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Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry, with minute details of her entire career as favorite of Louis XV. Written by herself
Titel: Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry, with minute details of her entire career as favorite of Louis XV. Written by herself
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ISBN 978-3-7429-2468-1
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MEMOIRS OF THE COMTESSE DU BARRY
WITH MINUTE DETAILS OF HER ENTIRE CAREER AS FAVORITE OF LOUIS XV
"WRITTEN BY HERSELF"
By Baron Etienne Leon Lamothe-Langon
With a special introduction by Robert Arnot, M.A.
GUTENBERG EDITOR'S NOTE:
This delightful (piquant, the comtesse would say) pseudonymous work was in fact written not "by herself" but by Baron Etienne Leon Lamothe-Langon (1786-1864). The persona created is that of a woman who always tells the truth as she sees it, but it is made clear to the reader that what the narrator sees is very seldom exactly the objective truth. The author ends as well as begins in medias res (in the middle of the action), thus creating an illusion of a slice of a journal but simultaneously giving the reader the uneasy feeling that the first and last chapters seem to be missing.
The French-style quotation marks have, for ease in typesetting and use, been changed to American-style quotation marks, and the dot after the name of Louis XV has been removed to conform to American punctuation. Captions of illustrations are omitted because the illustrations themselves cannot be inserted. A few minor editing errors have been silently corrected. No other changes have been made; the irregularity in italicizing or not italicizing, in translating or not translating French words, and in punctuating quotations of letters, is in the text itself. Notes are identified as coming from author, tr. (translator), editor, or
Gutenberg editor.
Contents
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIAL INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT ARNOT
CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER IX CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI CHAPTER XII CHAPTER XIII CHAPTER XIV CHAPTER XV CHAPTER XVI CHAPTER XVII CHAPTER XVIII CHAPTER XIX CHAPTER XX CHAPTER XXI CHAPTER XXII CHAPTER XXIII CHAPTER XXIV CHAPTER XXV CHAPTER XXVI CHAPTER XXVII CHAPTER XXVIII CHAPTER XXIX CHAPTER XXX CHAPTER XXXI CHAPTER XXXII CHAPTER XXXIII CHAPTER XXXIV CHAPTER XXXV CHAPTER XXXVI CHAPTER XXXVII CHAPTER XXXVIII CHAPTER XXXIX CHAPTER XL CHAPTER XLI CHAPTER XLII CHAPTER XLIII CHAPTER XLIV CHAPTER XLV CHAPTER XLVI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
Letter from Lebel—Visit from Lebel—Nothing conclusive—Another visit
from Lebel—Invitation to sup with the king—Instructions of the comte
Jean to the comtesse
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
A slight preface—Arrival at Versailles— "La toilette"—Portrait of
the king—The duc de Richelieu—The marquis de Chauvelin—The duc de la
Vauguyon-Supper with the king—The first night—The following day—The
curiosity of comte Jean—Presents from the king—How disposed of
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
The king's message—Letter from the countess—A second supper at
Versailles—The duc d'Ayen—A short account of M. de Fleury—The duc de
Duras—Conversation with the king—The next day—A visit from the duc
de Richelieu—Visit from the duc de la Vauguyon—Visit from comte
Jean—Visit from the king—A third supper—Favor
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
The duc d'Aiguillon—The duc de Fronsac—The duchesse de Grammont—The
meeting—Sharp words on both sides—The duc de Choiseul—Mesdames
d'Aiguillon—Letter from the duc d'Aiguillon—Reply of madame du
Barry—Mademoiselle Guimard—The prince de Soubise—Explanation—The
Rohans—Madame de Marsan—Court friendships
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
The duc de la Vauguyon and the comtesse du Barry—The marquis
de Chauvelin and the comtesse—M. de Montbarrey and the
comtesse—Intrigues—Lebel—Arrival of the du Barry family—The comte
d'Hargicourt—The demoiselles du Barry—Marriage of the comtesse—The
marquis de Bonrepos—Correspondences—The broken glass
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
Journey to Choisy—The comtesse du Barry and Louis XV—The king of
Denmark—The czar Peter—Frederick II—The abbé de la Chapelle—An
experiment—New intrigues—Secret agents-The comtesse and Louis
XV—Of the presentation—Letter of the comtesse to the duc
d'Aiguillon—Reply—Prince de Soubise
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
The comtesse and the duc d'Aiguillon—M. de Soubise—Louis XV and the
duc d'Aiguillon—Letter from the comtesse to the king—Answer of
the king-The " Nouvelles a la Main"—The comtesse and Louis XV—The
supper—The court ladies mystified—The comtesse and M. de Sartines
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
The sieur Ledoux—The lettre de cachet—The duc de la
Vrillière—Madame de Langeac—M. de Maupeou—Louis XV—The comte Jean
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
The king of Denmark—The courtesans of Paris—The duc de Choiseul and
the bishop of Orleans—Witty repartees of the king of Denmark—His visit
to madame du Barry—"The court of king Petaud," a satire—Letter of
the duc d'Aiguillon to Voltaire—The duchesse de Grammont
mystified—Unpublished letter of Voltaire's
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
