Queens of the French Stage

by H. Noel Williams

Mlle. Clairon died on January 31, 1803, six days after completing her eightieth year.

Animated to the last by the pride which had dominated her whole life, Mlle. Clairon bequeathed to the nation her marble bust by Lemoine and the gold medal which Valbelle and Villepinte had caused to be struck in her honour; but, for some reason, these souvenirs were not accepted. The native town of the great actress showed itself less indifferent than the State, and placed a commemorative tablet on the house in which she had been born. In 1876, however, the house collapsed beneath the weight of years, and the tablet was buried under its ruins.[216]

The remains of Mlle. Clairon were interred in the cemetery of Vaugirard, where they remained until its suppression in April 1837, when, escorted by a deputation from the Comédie-Française, they were transferred to Père-Lachaise, and there re-interred, Samson pronouncing an éloge over the grave. In 1889, at the solicitation of M. Caille, an inhabitant of Condé, the sociétaires of the Comédie-Française decided that the tomb of the famous tragédienne should be completely restored, and voted for that purpose a sum of one thousand francs.

INDEX

[A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F], [G], [H], [I], [J], [K], [L], [M], [N], [O], [P], [Q], [R], [S], [T], [V], [W], [X], [Z]

[A]
Actrice nouvelle, l', Poisson's, [151]
Adrienne Lecouvreur, Scribe and Legouvé's, [129] and note, [182] note
Aiguillon, Duc d', [163]
Aiguillon, Duchesse, [319], [337]
Aïssé, Mlle., [140], [180], [184] note, [186];
(cited) 1[80-183], [188-190], [192] note
Alexandre, Racine's, [26], [92]
Allainval, Abbé d', [129];
(cited) [134], [145], [199]
Amours de Bastien et Bastienne, Justine Favart's performance in, [268]
Amphitryon, Molière's, [49], [155]
Andromaque, Racine's, [11] note, [93]
Anne of Austria, Queen of France, [27]
Anne Ivanovna, Duchess of Courland, [173], [174], [175]
Anspach, Margrave of, his character and personal appearance, [340], [341];
falls in love with Mlle. Clairon and invites her to Anspach, [341];
"the sweetest and kindest of beings," [342];
discards Mlle. Clairon for Lady Craven, [344-346]
Anspach, Margravine of, [340], [341], [344], [345], [346].
Antiochus et Cléopatre, Deschamps', [154]
Argental, d', [164-168], [169], [193] note
Ariane, Mlle. de Champmeslé's performance in, [99].
Arles, Council of, excludes the actor from the Sacraments, [66], [67]
Attila, Pierre Corneille's, [26], [97] note
Aubry, Sebastian, [13]
Augustus II., Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, [169], [170], [174], [176]
Aunillon, Abbé, [179].
Avare, Molière's, [78]
[B]
Bachaumont, (cited) [293] note, [328], [335] note, [337] note
Bajazet, [98], [337].
Balicourt, Mlle., [228] and note
Barbier, (cited) [161], [213], [301]
Barbier d'Aucour, [102]
Bauffremont, Marquis de, [318]
Baron, Michel, [56-58], [63], [75], [94], [147], [151], [152], [159]
Bayle, [8], [41]
Bazin, [9], [44]
Beaumarchais, [325]
Beaumenard, Mlle., mistress of Maurice de Saxe, [239], [243] note
Beffara, [9], [15], [211] note
Béjart, Armande, her marriage with Molière, [3];
controversy concerning her parentage, [7-20];
accompanies the Illustre Théâtre to the provinces, [20];
her education, [21];
her personal appearance, [22-25];
her gifts as an actress, [25], [26];
her début, [27];
plays before the Court in the Impromptu de Versailles, [27];
and during Les Plaisirs de l'Ile enchantée, [27-29];
bears Molière a son, [27];
her rendering of the part of Célimène in the Misanthrope, [29-31];
other performances by her, [31], [32];
her moral conduct considered, [32-40];
charges brought against her in La Fameuse Comédienne, [40-48];
temporarily separated from her husband, [48-54];
her supposed liaison with Baron, [56-58];
her platonic friendship with Pierre Corneille, [58], [59];
birth of her second son, [60];
endeavours to dissuade Molière from playing in the Malade imaginaire, [62];
goes to find a priest to administer the last Sacraments to her husband, [63];
her appeal to the Archbishop of Paris, [63], [64];
her interview with Louis XIV. at Saint-Germain, [64];
throws money among the crowd on the day of Molière's funeral, [71];
causes a fire to be lighted on his grave, [72];
conclusion as to her moral conduct, [72], [73];
resumes her place in the company three days after her husband's death, [74] and note;
secures the Théâtre Guénégaud, [77], [78];
her adventure with Président Lescot, [79-82];
libelled by Guichard, [82] and note;
marries Guérin d'Estriché, [83], [84];
her later years, [84], [85]
Béjart, Bénigne Madeleine, [10], [19]
Béjart, Geneviève, [7], [15]
Béjart, Joseph pére, [3], [7], [9], [10]
Béjart, Joseph fils, [4], [10], [15], [75]
Béjart, Louis, [15]
Béjart, Madeleine, her parentage, [34];
becomes an actress, [4], [5];
has a daughter by the Comte de Modène, [5], [6];
commonly believed to be the mother of Armande Béjart, [7-10];
and to have been the mistress of Molière, [11];
hideous accusation of Montfleury, [11], [12];
repeated by Guichard, Le Boulanger de Chalussay, and in La Fameuse Comédienne, [12-15];
joins the Illustre Théâtre, [15];
