Gaillardet, in Le Chevalier d’Eon.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| CHAPTER XV | |
Curious History of the Chevalier d’Eon—Secret Agent of LouisXV—The Chevalier Feigns to Be a Woman—Curiosity of LondonAroused—Necessity for the French Government to ObtainPossession of State Papers in d’Eon’s Hands—BeaumarchaisAccepts Mission—Obtains Possession of the Famous Chest | [13] |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
Beaumarchais’s Earliest Activities in the Cause of American Independence—FirstSteps of the Government of France-Bonvouloir—DiscordAmong Parties in England—Beaumarchais’s Memoirsto the King—Meets Arthur Lee—Lee’s Letter to Congress—KingStill Undecided—Curious Letter of Beaumarchais, with RepliesTraced in the Handwriting of the King | [31] |
| CHAPTER XVII | |
Beaumarchais’s English Connections—With Lord Rochford—WithWilkes—Meets Arthur Lee—Sends Memoirs to the King—HisCommission to Buy Portuguese Coin—Called to Account byLord Rochford—Vergennes’s Acceptance of his Ideas—Articlein The Morning Chronicleg | [56] |
| CHAPTER XVIII | |
Memoirs Explaining to the King the Plan of His CommercialHouse—Roderigue Hortalès et Cie.—The Doctor Dubourg—SilasDeane’s Arrival—His Contract with Beaumarchais—Lee’sAnger—His Misrepresentations to Congress—Beaumarchais ObtainsHis Rehabilitation | [77] |
| CHAPTER XIX | |
Suspicions of England Aroused Through Indiscretions of Friendsof America—Treachery of du Coudray—Counter Order Issued[6]of America—Treachery of du Coudray—Counter Order IssuedAgainst Shipments of Beaumarchais—Franklin’s Arrival—England’sAttempt to Make Peace Stirs France—Counter OrderRecalled—Ten Ships Start Out—Beaumarchais Cleared byVergennes | [104] |
| CHAPTER XX | |
The Declaration of Independence and Its Effect in Europe—Beaumarchais’sActivity in Getting Supplies to America—DifficultiesArise About Sailing—Lafayette’s Contract with Deane—HisEscape to America—Beaumarchais’s Losses—Baron vonSteuben Sails for America in Beaumarchais’s Vessel, Taking theLatter’s Nephew, des Epinières, and His Agent, Theveneau deFrancy—The Surrender of Burgoyne—Beaumarchais FindsHimself Set Aside While Others Take His Place—Faces Bankruptcy—VergennesComes to His Assistance | [126] |
| CHAPTER XXI | |
De Francy Sails for America—His Disappointment in the NewWorld—Beaumarchais Recounts His Grievances against theDeputies at Passy—Rejoices Over American Victories—Manœuversto Insure Safety to His Ships—The DepreciationOf Paper Money in America—De Francy Comes to the Aid ofLafayette—Contract between Congress and De Francy Actingfor Roderigue et Cie.—Letters of Lee to Congress—Bad Faithof that Body—Deane’s Signature to Documents Drawn up byFranklin and Lee—Beaumarchais’s Triumph at Aix—GudinSeeks Refuge at the Temple—Letters of Mlle. Ninon | [154] |
| CHAPTER XXII | |
Deane’s Recall—Beaumarchais’s Activity in Obtaining for HimHonorable Escort—Letters to Congress—Reception of Deane—Preoccupationof Congress at the Moment of His Return—Arnoldand Deane in Philadelphia the Summer of 1778—Deane’sSubsequent Conduct—Letters of Carmichaël and Beaumarchais—LeFier Roderigue—Silas Deane Returns to Settle Accounts—DebateOver the “Lost Million”—Mr. Tucker’s Speech—FinalSettlement of the Claim of the Heirs of Beaumarchais | [184] |
| CHAPTER XXIII | |
The Mariage de Figaro—Its Composition—Difficulties Encounteredin Getting it Produced—It is Played at Grennevilliers—The[7]in Getting it Produced—It is Played at Grennevilliers—TheFirst Representation—Its Success—Institut des pauvres mères nourrices—Beaumarchais at Saint Lazare | [212] |
| CHAPTER XXIV | |
The Marine of Beaumarchais—Success of His Business Undertakings—HisWealth—Ringing Plea of Self-Justification in theCause of America, Addressed to the Commune of Paris, 1789—TheBeautiful House Which He Built in Paris—His Liberality—HisFriends—His Home Life—Madame de Beaumarchais—HisDaughter, Eugénie | [233] |
| CHAPTER XXV | |
House of Beaumarchais Searched—The 10th of August—Letterto his Family in Havre—Letter of Eugénie to her Father—Commissionedto Buy Guns for the Government—Goes to Holland asAgent of Comité de Salut Public—Declared an Emigré—Confiscationof his Goods—Imprisonment of his Family—The NinthThermidor Comes to Save Them—Life During the Terror—Julieagain in Evidence—Beaumarchais’s Name Erased fromList of Emigrés—Returns to France | [253] |
| CHAPTER XXVI | |
Beaumarchais After his Return from Exile—Takes Up All hisBusiness Activities—Marriage of Eugénie—Her Portrait Drawnby Julie—Beaumarchais’s Varied Interests—Correspondence withBonaparte—Pleads for Lafayette Imprisoned—Death of Beaumarchais—Conclusion | [273] |
Bibliography | [291] |
Index | [295] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| FACING PAGE | |
| P. A. Caron de Beaumarchais | [Frontispiece] |
| Charles de Beaumont | [26] |
| Charles Gravier—Comte de Vergennes | [54] |
| Silas Deane | [78] |
| William Carmichael | [104] |
| Lafayette | [126] |
| General John Schuyler | [130] |
| General Baron von Steuben | [152] |
| Robert Morris | [166] |
| The Temple | [182] |
| Cæsar Augustus Rodney—Attorney General of the U. S. | [200] |
| John Jay | [220] |
| D’Estaing | [232] |
| The Bastille | [240] |
| House of Beaumarchais | [252] |
| Madame de Beaumarchais | [270] |