Boutaric (i. 81), writing in 1866, says: ‘About the year 1755 (_vers_ 1755) was conducted a negotiation (during the interrupted diplomatic relations between France and Russia), from which the Count de Broglie was excluded, but wherein took part a personage whose name has become celebrated, the Chevalier D’Eon.’ It was with no greater precision, that the Archivist of the Empire was enabled to fix the date of the Chevalier Douglas’ departure for Russia (no great matter for surprise) seeing that _neither amongst the national archives, nor at the ministry for foreign affairs, are to be found any papers whatever relating to Douglas’ first journey to Russia!_[393] A deficiency, however, that has been supplied by Vandal (p. 263), and at p. 12 of this book upon the authority of the British ambassador at St. Petersburg, the arrival at the Russian capital of the King of France’s secret agent having unquestionably taken place in October, 1755. That D’Eon went with Douglas appears from several of the Chevalier’s indirect statements to that effect, and by some fortuitous but very forcible testimony. D’EON. To the Duke de Praslin, August 28, and September 13, 1763. Appeals earnestly for pecuniary assistance to enable him to pay off a loan he had contracted _nine years previously_, to enable him to proceed to Russia on duty for the King, upon his first journey with the Chevalier Douglas, which was the origin of all the negotiations of the Court of Versailles with that of St. Petersburg. (See also ‘Covenant,’ p. 246.) In the _Note_ to the Count de Guerchy, 1763, D’Eon styles himself as having been ‘_sent to Russia with the Chevalier Douglas for the reunion of the two Courts_,’ and being afterwards secretary of Embassy at the Court of Elizabeth. In the ‘Discours Préliminaire’ to the ‘Lettres, Mémoires,’ &c., published in 1764. ‘_Towards the end of the year 1755, my destiny dragged me into diplomacy_, although I was inclined rather for a soldier’s life.’ To Beaumarchais, January 7, 1776. (See pp. 267 and 271.) ‘You know how I have upon six occasions flown from one end of the world to the other, travelling night and day, _to hasten in 1755 and 1756 the reunion of France and Russia_.’ Note written in 1776. ‘I know how to conduct myself abroad ... with the prudence and policy acquired by long experience and _a residence of twenty-two years in foreign lands_,’ see p. 243. To the Count de Vergennes, May 28, 1776. ‘... None but those concerned were informed of this political intrigue, _commenced in 1755 by the Prince de Conti and Tercier, and executed by the Chevalier Douglas and myself only_.’ OTHER AUTHORITIES. La Messalière, p. 74. ‘_Douglas awaited at Anhalt the arrival of D’Eon from Paris_, and on reaching St. Petersburg they pretended to be merchants of low degree,’ &c.