her talent as an actress and personal appearance, [16];
question as to her relations with Molière considered, [17-20];
promotes the marriage between Molière and Armande, [21], [22]
Bellerose, [76] note
Benoît (surgeon), his dispute with Dubois of the Comédie-Française, [328], [329]
Bérénice, Racine's, [96], [97], [98]
Bergheick, Comte de, lover of Mlle. Clairon, [281]
Bernard, Samuel, [216]
Bernhardt, Madame Sarah, [138]
Berri, Duchesse de, [205]
Berryer, Lieutenant of Police, [285], [304], [305], [306], [318]
Besenval, Baron de, Mlle. Clairon's love-letters to him, [303]
Bimorel, Madame de, [282], [283], [285]
Blainville, expelled from the Comédie-Française, [329]
Blondi, dancing-master, [206]
Blot, [42]
Boileau-Despréaux, [60], [71], [100], [103], [108], [109], [116];
(cited) [102]
Boileau-Puimorin, [60]
Bossuet, denounces the plays of Molière, [70];
his Maximes et réflexions sur la comédie, [119], [120]
Botte de la Barondière, Père, insists on Brécourt renouncing the stage, [117] and note
Bouillon (Louise Françoise de Lorraine), Duchesse de, enamoured of Maurice de Saxe, [179];
her personal appearance, [179] note;
accused by the Abbé Bouret of having engaged him to poison Adrienne Lecouvreur, [179-188];
suspected of having caused the death of the actress, [188-190];
consideration of this charge, [190], [191];
discarded by the Comte de Clermont for Mlle. de Camargo, [213]
Bouillon (Marie-Anne Mancini), Duchesse de, intrigues to ruin Racine's Phèdre, [103-105]
Bourdaloue, Père, preaches against Tartuffe, [70];
denounces the theatre, [120]
Bouret, Abbé, accuses the Duchesse de Bouillon of having engaged him to poison Adrienne Lecouvreur, [179-184];
sent to Saint-Lazare, [184];
released, [184];
rearrested, [185];
persists in his accusation, [186];
but finally recants, [187];
set at liberty and disappears, [187]
Bourgeois gentilhomme, Molière's, [23], [24], [97] note
Bouteville, Duc de, [302]
Bouty, Marie (mother of Mlle. de Champmeslé), [130]
Boyer, Abbé, [92], [114], [115], [153]
Brécourt, compelled by the curé of Saint-Sulpice to renounce his profession, [117] and note
Breuze de la Martinière, [8]
Brie, Mlle, de, joins the Illustre Théâtre, [17];
becomes Molière's mistress, [17];
resides in the Béjart's house, [48];
resumes her intimacy with Molière, [55], [56];
jealousy between her and Mlle. Molière, [73]
Brizard, [330]
Brossette, (cited) [17], [100]
Brotok, Comte de, ruined by Mlle. Clairon, [303]
By, Chevalier de, lover of Mlle. Clairon, [286]
[C]
Caffaro, Père, his Lettre d'un Théologien, in defence of the theatrical profession, [119], [120]
Cahusac, (cited) [203]
Calandrini, Madame, [180]
Camargo, Marie-Anne de: see [Cupis de Camargo]
Cartouche (brigand), [135]
Cartouche, ou les voleurs, Le Grand's, [135]
Casanova, (cited) [220]
Castelnau, Marquis de, [265]
Castil-Blaze, (cited) [200], [208]
Champmeslé, Charles de: see [Chevillet de Champmeslé]
Champmeslé, Marie de: see [Chevillet de Champmeslé]
Chantilly, Mlle.: see [Favart, Justine]
Chapelle, [42], [49-52], [53], [54], [71], [98]
Chappuzeau, Samuel, (cited) [76] note, [77]
Chardon, M. Henri, (cited) [4], [18], [19]
Châteauroux, Duchesse de, [215], [289]
Chevillet de Champmeslé, Charles,
runs away from home to become an actor, [90], [91];
marries Marie Desmares, [91];
joins the Théâtre du Marais, [91];
leaves it for the Hôtel de Bourgogne, [93];
a complacent husband, [93];
on the best of terms with his wife's admirers, [108];
joins the Théâtre Guénégaud, [113];
his Parisien, [113];
singular incident connected with his death, [125], [126]
Chevillet de Champmeslé, Marie,
birth and parentage, [89];
becomes an actress and makes her début at Rouen, [90];
marries Charles de Champmeslé, [91];
comes to Paris with her husband, [91];
joins the Théâtre du Marais, [91];
her first successes, [92];
leaves the Marais for the Hôtel de Bourgogne, [93];
her triumph as Hermione in Andromaque, [93];
her gifts as an actress, [94], [95];
her personal appearance, [95], [96];
becomes the mistress of Racine, [96];
her successes in Bérénice, [97];
in Bajazet, [98];
in Ariane, [99];
in Mithridate, [99];
in Iphigénie en Aulide, [100-102];
in Phèdre, [106];
her house "the rendezvous of all persons of distinction in both Court and town," [107];
unfaithful to Racine, [107], [108];
her relations with Charles de Sévigné, [108-110];
liaison with the Comte de Clermont-Tonnerre, [111];
discarded by Racine, [111];
her impersonation of Queen Elizabeth in the Comte d'Essex, [113];
joins the Théâtre Guénégaud, [113];
one of the original sociétaires of the Comédie-Française, [113];
secures her brother Nicolas's admission sans début, [114];
later performances by her, [114-116];
falls ill and retires from stage, [116];
with difficulty induced to renounce her profession, [122];
dies, [122];
two letters of Racine on her death, [122], [123];
her pupils, Mlles. Duclos and Charlotte Desmares, [123-125]
Chevreuse, Duchesse de, [246], [247]
Choiseul, Duc de, [327]
Christian VII., King of Denmark, [337]
Cindré, Marquis de, lover of Mlle. Clairon, [306]
Circé, Thomas Corneille's, [78]
Clairon, Mlle., her parentage, [276];
her birth, [276], [277];
comes with her mother to Paris, [277];
