Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-06-06

near, our Kings have found means 10
place near their Queens a perpetual
surveillance. But az the Superni,cn.
dent OF the ROYAL House has private
entrees de cabinet at all times, which
are not the privilege Of the Danes
d'iionneur, Madame de Che,rcuse
passed whole hours alone with the
Queen, and the Cardinal, however well
informed of tho exterior, was very liz.
tie acquainted with what passed be.
tween the Queen and her friend. The
French Minister pressed Buckinr.
ham to close the negotiation Of the
marriage OF Henrietta, but viIliers had
no desire 10 quit the French Court,
always finding some occasion for delay.
At length the ceremony was performed
with great spIendor. In all that had
hitherto passed, the Queen had reeeiv
ed from buckingham many proofs Of
his lively but respectful passion. She
certainly was insensiblc TO love, and
II she really caught the flame which
she herself had lighted up, there is no
doubt that her virtue supported her,
and that Buckingham departed with
all the honorable treatment which a
stranger can receive from great court,
and only Sexed to re.cross the seas
without any other fruits Of his love than
that OF having been listened TO with IA
YOUR.
There was one indiscretion which es.
capped the Queen. On the evening of
Buckingham's departure she sent the
Duke secretly by Madame de Chew
reuse, the gift she had received from
her royal consort, the aigule;s tagged
with diamonds; and this pre- SET {, which
might have been considered a mark Of
the masnificence of the Queen, be.
came. by the circumstance of the gift,
The pleasure Of the mystery, an act Of
delicate gallantry which charmed the
English Duke, and sent him home a
happy man.
During the journey Of Buckingham,
The Countess Of Clark, probably
the Countess Of Carlisle, for French.
men generally spell our names bv the
ear. which is very badD somewhat in
Pique at what she had heard of her
straying admirer, had found out 4 Sc.
cret way to correspond with Richie
lieu, who, on his part, had not omitted
any thing which tended To inflame the
English Countess. This great Minis
ter was we'll known for nultiplyin oil
sorts at means TO gain Intelligence from
all the Courts Of Europe his industry
never slumbeted, and his treasure
was never spared. The present which
the Queen had made Of her aigulets
tagged with diamonds bad not escaped
the V'silant eyes Of Dame d'Houneur,
and the secret had reached Richelieu.
This minister had long watched his
opportunity to ruin tho Queen in the
mind Of the King, over whom, indeed,
he himself exercised the greatest au.
ihOrIty, but which sometimes was
blanched by the Queen. Richelieu
wrote to the Countess Of Clark. de.
string her 10 renew her intimacy with
iSsC k'ngham, and If, in any of the ap-
preaching entertainments which w0ald
take place on his return, she should
observe in his dress aigulcts tagged
with diamonds, that she would contriye
to cut Oh two or three and despatch
these 10 him. Buckingham was too
feeble TO resist the studied scduc tons
OF his old friend; and the Countess
found no difficulty in accomplishing
her task. At ball at Windsor Cas-.
tie, Buckingham appeared in a black
velvet salt, with gold embroidery; a
scarf was thrown over his shoulder,
and from knot Of blue ribbons hung
twelve aigulets tagged with diamonds,
Naming their hues on the surface on
which they played. When Bucking-
ham had retired home from the ball his
Wallets de chambre perceived that two
Of the twelve aiguleis were missing.
and they convinced him that these had
not been cropped by accident. but
had positively been cut Oh. There
was something in his recollection Of
that evening, which bred suspicion.
lie felt conscious that whoever had
done this had some latent motive
The secret history Of these diamond
aiguiets could only be known to their
wearer, yet, notwithstanding, and las il
were by intuition, be thought that the
honour Of the royal giver might, in
some mode or other, be concerned IN
possessing these twelve aigulets entire. /
Tie decided that. Notwithstanding the |
ariihee at the cunning purlOiner, he
would prevent any design, if there
were any, of the enemies of the Queen
that the number should not be diminish.
Ell. With his extraordinary rspidity
Of conception, Buckingham struck out
a gigantic scheme, which no one less
than Minister Of State and q most
romantic lover could have executed
Early IN the morning. eourisrs were
despatched 70 close the ports, and mel
Their packet boat With the mail nor
any vessel sailing Tor France wetesof.
feFed 20 depart. AZ thst moment,
when the RoehelIers we're waiting Zoe