, count of Lyons, and a cardinal and statesman of France, was born at
, count of
Lyons, and a cardinal and statesman of France, was born
at MarceJ de l'Ardeche, May 22, 1715, of a noble and
ancient family, but not very rich which circumstance
induced his friends to bring him up to the church, as the
most likely profession in which he might rise. In this they
were not disappointed, as he gradually attained the highest
ecclesiastical dignities. When young he was placed at
the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris, and after remaining
there some years, he appeared in the world with every
personal accomplishment that could introduce him into
notice; but his morals appear to have been for some time
an obstruction to promotion. The cardinal de Fleury,
then prime-minister, who had the patronage of all favours,
and who had promised him his countenance, thinking him
of a spirit too worldly for the church, sent for him and
gave him a lecture on his dissipated conduct, concluding
with these words “You can have no expectations of promotion, while I live,
” to which the young abbé“Bernis,
making a profound bow, replied,
” Sir, I can wait"
Some think this bon mot, which became very current, was
not original but it is certain that Bernis remained for a
long while in a state not far removed from poverty, and
yet contrived, by means of strict parsimony, to make a
decent figure at the houses to which he was invited.
Being a writer of verses, and consequently a dealer in
compliments, he was always acceptable, and at length by
madame Pompadour’s interest, was introduced to Louis XV.
The good effects of this, at first, were only an apartment
in the Tuileries, to which his patroness added the furniture,
and a pension of fifteen hundred livres yet it soon led to
greater matters. Having been appointed ambassador to
Venice, he was remarked to have acquired the good opinion
and confidence of a state rather difficult to please in appointments of this description, and of this they gave him a
strong proof, in a contest they had with pope Benedict XIV.
who appointed Bernis as his negociator. On this occasion
the state of Venice approved the choice, the consequence
of which was, that Bernis effected a reconciliation to the
entire satisfaction of both parties. On his return, he became a great favourite at court, acquired considerable influence, and at length, being admitted into the council,
was appointed foreign minister. But in this situation he
was either unskilful or unfortunate the disasters of the
seven years war, and the peace of 1763, were laid to his
charge but according to Duclos, he was less to blame than
his colleagues, and it is certain that in some instances he
has been unjustly censured. It was said, in particular,
that he argued for a declaration of war against Prussia, because Frederick the Great had ridiculed his poetry in the
following line,