Chapter II: Preface

In 1905 while in London I availed myself of the opportunity to attend the courses in general history given by the late Dr. Emil Reich at various educational centers--Gresham College, the Polytechnique, the University of London, etc. The originality and force of his method of teaching attracted me strongly, though the desire to be able to reply to his attacks upon the people of my own country was the most powerful incentive that led me to follow him to every corner of London where his courses were given.

The most frequently reiterated accusation made against Americans was that of ingratitude, as shown by our utterly ignoring the services of Beaumarchais in the cause of American Independence. This made me indignant.

Having studied United States history since my childhood and being familiar with almost everything written on the subject, I naturally asked myself if it were possible that this man, whose name I knew only in connection with French literature, had any conspicuous part to play in the securing of our independence. The idea seemed to me as absurd and impossible as it was novel.

For nine months I listened to these accusations without the slightest change in my attitude and without even a dawning of real interest in the subject so frequently referred to. Then I went to Paris to complete a three months’ course of study. On my return I again took up general history under Dr. Reich. It so fell out, that his first lecture was upon the American Revolution. It was most illuminating. This time he approached the subject directly and without any remarks offensive to American pride. Before he had finished, I found myself wondering where I could learn more in regard to a matter which seemed to be very interesting. The next day, following his advice, I went to the British Museum, where to my amazement I found so many volumes in French, German, and Italian, and also some English translations, all dealing with this subject, that I was compelled to admit that America did seem to be alone in her ignorance of all that France had done for her. Moreover, as I turned and returned the pages of that monumental work of H. Doniol’s, _La Participation de la France dans L’établissement des Etats-Unis_, and read or glanced over the memoirs of Beaumarchais to the king and to his ministers, and their replies, I realized that Dr. Reich had known very well what he was saying and that what he said was true.

Under his direction then, this book was compiled--for it claims to be very little else than a bringing together of the documentary material bearing upon the subject, and so arranged as to make a continuous story. But this “bringing together” soon came to be a labor of love, for I found like Gudin, that it was impossible to know Beaumarchais intimately and to appreciate him only moderately.

But in 1906, when I left London, the time was not ripe for the production of the work, because the attitude of the American public was very much like my own during those few months when the subject was first brought to my attention. It was laid aside, and I waited. In the twelve years that have intervened, I occasionally have drawn forth a few chapters to read to a group of friends, whose interest has always assured me that some day the American Public would be ready to meet “their friend”--as Beaumarchais always styled himself in regard to them.

Finally in the fall of 1916 I received, through Miss Adelaide Fitch of the Hannah Arnett Chapter of the D. R.’s of Vineland, New Jersey, an invitation to speak upon this subject before that body. Without doubt a very real interest was awakened among my hearers and as a result of such encouragement I confided to Miss Fitch my entire manuscript, which I had not read myself in ten years, and with her I continued, during the winter that followed, to live over again the joys of my first discovery of America’s “Friend.” When the French Commission arrived in the United States in April, 1917, public interest began rapidly to center in France. Her aid to America was no longer a matter of indifference. The time seemed ripe and so the work was prepared for publication.

My thanks are here tendered to the many friends who have aided me by their interest or by their practical help--first, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fels in whose hospitable London home the work was begun; to Fraulein Hedwig Appell, whose sympathetic interest brightened many a dark hour in those far off London days; to Miss Mary Starbuck of Nantucket, Massachusetts, whose intelligent criticisms often have been of great value; to my nephews Joshua A. Cope and St. Alban Kite, to Miss Adelaide Fitch, Miss Eleanor Gray, Miss Jane Griffiths, Miss Flora Otis, Mrs. H. S. Wood--all of whose friendly reassurances have kept the embers glowing under the ashes of deferred hope. Among the many others who have aided directly or indirectly in the preparation of the book I would thank Mr. Joseph P. Byers, Madame Schwaar and Mademoiselle Schwaar of Philadelphia; Dr. Henry H. Goddard, Dr. C. T. Jones of Vineland, New Jersey; and the Religious of the Cenacle, New York, and of the Sacred Heart and of the Holy Child Jesus, Philadelphia, whose interest and prayers have constantly followed the work.

