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an had amused Paris by the ridicule they threw upon a Parliament which was disliked； and his admission to an intimacy with M。 de Maurepas procured him a degree of influence over important affairs。 He then became ambitious of influencing public opinion by a kind of drama； in which established manners and customs should be held up to popular derision and the ridicule of the new philosophers。 After several years of prosperity the minds of the French had become more generally critical； and when Beaumarchais had finished his monstrous but diverting 〃Mariage de Figaro；〃 all people of any consequence were eager for the gratification of hearing it read； the censors having decided that it should not be performed。 These readings of 〃Figaro〃 grew so numerous that people were daily heard to say； 〃I have been （or I am going to be） at the reading of Beaumarchais's play。〃 The desire to see it performed became universal； an expression that he had the art to use compelled； as it were； the approbation of the nobility； or of persons in power； who aimed at ranking among the magnanimous； he made his 〃Figaro〃 say that 〃none but little minds dreaded little books。〃 The Baron de Breteuil； and all the men of Madame de Polignac's circle； entered the lists as the warmest protectors of the comedy。 Solicitations to the King became so pressing that his Majesty determined to judge for himself of a work which so much engrossed public attention； and desired me to ask M。 Le Noir； lieutenant of police； for the manuscript of the 〃Mariage de Figaro。〃 One morning I received a note from the Queen ordering me to be with her at three o'clock； and not to come without having dined； for she should detain me some time。 When I got to the Queen's inner closet I found her alone with the King； a chair and a small table were ready placed opposite to them； and upon the table lay an enormous manuscript in several books。 The King said to me； 〃There is Beaumarchais's comedy； you must read it to us。 You will find several parts troublesome on account of the erasures and references。 I have already run it over； but I wish the Queen to be acquainted with the work。 You will not mention this reading to any one。〃
I began。 The King frequently interrupted me by praise or censure； which was always just。 He frequently exclaimed； 〃That's in bad taste； this man continually brings the Italian concetti on the stage。〃 At that soliloquy of Figaro in which he attacks various points of government； and especially at the tirade against State prisons； the King rose up and said； indignantly：
〃That's detestable； that shall never be played； the Bastille must be destroyed before the license to act this play can be any other than an act of the most dangerous inconsistency。 This man scoffs at everything that should be respected in a government。〃
〃It will not be played； then？〃 said the Queen。
〃No； certainly；〃 replied Louis XVI。； 〃you may rely upon that。〃
Still it was constantly reported that 〃Figaro〃 was about to be performed； there were even wagers laid upon the subject； I never should have laid any myself； fancying that I was better informed as to the probability than anybody else； if I had； however； I should have been completely deceived。 The protectors of Beaumarchais； feeling certain that they would succeed in their scheme of making his work public in spite of the King's prohibition； distributed the parts in the 〃Mariage de Figaro〃 among the actors of the Theatre Francais。 Beaumarchais had made them enter into the spirit of his characters； and they determined to enjoy at least one performance of this so…called chef d'oeuvre。 The first gentlemen of the chamber agreed that M。 de la Ferte should lend the theatre of the Hotel des Menus Plaisirs； at Paris； which was used for rehearsals of the opera； tickets were distributed to a vast number of leaders of society； and the day for the performance was fixed。 The King heard of all this only on the very morning； and signed a 'lettre de cachet；'＇A 'lettre de cachet' was any written order proceeding from the King。 The term was not confined merely to orders for arrest。＇ which prohibited the performance。 When the messenger who brought the order arrived； he found a part of the theatre already filled with spectators； and the streets leading to the Hotel des Menus Plaisirs filled with carriages； the piece was not performed。 This prohibition of the King's was looked upon as an attack on public liberty。
The disappointment produced such discontent that the words oppression and tyranny were uttered with no less passion and bitterness at that time than during the days which immediately preceded the downfall of the throne。 Beaumarchais was so far put off his guard by rage as to exclaim； 〃Well； gentlemen； he won't suffer it to be played here； but I swear it shall be played；perhaps in the very choir of Notre…Dame！〃 There was something prophetic in these words。 It was generally insinuated shortly afterwards that Beaumarchais had determined to suppress all those parts of his work which could be obnoxious to the Government； and on pretence of judging of the sacrifices made by the author； M。 de Vaudreuil obtained permission to have this far…famed 〃Mariage de Figaro〃 performed at his country house。 M。 Campan was asked there； he had frequently heard the work read； and did not now find the alterations that had been announced； this he observed to several persons belonging to the Court； who maintained that the author had made all the sacrifices required。 M。 Campan was so astonished at these persistent assertions of an obvious falsehood that he replied by a quotation from Beaumarchais himself； and assuming the tone of Basilio in the 〃Barbier de Seville；〃 he said； 〃Faith； gentlemen； I don't know who is deceived here； everybody is in the secret。〃 They then came to the point； and begged him to tell the Queen positively that all which had been pronounced reprehensible in M。 de Beaumarchais's play had been cut out。 My father…in…law contented himself with replying that his situation at Court would not allow of his giving an opinion unless the Queen should first speak of the piece to him。 The Queen said nothing to him about the matter。 Shortly； afterwards permission to perform this play was at length obtained。 The Queen thought the people of Paris would be finely tricked when they saw merely an ill…conceived piece； devoid of interest； as it must appear when deprived of its Satire。
＇The King；〃 says Grimm； 〃made sure that the public would judge unfavourably of the work。 He said to the Marquis de Montesquiou； who was going to see the first representation； 〃Well； what do you augur of its success？''Sire； I hope the piece will fail。''And so do I；' replied the King。
〃There is something still more ridiculous than my piece；〃 said Beaumarchais himself； 〃that is； its success。〃 Mademoiselle Arnould foresaw it the first day； and exclaimed； 〃It is a production that will fail fifty nights successively。〃 There was as crowded an audience on the seventy…second night as on the first。 The following is extracted from Grimm's 'Correspondence。〃
〃Answer of M。 de Beaumarchais to …；who requested the use of his private box for some ladies desirous of seeing 'Figaro' without being themselves seen。
〃I have no respect for women who indulge themselves in seeing any play which they think indecorous； provided they can do so in secret。 I lend myself to no such acts。 I have given my piece to the public； to amuse； and not to instruct； not to give any compounding prudes the pleasure of going to admire it in a private box； and balancing their account with conscience by censuring it in company。 To indulge in the pleasure of vice and assume the credit of virtue is the hypocrisy of the age。 My piece is not of a doubtful nature； it must be patronised in good earnest； or avoided altogether； therefore； with all respect to you； I shall keep my box。〃 This letter was circulated all over Paris for a week。＇
Under the persuasion that there was not a passage left capable of malicious or dangerous application； Monsieur attended the first performance in a public box。 The mad enthusiasm of the public in favour of the piece and Monsieur's just displeasure are well known。 The author was sent to prison soon afterwards； though his work was extolled to the skies； and though the Court durst not suspend its performance。
The Queen testified her displeasure against all who had assisted the author of the 〃Mariage de Figaro〃 to deceive the King into giving his consent that it should be represented。 Her reproaches were more particularly directed against M。 de Vaudreuil for having had it performed at his house。 The violent and domineering disposition of her favourite's friend at last became disagreeable to her。
One evening； on the Queen's return from the Duchess's； she desired her 'valet de chambre' to bring her billiard cue into her closet； and ordered me to open the box that contained it。 I took out the cue； broken in two。 It was of ivory； and formed of one single elephant's tooth； the butt was of gold and very tastefully wrought。 〃There；〃 said she； 〃that is the wa