The young Duchess died yesterday evening (22nd March, 1720).  The Duke’s joy at the death of his wife will be greatly diminished when he learns that she has bequeathed to her sister, Mademoiselle de la Roche-sur-Yon, all her property; and as the husband and wife lived according to the custom of Paris, ‘en communaute’, the Duke will be obliged to refund the half of all he gained by Law’s bank.

After the death of the younger Duchess, the Princesse de Conti, her mother, wrote to a Chevalier named Du Challar, who was the lover of the deceased, to beg him to come and see her, as he was the only object left connected with her daughter, and assuring him that he might reckon upon her services in everything that depended upon her.  It was the younger Duchess who was so fond of Lasse, and who had been so familiar with him at a masked ball.

I recognized only two good qualities in her:  her respect and affection for her grandmother, the Princess, and the skill with which she concealed her faults.  Beside this, she was good for nothing, in whatever way her character is regarded.  That she was treacherous is quite certain; and she shortened her life by her improper conduct.  She neither loved nor hated her husband, and they lived together more like brother and sister than husband and wife.

The Elector of Bavaria, during his stay at Paris, instead of visiting his nephews and nieces, passed all his time, by day and by night, with the Duchess and her daughters.  As to me, he fled me as he would fly the plague, and never spoke to me but in the company of M. de Torcy.  The Duchess had three of the handsomest daughters in the world:  the one called Mademoiselle de Clermont is extremely beautiful; but I think her sister, the Princesse de Conti, more amiable.  The Duchess can drink very copiously without being affected; her daughters would fain imitate her, but they soon get tipsy, and cannot control themselves as their mother can.

SECTION XXVII.—­LOUIS III., DUC DE BOURBON.

It is said that the Duke has solid parts; he does everything with a certain nobility; he has a good person, but the loss of that eye, which the Duc de Berri struck out, disfigures him much.  He is certainly very politic, and this quality he has from his mother.  He is polite and well-bred; his mind is not very comprehensive, and he has been badly instructed.  They say he is unfit for business for three reasons:  first, on account of his ignorance; secondly, for his want of application; and, thirdly, for his impatience.  I can see that in examining him narrowly one would find many defects in him; but he has also many praiseworthy qualities, and he possesses many friends.  He has a greatness and nobility of soul, and a good deportment.

The Prince is in love with Madame de Polignac; but she is fond of the Duke, who cannot yet forget Madame de Nesle, although she has dismissed him to make room for that great calf, the Prince of Soubise.  The latter person is reported to have said, “Why does the Duke complain?  Have I not consented to share Madame de Nesle’s favours with him whenever he chooses?”