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History of Friedrich II of Prussia V Vol 16
T >> Thomas Carlyle >> History of Friedrich II of Prussia V Vol 16 Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21
This of Sans-Souci is but portion of a wider Tendency, wider set of
endeavors on Friedrich's part, which returns upon him now that
Peace has returned: That of improving his own Domesticities, while
he labors at so many public improvements. Gazing long on that
simmering "Typhoon of Marine-stores" above mentioned, we do trace
Three great Heads of Endeavor in this Peace Period. FIRST, the
Reform of Law; which, as above hinted, is now earnestly pushed
forward again, and was brought to what was thought completion
before long. With much rumor of applause from contemporary mankind.
Concerning which we are to give some indications, were it only
dates in their order: though, as the affair turned out not to be
completed, but had to be taken up again long after, and is an
affair lying wide of British ken,--there need not, and indeed
cannot, be much said of it just now. SECONDLY, there is eager
Furthering of the Husbandries, the Commerces, Practical Arts,--
especially at present, that of Foreign Commerce, and Shipping from
the Port of Embden. Which shall have due notice. And THIRDLY, what
must be our main topic here, there is that of Improving the
Domesticities, the Household Enjoyments such as they were;--
especially definable as Renewal of the old Reinsberg Program;
attempt more strenuous than ever to realize that beautiful ideal.
Which, and the total failure of which, and the consequent quasi-
abandonment of it for time coming, are still, intrinsically and by
accident, of considerable interest to modern readers.
Curious, and in some sort touching, to observe how that old
original Life-Program still re-emerges on this King: "Something of
melodious possible in one's poor life, is not there? A Life to the
Practical Duties, yes; but to the Muses as well!"--Of Friedrich's
success in his Law-Reforms, in his Husbandries, Commerces and
Furtherances, conspicuously great as it was, there is no
possibility of making careless readers cognizant at this day.
Only by the great results--a "Prussia QUADRUPLED" in his time, and
the like--can studious readers convince themselves, in a cold and
merely statistic way. But in respect of Life to the Muses, we have
happily the means of showing that in actual vitality; in practical
struggle towards fulfillment,--and how extremely disappointing the
result was. In a word, Voltaire pays his Fifth and final Visit in
this Period; the Voltaire matter comes to its consummation. To
that, as to one of the few things which are perfectly knowable in
this Period of TEN-YEARS PEACE, and in which mankind still take
interest, we purpose mostly to devote ourselves here.
Ten years of a great King's life, ten busy years too; and nothing
visible in them, of main significance, but a crash of Author's
Quarrels, and the Crowning Visit of Voltaire? Truly yes, reader;
so it has been ordered. Innumerable high-dressed gentlemen, gods of
this lower world, are gone all to inorganic powder, no comfortable
or profitable memory to be held of them more; and this poor
Voltaire, without implement except the tongue and brain of him,--he
is still a shining object to all the populations; and they say and
symbol to me, "Tell us of him! He is the man!" Very strange indeed.
Changed times since, for dogs barking at the heels of him, and
lions roaring ahead,--for Asses of Mirepoix, for foul creatures in
high dizenment, and foul creatures who were hungry valets of the
same,--this man could hardly get the highways walked! And indeed
had to keep his eyes well open, and always have covert within
reach,--under pain of being torn to pieces, while he went about in
the flesh, or rather in the bones, poor lean being. Changed times;
within the Century last past! For indeed there was in that man what
far transcends all dizenment, and temporary potency over valets,
over legions, treasure-vaults and dim millions mostly blockhead:
a spark of Heaven's own lucency, a gleam from the Eternities (in
small measure);--which becomes extremely noticeable when the Dance
is over, when your tallow-dips and wax-lights are burnt out, and
the brawl of the night is gone to bed.
Chapter II.
PEEP AT VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE (BY CANDLELIGHT)
IN THE TIDE OF EVENTS.
