Selections from Saint-Simon

APPENDIX B From Vauban’s Projet d’une dîme royale.

Reading edition

Par toutes les recherches que j’ai pu faire, depuis plusieurs années que je m’y applique, j’ai fort bien remarqué que dans ces derniers temps, près de la dixième partie du peuple est réduite à la mendicité, et mendie effectivement; que des neuf autres parties, il y en a cinq qui ne sont pas en état de faire l’aumône à celle-là, parce qu’eux-mêmes sont réduits, à très-peu de chose près, à cette malheureuse condition; que des quatre autres parties qui restent, les trois sont fort malaisées, et embarrassées de dettes et de procès; et que, dans la dixième, où je mets tous les gens d’épée, de robe, ecclésiastiques et laïques, toute la noblesse haute, la noblesse distinguée, et les gens en charge militaire et civile, les bons marchands, les bourgeois rentés et les plus accommodés, on ne peut pas compter sur cent mille familles; et je ne croirais pas mentir quand je dirais qu’il n’y en a pas dix mille, petites ou grandes, qu’on puisse dire être fort à leur aise; et qui en ôterait les gens d’affaires, leurs alliés et adhérents couverts et découverts, et ceux que le roi soutient par ses bienfaits, quelques marchands, etc., je m’assure que le reste serait en petit nombre[265].

Je me sens encore obligé d’honneur et de conscience de représenter à Sa Majesté qu’il m’a paru que de tout temps on n’avait pas eu assez d’égard en France pour le menu peuple, et qu’on en avait fait trop peu de cas; aussi c’est la partie la plus ruinée et la plus misérable du royaume; c’est elle, cependant, qui est la plus considérable par son nombre et par les services réels et effectifs qu’elle lui rend; car c’est elle qui porte toutes les charges, qui a toujours le plus souffert, et qui souffre encore le plus; et c’est sur elle aussi que tombe toute la diminution des hommes qui arrive dans le royaume.

FOOTNOTES.

With Saint-Simon’s account of this interview may be compared Madame’s, which is given in a letter to the Electress Sophia (Corr. I. 241-242).

INDEX OF PERSONS MENTIONED IN THE NOTES

Albret, Duc d’, 95 (n. 140)

Antin, Duc d’, 73 (n. 114)

Argenson, Marc-René, Marquis d’, 29 (n. 60)

Aubigné, Charles, Comte d’, 46 (n. 87)

—— or Aubigny, Claude-Maur, Archbishop of Rouen, 46 (n. 89)

Biron, Duc de, 205 (n. 256)

Bissy, Cardinal de, 45 (n. 85)

Boisguilbert or Boisguillebert, Pierre Le Pesant, Sieur de, 148 (n. 200)

Boufflers, Maréchal-duc de, 22 (n. 51)

Bouillon, Cardinal de, 21 (n. 50)

—— Duc de, 107 (n. 160)

Bourbon, Duc de, 154 (n. 209)

—— Duchesse de, 98 (n. 146)

Brancas, Abbé de, 138 (n. 190)

—— Maréchal-marquis de, 139 (n. 191)

Brionne, Comte de, 131 (n. 180)

Canillac, Marquis de, 103 (n. 151)

Catinat, Maréchal de, 172 (n. 228)

Cavoye, Marquis de, 88 (n. 127)

Caylus, Comtesse de, 44 (n. 76)

Chamillart, Michel de, 53 (n. 99)

Cheverny, Comte de, 14 (n. 38)

Chevreuse, Duc de, 178 (n. 234)

Choin, Mlle, 107 (n. 161)

Clérembault, Maréchale de, 92 (n. 132)

Coislin, Cardinal de, 70 (n. 109)

Conti, Princesse de, 98 (n. 147)

Courtenvaux, Marquis de, 32 (n. 62)

Dangeau, Marquise de, 49 (n. 95)

Dauphine, La, wife of Monseigneur, 49 (n. 96)

Desmaretz, Nicolas, 151 (n. 204)

Des Ursins, Princesse, 44 (n. 81)

Dreux, Marquis de, 138 (n. 189)