Morton, Pa., ELIZABETH S. KITE.
May 1, 1918.

CONTENTS

PAGE

Foreword 9
By Hon. James M. Beck.

Preface 17

Historical Introduction 27

CHAPTER I

Early life--Trained by his Father to the Trade of Watchmaker--
Invents an Escapement for Watches--First Lawsuit--_Horloger
du Roi_--Enters the Court of Versailles as _Contrôleur
clerc d’office_--First Marriage--Assumes the name of
Beaumarchais--Death of his Wife--Becomes Music Master to
the Princesses of France--Attracts the Attention of Paris
du Verney 43

CHAPTER II

Induces the Princesses to Visit the _École Militaire_
Established by du Verney--First Financial Successes--Certain
Great Lords _mis hors du combat_--“_The Frère Charmant_”--
the Devoted Son--Preparations for Trip to Spain 69

CHAPTER III

Adventure with Clavico--Business Negotiations in Spain--Life
of Pleasure at the Spanish Capital--Home Interests and
Letters 85

CHAPTER IV

The Beautiful Creole, Pauline--Beaumarchais the Judge, the
Lover, the Friend--Mademoiselle de Boisgarnier Marries Janot
de Miron--The Père Caron’s Second Marriage 105

CHAPTER V

New study of Beaumarchais by Lintilhac--Beaumarchais’s Return
from Madrid--The Lover of Julie Carries off Pauline--the
_Règlement de compte_ which Terminated this
Romantic Chapter of the Life of Beaumarchais 126

CHAPTER VI

“_Eugénie_”--“_Les deux Amis_”--Second Marriage of
Beaumarchais--The Forest of Chinon--Death of Madame de
Beaumarchais 142

CHAPTER VII

The Death of Paris du Verney--The Lawsuit La Blache--Judgment
Rendered in Favor of Beaumarchais--The Comte de La Blache--
Appeals to the New Parliament--Private Life of Beaumarchais
at This Period 164

CHAPTER VIII

Beaumarchais and the Duc de Chaulnes--Attempt Upon the Life of
Beaumarchais--Same Evening Gives the Promised Reading of _Le
Barbier de Séville_.--Victim of a _Lettre de Cachet_ 178

CHAPTER IX

Beaumarchais at For-l’Evêque--Letter to his Little Friend--
Second Trial in the Suit Instituted Against Him by the Count
de La Blache--Efforts to secure an Audience with the
Reporter Goëzman--Second Judgment Rendered Against
Beaumarchais--He Obtains his Liberty--Loudly Demands the
Return of his Fifteen Louis 196

CHAPTER X

The Goëzman Lawsuit--The Famous Memoirs of Beaumarchais 213

CHAPTER XI

The Preparation of the Memoirs--Aid Rendered by Family and
Friends--The Judgment--Beaumarchais _blâme_--Enters the
Secret Service of the King--Gudin Relates the Circumstances
of the Meeting between the Civilly Degraded Man and Her Who
Became His Third Wife--The Père Caron’s Third Marriage 235

CHAPTER XII

Beaumarchais Goes to London in Quality of Secret Agent of
Louis XV--Theveneau de Morande and His _Gazetier Cuirassé_--
The King Dies--Beaumarchais’s Second Mission Under
Louis XVI--Playing _Figaro_ upon the Stage of Life--Visits
the Empress of Austria--Is Imprisoned at Vienna--Addresses
Memoir to the King--Confers with the Ministers upon the
Recall of the Parliaments 248

CHAPTER XIII

The Character of Figaro--The First Performance of _Le Barbier
de Séville_--Its Success after Failure--Beaumarchais’s
Innovation at the Closing of the Theatre--His First Request
for an Exact Account from the Actors--_Barbier de Séville_
at the Petit-Trianon 269