de Montaigu was held
in so little respect, that merely for the sake of form he was sent
to a couple of hours before the couriers set off. This frequently
obliged me to write the dispatch in his absence. M. de Castellane in
his answer made honorable mention of me; M. de Jonville, at Genoa, did
the same, and these instances of their regard and esteem became new
grievances.
I acknowledge I did not neglect any opportunity of making myself
known; but I never sought one improperly, and in serving well I
thought I had a right to aspire to the natural return for essential
services; the esteem of those capable of judging of, and rewarding
them. I will not say whether or not my exactness in discharging the
duties of my employment was a just subject of complaint from the
ambassador; but I cannot refrain from declaring that it was the sole
grievance he ever mentioned previous to our separation.
His house, which he had never put on a good footing, was
constantly filled with rabble; the French were ill-treated in it,
and the ascendancy was given to the Italians; of these even, the
more honest part, they who had long been in the service of the
embassy, were indecently discharged, his first gentleman in
particular, whom he had taken from the Comte de Froulay, and who, if I
remember right, was called Comte de Peati, or something very like that
name. The second gentleman, chosen by M. de Montaigu, was an
outlawed highwayman from Mantua, called Dominic Vitali, to whom the
ambassador intrusted the care of his house, and who had by means of
flattery and sordid economy, obtained his confidence, and became his
favorite to the great prejudice of the few honest people he still
had about him, and of the secretary who was at their head.
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