Dubois, Abbé afterwards Cardinal, 198 (n. 253)

Espinoy, Mme d’, 107 (n. 159)

Fagon, Guy, 57 (n. 103)

Fouquet, Nicolas, 4 (n. 17)

Gesvres, Marquis de, 75 (n. 116)

Godet Des Marais, Bishop of Chartres, 46 (n. 88)

Gramont, Antoine IV, Duc de, 98 (n. 145)

Grancey, Abbé de, 70 (n. 108)

Harcourt, Duc d’, 44 (n. 80)

Heudicourt, Marquise d’, 44 (n. 78)

Humières, Duc d’, 6 (n. 23)

Janson, Cardinal de, 158 (n. 216)

La Fare, Marquis de, 209 (n. 258)

La Feuillade, François d’Aubusson, Duc de, 6 (n. 24)

—— Louis d’Aubusson, Duc de, son of the preceding, 154 (n. 211)

La Mothe, Maréchale de, 77 (n. 117)

La Rochefoucauld, François VII, Duc de, 14 (n. 41)

La Trémoïlle, Duc de, 95 (n. 139)

La Vallière, Duc de, 132 (n. 181)

Le Tellier, Michel, 111 (n. 168)

Levis, Marquise de, 80 (n. 120)

—— Marquis de, 205 (n. 257)

Lislebonne, Mlle de, 107 (n. 159)

Livry, M. de, 97 (n. 144)

Lorges, Duc de, 6 (n. 25)

Lude, Duchesse du, 44 (n. 77)

Mansart or Mansard, architect, 38 (n. 68)

Melun, Mlle de, 107 (n. 159)

Metz, Bishop of (Duc de Coislin), 138 (n. 188)

Mont, Hyacinthe de Gaureaul Seigneur du, 107 (n. 156)

Montbazon, Duc de, 34 (n. 65)

Montchevreuil, Marquis de, 43 (n. 74)

—— Marquise de, 43 (n. 74)

Noailles, Cardinal de, 45 (n. 84)

—— Duc de, 45 (n. 82)

O, Marquis d’, 73 (n. 112)

—— Marquise d’, 80 (n. 122)

Pontchartrain, Jérôme Phélypeaux, Comte de, 28 (n. 58)

—— Louis Phélypeaux, Comte de, father of the preceding, 53 (n. 100)

Portland, Earl of, 12 (n. 35)

Richelieu, Duc de, 44 (n. 75)

Rochefort, Marquise de, 121 (n. 172)

Rohan, Cardinal de, 46 (n. 86)

Rohan-Chabot, Duc de, 95 (n. 138)

Rosen, Marquis de, 104 (n. 152)

Roucy, Comtesse de, 127 (n. 175)

Saint-Hérem, Marquis de, 14 (n. 40)

Schomberg, Duke of, 6 (n. 22)

Sforze (Sforza), Duchesse de, 126 (n. 173)

Soissons, Comtesse de (Olympe Mancini), 2 (n. 16)

Tessé, Maréchal-comte de, 46 (n. 90)

Torcy, Marquis de, 54 (n. 101)

Tressan, Louis de La Vergne de, Bishop of Nantes, 211 (n. 263)

Urfé, Marquis d’, 70 (n. 110)

Uzès, Duc d’, 153 (n. 208)

Vaudemont, Prince de, 10 (n. 31)

Vendôme, Philippe, Chevalier de, 196 (n. 252)

Ventadour, Duchesse de, 87 (n. 125)

Villars, Duc de, 23 (n. 52)

Villeroy, Duchesse de, 121 (n. 171)

Voysin, Daniel-François, 131 (n. 179)

CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY J. B. PEACE, M.A., AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS

Notes in this chapter

Note 3 · Olympe Mancini, who married the Comte de Soissons of the royal house of Savoy. She was the mother of Prince Eugène.Note 4 · Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680), the well-known surintendant des finances, aspired to succeed Mazarin, but his ambitions were thwarted by Louis Note 9 · Frederick Hermann, Duke of Schomberg or Schönberg (1618-1690), was by birth a German, but he served in the French army for more than thirty Note 10 · Louis de Crevant, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Humières. For a short portrait of him see I. 196-7. He died in 1694.Note 11 · François d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade, was a devoted courtier of Louis XIV. He gave a proof of his devotion by making the Place des Victo Note 12 · Guy de Durfort, Duc de Lorges, was a nephew of Turenne and father-in-law to Saint-Simon. For his portrait see II. 329-342.Note 18 · Charles-Henri, Prince de Vaudemont, a legitimatised son of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. See I. 494-497.Note 22 · William Bentinck, Earl of Portland (1649-1709), a Dutchman by birth, was greatly trusted by William of Orange. For his conferences with Bouf Note 25 · Louis, Comte de Cheverny, filled the posts of ambassador to Germany and to Denmark, and of governor to the Duc de Chartres. He married a nie Note 27 · François-Gaspard de Montmorin, Marquis Saint-Hérem. Chateaubriand’s friend, Mme de Beaumont, was a Montmorin.Note 28 · Son of the author of the Maximes; an assiduous but thoroughly honest courtier.Note 37 · Emmanuel-Théodore de La Tour d’Auvergne (1644-1715). See for his biography and portrait XI. 94-102. He was a nephew of Turenne.Note 38 · Louis-François, Marquis and afterwards Duc de Boufflers (1644-1711), distinguished himself at Fleurus and Steinkirk. His defence of Lille ag Note 39 · Louis-Hector, Marquis and then Duc de Villars (1653-1734), was the best French general in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1712 he gain Note 45 · Jérôme Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain (1674-1747), was associated with his father in the ministry of La Marine et la Maison du Roi in hi Note 47 · The first Lieutenant-general of police was La Reynie who was appointed in 1667. He was succeeded in 1697 by Marc-René, Marquis d’Argenson, w Note 49 · IV. 317-319. Michel-François Le Tellier, Marquis de Courtenvaux, was the eldest son of Louvois, “un fort petit homme, obscurément débauché, Note 52 · Hercule de Rohan, Duc de Montbazon (1568-1654), father of the celebrated Duchesse de Chevreuse.Note 55 · Jules Hardouin, nephew and pupil of François Mansart or Mansard, whose name he took.Note 2 · Wife of Henri de Mornay, Marquis de Montchevreuil, the governor of the Duc du Maine. Mme de Caylus describes her as “une femme froide et sèc Note 3 · Armand-Jean Du Plessis, great-nephew of the Cardinal.Note 4 · Mme de Caylus (Marthe-Marguerite de Valois) was the daughter of the Marquis de Villette, Mme de Maintenon’s first cousin, and was thus her n Note 5 · Wife of Henri de Daillon, Comte and afterwards Duc du Lude, Grand-Master of the Artillery. In 1696 she was made principal lady-in-waiting (d Note 6 · Bonne de Pons, Marquise d’Heudicourt. Mme de Caylus speaks of her as “bizarre, naturelle, sans jugement, pleine d’imagination, toujours nouv Note 8 · Henri, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Harcourt (1654-1718), of the branch of Beuvron-Harcourt. As a lieutenant-general he had a large share in Note 9 · Anne-Marie de La Trémoïlle (circ. 1646-1722) married as her second husband Flavio Orsini, Duca di Bracciano (1675), and on his death in 1698 Note 10 · The Duc de Noailles, as Comte d’Ayen, married Mlle d’Aubigné, Mme de Maintenon’s niece.Note 12 · Archbishop of Paris from 1695 to 1729 and uncle of the Duc de Noailles. He favoured the Jansenists, and when in answer to the King’s demand Note 13 · Henri de Thiard, Cardinal de Bissy, Bishop de Toul and afterwards of Meaux, succeeded to the influence in ecclesiastical matters which the C Note 14 · He and Cardinal de Bissy were the leaders of the Jesuit party. His high birth, great wealth, and charm of looks and manner gave him great in Note 15 · Charles, Comte d’Aubigné, was a hopeless spendthrift, and in spite of the numerous appointments which Mme de Maintenon obtained for him was Note 16 · Godet Des Marais was a Sulpician, a disciple of Père Olier. See Saint-Simon, Mém. VII. 123-126.Note 17 · Claude-Maur d’Aubigny or d’Aubigné was of an old family of Anjou the connexion of which with that of Mme de Maintenon was very doubtful, but Note 18 · The Maréchal-comte de Tessé was a skilful general, but he lacked decision, and he was more successful as a diplomatist. It was he who under Note 23 · The Marquise de Dangeau, née Löwenstein, was of the family of the Electors of Bavaria. She was an excellent woman, of great charm and beauty Note 24 · Marie-Anne-Christine, sister of Maximilian II, Elector of Bavaria, married the Dauphin in 1686 and died in 1690.Note 27 · Michel de Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699, and on the death of Barbezieux in 1701 was appointed Secretary o Note 28 · Louis Phélypeaux, grandson of a Secretary of State under Louis XIII, was appointed Controller-general in 1689 and Chancellor ten years later Note 29 · Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy, son of Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissy (brother of the great Colbert), succeeded his father as Note 31 · Guy Fagon succeeded Daquin, a converted Jew, in 1693, through the influence of Mme de Maintenon. His great talent was combined with fearless Note 3 · First almoner to Monsieur, “médiocre prêtre, mais fort brave et fort bon homme.” He was killed at the battle of Turin in 1706.Note 4 · Universally beloved for his piety, humanity, and devotion to his see. See for his portrait IV. 366-369.Note 5 · Joseph-Marie de Lascaris, a gentleman of Monseigneur’s household.Note 7 · Claude-Gabriel, Marquis d’O, governor of the Comte de Toulouse. He was originally called Villers, but he took the name and arms of the famil Note 9 · The Duc d’Antin, son of Mme de Montespan by her husband, was the type of a perfect courtier. He succeeded Mansart as director-general of the Note 11 · Bernard-François Potier, Marquis de Gesvres and afterwards Duc de Tresmes, first gentleman of the royal household.Note 12 · Louise de Prie, wife of Philippe, Maréchal de La Mothe. See for her portrait VI. 222-224. She was beautiful and virtuous, “la meilleure femm Note 15 · Marie-Françoise d’Albert, a daughter of the Duc de Chevreuse, and wife of the Marquis, afterwards Duc de Levis.Note 17 · The Marquise d’O, née Guilleragues, dame du palais to the Duchesse de Bourgogne. “Elle avoit beaucoup d’esprit, plaisante, complaisante, tou Note 20 · At one time lady-in-waiting to Madame, who calls her “la pauvre Doudon,” and her husband “a monster.” He was, says Saint-Simon (XIV. 123), “Note 22 · The Marquis de Cavoye, without birth or intelligence, rose to a position of high consideration at the Court. “Without the court,” says Saint Note 5 · M. de Boislisle says that Saint-Simon’s informant was probably not Mme de Ventadour, with whom he was on bad terms, but Mme de Clérembault, Note 6 · Louis, Duc de Rohan-Chabot, brother of Mme de Soubise.Note 7 · Charles, Duc de La Trémoïlle, “un fort grand homme, le plus noblement, et le plus mieux fait de la cour; et qui, avec un fort vilain visage,Note 8 · Son-in-law of the Duc de La Trémoïlle and son of the Duc de Bouillon, with whom he was in litigation.Note 12 · First maître-d’hôtel to the king.Note 13 · Antoine IV, son of Antoine III, Maréchal de Gramont, and younger brother of the Comte de Guiche, who predeceased his father.Note 14 · The Duchesse de Bourbon, daughter of Louis XIV and Mme de Montespan.Note 15 · Daughter of Louis XIV and Mlle