions I have made, I think that with refolution fup-
ported by authority, they might be compelled to a ref-

titu-

i 36 1

ftitution. If that method be dangerous, there is ano-
ther which appears to me infallible, and that agrees
perfedtly well with their felfifh difpofition, I will Iiti-
part it to the in my next letter. — -Since this difco-
very, my mind has been anxioufly bent on finding out
the moll fpeedy and beft expedient^ and 1 own I ftill
recur to my firft opinion.

** 1 fliall depart on the fcaft day, and not appear at
V but on receipt of' a particular order. 'Mean-
while my thoughts Ihall be occupied v/ith the great ob-

jc6t. The packet will go ofF to-morrow night.

The caution I ftiall ufe will prevent all confidence thr.t
might prove dangerous, and if unfortunately any furprife
Ihould happen, the bearer will be able to give no indi-
cation nor token of intelligence.

No. XXI.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

' ' Juguft 24, 1784.

" THE courier fet out laft night at
half paft twelve. The Countefs will tell thee how I
contrived the delivery of the packet ; I have given all in-
ftrudions neceffary for the arrival and departure of my

two

[ 37 ]

two couriers i by which means I fhall hear from thee at
Icail once a week, and if any thing cxtraordinar>^ Ihould
occur, I fhall always have a confidential perfon in rea-

dinefs to difpatch. All my equipages are ready.—.

To-morrow is the fatal day, when I mull part with all
that is dear to me. This reflexion deprefTes my fpirits,
and occafions me to feel an uneafmefs, which I cannot
overcome; yet I know that my abfence is neceffary here,
and my prefcnce indifpcnfiblc at the place of my defti-

nalion. 1 think I am jealous; a dreadful malady!

Tk perfonage in queftion diflurbs my brain, and makes

me dread my departure, Have a little compaffion

on me, feek to calm my uneafinefs, and perfaude thy-
Jelf that I Ihould not outlive thy infidelity. Farewell-
be careful of thy health, live happy, and fometimes
bellow a thought upon the Slave."

No. XXIL

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

Septemher 8, 1784.

*f IT is very aftonifiiing that the cou-

^cier is not yet returned ; it gives me uneafinefs, as I

required the quickeft difpatch. If on receipt of this

kt^er he is not yet srrrived, difpatch immediately a

* F CQurier

[ 33 ]

courier with the inclofed note ; tell him by v/ord of
mouth, whom he is to deliver it to.

" Thy departure has filenced every tongue j v/hethcr
out of difcretion or policy, thy .name has not been pro- •
nounced. People redouble their dutiful attendance, and
ftrivc to make me forget the fcene, as well as the
motive that gave rife to it. The advice thou giveft me
is imprafticable. They never told me they were in
pofleffion of-— I only furmifed it fiom behaviour, re-
proaches and fpeeches which I have overheard. I am
fully perfuaded, that let what will happen, they will
never expofe themfelves to convey any writing into the
hands of the Minifter 5 but I Ihould always be uneafy to
know they had in their pofTeflion what could difojrb
my tranquillity j I am fully refolved to take a decided part
but I have made fo many facrifices for all thofe people,
and the Minifter has fo often accufcd me of inconftancy
and ficklenefs, that I muft abfolutely have a reafon to
affign to him; not that he loves or values them;
quite the contrary; but he pretends that it is for my
fake, and that it is always extremely expenfive to have
new'favourites.-— — A well placed fyftem of oeconomy

truly ! Adieu, — -to-morrow I fet off to T where

I fhall remain a few days to have greater liberty to fee
the Countefs. Thou hadfl not told me the Savage
would flay at Parisj a very ufclefs thing/*

LETTER

[ 29 1

No. XXIlL

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

S'eptember 8, 1784;

*^ YOU miift have received a parcel
^^ftiich I fent you; I am furprifed I have not had an
anfwer to it. You may judge of my uneafmefs by its
tontents. I hope for the future you will ufc more
punftuality.

No. XXIV,

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

Seplemher 13, 1784*

" THE Mafler will fee by the packet
I fend him> that his objeft is attained, and his note be-
come ncedlefs. The courier before this laft, was en-
trulled with a letter, fomewhat long, relative to his at-
tendants. After the deepeft reflexion, the Slave

thinks that the Mafter may without danger, follow the
counfel which he gives him ; for after all, he is the Mafter.
I have fent the Countcfs a fmall phial for you, which con-

^ F 2 tains

[ 40 ]

tains a liquor that may be written with, and nothing
appear; but being fhewn to the fire, or light, grows
black, and difappcars again afterwards. In cafe of any
thing particular, leave a wide fpace between your lines,

that you may interline with that liquor. 1 faw die

day before yefterday, die petfon in queftion, whofe an-
fwer appeared to me to be cvafive.— He is to call again
in the courfe of the week, to make known his laft deter-
mination. -If he refufes,' I have another perfon in my
eye. The Countefs will communicate what I am prohi-
bited doing in this paper*

(t. C. E. I M. A. b.)

