(1091) Madame du Barry, the celebrated mistress of Louis xv., was born in the lowest rank of society, and brought up in the most depraved habits; being known only by the name which her beauty had acquired for her, Mademoiselle l’Ange.  She became the mistress of the Comte du Barry, (a gentleman belonging to a family of Toulon, of no distinction, well known as Le Grand du Barry, or, Du Barry le Rou`e,) and eventually the mistress of the King; and, when the influence she exercised over her royal protector had determined him to receive her publicly at court and a marriage was necessary to the purpose, Du Barry le Rou`e brought forward his younger brother, the Comte Guillaume du Barry, who readily submitted to this prostitution of his name and family.-E.

(1092) Madame du Deffand, in her letter to Walpole of the 10th of May 1776, enclosed the following portrait of Madame de Cambise, by Madame de la Valli`ere:—­“Non, non, Madame, je ne farai point votre portrait:  vous avez une mani`ere d’`etre si noble, si fine, si piquante, si d`elicate, si s`eduisaitte; votre gentilesse et vos graces changent si souvent pour n’en `etre que plus aimable, que l’on ne peut saisir aucun de vos traits ni au physique ni au moral.”  She was niece of La Marquise de Boufflers, and, having fled to England at the breaking out of the French Revolution, resided here until her death, which took place at Richmond in January 1809.-E.

Letter 372 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, Oct. 13, 1769. (page 560

I arrived last night at eleven o’clock, and found a letter from you, which gave me so much pleasure, that I must write you a line, though I am hurried to death.  You cannot imagine how rejoiced I am that Lord North(1093) drags you to light again; it is a satisfaction I little expected.  When do you come?  I am impatient.  I long to know your projects.

I had a dreadful passage of eight hours, was drowned, though not shipwrecked, and was sick to death.  I have been six times at sea before, and never suffered the least, which makes the mortification the greater:  but as Hercules was not more robust than I, though with an air so little Herculean, I have not so much as caught cold, though I was wet to the skin with the rain, had my lap full of waves, was washed from head to foot in the boat at ten o’clock at night, and stepped into the sea up to my knees.  Q’avois-je `a faire dans cette gal`ere?(1094) In truth, it is a little late to be seeking adventures.  Adieu!  I must finish, but I am excessively happy with what you have told me.  Yours ever.

(1093) Lord North had appointed Mr. Montagu his private secretary.