Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-01
81 tsrEIIanp.
THE MARQUIS IN PETTICOATs.
BY n. P. WILLIS.

am commanded to write love.story.
But love-story with anything new in
it, can never be invented. Fact is the
jack o'-antern 10 more sober fable. Truth
is stranger than fiction.
And | have not much space to tell
story,in; and, long or short, it must have
beginning, and middle, and end. So |
introduce you at once TO the Marquis de
la Chetardie-a dipomatist who figured
largely in the gay age of Louis XV.-
And the story is but one of the illuminated
pages of the dark book of diplomacy.
Charles de la Chetardie appeared for the
first time to the eyes of the king at mas
querade ball, given at Versailles, under
the auspices of la belle Pompadour. He
was dressed as young lady of high rank,
making her debut; and, so perfect was his
acting, and the deception altogether, that
Louis become enamoured of the disguised
Marquis, and violently excited the jealousy
of "Madame" by his amorous attentions.
An advertisement, of course, took place,
and the result was great Partially for the
Marquis's society, and his subsequent en-
ployment, in and out of petticoats, in ma
ny a scheme Of state diplomacy and royal
amusement.
La Chetardie was at this time just eigh-
teen. He was very slight, and had re-
markably small hands and feet, and the
radiant fairness of his skin, and the luxu-
RANT so!tness of his profuse chestnut curls.
might Justly have been the envy of the
most delicate woman. He was, at first
subjected to some ridicule for his effemi.
macy, but the merry courtiers were soon
made aware, that, under this velvet fra.
giity lay concealed the Strength and fe.
rocity of the tiger. The grasp of his small
hand was like an iron vice, and his singu'
lar activity, and the cool courage which
afterwards gave him brilliant career on
the battlefield, established him, in a very
short time, as the most formidable swords
man in the court. His ferocity, however
lay deeply concealed in his character, and
unprovoked, he was the gayest and most
brilliant of merry companions.
This was the age of occult and treache
rous diplomacy, and the court of Russia
where Louis would fain have exercised ar
influence, (private as well as political il
its results was guarded by an implacablt
Argus, IN the person OF the prime minis
ter, Bestuchef. Aided by Sir Hamburg
Williams, the English ambassador, one 0
the crafiiest men of that crafty period, h'
had succeeded for some years in defeating
every attempt at accosS 10 the lmPerla
ear by the sooret emissaries of France
The sudden appearance of La Chetardle
his cool self.command, and his successful
personaton of female, suggested new
hope to the king, however; and, called t.
Versailles by royal mandate, the young
Marquis was taken into cabinet conf
dence, and secret mission to St. Peters
Durgh' IN pettlceats, proposed to him anC
accepted.
With his instructions and secret des
Paches stitched into his corsets, and unde
the ostenslble protection of a scientific
man, who was to present him to the tar
inc as Mademoisele de Beaumont, des
rous of entering the service of Elizabeth
the Marquis reached ST. Petersburgh with
out accident or adventure. The young
lady's guardian requested an audience
through Bestucheff, and having delivered
the open letters recommending her for he
accomplishments to the imperial protec
ton, he begged leave to continue on hi:
scientific tour to the central regions o
Russia.