Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry, with minute details of her entire career as favorite of Louis XV. Written by herself

Etienne-Léon Lamothe-Langon

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• Publié par: famed
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 33
• Langue: English

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Title: Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry  With Minute Details of Her Entire Career as Favorite of  Louis XV, "Written by Herself"

Author: Baron Etienne Leon Lamothe-Langon

Release Date: December 6, 2008 [EBook #2563]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF THE COMTESSE DU BARRY ***

Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger

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 beginsin 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 XXIV

CHAPTER XXV

CHAPTER XXVI

CHAPTER XXVII

CHAPTER XXVIII

CHAPTER XXIX

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 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 conclusi ve —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—Visi t 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 o f 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 kin g —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—Thelettre 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 o f 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—Hi s 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 archbishop de Senlis

CHAPTER XX

towards

the

princesses—The

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 re ply —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—TheParc-aux-Cerfs—Its household—Its inmates—Mère Bompart—Livres expended on theParc-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 theincognita—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