‘This singular being (because the Sieur D’Eon is a female) is, more so than many others, a compound of good qualities and of faults, and he carries the one and the other to extremes. It will be necessary that I should have the honour of entering into the minutest details on this subject, so soon as your Majesty will have definitely decided in the matter of the secret correspondence. In the meantime, I venture to take the liberty to entreat that his case be not determined until I shall have submitted my respectful observations thereon to your Majesty. I must not conclude these observations on the Sieur D’Eon without having the honour of stating that he occasionally signs his letters, “William Wolff.” ...’[273] [Sidenote: ABOLITION OF THE SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.] All the details of the secret correspondence, as they were fully treated upon by the Count de Broglio, proved entirely novel to the King, who promptly put an end to the system. The money allowed for this secret service by Louis XV. amounted to 120,000 livres annually, his confidential agents, with one sole exception, being in the service of the State, and in receipt of established salaries—as ambassadors, ministers, residents or secretaries of Embassy; but to several, the reduction of their emoluments by discontinuance of the secret correspondence allowances would prove a serious inconvenience, the count therefore submitted a plan for ensuring to his former colleagues, the faithful depositaries of State secrets, a life-pension as a reward for their loyalty and discretion. Approving the scheme, the King responded liberally, and life-pensions, varying from 1,100 livres to 20,000 livres per annum, were settled upon the various members of the abolished department, D’Eon excepted, whose case necessitated special and careful consideration. As to the count himself and his recall from exile, he insisted upon a thorough investigation into his conduct, whether as regarded his personal acts or his correspondence, both of which too clearly proved how completely removed from the slightest taint had been his loyalty and integrity of purpose. ‘I have found amongst the King’s effects,’ wrote Louis XVI., ‘several maps and papers, such as you have intimated to me, and have tied them together. I have since made every inquiry respecting yourself, and find that in all you did you acted in accordance with the King’s orders. You have therefore my permission to return to Paris or to Court at Compiègne.... I approve of your writing to the several ministers to instruct them to discontinue the correspondence. I send you a rough draft of the letters which you must send to me for my signature. As regards yourself, sir, you will collect the whole of your papers upon your arrival in Paris, for delivery to M. de Vergennes, after which you may take your rest.’[274] [Sidenote: CLAIMS TO CONSIDERATION.]