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THE

SECRET CORRESPONDENCE

MADAME DE MAINTENON,

WITH THB

PRINCESS DES URSINS;

FROM THB

ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS

IN THE POSSESSION OF

THE DUKE DE CHOISEUL.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. IlL

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR GEO. B. WHITTAKER, AVE MARIA LANE.

18S7. Yb'-c^crvA^;

LONDON :

•HACKKliL AND CG., J0HNS3NVC0URT, PLKKT>8TIIKRT.

LETTERS

OF THE

PRINCESS DES URSINS.

LETTER LXXVII.

TO MADAMK DE MAINTSKON.

Madrid, April 17tb, 1707.

If I wish to receive letters written with your
own hand, Madam, it is because they afford me
a greater certainty of your good health : but for
this, I assure you that I like to see the hand*
writing of Mademoiselle d'Aumale as well as
yours, and I do not think you the less polite for it.
If it were possible for you to be a hundred times
more sad than you are, I should continue ardently
to desire the continuance of your correspondence,
for the marks of your friendship are alone capable
of sustaining me in my numerous troubles. .

YOU III, B

2 LETTERS OF THE

I have^ read to the ambassador what you say
respecting him, and it has been a great consola-
tion to him : he is a worthy and honourable
man, very zealous in his duty, and an excellent
minister.

It is true that our affairs in Spain continue
better than we could have reasonably expected.
We are now upon the eve of a decisive action,
and which, as far as we are able to judge from
appearances, will be in our favour. The enemy,
whom public report represents as very inferior in
number to the army of Marshal de Berwick,
approaches him, it is said, notwithstanding their
weakness, with the intention of fighting, being
forced to it by the want of provisions, and because
they know that considerable succours are coming
from France, and which would completely over-
whelm them. The two armies are only four^
leagues from each other, and all the officers of
our army, great and small, Spaniards and French-
men, say and write to everybody here, that if our
general does not give battle they will be in
despair, having no doubt of being victorious.
We must think that Marshal de Berwick will do
kis duty, and meanwhfle send up vows and prayers
that God may inspire him with a wise resolution*
How fortunate it would be for France and Spain
to begin the campaign by such an action, which
would enable us afterwards to succour the dis-
tricts which require it most. I should fear flat- J

PRIXCES8 DSa UESINS. 3

terihg you too much by hopes which appear so
well founded» ^nd which nevertheless cannot but
be uncertain. I do not apprehend that what I
tell you will make too great an impression, from
knowing that your natural inclination leads you
more to fear ill success than to expect good. I
cannot help telling you that I am surprised to
learn that Marshal de Tessé with the troops that
he has, is afraid of the Duke of Savoy. I do not
like fear in a general ; and unfortunately you have
no great choice of them. I am struck with an
idea on this subject which I cannot refrain from
<3ommunicating, although you may think it ri<U«-
culous: why did you not replace him by the
Prince de Vaudemont, if it is true, as is asserted,
that he returns to France ? His health, although
delicate, would not prevent him from acting,
since his head is sound and good; and there
is more need of prudence and firmness than any-
thing else in that quarter. He is perfectly
well acquainted with the country, as well as with
the Prince with whom he would have to act,
and would be able to carry on his intrigues in the
Milanese and the rest of Italy. He would want
a good lieutenant-general under him to execute
his orders if he had not strength to execute them
himself, and it is not the first time that great men
have commanded armies in this manner. The
Prince would dread him, I think, more than the
present commander. ,

B 2

4 LfiTT£R8 OF THE

The Prince de Vaudemont would not, doubtless,
desire such a command ; but I think that his
affection for the two Kings, would induce him
voluntarily to sacrifice any repugnance he might
have in accepting it. I entreat you to let me
know if my idea is a silly one, for I should not be
at all offended at it.

I write to Madame de Beauvilliers and M. de
Langlée, entreating and urging them again to reduce
the expense as much as possible of what they are
getting done for us, for my avarice goes so far to
spare the King of Spain's money, that if I were
not fearful of offending the persons who are con-
cerned in these purchases, I should desire them to
put nothing more than a plain yellow silk border
to the whole of the curtains and hangings of the
child*s room, and to send us very low priced lace
for th«^ linen. What would they say of such a
sordid wretch, and should I not be lowered in
their estimation ? Do not fail. Madam, to sound
them a little upon this point.

I am very anxious about the Duchess of Bur-
gundy's health, and do not like the slow fever
continuing about her ; but if the result should be
pregnancy, we ought to be comforted, although,
to say the truth, I would not wish, for the sake of
our Princess, that she should have so short a
respite. The Queen and myself will be very
impatient for the arrival of the next post for
news respecting her, and I shall not be less so to

PRINCESS T>Z$ URSINS. 5

hear that you are better. It is nothing but
^^hagrin that kills you ; and this makes me still
more desirous of fortune becoming favourable to
us, since the preservation of your life becomes
daily of more consequence. At length we expect
the Duke of Orleans to-morrow ; he comes, I am
assured, upon a very long^eared mule. His Royal
Highness prefers this conveyance to the rîsk of
being thrown out of his chaise a second time, and
rolling over three or four times, as happened to
him lately. The roads are very bad, and the
Princes, you know, never fear^breaking their necks,
travelling as they always do at a furious rate;
however, they would not do ill to undeceive them-
selves, and to believe that accidents may happen
to them as well as to other men : our you^g King
is insufferable in this respect

LETTER LXXVn.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, April 20th, 1707.

I SHALL only send you a line by the courier
which the Duke of Orleans dispatches to the
court this evening, because I have not leisure for

6 LETTERS OF THE

more. This morning was spent at Church and in
conversing with his Royal Highness, the anibassa-
dor being present ; we are just going to vespers,
which will last till supper. Their Majesties
cannot be better satisfied than they are with the
Prince, and I think he is not less so with them;
their conversation was very free, and as it ought
to be when the good of the service is only in view.
The Duke of Orleans is extremely condescending^
and has not failed to tell me of the King's good
wishes towards me, of which I assure you. Madam,
I become daily more sensible; and as words
are wanting to express my respectful gratitude,
excuse my having recourse to you, whose friends-
ship never fails me in a case of necessity. I have
xeceived one of your letters by M. de Rupel-
monde, and another under cover from M. de
Ghamillard, which I postpone answering to
another opportunity, when I can write to you
more to the purpose. Meanwhile I wish, how-
ever, to assure you that you will not be dissatisfied
with what I shall send you, as I am more anxious
than ever to merit your esteem and friendship, of
which I make more account than of all the things
of this world.

The Duke of Orleans is in a fairway of getting
himself much beloved in this country for his
urbanity and politeness ; and as for esteem, it is
impossible to withhold it from him. He sets out
to-morrow to join Marshal de Berwick. Letters

PRINCESS DES Vi^SINS. 7

jiist received, state that all the French and Spanish
troops expect him with great impatience. It
seems to me that it is now doubtful whether there
will be a battle so soon, although the troops
ardently long for one. I could wish that our
great Princess were in perfect health, and that
your own were not so indifferent.

LETTER LXXVIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, April 25th, 1707.

I WILL answer to-day, a little more at length
than I did by the last courier, your two letters of
March 27th and April 10th. Marshal de Noailles
has done very well not to die, as it would have too
deeply afflicted all his family and friends, and I
should have been one of the latter who would
certainly have most regretted him, for I honour him
and very sensibly feel whatever affects his lady,
to whom I am under many obligations ; and I an^
not less interested in what concerns his son. A
better opinion of him cannot be entertained than
I have, for I am convinced of his courage, intelli-
gence, uprightness, and the nobleness of his senti-

8 LETTERS OF TH£

ments ; bat I think, moreover, that there is in
him wherewithal to make a great man, who will
be capable of serving the King in every employ
for which a subject of his talents may be destined ;
therefore I hope that his virtue and merit will
raise him to be a general without your or his own
seeking. It is certain that I should answer boldly
that you would prefer his usefully serving the
King of Spain, as captain of infantry, to his being
at the head of an army without doing his duty.
I have read to their Majesties the description
which you give of him, and they said it appeared
very unaffected; you have,, however, forgot
one trait of his character, on which account I
cannot help reproaching you, and that is, the
suavity of his conversation, which never becomes
tedious : he also possesses the tact of communi-
cating his vivacity to others without any diminu*
tion of his own, as well as making people imagine
they are endowed with talents by merely observ-
ing his : thus it is that you listen to him continu-
ally . without feeling any inclination to take up
the conversation yourself. He has written to me
since his arrival at Perpignan, giving an account
of the situation of the Catalans, and as it will not
be his fault if he doos not profit by it. Madam, it
would be desirable that he were a little stronger
in Rousillon than he is, so as to make a diversion
which might embarrass the Archduke. The parti-
san who had engaged to take Monseigneur, or

FRIETCESS DES URSINS. 9

some one of our Princes, must have had great
temerity, and it is doing him a service to confine
him in a place of safety, for perhaps if he had any
other project in his brain, he would not have got
oflF so easily. I figure to myself on this occasion
the French, even those who cry out most against
everything which is done, or which is not done,
often without reason and sometimes with it, for
their good sense cannot belie itself. I am not
surprised at your being attacked by the fever, on
hearing of such an adventure : your sensibility to
everything which concerns the royal family could
not fail to excite alarm as to what might have hap-
pened if this audacious attempt had succeeded.
As for the Duchess of Burgundy, I cannot per-
suade myself but she must have had a fit of shud-
dering for twenty-four hours, caused by the fright;
she, who lavishes her life so much upon pleasure,
which you assure me she does not enjoy, and
which only turns her brain. I am not afraid of
your telling her from me, that I cannot patiently
suffer her to ruin her health by staying up and
running about all night, when she might enjoy
the same amusements all day, and to a reasonable
hour in the evening ; but I should be delighted,
if she liked to be made a prisoner, in order to
learn afterwards all that had been done and said.
These are things in their proper places, for all this
would certainly be very curious to know and dif-
ficult to imagine. This Princess would be a good

30 IXTTBRS OF THE

prize nevertheless ; she might prove the apple of
discord between the allied Princes, who would
all doubtless claim the honour of making her their
prisoner, and for that reason I do not know
whether it would not have been a good thing fot
us if she had fallen into their hands, since it might
have brought about a peace by disuniting this
cruel league.

As I doubt not but the Duchess de Beauvilliers
shows you what I write to her, I shall not repeat
it to you: I only preach up simplicity in my
letters, even to parsimony. However careful she
may have been in everything which she has
condescended to undertake, I see with much
regret that it will not fail to cost the King of
Spain a great deal of money. The Duchess
kindly enters into my nigardly views, but I fear
M. de Langlée will not be so indulgent, and that
it will end by his despising a camerara mayor who
only preaches up penury. I hope. Madam, you
will employ all your skill to prevent me from losing
his esteem. The ambassador is always delighted
when I show him the many obliging things you
45ay on his account ; it is very necesssury, if possible,
that he and myself redouble our zeal and assiduity
for the service, in conjunctures which become
every day more important and difficult, and
thank God our union increases hourly. Z know
jiot why the last of my letters appeared to you
jierfumed, unless the courier who was charged

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 11

with it had an old pocket of Spanish leather
wnich he inherited from his ancestors, for I have
heard say, despues el rey hasta los rapatero^y there
was not a Spaniard who did not carry odours in
order to counteract the effluvia which assailed him
in the streets of Madrid. Since a certain period
tobacco has taken their place, and this last stench
has absolutely banished all perfumes that are
good for anything. I should be very sorry if the
poor Duchess de Lude had died, and I think also
from the Duchess of Burgundy's goodness of
heart, that she would have regretted her ; and I
hope the gout which tormente this lady of honour,
will at least dissipate the bad humours that have
thrown her into the danger from which she has
recovered.

As to what concerns the Duchess de Gramont»
iier illness appears to me more dangerous from
your manner of representing it ; her courage and
spirit having degenerated into weakness and tears, it
would seem ther^ is no hope for her. One would not
have thought formerly that her husband had been
able to contribute so much to her consolation, nor
that she would have believed it possible to be
abandoned when she had so many friends who
seemed to be attached to her : this is a fine subject
for reflection, and I think her much to be pitied.

* From the king to the beggar.

12 LETTERS OF THE

However small the number of troops the King
of Spain might be able to send to Naples, it is
thought they would be sufficient to keep this
kingdom and that of Sicily in their . duty, from
the good disposition of the people in behalf of
their lawful Sovereign, and the fear they are
under of being subjugated by an usurper. The
viceroys write us constantly to this effect, and
add that they were delighted to hear of the
Queen's pregnancy.

The Duke of Orleans has told their Majesties,
that Marshal de Tessé, who would be replaced
by M. de Medavid, has done so well in Italy
that one may suppose he will do the same in this
new employ. As for M. de Tessé, it appears to
me that the fact of his not thinking himself in
safety is a sufficient cause for his recall, for I have
heard it said that a man is half beaten when he is
apprehensive of being beat at all. For the same
reason, the boldness of M. de Vendôme should
inspire us with the hope that he will avenge the
mischief which has been done us by my Lord
Marlborough, who will perhaps see that fortune is
not always constant, and that the Prince, who is
opposed to him this campaign, will strip him of
some of his laurels. ^

It is unpleasant, as you observe. Madam, for
the King to displease the general officers ; but
when retrenchments are necessary, his Majesty
must undergo the pain which it gives him, through

PRINC£SS DES UUSTNS. 13

his extreme goodness of heart, to see others suffer
from such causes.

There cannot be stranger reasons than you assign
for wishing to terminate so cruel a war, which is
accompanied with ev^ry species of misery, with-
out a single battle gained in this country in our
favour ; but I see no appearance of it, for France
and Spain are destroying themselves ; if we can
succeed, all will change into good for us, and
the enemy will be no longer elated with pride at
their good fortune. It is very certain that we
have many advantages over them up to the pre*
sent time ; but we must not wait, if possible, till
they are reinforced. Do not afflict yourself, then,
before it is time; forget that you are no longer
young, and do not consider death as your only
consolation^ which I cannot hear mentioned with-
out grief, although I flatter myself that it is still at
a great distance. What a pleasure it would be
for their Majesties and for us all, if news could
be sent to the King of his obtaining a victory t
I protest to you. Madam, that the satisfaction . of
his Majesty would be greater than all the advan-
tages which would result from it. I admire him
incessantly, and the King and Queen make me
reperuse several times what you have v^rritten to
me of his fortitude, equanimity, and mildness in
the midst of so many reverses, which will naturally
sour the best temper. God grant that he may con-
tinue in the same state of mind and in good health*

14 LETTERS OF THE

I trespass upon your patience. Madam, but you
must attribute it to your too great indulgence
towards me, which makes you even excuse my
importunities. I conclude by assuring you of
my respectful attachment, which will last during
my whole life.

LETTER LXXIX.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, April 28th, 1707.

Let us rejoice. Madam, and return thanks to
God, by whose Almighty arm we have gained a
complete victory over our enemies. What cause
of joy for the King, for all the royal family, and
what a consolation for you ! Their Majesties^ I
can assure you« are still more alive to this great
event, in as much as it will give satisfaction to
the King their grandfather, than from their own
particular interest, and the pleasure they have of
seeing their throne firmly established. I shall
not attempt to describe my feelings, as you may
judge of them from your own. It was I who had
the happiness of announcing this news to the King
and Queen, which I did in the most delicate
manner, in order that the feelings of her Majesty

PRINCESS DSS VRSINS. 16

might not be overpowered, and to preserve our
Prince of Asturias, who, we may hope, will be
bom at an auspicious period. Present my
humble respects to the King, Monseigneur, and
the Duchess of Burgundy, and also to the other
Princes. I could wish to have written to them,
but I commission you. Madam, if you please, for
you will pardon such liberties on a day when I
neither know what I do or say.

P.S. The King is too much indebted to Mîir-
shal de Berwick not to give him a mark of his
gratitude, and the only one is to make him a
grandee, which new dignity his Majesty feels
Mmself obliged to bestow upon him. He thinks
that the King his grandfather will approve of it,
whatever repugnance he may have to see distinc-
tions given, for certainly that cannot extend to a
man who has just gained so important a battle for
France and Spain. I have very much approved
of the resolution of the King and Queen, for I
lil^e to see the goodness of their hearts on every
occasion, and if I have done amiss, I ask pardom
of the King.

16 LETTERS OF THB

LETTER LXXX.

TO THE SAME.

From the Retiro, May 2aû, 1707.

It transpires daily that the victory obtained
Over our enemies is yet more important than it
was thought ; their infantry were either all killed
or taken. The Duke of Orleans and Marshal de
Berwick are intent upon profiting by this defeat.
They are now entering the kingdom of Valencia,
whose conquest probably will be promptly
achieved, and Arragon will doubtless share
the same fate. I do not think the Archduke
will escape so easily, if fortune seconds the
intentions of his Royal Highness. You see that
one should never despair of success, and that God
changes everything in a moment when it is his
pleasure. Confess the truth, Madam, that I am
not insolent in good fortune, since I do not re-
proach you with your past chagrin, and to have
had such gloomy forebodings of the future as
everything appeared to you. I will forget the past,
but if perchance you evince anything more of
your melancholy, I will not promise you to be
always so modest; I would beat you to atoms, and

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 17

give you no more quarter than has been giyea
to the Portuguese and those English whose
master, the Prince of Orange, you have so very
much cherished. I cannot write to you any longer ;
I continue transported with joy whenever I
think of the pleasure which this viôtory must have
given to the King, the Duchess of Burgundy,
and yourself, to whom I am entirely devoted*

LETTER LXXXI.

TO THB SAME.

From the Retifo, May, 1707.

Their Catholic Majesties are very glad that
the King has at length determined to send them
Clement, and we must hope that the clamours of
the ladies upon his departure will ceaae when
they hear of the great victory which we have
obtained in Spain, and that their chagrin will
give place to joy. M. Clement, who is so neces-
sary for the Queen, and the Prince or Princess
whose life is of such great importance, will be
detained as short a time as possible. It is for-
tunate that this person, and the nurse who will
accompany him, are possessed of all the good
qualities which you indicate to me. Though the

VOL. III. c

18 LETTERS OF THE

Dtichess of Burgundy should be pregnant, they
will return in time for her confinement. The Queen
was very much affected when she learnt that her
sister wished to provide everything of the best
quality for her, and the same persons whom she
employs ; they have only to be prepared against
being well questioned, both here and at Versailles,
for our two Princesses will certainly inform each
other of the minutest particulars, which is natural,
loving each other so tenderly as they do. It will
be very requisite that some women should learn
to dandle, when they see it done by the nurse of
whom you have so good an opinion, and this will
be rendering Spain a great service. The manner
of rearing children in England must be excellent,
since there are no straighter persons than the
English, whose cleanliness in that respect I also
very much approve ; and I have only some diffi-
culty respecting their legs, it appearing to me that
they would have a worse shape without being
swathed; because, being weak, they would not
perhaps grow properly. We will, however, dis-
cuss the inconvenience which might arise from it.
If there are two Queens in Spain, there is one
who will cut a poor figure, and whose reign will
not, I hope, be longer than that of the players in
such characters : probably she wilt act this part
in Barcelona, for the Princess of Wolfenbottle,
ere long, will reign over only a part of Catalonia,
since we have reason to believe that many towns

PRINGBSS DES URSJKS. 10

c^ this province, Arragon and Valencia, will
return to the allegiance of their lawful king ;
therefore ^ase to be comforted when you hear
oftwo Qiieene in Spain.

'ft Is well for M. de Vendôme to be very con*
fident, but not to carry it too fer. The Duke
of Bavaria has written by the last post to the
king, wbo ^ad commimicated to him pliais of the
campaign^ which met his approbation, that he
would act in concert to promote their success,
and tl^at to all appearance >this campaign woidd
be glorious to their majesties.

Macshal de Villars continues to entertain a
good tipbion boâi of bis valour and skill, and
being besides well satisfied with his Iroops, I
4o«ibt not but he will do his best. I think we
4diall soon have the Duke of Orleans at the
iRetiro ; since die has written to me to that , effect.
I shall «ay Jiothing to you of his plans, leaving
dàïat to the ambassador, who will doubtless com-
onunicate them to Ûïb King. I do not think the
«taiy of hiSiRoyal Highness at this^^ourt will be
tong, since being so unfortunate as not to have
itakea put in Hie late action, he will be over
anadous to seek ^r some other opportunity of
distinguishing himself, and he cannot do anything
onore worthy of his name, nor more conducive to
^the interests of Umr Majesties. You have
a&xded tne pleasure, in giving me an insight

c 2

20 LETTERS OF THE

into the character of those who surround this
Prince..

I believe all the nuns in general of the Convent
of the Incarnation, which the Queen sometimes
visits, to be good characters, but am not ac-
quainted with any who are distinguished from
the rest for sanctity, for which reason, instead
of having recourse to them in particular, our
trust is in excellent troops, who give no
quarter to anybody, cutting off the heads, arms,
and legs of those whom they cannot make prison-
ers. In this manner, they have rendered us
masters of the Archduke s army, and it only
depends upon them to drive him absolutely out
of Spain,

It seems the last news from Italy stated
that several French squadrons had arrived at
Suza ; there is no probability that the Duke of
Savoy would have let them pass with so much
politeness, in order subsequently to entrap those
who followed, although the report has been
circulated at Madrid that his Royal Highness
would use reprisals, by taking these troops as
his had been taken in the Milanese. His situation
is not unfortunate, to be rid of twenty thousand
French, commanded by a brave officer, who
would always have given him uneasiness for the
Milanese, where the Germans are becoming more
hateful every day, and himself not beloved, without

PRINCESS DES UR8INS. 21

reckoning that all the other Italian princes see
his aggrandizement with great impatience. If
they could have forseen his present position, and
principally the Venetians, they would have pre-
vented it by the forming a league ; but this
republic, being ill disposed towards France, and
fearing the court of Vienna, was unfortunately
blinded by its own passions. Naples and Sicily^
from the letters 1 receive, redouble their fidelity
to his majesty.

Cardinal de la Tremoille informs me of the
Pope's bad health, and that he should be sorry
for the chair to become vacant at a time when
it would be very difficult to fill it up properly.
You are very good. Madam, in wishing the King
to grant figivours to my brother ; ' whatever need
he may have of them to support the dignity
and character with which he has honoured him ;
he must be content with what it shall please his
Majesty to give, and it is a good deal, at this
time, to ba presented with an abbey worth twelve
thousand francs per annum, free of all charges, as
I am informed. I was also very glad of a similar
gift to^ the Abbé de Polignac, who was as poor
' as Job. He is a man of family, possessed of
much intelligence, and who has been imfortunate.
I always address myself to you, through whom
the - King may know my respectful gratitude for
the favours he grants to my family, and I think
it is better than if I took the liberty of writing

22- LETTERS OF TRS

to himselfi sioce you kttow better bow to speak
for me than I could myself. The DtK^ess d«
Gramont has then resolved to pass her life at
Versailles and Pontalie ; she must find hersdf
in better health after the resolution, and as she
begins to take comfort on the death of her
husband, for it appears to me that when people
are much afflicted and in bad health, they feel dis-*
posed to get out of the crowd, and to seek reposa
in solitude.

I pity the Duchess of Mantua very much» as I
know her husband particularly well, and I never
eonceived how a reasonable woman could) be
satisfied with him. I know how mueh the first
Ihrchess, who was nkce to the late Prince des
Ursins, suffered with him, as she acquainted me
with it, being very thankful, when I was at
Rome, &>t the advice I daily gave her during the
four months she remained there. I had made
this Prince begin to be ashamed of always haviÉg
his coachmen and footmen for rivals» and made
him shed tears, by reproaching Imn with has low
taste ; but when I had lost sight of hi», and he
became exposed to the dissipation of Venice^ be
reconaneneed his debaucheries. Seiitimênls m
unworthy of his birth were imputable to the bad
ccmdnct of the Princess of Inspruck, his mathei,
who Was a woman, ai$ you must no doubt have
heard, that disgraced her name*

It appears to me that meney is necessary té

PRINCESS DES URSINS» 23

make purchases, and that those who possess it
would act more prudently to buy nothing ; how-
ever you are more accustomed than anybody to see
money agents, and appear to see nothing when
they are useful for the service. Here is enough
for this post, and much more than enough to
importune you, if your great goodness did not
enable you to suffer patiently the length of my
letters.

LETTER LXXXIL

TO TKUS SAME

Buen-Retiio, May 16th, 1707.

The Duke of Orleans left us yesterday for
Ârragon, aftei stopping here two days oo his
return from Valencia, which he has reduced to
submission to the King. It is probable that the
rest of the kingdom will follow the example of the
capital. The Prince was still greatly mortified
at not having been in the battle, and I am not
surprised at it, since you know how ambitious he
is of glory. The more one reflects, indeed^ upo»
this happy event, the more one is astonished ; his^
Royal Highness assures us^ that there are not
more than five hundred of the enemy's infantry

24 LETTERS OF THE

temaining ; we ought to be continually praisi&g
God that he permitted the enemy to be so blinded
as to undertake so rash an action as that for
which they have been punished. I am incon-
ceivably impatient to learn that the King has
received this great news, and I expect to find in
the letter which you will send me upon the
subject, that joy which you thought you should
never again feel after so many misfortunes, which
overwhelmed you and undermined your health.
The Queen feels so much interest about it, that
I have heard her say very often how delighted
she was at the satisfaction you would have, and
that it much increased her own. Her Majesty
orders me to tell you that three things will happen
which you desire, the first of which has already
taken place, the victory being complete. The Arch-
duke, pressed in Catalonia on all sides, will be com-
pelled to quit the country ; and his allies and himself,
no longer seeing a prospect of dethroning Philip V.,
will be under the necessity of making a reasonable
peace for all sides, fiut she says, she will not
engage for all these things taking place unless
you will resolve to banish firom your mind that
gloomy melancholy which gives you such distres-
sing forebodings of all sorts of misfortunes. She
will, moreover, give you a Prince of Asturias
as robust as herself: he gives her such dreadful
thumps, which I have myself felt, that there
is reason to believe he will be as strong as a Turk

îf he grows in proportion. I cannot repent having
pressed the journey of M. Clement, since it is
possible the Queen might be deceived a month,
as her present size would induce us to believe.

If I had been in your court, I should not cer-
tainly have failed being hurried away by the
example of the courtiers, who have so much
caressed the unfortunate man who had preme-
ditated running away with one of our Princes, and
I should not be his dupe in believing that he only
intended to fix upon a distinguished individual.
Do not laugh at me, but I shall certainly taste
more than once the milk of the nurses, to see if it
is good, and I shall learn, in case of necessity,
how to dandle the Prince, for there is no character
in which I shall not esteem it an honour to serve
their majesties. It must be true that you pre-
serve to me the honour of your friendship^ since
you assure me of it, and it is equally true that
there is nothing upon earth I am so ambitious of
deserving. I am not surprised that the Duke of
Orleans has written so favourably respecting the
King and Queen, for it is only doing them jus-
tice ; but I am very much obliged to his Royal
Highness for speaking of me, since my merit falls
far short of my wishes : he has assured me that
our King was never better. His Majesty requires
to be blooded and purged from time to time, for
I have seen him eat in a manner to create a
redundancy oi blood and humours, but he is in

26 LETTERS OF THE

good hands wken under the care of M. Fagon.
You banter. Madam, by reproaching me that it is
a long tune since I have spoken to you of the
ambassador. He has appeared to me till now
to be advancing in grand style towards perfection,
but you wish to apprc^riate that career to your*
self. You have spoiled him for me by your
excessive praises, which his modesty and virtue
caimot resist, and I perceive how vain he is when
I tell htm of your good opinion. I fear foUovidng
his example, if you continue writing to me such
flattering things as you do; spare me then, I
beseech you, for I know not whether you would
not do me nK>re injury by praising than my ene-
mies by blaming me, when, moreover, you make
it kno¥m that you do not agree with them in
that respect.

It is fortunate. Madam, that you are pleased
to take the trouble of following the march of
Spanish affairs ; do not get tired of it, I entreat
you. I think Cardinal d' Estrées does very well
in marrying his nephew to Mademoiselle de
Nevers, and he must be obliged to Madame de
Moailles for having revived this match, especially
if the Duke de Nevers and his lady should have
an eye to the conduct of the Duke d'Estrèes,
whom they will make drink the wine of Italy
instead of Champagne, which will be a great
reduction.

At last. Madam, you will permit your relations

PRINCSSS DES UflSINS. 27

to approach you ! Has no hann yet happened to
you from keeping such company ? Was the King
tired of Madame de Caylus^ when he did her
the honour of conducting her to Trianon ? Have
you yawned in conversing with the lady of the
Marquis de Vilette, the insipidity of whose con-
versation I am acquainted with^ and do you
repent of having the Duchess de Noailles by your
side, because she is^the wife of a man so very
unworthy of your esteem and friendship ? Own,
all these mkchievous jokes apart^ that I had
great reason in reproaching you, for keeping at a
distamee relations who deserve ytour affeetkm: and
protecticmy fi»*, upon my word, yoa cannot ha^e
better friends than these persons» You ask me
whether I know Madame de ViUette, ta whick
I reply, by saying I do,, that I have noticed the
flashings of her wit^ the agreeableness of her
conversatiosr, as well as of her face, and the good*
nesft of her heart, of which I have received many
pfoofer Madame de Cayhis appreciates the
friendship which yoa show her, but it does not
render her more proud,^ which stiU increases my
affection and esteem for her. I thought c£ writing
only two lines to yon, but my iiœlination surmounts
the fear which I ought to have in sending yon
letters of too great a length*

28 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER LXXXIII

TO THE SAME.

Buen Retiio, May 23d, 1707.

Never did an account give me so much pleasure
as that contained in your letter of the 8th instant,
of the joy which the King and all his court
experienced, on hearing the news of the victory ;
their Majesties expected it with great impatience,
and I counted every moment till it arrived. The
Duchess of Burgundy has written a charming
letter to the Queen upon this subject, and which
shows her extreme goodness of heart. All that
you describe to me, from the oflScer of the guards
coming to announce the arrival of M • de Chamillard,
who showed M. de Silly into your little room at
Marly, whilst you were supping in your closet,
till his Majesty came to the door himself to com-
municate this great news, appears to be so natural,
that I imagined seeing you throw your napkin
on the ground, and running to hear what was
said on the occasion; Madame de Dangeau
posting off to write to her husband ; Madame de
Heudicourt walking as if she had good legs,
without scarcely knowing what she was about ;

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 20*

M. de Marsan jumping upon a chair to show his
agility in spite of the gout, with the same air
that a rope-dancer would have done. As for the
Duke of Burgundy, who is, I believe, occasionally
absent, I am astonished that in the first moments
of his joy he did not take some lady for a billiard
ball, and hit her with thé queue which he had
in his hand. In short, you will have no diflSculty
in persuading me, that all France was delighted
with so advantageous a victory for our two Kings,
which consolidates the throne of his Catholic
Majesty. I can easily conceive that the great
«motion which such good fortune caused in you.
Madam, may have givea you the fever, which I
hope -will not last long, and that the sources of
chagrin, which are beginning to disperse, will be
followed by the restoration of your health. You
will daily hear from this country of the happy
results of the victory : almost the whole kingdom
of Valencia is reduced to obedience; that of
Arragon will soon be so, and the Duke of Orleans,
who joins his troops to a detachment of those
which Marshal de Berwick commanded, will find
himself at the head of an army which will reduce
the Gatalonians, and force the Archduke into
Barcelona, where he will get perhaps tired of
stopping, and the inhabitants of seeing him. As
to the King of Portugal, he seems as if he would
soon sue to us for peace, upon such terms^ bb we

30 LETTERS OF TH£

please. The grandees of Spain^ who are Aot well
disposed, would be rery glad for it to be granted
him, considering this little comer of the monarchy
as an asylum where they would find protection
in case they were discontented with their «ove-
rdgn» But as for the people, who have no other
view than the glory of the King ttnd the honour
of the nation, they would be delighted at the
conquest of Portugal, whidi' they always con-
sider as an usurpation. You may depend upon
the correctness of what I here state to you.

M. de Vendôme is naturally fortunate, and so
is my Lord Marlborough: why should not the
latter cease to continue so, when God has begun
to decide in favour of the jt^t cause «f our
Kings, and that th^ should humble themselves
in their good fbrtune as in their bad? It )is cer-
tain that the love which the King pur «MFerei^n
has always shown for religion, and the piety and
virtue of their Catholic Majesties, should make us
hope for the wA of a war which may recompense
them for so many great and estimable qualities.
Our lambassador and Marshal de Berwick also
richly merit Ihe praises you bestow on them, each
exerting himself to the utmost in his station.
The ferntôr had need of what has hftppened, to
support him under^the weight of business^ which
1 am sdfways sqpprehensive will overpower him.
When we see that our labouri; prosper, we per^

PRINCESS DES UR8IKS. 31

severe ; he and I have thought that this affair
would be of great service to M. de Ghamillard,
whom I have often pitied.

My pride has been highly gratified to find that
iny idea respecting Prince de Vaudemont has not
been entirely rejected ; I mentioned it, rather that
I might conceal nothing of what passes in my
mind firom you, than from any hope of its success
not presuming myself capable of giving such solid
advice as may be followed ; meanwhile I cannot
help telling you, that good nature is carried too
far, when firom fear of giving a little tineasiness to
certain persons who are in office, others are not
fixed upon who might do better for the state in
such important conjunctures ; and so much the
more^ as those who are thus spared do not think
themselves capable of doing their duty, for in this
case it would be unjust to complain of a change.

The Duchess of Savoy has written to the Queen,
to say that her father had a very bad cold, which
obliged him to keep his bed, and that he had had
three attacks of tertian fever. His Royal High-
ness does all that he can to inflame his blood, and
it would be desirable that his devotion, to which
allusion has been made, should tranquillize him ;
he would then be better, and other Princes would

enjoy more repose.

I will not believe that the Duchess of Burgundy
is pregnant ; I will give her a whQle year to
amuse herself, and run about where she pleases.

I
I

I *

S2 LETTERS OF TK£

provided tsAe does not stop up too late, and
t&at she only eats at seasonable hours» when
her digestion will be easy, for if she does not take
care, late hours will kill her> especially if she
makes irregular meals. So much sadness and &%
much inclinaticm to weep, i^diich you say she. has,
give me however much pain, and furnish a reasAi
why I should be still more obliged to her for
having honoured me with one of her letters, in
which she only speaks of joy, and of her partici-
pating in mine. I enclose the answer, which you
will have the goodness to present to her. I shall,
take care not to apologize for this liberty, since
you wish me to believe that you are offended
when I do not give you my commissions ; thus it
is arranged between you and me, that you shall
receive my vulgarities with your usual politeness*
You have done perfectly well to save my reputa-
tion, in saying nothing of the proposal which I had
made you about certain silk borders, as I should
bave been considered by M. de Langlée with
the contempt which ought to be entertained for
low bom souls. Every one places his glory
upon a different object in this world ; I am very
happy, however, to be of your opiniwi, that a
Prince of Asturias is not less worthy of our re-
spect, in a very neat and plain bed, than he
would be in one richly embroidered with gold.
The duchess de Beauvillers has done wonders in
the purchases she has undertaken to make, hav-

PR1KC2CSS DES UftSfK». 33

ing brought them down to a price proportioned to
my parsimony. I have evinced my satisfaction,
and you will have the goodness to praise her also.
Nurses will soon arrive here : all the women of
Biscay that were represented admirable, and
as having healthy appearance, have got the itch,
afid there are only one or two throughout all these
provinces that are coming. We shall have some
from old Castile and the frontiers of Navarre, but
what will astonish you most is, that, notwithstand*-
ing our activity, I doubt whether more than a
dozen can be collected together, some of whom
have been lately confined, and others on the
point of being so ; they will be fine company for
me, and a pretty occupation to torment myself
when they are confined, to humour them, to pre-
vent them from scratching one another's eyes out ;
to see that they have not the itch, to which they
are very subject ; to ascertain if they eat mode^
rately ; to find out their tempers ; and after all this,
to add to it the choice which the physicians shall
make of her, whom they may think best qualified to
nurse the Prince : do not you think. Madam, that
I shall be highly amused ? I imagine you to say :
" I do not pity her, for she might get rid of one
half of the trouble, it being'impossible but one of
the Queen's ladies of honour, or some other
reasonable person, would give a helping hand in
all this bustle." My answer is quite ready ; to
which, I think, you have no reply. One may

VOL. III. D

34 LETTERS OF THE

liv^e years with the greatest part of the people i n
this court, without knowing what they have done,
and what they are capable of doing, of which the
following is quite a recent instance. The Queen
had one of these senoras de honora the daughter
of a Portuguese lord, who went to Madrid when
this country revolted against the King of Spain.
His fidelity induced Philip IV. to give him and his
daughter a favourable reception. She went to
the court of the late Emperor at Vienna, returned
with the Queen, mother of Charles IL, who having^
married the King's sister to the Emperor, hi*
brother, who became a widow; this lady, who had
accompanied her, returned a second time into
Spain, to be near the person of the Queen-mothei*.
She was there till her death, and was afterwards
with the Queen Dowager, who is at Bayonne^
and the present reigning Queen,. This lady,
who is called the Marchioness de Llaneras, was
made choice of by her Majesty, as the healthiest,
» although the oldest of the ladies of honour, to ac-
company her to Burgos. She excused herself, as
well as the other lady whom the Queen had app-
pointed, under pretence that they could not give
her the money which she required. It is to be
observed, that they had no occasion for it, siilce
their expences were paid as well as those of their

* Ladies of honour.

PRINCXSS i:;£S UR8INS. 35

servantshtwithput their paying aaytliingthemselves.
When ber Majesty returned, and the King delibe-
rated in council at the Bscurial> about letting the
ladies remain where they had retired during the
Queen's journey; at which time they left the palace
the day after our departure, without saying a word^
to go, some to their relatives at Madrid, or in the
country, and others to convents, the greatest part
of whom had fathers, brothers, or lovers, Vho
Were known to be in correspondence with the
enemy; their Majesties, in their great kindness^
wished to take three of them back again, in order
to show their considération for persons of quality
who had served them, and who were poor* The
orders were no sooner given, than a great deal was
said against the Marchioness who was one of the
Bwnber fixed upon ; she was accused of being at
heart a Portuguese ; of haying visited the enemy*^
camp, c<»nmanded by the Marquis de Las Minas }
and ÙÎ having; received in this city, son^e of her
relations at her own house ; we were, moreover^i
warned, that she was a very dangerous woman,
and Uiat she had herself strangled her daughter^
who was married, under some suspicions of bad
conduct. It is to be observed, that if these arc
idle stories, it is very wicked to have invented
them, and if they are not, the warning was very
tardy. I am well convinced that this lady would
never have been spoken against if all the others
had returned as well as her, and that it was envy

D 2

36 LETTERS OF THE

which impelled them to throw out all these sur-*-^
mises. As however, it would not have been pru-
dent to keep her, aod on the other hand it was
desirable not to do anything which might injur»
her reputation, it was decided to get the Queen's
confessor to speak to her, and tell her of all the re-
ports in question, which, although their Majesties
would not believe, it was proper, in order to re-
move every cause for ill- founded surmises, that
she should ask to retire, as she was unable, through
her great age, to sustain the fatigues of the service,
that she might, to give a better colouring to it, re-
main two or three months longer. She followed
this advice, and the same salary was continued to
her after retiring as she had before, all which
passed off very quietly. In whom then can confi-
dence be placed ? And am I wrong for entering

^ into details respecting the preservation of persons
who are so dear to us ? This is a pretty long letter,
which, however, was necessary, in order that you

Imight be fully informed of everything. I think I
cannot be wrong in following your advice, there-
fore I entreat you to tell me so if you think I can
do better ?

PRINCASS DEB URSINS. 37

LETTER LXXXIV.

TO THE SAiME.

Buen Retire, May 30th, 1707,

I HAVE no letter from you by the last post^
Madam, and provided that it is not indisposition
which has prevented you from writing, I will have
patience. If the good news has given you the
fever, I fear lest you may have it often, for it
would seem that our Spanish affairs assume
such an appearance, that we cannot dispense from
acquainting you of them from time to time. Th^
Duke of Orleans has just captured Saragossa, and
will not stop there. You must, then, take courage^
if you please, for, according to every probability,
,his Royal Highness will make other conquests. . . I
will not take upon myself to say, that I shall not.
fall ill of joy as well as yourself, if you could
inform me that M. de Vendôme had obtained
a victory, for these great events possess me
so, that they have absolutely deprived me of
sleep for several nights. My pleasure has been
almost equally great on the discovery of some
apparently good nurses, which compensates me
for all the trouble I have had on that account
.Eleven arrived yesterday at the Retiro, with all

38 LETTERS OF THE

their retinue, and the twelfth is expected the
day after to-morrow : seven of them have brought
their children, and five are still pregnant. I
thought that too much honour could not be paid
them ; that it was necessary to get into the habit
of respecting persons who were to be employed
in nursing a prince or a princess, bom of one of
the first fapilies upon earth ; therefore, besides
two or three of the Queen's carriages, which went
to meet them, I sent a gentleman to x^omplitnent
them in form. They made their entrance by the
gate of Atocha, where the people gave them their
blessings, and came to this palace, where they
alighted at a garden which is only open to their
Majesties. I went to receive them at the end of
a gallery of the Queen's apartment ; her Majesty
was looking on from a balcony ; I embraced them
all heartily, and afterwards conducted them to her
Majesty, who in her turn did not disdain to come
forward to receive them. It was then, Madani,
^at alL the little infants which they held in fheir
arms commenced a wonderful chorus, and i^wed
by the strength of their voices, the goodness of
their mothers' milk. The whole party fell on their
knees to kiss the Queens hand; some wept for
joy, some were in an ecstasy, and others showed
their delight by a thousand flattering and tender
expressions, at which you would certainly have
been moved as well as myself. I would have
given the whole world for the King our master.

PRINCESS DES UR8TNS. 3d

tibe Duchess of Burgundy, and yourself to have
been present at this scene, I took them afterward?
to their apartments, which are surrounded with
gardens, not so beautiful, indeed, as those of
Marly, but where there is verdure and good air.
They were feasted in a hall with a grand colla-
tion, of which they stood in need. After this I
conducted them back to their rooms, which are
handsomely carpetted : here I ordered every-
thing suitable and convenient for them, and sent
away all the attendants who had followed poie, and
were of no use to them. Some time after, the
King and Queen paid them a visit, which occa-
sioned fresh transports of joy on seeing themselves
at the feet of their King. When supper time ar-
rived, in order to get them habituated to me, I sat
at the head of the table, upon a very pretty straw
chair, and they upon carpets, according to the
custom of the country. I tasted myself what was
served up to them, to ascertaiu that it was not too
highly flavoured nor too gross, and finding it to^
my mind, I took the opportunity of supping with-
them, and we drank to the health of all the royaT
family and the expected Prince. It was then that
I perceived * emotions of fear amd hope in the
breasts of all these rivals. I have but seldom, I
assure you, made a more agreeable repast than
that which I have just described: and I flatter
myself, that you would have had almost as niuch
pleasure as myself. Several of these women have

40 LETTERS OF THK

not disagreeable faces ; none have bad teeth ; their
complexions indicate good health, and the whole
faculty, up to the present time, find no reason to
reject any of them. We shall see in the sequel
how they answer ; I intend to be present at their
confinement, and assiduously attend to every*
thing relative thereto, in order to acquire more
experience, the better to serve the Queen, when
her turn comes. I intreat you, to be obliged to
me for this long narrative, for you see that I am
not without something to do; but except my
indispensable duty, what ought I not to quit for
you. Madam, who are so worthy of being loved
and honoyred.

LETTER LXXXV,

TO THE SAME.

Buen Retiro, June 5th, 1 707*

I ONLT received your's of the 21st ultimo
yesterday, and which was brought, I know not
through what cause, by a foreigner, as also the
letters firom the court to the ambassador and thek
Majesties. The ordinary post before this brought
us none at all, and we. are unable to assign a

— i

PÉTNCESS DES URSINS. 41

reason ïbr it, unless the packets were given to M,
de Silly, who went direct for Arragon, and who
will doubtless return them to us after joining the
Duke of Orleans. He has written this morning
to thé King, that Xativa was at length taken, with
the exception of a small castle, which had been
left blockaded, and which would soon surrender
of itself. They had been obliged to put every
body to the sword, except some nuns. Although
no people ever more richly merited such a chas-
tisement, which ought to be a warning to others
who are so obstinately bent in continuing to be
disloyal to their sovereign, this event is very
horrible : war is the cause of many crimes, and
I know not how princes who carry on unjust ones
can hope that God will pardon them. It is not
in our power to press matters on the side of Cata*
Ionia ; had there been cannon and ammunition,
the siege of Lerida would have been begun sooner,
but these supplies could not be sent from France,
as was desired. I agree with you. Madam, that
. you cannot be very tranquil while in the expectation
of an action between the two armies in Flanders ;
however, since ours is as strong as the enemy, we
should hope that M. de Vendome's good fortune
will not forsake him on this occasion. Whatever
gloolny courtiers may say, I cannot agree with
thraa, that if we obtained a victory, we should
derive no great advant^es from it in those parts ;
for our superiority would humble^ the pride of the

42 I.ETTSR8 OF THE

league, and render it more tractable, in the terms
of peace. I am more apprehensive from Marshal
de Tessé s fearing what his Royal Highness may
undertake against Prince Eugene, than the forces
even of this Prince with his mischievous disposi-
tion. I own your anxiety is just as to what
may happen : however, when I reflect that the
King, who possesses more information and pru-
dence than any one, does not change his general,
I think we may take courage.

Madame de Nemours was in the right to see
her enemies, and to keep the postilions booted a
long time. She always appeared to me to have
but little relish for the other world. I had already
heard of the sudden death of M. de Nevers, and
the different opinions of his wife's property.
Protected as she is by the Princes^ she has
reason to hope being placed at her ease in her
widowhood, apd to pass, at least, a jess rambling
life than during the life-time of the Duke de
Nevers. The Duchess of Sforza acts the part of
a good aunt in soliciting the dignity for her nephew,
which is very kind of her.

I am not surprised that the Prince de Vaude-
mont is. such a favourite at Versailles, and I should
be astonished if he remained a long time at court
without exciting great jealousy. Would there be
any great. harm in your wishing to fathom his
character, by conversing with him on every sub-
ject, and aaking his opinion upon them ? I like

PR1KC£SS DES 0R8IN8. 43

notint^ 80 much as to make persons reason who
cuit a distinguished figure in the world» and who,
from long experience, have had opportunities of
t>bserving the faults of the generality of men, as
well as their good qualities : there is much to be
gained from such knowledge» I know but too well
your inclination for retirement* and wish to Ood,
Madam, you would keep a little less aloof from
the intercourse of mankind I

M. Clement is just arrived, and I quit you to
go and welcome him. I resume my pen to inform
you that the Queen is very glad to see this cele-
hraied man, whom the King has had the goodness
ta send us, and she has in a short time put a num*
iber of questions to him, which he has well answered.
lier Majesty made particular enquiries s^er the
Duchess of Burgundy and yourself. Madame de
ia Salle only arrived this morning, because ker
dmise broke down twenty leagues from Madrid ;
I was never more surprised than when both told
me, that they had come from Bayonne to Madrid,
without a single person who understood a word of
Spanish, except a man they met with by mere
fcbance. I had wholly relied upon the Duke deOra-
mont, who assured me twice or thrice that nothii^
should be wanting, and I might depend upon him.
I do not know how he, who is attentive to every-
thin grelative to their Majesties, should have for-
gotten to send somebody with these poor people
to take care of them, and to procure all the

44 LSTT£M OF THE

accommodations which travellers find so great a
difficulty in obtaining in Spain» unless accompanied
by a conductor who has acquaintances in all the
towns on the road ; I had an excellent one ready
at Bayonne^ whom the Duke de Gramont knew
very well» and to whom he might have given this
commission. We will make amends» if possible»
for all the inconveniences that M. Clement and
Madame de la Salle have experienced : they
relate their sad adventures very humorously» and
I think the Duchess of Burgundy will hear them
repeated more than once. We have already had
a conversation together upon the Queen's situa^
tion» and upon the nurses» which will not certainly
be the last ; and I am much deceived if we do
not agree very well. The Queen has yet seen
nothing of the child's linen» because she had to
write to-day» and she wishes to examine it in
detail at her leisure. Their Majesties refer to the
ambassador» as to the cause of despatching this
extra courier» as the object is well worth the
trouble» although I do not entertain sanguine hopes
in respect to it» yet it would be imprudent to
neglect such a matter. I become constantly more
sensible of your kindnesses and am most respect-
fully yours.

FfllNCBSa PES URSIKS; 4&

LETTER LXXXVI.

TO THE SAME.

Boen Retiro, June ISth, 1707«

Your letter of the 15th ultimo, as I expected,
came round through Arragon before it reached
this, as M. de Silly, who went to join^ his Royal
Highness, forwarded it to me only a few days ago.
We learnt by the usual post, that Marshal Villars
has forced the lines, which is a great achievement,
and a fine commencement of the campaign ; it
must certainly have surprised you, for I doubt
whether you expected such an event. This suc-
cess must alai*m the German princes in the neigh*
boiirhood, and should induce them to recall their
troops either from Flanders or Italy, which in
either case would diminish their forces, and leave
us more at our e^se. I did not hear from you by
the last post, which I attribute to your grief for
the death of Madame de Montespan. I can well
conceive all that your good and noble heart must
have felt on this occasion, and I always find you
equally deserving of praise on every account. As
I know that the Princes and Princesses, who are
most interested in this loss, are not over fond of
receiving letters, which would be, perhaps, a tax
upon their ppliteness to answer, I thought it better
to beg of youy Madam» to haye the goodness to say

4&. LETTERS OF THE

alt that is most expressive of my respect» which
cannot go through a better channel. But if you
should think it proper for me to do something more,
be so good as to say so, since I can never do wrong
by following your advice, I am now about to beg
your friendly offices; in favour of a man» whom
you formerly recommended to me, and it is no bad
omen for him to have so much interested me as
to become his agent with you, who have brought
mie acquainted with him. I mean the Marqui»
de Brancas, who is earnestly desirous of the King
fixing upon him to complim^it this court upon
the birth of the Prince of Asturias. His good
sense, politeness, and zeal in the service have
procured him the esteem of their Majesties, and
I am pei'suaded they will see this office con-^
ferréd upon him with pleasure. He lost in the
battle of Afananza, à very promising brother, whom
he affectionately loved ; the Duke of Orleans
makes much of him, and he appears to me well
adapted to fulfil this commission, if the King has
Bot otherwise disposed of it.

I have heard nothing of the ridiculous acts
which are reported relative to the Countess de
Graniont, but I own I am a little curious to
know, them, to ascertain to what lengths the ma«-
lignity'or folly of people who talk so unreasonably
can go. I am much surprised that the Queen's
box of linen had not been shown to the Diichess
0f Burgundy, nor to you, and I should h^ive thought
the reason that prevented Madame d6 Beauvitlers

PRINCESS DES UR8IMS. 47

fi'om doing so, was Test it should be considered too
costly, if the Diachess had not assured me that it
is not so, and that she has confined herself to
good taste and neatness, as I have often desired
her. It is not yet arrived, and when it does, I
will give you my opinion ; however, I certainly
eitpected that the things we had occasion fory
would have cost the King of Spain more money.

LETTER LXXXVII.

TO THE SAME.

Buen Retiro, June 24tfa, 1707.

You will have seen. Madam, by a letter fronl
the Queen, that she prevented me from writing
to you by thé last post, because she gave me à
commission to visit her apartment at Madrid, in
which her Majesty ordered me to get something
arranged. This order appeared to me a little ar-
bitrary, since it deprived me of the pleasure I
always feel in writing to you as often as I posëibly
can ; but I will compensate myself to-day for it,
in replying to your three letters, of May 29th,
June 5th, and 12th, one of which had gone round
by Arragon before it reached me. I begin with
the first, in which you rejoice with me at Marshal
de Villar$ having forced the liaes. This action
is so brilliant and fortunate, as to make us pardon

48 LETTERS OF THE

him a little vanity» and if those who call this
general mad, serve the King as well as he does, I
could wish that every body became so, for there are
too many wiseacres, or, at least, people who think
they are so, by running no risks ; I am, however,
convinced that thmgs must sometimes be left to
chance, provided they are not carried to a degree
of temerity worthy only of the heroes of romance.
But I could explain myself better to you on this
subject in a personal interview.

The Duchess of Burgundy has promised to for-
ward you regularly my packets, and God grant
^ùe may keep her word, and that some parties of
pleasure may not happen to make her forget it,
especially now that she is not pregnant, and will
be disposed to make the best use of her time I I
cannot help being glad, whatever desire I may
have for her to become the mother of many
princes, that she is not at present in the family
way.