her account of how she was led to become an actress, [278-281];
makes her début at the Comédie-Italienne, [281];
accepts an engagement at Rouen, [281];
her life there, [282], [283];
adventure with Gaillard de la Bataille, [283], [284];
Histoire de Mademoiselle Cronel, dite Frétillon, [284], [285];
her mother tries to coerce her into marriage, [285];
"three rival warriors contending for her heart," [286];
rejects the proposals of "my lord" Marlborough, [287];
returns to Paris and joins the Opera, [287];
leaves the Opera for the Comédie-Française, [288];
her admission opposed by certain members of the troupe, [289];
insists on making her début in the part of Phèdre, [289], [290];
her brilliant success, [290], [291];
her personal appearance, [291];
her remarkable gifts as an actress, [293];
testimony of Favart, [294];
of Collé, [294], [295];
of Hérault de Séchelles, [295];
of Oliver Goldsmith, [295], [296];
of Sturtz, [296-299];
of Garrick, [299], [300];
performances by her, [300], [301];
her brilliant success as Aménaïde in Tancrède, [301];
her lovers, [301-307];
her liaison with Marmontel, [307-309];
changes her style of acting, [309-313];
brings about a reform in stage costume, [313-314];
an indefatigable student of everything connected with her art, [314-316];
continuing her career of gallantry, [317-318];
conceives a genuine passion for the Comte de Valbelle, [318], [319];
her social success, [319] and note;
her portrait painted by Carle van Loo, [319] and note, [320];
declines an offer to take up her residence at St. Petersburg, [320], [321];
Garrick commissions an engraving of her "in all the attributes of Tragedy," [321];
gold medal struck in her honour, [322];
her pride and arrogance, [322], [323];
has the interests of her profession sincerely at heart, [323], [324];
endeavours to relieve the stage from the ban of the Church, [324];
attacked by Fréron, in the Année littéraire, [324-328];
l'affaire Dubois, [328-331];
sent to For l'Évêque, [331], [332];
her letter to Garrick, [332], [333];
visits Voltaire at Ferney, [334], [335];
enthusiastically acclaimed by the pit at Marseilles, [335];
retires from the Comédie-Française, [335], [336];
her life after her retirement, [336], [337];
plays before the King of Denmark, [337], [338];
and at Versailles, [338];
her correspondence with her pupil Larive, [339], [340];
accompanies the Margrave of Anspach to Germany, [341];
her life at Anspach, [341-344];
supplanted by Lady Craven in the affections of the Margrave, [344-346];
takes up her residence at Issy, [346], [347];
publication of her Mémoires, [347];
her last years and death, [349-351];
removal of her remains from Vaugirard to Père-Lachaise in 1837, [351], [352]
Clavel, Adrienne Lecouvreur's letters to him, [142-145]
Clement XI., Pope, declines to interfere between the Church and the theatrical profession, [121] note
Clermont, Comte de, his character, [212];
becomes the lover of Mlle. de Camargo, [213];
can refuse her nothing, [214];
insists on her quitting the stage, [214];
appointed abbot of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, [215];
installs Mlle. de Camargo at the Château de Berny, [215];
discards her for Mlle. Le Duc, [216];
presents his new enchantress with a magnificent equipage, [217], [218];
makes Mlle. de Camargo an allowance, [220]
Clermont-Tonnerre, Comte de, one of the admirers of Mlle. de Champmeslé, [107], [108], [111]
Cochin, Charles Nicolas fils, his drawing of Justine Favart, [228] note
Colbert, [17] note, [77]
Collé, (cited) [152], [153], [216] and note, [252] note, [294], [295], [301], [314], [322] note
Comédie-Française, its foundation, [113]
Comte d'Essex, Thomas Corneille's, [153], [156]
Conti, Prince de, [69]
Coraline, Mlle., shocked at the conduct of Justine Favart, [256]
Corneille, Pierre, [17], [26], [32] note, [58], [59], [96], [97] and note, [114], [131], [132], [266], [294]
Corneille, Thomas, [78], [92], [112]
Coulanges, Madame de, (cited) [99]
Couvreur, Robert, father of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [130], [131]
Couvrigny, Père de (chaplain to the Bastille), his letter to the Lieutenant of Police, [186]
Coypel, Charles, his portrait of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [142-145]
Crébillon père, [124], [145],

[227], [294], [300], [321] and note
Crébillon fils, [321] note
Critique de l'École des femmes, Molière's, [27]
Cupis de Camargo, Ferdinand Joseph de (father of Mlle. de Camargo), descended from "one of the noblest families in Rome," [199];
gives his daughter lessons in dancing, [200];
accompanies her to Rouen, [201];
and to Paris, [202];
exercises unsleeping vigilance over her, [208];
his letter to Cardinal de Fleury after her elopement with the Comte de Melun, [209-211]
Cupis de Camargo, Marie-Anne de, birth and parentage, [199], [200];
her precocious talent, [200];
sent to Paris to take lessons from Mlle. Prévost, [200];
première danseuse at Brussels theatre, [201];
goes to Rouen, [201];
engaged at the Paris Opera, [201], [202];
her triumphal début, [202] and note;
her personal appearance, [202], [203];
"abbreviates her skirts," [203], [204];
