‘If it was not the case, it would be very singular to have seen, in the year 1777, M. Cagliostro calling himself in England Colonel of the Third Regiment of Brandenbourg, and, afterwards, in Russia, Colonel in the Spanish Service; for which, however, he was reprimanded by the magistrates of Petersburgh. Having forgot to take his Commission with him, he could not exhibit proofs, and was obliged to put down his regimentals. This check on his conduct made him abscond from Petersburgh. Every Russian nobleman in London knows this anecdote, and, without presuming to mention names, we trust that this will be found to be the case upon enquiry.’
To this letter Cagliostro replied with another in the Public Advertiser (p. 2, col. 1) of September 9, 1786, in which he repeats his challenge, and declines to sit down to breakfast with a carnivorous animal.
De Morande, of course, could not be silent, and replied in the Public Advertiser (p. 2, col. 1) of September 12, 1786. He reiterated the charges he made against Cagliostro in the Courier de l’Europe, saying, among other things, ‘I have said that you were in England in the year 1771, under the name of Balsamo, and that you were then a needy, as well as a very indifferent painter; that twenty persons, at least, are ready to prove it. You take no notice of this second assertion, which becomes serious, by the oath you have taken under that name, of which I have a legal copy in my possession.
‘I have said that you have made your appearance under another name, that of Cagliostro, in the year 1777. I have several affidavits, amongst which there are some of your own, which authenticate very curious anecdotes concerning you; to this you have replied nothing.
‘I have said that you falsely pretended then to be a Colonel of the third regiment of Brandenbourg; that you had, at that time, a law-suit in the Court of Queen’s Bench, about a certain necklace, and a gold snuff-box, which you asserted to have been given Madame la Comtesse, but which you were obliged to return, and pay all Costs, on the Clear proofs given by your adverse party, that you obtained them under false pretences. No reply has been made to this.
‘I have added that, were you curious to try the same experiment now, a new Act of Parliament, which you and your fellow-adventurers have rendered very necessary, would certainly have caused you to be sent to the Thames.[114] To that direct and very clear observation you have not replied a single word.
‘I have said that you were ordered by the Police in Russia, not to presume to take the name of a Colonel in the Spanish service, and to strip off your Spanish regimentals. I have given you an opportunity to vindicate yourself, by giving to understand, that there is not a Russian nobleman in London who would not certify this fact. I might have added that I have in my possession the most respectable authority to say so. What have you said in reply to this?
‘I have roundly asserted that I am in possession of proofs, that you are an impostor under every possible denomination; that you have not only no pretension to any title, but not even to the rank of a sergeant. Shall this remain likewise unanswered?
‘I am sorry to be obliged once more to name Messrs. B. & C. Bankers, to prove that your pretensions to lay a wager of 5000 guineas, are as well grounded as your pretensions to the title of a Count, or an Alchemist. It is a fact, that you humbly offered to pledge in their hands the watch, of which the too long, and too much, deluded Cardinal de Rohan made you a present. It is likewise a fact that they disdainfully refused it. Your proposing, after this, a wager of 5000 guineas is probably no more than a new pretence to obtain credit, as you have formerly (in pretending to make great quantities of gold) obtained small sums, and little diamonds to make larger, which you afterwards declared had been given to Madame la Comtesse. Those proofs, I repeat to you, are in my possession; they are all fully authenticated, and I will make good every one of my assertions.’ And he winds up his letter with expressing ‘the satisfaction I feel in having furnished the world with sufficient proofs to convince them that you are THE GREATEST IMPOSTOR OF THIS OR ANY OTHER AGE.’