I enjoy our good fortune at having destroyed the
Archduke's army, and I will not anticipate the
bugbear of succour with which we aret hreatened
to be sent to him. The Elector of Bavaria writes
to his Majesty to say, that the English Govern-
ment has determined to send a number of troops,
into Spain. They must indeed be numerous to
be a match for ours ; they are not yet ready ; and
having come by sea, they must require great pre-
paration and expence. This is of importance to

PROCESS DE« URSINS. 4j>

^9; m AS mûcfa as it gûtnâ time for his Royal
Highness and Marshal de Berwick^ ' and what
they stand in need of will reach them soon enough
Ito enable them to capture Lerida, which is the
most eligible point for keeping the Catalonians
and Arragonese in check. But everything that
wte expected from France has experienced great
^elay, and you know, I think, that money is as
scarce as artillery, which will postpone the inten-
tion of the Duke of Orleans to march on the side
of Portugal, but which he never had any idea of,
until he could leave the place where he is in safety,
and free from apprehension of the Archduke ceturn-
ing to it.

Allow me to ask you. Madam, why you are so
much afraid of an action in Flanders, when you
know that the King^s army is in such finé/)rder,
and stronger than that of the enemy, and with the
hitherto fortunate M. de Vendôme for its comman-
der? His Majesty writes to the King, his grand-
son, that there is no probability of Marlborough
being inclined to risk a battle, which does not
evince tiiiat he feels himself in a condition to do so,
-and is a presumption that if he was obliged to
fight, it would be to his disadvantage. I cannot,
therefore, be anxious for Flanders, but I could
wish the German Princes to be so alarmed, as
to withdraw their troops, in order to defend their
own states, whieh are threatened by Marshal de
ViUars. Your aj^rehensions lest the Duke of

VOL. II !• B

60 LETTERS OP THE

Savoy broke his promise with respect to the troops
which marched through his states, will, I am
sure, have given you. more than one sleepless
night; however, they arrived in safety at their
destination. I saw some French officers this
morning from Italy, who think that it would be
very difficult to penetrate unto Dauphiny and
Provence, provided the French were upon, the
alert and determined to prevent it, of which there
can be no doubt, since the King relies upon the
capacity of the commander of his army, who will
certainly do his best. The Viceroys of Naples and
Sicily, write to tell us, that all the nobles cannot
show more zeal than they do, which is confirmed
to me by Cardinal de la Tremoille, in whom they
place great confidence. He adds, that it is painful
to him to see such good subjects abandoned, and
that with the least assistance nothing would: have
been, more easy for them than to preserve these
two kingdoms. It is certain, that had the troops
been sent which the King of Spain had in those
parts, it would have afforded . them an inspiring
consolation, because it would have induced them
to expect greater succours afterwards. My bro-
ther has explained himself upon this subject, in
his despatches to the court, and his Majesty has
often spoken of it, which is all that can be done,
as what the King shall after that decide upon, will
always be for the best. I returned to this country,
so much affected by the King's gracious behaviour

PRJ!fCESS D£S URStKS. 51

to me at* Marly, and so much impressed with what
I know to be just, great, and amiable in him, that
I have nothing more to desire, except that his
Majesty should ijelieve I constantly endeavour to
render myself more worthy of the continuance of
his kindness, which affects me much more, because
it comes from the most upright of • men, than be-
cause it is honourable to me to have the approba-
tion of so great a monarch. Had I, moreover, as
you tell me, the felicity of rendering myself agree-
able to him in company, I would own to . you
ingenuously, that it only rested with his Majesty
to perceive that his society was very acceptable to
me. The truth is, although I may boast of having
conversjsd with the most agreeable people, and of
thegreatest intelligence, in France, Italy and Spain,
I have never been so well pleased with thjem as
with his Majesty. You will confess that this
avowal is very candid.

Whether the Queen be pregnant of a Prince or
Princess, the child is certainly very vigorous. On
every account, it would suit better for a Prince of
Asturias to be robust th^n an Infanta. I entreat
you not to be uneasy about it, for neither you nor
I have to do with that, it is as heaven shall
appoint.

You advise me, then, to learn how to dandle

future children, and you ask me whether I know

any thing about weaning, or the consistence of

good milk. Would not one say, at such a ques-

52 XETTERS OP THE

tioh, that I never heard the physicians talk and
the nurses gossip, for I know their language per-
haps better than that which I am obliged to
speak, and as to the posture, I must place myself
in to dandle, it would suit my figure perhaps
better than my rheumatism. I shall, therefore,
get Madame de la Salle, to teach some good
Spanish widow this occupation; and as to the
rest, 1 protest to you, that I should make no
scruple of habituating myself to this exercise, or
any other, for the service of their Majesties.

Since the King continues in good health, to
judge from his appetite, I cannot be sorry that he
remains longer at Marly than M, Fagon could
wish, as I think he takes more exercise there
than elsewhere, and that his digestion must be
better for it. I could wish, however, that his
Majesty abstained more at supper, for it is well
known, that nothing is more unhealthy than to
load the stomach in the evening, which is ulti-
mately the cause of vapours and other serious
complaints. I preserve my own health, merely
by making light meals, and eating very little
meat ; but by way of retaliation, I take breakfast
and a collation, as if I was only fifteen, except
' that a trifle satisfies me.

I have hesitated some time about showing a
passage of your letter to the ambassador, pur-
porting, that you should be very sorry to oppose
his progress to perfection^ but I at last de-

I^RINCSSS DKS URSINft 53

termined to read it to him. What I foresaw
happened : he blushed up to the eyes, his mo-
desty taking the alarm at hearing himself praised
by a person of your consideration» and more
especially knowing himself, he says, to be so
very imperfect.

I did not know that the King had given to
Marshal de Cœuvre everything which his late
brother had, but I am not surprised at it.

Since the Princes and the Princesses have not
worn mourning for Madame de Montespan, nor
received formal visits of condolence, I have done
well in not writing to them, and desiring you to
have the goodness to say on my behalf, on this
occasion, how respectfully I am interested in all
that concerns them.

As to the Princess de Conti, whose mother has
been named, it is natural and civil in her to wear
mourning, to do honour to her relations, and it
appears to me that she discharges her duty
amply in that respect. I received a letter from
the Prince de Vaudemont from Marly, in which
he expresses himself enchanted with the place
and grateful to the King. I could wish to know,
if our great Princess feels more at home with his
polite manners, than with the vulgar ones of the
greatest part of the courtiers of the day. Yoji
say that you have- seen the Prince de Vaudemont
only once, and that you are delighted with him :
why not see him often ? Is it because you wilt

54 LETTERS OF THE

deprive yourself of the society of a person of mind
and merit, and who can converse writh you upon
every subject ? This is carrying your scruples or
indifference to worldly things a little too far.

From the moment the war broke out.. I have
never ceased to wish for peace. The ardour of
my wishes is increased by your promising me, that
the letters I shall receive from you, when peace is
made, will be full of humorous and playful ideas:
you are not without admirers in your serious and
sad reflections, for they are all fraught with rea-
son, since all that you fear for the future may
happen, and the misfortunes which you have wit-
nessed, must give you reason to fear experiencing
others of the same nature. But reason is some-
times so insupportable, that I think there is a
kind of wisdom in not always obeying so correctly
its dictates, and it is better to deviate from it a
little, without absolutely losing sight of it alto-
gether, and thus amuse the imagination by an-
ticipating future happiness, which gives us tiie
liberty of passing our time more gaily and dissi-
pating a portion of the melancholy which is
ultimately destructive. I own that I am a little
affected by it, and that whon through adverse
circumstances or unpleasant events, I feel my;self
attacked by this humour, I endeavour to build
the most delightful castles in the air that I can.
I have derived great benefit from this practise, and I
advise you to follow my example, if you possibly can.

PRIKCÉ8S DES URSINS. 55

I am very sorry that Mademoiselle d'Aumale
could not be your secretary to the letter which
I have just replied to, least your head-ache should
be increased by the pains which you have taken
in writing it with your own hand^which I heartily
salute.

LETTER LXXXVIII.

TO TH£ SAME.

Buen Retiro, June 26th, 1707.

I sHALi.be more cautious in future. Madam, when
I give you certain descriptions of what I imagine
is passing where you are, since you threaten to
show them to persons who are interested, for they
will not be so indulgent to me as you are, and
might possibly think me a mischievous joker,
which is a bad character.

If M. de Marlborough sends a detachment to
Germany, you will be at ease as to Flanders.

Ici spite of all that the Duke of Savoy has done
to prevent a detachment being sent to Naples, one
has been sent often or twelve thousand men, which
will weaken his Royal Highness, and consequently
disable him from injuring us; this cannot fail to
bà gratifying to Marshal de Tessé. I cannot help

56 L£TT£E$ OF TttE

being astonUhed ^t a Prince, who h«$ so mttch
sense as the Duke of Savoy, can cause it to be
said to the Duchess of Burgundy, that the war
which he carries on diminishes nothing of his af«
fection for her; the respect which I httve for him
prevents me offering any remarks upon such » eoxxh
pliment, and compels me to be silent.

We are not yet for refusing peace to the Portu-
guese ; we must first confine the Archduke to a
small corner of Catalonia; everything must pro-
ceed better in Flanders^ Grermany, and Italy,
which you do not believe, and the Hungarian mal-
contents must continue to alarm the Emperor. In
such a case, which I do not consider impossible,
why should not the Duke of Orleans, towards the
end of next autumn, enter, with a large victorious
army, a small country, in a state of consternation,
and which could not oppose considerable forces to
those under his command ? What a conquest wo»Id
suchakingdom be for the King of Spain, which has
been usurped from him, and which will embarrass
him till such time as he is master of it ? Truly, it
would be a very glorious thing for a French Prince
to restore him this crown, after the ingratitude
which the Portuguese have shown to the King, our
master, who was their benefactor. It is a ven-
geance, worthy of him, thus to dispose of crown-
ed heads. The reigning Prince of this country
deserves nothing else, for he will always be satis-
fied, provided he is suffered to govern his^haplains

and band of musicians ; and we will provide him
an excellent one of the latter from Italy. As to
the Archduke, I have a long time wished, as well
as yourself, that the Duke de Noailles might have
to show him the beauties of Marly, as he is better
^alified than any one to discharge such a com*
mission well. Meanwhile, he is reducing a great
many places to their allegiance, and secures, by
his prudence and the high opinion they have of him
in Catalonia, I know not how many people» who
wait only to declare themselves in fevour of his
Cathc^ie Majesty, to see the Duke of Orleans' army
in possession of Lerida : it is a great pity that your
nephew has not more troops, as he would turn
them to good account.

The Queen, and not I, will be the Prince's gover-
ness ; I have been so till now of the nurses, but the
under governess will superintend them, until they
are in employ, for then she will have an eye upon
her who shall be chosen, and will devote herself
entirely to her duties, at least she promises to do
so. She gives satisfaction to their Majesties, who
find her intelligent, and of easy manners, and who
appears very grateful for the honour of having con*
fided to her so precious a child. Do not think
tibat I shall altogether disburthen myself of the
trouble of interfering with what shall concern him,
tot my affection will not allow it. Her Majesty,
this lady and I, will act in concert, in order to
&reBee and prevent every thing that is to be feared.

68 LETTBBS OF THE

We shall omit nothing; we shall pray to God td
enlighten us, and leave the issue in his hands.

The Prince de Vaudemont's agent has just left
me, having been to inform me that his master is
transported with joy at all the civilities which he
receives from the royal family. When his wife
comes to Versailles after forty years absence, she
will be scarcely known, and she will scarcely know
others ; btit I think she will find a greater change
in manners than in faces. She has always ob-
tained distinction wherever she has been, by her
affability, and the care she has taken to oblige
whenever she could.

I have heard that Monseigneur had the Duchess
at his parties oftener than formerly, and that the
Duke of Burgundy had taken a great fancy to the
Princess de Conti, who was becoming a devotee.

I have but poor hopes that the Buchess of Bur-
gundy will follow my advice, for I am neither
made to give it nor she to profit from it, and I
should think with more probability, that she will
continue to run about in cold and hot weather ;
that she will keep late hours, even till daylight,
when it pleases her ; that she will eat whatever
she likes, and whenever she pleases ; and then that
she will find herself much indisposed by it, that
she will become very thin, that it will do her great
injury, and that at last she will be in despair at
having ruined her health; finally. Madam, the
Princess will only follow her own inclinations, and

PRIKCESS DES URSINS. 59

my fear is, that she will repent of it too late. Do not
fail, I beg of you, to tell her of my prophecy ; I
am persuaded she will agree with me, since she is
so candid and sincere.

If our unhappy friend wished to drown himself.
Madam, we ought to stretch forth our hand to pre-

■

vent him from doing so ; the kindness of the
thing towards him, is conferred on a man of whose
attachment he cannot doubt, since he has always
been devoted to his person. His sorrow, which in-
duces him to take steps that do not perhaps please
his Majesty, only spring from this attachment:
so that it would be a generous action to restore
him to a sense of his duty, and it is to you that
this work should be allotted.

I have heard by the way of Genoa, that the Duke
of Savoy's illness was not so dangerous as had
been reported, although he had not as yet re-
covered ; the Duchess has written to the Queen
to say, that he is still affected with fever, and that
he is about to take bark. I never wished to see
any person become a devotee more than his Royal
Highness, provided his devotion be sincere.

Madame de Caylus cannot be too often with
you, any more than the Duchess de Noailles,
and, if you vex me, Madame de Villette ; never
expect any quarter from me on this subject^
though you should accuse me of tyrannizing
over you. If they were capable of possessing
the faults, which you say render women insup-

60 X£!IPTERS OF THE

portable, who would prevent you from correcting
them ? Make use of the power you have over the
parties in question^ and exercise your empire with
rigour, until you shall have induced them to hold
snuff in abhorrence, and only to eat what is suffi-
cient for nature, and not to live to eat ; always
to have a bodice ; never to lean or loll before those
towards whom they owe respect ; to rise at eight
in the morning, and retire at eleven at night;
having nothing extravagant in their dress ; to be
polite with everybody ; and only retaining their
vulgarity, in order to tell you without affectation
how sincerely they love you. Would you de-
prive them of your presence, if they were
such as I represent them ? and how could you
live without them, if they are strangers, as I be-
lieve they are, to the greatest part of these im-
perfections.

You draw a picture of the way in which you
like women; I have shown it to the Queen, and
her Majesty agrees with me that you have drawn
your own, without being aware of it. I expect
from your candour an avowal that you recognise
yourself in the sketch ; we shall see. Madam,
whether I have not too good an opinion of you,
by the manner in which you will reply to this
matter.

The ambassador is to write to the King by
this post, for the purpose of ascertaining his sen-
timents on two points, which appear to us of im-

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 6}

portanoe. The first is concerning what regards
the Princes of the blood in France, who are pre-^
sent at the accouchement of the Queens, and who
have the same interest in that of the Queen of
Spain. It is M. Hersan, who has doubtless the
honour of being known to you, that has made
this remark ; and who thinks it will be necessary
to give them notice of the event, in order that it
may not be said in future times, that this forma<*
lity has been neglected, as it might otherwise
give rise to wars among the descendants of our
Kings. M. Amelot will enter more fully into
this subject than I do. The second point relates
to tÊe embarrassment we feel as to the best mode
of proceeding with regard to the Spaniards, when
the Queen is confined. It has not been hitherto
the custom for any person to enter the room, ex-
cept those whose assistance is required ; neither
the grandees nor their wives have any privilege of
'being present ; yet, in our actual situation, when
our enemies will circulate a report that the child
is surreptitious, as evil disposed persons already
say in Madrid, I do not know whether it would
not be better to summon the principal officers of
their Majesties household, together with their
wives, the Cardinal, Inquisitor- General, and the
Presidents of all the Councils, of whom several are
grandees, in order that they may be witnesses.
This precaution, though new, and which our ene-
mieit will notfailtiï interpret to their ownadvantage^

62 LETTEK8 OF THE

is nevertheless, in my opinion, better for us than
for them. It is true, that it has never been done
while the house of Austria reigned ; but the change
of succession seems to authorise this innovation ;
and in conclusion, if the Queen is delivered alone,
there will be more room 'for saying the child
is surreptitious, than if there were «a number
of important personages present. We wait,
therefore, for what it shall please the King to
decide.' It only remains for me to ask pardon for
having written to you about so many things : you
would not have time to read them if you were any
where but in your solitude of Saint Cyr, where
I envy the honour 'and pleasure of your pre-
sence to those who inhabit that agreeable and

sacred spot.

P.S. M. Amelot has made an observation with
regard to what I had the honour of mentioning
to you, relative to my thinking it prudent to have
some persons of rank in the Queen's chamber
during her accouchement : it appears to be very
^just, and I think with him, that, as the Dukes of
Berry and Orleans will succeed, and are, thank
God, full of health, the precaution of which he^
and myself have spoken of having witnesses, is
not JDerhaps so very necessary, except any mis-
furtiine happens to the King, and that the Arch-
duke, being very popular ' in this country, his
creatures might not profit by such an occasion to
try and place thé crown on his head. ' It is diffi-

PRINCF.SS DES URSINS. 63

cult to believe that such disasters can occur^ and
to reason on a inatterof this nature; but as
death often takes place when it is least expected,
it is the part of wisdom to foresee all the accidents
which might happen. The King will, however,
be able to decide better than any one else, as to
the conduct we. ought to observe in this affair, as
in all others.

LETTER LXXXIX.

TO THE SAME.

Buen Retire, July 3rd, 1707. -

From the last post not having brought me any
letter from you. Madam, I had no doubt of their
haying been. given to the ambassador's courier,
who arrived this morning ; he delivered me that
which you did me the honour W addressing to
me on the 18th of June, and to which I shall reply
before going to Atocha with their Catholic Ma*
jesties, who wished to pay their devotions to the
Virgin, previous to their returning to the palace at
Madrid, where the Queen is to have her confiner
ment. M. Clement is very uncertain when this
will take, place, but he thinks it will be about the
be^umiçg. of next month. .

64 LETtfiRS OF THK

I know but too well that the King has not so
many generals as he requires : this is not a
trifling misfortune. The Duke d'Harcourt must
think his health very bad, since he remains idle,
at a time when he could be so usefully employed j
I however, think him too honest a man to doubt
that this is the only reason which prevents him
from offering himself to his Majesty, for whatever
appointment he may be thought worthy. The
courtiers, who do not always render justice, will
not perhaps judge with the same equity as I do. «

The Queen has received a letter from her mo-
ther, sent through the Duchess of Burgundy, and
which neither speaks ill or well of the health of
his Royal Highness. The design of raising the
huguenots would not very well accord with his
devotion, as you justly observe. If M. de Ven-
dôme can force the enemy to decamp first, as he
says he will do, this will be a grand blow.

It is very probable that the Marshal de Villars,
by rendering the German Princes more terrified
than ever, will oblige the Emperor and them to
withdraw their troops from Italy, and that the
Duke of Savoy, finding himself weakened thereby,
will no longer be in a state to gratify his wish
of /entering France. In the state she is, the
Queen will not go into regular mourning for Ma-
dame de Nemours, she will merely put on a
coarser dress and some black riboons, which she
is not in the habit of wearing. This 'death,

PRINCESS DES URSIKS. ' 66

daoQ) would create a number of animosities at
your court, and these were not wanted. It ap-
pearis to me to be a shocking thing to pas&r our
lives in hating each other.

The Prince de Vaudemont is right in finding
Marly delicious ; if it were not so much so, as it
is in itself, those who go there are enchanted by
the hospitality and politeness with which the
King receives them. The Prince seems highly
gratified by the generosity of our two ELings ; he
never ceases to speak of it in his letters. I con«
fess to you. Madam, that I was very glad to see
the obliging manner with which their Catholic
Majesties granted him the pension of thirty thou-
sand crowns, when the ambassador informed
them that the King advised them to do it, for I
like to see great Princes animated by senti*
ments which are worthy of them.

It appears, then, that the Duchess of Burgundy
is delighted with the whimsical adventures which
have occurred to M. Clement and Madame de la
Salle? When this nurse returns as well instructed
as I shall take care she will be, I am much de-
ceived if she does not give, her grace an idea of
certain things in this country, which will make
her laoigh more than once : I do not know, how-
ever, whether I am altogether right in interesting
myself so much as I do for the Princess, ^ho
does all she can to kill herself: is it not likely.
Madam, that she has taken it into her head to

VOL. III. F

6(î I.ETTEKS OF THE

go hHô the other world, in order to ascertain
whether everything that passes here is known
there ? I scarcely know what to think of it r bat
it is certain that if I could be a witness of the con-
tempt in which she holds her health, and of ^the
chagrin she suffers when ill, which makes her see
everything in so gloomy a light, she would turn
the few brains I have, and kill me by degrees.

I am truly afflicted at their taking away any
troops from the Duke de Noailles, who had so few
already, and who does not ^1 to do so much
with them ; but I am, however, of your opinion^
tliat the most important points must be at^
tended to.

You bave seen. Madam, by what I had the.
bbnour of telling you, the little importance I
attached to the subject which induced M; Ame^-
lot to dispatch his courier, calculating but little:
<ki the person who made the propositions; al-
though their Majesties did not think more favour-
Bfbly of them, it was nevertheless considered that
thèy ot%ht not to be absolutely despised.

I figured to myself the astonishment of Madame
de la Motte^ when the Duchess of Alba told her
that the Prince of Asturias would be handsomer
than the Duke of Brittany ; and it is easier to con^-
ceive the impressive expression of her 6ount6-
na^^e, th^aiito dœcribe her conversation. The
King of Spain honours her with his letters aà
often as he can, thinking that these inarks of

PRINCESS DES CII&INS. 67

his friendship may be capable of prolonging het

dftjs. His Catholic Majesty asks of the King

bow he is tù conduct himself towards the Duke

of Savoy, when the Queen has been brought to

bed. Have the goodness, also. Madam, to say,

how I am to act on my side, and whether it will

not be sufficient for me to inform the Royal Duch*

ess of the state of the Queen's health. I have

had the • honour of writing to them occasionally,

since her Majesty^s pregnancy, to give an account

of its progress.

I have seen Trianon in all seasons ; I often

went to walk there while I was at Versailles,

early in the morning and after dinner ; I inhaled

its plumes, and admired all the beauties of the

palace and the gardens with infinite pleasure ; it is

certainly an enchanting spot ; and yet, Madan^

you would prefer a cave to it, in order to obtain

peace ; but do you not know, that if you were in

one for suny time, no matter how short, you would

be dead before you could hear the news* If you

will listen to me, therefore, express no more

wishes of this kind ; look at all that is charndng

in that delightful retreat, and hope that you will

see the war terminate honourably. Whatever

&vQurable change there' may be in Spain, there

still remains enough of painful and alarming things

to induce me to throw myself out of the window,

if I were not a Christian, or of a disposition to

convert everything into a source of horror. Would

r 2

68 UBTTERS OF THE

to God, that you were the same 1 For you would
be the happier from it ; and I have nothing so
much at heart as to see you exempt from your
agitations, your happiness being as dear to me as
my own.

LETTER XC.

TO THE SAME,

Madrid, July 7th, 1707. ,

You are perfectly right, Madam, not to be fond
of giving your letters to those gentlemen who
have other matters to attend to, except being the
bearer of them ; for they make rounds which
prevent me from receiving them as soon as I
should by the ordinary couriers, or those which
are despatched directly to Madrid.

M. de Villars, by holding a high tone in Ger*
many, and continually advancing, makes the whole
country tremble. I could wish. Madam, that he
went still further, for there is but little appear*
ance that the Princes whom he approaches will
retire ; and if they did, this general might act as
he pleased in their own territories, as well as
finding supplies both in their towns, palaces, and
the country, it being impossible for them to carry

PRINCESS. D£S URSINS. 69

off all they possess. You will see, Madam^ that
if the Marshal continues his conquests, all
those sovereigns will be obliged to recall their
troops. Every body speaks of the little concert
there is between the English and Dutch, and I
have seen by some letters from M. de Vendôme,
that he is not afraid of being attacked, and that
he expects the enemy will be found to decamp
before him, for want of forage ; so that it seems to
me you are quite right in fearing more from the^
side of Savoy, than that of Flanders or Germany . I
have already had the honour of informing you,
that people do not like to see an officer who
commands an army, so much afraid of his enemy:
when this is the case, it is difficult for the soldiery
to hope for victory, and I have heard it said, that
confidence in the general tends not only to ani-
mate them, but redouble their valour. Why has
Marshal de Tessé, who is brave, understands war,
and is susceptible of honour, taken it into his head
that the Duke of Savoy will enter France? I
confess to you that this^ gives me much pain.

The Queen has received a letter to-day, inform-
ing her that the Duke of Savoy is cured of his
fever, that the paroxysms were so mild that he
got over them without being confined to his bed»
and that nothing remains but a little debility :
all the remainder of the letter seems to be very
cheerful. This does not accord very well with
the news which reaches us from every quarter.

70 LETTERS OF THE

stating that his Royal Highness is extremely ill ;
I do not pay too much attention to what his wife
or mother says on this subject, since they would
never risk the experiment of communicating a
piece of news, either in France or Spain, which
was likely to become dangerous. Grant that
heaven may be pleased to touch the heart of this
Prince I

Their Majesties have returned here amidst the
acclamations of the people. The Queen was much
pleased with her apartments, which are very cool ;
I showed them to M. Clement and Madame de
la Salle this morning, and they did not appear
dissatisfied with the pains I bad taken, as well
as the room destined to be the birth place
of

LETTER XCI.

TO THE SAMR.

Madrid,July I8th, 1707,

You will hear but little news from me to-day.
Madam, because I received none of your letters
by the last courier, and that there is nothing new
here ; we are waiting to hear of the capture of

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 71

•

Dénia : the siege goes on more slowly than I
could wish ; it is the Chevalier d'Asfeld to whom
the Marshal de Berwick has entrusted this service.
The contributions which have been levied in the
kingdoms of Valencia and Arragon are not paid,
or at least, to a very small extent. The Duke of
Orleans could not attack Lerida, because the
artillery wiiich he had been promised from France
has not arrived ; thus it happens, that the part
performed by his Royal Highness, is not such as
could be wished, either for himself or the King of
Spain.

It was expected in this country, that after a
great battle had been gained, time would not
have been given to the enemy to breathe : yet, to
speak with my usual sincerity, I must tell you,
that all this goes on too slowly. I fear his Royal
Highness is in despair, and that he sees but too
clearly, that his evil fortune follows him every-
where. I am inclined to believe he has resolved
to make himself master of Tortosa, which is a
point of considerable importance, though it is less
so than Lerida ; but this enterprise cannot be
attempted, before that against Lerida is completed,
because the artillery employed against the last
named place, is wanted. You see. Madam, I am
not too well satisfied ; my bad humour does not,
however, ,go so far as to deprive me of the hopes
«that our affairs may assume a more favourable
aspect in a short time. :

72 LETTERS OF THE

The Marshal de Villars continues to conduct
those of the King wonderfully well, striking
greater terror into the heart of Germany every
day, and drawing large sums for the supply of
the army under his command, without mentioning
what he is said to have sent to M. de Chamillard.
I should like to have been present when this
minister received it, in order to witness his satis-
faction on the occasion. I yesterday hfeard,
through a person who has a correspondence with
Italy, that it is true the Duke of Savoy had a fit
of the vapours, which continued nine or ten hours ;
that the Prince thought himself very ill, and that
the Duchesses Royal were in great alarm ; this
fit has left him in a state of great exhaustion,
although it is said some circumstances relative
to the health of the Emperor have been commu-
nicated to the ambassador, which if true, would
be of no trifling importance ; I have no doubt of
his giving an account of them to the King, or that
the same persons who have written to him, have
also addressed M. de Torcy on the subject.

When you intend to be bled. Madam, I entreat
you will conceal it from me, for I am convinced
nothing shortens life so much, whatever M.
Fagon may say, and I am as anxious for the
preservation of yours as my own. This is not a
mere form of words ; for I assure you. Madam,
that I am not more affected by what regards
myself, than I am in all that concerns you.

PRINCESS D£S URSINS. 73

LETTER XCII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, July 25th, 1707.

The great heat which prevails here. Madam, in-
commodes the Queen very much, in preventing her
from sleeping at night ; but she tries to remedy this
by resting a few hours in the mornings and after-
noons : her looks are not the worse, nor M. Clement
less tranquil, for he says it is very common for
pregnant women not to sleep well during the two
last months, and he suspects her Majesty is in her
ninth. According to all appearances, thé Duke
of Orleans may be hereby the time of the accouche-
ment, if he wishes it, as his Royal Highness and
Marshal de^ Berwick is going to place the army in
quarters of refreshment, because it wants repose.
This does not, however, arise from the fatigues it has
xmdergone in sieges or other warlike exploits,
having scarcely done any thing since its arrival in

Arragon, of which you are no doubt aware. Madam ;
but i^ is the heat of the season and want of forage
which has exhausted the troops. The ambassador,
doubtless, gives an account of everything to the
King, and you will allow me to avoid the pain of
entering into details which ^o not belong to my

74 LETTERS OF THE

department. I shall have the honour of merely
telling you, that I am greatly afflicted to see a
Prince, who has the honour of being nephew to the
King, full of valour and ambition, unable to satisfy
them, and that his Royal Highness has not hitherto
made the figure which he ought to have done on
several accounts. The Chevalier d'Asfeld thought
himself compelled to raise the siege of Denia, of
which I had long entertained a bad opinion from
its protracted state. This undertaking has been
attended with inconceivable misfortune, as well as
others, for which, I should, however, be consoled»
if rebellion were put down in the kingdoms of
Valencia and Arragon, and they were made to pay
the contributions imposed upon them, because they
would then be rendered incapable of doing us
future •mischief, and we should receive a present
benefit. Marshal de Villars ought, on this oc-i
casion, to be aa example for us to follow. You see
that my natural cheerfulness does not prevent me
from seeing our misfortunes, but at the same time
1 do not anticipate future calamities. We must en-
deavour to prevent them, by adopting better
measures than heretofore.

We are informed that the succours destined for
Italy will come to Catalonia, which does not alarm,
me at all, provided the most prudent and boldest
measures are adopted. I will even go so far as to
say, that it is perhaps better to take this résolu*.
Hon, than that of penetrating into Dauphiny or

PRINCESS DBS URSINS. 7d

Provence, because it will leave Marshal de Tessé
more at his ease, and better able to make a stand
against the Duke of Savoy* With respect to the
reports about his bad health, it is very improbable^
from what you write to me, since you say he is
going to take the field. M. Amelot read to their
Majesties and myself, the King's answer to him,
respecting the persons who should wait upon the
Queen, at the moment of her confinement. I am
always exceedingly happy, when his Majesty ap-
proves of my suggestions, and the more so, since he
is pleased to do me the honour of consenting to the
Duchess of Burgundy appointing me her proxy,
conjointly with the Duke of Orleans, to assist at
the baptism of the expected infant. I accept this
honourable office with all imaginable joy and
respect. Their Catholic Majestiegi^ immec^iately
en receiving the letter from the King, their grand*»
father, on this subject, hastened loudly tp announce
tills agreeable news, which caused me to receive
the eustomary court compliments, as the usual
tribute paid to persons who have the honour of
occupying high stations near the royal family f
I have not, however, presumed to take the liberty
of making my most humble acknowledgments to
the King for the honour* thus conferred, nor to
the Duchess of Burgundy, as I thought it better tQ
wait till I heard from them* You will haVe the
goodness, on this occasion, to do what is requisite,
fi>f I always fear being deficient in the cvstomary

76 LETTERS OF THE

etiquette ; and I have only this satisfaction, that
I would not knowingly be guilty of any want of
respect As for you. Madam, you must be per-
fectly sensible how you have won my affections,
which will only terminate with existence.

LETTER XCIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, July 31st, 1707.

I HAVE scarcely anything to say in reply to
your last letter, dated from Saint Cyr, the 17th
instant, in which you do me the honour of men*
tioning the uneasiness of the Duchess of Bur-
gundy, in consequence of the illness of one of her
brothers. The Duchess Koyal has wrote to the
Queen, to say that she thought it was the small-
pox and that some livid spots had appeared since
the abatement of the fever. It is very distress-
ing, that our Princess and his Majesty should
suffer in so many ways/ owing to the natural
goodness of their hearts- as to family occurrences»
and when their father adopts every mode of
making them still more unhappy. Indeed,
Madam, there is nothing -more painful, and those
who have the honour of being attached to them»

PRINCESS DES tlRâlNS. 77

in the way you and I are, have much to suffer
from this source, without mentioning all the other
misfortunes, which may befall France and Spain»
and the natural troubles of the King on that
account. You know, that I have always been
more alarmed for our affairs in Provence and
Dauphiny, than anywhere else, having no idea
of an army defending itself which wanted the
necessary confidence. If Toulon can be saved,
it is to be hoped, that the success of his Royal
Highness and Prince Eugene will not be so
great as they fancy it will. Meanwhile, I will
own to you, that notwithstanding my naturally
even disposition, I am not at ease, and I alwaya
await the post day with anxiety. The Queen
was bled yesterday in the arm, by order of the
first physician and M. Clement, who knew by the
giddiness of her head, and the bleedings of her
nose, that she was too plethoric. She was re-
lieved by it, and there is every appearance of her
Majesty's time being shorter than was expected.
We have some nurses, with whom M. Clement
is s^t^fied, which is saying a great deal, for you
know ke is not easy to please on this head. The
sub-governess, till now, gives us every reason to
be satisfied with her appointment, as well on
account of her good sense as her obliging tem-
per. All the grandees who are to attend the
Queen's confinement, have received notices to
that effect^ and the major part have returned

78 LETTERS or THE

tiianks for this graciotis proof of the Kmg's good-
ness. Some of them, however, have not yet
arrived^ at which I am not sarprised, for it is
not the first time I have noticed their inattention
tx) their duty. If more fortunate times arrived,
there would be no want of respect : at all evesits,
I advise you to despair of nothing, for evwything
may ehange in a moment, and it often happens
that when we imagine ourselves on the brink of
a precipice, some unexpected and sudden change
of fortune takes place. My only wish is for you
to take as much care as you possibly can of
yourself, and to believe that I am as much alive to
everything concerning your welfare as to my own.

LETTER XCIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid^ August 7tb, 1707«

' It is nofwithout cause. Madam, that yon »e
lineasy; when you know that the Duke of Savoy
is^ in Provence, and with the intention of besieg-'
ing Toulon, since it would be one of the greatest
misfortunes that could happen to France if he
did so, and the King should lose the ships which
are in that port. All those who are acquainted
with that part of the country maintain, that it

PRINCESS DBS ITRSINS. 79

will be very difficult for his Royal Highness to
succeed in his intention, and that if Marshal
de Tessé advances in time, he may prevent it,
and destroy the Duke of Savoy's army. The
example of Charles V. who lost his anny there,
has not operated as a warning to this Prince,
but Grod sometimes makes people repent of their
temerity. I must, however, confess to you, tha4
on this occasion I am not more sanguine thaa
yourself, and that I shall feel great uneasines»
till I see the result of the enterprize. It i»
not of late that T know the King is above
mean revenge ; the greatness of his mind soam
above such things* The King of Spain oanaet
&il to follow his advice, and he will impart thi»
news of the Queen's confinement to the Duke of
Savoy. I shall have the honour of writing wot
account of her health to the Royal Duchesses, who
will doubtless expect it with impatience, for
they appear to me to have a great affection for
tlieir Majesties, and I am persuaded they would,
instead of war, wish for the best understanding* ^
It is very astonishing that the Grerman Princei
should suffer themselves to be ruined by Marshal
Yillars, and not withdraw their troops from the
league, which certainly shows great impolicy on
their part, and already evinces the violent animosity
which it entertains against the two crowns. Thia
ought to strengthen their union still more ; but
that will depend upon the principal actors, who

éO-s LETTERS OF THE ^

ought only to have in view the glory of their
sovereign which appears to me no easy task.

It is a long time since I mentioned the King of
Spain to you» because I had nothing new to com-
municate ; he continues to act well, is very atten-
tive to business, and is much alive to the misfor-
tunes of France as well as his own kingdom. I
perceive» moreover» that he is hurt when he sees
certain things done without his orders» or those
which he gives are not executed agreeable to his
wishes» and not'at all forgiving the want of respect
due to him. This Prince and the Queen certainly
merit a happier fate than what they have hitherto
experienced^ and that the King» their grandfather»
i^ould uphold them in the station in which he
has placed them. If it be possible that there
are people who think otherwise» it appears to me.
that their hearts are as bad as their reasonings
are false» for» Madam, the loss of Spain would be
the ruin oC France.

It must have been very stupid or malicious to
carry the news to the lady of Marshal de La
Motte» that the Duke de Bern was attacked with
apoplexy» when there was no truth in it ; and I
should be very sorry to know who the person was,
because I should have a very bad opinion of him
or her. It were to be wished that the Duchess
of Burgundy and this Prince» were not so careless
about their health. The accident which has hap-
pened to the Duchess de Nevers is very strange^

1»RIKC£SS DBS UftSlKS. 6i

and it wotild have been difficult for her to avoid
such an incident : it must have interrupted the
festivities of her daughter s marriage with thé
Duke d'Estrées. I am not at all surprised that
the Cardinal forgot the notary, since, it is not the
first of his absent fits. A few days ago, a report
was circulated that the Queen was brought to bed
ef a. prince, which caused so much joy, that the
streets were filled with people running like fnad-
men, and tlie square of the palace was filled in a
moment. Her Majesty was obliged to appear in
the balcony, to undeceivB these good folks, who,
notwithstanding the sight of her pregnancy, did
not fail to call down blessings on the mother and
child. When we "^ shall have the happiness of
realizing this event, I expect that it will diffuse
general joy. Hitherto, the Queen has not had the
least pain, which makes M. Clement very uncer-
tain as to the time of her confinement. It appears
to me, that at the present period, the news of the
birth of a prince would be more necessary than
ever ; it would be a source of comfort for the
King and for you, who have so much need of it,
these are the reasons that make me desire it still
more, being interested as I am in every thing which
affects you.

VOL. III.

82 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER XCV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, August 2l8t, 1707.

If I have complained that the Duke of Orleans
has not obtained at the proper time the materials
requisite for undertaking the siege of Lerida, it is
because his Koyal Highness had depended upon
the promises which were given him, and the non-
performance of which prevented him from adopt-
ing other measures. I am more reconciled as to
the detachment of troops which have been asked
of him, and which are already on their march for
Provence, knowing perfectly well that the most
important object for France and Spain,- is to pre-
vent the Duke of Savoy from obtaining a footing
in that quarter, and obliging him, as soon as pos-
sible> to desist from his enterprize. It appears
by the news from Toulon, that every preparation
was made for a vigorous defence. Whilst writing
this letter, I have received one from Marshal
de Berwick, by an extraordinary courier, inform-
ing me that the King has ordered him to go
into Provence as speedily as possible, and to
embark for that object. He likewise desires me
to say to the Queen, how sorry he is that he cannot
pay his respects to her before his departure ; but

PRINCESS DES UESINS. 83

that he will return during the ensuing winter.
This is a great piece of news, however. Some days
ago, it was reported very currently in Madrid,
that the above general was going to where the
King had ordered him ; but we could scarcely
believe it, because it Avas not announced from the
court. The Duke of Orleans is now completely
at liberty to act according to his own judgment,
if it be true that his Royal Highness and M. de
Berwick were not upon good terms. I cannot
deny to you, but that it has been intimated in
this country that this was the case, and I know
not whether the report originates from their
dependants, or whether there be any particular
cause of strife, arising from emulation of glory
between them. However it may be, neither
knowing precisely the cause, nor the fact, I
could not be induced to write to you about it^ not
doubting but it would have given you pain, and,
moreover, caused you fresh embarrassment, for 1
look upon it, as so great a misfortune for sove-
reigns, that those who command, are not upon a
better understanding, and I am so out of humour
with persons who step in the way to magnify
difficulties, in order to throw everything into confu-
sion, that I almost banish as a wicked idea tiie sus-
picions that I might otherwise entertain. I cannot
say that M. de Nancré has anything to do with the
asserted misunderstanding between this Prince
and the Marshal, at least his conversation would

84 LETTERS OF THE

induce one to believe quite the reverse ; it would
likewise be against his own interest ; and as he
possesses good sense, there is no probability of
what is said of him in this respect being true.
The ambassador, to whom I spoke about it yes-
terday, and who has frequent interviews with him,
as he resides at his house, thinks as I do upon
the subject. I have only known this Marquis
since his coming to Spain, and therefore cannot
form a correct opinion ; besides, people more able
than myself are often deceived in their opinions.

The Princess de Yaudemont is too good to
value herself on account of the services I may
have rendered her and her husband with his Ma-
jesty. My principal object was the service of the
two kings, T knew very well that the number of
enemies which the Prince has in the court here,
only originated from the envy of his merit, and
the station which he occupies. This I perceived
since we were at Barcelona, and poor Marshal de
Marsin, who did justice to the Prince de Vaude-
mont, had spoken of it several times to me. I
shall continue most certainly to cultivate the
friendship of the husband and .wife, although it
should only be from the novelty of finding the
least i^ark of gratitude, as such sentiments are
quite new to me in this country, for I protest to
you, I have experienced frequently that the
generality of the persons whom I have
obliged, and who came to thank me, were no

•*l'v,

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 85

sooner out of my sight, than they began to com-
plain of nie. This is not much calculated to
give tne a relish for interesting myself in behalf of
others.* I think you are no stranger to affairs of
this nature, and we have only to continue pursuing
a straight-forward course, after deploring the frail-
ties of human nature. The Queen's time will
probably be up at the end of the month, at which
I am glad, because she will not be inconveni-
enced by the present excessive heat of the
weather. Out of fifteen nurses which I sent for,
notwithstanding my being opposed, because of
their number and expence, we have now only two
upon whom M. Clement depends ; thé fever hav-
ing attacked a third, who was one of the best, and
the others possess what is not necessary to con-
stitute good nurses, which is very lamentable. I
hope, however, that the two which I have jus'
mentioned, will keep upon their legs, and that
those who are not confined will serve as a reserve.
In short. Madam, Clement confesses, that he
should never have contemplated so many obstacles
in this country in finding what is requisite. Let
us beat the Duke of Savoy, all will go on well
again, and also your health, which I really wish
to be as good as my own, my affection for, and
gratitude to you being inexpressible. .

P.S. I receive letters very often from Madame
de Caylus, filled with good sense, good breeding,
and such feelings as she ought to possess towards

86 LETTERS OF THJE

you. She informs me of her proceedings at
Marly, and admires the King for his equanimity,
and his gracious and polished manners, in the
midst of so much embarrassment; she also relates
wonders of the Duchess of Burgundy, and it ap-
pears to me she has a great affection for her. I
read with great satisfaction everything she is
pleased to write to me ; but I do not give her a
line in return, wishing to see whether my indiffer-
ence will not disgust her, and whether she is as
constant a friend as she is an agreeable correspon-
dent. I entreat you to keep this a secret, and
let hei* act as she thinks proper. The Marquis de
Caylus, her brother-in-law, is a very worthy charac-
ter, with whom his Catholic Majesty is extremely
well satisfied. He is about quitting Madrid, to
join hiis Royal Highness in Arragon,-and I could
wish that all the youth who may have the honour
of paying their court to him were as prudent as
he is.

LETTER XCVI.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid,— The Festival of Saint Louis, 1707.

At length. Madam, all my prophecies are ful-
filled, we have the most beautiful Prince upon

PRINCESS D£S URSIKS. '87

earth, and the Queen is doing well, thouigh she
suffered much pain previous to her confinement.
It was a general remark that God had made us
this present on the day of Saint Louis. I can
say nothing more to you by this first courier* I
dcf myself the honour of writing to the King and
to the Duchess of Burgundy, but have not time
for any more ; I therefore beg you to make my ex-
cuses to the Royal Family, which will easily con-
ceive how I am occupied at the present moment,
and our eagerness to impart to it this agreeable
news. I embrace you. Madam, a thousand times,^
and wish you as happy for many years as I am
this day.

P.S. I entreat you to remember on this occa-
sion the favour I begged of you for the Marquis
de Brancas.

LETTER XOVII.

TO THE SAME.

Hadridy September 4th, 1707.

The last letter which you did me the honour of
writing to me. Madam, by the ordinary post,
would have very much afflicted me, had you not
taken care to desire the Duchess of Burgundy to
observe to the Queen, that your letter was dated be-

88 LETTERS OF TUE

fore the good news which arrived from Provence,
for you seemed very much to fear lest affairs went
ill in that quarter. As to Flanders, and Ger*
many, although the enemy is in presence of our
armies, it does not appear to me that there is the
same fear of their doing us any more mischief;
and I must confess to you, that almost the whole
of my attention is occupied by Provence* If the
Duke of Savoy loses as many men there as we are
informed he does by desertion and sickness, and
that Marshal de Tessé daily receives reinforce*
ments, it appears as impossible that his Royal High«
ness should not be under the necessity of retreating,
and that in so doing he may be attacked ; for it is not
enough to compel this Prince simply to w ithdraw,
it would be desirable to destroy his army, to make
him and his allies entirely abandon the hope of
ruining France and conquering Spain. You may
reply, perhaps, that it is easier to desire this, than
put it into execution ; but if it be true that we are
superior in numbers, that the enemy experiences
a scarcity of provisions, that he has been baffled
before Toulon, it is probable that the Duke of
Savoy will be much perplexed to regain Pied-
mont. The military men we have here, and who
know the places by which his Royal Highness may
pass,, reckon that if the generals are on the alert,
he will have cause to repent of having laid such
bold plans ; however, we shall know how it will
be in time.

PRINCES» D£S URSÎNS. SO

The Qiieai, Madam^ arid our Prince of Asturias^
are daily becoming more healtiiy and beautifiiL
Mo Clement, who says he has now nothing more
to do, in seeing them so welt, leaves us next
Wednesday, satisfied, it appears to me, with
their Majesties. It is impossible to be more so
than we are with him ; he is a worthy, honorable,
skiliul, modest, and polite man, fall of zeal for
our masters and mistresses, and in short. Madam,
soch as you have described him to me. I hope
that we shall see him again, and that the Queen
fmd thé Duchess of Burgundy will, by adopting
the proper measures, be able to send him to
each other, so that he can attend them both.
The nurse continues better ; she appears humble,
docile, and cheerful, and if she continueis to be,
as we think she is, she is admirable ; all the
lords regularly come to inquire after the health
of the Queen and Prince, the latter of whom,
I continue to show to the people before sun-set,
there being no twilight at Madrid: these poor
people are delighted, and deserve this consolation.
You were perfectly right in saying that the
Duchess of Burgundy's nurse was acquainted
with life, and very clever ; she has performed all
the duties of her station in so delicate a manner,
that: her Majesty scarcely perceived she was
there. In addition to these good qualities, she
has greatly amused the Queen^ and sometimes
made the King laugh by her fisicetious con ver-

90 LETTERS OF THE

Mtion. We shall keep her, with your permission,
till the Queen is once more restored to her wonted
health, in order to show the women who are
intended to nurse the Prince, how they must
perform that office so as to be able to do without
her assistance.

M. de Nancré left us this morning to join his
Royal Highness in Arragon, where I could wish
there was more order, as well as in Valencia, so that
more contributions might be levied than there
are ; but this has been owing to a misunderstanding,
and not, I believe, from a want of good will among
the people. As the Duke of Orleans is by
himself, and perfectly his own master, all will
depend upon him, and it will redound to his
prédit if .he establishes good discipline in the
two armies he commands, and sees that his com-
missaries do their duty. The Duke of Berwick
wrote to me before his departure more obliging
and friendly letters than ever, although it was
said in Paris that we had quarrelled. Indeed, it
requires a good share of patience not to be pro-
voked at so many ridiculous stories, and the
injury it does to those who are in office ; nothing
but our loyal and ardent attachment to our Kings
can enable us to bear up against so many sources
of uneasiness ; mine are, however, much alleviated
by the ' assurances you do me the honour of
making, that you regard me as a friend who is
perfectly devoted to you.

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 01

BETTER XCVIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid) Sept 12th, 1707.

You did not expect what has happened. Madam,
when the Duke of Savoy entered Provence, and you
wrote to say that Marshal de Tessé trembled lest
he should be unable to compel the Duke to raise the
siege of Toulon, and precipitately abandon all his
enterprizes : the result is highly creditable to the
Marshal, and renders a great service to the state.
This good news must certainly Jiave caused great
rejoicing, and I candidly own to you, that I
entertained fears for an army whose commander
so much dreaded his enemy; 1 am, therefore,
very agreeably surprised that his Royal Highness
was obliged to raise the siege. Besides the
great interest I take on several accounts in the
welfare of France and Spain, I feel a pleasure on
M. de Tessé*s account, who, you know, is not an
object of indifference to me since the visit I
received from him at Toulouse. We flatter our-
selves that the Duke of Savoy will meet with
other obstacles before he returns home, since he
was followed up so closely, and there were troops
in every quarter to intercept him. What a pleas-
ing event it would be to make him a prisoner.

d2 LETTERS OF THE

and escort him to the Duchess of Burgundy f
I am persuaded that at the sight of her and the
King, he would change his sentiments, and be
sorry to entertain those which occupy his mind
at present ; and as a father, how could he resist
the persuasions of so lovely a daughter as our
great Princess, not to mention the insinuating
manners of a King, who requires only to be
known, to be respected and loved. The feelings
of the Queen would also be highly gratified if
such an event took place, and her health, as well
as that of the infant, would be improved, for there
never was one more calculated for life than the
latter : he is, indeed, already fine company for
her Majesty, and there is not a prettier sight
than to see him in the arms of so lovely a mother.
From what you tell me of the Duke of Brittany,
I see clearly that a wager might be laid on these
two cousins ; but I am not quite sure whether
you and I shall agree upon this point. I had the
honour of writing a line on it. to the Duchess of
Burgundy, to whom I thought it my duty to give
an account of the Queen and Prince of Asturias.
Should my letters have found her in good humour,
she will doubtless say, from all the insipid silly
things I have put on paper, that joy has turned
my brain ; but if, unfortunately, she should be in
one of those gloomy and desponding fits which
so often attack her, she will think my letters
tiresome, as well as insipid and silly. However

PRIKCESS BKS URSINS. 03

it may be, I cannot help being cheerful at
present.

The Duke of Orleans yesterday sent Count de
Sassenage to compliment their Majesties upon
the birth of the Prince, and he brought me a very
civil letter from his Royal Highness. Marshal
de Berwick wrote to me also in a similar style,
before his departure for Arragon, and our mutual
good understanding has not experienced a mo-
ment's interruption. Their Majesties have just
made him a handsome present, at which I am
much pleased. The ambassador and myself had
the honour of suggesting it to them, and they
acceded on our recommendation in a most
gracious manner ; it is an estate in the kingdom
of Valencia, yielding a tolerable large income,
which has been made a duchy, with the title of
grandee attached to it ; this title will descend to
the Marshal's second son if he wishes it, and to
his descendants for ever ; it is called the duchy
of Liria. You may judge from this circumstance»
of the foundation for all the mischievous and ill
natured reports that have been circulated, the
propagators of which are, however, often more
easily believed than others ; nor are they usually
more unacceptable for this propensity in courts.
Happy are those who can pass a sweet and
tranquil life in retirement by their own fire-side,
which is a remark that this subject naturally sug-
gests. The detachment from Arragon, which the

94 LETTERS OF -THE

King had ordered into Provence, and which Lord
Berwick brings us, will be a great reinforcement
for the Duke of Orleans, and it would be a grand
point if his Royal Highness could capture the
places he wishes to attack : he was two hours too
late in falling upon the enemy's cavalry, which
caused the failure of a well laid and well pro-
jected plan, had' he had time for its complete
execution : he was not bom under a fortunate
planet. I had the honour of writing to the
Dukes of Berry and Burgundy since the Queen's
confinement, and as it was conjectured that
they were then on their way to Toulon, my letters
were addressed to the Marshal de Tessé, which
will, consequently, retard their reaching the
Duke s hands. I beg you to inform them of the
cause, for I could not wish these Princes to
reproach me with a want of respect on the
occasion of the Queen's happy confinement, which
must have given them so much pleasure. I
suppose you are now at Fontainebleau, where I
wish you to enjoy yourself; but as it appears to
me you have often been indisposed there, I should
prefer hearing that your were in you room at
Marly, notwithstanding all your currents of air, for
they are insupportable at this season, especially
if it is as hot in France as here. I wish you
better, Madam, than you wish yourself.

P.S. Contrary to her usual prudence, the Queen
has given way to her feelings, by writing to the

PRINCJËSS D£S URSIKS. 95

Btichess of Burgundy and her mother ; and I
have just found her finishing her two letters.
This is the first fault I have remarked in her
Majesty, which I had promised to inform you of.

LETTER XCIX

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, September 18th» 1707.