When is the presentation to take place?—Conversation on this subject
with the king—M. de Maupeou and M. de la Vauguyon—Conversation on
the same subject with the king and the duc de Richelieu—M. de
la Vrillière—M. Bertin—-Louis XV and the comtesse—The king's
promise—The fire-works, an anecdote—The marquise de Castellane—M. de
Maupeou at the duc de Choiseul's—The duchesse de Grammont
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
A word concerning the duchesse de Choiseul—The apartment of the Comte
de Noailles—The Noailles—Intrigues for presentation—The comte de
Bearn—M. Morand once more—Visit of the comtesse Bearn to the comtesse
du Barry—Conversation—Interested complaisance—The king and the
comtesse du Barry—Dispute and reconciliation
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
The comtesse de Bearn—The supper—Louis XV—Intrigues against
my presentation—M. de Roquelaure—The scalded foot—The comtesse
d'Aloigny—The duc d'Aiguillon and madame de Bearn—Anger of the king's
daughters—Madame Adélaïde and the comtesse du Barry—Dissatisfaction of
the king
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
Of the presentation—The king and the duc de Richelieu at comtesse du
Barry's—M. de la Vauguyon—Conversation—Letter of the duke to the
comtesse du Barry—Reply—The countess unites herself with the Jesuit
party—Madame Louise—Madame Sophie—M. Bertin—Madame de Bercheny
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
The princesses consent to the presentation of madame du Barry—Ingenious
artifice employed by the king to offer a present to the duc de la
Vauguyon—Madame du Barry's letter respecting it—The duke's reply—The
king's letter—The court in despair—Couplets concerning madame du
Barry—Her presentation—A change in public opinion—An evening party at
the house of the countess—Joy of her partizans—Conversation with the
chancellor respecting the lady of the maréchal de Mirepoix
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
The Comte de la Marche, a prince of the blood—Madame de Beauvoir, his
mistress—Madame du Barry complains to the prince de Soubise of the
princess de Guémenée—The king consoles the countess for this—The duc
de Choiseul—The king speaks to him of madame du Barry—Voltaire writes
to her—The opinions of Richelieu and the king concerning Voltaire
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
Unpublished letter of Voltaire to madame du Barry—Reply of the
countess—The maréchale de Mirepoix—Her first interview with madame du
Barry—Anecdote of the diamonds of madame de Mirepoix—The king pays
for them—Singular gratitude of the maréchale—The portfolio, and an
unpublished letter of the marquise de Pompadour
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Conversation of the maréchale de Mirepoix with the comtesse du Barry
on court friendship—Intrigues of madame de Bearn—Preconcerted meeting
with madame de Flaracourt—-Rage of madame de Bearn—Portrait and
conversation of madame de Flaracourt with the comtesse du Barry—Insult
from the princesse de Guémenée—Her banishment—Explanation of the
king and the duc de Choiseul relative to madame du Barry—The comtesse
d'Egmont
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
Intrigue of the comtesse d'Egmont with a shopman—His unhappy
fate—The comtesse du Barry protects him—Conduct of Louis XV upon the
occasion—The young man quits France—Madame du Barry's letter to the
comtesse d'Egmont—Quarrel with the maréchal de Richelieu
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
Madame du Barry separates from madame de Bearn—Letters between
these ladies—Portrait of madame de l'Hôpital—The ladder—The
bell—Conversation with madame de Mirepoix—First visit to
Chantilly—Intrigues to prevent the countess from going thither—The
king's Displeasure towards the princesses—The archbishop de Senlis
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
Unpublished letter of Louis XV—Madame du Barry's cousin, M. de
Maupeou—The comtesse du Barry saves the life of a young girl seduced by
the arts of the curé of her village—She obtains pardon of the comte
and comtesse de Louerne—The king presents her with Lucienne—A second
meeting with the youthful prophet—His further predictions—He is sought
for—His mysterious letter to the countess
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
Extraordinary anecdote of Louis XIV and madame de Maintenon—The
comtesse du Barry at Chantilly—Opinion of king and comte de la Marche
respecting the "Iron Mask"—Madame du Barry visits madame de Lagarde
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
The chevalier de la Morlière—Portrait of the duc de Choiseul—The
duc de Choiseul and the comtesse du Barry—No reconciliation
effected—Madame du Barry and the duc d'Aiguillon—Madame du Barry and
Louis XV
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
Dorine—Mademoiselle Choin and the maréchal d'Uxelles—Zamor—M. de
Maupeou's wig—Henriette—The duc de Villeroi and Sophie—Letter from
the comtesse du Barry to the duc de Villeroi—His reply—The countess
writes again—Madame du Barry and Sophie—Louis XV and the comtesse du
Barry
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
The prince des Deux Ponts—Prince Max—The dauphin and Marie
Antoinette—The comtesse du Barry and Bridget Rupert—The countess and
Geneviève Mathon—Noël—Fresh amours—Nocturnal adventure—Conclusion of
this intrigue
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
Madame du Barry succeeds in alienating Louis XV from the duc de
