Historical and Political Memoirs of the Reign of Lewis XVI. from His Marriage to His Death, Founded on a Variety of Authentic Documents ... and on the Secret Papers Discovered, After the 10th of August, 1792, in the Closets of the King at Versailles and the Tuileries, Volume 4G. & J. Robinson, 1802 - France |
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abbé Terray abuses accounts admi admini administration affairs ancient Austria bank bankers baron de Breteuil blished cardinal Richelieu Castries caused CHAP character clergy Compte rendu confidence council court dangerous destroyed destruction duke of Choiseul edict effect employed employments endeavoured enemies established expences favour finances France French friends Genevese honour house of Bourbon ideas imposts intendants interest Joseph II king king's kingdom letters Lewis XIV Lewis XVI loans madame Maestricht magistracy majesty majesty's manner Maurepas means ment Meuse millions minister monarchy Montbarrey nation Necker never nion nistration nobility obliged observations operations opposition parliament party perceive Pezai plans possessed present prince prince of Condé principles probity proprietaries provinces public opinion racter reform reign of Lewis Remark of LEWIS rendered revolution Richelieu royal authority royal treasury ruin Sartines secret sentiment situation sovereign spirit state-countries stration suppression tion Turgot Vergennes wished
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Page 121 - ... administrative subjects. The result is a restless and confused criticism which adds constant fuel to the desire felt by the Parliaments to have a hand in the matter. This feeling on their part becomes more and more manifest and they set to work, like all those bodies that wish to acquire power, by speaking in the name of the people, calling themselves defenders of the nation's rights ; there can be no doubt but that, though they are strong neither in knowledge nor in pure love for the well-being...
Page 123 - ... the elective countries, demanding provincial administration, operated partially and by degrees what the director was incapable of effecting altogether, by reason of the oppositions of the council to that part of his proceedings France was thus changed, by the effect of these silent and prudent measures, from a state of absolute monarchy, to a still more uncertain, and, as it were, preparatory situation ; which, by increasing, in the interior of the provinces, discussions on the rights of proprietaries,...
Page 35 - XV., who was also weak and easily persuaded, would never have abandoned his favourite correspondence to the discretion of his mistresses or ministers. The conduct of his successor was a lesson for Vergennes and Maurepas. They endeavoured assiduously to conceal this weakness of the monarch, well aware that it might become the radical defect of the state which they had to govern and support.
Page 263 - A Treatise on the Administration of the Finances of France. In Three Volumes. By Mr. Necker. Translated from the genuine French edition, 1784, by Thomas Mortimer, Esq. (London, Printed at the Logographic Press, 1785).
Page 64 - ... his provinces the same aids as during the war, and even greater; he who, at the same time, proffered to the monarch's amiable impatience the resources necessary in order to commence, in the midst of war, the improvement of the prisons and the hospitals ; he who indulged his generous inclinations by inspiring him with the desire of extinguishing the remnants of serfage ; he who, rendering homage to the monarch's character, seconded his disposition towards order and economy; he who pleaded for...
Page 175 - The third year is arrived ; still no talk of imposts j and I believe, that even those which are common in time of war have not been laid on. I conceive, that, in the end, France must have -recourse to imposts ; but those three years saved will extend their benign influence through a whole age. The French people feel the / happiness of having an economical master...
Page 176 - He has despoiled himself of the magnificence and purple of royalty ; but he has established a navy ; he has reduced the number of his household servants, but he has augmented the number of his sailors ; he has given France such a navy as she never before possessed, and which will immortalise his reign ; and he has established it without laying on a penny of imposts.
Page 370 - Voltaire, and the philosophers his disciples, have vainly contributed to overthrow, in the course of a few years, what our fathers held in veneration. That religion, and those gods, •which you imagine ineffectual, abased, and annihilated, are again rising around us.
Page 261 - I must tell you plainly, that, from the manner in which I treated him, and from his leaving me as he did, I cannot think of taking him again into my service, in any situation. As for the rest, sir, do not suppose that your friendship for him has done you any injury in my mind.
Page 194 - Your majesty is able to judge of the evident effect of such a number of writings, since you have had the goodness to show me, several times, that your majesty was employed in reading them.