In 1775, Beaumarchais and the comedians were living on the best of terms as well may be supposed. Never had the _Comédie_ received such fabulous returns from any play heretofore produced. Never had actors entered with more spirit into the views of their author. “As many times as you please, Messieurs, to give the _Barbier de Séville_, I will endure it with resignation. And may you burst with people for I am the friend of your successes and the lover of my own!--If the public is contented and if you are, I shall be also. I should like to be able to say as much for the critics; but though you have done all that is possible to give the piece to the best advantage and played like angels, you will have to renounce their support; one cannot please everybody.” During the summer the matter of the _Barbier de Séville_ seems to have dropped, owing no doubt to the fact that Beaumarchais was occupied completely with his secret mission and with his ardent addresses to the king in relation to the insurgent colonies. It will be remembered also that it was in August of this same year that the elder Caron breathed his last. We have given already the letter written on his death-bed where the venerable old watchmaker with expiring breath blessed his son who always had been his pride and honor, as well as his devoted friend. And so to return to the case of the _Comédie-Française_. In December, 1775, being for a short time in Paris, Beaumarchais addressed himself to the comedians, in a letter the tone and matter of which show that his solicitude as an author had been aroused by a suspicion that they were trying to make his piece _tomber dans les règles_, and so confiscate it, by giving it on a day when some special performance at Versailles was liable to attract thither a large portion of the theater-going public. He wrote in a spirited way demanding that something be substituted for the _Barbier_ on that night. The letter terminates thus, “All the good days except Saturday, the 23rd of December, 1775, you will give me the greatest pleasure to satisfy with the _Barbier_, the small number of its admirers. For that day only, it will be easy to admit the validity of my excuses, recognized by the _Comédie_ itself. I have the honor to be, etc. “Caron de Beaumarchais.” “In re-reading my letter I reflect that the _Comédie_ may be embarrassed for Saturday because all the great tragedians are at Versailles. If that is the reason--Why did you not tell me simply how the matter stood? He who seems strict and rigorous in discussing his affairs is often the man who is the easiest in obliging his friends.--I should be distressed if the _Comédie_ had the smallest occasion to complain of me, as I hope always to have nothing but praise for it. “Reply if you please. Paris, December 20th 1775.”