(929) m. de Pontdeveyle, the younger brother of the Marquis d’Argental, the friend of Voltaire and of the King of Prussia.  Their mother, Madame do Ferioles, was sister to the celebrated madame de Tencin and to the Cardinal of the same name.  He died in 1774.-E.

(930) Madame du Deffand, in a letter to Walpole of the 17th of March 1776, states the Malheurs de l’Amour to be the production of Madame de Tencin.  She describes it as un roman bien `ecrit, mais qui n’inspire que de la tristesse."-E.

(931) La Mar`ecchale de Mirepoix was the first woman of consequence who countenanced and appeared in public at Versailles with Madame du Barri; while, on the other hand, her brother, the Prince de Beauvau and his wife, gave great offence by refusing to see her or be of any of her parties.  Her person is thus described by Madame du Deffand:—­“Sa figure est charmante, son teint est `eblouissant; ses traits, sans `etre parfaits, sont Si bien assortis, que personne n’a l’air plus jeune et n’est plus jolie."-E.

(932) Le Comte d’Argenson was minister-at-war, and, after Damien’s attempt upon the life of the King of France in 1757, was disgraced, and exiled to his country-house at Ormes in Poitou.  He was brother to the Marquis d’Argenson, who had been minister of foreign affairs, and died in 1756.  He it was who is said to have addressed M. Bignon, his nephew, afterwards an academician, on conferring upon him the appointment of librarian to the King, “Mon neveu, voil`a une belle occasion pour apprendre `a lire."-E.

(933) The following is the commencement of the song above alluded to by Walpole:—­

“Une petite bourgeoise,
Elev`ee `a la grivoise,
Mesurant tout k sa toise,
Fait de la cour un tandis. 
Le Roi, malgr`e son scrupule,
Pour elle froidement br`ule. 
Cette flamme ridicule Si
Excite dans tout Paris, ris, ris, ris.”

(934) Le Comte de Maurepas, who was married to a sister of the Duc de la Valli`ere, had been minister of marine, and disgraced, as Walpole says, at the instigation of the reigning mistress, Madame de Pompadour.  Upon the death of Louis Quinze, he was immediately summoned to assist in the formation of the ministry of his successor.-E.

(935 See vol. iii. p. 218, letter 157.-E.

(936) Madame de Rochefort, n`ee Brancas.-E.

(937) La Duchesse de Choiseul, n`ee du Chatel.  The husband appears to have been more attached to her than Walpole supposed; at least if we may judge from his will, in which he desires to be buried in the same grave, and expresses his gratification at the idea of reposing by the side of one whom he had, during his lifetime, cherished and respected so highly.-E.