Public European affairs require little remembrance; the War burning
well to leeward of us henceforth. A huge world of smoky chaos; the
special fires of it, if there be anything of fire, are all the more
clear far in the distance. Of which sort, and of which only, the
reader is to have notice. Marechal de Saxe--King Louis oftenest
personally there, to give his name and countenance to things done
--is very glorious in the Netherlands; captures, sometimes by
surprisal, place after place (beautiful surprisal of Brussels last
winter); with sieges of Antwerp, Mons, Charleroi, victoriously
following upon Brussels: and, before the end of 1746, he is close
upon Holland itself; intent on having Namur and Maestricht;
for which the poor Sea-Powers, with a handful of Austrians, fight
two Battles, and are again beaten both times. [1. Battle of
Roucoux, 11th October, 1746; Prince Karl commanding, English taking
mainly the stress of fight;--Saxe having already outwitted poor
Karl, and got Namur. 2. Battle of Lawfelt, or Lauffeld, called also
of VAL, 2d July, 1747; Royal Highness of Cumberland commanding (and
taking most of the stress; Ligonier made prisoner, &c.),--Dutch
fighting ill, and Bathyani and his Austrians hardly in the fire at
all.] A glorious, ever-victorious Marechal; and has an Army very
"high-toned," in more than one sense: indeed, I think, one of the
loudest-toned Armies ever on the field before. Loud not with well-
served Artillery alone, but with play-actor Thunder-barrels (always
an itinerant Theatre attends), with gasconading talk, with orgies,
debaucheries,--busy service of the Devil, AND pleasant
consciousness that we are Heaven's masterpiece, and are in perfect
readiness to die at any moment;--our ELASTICITY and agility ("ELAN"
as we call it) well kept up, in that manner, for the time being.
Hungarian Majesty, contrary to hope, neglects the Netherlands,
"Holland and England, for their own sake, will manage there!"--and
directs all her resources, and her lately Anti-Prussian Armies
(General Browne leading them) upon Italy, as upon the grand
interest now. Little to the comfort of the Sea-Powers.
But Hungarian Majesty is decided to cut in upon the French and
Spaniards, in that fine Country,--who had been triumphing too much
of late; Maillebois and Senor de Gages doing their mutual exploits
(though given to quarrel); Don Philip wintering in Milan even
(1745-1746); and the King of Sardinia getting into French
courses again.
Strong cuts her Hungarian Majesty does inflict, on the Italian
side; tumbles Infant Philip out of Milan and his Carnival gayeties,
in plenty of hurry; besieges Genoa, Marquis Botta d'Adorno (our old
acquaintance Botta) her siege-captain, a native of this region;
brings back the wavering Sardinian Majesty; captures Genoa, and
much else. Captures Genoa, we say,--had not Botta been too rigorous
on his countrymen, and provoked a revolt again, Revolt of Genoa,
which proved difficult to settle. In fine, Hungarian Majesty has,
in the course of this year 1746, with aid of the reconfirmed
Sardinian Majesty, satisfactorily beaten the French and Spaniards.
Has--after two murderous Battles gained over the Maillebois-Gages
people--driven both French and Spaniards into corners, Maillebois
altogether home again across the Var;--nay has descended in actual
Invasion upon France itself. And, before New-year's day, 1747,
General Browne is busy besieging Antibes, aided by English Seventy-
fours; so that "sixty French Battalions" have to hurry home, from
winter-quarters, towards those Provencal Countries; and Marechal de
Belleisle, who commands there, has his hands full. Triumphant
enough her Hungarian Majesty, in Italy; while in the Netherlands,
the poor Sea-Powers have met with no encouragement from the Fates
or her. ["Battle of Piacenza" (Prince Lichtenstein, with whom is
Browne, VERSUS Gages and Maillebois), 16th June, 1746 (ADELUNG,
v. 427); "Battle of Rottofreddo" (Botta chief Austrian there, and
our old friend Barenklau getting killed there), 12th August, 1746
(IB. 462); whereupon, 7th SEPTEMBER, Genoa (which had declared
itself Anti-Austrian latterly, not without cause, and brought the
tug of War into those parts) is coerced by Botta to open its gates,
on grievous terms (IB. 484-489); so that, NOVEMBER 30th, Browne, no
Bourbon Army now on the field, enters Provence (crosses the Var,
that day), and tries Antibes: 5th-11th DECEMBER, Popular Revolt in
Genoa, and Expulsion of proud Botta and his Austrians
(IB. 518-523); upon which surprising event (which could not be
mended during the remainder of the War), Browne's enterprise became
impossible. See Buonamici, Histoire de la derniere
Revolution de Genes; Adelung, v. 516; vi. 31, &c. &c.]
