The comte de la Marche and the comtesse du Barry--The countess and the
prince de Conde--The duc de la Vauguyon and the countess-- Provisional
minister--Refusal of the secretaryship of war--Displeasure of the king--The
marechale de Mirepoix--Unpublished letter from Voltaire to Madame du Barry--
Her reply
The comte de la Marche had always evinced the warmest regard for me, and he
sought, on the present occasion, to be repaid for his attachment. Both he and the
prince de Conde had their ambitious speculations in the present change of
ministers; and both fancied, that because their relation, the duke, had governed
during the king's minority, the right to the several appointments now vacant,
belonged as a matter of course to their family. The count had already sent to
solicit my interest, through the mediation of madame de Monaco, mistress to the
prince de Conde; and, as I shrewdly suspect, the occasional chere amie of
himself. Finding this measure did not produce all the good he expected, he
came, without further preface, to speak to me himself about it. Unwilling to come
to an open rupture with him, I endeavoured to make him comprehend, that the
policy of the sovereign would never permit his placing any of the administrative
power in the hands of the princes of his family; that he had consented, most
reluctantly, to investing them with military command, and that it would be fruitless
to urge more.
The comte de la Marche appeared struck by the justness of my arguments; he
replied,
"Well, madam, since I cannot be a minister, I must e'en give up my wishes; but,
for the love of heaven intreat of the king to bestow his favours in the shape of a
little pecuniary aid. Things look ill at present; they may take a worse turn, but he
may confidently rely on my loyalty and devotion: the supreme courts, driven to
the last extremity, will make a stand, and princes and peers will range
themselves under the banners. We well know how much this resistance will
displease his majesty; I pledge myself never to forsake your cause, but to defend
it with my life; that is, if my present pressing necessity for money be satisfied.
How say you, madam; can you procure it for me?"
"Very probably I may be enabled to assist you," replied I; "but you must first
inform me how much will satisfy you."
"Oh," answered he, carelessly, "something less than the mines of Peru will
suffice; I am not extravagant, and merely ask for so much as is absolutely
necessary. In the first place 60,000 livres paid down, and secondly, a yearly
payment of 200,000 more."
This demand did not appear to me unreasonable, and I undertook to arrange the
matter to the prince's satisfaction, well pleased on my own side to secure so
illustrious an ally at so cheap a rate, I procured the assent of the king and the
comptroller-general; the 60,000 livres were bestowed on the comte de la Marche
in two separate payments, the pension settled on him, and, still further, an
annuity of 30,000 livres was secured to madame de Monaco; and I must do the
count the justice to say, that he remained faithful to our cause amidst every
