The Comte du Barry, surnamed ‘le roue’ (the profligate), and Mademoiselle du Barry advised, or rather prompted, Madame du Barry in furtherance of the plans of the party of the Marechal de Richelieu and the Duc d’Aiguillon.  Sometimes they even set her to act in such a way as to have a useful influence upon great political measures.  Under pretence that the page who accompanied Charles I. in his flight was a Du Barry or Barrymore, they persuaded the Comtesse du Barry to buy in London that fine portrait which we now have in the Museum.  She had the picture placed in her drawing-room, and when she saw the King hesitating upon the violent measure of breaking up his Parliament, and forming that which was called the Maupeou Parliament, she desired him to look at the portrait of a king who had given way to his Parliament.

[The “Memoirs of General Dumouriez,” vol. i., page 142, contain some curious particulars about Madame Du Barry; and novel details respecting her will be found at page 243 of “Curiosites Historiques,” by J. A. Le Rol (Paris, Plon, 1864).  His investigations lead to the result that her real name was Jean Becu, born, 19th August, 1743, at Vaucouleurs, the natural daughter of Anne Becu, otherwise known as “Quantiny.”  Her mother afterwards married Nicolas Rancon.  Comte Jean du Barry met her among the demi-monde, and succeeded, about 1767, and by the help of his friend Label, the valet de chambre of Louis xv., in introducing her to the King under the name of Mademoiselle l’Ange.  To be formally mistress, a husband had to be found.  The Comte Jean du Barry, already married himself, found no difficulty in getting his brother, Comte Guillaume, a poor officer of the marine troops, to accept the post of husband.  In the marriage-contract, signed on 23d July, 1768, she was described as the daughter of Anne Becu and of an imaginary first husband, Sieur Jean Jacques Gomard de Vaubernier,” and three years were taken off her age.  The marriage-contract was so drawn as to leave Madame du Barry entirely free from all control by her husband.  The marriage was solemnised on 1st September, 1768, after which the nominal husband returned to Toulouse.  Madame du Barry in later years provided for him; and in 1772, tired of his applications, she obtained an act of separation from him.  He married later Jeanne Madeleine Lemoine, and died in 1811.  Madame du Barry took care of her mother, who figured as Madame de Montrable.  In all, she received from the King, M. Le Roi calculates, about twelve and a half millions of livres.  On the death of Louis xv. she had to retire first to the Abbey of Pont-aux-Dames, near Meaux, then she was allowed to go to her small house at St. Vrain, near Arpajon, and, finally, in 1775, to her chateau at Louveciennes.  Much to her credit be it said, she retained many of her friends, and was on the most intimate terms till his death with the Duc de Brissac (Louis Hercule Timoldon de Cosse-Brissac),