All which the reader may keep imagining at his convenience;--but
will be glad rather, for the present, to go with us for an actual
look at M. de Voltaire and the divine Emilie, whom we have not seen
for a long time. Not much has happened in the interim; one or two
things only which it can concern us to know;--scattered fragments
of memorial, on the way thus far:--
1. M. DE VOLTAIRE HAS, IN 1745, MADE WAY AT COURT. Divine Emilie
picked up her Voltaire from that fine Diplomatic course, and went
home with him out of our sight, in the end of 1743; the Diplomatic
career gradually declaring itself barred to him thenceforth.
Since which, nevertheless, he has had his successes otherwise,
especially in his old Literary course: on the whole, brighter
sunshine than usual, though never without tempestuous clouds
attending. Goes about, with his divine Emilie, now wearing browner
and leaner, both of them; and takes the good and evil of life,
mostly in a quiet manner; sensible that afternoon is come.
The thrice-famous Pompadour, who had been known to him in the
Chrysalis state, did not forget him on becoming Head-Butterfly of
the Universe. By her help, one long wish of his soul was gratified,
and did not hunger or thirst any more. Some uncertain footing at
Court, namely, was at length vouchsafed him:--uncertain; for the
Most Christian Majesty always rather shuddered under those
carbuncle eyes, under that voice "sombre and majestious," with such
turns lying in it:--some uncertain footing at Court; and from the
beginning of 1745, his luck, in the Court spheres, began to mount
in a wonderful and world-evident manner. On grounds tragically
silly, as he thought them. On the Dauphin's Wedding,--a Termagant's
Infanta coming hither as Dauphiness, at this time,--there needed to
be Court-shows, Dramaticules, Transparencies, Feasts of Lanterns,
or I know not what. Voltaire was the chosen man; Voltaire and
Rameau (readers have heard of RAMEAU'S NEPHEW, and musical readers
still esteem Rameau) did their feat; we may think with what
perfection, with what splendor of reward. Alas, and the feat done
was, to one of the parties, so unspeakably contemptible!
Voltaire pensively surveying Life, brushes the sounding strings;
and hums to himself, the carbuncle eyes carrying in them almost
something of wet:--
"MON Henri Quatre ET MA Zaire,
ET MON AMERICAIN Alzire,
NE M'ONT VALU JAMAIS UN SEUL REGARD DU ROI;
J'AVAIS MILLE ENNEMIS AVEC TRES PEU DE GLOIRE:
LES HONNEURS ET LES BIENS PLEUVENT ENFIN SUR MOI
POUR UN FARCE DE LA FOIRE."
["My HENRI QUATRE, my ZAIRE, my ALZIRE [high works very many],
could never purchase me a single glance of the King; I had
multitudes of enemies, and very little fame:--honors and riches
rain on me, at last, for a Farce of the Fair" ( OEuvres,
ii. 151).
The "Farce" (which by no means CALLED itself such) was PRINCESSE DE
NAVARRE ( OEuvres, lxxiii. 251): first acted
23d February, 1745, Day of the Wedding. Gentlemanship of the
Chamber thereupon (which Voltaire, by permission, sold, shortly
after, for 2,500 pounds, with titles retained), and appointment as
Historiographer Royal. Poor Dauphiness did not live long; Louis
XVI.'s Mother was a SECOND Wife, Saxon-Polish Majesty's Daughter.]
Yes, my friend; it is a considerable ass, this world; by no means
the Perfectly Wise put at the top of it (as one could wish), and
the Perfectly Foolish at the bottom. Witness--nay, witness Psyche
Pompadour herself, is not she an emblem! Take your luck without
criticism; luck good and bad visits all.
2. AND GOT INTO THE ACADEMY NEXT YEAR, IN CONSEQUENCE. In 1746, the
Academy itself, Pompadour favoring, is made willing; Voltaire sees
himself among the Forty: soul, on that side too, be at ease, and
hunger not nor thirst anymore. ["May 9th, 1746, Voltaire is
received at the Academy; and makes a very fine Discourse" (BARBIER,
ii. 488). OEuvres de Voltaire, lxxiii. 355,
385, and i. 97.] This highest of felicities could not be achieved
without an ugly accompaniment from the surrounding Populace.
