Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-08
From the Home Journal.
THE
MARQUIS IN PETTICOATS,
frup ourttrp Rpou A rurNcH hrMotRl
BY N. P. WILLIS.

introduce you at once to the Marquis
de la Chetardie-a diplomatist who figured
largely in the gay age Of Louis XV.-and
the story is but one Of the illumined 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, ma
king her debut and, SO perfect was his
acting, and the deception altogether, that
Louis became enamored of the disguised
marquis, and violently excited the jealousy
of Madame" by his amorous attentions.
Aa advertisement, of course, took place,
and the result was great Partially for the
marquis society, and his subsequent en-
ployment in and out Of petticoats, in many
scheme Of State diplamacy and royal
amusement.
La Chetardie was at this time Just eight
cen. He was very slight, and had remark
BILE small hands and feet, and the radiant
fairness of his skin, and luxuriant softness
of his profuse chesnut curls, might Justly
have been the envy of the most delicate wo-
man. He was, at first, subjected 10 some
Eidicule from his effeminacy, but the mer-
Ey courticrs were soon made aware that, un-
der this velvet fragility lay concealed the
strength and ferocity of tiger. The grasp
of his small hand was like an iron vice ,and
his singular activity, and the cool courage
which afterward gave him brilliant career
on the battlefield, established him, in very
short time, as the most formidable swords.
man of 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 treacher.
Gus diplomacy, and the court of Russia,
where Louis would fain have exerted an
influence, (private as well as political in its
Tesults,) was guarded by an impacable Ar
gus, In the person of the prime minister,
Bestuchef, aided by Sir Hamburg Williams,
the English Ambassador, one Of the craft
est men of that crafty period, he had sue
ceeded in defeating every attempt at access
to the imperial ear by the secret emissaries
OF France. The sudden appearance of la
Chetardle, his cool selfcommand, and his
successful PRESERVATION of a female, suggested
new hope to the king, however; and,
called to Versailles by royal mandate, the
young marquis was taken into cabinet con-
hdence, and secret mission to ST. Peters,
Ourgh, IN petlcoats, proposed to him and
accepted.
With his Instructions and s44seI despatch
es stitched into his corsets, and under the
ostensible protection of scientific man.
who was 10 present him to the tzarine as
Mademoiselle dc Beaumont, desirous of en-
tering the service of.Elizabeth, the MARQUIS
reached st. Petersburgh without accident
or adventure. The young lady's guardian
requested an audience through Bestucheff,
and having delivered the open letters recon-
intending her for her accomplishments to
the imperial protection, he begged leave to
continue on his scientific tour to the CEN
tral regions of Russia.
Congo was Immediately granted, and on
she disappearance OF the sdUant, and before
she departure Of Bestucheff, the tzarine
tnrew Oft all ceremony, and pinchng the
cheeks and imprinting kiss on the FORE
head of the beautiful stranger, appointed
her, by one of those sudden whims of pref
srence against which her ministers had so
much trouble to guard, letrice intime ct par
e'emhere--i in short, confidential personal at
sendant The bushes of the confused mar.
qulS, who was unprepared for SO affectonate
reception, served rather to heighten the
disguise, and old Bestucheff bowed himself
out with compliment TO the beauty of Mad
smoIselle de Beaumont, yelled in a dplo-
matte ccngratulation to her imperial mis-.
syess.
Elizabeth wasforty and little passee but
sne still had pretensions, and was particu-
iarly fond Of beauty in her attendants, fe-
male as well as male. Her favorite. of her
personal suite, at the time of the arrival of
the marquis, was an exquisite little creature
who had been sent to her, as compliment
to this particular taste, by the Duchess of
Mecklenburgh-Strelitz-a kind of German
"Fenella," or "Mingon," by the name OF
Nadsgs Stein. Not much below tho middle