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CHAP.
LXII.

1787.

Financial difficulties.

was one of the most popular acts which distinguished the early part of his reign; their violent and insidious proceedings were among the causes which drew down misery and ruin on his latter years.

Difficulties in finance had long been felt; and, amidst all her ambitious projects, and all her attempts on the freedom of other governments, angry discontent and fiery discussions on this irritating and alarming subject had long agitated the state, and menaced the Compte rendu public security. Before his expulsion from office*, by M. Necker. M. Necker had published a detail of the financial state

1783.

of the country, under the title of Compte Rendu. The statements in this publication were, by many, severely arraigned; but the work itself, its motives, and its probable effects, were the objects of still more serious animadversion. Abuses were disclosed, whether truly or not, but no remedy was suggested. It was calcu lated only to excite discontent and clamour: it was an appeal to the people against the King, by a minister of the King himselft.

In England, where a constitutional body, commanding the public purse, could have investigated every particular of abuse suggested, and applied a proper remedy, such an exposure might have been censured as indiscreet, but would not have been dangerous. In the case of M. Necker, it appeared like the desperate parting effort of a man, who, feeling he can no longer retain the station in which he is placed, does all in his power to make it untenable by any other. In fact, during an administration of four years, he had witnessed the existence of oppressive and unequal taxes, and much abuse in the collection of them: no impositions more just and equal had been made by him, nor had any abuse been mitigated, or any error rectified.

After the dismissal of Necker, M. De Fleuri and M. D'Ormesson, each for a short time, undertook the direction of the finances; but with so little success,

* In 1781.

+ Particularités et Observations sur les Ministres de Finance en France, par M. le Baron de Montyon, p. 239.

way

CHAP.

LXII.

1784.

tion of De

that their intervention seemed only to prepare the for the introduction of M. De Calonne, who, thus obtaining the object of his ambition, found himself at the helm of an ill-conducted vessel, not beloved by the Administramaster, and contemned, if not hated, by the crew. Calonne. M. Necker had too strong a party among the people to permit his rival's popularity; the partizans he had at court were rendered unserviceable by the Queen's avowed dislike of him: he was obliged to find expedients for relieving the necessities of the state; but although some of his measures were acknowledged to be wise and just, others met with a determined opposition. The Parliament of Paris refused to register an edict for the loan of three millions and upward, which he had prepared. Their decree was annulled by the King; but the minister, unable to cope with this body, and unwilling to adopt the usual and never popular measure of banishing the members, determined on another and apparently a popular plan, that of convening an unusual assembly, under the title of Notables.

This body, composed of one hundred and forty-four Convocation members, selected generally from the highest ranks of the Notables of the clergy, the law, the military body, and the landed proprietors, assembled in Paris. After some

delays, the minister submitted to them his new plan 1787. of finance, which was at least liberal and just.

January.

Generally

It ex- De Calonne's tended to an abolition of all privileges which exempted plan of finance. individuals or public bodies from the payment of taxes, and a strict inquiry into all privileges and abuses affecting the public interest. This scheme united against its author the leading men of every descrip- opposed. tion. The partizans of Necker, and agitators of the public mind, adhered to the statement in the Compte Rendu, that the revenue in his time was exactly balanced, and a surplus of nearly half a million sterling remained to the public. Those who were, through ambition, desirous of supplanting M. De Calonne, advanced objections equally vehement, although differently stated; and the privileged classes, the nobility, clergy, and magistracy, true to their imagined, although blind to their real, interests, added their weight to the opposition.

U 2

CHAP.
LXII.

In these proceedings, the minister had been made to feel the daily increasing power of the press. He had imprudently undertaken to refute the statements Banishment of in the Compte Rendu: Necker published a reply, and

1787.

Necker.

was banished to his country seat at St. Ouen; conduct which was sure to increase his reputation, and ruin that of his rival. Another adversary presented himself Exertions of le in the person of the Comte De Mirabeau. This indi

Comte De

Mirabeau.

De Calonne retires.

vidual, already known by his political and literary productions, but much more by the irregularities of his life and his family disputes, now pressed forward as an opponent of the minister, determined, as he expressed it, to plant himself in the breach, even if he got his head broken in the conflict*. His work was read with avidity, and produced great effect on the public mind; the more, perhaps, because the author, although adverse to De Calonne, did not enter the lists as the champion of Necker, or any other person aspiring to office.