Desfontaines is dead, safe down in Sodom; but wants not for a
successor, for a whole Doggery of such. Who are all awake, and
giving tongue on this occasion. There is M. Roi the "Poet," as he
was then reckoned; jingling Roi, who concocts satirical calumnies;
who collects old ones, reprints the same,--and sends Travenol, an
Opera-Fiddler, to vend them. From which sprang a Lawsuit, PROCES-
TRAVENOL, of famous melancholy sort. As Voltaire had rather the
habit of such sad melancholy Lawsuits, we will pause on this of
Travenol for a moment:--
3. SUMMARY OF TRAVENOL LAWSUIT. "Monday, 9th May, 1746, was the Day
or reception at the Academy; reception and fruition, thrice-savory
to Voltaire. But what an explosion of the Doggeries, before, during
and after that event! Voltaire had tried to be prudent, too. He had
been corresponding with Popes, with Cardinals; and, in a fine
frank-looking way, capturing their suffrages:--not by lying, which
in general he wishes to avoid, but by speaking half the truth;
in short, by advancing, in a dexterous, diplomatic way, the
uncloven foot, in those Vatican precincts. And had got the Holy
Father's own suffrage for MAHOMET (think of that, you Ass of
Mirepoix!), among other cases that might rise. When this seat among
the Forty fell vacant, his very first measure--mark it, Orthodox
reader--was a Letter to the Chief Jesuit, Father Latour, Head of
one's old College of Louis le Grand. A Letter of fine filial tenor:
'My excellent old Schoolmasters, to whom I owe everything;
the representatives of learning, of decorum, of frugality and
modest human virtue:--in what contrast to the obscure Doggeries
poaching about in the street-gutters, and flying at the peaceable
passenger!' [In Voltairiana, ou Eloges Amphigouriques,
&c. (Paris, 1748), i. 150-160, the LETTER itself,
"Paris, 7th February, 1746;" omitted (without need or real cause on
any side) in the common Collections of OEuvres de
Voltaire. ] Which captivated Father Latour; and made
matters smooth on that side; so that even the ANCIEN DE MIREPOIX
said nothing, this time: What could he say? No cloven foot visible,
and the Authorities strong.
"Voltaire had started as Candidate with these judicious
preliminaries. Voltaire was elected, as we saw; fine Discourse,
9th May; and on the Official side all things comfortable. But, in
the mean while, the Doggeries, as natural, seeing the thing now
likely, had risen to a never-imagined pitch; and had filled Paris,
and, to Voltaire's excruciated sense, the Universe, with their
howlings and their hyena-laughter, with their pasquils, satires,
old and new. So that Voltaire could not stand it; and, in evil
hour, rushed downstairs upon them; seized one poor dog, Travenol,
unknown to him as Fiddler or otherwise; pinioned Dog Travenol, with
pincers, by the ears, him for one;--proper Police-pincers, for we
are now well at Court;--and had a momentary joy! And, alas, this
was not the right dog; this, we say, was Travenol a Fiddler at the
Opera, who, except the street-noises, knew nothing of Voltaire;
much less had the least pique at him; but had taken to hawking
certain Pasquils (Jingler Roi's COLLECTION, it appears), to turn a
desirable penny by them.
"And mistakes were made in the Affair Travenol,--old FATHER
Travenol haled to prison, instead of Son,--by the Lieutenant of
Police and his people. And Voltaire took the high-hand method
(being well at Court):--and thereupon hungry Advocates took up Dog
Travenol and his pincered ears: 'Serene Judges of the Chatelet,
Most Christian Populace of Paris, did you ever see a Dog so
pincered by an Academical Gentleman before, merely for being
hungry?' And Voltaire, getting madder and madder, appealed to the
Academy (which would not interfere); filed Criminal Informations;
appealed to the Chatelet, to the Courts above and to the Courts
below; and, for almost a year, there went on the 'PROCES-TRAVENOL:'
[About Mayday, 1746, Seizure of Travenol; Pleadings are in vigor
August, 1746; not done April, 1747. In Voltairiana, italic> ii. 141-206, Pleadings, &c., copiously given; and most of
the original Libels, in different parts of that sad Book (compiled
by Travenol's Advocate, a very sad fellow himself): see also
OEuvres de Voltaire, lxxiii. 355 n., 385 n.;
IB. i. 97; BARBIER, ii. 487. All in a very jumbled, dateless, vague
and incorrect condition.] Olympian Jove in distressed circumstances
VERSUS a hungry Dog who had eaten dirty puddings. Paris, in all its
Saloons and Literary Coffee-houses (figure the ANTRE DE PROCOPE, on
Publication nights!), had, monthly or so, the exquisite malign
banquet; and grinned over the Law Pleadings: what Magazine Serial
of our day can be so interesting to the emptiest mind!