triumphs over the intrigues of Mlle. Prévost and becomes queen of the Opera, [204-206];
revolutionises the ballet, [206], [207];
patronised by the Duchesse de Villars, [207];
carried off by the Comte de Melun, [208-211];
conceives "une belle passion" for the Marquis de Sourdis, [211], [212];
becomes the mistress of the Comte de Clermont, [212-214];
temporarily retires from the Opera, [214];
does the honours of the Château de Berny, [215];
discarded by the count for Mlle. Le Duc, [216];
becomes the mistress of the Président de Rieux, [216], [217];
receives a magnificent present, [217];
breaks with the président and resumes her liaison with the Marquis de Sourdis, [218];
returns to the Opera, [219];
rivalry between her and Mlle. Sallé, [219];
verses addressed to them by Voltaire, [219];
makes her début as a singer, [220];
definitely retires from the Opera, [220];
her later years and death, [220], [221]
Cupis de Camargo, Sophie de, [208], [209-211]
[D]
D——, Baron, lover of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [141]
Dancourt, [135]
Dangeville, Mlle., inspires Mlle. Clairon with a desire to become an actress, [278-280];
finds it "impossible to live" with Mlle. Clairon, [323]
Des Boulmiers, (cited) [171]
Desheys introduces Mlle. Clairon to the Comédie-Italienne, [281]
Deshoulières, Madame, intrigues against Racine, [103]
Desmares, Charlotte, [114], [124], [125], [126]
Desmares, Guillaume, father of Marie de Champmeslé, [89]
Desmares, Marie: see [Chevillet de Champmeslé, Marie]
Desmares, Nicolas, brother of Marie de Champmeslé, [89], [114], [126]
Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin, [69]
Desnoiresterres, Gustave, (cited) [229] note, [239], [240] note, [242]
Des Œillets, Mlle., [93], [94], [98]
Devineresse, La, [78]
Diderot, [347]
Don Garcie de Navarre, Molière's, [301]
Don Juan, Molière's, [65], [78], [79]
Donneau de Visé, [8], [27], [78], [79], [99]
Dubois, Abbé, (cited) [106]
Dubois (actor of the Comédie-Française), his dispute with the surgeon Benoît, [328];
expelled from the Comédie, [329];
temporarily reinstated, [329];
Mlle. Clairon and four of her colleagues decline to act with him, [330];
his partisans create a riot in the theatre, [330], [331];
resigns his place, [334]
Dubois, Mlle., [329], [330], [331]
Duclos, Mlle., [123], [124], [125], [126]
Du Deffand, Marquise, [319]
Du Gué, Madame, invites Adrienne Lecouvreur to perform at her hôtel, [131-133]
Du Maine, Duchesse, [158]
Du Marsais, César, his "Bon, cela!" [148];
gives Adrienne Lecouvreur lessons in elocution, [149]
Dumas d'Aigueberre, (cited) [152], [153]
Dumesnil, Marie Françoise, a worthy successor to Adrienne Lecouvreur, [275];
her triumph in Mérope, [276];
compared with Mlle. Clairon, [292], [293];
preferred by Louis XV. to the latter, [338]
Dumolard, (cited) [242]
Du Parc, Mlle., rejects the advances of Molière, [17];
and of Pierre Corneille, [58];
confidante of Armande Béjart, [45];
Racine "experiences with her a sentiment which has the dignity of love," [107]
Duras, Duc de, [327], [335], [336]
Duronceray, Justine: see [Favart, Justine]
Duronceray, M. (father of Justine Favart), [228];
a tool in the hands of Maurice de Saxe, [254-256], [258], [259], [261]
Duronceray, Madame (mother of Justine Favart), [228]
Du Rouvray, M., [283]
[E]
École des femmes, Molière's, [14], [33], [34]
École des maris, Molière's, [33]
Edwards, Mr. Sutherland, [43] note
El Desden con el Desden, Moreto's, [28]
Électre, Crébillon's, [145], [312]
Électre, Longpierre's, [33]
Électre, Voltaire's, [322]
Elizabeth Petrovna, Czarina of Russia, wooed by Maurice de Saxe, [173-175];
invites Mlle. Clairon to St. Petersburg, [320]
Élomire hypocondre, Le Boulanger de Chalussay's, [13], [14]
Elzevirs, the, print an edition of Élomire hypocondre, [14]
Épinay, Madame d', [315]
Eugène of Savoy, [135], [169]
[F]
Fameuse Comédienne, La, libel on Armande Béjart, [15], [21], [22], [25], [40-54], [56], [72], [73], [82], [84]
Fausse Prude, La, [121] note
Favart, Charles Nicolas Joseph, [272]
Favart, Charles Paul, [225] and note
Favart, Charles Simon, his early life, [225], [226];
produces La Chercheuse d'esprit, [227];
director of the Opéra-Comique, [227];
engages Justine Duronceray, [228];
marries her, [229];
invited by Maurice de Saxe to accompany him to Flanders, [231];
celebrates the Marshal's entry into Brussels, [233];
his adventures in Flanders, [234], [235];
announces in verse Maurice's intention to give battle, [237], [238];
his account of the battle of Lawfeld, [244], [245];
learns of his wife's misconduct with the Marshal, [245];
takes her to Brussels, [246];
his letter to her, [247];
prosecuted by the proprietors of the Brussels theatre, at the instigation of the Marshal, [249];
returns to Paris and persuades Justine to leave Maurice, [251];
flies to Strasburg, [251];
Justine's letter to him, [253], [254];
refuses money offered him by the Marshal, [259];
reduced to terrible straits, [265];
returns to Paris, [265];
his verses upon the death of Maurice de Saxe, [266];
regards love as "the greatest of all evils," [267];
tolerates his wife's liaison with the Abbé de Voisenon, [267];
his later works, [267-272];
his admiration for Mlle. Clairon's acting, [294]
