After the death of Madame de Pompadour, the journal of this waiting-woman fell into the hands of M. de Marigny, brother of the favorite, with whom it remained in manuscript form for some years.  It was finally published, in 1802, ostensibly as “Drawn from the Portfolio of the Marechale D——­ by Soulavie”; but the French editors, MM.  Vitrac and Galopin, assert that Soulavie only lent his name to the work.  They also call attention to the fact that a History of Madame de Pompadour, by Mlle. Fouque, was published in London, as early as 1759.  But no such general history, or biography, could possibly have the intimate value of a document written at the closest range of its subject.  “These Memoirs,” say the French editors, “give a faithful portrait of Madame de Pompadour....  They are clearly hostile, as are nearly all documents preserved about her; for it was one of the evil fortunes of Madame de Pompadour to be made known to us chiefly through her enemies, D’Argenson, the Duc de Luynes, and Richelieu.”

The above opinion sums up neatly the consensus of historical opinion concerning this famous woman.  She has, indeed, been in the hands of her enemies, ever since the day of her death, in 1764.  But this fact is not surprising.  The mistress of a weak monarch, she made use of her large influence over him to further her own ends and appoint her own ministers to power.  She was, in fact, “the King.”  Michelet, the historian, asserts in so many words that she “reigned twenty years,” and he admits that “although of mean birth, she had some patriotic ideas.”  However, leaving the question of her political career aside, for the moment, the reader will be interested to make the acquaintance of this remarkable woman, herself.  Who was she?  What was the secret of her long continued hold upon the King?  Louis XV. was a notoriously fickle monarch, whose many amours have become a part of history.  But none exercised the influence over him—­and over all France, through him—­as did this person of “mean birth.”  Even her enemies have had to admit her wonderful executive ability, in addition to her womanly charms.  These Memoirs, though rambling and without strict sequence, answer our many questions interestingly.  They have been written, very evidently, by an inmate of the household.  They give, in addition, much of the secret history of the Court at this important period, and point out, to the discerning reader, a few of the chief causes which were to make possible the French Revolution, at the century’s close.

Madame de Pompadour’s elevation to power was the result neither of chance nor of romance.  It was brought about by a carefully laid plan, on the part of her parents and certain scheming politicians, to make use of a beautiful girl to advance their own interests.  Jeanne Poisson was born in 1722, and at an early age gave evidence of such unusual qualities, that her mother and her guardian, M. Le Normant de