"Lasted, I find, for above a year. From Spring, 1746, till towards
Autumn, 1747: Voltaire's feelings being--Haha, so exquisite, all
the while!--Well, reader, I can judge how amusing it was to high
and low. And yet Phoebus Apollo going about as mere Cowherd of
Admetus, and exposed to amuse the populace by his duels with dogs
that have bitten him? It is certain Voltaire was a fool, not to be
more cautious of getting into gutter-quarrels; not to have a
thicker skin, in fact."
PROCES-TRAVENOL escorting one's Triumphal Entry; what an adjunct!
Always so: always in your utmost radiance of sunshine a shadow;
and in your softest outburst of Lydian or Spheral symphonies
something of eating Care! Then too, in the Court-circle itself, "is
Trajan pleased," or are all things well? Readers have heard of that
"TRAJAN EST-IL CONTENT?" It occurred Winter, 1745 (27th November,
1745, a date worth marking), while things were still in the flush
of early hope. That evening, our TEMPLE DE LA GLOIRE (Temple of
Glory) had just been acted for the first time, in honor of him we
may call "Trajan," returning from a "Fontenoy and Seven Cities
captured:" [Seven of them; or even eight of a kind: Tournay, Ghent,
Bruges, Nieuport, Dendermond, Ath, Ostend; and nothing lost but
Cape Breton and one's Codfishery.]--
"Reviens, divin Trajan, vainqueur doux et terrible;
Le monde est mon rival, tous les coeurs sont a toi;
Mais est-il un coeur plus sensible,
Et qui t'adore plus que moi?"
[TEMPLE DE LA GLOIRE, Acte iv. ( OEuvres,
xii. 328).]
"Return, divine Trajan, conqueror sweet and terrible;
The world is my rival, all hearts are thine;
But is there a heart more loving,
Or that adores thee more than I?"
An allegoric Dramatic Piece; naturally very admirable at
Versailles. Issuing radiant from Fall of the Curtain, Voltaire had
the farther honor to see his Majesty pass out; Majesty escorted by
Richelieu, one's old friend in a sense: "Is Trajan pleased?"
whispered Voltaire to his Richelieu; overheard by Trajan,--who
answered in words nothing, but in a visible glance of the eyes did
answer, "Impertinent Lackey!"--Trajan being a man unready with
speech; and disliking trouble with the people whom he paid for
keeping his boots in polish. O my winged Voltaire, to what dunghill
Bubbly-Jocks (COQS D'INDE) you do stoop with homage, constrained by
their appearance of mere size!--
Evidently no perfect footing at Court, after all. And then the
Pompadour, could she, Head-Butterfly of the Universe, be an anchor
that would hold, if gales rose? Rather she is herself somewhat of a
gale, of a continual liability to gales; unstable as the wind!
Voltaire did his best to be useful, as Court Poet, as director of
Private Theatricals;--above all, to soothe, to flatter Pompadour;
and never neglected this evident duty. But, by degrees, the envious
Lackey-people made cabals; turned the Divine Butterfly into
comparative indifference for Voltaire; into preference of a
Crebillon's poor faded Pieces: "Suitabler these, Madame, for the
Private Theatricals of a Most Christian Majesty." Think what a
stab; crueler than daggers through one's heart: "Crebillon?"
M. de Voltaire said nothing; looked nothing, in those sacred
circles; and never ceased outwardly his worship, and assiduous
tuning, of the Pompadour: but he felt--as only Phoebus Apollo in
the like case can! "Away!" growled he to himself, when this
atrocity had culminated. And, in effect, is, since the end of 1746
or so, pretty much withdrawn from the Versailles Olympus; and has
set, privately in the distance (now at Cirey, now at Paris, in our
PETIT PALAIS there), with his whole will and fire, to do
Crebillon's dead Dramas into living oues of his own. Dead CATILINA
of Crebillon into ROME SAUVEE of Voltaire, and the other samples of
dead into living,--that stupid old Crebillon himself and the whole
Universe may judge, and even Pompadour feel a remorse!--Readers
shall fancy these things; and that the world is coming back to its
old poor drab color with M. de Voltaire; his divine Emilie and he
rubbing along on the old confused terms. One face-to-face peep of
them readers shall now have; and that is to be enough, or more
than enough:--
VOLTAIRE AND THE DIVINE EMILIE APPEAR SUDDENLY, ONE NIGHT,
AT SCEAUX.
