‘And this act has been made out in duplicate, between us, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, and Charles-Geneviève-Louise-Augusta-André-Timothée D’Eon de Beaumont, under private seal, giving to it, on one side and the other, the most complete force and assent, and we have, each of us, affixed the seals of our arms, in London, the fifth day of October, 1775.[304] ‘(Signed) CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS. ‘D’EON DE BEAUMONT.’ [Sidenote: THE KING’S WARRANTS.] When the wording of this Covenant had been first agreed upon, Beaumarchais went to Staunton Harold, paid a large portion of the sum presumably owing to Lord Ferrers, then left for France, returning almost immediately, bringing with him three warrants the production of which was indispensable to the signing of the Covenant no longer delayed, and effected on November 4. Those warrants, all bearing the same date, we reproduce in full—the first confers on Beaumarchais full powers to negotiate with D’Eon for the surrender of the official and secret correspondence of Louis XV.—the second grants permission to D’Eon to return to France—the third requires the Demoiselle D’Eon to reassume female attire, the right to wear the cross of Saint Louis being at the same time conceded to her. I. IN THE KING’S NAME. ‘His Majesty being informed that there are in the possession of the Sieur D’Eon de Beaumont sundry papers relating to secret negotiations and correspondence with the late King, his most honoured grandfather, and with some of his Ministers of State, and it being his Majesty’s desire that these papers should be withdrawn, he has to this end empowered and commissioned by these presents the Sieur Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais to proceed to London, there to discover all the documents in question, to withdraw them out of the hands or custody of whoever may have them, to take charge of them, to bring them to France, and to deliver them for his Majesty. His Majesty authorises the Sieur Caron de Beaumarchais to make all such arrangements and dispositions as he may deem necessary, with the view of enforcing all the conditions that prudence will suggest, for the complete execution of the commission confided to him, his Majesty being pleased to trust to his intelligence and zeal in this matter. And as assurance of his will, his Majesty has of his own hand signed the present order, which he has caused to be countersigned by me, Councillor, Secretary of State for his commands and finance. [Illustration: L.S.] ‘LOUIS. ‘(Signed) GRAVIER DE VERGENNES.’ ‘At Versailles, August 25, 1775.’ To a certified copy of the above warrant was appended the following affirmation:—