Favart, Justine, her parentage, [228];
engaged at the Opéra-Comique, [228];
makes her début, [229];
her marriage with Favart, [229] and note, [230];
her success in Les Vendanges de Tempé, [230];
accompanies her husband to Flanders, [232];
the object of a violent passion on the part of Maurice de Saxe, [239], [240];
"possessed by the demon of conjugal love," [240];
Maurice's letter to her, [240], [241];
yields to the importunities of the Marshal, [242], [243] and note;
refuses to continue the liaison, [244];
confesses her misconduct to her husband, [245], [246];
flies to Brussels, [246];
Favart's letter to her, [247];
continues her flight to Paris, [248];
persuaded to resume her intimacy with the Marshal, [249], [250];
again leaves him and declares that "her salvation is dearer to her than all the fortunes in the world," [250];
her successful début at the Comédie-Italienne, [252];
her letter to her husband in hiding at Strasburg, [253];
her father a tool in the hands of Maurice de Saxe, [254-255];
lettre de cachet issued against her, [255];
leaves Paris to join her husband, [256];
arrested, at the instigation of Maurice, and taken to Les Grands-Andelys, [257];
her correspondence with her husband and Maurice de Saxe, [257-259];
removed to a convent at Angers, [259];
further correspondence with the Marshal, [259-262];
exhorted by Mlle. Fleury to "become reasonable," [263];
and by her sister-in-law, Marguerite Favart, to remain inflexible, [264], [265];
terrified into submission to the Marshal, and is released, [265];
returns to Paris, [265];
her relations with the Abbé de Voisenon, [267];
reappears at the Comédie-Italienne, [267];
her extraordinary versatility, [268];
strenuous for a reform in stage costume, [268];
performances by her, [268-270];
retires from the stage, [270];
her last illness and death, [271]
Femmes savantes, Molière's, [32]
Fénelon, denounces the theatre, [120]
Ferriol, Madame de, Adrienne Lecouvreur's letter to, [165-167], [169]
Fête de Vénus, Marie de Champmeslé's appearance in, [92]
Fils ingrats, Piron's, [155]
Fléchier, denounces the theatre, [120]
Flemming, Count, intrigues against Maurice de Saxe, [170], [176]
Florentin, Le, Adrienne Lecouvreur's performances in, [155], [189]
Floridor, [11];
refused ecclesiastical burial, [70]
Florimont, [55]
Folleville, Président de, his affray with the Marquis de Cony, [282]
Fonpré, Mlle., engages Adrienne Lecouvreur to play at Lille, [136]
Fontaine, his portrait of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [137-139]
Forcalquier, Madame de, [319]
Fouché, Paul, (cited) [89]
Fournier, Edouard, [9]
Fréron, his attack upon Mlle. Clairon, [324-338]
Fronsac, Duc de, lover of Mlle. Dubois, [329];
interferes on behalf of her father, [329]
[G]
Gaboriau, Emile, (cited) [37], [43] note, [203], [206], [215]
Gaillard de la Bataille, his adventure with Mlle. Clairon, [283], [284];
his libel upon her, [284], [285]
Galitzin, Princess, [319], [320]
Garrick, Sturtz's letter to him, [296-299];
his opinion of Mlle. Clairon's acting, [299];
commissions Gravelot to engrave a design in honour of Mlle. Clairon, [321];
her letter to him, [333];
offers her a loan, [334] note
Gaultier-Garguille, [4] and note
Gaussin, Jeanne, [275], [292], [306] note
Gautier, Mlle., [281], [285]
Geoffroy (chemist), his report on the suspicious lozenges given to the Abbé Bouret, [184] note
George Dandin, Molière's, [33], [35-37], [145]
Gesvres, Duc de, [158], [289]
Gesvres, Duchesse de, [158]
Goldsmith, Oliver, (cited) [295], [296]
Goncourt, Edmond de, [298] note, [318]
Gozlan, M. Léon, (cited) [236], [240]
Grandval, [180] note, [195], [280]
Grimarest, (cited) [21], [43] note, [36], [53], [62] note
Grimm, (cited) [203], [204], [247], [315]
Gros-Guillaume, [4] and note
Guénégaud, Théâtre, [76] and note, [77], [78], [79]
Guérin d'Estriché, marries the widow of Molière, [83-85]
Gueullette, M., (cited) [111]
Guichard, attempts to poison Lulli, [12], [13];
repeats the accusation of Montfleury against Molière, [13];
accuses Mlle. Molière of immorality, [82] and note
Guiche, Comte de, his supposed relations with Mlle. Molière, [45] and note, [46], [47], [51], [57]
Guise, Duc de, [100]
[H]
Hardouin de Péréfixe, Archbishop of Paris, issues an order against Tartuffe, [70]
Harlay de Chanvalon, Archbishop of Paris, his conduct in regard to the funeral of Molière, [63], [64], [65], [68]
Hawkins, Mr. Frederick, (cited) [292]
Henley, Mr. W. E., (cited) [37]
Henrietta of England, Duchesse d'Orléans, [12], [27], [96], [97]
Hérault (Lieutenant of Police), his conduct in l'affaire Bouret, [181], [182], [184] note, [187]
Hermite, Jean Baptiste de l', [19]
Hermite, Tristan de l', [19]
Hervé, Marie (mother of the Béjarts), [1], [7-10], [20]
Histoire de Mademoiselle Cronel, dite Frétillon, libel on Mlle. Clairon, [284], [285]
Holstein, Princess of, [240] note, [242]
Hôtel de Bourgogne, its amalgamation with the Théâtre Guénégaud, [84]
Hugues de Giversac, d', admirer of Mlle. Clairon, [304]
[I]
Impromptu de l'hôtel de Condé, l', [11]
Impromptu de Versailles, Molière's, [11], [27], [33], [34], [35]
Innocent XII., Pope, [121] note
Iphigénie en Aulide, Racine's, [100-102], [116]
