Part 16
I had not been long at _Madrid_ before I met with several of my Acquaintance: The very Day after my Arrival I receiv'd Visits from above a Score of Officers, _French_ and _Germans_, whom I had seen at several Courts: At my Quarters I also found the Baron _de Montbel_, who had taken so much fruitless Pains to inquire after my Health when I was a Prisoner in the Citadel of _Bayonne_: To be short, in a very little time, I found as many, and even more Acquaintance than I wanted, especially at my first coming to _Madrid_, where I did not aim at keeping any Company more than was necessary to my obtaining an Employment: I thought immediately how I should be introduc'd to the King and Queen: The Person who procur'd me Audience from his Majesty was one _la Roche_, a _Frenchman_ by Birth, who was the King's chief _Valet de Chambre_, Secretary of his Dispatches, and likewise Introducer of Ambassadors.
'Twas in a private Audience that I had the Honour of waiting on his Majesty: This is different from a public Audience, in that the latter, which is generally for common People, is granted with the Doors open, and in Presence of the Grandees, who are standing on both Sides of the Hall, and cover'd: The King is then seated in a Chair of State, plac'd under a Canopy: From the Entrance of the Audience Room to the King's Chair Three Genuflections are made; and when the Persons, who are honour'd with the Audience, are advanc'd near his Majesty's Person, they deliver what they have to say upon their Knees: _Philip_ V. never makes any other Answer, than _I will see, I will consider it_. After such Audience is ended, the Person who officiates as Master of the Ceremonies gives Notice with an audible Voice, when there is to be a private Audience. The Grandees then retire, and the Doors are shut, and I had my Audience in the manner following: I found the King alone in his Chamber, made my Three Obeisances to him, and when I came near to him fell on my Knees: I then said to him, that having heard his Majesty's Piety and his Zeal for the Catholic Religion highly extoll'd in all Places where-ever I had been; I thought I could not do better than to come and prostrate myself at his Feet, and to offer him my most humble Service; that I had incurr'd the Displeasure of my Sovereign, and lost all Expectation of ever being able to serve with Satisfaction in my own Country, because I had embrac'd the _Romish_ Religion, whereof I shew'd his Majesty a Testimonial, sign'd by the Cardinal _de Noailles_: I also shew'd him a Letter from the King of _Prussia_, with the Grant of the first Pension annex'd to the Office of Gentleman of the Bedchamber, which I had still no doubt enjoy'd, had I not alter'd my Religion: The King took the King of _Prussia_'s Letter, and the Testimonial of the Cardinal _de Noailles_, look'd upon both of them, and return'd them to me, saying, _I will consider your Request, and will soon dispatch you_: I then presented a Memorial to him, which he put in his Pocket, after which I arose, and went backwards out of the Chamber, repeating my Three Obeisances.
From the King's Audience I went to that of the Queen, to which I was introduc'd by her chief _Major-Domo_: This Princess was dress'd in the _Amazons_ Habit, because she was going a Hunting with the King; her first Lady of Honour and some of the Ladies of the Bedchamber were present: I also saw in the Door-way between the Chamber of Audience and the Queen's own Chamber the Prince of _Asturias_, who dy'd King of _Spain_ in 1724, the _Infantes_ his Brothers, and the _Infanta Maria-Anna Victoria_. I deliver'd myself to the Queen in very near the same Words as I had just before to the King, and she return'd me a gracious Answer, that _She should be always glad to serve me as far as lay in her Power_: I withdrew, hugely delighted with so obliging an Answer.
This, _Madame_, was my first setting out at the Court of _Spain_: It was natural, in the first Place, to look after the Main-Chance; for, as I have had the Honour to acquaint you, I had but little Cash; and what was worse Luck than all, no Effects, from which I could hope to raise any, so that if I had thrown myself ever so little into Company, I should have run the Risque of being soon a Beggar: The obliging manner in which the King and Queen had been pleas'd to receive me, was a reviving Cordial to my drooping Spirits: I began to entertain fresh Hopes, and thinking myself already in some Share of Favour, I went abroad among my Acquaintance, I found old Friends, and made new ones, and I had good Success at Play, which I thought a happy Omen, and enabled me to frequent the Court with that Ease and Freedom, which Persons seldom discover whose Finances are out of Order.