Choiseul—Letter from madame de Grammont—Louis XV—The chancellor
and the countess—Louis XV and the abbé de la Ville—The maréchale de
Mirepoix and madame du Barry
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVI
Baron d'Oigny, general post-master—The king and the countess read the
opened letters—The disgrace of de Choiseul resolved upon— Lettre de
cachet —Anecdote—Spectre of Philip II, king of Spain—The duc de
Choiseul banished—Visits to Chanteloup—The princesses—The dauphin and
dauphiness—Candidates for the ministry
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
The comte de la Marche and the comtesse du Barry—The countess and the
prince de Condé—The duc de la Vauguyon and the countess—Provisional
minister—Refusal of the secretaryship of war—Displeasure of the
king—The maréchale de Mirepoix—Unpublished letter from Voltaire to
Madame du Barry—Her reply
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXVIII
A few words respecting Jean Jacques Rousseau—The comtesse du Barry
is desirous of his acquaintance—The countess visits Jean Jacques
Rousseau—His household furniture—His portrait—Thérèse—A second visit
from madame du Barry to Jean Jacques Rousseau—The countess relates her
visit to the king—Billet from J. J. Rousseau to madame du Barry—The
two duchesses d'Aiguillon
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXIX
The king's friends—The duc de Fronsac—The duc d'Ayen's remark—Manner
of living at court—The marquis de Dreux—Brézé—Education of
Louis XV—The Parc-aux-Cerfs—Its household—Its inmates—Mère
Bompart—Livres expended on the Parc-aur-Cerfs—Good advice—Madame
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXX
Fête given by the comtesse de Valentinois—The comtesse du Barry feigns
an indisposition—Her dress—The duc de Cossé—The comte and comtesse
de Provence—Dramatic entertainment—Favart and Voisenon—A few
observations—A pension—The maréchale de Luxembourg—Adventure of M.
de Bombelles—Copy of a letter addressed to him—Louis XV—M. de Maupeou
and madame du Barry
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXI
Madame du Barry purchases the services of Marin the gazetteer—Louis
XV and madame de Rumas—M. de Rumas and the comtesse du Barry—An
intrigue— Dénouement—A present upon the occasion—The duc de
Richelieu in disgrace—100,000 livres
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXII
A prefatory remark—Madame Brillant—The maréchale de Luxembourg's
cat—Despair of the maréchale—The ambassador, Beaumarchais, and the duc
de Chaulnes—the comte d'Aranda—Louis XV and his relics—The abbé de
Beauvais—His sermons—He is appointed bishop
CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIII
M. D——n and madame de Blessac—Anecdote—The rendezvous and
the Ball—The wife of Gaubert—They wish to give her to the
king—Intrigues—Their results—Letter from the duc de la Vrillière to
the countess—Reply—Reconciliation
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXIV
Conversation with the king—Marriage of the comte
d'Artois—Intrigues—The place of lady of honor—The maréchale de
Mirepoix—The comtesse de Forcalquier and madame du Barry—The comtesse
de Forcalquier and madame Boncault
CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXV
Marriage of madame Boncault—The comte de Bourbon Busset—Marriage of
comte d'Hargicourt—Disgrace of the comte de Broglie—He is replaced
by M. Lemoine—The king complains of ennui—Conversations on the
subject—Entry into Paris
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVI
Visit from a stranger—Madame de Pompadour and a Jacobinical
monk—Continuation of this history—Deliverance of a state prisoner—A
meeting with the stranger
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVII
A conspiracy—A scheme for poisoning madame du Barry—The four
bottles—Letter to the duc d'Aiguillon—Advice of the ministers—Opinion
of the physicians—The chancellor and lieutenant of police—Resolution
of the council
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Conclusion of this affair—A letter from the incognita—Her
examination—Arrest of Cabert the Swiss—He dies in the Bastille of
poison—Madame Lorimer is arrested and poisoned—-The innocence of
the Jesuits acknowledged—Madame de Mirepoix and the 100,000
francs—Forgetfulness on the part of the lieutenant of police—A visit
from comte Jean—Madame de Mirepoix
CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XXXIX
My alarms—An èlève of the Pare-aux-Cerfs—Comte Jean endeavours to
direct the king's ideas—A supper at Trianon—Table talk—The king is
seized with illness—His conversation with me—The joiner's daughter and
the small-pox—My despair—Conduct of La Martinière the surgeon
CHAPTER XL.
CHAPTER XL.
La Martinière causes the king to be removed to Versailles—The young
prophet appears again to madame du Barry—Prediction respecting
cardinal de Richelieu—The joiner's daughter requests to see madame du
Barry—Madame de Mirepoix and the 50,000 francs—A soirée in the salon
of madame du Barry
CHAPTER XLI
CHAPTER XLI
Interview with the joiner's daughter—Consultation of the physicians
respecting the king—The small-pox declares itself—the comte de
Muy—The princesses—Extreme sensibility of madame de Mirepoix—The
king is kept in ignorance of his real condition—The archbishop of Paris
visits Versailles
CHAPTER XLII
CHAPTER XLII
First proceedings of the council—The dauphin receives the prelates with
great coolness—Situation of the archbishop of Paris—Richelieu evades
the project for confessing the king—The friends of madame du Barry