[J]
Jal, Auguste, (cited) [8] note
Journal de Police, (cited) [217], [218]
Judith, Boyer's, [114-116]
[K]
Kemble, John, [351]
Klinglin, Comte François de, his liaison with Adrienne Lecouvreur, [144], [145]
Königsmark, Aurora von (mother of Maurice de Saxe), [169], [170], [174]
[L]
La Chalotais, Marquis de, [158], [163], [164], [168]
La Fare, Marquis de, [107]
La Fayette, Madame de, [103]
La Fontaine, [16], [17] and note, [96], [107];
(cited) [95], [106]
La Grange, Charles: see [Varlet de la Grange]
La Grange-Chancel, [116]
La Guérault, Antoine, [89]
La Harpe, [324], [325]
La Janière, his reports to the Lieutenant of Police on Mlle. Clairon, [285], [286], [287], [301], [303]
Lambert, Marquise de, [158], [160]
La Morlière, [313] note
La Motte, Mlle., [251], [252]
Lancret, his portraits of Mlle. de Camargo, [221]
Lang, Mr. Andrew, (cited) [10]
Languet de Gergy (curé of Saint-Sulpice), his conduct in regard to the burial of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [192], [194]
La Noue, [281], [285], [286], [289]
La Paute, [101] note
La Popelinière, [287], [302]
Laporte, Abbé de, (cited) [93], [94]
Larive, [339], [340], [342], [343], [347]
Laroque, [93]
Larroumet, M. Gustave, [129];
(cited) [4], [15], [18], [19], [22], [29], [43], [44], [48], [49], [54], [62] note, [81], [111], [122], [123], [136], [138], [143], [157], [190]
La Thorillière, [97]
Lauraguais, Duc de, [289]
Lauzun, Comte (afterwards Duc) de, his supposed liaison with Mlle. Molière, [45-47]
Lawfeld, Battle of, [244], [245]
Le Boulanger de Chalussay, his Élomire hypocondre, [13], [14]
Le Brun, Père, denounces the theatre, [120] note
Lecouvreur, Adrienne, her attraction for French writers, [129];
her birth and parentage, [130];
comes to Paris, [130];

takes part in a performance, by children, at the hôtel of Madame du Gué, [131-133];
and at the Temple, [133], [134];
receives lessons from the actor Le Grand, [135], [136];
accepts an engagement at Lille, [136];
her career as a provincial actress, [136], [137];
her portrait by Charles Coypel and Fontaine, [137-139];
her beauty attested by her contemporaries, [139], [140];
possesses a very susceptible nature, [140], [141];
her early love affairs, [141], [142];
her letters to the actor Clavel, [142-144];
her liaison with the Comte de Klinglin, [144], [145];
her children, [145];
her brilliant début at the Comédie-Française, [145];
her natural style of elocution the principal cause of her success, [146-148];
her debt to César du Marsais, [148], [149];
bitterly opposed by the champions of the old school of declamation, [149-151];
her triumph assured by the support of Baron, [151], [152];
her wonderful by-play, [152];
contemporary criticisms of her acting, [152], [153];
her faults as an actress, [153];
her principal rôles in tragedy, [152], [153];
quarrel between Voltaire and the Chevalier de Rohan in her dressing-room, [154], [155];
does not excel in comedy, [155];
her costumes, [155-157];
her unique social position, [157-159];
complains of the burden of her social duties, [159], [160];
her favourite occupations, [160], [161];
her reputed lovers, [161];
her relations with Voltaire, [161], [162];
resolved to abjure la vie passionnelle, [162], [163];
rejects the advances of La Chalotais, [163], [164];
the object of a violent passion on the part of d'Argental, [164], [165];
her letter to his mother, Madame de Ferriol, [165-168];
becomes the mistress of Maurice de Saxe, [171];
secret of her devotion to him, [172];
disposes of her jewels to assist him in his candidature for the throne of Courland, [175];
unjustly accused by him of infidelity, [177];
charge against the Duchesse de Bouillon of having attempted to poison her, [179-188];
her last appearance on the stage, [188-190];
her death, [190];
the question of poison considered, [190], [191];
the scandal of her burial, [191-195];
her éloge written by Voltaire, [195], [196]
Le Duc, Mlle., supplants Mlle, de Camargo in the affections of the Comte de Clermont, [216-218]
Ledoux, plays a trick upon Président Lescot, [80-82]
Le Grand, [134], [135] and note, [193] note
Le Kain, [156], [292], [313] and note, [330], [336] note
Lemaure, Mlle., [199]
Lemontey, [129]; (cited) [162], [172], [173]
Lenclos, Ninon de, [108-111]
Le Roy, Philippe, lover of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [141], [142]
Lerys, François Joseph, father of Mlle. Clairon, [276]
Le Sage, (cited) [115]
Lescot, Président, his adventure with Mlle. Molière, [78-82]
Loiseleur, M. Jules, [57];
(cited) [9], [10], [15]
Loret, [16]
Loo, Jean Baptiste van, [137]
Loo, Carle van, [300];
his portrait of Mlle. Clairon, [319] note, [350]
Louis XIII., [6], [19]
Louis XIV., [12], [27], [64], [84], [114], [206]
Louis XV., [338]
Louis XVI., [325] note
Löwendal, Maréchal, [231], [247], [265]
Lulli, [12], [13], [75], [82]
Luxembourg, Duc de, [302]
[M]
Machabées, Le Motte's, [123]
Maintenon, Madame de, [121] note
Malade imaginaire, Molière's, [32], [61-63], [71]
Mariage forcé, Molière's, [29], [33], [35]
Mariamne, Voltaire's, [154]
Marie Leczinska, Queen of France, [154], [326]
Mariette (danseuse), [204]
Marlborough, Charles Spencer, Duke of, his propositions rejected by Mlle. Clairon, [287] and note