Your answer. Madam, respecting the Queen's
confinement, only came to hand yesterday, inform-
ing me of the rejoicings at court in consequence of
the birth of the Prince of Asturias, which, although
I had no doubt of, has hot failed to give me great
pleasure, for I like you to take an interest in
everything which concerns their Majesties, who
are not less your children than those whom you
see every day. The Duke of Alba has given a
very good account to his Catholic Majesty of the
joy which he witnessed in all the royal family,
by beginning with the King, and so on with the
other branches ; he does not omit one circum-
stance, at which the Queen is very much afieçted,
and which is, that when he announced to the King
that he was a grandfather, his Majesty immedi-
ately inquired after the Queen's heajthr^ and you
cannot conceive what an impression this question

96 LETT£RS OF TKfi

coming from the heart, made upon her mind.
You are not the only person. Madam, who have
given me an account of the excessive joy of the
Duke and Duchess of Alba, as several others have
reached me of their conduct on this occasion,
stating that they threw everything out of the
windows, and did not think they could sufficiently
testify their joy at so happy an event ; M. de
Torcy has furnished me with a long account of
it. The affair of Provence is nearly finished,
although there is no end to your anxiety ; at which
I am not astonished, because you have for a long
time told me that you never enjoyed any good
fiMTtune, without the fear of experiencing some
reverse which may perhaps never happen. This
is what may be called, without meaning to offend
you, creating monsters, in order to fight them.
That which I find the most formidable, is the
want of money, which is, I confess, very scarce in
Sp^ia as well as in France. It is, however, said
that it might be found, and that it would not be
withheld, as it is, if public credit were not abso*
lutely extinct ; and M. de Chamilleo'd's enemies,
who are only too numerous in Paris and the armies,
impute the blame to him. I pity him much for
having been obliged to manage the ^nances at a
period when those of Crœsus would scarcely
suffice. I think you much more accommodating
thaji myself, being resolved to live wi<À the mad,
the ungrateful, and the wicked, 6f which you say

PRINCESS DES UBBINS. 97

courts are full ; they have almost become insuf-

ferable to me, and I very often feel an inclination
to retire from all intercourse with the world, in
order to avoid having any with such people, as I
begin to fear becoming of an irritable disposition.
What, then, is this rage which continues to take
pains to make it be believed that Marshal de Ber-
wick and myself have quarrelled, when nothing
can be more false? I have a mind to send you, one of
these days, letters, which I receive from him, full of
civility and friendship, in order that you may get
them read to those persons who tell you, with a
mysterious air, that we cannot abide each other ;
and if you added, the being as ignorant as they
are, with respect to what is passing in Spain, you
will not be at all curious in future for them to tell

•

you news of this country ,'though it might probably
happen, that they would discontinue playing such
a game, and spare you the chagrin of apprehending
things which are disagreeable to you, for I am
persuaded, from all that you have written to me,
that our divisions here rdust have given you unea-
siness. Lord Berwick has written to me from Sara-^
gossa, and assured me that he shall be* near the
Duke of Orleans in a few days.

I am impatient to know whether his Royal
Highness is recovered from the fever, as it attacked
him very unseasonably, just as the siege of Lerida
was about io commence, which I could wish was
captured, as it is a very strong and important

VOL. III. H

98 LKTTERS OF TH£

plac?, and ablç to hold out for some time* Many
people^ who pique themselves upon a knowledge
of military affSedrs, thought that the siege of Tortpsa
should have been begun first ; the event will show
\vhether they were wrong or right. M.deNancré
has then more interest than any one, in wishing
that his Prince may always adopt the best mea-
sures, since he will have to answer for what his
master does ; which situation I do not envy him,
knowing that his Royal Highness has hitherto
been under the influence of an unlucky planet.
I agree that it is a high honour to be near the
great, but it is dearly purchased, Madam, when
they are beloved as we love them, and when their
interests make us forget our own. When the
l^eart is affected, all these solid reasops vani3h
into air. I leave my closet almost disposed to
throw myself out of the window at viewing
such insupportable troubles ; I go into the Queen's
çh;amber5 where I often find the King in as great
aJQEhction as she is, and justly troubled about mauy
things; I endeavour to dissipate their chagrin;
hy (agrees the conversation becomes cheerful;
we laugh «and remark that we must hope for the
best, and I absolutely forget all th/s past. Such
is the conclusion of my letter, and as I have ex-
plqiined it to you ; therefore^ knowing from my
own feelings that it is not impossible to subdue
one's melancholy, it would be my duty to scold
ypu most respectfully ; but since you have been

PRIXCESS DES URSIKS, 99

thfreé weeks without the fever, I pi^efer congfttta*
latingryoo on it, to amufiing myself with reproaches»
when, perhaps, you are incorrigible. I shall there-
fore to-day ado|>t £[ mild tone with you, but for
which you will not perhaps be more obliged to me.

LETTER C

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, September 26th, 1707.

You appear to me, Madam, a little l^s grieved
in your last letter, than in those which you did
rae the honour of writing to me before the Duke
of Savoy had retreated from Provence. God be
praised for it I you see that he sometimes gives^
U6 consolation when we most fear our misfortunes
will thick^i upon us, and that, thereftire, it is
better not to anticipate evils. Be pleased to excuse
itie fov this fliight reproof, and I will excuse you
many other tUng»,. for you will not fail in g^ersd
te^give me opportunities. Should you persist in*
liiinking tiiat the name of Louis, which is given
to the Prince of Asturias, will ofiend the good and
lo^ subjects of the King of Spain, ought not
wbat I have said ix> convince you of the contrary.
Were the J4^^1 emotions with- whieh the peoj^e

H 2

100 LETTERS OF THE

called this Prince the object of their desires,
Luisillo, feigned when I showed him to them
from a balcony of the palace ? Did not their
accompanying blessings upon their Majesties,
sus padres, sus abuehs, come from the heart ? Why,
then, start a difficulty, where none exists ? Those
who have insinuated that this name would not
please the nation, because it is, as you say, too
frenchified, are as much the enemies of France,
as they are of the Catholic King, and even the
Spaniards themselves : they are real Austrians,
as such ideas can only have been suggested by
the direct or indirect partisans of the house of
Austria. All the evils we suffer originate firom
the admiral and some other grandees, making
the enemy believe that the subjects of Philip
the Fifth would revolt on their approach, and if his
Majesty had made a signal example of some one,
the league would soon have been undeceived, for*
the more harm we give them to understand they
can do, the bolder they become. Their temerity
cannot be better repressed than by letting them
know that they are not in the least formidable, and.
this is the only way to discredit them in the opi-
nion of the enemy. Any other steps will prove
illusory. They flatter themselves with being able
to supply to your court, and obtaining every kind
of employ through the King's protection, which,
is indeed the case. They evince their gratitude
for. it . only by propagating that their King is

PRIKCX19 DÈS tJRtlNl. ^lOl

nothing bat a shadow of royalty^ and fhat it is
Louis XIV. who, in reality, governs this mo-
narchy. Judge, Madam, what dependencecan be
placed on these gentlemen.

Do for us, at Versailles, as we do for you ; for
whatever may happen to us, . either through the
war or any other cause, we maintain at Madrid,
that it is not your fault, and we contend for your
infallibility much more than for that of the Pope,
although we meet with people whom we find it
difficult to undeceive in their prejudices. All
this long dissertation might be contained in a few
words ; viz. only listen to us, and believe only us.
This is what the King promised the ambassador
and myself in your presence, and which you had
the goodness of confirming to me should be done,
for which I summons you on your word.

I have the ^honour of sending you the answer
of M. Amelot, who was greatly affected at the
interest which you have takeii in his misfortune ;
he feels it sensibly but like a Christian. I have
represented to him the extreme displeasure of M.
de Tonnere,, and the whole house, in order, if
possible, to avert the ruin of an inexperienced
youth, and who is, as he says, in despair, at having
killed his best fi-iend. I am not without hopes
but he will reflect upon it, when he shall have
surmounted so reasonable and cruel a grief, for
he possesses much good sense and Christian feel-
ing. I have also had my share of the misfor-^

102 LETTBftt or TMX

tunes of ihiB life, poor 'Count d'£c:iiiDat, hanag'
died Bome days ago» and he being the last of his
family. His valour and {urobity caused him to
be esteemed and loved. He received seven
wounds at the battle of Ramillies, of which he
was cured with difficulty» and he died of sickness
at Fraga, caused by haviog gone out whoever his
duty called him, and being exposed to a burning
sun. He loved me as a mother, and the Coui^ss
d'Egmont looks upon me in the same light He
thought he had no reason to be satisfied with the
little respect that was paid to him in Fra^ice, but
his complaints did not divest him of that which
he owed to the King ; therefore they do not
prevent me from regretting him very much, and
I sincerely pity his wife. It is too painful a task
to speak to you of the dead, I will therefore talk
of the living. The Duke of Orleans, who honours
me with many civilities, has been pleased to
confide to me his wishes for procuring a kind of
distinction for a lady who has not been indifierent
to him, and who you will easily conceive is Ma-
demoiselle d^ Seri. His Royal Highness, finding
himself very much embarrassed to accomplish
his object, has imagined that the simple title of
dame d'atour to the Queen of Spain, without
any salary, would suit, because she would then
drop the name which she hears in his service,
and id which it behoves in some measure the
generosity of this Prince to rid her, by getting

PRINCESS DES URSIN6. 103

her advanced to a little more honolirable tMk.
He would much wish to be under the obligatioil
to you, of persuading the King not to disapprove
his views, for the consent of his Majesty is suffi-
cient to obtain this favour from the King and
Queen of Spain for M. d'Orleans, who deserves
much more considerable favours^and their Ma-
jesties would be delighted to" gratify him in this
trifle : it would be attended with no bad conse-
quence whatever, but, on the contrary, there is
not a Gastilian but would praise them for it,
and who would not do as much in the King's
place ; besides. Madam, there is nothing new in
this proceeding; and, therefore, I flatter myself
with a favourable answer on the subject, foir
which I shall be very much obliged to you,

LETTER Ci.

TO THE SXME.

Madrid, October 2d, 1707.

I Wish this letter may find you ih as good health
at Fontainebleau, as that which you enjoyed
when you did me the honour of informing me of
your arrival there. The fogs from the waters
and the woods in that place, are so much agaiûst
the rheumatic psLins which tornient you, that I

104 LETTERS OF THE

always fear for you ; and but for them, I do not
know whether I should not envy you the pleasure
which such a delightful spot ought in other re-
spects to afford you. It is true, that I should en-
joy its agreeable walks more than you can, because
I am passionately fond of that exercise, especially
in the forests, whose solitude much pleases me*
I remember your writing to say that you made no
great account of fine houses or fine gardens ; I
differ from your taste, in that respect, for I like
them very much, but I would not, however, wish
to remain^ there long alone, for although, there
was ever so little good society, I should prefer this
life to any other. Thus neither you nor I have
what we could wish for. The Duchess of Burgundy
is then quite overjoyed at riding on horseback !
I think that the Princess of England is but little
less at ease than she is, not having yet left Saint
Germain's ; for Fontainbleauis a fine introduction
for a young person, since the court only goes
there to amuse itself, and it is more crowded than
at Versailles, where there is a perpetual bustle in
going and coming from Marly and Paris. These
two great Princesses ought, it appears to me, to
agree very well together, bein^ two such lovely
women. The tall form of the English Princess,
and her noble air, gave me pleasure when I had
the honour of seeing her at Saint Germain's. I
told* the Queen, her mother, that I doubted not,
when she was more grown, but her face would

Fttiircsss p£8 uMiirs. 105

become much handsomer» and ftiller, and her com-
plexion clearer. I do not know whether it is the
respectful attachment which I have entertained
for this Princess so long, and the affability with
which she honours me, that makes me love her, or
whether it is because I was beside her majesty's
bed when she was bom, but it is certain that I
am delighted when I hear her well spoken of;
I could wish to see her one day Duchess of Berrij,
and the King, her brother, in sound health. That
of our little. Prince is extremely good, and his
nurse gives great satisfaction ; nevertheless I can-
not help trembling, when I reflect, that if she is
attacked by the fever, we should be obliged to
change her for one of the three which we had kept,
and who have been lately confined ; there is only
one remaining, the two others having fallen sick.
There are so many sick people in Madrid* that the
president of Castile told me the day before yester.
day, that the viatica had been carried in one parish
only, to six thousand persons. If the same thing
had happened in any other Spanish city, it would
have been deemed conta^ous, but they ara so in-
fatuated at Madrid, that they make no account of
all sorts of misfortunes, provided they live here.
Nevertheless, judging of it in an unprejudiced
manner^ it is one of the most disagreeable places on
e^rth ; the filth and effiuvia being insupportable,
exposed almost continually to high winds, which
blow with a piercing cold during the winter, or

t06 LKTTEE8 OF THE

which cause perspiration in the summer^ and the
air gives rise to hectic diseases, which carry off
numbers. You will own that such a place of
abode is not enviable, to which must be added,
that none of the necessary conveniences of life are
to be found here, and that the few we have, bring
their weight in gold* As the Queen writes to
you herself about her own concerns, I have no
occasion to notice them. Her Majesty will re-
ceive all the ladies the day after to-morrow, and
the foreign ministers will afterwards pay their re-
spects to her. Their Majesties will go to Atocha
in public on Thursday, and everything is pre-
paring for this solemn ceremony, as well as pos-
sible in the present state of things : it has not
taken place for the last forty-six years. We
have detained Madame de la Salle, that she might
see everything worth seeing here, in order that
she may give a description of it to the Duchess of
Burgundy and yourself. I think that she is satis-
fied with their Majesties, and she deserves the
kindnesses which they have shown her, having
well discharged her duty, both to the Queen and
Prince ; and so has M. Clement. He will doubt-
less^ have had the honour of seeing you before this
letterreaches Paris, and must have shown youapre-
sent made to him by Cardinal de Portocarera,
which was done in so handsome a manner as greatly
to enhance the obligation. The Cardinal often comes
to the palace, and I have for a long time done my

PRIKCESS DES URSINS. 107

utmost to briiif him lierd, as he is persoaded that
he is under some obligation to me for procuring
the Countess of Parma's return from exile, with
her husband, both of whom were banished into
Biscay. It is, indeed, so far true, that I had the
honour of representing to the King, in presence of
the president of Castile, and the ambassador, that
I thought it would be a means of laying the Car-
dinal under still greater obligations, as being the
Count's uncle, that the Countess should not be left
in disgrace, which the President judged should be
the case, knowing as he did, the mischief she had
done by her dangerous intrigues, and her bold
and insidious conversations. God grant his Ma-
jesty'à clemency may not produce fresh evils,
although it may have been very discreetly exer-
cised ! It does not appear up to the present time
that any of those whom his Majesty has pardoned,
repent of their disloyalty, which is very extraor-
dinary; however, we should foe astonished at
nothing, though we cannot help being so occa*
sionally. We expect every moment to hear of
the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, but as for Lerida»
that will be protracted, at which I am much
giîeved. You are right in observing that the
want of money is the greatest enemy we have.
The ambassador is but. too well aware of it, since
he has to pay the French and Spanish troops.
We are exposed to many embarrassments : I
have none to prevent me from thii^ing of all the

108 LETTERS OF THE

obligations^ I am under to you, abd which will
last as long as I live.

P.S. I have received a sensible letter firom^iny
lovely friend, breathing sentiments of stfection for
you : she informs me that she prolonged her stay
with you as long as possible, before she returned
to Paris. I shall not be perfectly satisfied with
you, till you own to me, that she is the prettiest
woman, and one of the most desirable acquaint-,
ances you know.

LETTER CXI.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, October 10th, 1707.

Although I am well pleased with your letter
of the 26th ultimo, from Fontainebleau, as it is
longer and a little more cheerful than usual, I
shall only answer it briefly to-day, because I
have had several other engagements of a different
nature, and you have ordered me to act as I feel
disposed, or have time, with respect to you, which
I do the more willingly» since I sometimes trespass
upon your patience by my long letters ; but I
confess that it eases my mind to unbosom myself
to you, and relieves me from my fatigues, which

PRI2fC£SS 0fi5 URSIirS. 1Û9

it would be very difficult to sustain without this
source of consolation. You tell me that it is
now for us who are in Spain to be happy, and
we endeavour to be so, since the Marquis de Bay
has just captured Giudad Rodrigo, which sur-
rendered at discretion, with a garrison of fifteen
hundred Portuguese, and nearly three hundred
officers, and a large quantity of ammunition, and
some artillery. This capture was achieved with
the greatest possible vigour by the Spanish and
French infantry, whose courage was highly conspi-
cuous : they were commanded on the day of the
attack by the young Count d'Aguilar, who has^
the honour of being known to you, and who is
highly spoken of for his conduct in this action.
M. de Bay, is fortunate in his undertakings,
having succeeded hitherto in all of them, which
causes him to be loved and esteemed by the troops
under his command. Since this conquest, the
Portuguese have evacuated another small place^
in which they had two battalions. In conse«
quence of these events, Castile is no longer
exposed to theiri incursions, and it is a province
that certainly deserves to be preserved. The
Duke of Orleans is highly satisfied with the pro*
gross he is making at Lerida, and wrote yesterday
to say, he hoped shortly to be master of the town,^
but as to the castle, it will be more difficult to
take, if he besieges it ; for it appears from what
Marshal de Berwick has communicated to me.

110 LETTKRS 6t THK

that he is still uncertain as to what he should do ;
but his Royul Highness speaks more confidently
of it to his Majesty.

I hope that when it becomes necessary to come
to a decision, there will be no diiference of opinion
between' this Prince and the Marshal, since botk
have only the good of the service in view, which you
are aware is the most desirable thing, and more
especially, in such a war as this, when the least
nustdte might do so much misdiief I h»axè
with pleasure» that the King had sent Mme fresh
regiments to the Duke de Noailles, which he wiB
know how to employ ta the purpose ; the dwernoii
he will liius be enabled to make, cannot fiul to
be highly useful, and very embarrassing to the
Archduke. You may perceive from all this, that
our affairs do not proceed amiss in Spain. If the
news of raising the siege of Qaeta is confirmed» of
which there is every probability, however sBiaU-
may be the number of troops sent into that quarter;
the Neapolitans, who are very much divided
among themselves, would be easily able to shake
off the German yoke and sue for pardon to tfaeiv
legitimate sovereign, whose clemency and gene-
rosity they have already so much experienced' ;
this would form a fine contrast with the conduct
of others, and might contribute to a glorious
peace. I think, that the Duke of Savoy, has

reason to * ♦ / ♦.

♦ « ♦ « ♦ «

PRIVOKSS t)£S VR$INS, 111

might easily find himself embarrassed, and that
the Prince de Vaudemont is right, when he
assures you, that the Germans will, in future,
distrust his Royal Highness. Marshal de Villars
has all the appearance of reducing to reason
those who are within his reach, for he certainly
discharges his duty well. If all the other generals
could subsist their armies as he does his, without
its costing the King anything, M. Chamôllard
would adore them, and I should not despair, that
if he, no longer feeling the want of money, «Jbould
aend enough to pay the French troops in Spain,
He has written me a facetious letter, in which he
very humorously gives a rap on the knuckles to
M. de Pontchartrain, whom he knows I esteem,
and I must be a most generous woman to pardon
him ; but it is impossible to be angry, with a
minister when he a^^ears to be in good temper,
since it is the surest sign of his being dissatisfied.
I have nothing more to add till next week, and I
beg you, in the n^ean time, to take better care of
your health than the Duchess of Burgundy does^
and to believe I am unable to express my respect
and attachment for you.

112 LETTXRS OF THE

LETTER CIIL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, October 12th, 1707.

The chancellor has written to the ambassador,
to inform him that the King had, at the instance
of thé Countess de Tonnere, ordered him to
suspend the decision upon the proceedings
against her son, till an answer arrived from M.
Amelot ; at which the latter appeared to be much
affected, because, he says, that his Majesty had
promised Madame de Vaubecourt and her son,
that he should allow justice to take its course, of
which I thought it right to inform you. I do
not know what he will write respecting it to the
court; but the fact is, that he and Madame de
Tonnere are much to be pitied, the former having
lost a very amiable son, and the latter, fearing
the loss of her sons reputation, in consequence of
a public proceeding. I think that if the iting,
before giving this order, had been pleased to
causé it to be intimated to the ambassador, that
it would give him pleasure to sacrifice his just
resentment, he would have done so more readily
than at present, when it is generally known that
his Majesty expects it from him, since this will

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 113

be understood as a command, and which greatly
mortifies him. I have on this occasion acted as
a true friend and good relative to Madame de
Tonnere, who, believing me to be such, has
addressed herself to me, entreating me to ask
for her son's pardon, in the most handsome and
affecting manner that she could; and I have
forthwith set about i]t in the best manner I was
able. I own that I could wi^h this disastrous
affair to be buried in oblivion, and I have not
succeeded in it to my satisfaction, M. Amelot
asserting that he is obliged to act as he does,
both in honour and conscience. I should be a
less rigid casuist on the score of honour ; but I
leave the decision of it to you, and shall only
repeat, that a father overwhelmed with grief, is
in a very distressing dilemma as to the. line of
conduct he ought to adopt in such circum-
stances. I hope the weather is as fine at Fon-
tainebleau as it is at Madrid, for here rain is much
wished for, as it is believed it would terminate
the sickness that prevails, which is a proof that
we are never satisfied ; but be so, I entreat you.
Madam, with my sentiments of affection towards
you, which are in proportion to your deserts.

P.S. As I was about to seal my packet, I
received a letter from Marshal de Berwick, a
copy of which I enclose you, that you may see
what is his opinion of the city and castle of
Lerida. No person can be more attentive than

VOL. III. I

114 LETTERS OF THE

he is, in ibiorming me of evetyf htng that is gei&g
èR.' The Duke of Orleans, also, does me the
honour of writing to mè, both which correspon-
detices should satisfy you whether yre were upon
unfriendly terms.

'' Camp More Lerida, October 8tb, 1 707.

" To-morrow, Madam, our batteries will opea
upon the town, and I hope that in a few days
we shall be masters of it ; after that, the castle
remains, which I think will be a very difficult
conquest, but when we shall hare possessed
ourselves of the former, we shall be able to
reconnoitre it more closely, and see whether it
is a practicable enterprize with the slender means
in our power, at such an advanced period of the
season, and especially in case the enemy should
receive large reinforcements.

" I beg you to have the goodness to present my
humble duty to their Majesties, and to believe
me, with all imaginable respect and sincerity.
Madam, your very humble and obedient servant^

'•The Marshal Duke De Berwick.''

PRINCESS DES URSÎJÎIS. ll6

LETTER CIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, October 17th, 1707.

The Duke of Orleans begins to be fortunate,
having just captured the town of Lerida, and
hoping to be equally successful as to the citadel :
he had very few killed and wounded, and writes
to the King of Spain to say that he does not hear
of its being likely that the enemy will be rein-
forced. His Royal Highness adds, that after
the capture of the citadel, he shall endeavour to
render himself master of Tortoso, and in case
of success, ht will then pay his respects to their
Majesties at Madrid. We shall be very glad
on every account at his returning crowned with
so much glory. There is every probability that
the Archduke, also, pressed hard by the Duke de'
Noailles, and abandoned by his allies, will be
compelled to quit Catalonia ; and if this should
happen, why should not some troops be sent
towards Naples, where they are very much dis-
satisfied with the German government ? It ap-
pears to me, that this kingdom should not be
neglected, which it is asserted presents no great
obstacle; and with Sicily, which is ours, we
should have the means of concluding an honour
able and lasting peace.

I 2

116 LETTERS OF THE

An action lately took place in the kingdom of
Valencia, to the advantage of his Majesty's arms.
Five or six hundred of his troops» commanded by
the lieutenant colonel of the regiment of Mahony
(a good subject of the King of England,) and. a
good officer, whonr you have done me the honour
of recommending to me, have defeated three
thousand men, a third of whom, were from the
garrison of Denia, the greatest part English, or
Spanish rebels, and the remainder miquelets,
who wished to besiege Pego : more than a thou-
sand were killed. This defeat, besides having
the effect of weakening the enemy, will operate
favourably on these mischievous people, who
cannot be mastered but through fear: thus.
Madam, we have the happiness to see everything
prospering, and God grant a continuance of his
mercies !

I am delighted with an answer which the Duke
of Burgundy has been pleased to send me, for
it is equally sensible, kind, and polite. If I
could presume so far, I would very humbly en-
treat the Duchess of Burgundy, to have the good-
ness to express to him my gratitude, as this
Prince would doubtless receive my compliments
with more pleasure from her mouth than by my
hand.

PRlKCfiSS D£S URSINS. II ^

LETTER CV,

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, October 23rd, 1707.

The King of Spain appeared to me very glacP
at your being satisfied with his letter, and he
impatiently waits your reply; for I can assure
you. Madam, that I have heard his Majesty
frequently say, since you reproached him with
the idea that he had forgotten you, that you
would be much to blame to doubt his esteem

and friendship. This Prince only requires to be
known for his great qualities, for he is certainly
deficient in none of those which create love and
esteem, and if he has any fault, it is that of being
too diffident of himself. I hope that time will
correct this defect, since he possessed it in a
greater degree formerly.

We have heard that the whole of the naval
expedition had repassed the straits to return to
England, except nine or ten ships of war left at
Gibraltar, which are perhaps intended to receive
the Archduke, in case he is obliged to quit
Catalonia, which would probably happen, if th«
Duke of Orleans shortly takes the castle of Lerida,
which it is thought will not be so difficult a task
as was at first imagined. From your answer

119 IiBTX£»a OF THB

respecting the wishes of his Royal Highness, I
have not a single word to say in reply» and shall»
therefore» be respectfully silent» as an atonement
for the only fault whic3i you have found in me^
and which will deserve to be effaced from your
memory» by my submission to the King's wilL
Many persons who had the honour of seeing him
at Fontainebleau» told me they left him in perfect
health» and with as serene a countenance as if hia
Majesty had nothing to do but to ai^piuse himself.
IndMd» Madam, this intelleptijial j3uperiority and
equanimity are very extraordinary, and worthy
of admiration* No person is more interested
than myself in his happiness and glory, and I
cannot entertain these sentiments» without being
entirely 4evoted to you.

LETTER CVI.

TO THE SAM£.

Madrid» November 7th» 1707.

I HAD not the honour of writing to you last
week» in consequence çf hs^ving: the fever» whieà
had attacked me some days before» and continued
for five days» but without mf alarming symp-»
toms ; I v^nw my oMrn physician» atid have re-
eovere^ ;, it may possil^y tielum 9gm^ for it 19

PBINQEfiS PB8 UrnSIHS. 119

commcm Ûds year to eveay one who hm been
sick to have seveasd rdjat^es. At all events» I
observe 9 regimen, whic^ the royal boràe of
Frai)ce. cpuld hardly sustain were^ its ineimberfi
in my positio». If it is necessary .thï^ you, lor
I should hftve the fever, it would be much' better
for me to be attacked .by it, because it dotes no^
make me more mielancholy, and you appear more
cheerful when you are well. I» asenre; you^
that few things can give me greater pieaswe'thàiÉ^
to hear you are a little more tranquil, which will
not be our case till we learn that the castle of
Lerida is taken, which the engine^s assert can*-
not hold out long, as it will be a capture veiy
glorious to the Duke of Orleans, and .éxtœmelnir
advantageous to the King of Spain* . It is become
absolutely necessary, to ju£i, w*oi!der to get com^-
pletely rid of the ; ene»y :in ti(is country, since
we have had the misfortyne Up lose Italy, and the
King is. not in a condition. to. aid his Majesty tQ
re-enter: that country- The Duke d'Uceda^
Cardinals del Giudice, de la Tremoille, and
Aquaviva) who know everything that is pasji^ng
at Naples, all write to us, as well as several
Italiaqs, that jiojthing would be easier thw to
retfeiçe this kingdom to its duty, I^qannot think
of the misfortune which hag caused the loss of
Milan, and ^^hicfc has been followed by the other
losses, without extreme grief, and I greatly pity
the lot of the good subjects of his Catholic

120 LETTERS OF Tâ£

Majesty. Some great Neapolitan lords have
shown their zeal and loyalty in so noble and
striking a manner, that they cannot indeed be
sufficiently rewarded. One of them, the Duke
de Popoli, who is captain of the guards, is a
subject of real worth, who loves the King's
person, and counts as nothing all that he has lost,
in comparison with his duty. Meantime, Madam,
he has none of his family left with him ; two of
his daughters are in the hands of the enemy, his
brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and mother-in
law, for whom he has a great affection, are
exposed to all the brutalities which the new
viceroy is capable of exercising against them. To
increase his troubles, the poor Duchess of Popoli
has been four months in this palace, nearly in a
dying state, and the Duke, his son, and all his
servants are sick. It would be a great pity
were the Duchess of Popoli to die, being a very
fine, prudent, and sensible woman, and a favourite
of the Queen. Do you much approve the etiquette
which prevents the earner ara mayor from visiting
this afflicted Duchess, living, as they do, under
the same roof? Call to mind, I entreat you, the
two individuals, of whom it has always been
attempted to render the King suspicious, and
whom I always defended, Cardinal Aquaviva and
the Duke de Jovenarro; about the former of
whom, I have had the honour to write to you, and
whose brother serves at present in his Majesty's

PRIKCESS DES URSINS. 121

guards at Lerida ; the Marquis of Aquaviva, his
nephew, the eldest of his family, commands a
regiment in Flanders, where he is esteemed by
all worthy people ; his father, the Duke d'Atri,
defended Pescara to the last extremity, and capi-
tulated only upon honourable terms; all their
wives, or nearest female relations, were to with-
draw into the ecclesiastical states, where perhaps
they are already. The Cardinal also loses ^ all
the ecclesiastical benefices he enjoyed in Naples,
and declares loudly for the King his master, in
the heart of Rome itself, where the German
faction now gives the law. Cardinal del Giudice
exerts himself to the utmost, in concert with the
Duke d'Uceda, and Cardinal de la Tremoille.
The Prince de Celamare, son of the Duke de
Jovenarro, and the Duke de Bisaccio, his nephew,
have followed the Marquis de Villena, to shut
themselves up in Gaeta, and their wives have
also retired, leaving everything they possessed.
Such are the two traitors, whom the French
ambassadors, formerly at Madrid, reproach me
with having for friends, and the court often re-
ceived letters, complaining against me for sparing
them. I ingenuously confess, that sufch recollec-
tions call to mind more recent things, and I am
often tempted to form an intimate friendship with
grandees, who are represented to you quite
different from what they are, and which makes
you esteem themi. Nothing would be easier, if

122 LETTEES OF TH£

I chose, than to joia a considerable number of
these gentlemen, and to act in coqcert with them.
They are the same that I have ende^vouired to
render such as they ought to be for ouj? two
Kings. I then received severe reproofe fat it
from your court, which now entert^ios il good
opinion of these same persons, for which reason
if you i^ill give me permission, I will recominence
my former experiments, and leave tihe issue to
God. You will, perhaps, think me rather mis-
chievous ; no matter, I wish to appear to you in
my real character, and to habituate you, if it is
possible, to my faults^ for I know that I have
some of which it will be very difficult to correct
myself. Our Prince of Asturias is very well, and
begins to laugh, and look a perfect beauty ; his
nurse gives excellent milk, but we have never-
theless sent for four of the others to return, in
order not to be at a loss, in case any misfortune
happen to her.

I think that M. d*Aubigny, whom the Queen
has sent to Paris, will have had the honour of
seeing you, and that he will have told you many
things which cannot be communicated by letter,
and which it is, perhaps, right you should know.

Forty-five thousand francs will be immediately
sent to the Duke of Albs^ tp indemnify him, in
some measure^ for the e^epic^es which he has
put himself to in the display of magnificence,
against the precise order of the King his master ;

PRINCl^SS DES uR&iys. 133

bis Mi^9sty having rpcoB^ra^d^d to him to
confine himself to . wh^ wquUI be in^^P^W^^T;
necessary for the^eelebra^^omoC t^e b^th qf :the
Prince of AsUuriafi^ aodrto ioUow in thajb respect
the example of , the King his graofdi^QLtiKr, .nfcho.
ÛkHB acte4 wi^ his aml?assiKh)rs when the Buker
<tf Britanny was h^mf I ào not know whethi^.
the ILing has.Jii;^bituated his ministers to receivings
suHiey for lavish expenditures, when th^y have,
taken place contrary , to hi^ oi^dqrs. Money is Wr
often wanted to pay the troipps, that^ nQ,ifApru4eat
use should be made of it ; . and I believe . yoijb
must have been of the same opinion^ which l^sb^ll
impart to the Duke of Alba> as I do to you ; but
I will serve him on every occasion to the utmost
of my power. The ambassador is ready to accede
to the King's wishes, in what conceri^ the. death
of his son, aad repeated it again to me yesterday
evening, in terms which evinced his submissioo;
to, and desire to please his Majesty, Ijlais very;
watch obUged to y^u for the interest yep ff^ m^.
là» mis&)rtNne, which appeared ta m^ tp h«ye.:
given him sopi^ F^lief. lie h^ just sent to pi^tOr
aay, that he dioes< not tMnk of vi^ting th^ {^^la^
to-day, because he had the fever all night. I do
not know what we shoald de^ if M« Amelgt were
unable to ofl^oiate any longer ; he has sent me-
two letters firom Lerida, one from his^Royal High-
ness, and the other from the Duke die Berwiekt,
which have a£fo]:4ed me nmch gratifeation, bj

124 LETTERS OF THE

informing me that the siege goes oh well, and
that the covered way has been taken. M. de
Berwick says, that he begins to think they shall
soon be masters of the place, and that the enemy's
army, which has made its appearance, and over a
part of which, a partisan has obtained some
success, is composed only of nineteen battalions
and seventy squadrons ; he had always so bad an
opinion of this enterprize, that I rely much upon
what he says. The Duke d'Ossuna has sent a
courier from Andalusia to his Catholic Majesty,
bringing ej^cellent news, if it should prove true :
it states, that twelve French ships have attacked
the English fleet, composed of five ships of the
line and sixty transports that were on their way
to Portugal with provisions, of which that kingdom
was in great need ; they had also a thousand
horses and six hundred, infantry on board, and it
its asserted, that these five men of war have been
taken or burnt, with many others. My friend,
M. de Pontchartrain, will perhaps have been
informed of this action before the news of it ar-
rived here, although M. de Chamillard wrote to
me sometime ago, as if he had not been aware of
it ; but your friend, M. de Pontchartrain, who is
better informed about land than maritime affairs,
will doubtless, have intimated to you ... (I for-
get what.) You will own that this is a fine slip
of the pen, but I prefer the minister's, trifling in
this manner, to his assuming a lamentable air,'

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 125

which alarms me dreadfully. I hope, in future,
to find nothing but cheerfulness in your letters,
and that your health will constantly improve,
which I wish for as much as it is possible for one
who is entirely devoted to you, and who will
always remain so.

LETTER CVII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, November 13th, 1707.

I RECEIVED only a line from you. Madam, by
the last post, because of your severe cold, and
though this indisposition is very common, I never^
theless pity you, knowing by experience that one
suffers much with it; however, I am glad that
your excursion to Fontainebleau has let you off so
easily, since you were geujerally attacked by the
fever there. The Duchess of Burgundy writes
to the Queen to say, that she suffers much from
her teeth, which may perhaps b^ attributed to
her excursions on horseback round the canal ; but
I should not think her less disposed to resume
them were it possible, it appearing to n^e, that
the pleasures which she has enjoyed there are
foremost ia her thoughts. How does s^e look in

126 L&tTKtlfi OV THE

the face after so much fatiguing exercise? I
could much, wish that ^^he ^ould not spoil her
compledrîott hy huntings like the Princess de Conti,
ftnd I should he Veiy Mrrj if she injured her
okê^t. i fi^re to myself this lovely Princess on
horseback, with her graceful ^rriage, accom-
panied by the Princess of England» (who is also
a good figure) . and followed by several ladies
magnificently dressed» whose shapes will bear no
comparison with these two Princesses, even
though they are -j^iirticulàr enough to put on stays.
I think that the court day, in honour of the Queen
of England, was quite brillianf, and am not asto-
nished that the foreigners who were present were
in âinarënietoi, to see tiûw the King could provide
fbt th^ éxp^nëeâ^. o(4lie irar, tod at the same time
keep ^p the* s][)iendèut of hid court. The Duke
of OtIeaBâ ^Bifiid 4:he I>uchess are much to be com-^
mended, i&D^t being able to bear the sight of a
faotrse, ia Wh^ch Madame de Montespan was ac-
customed to receive tiieir visits. I think the
fermer must be very «nidouB, on account of the
dangers to which her htist^etld is exposed at Leri^
da, and notwitlistaiiding her apparently natural
indifference^ 1 do not think her kiward feelings
less exarci&ed on account of this Prince. In
poteeMing such qualities as fie does, he is very
desermig of her esteem. We receive letters every
day ftom the anny which he commands, informing
ui^ of his brilliant exploits, and that his example

is SO anîmatiag^ to^'Ifis t^dopi», that H&tds cmmt
i!ireU describe it^ ; rhe has a great indinatiott and
talent for war, is ambitious of glor]^, has an adSfeo»
tiooate and boundless respect for tibe King, united
to great love of country» If there be some fail*
ings blended with so many fineqtïalities, we must
pass them oyer, and hope that more mature re-
flection will enable him to conquer them. We
learnt by a courier, whom this Prince has des-
patched to the King, that die siege is advandng,
aod that it cannot probably Isudt moi^e than four
w âv9a days. We have had the good fortune^
hitherto, to lose but few men, and scarcely any
officers of distinction. If the besieged should
stand an assault, it would not be possible to avoid
a sacrifice of men, but it is thought they will not
expose tliemselves to such a risk*. His Royal
Highness inform^ their Majesties, that imme*^
diately after the capture of this fortress, he shall
come tOyMadrid, which will be probably to attend
tbe ceremony of baptising the Prince of A«turtas t
if he renmins here a considerable time, he wiH
not find many amusements, there being no public
ones, and it does nçt suit individuals to give them
for more than one reason. I think that his Roysd
Highness will take up Ms quarters in the housj^
of the Duke d'Uceda, where he will be better
aecommodated, because he will be accompitmèd
% «all iUs officers, for it is tlie largest in Madrid,
tteMt 4o the palace, it bdoiiged #» tbe .QueoA^

128 LETTERS OF THE

mother, andis very near the palace. Marshal de
Berwick, who continues writing to me upon every
occasion, says nothing about returning to this
court.. So much for this country, now for that in
which you live. Madame de Caylus gave me a
short description of a doll she had sent you by
your own desire, which I thought so droll, that I
had the honour of reading it to their Majesties, V
who laughed at it most heartily ; I fancied that
I saw it, in all its ridiculousness, and I thought I
perceived in it many characters that I met in my
•last journey to Paris; I should have begged. my
friend to make a copy for my amusement, and to
take it unknown to the Queen into her chamber,
in order agreeably to surprise her by this species
of little monster; but I desisted, lest the Spaniards,
on seeing it also, might form an indifferent opinion
of French fashions. I think the ladies cannot be
overpleased with your niece for having so well
represented the extravagance of their head-dress
and costume : however, they will have less. reason
to be angry at what she has done, than at themr
selves ; I think them in general, very much inclined
to be out of humour with a person who deserve^,
on so many accounts, your affection. All that
you have said is to no purpose, for you will not
convince, me that you do well in not getting an
apartment given to Madame de Caylus,. and
having her always near you, since you woqld Jfind
her of great assistance, possessing a well inConned

PRINCCSS D£S UaSINS. 129

âiind^ and the talent of rendering conversation de^^
lightful, without indulging in sarcasm. Do you
think that such society would not be an ornament
to your chamber, and agreeable to the King» who^
besides, would be subjected to no inconvenience
by it, since she has sufficient prudence to ^eep a
secret? You will reprove me. Madam, for being
too fond of her, and I shall reprove you for not
loving her enough. God grant that you may not
flight what I have the honour of saying to you !

The ambassador Mnrites to the King to say, that
he wholly resigns himself to his good pleasure, with
which, I doubt not, but his Majesty will be satis-
fied. He is very unfortunate to have lost a son,
whom he so affectionately loved, in so cruel a
manner ; and to complete his misery, those who
call themselves his best friends, write to him as if
he was the most culpable of men, saying, that if
he had not come to Spain, in all probability,
nothing of this kind would have happened to him«.
You know, as well as myself, that he came here in
obedience to order^^ and for the same reason he
must cmtinue here» although he passes his days
y^ith as much trouble and fatigue as lassitudi^. The
Prince of Asturias begins to amuse the Queen, by
laughing and aissuming the most graceful airs ; he
is very well. I hope to congratulate you the next
post, upon the capture of Lerida. I could wisk
nev,er to have anything to coaununicate but \^hat
would give you pleasure, as I should , be douWy

VOL, III. K

130 . LETTEmS OJ THB

repaid by it, sinoe the affidrs of our kings would
ptosper, and your health be imph^ved» fox» upon
my word, it is only the agitated state of mind and
melancholy, that unfortunate events occasion you»
which causes your indisposlticms.
. P«S. The English envoy has just shown me a
letter from the Duke of Berwick, informing him»
that as soon as the affair of Lerida is concluded,
and the troops are placed in winter quarters, ha
shall come to Madrid, and take up his abode with
the envoy.

LETTER CVIIL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, NoremUr 19A, 1707,

Your letter, dated Marly, Nov^nber the 6th,
évincés your impatience to hear of the capture of
Lerida, which you probably know by this time»
dtid it will Imve arrived very seasonably, to cure
jHm of your cold and slow fever; for, to be told
âAt affairs are prosperous, is the bestof all reme-
dies for you» Here then finishes the misfortunes
éf the Duke of Orleans, since he has the glory, aa
1^ had the honour of informing yQu, of takmg this

PRINCESS CES URftlNS. 131

ktiportant fUnce, ia spite of all tbe dificoumgtfig
libsta^Ies which he met witii. The feet \û, that
nothing is done when nothing is attempted, ex*
cept when enemies are to be met with» as impru-
d&at as those who came to be beaten at the battle
q£ Almanza. The King of Spain has just recom*
{tensed the boldness and good conduct with which
the Marquis de Bay has restored to his authority
Akaatara and Ciudad Rodrigo» which protect
our l^yal Castile from future incursions» by
making hiin a knight of the golden fleece. Am
this captain general had asked for nothing, and
was satisfied with having only done his duty to
his sovereign, he wais delighted at bo unexpected
an honour ; and the feeling and respectful manner
in which he has thanked their Majesties, has given
additional satis&ction in having conferred this
bivom. It appears to me, that it is the only feUr
icity of kings, to eo^fer raarkd of distinction <m
^jateful hearts, but they seldom enjoy this ^poo^t,
jbecause oi the ingratitude that {M^evails amm^
Mankind.

. We h9£9e heard here, that if there had beeA a
better limdérstandtng between the ChefvaSier
l^orbiii and M. du Gij^y Tiouin^ the cavalry aa4
ftoyiiimm which were ptoceed&ig to Poit^g ç|}
iwmld not have escaped. This may not, periiapt,
be true, but if it f eally was the case. Cardinal d9
JansQ» would certainly be vary angiy at his r-e*-
llttiwyif on such an occasion» he had notpreiMi^

K 2

132 LETTERS OF THE

the King's service to his own feelings, more
especially he who has rendered such important
services by sea.

You are in the right in pitying me for all I suf-
fer on the score of friendship, since I carry it too
far, and in the first emotions, arising from an un«
fortunate event, I feel an internal agitation, which
disturbs my blood. If I were naturally less cheer-
ful than 1 am, and of a less happy temperament,
I should sufier still more ; . however, I have a
very tormenting rheumatism, which is only
laughed at, and which I attribute to the above
cause, and to cure which I shall endeavour to
diminish my afiection, and I think you will not do
amiss to adopt the same remedy on your part.
' I have had the honour of reading to the King,
the passage in your letter concerning him, in
which you say, that you have long been satisfied
with him, there being so much good sense in
jbis letter to you. Are you aware that his Majesty
observed to me, that he was but little satisfied
with you for being so easily gratified, and that he
wished for more frequent tokens of your fiiendship.
I shall take no part with your approbation in this
•species of warfare, from an excusable delicacy;
-besides, I shall do better not to interfere with the
affairs of the great, with whom I am not over well
acquainted how to act, and shall endeavour to

follow your example, not having forgotten that
^ou were not a fit person to have any thing to do

PRINCESS DES URSJXS. 1S3

with them* This humility made me e^tamiae
myself and the Queen, and I have laughed at it
most heartily more than once.

I have nothing to say to the refusal of the Duke
of Orleans' request, but I cannot help pitying him,
for not having obtained what he so ardently de*
sires, and which would have enabled him to have
civilly got rid of an improper connection, as princes
are often in the habit of doing. I even presume
to say, that his confessor would approve it, if he
confided it to him. He will be entertained here
with a species of opera, which the city of Madrid
has caused to be composed upon the birth of the
Prince. Their Majesties went to see it yester-
day for the first time, when eveiy exertion was
made to please, for which we ought to feel obliged^
The entertainment was given in the theatre of the
Betiro, which is tolerably handsome ; the scenery
was magnificent, and it is asserted that the whole,
including fire works, cost Madrid eighty thousand
crowns, i?yhich would, I think, have been much bet-
ter employed in paying the troops, amd succouring
persons of family whq are iu misery in conse-
quence of having perfonned their duty. ^ Never-
theless, there must be something to celebrate the
birth of an heir to so many crowns : may God
preserve to him that of Sicily, which might some
day cause Naples to return to its allegiance, and
afterwards Milan ! It is very difficult to persuade
the Italians, and even the Spaniards^ that thç

184 XXTT£BS OW TSX

King has not made a treaty, which he has ea-
Ifaged to get approved by the King, his grandson»
as he has done with the Milanese ; because it can»-
&ot be imagined, if this were not the case, why
some succours have not been sent to Palermo,
however few they might be, which would have
shown them that they were not abandcmed, and
which it ia asserted, would have had a good effect,
by* soon oausmg the Neapolitans to return to their
duty, sick as they are of the new government. You
know. Madam, whether suspicions on this head
are well or ill founded, and I have no pretensions
to penetrate into what the King, oo^ master, would
wish to be concealed.

As I was about to seal this letter, I received
two from his Royal Highness and Monseigneur,
which inform me that they are going to besiege
Morella, thiit the enemy had abandoned a small
fortress, and that they were about to return to the
plain of Urgel, in order to reduce it to its duty to
h» Majesty, to obtain some provisions in this
fertile country^ and to levy contributions for the
subsistence of the troops. The Duke of Orleans
wffl wait tin Morella surrendens ov is likely to do
so, before he comes to Madrid, and the Marshal
yfiW fàHow him.

I must have fine patience with you, Madam !
I entreat you to tdl me why 3^ou have not rs-
mmded the King, that he should send the Ume
ribbon to the Prinee of Astorias. Has his

PMV€Bit mw vjuiNS. Ids

Migoty fofgot fbaC be is bis gra&daoti, tad diaft
be gives it cm the births of all the others» who
have the same honour ? Is it not because you
are a£raîd lest this order should offend the Ga»»
tiiians, by intimating to them, that their Prince itf
of the house of France ? I believe you are capa^
ble of it^ and you think, perhaps, of establishing
this new etiquette here, for you have let me know
the taste you have for these things, which I cannot
help, however, opposing^ Be so good then, if it ii
your pleasure^ to contrive so that the sacred ordef *
may be sent as soon as possible, as it is also very
necessary to iUumiâate us.

Min^iw* I I • < —i*—*iW*—IWii*— l>P»— *fc

LETTER CIX-

TO THE SAME.

Madrid Noittnber 27tli, 1707. >

I DO not know. Madam, whether any one but
myself would exhaust herself in thanks to you for
all your anxiety respecting my slow fever, for it
cannot be doubted, from your known veracity;
and your energetic expressions, but that what
you write proceeds from the heart ; but although
mine is sensibly aÔected by them, I cannot help
blammg you for having imagined, on the com-

« that of 8ainu£êpril, or die Hdy Gimt.

>*-**

tS6 LETTERS OF THU

méacement of sickness^ which did not appear, ai
all dangerous, the most alarming consequences^
since I fear it may have caused an anxiety preju-
dicial to your health, which is as dear to me as
my own. When will you drive away these
gloomy apprehensionjs, which make you anticipate
aofar off all sorts of misfortunes, the greatest part
of which do not happen, but which have the saàie
effect as if they did ? If you would take the
trouble of reflecting upon everything which had
grieved you from mere appearances, and which
have had no bad result, I am convinced it would
be of use to you in future, and that you would
pass your life more tranquilly. Mine, you think,
is of more importance to the Queen than what it
really is, and if God were pleased to take me from
her, he would give her the consolations of which
she might stand in need, for her kindness to me.
This Princess knows how to make so good a use
of the favours of Providence, that she deserves to
receive from it rewards, and not mortifications.
But I haye said enough upon this subject.

Madame de la Salle has then well related to
you matters concerning their A(tajesties, mysdf,
and What she has observed in the palace. . She
.must have made you laugh at her droll manner of
describing certain tjjiings, and-I am sure that, from
her account of others, the Duchess of Burgundy
and you must have been ready to shed tears,
that so great and lovely a Queen, form€4 expressly

PRINCESS D£là UllSIHS. 137

for a witty, agreeable, and polity court, should
pass her days without meeting any thing suitable
to her character. I am very glad that M.
Clement and Madame de la Salle have been
enabled to represent the Queen's situation, as it
would never be believed, unless they had been
constantly present to hear and see what was oc-
curring. It appears to me that you are enchant-
ed with their eloquent descriptions, and it is
very honourable in us to send you back persons
who may have acquired the character of good
orators, to whom^ the academy of wits àt Madrid
is indebted for the commencement of a flourishing
establishment ; and if you send them again to u&
upon the same errand, they will attain such a
degree of perfection, as to merit a place in your
French Academy, although it should only be
composed of learned men.

The Duke of Orleans will be here on Wednesday
bext, and the King sends him relays of horses to
the distance of twenty leagues, in order that hé
may come that distance in one day. His Royal
Highness will be splendidly accommodated in the
piBtlace, which was the abode of the Queen's
mother, and is only à step from here. His suite
of apartments, which, I am told, consist of twenty
rocmii^ upon thé same floor, and having a southern
aspect^ will be as beautifully carpeted as those of
his Catholic Majesty é I wish you had rooms as
warm as these, which admit of currents of air,

t99 . hxrnjt.9 of 7hjb

Ibr» if I recollect rigbt^ yotiîB bad no nj^ but ht
«immer, and are yery cold in the winter» which
was thfe cause of your contriving a remedy that
appeared to me very ingenious^ and by which 1
was very comfortable when in your society, i
pften recall to mind those happy moments, and al*
though my memcny is not naturally good, I assure
you, that I remember everything, even to the least
tlifle,^ that fell from your lips«

It is said that the Duke of Orleans has not all
that is necessary £3r attacking Tortosa, and that
after the baptismal ceremony is over, his Royal
Highness will go to France for two months ; but
as he has said nothing of it in his letters to their
Majesties, 1 know not yet what to think of the
report* It is said that his domestics would be
i^ciiy glfi^ of it, because they pass their time more
pleasantly in France than in Spain, with whidi
the generality ctf foreigners become tired. M.. de
Nancré, for one,, has no reason to be satisfied
with, being always unwdl, and it is feared he will
be obliged to submit to the grand operation;
Marshal de Berwick will also come here, but not
so soon. Our Prince is constantly improving in
his health ;. the Marquis de Brancas saw him
yesterday at Aste, in mentioning which, you see^
that I am not ignorant of the suitable term ; it is
th»e that he is in the best humour, and where
hîa pretty little person is. most admiredL I ihïnk
tixat the envi^, who very attentn^y considered

PRinCESB DES UR81N8. 139

kim, wiU grre a description of hko to the King, oq
rendering an account of his commission, and that
his Majesty would take a pleasure in seeing this
luew grandchiM, although he has not yet thought
hkn, worthy the Blue ribbon. How shall I contrive
to make my most humble acknowledgments to the
Duchess of Burgundy, for wnting so mauy obliging
things about me to the Queen, on hearing of my
^disposition ? If you will not have the goodness
to assist me> I know not what I shall do : it wa3
my intention to write to her myself, but I thought
she would find a degree of insipidity in explaining
to her the extent of my gratitude. I cannot help^
however^ confiding to you my secret, which is,
HkBi I mosit heartily love this Princess» and what
Bp^kefs me feel the m&ce convinced of it, is> that
ther^ is only one thing which hinders me firom
thinking her perfection itself^ and that ii^ thQ
neglect qf her health, the fatal consequeaices oC
yhich make me abudder* May she not injure it
still more this carnival ! 1 beg of you» Madam«
to take good care of yours.

LETTER ex..

TO THE SAME.

Madrid» December 2iid» 1707.