M. De Calonne, unable to oppose this formidable combination, resigned office and retired into England. His place was successively occupied by M. De Fourqueux, who did not retain it above a month, M. De Villedeuil, and M. De Lambert, each of whom also resigned, after a very short period, during which they neither effected nor attempted any financial operation; and, finally, M. De Brienne, Archbishop of Thoulouse. succeeds him. The Notables were soon dissolved, and the old mode of administration restoredt.

De Brienne

superior classes.

Amidst all these distresses, and with the unreApathy of the strained clamour of public discontent sounding on all sides, the Court and the higher orders seemed to enjoy themselves in perfect security. Undisturbed by the fearful signs of the times, among which the frequent changes of ministry were not the least alarming, the pursuits of ambition, interest, or pleasure, were never intermitted; and all these indications of danger were utterly unperceived, or inconceivably disregarded.

Lettres de Mirabeau à Mauvillon.

In these details, I have consulted the histories and the other authorities mentioned in a former note.

CHAPTER THE SIXTY-THIRD.

1787-1788.

Tranquillity at home.-Meeting in Parliament.-Addresses voted unanimously in both Houses.-Debate on the treaty with Hesse.-Augmentation of the army.-Debates on the promotion of flag officers.-Lord Rawdon's motion.- Mr. Bastard's three motions-all unsuccessful.-Troops embarked for India. -Difficulties.-Mr. Pitt's bill.-Debates. Mr. Sheridan's parallel between the bills of Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt.-Discussions on the slave trade--general principles.-Efforts of writers, political, religious, moral and satirical.-Doctrines laid down by eminent lawyers.—Ex. ertions of Mr. Granville Sharp---his success.-First petition to Parliament. - Formation of a society-its rapid increase and consolidation.-New petitions.-Committee of the Privy Council appointed.-Opinions of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Grenville.-Delegates sent from Liverpool.-Evidence adduced by them.-Counter-evidence.-State of the parties interested.-Numerous petitions.-Mr. Pitt's motion,—Mr. Fox.-Bill for regulating the conveyance of slaves.—Petitions from Liverpool. - Counsel heard.-Witnesses examined. Their account of the treatment of slaves in ships. -Debate.-Bill passes the Commons - amended---withdrawn in the House of Commons. -New bill introducedwhich is also withdrawn-but a third bill passes.- Observations. Prorogation.-State of the continent.-War between Russia and the Porte.-Conduct of the Emperor of Germany. Attempt on Belgrade.-Joseph's declarations of war.Great preparations of Germany and Russia.-State of the Turks. The Russian fleet in Cronstadt. Sea-fight off Hoogland.-War in Finland.-Denmark makes war on Sweeden. Sicge laid to Gottenberg.-Interference of the

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CHAP.
LXIII.

1787.

Tranquillity at home.

Nov. 27th.
Meeting of
Parliament.

Address in

British minister. The Turks defeated near Oczahoff which is taken by storm.-Proceedings of Joseph the Second.--Siege of Belgrade.-Marshal Loudon commands.-His popularity.-Vigorous operations.-Captures Novi.Prince Coburg takes Chotzim.-Unmilitary conduct of the Emperor.-End of the campaign.

In the British dominions, public tranquillity was undisturbed, and national prosperity regularly advancing. Confidence in the administration was generally entertained, and the cares of commerce and suits of pleasure divided the attention of all classes.

pur

In addressing the two Houses, when they reassembled, the King gave a brief account of the transactions in Holland, and his negotiations; and, adverting to the flourishing state of commerce and the revenue, recommended zeal and unanimity.

The Earl of Harrington made, and Viscount Bulboth Houses. keley seconded, the motion for an address, which was voted without opposition, after a short and unimportant debate, in which the Bishop of Landaff expressed full approbation of the acts of government, and declared that, if Holland were lost, England was undone.

28th and 29th.

treaty with

Hesse.

In the lower House, Mr. Dudley Ryder proposed, Mr. Brooke seconded, the address, and it was carried unanimously. Mr. Fox, while he generally approved the acts of ministers, reserved his definitive opinion until his sentiments on the treaty with Hesse Cassel should be produced; and he reminded the House that, in the debate on the commercial treaty, he had given them warning of the perfidy of France.

When the treaties were laid on the table, Mr. Fox Debate on the required a copy of the notification given by France of her intention to interfere in the disputes of Holland, which was refused, because it was unnecessary, and because it formed part of a long dispatch, the contents of which ought not to be disclosed. The effort was renewed, and a formal motion made, but without effect. On Mr. Pitt's motion for a grant of £36,093, for the Landgrave of Hesse's subsidy, Mr. Fox expressed ap

Dec. 3rd. Hessian subsidy.

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