Markheim, Mr. Gegg, (cited) [53], [54]
Marmontel, [269];
his relations with Mlle. Clairon, [307-313];
assists in her apotheosis of Voltaire, [335];
(cited) [243] note, [293] note, [336]
Mars, Mlle., [30]
Massillon, denounces the theatre, [120]
Maugras, M. Gaston, (cited) [120]
Maurepas, Comte de, [192]
Maximes et refléxions sur la comédie, Bossuet's, [119]
Mazarin, Cardinal, [68]
Médecin malgré lui, Molière's, [29], [49]
Médée, Longpierre's, [116], [300]
Meister, Henri, [347]
Mélicerte, Molière's, [49], [56], [85]
Melun, Comte de, carries off Mlle. de Camargo, [208-211]
Mercure de France, (cited) [24], [148], [152], [153], [155], [288], [301]
Mercure galant, (cited) [25]
Merlin, Père (curé of Saint-Sulpice), refuses ecclesiastical burial to Molière, [63], [68]
Meusnier (police-inspector), [229], [255-256], [257];
(cited) [214], [242], [253], [254], [265]
Michelet, [139];
(cited) [137], [138]
Mignard, Pierre (painter), [53], [60]
Misanthrope, Molière's, [29], [31], [33], [37-39], [53], [54], [55], [78]
Mithridate, Racine's, [99], [100]
Modène, Comte de, [5], [6], [7], [9], [18]
Modène, Comtesse de, [5] and note, [9]
Molé, [292], [330], [337] and note
Molière, his marriage with Armande Béjart, [3];
abominable charge brought against him by Montfleury père, [11], [12];
the accusation repeated by Guichard in Élomire hypocondre and in La Fameuse Comédienne, [12-15];
question of his relations with Madeleine Béjart considered, [15-20];
becomes the lover of Mlle. de Brie, [17];
allusions to his relations with his wife in his plays, [33-40];
his jealousy, [40];
separated from his wife, [48];
supposed conversation with Chapelle at Auteuil, [49-55];
resumes his liaison with Mlle. de Brie, [55];
but still adores his wife, [55];
reconciled to her, [55], [56];
goes to reside in the Rue de Richelieu, [60];
his health failing, [60], [61];
insists on playing in Malade imaginaire, [62];
his death, [62], [63];
refused ecclesiastical burial, [63];
compromise made, [64];
effect of his Tartuffe upon the attitude of the Church to the theatre, [69], [70];
his funeral, [70-72];
not entirely blameless for his domestic unhappiness, [73], [74];
his genius not fully appreciated by his contemporaries, [83]
Molière, Madeleine, [85]
Molière, Mlle.: see [Béjart, Armande Monaco, Princesse de], [100]
Montalant, M. de, marries Madeleine Molière, [85]
Montausier, Duc de, [38]
Montespan, Madame de, [105], [106], [212]
Montfleury, père, his abominable charge against Molière, [11], [12], [13], [15], [18], [19], [40]
Montfleury, fils, [11], [40]
Monval, M. Georges, [130], [132], [163];
(cited) [139], [193] and note
Mort de Pompée, La, [156]
Mounet-Sully, M., [138]
Myesses, the Demoiselles, prosecute Favart, [249], [251]
[N]
Nantes, Mlle. de, [212]
Navarre, Mlle. (mistress of Maurice de Saxe), [243] note, [307], [308]
Necker, Madame, (cited) [270]
Nicole, Père, denounces the theatre, [69]
Noury, M., (cited) [90], [113]
[O]
Œdipe, Voltaire's, [189]
Oligny, Mlle. d', [325] and note, [326]
Orléans, Gaston, Duc d', [6]
Orléans, Duchesse d' (Princess Palatine), [125], [213]
Orléans, Regent d', [125], [213]
Orphelin de la Chine, Voltaire's, [294], [295], [300], [314]
[P]
Paléologue, M. Maurice, (cited) [139], [140], [171], [172]
Parabère, Comtesse de, [189] and note
Parfaict, Brothers, [72];
(cited) [25], [95], [111]
Parisien, Charles de Champmeslé's, [84], [85], [113]
Parmentier, [231], [235], [239]
Peterborough, Earl of, [161]
Peter the Great, Czar of Russia, [145]
Phèdre, Pradon's, [103-105]
Phèdre et Hippolyte, Racine's, [102-106], [112], [290], [291], [351]
Piron, [158]
Poisson, Mlle., (cited) [24], [25]
Poisson, Philippe, satirises Adrienne Lecouvreur in l'Actresse nouvelle, [151]
Polyeucte, Pierre Corneille's, [135], [136]
Pompadour, Madame de, [214], [322]
Pont-de-Veyle, Marquis de, [158]
Préault (sculptor), [138]
Préville, [292]
Prévost, Mlle, (danseuse), gives lessons to Mlle. de Camargo, [200];
intrigues against her, [202], [204];
supplanted by her in the affections of the public, [204-206]
Princesse d' Élide, Molière's, [28], [29], [45], [46]
Prungent (intendant of the Duchess of Brunswick), [161]
Psyché, [32] and note, [56], [57], [59], [60]
[Q]
Quinault, Jean Baptiste, [135]
Quinaults, the, [150] and note
Quinault-Dufresne, [180] note
[R]
Rachel, Mlle., [30], [129], [156]
Racine, Jean, enraptured at Marie de Champmeslé's rendering of Hermione, [94];
gives her lessons in elocution, [94], [95];
makes her his mistress, [95];
his dramatic duel with Pierre Corneille, [96-98];
his Bajazet, [98];
his Mithridate, [99];
his Iphigénie en Aulide, [100-102];
writes his Phèdre, [102], [103];
the Duchesse de Bouillon and Madame Deshoulières persuade Pradon to enter the lists against him, [103];
production of the two Phèdres, [104];
discreditable tactics of Madame de Bouillon to ruin his play, [104], [105];
he eventually triumphs, [105];
character of his intimacy with Marie de Champmeslé, [107], [108];
breaks off the connection, [111];
probable reasons for his withdrawal from dramatic authorship, [111], [112] and note;
his letter to his son, Louis Racine, on Mlle. de Champmeslé's death, [122], [123]