I am now to give you a short Account of the Court, and of those who made the greatest Figure at it; I need not treat of the King, all Mankind knows, and the late Wars sufficiently prov'd, that _Lewis_, Dauphin of _France_, Son to _Lewis_ XIV. was his Father: He marry'd to his first Wife _Maria-Louisa Galeriela_ of _Savoy_, who dy'd at _Madrid_ the 14th of _February_, 1714, and whose Memory is still dear to the _Spaniards_; they greatly miss the _Savoyard_, as they call this Princess; The King of _Spain_ had several Children by her; the Eldest was _Don Lewis_, Prince of _Asturias_, afterwards King of _Spain_, by the Resignation of the King his Father in 1724, but this young Prince dy'd the same Year: The Name of the second was _Don Philip_, who was born at _Madrid_ in 1712, and dy'd in 1721; and the third _Don Ferdinand_, now Prince of _Asturias_.
After the Death of that Princess the King marry'd _Elizabeth Farnese_, Niece and Daughter-in-Law to the Duke of _Parma_: By this Princess the King has also had several Princes and Princesses: The Eldest Prince is _Don Carlos_, and was destin'd by the Quadruple Alliance to the Succession of _Tuscany_ and the Duchies of _Parma_ and _Placentia_: The second is _Don Philip_, who was born the 15th of _March_, 1720.
The Queen is tall and handsome, well-shap'd, but slender, and much pitted with the Small-Pox. She has a vast and enterprizing Genius, which no Difficulties can terrify. She made it very plain as soon as she set her Foot on _Spanish_ Ground, that she would not suffer herself to be led by the Nose: For before she had even seen the Face of the King, she banish'd the Princess of _Ursins_, both from the Court and Kingdom, because of the Ascendant she knew that Princess had over the King. She thought also of removing the _French_ from about him, and endeavour'd to put his Majesty out of Conceit with his own Countrymen. The _Spaniards_ were at first well enough pleas'd with all these Alterations, and hop'd that at length one of their own Nation would be singled out for Prime Minister; but they had the Mortification to see themselves govern'd by a Foreigner. The Abbot (afterwards Cardinal) _Alberoni_, by Birth a _Parmesan_, was advanc'd to the chief Dignities both in Church and State, and govern'd _Spain_ with such seeming Success, as made the Subjects entertain great Hopes of him. He gave the Queen a Glimpse of mighty Fortune that was to befal her Son: But a more refin'd Set of Politics knock'd all those vain Projects on the Head; and the Queen was so prejudic'd against him, that she was the first who persuaded the King to remove the Cardinal; which happen'd in the Manner that I have already had the Honour to acquaint you. The Credit of the Queen herself, however, suffer'd some Shock by this Alteration; for the King was for a while undetermin'd what Measures to take, but at length he replac'd all his Confidence in the Queen, and 'tis she that still governs, tho', indeed, she is supported by Ministers who have great Talents for Government.
The Person who had the Charge of Foreign Affairs when I arriv'd at _Madrid_, was the Marquis _Grimaldo_, who had the Reputation of a Man of the strictest Honour and Probity. I had the Favour to see him more than once, and he always receiv'd me with very great Civility. I have been told, that he thorowly knows the King's good Pleasure with regard to such private Men as make their Court to him; and that when he tells a Person the King has a Respect for him, he need not despair of carrying any Point. Nevertheless, I question whether such a Compliment could be safely depended on; for, I observ'd, he paid it to a great many People: And, as for my own Part, _M. Grimaldo_ said to me, that the King was so gracious as to esteem me, before I had even the Honour of paying my Duty to his Majesty.
_M. de Campo Florido_ had the Management of the Finances. He was a very polite disinterested Minister; and 'tis certain that he made none of those Purchases which are always the Consequence of a splendid Fortune. But notwithstanding his being so disinterested, this Minister had the same Fate as all that have the Management of the Finances, not to be belov'd: And tho' when he first came to the Direction of the Finances, he found them in a very bad State, no Allowance was made him upon that Score, but an Account was demanded from him of the Wealth which others had squander'd.
_M. de Castelar_ was Secretary at War, and had been just preferr'd to that Employment as I arriv'd at _Madrid_. He is the civillest Minister I ever knew: And tho' he had such a Weight of Affairs upon him, he had an easy Air, which was a Pleasure to all that had any Business with him. He had another Quality, not very common to Gentlemen in the Ministry, which was to keep no body in Suspence; for People very soon knew what they had to trust to: And whether 'twas a Grant or a Refusal, they were equally satisfy'd with the Minister, who gave with Pleasure, and never refus'd a Request but when 'twas not in his Power to grant it.