de La Vallière, and widow of Louis-Armand, Prince de Conti.Note 19 · Marquis de Canillac, Colonel of the Rouergue regiment. For his portrait see XI. 233-235. He was one of the roués of the Regency.Note 20 · Conrad, Marquis de Rosen, “un grand homme sec, qui sentoit son reître, et qui auroit fait peur du coin d’un bois” (III. 381).Note 4 · Governor of Meudon and a friend of Saint-Simon’s.Note 7 · Mlle de Lislebonne and Mme d’Espinoy were daughters of Anne, Comtesse de Lislebonne, a legitimatised daughter of Charles IV, Duke of Lorrain Note 8 · Godefroi-Maurice, Duc de Bouillon, was a nephew of Turenne.Note 9 · Saint-Simon called Mlle Choin the Maintenon of Monseigneur, but he twice says that they were never married, and this view is confirmed by ot Note 16 · Michel Le Tellier, the Jesuit confessor of Louis XIV. See VI. 241-243 for a highly unfavourable portrait of him. “Il eût fait peur au coin d Note 19 · Marguerite Le Tellier, daughter of Louvois. For her portrait see VIII. 310 f.Note 20 · Marie de Laval, widow of the Maréchal-Marquis de Rochefort, formerly Bedchamber-woman to the Dauphine.Note 21 · Niece of Mme de Montespan and widow of the Duke of Sforza.Note 23 · Daughter of the Duc d’Arpajou and wife of the Comte de Roucy, who was a nephew of the Maréchal de Lorges. “C’étoit une personne extrêmement Note 27 · Daniel-François Voysin succeeded Chamillart as Secretary of State for War in 1709. For his portrait see VI. 444-446.Note 28 · Henri de Lorraine, Comte de Brionne, son of the Comte d’Armagnac, grand écuyer, known as M. le Grand. He was the best dancer of his day, “un Note 29 · Charles-François de La Baume le Blanc, Marquis afterwards Duc de La Vallière. He was the great-nephew of Louise de La Vallière.Note 36 · Henri-Charles Du Cambout, Duc de Coislin and Bishop of Metz. He was nephew of Cardinal de Coislin, and had succeeded to the dukedom on the d Note 37 · Marquis de Dreux, son-in-law of Chamillart. “Son ignorance et sa brutalité étoient égales, et au comble” (XII. 318).Note 38 · Henri-Ignace de Brancas.Note 39 · For the Maréchal-Marquis de Brancas see XII. 240-241. He was a friend of Saint-Simon’s.Note 8 · Détail de la France sous le règne de Louis XIV, the chief work of Boisguilbert or Boisguillebert, was first published at Rouen in 1695.Note 12 · Nicolas Desmaretz succeeded Chamillart as Controller-general in 1708. His father married Colbert’s sister. “C’étoit un grand homme très bien Note 16 · Emmanuel II de Crussol, senior duc et pair, the creation being of 1572. The finest part of his château, which is half-way between Alais and Note 17 · The Duc de Bourbon, La Bruyère’s pupil.Note 19 · Louis d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade (1673-1725), was son of the Maréchal-Duc who built the place des Victoires for his statue of Louis XIV Note 24 · Toussaint de Forbin, Cardinal de Janson, Bishop of Beauvais and Grand Almoner, was a particular friend of Saint-Simon’s, and his death in 17 Note 36 · Nicolas de Catinat commanded with success the French army in Piedmont in the campaigns of 1690-1696 against Victor-Amédée of Savoy. His most Note 42 · Charles-Honoré d’Albert, Duc de Luynes et de Chevreuse, was the grandson of the Constable de Luynes, the minister of Louis XIII, and the son Note 9 · Philippe, brother of the Duc de Vendôme, Grand Prior of France and Chevalier of the Order of Malta. He was very good-looking (in his youth),Note 10 · Guillaume Dubois, the son of an apothecary, was born at Brive in 1656. After being tutor in several private families, he was appointed first Note 13 · Armand-Charles de Gontaut, Marquis afterwards Duc de Biron.Note 14 · Charles-Eugène, Marquis afterwards Duc de Levis.Note 15 · Charles-Auguste, Marquis de La Fare (1644-1712), a writer of light verse, whose life was wasted in indolence and ignoble pleasures. He was a Note 4 · Louis de La Vergne de Tressan.Note 1 · Vauban estimated the population of France in 1707 at 18½ millions.