1809. | 
do not think it right to take them with 
me into a strange country. My conti- 
nued ill health, and a complication of 
disorders, put itout of my power any 
longer to be useful to your Majesty; and 
J am convinced that, under a milder 
climate, my infirmities might be borne. 
I therefore entreat your Majesty to grant 
me my dismissal, assuring you, at the 
saine ume, that my heart shall be eter- 
nally devoted to you.” 
The Marquis obtained permission to 
pass six months in Provence, and set off 
in 1769, on the express condition of re= 
turning at the appointed time; at the 
same time he received the packet of ori- 
ginal letters, which the King returned to 
him, assuring him that he possessed his 
entire confidence, and that consequently 
he neither could nor would keep the let- 
ters. The Marquis, however, would not 
take them with him, but Jeft them in 
the charge of one of his most particular 
friends. f 
It appears, that the’ King was much 
displeased at his departure, and that he 
even refused to see the Marquis. In 
vain several persons endeavoured to per- 
suade him, that the Marquis would re- 
turn; he would not believe them. He 
was indignant, that a man whom he had 
loaded with his benefits, should quit him 
for such trifling causes, and which in no 
way diminished the proofs of his attach- 
ment and esteem; but the Marquis had 
very good reasons to give on his side 
likewise—to pass the rethainder of his 
days under a milder climate, and near a 
brother, to whom he was attached by 
strong ties of affection. 
He had, however, other motives for 
discontent, which he was anxious that 
the King should know without loss of 
time. Scarcely had he arrived at Dijon, 
when he wrote him avery bold letter, such 
as no one who had ever any disagree- 
ment with Frederic would have ventured 
to address tohim. In order to excuse 
himself for this freedom, he said, ** It 
is not now to the King that I write, but 
to the Philosopher, and in the name of 
Philosophy”"—a distinction which the 
Monarch himself had given the example 
of in their suppers at Sans-Souci, where 
they freely conversed in the absence of 
the King, although at the same table 
with him. And he concluded his keen, 
yet guarded, reproaches, with that ini- 
mitable fable of the ‘* Town and Coun- 
try Mouse.” 
Yet, notwithstanding this appearance 
of resentment, the Marguis D’Argens 
Montiux Mac. No. 186, 
Memoir of the late Marquis D’ Argens, 
583 
resolved to return to Frederic at the expi- 
ration of the stated period; but it cost 
hun a severe struguyle to determine on 
leaving Aix, to return to Berlin — it 
was tu expose the remainder of his days 
to new scenes of vexation and dis- 
appointment, and shorten their dura- 
tion. The ayitated state of his mind, 
which this situation involved him in, 
produced the very effect he wished to 
have avoided, and he died without being - 
able to fulfil his promise. 
“In the midst of all these sufferings,” 
says M, Thiebault, “ he was detained at 
Bourg-en-Bresse by a long and very 
dangerous illness. The Marchioness, 
whose whole care was devoted to him, 
never once thought of writing to the 
King, although the time of his leave of 
absence had expired. Frederic suspected 
him of wishing to deceive him. Hesent 
to the Marchioness’s sister, and to all 
the Members of the Academy, with whom 
he was connected as the Director, to 
know if they had not heard from him; 
and as he was informed, that no person 
had received any news of hin, and that- 
several months had passed without a lete 
ter either from the husband or the wife, 
the King’s doubts were soon changed to 
certainty. Tis anger and his indignation 
were extreme. He dispatched orders 
that very day to the different offices at 
which the salaries of the Marquis were 
paid, strictly injoming them to erase his 
name out of the public books, and for- 
bidding them to pay-him any thing for 
the ‘future.—Sulzer, who received this 
order at the. Academy, thought it his 
duty to acquaint D’Argens, and in con- 
sequence of this determination, he pri- 
vately gave a letter to a person who was 
going that way, and who promised to ine 
quire forthe Marquis, and give bim the let- 
ter if he should chance tomeet him; if not, 
to address it under cover to the President 
D’Kguilles. The traveller found him at 
Bourg-en-Bresse, in a state of convales- 
cence and preparing to set off for Berlin. 
The letter produced an effect which might 
be expected. Theold Courtier was more 
irritated than afflicced. He wrote ano 
ther, which was never made public, but 
its contents may easily be guessed at, 
aud immediately returned to his beloved 
retreat, from which he seldom went, ex- 
cept to make some few sligiit journeys 
through parts of Provence. It was in 
one of these excursions that he died at 
Toulouse, of an indigestion, ou the 11th 
of January, 1771. 
The public journals and the writers of 
4G the 