These, _Madame_, were the Ministers then employ'd in the several Offices. At that time there was no Prime Minister in _Spain_; for, after Cardinal _Alberoni_'s Disgrace, the King manag'd Affairs himself, or rather the Queen govern'd as the real Sovereign. But as great as her Sway was, she had much ado to get the better of the King's Confessor, who had a great Share in all Affairs. This was the famous Father _Daubanton_, a Jesuit, who had an Ascendant over the King to such a Degree, that nothing of Moment was transacted without his Opinion. He was therefore, in Reality, the Prime Minister of _Spain_; at least he only wanted the Title, for he perform'd the Functions of such a one, but without the Wit, the Finesse, and the Policy of the disgrac'd Minister; for he was severe, merciless, and so hard-hearted, that when he saw Officers reduc'd to the last Extremity for want of their Pay, it gave him no Disturbance. To him I apply'd, as every body else did, to beg the Honour of his Protection; and when I came near him, I found him a haughty proud Man, and one that was extremely rigid. 'Tis true, that when he had to do with Persons from whom he expected any Services, all this Stateliness was laid aside; he was then quite another Man: And was so perfect a Matter of the Art of dissembling, that Civility, Good-nature, and Humility seem'd painted so strongly in his Features, as would induce one to think nothing could be more sincere, and that this external Appearance was the pure Expression of his secret Thoughts. The _Roman_ Purple was, they say, the Centre of all his Views; and, being wholly ambitious of this Dignity, he thought every Measure equally right that had a Tendency to a red Hat. Cardinal _Alberoni_ wheedled him with the Hopes of it one while, just to get some Services of him that he then stood in need of. The Regent of _France_ also gave him a Prospect of it, as a Reward that he might infallibly depend on, if he could prevail on his Catholic Majesty to sign the Treaty of the Quadruple Alliance. This Jesuit set heartily about it, and succeeded; but the Hat, so much aspir'd after, was given to another; and all the Thanks that the Reverend Father had for his Pains, was an Abbey for one pf his Nephews. Something offer'd before I left _Spain_, which will give me occasion to speak to you of this Cardinal again.
Cardinal _Borgia_ was also in very high Favour, but a wrong Person to apply to for Services; which indeed was owing to his Indolence more than any other Reason; for, as to a friendly Temper, I do not think there ever was a Man who possess'd that Virtue in a more eminent Degree. He was withal very devout, but was reckon'd so unlearned, that I have been assur'd he did not know a word of _Latin_; and upon this Head I heard the following Story, which I do not retail to you for Gospel. I was told, that when the Duke of _St. Aignan_, the Ambassador of _France_, was preparing to make this Cardinal a Visit, he was appris'd that his Eminency did not understand _French_. The Ambassador thought it would do every whit as well if he convers'd with him in _Latin_, and therefore he greeted him in that Language; but he found, to his great Surprize, that the Prelate made Answer to him in _Spanish_, that he did not understand the _French_ Tongue; and somebody, who was present at the Audience, telling the Cardinal, that the Ambassador spoke to him not in _French_ but in _Latin_, the Cardinal said, _Aye, but I do not understand Latin-French_: So that there was a Necessity of carrying on the Conversation by an Interpreter.
Tho' the Characters of the Ministers and Favourites were so different, there was a Necessity of my conforming to them all, in Hopes that the Steps I had taken would not be in vain. I took great Care therefore to see them all, to desire them to speak in my Favour. Whether they did so, I know not; nor whether the little Ray of Fortune which began to shine upon me, but soon vanish'd, was the Effect of their Recommendations, or to an Impression I had made upon the King's Heart, by the Narrative I had given him of the State of my Affairs, the Disorder of which had been owing in the first Place to my changing my Religion, which had forc'd me to quit the Service of my Sovereign. Be this as it will, I received a very favourable Answer to the Memorial which I had the Honour of presenting to the King: He granted me a Lieutenant-Colonel's Commission in the future Regiment of _Sicily_, together with the _Soldo vivo_, which amounted to about Sixteen Pistoles a Month. What they call the _Soldo vivo_ in _Spain_ is, when the same Pay is advanc'd as if the Corps was actually on an Establishment or Footing. I thought this very handsome Pay, and that my Affairs were already in a promising way. I found that with such a Sum an Officer might maintain himself very well in his Quarters. I actually form'd Schemes for a Settlement; and, having paid dear for my Folly, I began to talk of House-keeping. I computed, that with what would now be my Income from _Spain_, and what was to revert to me from my own Family, I should be able to repair my tatter'd Equipage, and to appear in a decent Manner, till such time as Fortune, which now began to be something kinder than usual, had put me in a Condition to make the Figure I aspir'd to.
