ciety of the
period the spirit and the tone of a constant orgy. Forming an attachment
with an old acquaintance of Madame Du Barry, he knew this _parvenue_
courtezan, whom libertinism had elevated nearly to the throne. Devoted
to the Duc de Choiseul, the enemy of this mistress of the king, and
retaining that remnant of virtue which amongst the French is called
honour, he did not prostitute his uniform to the court, and blushed to
see the old monarch, at the reviews of Fontainebleau, walk on foot with
his hat off before his army, beside a carriage in which this woman
displayed her beauty and her empire. Madame Du Barry took offence at the
forgetfulness of the young officer, and divined the cause of his
absence. Dumouriez was sent to Poland on the same errand that had before
despatched him to Portugal. His mission, half diplomatic, half military,
was, in consequence of a secret idea of the king, approved by his
confidant, the Count de Broglie, and by Favier, the count's adviser.

It was at the moment when Poland, menaced and half-occupied by the
Russians, devoured by Prussia, forsaken by Austria, was attempting some
ill-considered movements, in order to repair its scattered limbs, and to
dispute, at least, in fragments, its nationality with its
oppressors--the last sigh of liberty which moved the corpse of a people.
The king, who feared to come into collision with the Empress of Russia,
Catherine, to give excuses to the hostilities of Frederic and umbrage to
the court of Vienna, was still desirous of extending to expiring Poland
the hand of France; but concealing that hand, and reserving to himself
the power even to cut it off, if it became necessary. Dumouriez was the
intermediary selected for this part; the secret minister of France,
amongst the Polish confederates; a general, if necessary--but a general
adventurer and disowned--to rally and direct their efforts.

The Duc de Choiseul, indignant at the debasement of France, was
secretly preparing war against Prussia and England. This powerful
diversion in Poland was necessary for his plan of campaign, and he gave
his confidential instructions to Dumouriez; but, thrown out of the
administration by the intrigues of Madame Du Barry and M. d'Argenson,
the Duc de Choiseul was suddenly exiled to Versailles before Dumouriez
reached Poland. The policy of France, changing with the minister, at
once destroyed Dumouriez's plans. Still he followed them up with an
ardour and persever