Beaumarchais and the War of American Independence, Vol. 1

_“Je passe encore sous silence la scène dégoûtante entre deux hommes où vous vous êtes égaré jusqu’à me reprocher que je n’étais que le fils d’un horloger. Moi qui m’honore de m...

_“On dit qu’il n’est pas noble aux auteurs de plaider pour le vil intérêt, eux qui se piquent de prétendre à la gloire. On a raison; la gloire est attrayante; mais on oublie que...

_“Je laisserai sans réponse tout ce qu’on a dit contre l’ouvrage, persuadé que le plus grand honneur qu’on ait pu lui faire, après celui de s’en amuser au théâtre, a été de ne p...

Before entering into a consideration of the rôle played by Beaumarchais as lover, a few more touches are necessary to represent him as he was before the world. We already have s...

_“Mais que dira-t-on quand on apprendra que ce Beaumarchais, qui jusqu’à présent n’est connu que par son inaltérable gaîté, son imperturbable philosophie, qui compose à la fois...

Beaumarchais Goes to London in Quality of Secret Agent of Louis XV--Theveneau de Morande and His Gazetier Cuirassé--The King Dies--Beaumarchais’s Second Mission Under Louis XVI-...

“_Que dirait la Sagesse si elle me voyait entre-mêler les occupations les plus graves dont un homme puisse s’occuper, de soirées agréables, tantôt chez un ambassadeur, tantôt ch...

It will be remembered that Gudin in his history of Beaumarchais speaks of a meeting of literary men at the table of a certain Mademoiselle Ménard, _femme d’esprit_, where the su...

_“La Jeunesse--Mais quand une chose est vraie.... Bartholo--Quand une chose est vraie! si je ne veux pas qu’elle soit vraie, je prétends qu’elle ne soit pas vraie. Il n’y aurait...

Among the numerous studies of the life of Beaumarchais which the admirable and scholarly work of M. de Loménie stimulated into being, none takes a higher place than that of Eugè...

Paris du Verney, who had pushed his way upward from an origin even more obscure than that of Beaumarchais, was a man of wide experience in life, and of rare energy of character.

Beaumarchais Undertakes to Protect the Rights of Dramatic Authors--Lawsuit with the _Comédie-Française_--Founder of the First Society of Dramatic Authors--Jealousies Among Thems...

“_La calomnie, Monsieur! vous ne savez guère ce que vous dédaignez; j’ai vu des plus honnêtes gens prêts d’en être accablés. Croyez qu’il n’y a pas de plâte méchanceté, pas d’ho...

The Preparation of the Memoirs--Aid Rendered by Family and Friends--The Judgment--Beaumarchais _Blâmé_--Enters the Secret Service of the King--Gudin Relates the Circumstances of...

The Character of Figaro--The First Performance of _Le Barbier de Séville_--Its Success after Failure--Beaumarchais’s Innovation at the Closing of the Theatre--His First Request...

“_We have been surprised that no descendant of Beaumarchais was invited to represent France at the unveiling of that Statue of Liberty, upon the pedestal of which his name would...

Mlle. Luzzi--“Yes, Doctor, in tragedies; but when did it wish that a gay subject should be deprived of what might increase its agreeableness? Believe me, gentlemen, Monsieur _le...

“Was there not something like a prediction in these words of Figaro in the mouth of the brother of Louis XVI, ‘I hasten to laugh at everything for fear of being obliged to weep’...

Beaumarchais Goes to London in Quality of Secret Agent of Louis XV--Theveneau de Morande and His _Gazetier Cuirassé_-- The King Dies--Beaumarchais’s Second Mission Under Louis X...

Early life--Trained by his Father to the Trade of Watchmaker-- Invents an Escapement for Watches--First Lawsuit--_Horloger du Roi_--Enters the Court of Versailles as _Contrôleur...

Beaumarchais at For-l’Evêque--Letter to his Little Friend-- Second Trial in the Suit Instituted Against Him by the Count de La Blache--Efforts to secure an Audience with the Rep...

The Preparation of the Memoirs--Aid Rendered by Family and Friends--The Judgment--Beaumarchais _blâme_--Enters the Secret Service of the King--Gudin Relates the Circumstances of...

The Character of Figaro--The First Performance of _Le Barbier de Séville_--Its Success after Failure--Beaumarchais’s Innovation at the Closing of the Theatre--His First Request...

The Death of Paris du Verney--The Lawsuit La Blache--Judgment Rendered in Favor of Beaumarchais--The Comte de La Blache-- Appeals to the New Parliament--Private Life of Beaumarc...