As soon as the King had admitted me into his Service, I did not fail to wait on him with my most humble Acknowledgments: I had also the Honour of thanking the Queen, to whom I made my Compliment in _High-Dutch_, and that Princess return'd me her Answer in the same Language. Soon after this I set out for _Arragon_, where the Regiment in which I was to serve was then in Quarters. But as I came into _Spain_ with very little Money, I was soon oblig'd to return to _Madrid_, to desire some small Gratuity, till I receiv'd my Pay. Some of my Friends advis'd me to ask boldly for a handsome round Sum, or for a Pension upon Benefices; because if I depended on my Pay for Subsistance, I should be very much out in my Reckoning; that in _Spain_, more than elsewhere, they were backward in their Pay, and always one Year in Arrear, and sometimes two or three, according as they dun the Minister, or dawb the Treasurer's Fist. This News put me a little out of Temper, and from that time I began to perceive that Fortune would jilt me as much in _Spain_ as she had done elsewhere: Nevertheless, my Courage did not quite fail me, I apply'd to the Secretary at War, who referred me to Father _Daubanton_, and the latter told me, with all the Solemnity that could be, that 'twas none of his Business. You see, _Madame_, that this was a fine Setting out: However, I was not dishearten'd: And being so much us'd as I was to Rebuffs, I had as lieve be deny'd twice as once. I rapp'd at various Doors, but they were all either shut against me, or, if open'd, 'twas to no Purpose. I resolv'd to address myself immediately to the King, and had the Honour of presenting a Petition to him, in which I gave him an Account of my present Situation: 1st, By the Disaster of the Bank Bills; and, 2dly, by the strange Procedure of the King's Lieutenant at _Bayonne_. The King, when he took my Petition, answer'd, _I will consider it._ It must be observ'd, that the King was then at _Aranjuez_, for which Reason there was no Minister with him but _M. de Grimaldo_. This was the Minister to whom the other Secretaries of War and the Finances, and the President of the Council of _Castile_, were oblig'd to address their Dispatches, which was some Hindrance to Business; but, in short, such is the Practice of the _Spanish_ Court. For the Councils only attend the King at _Buen Retiro_, and this because 'tis in _Madrid_ itself; for as soon as the King goes from his Capital City, all Affairs pass thro' the Hands of a single Minister.
I waited therefore upon _M. de Grimaldo_, to know the Result of my Petition. This Minister, according to his laudable Custom, told me, that the King had a very great Esteem for me: This thread-bare Answer was very little Comfort to me; and even tho' it were true that his Majesty honour'd me with his Esteem, I saw plainly that mine was a Situation in which the Esteem of Princes is mere Whip-Cream, if it be not accompany'd with something solid. I earnestly press'd _M. de Grimaldo_ that he would be so kind as to procure me something else besides Esteem. At last, after several Goings backward and forward, the Minister said to me one Day, with a Smile, that my Affairs went on swimmingly: I immediately thought my Business done, and wanted nothing but to know the Value of the Gratuity or Pension that was granted to me: But there was nothing in it; the good Turn that my Affairs had taken, was only to be referr'd back again to Father _Daubanton_. I waited, therefore, on the Reverend Father, and, with all possible Respect, ask'd him, what was the Effect of a Petition that had been referr'd to him? And to this humble Request I added another, still more humble, which was to obtain the Honour of his Protection: But my Compliment and my Respects were not very welcome, and he answer'd me, very short: _Do you imagine, Sir, that I have nothing else to do, but to think of your Petition: I have not yet seen it, Sir, nor do I know whether it has ever been sent to me._ I reply'd, but still with the profoundest Respect, that _M. de Grimaldo_ had told me that----_Alas!_ said he, interrupting me, _M. de Grimaldo! M. de Grimaldo!