s
epigrams which this great man had written against him; and Voltaire
had just given fresh subject of offence by publishing "_La Cour du Roi
Petaud_" ("The Court of the King Petaud," ) a satire evidently directed
as strongly against the king as your humble servant. M. de Voltaire had
doubtless been encouraged to write this libel by the Choiseul party.
He was at a distance, judged unfavorably of me, and thought he could
scourge me without compromising himself.

It was comte Jean who brought me these verses, in which there was less
poetry than malevolence. I read them, was indignant, and wept. The duc
d'Aiguillon came, and finding me in tears, inquired the cause.

"Here," said I, giving him the poem, "see if you can bear so gross an
insult." He took the paper, cast his eyes over it, and having folded it
up, put it into his pocket.

"It was ill done," said he, "to show this to you. I knew of it
yesterday, and came now to talk with you of it."

"I rely on you to do me justice."

"_Misericorde!_" cried the duke, "would you lose yourself in the eyes
of all France? You would place yourself in a fine situation by declaring
yourself the persecutrix of Voltaire. Only an enemy could have thus
advised you."

"That enemy was comte Jean."

"Then your imprudence equals your zeal. Do you not perceive the
advantage it would give to your adversaries were we to act in this
manner? To the hatred of the court would be united that of the
_literati_, women, and young persons. Voltaire is a god, who is not to
be smitten without sacrilege."

"Must I then tamely submit to be beaten?"

"Yes, for the moment. But it will not last long; I have just written
this letter to M. de Voltaire, that peace may be made between you:--

"SIR,--The superiority of your genius places you amongst the number of
the potentates of Europe. Every one desires, not only to be at peace
with you, but even, if it be possible, to obtain your esteem. I flatter
myself with being included in the ranks of your admirers; my uncle has
spoken to you many times of my attachment to your person, and I embrace
the opportunity of proving this by a means that now presents itself.

"Persons in whom you place too much confidence have spread abroad, under
your name, copies of a poem, entitled '_La Cour du Roi Petaud._' In
this, wherein insult is cast on a personage who should be exempt from
such offence, is also outraged, in a most indecent way, a lovely female,
whom you would