It is therefore somewhat singular that no mention of him, or his arms, occurs in the “Armorial Français” of Johannis Guigard. This is to be regretted, as it renders it difficult to trace in what way the family of Bégon and the old French family of Chapuy were related. That some kind of relationship existed can scarcely be doubted; in view of the following application received from Mr. Charles J. Shoppee, President of the Surveyor’s Institution, and Vice President of the Ex-Libris Society:
“I am anxious to know something of the origin of the armorial bearings of Michael Bégon, 1702, the coat being the same as that of Chapuis of Dauphiné, viz., ‘D’azur au chevron d’or, accompagné de deux roses d’argent en chef, et en pointe, d’un lion rampant, de même.’ These arms I bear, as the representative of the branch of the Chapuis family settled in England.”
Amongst a list of the French officers taken at the battle of Oudenarde, July 11th, 1708, “Of the regiment of dragoons of Pouriere, Lieutenant Chapuy” is recorded. This officer was the ancestor of Mr. C. J. Shoppee.
Nicolas Joseph Foucault was a councillor to the Parliament of Paris, and a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres. He died in 1720, aged seventy-seven, leaving a library which was considered particularly rich in relation to the early history of France. Unfortunately it was dispersed on his decease, and his ex-libris given herewith is consequently scarce. It was probably engraved between about 1680 and 1700, and carries the same arms as were embossed on the bindings of his books.
It would perhaps be more interesting to know the name of the artist who designed this beautiful plate for Mr. de Joubert, than who and what Mr. de Joubert himself was. Unfortunately the plate is not signed, but it is in the style of the Louis XV. period, and was probably the work of some artistic engraver in the south of France.
The date of the plate can only be approximately fixed on the following train of reasoning. Mr. de Joubert styles himself “Tresorier des Etats de Languedoc;” now on reference to an old French work, somewhat similar to a Court Guide, we find a mention of this gentleman.
In “L’Etat de la France,” published in Paris in 1749, his name is given as Président des Chambres des Comptes de Languedoc, with the date of his appointment, thus: