Note 152 — LETTERS TO MADAME DE GRIGNAN[11] FROM 1671 TO 1690. (continued 4)

The memoirs and letters of the cotemporary writers all agree that M. de Pomponne’s negligence was the cause of his disgrace. The more modern historians, even Hénault, keep to the received opinion. How could they fail to remark, that Louis XIV., in a memorandum written in his own hand, and mentioned by Voltaire, has himself explained very differently the cause of this minister’s dismissal? “All that passed through his hands, lost the grandeur and strength it ought to have displayed, as being the orders of a king of France.” These are his own words. Every one knows, in reality, that it was from the treaty of Nimeguen, a single year prior to M. de Pomponne’s disgrace, the dominion and authority of Louis XIV. affected over all Europe, were dated. From this period his ministers treated the foreign embassadors with insulting arrogance. The famous chambers of reunion were established. Strasbourg was taken possession of by violence. Advances were made into Italy. No conciliatory measures were adopted. All the states were irritated.