Racine, Louis, [112] note, [122], [123];
(cited) [94], [96]
Régnier, [129];
(cited) [138], [148], [150]
Revel, Comte de, [107]
Riccoboni, (cited) [147]
Riccoboni, Madame, (cited) [338]
Richelieu, Abbé de, his supposed liaison with Mlle. Molière, [44], [45], [46]
Richelieu, Cardinal de, [58], [266]
Richelieu, Duc de, [211], [329], [334], [336]
Rieux, Président de, [216], [217], [218]
Robinet, (cited) [29], [31], [60]
Rohault (physician), [53]
Rohan, Cardinal de, [82]
Rohan, Chevalier de, his quarrel with Voltaire, [154], [155]
Rotrou, Jean, [16]
Roucoux, Battle of, [238]
Roullé, Père, denounces Molière, [70]
[S]
Sainte-Beuve, [129], [179];
(cited) [146], [190], [242]
Saint-René Taillandier, M. de, (cited) [242], [266] note
Saint-Marc (police-inspector), his reports to Berryer, [304-306]
Sallé, Mlle., [219]
Samson, [351]
Saxe, Maurice, Maréchal de, his early life, [169], [170];
comes to Paris, [170];
his character, [170];
becomes the lover of Adrienne Lecouvreur, [171], [172];
her beneficial influence over him, [173];
his candidature for the throne of Courland, [173-176];
returns to Paris, [176], [177];
unjustly accuses Adrienne Lecouvreur of infidelity, [177], [178];
the object of an unrequited passion on the part of the Duchesse de Bouillon, [179], [180];
present at Adrienne Lecouvreur's death, [191];
unable to prevent the indignity offered to her remains, [194];
invites Favart to accompany him to Flanders, [231];
his entry into Brussels, [232-234];
orders Favart to announce from the stage his intention to engage the enemy, [236-238];
wins the Battle of Roucoux, [238];
conceives a violent passion for Justine Favart, [240];
his letter to her, [240], [241];
steals Voltaire's verses, [241] and note;
makes Justine his mistress, [242], [243] and note;
discarded by her, [244];
wins the Battle of Lawfeld, [244], [245];
determined to recover his prey, [245];
furious at Justine's escape, [247], [248];
instigates the proprietors of the Brussels Theatre to prosecute Favart, [249];
compels Justine to return to him, but loses her again, [250], [251];
continues his persecution of her husband, [251], [252];
persuades Justine's father to apply for a lettre de cachet against her, [254];
causes her to be arrested and conveyed to Les Grands-Andelys, [257];
his correspondence with her, [258-262];
compels her to submit to him, [264], [265];
his death, [266] and note;
Marmontel's liberties with his seraglio, [307]
Scanapiecq, Marie (mother of Mlle. Clairon), [276-281], [282], [284], [285]
Schlegel, August Wilhelm von, (cited) [39], [135]
Seine, Mlle., de, [150]
Sévigné, Madame de, (cited) [59], [96], [98], [99], [108], [109], [110]
Sévigné, Charles de, [107], [108-111]
Sicilien, Molière's, [49]
Siège de Calais, De Belloy's, [300], [328-331], [335]
Soubise, Prince de, [302]
Soulié, Eudore, [9], [15]
Sourdis, Marquis de, [211], [212], [218]
Sturtz, his letter to Garrick on Mlle. Clairon, [296-299]
[T]
Tallemant des Réaux, [16]
Tancrède, Voltaire's, [301]
Tartuffe, Molière's, [29], [65], [70], [155]
Taschereau, M., [43] note

Théâtre du Marais, its amalgamation with Molière's troupe, [77], [78]
Thiériot, [161]
Titon du Tillet, (cited) [72], [158]
Tourelle (courtesan), personates Mlle. Molière, [80-81]
Tribou (singer), [180] note
Turlupin, [4] and note
[V]
Valbelle d'Oraison, Comte de, amant de cœur of Mlle. Clairon, [318], [319];
offers to make her his wife and accompany her to Russia, [320];
has a gold medal struck in her honour, [320];
quarrels with her, [341]
Varlet de la Grange, Charles, [73], [75], [76] and note, [78]
Vestris, Madame, [171] note
Vigée Lebrun, Madame, (cited) [347]
Villars, Duchesse de, patronises Mlle. de Camargo, [207]
Villeguillon, M. de, [317]
Villepinte, M. de, [322], [351]
Villeroi, Duchesse de, [332], [337]
Voisenon, Abbé de, his relations with Justine Favart, [267];
his bon mot at the first representation of Les Amours de Bastien et Bastienne, [268];
overcomes Justine's unwillingness to renounce the theatre, [271];
(cited) [265]
Voltaire, production of his Mariamne, [154];
his quarrel with the Chevalier de Rohan, [154], [155];
indebted to Adrienne Lecouvreur for the favourable reception of his l'Indiscret, [155];
his relations with Adrienne Lecouvreur, [161], [162];
present at her death, [191];
demands that an autopsy should be held, [191];
refuses to believe that she was poisoned, [192] note;
endeavours to bring about a revolt at the Comédie-Française, [195];
his poem upon Adrienne's death, [195];
writes her éloge, [195], [196];
his verses to Mlles. Camargo and Sallé, [275];
his Orphelin de la Chine, [294] and [314] and note;
triumph of Mlle. Dumesnil in his Mérope, [176];
success of his Tancrède, [301];
his admiration of Mlle. Clairon's acting, [312];
visited by Mlle. Clairon at Ferny, [334], [335];
apotheosised by her and Marmontel, [335] note
[W]
Walpole, Horace, (cited) [336], [344]
Würtemberg, Prince of, sups with Mlle. Gaussin, [306] note
[X]
Ximenès, Marquis de, lover of Mlle. Clairon, [317];
his love killed by a bon mot, [317];
his retort, [318]
[Z]
Zaïre, Voltaire's, Mlle. Gaussin's acting in, [275]

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