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pay taxes； and should one piece pay more than its net product？ These
are the questions that find their way into drawing…rooms under the
king's auspices； by means of Quesnay； his physician； 〃his thinker；〃
the founder of a system which aggrandizes the sovereign to relieve the
people； and which multiplies the number of tax…payers to lighten the
burden of taxation。 … At the same time； through the opposite door；
other questions enter； not less novel。 〃Is France＇35＇ a mild and
representative monarchy or a government of the Turkish stamp？ Are we
subject to the will of an absolute master； or are we governed by a
limited and regulated power？ 。 。 。 The exiled parliaments are
studying public rights at their sources and conferring together on
these as in the academies。 Through their researches； the opinion is
gaining ground in the public mind that the nation is above the king；
as the universal church is above the pope。〃 … The change is
striking and almost immediate。 〃Fifty years ago；〃 says d'Argenson；
again； 〃the public showed no curiosity concerning matters of the
State。 Today everybody reads his Gazette de Paris； even in the
provinces。 People reason at random on political subjects； but
nevertheless they occupy themselves with them。〃 … Conversation
having once provided itself with this diet holds fast to it； the
drawing…rooms； accordingly； opening their doors to political
philosophy； and； consequently； to the Social Contract； to the
Encyclopedia； to the preachings of Rousseau； Mably； d'Holbach； Raynal；
and Diderot。 In 1759； d'Argenson； who becomes excited； already
thinks the last hour has come。 〃We feel the breath of a
philosophical anti…monarchical； free government wind； the idea is
current； and possibly this form of government； already in some minds；
is to be carried out the first favorable opportunity。 Perhaps the
revolution might take place with less opposition than one supposes；
occurring by acclamation。＇36＇
The time is not yet come； but the seed is coming up。 Bachaumont；
in 1762； notices a deluge of pamphlets； tracts and political
discussions； 〃a rage for arguing on financial and government matters。〃
In 1765； Walpole states that the atheists； who then monopolize
conversation； inveigh against kings as well as against priests。 A
formidable word； that of citizen； imported by Rousseau； has entered
into common speech； and the matter is settled on the women adopting it
as they would a cockade。 〃As a friend and a citoyenne could any news
be more agreeable to me than that of peace and the health of my dear
little one？〃＇37＇ Another word； not less significant； that of energy；
formerly ridiculous； becomes fashionable； and is used on every
occasion＇38＇。 Along with language there is a change of sentiment；
ladies of high rank passing over to the opposition。 In 1771； says
the scoffer Bezenval； after the exile of the Parliament 〃social
meetings for pleasure or other purposes had become petty States…
Generals in which the women； transformed into legislators； established
the premises and confidently propounded maxims of public right。〃 The
Comtesse d'Egmont； a correspondent of the King of Sweden； sends him a
paper on the fundamental law of France； favoring the Parliament； the
last defender of national liberty； against the encroachments of
Chancellor Maupeou。 〃The Chancellor；〃 she says；＇39＇ 〃within the last
six months has brought people to know the history of France who would
have died without any knowledge of it。 。 。 。 I have no doubt；
sire；〃 she adds； 〃that you never will abuse the power an enraptured
people have entrusted to you without limitation。 。 。 。 May
your reign prove the epoch of the re…establishment of a free and
independent government； but never the source of absolute authority。〃
Numbers of women of the first rank； Mesdames de la Marck； de
Boufflers； de Brienne； de Mesmes； de Luxembourg； de Croy； think and
write in the same style。 〃Absolute power；〃 says one of these； 〃is a
mortal malady which； insensibly corrupting moral qualities； ends in
the destruction of states。 。 。 。 The actions of sovereigns are
subject to the censure of their subjects as to that of the universe。
。 。 。 France is undone if the present administration lasts。〃＇40＇
… When； under Louis XVI； a new administration proposes and withdraws
feeble measures of reform。 their criticism shows the same firmness：
〃Childishness； weakness； constant inconsistency；〃 writes another；＇41＇
〃incessant change； and always worse off than we were before。
Monsieur and M。 le Comte d'Artois have just made a journey through the
provinces； but only as people of that kind travel； with a frightful
expenditure and devastation along the whole road； coming back
extraordinarily fat； Monsieur is as big as a hogshead； as to M。 le
Comte d'Artois he is bringing about order by the life he leads。〃 …
An inspiration of humanity animates these feminine breasts along with
that of liberty。 They interest themselves in the poor； in children；
in the people； Madame d'Egmont recommends Gustavus III to plant
Dalecarlia with potatoes。 On the appearance of the engraving
published for the benefit of Calas＇42＇ 〃all France and even all
Europe； hastens to subscribe for it； the Empress of Russia giving
5；000 livres＇43＇。 〃Agriculture； economy； reform； philosophy；〃 writes
Walpole； 〃are bon ton； even at the court。〃 … President Dupaty
having drawn up a memorandum in behalf of three innocent persons；
sentenced 〃to be broken on the wheel； everybody in society is talking
about it；〃 〃idle conversation no longer prevails in society；〃 says a
correspondent of Gustavus III＇44＇ 〃since it is that which forms public
opinion。 Words have become actions。 Every sensitive heart praises
with joy a publication inspired by humanity and which appears full of
talent because it is full of feeling。〃 When Latude is released from
the prison of Bicêtre Mme。 de Luxembourg； Mme。 de Boufflers； and
Mme。 de Sta？l dine with the grocer…woman who 〃for three years and a
half moved heaven and earth 〃 to set the prisoner free。 It is owing
to the women； to their sensibility and zeal； to a conspiracy of their
sympathies； that M。 de Lally succeeds in the rehabilitation of his
father。 When they take a fancy to a person they become infatuated
with him； Madame de Lauzun； very timid； goes so far as to publicly
insult a man who speaks ill of M。 Necker。 … It must be borne in
mind that； in this century； the women were queens； setting the
fashion； giving the tone； leading in conversation and naturally
shaping ideas and opinions＇45＇。 When they take the lead on the
political field we may be sure that the men will follow them： each one
carries her drawing room circle with her。
VI。 WELL…MEANING GOVERNMENT。
Infinite； vague aspirations。 … Generosity of sentiments and of
conduct。 … The mildness and good intentions of the government。 …
Its blindness an