D’EON DE BEAUMONT [Illustration: THE CHEVALIER D’EON 1770 _From the Portrait by Huquier_] D’EON DE BEAUMONT HIS LIFE AND TIMES COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM UNPUBLISHED PAPERS AND LETTERS BY OCTAVE HOMBERG AND FERNAND JOUSSELIN AND NOW TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY ALFRED RIEU LONDON: MARTIN SECKER NUMBER FIVE JOHN STREET ADELPHI MCMXI CONTENTS PAGE I FROM TONNERRE TO ST. PETERSBURG Childhood—His first Successes and Friends—Enters Diplomatic Service—Employed also by Louis XV. in his “Secret” Diplomacy—Mission to Russia—Attached to Chevalier Douglas in negotiating the Alliance of France and Russia—Triumphant Return to Paris 17-43 II DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY Returns to Russia to join Marquis de L’Hospital—Embassy of Baron de Breteuil—Carries the Ratification of the Treaty with Russia to France, 1758—Gives up Diplomacy for the Army and is appointed Aide-de-Camp to Marshal de Broglie—His brilliant Services during the Seven Years’ War—Enters the Diplomatic Service again and accompanies the Duc de Nivernais to London 44-60 III IN LONDON Difficult Negotiations in London to bring about the Peace of 1763—The English Government entrusts d’Eon to carry the Ratification of the Treaty to Paris—He receives the Cross of St. Louis—The Comte de Guerchy appointed to succeed the Duc de Nivernais as Ambassador in London—D’Eon acts as Minister Plenipotentiary in the Interim—Arrogates to himself the Style and Position of Ambassador and quarrels with the Duc de Praslin and de Guerchy 61-80 IV CONTENTION WITH DE GUERCHY Comte de Guerchy arrives in London—D’Eon is disgraced and takes Steps to revenge himself—Accuses de Guerchy of attempting to murder him—The de Vergy Case—Mission of Carrelet de la Rozière—The Duc de Choiseul urges d’Eon to return to France and to restore the Secret Service Papers to the King—His Extradition refused by the English Government—D’Eon’s Letter to his Mother 81-99 V LAWSUITS AND A PENSION