TiiE Duke of Orlcsm» avrived here yesterday^ at
sewn o'clock m the e^^eping, after travelling twenty

140 Ii£TT£RS OF THS

leagues duringthe day, and did not appear more far*
tigued or thinner for it. Their Majesties left their
room, to go into the adjoinmg one, the sooner to
have the pleasure of welcoming him. Cardinal
Porto Carero,and the Inquisiteur General, were also
there, with several Lords of the court : I besought
his Royal Highness to show some marked attention
to the two former, knowing that the Cardinal
is fond of being noticed, and he had the goodness
to say some very gracious things to them, with
his usual politeness. The King and Queen were
informed by him, that he should shortly leave us
to take a turn in France, and that Marshal de
Berwick had also the same permission. The army
will thus, then, be without a commander ! I wish
that all the lieutenant generals in it may agree
together, and that they may have such defer-
ence for M. de Legal, who commands the principal
corps, that opinions may not be divided upon the
measures to be adopted, in case the enemy should
be inclined to make some unexpected movements.
His Royal Highness, to whom I owe all deference,
and the Marshal, to whom I owe every civility, .
will in vain attempt to persuade me, that their
absence cannot prejudice the public service, as I
think quite the reverse : for we know but too
well the effects of envy and jealousy in war as
well as in courts, and that it may ruin everything.
I have not yet had thé courage to tell the Duke
of Orleans, of his being positively refused the

PRINCESS DES ÛBfllNS. t4I

favour which he so ardently wishes to obtain» for
I confess to you, it would have been a great source
of satisfaction to myself, to have contributed to
his happiness on the present occasion.

The baptismal day is not yet fixed, because it
is desirable first to regulate all the forms to be
observed, so as to avoid misunderstandings.
Cardinal Porto-Carero, who will officiate, is^a little
uneasy about the manner in which his Royal
Highness may conduct himself towards him, and
what is embarrassing on this account, is the want
of precedents to follow, although we have no
want of etiquette. You ask me, whether we
have not proceeded so far with respect to the
latter, as to be at liberty to visit the Duchess de

Popoli ; and my answer is, that if I had begun

•

by this visit» there is not a grandee's lady but
would complain of my not doing as much for her
upon similar, occasions. The earner aras may ores
are only allowed to visit their daughters, sisters,
and, I believe, nieces, that is to say, all their
nearest relatives, provided it be on account of
marriages, deaths, and when at the point of
death : it is an attribute of this office, the i^me
as that of the President of Castile who never
visits^ but who takes precedence over the gran-
dees at his own house, the same as I do at home
and everywhere else: from all which you will
conceive, that we do not always act as we oould
.wish. Poor Madame de Popoli. has been in the

I4S ' LSTTEM Of TMB

country some days, and on the day of her depart
ture «he ordered herself to be carried into my
apartment, wh^e the King and Queen hearing of
it, did me the honour of coming, with the very
kind intention of affording her some consolation ;
but, nevertheless, I think she will find none
except in God, as she is visibly falling away and
consuiQptive* Two of her daughters, her mother^
and two sisters, are at Naples, where they are
very ill treated by the Germans, and all the
property of her family is already given to the
enemy. She is one of the best creatures living,
mnd was most assiduous in her endeavours to please
the Queen ; and, looking upon her as a mother,
conceive. Madam, how much I shall regret het
loss. The courier of his Royal Highness is on
the point of setting out, and I have only time to
say how glad I am that the fever has left you, I
trust in God never to return, as then you wiU
èave the pleasure of enjoying in good health the
sweets of peace, provided you make an honovr^
able one, for o^erwise remorse will pursue yoa
the remainder of your life^ ' I have Just bees
told by his Royal Highness, that he had heard
you and I were perfectly agreed to prevent him
irom capturing Lerida. I think, since we have net
been able to do so, we shall act prudently in
future not to play any tricks with him. I canzkot
as yet have the honour of thanking the Duchess
Burgundy for formally appointing me hm

PRINCES9 DfiS VRtlKS. 141

apiOQsor at thé baptism of the Prince of Ajsturias^
but shall wait till it is over to render her an account
cf it. I am very much grieved that an erupticm
has made its appearance upon the Prince's cheeks»
because it defaces his beauty, and I could wish
that on so solemn a day for the spectators, h^
might have appeared in all his charms to their
admiring eyes, and I r^^Uy do not know yrhat I,
would give for that to be the case. You seem
much inclined to make sport of me. Madam, bu^
yofu cannot offend me.

LETTER CXI.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, December 12tfa, 1707.

The baptism of the Prince of Asturia^ tooli
place on Conception day, with all possibly
pomp, n&d in the most order:ly manner. Cardinal
de Porto Carero had a new livery and splendid
carriages. X bad the honour <^ carrying the
Prince in a sedan-chair, made entirely of glairs,
and brocaded with goldt We proceeded through
the gallery of the palace, in which were carpet»
of the richest dyes» which the* King: of Spain had
m his possession, and then entered the ehapel^
which was also covered with rich carpet». Two
btthpps aissi^ted: i^ Cardinal in the mass : all th§

144 LETTERS OF THE

grandees were there^ and walked foremost in the
procession ; his Royal Highness preceded thé
sedan five or six steps. As I had the honour of
holding the Prince, I ordered the grandees to be
covered, as from him, the governess acting as
interpreter. I quitted this honourable title,
Madam, on descending to the floor to assume
another, which was still more honourable, since
1 had the honour of representing one of the greats
est princesses on earth. I could have much vmhed
to compensate, by an air of personal nobleness,
the want of beauty and youth, in order to be less
unworthy of acting so distinguished a character,
and I never felt the chagrin of being old and devoid
of charms more keenly than in representing so lovely
a Princess as the Duchess of Burgundy. The
Duke of Orleans, who had received the preced-
ing evening a very beautiful coat from Paris, was,
moreover, adorned with several diamonds, and his
Royal Highness was deficient in nothing which
could afibrd pleasure to those who saw him.
Their Majesties chose six of the principal gran-
dees, in order to carry all the utensils requisite
for the baptism. The first was the Duke of
Medina Gœli, then the Duke de Montalto, for*
merly Viceroy of Arragon ; the Duke d'Ossuna,
Captain of the body guards ; the Duke de Plandia
first gentleman of the bed chamber; the Marquises
d*Astorga and d'Aguilar. The heads of the King's
and Queen's household were stationed near their

PRiirccai ifss vkbikm. 14S

M9^e$ik8, 90 that aU tUelse lo^ds hsvfr Tëailba ta
be i^atiffied, some witb being chosen, aiidf crâieiis
witb remaining at their posts, which they prefei^
to etery other ^stinction. I should likevrise have
been satilsfied witb all this, if oiir little Prinee'fik
face had not been covered with the ifash. I con-
fess,. Madam» that the lady of Marshal de la Motte
could not have been more grieved than I Was, had
she been present at the ceremoby. I derived, how-»
ever, some small consolation from his crying so
load, 2ES to leave no doubt of his good health,
which continues» thank God, notwithstanding hi^
mirse^s œcasiôiial indispositions.

After this deseription of so great a day, I must
not omit a circumstance respecting Cardinal
Porto Carèro, wha gallantly sent presents to four
ladies of himour of the Qtteai and Prince, and
to all the female attendants» consisting of mu&/
gloves^ faiKsr, snuff-boxes, smd nngs. But this did
not satisfy his Eminence, for he would have the
Queen and me to accept of jewels. The Queen's
Wds a string» mounted in the Spanish style» of
emerakls ami diamonds» wwth fifteen hundred
pistoles, and mine eight hundred. Her Majesty
did not think sh^ should carry her complaisance
to ofie of her subjects so far as to accept such<
a g^ft; and as to myself, I have for a loi^ time
announced tiiat I would accept nothing, so that'
the Cardinal was obliged ta submit to the QueenV
will» and that of her camerard moffùt^ at which her

VOL. III. L

I4& XETTERS OF THE

was a little mortified/ but he must have patience.
The Duke of. Orleans is preparing to depart for
"Versailles next Saturday, after adopting! all possi*^
ble measures, to procure the sujp plies which this
country can furnish. Biit allow me to tell you,
that if M. de Chamillard suffers the French
troops to want in future as they have done, all
will be lost, the truth of which •assertion, his
Royal Highness will but too well confirm. He
assures us, that he will not be long absent, . at
wKich I am very glad, and should be still more so
if you sent him back well satisfied, for he certainly
deserves some respect to be paid him, and he is
not the first Prince who has desired some distinc-
tldns for certain persons, which in fact render
them neither more estimable or despicable. But
it is certain, that it enables them more easily to
leave them, when God touches the heart» of their
protectors, or when the strength of reason gets
the better of their weaknesses. You will, perhaps,
scold me for harping upon this string, but you
haVe accustomed me to conceal nothing from you
that comes- into my mind. . We have heard that.,
the King has given the government of Limosin
to Marshal de Berwick, at which I am truly; glad,
because this mark of favour could not be bestowed
upon one who deserves it better. The Marshal

has told me of it, ar^ I learnt by one of his letters
ûAé morning, that he will be here the day after
tomorrow. .1 .could very much . wish him . ta

PRIKCBS8 jy&ê UMINS« 147

rémain in Spain, an<} that instead of going to see
hjis lady, he would return to the command of thé
army, which will certainly be awkwardly situated
without a general, and principally because the
enemy are reinforcing theirs with nine or ten
thousand men, which they are sending by sea into
Catalonia. I cannot even conceive, how it could
enter into the brain of so sensible a man as Mon-
seigneur, to lose sight of the French and Spa-
niards, whom he knows by experience have occa-
sion for a commander of influence. I shall have
the honour of giving him my candid opinion, and
he may afterwards act as he pleases. I am as
sorry as you can be at the fresh affair between
the lady of Marshal de Noailles and the Duke de
Bouillon ; she had no need of the exercise it will
give her to make her blood circulate, since it is
in a continual state of agitation. The Duke de
Noailles, who knows so well how to blend vivaci»
ty with moderation, must reconcile once for all
these two houses together, since he is the most
capable of doing so, if it be practicable. ' I am
not astonished that you take such an affectionate
interest in so estimable and amiable anepheviras
he is. I could wish you to see all the letters which
he wôtes to us . here, and the good account be
sends of the occurrences in Catalonia, as nothing
can be more sensible* or connected ; ^ would
to God the King had many subjects like him !
^he would be better sex:ved, and you would have

148 LBTTERS OF TH£

fi^irer enemies. I ccmclude, in order to have tke
honour of writing to the Duchess of Burgundy,
therefore I make no apologies, since I take leav^
of you, for a person who is dearer to you than
yourself.

LETTER CXII.

TO THE SAM£.

Madrid, December 18tb, 1707.

We witnessed with regret, the departure of the
Puke of Orleans this morning, although he pro*
mised their Majesties that he should not be long
absent. Marshal de Berwick would also insist
on setting out; and he left us four hours before
his Royal Highness. The King and Queen used
their best efforts to prevent him from absenting
himself from the army ; thinking that the Frew^
and Spaniards, who compose it, have need of a
general like him, to keep by his influence the
troops to their duty, but nothing could stop him ;
alleging as an excuse, that no mischief could
happen during his absence. Nothing appeared
of the pretended misunderstanding between his
Royal Highness and him, and they spoke of each

PRXlfCfiSS DM UB81KS. 14d

otiier US they ought ; their views are not alwayist
the same^ as you will have perceived, with respect
to the siege of Lerida, but teing of different opi^
nions, should not prevent them from being friends ;
especially when the inferior . officer knows hoi*^
to pay proper respect to his superior, as does my
lord. The King will^ certainly talk over matters
with his Royal Highness and him, with respect
to past and future operations ; his Majesty will
explain his sentiments clearly, and form a better
opinion than any one, and whether there be any-
thing to correct in the measures which have
been adopted. The Duke of Orleans will repre-
sent to you, the King and Queen, as T have had
the honour to speak of them, and it is certainly
much to be regretted, that a king who possesses
every good quality that one could wish, is so diffi^
dent of himself as ours ; for he has only to speak
out boldly what he thinks, to obtain admiration.
His Royal Highness conversed with him in a very
sprightly manner, which gave me great pleasure,
because it seemed to exhilarate him, which he
has occasion for. If the Queen and I were not
éo cheerful, the King would be still more serious,
for certainly the Spaniards of his court possess
a gravity of character ill calculated to make him
throw it off; they are far from being jocular, and
1?rhen they attempt to be so, they excite an incli-
nation for grief, rather than laughter. We shall
have a comedy to-morrow, which will last four

iM Z.£TTfia$ OF THE :

hours ; it is in celebration of the King's birth-day,
I could wish the Duchess of Burgundy, and the
Princess of England, might see such a one at
Versailles, in addition to the diversion of hunting ;
the opera, good eating, and keeping untimely
hours ; the last of which I cannot pardon in our
Princess, although she [may be offended at me,
for she will certainly destroy her health, as well
as her beauty, which will drive her to despair.
She wrote to the Queen, by the last post, that you
had a very bad sick head-ache, which prevented
you from writing ; although a painful complaint,
from its not being dangerous, I am less sorry
that you have it sometimes, rather than the fever.
I hope that since it has left you in repose for three
months, you will not have it for a long time again.
The capture of Morella will, moreover, strengthen
your health, that being a place very necessary to
us. If M. de Chamillard can, next year, provide
money for the payment of the troops, you will
doubtless see Spain in a good state, the Portu-
guese much embarrassed, and the Archduke un-
deceived. An agreement has just been madevidth
the Marquis de Santiago for six months ; which
will prevent the troops from dying of hunger. It
was of the greatest consequence to induce this man
to accede to the measure; he has already advanced
two or three millions of francs, and therefore
deserves to be treated with good faith by M. de
Chamillard, for without this aid, all would have

FRXÎfÛESS DRS URftINS. l&l

been lost/ and he is the only and sole individuel
in Spain who could or would do what hè hai
iime. But in order to accomplish it, the King,
the Duke of Orleans, the ambassador^ aiid'^my
Lord,foundit necessary to use their powerful exer-
tions, thus acting in concert, for the public good,
and succeeding in their object. I congratulate
you upon it, and could wish that we had never
any thing but good news to communicate to each
other; for I assure you that I ought to be as
much alive to your * happiness, as to my own,
being more devoted to you than I have words to
express.

P;S. You are about to enjoy| g6od|^6ociety,
fiince the DUke de Nôaillés has informed me
tfcat he should soon be at Paris. He is one of
thé most amiable men I ever knew, therefore I

• » _

have doubted whether you could have more
affection for him than I have. It appears that
Ws mother has forgotten me. Do you notij'pity
thé poor Duchess d'Estreés, for losing her daugh-
ter, her only remainmg child: her understanding
civility, and goodness of heart, are sufficient to
niake me desire she were happier,'^ and [nothing,
ft appears to me, would more contribute to it
than the presence of the Abbé de Vaubrun, her
brother, whose disgrace has lasted a long time.
Pardon, I beseech you, Madam, the liberty I take,
of speaking to you on this .subject, as ray inten-

12B JLjÉTXBRi 0F mti

Ûxm 1B oér^fily not to dkple^a^ the ^V»g, 99A
I flatter myself that you will answer for m0.

Mow mis to enclose you a l^Uter f<v tbe PjwIw
4e Ncailles.

■*— ••

LETTER CXIU.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, December 25tb, 1 707*

I PIP not expect. Madam, after a truce of three
jnonth3> which you had made with the fever, tbftt
all the efifects you derive from it would be to
feel yourself languishing, whiqh you say you h^vç
beçn for some days. I hope you will soon regaiii
your strength, for I have abstained from thinking
things at the worst, as you know I give you no
quarter in regard to your gloomy thoughts,
because they kill you, and I cannot live without
you.

The Duke of Orleans, whose journey I had at
fir^t taken the liberty to oppose, chiefly because
I also feared that of M. dç Berwick's having
proqiised the King and Queen to return soop, |
do not think any mischief can result Irom it. His
^oyal Highness 4nay even oifer some expb^ft*

(icmt to tbe King, iram which his Majesty ^ili
givfi him the best advice for his goverameixt ia
thé next campaign» whether on the Portdguese
^de or that of Catalonia. The greatest good
fiDortune that could happen to us would be> that
tibe King should see everything very clearly ; for
without offending all the generals and ministers,
he knows more than they do, and his knowledge
aad prud^Dice would prevent many faults.

Ymi are very right in saying, that it often
happens that what we imagine we know, is quite
closed to what we are ignorant of; I am con*
vinoed of this, by the daily conversation of people
who are not in the secret» and who blame or
cpmplain without cause, and whp might soon foe
brought to reason, if prudence did not compel us
to be ùleut upon affairs which require secrecy ;
so that we hear ourselves sometimes condemned,
when we could make friends of our judges. You
will have often heard courtiers complaining of you
at the same moment that you have just rendered
them a service ; and others, perhaps, will have
thanked you, when you have done them neither
good nor harm. There is, therefore, if you are
to be believed^ only to endure much, be the envy
of every one, have patience, and increase, if
|M»sible, my affection for their Majesties ; and if
I did so I must be more siUy than I am, and, con-
sequeptly, shcoild take good care not to follow
your advice, as it would be too prejudicial to

154 LETTERS or THE :

me ; dad I will ^idearoar to make t&ê easming
year more auspicious than tbe past I. hove
already begun to divide my affections, by giving
à part of them to the Prince ci Asturias,
with .whom I have the honour to play ; and his
pleasing smiles consoles me very much for tbe
time I am absent from the Queen» which you will
scarcely believe, but nothing is nK)re true«

I do not know from what motive the King of
Spain has paid so much attention ' to your • last
lottery but having perused, and rë-^perused it^
several times, I doubt much whether it be not
to conclude his correspondence with !you ; and I
fear lest this war declared, should increase still
more in violence, and you give eteh other ^strange
blows.

What makes me apprehend it ; is, that his
Majesty makes a kind of mystery of it, and boasts
of knowing how to love better than any other
person : he has learnt under a master, since he
came out of the hands of the Duke de Beau*
villiers, safe and ^ound, who knows more than he
does on thia^ subject, as you very justly obseirve. :
' Your humility is carried very far, when you say,
that you are mistrustful, and even fearful,' lest I
should be displeased at your refusing me some-»
thing; lam, however, too vain to believe that
you would carry your complaisance to the length of
being in pain, not to grant me what I desire, since
I do myself tbe honour of submitting my wishes

PRINCESS IXES .UB6INS. 155

tb your more correct understanding, and it iu > in
moments, when I think I have less imperfeoti<m
about me ; insolence is unbecoming in every one»
and selfishness is oûe of the vilest defects that
we can have, but when they are joined to others
in the same person, it must be owned that he is
Imteful and despicable.

I have so agreeably surprised and delighted a
pierson this morning, by reading a passage in
your letter relative to him, (I allude to the
Marquis de Bay) that hé was ready to take post
to go and thank you for it in person; however,
he satisfied himself by intending to convey his
respectful' compliments by letter, from which I
prevented him,, by assuring him^ that it would
much diminish your esteem for him, that you
could not bear those who wrote to you, and that
you liked, still less, those to \Vhom you wrote.
He replied, ** What I have just heard. Madam,
appears to me very extraordinary; however, I
shall follow your advice, and " suppress my feel-
ings." This general only wishes to act for the
service of his master; he has always been for-
tunate in this country, and the Spaniards like him
extremely.

We shall, then, at length, see the Prince of
i^sturias decorated with the blue ribbon, not-
withstanding all your reflections on the uneasi-
ness that you think it will create here* The
Queen did me the honour of saying to mé, |i

156 LETTBM OF THE

àhort time ago, ih the King's presenoe: ^^it is
necessary» that it should appear in everything
and every where, that the royal house of France
reigns in this monarchy, to habituate some to it
by gentle means, others by force, and to make a
gradual mixture of these two nations, oaly dbtin-
guishable by name, and especially, never to inter-
marry our children, but with one another ; I have
never thought otherwise at any time/' This
Princess surprises still more by the goodness of her
heart, than the penetration of her mind, and I am
persuaded she will be one of the greatest Queens
who has occupied the throne. The ambassador
cannot conceal his astonishment, when he reflects
jupon all her admirable qualities, and asserts, ta
well as myself, that he does not know a fault in
her charcter. I ought no longer to incur your sus*
picions, after such eulogiums from a minister so
sensible as he is, and my new attachment to the
Prince of Asturias, which will in some measure
abate that for her Majesty.

It is possible that his Royal Highness may
have several different connections, and that those
who wish to divert him, have taught him to what
lengths folly may go, when they will have it, that
you and I are angry at the important conquesta^
which he has made ; this news, probably, comes
from the same quarter that made you so good a
friend of the Emperor, and me of Queen Anne
.and the Duke erf Savoy. M. d'Aubigny has not

PRIKCfiSS DSS URSUfS. 167

foiled td acquaint me of the honour wWck yoit
have done him, in permitting him to visit yon^ and
the kind manner in which you have talked of what
concerns me ; and I expect, when he retum^t,
which will be in a fortnight or three weeks» that
he will give me an account, withouit omitting a
word^ of everything you have satid, for he ap»^
peared to be so full of it» as not to let the least
eircumstance escape his memory, I : have some
difficulty in believing, but that you found it diffi*'
cult to detain him in your room, for reâpect would
induce him not to trespass upon your civilities,
and he must have thought, that he ought not to
have had so long an audience. Those with which
the King has honoured him, are fresh prootfe of
his Majesty's kindness, for which I very humbly
beseech you to offer him my respectful thanks.
I wait this gentleman's return, to know the parti-
cedars of^everything, as he writes to me wondem
respecting all he saw ; and from the Duchess of
Burgmïdy's person and mind, she appeared to
him one of the greatest wonders. The Queen
pities her very much, for her uneasiness at being
pregnant, and I am also sorry for it, on account of
her sufferings ; however, when I think of the ne-
cessity there is for her to have children, as well
as the Queen, all my pity vanishes, and I wish,
notwithstanding the indispositions they feel, that
th€^ may give birth to several princes. I pity
poor Madame^ de O. very much, for having wit^^

581 tJS.fTEtLn OF THE

ftessed her daughter's dangerous accouchement.
Instances^ of this kind do not alarm the Queen,
because, for one that is unfortunate there are a
thousand otherwise.

The pleasure 1 feel is inexpressible, wheneveï^
you assure me that the Duchess of Burguùdy
honours me c with her regards, and that she has
some partiality for me, for I am very anxious to
please her : her conversation is too insinuating
and witty, not to diffuse through her court what-
ever might be wanting in it ; and I think, that if
I had had the honour of paying mine to her more
frequently, she would have made me better com-
pany than I am. You have given a charming
description of the Duke of Burgundy to the Ca-
tholic King, and I am pleased with. myself in
recognizing it so natural ; it is indeed very for-
tunate to find, in so great a Prince, all the chris-
tian and royal virtues united. If these two
brothers are happy in having two such perfect
Princesses, the latter ought not to be less thankftil
to God, for having given them Princes endowed
with such good qualities. The death of M. Mo-
reau is a real loss, because he was a very honest
man, and affectionately attached to his master,
real worth being so rare in every station of life. I
tave heard much good of M. de Niert, therefore
I rejoice that he has made him his heir, provided
thé relations of the deceased did not stand in need
of his inheritance . ''

PBÏMC£S$ DES ITRIIKS. 159

I should be very sorry if the illness of Madame
de la Motte' increased» and I can easily conceive
the uneasiness of the Duchess de Yéntadour.
i The Duchesses de Beauvillars and de Cbevreu^e
are much to be pitied for losing so many relatives»
The Ârchibishop of B;€ue^ was still very you&g*
when he died ; I knew him formerly pretty well,
and hi» conversation appeared to me agreeable.
Madame de BeauvilUers^- her Husband and myself^
have kept up a singular intercourse since they, un-
dertook the charge of providing the Prince'ç ward-
robe. The Marquis de Torcy also writes to me
rather à&eu^ and I believe I am hot in bad favour
with .the whole of this family ; at least, I do what
I can to deserve the honour of talking to you
aboi|[t Marshal de Berwick, who returned to Ma--
drid four days ago. The King certainly could
not do better than to give him the order. If he
honestly says what he thinks of it, he would,
aigree that his presence was. absolutely necessary
at Valencia and in Arragon, - where his Majesty
has given him absolute authority, and where a.
thousand disorders take place, on account of
soldiers quarters and ill executed orders. Many
ecclesiastics. complain with and others withoyt
reason; these districts require to be governed with
firnine^, and without driving the people to
despair^ which cannot be done by mere lieutenant
generals, who are defici^t in. influence, and seldo/n
agree. in .opinion. A trifling afiair has ji^st h^p-

100' LETTSRs or mm

pcoscd^ whick has much dLsrpleaaad thé King': Ûke
regiixsent' c^ Louvigny has tigered iteélf to bé
surprised ia its quaartets, and six hundred and
fifty rneur of which it was composed, haine been
cat to pieces : it is saM that pt oper ptetf autioM»
had not been adopted j nearly two hui^red of
them have since returned ; you see that it is ndt
Gûïy to Frenchmen that these sort of misfortuiiies
happen^ and that mistakes ave ererywhete cobk-
mitted, for which reason I recur to mv first
opinion, which is, that whether it be wint^ oi^
mmmer a general should not leave the army,
peutieularly in districts which are not safe firom
ilt-intentioned people, unless it be on the most
important business £>r their sovereign; and as^^
my lord had not written a word upon the subject
to the Gathohc King, nor to any body else, of his
intention to go to Versailles, it was neceasary
that his Majesty,, learning it only through public
report, and being aware that his journey wookl»
be prejudicial to his service,, diould write dJbouik
it to tide King his* grandfather* i have spoken of
it on this gromid to my lord; as a real friend, and^
he listened to me as such. I could very much'
wish that there was between him and the am**
bassador, a perfect reciprocity of confidence; but
the Marshal does not seem to me disposed for it»
although they agree very well together, and act
for the public good. The Marshal told me,
when I did my best to persuade him to jit, that he

PBlllC£Sft dES ^MIKS. 161

tBXk never speak of busii^ss to M. Amelot, because
they differ in opinion, and that both are proud. I
do not know whether it is because I am a female,
that they evince nothing of it in my presence, or
whether it is not greater than they ought to pos-
sess ; but it as a fact that I have not perceived our
ambassador assume more haughty airs than be-
came him, nor that my lord was deficient in the
politeness due to the character with» which the
former is invested. You appeared to me formerly
surprised to hear pretended disagreements between
these two personages spoken of, but this cannot
be considered as such : however, I would give
a great deal if they had more confidence in each
other. I have thought it my duty to inform you.
Madam, of what is passing, although it is against
iny inclination, disliking to enter into particulars
of this nature, and only wishing for the tranquillity
and happiness of every body.

P.S. The ambassador has just told me, that
Marshal de Berwick had a conference with him
and some other persons, to arrange with the
Marquis de Santiago everything respecting the
^ovisions which the latter is to furnish, at which
i am muck pleased, since it shows a co-operati(m
^êo useful to the service. My lo;rd will set out
to-moiTow or the day after, and I hope everything
will go on prosperously. M.- Burlet, first physi-
cian to the King, has had a good journey. Their
Majesties have receited hiai well, and from what

VOL. III. M

102 IXTTBRfr OP TBS

we have seen of him hitherto, he is the pensoa
we required. He brought me a letter from JMf.
Fag[on, which contains too many things to his
advantage, for me not to be already prejudiced
in his favour. I could wish to have answered
him this post ; but after so long a missile as this,
I have no more leisure. The compliments on
the baptismal ceremony overwhelm me ; I pray
you, therefore, to be so good as to tell the first physi-
cian the reason which prevents me from answering
him, for I should be very sorry if, esteeming him
as I do, he should suspect me of any negligence
towards him.

LETTER CXIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, December 3 1st, 1707.

. The French post, which should have been here
the day before yesterday, has not yet arrived,
and to all appearance will not come this week^ ^t
which I am truly sorry, because you told me in
your last letter, that you had continued in a
debilitated state for some time, which gave me
pain, and also, the uncertainty of the Duchess of
Burgundy, as to her pregnancy ; and the chagrin

PRINCESS DES URSJKS. 163

which this Princess will expérience, if she l&nds
herself in that state, from being no longer able to
run about, to dance, and keep late hours, grieves
me ; but, on the other hand, I could wish her to
have another Prince, for, in truth/ it is no great
thing to have only one, and I hope that our two
Princesses will not, in this respect, be niggardly
to France and Spain. The one we have here is
continually increasing in strength, and M. Burlet
is very well satisfied "with him.

The King received, this morning, tolerably good
news of Catalonia from the governor of Rosas,
and a son of the Duke d'Huescar, who was
prisoner at Barcelona, and is returned from it. I
doubt not but the Duke de Noailles has received
it also. These two individuals assert, that the
capture of Leridahas thrown the enemy into great
consternation ; that a shot has been fired into the
carriage of Count d'Orompera, in the evening,
with the intention of killing the Archduke's Secre-
tary of State, who was thought to be in it ; that
this Prince, having commanded Italian plays to
bè performed, the populace had pelted the win-
dows with stones ; and, what is still worse, there
was scarcely any more com, and that there
would be none at all, if they did not procure some
jGrom Roussillon. I do not think the King would
be so complaisant towards the Catalonians, unless
the same boats which took them this succour
brought back the Archduke by way of payment ;

u 2

156 LETTI1I8 OF THE

short time ago, iù the King's pretence: ^^it i$
necesssffy, that it should appear in everything
and every \rfaere» that the royal house of France
reigns in this monardiy, to habituate some to it
by gentle means, others by force, and to make a
gradual mixture of these two nations, oolj distin*
guishable by name, and especially, never to inter-
marry our children, but with one another ; I have
never thought otherwise at any time." This
Princess surprises still more by the goodness of her
heart, than the penetration of her mind, and I am
persuaded she will be one of the greatest Queens
who has. occupied the throne. The ambassador
cannot ccmceal his astonishment, when he reflects
jupon all her admirable qualities, and asserts, us
well as myself, that he does not know a fault in
her charcter. I ought no longer to incur your sus*
picions, after such eulogiums from a minister so
sensible as he is, and my new attachment to the
Prince of Âsturias, which will in some measure
abate that for her Majesty.

It is possible that his Royal Highness may
have several different connections, and that those
who wii^ to divert him, have taught him to what
lengths folly may go, when they will have it, that
you and I are angry at the important conquests
which he has made ; this news, probably, comes
from the same quarter that made you so good a
friend of the Emperor, and me of Queen Anne
.and the Duke of Savoy. M. d'Aubigny has not

PRIKCSSi DS8 VR8IKS. 167

finiled td acqwdnt me of the honour which yoor
have done him» in permitting him to visit you^ and
the kind manner in which you have talked of what
concerns me ; and I expect» when he retum^^
wbidi will be in a fortnight or three weeks» that
be will give me an account» withoitt cHSiitting a
word» of everything you have ssiid» for he ap*«
peared to be so full of it», as not to let the least
eircumstance escape his memory» I have some
dffîcul^ in believing» but that you found it diffi-^
cult to detain him in your room» foa* respect would
induce him not to trespass upon your civilities»
and he must have thought» that he ought not to
have had so long an audience. Those with which
the King has honoured him» are fresh prooi& of
his Majesty's kindness» for which I very hmnbly
beseech you to offer him my respectful thanks»
I wait this gentleman's return» to know the parti-
cidars of ^everything» as he writes to me wondem
respecting all he saw ; and from the Duchess of
Burgunidy's person and mind» she appeared to
him one. of the greatest wonders. The Queen
pities her very much» for her uneasiness at being
pregnant» and I am also sorry for it» on account of
her sufferings ; however» when I think of the ne-
cessity there is for her to have children» as well
as the Queen» all my pity vanishes» and I wish»
notwithstanding the indispositions they feel» that
thfty may give birth to several princes. I pity
poor Madame* de O. very much» for having wit->

581 i;£TTEllt OF t»£

nesfied Her daughter's dangerous accouchement.
Instances^ of this kind do not alarm the Queen,
because, for one that is unfortunate there are a
thousand otherwise.

The pleasure I feel is inexpressible, whenever
you assure me that the Duchess of Burgundy
honours me < with her regards, and that she has
some partiality for me, for I am very anxious to
please her : her conversation is too insinuating
and witty, not to diffuse through her court what-
ever might be wanting in it ; and I think, that if
I had had the honour of paying mine to her more
frequently, she would have made me better com-
pany than I am. You have given a charming
description of the Duke of Burgundy to the Ca-
tholic King, and I am pleased with . myself in
recognizing it so natural; it is indeed yery for-
tunate to find, in so great a Prince, all the chris-
tian and royal virtues united. If these two
brothers are happy in having two such perfect
Princesses, the latter ought not to be less thankful
to God, for having given them Princes endoM^ed
with such good qualities. The death of M. Mo-
reau is a real loss, because he was a very honest
man, and affectionately attached to his master,
real worth being so rare in every station of life. I
tave heard much good of M. de Niert, therefore
I rejoice that he has made him his heir, provided
thé relations of the deceased did not stand in need
of his inheritance. ':

FRiKCBSIf BE8 ITRtlKS. 169

I should bevery sorry if the illness of Madame
de la Motte increased, and I can easily conceive
the uneasiness of the Duchess de Véntadour.
i The Duchesses de Beauvillars and de Cbevreu^fe

•

are much to be pitied for losing so many relatives,
'f he ÂrchJbishop of R«ueii was still very youttg*
when he died ; I knew him formerly pretty well,
and hi» conversation appeared to me agreeable*
Madame de BeauviHiers^- her -husband and inyself,.
have kept up a singular intercourse since they, un-
dertook the charge of providing the Prince'^ ward-
robe. The Marquis de Torcy also writes to db^
rather oâen, and I believe I am not in bad favoiir
with .the whole of this family ; at least, I do what
I can to: deserve the honour of talking to. you
about Marshal de Berwick, who returned to Ma-
drid four days ago. The King certainly could
not do better than to give him the order. If he
honestly isays what he thinks of it, he vvould,
agree that his presence was. absolutely necessary
at Valencia and in Arragon, - where his Majesty
has given him absolute authority, and where a
thousand disorders take place, on account of
sioldiers quarters and ill executed orders. Many,
ecclesiastics ' conxplain with and others without
reason; these districts require to be governed with
firmness, and without driving the people to
despair^ which cannot be done by mere lieutenant
generals, who are deficiebt in influence, and seldom
agreein^c^mpn. A trifling afiair has just h^p-

100 LETTSRS OW THB

pcoscdr which has much dLsrpleaaad thé King': tke
regifiseat c^ Louvigny hm tigered itseLT to bé
surprised ia its qusortets, and six hundred and
fifty rneur of which it was composed, have been
cat to pieces : it is said that proper precautions»
had not been adopted; nearly two hundred of
them have since returned ; you see that it is ndt
(miy to Frenchmen that these sort of misfortunes
happen^ and that mistakes aie eyerywhete cob^
mitted, for which reason I recur to mv first
opinion, which is, that whether it be wint^or
fifummer a general should not leave the army,
peutieularly in districts which are not safe firom
ill-intentioned people, unless it be on the most
important business £>r their sovereign ; and as^'
my lord had not written a word upon the subject
to the Catholic King, nor to any body else, of his
intention to go to Versailles, it was necesisary
that his Majesty,^ learning it only through public
report, and being aware that his journey would^
be prejudicial to his service,, diould write about
it* to the King his' grandfather* i have spoken of
it on this gromid to my lord^ as a real friend, and^
he listened to me as such. I could very mueh>
wish that there was between him and the am**
bassador, a perfect reciprocity of confidence ; bat
the Marshal does not seem to me disposed for it^
although they agree very well together, and act
fi>r the public good. The Marshal told me,
when I did my best to persuade him to jit, that he

PBIUCESS dBS lirMlKS. 161

can tiev^rspeakof business to M. Amelot, because
tbey differ in opinlou, aud that both are proud. I
do not know whether it is because I am a female,
that they evince nothing of it in my presence, or
whether it is not greater than they ought to pos-
sess ; but it as a fact that I have not perceived our
ambassador assume more haughty airs than be-
came him, nor that my lord was deficient in the
politeness due to the character with» which the
former is invested. You appeared to me formerly
surprised to hear pretended disagreements between
these two personages spoken of, but this cannot
be considered as such : however, I would give
a great deal if they had more confidence in each
other. I have thought it my duty to inform you.
Madam, of what is passing, although it is against
xay inclination, disliking to enter into particulars
of this nature, and only wishing for the tranquillity
and happiness of every body.

P.S. The ambassador hajs just told me, that
Marshal de Berwick had a conference with him
and some other persons, to arrange with the
Marquis de Santiago everything respecting the
proviens which the latter is to furnish, at which
i am mu<À pleased, since it shows a co-operati(m
v.fio useful tù the service. My lofd will set out
to-morrow or the day after, and I hope everything
will go on prosperously. M. Burlet, firgt physi-
cian to the King, has had a good journey. Their
Majesties have receited him well, and from wh^

VOL. III. M

102 IXTTBRfr OP TBS

LETTER CXIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, December 3 1st, 1707.

•

. The French post, which should have been here
the day before yesterday, has not yet arrived,
and to all appearance will not come this week, at
which I am truly sorry, because you told me in
your last letter, that you had continued in a
debilitated state for some time, which gave me
pain, and also, the uncertainty of the Duchess of
Burgundy, as to her pregnancy ; and the chagrin

PRINCESS DES URSIKS. 163

which this Princess will expetience, if she l&nds
herself in that state, fix)m being no longer able to
run about, to dance, and keep late hours, grieves
me; but, on the other hand, I could wish her to
have another Prince, for, in truth, it is no great
thing to have only one, and I hope that our two
Princesses will not, in this respect, be niggardly
to France and Spain. The one we have here is
continually increasing in strength, and M. Burlet
is very well satisfied "with him.

The King received, this morning, tolerably good
news of Catalonia from the governor of Rosas,
and a son of the Duke d'Huescar, who was
prisoner at Barcelona, and is returned from it. I
doubt not but the Duke de Noailles has received
it also. These two individuals assert, that the
capture of Leridahas thrown the enemy into great
consternation ; that a shot has been fired into the
carriage of Count d'Orompera, in the evening,
with the intention of killing the Archduke's Secre-
tary of State, who was thought to be in it ; that
this Prince, having commanded Italian plays to
bè performed, the populace had pelted the win-
dows with stones ; and, what is still worse, there
was scarcely any more com, and that there
would be none at all, if they did not procure some
from Roussillon. I do not think the King woul4
be so complaisant towards the Catalonians, unless
the same boats which took them this succour
brought back the Archduke by way of payment ;

u 2

164 LETTERS OK THE

in which cftse it appears to me, that the bargain
would not be a bad one, as it would be cruel to
let them die of hunger. You, then. Madam, who
are so averse to fonning new acquaintances, and
who only do so from the fear of me, might well
incur my indignation, if you did not receive this
Prince jn your room with Mesdames d'Hudicourt,
de Dangeau and de Saint Geran. I will not, how*
ever, be responsible to you for his not getting
weary, however good the company he may meet
with there, unless every one brought him some
little agnus Dei to build altar pieces, and you had
large rosaries suspended to your waists, for there
is no other amusement or devotion with which
he is so much affected. The King of Portugal
being, thank God, so like him, I am not astonished
they are such good friends, and could only wish
the Duke of Savoy had the same taste ; our affairs
would then be more prosperous, but unfortunately,
their pursuits are different, and the Duke scarcely
shows his external devotion ; for which reason, I
know not whence the report originated s>f his
Royal Highness having become a devotee, nor the
objects of such reports, of which I hear no more^
I think the Duke of Orleans must, by this time,
have arrived in Paris. This letter. Madam, is, I
think, pretty long for one who thought she had
nothing to write about, and is a good proof of tht
pleasure I feel, when I have the honour of address-
ing you : I shall never forget that which I en-

PRINCESS DE$ URSIXS. 165

joyed, when you were pleased to allow me a seat
near you in your snug corner, nor all the kind*
nesses with which you continually honour me.

LETTER CXV.

TO THE SAME.

Buen Retiro, October 14th, 170^*

Indeed, Madam, we have need of patience to
sustain ourselves, and not be depressed with grief
at the untoward events which happen at a time
when least expected. — We were given to under-
stand that a position had been taken, so as to pre-
vent the enemy from receiving ammunition or
provisions, and it was said that if this measure had
been sooner adopted, the siege of Lisle would,
ere this, have been raised, yet the army, however
numerous it may be, has suffered a convoy of five
hundred waggons to pass^ and furnish the means
of continuing the siege !

■^■^■«iaaWiV-i^

* Nine months' correspondence of this year, during which the
interchange, of letters hetween Madame de Maintenon and the
Princess des Ursins was very regular, are missing, as may > he ob-
served from the letters of the Princess, lap to the end of November
of thia year.— JVQ<(r of^ otigiwi manusmpt.

166 LETTEES OF THE

Count de la Motte was too weak to impede its
progress, and he experienced a check which
might have been avoided, had the reinforcement
which was sent to him arrived sooner ; but it was
sent off too late, although it might have been
foreseen that convoys would come on that side.
Such are the reasonings of men, and not mine, for
I should be very sorry to fall into the same error
as women do who talk of war. The Chevalier de
Luxembourg has conducted his march well, and
Marshal de Boufflers must have given him a
hearty reception, as it is asserted that he began to
want powder; it is to be wished that he may
have enough to make such afire as will discourage
Marlborough from finishing what Prince Eugene
had commenced, and that better measures may be
adopted in future, which may compel his lordship
to abandon his enterprize. Good heavens! Madam,
how much the King is to be pitied, and what a
source of unhappiness the Duchess of Burgundy
^nd you must have! The devotion of this
Princess exceeds that of the generality of
people ; and although the prayer, which she offers
up at night, before the holy Sacrament, cannot but
be very acceptable to the Almighty, since she de-
prive§ herself of her natural rest for this purpose,
yet I think they would be heard with compla-
cency, were she to make them by her bed-side
with the same fervency, and that he does not re-
quire any efforts destructive of her health, which is

PR1NCS8S DES UIll^lNS. 167

SO necessary. I can easily conceive that her days
are shortened, and that the expectation of it does
not allow her to go out :. she has no other solace
than that of the conversation of the King, and an
amiable friend as aflFectionately attached to her as
you are. I should prefer the court removing to
Marly, instead of remainingat Versailles, because
it appears to me, that a species of liberty is found
there, which alleviates grief a little, besides the
pleasantness of the walks. We have nothing
here that is amusing, while we have to suffer every-
thing which you suffer, with still sadder anticipa-
tions of the future, but we must endeavour to bear
everything with patience.

Count de Marsin is of a family, the members
of which must expect to die of apoplexy, and
his short neck should prepare him for it. I think
that Madame de Saint-Geran begins to recover ;
but I am sorry that she has not yet strength enough
to return to court ; I am very much so for the
death of the Count de Fiesque ; M. de Noirmon-
tier and myself always loved him as a brother :
his conversation was very agreeable^ and he was
an honest man at heart ; my brother has lost in
him a ffiend whom he can never replace, and
whose services he required in his present situation.
I did not know that Marshal de Noailles had
experienced a relapse, nevertheless, you write to
tell me, that he is so ill as to occasion great unea-
siness to all his family, whichi feel as much as they

168 X.ETTEKS OF THK

do, because I kave always sincerely esteemed and
honoured him, and I know that no person is niore
attached to you than he is, which is an additional
reason for my being still more anxious for his
recovery. What would become of his lady if she
bad the misfortune to lose him ?

Cardinals d'Estrées and Janson are at an age
liable to indispositions ; I wish, at least, that they
may not be dangerous.

The Duchess of Orleans has not much to sacri-
iSce in becoming a devotee, except her indolence.
The virtue she has always possessed, and her
sweet disposition, will naturally incline her to
adopt this mode of life : it is thought she will soon
have the satisfaction of seeing her husband again ;
it is not known whether his Royal Highness will
first come to take leave of their Majesties, but I
know that they would be very jilad for him to
visit Madrid in his way, and that they would fed
slighted by this Prince, if he departed without
bidding them adieu, but I cannot think he will.
The Duchess de Roquelaure has acted like a
good mother, in taking charge of the Prince de
Leon. It is clear, from the grief of the Duke de
Ex>han, that good blood cannot belie itself, and it
appears to me, that his lady would have done
better to follow his example, than to suffer herself
to be so importuned to see her son. There
is, as it appears, something a little extraor-
dinary in the proceedings of all these parsons.

PR|]fQ£Sà ÛB8 URS^NS. 169

althotigb^ ia other resfiecta, théy we not destitute
of merit.

LETTER CXVL

1*0 THE SAME.

Bft^n Retiro, October 22cly 1708.

How will the family of de NoaiUesbe distracted^
Madam» in losing so good a fatJber and so honest
a man as the Marshal was? — It will, I fe^r^
render them inconsolable ! What a s^ht it must
have been to see him die, in the midst of so many
persons, who would willingly have saved his life by
the sacrifice of their own i Whata source of grief to
you, to witness the departure of so devoted a friend,
and who was so grateful for your kindnesses ! What
a painful duty for the Cardinal to assist a brother in
his last moments ! and what a cruel affliction for
the Marshal's Lady and the Duchess de Quiche, to
see themselves deprived for ever of him whom
they afiectionately loved ! Indeed I cannot ima-
gine to myself» so melancholy a catastrophe, with*
out shedding tears. I greatly pity the Duke de
NoaiUes, whose goodness of heart I know^ and who
will sensibly feel the loss he has just sustained.
How deserving of praise the Duchess of Burgundy
is for everything she does I Is there any thing
deficient in her sentiments, which makes her act
like private individuals, in forgetting her noik^

170 LETTEE8 OF THE

when it is In question, to gire proofs of her friend-
ship to those whom she honours with her good
opinion. This great Princess, by such engaging
manners, will gain all hearts, which will be a
source of satisfaction to you, for I am persuaded
she will attribute to you a great share of the
approbation she may receive, when she thinks of
everything, great, good, and christian-likë with
which you have inspired her mind ; but I also
believe, that your modesty will prevent you from
receiving any of it, on your own account. You
make me tremble by the information, that you
have a slow fever, and that you fall "away ; I
flattered myself that your health, notwithstanding
all your chagrin, was not so bad as usual, and I
hoped that it would be completely re-established,
if the siege of Lisle was raised ; but, unfortunately,
you tell me the reverse, which is to me a new source
of cruel uneasiness, for indeed I have so firmly
attached myself to you, that I suffer sensibly
from whatever may cause you any pain. If it is
certain that the enemy have been repulsed in
their last attacks, as it is asserted, they may
probably be discouraged, especially as their sol-
Biers are very much fatigued, and their army
greatly diminished ; in that case, all the affairs
of Flanders would assume a different aspect ;
the Diike of Burgundy would go and dry up the
tears of his lady, and restore to you some tranquil-
lity. AH this appears very possible, and we

PRINCESS DE» UftaiVS. 171

must refrain from despondency^ since there are sty
many instances of things, which were thought to
be at the worst, becoming again the best in a
moment. It is fortunate that Marshal de Boufflers
is satisfied with his officers, concord being so
necessary for the good of the service. The admi-
ration of this general is not less in our court
than in yours, and his merit cannot be too much
extolled ; it elevates him far above the weaknes^^es
of the greatest part of other men, and which we
experience on our side so frequently. How un-
fortunate it is for kings not to be able to do every*
thing themselves ! His Majesty being betrayed
by several of his subjects, on whom he had
relied as being the most loyal, had showered upon
them favours and honours, witness the brother of
Count de Xifuentes, whom he had just made agran-
dee in Sardinia, and who went over to the Arch-
duke, without any other motive than that of com-
mitting an infamous action. The governor of Port
Mahon is little better, since he lost so important
a post either by cowardice or treason; but he came
nevertheless to Carthagena, with as careless an
air as if he expected to be well received in Spain.
What adds still more to our afflictions is, that M. de
la Jonquiére, with the battalion which he com-
manded, has, together with our poor Frenchmen^
been basely treated by the enemy, they having
broken the capitulation which he made with them,
and which the ambassador will send to the King ; it

\ 173 LGTTSK8 OF THB

18 an extraordmary aff^^ and cmght to be well
looked into. The Duke de Ncaîlles» who was
apprehensive for tius place, despatched a courier
kere with the information that the fleet was about
to attack it, and I csinnot help saying that hia
attenti(Hi and foresight are really admirable for
his age. The King and Queen highly distinguisii
and esteem him, as a valuable friend. I revert again,
to the loss of Port Mahon, which is of great con-
sequence for our two Kings, because it will expose
liie trade by sea, and alarm our coasts^ I have
already dwelt too much upon this afflicting
subject, but there is no posàbiGty of introducing
cheerfulness into the correspondence which I
have with you, unless P rovidence puts forth an
assisting hand ; meanwhile, I do not fail to find
relief from what I write to you, being persuaded
that I unbosom myself to the sincerest friend I
have, isind to whom I am most devoted.

LETTER CXVIL

TO TH£ SAME.

Gueo Retiro, October 2Sth, 1708.

Pbrmit me, Madam, to tell you, that I do not
comprehend why you think Lisle will be lost^
if it is true that M. de Marlborough wants pro*

PRINCESS 0£s uiistirs. 173

visions» whick is probable fiom ikt steps be hn
taken to secure tlie passing of the convoy, which
he has no^ been able to effect, and that tibie Dukft
of Burgundy adopts erery measure that ought to
be taken, of which there can be no doubt, to
frustrate the enemy's designs; the above is all
^t I shall observe upon this subject. The
King of Spain speaks of nothing else, at which
I am not surprised, for he is sufficiently interested
in it, and he always flatters himself that the
large army which his brother commands, will
ultimately obtain advantages over one that is so
much diminished, and which must be gœatly
eachausted. His Majesty, who fears nothings
always thinks that bold actions should be at-
tempted, and that they are oftener crowned with
success than a more cautious system. I^is
Prince, from what is said, has a great talait for
war, and reasons upon it as justly as if he had
more experience. Prince Eugene has eattrioated
himself with little loss : it appears to mie, diat
neither he nor Marlb<»*ough fall asleep, and thait
they do not fear us so much as I could wish«
The death of the Countess de Soissons will not,
I think, be regretted by many persons; but I
think, however, that the lady of the Constable
Colonna, will feel it as much as she is capable of
doing, for I saw while at Barcelona that she liked
her very much, but she may have altered h^ mind
on removing to another country. I shall inform

174 LETTERS OF THE

yon, since you order me, of what you wish to know
respecting the Duke of Orleans, but it will not be
by this post, because it is necessary to see the
answers, which his Royal Highness will give to
their Catholic Majesties, as well as myself, in or-
der the better to afford you information : I can say
beforehand, that his Royal Highness has reason
to be satisfied with all my proceedings, having
endeavoured only to gratify him, and to show
him my respectful attachment. The King and
Queen, on their side, have done all in their power
to give him proofs of their friendship and gra-
titude. It would be lamentable, after all this,
to imagine that he had cause for dissatisfaction.
The life which the Elector passes at Compiegne
would be more agreeable, than that which our
Princes lead, if he could have his mind sufficiently
at ease on affairs which so peculiarly interest him ;
but I doubt whether he relishes very tranquilly
the pleasures of the chase, and wheUier he again
finds in Madame 4'Arco the same faculty of
amusing him, which he formerly enjoyed. It is,
however, asserted that his Royal Highness always
continues his confidence in those ladies to whom
he has once given it I have been told that the
Chevalier de Bavaria is very handsome.

The Prince de Vaudemont has acquainted me
with the dangerous illness of his lady, and that^
the physicians assured him it has relieved her
from several bad humours, and that her life will be

PRiKôns DES uHstirSé 17*5

prolonged many years. The Duchess. d'Elbœof
is about to. visit a very prudent and estimable
daughter, a widow, young and beautiful ds this
Princess ; her good conduct is hitherto worthy
of praise, and I : think she would know how to
act - in future, although her mother should not
give her any advice. I think that the pension}
which the King of Spain has allowed her will be
out of the best securities there are, and I assure
you that I use every effort in her behalf* Nothing
appears to me better than the Duchess of Burr
gundy's answer to Monseigneur, in your rpom»
when she said that she was in a tremor lest the
Duke of Burgundy should march againjst thfs
enemy, and with the fear lest he should not; but
what delights me still more is, that the Princess
is not aware of all the value of this observation,
for it would be diminished if she had maturely
premeditated it ; as it is much better proceeding
from the heart, than the head. I received the
Queen of England's letter, which you did me the
honour to forward ; but it is not of recent date,
that I have been accustomed to receive . proofs of
her extreme kindness, and I should be too happy
if I could deserve to be honoured by her in future»
by a still more difficult proof than that which I have
just now given of my faithful and respectful
attachment. Her Majesty will always find me
sincere and without disguise, as I shall be with
you, for it would be impossible, npt to tell yqu

176 ISTTEaS OF TBS

canâidly my Aoaghts» although tfaey should even
be to my disadvantage ; after this firaak avowal*
should I not be in the ri^t to reproach you for
the question you ask me, with a very seriow air,
respecting the ennui which your letters occasion ?
In whatever style they are written, they can only
. be honourable and valuable to nte, and I find a
species of consolation, or rather a pleasing melan-
dioly, even in your most gloomy expressions :
they added to my joy formerly, full of sportive-
ness and delicate raillery, which is your forte,
alone; in fine, all is good bek)nging to them;
oontinue then to honour me with them as you
have hitiberto done.

