Several most illustrious Marriages have been celebrated in the City of Chalons. 1. That of Philip of Orleans, Brother to Lewis XIV. 2. That of Lewis Dauphin of France Son of Lewis XIV. with Anne-Christina-Victoria of Bavaria, on the 7th of March 1680: And finally, the Marriage of Lewis Duke of Orleans, Son of the Duke Regent, to Augusta-Maria-Johanna of Baden, on the 13th of July 1724.
There's not one considerable Place all the way from Chalons to Paris. I pass'd thro' Chateau-Thierry, which is a Duchy that was given to M. de Bouillon in Exchange for the Principality of Sedan; with this Clause nevertheless, that the King shall keep the Sovereignty of it. The Marne runs at the Foot of this Town.
Ten Leagues from hence there's the City of Meaux, which is the Capital of Brie, with the Title of a Bishopric. But neither in the Church nor Town did I see any thing remarkable. The Suburbs are very fruitful, and the Neighbourhood of Paris gives the Inhabitants an Opportunity of putting off their Commodities to Advantage.
'Tis but a few Hours Journey from Meaux to Paris in the direct Road. But I went some Leagues out of the way to see M. de N——, at his Seat at C——, near Fontainbleau, and after
having spent some days there very pleasantly, we travell'd together to Paris. When we had pass'd the Time that was necessary to discharge the Obligations of Friendship and Decency, I reflected on what was the real Motive of my Journey; which, as I have had the Honor to tell you, was to put my self into the Hands of some able Surgeon. The Man to whose Care I committed my self was the famous La Peronie, who perform'd the Operation upon me with the utmost Skill, yet I suffer'd extreme Pain. During my Illness, which was of some Continuance, my Friends, who were my faithful Companions, were so good as to inform me of every thing that pass'd; and if it had been lawful to have betray'd them, or if I had been in any Post under the Government, I might perhaps have made some Discoveries to the Duke Regent, which would have been to his advantage, and enabled him to stifle that Flame at its first breaking out, which indeed he extinguish'd afterwards, tho' it was perhaps owing as much, if not more, to his good Fortune, than to his Prudence.
Paris was at that time in a Crisis, when it dreaded a Minority as troublesome as that of Lewis XIV. Every body was dissatisfy'd. There was a loud Clamor against the Royal Bank. And the Government-Bills were a fresh Subject of Complaint; for tho' they were establish'd at the Beginning of the Regency, with a Promise to keep up their Credit, yet there was a very great Loss by discounting them; and as the Public was overcharg'd with them, and as there is nothing which sits so uneasy on People as their Loss, every one gave public Vent to his ill Humor. At this same Juncture the Duke Regent was
afflicted with sore Eyes, which indanger'd his Sight. I was assur'd that the Chancellor said to some People in Confidence, That 'twas absolutely necessary to think of proper Measures for transferring the Regency to another Person, in case that Prince should happen to be blind: And they say that 'twas for this Expression that he lost the Seals, which were taken from him the 28th of January 1718. When M. de la Vrilliere Secretary of State went to him to demand them, the Chancellor resign'd them immediately, saying, That he restor'd them to his Royal Highness with more Pleasure than he took them. At the time that they were brought to the Regent the Duke de Noailles was with him, who being more than ordinary surpriz'd to see the Seals, because he knew nothing of the Chancellor's Disgrace, could not help asking the Regent, What he was going to do with the Seals? To which that Prince made Answer, That he design'd them for M. d'Argenson Lieutenant of the Police. The Duke being dissatisfy'd with this Change, desir'd the Regent's Leave to retire, which was granted him with more Readiness than he desir'd.
The Seals were given upon the same day to M. d'Argenson. The Regent himself sign'd the Patent, and the Grant of the Great and Little Commissions; and in the Afternoon the new Minister took the usual Oath to the King; and at the same time the Duke Regent declar'd him Chief of the Council of the Finances. The Disgrace of the Chancellor made the Parliament uneasy, and occasion'd fresh Murmuring among the People; the rather because 'twas reported, that his Royal Highness ow'd him a Grudge for his
Refusal to sign certain Edicts which were not lik'd by the Parliament.
While Paris was in such a Ferment, there was some Commotion in Bretagne. The Payment of the Free Gift being demanded of the States then assembled, they made answer, That they could not grant it till they had first examin'd their Funds. They intended, they said, to regulate their Finances, which were very much disorder'd. This Delay was look'd upon as an open Rebellion, and at the fourth Assembly they receiv'd Orders to separate. This put them quite out of Temper, and the Nobility deputed four of their Body to Court to present his Royal Highness a long Memorial, in which they demonstrated how impossible it was for their Province to pay the Free Gift at that instant. They complain'd of the Invasion of the Privileges of a Province which had only submitted to France upon condition that they should be sacredly preserv'd. They concluded with praying his Royal Highness to grant them, at least, some time longer. We flatter our selves, Sir, said they, in the close of their Memorial, that a Delay of a few days, contrary indeed to an ill Custom, but agreeable to ancient Possession, will not give your Royal Highness the worse Opinion of a Nobility which is so much devoted to you, and to which you have declar'd your Good-will.