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the envelope on which the address was written。 I here give you a copy of this curious and important production：
〃MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT； I promised to give you the exact details of all that passed in this gay metropolis； and 'tis with much pleasure I sit down to fulfill my engagement。 Things go on much as usual； or； perhaps； I should be speaking more correctly； were I to say they are rapidly progressing from bad to worse。 We have no longer a king in France； all power is lodged in the hands of one sprung from the most infamous origin； who； in conjunction with others as intriguing as herself； seeks only to ruin the kingdom； and to degrade it in the eyes of other nations。
〃The noble firmness of sovereign courts is odious to people of this class； thus you may imagine the detestation in which they regard the candid and loyal conduct of the duke。 I n the hopes of procuring the dismissal of my brother； they have chosen for his successor wretch loaded with crimes； a coward； an extortioner； a murdererthe duc d'Aiguillon。 As for you gentlemen； who now constitute our parliament； your places will soon be filled by a magistracy drawn from the dregs of society； a troop of slaves； deaf and blind； except as he who pays them best will have them exercise those powers。
〃This is no time for indolent repose； we must at once courageously and unanimously defeat the guilty schemes of our enemies。 So long as my brother retains his present post he will support you with his best interest； but； should he be dismissed； your business will soon be finished。
〃I beg my best remembrances； first； to your excellent lady； and after her； to madame B。 and madame L。； not forgetting the marquise de Chalret； whose wit is truly Attic； nor the marquise de Ps； who conceals beneath the graceful exterior of a Languedocian the soul of one of Corneille's Roman matrons。 For yourself rely upon my warmest friendship and endeavours to serve you。 My brother is most anxious to know you； after the flattering manner in which I have mentioned you to him。 When will you gratify us both by visiting Paris？
〃Ever yours；〃
Nothing could have arrived more for our purpose than this letter。 I was still engaged in its perusal when the king was announced； I wished to hurry it back into the hands of M。 de Maupeou； but he； more crafty than I； requested I would keep it。
〃It is fitting；〃 said he； 〃that it should be seen by the right person。〃
Louis XV； astonished at the strange scene； inquired what it meant。
〃A most shameful piece of scandal； sire；〃 replied I。
〃An infamous epistle；〃 added the chancellor； 〃which one of my friends managed to abstract from the post…office； and forwarded to me： I brought it to madame la comtesse； that she might admire the determined malice of our enemies。〃
〃You excite my curiosity；〃 cried Louis XV。 〃Madame； have the kindness to allow me to see this paper。〃
〃Indeed； sire；〃 exclaimed I； 〃I know not whether I ought to obey your majesty； so entirely has the writer of the letter forgotten the respect duc to your sacred person。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the king； 〃I do not fear that； I am but too well used to the offence to feel astonishment at its occurrence。〃
I placed the paper in the hand of Louis XV； whose eye easily recognised the handwriting of madame de Grammont。 〃Ah； ah！〃 cried he； 〃is it so？ let us see what this restless lady has to say of us all。〃 I watched the countenance of the king as he read； and saw the frown that covered it grow darker and darker； nevertheless he continued to read on without comment till he had reached the end； then sitting down and looking full at the chancellor； he exclaimed；
〃Well； M。 de Maupeou； and what do you think of this business？〃
〃I am overwhelmed with consternation； sire；〃 replied he； 〃when I think that one of your majesty's ministers should be able to conspire thus openly against you。〃
〃Stay；〃 cried Louis hastily； 〃that fact is by no means proved。 The duchesse de Grammont is a mad woman； who involves the safety of her brother； if I only believed him capable of such treachery； he should sleep this night in the Bastille； and to…morrow the necessary proceedings should be commenced against him： as for his sister； I will take care of her within four good walls； and avenge myself for her past misconduct； by putting it out of her power to injure me further。〃
〃Sire；〃 said I； in my turn； 〃remember she is a woman； I beseech you to pardon her； and let the weight of your just indignation fall upon her brother。〃
〃Chancellor；〃 cried the king； 〃this business must not be lightly passed over。〃
〃Nor without due consideration；〃 replied M。 de Maupeou； 〃your majesty may look upon this letter as the basis of a secret plot： as for the duchess； I am of my cousin's opinion； despise her audacious attempts； but spare not her brother； he alone is the guilty as well as dangerous person。〃
The king made no answer； but rose； and crushing the letter in his hand； threw it from him。
〃Would；〃 exclaimed he at last； 〃that the fiends had those who take such delight in disgusting me with my very existence。 Heavens！ how justly may I say I despise all men； nor have I a much better opinion of your sex； madame la comtesse； I must warn you。〃
〃Much obliged； sire；〃 cried I； 〃 really I was not prepared for such gallantry。 It is rather hard that you should quarrel with me because this disagreeable duchess behaves ill！ Upon my word it is very unpleasant！〃
〃Come； come；〃 said Louis XV； kissing my cheek； 〃don't you be a naughty child； if I had not you； where should I turn for consolation amidst the torments by which I am surrounded？ Shall I tell you？ In the midst of all these perplexing affairs； there are moments in which I fear I may not be promoting the happiness of my people。〃
〃Your majesty is greatly mistaken；〃 replied the chancellor； 〃the nation in general must esteem themselves most happy under your reign； but it will always happen that ill…disposed persons seek to pervert the public opinion； and to lead men's minds astray。 The duchess； when travelling； was the faithful and active agent of her brother。 The duke； to secure his stay in the ministry； will eagerly avail himself of every adventitious aid； within your kingdom he seeks the support of the parliaments and philosophers； without； he claims the succour of Germany and Spain。 Your majesty is certainly master of your own will； and it would ill become me to point out the path you should tread； but my duty compels me to say； that the duc de Choiseul is the greatest enemy of the royal house： of this he gave me a convincing proof in the case of your august son； and now； if he fancied he should find it more advantageous to have the dauphin for his master〃
〃Chancellor of France；〃 cried Louis； much agitated； 〃do you know what you are asserting？〃
〃The truth； sire；〃 I exclaimed。 〃The public voice accuses the duc de Choiseul of the death of your son； they declare〃
〃How！ you； too； madam！〃 exclaimed the king looking at me fixedly。
〃And why not； sire？ I am merely repeating what is in every one's mouth。〃
〃I have heard this horrible charge before；〃 added the king； 〃the Jesuits informed me of it； but I could not give credit to such a