f4i Some New Voyages 



tho 7 not fo rich as they, made me a Prefent of a hun- 

 dred Louis Iors 3 which I applied to the payment of 

 the Fees, for being received into the Order of St, 

 Lazarus. The Ceremony of that Inftallment was 

 performed in Mr. de Louvois his Chamber, and did not 

 laft fo long as the telling of the Money. I was in 

 hopes that this generous Abbot would have beftow'd 

 upon me fome fimple Benefice that he might have 

 thrown in my way, without injuring himlelf : But it 

 feems, a fcruple of Conference flood my Enemy. 

 Upon the whole, Sir, I was e'en forc'd at laft to go 

 to Va failles to follicit for a Place, which is the 

 moft cutting and vexatious Office in the World. 

 Do but confider, Sir, that in thofe Royal Apart- 

 ments Crowns fly, and nobody knows where they 

 o. One mart patiently attend five or fix hours a 

 ay in Mr. de Vontchartrams Apartments, only to 

 ihew himfelf every time that that Minifter goes out 

 pr comes iq. 



He no fooner appears, than every one crowds in 

 to prefent Memorials clogg'd with fifty Reafons, 

 which commonly fly off as light as the Wind. As 

 foon as he receives thefe Petitions, he gives ? em to 

 fome Secretary or other that follows hinr; and this 

 Secretary carries J em to Meffieurs de la Touche 3 de 

 Begon, and de Sahwerrl ; whofe Footmen receive 

 Piftoles from moft of the Officers, who without 

 that Expedient, would be in danger of catching cold 

 at the Door of the Office of thefe Deputies. 'Tis 

 from that expedient alone, that their good or bad 

 deftiny muft flow. Pray undeceive your feif, as to 

 your notion of the protection of great Lords: The 

 time is gone in which the Minifters granted what- 

 ever they ask'd for their Baftards, their Footmen, 

 and their VaiXals. There is but two or three Prin- 

 ces pr Dukes, who being great Favourites, will med- 

 dle in protecting thofe that have no immediate de« 

 pendance upon "em : And if thefe do it ; 'tis very 



feldom i 