About the middle of August, 1747, King Friedrich, I find, was at
home;--not in his new SANS-SOUCI by any means, but running to and
fro; busy with his Musterings, "grand review, and mimic attack on
Bornstadt, near Berlin;" INVALIDEN-HAUS (Military Hospital) getting
built; Silesian Reviews just ahead; and, for the present, much
festivity and moving about, to Charlottenburg, to Berlin and the
different Palaces; Wilhelmina, "August 15th," having come to see
him; of which fine visit, especially of Wilhelmina's thoughts on
it,--why have the envious Fates left us nothing!
While all this is astir in Berlin and neighborhood, there is, among
the innumerable other visits in this world, one going on near
Paris, in the Mansion or Palace of Sceaux, which has by chance
become memorable. A visit by Voltaire and his divine Emilie, direct
from Paris, I suppose, and rather on the sudden. Which has had the
luck to have a LETTER written on it, by one of those rare
creatures, a seeing Witness, who can make others see and believe.
The seeing Witness is little Madame de Staal (by no means Necker's
Daughter, but a much cleverer), known as one of the sharpest female
heads; she from the spot reports it to Madame du Deffand, who also
is known to readers. There is such a glimpse afforded here into the
actuality of old things and remarkable human creatures, that
Friedrich himself would be happy to read the Letter.
Duchesse du Maine, Lady of Sceaux, is a sublime old personage, with
whom and with whose high ways and magnificent hospitalities at
Sceaux, at Anet and elsewhere, Voltaire had been familiar for long
years past. [In OEuvres de Voltaire, lxxiii.
434 n, x. 8, &c., "Clog." and others represent THIS Visit as having
been to Anet,--though the record otherwise is express.]
This Duchess, grand-daughter of the great Conde, now a dowager for
ten years, and herself turned of seventy, has been a notable figure
in French History this great while: a living fragment of Louis le
Grand, as it were. Was wedded to Louis's "Legitimated"
Illegitimate, the Duc du Maine; was in trouble with the Regent
d'Orleans about Alberoni-Cellamare conspiracies (1718), Regent
having stript her lmsband of his high legitimatures and dignities,
with little ceremony; which led her to conspire a good deal, at one
time. [DUC DU MAINE with COMTE DE TOULOUSE were products of Louis
XIV. and Madame de Montespan:--"legitimated" by Papa's fiat in
1673, while still only young children; DISlegitimated again by
Regent d'Orleans, autumn, 1718; grand scene, "guards drawn out" and
the like, on this occasion (BARBIER, i. 8-11, ii. 181); futile
Conspiracies with Alberoni thereupon; arrest of Duchess and Duke
(29th December, 1718), and closure of that poor business. Duc du
Maine died 1736; Toulouse next year; ages, each about sixty-five.
"Duc de Penthievre," Egalite's father-in-law, was Toulouse's son;
Maine has left a famous Dowager, whom we see. Nothing more of
notable about the one or the other.] She was never very beautiful;
but had a world of grace and witty intelligence; and knew a
Voltaire when she saw him. Was the soul of courtesy and benignity,
though proud enough, and carrying her head at its due height;
and was always very charming, in her lofty gracious way, to
mankind. Interesting to all, were it only as a living fragment of
the Grand Epoch,--kind of French Fulness of Time, when the world
was at length blessed with a Louis Quatorze, and Ne-plus-ultra of a
Gentleman determined to do the handsome thing in this world. She is
much frequented by high people, especially if of a Literary or
Historical turn. President Henault (of the ABREGE CHRONOLOGIQUE,
the well-frilled, accurately powdered, most correct old legal
gentleman) is one of her adherents; Voltaire is another, that may
stand for many: there is an old Marquis de St. Aulaire, whom she
calls "MON VIEUX BERGER (my old shepherd," that is to say,
sweetheart or flame of love); [BARBIER, ii. 87; see ib. (i. 8-11;
ii. 181, 436; &c.) for many notices of her affairs and her.] there
is a most learned President de Mesmes, and others we have heard of,
but do not wish to know. Little De Staal was at one time this fine
Duchess's maid; but has far outgrown all that, a favorite guest of
the Duchess's instead; holds now mainly by Madame du Deffand (not
yet fallen blind),--and is well turned of fifty, and known for one
of the shrewdest little souls in the world, at the time she writes.
Her Letter is addressed "TO MADAME DU DEFFAND, at Paris;" most
free-flowing female Letter; of many pages, runs on, day after day,
for a fortnight or so;--only Excerpts of it introducible here:--
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