[Sidenote: IRRITATING CORRESPONDENCE.] Simultaneously with the griefs that were being so vigorously laid before de Praslin, the Chevalier was indulging in a brisk interchange of letters with de Guerchy, in which he vindicated himself with no little dexterity against the charges of wanton extravagance as host at the embassy in London, for the general maintenance of which the count was solely responsible, the liberal allowance of a minister at one of the first Courts in Europe being enjoyed by him, though only ambassador _in petto_, and not by the minister plenipotentiary _in situ_. The spirit of satire and sarcasm in which D’Eon had latterly indited his letters to both those ministers was more than either could bear with; but, forgetting their dignity in the face of what, after all, was gross insubordination, they gave way to a feeling of resentment, the former in admonitions and threats, after receipt of the ‘churlish’ note; the latter, by being offensive and insulting, and persisting in peevish and unbecoming lamentations on the frequent requisitions to which his pocket was subjected. We cannot undertake to reproduce in full the mutual recriminations, brimming with scorn, that brought to a close the unseemly paper war which irrevocably sealed the fate of the Chevalier D’Eon; but we must at least find room for a few of the ugly things that were said by the strong, as well as by him who was on the defensive, and whom they were deliberately luring to his destruction. _The Duke de Praslin to the Chevalier D’Eon._ ‘Paris, September 17, 1763. ‘Sir,—I never could have believed that the title of Minister Plenipotentiary would cause you so quickly to forget the point whence you have started, and I had no reason to expect that your aspirations would increase in proportion as you received new favours.... I cannot conceive the necessity for the extraordinary outlay at the expense of the Count de Guerchy, and which is quite out of place. I do not conceal from you my displeasure at your having involved in so great expenditure one to whom I am attached, and in whom I take such an interest, and who trusted in you on my recommendation.... I hope that you will take better care of other people’s money for the future, and that you will endeavour to be as useful to him as you have been to the Duke de Nivernois, &c. &c.’ This and much more was irritating matter enough, and might perhaps have been borne with patience by the Chevalier; but one other paragraph there was which placidly gave him the lie, and banished all hopes of relief out of his financial difficulties, so long as de Praslin remained at the Foreign Ministry. ‘I gave you no reason to expect the reimbursement of your former journey to Russia, because three of my predecessors upon whom you made a similar demand had not, it appeared, found it legitimate.’