_ And the Words were no sooner out of his Mouth, but he whipp'd into his Closet, and slapp'd the Door in my Face. I saw plainly that the Wind did not sit right for his Reverence, and therefore lay by till next Day: Then I made up to him again much about the Time that I knew he us'd to go to the King, and planted myself in a Nook of his Entry, in the humble Posture of a Supplicant: The Jesuit, his Companion, seeing me there, desir'd me to walk into the Antichamber; but I could not be prevail'd on to accept of an Honour which I said did not belong to me; tho' the Truth was, that I chose to stay in the Entry, as the surest Place of speaking with the Confessor; for I had observ'd, that the Reverend Father often put the Bite upon People that waited for him in the Antichamber, by stealing out at a private Door that open'd into the Entry where I then was. I stay'd there a full Hour, when, as I had before imagin'd, I saw my Gentleman slipping out at the private Door: I accosted him in the Passage, and humbly put him in Mind, that I had the Honour of speaking to him the Day before: I found him in a little better Humour than he was then, for he promis'd me that he would speak to the King, and bid me attend him for the Answer next Day. You will imagine that I did not fail to be there: He told me then, that he had not an Opportunity as yet of speaking to the King about my Affair, but that he would infallibly mention it to him in a few Days: Mean time these Days amounted insensibly to Weeks, and the Weeks to Months, which had like to have put me out of all manner of Patience. I could not be reproach'd with Want of Solicitation, for certainly there was not a Morning but I took my Walk in the Confessor's Antichamber, where he saw me sure enough, and would sometimes honour me with a Nod, and at other times with a Frown: And, in fine, after having so often danc'd Attendance, all I could obtain was a formal Denial.
I own to you, _Madame_, I was a little stunn'd by this Shock: For I had neither Money nor Credit, and knew not who I could ask to lend me a Sum, till I receiv'd a Quarter's Wages: Besides, how could I depend upon such Pay as was put off from one Year to another? In this sad Situation I was so fortunate as to make an Acquaintance with Mr. _Stanhope_, by the means of one _Holtzendorff_, that Minister's Secretary, who was a Native of _Berlin_, and has a Brother a _Valet de Chambre_ to the King of _Prussia_. He was glad to shew me his Acknowledgment of some Services my Relations had done him, by bringing me acquainted with his Master. Mr. _Stanhope_ was wonderfully kind to me, and even interceded in my Favour with the Confessor, and with _M. Scotti_, the Minister of _Parma_, who could do any thing with the Queen; but Mr. _Stanhope_ had no better Success than I had: However, he did me all the Services in his Power, press'd me to accept of his Table, offer'd me also his Equipage, and advanc'd me some Money: In a Word, he treated me as the best Friend I had could have done; and I may say, that I have substantial Obligations to that Gentleman, because, if it had not been for him, _all my Days_ in Spain _would have been Sorrows, and my Travel Grief_[28].
While I lost so much Time in solliciting Father _Daubanton_, I did not omit to take Notice of what was remarkable, not only at _Madrid_ but the Royal Palaces, to which the Court remov'd from time to time. _Madrid_ is, properly speaking, the Capital City of all _Spain_, and the common Residence of its Kings, who have a large Palace there, the chief Front of which was built by the Emperor _Charles_ V. The Inside has been alter'd for the better, and much embellish'd by _Philip_ V. The Castle is at the End of a large Court which forms a long Square: The Two Sides of this Court are lin'd with low Buildings, Part whereof serves as a Guard-house for the _Spanish_ and _Walloon_ Guards, who range themselves in Two Rows in this Court, when the King or any of the Royal Family passes thro' it. At the Entrance of this Court there are Three grand Portico's. The Front of the Palace on the Court-side consists of a main Pile of Building, in the Centre between Two very narrow Pavilions; and at the Entrance of each is a great Gate: The middlemost, which is the principal, is very darksome, and leads into a very spacious Area, arch'd over, where several Coaches may turn at one and the same time: This separates Two Square Courts of the same Size and Structure, encompass'd with a Range of Free-Stone Pillars, that form a Piazza which runs all round it. In the Court, which is on the Right Hand, is the Stair-Case, which leads up to the Apartments of the King and Queen; and in the other are the Offices of the Ministers.