Na XXV.

LETTER FROM THE CARDIN^IL TO THE
QUEEN.

Septemier 23, 1784.
" JF the Slave is happy to contri-
bute to the fuccefs of the grand objeft, undertaken by
the iVIafter, he thinks it will be neceffary before, the
execution, that he liiould remove to a lefs diftant fitua-
tion^ . The moft impenetrable veil being neceffary to
cover the author of the projeft, thq;e muft be an im-
poffibility of tracing to the fource, in order to be doubly

guarded againft contingencies. 1 have perfcdiy

felt the -force of the latter reflexion, There is nothing

permancnr

[ 41 ]

permanent in the world.— -In confequencc of this truths
the Mafter's policy is plainly feen, for in cafe of a re-
volution, he is fure of receiving ^Jupport^ which will
validate his claims, and prevent the triumph of his ene-
mies. Divided between hope and fear, my fituation is

tk moft cruel, and my cxiftence wretched Yet when

I make reflexions on the paft; and bring into confidera-
tion my degree of confidence with the Mafter, 1 fee the
injuftice of my fears. The hopes of feeing myfelf fooa
within his arms, gives a frelh fpring to my joy, and
reflores me to my fecurity."

No. XXVI.

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL TO THE
QUEEN.

Nov, 21, 1724.

" THE defire I feel of being fer- ,
viccable to the Countefs, and to remove all obflacles
that ftill oppofe a public reception, makes me praftlfe
every poffiblc method to fulfil thofe two objeds. The
Mafter will judge by the proceedings which I have di-
rcdec! one of my dependants to adopt, whether the fuc-*
cefsof hi^-folicitations can ferveas a pretence to the mu-
tual defires, and remove all difficulties. The Abbe dc
Sefaryes is to refign his office of Mafter of the Oratory,
to the Aboe de Phaff, by extraftion a German, whofe
friends live at Bruflels, in the retinue of the Archdu-
chcfs. As a difficulty cxifts which you alone can re-
move.

[ 42 ]

move, I have advifed him to go to Bruflcls, to life all
methods with the Archduchefs, to obtain from her a
letter of recommendation to you. As the bufinefs can-
not be tranfafted without liic, fince 'tis I who furnifh
the funds, it will be an additional motive for bringing
me into recolleftioh. — I had proje<5le4 a fcheme to ac-
celerate and prevent a denial, but as that might have
brought you into qiicftioni and raifed fufpicion, I judged
it moft prudent to decline it. So much for that— -you
will allow that events fucceed fo rapidly on bdth fides^
that it were dangerous to proceed too far. So politic
an anfwer from an afpirihg fpirit, aftonilhes me the
more, as the asras, fpokeri of; are yet very remote. I
forefce many difficulties in bringing that to a profperous
i^uc—'thafs underftood"--! fhall always be ready, fcru-
puloully, to perform the commands of the Mafter : the
moft pleafing would be, no doubt, to be recalled near
his divine perfon:"

No. XXVII.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

Dec. 12, i784»

" Had I followed the maxim that
fays « in all thy doings make fiow hafte,'* the accident
which befel thy laft letter would net have happened.

The

[ 43 3

The earncftnefs, the eagernefs of reading, urging me to
put'th:? Jetter too near the light, it took fire, and in
fpite of all my endeavours to cxtinguilh it, could fave
only fome part of it. To him that underftandeth,
greeting.— The firft packet was gone off when the
courier arrived. Being prefled for time, I could not
anfwer with regard to the Abbe ; had I been forewarned,
I would have faved him a needlefs journey. We have
made an agreement, never to grant any perfon whatever
arequeft of that nature, aflliredly the Abbe will not be
an exception to the rule j befidcs, fuppofe the fcheme
could hive taken place, it is clear the objeft could not
have juftified the proceeding. The fituatlon I am in,
will infallibly bring on a more favourable opportunity.
The moft fpeedy difpatch will lliortcn die exile of the
Slave. Ihelieve it is underftoodJ'

No. XXVIII.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TQ THE
CARDINAL,

Jan. 15, 1784.
" IF it had not been my intention
there fliould be a myftery in the purchafe of the jewel,
J certainly fhould not have employed you to procure it
for me. I am not accuftomed to enter thus into treaty
widi my jewellers, and this way of proceeding is io

much

I 44 ]

much the more contrary to what I owe to myfelf, as
two words were fufficicnt to put me in pofleffion of that
objeft, I am furprifed that you dare to propofe to me
fuch an arrangement; but let there be no more faid
about It. It is a trifle that has occafioned me to make
a few refleftionSi which I will impart to you when op-
portunity offers. The Countefs will deliver to you your
paper. I am forry you have given yourfclf fo much
trouble to no purpbfe.'*

No. XXIX.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN JO JHf:
CARDINAL.

