raised her to St. Peter’s chair; her amours would have been natural....’ D’Eon’s immediate ancestors were in the habit, it would appear, of writing their family name, Déon. Upon being accredited Resident, and afterwards Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Great Britain, Louis XV. was pleased to distinguish the Chevalier’s name by substituting E for e, changing Déon to D’Eon, orthography the author has observed with reference to the Chevalier. Late in life, the Chevalière wrote her name, occasionally d’Eon, at other times D’eon, until the French Revolution, when, for a season, her signature appears as Déon, bearing the prefix, La Citoyenne Geneviève. In concluding these introductory remarks, the author has one pleasant duty left, that of offering his acknowledgments to Mr. JAMES H. B. CHRISTIE, of Framingham, Norwich, and King Street, St. James’, and of expressing his obligations to that gentleman for the liberality and freedom with which he has been permitted to consult the interesting MSS., short of which it would have been simply impossible to produce, in its present form, the account of this Strange Career. LONDON, _December, 1884_. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I. Birth of D’Eon de Beaumont and registry as a male child—Parentage—Consecrated to the Virgin Mary and admitted to the Sisterhood—Pursues studies as a boy—Early display of abilities—As secret agent, is sent to Russia by Louis XV.—Reception at St. Petersburg—Enemies and friends—Leaves for Versailles—Invited to enter the service of Russia 1 CHAPTER II. Sir Hanbury Williams and Count Woronzoff—The Empress Elizabeth’s message to France—Chevalier Douglas, French Chargé d’Affaires in Russia, with D’Eon as Secretary—Commencement of the Seven Years’ War—Count Apraxin’s defection—D’Eon leaves for Versailles—Trait of character—Reception by Louis XV. and Ministers—Proceeds to Russia—The will of Peter the Great—Bestoujeff’s opinion of D’Eon—Poniatovsky and his diamond—D’Eon as a fencer—Bestoujeff’s arrest—D’Eon again invited to take service in Russia 18 CHAPTER III. Progress of the war—The Duke de Choiseul’s designs against England—Change of policy—D’Eon’s advice to the French Ambassador—Approved by Louis XV.—D’Eon’s failing health—The Marquis de l’Hôpital—Baron de Breteuil admitted to the secret correspondence—The King’s secret orders to D’Eon—Testimonies to his abilities—Leaves Russia for the last time—Gift from the Empress—On the staff of the Marshal and Count de Broglio—Distinguished services during the campaign of 1761—Exile of the de Broglios—Death of Elizabeth 36 CHAPTER IV.