I was at _Fontainbleau_ some time after the Conclusion of the Suspension of Arms with the _English_. The News of the Peace on the point of being concluded, and the Victory at _Denain_, seem'd to have restor'd to the Court such an Air of Gayety as had not been known there for many years. The Elector of _Bavaria_ was there at that time, and there was such Gaming at the Duchess of _Berry_'s and the Duke of _Antin_'s, as if they had no Sense at all of the public Calamities. The Party was of twelve Cutters at _Lansquenet_, who began with setting four Lewid'ors, and at last stak'd Rouleaus of a hundred Lewid'ors on a Card. I won seven hundred Lewid'ors there one Night, in less than an Hour's time, and the Duchess _de la Ferte_ trick'd me out of no less than a hundred, besides fourscore that she borrow'd of me, and never paid me again. Perhaps she thought 'twas the best way to make herself amends for the Trouble she was pleas'd to take upon her, of setting my Money upon the Table, there being such a Croud of Ladies round it that I could not get near it.
While the Court was at _Fontainbleau_, who should come thither but Mr. _St. John_, since made Lord _Bolingbroke_, to settle the Plan of the Peace that was afterwards concluded at _Utrecht_. He could not have been better receiv'd than he was there if he had been a Sovereign Prince, for the King himself had an extraordinary Regard for him. I was one day to see his Majesty dine, when there was to be Music, but as soon as it struck up the King stopt it, by calling out aloud, _I am informed that M. +de St. John+ dines with the Duke of +Antin+. Let my Music wait on him there, and let him know that I send it to him, and that I wish it may give him Pleasure._ You will easily imagine, Madame, that all the Courtiers, in imitation of the Monarch, strove who should be most complaisant to the _English_ Minister, who for his part justly merited the Regard that was paid to him.
The Court stay'd at _Fontainbleau_ some time after the Arrival of this Minister, and all the while there was nothing but Merriment and a continual Succession of Pleasures. The Hunting-Matches were of the utmost Magnificence. The Ladies were there either on horseback or in Chaises in the Retinue of the Duchess of _Berry_ and _Madame_. So many fine Women mounted on horseback all richly dressed, the King in a Chaise attended by the whole Court on horseback, and the sumptuous Hunting-Equipages to be seen all at once in the pleasant Forest of _Fontainbleau_, form'd one of the finest Sights that could be. On the Days when there was no Hunting, the King took the Air in an open Calash round the great Canal, accompany'd by Ladies whose Habits were the finest and of the most beautiful Fancy that could be imagin'd. When the Court return'd from their Airing there was a Comedy or else a Drawing-Room at the Duchess of _Berry_'s, where they play'd at _Lansquenet_.