THE appellation of petit-maitre is given to a certain set of young men of the court, who take the lead of the rest, and affect a superiority by their free and bold behaviour. Their origin is very ancient. I believe they are derived from those heroes, that kings and princes used to keep near their persons, to serve them in dangerous emergencies. Such were formerly the mighty men of Israel, and those whom David entertained at his court, and in his armies, and of whom so many wonders are recorded in history.

These heroes have kept up their credit, or sunk, according to the inclinations of the princes whom they served, and to whom they were obliged to conform themselves. Under Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, they were those young men without experience, who gave a fatal counsel to that prince. By listening to them he had the mortification to have his kingdom divided, and ten tribes revolt before his face to his enemy and his rival.

The Greeks had heroes of this kind, who served them on great occasions without hesitation. Alexander the Great had some who partook both of his dangers and his amusements. The Romans also had them; but their use was strangely perverted under Nero; and it was in his school that a new species of petit-maitre was formed, who distinguished themselves by their follies and extravagancies.

In France we have seen nothing of the same kind till the reign of Francis I. and his children. Henry III. brought the petits-maitres into great credit. They were the minions of that corrupted court. The Duke of Guise called the King of Navarre his petit-maitre. , After this, we heard no more of petits-maitres till under the Cardinal Richlieu, who retained in his service a certain number of resolute persons, whom he employed in the execution of his designs. , Rochfort, whose memoirs we have, was one of them. The Prince de Condé had some of these petits-maitres, who were greatly distinguished for their courage.

Those of the present day, whether brave or not, are the sayers of bons mots, rash and violent young men, who judge precipitately, alter the fashions, and assume the privilege of fixing the value and merit of every thing, and of giving novelty to those pleasures which in reality they destroy.

The above extract is only curious, as it gives the true sense of an appellation which is frequently misunderstood in this country.

H. J. P.

Quoted from: The Monthly Mirror. May, 1804. Vol. XVII.