LETTER CXVIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, November 4th, 1708.

I DO not knovtr. Madam, how to answer what
you do me the honour of writing to me, since all
appears to me incomprehensible, as much on
account of the defence made by Marshal de Bouf-
âers, as because the enemy's convoy was not
{Mfevented from passing. 1 could not, p^aps,
avoid speaking improperly, if I meddled ia so
important a matter, and which aurpasses my com-

PRIN08SS DE8 VaSIlfS. 177

pr^ènsion ; I had better, therefore, be silent and
kee^ to myself tlie mortal chagrin of sefeing that
we are losing ourselves in a conjuncture* which
would naturally change everything in our favour,
if Ive knew how to profit by it : this is, in truth,
9, very cruel case. The King s letters to his
atobassador do not alleviate our sufferings, as you
may conceive ; he will render an account to his
Majesty of the feelings of the King and Queen,
which aire as they ought to be on such an occasion ;
therefore I have nothing mote to add, except that
their Majesties will never suffer themselves to be
depressed by bad fortune, and that they will always
have the fortitude to sustaiii it, y^hout apprehend-
ing anything unworthy of their descent. Nothing
appears to me nobler and more correct than your
manner of thinking, to tell the most unpleasant,
truths in private to our sovereigns^ and to
defend their conduct aqd interests to the last in
public : this is the way, in which they ought to
be loved, but it is rarely the case, and if it were
less so, the generality of princes would be better
âerved than they are, and would not commit the
mistakes which they often do. Marshal de Villeroi
is truly unfortunate in having lost his wife, who
was a very sensible woman, and might have con-
soled him in his misfortunes. You have no dif-
ficulty in persuading me, that you feel it^ kind
and generous as I know you to be ; it will not be
aoea&y for you to make me believe, that he no

VOL. III. N •

178 LETTERS OF THE

longer considers you as his friend. He must have
very much altered since the conversations he had
with M. d'Aubigny at Paris, for I protest to you
the Marshal said the same that I think of you ;
having repeated to him, several times, that he
never knew a woman who had so much intellect,
uprightness, accomplishments, nobleness, and
goodness as yourself.

I am very sorry for the situation of the Countess
dé Beuvron ; I was under essential obligations to
her, of which I shall speak to you more at large
ât another opportunity.

Do not you think, Madam, that you will have
too many Queens in Fraôce, if the Queen of
Poland is going to fix at Tours ? When I was at
Rome, there was no probability of her taking that
step ; although she was not her own mistress, she
kept a numerous court, and it appears to me, that
unless she had taken the resolution of absolutely
shutting herself up in a convent, it would suit
her better than the court which the shopkeepers
will pay to her in the city she has chosen for
her residence, tmless she still thinks herself
Mademoiselle d*Arquien. His Majesty sometimes
does me the honour of writing to me, and enclos-
ing me his letters to their Catholic Majesties.
Enclosed is another letter for the Duke de JNToailles,
which I very humbly beg you to forward. I am
more and more confirmed in the good opinion
which I entertain of the Duke, because I discover

1>RINCËSS DES URSIlfS» 179

\n him the capacity and prudence of one who has
skilfully managed various afiairs^ and the vivacity
and sprightliness so requisite for agreeable conver*
sation. If I can be of any service to the Irish lady
whoin you honour with your protection, I will
neglect no opportunity of promoting her wishes.
I would do more difficult things to convince you of
my respectful attachment.

LETTER CXIX,

TO THE SAME,

Madrid, November 12th, 17Ô8» .

The capture of Lisle, Madam, has not failed to
astonish this court, although Marshal de Boufflers
defended it so long, and Was so hard pressed,
because we always flattered ourselves that the
enemy would want provisions, or that our army
would compel them to raise a siege, which was
carrying on in their presence. God has been
pleased to order otherwise, and he has permitted
divisions amongst our generals, to prevent thecn
from adopting good measures till it was too late;
one cannot help saying that it is a heart-breaking
event, and that one can no longer distinguish . in
it the character of our nation, so different froiû
what it was formerly ! Glory was then the inr
^eiltive to action, whereas, at the present day, it

K 2

180 LETTSaS OF THE

scarcely seems susceptible of that sentiiûeat» and
aspires to nothing more than an indolent existence»
t)r the enjoyment of pleasures very much opposed
to its duty. Count Berjeyeck thinks that if good
measures were adopted, we might yet conclude
the campaign fortunately, but everything depends
on this. It is not conceived here that Marshal
de Berwick advises that the enemy should be
bought off, after the conquest they have so audaci-
ously made. Every one who knows Flanders,
wishes to persuade me, that they cannot keep
Lfsle, and that we can prevent them from retaking
Bruges and Ghent, but it is not for me to decide,
whether they are right ; however, without blaming
any one, I know that we are very unfortunate.
The King and Queen are much grieved at all these
cruel events, and fear lest they may be the forerun-
.nets of still greater misfortunes. M.de Ghamil-
lard's intended journey to Flanders, from what
they have heard, redoubles their anxiety, know-
ing, as they do, that this minister would wish for
peace upon any terms, and it is said that every
one is dreadfully cast down, and will no longer
hear of the continuance of the war. The only
hope of their Majesties, is in the elevated mind ci
the King and his affection. The letter which he
wrote last post to the King, his grandson^ affords
him encouragement, because he observes that thé
affair of Lisle will retard peace, and that both ought
to make fc&k efibrts to continue the war> and

prikx:e8s pes ursins. 181

consolidate the throne of Spain. His Christian
Majesty can have no suspicion of the sincerity
of these observations, nor that the King would
wish to amuse him by such means, in order to
make a treaty like that of Milan, which, as you.
know, Madam, was made without his knowledge*
Lleave you to judge of the very awkward predica-
ment in which their Majesties are placed, and
whether the Queen's pregnancy is auspicious in
such a conjuncture as the present. I could wish
to conceal from you a part of my chagrin, not to
aggravate yours, but there is nojpossibility of doin^
it, not thinking it right to conceal any thing. I
am very sorry for all that our Princess suffers, for
^Itjiough distant from her, I think I perceive
ivhatev^r torments her, and I admire her the more;
^r it. I could wish the Duke of Burgundy to
escape being censured either for his devotion ox
bis confessor : it would appear to me, that the
real piety of a prince ought to be out of the
reach of scruples, and the Duke knows his religion
sufficiently well to conduct himself without the
advice of his director, in the a0airs of war, which
^T^ not in the province of priests, when it is just,
9» the one now carrying on. Far-fetched nicety
is more likely tp disgust a soldier, than to make a
fiOQ vert of him^ and I will not deny, that the same
reports which prevail at Paris on this subject^
make a still greater impressicHi here, which is

182 LETTERS OF THE

attended with a bad effect. I do my utmost to
obtain more justice for the Duke of Burgundy.

The Queen will not write to you this post,
being too much out of humour, and her Majesty
would be afraid of aggravating your afflictions ;
she relies firmly on your friendship, and it is im-
possible for her to entertain more regard for any
one than she does for you. As to myself, know-
ing my sentiments so well, it is superfluous to
tell you how much I am devoted to you.

P.S. We know not as yet whether the Duke
of Orleans will take Madrid in his way to France.
Since you order me to tell you, upon what terms
his Royal Highness is with their Majesties, or
those upon which we are with him, I thought I
could not do better, by way of explaining them,
than sending you the enclosed memorial, drawn
up by M , Amelot, and read by him to the King ;
who has approved the whole of it, remembering
all its contents, and saying that it contained the
truth and required no alteration. His Majesty
is truth itself, and may be believed upon his word.
In other respects, I can assure you that the King,
the Queen, the ambassador and myself, have
nothing whatever to reproach ourselves with on
his account. He has received, both in public
aùd private, all the praise that is his due, and
every means of pleasing him has been studied.
You know what I have written to you concerning

PRIKCKS6 DJSS URftlNS. 183

him, with respect to the interviews I have had
with him, and the inclination I feel to oblige him,
in what I knew were his wishes. I took the
liberty of intimating to him, when he was at
Madrid, and since he joined the army, what ap-
peared to me proper for him to know, and I have
neglected no opportunity of showing him my true
and sincere attachment. If, after such conduct,
I had not the honour of obtaining his favourable
opinion, it would be indeed my misfortune, but
I must not omit adding, that he approved of my
frankness towards him, for which he was often
pleased, to thank me, and I have his letters to
prove it; which I will send you, if you wish it.
It is said, that the greater part of his domestics
are tired of this country, and that as they wish
him to live long, being so good a master, they
would prefer seeing him at the Palais Royal, or
file opera, than in dangers to which his Royal
Highness so freely exposes himself. I am just
informed that he will be here oh the 15th instant,
and several relays of horses are preparing to, meet
him twenty-two leagues from this, which he
purposes to be one day- s journey.

184 UKTTEftfi OF TH£

LETTER CXX

TO THE SAME.

Ahdrid, November 19th, 1706.

The Duke of Orleans arrived here on Thursday
last. I was in some uncertainty respecting this
journey, because we had heard that his Royal
Highness was going direct to Paris, without
eoming to Madrid, and I was quite sorry for it,
because it was neither good for himself, their
Catholic Majesties, nor their service. As thb
Prince does me the justice to believe, that I have
it as mueh at heart as I ought to have, and lliat
I have the honour of being attached to his person,
he had the goodness to empower M. de Besons to
speak to me, as from himself, assigning the reasons
which rendered him uncertain as to taking leave
of the King and Queen, or going to France with-
out doing so. His reasons surprised me much,
and as they had no foundation, it was easy to
refute them ; I therefore instantly begged M. de
Besons' assistance, to determine this Prince by
his representations to visit our court in his way
to France. The cause of all this shyness was
his having received an intimation, of its having
been reported at Paris, that he had had a violent
quarrel with the King of Spain, because he wished
to make love to the Queen. I believe nothing

PRIVCBS6 DES imSXHS. Id9

was wet more destitute of trulh than the above
malicious report, for this Prince had neither the
desire, or gave the least appearance of it. He
must have very mischievous enemies, and we
ought to be very much upon our guard, in future,
agaînst what may be said in disparagement of his
Royal Highness, since, in order to injure him»
this complete romance has been invented ; he
has always behaved to Ûte Queen with proper
respect, and which she obtains by her modest»
and at the same time commanding demeanour.
The King, as well as myself, are usually in her
room when the Prince pays his visits, and he
converses with their Majesties sometimes on busi^
ness, sometimes on agreeable trifles, and always
with a modesty and politeness every way worthy
of his station. Their Majesties are very glad to
see him, and it appears to me that the satisfac-
tion is mutual. Such, Madam, is a very faithful
account of this matter; which will enable you to
judge to what lengths wickedness can go. I
think the Princp will leave us towards the end of
the week, jifter arranging .a plan for the next
campaign, and seeing himself that nothing is
wanting for his satisfaction, and which may
cjnable him to continue gathering laurels over th^
epemy, and happily terminate the Spanish part
of the contest. I wish there was as much unaiu-
xmty amongst the generals in Flanders as ih/dve
i^ 9,\ this court» things would certainly go op

186 LXTTZRS OF THS

better. The Duchepts of Burgondy has apak>^
gized for you to the Queen, in consequence of
your not writing, which was owing to a violent
cold and bad eyes. Though there is no danger
in these complaints, they are nevertheless very
troublesome; I hope I shall hear by the next
post that you are rid of them, when I shall also
be of the uneasiness they cause me. The mo-
ments are sure to appear long till then,, as nothing
is more desirable than the. preservation of one,
for whom I have such affectionate and respec^ul
attachment.

. LETTER CXXI.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, Nov. 20th, 1 708. '

As I was in pain about your health, because
the Duchess of Burgundy had written to the
Queen that you had a violent cold and inflamed
eyes, I was very much relieved on learning, by
your letter of the 11th instant, that you were
better. However melancholy you may be, I
always like to read what comes froni you, and it
is a comfort to know that you wish their Catho-
lic Majesties to be as happy as they deserve to be.
I am not surprised at the King being so much
affected at so fine a conquest as that of Lisle,

PRtKC£SS DES URSINS. '18T

being lost in sight of so powerful an army, and
which he had ordered several times to succour it,
in order to keep his word with Marshal de Bouf-
flers, to whom he had made this promise. It is
impossible to know this great Prince, and the
elevation of his mind, not to believe that he sen-
sibly feels the disobedience to his orders, and it
is only his fortitude and submission to the will
of Providence, which can support him under such
an event. In saying that you dare not utter what
you fear in such a crisis, it is intimating more
than enough to freeze my heart. ^ But do they
maturely think with you of the possible consie-?
quence of violent decisions? Are they not aware
of their frightful nature, and would they be so
depraved as to shut their eyes against seeing ' oi?
endeavouring to prevent them? No, M9.dai]i^
that is impossible, and I never should pardon
myself if I committed such an error. The. PukQ
of Orleans, who left us this morning,^ will sift this
matter to the bottom with the King, and it cannot
enter into his mind, whatever may be the riage
for peace, that it should be purchased so dearly
as by the ruin of France. The misunderstanding
between the Duke de Vendôme, and Marshal de
Berwick, is a very unhappy circumstance, aaad, \
should not presume, at such a distance^ to say
what I think upon this subject ; but I cannot help
confiding to you, that princes who are recom^
mended to be subordinate generals, cut a very

188 1ETTER8 OF THE

sonry figure, since they bear the blame of mislcNr*
tunes, without having the merit of success attri*
buted to them. I have seen the same thing hap-
pen in this country, and it is certain that they
cause great embarrassments when they are not the
masters of their own actions.

I think that the Duke of Orleans goes away

perfectly satisfied: he has himself seen, thai

important objects are only to be attained by a

patience and zeal not possessed by every one«

Their Catholic Majesties and his Royal Highness

embraced each other afiectionately, and I am also

convinced that the latter honours me with his

friendship, at least as &r as assurances go. The

Queen is very well; our little Prince has cut

another tooth, and it is thought he is about hftving

two or three more. The King of Sptin was

informed yesterday that a tower of some impoort*-

ance for the preservation of Tortosa, had been

surprised. The Moors having experienced a

vigorous repulse at Ceuta, and the commander

of the place having sprung some mines^ which

killed a prodigious number of these unfortunate

beings ; it is also stated that the greatest part of

the works which had been taken from us were

re-captured, and that if we had been a little

stronger in cavalry, they would have been cooir

polled to raise this long siege. The Prince of

the Caimaquites, und^ the name of the CAevaUer

Turtare, who was so Well instructed by the late

PRlKCESâ DES URSisrs. 189

M. de Meaux in the truths of out religion, did
his duty extremely well* Hs^py is he. Madam,
who has a perfect sense of it, and who is always
guided by its dictates ! It is this which I believe^
Madam^ supports you in the midst of all your
mifferings.

LETTER CXXIL

TO THfi 8ÂHE.

Madrid, December 2dy 1708.

Since you think. Madam, that the citadel of
lisle will experience the same fate as the town,
although Marshal de Boufflers does not defend it
less courageously, there is nothing to be added,
except that I cannot comprehend the reason of
such a circumstance, for it cannot enter into my
conception that our army will look on to see every-
thing lost, and suffer the passage of all sorts of
warlike stores and provisions, unless there be
something mysterious in it, or that God is pleased
to blind every one. Nothing appears to me more
cruel, than to have concealed the truth from the
King during the whole of the campaign, which,
you say is the fact, because his Majesty, from the
uncertain position in which he was placed, could
not give his orders with the same precision as he

iÔ(^ LÊTTZRS OF tME

would have done, had he been able to see where
the mismanagement originated. It is to be hoped
that M. de Vendôme, being at length without a
rival, will redouble his exertions to remedy the
past, and that the Duke of Burgundy, now that
he is unattended by Marshal de Berwick, who is
always opposed in sentiment to M. de Vendôme,
will find himself at greater liberty, and his mind
more at ease. Is it true that this Prince having
had such a severe attack of the gout as to be
visited by every one, even to the King of England,
M. de Berwick carried his resentment so far as
not to follow the example ? I think his enemies
.circulate this report, to make it be believed that
he is a mere devotee and not a real christian.

The Duke of Orleans will represent to the
King all the dreadful misfortunes, which would
. probably happen to France as well as Spain, if
their Catholic Majesties are abandoned. The
reasons which his Royal Highness will alledge,
are so well founded and so strong, that I have
no doubt of their influence upon the King's mind
and heart. - I conjure you to recall to mind the
past, when you were told that all would be lost,
if peace was not made by the sacrifice of the
King of Spain, that there was a scarcity of money,
arid that everything was going to ruin. Four
years, however, have elapsed since this took
place, and you have had formidable armies,
which have not been visited by famine. ÏEIad it

PRINCS8S DK^ URSIKS. 191

itot been for the fortitude of the King, in tesist--
ing such pernicious counsels, and your sincere
attachment to his glory, the league would have
given us the law, and we should have been
humbled to such a degree by it, as to lose the
finest jewels of the crown. 1 am very glad that
you have seen Marshal de Villeroi, and that
you are better satisfied with him, from his con-
fidence and friendship for you, at which I am not
surprised, as I wrote to you that I knew the
real esteem he had for you, and that no person
was better qualified than himself to appreciate
your virtues and great worth. He could not
help speaking of them to M. d'Aubigny; his
doing justice to your merits, and being. a very
honest man, is not the only good quality he pos-
sesses, since he adds that of being sincerely at*
tached to the King's person and the good of the
state.

The sensibility evinced by the Duchess of
Burgundy, at once afilicts and charms me ; a
sensation which you may easily' conceive, in a
servant like me, who is not I think less attached
to her than yourself. If you cannot tell me
something more about her, you will doubtless
wish me to fancy all that you would have the
goodness to tell me, if I had a personal inter-
view with you in the dark room at Marly; and
although I might have the fever it would not
prevent me firom enjoying the pfeaaure of finding

192 ISTTEES OF THE

myself in company with one whom I most honour
upon oarth.

LETTER CXXIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, Deqember 6A, 1708.

The Marquis de Santa Cruz, a Spanish grandee
and a loyal subject» has arrived from Alicant,
with the news of the capture of that city, after a
siege of only three days from the trenches being
opened, and vath a trifling loss. The Chevalier
d'Asfdd, who has conducted this siege very ably,
will satisfy himself with blockading the castle,
because of its too strong position, which would
render success against it doubtful, and asserting
that it will fall of itself, it being impossible for
Hie garrison to receive succour either by land or
sea. The people testified great joy at the event,
and all the grandees eagerly hastened to the
palace to show their exultation. This capture
and that of Denia, completes the subjection of the
idngdom of Valencia.

The King sends a courier on purpose to the
Duke of Alba, in order that he may inform his
Majesty of this agreeable news. I doubt not,
Madam, but it will give you as much pleasure as

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 193

it does to US here, and we have now only to press
the Archduke more closely in that part of Cata-
lonia which he still occupies. In order to ac-
complish this object, the Duke de Noailles will
contribute much to it, if he is provided with the
means ; and in truth nothing is of. greater con-
sequence than to finish the war in these parts,
that we may afterwards be enabled to make a suit-
able peace, which is no difficult task, provided
you exert yourselves ever «o little on your side.
Would to God this had taken place sooner ! we
should not be in our present predicament, while
we might enjoy that tranquillity to which we
aspire, but which we never can have reason to
expect, if we do not save our honour.

LETTER CXXIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, December 9th, 1706.

Although I did myself the honour of writing
to you, a few days ago, by a courier whom the
King despatched to the Duke of Alba, I do so to*day ,
because I have since received your letter of the
25th ultimo, which fills me with the most grateful
emotions, for all the kindness and confidence with

VOL. III. o

194 LETTERS OF THE

which you have been pleased to address me. The
subjects upon which you have touched, with so
much delicacy and truth, have but too well satis-
fied my curiosity, and I shall not enter with you.
Madam, into unnecessary details ; but I have the '
honour to tell you that you make me more than
ever admire the magnanimity and fortitude of the
King, and pity him for his orders being so badly
executed by persons who are, nevertheless, neither
deficient in merit or good intentions. It would
be, in truth, an irresistible fatality, if we did not
reflect that all this is the will of God. It is, doubt-
less, from such considerations that you are enabled
to sustain present misfortunes, and bear the ap-
prehension of future evils, and I could sincerely
wish to be able to follow your example. You
afford me, however, a ray of hope by the informa-
tion that the Duke of Bavaria has made an
attempt upon Brussels, and that the Duke de
Vendôme wishes to force the lines of Prince Eu-
gene's position, to which the King immediately
consented. This second attempt if ably exe-
cuted, would amply compensate all the successes
obtained over us by the enemy, and might be
attended with more advantageous results than we
could have presumed to hope for at the beginning
of the campaign. The capture of Brussels would
also be a very important blow ; but I fear lest
these two attempts have not been crowned with the
success which we wish for, since nothing has as yet

PRINCESS DES URSIlfS. 196

transpired to that effect, and it appears to me,
that we should be in possession of the new9 be*-
fore now, if the result had been favourable.

When the cities of Ghent and Bruges re-
turned to their duty, it was considered as a cir-
cumstance of great moment, and the Count de
Bergeyeck was always for preserving them^ but
I see that Marshal de Berwick is of a different
opinion. It is not the first time that they have
differed in their views, and one cannot yet decide
who is in the right. Each may iiave more or less
capacious plans, of more easy or difficult execu-
tion, and prudent characters are generally governed
in their measures by circumstances, when fortune
does not seem to smile upon them ; however,
nothing is so vexing, or more lamentable, than the
diversity of opinions upon affairs of such conse*
quence, and it is easy to imagine the example set
by M. de Vendôme and M. de Berwick is the
cause of all that has taken place. We, therefore,
may well rejoice that they are separated. The
insolent censures cast upon a prince so respec^
table as the Duke of Burgundy, would on several
accounts deserve exemplary chastisement, and
nothing appears to me more dangerous than eourt
cabals, when they vent their venom against sove-
reigns. If persons composing them had a real
zeal for the welfare of the state and the King,
they would warn him of what they believe to be
inimical to his service, in a bold but respectful

o 2

r96 LETTERS OF THE

manner^ and support in public, whatever' could
promote his glory, instead of censuring all his
measures without knowing the reasons he had for
adopting them. How is it. Madam, when the
question at issue is about a king they wish to- de-
throne, another whose power they wish to under-
mine, in short, the most momentous objects on
earth, that they should bring M. de Cambrai, the
Jesuits, the free thinkers, and the Jansenists into
the dispute ? It would be much better to think
only of the war, conquering the enemy, and in
so doing obey the will of God in supporting so
just a cause. I think the Duchess of Burgundy
must be of my opinion, and that she bears impa-
tiently the injustice done to the Duke her husband.
You may exercise your own discretion, with re-
spect to showing the King the memorial concern-
ing the proceedings with the Duke of Orleans. I
^ould wish this/^rince showed as much firmness
to his servants, as he does at the head of the army,
they would not then run the risk of telling him
stories, which it would be better for his Royal
Highness not to listen to, nor would they be so
well acquainted with his sentiments as they are,
from his want of prudence in speaking in their
presence, which they often publish, contrary
to the wishes of their master; for, possessing
his sense and goodness, I know that he repents
when certain expressions have escaped him, which
he acknowledges are unseasonable. I beg of you.

PRIKCESS DES URSIN8. 197

however, whateverprotestationshemayhave made
to their Catholic Majesties, the ambassador and
myself, to be satisfied with him, to watch in some
measure his proceedings, and to do me the honouF
of informing me, whether I continue to possess
some share in the friendship which he frequently
professed he had for me, and which I certainly
wish to merit. So long as I know that the Duke
of Savoy's conduct makes the two Princesses,
his daughters, unhappy, I shall entertain doubts
of his devotion. It is, however, certain that has
Royal Highness lives upon much better terms
with his mother at present, than he has done
since the Portuguese marriage has been broken
off J at which Madame Royal testified^ her joy to
the Queen, which was more lively, she said, be^
cause he shows the Duchess of Savoy great
friendship. These are good beginnings, but not
enough. I wish you, Madam, to have cause for
tranquillity, and that you may not always have
. occasi<)n to summon your virtue to your aid, to
enable you to bear up against so much suffering
as you have experienced for many years ; if that
should take place, I shall have reason to be w^ll
satisfied with myself.

198 LETTSRS OF THE ^""^

. v^J

LETTER CXXV.

TO THE 8AMK.

Madrid, December 17th, 1708.

I KNOW not; Madam, what purpose it can
answer to invent such fables as the one I had the
honour of sending you respecting the Queen of
Spain and the Duke of Orleans ; they are so vulgar
and so untrue» that they must cover those who
circulate them with shame ; but I am neverthdess
astonished, that they have not endeavoured to g^
them conveyed to the King and the Duchess of
Burgundy, for probably their object was ma-
lignant. I imagine that it must be some wretch
of a servant to his Royal Highness» who was
afraid of returning to Madrid, or some other
person, who wished to see the Prince in France,
add who thought of this fine expedient» to
make him go there direct, without coming to
take leave of their Catholic Majesties. Two or
three persons, however, have been mentioned to
me, as having circulated this report at Versailles ;
but I think it is better to drop it, than to revive
the subject again by naming them. Nothing can
be more ridiculous than this gossipping, which
will, however, I apprehend, be repeated. How

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 199

much better to occupy our minds with other
things^ since we have but too many of importance
which ought to engross all our attention. The
end of this campaign appears to me still more
surprising than all that has preceded it, and what
you bave done me the honour of stating could not
have been expected. It is certain that we must
believe ourselves Christians, not to give way to
despair, on seeing everything which the enemy
has been suffered to do without meeting any ob-
stacle. How much our kings and princesses are
to be pitied, on seeing themselves exposed to so
many deplorable events, and such grievous conse-
quences for the future, by a tissue of errors, which
they might have avoided, or at least remedied,
and Marshal de Boufflers extricated from his
glorious perils, by relieving him, or preventing
the enemy from receiving supplies. Since we
have yet more than a hundred thousand men, we
itiust not lose all hope. You console me when you
say, that the next campaign musât assume a new
aspect, and that no preparation is to be neglected
this winter, which is worthy of the King's courage
and fortitude. His conduct is, indeed, admirable,
and entitles him to a daily increasing esteem ;
but I differ from you as to its strengthening my
respectful attachment for him, because I already
feel that I am wholly devoted to his Majesty, and
that I participate as well as yourself in all his
troubles. If you ought to take shame to yourself

200 LETTERS OF THE

for anything, it ought not to be at your health
being better, but at the indifference which you
evince for the continuance of your life. Have
you forgotten that it is your duty to preserve it,
for those to whom it is as useful as it is agreeable,
andwh'o are deeply interested for you. Cease,
then, I conjure you, to indulge such improper
thoughts, or do not take it amiss, if I make use
of the harshest terms of reproach for your ingrati-
tude ; but I am incapable of employing any such,
where you are concerned, and my respectful
attachment to you can only cease with existence.
P.S. As I believe that the King of Spain and
the ambassador inform his Majesty, that Count
de Staremberg, with five thousand men and several
bodies of miquelets, endeavoured to surprise
Tortosa, but without success, I shall abstain
from giving you the particulars, and only observe,
that we owe the good fortune of preserving this
important place to the great valour of the Freiich
and Spanish troops composing its garrison,
although not numerous. The enemy lost more
than five hundred men, in killed and wounded,
and we about sixty. I'his would have been a
serious loss, and which had cost the Duke of Or-
leans so many glorious efibrts to obtain, had it
been taken by surprise. The Catalonians cal-
culated with great certainty on the success of
the attack.

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 201

LETTER CXXVL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, November 21 st, 1708*

What can I say. Madam, in reply to yours of
the 9tli instant, in which you so justly describe all
the errors of the late campaign, and those which
you predict will occur in future ! If so nume-
rous an army as that of the King's is destined
only to act ineflSciently, and almost always at
random, you have but too much reason to fear
everything ; but allow me to observe, that it is
wrong to have so bad an opinion of troops, and
their commanding oflScers, as to believe that every-
thing cannot be rectified, when serious efforts are
made to give them another form, and when there is
no want of supplies and other requisites ; it there-
fore betrays a want of courage to despair, and to
imagine that you are obliged to abandon every,
thing. I hope also that such a trait will never
appear in history, and that a series of such great
actions as the King has performed, will not be
tarnished by an ignominious peace ; and it seems
to me, that those who recommend it to- be pur-
chased so dearly, deserve to be listened to with in-
dignation. In fact, these are most probably igno-

2f)2 LETTERS OF THE

ble wretches and disloyal subjects; for it is certain
if Spain is abandoned by treaty^ a thing unheard
of^ and to which his Catholic Majesty would
rather sacrifice his life than consent, France would
afterwards become the victim of so great an error ;
since the league, by receiving such an accession
of power as this great monarchy must add to it,
would be enabled to dictate the law. The Em-
peror already makes Italy feel his iron yoke ; but
if the Pope had been assisted with the trifling
succour which he earnestly sued for, a very
powerful diversion might have been made, and
the kingdom of Naples would probably have also
returned to its allegiance to the Catholic King,
while many of the Italian Princes would also have
espoused our cause. In such a case, the Arch-
duke would have been greatly embarrassed, and
it might have thus been very easy to drive him
from a country which he is completely ruining,
while he would have lost all hope of rendering
himself master of this part of the continent. In
$hort. Madam, it is certain that the measures
which have been adopted, since the siege of Turin
commenced, have ruined everything in that
quarter, and that our affairs in Flanders have not
been more auspicious. The best plan to put an
end to all clamour, and to silence those who
presume to speak so indignantly, would be to
appear courageous, in boldly and constantly sup-
porting the good cause, and that the King, who is

PRlNCSaS DES URSINS. . 203

always 80 much inclined to the side of goodness and
clemency, should show on some occasions a neces*
sary severity, which would repress the unseasonable
liberties, that are taken at court and in his armies,
and which would excite a sentiment of awe and
respect for tho best of masters, when it appears,
as it does now, that these impressions are losing
ground. It must be confessed that I am very
bold thus to address you, but I take this liberty,
because I feel that I could willingly sacrifice my
life for his Majesty to be as well served as he
deserves, and which would consequently make
him happier.

I have no doubt but the interview of our Princes
with the King was less agreeable than we could
have wished ; and certainly the Duke of Burgundy
is greatly to be pitied, as well as the Duchess.
All the chagrin of the former will soon disappear,
if exertions are made this winter, as you give me
reason to expect, to re*establish the army, and to
give a new aspect to affairs. Our enemies have
too long ^oyed their good fortune for us not to
have it in our turn ; but once more. Madam, let us*
neglect notibting to obtain it. I remember while I
was at Fontainebleau during the siege of Philis-
bourg, when France was so rich, and did not
want for good generals, there was also a cry of
despair, and it was said that all was lost. The
ladies complained bitterly, as if they feared being
reduced to poverty, and the men lamented the

204 LETTERS OF THE

dismal situation to which the kingdom was fast
hastening. However, both the former and the
latter continued to play very high, to keep extra-
vagant tables ; and the women, after weeping over
the dangers to which the soldiers were exposed,
in a moment thought only of their toilets, and
laughed at the most trivial joke. However, a
number of years have since elapsed^ in which
both adversity and good fortune have been well
borne ; the wisest plan, therefore, is to pay little
attention to what is said, and to pursue one's course
with tranquillity.

I am very much astonished that M. de Vendôme
is returning, which I should not be if Prince
Eugene and Marlborough were quiet in their
cantonments ; but that he wishes to go and enjoy
himself at Anet, while the enemy is in the field, is to
me quite unaccountable. If Marshal de Berwick so
strenuously advised the keeping our strong places,
and abandoning the Scheldt, he must have begun
by seeuring Lisle, which would have been the
surest way of preserving the frontiers from in-
cursions. You have nothing to fear as to the joy
he might feel, on seeing his prophecies accomplish-
ed, for his mind is too delicate to allow him to
rejoice at another's misfortune, and he is too worthy
a man to possess feelings so hostile to what he
owes for the King's favours, and those of his
Catholic Majesty.

I am very glad that the Duke of Orleans ap-

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 205

pears satisfied with me, having done all I could
to merit the honour of his good opinion, and I
shall continue to entertain a sincere and respectful
attachment for his Royal Highness. I think he
will have less diflBculty in reducing the Archduke
in Barcelona, and, perhaps, in making him quit it,
than in reconciling the Duchess of Burgundy and
Madame, as both these two Princesses imagine
they are in the right ; but such estrangements
are very unpleasant, and family union is at least
very desirable in times of public calamity. The
Queen could very much wish her sister and Ma-
dame to be upon amicable terms, for her Majesty
is ever averse to enmities. So many deaths
amongst persons of rank must cause a great
degree of melancholy. I fear much for the Prince,
as the Princess informed me a week ago that he
was very sorry at being unable to write to me,
owing to his being so unwell. He has never for
a moment ceased to show me kindness on every
occasion, and I should be very much grieved at
his loss. As the Prince de Gonti is younger and
more cheerful, there is less reason to be appre-
hensive on his account ; the Duke de Gramont
would, I think, have acted more wisely, if he had
not taken his wife with him to Versailles and
Marly, without first ascertaining whether the
King disapproved of it, as he would thus have
avoided the injury done to his feelings ; a marriage
like his is the source of much disgust, and he

206 LETTERS OF THE

will probably repent of it when his love cools.
I did not expect that any daughter of Madame
de Noailles would become a nnn, but I hope she
will be satisfied with her lot, since she might
have followed the example of her sisters* The
late lamented Marshal, and their mother, have
left them at full liberty to pursue the line of life
they prefer, for which reasonable and affectionate
conduct they cannot be too much praised.

LETTER CXXVII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, December 30th, 1708.

Neither the last post, nor the return of the
courier extraordinary, have brought me letters
from you, but the Queen has done me the honour
of showing me the one she has received from you,
by which it appears you were in great trouble.
This does not surprise me, from your facilities for
observing every passing event, and from the
general dejection which surrounds you. I, how-
ever, except the principal character in this drama ;
I need not name the King : we hear that he
always shows fortitude, and is the only one who is
invincible amidst the misfortunes which assail
him, as well as against those which are an-

PRINCESS DES URSIKS. 207

ticipatedy and which serve only to arm him i«rith
additional courage. A character like hi»» id,
indeed, admirable in every respect; but not
the lesis amiable. I expect, Madam, that you
will do toe the honour of communicating to me
something of the interview which has taken place
between the Duke of Burgundy, his Majesty,
and the Duchess of Burgundy.. This Prinoei^s ÎB
•suffering from many different sensations, and would
doubtless feel their effects still more sensibly if
she had not a friend to whom she can nnbosofli
her griefs like yourself, who affectionatefly partici-
pates in them, and who so well knows howtb
apply an effectual remedy. I am sure, Madam^
you will not have been able to refrain from tears
on seeing Marshal de Boufflers again ; too much
cannot be done for such a character, and the King's
generosity is highly commended for the gracious
mark of favour he has conferred on the Marshal.
The brilliant example set by this officer in his brave
defence of Lisle should stimulate others, and at the
same time excite the blush of shame, if honour
be yet nothing more than an empty word. I hope,
however, that it will revive, and that our nation»
which formerly acquired so much esteem, will in
future, resume its pristine character, remember-
ing that it ought to show heroic virtue in order to
gratify the sovereign who governs it. We have
nothing new here; but everything is preparing
for the approaching campaign. The Queen is

208 LETTERS OF THK

well^ and I am devoted to you as usual. I have
a violent cold, which makes me cough all the
night ; but I hope it will quit me sooner than that
which I had while with you at Marly. The
Duchess of Mantua's misfortune excites much
compassion, and the patience and resignatio
with which she sustains it, increases this feeling
still more in her behalf. Letters received here
state that Marshal de Tessé was seriously indis-
posed. I take the liberty. Madam, of addressing
a letter to your care for the Queen of England,
feeling no longer scrupulous in giving yQU com-
missions, since you execute them as punctually
as if you were obliged to do it,, and it is very con-
venient to me. You say nothing more to me of the
Duke de Noailles. Will you permit the Marshal's
lady to absent herself from court, and be over-
whelmed with grief? Paris is not the place for
her.

LETTER CXXVin.

TO THK SAME.

Madrid, January 9th, 1708.

I BEG of you not to lose your patience, if I
recur to a matter on which you formerly started
some difficulties. I have several reasons for it.

PRINCISS B£5 UJISIIÏS. 209

aûd however you may think of our obligations to
the Duke of Orleans, for his services in Spain, you
will conceive as well as myself, that I can harxjly
dispense with endeavouring to meet his wishes. As
to the title which his Royal Highness has requested
for Madame de Sery he feels more interest about
it than ever, and I am sure that this court cannot
give him a mark of its gratitude, which will afford
him greater pleasure than by soliciting the conclu-
sion of the affair. Allow me then, Madam^to entreat
you would enter iiito his feelings on this occasion.
We most assuredly owe to his courage, foresight,
and firmness, the important captures of Lerida
and Tortosa ; and it is necessary to stimulate him
with fresh ardour for the ensuing campaign. These
are powerful reasons, and I know not whether, on
certain occasions, it is not politic to forget the
object of a favour, when he who solicits it deserves*
infinitely more. I remain ever, with the most
tesp^ctful attachment, Mada^» yo^r v!sry humble
and obedient servants

iWi«iiM**i*xM«lW<W**Mpawa

LETTER CJpiiS^.

TO TH£ SAMJIC.

Maihid, Jânyary 7fli, 19^.

I DO not think it possible, Mad^tni, that a hairi*-
somer letter was ever written than the last widi
VOL. in. p

210 . letters; of the

which you hoéoured me, and I know only yourself
capable of thinking so piously, correctly, and' no-
bly, as well as expressing your thoughts so happily.
I shall not think of answering it word for word, as
by doing so, I should .have cause to blush at
myself, and disincline you, perhaps, to continue a
correspondence with one who only présumées to
flatter herself that she appreciates all your worth,
without being able to copy you, except at too great
a distance, to cherish the vain desire of continuing
so delightful an intercourse as yours, but which,
however, I find it impossible to live without. I
shall now have the honour of observing to you, that
our King is worthy of admiration, ai)d of all our
affection, but at the same time of compassion, to
find himself alone in wishing to act well without
being seconded ; that the Duchess of Burgundy
causes me to shed tears, when I reflect on all
that her too susceptible heart, and the generosity,
grandeur and, delipacy of her disposition expose
her to suffer, and that I am ready to expire
of grief, when I see you feeling more than
even themselves, the weight of their just sor-
rows! The malady of the Duchess does not
make me less uneasy thain yourself, and it is sur-
prising that this swelling should have reached
to one side of her bosom. What says M.
Fagon to it. Madam ? Would he not advise the
baths of Bourbon, or some others of the same
kind ? Complaints of this nature are not easily

PRINCESS P£S URSlMjI. 211

cured when not attended to in time : but her youth
should make us hope for the best. I humbly beg
you, Madam, to have the goodness to inform me
of everything relative to her health, which is so
dear to me. The Queen feels more on her account
than for herself: she is often the subject of her
Majesty's conversation with me : they are indeed
two wonderful Princesses. The Queen is now in
excellent health. The court is very ftill from the
number of officers to whom the Duke of Orleans
has given permission to come here and pass the
winter, but I , should greatly prefer seeing them
in their quarters, and should feel still more at my
ease, if M* de BesOns had remained at the head of
the armies till his Royal Highness returned ; for the
enemy are not asleep in Catalonia, and they will
always be attempting something new. Every
body," Madam, is too fond of going to Paris, except
however, myself, for I assure you, I have no in-
clination to do so. I believe you would be sorry
to see me there, which is a proof of your kindness
and attachment to their Catholic Majesties, whose
virtue shines with greater splendour as misfortuixes
assail them. If you render justice to thejn, they
will do the same to you, and I protest to you that no
one caa hâve greater confidence or more friendship
and esteem for you than the King and Queen.

V 2

212 LETTERS QF THE

LETTER CXXX.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, January Hth, 1709.

We have had. Madam, more snow and frost for
some days past, than have occurred in the memory
of the oldest inhabitants of Madrid. This is
thought to have prevented the arrival of the post
last week, which is very unpleasant, for although
no hews is expected, we are always anxious to.
hear how the royal family and our friends are.
Since you did me the honour of writing to me
respecting the Duchess of Burgundy's complaint,
I have been very uneasy, and I am impatiently
expecting what M. Mareschal, whom you said
was to see her, will have thought of it, as well as-
M. Fagon's opinion. I am also uneasy about the
violent cold you had, and what makes me still
more sorry is, that probably we «fanU not have
our letters till the couriers can travel, i»o that w©
shall know nothing of the occurrences in Flanders.
It is said, the Catalonians are greatly in want of
provisions, that money is scarce with t&em^ tfcat
many of them see their error, and'. peneeiVe. lliafc
they have accelerated their ruin by changing
masters ; it is also added that the Portuguese
are not much more at their ease. As to other

PRtNCSSS DES URSIXS. 213

matters, nothing of great importance has odcurred
in this country, except it be the extremity to»
which one of the civil officers of the King's house-
hold, ife reduiced, the Count de Benavehta not be-
ing expected yesterday evening to survive the
night ; however, this morning he was consider-
ably better, though still in great danger. Their
Majesties would, with great reason, be very
sorry to lose him, because ]he is truly attached to
them, and h^ never been cohcemed in any cabal,
or intriglie, at variance with the duty of a good
and ftlithful subject ; he is, moreover, of a distin-
guished family, and acquits himself very well of
the duèy of grand chamberlain, vvhich has more
privileges attached to it than the office of the
Duke de Bouillén. You will, doubtless, think it
extraordinary that his wife, and three daughters^
one of whom is married, but all three able to leave
their houses, have not taken the trouble to pay
bim a visit in the palace, where he resides : this
will be no great proof to you of the stffection that
prevails, aiiiongàt the members of sothe families;
and indeed it is very ratre to nteet with relatione
j#ho care much aibant each other ; we should not,
therefore, hé ^sttmihed if they have no love for
strangers. Cardinal Portocârero came last night
at nine o'clock, after the extreme unction fcad
been administered to the Count, in order to give
absolution and his benediction, notwithstand-
ing his age and the coldness of the weather-; and

214 LETTEH6 OF THC

it is but doing him justice to say, that he acquitted
himself extremely well of these archiépiscopal
duties.

We shall have a fine ceremony in the month
of March» or sooner» if possible, when all the
kingdoms will take the oath» acknowledging the
Prince of Asturias as the real successor to the
present King. 1 think the ambassador is to
inform the King to day, of the manner in which
this ceremony ought to be performed. I am
appointed to the honour of holding the Prince
in my arms» when all the deputies come to
take their oath. It is desirable» Madam» to add
to the pleasures of this day» that we should know
that you are more tranquil in your court. The
Prince has cut his sixth tooth as happily as the
others. The Queen is perfectly well at present.
Such is all the news I can give you» except
however adding my entreaties that you take good
care not to be surprised by a cabal» which is
certainly known to act in that spirit» as this would
be very pernicious. The ambassador is prudent»
zealous» and loyal» and he should be referred to
for everything, for' he certainly will not deceive»
and has no other interest than that of doing his
duty. For my own part» Madam» I flatter myself
that you know my heart» which will be devoted
to you to the last moment of my life.

PRINCESS DES URSIMS» 2*1$

LETTER CXXXL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, Jan. 17th, 1709.

The post, which ought to have arrived last week,
only reached this yesterday, and I ^J^pect the next
will bring us an account of the. capture of Ghent
afad Bruges by the enemy, siqce nothingcan prevent
it, our army having retired into winter quarters.
We must no longer think. Madam, of so many
misfortunes, since the greatest' men have expe-
rienced them ; and thé most formidable nations
have not been exempt from errors. But all
may be effaced by better conduct in future ;
and, perhaps, in the next campaign our enemies
may see, that the French in general are neither
deficient in courage or zeal to the service of their
country, and that they perform their duty when
they are well commanded.

I confess, Maiîam, it is not easy to foresee when
and how all this state of uncertainty will be re-
moved, our knowledge being too confined to pene*
trate into futurity, God alone can shew it to us, and
lead us through thorny . paths, to where we shall
afterwards fi[nd consolation.

Marshal' dis Bôuflaers will re-establish order
where He is go&g, or it will be very unfortunate.

21€ . LETTERS OF TICS

I am in great uneasiness for the Prince ; you
know better than any one. Madam, the» honour
he has always done me, and how much I am
indebted to him. The death of the Prince de
Gonti would be much regretted, asf he possesses
so many estimable qualities; and it appears to
me, tiiat every one ought to be interested in the
lives of the members of a family so dear to us.
You have sent me no more news of the Duchess of
Burgutkly, since you wrote to tell me her tumour
had increased so very much, which makes me
conclude that it is not foimd dangerous. If our
Princess giv^ way to gprief, and has no resource
in her courage, I shall be very apprehensive for
her health : she is too young to despair of seeing
aU things change for the better ; the Queen, who
is not le^ susceptible, does not suffer herself to
be dejected. You will oblige her very much in
letting her have a good pfhysician, for if the King's
becomes ill, their Majesties and the Prince would
be in an awkward predicament. I write to-day to
M. Clement, and Mad^une de la Salle, to comi^
here towards the end of March, because the
Queeh'b confinement will probably take place in
April. As the Duchess of Burgundy has no occa-
sion for them, nothing, I thinki will prevent their
imdertaking the journey. At length, Madam,
we have lost poor Count de Benav^ita, who ia
very much regretted because of his fidelity and
attachment to bis Majesty. I hope thai hid

PRIITCSSS DU» URftlNS. 217

«sécetetnr itiay have as much, and may suit his
M^esity a^ wdl ; the Gotint was, besides, very
ckecrful, which is not characteristic of his nation,
add his conrersation was so amusing!, that it did
not fdii to enliren dieir Majesties, to whom, you
&now, courtiers of this description aife nêces^
stry. AHhough you appear to hâve a great
contempt for. life, I cannot have sufficient com*-
pdaisaoce to agree with you, that you ought not
to endeavoitr to preserve it many years, at least
as long as a relation of a little Irish woman,
\(^bom I have in my service, who, it is said, died
jour days ago at the age of a hundred and four-
teen. It is allowed by every one at Madrid, that
the Marquis de Mansera is a hundred ; therefore.
Madam, expect if you please to live as long as
these people, who have preserved the same
vivacity they had formerly.

January 21st

The King has just appointed the Duke of Alba
to the office of grand cup bearer, lately occu-
pied by the Count de Benaventa, upon which I
congratulate you, and I think it will give pleasure
to his Majesty, since he has testified more than
once, that he honours the Duke with his esteem and
good opinion. As this place has had several
competitors of high birth, and for fidelity to the
King, their master, it ought to enhance the value
of the gift; and I doubt not but it will afford

218 L£TT£R$ OF THE

gi^ai satisfiiction, but his Catholic Majesty has
been pleased to give, the preference to his amr
bassador^ before the other lords. I mlay even
add, that there is one of them, for \diom the
King of Spain has 'always had a partiality, becanse
he loves him personally , and interferes with
nothing which he has to do, being an enemy to
everything which is called cabal. Would to
God, Madam, that you could take a nearer view
of this court ! You would see those who are
inSuenced by their passions, and those who
would wish to act only a just and reasonable part.
You are imbued with the last named principles,
and would, I am convinced, heartily despise
those people who endeavour only to deceive
and ruin everything. I refrain from speaking
more explicitly upon the subject, on account of
its very delicate nature.

LETTER CXXXII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, Jaoteiry 28lh, 1709.

Although I have all the confidence which I
ought to have in your goodness. Madam, I shall not
fail to check the vivacity with which I have been in
the habit of writing to you, as to what concerns the

PRINCESS DBS ÙRSIKS. 210

iûtereste of iheir Catholic Majesties, since it
would only grieve you, and b6 of no service to me.
If, however,! had to plead this cause in a personal
interview, it appears to me that I should have
strong reasons to oppose to yours, and that yoi^
would acknowledge it to be a long time since you
had lost all hope of the possibility of doing what
has since been done. If the finances and the war
in Flanders had been managed as they ought to
have been, we should be in a better situation at
the present moment than our enemies, and should
the best measures be adopted even now, the evil
would not be without a remedy. It is the ill suc*-
cess of the late campaigns which occasions the
scarcity of money, but it would soon reappear in
case vigour was once more displayed, and we ha4
a successful battle. The example of Marshal de
Boufflers, who was not succoured, notwithstand-
ing the long defence he made, is probably the
reason that Count de la Motte thought it right im-
mediately to capitulate, with the troops which he
commanded. I remember. Madam, your doing
.me the honour of intimating to me your fears lest
this should happen to him. It is a great pity
that what the Pope applied for has not been sent,
because it would have made a powerful diversion
in Italy, as well as prevented his Holiness from
being reconciled to the Emperor, and the latter
from sending fresh succours to the Archduke, be-
sides placing the Duke of Savoy between two

âlO IfittÊBS ÛF THE

&res> so ais probably «d have prevented him from
iiM.k)i!ig fresh incursions into France.

It is no longer againi^t the Duke of Burgundy
that the officers take the liberty of declaiming,
all their spleen being ik)W directed against the

Dnke de Vendôme ; but it appears to me, they
vrould have done better not to have railed against
either, and to» have caused quarrels, by exciting a
party spirit.

It is true. Madam, that Marshal de Villeroi has
only formed too good a judgment of what has
taken place ; however, could he believe in all that
has been done, and if it had not been done, would
not the campaign have been ^orious ?

The King of Spain, has been much affected at
the death of the lady of Marshal de la Motte, and
I was very glad to see his Majesty evince strch
feelings for his governess, who richly merited
them. The Duchess de Ventadour will equally
"well discharge the duties of this place.

The reconciliation of the Duchess of Burgundy
and Madame ought to be lasting, there being
nothing in fact for them to quarrel about ; mean-
time, I wish for this event more than I expect it. I
ani not su^rised that M. de Besons gives the
Queen the praises which are due to her, in that
rigid manner which I know he possesses ; but I
should not have so good an opinion of him as I
have, had he paid attention to my fece, which is
such that it ought not to be remembered by any one.

PRINCESS DES uasiNS. 221

Since the siokiieases of M. le Prince» and 4:h6
Prince de Conti, are prolonged, one may well in-
dulge in hope, after they have been at the last
extremity.

You expect. Madam, a visit from an agreeable
companion, thePrincessdeVaudemont, possessing
so much good sense and politeness as she does*
I believe she must be sometimes much astonished
at the manners of the present day, so diflFerent from
her own, but which she will not, certainly, per-
ceive at your house. From the letters which she
has done me the honour of writing to me relative
tp you, it appears to me that she was delight
with them. I have received by this post letters
from the Duchesses of Mantua and £lbœuf> whiqh
testify their satisfaction at the kindnesses of th^
Catholic King. This Princess ought certainly to
have better fortune henceforwajrd than she hM
had up to the present time ; she will be a great
ornament at Marly.. I am veoy glad tli^ sha is a
little better, for accidents of this nature never
fail to cause alarm for some time.

It would be a poty shottld poor little Madame
de Coufcillon miscarry; but, p^baps, it will
turn out better than Clement expects*

The new assurances you give mp. Madam, of
the honour of your friendship were almosit super**
fluous> sdnce I am convinced you will .always» cfmr
tinue it to me, and I rely upon nothing so finnly
asthat« , . .

222 . LETTERS OF TUB

P.S. Wehiave nothing new at court here, ex-
cept that the Prince of Asturîas has cut a
seyenth tooth, and is about to cut the eighth,
since his gums are much swollen.

LETTER CXXXIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, February 1st, 1709.

