The Audience which I had of the King gain'd me his Good-will; and he one day spoke so honorably of me in presence of the Courtiers, that my Friends advis'd me to strike in with this Ray of Favor, and petition him for some Employment. I followed their Advice, and wrote accordingly to the King, who was then at _Potzdam_.
Two Days after I sent my Letter, I receiv'd an Answer, sign'd with his Majesty's own Hand, which was drawn up in these Terms;
_I received your Letter of the 9th of_ January, (1718) _and for Answer I assure you, that I grant you the first Pension of Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber that shall happen to be vacant_.
I had such a grateful Sense of his Majesty's kind Intentions towards me, that as soon as he was return'd to _Berlin_, I did not fail to go and thank him. His Majesty was so good as to say, _That the Trifle he had now granted me was not worth Thanks_. I thought, _Madame_, that this was a very hopeful Beginning for a Man not us'd to see his Undertakings crown'd with Success. The Courtiers strove who should be most complaisant to me; and I receiv'd Compliments from all hands, which fully persuaded me, that I was in high Favor: But my Stars did not indulge me long with this Calm; and a Storm soon arose, which drove me farther out of Port than I was before. It was owing to the following Accident.
In the beginning of the Year 1718, the King recall'd M. _de Kniphausen_ his Envoy in _France_, with a design to nominate another in his room. Several Persons sollicited for this Post; but I thought my self as well qualify'd for it as the best; and to pave the way for it, I propos'd to save the Government a great deal of Charge, by contenting myself with an Abatement of two hundred Crowns _per_ Month less than the usual Salary. This Proposal was so well relish'd by M. _de Grumkau_ the Minister of State, that he protected me, and undertook to recommend me to the King. I also spoke of it my self to M. _d'Ilgen_, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, whose Daughter was married to the said M. _de Kniphausen_. I gave this Minister to understand, that I should never have had a Thought of asking for this Place, if I had not been satisfy'd, that M. _de Kniphausen_ himself had desired to be recalled. M. _d'Ilgen_ received me with the utmost Civility, and promis'd with an Oath to serve me upon this Occasion; adding, that he could not express his Happiness in having such an Opportunity to discover the Respect and Veneration which he had for my Family. Such extraordinary Complaisance in a Courtier made me suspect the Sincerity of his Intentions, and I was quickly convinc'd that my Jealousy was but too well founded. When my Audience was over, this Minister would needs wait on me to the Door: I oppos'd it as much as I could, but when I saw it was to no purpose I gave him his way, and he attended me to the very Door of my Coach. I us'd many words with him upon his own Threshold, and begg'd him not to go a Step farther, especially as it rain'd very hard, which you'll say was Reason enough of it self to have engaged him to retire: Yet it all signify'd nothing, he would not abate an Ace of his Complaisance, but stiffly stood it out by the side of my Coach, till it mov'd off. This, however, was all the Service he did me; for instead of serving me with the King, I knew from good Hands, that he acted the Reverse. I was told that he was not pleas'd with me for desiring less Salary than his Son-in-law had, who, when he was at _Paris_, was continually writing to _Berlin_, that his Allowance was not sufficient to maintain him.