Madame Du Barry . tted to grab her share of poor distractedPoland without the smallest remonstrance from Versailles. We must not speak of Polish affairs before you, saidLouis XV., smiling, to his grand-daughter one day, because your relatives are not of the same opinion asourselves. That was the only hint of disapproval thatwas ever known to escape him. That Maria Theresa was well aware that her large shareof the ?^gateau des Rois depended upon the attitude of herdaughter towards the lady who enjoys the confidence ofthe King —as the Swedish Ambassador styles the favourite—is clearly shown by h
Madame Du Barry . tted to grab her share of poor distractedPoland without the smallest remonstrance from Versailles. We must not speak of Polish affairs before you, saidLouis XV., smiling, to his grand-daughter one day, because your relatives are not of the same opinion asourselves. That was the only hint of disapproval thatwas ever known to escape him. That Maria Theresa was well aware that her large shareof the ?^gateau des Rois depended upon the attitude of herdaughter towards the lady who enjoys the confidence ofthe King —as the Swedish Ambassador styles the favourite—is clearly shown by her letters to Mercy. Toward off these evils (the possible rupture of the Franco-Austrian alliance) from the monarchy and the family,she writes, we must employ every means possible ; andthere is only my daughter, the Dauphiness, aided by your1 Mercy to Maria Theresa, January 23, 1772. 220 (aIM3H(.kI AhOWlH but I a MARIA THERESA (Empress of Germany, Queen ok Hungary and Bohemia)From the Painlhig hy Von Mkvtens. MADAME DU BARRY counsels and acquaintance with your surroundings, whocan render this service to her family and her all, it is necessary that she should cultivate, byconstant attentions and afFection, the goodwill of the King,that she should strive to divine his wishes, that she shoulddo nothing to offend him, that she should treat the favouritewell. I do not require of her anything degrading, stillless intimacy, but attentions due in consideration of hergrandfather and her master, in consideration of theadvantage which will redound to us and to the twoCourts. It may be that the alliance depends upon it ! The Court was at Compiegne when the Ambassadorreceived this letter, and he immediately laid it before theDauphiness, at the same time expatiating upon the influ-ence which the all-powerful favourite might be able toexercise upon the policy of France, and the imperativenecessity of conciliating both her and dAiguillon, notforgetting to impress upon the pri
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