I HAVE seen some accounts from Rome, Madam,
stating that thePope obstinately persists in not con-
senting to what the Germane require of him with
arms in their hands, and to their sending troops
to exercise every severity upon the Holy Father
himself^ and the sacred college ; that in such an
extreme case he will remain firm, and retire to Avig-
non ; that the French and Spanish ministers wil],
consequently, also come to the resolution of with-
drawing, if they can; for the Germans would not
be sorry to get hold of them, which certainly places
th^ in a. very awkward position. That of Car-
MinaLde.la Tremoille is still more so, because he
is over head and ears in debt, from the necessity
of . supporting his official dignity, and the brutes
with whom, he would have to deal, or the insolent
populace. which they would excite against him, to
show him disrespect Bad kbusehim. . I do assure
you. Madam, that the thoughts of this makes me

PRmCJLSS D£S UffcSINS. 2SSr

pa«s many unplieasant hours. I have, besides
nephews and a niece whom I tendierly love, .
who would be much exposed ; thi^ same niece,
whose mother was. so dear to me, whom I brought
up with the same affection as the late Duchess de
CJh^tillon, arid whose interests I h?tve never-
theless completely neglected, although it dépende^
oply upon myself to promote them : this overstrained
modej^atipn renders her unhappy, and has been of no
service to me here, nor where you are ; for cer-:
tainly no body cares about it, nor for the oppression,
under which I struggle in consequence of the bad
state of my pecuniary affairs, but of which I
refrain from giving you the particulars. I lose
my sight at intervals, and 1 have beside^ otheir
^oi^rces of chagrin and disgust, upon which I shall
also be silent, because you have too many of your
own, for me to attempt burthening you with mine.
You depict to me. Madam, in your letter of thç
14th ultimo, everything in such gloomy charac-
ters, that» I am unable to say any thing to it in
reply; but I very much doubt whether I coul^
be silent, if I had the honour of a personal inters
view with you. It would be knocking one's head
against the wall to treat of the subject so far, off j
whj^ji no answer can be given to what is observed,;
it is better to leave the whole to Providenqe^
Jhe Marquis de Bedmar is restless and imp^tiept
ftt tbe.nonrarrival^of troops from Dauphiny, wheri^
jtl^ey will be ofnouse uqtil the beginning of the cam.-

224 LETTintS OF THB

paign, which is postponed in that quarter 'm con-
séquence of the snow. He asserts, Madam, tfhat
these troops, joined to those imder the Ihike de
SToailles, would capture Girona, speedily enough
to give them time to return, and this without
any military error ; that place once in our posses-
ion, the Catalonians would no longer sufl^ tlie
Archduke to remain amongst them, being already
pretty well tired of him : and that after this Prince
had quitted Spain, we should soon see our affairs
assume a different aspect. It appears to me that he
reasons very justly, and that if this measure had
been adopted, we should already have experienced
its good effects. But I know not whether every
body would be satisfied with it in your court,
where, several years ago, certain persons wimted^
to make a disgraceful peace, by sacrificing their
Catholic Majesties, who owe everything to» the
fortitude, magnanimity, and affection of the King,
their grandfttther.

The Prince of Asturias has cut a doilble tooth,
which ms^es the eighth. As he has sustained this
trial without much suffering, we are in hopes that
the remainder will come with the- same ease ; it
has only made him thinner and a little less hand-
some, but he will recover that. The Qu«Bn is
not near iso corpulent as she was the first time j
she does not perceive her child very much, which
may doubtless be accounted for, from what oc-
curred in the early part of her pregnancy. In

PRINCESS C£S UASINS. ^25

other respects, as her Majesty eats heartily, more
cannot foe expected from a Queen who is possessed
of sensibility*

LETTER CXXXIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, February 7th, 1709.

1 AM not surprised that the post which arrived
this morning has brought me no letters from you,
since the Duchess of Burgundy writes to the
Queen, that poor Madame d' Hudicourt was at the
point of death, and that your grief did not permit
you to write. You have, indeed, just cause for
this sorrow, as you will lose in her an old and
amiable friend, with whom you were in habits of
intimacy, who was devoted to you, and whom you
can scarcely expect to replace ; for which reasons
I pity you sincerely^ and participate so much the
more in your grief, as I have all my life long
relt a real affection for that lady. God tries your
virtue in many different ways, but you know how
to turn it to the best account.

The ambassador has thought it necessary to
despatch a courier extraordinary to court, to ascer-
tain more correctly the King's intentions respect-
ing this country, and thus be enabled to adopt
better measures. It would be useless. Madam,

VOL. III. Q

22j6 JLBTTEES OF THE

for me to enter into theâe details, since you will
know the object in view by his despatches, and
that it is he who is empowered with everything,,
which is of no trifling consequence, and would be
too much for any one elsQ but himself. Mean-
while, their Catholic Majesties and this minister
do not lose courage ; and if on your side, propor-
tional and mutual efforts are made to support the
struggle, as is the case in this court, we .may
reasonably expect a successful campaign. Letters
from Paris state that the Duke of Burgundy will
have the command, and that Marshals de Boufflers,
Harcourt, Berwick, and Matignon, will have the
honour of serving under him; God grant that
amongst this great number of generals, there may
exist more union than there was last year with
only two, and that the Prince, if unfortunately
divisions should again arise, may himself take
such measures as the prudence which his wisdom
and good intentions will suggest to him ! The
Puchess of Burgundy, who has scarcely had time
to breathe since his return, is soon about to experi-
ence fresh anxieties : our two Princesses çertaiûl|^
deserve a better fate than what they experience.

I'he Queen has suffered the last three days from
a violent head-ache ; she does not get on so
well in this pregnancy as the last, although there
is no reason to apprehend any danger. It
iâ probable that our Prince will yet cut many
teeth, his gums being much swollen ; but he is

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 227

not less cheerful on that account. It had been
thought that the ceremony of acknowledging him,
as presumptive heir, could not take place until
after the Queen's confinement ; at which I was
very sorry,» because it ought already to have been
performed, in consequence of the important effects
expected to result from all the kingdoms tajcing
the oath. The president of Castile, before whom
all the deputies appear, yesterday said, that the
ceremony would be ready by the first of April,
which is all that I have to communicate of any
importance. The four last days of the carnival
will be concluded by as many plays, two very
serious ones in Spanish, and two Italian burlet-
tas ; these will be the only amusements we have
had in this palace, which has more the air of a
gloomy convent than of a court. I do not think
that of France is much more gay, although appear-
ances may indicate as much from the plays which
are exhibited at all times, and in all seasons.
The winter has never been so severe as at present,
everybody is suffering from it, and none are
without inflammations or colds. I dare not flatter
myself that you have not yours, "ttnd I fear more
lest yout health may be affected ty it, than for my
own, because 1 esteem you more than myself, nor
can any thing equal my gratitude for your kind-
nesses.

228 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER CXXXV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, February 15th, 1709.

I WAS attacked the night before last with a
dreadful cholic, accompanied with fever, which
continued for four and twenty hours ; but being
now much relieved I shall endeavour, by taking
some mild medicines, which the first physician
will give me, to rid myself of the bile, which
is the cause of all these complaints. You cannot
be pitied more by any one than myself, on
losing Madame d'Hudicourt, and your atten-
tions to her, to the last, exhibit more and more
the goodness of your heart, and the motives for
being attached to you. But I could wish that
such opportunities of showing what you are did
not occur, for I fear lest they may afiect your
health, which is much dearer to me than I can
express. I am very sorry to hear that the Prince
de Conti gets worse, and that there is uo longer
any hope of preserving so estimable a man. .
Although you assured me that he was much better,
I fear that so worn out a frame as his cannot re-
cover sufficient strength to overcome such frequent
attacks. Poor Madame de Soubise has struggled
with her maladies for a great length of time.

PRIXCKSS DES uasiNS;^ 229

and as she is a very deserving character, it would
be a great pity if she died. The hard necessity
of thus seeing our friends die around us, is truly
melancholy : but it is, however, necessary to
make up one's mind to it. Everything that you
say to me respecting Marshal de Boufflers makes
me esteem him still more, and serves only to
irritate me against others, who have not less
reason than he to sacrifice themselves in the King's
service. I shall not have the honour of protract-
ing this letter, because repose is prescribed to me,
and as little thought as possible. * My obedience,
however, to this order, will not extend so far as to
forget all the kindnesses with which you honour
me.

P.S. I think the King will not have hesitated
to give the Duchess of Mantua an apartment in
the castle of Vincennes, this Princess being well
deserving of his Majesty's protection.

I am very glad that the King has permitted the
Duke of Orleans to give Mademoiselle de Sery a
titled estate, which will procure her the name of
Madame, and that we have thus got rid of that
business. I do not think a greater proof on my
part to give satisfaction to his Royal Highness
could be shown, than in soliciting you, as I have
done, for an object he had so much at heart,
since you would easily conceive that it was out
of my way to engage in such an affair.

230 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER CXXXVI.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, February 18th, 1709.

Although I did myself the honour of writing
to you by the return of a courier extraordinary,
which set out two days ago, I do so again to-
day to inform you that I am -quite rid of my
cholic and fevex^ and that I take medicines to
prevent their return if possible. The kindnesses
with which you honour me. Madam, are so great
and constant, that they leave me no reason to
doubt your grief at my being attacked with dan-
gerous or painful complaints ; this is the reason.
I think it right to inform you, that those I had
have left me. Chagrin is not of a healthy nature,
and it requires more thain one medicine to expel
it. I have been informed that the Prince de
Vaudemont had been at death's door during the
severe cold. What trouble must not his condition
have caused his wife and family! It appears
that there is no person who, for a certain length of
time back, has not his individual calamities joined
to the public misfortunes, and the conflagration
that is spread throughout Europe, would almost
make me believe that the end of the world was
at hand, if I did not behold the pregnancy of the

PRXNCEl^S D£S UafllNS. 231

Queen. I think M. Clement and Madaàie de
la Salle, will feel disposed to execute the King's
orders, enclosed them in two of my letters^
which I took the liberty of addressing to you-
I wrote to tell them, that they might so contrive
it, as to arrive at Madrid before the 2dth of
March ; 1, therefore, now believe them to be ob
the road : they will tell us plenty of news of the
Duchess of Burgundy and yourself. Do me the
honour, I entreat you, to inform me, with your
usual sincerity, whether you are sorry at having
Madame de Caylus with you, whether this lovely
nièce does not feel for your troubles as she ought,
and as you feel them yourself. Believe me,
rational relations, who become our friends, love
us usually with greater affection than any oite
else : duty, inclination, and every species of
interest bmd them to us, and it is very rare to,
mé^, in those who make a precession of friend-
^ip, the union of all these feelings. I refy
much regret Madairie d'Hudicourt, icx she ap-
peared t6 me to be at^ all times heartily |UtaGb$4
to you.

I hc^ yoQ will not neglect to obtain from the
King, sodie niark of favour for the children o^
Madame VHudieourt, and I intjErroede for o^ne^
if you please, for the eldest. I knew him veyy^
well at Rome: he possessœ mudi iatel%eQ€e>:
ifii cbarxfaing iB sdciety, and appealed to io^ 9»
verjr amâabtei -fimngiHim^ $i»weU as gieatly.^^r

232 LETTERS OF THE

tached to the King. I am delighted that his
Majesty was very glad at his grandson having
given the Duke of Alba one of the three charges
of his household, and I am persuaded that you
will not have felt less pleasure, after all the kind
things that you have so often told me of the Duke
and his lady.

LETTER CXXXVIL

TO THE SAME.

(Without date.)

I KEEP, this letter ready for a courier extraor-
dinary, which the ambassador will despatch, but
at present I do not know the day of his depar-
ture. The cause of his going is not very con-
soling, since it relates to the reconciliation of the
Pope with the Emperor; a shameful event in
itself, but accompanied with the most dis-
graceful circumstances for his Holiness, and of
the most scandalous nature in the eyes of all
true Christians, and even of heretics. The con-
sequences of this treaty may be very disastrous,
if any symptoms of fear appear, but I am well
persuaded, on the contrary^ that if firmness and
courage are shown, which it will be absolutely
necessary to do, the court of Rome will lose
more than this. It is true, that one cannot weigh
too well the conduct which it will be necessary

PRINCESS DES UHfilNS. iS3

to observe towards the Pope, and it is necessary
rather to follow the suggestions of reason, than
the just resentment which such a proceeding
occasions. What is done in cool blood is mtich
better than when in anger ; and a sensible con-
duct followed up with intrepidity, mortifies ouf
enemies more than passion and invective, which
usually terminate in smoke, or often give rise to
fresh disputes. The King's prudence, which
never forsakes him, will be of great service to his
Catholic Majesty, since he will, doubtless, advise
him for the "best, and they will act in concert
together. I cannot, however, help telling you,
that the King, our master, has carried his kindness
to excess, and that many have abused it. As
the King of Spain and M. Amelot, will write to
the King, on what the Spaniards think of the afibir
in question, you will be pleased to excuse me
from repeating to you what you will see by their
letters, so that I will only reply to your last. I
wait impatiently for news of Marshal de Boufflers,
for I hope that after having informed me of his
pain in the breast, you will continue to give me
an account of the state of his health, feeling as I
do, so much interested in his preservation, firom all
the wonders which you tell me of him, and from
the strong confirmatioa which we have seen of
them. I can easily conceive the need which the
King has for exercise, to dissipate in part his just
chagrin ; and as the pleasure he takes in walkings

234 JLKTTEM OF THK

and which is of service tx> his head, one cannot
but regret when the weather prevents his taking
it His Catholic Majesty imitates him in every-
thiiig, and feels himself indisposed fitmi the
vapours, when he cannot walk far and long enough
to dissipate them. If the thaw has taken place,
the King will have profited from this change to
resume his usual habit, and I hope that his
Majesty will no longer feel that oppression in the
head, which you say was occasioned by his se-
dentary life.

With all due respect to our great Princess, I oan-
not help saying, that the King had more reason
liiaalier highness for haying balls during the carni-
val, because it is a species of triumph for the enemy
to i^w dejection in our misfortunes, while it ap-
pears to me much better to display the same equa-*^
nimity to the public \a bad as in good fortune»
The cause of the Duchess of Burgundy's melan*
dioLy has a praiseworthy source, since it arises^
from a heart: afifectionately attached to ev^rytbnig^
which) she ought toi IcMre, and her rafferiiigs are
sufficient to-alter the natural gaiety of hot disfio^
sitien. I should be very sorry, if her ti^oiU^len^
oonteibut^d ta perpetuate >thèswelUtig willi whidi»
she.is affactedV k is ai great deal to be able tc» say
thatit-does not increase; and if things were ia^a*
moniG settled slate^ she might go to tbe^^waters dT
Bourbon,, wher&it ia tc^bé hoped she wodld be
ei^in^y Gurèd« Noi ; Nfadani; iL would lay a wagtti

PRIHCE8S DSfl VRSIN8. 9d6

ba t you are not the dupe of this PriuceBf, whe»
you think that she would regret you, if she peuld
no longer see you : her mind and disposition are too
good not to find in you her enjoyment and cposiv
lation, and not to acknowledge that she woyld not
meet with all that she finds rare and amis^ble in
you in any other person. ^ I hope she will not fi^d
herself for along time to come, in such a dilemmi^t
Nothing can be prettier or more interesting thw
what the Duke of Brittany said to Mad^rge d9
Ventadour, on the two teeth which he had.ci^^;
ours i^ not less forward in proportion^ and. aIt]iougb
he says little, he does not fail to make hi£i waqta
loudly known, and it is enough for him tqt ka^TQ
seen a person once or twice to know him again^
He goes every day by himself iuto thç Queen 9
closet to kiss the Duke of Brittany's pçrtirai}^»
which is a sign that these two <;ousû|s will tone
each other anci be united in interests.

At length, Madame de Soubise, aft^v long.suf-^
ferings ha3 finished her days» konoured to theiaist,
and nevertheless weaned, as I am infprmed, &qv^
the things of this world. The Pidnqe dç Conti;
according to every probability, yriU sf^edily &ilQW!
her. There are» indeed, many persoqa ofdisr
tinçtion who have died since my returii tP^ift
çpuptry.

Be pleased to accept iny mpst hvinble thanlwu
W^en you command my services», for porapoft
yrhom you wish to honour witl^ yqur ^xojb^

23d LETTERS OF THE

tioft ; I will do the needful for Madame d'Hohora,
when I hear the matter discussed.

The officer for the Queen's household is not
yet arrived ; he cannot help being good, since you
have taken the trouble to select him. Your
dinners were set out to great advantage, and to
live well, the mistress of the house must be well
acquainted with the subject. One of the Queen's
vmiting women is in great danger from a high
feVer, and an inflammation in the chest, which
she neglected in the beginning; and a Spanish
physician who visited her, prescribed cold things
for her to drink, and other medicines equally
unsuitable, which were highly disapproved of
by the King's first physician, who was only
called in two days ago. The girl was on the eve
of marrying a Spanish gentleman in the body
guard, a worthy man : they were both much
attached to each other, so that their situation
excites pity.

I have nothing more to add, than to answer
you respecting the cabal, against which I took
the liberty of telling you to be upon your guard ;
but upon which you require a clearer explanation,
since you appear scarcely to comprehend it;
however, the ambassador has taken it up for me,
having written a long letter upon the subject to
the court. These four or five grandees continue
to talk very mischievously ; they wish people to
believe in France that all is going to ruin here, if

Princess des ubsins. 237

the govenunént is not changed ; nevertheless
they act only through passion or prejudice^ and
things would long since have been in confusion»
if their evil councils had been followed ; they
meet together as often as they can, and publicly
give it out that the Duke of Orleans is at their
head. The Dutch gazettes are full of this
wretched trash ; and I am continually asked
whether it be true that I have quarrelled with
his Royal Highness, and whether I 3.m tljpon good
terms with the King. I answer, that I do not
think I have given any cause to spread such
reports, and that if his Majesty should not, unfor-
tunately and unexpectedly, be satisfied with my
proceedings, I should have very humbly entreated
him to accept my resignation of the place I occupy.
I have caused a letter from the Duke of Orleans
to be read to some of the courtiers, my friends»
in which his Royal Highness does me the honour
of writing to me in the most obliging manner in
the world, to refer myself to you, rather than to
people who might be interested in our not being
upon so good an understanding together as we
are. They were surprised that this Prince evinced
so much friendship towards me, when they
vdshed to have it believed at Madrid, and even
in France, that I have quarrelled with him, and I
think the above steps will produce a good effect.
His Royal. Highness, if I am allowed to say so,
would be much to blame, if he was backward ta

238 LSTTSRI OF Tin ^

aekmr*rledging the respectful and sincere attedi*
neat I ever entertained for him. You are ac-
qminted better than any one, how I haveiipoken
to you of all his good and great qualities, and I
have not two manners of explaining myself in
regard to him with every body. Here is an end
of this matter ; but my affection and attachment
lor you^are boundless.

LETTER CXXXVIIL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, March 4tb, 1709*

I TESTixtDAT rOGeived three of your letters
together, dated the 10th, 1 1th and 17th ultimo^
flvceessively increasing in gloominess, so much so,
tint I baTe only observed one ray of sprightliness,
when you ask me what I shall do, if I can get no
^innage, in consequence of the frosts which have
killed all the vegetables. I own that I imme^
dtatoly took this joke as an antidote against every-^
thing which I read of a distressing and heart-
lending^ nature in your letters ; I experienced its
good effecls, and whenever I reflect upon the mis-
fortutœs which you predict, I have recourseto my
spinni^e, abd flatter mysdf, that nc^twithstasidi^ag
jéwt chagrin, yoa hare not lost all hepe. But

PRINCXSS DES UESINS. t6St

why sbmiH we bse it ? Have we no more tioops
or geaerals ? Whsa Marshal de Berwick gained
tibe battle of Alman^a^ which he had resolved noi
to risk^ and which he really would not have done»
bad not the enemy forced him to it, had he before
acquired the reputation of a great captain by
other actions of a similar nature ? How many
general officers are there, his seniors, who have
been in more actions ? He, however, gained that
battle, and it would have heeix, all over with Spain
in case it had been lost. Count de la Motte, who;
thought he acted right in preserving aie corps
which he commanded, committed a greater faujit,
without intending it, than if he had lost half his
men by a vigorous defence of Ghent, since tiie
enemy has even confessed that they would haver
been obliged tù retire if he had heM out four daySw
When places are lost in sight otf armies^ which do^
not attempt to relieve or preserve them,.tbey Km
q{ no great use ; and I have also heard that iiiei
qM soldiery were in desfpair at not being led into
action. In shorty I cannot be. persuaded that:
l^re is no longer valour, merit and zeal in the
Freach; and I think, that if it is sought after, it
will be^ found, provided no belief is placed in those
pédale, who are selfishly interested in ruining or>
i?aîsing persons whom they love <»r hate, or who
Qsteem so little the giory of die King or tibe good
of the state, as to advise that every thiing sbmild
be absiidomdfor the sad^e of existing aAerwards inr

240 - XXTTEM OF THB

a disreputable effeminacy. I could wish tiiat you
l¥ouId do me the honour of opening your mind to
me, with your usual sincerity, upon an affair I am
written to concerning Madame de Soubise, which
you can do without any difficulty, since she is
dead ; and although she were living, I protest to
you that I should harbour no resentment against
her ; it is that she was one of the most violent of
the party, who wished to persuade the King that
it was necessary to make peace upon any terms,
and that he must for this purpose absolutely leave
their Catholic Majesties to their fate ? I am very
anxious to know if this be true, and I hope you
will not refuse me this satisfaction.

I retuni you a thousand most humble thanks
for relieving my anxiety, respecting the sickness
of Marshal de Boufflera. Men like him are so
rare, that one cannot too much desire their pre-
servation. I could sincerely wish that M. le
Prince, and the Prince de Conti, were in the same
good state of health ; but theirs is very different,
although the Princess, who has done me the
honour of writing to me at great length by the
last post the particulars of their complaints, by
order even of M. le Prince, seems not quite to
despair of the Prince de Conti, and flatters herself
that her husband will get better. I admire the
King's complaisance in going on purpose to Marly»
to amuse: the Duchess of Burgundy. As she is
young, fond of company and play, she will be

more relieved from her ckagria than ajt Versailles,
where there is not so full a court. If the lively
friendship whieh subsists between her and the
Princess of England continues, the Duchess of
Burgundy may often have the pleasure of seeing
her.

The Duke begins early to be afflicted with the
gout, and, perhaps, had M. Fagon prescribed a re-
gimen respecting living too well and drinking
champagne, he would, in case he had observed
it, have found himself better : it se,ems to me,
that both the men and women endeavour to kill
themselves, and yet they are in despair when
death approaches. I can easily conceive that the
first physician will have much difficulty in finding
one:sui table for the Queen ; however, I ask him as a
favour, not to be discouraged, because I do not
know what we should do, if the head physician
of the. Spanish King were taken ill.

Yes, Madam, I wish your life may be pro-
tracted to more than an hundred and fourteen
years, which would cause you to be looked upon
as a prodigy. You would, perhaps, be a lo$er by
it, since you are disgusted with everything you
see at present ; but the public and your faithful
servants and friends would gain too mueh by it,
;to be of your opinion ; moreover, fortune, perhaps,
;would become more favourable, which would
afford you pleasure, you would see the King better
jMUisfiéd^ aiaid you would add greatly to the number

VOL. Ilf. B

242 LSTTBRft OF THE

q£ your good deeds. The Marquis de Moensera
has entered into his hundredth year, and is cheer*
fill and sprightly, and I hope you will follow his
example*

M. de Vendôme, who has acquired the esteem
of the Spaniards, is about retiring, then, to Anet,
at which they appear very sorry. There are
so many sick on every side, that it is not
astonishing the Chancellor and M. Chamillard
are attacked, and more especially the latter,
who under his fatigues, finds little consolation.
I have done myself the honour of speaking to you
of the affairs of Rome, since we learnt that the
Pope had acknowledged the Archduke. If there
is any timidity shown in this business, it will be
the means of completely spoiling everything : all
the well disposed subjects of the King of Spain,
could wish energy to be shown, both in France
and here, and I think they are in the right, for de-
jection serves only to render the enemy more
arrogant. The ambassador is of tiie same opi^
nion, and he informs the King of everything neces^
sary to be done.

God grant that it may turn out in other respects
advantageous, that the little corps of Marshal de
Noailles receives no reinforcements I There
would be, however, a fine difference between
speedily expelling the Archduke from Catalonia,
fay the capture of Girona, which would compel
him to adopt this measure, or leaving him in Bar-

Pni^CEêB D£8 DRSINS. 843

celona, and giving him leisure to receive a con*
siderable reinforcement from Italy, now that nO
diversion can be made, in that country, the
Emperor giving the law to his Holiness, as at
Naples and Milan, and the other Princes being
likewise obliged to receive it.

The Duchess of Burgundy refused to play with
the Duke de Vendôme, because she does not
think it right to do him that honour. She could not
I think excuse herself more civilly than she didj
and it would be extremely wrong, on every ac-?
count, to presume to blame her for it.

The Queen will, like the Duchess of Burgundy,
put on mourning for some days for Madao^e d^
Maubuisson. I remember that it was the DuchesA
d'Uzes who was the first to introduce this fashion,
at the death of her aunt, the Abbess de Saint
Etienne, at Rheims: I think it a bad custom,
and which cannot give pleasure to the gOQ4
nuns, who ought to be exempted from vanity, and
who vow that they renounce the world. There is n
report that the Abbé de la Rue will succeed Father
de la Chaise. I have seldom heard more persua-
sive sermons than his, which the Catholic King
recollects, and much commends ; and his appro*
bation is not to be despised, for besides under?
standing perfectly well his religion, he has both
judgment and taste.

Our ambassador was delighted with your
assuring me that the King is satisfied with him,

R 2

844 £ETTBR8 OF THE

and he certainly does everything in his power to
deserve the honour of his Majesty's esteem^ his
labours being great and not unproductive. I have
another friend, with whom their Catholic Ma*
jesties are very well satisfied, and there is cer-
tainly nothing more commendable than his con-
duct; I mean Cardinal Aquavi va, who has recently
written to me, desiring me to tell the King of
Spain from him, that he is quite ready to declare
himself openly, should his Majesty think proper :
although he has the honour of being bom his
subject, he does not pass for being of the party in
favour of this crown, so long as he does not make
this declaration. Before leaving Madrid, his £mi-
iience wished to know what would be most agreeable
to his Majesty, who thought that it was better for
the Cardinal to serve him secretly than openly. I
do not yet know the answer that he will order me
to give him, but I very well know, that it is in^times
so disagreeable as these, that honest men declare
themselves ! more creatures than enough are found
when fortune smiles, and scarcely any when she
frowns. All the house of Ati, which is numerous,
entertain the same sentiments ; it is useless to
mention those which I have for you, since I can-
not sufficiently well express the extent of my
affection and respect.

P. S . I am ashamed. Madam, of add ing to so long
a letter, but I am under too many obligations to the
Arohbishop of Aix, to dispense with recommendr

PRIKC£S8 DES VRSTKS. 245

ing to you the interests of the Bishop de Die, hiig
nephew, who is very poor, and at the death of his
uncle none of the benefices fell to his share. Tt 18
said that the see of Versailles is now vacant ; he
would be very happy if on this occasion the King
would do him the honour of calling to mind his
uncle's merit and his own in particular, for his
Majesty has not a more faithful subject.

LETTER CXXXIX.

TO THB SAME.

Madrid, Match 15th, 1709.

I HAD the honour of writing to you too long a
letter by the last post, to trespass again upon
your patience to-day. The King of Spain, doubt-
less, informs the King of the success attending
the springing of the mine, to blow up the Castle
of Alicant ; it was adreadful afiair, and the English
who were in it must have evinced a great contempt
of life, to refuse the capitulation which the Che-
valier d'Asfield twice offered them, and he does
not doubt but that the garrison of the place,
which he thinks has suffered severely, will be at
length forced to surrender. This would be desir-
able, because the whole kingdom of Valencia
would then be completely rid of the enemy^ and

246 i^BTTERS OF THE

would not require the number of troops which
are there at present ; while the greatest advan*
tage would result from sending them into Cata-
lonia, to endeavour to expel at any rate the Arch-
duke this campaign. I do not think that the
Duke de Noailles differs from me upon this
subject, since he knows the consequences of it.

I was thinking of going to Aranjuez for a fort-
night, for change of air and exercise, which my
health much requires ; but being informed that
the atmosphere of this place was too damp, owing
to the late floods, I gave up my intention and
shall now go to the Retire, to which the Queen
has been pleased to consent. Whilst there, I shall
have the honour of coming and paying my court
to her, either in the morning or afternoon, and
returning in the evening. I intend to take the
exercise of walking till I am tired, in order
to lay in a stock of good health, so as to be
able the better to sustain the fatigue attending
the confinement of her Majesty ; for besides my
services near the Queen, and having to answer all
inquirers after her health, I shall have under my
care the Prince of Asturias, and the Infant or
Infanta which it may please God to send us.
You will own that it requires much strength to
sustain so many bodily and mental occupations,
and more especially when the latter are of so
unpleasant a nature. The Queen is well ; it i»
still thought that the oath to the Prince will take

PRINCESS DES UKSIXS. 247

place on the 7th of next month. Their Majes-
ties will go for four days to the Retiro, in order to
be near the Church of Saint Hieronymus, which
stands near the palace, and in which this cere-
mony will take place. I think you will not be
sorry to hear who the ladies of the grandees are
who will have^the honour of accompanying the
Queen ; they are the Duchesses de Frias and
Medina Sidonia, the former is the lady of the
Constable of Castile, Grand Master of the King's
household, and the latter, the wife of the Grand
Almoner ; the Duchesses d'Ossuna and de Popoli,
wives of the two captains of the body guard;
the lady of the Marquis de Aguiton, whose
husband is commandant of the regiment of
guairds; the lady of the Marquis de Lombaya,
whose husband represents the house of Borgia,
and whose father, the Duke of Candia, is the
first gentleman of the bed-chamber ; the Couq-
tess de Gormas, daughter-in-law to the Marquis
de Villena, Viceroy of Naples, now a prisoner at
Milan; the Countess d'Altamira, daughter of the
Marquis d'Astorga, of the house Gusman; the
lady of the Marquis de la Jamuca, daughter-in-
law to the Duke de Yeraguas, and daughter of
the Duke de Cessa, first gentleman of the bed-
chamber, and lately honoured with the blue
ribbon; the Countess de Cabra, wife of his
eldest son ; the Marchioness de Solero, daughter-
in-law of the Count d'£stevan. Grand Master

248 LSTTERft OF THB

of the Queen's household; the MarcMoiiess de
Bedmar, who is no stranger to you, the Mar-
chioness d'Aigular^ sister of the Duchess de
Medina Coeli, who is also of the number ; and
the Marchioness de Priego, daughter of the
Marquis de los Balbases, and whose husband
will be heir to the Duke de Medina Cœli. All
the ladies or daughters-in-law of the grandees
are equally treated, when they come to the
palace, that is to say, having the almokada or
cushion, which is not the case with the daugh-
ters-in-law of our French Pukes» who stand in
the royal presence, like other ladies of quality.
All these ladies are preparing magnificent dresses,
in emulation of each other. It appears that they
hâve been much affected by this distinguished ho-
nour ; there are however two who have not returned
thanks, namely the Duchess de Medina Cœli, and
the Marchioness de Priego, her niece ; all the
others have written to me, desiring me to present
their respectful gratitude, till the Queen shall
permit them to come in person to pay the tribute
themselves.

The nurse of the Prince of Asturias, whom we
hoped i;^ould complete her task, has had the same
accident which obliged us to change the others ;
but we have had the good fortune to experience
no difficulty in getting the Prince to take another ;
I think as reason dawns upon him, he: knows that
lie should not be attached to any one in particular.

PEIKCXS8 t>EM URBIKS. 249

If I were as cheerful as formerly, and could trifle
with you^ I could add that he will not disgrace
the Mood from whence He springs ; but I refrain
from such a style when I think seriously. In
whatever state, I am equally yours. Madam, and
more at your service than words can express.

P.S. The inquisitor general died yesterday ;
he was a pious man, and very much attached to
the King, his master, which causes him to be
much regretted, as this office requires to be filled
by a good and fsdthful subject.

LETTER CXL.

TO THE SAME,

Madrid, March 14th, 1709.

The weather continues so cold, that I have nat
yet put into execution my project of going tp
;the lietiro for exercise, which I feel is absolutely
necessary for me ; as soon as the air is milder>
I shall go there, and hope that in walking about
and seeing no one, my head and my health will
be benefited. You are too good to be ansdow
about them, and I return you many thanks for it $
but my indispositions are not of that consequence
to make you uneasy, and I could wish it were as

2fi0 £ETT£R8 OF THE^

easy to cure your cold, as it is to recover me cohip
pletely.

Though the death of the Prince de Conti might
be expected, it has not been the less affecting ;
and all the Spaniards who have be^i in France,
testify their sorrow upon the occasion. Good
€rod. Madam, in what a sad state the three
Princes are, of whom you do me the honour
to make mention 1 I fear they cannot sustain
it, and lest it be a death blow to M. le Prince.
The Duchess de Noailles will be very uneasy
at the sickness of Madame de Beaumanoir. It
is true that a prodigious number of people have
died within the last two or three years ; and
though I think I know them all, you will
oblige me by sending the list. The Duchess de
Bejar died this morning, from the rupture of a
blood vessel, at the age of twenty-two ; she was
daughter-in-law of the lady of the same name,
whom the Queen took into her service as camarera
mayor f daring my absence from Madrid. Her
husband, who had already lost his first wife, is
one of the rich Spanish lords, and has no children.
Don Pedro Zunig^, his brother, whom his Majesty
sent to communicate to the King the birth of the
Prince of Asturias, possesses maxims and man-
ners very different from those of his brother, and
report speaks highly of him.
-^ It is very deplorable that the King is obliged

PRINC SS PR9 URSIKS. $$1

t0 change his plans, on ^ account of the bad stale
of the Marshal de Boufflers' health ; I own that
the worst of all evils is the want of money ; as
for men I thought there were plenty ; it is certain,
however» that money agents never had so much*
It would be a strange folly for M • de Soubise to
marry Madame de Verrue, and thus to ruin hiai
children* It is more than a year since one of my
friends wrote to me to say, that she thought him
capable of this. You are right in being surprised
at the extreme blindness of men, at being so much
attached to life, which is so short, and gives birth
to so many frivolous projects. Madame . de
Soubise, who had always endeavoured to make
rich matches for her children, will only, perhaps,
have done so to enrich another. The Duchess de
Ventadour would be much displeased, if this
is the case. This is all I have the* honour of
writing to you ; however gloomy your letters are,
do not deprive me of them if you please ; I cannot
do without them, since these marks of your friend*
ship are my greatest consolation.

P.S. I thought of sending this letter by the
courier, who departs in four days, but the am-
bassador despatching a courier extraordinary to
France, I embrace the opportunity, and perhaps
diall not have the honour of writing to you by
the usual post, unless something occurs here to
require it, because I am very much occupied
with the Queen's dress, that of the Prince, and

2S2 LETTERS OF THE

the persons who will have the honour of accompa-
nying him, and with the baptism of the son of
the young Marchioness de Terrecousa, for whom
the Duke and Duchess of Burgundy have done
the ambassador and me the honour to stand as
proxies. All this is more than enough to make
tlie days too short» but I will, nevertheless, exert
myself as much as possible, that everything may
be conducted with suitable dignity,

March 15th.

I HAVE just received your letter of the 4th
instant, and am delighted at the King s arrange^
ments respecting the generals^ which also gives
great satisfaction to all those who wish well to th^
two Kings, and I expect much from this cam-
piaign^ notwithstanding your fears. What joy for
the King, if Monseigneur should retrieve affairs :
Marshal de Villars is fortunate, and the confidence
he showsi notwithstanding he knows the troops to
be in bad condition, appears to me a favourable
omen. Could I presume to ask you, whether the
Puke of Burgundy is well disposed towards the
Duke d'Harcourt, and whether this Marshal has
been reconciled to the Duke de Beauvilliers, bU
family and friends. It is not because I think
that the Prince meddles with these sort of things,
and that he is not above them, but it is certain
that when there is a prejudice in favour, or against
any one» there is greater occasion for being^atteb-

PRINCESS BES URSIirs. 253

tire to what is to be done, than when no preju-
dice exists. I have nothing more> Madam, to
answer you.

LETTER CXLL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, March 1 8th, 1709.

I HAD the honour of informing you. Madam, in
a letter which I sent by the ambassador's courier^;
that you would not hear from me this post, unless
I had something fresh to communicate ; the latter
is the case to-day, and I am sorry for it. The
Queen, as she was walking slowly in her chamber,
yesterday evening, fell upon her knees ; but as
her fail was not violent, I hope it will not be at-
tended with any unpleasant consequences. Her
Majesty had the precaution to take a glass of water
immediately after, and to lie doi^n. She will
keep her bed for nine days, in order to run no risk^
although she has not felt the least pain. We
should have been in great trouble, had the Queen
injured herself in her eighth month, Clement not
having yet arrived, and the midwives of Madrid
being in no repute. God preserve her Majesty, and I
always flatter myself that he will work some miracle
in favour of the King and her. This accident
postpones my intended excursion to the Retire^

^Si4 LtTTEM OF THE

The baptism of tbe Duke de Saint George, son to
liie Marchioness de Terraeousa, whom I had the
honour of holding by proxy for the Duchess of
Burgundy, with the ambassador for Monseigneur,
was celebrated yesterday, with all the splendour
suitable to such sponsors. M. Amelot had the
whole of the church covered with the richest
carpets that could be procured: there was a
great display of silver, and a large band of music.
Many grandees came, who were invited by the
Marquis and his lady to be present in this cele-
bration ; the chapel exhibited an embroidered bed
of gold, on which the infant was laid till our
arrival, which is the custom at Madrid. There
was a prodigious quantity of people to see the
ceremony, which was the first liiat had taken
place at this court, since we are assured that
members of the royal family had never before
done this honour to any one. When all was over,
the company visited the child's mother, where they
partook of a grand collation, which our ambassador
had gallantly sent ; he also placed round the neck
of this newly made christian, a diamond necklace,
from which was suspended a diamond cross ; and,
in short. Madam, no effort was spared to do
honour to Monseigneur and the Duchess of Bur-
gundy. The Marquis and his lady desired me
at the time, to offer their respectful thanks to the
Princess ; and I thought you would have the good-
ness to^ be the bearer of theirs, as well as mine.

PRIHCES8 DES URâlNS. S6C

aiid that this way would be less troublesome thaft
if I did myself the honour of writing them a
formal letter on the subject.

LETTER CXHL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, March 2l8t, 1709.

It is only not to lose an opportunity of writ-
ing to you, that I do so to-day by return of
the courier of the Duke of Alba ; for that of M.
Amelot having returned without bringing me
letters from you, I shall not have much to say ia.
mine. The Queen continues to keep her bed
since her fall, six days ago, from which she has
experienced no inconvenience; in fact she has
never looked so w ell during her pregnancy, as she
does at present M. Clement and Madame de
la Salle, will only arrive at the beginning of next
week. Their zeal for his Majesty's service having
caused them to set out sooner than' I mentioned»
they will be obliged to wait for the carriages,
which have been sent for them from Madrid, as far
as Bayonne, where they have been nearly a fort-
night ; so that they have had time to rest them*
selves, which will the better enable them to perform
the rest of their journey.

Our good Archbishop of Saragossa has already

156 LETTEftS OF ISE '

arrived in this city, to be present at the oa&tobe
taken to the Prince. I was very well acquainted
with him, when the Queen went to assemble the
states in Arragon, where her Majesty had every
reason to be satisfied with his zeal : he is a very
worthy prelate, of tried fidelity, and sincerely
attached to their Catholic Majesties. He suffered
every possible outrage from the fiiry of the
enemy when this kingdom revolted : he observed
this morning to a grandee, who came to pay him
a visit, that when he was in the hands of the
Germans, he soon made up his mind, thinking
that the worst which could happen to him, would
be. to lose his head, and that he should have
^esteemed himself happy, if of a bad priest, as he
.Wja$, they had made a good martyr of him. He
is not the only prelate we have in Spain who
prefers his duty to everything else; we have,
thank God, many of the same character, who are
V^ry useful, to çhqrish in the people an afiectioa
for tihieir King.

It is ascertained that the governor of Alicant
and two colonels were killed, when the mine was
sprung, and that all is alarm there. Nevertheless,
Madam, they do not yet surrender ; but the Cheva-
lier d' Asfeld asserts, that this must soon be the
case. I have nothing more to inform you of,
respecting this country ; it is where you are, that
should be the scene of important eveiits ; on pur
çide at least we ooâatinue to brave the storm, and

PRUiosss ]>XB uanirs. 2S7

I presume to say courageously enough, to desentre
your esteem, the value of which, no one can ap-
preciate better than myself.

LETTER CXLIIL

TO THB SAME.

Madrid, March 2dth, 1709.

Your last letter, Madam, of the 9th instant,
would furnish me materials, for a long reply, if I
wished to touch upon the subject respecting the
Duke of Orleans, but I am too much indisposed,
to probe this matter to the bottom, and for more
than one reason, I have besides other engage^
ments for the holy week, and a courier is setting
out for Rome, by whom I must also write. I
therefore postpone to the next post, the honour of
writing to you more at length. The Queen has
kept her bed nine days, and her pregnancy goes
on well . The Prince has cut another tooth, whicb
makes the tenth ; I think that Clement and Madame
de la Salle, who are expected on holy Thursday,
will be pleased at all his little fascinations, aad
Xkn/d incredible sense he shows for his age : I do
jQOt^ know who he taj(;e;s after, for you are > awiare,
•Mad^m, th^t the King and Queeji* of Spain are
(acci)s^ of .4 deficiency in that rteep^cito Ho, ro»

VOL. in. 8

2Sfi! tSTTKRS OF TRV

the bonoiir. Madam, of being alwayi a little in*
didgent to me.

LETTER CXLIV.

TO THE SAKE.

Madrid, April Ist, 1709-

ALLOW me to observe to you, Madam, that it is
rather my place than yours, to judge whether
y<»r letters are agreeable or otherwise: they
aiibrd me infinite pleasure, however cheerAil or
gloomy they may be, although they produce dif-
fefent impressions ; you unbosom yourself to me,
"vitii all your native frankness, and I prize this
conftdence, ad a mark of your goodness, of whicii
I am truly seûsible.

Id it possible. Madam, that air tilie men whom
ydu know, appear to you at their wits end, and
l^t tibtere are none capable of suggesting fresh
resources ? It i& a sign of tiheir despondency,
wiÉichdoes them no credit, for however awkwardly
Affiûrs may be sitUalted, great minds and courage-
ùm hearts always struggle most against bad
fortune. God Works miracles when he pleases,
and I implore of him, sd: this time, that of reviving
the dejected hopes of your court» and of effecting
a reoonoâktion amongst those who have wb

PRlKCEëS D£0 URBIITS. fi09

mtrch ociôasîoB h^ it.- ï hope, With you; Mttdttttiy
fliat their Catholic Majesties Will not be deserted
by heaven, and that their virtueôj in spite of flkô
injustice 6f tnan, and thé success 6f their enemiei^,
Will draw ddwii upon them its blessings, and
although it is said that peace should be made oïl'
any têrms^ I trust this will nevei^ be the cause.

Pardon me, if I have the honour of observing to
you, that I i^houldnot think it right to consent to a
disgraceful peace, even though I should be near
you, to see everythinjg that is occurring; and
Morëhal de Boufflers and I should have a grand'
(iîMitést belbre I gave up the point.

I am^ not astonished. Madam, at the anger of
the Duke of Alba, when he hears it suggested
that- the King, hh mairtér, should be prevailed
u{tdti dii^aeelbliy to cede his great mô^archy foy
a treaty, to which I certainly cannot tiiiak his
Hk^est^ will consent ; and the ambassador is too
godd à subject not to perish with his master^ rather
thasi a^^rove an action which woukl dishonour
hàM in the eyeis 6f the nation^ and which posterity
would scarcely believe.

I know not why Madame de Soubise has b^n
accused of advising the abandonment of the King
of Spain : « it is surely enough to cast imputations
upon the living, without injuring the memory of
the dead.

This Marshal de Yiilairs^ speaks and acts like
those heroes of roi^Mjifie» who t)ùnk they must

• 2

860 LETTERS OF THE

conquer wherever they go, and I prefer such,
conduct now, so much the reverse of that which,
has brought us near the precipice. If M. Demaretz
supplies this general with money you shall see.
Madam, that he will again put our affairs into a
good way.

All you say and do is in vain, you ^ill live in
spite of yourself and not in spite of me, I assure
you. I should be very sorry to lose Cardinal de
Janson so soon.

Your Irish lady, whom you have done me the
honour of recommending to me, has at length
paid me a visit, having been eight months here
without my knowing it, and I promised to do all
in my power for her on your account.

M. Clement and Madame de la Salle are at
last arrive, to our great satisâtction, and they
have communicated to me, as you may conceive,
all the kindnesses of the King, and the Duchess of
Burgundy, as well as yours, at which I am much
affected. I could wish to answer the remainder
of yours of the 18th ultimo, but it is too late, my
packet is sent for, and I must att^ad their Ma-
jesties;

PRINCESS DM CRSINS. 261

LETTER CXLV.

TO THE SAME*

Buen Retiro, April 8th, 1709.

No letters. Madam, from Versailles by the last
post ; it is therefore imagined, that they must have
been forwarded by the courier extraordinary de-
spatched from hence by M. Amelot, and who, as a
matter of course, should arriveto-day or to-morrow,
I could wish that the King had detained him longer,
so as that we might learn that the army is again
in a good state, since Marshal de Villars has brought
it a supply of money, together with confidence
in a successful campaign.

The grand day for taking the oath to the Prince
of Asturias has at length arrived, and the ceremony
was yesterday performed in the church of the
Retiro, with manifest joy in the countenances of
all who were present to acknowledge him as the
successor of the King his father. Cardinal Porto-
carero said high mass ; the patriarch, who acts
as grand almoner, confirmed the Prince ; and the
cardinal who had the honour of standing as god-
father to him, was highly gratified. It will,
doubtless, appear extraordinary to you that con-
firmati<m should be given to a child who caimot

^Q UT1VK§ OF

understand its meaning ; but it is the custom in
Spain, and it was requisite before he could be
acknowledged as heir. Never was a ceremony
performed^ with more pomp, order and magnifi-
cence. The Prince himself gave his hand to kiss
to those who kneeled before him, and as that
lasted more than three hours, and he was attacked
with hunger and sleep at the same moment, he
began to cry, being quite exhausted with the
exercise ; but his mirse being sent for, and
although she relieved him, he continued to hold
out his little hand to kiss in a most chanmng
manner. I placed M. Clement and Madame d(s
}a ^alle in my pew, whicre they saw everything.
i am sure. Madam, they thought Ûie spectade
very fine, and that the King and Queen actually
appeared in their proper characters whe^ tkey
left the palace of Madrid to come to this. AU
the streets w^e full, as also the balconi^ and win-
dows, from whence everybody shouted in praise of
their Majesties and the Prince, which ought tp
be a convincing proof that their love of them
increases, rather than diminishes, and that ther^
is only a small number of ill-disposed persons^,
who are ii;carcely worth naming, untesu^ it is tp
make them fed what they owe to their soyerei^^.
One of this description fell at the Prince's i^% ^
he was approadnng to kiss his h^^â, whicH g»1lP
rise to some trifling reflections. I tbiii|c wq j^tS^l
ntusn at the éiid af this wjeiek iû the pàlaeê» '%&-

PEIKGSSS BBS URSIKS. Û^

morrow there will be a musical entertainmeiat^ to
which all the ladies will have &e honour of
accompanying the Queen. Her Majesty is very
well» and Clement does not think she will be
confined before the beginning of May ; she
assures us that it will take place on Saint Philip's
day, and that she will have an In&nta. I could
sincerely wish for it, as you have no idea what a
good effect this would have on the minds of the
Catalonians, who believe in predictions. I have
nothing more to add. Madam, to what I have just
had the honour of writing to you, since their
Majesties and the ambassador write about all
that concerns public affairs. I am, as I ought
to be, the most affectionate and most re^^ctM
of your servants.

P.S. I must not omit in my brief description
of the ceremony, that Cardinal Portocarero
received the oath, and the Duke de Medina Celi
the homage which was paid to the Prince ; that
tl^e Duke de Medina Sidonia held the naked sword
by the side of the King, an honour which was
formerly attached to the house of the Count
d'Oropesa; and that young Count d'Aguilar,
obtain of the guards^ had the honour of being the
train bearer in my place, as I represented that of
governess to the Prince. What induced the
King to choose Count d -Aguilar was, to extrieate
him from the embarrasdm(^rt of bestowing tim
hfrnrnx upon any of the grandees, who yould ha^e

264 USTTERS OF THB

been jealous of the individual upon whom it had
been conferred, which expedient was proposed by
the ambassador and very much approved.

LETTER CXLVL

TO THE SAME.

Buen Retiro, April 14tb, 1709.

It is now a long time. Madam, since I am
without a letter from you, the last post having
brought me none. I might fear lest you had
forgotten me, if I conceived you less perfect than
you are ; but you are incapable of changing^ and
even of abating your goodness, for a servant and
a friend who is devoted to you as I am. How-
ever, as the honourable proofs of your kindness
sustain me in my present painful situation, con-
tinue I entreat you to give me them as often as
possible.

The cholic, which has again attacked the King,
although thank God, not dangerous, does not fail
to. give me pain, knowing from experience that
thp sufferings it causes are very acute. The Duke
of Alba has informed us that his Majesty has been
bled for it, which has entirely cured him. Nothing
of consequence has occurred in this court siiu^e

PBIVCSS8 D£8 tJR8IN9. 26A

my last letter. The King and Queen have been
so comfortable at the Retiro, since the grand
ceremony of taking the oath to the Prince, that
they have not yet returned to the palace. Their
Majesties walk about in this house, the gardens
of which are very convenient, being on a level with
the apartments. M. Clement approves of the
Queen taking exercise; he does not think she
will be confined till the beginning of May.

At length, Madam, we have lost M. le Prince.
Although we could scarcely flatter ourselves with
his recovery after so long an illness, his death has
not failed to afflict me : he had honoured me with
his attentions at all times and on every occasion,
which is sufficient to make me regret him as long
as I live. The Prince and the Princess of
Conti are, I think, in a strange state ; I know not
how the present Prince will behave to them : it
appears to me that his mother has always had a
great affection for him ; but sometimes this is not
enough. I rejoice with you. Madam, at the
millions which the French vessels have brought
from the Indies. It would be desirable for the
King of Spain, that his Viceroy the Marquis de
Castel los Rios should serve him better than he
does. This court appears to me to be dissatisfied
with him, because be ought to have sent to his
Catholic Majesty much more money than he has
done, knowing as he does, how much it is wanted' ;
nevertheless, he is indebted to him for his title of

iismM or Tius

grandee and bk fortune» which the Spaniards
have always envied him. It is true that it W93
through the patronage of the King, to whom he
had the honour of being ambassador, that the
King, his master, granted him all that he has given
him^ and therefore, he should not be ungrateful.
Apropos, of the vice-royalties of the Indies, I
think it my duty. Madam, to do myself the honour
of giving you an account of two letters I received
from Madame d'O. respecting a Spaniard, called
M. de Menecez. She earnestly pressed me for
him to succeed the Marquis de Castellos Rios,
or the Duke d'Alburquerque telling me, it would
give great pleasure to the Duchess of Burgundy,
and sending me a letter from that Princess to the
Queen» which I had the honour of presenting
to her, and which contained a request to her
Majesty, that she would ask this favour of the
King her husband. The Queen only laughed at
it, clecurly perceiving that the persons who had
prevailed upon her sister to make such a request,
were but little aware of the importance of such
offices, or that they had been deceived by the
aspirant after it, who gave himself out for a more
in^portant character than he is. In truth. Madam,
this pretension is nearly the same thing as if the
Queen asked the Duchess of Burgundy to use her
influence with the King ia behalf of a simple
French gentleman, in order to obtain for him the
|;9vernnieiit of Bur^uixdy or Brittany ; but it is

.not worih erpea^g about* I fe^ve pot pre8iiQie4
to intiiqatis to Madftmi^ <1X>. tltat nptw^bstandiaf
her good sense» she had outwitted herself in an
$Sm of this kind^ and therefpre I have not
answered her. I should» howeyer» be very sorry
if she was displeased with me ; she might learn
frcni the Duke of Alba whether M. de Af «leceas»
lilthough a very honest man, and whose father
had formerly so well defended YsdepcienneSy
oughl to be preferred to the grea^test lords of thf
monarchy» who voluQite^er their services m thos$
remote countries.

LETTER CXLVIL

TO THE SAMB,

Buea Retiro, April 17th, 1709.

Gop be praised» Madam! A courier of my
frigid M. de Pontchartrain brought me you^ letters
of the 24th and 31st ultimo. Although tbey-fure
scarcely more cheerful, than the rejection ^caiisefl
by the list of deaths which you have annexed, I
cannot help welcoming them, since they contain
good accounts of the healths of the King and
Monseigneur, for I rely solely on you upon a
subject which is so near my heart. I hope that

268 LXTTJias OF trx •

• ^ •

this terrible oholic may not return again^ provided
his Majesty will only take a little bare of himself.

You appear to me too flattering. Madam, from
your observations upon the ceremony, of which
I had the honour to give you a description, for à
person who sees nothing but misfortunes od every
side, and who is hopeless as to their termination*
You will not even allow yourself to pray to God
for his miraculous interposition, and I cannot
conceive whence arises your scruples. Are you
inclined to limit his power ? The more difficult
everything becomes, the more worthy it is for him
to manifest his omnipotence.

I am very different from you in this respect ; I
pray to him, and have prayers said by better
beings than myself, to change everything in our
favour, and I do not despair (although resigned
to his dispensations) but that at length he will
listen to our prayers and protect the justice of our
cause, which is so very much oppressed.

The Queen sends for me, and the courier being
about iminediately to depart, I have not time to
say more, but must unwillingly conclude by
assuring you of my great attachment.

pimroEss DES ursjks. 269

LETTER CXLVIII.

