DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0016
4 KIRBY*S WONDERTUI, MUSEUM.
brage at St. James’s, that the Count de Viry, who had a great
share in the whole negociation, sent for M, D’Eon, and told
him plainly, that, if the Duke did not withdraw his tilth
matum, and replace it with that agreed upon between the two
courts, he might order his chaise to the door as soon as he
pleased, and return to Paris.
Being aware of the consequences, he told the Duke that he
would relieve both him and the English ministry from their
perplexity. “ How is it possible ?” said the Duke. “No-
thing more plain and easy,” replied D’Eon, “ I will tell Lord
Bute and Lord Egremont, that from zeal to serve my court, I
altered some words and phrases in the ultimatum, unknown
to you, and that all this difficulty has been entirely owing to
me.” The Duke, overjoyed at the idea, suffered D’Eon to
execute his plan; harmony was immediately restored, and
the signature of the preliminaries speedily followed. The
Duke de Nivernois had the generosity to give a particular
account of the transaction to the King of France and the
Duke de Praslin, stating how essentially M. D’Eon had
served the cause of France on this occasion. He likewise sent
him to Paris with the ratification of the treaty between the Bri-
tish court and that of Versailles; in consequence of which
his sovereign invested him with the order of St. Louis. He
had behaved in the character of secretary so much to the satis-
faction of the Duke, that that nobleman, upon his departure
for France, May 25th, .1763, procured D’Eon to be appoint-
ed minister plenipotentiary in his room. This high situation
he held till the 6th December, when the Count de Guerchy
arrived in London, as ambassador from the court of Ver-
sailles, and the Chevalier received orders, or rather was re-
quested, to act as a secretary or assistant to the new ambas-
sador. This, it seems, mortified him to such a degree, that,
pretending the letter of recal which accompanied it was a
forgery, he absolutely refused to deliver it; and thereby drew
on himself the censure of his own court, Upon this th©
brage at St. James’s, that the Count de Viry, who had a great
share in the whole negociation, sent for M, D’Eon, and told
him plainly, that, if the Duke did not withdraw his tilth
matum, and replace it with that agreed upon between the two
courts, he might order his chaise to the door as soon as he
pleased, and return to Paris.
Being aware of the consequences, he told the Duke that he
would relieve both him and the English ministry from their
perplexity. “ How is it possible ?” said the Duke. “No-
thing more plain and easy,” replied D’Eon, “ I will tell Lord
Bute and Lord Egremont, that from zeal to serve my court, I
altered some words and phrases in the ultimatum, unknown
to you, and that all this difficulty has been entirely owing to
me.” The Duke, overjoyed at the idea, suffered D’Eon to
execute his plan; harmony was immediately restored, and
the signature of the preliminaries speedily followed. The
Duke de Nivernois had the generosity to give a particular
account of the transaction to the King of France and the
Duke de Praslin, stating how essentially M. D’Eon had
served the cause of France on this occasion. He likewise sent
him to Paris with the ratification of the treaty between the Bri-
tish court and that of Versailles; in consequence of which
his sovereign invested him with the order of St. Louis. He
had behaved in the character of secretary so much to the satis-
faction of the Duke, that that nobleman, upon his departure
for France, May 25th, .1763, procured D’Eon to be appoint-
ed minister plenipotentiary in his room. This high situation
he held till the 6th December, when the Count de Guerchy
arrived in London, as ambassador from the court of Ver-
sailles, and the Chevalier received orders, or rather was re-
quested, to act as a secretary or assistant to the new ambas-
sador. This, it seems, mortified him to such a degree, that,
pretending the letter of recal which accompanied it was a
forgery, he absolutely refused to deliver it; and thereby drew
on himself the censure of his own court, Upon this th©