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that places and appointments rained down upon me； and that I had only to say to you； my dear duke； choose which you please； then； indeed； you might complain with justice； but you know very well； that all these delightful things are in the hands of the king； who alone has a right to bestow them as he judges best； whilst I am wholly powerless in the business。〃
〃Say； rather；〃 replied the duke； quickly； 〃that you find it suits your present purpose to put on this want of power。 We all know； that your veto is absolute with his majesty； and it requires nothing more to obtain whatsoever you desire。〃
The duc de la Vauguyon was powerful； and represented the whole of a partythat of the religionists； which was still further supported by the ； but for this very reason the triumvirate； consisting of messieurs d' Aiguillon； de Maupeou； and the abbe Terre； would not have accepted his services at any price。
The good duke returned several times to the charge； sometimes endeavouring to move me by gentle intreaties and； at others； holding out threats and menaces； good and bad words flowed from his lips like a mixture of honey and gall； but when he found that both were equally thrown away upon me； he retired offended； and by the expression of his rage and disappointment； succeeded in incensing both the dauphin and dauphiness against me。 May heaven preserve you； my friend； from the anger of a bigot！
I think I have detained you long enough with the relation of the intrigues by which I was surrounded upon the dismissal of the des Choiseuls； and I will now return to the morning of the 24th of December。 When the exiles were fairly out of Paris； the king found himself not a little embarrassed in the choice of a prime minister。 Those who would have suited our purposes did not meet with the king's approbation； and he had not yet sufficient courage to venture upon electing one who should be disagreeable to us； he therefore hit upon a curious provisional election； the abbe Terray； for instance； was placed at the head of the war department。 This measure was excused by the assertion； that it would require the head of a financier to look into and settle the accounts； which the late minister had； no doubt； left in a very confused state。 Upon the same principle； M。 Bertin was appointed to the direction of foreign affairs； and M。 de Boynes was invested solely with the management of naval affairs。 This man； who was counsellor of state； and first president of the parliament of Besancon； knew not a letter of the office thus bestowed upon him； but then he was bound body and soul to the chancellor； and it was worth something to have a person who； it might be relied on； would offer no opposition to the important reforms which were to be set on foot immediately。 We required merely automata； and M。 de Boynes answered our purpose perfectly well； for a provisional minister nothing could have been better。
The king had at length （in his own opinion）； hit upon a very excellent minister of war； and the person selected was the chevalier； afterwards comte de Muy； formerly usher to the late dauphin： he was a man of the old school； possessing many sterling virtues and qualities。 We were in the utmost terror when his majesty communicated to us his election of a minister of war； and declared his intention of immediately signifying his pleasure to M。 de Muy。 Such a blow would have overthrown all our projects。 Happily chance befriended us； the modern Cato declared that he should esteem himself most honored to serve his sovereign by every possible endeavour； but that he could never be induced to enter my service upon any pretext whatever。 The strangeness of this refusal puzzled Louis XV not a little。 He said to me。 〃Can you make out the real motive of this silly conduct？ I had a better opinion of the man； I thought him possessed of sense； but I see now that he is only fit for the cowl of a monk； he will never be a minister。〃 The king was mistaken； M。 de Muy became one under the auspices of his successor。
Immediately that the prince de Conde was informed of what had passed； he recommenced his attack； and finding he could not be minister himself； he determined； at least； to be principally concerned in the appointment of one； he therefore proposed the marquis de Monteynard； a man of such negative qualities； that the best that could be said of him was； that he was as incapable of a bad as of a good action； and； for want of a better； he was elected。 Such were the colleagues given to M。 de Maupeou to conduct the war which was about to be declared against the parliaments。 I should tell you； ； that the discontent of the magistracy had only increased； and that the parliament of Paris had even finished by refusing to decide the suits which were referred to them； thus punishing the poor litigants for their quarrel with the minister。
Meanwhile； the general interest expressed for the duc de Choiseul greatly irritated the king。
〃Who would have thought；〃 said he to me； 〃that a disgraced minister could have been so idolized by a whole court？ Would you believe that I receive a hundred petitions a day for leave to visit at Chanteloup？ This is something new indeed！ I cannot understand it。〃
〃Sire；〃 replied I； 〃that only proves how much danger you incurred by keeping such a man in your employment。〃
〃Why； yes；〃 answered Louis XV； 〃it really seem as though； had he chosen some fine morning to propose my abdicating the throne in favour of the dauphin； he would only have needed to utter the suggestion to have it carried into execution。 Fortunately for me； my grandson is by no means partial to him； and will most certainly never recall him after my death。 The dauphin possesses all the obstinacy of persons of confined understanding： he has but slender judgment； and will see with no eye but his own。〃
Louis XV augured ill of his successor's reign； and imagined that the cabinet of Vienna would direct that of Versailles at pleasure。 His late majesty was mistaken； Louis XVI is endowed with many rare virtues； but they are unfortunately clouded over by his timidity and want of self…confidence。
The open and undisguised censure passed by the whole court upon the conduct of Louis XV was not the only thing which annoyed his majesty； who perpetually tormented himself with conjectures of what the rest of Europe would say and think of his late determinations。
〃I will engage；〃 said he； 〃that I am finely pulled to pieces at Potsdam。 My dear brother Frederick is about as sweet…tempered as a bear； and I must not dismiss a minister who is displeasing to me without his passing a hundred comments and sarcastic remarks。 Still； as he is absolute as the Medes and Persians； surely he can Have no objection to us poor monarchs imitating him； and allow me the same privilege in mine。 After all； why should I need his or any other person's opinion； let the whole world applaud or condemn； I shall still act according to my own best judgment。〃
On my side I was far from feeling quite satisfied with the accounts I continued to receive from Chanteloup； above all I felt irritated at the parade of attachment made by the prince de Beauvau for the exiles； and I complai