The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-17
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For the Sumter Banner.
The Blood-Letting Of the King.
.rRANsLArroNs FROM THE. rnExcm.-pv

TRANsLATioNs FROM THE, ,FRESCH.-py
TRAuTs, CLARENDON.
When we examine the life OF Louis XIV
as it is generally related, that is TO say, as
Official historians have rendered it, we per-
ceiye then the life OF the most superb and
absolute King in the world. Haroun.al-
Raschid was less imperious than Louis in
his wishes, less despotic in his caprice S.
IE@etrace effects to causes, If we consult
the numerous memoirs of,his reign, which
q 4syery day become more complete and
inote popular, we teani,y .s"iGdi ii' uis
opinion Of Saint -Simons who maintains that
5iiis SIy was, fn nalI brintas,1 1ee "sost eoY-
ernnaa ,hp surrounding circumsta'ces'----H.
all men, the zone who, during his long i'le'
least performed wn.,at he himself redln,
= wished. and that the entire ssecret Of those
who led him consisted in making Rtssp be-
liege that he himself actually wished whafs
they made him wish Nothing is more GU
rious than to read in Sant-Smon what he
calls the mechanism Of Madame dc Main
tenon, tho manner in which the King was
circumyented by her at first, and aftcr-
wards by the ministers who obeycd this
astute and intriguing woman. Madame dc
Maintenon governed i'll reality, and con-
tenting herself modestly with the power,
she carefully removed from herself all ap.
pearance of influence; her ambition wished
only to be served, not OWNED, and she re-
Nuired persons TO understand wishes whicl,
she did not express. Seated in her great
armchair, at some steps from the council
table, she was present in silence at the de-
liberations Of the King, when he was dis
,ribut'ng iavors, and naming persons to the
different cnpoyinents in the gift OF the
crown ~ first an indifferent name was
proposed, then arother, then at length the
person whom they wished to have the place;
Madame dc Main,enaq was consulted. If
the choice Of the King agreed with the
views Of the widow Scas1on, it was all
right; lift was otherwise, the\ old fairy, as
Saint.Smon calls her, half opG,cd her thin
lips, and two words from her were .ufiicicnt
to destroy the man chosen by the fing.
ale is Jansenist," said she,
All! so he is.' :
-" He is too devoted TO NJ. lc due d.
Orleans to suit your majesty" An'from
Jansenis;s to Orlcanists, she bore aNs,y The
nominations, of every description. va
Before Madame de Maintcnon, Is Dis
led Louis XIV; Madame de Mont@asss,,
Madame dc Soubse, father La C&2e,
Bontcms; Conlessors, Mislresscs, STs,
no one took any blame to himself for mnpo.
sing his wishes on this naughty pr ice:
docilc, though dangerous nstrumcnt,hich
i, was only necessary to know how use
skiliully. The fact which we are bou,
10 relate, Or,he truth of which thcrc no
doubt, will prove 10 what poln' louis
XIV was the sport and the yictsr Of tho
calculations of his servants.
In l6S--, Daquin was first physcia ,ol
tho King; this charge gave him an i.
mense credit. which the protection OF Ma
anne do Montespan increased still more
Daqnn has not left behind him the rcpu
tation OF having been good physician. am
no might have appropriated to himself q
considerable portion Of the sarcasms o
MoiaSe; a bold and ambitious courlicr, he
disposed OF prince in good health with as
mach authority rs il Louis had boon an in.
valid, i is true that The King, great cat
or had some hygienic habits, which rcn.
dcrtd ncccssarythc continual attendance
ofsia physician. I.ouis XIV was pnrgcd