Lady Anson
In my discussions i refer to a link to a website which also has this to say in respect of a letter sent by Lady Anson:
St Germain returned to England in 1760 after his brief stay in Paris. Lady Anson wrote a letter to Thomas Anson dated May 2nd 1760 revealing to him the secret conversation she had with the Count:
"I am whispered, as a secret, that he tells some odd things, says more: He talks of his own general Benevolence, meaning no harm to any country; wishing well to France; would have assisted the French King if he would have followed his advice; relieved his subjects from the weight of Taxes; says he has it in his power to give the King of France more than his Majesty can give him; with other such hints that seem to mean the Great Secret…..”
The Count is claiming to be richer than the King of France? And what was this Great Secret that he was hinting to Lady Anson? It is strangely reminiscent of the letter which speaks of Poussin being in possession of a secret which could make him more rich and powerful than the king of France from the Fouquet brothers! The reference is talking about Count st Germain ....The letter can be found in the following reference: Staffordshire Record Office. Anson Papers. D615/P (S)/ 1/2/462).
Andrew Baker, in his work -
THOMAS ANSON of Shugborough;The Greek Revival
reports thus;
'Lady Anson notes his arrival in a letter to her husband, Admiral Anson, who was at Bath with Thomas at the beginning of May:
“St Germain is come, has been with Ld Holdernesse, he is not confined, the present Idea seems not to be that he has acted a deceitful part.”
ST GERMAIN AND THE GREAT SECRET
Clearly, she knew who the Count was and there was no need to explain the background. Lady Anson, living at the Admiralty, was in an ideal position to pick up details of the story and pass it on, even though she admitted herself that it was a secret. Her letter to Thomas, which she encloses with a letter to George on 2nd May 1760, only a few weeks before her death, gives more details:
'M St Germain is I believe under some kind of civil custody of a Messenger, has been desired to leave this Country soon, for he cannot be permitted to stay in it. I am whispered, as a secret, that he tells some odd things, says more: shows letters from many people of fashion in France, but rather of Friendship than of business, some from people of Family whom he appears to have asked for money. He talks of his own general Benevolence, meaning no harm to any country; wishing well to France; would have assisted the French King if he would have followed his advice relieved his subjects from the weight of Taxes; says he has it in his power to give the K. of France more than his Majesty can give him; with other such hints that seem to mean the Great Secret...'
This gives an insight into the Count’s own view of the situation. He “would have assisted the French King” if he had taken “his advice”. This may refer to the failed peace negotiations. Perhaps he had gone so far as to act on behalf of the King without his knowledge. But the most dramatic claim here is that not only would the Count’s advice have “relieved his subjects from the weight of Taxes”, but he could give the King of France “more than his Majesty can give him”. This claim and “other such hints”, Lady Anson interprets to mean “the Great Secret”. In other words, the Count seems to be confirming everyone’s suspicions that his work for Louis XV was not simply a matter of entertaining chemical experiments but encompassed alchemical projects to create limitless wealth. If it became common knowledge that St Germain was involving himself at the centre of the country’s rulership, the general populace would believe that King Louis had fallen for the charismatic Count’s ideas and was also supporting him at great expense. This would be deemed hugely wasteful in terms of money and make the King appear extremely foolish, to say the least. It would have been in many people’s interest to suppress an embarrassing truth.
