I applied to Marshal Belleisle. “My Lord, be so kind as to instruct me in what you call politics, which every body here is continually talking of.” He answered me smiling, “I cannot bring myself, Madam, to instruct you in a science which will prove destructive to many.” Yet the veteran courtier talked to me of systems, and enlarged upon the methods to be used by a state for its aggrandisement.
After listening to him for some time, I concluded, though a novice at court, that this science is not reducible to principles nor general rules, as totally depending on time, place, and circumstances, and these almost ever arising from chance.
In order to get a knowlege of the preceding administrations, I set myself to read the history of our government; but it was not in books that I sought for this knowledge, having always looked on them as the source of public errors. I consulted original manuscripts, which were put into my hands by the King himself. Here I saw all the former mistakes, and the original causes of them.
As it was known both at Paris and Versailles that Lewis XV. was unsettled in his amours, his favourites had no very regular court. It often fell out that a lady whom the King had distinguished, lay down in high favour, and rose in disgrace: for vacant employments and temporary grants the favourites were practised on; but for the great purposes of ambition other springs than mistresses were set to work.
In the first months of my favour scarce any body came near me. The Duke de Richelieu was the only nobleman who visited me in the King’s absence; but when, by the Monarch’s order, I made my appearance as Marchioness de Pompadour, and his Majesty was continually giving me marks of his esteem, the face of things changed. Envy and ambition formed two numerous parties. The former blackened me with the most virulent malice; and the latter as much exceeded in the most fulsome adulation. The motive in one was hope of preferment, the other acted from a despair of ever being preferred: both, however, joined in asking favours of me.
I used my interest with the King in behalf of both. If I raised a person to a considerable post, or procured him a large pension, I surely drew on myself a hundred enemies, besides his ingratitude. At length all the kingdom came to pay their court to me; for the royal favour continued to shine on me as bright as ever. They who had been the most forward in reviling my birth, now claimed kindred with me. I shall never forget a letter I received at Versailles from a gentleman of one of the most ancient families in Provence, in the following terms:
“Dear Cousin,
“I did not know that I was related to you till now that the King has created you Marchioness de Pompadour: a learned genealogist has demonstrated to me, that your great-grandfather was fourth cousin to my grandfather; so you see, dear cousin, our alliance is indisputable. If you desire it, I’ll send you our pedigree, that you may shew it to the King.
“In the mean time, my son, your cousin, who has served with distinction several years, wants a regiment; and as he cannot hope to obtain it by his rank, be so good as to ask the favour from the King.”