The City of Aix is very famous for its hot Baths, and for the Waters that are taken there twice a year, viz. in Spring and Autumn; at which two Seasons there's a great Resort hither of Foreigners. The Waters are hot, and of a very unpleasant Taste, and they smell like a rotten Egg; for which reason People are loth to take them when they first come; but after they are us'd to it, they go down very well. The Baths especially are wonderfully good against the Contraction of the Sinews and against Wounds. Nor is there a Place where the Waters are us'd with more Conveniency, there being plenty of every thing that one wou'd wish for, and especially good Company; for Brabant, Liege, France, Holland and Germany, lie so near to it,
that there's always a great many People here, and very good Diversion.
I set out from Aix for Paris, by the way of Maestricht and Louvain; but as I travell'd Post thro' these Towns, I shall reserve the Description of them to you, till such time as I make a longer stay in them. On my Arrival at Paris I was deeper in Love than ever. I was receiv'd by my dear Mistress with such Tokens of Love, as gave me all the reason in the world to think, that I was the happiest Man living: And in reality I was so, because at that time I knew of no other Happiness than to be in her good Graces; yet my natural Levity made me soon think otherwise. I saw the Marchioness de P——; and I will frankly own to you, that all the Veneration I had for S—— abated. I thought then there was nothing to compare with the new Object of my Passion. S—— quickly perceiv'd my Inconstancy, and reproach'd me for it; but they were Reproaches unmix'd with Gall, and such as nothing but Love can inspire. The consequence was, that my Passion for her reviv'd; and upon this occasion I was made sensible, that a Flame not well extinguish'd is always apt to burst out again; and that there needs no great Compulsion to renew the Passion of Love. The Sentiments of the Man of Honor being join'd to those of the Lover, I ask'd my own Conscience what S—— had ever done to disgust me. And in fine, I gave Judgment against my self, that I could not without Ingratitude forsake so amiable a Mistress. I took care, therefore, to absent my self by degrees from the Marchioness de P——; and found it no very hard matter to stifle a Passion, which, to speak plainly, was but a sudden Flash.
While I staid at the Court of France, I saw the Ceremony of the double Marriage of the Duke of Bourbon and the Prince of Conti, who married each other's Sister. The Duke married Mary-Anne of Bourbon-Conti, Sister to the Prince of Conti, who married Louisa-Elizabeth of Bourbon-Condé, the Duke's Sister.
These Marriages made no addition to the Pleasures of the Court, and every thing remained very quiet, till News came of the Advantages which the Marshal de Villars had gain'd over the Allies. This Campaign was both glorious and advantageous to the Marshal; and every body talk'd of the immense Sums of Money which he had put into his Pocket. His Conduct was narrowly pry'd into, and his Enemies charg'd that to him as a Crime, for which, perhaps, they would have commended any other General. They said that he brought with him several Waggons laden with Bandoliers for Safeguards; and that he got so much Money by this means, that at his Return he laid out 1,800,000 Livres in a Purchase. Nay, they had the Assurance to speak of it to the King, who said to the Marshal one day at Dinner, That he heard he had bought a fine Estate. 'Tis true, Sir, reply'd the Marshal, I have just purchas'd a very pretty Estate; and if I have the Honor to command your Army next year, I hope to buy a more considerable one and make your Enemies pay for it. This Answer quite broke the Measures of those who had endeavour'd to do the Marshal ill Offices. He knew very well that he had Enemies, but it gave him little Concern; for he was in high Favor, and he deserv'd it. They say that when he set out to make the Campaign in 1713, he said to the King at taking leave of him, I desire
your Majesty to remember, that while I am going to fight your Enemies, I leave your Majesty in the midst of mine. He acquitted himself very bravely; and at length, by the Reduction of Landau and Fribourg, he procur'd that Peace, by which the Electors of Cologne and Bavaria were restor'd to their Dominions.
After I had been some Months at Paris I receiv'd Letters from Berlin, with Advice, that the King had Thoughts of forming his Houshold; and that I could not do better than to go and offer him my Service. I was not long in demurring upon what Course to take. I had always been bred up in Sentiments which convinc'd me, that to serve one's Sovereign was preferable to any other Service; and besides, I always found my self naturally attach'd to the Family of our Kings. I therefore resolv'd to leave Paris once more. You know my Humor so well, Madame, that you cannot think but it was with some Reluctance that I form'd a Resolution of this nature; and I will frankly own to you, that I was heartily grieved to leave a Place where I had my fill of Pleasures, which I knew I could not have a Taste of elsewhere: but at length I gave Attention only to my Duty; and tho' the Tears which I saw shed for my sake melted my Heart, yet they were not powerful enough to make me alter my Design.
From Paris to Wesel, I went the same Road that I came; and from Wesel I proceeded to Hanover, where I fell sick. My Design was to be incog. but the ill State of my Health oblig'd me to have recourse to a Physician; nay, I thought one while, that all the Remedies in the World would do me no good; and that
'twas high Time for me to prepare in good earnest for my last long Journey. My Kinswoman Mademoiselle de Pollnitz was soon inform'd of my Arrival; and as soon acquainted the Electoress of it, who was so gracious as to send to know how I did; and this she repeated twice every day as long as I was ill. This Princess always had a Kindness for me, which I shall for ever acknowledge. I was told, that during my Illness, F—— thinking to divert the Company at my Expence, said at the Elector's Table, That my Distemper was not mortal; that I had caught it in France; and that there were Surgeons at Hanover who had Skill enough to set me to rights. The Electoress was very angry with him, and said, Sir, your Banter is absurd; if he had the Distemper that you say, he would have staid in France for the Cure, since he is not ignorant, that the People of this Country go thither for the same Purpose; and he has too much Sense not to follow their Example.