January 29, 1785.

*' HOW is this ? p.ffeftation with me ?
Why, my friend, ought people in our predicament to ad
under reftrainc> to feek for ftiifts, and deal with ia-
iincerity? Doft thou know that thy referve, and thy
falfe pride, drew upon thee the letter thou haft received)
and that but for the Countefs, who has told me all, I
Ihould have attributed that pretended arrangement to
quite a different motive. Fortunately ail is cleared up.
The Countefs will deliver thee the writing, and explain
the motives by which I have been aftuated in this mat-
ter. As I am fuppofed ignorant of the confidence thou
haft Ihcwn hcr^ as alfo of the token of truft that whou
^ wilt

[ 45 ]

Wilt give her^ by laying before her our particular en-
gagements, that is a more than fufficient reafon to make
thee fecure, and remove all difficulties. Thou wilt
keep the writing, and deliver it to none but me.

" I hope, notwithftanding my diforder, to fee thee
before the holiday. I cxpeft the Countefs to-morrow.
I will tell her whether I fliall be able to receive from
my Slave, the objedl which liad aearly fet us at vari-
ance."

No. XXX.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

JulyS, 1785.
YOUR fears are groundlefsj the
coolnefs and diflike for you, which you furmife, is by
no means the efFeft of inconftancy. Put the queftion
to yourfelf : I long to fpeak to ypu : the fteps I caufe
to be taken towards you, muft needs convince you of it.
The Minijter 'returned from the chafe much fooner than
I expefted him j he was ffiill with me, as alfo Madame

E when I difpatched the confidential perfon to you.

do not depart to day; be at ten o'clock with the
Countefs, and believe that no one defires more than I do
the explanation you requeft."

- * G LETTER

[ 46 ]

No. XXXI.

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL.

July 19, 1784.
^^ I BELIEVE I have informed you
of* the difpofal of the fiun, which I deftined for the objeft
in queftion, and that probably I fhould not fulfil the
engagements till my return from Fontainbleau. The
Countefs will remit to you thirty thoufand livres, to pay
the intereft. The privation of the capital is to be taken
into confideration^ and this compenfation will make
them eafy.

^^ You complain, and I fay ^t)^ a word : a very ex-
traordinary circunnftances time will perhaps acquaint
you with the motive of my filence. I do not love fuf -
picious people, efpecially when there is fo little reafon
for it. I poflefs a principle I never will recede from.
Your laft converfation is very oppofite to what you re-
lated to me at a preceding period- Refleft upon it,
and if your memory fcrvcs you faithfully, by comparing
the aera's, you will judge what I am to think of your
preffing folicitations.

LETTER

[ 47 1

No. XXXIL

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE
CARDINAL^

February 12, 1785.
" FROM all that I have heard con-
cerning that extraordinary man thou telleft me of, I
cannot look upon him but as a mountebank. It may
be prepdRcfTion in me, and I know by experience, that
one ought never to judge of any body from the report
of others, but I have many reafons for not yielding to
thy entreaties. I am not fuperftitious, nor is it an eafy
matter to impofc upon mej but as thofe fort of oeople-
have fometimes things that aftonifh, and thereby difpofe
one to fee and believe whatever they fay, I am not in
a fituation for fuch trials. Befides, it would be very
difficult, nay, even impoflible to receive him as myfte-
rioufly as I could wifh, and thou knowcft the cautiouf-
nefs with which I muft a£t in the pf^fcnt moment. The
Countefs made me laugh heartily, by relating the laft
fcene ; it has fomething of prodigy in it, and raifes in
me the greateft defire to fee the grand Cophte.'^ Yet,
if I naufl: believe the Countefs, it requires a perfon to be
very innocent, in order to behold the myfleries of that
great man : though, to judge from the circumftances of
all his apparatus, I believe he looks upon thee and the
Countefs as two fimpletons, and treats you as two dupes.
Don't be offended at my franknefs ; I promife thee I
will judge of him in my own perlbn.

'' The.

[ 4=5 J

«' The Minifter leaves me as iitde as he can ; I do
not yet guefs at the reafon of it, but ftiaU not be long
before I do. -L-utkily I have not to deal with an Egyp-
tian, like thj Caglioftro, who gueffcs the paftratid for?-
^ tells the futyre. He is not poffcnTed of the Talifman
' that gives utterance to the ladies toys, and indeed I tarn
at cafe, and dread not any indifcrdtion from mine.
' " Excufe my follies J for fome time paft I fo feldom
allow myfelfanydiverfion, that thou wilt no doubt be
delighted with having afforded me the opportunity of
a moment's recreation."

i. 1 N I S,

r