TO THE 8AME.

Buen Retiro,, April 22nd, 1709.

After having had the honour of conducting
the Prince of Asturias^ who accompanied their JVfa-
jesties, to the palace of Madrid, I returned here.
Madam, to spend three days in taking medicine.
I am leaving this to-morrow, after which I shall
not quit the Queen's apartment, unless it be to
complete everything necessary for the reception
of the expected Infant or Infanta, and to arrange
its little court. The fifth nurse having fallen sick,
it has been determined to wean the Prince, as he
is strong and eats whatever is offered to him;
this is thought to be the best plan.
: The news of the surrender of the castle .' of
Alicant arrived yesterday evening, . to the great
joy of every one. Nor can the pleasure be
described which all Madrid manifested, whenihe.
King and Queen passed through this city, on
Saturday. : Thç ^andees, who. were on loot,, r^xmàj
the sed^Q Qf this Princess, the whole of the Kii^s
housi$holc}, .which is fl[pli?ndid,.: the. streets all

VTO LiTtBmt or tuB

appeared delig^ted^ formed, indeed, an admirable
sight, and should for a moment dispel your cha-
grin, to enjoy the pleasure of knowing that their
Catholic Majesties are so much beloved by their
subjects. What I have the honour of telling
you is correct, for I ¥nill not conceal from you
the truth. I expect, with much impatience, the
arrival of the post this week, for which you know
thé reason ; I sincerely thank God that the Kitig
and yourself are in good health, which is alll can
have the honour of saying to you.

LETTER CXLIX.

TO THE SAME.

Nbdrid, April 28tbiim;

YolW letteiAs become very rare. Madame I have
iteeiTed noiie by the last post, and such- a pviva^
tkm always grieves me; therefore, having nothing
to Mply to, I have Ofo^ly to communicate my se^i*-
ments^ respecting the most important of my eon^
oeois» since it behoves me to merit the continua-
ticpa of the King's gracious ikvour^ without which
£ should be the most Unhappy of huihiui bdiag*.
Jb» feace, vrtiiclh it is announced ftom dl quartéM
hw ilfjeity it ttegocial^ céu^tiâi* et

PRIKCXS8 DES URSINS. 271

which are circulated, renders my situation as un-
pleasant as it is critical. I am at a loss how to
conduct myself under such painful circumstances ;
but knowing. that I am truly French, that my
respectful attachment to the King is boundless,
and that my gratitude fdr his favours continues
the same, suffer me, most humbly, to entreat you
to lay down a rule for my conduct, in order that
the King may see more clearly by my actions how
much I am devoted to his service. His ambas-.
sador, whose ze^l is commensurate with his inteUi-»
gence and assiduity, will conceal nothing from'
him of what occurs in this court, and that it is the
firm resolution of his Catholic Majesty not to
abandon his crown and his subjects but with life ;
for which reason I shall say nothing more on this
topic, as it would only be a repetition of the same
âiing.

April 29tb.

I have at length received this morning, by thi9
îetum of the ambassador's courier, a letter from
you, dated the 15th April, which I shall postpone
answering until M. Amelot despatches another»
which he says will be the first opportunity.

The Prince of Asturias, thank God, is weanad»
and enjoys perfect health. We are momentasily
expecting the Queen's confinement.

272 LKTTEU8 OF THE

LETTER CL.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, May 6th, 1709.

I RECEIVED by the last post. Madam, a^ letter
from the Baron de Câpres, who forwarded me
that which you did me the honour of writing to
me, to recommend tome his interests at this court ;
and your manner of doing it is in truth very press-
ing, since you observe to me that you must act in
accordance with the wishes of the lady of Marshal
de Noailles, feeling all the influence which she has
over you. Allow me to tell you that she would
exercise it more mildly, if you were less unkind
to her, and all the other members of your family. I
shall endeavour to make amends for it, by doing all
that I possibly can for the Baron de Câpres, and
with as much zeal as you possess indifference ;
heartily loving as I do my friends, and knowing,
moreover, from experience, that certain features
of character on which you pride yourself, as I
have also done for the last eight years, do us no
HoBOlir, and serve only to create enemies.

You will have. seen byjmy.last letter, my sen-
timents on passing events, the great desire I
have to anticipate all the King's wishes, and my

PRIKC£ftS DES URsiisrs. 273

«npleâsant and delicate situation. I thought at
first of taking the liberty to write to the King
myself, very humbly to entreat him to prescribe
for me a line of conduct ; but on mature reflec-
tion I thought it better to address you, in order
to ascertain his Majesty's intentions, and to have
the goodness to explain them to me in every par-
ticular, which favour I entreat your goodness to
excuse if I now renew. The Queen, until now,
has felt no symptoms of her approaching confine*»
ment, which induces M, Clement to think that
she may go till the 16th or 20th instant. The
people anticipate great pleasure at her Majesty
being on the eve of giving them an Infant or
In&nta ; and it appears that their attachment for
their Sovereign redoubles since they are afiaid
of lofiing^ him, which is reciprocally the case
with the King and Queen for such good subjects*
I am much astonished that Marshal de Villars
has found the troops in better condition
and better disposed than was reported at Yer*
sailles ; it would appear that almost every one
endeavours to dishearten the King : ti^ interest
of t&is general would be rather to magnify than
diminish the evils, in order to avoid the blame oi
un]:]Aeasant contingencies, and to acquire glory
from any success. However, he m^y well think
t^at he will be able to do nothing with this army,
if it is not paid. How long. Madam, has it been
reported in your court, that tbene is neither

VOL. III. T

274 LETTERS OF THE

money nor men, and that every sacrifice must be
made to obtain peace ! You, however, have
seen the falsehood of this the last campaign ; and
had the generals been united, it would have
struck you still more forcibly that . there was
despair when there were resources. I >vill not
enlarge upon the subject, since it would only
tend to mortify us both ; but assuredly. Madam,
it strikes me, that if I could have the honour of
an interview with you, I should unbosom myself
and point out several things which plunge us into
the abyss, but which might have been prevented,
or at least remedied. I will always hope for the
intercession of heaven in our favour. Cardinal
de Portocarero would not be at all of your
opinion respecting death ; he takes great pleasure
in witnessing the birth of an Infant or Infanta,^
and in returning from Toledo, where he is at
present, to be here on the Queen's confinement.

Madame de Courcillon is in a singular pre*
dicameAt, to haye the pains of labour and not to be
confined; it would be a great pity if such a
pretty woman died, and J should grieve for the
two families who would sustain the loss. I no
longer hear Madame de Saint-Geran spoken
of, since you inform me, that, in consequence
of sickness, she had retired to a convent at Paris.
I could wish she were cured and at Versailles
again, as she is good company, and cheerful i|i
conversation, of which you stand in need in

PRIXCESS DES URSINS. 274

consequence of the present dreadful state of
affairs ; which I feel as well as yourself, par-
ticipating in your troubles and all your concerns,
and sensibly feeling whatever affects you.

LETTER CLI

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, May 10th, 1709.

Excuse me. Madam, for not answering to-day
your two letters of the 26th and 29th ultimo,
which are of too gloomy a cast to interfere with
the joy that we experience at the news of the
Portuguese having been defeated. The Marquis
de Bay has shewn that he knew what to do, on
so important and glorious an occasion, for the

subjects of his Catholic Majesty: he has taken
seventeen pieces of cannon, the whole of the
baggage, three English battalions, and the
Count de Saint-John prisoner, who is a general,
with several other officers. It is thought that
the enemy have lost more than four thousand men,
exclusive of prisoners. This affair will probably
be attended with favourable results.

All the grandees, and the populace, ran to the
palace to testify their satisfaction, and now^ as J

T 2

276 LETTERS or THE

am writing to you, the square is quite full of
people Would to God that Marshal de Villars
may do something to be spoken of! Be so good,
I entreat you, to make my respectful compliments
to the King, the Duchess of Burgundy, and all
the royal family, to whom I do not take the liberty
of writing, lest I should be troublesome.

P.S. The Marquis de Bay highly extols the
feats of the Marquis de Caylus in this action, which
I beg you to inform your niece of: she will not
be sorry for it ; I am very much so that the
Duchess de Nbailles is not pregnant.

LETTER CLII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, May 19th, lî'OQ.

' The letters which I have lately sent you were
written in so great a hurry, that I re-perused yours
in order to answer them more at length. That
which appears to mè of the greatest consequence
is the health of the King, the Duchess of Bur-
gundy, and your own, which, thank God, is pre-
served in the midst of so many distractions, so
well calculated to injure it, were it not for his pro-
tection. I have a favourable future presentiment
from it, and I cannot believe that our iaiisfortunes

PRINCESS D£S UR8INS. 277

will last long, or that heaven has not some un-
foreseen consols^tion in store for us all. I doubt,
however, whether it be M, de Torcy's journey
■ which is to give us a glimpse of it ; a piece of
news which has alarmed all good Spaniards, who
imagine that he is gone to Holland to negociate a
peace, quite contrary to their wishes; but how-
ever, we shall probably soon learn what truth
there is in this. Nothing is more dreadful than
famine ; it is almost general ; nevertheless there is
plenty of corn in the Morea, which the Italian
princes get supplied witîh. Why not do the same
in France ?

Can it be possible, Madam, that the [means
of subsisting the fine and well disposed troops
under Marshal de Villars are wanting ? I am per-
suaded that this general will do something worth
talking of, if he is properly supported.

The Princess and the Duke have done me the
; honour of writing to me, at the same time thaÉ
they sent me letters for their Catholic Majesties.
The Princess appears to be overwhelmed with
grief, at which I am not surprised^ knowing as I
do the excellence of her heart. I remember once
going to pay my respects to hen and finding
her alone, in a lower apartment of the hotel of
Condé, bitterly weeping the fate of a nun of Mau-
buisson, a sister of M. Fagon ; at which I was
iso much affected, that I wept very much also,
although I had never known her ; which evinced

278 LETTERS OF THE

what may be called, on my part, much weakness.
The same thing happened to me for the Marquis
de Nesle, of whom I knew but little more, on
thinking of the despair in which I believed his
wife was about to be plunged, who only laughed
it was said, as she lay in bed, after his death was
announced to her. I could, if I were inclined, re-
late to you many other similar follies, but I should
fear incurring your contempt, when I have need
of your esteem. The short grief of the Princess
de Conti is remarkable. I regret having done
myself the honour of imparting to you the affair
in which Madame d'O. is engaged, from the ap-
prehension lest it may injure her in your estima-
tion. It often happens that persons possessing
mind and merit, are more simple than others^ and
we ought not to entertain a less favourable opinion
of them when they have been too credulous.

My dear friend, M. de Pontchartrain, has many
enemies; for my part, his conduct to me has
always been very kind.

It is a very good thing to have recourse to the
saints. Public prayers have been a long time
ordered in this country, and the fruits of the earth
are very promising, although it is feared lest the
great number of locusts, which have made their
appearance, may do as much mischief as they did
last year.

It is indeed not necessary for you to recommend
the Duke de Noailles to me, since he is as dear to

PRINCESS DES UKSINS. 279

me at least as to yourself, and I am sorry that a
man like him, so devoted to the King, and who has
so great an affection for his person, . should quit
him ; but it is to serve him ; and certainly there
is reason to hope, if the French troops are paid in
Catalonia, that his campaign will be not less
glorious than advantageous, since the Archduke
is too weak, and the Catalonians are much incom-
moded with his presence.

' The Duchess appears as if she would be con-
fined, without the presence of M. Clement, since
the Queen feels no pains as yet, and it has been
judged advisable to bleed her, because of her head
being affected. Her Majesty felt weakness the
day following, at mass, from which she was re-
covered by the application of some eau de la reine,
and she is now quite well. The condition of poor
Madame de Courcillon is pitiable ; but Clement
hopes that all will be right again. If Mademoi-
selle Sery does not approve of the Duchess of
Orleans being pregnant, as you inform me, I think
that the Princess herself is nearly as much averse
to it, and that she is agreed with this person at
least upon the subject. The Duke of Orleans'
wound was so bad, that I fear he often feels
its consequences. I am very glad that Madàrbe
de Saint-Geran is sufficiently recovered to return
to Versailles, and as her society is cheerful
and amusing^ she will beguile your moments of
sadness. I am quite grieved at the accident

280 LETTERS OF THE

which has happened to the Duchess de Noaillesi
although she is still young enough to be th^
mother of a family.

You see, Madam, that my pretended kindnesses
for you are not so very much diminished as my
letters ; although this one is very long, it appears
to me short, because I have*not a greater pleasure
than when I write to you. We should scold
heartily, if we were nearer to each other ; but
what is certain is, that one of us would yield to
reason if in the wrong, while nothing could
prevent me from loving and honouring you.

LETTER CLIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, May 26th, 1709.

As I have not heard from you. Madam, the
last post, 1 have only to talk to you of our court.
The Queen not being yet confined, and feeling no
symptoms, we begin to think it will only take place
next month ; for which I am very sorry, as I could
wish to see her out of this painful affair, although
those of a public nature promise us no future
good ; but, as God superintends everything, we
must be resigned to his dispensations. There has
been a grand procession this afternoon, in which

PRINCESS DES UHSIlfS. 281

the figures of Saint Isidorus and that of his wife,
who is beatified, were borne. This saint was a
husbandman, and the people placed great confi-
dence in his protection of the fruits of the earth,
which appear extremely promising ; but we have
to fear the ravages of swarms of locusts which
usually devour the corn. All [the peasants catch
as many as they can, and they are paid for their
trouble by the bushel. Some provinces are not
infested with these dangerous insects, as Andalusia
and Estremadura, which produce much grain.

The Marquis de Bay vigorously follows up the
victory he has obtained over the Portuguese,
having passed the Cay a in pursuit of them; but
the fear of being again beaten has caused them to
throw up entrenchments, so strong as to render it
imprudent to attack them. This general has,
however, compensated himself in some measure
for it, by taking possession of the bridge of Olivença
with scarcely any opposition. If this place is not
better provided than what report says, it would
not be impossible to capture it, which would be a
very important advantage, being the best the King
of Portugal has upon his frontiers.

You see. Madam, that we are not unfortunate
in everything ; but whatever disgrace may happen
to me, I shall always be happy, provided you are
pleased to continue me your friendship.

282 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER CLIV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, June 3rd, 1709.

You have, then, felt no joy. Madam, on learning
the news of the victory obtained over the Portu-
guese, but perhaps chagrin, fearing lest the
successes in Spain should fortify his Catholic
Majesty in the resolution to defend himself at all
hazards, and lest this should become an obstacle
in the way of a peace, so much desired. If,
nevertheless, the enemy continued to be beaten
in this country, you would not fail to find those
with whom M. de Torcy is negociating less arro-
gant and unjust. But Marshal de Besons has
not been sent upon such expeditions, and I am
persuaded that although we should find expe-
dients to subsist the French troops this campaign,
he would not enter the field, to take advantage of
the weakness of the Archduke in Catalonia. It
is confessedly a great misfortune for the two Kings
that measures will not be adopted which would
be so advantageous to them. I much fear this
will be seen when too late. A courier, de-
spatched by the Duke of Alba, assures me, that
throughout his journey the corn was coming on
very well ; so that if there is a probability of a

PRINCESS DES URSINS. S83

good harvest, that will put an end to the famine ;
but they frighten you, moreover, with the scurvy
and the plague ; why do not they add that the sky
will fall? — I agree that every sort of disaster may
happen, but why afflict yourself by anticipating
evil? If the soldiers thought of dying with
hunger, they would not be so courageous as they
are, and the officers and Marshal de Yillars being
contented to eat black or oaten bread, I cannot
believe but it will be found for them, and that
such a disposition will be turned to good account.
Pardon me, I intreat you, if I do not agree to thé
necessity there is of submitting to what the league
wishes to impose upon the greatest monarch in
the world ; and I cannot imagine to myself the
mortal chagrin which in such a case he would ex-
perience, without feeling inconceivable pain^ for
I scarcely know what could happen worse than
this. I have been informed to-day, that M. de
Besons is collecting all his troops, and as it is
known that he is not calling in the French from
the position which they occupied, to go in search of
the enemy, it irritates the Spaniards, and may
produce dreadful effects, of which the consequen-
ces may, perhaps, prove fatal. If the King had
the goodness to impart his intentions to his
ambassador, efforts would be made in obeying
his wishes, to adopt suitable measures, and we
should not then be exposed to the caprices of
fortune.

284 LETTERS OF THB

Their Majesties are certainly in a strange
situation ; and I am already prepared, for
having need of your protection, as likewise M.
Amelot, since we have committed a crime in well
serving the King of Spain, and by our continued
good understanding. This conduct, however, is
what the King prescribed to us on quitting
Marly ; to which, moreover, is to be added, the
deference and affection that the King and Queen
have constantly evinced for his Majesty, which
.are faults that will never be forgiven us, and which
might ruin us entirely, if you had not the good-
ness to support us. I thought I should have re-
ceived the King's orders, for which I entreated
you to apply to him, as a rule for my conduct ;
I wait for them very impatiently, but 1 imagine
that it was not intended to send me them, until
the Marquis de Torcy had either concluded or
broken off the négociations.

I did not know that the Count de Brionne's son
was to marry Mademoiselle de Duras, this is a
capital match, with a lady of family and a fprtune
of two millions. M. le Grand has reason to be
very glad of it

The Duke de la Rouchefoucauld adopts the
wisest course, in his bad state of health ; for I
think it better to live at a distance from courts,
than to pass one's days in them ; nor can I doubt
it, since you say, that nothing is more proper
than for a great hunter to retire to the cover.

PRIKCSSS D£S URSINS. 285

There cannot be a better expedient than that
you have suggested, to prevent the Duchess of
Mantua from prejudicing her rank as a sovereign,
and causing embarrassment to anybody, which
is to pay her court to the King at your house, as
it would not be impossible for this lovely Princess
to excite envy ; but I trust she will find a good
friend in you. This is a long letter for a woman
who is not at her ease, but who does not honour
you the less for it.

P.S. The Countess de Soissons, who is at
Lyons, has requested of me, through a gentleman
who saw her there, to recommend her to your
friendly notice; but I promised nothing, thus
leaving you always at liberty to act as you please
without giving a denial. She has a great desire
that the King would have the goodness to permit
her to place herself in any convent at Paris his
Majesty may think proper. As I do not know
why it was wished that she should remain where
she is, I have abstained from saying anything
about it ; but if her intentions were liable to sus-
picion, she would be much more capable of doings
mischief upon the frontiers than at Paris, where
she will be subject to be overlooked. You will
do me the honour of returning me such an answer
upon this subject as you may judge proper ; I once
saw her very beautiful, this caused her misfor-
tunes, but did not diminish her prudence, which
will be her best recommendation to you.

286 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER CLV.

T^ THE SAME.

Madrid, June 10th, 1709.

We certainly have not now very pleasant topics
to discuss ; however, I am still more sorry when
I receive no letters from you, than in reading an
account of all the misfortunes by which France is
assailed, and, moreover, all those which you still
predict ; because your silence gives me more pain
than your complaints, knowing that you carry
your ideas beyond the worst that one could pos-
sibly imagine to happen, and you are ingenious
in tormenting yourself. I own, however, that
our disasters are very great, and that you have
at present only too many causes for grief, if peace
should be made upon those frightful terms which
the enemy wishes to impose. We are so alarmed
at the idea, that I cannot conceive it will be bought:
at this price, and that the King's subjects will
not make a sacrifice of everything in their power,
to prevent France from experiencing such a
disgrace, and so good a sovereign such deep
chagrin. There is nobody in Spain who is unac-
quainted with the formidable pretensions of the
league, and the blow it aims at this monarchy.
I leave you to judge what effect all this is calcu-

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 287^

lated to produce, and 'the situation of their
Catholic Majesties; but I think it wonderful» that
although they are very sensible of it they are not
dejected; the King is quite occupied with pre-
parations to defend himself alone» in case the King»
his grandfather, withdraws his support, and
without which it will be very difficult to preserve
Spain. You press me to remain here, thinking
that I should not be useless to their Majesties,
and the Queen having occasion for some one to
console her. The elevation of her soul, and her
good sense, will suggest to her, better than I could,
all the means of alleviating her chagrin, and I
should fear to aggravate it, by the distrust that
would be excited in the Spaniards, in seeing me
so honoured by the confidence of their Majesties,
a dependant as I am of the King ; hence tbey
would pretend, when everything did not proceed
as they wished, to complain that it was always the
spirit of France which governed by, my insinua-
tions : for these reasons, I foresee that it will be
necessary to prevent them harbouring such injuri-
ous suspicions. My affection for a Princess, and
a Prince who honour me with so many marks of
kindness, do not allow me to prefer their service
to every, other consideration. I shall have the
honour of explaining myself still more at large to
you upon this subject, after you have informed
me of the success of M. de Torcy's négociation.
I agree with you that the King and Queen may

268 I.BTTXRS OF TH£ -

see many revolutions, young as they are; the
probabilities are even in favour of it, for the house
of Austria is not so numerous as to hope to pre-
serve the empire many years, together with this
monarchy ; but the hope of seeing a crown, once
lost, recovered, is but a poor consolation.

Marshal d'Harcourt is too able a man not to
have obtained all that was requisite before his
departure : I could wish that Marshal de Villars
had done as much, the terms of the peace would
not be so disadvantageous.

I cannot help being surprised, that the Princess
de Gonti should be less afflicted than Madame the
Princess, although I have long since discovered that
the world is incomprehensible. Rank, when it
causes dissensions amongst the Princes and Prin-
cesses of the blood, cannot but be deplorable ; and
it would be desirable that every one should join in
thinking about nothing else but remedying the
present evils, and preventing fresh sources of un-
easiness to the King, who is already too muchover*
whelmed with it. He certainly would not be the
last to know of my quitting Madrid, provided I

did so. All the lords are more gracious' to me

now than they have ever been, and nothing has
transpired upon the subject in any way. I shall
take care to inform you of everything, since it is
my duty, and my affection prompts me to it. You
will always find me. Madam, with an entire de^
votedness, wholly yours.

PRINCESS DSC URSINS. 289

LETTER CLVL

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, June 12th, 1709«

At length. Madam, the enemy himself has
opposed obstacles to the King with regard to the
peace, by atteibpting to impose tyrannical and
. disgraceful terms, and to which it is impossible
that good subjects like the French should ever
have consented ; but their courage and zeal should
be re-animatèd by such proceedings. What
would they all become, if the war was con-
cluded by their degradation? I hope God will
. punish the arrogance of those who thus wish to
■' depress us. Their Catholic Majesties appear to
redouble their affection for the King, their grand-
father ; and considering everything he suffers for
maintaining them upon the throne, they easily
conceive the need he has for his troops in Spain,
in defence of his own kingdom ; nevertheless they
entreat his Majesty to leave them twenty batta-
lions in Arragon, out of the fifty which are there ;
the^e will be in their pay, and they will only re-
tain them until they are able to send infantry into
that quarter, which is much wanting, because his
Catholic Majesty depended upon the army that
Marshal de BeBons commanded. I doubt not,

VOL. III. u

290 ^ LETTERS OF THE

Madam, but you will employ your good offices
upon this occasion, as they rely much upon your
friendship. I have seen the condescension with
which the King, in his despatch to the ai bassador,
allows me either to remain, or to return from this
place ; being, however, persuaded that my services
would be useful to their Catholic Majesties, but
leaving me to exercise my own opinion on the
subject. After maturely weighing what might
be best for their service, I have concluded.
Madam, that it will be better for me to depart,
lest the Spaniards, seeing me possess the confi-
dence of the King and Queen, should lay to my

charge everything "^srhich their Majesties might

omit doing to please them ; and that it would be
an ostensible motive to conceal .their intentions,
and the jealousy they harbour against each other,
which is but too common in courts. ' I have as yet
only disclosed my intentions to the ambassador,
for the Queen's situation is such at present, that
l feel it painful to announce it to her, and it will
be still worse when she is confined, in which
chagrin might be attended with bad consequences,
and I cannot doubt but she would experience it.
I shall even confide to you, that after learning
what the King wrote to M. Amelot concerning
me, this Princess, and the King, beings alone in
their apartment, did me the honour of declaring,
with tears in their eyes, and embracing me at the
same time, how unhappy they would foe if I should

PRIWCBSS DEB URSIIf S. 291

ever lear^' them. You will easily conceive the
impression this made upon my heart, but the
more affection I feel for their Majesties, the more
mindful should Il^e of their interests, and 1 think
you will not blame this delicacy of sentiment ; you
wlio think yourself obliged to have at least a fever ,
when you reflect on the misfortunes of the two
Kings. I shall adopt such measures as I think
best calculated to obtain the consent of their
'Majesties to my departure.

The death of M. de la Tremouille has been very
sudden. Madame has written to the Queen to
say that the physicians killed him by bleeding.
, There was no particular friendship between us ; I
respected him to the senior of our house, and what
pleased me more in him was his attachment to
the King. I am very glad that the Prince of
Tarentum has likewise the honour of serving his
Majesty, and I am truly sensible of that which
you do me by your compliment upon this subject.

It requires all the strength of mind the King
possesses, not to be dejected, and to continue in
health; it is almost the only consolation which
we now have. Take every care of yours, Madam>
that you possibly can, and never cease a single
moment esteeming a woman who admires and is
perfectly devoted to you. v

u 2

202 LETTERS OF THB

LETTER CLVII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, June 16th, 1709.

I DID myself the honour, Madam, of writing to
you, both by the ordinary post and the express,
and I now do so by the return of a courier from
,the Duke of Alba, whom the King of Spain des-
patches sooner than he would have done, in order
to reiterate his request to the King for twenty
battalions to be left, which he will take into his
pay, to be employed in this campaign against the
troops of the Archduke; this corps meeting
with no obstacle but Spanish cavalry, in case the
: fifty French battalions were withdrawn, would
easily enter Arragon and penetrate into Castile.
His Catholic Majesty and M. Amelot understand
. each other so well,,:,fLS to the misfortunes which
. would ensue, both sm his own account and that
^ of France, that I canaot doubt but his Majesty
will grant this succour to the King, his grandson ;
for which reason it is superfluous to say more on
the subject, and I shall, therefore, pass on to ano-
ther of not much less importance.

When the ambassador applied for his recall, his
reasons were, that a peace was about to be made

PRINCESS DES URSIXS. S93

by abandoning Spain ; and that in such case their
Catholic Majesties, having no other resource than
in the fidelity of their subjects, intended. to place
all their reliance upon it, and thus to deprive them
of every pretext for not acting well, owing to the
jealousy they entertain against the French govern-
ment, or rather the desire they have of a com-
manding station ; for in other respects, they ge-
nerally agree that Charles V. had not so many
troops as there are at present, and they believe they
dream when they reflect upon what they see has
been done to support this couhtry. The ambassa-
dor then must change his sentiments, as the war
is continued ; knowing as he does, that his wise
and disinterested counsels are now more useful
and necessary to the King of Spain than they
have ever been. Allow me, therefore, the honour
of telling you, that it appears to me of the utmost
consequence, that the King grants him permission
to remain at this court, as long as the King of
Spain and himself shall see the necessity of it«
It is necessary for us to be frank to each other,
without been buoyed up by illusions or dejected
by adversity, as it will be the means of setting
bounds to our misfortunes, and rendering us more
successful in future. Cardinal Portocarero told
me again this morning, in presence of their Ma-
jesties, that a worse thing could not be done than
to change the government in the present conjunc-
ture ; which opinion has been confirmed to me by

294 LXTTERS O^ THE

some of the grandees, and they^ are tlidse who
have declared themselves the most unequivocally
on this occasion to be well disposed. You will,
perhaps, be surprised at my change of sentimient
since my last letter ; but I have seriously reflected;
I do not think I am deceived, and I have still less
a wish that the King should embark in afiBedrs
which might be disagreeable to him, since his
satisfiatction will always be mine, and he cannot
have a more faithful or zealous subject.

LETTER CLVIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, June 24tfa,1709.

You have told me great news. Madam, and I
am not astonished that the circumstance of M. de
Chamillard being succeeded by M. Voisins has
thrown your court into great agitation. You
praise the exiled minister for being a good man,
and for loving the King, which are points that do
not appear to me to enhance his merits. How could
he help loving his king and so good a sovereign?
And if he had only his goodness to boast of, was
this enough for all that he had to do to govern
France and superintend the finance so many
years, when *the wisest of mankind would have

PRINCESS D£S URSIN8. 295

hçd a difficulty in holding up their heads, in so
tumble a period as that which has elapsed during
his ministry ? I take the liberty of requesting you
to give me a little more intelligible explanation
upon this subject, provided, nevertheless, you can
do it, for I am not so ill-informed as to be very
anxious about any more.

As it is very usual to trample upon people who
are cast down, faults of every kind will be imputed
to M. de Chamillard, as well with respect to the
unaccounted millions, whose employment he
could not superintend, as the magazines and other
things which he said would be found, and which
was not the case ; to which may be added, that
the troops were all discontented with him. The
Spaniards, who assert he was first and foremost
for abandoning Spain, and withdrawing all the
French troops, are delighted at his fall, and only
regret that it did not take place sooner. For my
part, the unfortunate, without bad intentions,
always excite my pity. I have heard much good
of M. and Madame Voisins, and am very glad
t^t they have the honour of being your frietids as
you say. It is fortunate, whatever may happen,
that the King has made choice of a man gene-
rally approved ; but it is deplorable that he finds
everything in such disorder.

I am not astonished that French blood has
shown itself on an occasion which would have
debased it, since it is certain that so fiîghtful

296 LETTERS OF THE

a peace as that which the enemy wished to make,
would have dishonoured France. It is, however,
said, that it is the people rather who were
irritated at it than the majority of the nobles. But,
Madam, can we really promise ourselves that the
war will be continued, and may there not be some
mystery under this apparent resolution of con-
tinuing it ? In fact, abandoned as the King of
Spain is, ought to make us fear it, since without that
they will expose him to the danger which he is
about to encounter, after Marshal de Besons shall
have withdrawn all the King's troops. Besides this
misfortune, the frontiers of France, on the side of
Spain, would soon be covered with enemies, en-
raged at the ill-treatment they would have received,
at a time they so little expected or deserved it. M.
Amelot has doubtless enlarged upon the reflec-
tions suggested to him by this subject, in his
letters to the King. All who have been the first,
and with so good a grace, to send their plate to
the mint, are highly to be commended; and his
Majesty is still more entitled to praise, for setting
so good an example of retrenchment in his own
household, and consenting to pledge the crown .
jewels : what sacrifice can be sufficiently great in
his behalf? The Duchess of Burgundy, who is
not less magnanimous than the Queen, her sister,
does not place her grandeur in dress, since nature
has adorned her with virtue and charms, and she
does iiot require the sparkling of diamonds to

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 297

enhance her loveliness ; her eyes are sufficiently
brilliant, for I do not think there are more beau-
tiful ones in the world. The Chevalier de Saint-
George cannot do better than to remain inactive.
Somebody told me that the King of Sweden was
affected at his fate, and that he might find an
asylum in his dominions, because his Britannic
Majesty, by the treaty of peace, could no longer
remain in France, and would be obliged to throw .
himself under the protection of an heretical King.
What an unfortunate destiny, is it possible that
there was any foundation for this news ! But I
do not see much probability in it ; I see more in
that of thiSs royal family carrying its misfortunes •
with it into some catholic country, where it may'
live until it shall please God- to change its situa-
tion : I have so much respect and "attachment for
it, that every time I think of the subject I am
heartily grieved: I shall have, perhaps, many
other causes for being still more so.

It is not worth while taking the trouble of cor-
recting the silly surmises of some wretches, who
assert that the King sells corn to enrich himself, by
selling it at a high price. He indeed to be capable of
such baseness ! The locusts begin to leave Spain,
for Egypt probably ; at least few are seen but in the,
environs of Madrid, and but a small number there,
and which do but little damage : . I should like :
them better to pay a visit to the magazines of the
English and Dutch. Your wishes that the King

298 liETTRaS OF 7HK

oi Spain may be able tq maintaia himself alone
may be good^ but I should think them more effi-
cient were they to imply that the French battalions
which we request of you, by joining the Spa-^
niards^might beat the Archduke.

You have in vain asserted it, Madam, you shall
not die, but I hope that you will live many years in
healthy should fortune grow weary of tormentiitg

^ I know not why you should prefer the situation
of M. ehamillard to that of Marshal de ViUeroi ;
for my part, leaving the dignities of the latter out
of the question, I should much prefer being in his
placed to that of the other ; but I cannot complain
of minç, so long as you ane pleased to hoQour mie
with yew frieadship.

LETTER eux.

TO THE SAME.

ftfedrH J^ttly 1st, 1709. *

It depends only upon you, Madam, to appease
me, or to prevent me from scolding. Let the
King have the goodness to leave the twenty bat<^
talions in Sppin which his Catholic Majesty
requests of him, and we shall be satisfied. If he
s^t the thirty others to the Duke de Noailie% it

p: r;sfeES8 des uiRtiwt. 299

wovliSi be enhancing t)i6 favour ; fo.r, with 0uch a^
reinforcement, he would form an army strong
enough to enter Catalonia, which diversion in a
country heartily tired of the Archduke, would
determine this Prince, who is far from being at
his ease there, to quit Spain. Will you not con-
ceive, Madsun, how beneficial such an event would
be to France ? It would seem as if the strengtb-p
ening his Catholic Majesty upon his throne were
always considered as an obstacle to peace» and
that for this reason it has never been vnshed to da
the needful to finish the afiair. Nevertheless,,
Madam, you would have soon seen the enemy lesa
arrogant^ and not so insolent as to require of the
King such outrageous- terms* a» they (|o; and
most assuredly the means <^f bringing him to reason
will not be by shewing our weakness» iot the
more they see us depressed;^ the more will their
9xrog3Jxce increase. I cannot help. Madam,
feeling my blood boil with anger, when I reflect on
the position to which they aim at reducing France,
and when I think that all the money in the hand»
of caj^italists does not make its appearance to
suj^ly the wants of the state. I would fain hope
that the hardness of their hearts will not continue.
I prize highly a general who is not dispirited^
although inl^rior in jibrce. Marshal de VillarSji
who idolizes his profession, and is fond of glory^
flatters himself with obtaining similar success to
many other» who have commanded weaker armies^

300 LETTERS OF THE .:

and who have, notwithstanding, been victorious.
Why should not that happen to him ?

I beg you not to repent of the passage in your
last letter, in which you do me the honour of
hinting at the manner in which the ambassador
and I have lived. Although you add, that you
do not know why you have touched upon this
subject, I should be very sorry if you had not
done it, since it is a great comfort to me, to learn
that the King is satisfied with my conduct, and I^
shall endeavour through life to deserve the honour
of his esteem. Were it possible for you to witness
my actions, I presume to flatter myself that they
wouldi from morning to evenings meet your appro-'
bation, and in<3rease your kindness and friendship
for me, and for which my heart will feel inexpres-
sible gratitude during life. . V . :. . ;

I appreciate the reasons you alledge, why the
Countess dé Soissons ôhould not come to Paris^<
easily conceiving that her presence might be dis-
agreeable to the Duchess of Burgundy. I ev^n
think that being vain, she' would do better to hide
her misery further ofi^, than to go and shew it near
a court in which she has filled different stations.
It does not even appear why this Princess should
not find herself at her ease at Lyons in a good
convent ; - however, I do not know but she would
prefer one nearer Paris, if she had permission
to make her choice.

Mi Amelot will write a circumstantial account

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 301

to-day of the alteration made by the King in his
despacho. The ambassador is now^ released from
. all business, having entirely given up the war and
financial department. The King and Queen, out
of regard to their grandfather, and their satisfac-
, (ion with the ambassador, who has so well served
them, have wished him to continue entering the
despacho, during the time he remains here, and no
one, as it should appear, disapproves it. He
supports everything he does with a wisdom, equa-
nimity, and firmness, which attract the praise even
of those who do not like to lavish it upon the
French, and he is considered as a minister whom
the King, his master, may safely employ any-
where. I know not. Madam, if he is thus regarded
with you ; I could wish him to be as well known
there as I have the honour of knowing him.

LETTER CLX.

TO THE SAMB.

Madrid, July 2d, 1709.

The Queen has just been confined, and has
experienced much more difficulty than the first
time ; the appearance of the child would induce a
belief that she has not gone her full time ; it made
no effort, and Clement, in a word, doubts whether

302 IJSTt£BS OF TBS

it M^ill lire ; we attribute this misfortune to thé
agitation of her Majesty since yesterday evening,
when it was perceived that the Prince of Asturias
had the smalUpox. Her Majesty only consulted
her feelings .on this occasion, and whatever we
«aid, she neither thought of herself nor of the
child unborn. There was, however, no ground
for her fears, since the small-pox of the Prince
is of a mild kind, and not in the least dangerous.
I am 'so much affected at the great sufferings of
tiie Queen, that I cannot add more, nor even do
myself the honour of writing to the King. I beg
you to represent this to his Majesty.

LETTERi CLXI.

TO THE SAISIE.

Madrid, July 5th» 1709.

You have taken care. Madam, to communicate
to me, by your letter of the 24th ult. the King's
determination to withdraw all his troops from
Spain; but you have not taken the trouble to
tell me, that he had changed this resolution,
and left twenty-five battalions, which his Ca-
tholic Majesty had requested of him as an
object of the first importance; I cannot suspect
you, notwithstanding your silence, of not being

PRINCESS DES UR8INS.

303

over glad at the King having given this proof of
kindness to the King, his grandson, although you
assured me you wished to see him dethroned :
and we are not ignorant here, that for a long time
past, every possible efïbrt has been made to induce
his Majesty absolutely to abandon him. I entreat
you to pardon me. Madam, for not believing you
when you say that you wish the crown was
wrested from their Catholic Majesties ; the gene-
rosity of your heart, and the rectitude of your mind,
cannot inspire you with such sentiments; you
have spoken to me on this subject like persons
labouring under a misfortune, who say — " I wish
I was dead !" without thinking that they would
l,e very sorry to see death make his approaches;
I therefore announce to you, that if you continue
to hold forth in such a frightful strain, I shall pdtt
no more faith in it than I do at this hour. I have
had the honour of communicating to you the
Queen's confinement, and the poor hopes we had
of preserving the life of the infant ; but our opi-
nion is changed, and it is probable that this little
Prince will not die, because he takes to the breast,
sleeps very well, and performs all his other func-
tions. His brother is almost cured of the small-
pox, although he had a pretty good share of it.
The King's physician and Queen's surgeon are
shut up in his apartment, where I should also
have taken my station, had not my presence been
necessary to the Queen» because she would have

304 LETTERS OF THE

been left quite aTone. Her Majesty is as well as
it is possible for her to be, and her joy at the
King having left some troops in Spain has very
much contributed to her health. She dare not,
she says, ask for the infant to be brought to her,
to see it, for fear of loving and losing it : it is very
pretty; more especially its mouth, which is
astonishingly small; I do myself the honour of
writing to the Duchess of Burgundy an account''
of the Queen, her sister, and I take the liberty of
addressing to her my^ letters for the Royal Duch-
esses, as I did at the Queen's first confinement,
by following your counsels. It was very fortunate
that M. Clement, and Madame de la Salle, were
here to attend her Majesty, for she had great
need of skilful persons like them. I am returning
to her, for T think I cannot please you better than
in doing my duty.

LETTER CLXII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, July 9th, 1709.

The ray of hope which we had of preserving
the life of the infant soon vanished ; he was seized
with convulsions last evening, and the little angel

Pfil&X£&S DXS URSINS. 306

vrent to heaven a little before midnight. Although
there was but little hope of his getting the better of
his weakness, and being cured of a tumour which
he had, there was some ground for it, so long
as he took to the breast as well as he did ; but
God has been pleased to send this new mortifica-
tion to the King of Spain, who has received the'
blow with Christian fortitude, although he is much
affected at it, for you cannot believe how much he
loves his children ; but his affection for the Queen
makes him endeavour to conceal his grief; and I
have admired the violence which he does to him*
self to appear as cheerful before her as if nothing
disastrous had happened. It is true that I had
the honour of representing to his Majesty, that it
would be a death-blow to the Queen, the sixth day
after her confinement, to appear befi:)re her with a
melancholy countenance, which would make her
surmise the cause of our affliction. I have used
all possible precautions- to prevent her knowing
the loss she has sustained, until there is less danger
in announcing it to her ; but I fear imprudencies,
and his Majesty has but too much evinced his
sensibility. The Prince is recovering fast from
the small-pox. I cannot do myself the honour of
dwelling longer upon these gloomy topics : I shall
not have that of writing to the King, the Dauphin^
nor the Duchess of Burgundy. You will be so good
as to tell them what you think proper, which you
will do be^er than L could myself.

VOL. III. X

306 LETTERS OF THE

LETTER CLXIII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, July 24th, 1709.

. I DIP not do myself the honour of writing io
. you, Madam, three days ago by the post, because
I thought of doing it by the return of a courier,
\vhich the Duke of Alba had despatched to the
King of Spain, who was to return immediately,
but who is still here ; and I keep this letter, ready
to deliver to him when he departs. I had thé
honour of writing to the Duchess of Burgundy an
account of the Queen's grief, on announcing to her
thé death of the infant, which is not abated so
much as I could wish, .and as I think it ought
to be, in considering that the Prince, whom
her Majesty so much regrets, would have been
only an object of affliction, for the King and her,
which you will learn froni .M. Clement. Thé
Queen's grief hurts her health, and she has lost in
four .days airthe benefit she received at the be-
ginning of her confinement; which will convince
you. Madam, that our two Princesses have hearts
too susceptible to be happy." It is true that it is
not on this account . alone, that they are to be
pitied, each of them haviiig too many.other sources
of grief; but you will own that the sor^pws of the

PRÏN'CESS DES URSÎNS. ^ 307

Duchess of Burgundy are alleviated by amuse-
ments, diversions, and the King's kindnesses,
without taking into account your own assiduities.
The Queen has no other consolation than the
friendship and virtue of the King, her husband,
for in other respects she no longer knows what joy
is ; and if her Majesty had not been endowed
from her cradle with natural cheerfulness and
firmness of mind, I think she could not live in
the midst of such strange and disorderly scenes.

Marshal de Boufflers asserts then that M. de
Chamillard is not a good man, because he has
brought ruin upon the state : you are not of the same
opinion, and only impute his faults to his incapacit3\
However, it may be, he is no longer minister, ,
and it is only desirable that his successor should
continue as \vell as he has begun, but the times are
hot in his favour. -

Would it not be possible. Madam, if Tournay
should make a stout resistance, for Marshal de
Villars to strike a blow at the enemy ? I am per-
suaded that an action of some consequence would
be capable of producing good effects ; because it
would let him know that the courage of French-
men is .not degenerated, and that they are still
formidable when well commanded.

: July 18th.

' I received your large packet yesterday by the
post, which contained your letter and that of May-

308 1.ETTERS OF THE

shal de Villeroi. I see. Madam, that he is of your
opinion as to the present state of France, and the
necessity of making peace, to which I have
nothing to reply, when bread and money are ab-
solutely wanting, which you say is the case. I
could wish for some elucidations respecting the
want of money. Do you mean to say that there
is none, or that there are no means discovered of
making it circulate ? If there is no specie, I have
nothing to say, and submission must follow to the
hardest terms of the enemy ; but if, on the con-
trary, the monied men are richer than ever, I can-
not excuse their treasures not being forthcoming,
to be employed in the preservation of the public
weal. Can you be left in ignorance of all the pro-
digious sums which the French have brought from
the Indies ? I cannot think that the King is
aware of it, nevertheless, it is a fact. What has
become of this money ? Have the taxes upon the
people been diminished in consequence of its
arrival, and has his Majesty derived any benefit
from it ? I am convinced that individuals hav&
alone been the gainers, which has only served
to alienate -the Spaniards from us. As to com/
it is asserted, that the last year's produce was
more than enough for the consumption of this, if a
great quantity had not been suffered to be ex-
ported, which appears to me the more deplorable
from the difficulty of remedying the evil. Neither
ean I pardon you, Madam^ for desiring that their

pnmcEssr des ursins. 309

Catholic Majesties maybe dethroned; you have
a hundred wishes to make without that, and * you
might, I should think, make some for the preser-
vation of their crown^ notwithstanding the de-
serted state in which the King may feel himself
obliged to leave his grandson. He will not make
his peace sooner with his enemies, although they
should know he gives him no assistance ; and
that it would not be his fault, if he could not
oblige the King of Spain to cut his own throat, by
renouncing a monarchy over which he has reigned
nine years, and whose subjects will have him, cost
what it may. I do not think. Madam, that the
King has a more faithful, zealous, and submis-*
sive subject than I am ; my heart is filled with a
gratitude, if I might presume to say it, without
a breach of respect, which would oblige me to lay
down my life, if it could promote his happiness.
But permit me to have the honour of confiding to
you, that I would lose it, without hesitation^
rather than give the King and Queen advice con-
trary to what appears to me to be their true glory.
I am far from making a mystery of it to you, or to
any one ; I will have nothing to reproach myself
with, and I am incapable of abusing the confi*
dence, with which I am honoured by their Catho-^
lie Majesties, and the goodness of the King my
master. With such feelings, do I not act properly
in deciding to withdraw from this country although
his Majesty has granted me thé favour to act a«

3101 LETTERS OF THE

I think proper. I have already had the lioriour
of speaking to the King of Spain, who will not.
willingly consent to it; but I have not yetveu-,
tured to make the proposal to the Queen in her
present situation. Meanwhile, I am decided,
after maturely reflecting upon everything which-
might happen. I entreat you to mention it only,
to the King, and our friend, whose letter you have
forwarded to me ; he is prudent and discreet, and
I have steps to take before my intention transpires.
I will impart to you, at a future opportunity,,
my intended plan of life when I shall quit this
country ; and I hope it will meet ypur approba-
tion, otherwise I should think it bad, for 1 am too
much devoted to you, and have too high an opi-
nion of your mind and heart, not to regard you as
a generous friend, who should conduct me in my
path, to prevent me from stumbling.

As the Queen will wnrite herself to the Duchess
of Burgundy, concerning the news of the day, I
shall abstain from having that honour. Her Ma-
jesty has no longer been able to withstand the
inclination to enibrace the Prince, and the King was
equally glad to see hiin ; the small-pox and his
teeth have made him thinner, his complexion is
naturally good ; he eats heartily, and is in good
health.

The Chancellor of Milan, whom Madame de
Caylus honours with her protection, and for whom
you interest yourself, with that vivacity which I

PRINC£S9 DES URSINS. 311

know you to possess, was formerly minister of
finances at Madrid, from which department he was
dismissed, and it was lately confided to another
For this reason. Madam, it would be absolutely
useless to speak in his behalf; I have always been
disposed to render him good offices, thinking him
an honest man, and being convinced that an enemy
of his, whom I know, acted rather through passion
against him than for the public good. Were I in
his place, I would live in repose, until the affairs of
this court are brought to a conclusion ; in which
case there would be many changes, and he might,
perhaps, find some place to better his fortune.

You know now the nature of the cabal, and
their projects ; I will say no more to you about
them at present ; you are just and good, which
is enough for me and the ambassador.

July 28th.

I break open my letter, for I conceal nothing
from you, to inform you that the Queen was up
the whole of yesterday, amusing herself with the
playful tricks of the Prince of Asturias. Her
Majesty went. to bed at nine o'clock in the evening,
with a head- ache, which increased very much,
and she had the remainder of the night a violent
attack of fever, weariness in the legs, and perspira-
tions. Her Majesty's pulse is still very quick,
although not so dense ; the doctor hopes it will
prove an ephemeral fever, which, however, causes

812 LETTEUS OF TM£

anxiety, after a confinement and afflictions that
have depressed her Majesty so much. I thought
it right to say nothing of this attack to the. Duchess
of Burgundy, in the letter which I do myself the
honour of writing to her; I only mention the
Queen's head-ache; which prevents her from
writing herself.

July 29tb«

I open my letter a second time, to relieve you
from your anxiety, on hearing of the high fever
with which the Queen was attacked ; it had very
much abated this evening at seven o'clock, and
her Majesty will be soon quite rid of it, which
gives me a little breathing time.

LETTER CLXIV.

TO TH£ SAME.

Madrid, August 5th, 1709.

I TRULY thought. Madam, that you would par-
ticipate in the King and Queen's grief, since it is
well founded, and so good a disposition as their
Majesties possess, rendei-s them still more esti-
mable to you. Thanks to God, they begin to
know that he has done them a service, in taking
to himself a Prince, whom the King and Queen.

PRINGKSS D£S ¥R8IHS. 31S

could not hare seen with an infirmity, without
being afflicted* at it. They always give way
to reason^ for it has a great influence upon their
minds.

I have too much evinced my sensibility in my
last letter, respecting your wishes that their Catho*
lie Majesties were dethroned^ to revive the subject;
you have but too well explained it in one of your
letters, and I would copy the passage, which is
not equivocal, should you wish it. But, M adam^
let this matter rest ; you have had your reasons,
and the present state of France compels you to
sacrifice everything in the hope of preventing
utter ruin. You are certainly to be pitied, and I
suffer as much as yourself from your troubles ;
but I have in addition, those of a King and
Queen, whose virtues I know better than you
do, and for whom my affection cannot be sur-
passed. I am not so incredulous as to doubt
what you do me the honour of telling me,
as I know nobody of more undoubted veracity
than yourself, and that you would prefer being
silent even to disguising what you think, when
you cannot express them. Whenever it has
happened that I appeared to lend a deaf ear
to what you wished me to believe, it was not
because I distrusted your discernment, or your
intentions, which are equally correct, but merely
to try to re-animate by my reasons, good or
bad, the dejected hearts of so many persons.

314 LETTER^ OF THB

who think all loi^t while there are still many
resources remaining ; and it cannot be denied, if
the last campaign had iiot been so deplorable,
everything would have assumed a different aspect.
The Duchess of Burgundy acts very prudently
in keeping her bed through precaution, and 1 am
very glad that M. Clement is with her; we shall
soon send you back Madame de la Salle.

Whatever change may await the Duchess,
nothing can hinder her from pleasing, since her
mind, grace, and obliging manners will remain.

I am sorry that you could not communicate
to. me all that prudence obliges you to conceal, for
it would be very necessary for me to know it,
having strong presumption of what it may relate
to. The Duke and Duchess of Alba, distinguished
for their ardent zeal for their Majesties, are well
persuaded of it, and they will give them on
every occasion proofs of their esteem and grati-
tude.

Since you do me the honput of assuring me that
•^your esteem for me is accompanied with your
friendship, nothing that I see or may fear can abate
my courage and render me so unhappy as I should
be, were I deprived of so precious and delightful
a source of consolation.

fcti:;:^::^

PRIN€ESS DES URSINS. 9lbr^

LETTER CLXV,

TO THE SAME,

Madrid, August 1 Uh, 1 709.

From the manner, Madam, in which you do me
the honour of writing to me, by your letter of the
29th ultimo, about the siege of Tournay, it will not
hold out so long as it would be necessary to occupy
the enemy until the end of the campaign. We
hear from that quarter, that the loss of the enemy
is very great, owing to its good defence, and the
number of mines, which the besiegers very much
dread. The conduct of Marshal de Villars, and
the good disposition of his troops, are likewise
commended ; and it is considered as not one of
the worst measures for France, that M. de Marl-
borough has attacked Tournay. Marshal de Ber-
wick does not appear to me to fear the efforts of
the Duke of Savoy, and I hear from him by every
post. I think the Germans will do no great injury
to the Duke d'Harcourt. Thus the war proceeds
better than was expected ; and it might be hoped
that things would wear a better aspect, if it were
not for that scarcity of money which you represent;
but if it cannot be procured, and com be also so
very scarce, I cannot conceive a remedy for it,
and in this case I anticipate with grief, like your-

316 * LETTERS OF THE

self, all the misfortunes which must follow, and
I shall take good care not to dispute your just
reasons.

The cry against me here is known at Paris,
founded upon the imprisonment of Flot and
Renaud ; I have been warned by many of it, and
others belonging to this court have sent an account
of it to their friends « It must be confessed that
mine is a strange destiny ; to be continually the
object of enmity to those who are ill-disposed to
their Catholic Majesties, because I am faithful to
them, and my zeal in their behalf, and that of the
King, makes me considered as an obstacle to their
unjust designs. These two prisoners have im-
prudently talked with so many Spaniards of what
they should have concealed from themselves, that
this alonô would be more than sufficient for my
justification, had I need of any. But, Madam, I
am too zealous to fail in the profound respect which
I owe ; and having nothing, thank God, to reproach
myself with, principally on this account, I shall
remain as I am, observing a strict silence, and
merely contenting myself with the honour of re*
presenting to you, that oppressed as I am, without
having deserved it, it appears to me, that I may
expect, from .the same extreme goodness of the
King, as well as his justice, that he will impose
silence as to me, and that he will be pleased to
evince, by some hints in my favour, which his
Majesty knows how to . give opportunely, that

I do not at all deserve what is impTited to me. I
cherish the hope that you will on this occasion
interpose your friendly offices» which I have a
right to expect from so generous a friend^ who
honours me with her esteem» and without which
I should not think myself able to sustain the
variety of misfortunes which assail me from every
quarter. I shall not have the honour of saying
more to you on this subject.

P.S. Madame de la Salle will depart in three
days ; she will give you an account of the situa-
tion of the Queen and the Prince» and a thousand
particulars too long for a letter^ Her Majesty is
as well satisfied with her services» in this second
confinement» as she was in the first.

LETTER CLXVL

TO THE SAMI.

Madrid, August 19th, 1709.

I THINK» Madam» that the cause of the Duchess
of Burgundy and y ourself not having received letters
from me by the post» was» that I gave them nearly
at the same time to a courier extraordinary» whom
the King of Spain sent to Paris ; for I took care
not to neglect informing you about the Queen» and

318 LElTElis OF TH£

tembracîng so favourable an opportunity oiF having
the honour of paying my respects to her sister.
This Princess has been pleased to honour me with
a most gracious answer ; and such, if I may
presume to say so, as my affectionate and respectful
attachment to her deserves. Whatever wish 1 may
have for her to give a brother to the Duke of
Brittany, I cannot help regretting her pregnancy,
from the fear of her injuring herself, and the con-
finement to which it will subject her, as she is of
such a lively and active disposition. I do not
wish that the Queen may very soon be in the
same state, because her Majesty is delicate, and
if she had not time to recover her health, I should
much apprehend her suffering bad consequences,
or that she gave us a weakly child, which would
endanger her life, as in the late instance, and
which much alarmed me. H^ Majesty begins to
recover slowly. After to-morrow the ladies wil
come in mourning, for the death of the infant ; I
shall endeavour to shorten the audience, in order
to weaken as much as possible the impression of
the cause, so as to avoid sources of gloom, of
which we have but too many; a part are con-
cealed by an effort of prudence and complaisance,
but they are not the less felt at heart, and the
wound will be difficult to heal. The Prince of

Asturias, if I may use that title, is adored ; his
physiognomy is pleasing, and evinces something
great. I know not, what God destines^ him for.

PRINCESS DES ÙRSlNS. 31&

It was thought that Toiimay would hold out
longer than it has done ; you have no opinion of
the citadel making a good^ defence: we hear,
however, from Flanders, that it is well supplied ;
the dearness of bread is astonishing, notwithstand-
ing you say there is plenty of corn in Paris, You
fear a peace still worse than the one that has been
offered, at which, however, every body was indig-
nant ; ^you have an army of a hundred thousand
well disposed men, commanded by a general, bold
even to audacity ; you calculated that if you could
hold out until the month of August, there would
be no want of money ; I confess that all this is in-
comprehensible to me, and that I have not wisdom
enough to unravel so many inconsistencies. We
shall soon lose the ambassador, whom the King
and Queen, hoped would have remained, at least
as long as the French troops ; and in truth, let
me have the honour of telling you, that it was
highly proper he should do so. -This minister
will be a great loss to the affairs of their Catholic
Majesties ; all worthy people, who are attached
to him, will regret him : he has neglected nothing
for the support of the war in this country, with
the view of making a good peace. If his example
had been followed in France, allow me to have the
honour of telling you, that you would not be as
you are, and that we should be much better off.
I perceive that my thoughts, are not more cheerful
than your own ; it is not right to continue them.

320 i.ETT£RS OF THft

when I could wish to take to my own account the
greater part of your troubles, desiring nothing
more ardently than the satisfaction and preserva-
tion of the most estimable and amiable friend that
I ever knew.

P.S. I beseech you to pardon me at having
forgotten, to offer you my most humble congratu-
lations, upon the King of Spain having granted
the order of the Golden Fleece to M. de Liâtenay.
Although I have often taken the liberty of re-
proaching you for your indifference, respecting
persons who have the honour of being related to
you, I cannot think so ill of you as to suspect that
you will be wholly indifferent to distinctions
which they may obtain, and in which you have
taken no part, but that of being what you are,
with merit so great as to cause your relatives to be
noticed. I do not know whether Madame de
Mailly will have received a letter from me upon
this subject, on which I congratulated her.

LETTER CLXVII.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, August 25th, 1709.

The sacrifice is made, Madam^ and I have had
the courage to announce to the Queen, that I

rlxlNCESS DES URSINS. 321

jQust part from her, to deprive the Spaniards of
eveiy pretext for not doing what they ought to do^
to aid the King in maintaining himself on the
throne ; being convinced that as long as I should
have the honour of remaining with their Majesties»
their subjects would impute to me, when there
was no longer an ambassador, every cause of
their displeasure. They received my proposal
in the manner I had foreseen, that is to say, they
have made me better acquainted with the good-
ness of their hearts. I shall, however, take good
care not to impart to you all that the King and
Queen have done me the honour of saying to me
on this occasion, as I should affect you too much,
and you have no occasion for fresh sources of grief,
nor of compassionating a Princess, to whose mis-
fortunes you are so sensibly alive, and who seems
to consider as one of her greatest, the loss of my
services. I begin no longer to conceal my resolu-
tion, although it is not yet publicly announced, but
will be shortly ; I have some friends, who will be
sorry, some grandees who will be very glad, and
some who will not know whether to laugh or cry*
There will be much bustle at court to find a came^
rata mayor and a governess ; the first of which
places, I think, should be filled at least by the lady
of a grandee, who may also discharge the duties of
the other place, as I have done, in order that the
palace may possess a person of distinction iarid
consequence, and to prevent its being thought

VOL. III. Y

322 I£TT£aS OF TH£

that I may return. The difficulty will be in

making a good choice» notwithstanding the merit

of the ladies who may pretend to this honour. I

could wish at least for a woman, who might attach

herself sincerely to the Queen, and be watchful

over the life of a Prince, who is so dear to. her and

who should have no other interests at heart than

those of their Majesties. I could pardon in her

many defects, provided, nevertheless, she was not

troublesome, nor possessing those little exterior

devotions which marked the conduct of the late

Duchess de Bejar, who never entered the room,

without their Majesties requesting her to leave it;

her conversation was gloomy, and larded with

compliments, which gave the King the vapours,

and the Queen a sick head-ache. The ambassador,

with a grave air, failed not to enliven business, and

to laugh when he had finished speaking of it, or

when less serious matter became the subject of

conversation.

For my part, my natural cheerfulness often
showed itself, and their Majesties and I never
failed to pass some moments with pleasure : the
Queen calculates upon having no more, at which
I am truly sorry, and to divert her from the idea
I start agreeable projects, and represent to her,
moreover, that her youth, and great mind, will
afford her sources of unexpected felicity. The
King of Spain and this Princess are extremely
embarrassed in losing the ambassador, not knowing

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 323

who to choose to undertake what he did : he is
decisive and expeditious, takes little rest, and
allows but little more to others ; and one may say,
without flattering him, that he has preserved
Spain, since he has executed the orders of his
Catholic Majesty on the most important affairs.
Thus you will see, by a letter which the King of
Spain writes to the King, his gratitude for the
essential services the ambassador has rendered
him, and the distinguished proof which his
Majesty wishes to give him of it, by conferring
the title of grandee on thç person, who shall
marry his daughter, whom he affectionately loves ;
not being able to invest M. Amelot widi this
dignity, who, besides^ is indifferent to all sorts of
titles» which increases the estimation in which he
is held, and excites a greater desire to honour his
family. I am incapable of awkward finesse, and
am vain enough to believe that I think of nothing,
but what I may communicate to persons whom I
honour the most ; therefore, I shall make no
ceremony in confiding to you, that it is I who
proposed to the King and Queen, the Count de
. Chalais^ my nephew, to establish his claioas to
the title in question. He is a vtrtucMis and pru*
dent young man, which has always made me love
ihim, and desire his advancement; his birth is
not in any degree inlerior to that of all the grandees
whitc^ the King has recj^uested his Cttholic
Mi^sty to make. The eldest brothers of his

Y 2

324 ^ LETTERS OF TM£

house» of which he is the principal, may boast of
never having made an alliance below their own rank,
and I think there are few persons of rank in France,
who can better prove their antiquity than he, nor
show by title deeds, that his paternal ancestors
were Counts of Perigord and d'Augoumois, in the
time of Hugh Capet, You know too well the
history of our Kings, to be unacquainted with
the figure these counts then made, who by too
boundless an ambition rendered themselves sove-
reigns of these provinces, and formed alliances
with crowned heads. I should not have extolled
a name which I have borne, had not the present
object rendered it necessary, as it appears to me
that the King should know it is not unworthy of
the honour which their Majesties intend to confer
upon him. I confess to you that I shall be infi-
nitely sensible of it, and that in the present con-
juncture of- my affairs, the King's kindness will
be a great consolation to me. I presume to hope
for it, if you will be pleased to state my reasons :
I entreat you not to refuse me this additional proof
of your friendship, and believe that you can oblige
no one, whose afiectionate attachment to you is
greater than mine.

P.S. This letter is already so long, that the
fear of importuning you, induces me to postpone
till the next post, what I have to say upon my
ulterior plans after leaving Spain, and as to the
time of my departure. I should not forget observ-

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 325

ing to you, that a complaint in the chest, with
which M. de Chalais has been much troubled,
incapacitated him from serving in the navy, in
which he was the captain of a frigate, and in which
service he had been from his youth ; he is now in
better health, and might marry a lady, nvho, I am
assured has been very well brought up, amongst
the duaghters of the visitation at Paris» and who la
not less amiable.

LETTER CLXVIII.

TO THE SAME,

Madrid, August 30th, 1709.

I CONTINUE, Madam, in the resolution of leav-
ing this, in order not to afford the Spaniards the
slightest grounds for suspecting that their Catholic
Majesties may do me the honour of asking my
advice. They must be deprived of every pretext'
for not doing their duty, and. whatever may hap-
pen, the public will not have to complain that a
Frenchwoman has kept back the good disposition
of their subjects, by different maxims from their
own. Their Majesties are still loath to consent to
my retirement ; I have entreated them to permit me,
at least for the present, to go to Aranjuez, where
the ambassador is gone, in order to avoid haviog

326 LÊrrERs of the

anything to do with all these fresh beginnings,which
will be attended with new innovations : I shall
have an eye during this time to the course adopted,
and shall be more at liberty to act as I shall think
for the best. I could wish that this short absence
might habituate their Majesties to think they can
dispense with me. This is a very critical time
for them ; however. Madam, it is not impossible
but that miracles may take place ; but I know not
whether you can believe or will profit by them.
The return of the courier, whom the King of Spain
despatches this evening, will elucidate the atfair. 1
entreat you to remember, that it is not permitted
to neglect the favours of God. With your leave
I shall not say more on this topic* All worthy
people here regret M. Amelot, because he has
won their esteem ; he will likewise be regretted
by others, when they do not agree together, and
all does not proceed to their mind. He knows
my feelings and my thoughts upon every subject
so well, that he will be better able to explain it to
you than I could myself ; for which reason allow
me, I beseech you, to refer to him, and more par-
ticularly when he shall have the honour of making
known to you my gratitude, affection, and de-
votedness to you. From the knowledge I have of
your disposition, if it should be your good plea-
sure to appreciate hiis merit, you will be highly
satisfied with him and I fear not announcing to
you that there are few men who possess so many

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 32?

good qualities as I have discovered in him for
more than four years that'I have seen the wonders
he has performed in this country, w^ithout once
belying himself. I have only, then, to wish, that
the King may judge of M. Amelot by experience^
and that he may not deteriorate ill a court, where
you assure me men are so very imperfect. Never-
theless, there are some whose hearts are not so,
and our friend^ whom you do me the honour of
mentioning, is one of them ; of whose attention to
me I am as sensible as I ought to be. But it
must be confessed, that it is very hard, that per-
sons who interest themselves in what concerns
me, should think themselves obliged to work
upon your feelings, in order to put you on your
guard against what may be invented, equally false
and unjust, against me ; you. Madam, of whose
great goodness there can be no doubt, and who
so well know everything that has occurred, it is a
fiigji that the venom is sq subtle, that it is to be
feared lest it insinuate itself into the most noble
part. But what makes me take courage is, that
you possess its antidote, and I live in repose when
you do me the honour of promising me, that
nothing can make you change on my account.

P.S, I fiçnd by this courier a memorial to Mar-
shal de Villeroi, which the author wished to be
addressed to him ; it contains a plan, by which
he asjserts that the ministers will be enabled to
find the money, which the King has need of to

338 LETTERS OF THE

continue the war several years, without burthening
the people* I do not presume to tell you, that it
appears to me very feasible; but the King, who has
had it read to him, thinks it is ; and M« Amelot,
after examining it, is of opinion that it may sue*
ceed, if all the views of the author are compre-
hended. We have been a long time expecting
miracles, and, perhaps, this is one that God sends
in our favour, I have received by the last post
an anonymous letter, of which I enclose you the
copy, as it appeared to me curious enougl), for
you to see^ it,

**t0 the prinxess des ursins*

" Madam,
*'The great respect and attachment I have
" always entertained for you, induce me to inti-
^' mate to you, that the principal cause of this fine
" project of M. d'Orleans, which you have so
** fortunately discovered, was his mistress : she
*' has never ceased to press it with vehemence,
** being irritated against you, because she thinks
*' you have been the only obstacle to her being ap^
<' pointed a lady of honour to the Queen of Spain ;
** she has therefore thought of the means of reveng-
** ing herself; added to which, is her natural
*^ vanity, and the desire she has of acting a great
<* part in Spain, by governing there with an absb-
♦♦ lute and haughty sway M, d'Orleans, as she
^< does here; As 1 know this to be a fact, I thought

PRINCESS H&i URS1NS. 329

" it my duty to inform you of it, in order that you
** might exercise your penetration in the way
** you think proper, to prevent the misfortunes
" which might still occur. I entreat you. Madam,
" to be persuaded that no one renders more justice
" to sUch rare merit as yours, nor will honour you
*' more than I shall do during life." '

LETTER CLXIX.

TO THE SAVE.

Madrid, September 8th, 1709.

You appear. Madam, by your last letter, of the
26th ultimo, to be pretty well satisfied with afBurs
in Flanders, and that you are almost free from
anxiety for the quarter where the Duke d'Har-
court commands ; I, however, am more alarmed
on account of this miserable peace, which, it is
asserted, is upon the eve of being concluded, and
the various perils to which the King of Spain is
about to be exposed. There are some of them
which I shall pass over in silence, although I
look them boldly in the face. We shaU soon
know at Madrid how the news of th« departure
of his Majesty has been received by the Marshal
de Besons. A great number of Spanish and
some French officers, whose names I shall not

330 LETTERS OF THE

mention, in order to avoid injuring them, have
written and said, that they were ashamed and
scandalized at what the French troops had done,
so contrary to the honour of the two nations, and
so prejudicial to their Catholic Majesties, since it
depended solely on them to establish their throne ;
which they have shaken, by suffering the enemy
to make unwarrantable proposals, and obtain great
vantage ground. How can any one, who has the
glory of our Kings at heart, not be affected as I am ?
It is then insisted upon, that his Catholic Majesty
is going off daily in a rapid consumption, that the
Prince of Asturias is extremely delicate, and that
the Queen is afflicted, at least, with a tumour. I
am not astonished that a Royal Family, so un-
healthy and unsound, should be made so little
account of, as that wishes for its dethronement are
allowed, since it is only hastening their deaths a
little sooner. In truth. Madam, these poor Princes
are much persecuted, and you are much in the
right, in not being agreed as to what is disadvan-
tageous to them. The King of Spain is one of the
healthiest men in existence, and if he does not
break in two an iron horse-shoe, like King
Augustus, he has not less strength, but, perhaps,
less skill ; 4ie is indefatigable in mental and cor^
poreal exercises, and I could wish that all the
Princes of the royal family of France were as pro^
mising for life as he is. I could wish, nevertheless,
that his cheeks had a portion of the fat which the

PRINCESS DES URdl^S. 331

Duke de Bern's has; this would be a great im-
provement to both their faces. I know not,
however, whether the King would appear to more
advantage for it in the eyes of the Queen ; but this
I know, at least, that she would not love him
better for It, since her affection for him' is not
to be described. This Princess is only trou-
bled with tumours, which swell more or less
according to her anxiety, and which visibly
diminish when she takes exercise, and can cherish
a hope that things will go on better. You will,
doubtless, observe to me, that she ought to take
the exercise of walking, and you will be surprised
when I inform you, that it is very difficult for her
to do so. There is only a very miserable garde^
at this palace, called the Priory, and to arrive
at which, it is necessary to descend a hundred
and thirty steps. I have got a terrace re-
paired, which is not so low, and where her
Majesty walks after sun-set, because there is no
shade. The King and herself intended to pass six
weeks at the Retire, where the gardens are
more convenient and extensive: they hesitated
very much thus to procure themselves this little
enjoyment, because more is paid to the lower ser-
vants there than in this house, and their Majesties
economise in the merest trifles, in order to sup-
port the troops, and set a good example to their
subjects ; but it is not solely in that which they
set it, they discharge their duty towards mankind^
and endeavour to do it towards God. The Queen

832 LETTERS OF THE

is fully occupied with both objects, which you
may judge of from the particulars I shall give you
of the mauner of herlife, since she has been Regent
for the third time. I have the honour of sleeping
in her apartment : she rises at six o'clock ; after
prayers, she. writes to the King, then visits the
Prince, and returns to breakfast at eight. . Cou-
riers often arrive about this time, with despatches
from several quarters, which the two secretaries
of the despacho inform me of, and bring the letters
which they have received. Her Majesty confers
with them, about their contents, and orders them
to be seot to the respective ministers of the
(departments to which they relate ; she then goes
to dress as quickly as possible, and whilst her
hair is dressing she reads papers. She then hears
mass, often high mass, and goes to preside at the
council» which usi^ally continues until noon.
When her Majçsty is informed that dinner is
ready, and there are persons who demand an
audience, which the Queen does not refuse, before
sitting down to table she gives them a patient hear-
ing, and a gracious answer, according to their merits
and their birth. Dinner lasts a short half hour, at
which I have the honour of waiting» She then goes
to her apartment, where Don Jose Grimaldo,
ai^d Manuel Bardillo, secretaries of despatches*
bring her a great number of papers to examine.
She despatches a part of those which are in the com-
mon routine of business, and the rest are reis^erved
for a consultation with the ministers. The penance

PRIXCESB UX8 URSIXS. 338

^and prayers of the forty hours are often performed
in the chapel, which is close to her Majesty's
apartment. She does not omit attending there»
nor at vespers» which are performed in this country
^n the eve of holidays. At five o'clock she takes
a slight repast» after which the ladies come and
pay their respects to her» twice a week ; on
Tuesdays^ all those who have permission to enter
the palace ; and on the Fridays her Majesty only
' receives those who have distinguished theinselves
by their zeal in accompanying her to purges:
they remain there about an hour and a half. If
the weather is fine, the Queen descends with the
Pritice to the terrace, the latter of whom return
to supper about seven o'clock. The Queen after*
~ wards sups, and again gives audience to those who
' may apply. Besides all this, there is , a public
one for the. people, and other persons of tke
middle ranks ; and on Friday morning there is a
'consultation, that is to say a sitting of the council
■ of Castile, ! which is presided by the president:
• after having said, in presence of the old counsellors,
who compose it, what is necessary for the Queen
to know, the President, Don Francisco Rouquillo,
-goes alone with her Majesty into another apart-
ment, in order to arrange many important objects.
Thé Queen often receives letters from the King,
which you may easily conceive are answoTed by her-
self. Thexemainder of the evening is spent ingiying
various orders. After ten o'clock» she retires

331 LCTTERS or THS

iBto her closet, to read devotkmal books, then
goes to prayers, and afterwards to rest, which is
•not always as tranquil as I could wish. Such is,
Madam, a very correct account, but not very
amusing, of her proceedings ; which, however, I
tliought, you would not be sorry to learn, as tho^e
bf a Princess who has not yet completed her
twenty-first year, entitled by her birth to the
4enjoy meats of life ; but who, nevertheless,. knows
how to confine herself to the discharge of her
duties, by such varied and tires(»ne efforts. This
is very different from the amusements which may
be enjoyed vriith the five pretty ladies, whose
portrait you have given me.

Is there no way, Madam, of knowing the cause
of all this fury against me ? How can I, and why
am I, to be implicated in such a business ? Wece
it not for the respect which I owe, I should be
very capable of defending myself; and I assure
you that it requires great self*controul to be silent
when one sees herself sacrificed, and has it in her
power, by speaking, to prove herself whiter than
the 4afnow. I have not, however, so good an
opinion of my fortitude, as to presume to flatter
myself always to continue a sufferer for the ùoalts
Mothers ; and I fear, if I am still to be pei^ecuted,
when you know that I have so much deserved a
contrary fate, leeA my patience should be worn
out. I know as well as any one, how far to carry
my profound respect where it is due; but I am

FLRINlCfifiS DES UÇSINS. ^35

likewise not igiuMraat, that God has not givn me
an existence^ to be silent when my reputation and
honotir are at stake. The King is the master of
everything else, and it is also from him, before
whom I prostrate myself, that I expect the con-
solation which so faithful, so zealous, and so sub*
missive a subject as I have always heea deserves.
I protest to you. Madam, that if his Majesty
could think for a moment of my having been in
the least wrong, in what has occurred, I should be
so much grieved at it, that I would renounce
everything, and retire to some corner of the world,
where 1 should be out of the reach of man's in-
justice. You will think me, perhaps, too bold in
speaking to you as I do ; but I know the extent of
that kindness with which you honour me, and that
I risk nothing in discovering to you the inmost re-
cesses oi my heart, than which you will not find
« better, nor one more devoted to you.

P.S* An officer arrived here yesterday evening,
de^patehed by the Duke de Noailles, with letters
to the King : he has, also, done me the honour
of writing to me, stating their object, which
would be of great importance, and which
appears to me well founded and concerted ; but
this peace, which is so much desired .where you
are upon any terms, will blind you to everything
elde, wiiatever ladva^tage might be derived from
it. The Qimeen sends to his Majesty your
fiej|^ew'« letters, in order that he may answer him

3â6 LETTfiRS OF Tllfi

as he thinks proper ; he is equally beloved and
esteemed by all of us here.

I think I have had the honour of mentioning to
you, that I am visited by no Frenchman, and
that for this reason I have desired M. de Blecourt
not to call upon me, in order that I may not be
considered as a woman who would impart to him
what she knows. I meddle with neither great
nor small affairs, having determined to obey the
King and Queen, only on this condition, that I
should wipe my hands of everything of the kind ;
and I find my situation much better for it, because
I am more at my ease;

9th, in the afteraootu

We have just heard from the King, who is in
good health. The Arragonese were delighted at
his presence, and the city of Sarragossa sent a
deputation to him, entreating him to stoptdid dine
in their city to which his Majesty consented, after
going to the church of Nuestra Senora del Pilar»
which is a great act of devotion in this country.

LETTER CLXX.

TO TPI£ SAME.

Madrid, September. 26th, 1709.

You have done me the honour of sending me»
by Count de Bourg, an account of the complete

PRINCESS DES URSIXS. 337

defeat of M. de Mercy, and which is asserted to
be owing to treachery, the propfii of whicTi have
been found amongst his papers, which have been
transmitted to the King. Although this success
be considerable, and shows that the troops possess
the same valour which formerly made Europe
tremble, my joy is greatly alloyed by fearing lest
it be unavailing, and that peace will continue to
be sued for in a prostrate and humiliating manner,
and upon any terms which the enemy may be
pleased to grant. Unhappy are they who having
no doubt of this truth, expose their lives, and lose
them in actions which are not decisive of the fate
of mortals. This appears to me, Madam, to be
making very little account of good subjects, thus
to send them to an useless slaughter. M. de
Besons has acted much more properly in retreating
before M. de Staremberg, provided, however,
he prefers life to the loss of honour : for. Madam,
we must not deceive ourselves ; our nation is dis-
honoured in this country, although it may not have
deserved it. The Queen heard yesterday that the
King had joined the array; that army. Madam,
which hemaintains at his own expence, and which,
perhaps, the King, his grandfather, does not wish to
obey his ordersT— a thing unheard of We may carry
our fears still further. The King of Spain is, how-
ever, prepared against the worst that may happen,
and his'couT«ge and fortitude will never forsake

VOL. III. z

338 LETTERS OF THE '

him. The Queen, for a woman, does not posses»
less ; and if fortune is to overwhelm so good a
Prince and Princess, they will have the sad con-^
solation of showing that they deserved a better
fate* It is not of much consequence, as it strikes
me. Madam, whether i)iQ citadel of Toumay holds
out a little longer or not, as peace is négocia-^
ting ; which, likewise, induces me to believe that
Marshal de Villars will not offer battle, and that
the precaution of sending Marshal de Boufflers,
to be at hand in cas^of some misfortune befalling
him, might be merely a pretext to employ him
elsewhere»

Their Majesties, Madam, confide much in the
fidelity of their subjects ; and the departure of
M. Amelot, when the French troops remain in
Spain, does not appear very consistent. The
ambassador you know asked for his recall, because
he thought they were to be withdrawn.

I do not well understand what you do me the
honour of saying, in a passage of your letter, as
follows : " I shalt make no reply, Madam, to your
observations upon our conduct with respect to
your's ; I should even scarcely wish to explain
myself upon it in a conversation." I have turned
over in my mind» agam and again, whence could
arise this reserve, and at length have imagined I
had discovered the cause ; but I have banished it
as a mischievous idea, my respect not permitting

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 339

me to believe that it wias wished for me to act a
bad part, and that I should guess it in order to
avoi J an explanation with you,

I am much affected by the loss the Duke and
Duchess of Alba have sustained in the death of
an only beloved son ; I honour and love them as
much as they merit, and I sincerely wish it was
in my power to alleviate their grief, which God
only can do. I can easily conceive that a woman
who loves her husband as she ought, would con-
tentedly sacrifice her life to preserve his ; but I
confess to you, with my usual candour, that I
would not do it for him that might take another
wife in order to have offspring by her ; for the idea
of being so soon forgotten as to admit another to
a place in his heart, would prevent me from giving
him that liberty ; and I would take good cate not
to sacrifice myself in order that he might have an
heir. It is right to have a regard for his family
name to a certain point, however respectable it
may be; more appears to me a mere chimera,
about which we might be indifferent. Poor
Cardinal Portocarrero finished his part yesterday ;
he conversed with Count de Paluce, his nephew,
until midnight ; nothing appeared to remain of his
malady but an erysipelas in the leg, which was
gradually disappearing ; two hours after, he had
occasion to call one of his attendants, and fell
asleep. At six o'clock one of his valets de chambre
drew aside his curtain, as it was usual for him to

z 2

340 LETTERS OF THE

do, and he found him dead. Although he was
above eighty-one, he appeared so robust, that one
would have thought he might have survived many
years longer ; he is much regretted by the poor,
to whom he was a benefactor. Their Majesties
also regret him, although he rendered them no
service. The affairs of the court of Rome with
this court will be extremely embarrassing, on
account* of the Bulls ; and it will be difiicult to
make a good choice of a successor to the Arch-
bishop of Toledo. The King of Spain had troubles
enough without this additional one,

I am very sorry that Madame de Caylus is
subject to the nephretic colic ; I wish her always
to enjoy good health, and that she had no cause
to be otherwise than content. If my wishes were
gratified. Madam, you would be more so than
any one upon earth, and I trust that you have no
doubt about them.

LETTER CLXXI.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, September 16tb, 1709.

I HAVE been too much habituated. Madam, to
the confidence you have been pleased to allow
n>e to place in you, not to continue availing my-

PR1NC£SS D£S URSIKS. 341

self of this favour, which has been until now i?o
great a source of consolation in all my troubles,
and of which I never had so much need as at
present. You have had the goodness to assure
me, from time to time, that the King was satisfied
with my conduct, and that you had not perceived
the least symptom of a change ; I have placed an
entire reliance upon such a testimony, and con-
tinued to act as I began. I had the honour of
writing to you, a long time since, foreseeing that
the King of Spain would be abandoned, that I
thought it necessary to prevent his subjects fiom
harbouring any jealousy of a* Frenchwoman,
and that they might not believe the confidence
of their Majesties was shared between them
and me, for which reasons, I* thought it right
to depart; I have often mentioned this to you,
and you have sometimes answered, that Ï niust
not think of such a step ; at other times, you
have asked me, whether I should have the courage
to abandon a Princess, to whom you think me
so useful ; that I was the best judge whether
it would be conducive to her service, and that
the King left it to me t(y act as I thought
proper; that I served him in serving their Majes-
ties ; and you concluded by adding, that I must
remain with them until the Spaniards would no
longer suffer it. Notwithstanding all this, I have
persisted in my intention ; I have endeavoured,
by the most energetic representations to the King
and Queen, to prevent their opposing it, which

342 LETTERS OF THE

they^ however, have done, and have got all my
friends, and M. Amelot, to speak to me, to induce
me to remain. I entreated their Majesties to
give me, at least, permission to go to Aranjuez
-whilst the changes were operating in the govern-
ment, and new places were given or taken away,
in order that it might not be believed I had any-
thing to do with these things. The King and
Queen granted me the above favour, and I made
preparations to depart for this country-house,
seven leagues from Madrid, at which I had de*
clared that I would not be visited by any one.
When his Majesty resolved to go into Arragon, he
evinced, in his despacho, the anxiety and chagrin
lliat he should experience, if I did not continue
with the Queen and Prince, and u^ed the most
obliging expressions to induce a compliance with
his wishes, but without effect. His ministers ad-
vised him to send me a peremptory order to stop,
which he dW. This produced its effect, and I
thought myself obliged to obey, more especially
in so formidable a conjuncture as the present. Is
there anything in my proceedings which may have
displeased the King ? I have reason to apprehend
this misfortune, since it has been intimated to me
by a person of consequence, and who is well
thought of by his Majesty, that he and his minis-
ters impute to mie all that may cause displeasure,
and that I shall be very much blamed by every
body, if I do not depart, as soon as possible. How
can it be, if the King really thinks so with respect

PRI1^C£ISS P£S URSINS â4d

to me, that he does not send me a positive com-
mand to retire, I who so well know how to obey
his Majesty ; I should be much more obliged to
him than to learn his sentiments indirectly, and
with less certainty, I presume, therefore, through
you, very humbly to entreat the King, to send me
a written order of what he desires to become of
me. I will literally execute it, and it will protect
me against reproaches, fqr abandoning the Queen
in her misfortunes, by forgetting all that I owe
to her and myself, or of not being considered as
the cause, by remaining, of the disagreeable events
which might happen. I do not think that my re-
quest will s^pear unreasonable to you ; I even
think that it would be cruel to refuse me, when I
submit so sincerely, and so respectfully^ to all
that the King, my master, may desire of your
very humble and obedient servant.

LETTER CLXXIL

TO THE SAME.

(Extra from Letters, written by Count de Berg^
heist, to the Princess des Ursins, at different
times.)

«* Paris, July 13thy 17 ^

" It is only the King's own subjects who caii
maintain him upon the throne, by a particular

314 L£TT£B6 OF TH£

peace/ and it is now proper for France arid Spaiii
to proclaim an entire separation, and even for the
latter power to exhibit externally great animosity
against the former. In order to obtain this end,
his Majesty must abandon himself entirely to the
Spaniards, and be solely governed by their coun-
sels, that M. Amelot discontinues to interfere, but
that he will have the goodness to give the benefit
of his information to those to whom his Majesty
shall confide his affairs, in order that his removal
may cause as little derangement as possible. I
know how usefully he has served the King, and
his Catholic Miajesty has appeared as well satis-
fied with him as the King, our master. It is^
moreover, proper that his Catholic Majesty should
dismiss all the French who are in his service, but
it should appear outwardly as if it was the King
who recalled them; such is the opinion here;
The King has also done me the honour of speak-
ing to me about you, and having represented to
him, that as you were without any public mission
on his part, but merely in the Queen's service
from the beginning, it appeared to me that you
ought npt to be considered in the same position
as the others, but to leave that to the good pleasure
of their Majesties, to which he agreed."

« July 25th, 1709.

^'^ suits his Christian Majesty to effect an
entire separation of the two crowns, with an
apparent animosity*"

PRINCESS DES UllStNS. 345

« Versailles, August 12th, 1709.

''Affairs are pressing at this moment, and I
require assistance; I hope. Madam, that you will
not think I have any idea of removing you from
their Majesties ; I protest to you that it is quite
foreign to my intentions : I am upright, and to bç
believed, and you ought to believe all that I have
the honour of saying to you ; provided, even, that
I had this intention, I would not appear in the
business ; it would have been easy for me to do it
by other means, but I should ever reprobate the
very idea of it, and the whole course of my life
has been straight- forward. If you think it proper.
Madam, to make thé sacrifice of some months
absence, in case it becomes resolved upon, it
would be proper for you to suggest a motive;
which might. make the public believe that you
would hot return. Everything will probably be
brought to a conclusion soon, and at the latest,
next winter ; there is nothing to the present
moment which presses, and, perhaps, it will not
be necessary that you should make this sacrifice :
I shall be better informed by the answer. I could
wish you, in the mean time, to have it understood,
that you are determined to retire from court, from
a motive which should appear to you the most
plausible to obtain belief, affecting secrecy, and
getting some of your furniture packed up, which
will cause it to be more talked of. I know the
spirit of the nation: it would be adviseable that

346 LETTERS OF THE

the report of it should reach the Hague, which is
very well informed of everything passing at
Madrid ; you must, likewise, advise the King to
place his entire confidence in those of his subjects
who are the most attached to him, and you must
absolutely have nothing to do with affairs, except
the King's service requires it. I think you wiU
conceive the object in this, is to obviate the
impression which is always inimical to négociation,
because it should prove to the enemy an entire
independence of, and separation from the interests
of France/'

«Mods, August 31st, 1709.

*' You will understand, from what I have the
honour of writing to the King, that he has nothing
to hope for, but in the fidelity and fortitude of his
subjects ; and that the enemy will place no con*
fidence in any overtures which may be made to
them^ without first showing them an entire sepa*
ration from France, even with animosity ; I beg
you to be so good as to devote a serious attention
to this, because it is our only dependence, and it
cannot be too promptly put into execution. His
Majesty, his ministers, and all well disposed
persons, have the same view of it that I have :
therefore, you will incur the blame of all if you
throw any impediment in the way, for you well
know that everything is attributed to you. I
hope that you will be pleased with my candour.

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 347

"JVhen an afiair of this importance is in agitation,
nothing can be concealed» and you are well aware
that I have no other interest in it, than that of
having the honour of discharging my duty to the
King, and deserving more and more your favour-
able regards, from the great idea I entertain of
your merits."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE SAME, TO THE

KING OF SPAIN.

««Versailles, August 12th, 1709.

" It appears to me. Sire, after the accountwhich
Î have just had the honour of rendering you, of the
feelings of your enemies, that your Majesty should
adopt, for a primary maxim, the effecting with
animosity, an entire separation of y our interests from
those of France, to employ in the affairs of your
government only your own subjects, and to confide
wholly in their fidelity and zeal for your Majesty,
and to govern your dominions yourself, confiding
to, and employing in your affairs those whom
your Majesty shall judge the most capable, and
whom your Majesty shall think the most attached
to you J. gmd to answer more «fully the confidence,
which you seem to place inmyzeal and attachment,
and never to have to reproach myself with the
least relaxation in that assiduity, which I am the
more obliged to exercise to promote the interests
of your Majesty, I presume to represent to you,
that if Madam des Ursins had a perfect knowledge

348 LETTERS OF THE

of the present situation of things, I have no reason
to doubt but she would beg, from her own im-
pressions, permission of your Majesty for a tem-
porary absence from Spain, at least until peace
is concluded. I am, Sire, very much devoted to
the Princess des Ursins, and feel highly grateful
for her kindnesses ; I know also. Sire, that her
attachment to your Majesty cannot be surpassed;
and for this very reason, that she ought to make
this sacrifice, and gladly and promptly adopt
this measure, if she conceives how necessary it is,
and that it might be decisive in the present crisis
for the interests of your Majesty, because your
enemies will always think that the same spirit of
France will govern Spain, so long as she resides
at Madrid ; and this absence. Sire, will not be
for long : affairs "will be concluded next winter
at the latest ; after peace she would return,
with the satisfaction of having made so sea-
sonable a sacrifice of her affection. But it is
proper. Sire, that this absence, should appear
to the public as if she was not to return, in
order that all the good effects from it may be
produced which are contemplated. Such is the
opinion. Sire, of the King, and all the ministers,
as well as the most distinguished persons at this
court who have spoken to me of it, and are the best
disposed towards your Majesty."

P. S. Here is enough, I should think Madam,
to show you that I am ill-used, and that what

PRINCESS DES UR8INS. 349

I have had the honour of observing to you in my
letter is well founded. I expect your answer, and
presume to hope that if the King continues to wish
for my departure, he will have the goodness to
send me a peremptory command in order that
nothing may be imputed to me ultimately for what
may happen when I shall be gone ; I am too weary
of being the martyr of every one, when I have
nothing to reproach myself with on the uprightness
of my intentions.

LETTER CLXXIIL

TO THE SAME.

September 26th, 1709.

The sanguinary battle which has been fought
in Flanders, Madam, affects me, on account of
the poor people who were killed or wounded, and
the distress/ occasioned to theic families ; in other
respects, there is more cause for rejoicing than
sorrow ; the enemy was much stronger than us,
and our loss is much less^ than theirs. They are
undeceived in the bad opinion which they had of
the French, and they will not think in futiire of
penetrating into France, in their presence, with
impunity, as they boasted of doing; it is a
miracle, which God has been pleased to vouch-

350

LETTEUS OF THE

safe in our favour, and which you did not presume
to expect, any more than the victory of Count de
Bourg in Germany, and the success of the Duke
de Noailles in Catalonia. How will you be able
to say, after this, that it would be clearly opposing
the divine will not to make peace, and continue a
fruitless resistance ? It appears to me that you
might give a more correct interpretation, which
would be to profit from his favours : if God intended
our downfall, he would not have done so much for
us, and I am persuaded he will punish you if you
do not draw near unto him, when he stretches
forth his hand. You see that on this occasion I am
very far from thinking as you do, and I. am not
alone; what has occurred in Flanders is con-
sidered as beneficial to the cause, and bonfires
have been made by order of the court, and all the
people shouted Vivat. But I drop this strain,
nor shall I touch upon other subjects, although
matter is not wanting ; you must not always re-
ceive letters filled with fire and blood from nae, for
you to reproach me. with a mildness which makes
me silent, although it heats my bile still more. I
know from this moderation that you feel yourself
capable of wishing to cut our throats. You will
not, however, own it, notwithstanding your
candour ; you would not presume to do it ; you
will, however, derive neither honour or advantage
from it, and we shall all be unfortunate, without
its being the fault of their Catholic Majesties,

PRINCCSS BBS IXRSIN^S. 351

who are made too little account of. I have only
to conclude ; these reproaches would lead me
further than I could wish: I entreat you, to
pardon me then should they displease you; I
shall, perhaps, make more another time, and you
are quits to-day, at a cheap rate, with a woman
whose heart is ulcerated, but who cannot help
feeling that she respects you more than herself,
and that nothing can prevent her from being affec*
tionately devoted to you.

P.S. How I pity the lady of Marshal de
Noailles and the Duchess de Guiche, on account
of the woimds of M. M. de Guiche and De Coët-
queu I I likewise feel for that of M. de Courcil-
lon, on account of its effect upon his lady, Madame
de Dangeau and de Pompadour. If I could
presume, I would entreat you, with all humility^
Madam, to have the goodness to make to them
my compliments ^f condolence ; I have had the
honour of writing to the two first mentioned
ladies.

LETTER CLXXIV

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, October 6th, 1709.

The King of Spain has returned. Madam, without
being able to expel the enemy from Balaguer,

d52 . LETTERS OF THE '

to which place Marshal de Besons had the com-
plaisance to let them advance, although very
superior to them, and without having, as you say,
any other orders than those which the King usually
gives to his generals, to wit, not to risk his troops
unseasonably. His Catholic Majesty had much
difSculty in persuading this general to make thé
movements which he has made, by marching
forward, and approaching within two leagues of
Count de Staremberg, in order to offer him battle,
which he declined, feeling himself too weak not
to fear the issue; this movement could no|;
fail being honourable to his Catholic Majesty,
yet it has been attempted to undervalue it. Mean-
while, ki leaving M. de Besons at the head of his
army, to take up such quarters as he pleases, he
has added to this confidence the order of the
Fleece, which he has conferred upon him ; ^ at
which I cannot help observing to you, that I
was very much surprised. We are not permitted
to dive into the secrets of our masters, and Kings
do not often think like other men. The Queen
will go from hence next Wednesday, to meet his
Majesty at Guadalaxara, and will return on Friday
the 11th instant; I shall not have the honour of
accompanying her, as I remain to take care of the
Prince of Asturias. I am always much better in
my retirement, and I shall continue it : I think
I should do the jsame were I in France, I am so
heartily weary of seeing falsehood, self-interest.

PRIKCESS DES URSINS. SS3

and ingratitude in the generality of people \ How
can I help, from such trials, being soured, or
evincing it to you, whom Ï know to possess quali-
ties so opposite to these defects; and who would
appear to me quite perfect, if you did not ardently
desire a peace, for which you will absolutely
sacrifice their Catholic Majesties ? You do not
openly join their enemies to make war against
them, in order to avoid a flagrant action, which
would eternally tarnish the King's glory, but other
means are employed, that are not less hurtful^ this
is to keep in the King of Spain's pay, thirty-seven
battalions, which in completing his ruin, lay waste

, his provinces, and from which he derives no other
advantage than retreating before his enemies, and
which would have done still more mischief, if
his Catholic Majesty had noj; prevented it. Can

• you presume candidly to say, that what I have the
honour of observing to you is not true, and do you
think I am wrong in reproaching you with such con-
duct ? I do not risk quarrelling with you in speaking
to you freely, since you have given me that per-
mission, and I shall say to you, perhaps, as Car-
dinal Mazarin said : " Let them speak^ that they
may let us act." It would be Ijetter to consent
to the Duke de Noailles' execution of his pro-
ject; you pretend that it cannot be done, because
you want all the means; I reply, that it is to the
King of Spain he is to apply for the money, which
efforts would be made to procure, and that it would

, VOL. Ill» ' A A

354 LETTERS OF TH£

only cost you the regret of seeing your nephew
expel the Archduke from Catalonia, after taking
.Girona, and forming a jttnction with M^ de Besons,
whd^ in this case, should have different orders from
court than those which he has had up to this time.
You would soon perceive, after this event, that
the pretensions of our enemies would be more rea-
sonable, especially after haying just experienced
that our nation has not less courage than themselves
and that it has only yielded to a very superior
force. I remember that these poor Frenchmen
had lost much of your good opinion, and that you
/eared lest they could not prevent this formidable
enemy from coming as far as Versailles. Thank
God ! they are not so near it ; and if the courtiers
would cease their lamentations, it would not be
impossible for everything to resume fresh energy,
and money to be once more in circulation. I con-
fess that this scarcity is a cruel thing ; but recollect
when there was none, they spoke in the same
manner, and it is more than five years since they
said everything was Iqst, if they did not throw as
fast as possible at the enemy's head the whole
monarchy of Spain, with a great part of the King's
strong places, in order that they might have the
goodness not to swallow up the rest.

You see miracles beginning to appear in our
&vour, and you despair of seeing more : your
confidence is , too confined : mine extends much
farther, since I am convinced that heaven will
continue to favour us, provide il^ that, knowing

PItlKCESS DES UR8IICS. 355

the favours we have received from God this
campaign, we should endeavour to deserve, by
neglecting nothing which depends upon us, the
still greater efforts of his omnipotence in our
favour. After all these reasonings, I fear^
much lest you will do neither more nor less on
account of my arguments. I must then. Madam,
patiently endure all the ill that is said of me, and
be blamed for the faults of others. This is really
quite pleasant, and very right ; but it isi>eyond my
comprehension, and I know not why I am always
a mark to every ^one who will commit bad actions,
in which I have not the least share. If I were
vindictive, I should have the me^ns of avenging
myself; I should gain more in this world, but
should lose more in tHe next; and everything
considered, I prefer my present line of conduct.

M. Anielot writes to tell me that he has had the
honour of an interview with you for an hour and a
half, which seems to have delighted him, and at
which I am not astonished ; he assures me that I
cannot place too . much dépendance upon the
honour of your friendship ; and I think as he does»
which enables me to sustain the afflictions of my
life. I was well aware that M. Amelot would
represent the Queen to you as perfect as I told
you, and which you would not believe: he is a
good judge, and as he is a man of great
feeling and intelligence, {^e knows better than
another how to estimate ti^e mind and solidity of

2 A A

366 L£TT£B$ OF THE

her Majesty» with which he s^peared to. me duly
impressed. The King has done very ill in recalling
him from the King, his grandson; but perhaps
be has been actuated by the motive, that his
affairs would not be so well managed as when
M. Amelot had to do with them. You see,
M«dam, that I lose sight of nothing. You would
be much disappointed, if, notwithstanding all
these measures to ruin Spain, it should be pre-
served by Philip V. What would I not give that
this may be the case ! — provided, however, that
France would not suffer too much from it ; for I
do not love it less than you do, although I am so
enthusiastic in what concerns their Catholic
Majesties.

LETTER CLXXV.

TO THE SAME.

Madrid, October Hth^ 1709.

You have received in the same packet two let-
tersi which I Jiad the honour of writing to you.
Madam, and 1 have received the answers to them
by the last post, the 29th and 30th ultimo. You
scold me in both, without my having deserved it,
since I am fully prepared to confound you, which
is, by copies of letters from Count de Bergheist,
the originals of which I keep, and which will show
you whether I was wrong in making my com-

PRINCESS DES URSINS. 9Ô7

plaints^ when I observed to you that you wrote
to me in one manner, and this minister in another ;
and that he aèsured me that the King wished me
to leaye this ; to which purport he also wrote to
the King of Spain, and he has too much good
sense, and knows too well the respect which is
due to the King's, to advance falsehoods. I con-
fess to you. Madam, that I am sensibly affected
at not being sufficiently known for it to be
thought necessary to employ such manœuvres to
induce me to take the step which it iu wished for
me to adopt ; I thought I had given proofs enough
of my obedience, attachment, and zeal, for it to be
believed, that I should comply with the least in-^
dication from the King, and I learn with great
grief, that I cannot flatter myself that his Majesty
regards me as a subject honoured with his es^teem
and affection. This makes me fear that there re-
mains in his mind something of the injurious im-
pressions, which malignity found the means of
insinuating into it, and that the four years which
I have since had the honour of passing with their
Catholic Majesties, in the midst of envy, fatigue,
and troubles of every sort, have rather made me
lose favour withthe King, than procured me fresh
merit. You know, however. Madam, whether it
was not my intention to return to Rome, be-
lieving myself justified, and whether it was not
thro.ugh a perfect submission, tJiat I resolved
io return to this court, where everything was in
«u^h great disorder, that M. Amelot and myseIC

358 l.£TT£Uft OF THE

were told we should soon return to Paris, with
the King and Queen of Spain. We have, however,
lived here during this period, and their Majesties
would have been firmly established upon their
throne, had it been desired, as it was easy for the
French troops to expel the Archduke from Cata-
lonia ; this was no fault of ours ; we have written
often enough our thoughts upon this subject, and
so has the Duke de Noailles.

The last passage of your letter, next claims my
notice, in which you do me the honour of telling
me, that it will, perhaps, be necessary for me to
tear out my heart, because you thus qualify my
separation from the Queen. You are not deceived ;
my afiection for this Princess is so great, that it
will be a dagger's blow that I shall give myself;
but I shall not fail to do it courageously, when I
sliall believe it to be for the good of her ser^
vice, and the satisfaction of the King, our mas-
ter. It would be now of no use to reply to
all the passages in which you urge upon .me the
necessity of making peace, as it would only serve
to souf us against each other, and answer no
end ; you will have it upon any terms, and you
think to save the honour of the French name by
so acting, imputing it to the law of neciessity, and
saying that God evidently commands it. Your
interpretations and mine are very different ; but
I wish that yours may be the best, and that your
situation ^ay correspond with them on the con-
clusion of the war ; for, I am as desirous as you can

PRINCESS DES UH^INS.

359

be for the preservation of France, whose present
and future misfortunes I deplore ; as to the rest,
my advisers are not so bad, when they predicted
to me, it is now long ago, strange catastrophes,
which are at hand, and they have been but too
good judges.

It appears to me, that you have a desire to
know what were my plans when I thought of
retiring from Spain. I did not impart them to
you, because the King of Spain commanded me to
remain here whilst he went to Arragon ; it would
then have been premature, but now it appears to
be otherwise, and your asking me the question
confirms me in it : my plans are then as follows :
the situation in which I shall leave their Majesties,
if I go, hardly permits me to hope that they can
maintain themselves against so many enemies;
when the King is an accession to their number.
Do not, I beg of you, blame me for explaining
myself so explicitly to you, when I saw, by a
letter from the King to his grandson, that he
would be obliged to join his enemies, in order to
procure peace, in case his Catholic Majesty should
not accede to his wishes. It is these preliminaries
which have terrified even those who imposed them,
but which will, nevertheless, be acceded to. On
that event taking place, I will remove to as short
a distance as possible from the Queen, to be the
nearer at hand to render her that sad assistance,
of which she and the Prince of Asturias may
stand in need; For this purpose, after re«crossing

360 LETTEH8 OF THE '

the Pyreneei^, I shall stop in some little tovm the
nearest to them^ where I may often receive accounts
of a favourable or unfavourable nature to their
Majesties. I shall, perhaps, fix upon Pau^ which
although formerly the place where Henry IVi
held his courtj is disagreeable enough, and situated
in thé mountains, where there is a great deal of
frost during the winter. This will be the least of
my evils. I shall endure every privation; houses
that are in the least cleanly are scarce, and there
is no furniture to be hired : I have no money to
purchase any, and I have no means of remedying
it but by my camp bed, and of actually getting
a tapestry made of mats to cover the walls of my
châmberis to make it warmer. This is a fine
residence. Madam, for a woman whom you have
often told was destined to play a great part» I
have bad fin inclination to make you and Made-
moKsèlle d'Aumale a present of such tapestry, to
reward you both for the letters you dictate to her,
and which she takes the trouble of writing ; a
reward more proportioned to the simplicity
of Saint Cyr, than to the value of what
you do me the honour of communicating, for
I respect even your iabuse of me. Such are
the plans which have excited your curiosity ; but
I have others, for the remainder of my days, which,
as they only concern myself, you shall not of
course know. I beseech you to tell me,
whether my plans meet the approbation of his
Ma|esty. The death of Marshal de Villars vrould

PRIXCKSS.D£& URJSINS. 361

bé à serious loss, as men like him are everywhere
rare. From what you relate of the generous
feelings which the officers and soldiers manifest^
he is not the only one who preserves his courage,
and you see that great injustice was done him
when it was thought otherwise. I could wish
M. de Courcillon was cured of his severe
>wound, and I can easily conceive how affection-
ately you participate in the trouble occasioned by
it to so estimable and beloved a friend as Madame
d'Angeau.

Cardinal de Pôrtocarero was very well enabled
to serve the King, his master, had he been so
inclined ; he had a great deal of corn, and plenty
of money, a part of wliich he might have appro-
priated to the succour of the troops, but he did
not put it to so good a use. M. Amelot will tell
you of his Eminence what you would not have
believed.

How pleased am I at the agreeable figure which
my friend makes, and that the King has given a
post in the gendarmerie to her son, because he
distinguished himself in the battle, although
scarcely out of boyhood ! From the disposition
that I know her to possess^ nothing could please
her more. It is a long time since I had the
honour of telling you, that you could not bring
her too near you and the Duchess of Burgundy.

Although I no longer meddle with any public bu-
siness» it appears to me that you might revoke the
ordei^ which you gave to hear it mentioned,' and

362 LETTKE8 OF THE

that you would do better not to lose sight of it,
since you are not, you say, indifferent to what
concerns their Catholic Majesties. I pity you
greatly at having lost such a pious bishop, who
possessed all your confidence for so many years :
it is a great consolation to have a steady friend^
from whom one need conceal nothing.

The King of Spain returned on Thursday, the
10th instant, in good health, and found the Queen
and Prince also well. Madrid has had great
public rejoicings for his return, and the people
went in crowds to give him a thousand benedic-
tions.

Their Majesties have an indescribable affection
for each other ; I have obeyed them in remaining
until the end of this journfey. I am now ready to
obey the Xing in whatever he shall be pleased
to command me, and I will do my best to discharge
my duty everywhere. Such is. Madam, the state
of my mind and heart, of which you will make
what use you please, as I throw myself entirely
into your hands.

LETTER CLXXVI.