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There is neither leisure nor taste for other matters； even for
things which are of most concern to man； such as public affairs； the
household； and the family。 … With respect to the first； I have
already stated that people abstain from them； and are indifferent； the
administration of things； whether local or general； is out of their
hands and no longer interests them。 They only allude to it in jest；
events of the most serious consequence form the subject of witticisms。
After the edict of the Abbé Terray； which half ruined the state
creditors； a spectator； too much crowded in the theater； cried out；
〃Ah； how unfortunate that our good Abbé Terray is not here to cut us
down one…half I〃 Everybody laughs and applauds。 All Paris the
following day； is consoled for public ruin by repeating the phrase。 …
Alliances； battles； taxation； treaties； ministries； coups d'état； the
entire history of the country； is put into epigrams and songs。 One
day；＇8＇ in an assembly of young people belonging to the court； one of
them； as the current witticism was passing around； raised his hands in
delight and exclaimed； 〃How can one help being pleased with great
events； even with disturbances； when they provide us with such amusing
witticisms！〃 Thereupon the sarcasms circulate； and every disaster in
France is turned into nonsense。 A song on the battle of Hochstaedt was
pronounced poor； and some one in this connection said 〃I am sorry that
battle was lost … the song is so worthless。〃＇9＇ … Even when
eliminating from this trait all that belongs to the sway of impulse
and the license of paradox； there remains the stamp of an age in which
the State is almost nothing and society almost everything。 We may on
this principle divine what order of talent was required in the
ministers。 M。 Necker； having given a magnificent supper with serious
and comic opera； 〃finds that this festivity is worth more to him in
credit； favor； and stability than all his financial schemes put
together。 。 。 。 His last arrangement concerning the vingtième was only
talked about for one day； while everybody is still talking about his
fête； at Paris； as well as in Versailles； its attractions are dwelt on
in detail； people emphatically declaring that Monsieur and Mme。 Necker
are a grace to society。〃＇10＇ Good society devoted to pleasure imposes
on those in office the obligation of providing pleasures for it。 It
might also say； in a half…serious； half…ironical tone； with Voltaire；
〃that the gods created kings only to give fêtes every day； provided
they varied； that life is too short to make any other use of it； that
lawsuits； intrigues； warfare； and the quarrels of priests； which
consume human life； are absurd and horrible things； that man is born
only to enjoy himself；〃 and that among the essential things we must
put the 〃superfluous〃 in the first rank。
According to this； we can easily foresee that they will be as
little concerned with their private affairs as with public affairs。
Housekeeping； the management of property； domestic economy； are in
their eyes vulgar； insipid in the highest degree； and only suited to
an intendant or a butler。 Of what use are such persons if we must have
such cares？ Life is no longer a festival if one has to provide the
ways and means。 Comforts； luxuries； the agreeable must flow naturally
and greet our lips of their own accord。 As a matter of course and
without his intervention； a man belonging to this world should find
gold always in his pocket； a handsome coat on his toilet table；
powdered valets in his antechamber； a gilded coach at his door； a fine
dinner on his table； so that he may reserve all his attention to be
expended in favors on the guests in his drawing…room。 Such a mode of
living is not to be maintained without waste； and the domestics； left
to themselves； make the most of it。 What matter is it； so long as they
perform their duties？ Moreover； everybody must live； and it is
pleasant to have contented and obsequious faces around one。 … Hence
the first houses in the kingdom are given up to pillage。 Louis XV； on
a hunting expedition one day； accompanied by the Duc de Choiseul；＇11＇
inquired of him how much he thought the carriage in which they were
seated had cost。 M。 de Choiseul replied that he should consider
himself fortunate to get one like it for 5；000 or 6；000 francs； but；
〃His Majesty paying for it as a king； and not always paying cash；
might have paid 8；000 francs for it。〃 … 〃You are wide of the mark；〃
rejoined the king； 〃for this vehicle； as you see it； cost me 30；000
francs。 。 。 。 The robberies in my household are enormous； but it is
impossible to put a stop to them。〃 … So the great help themselves as
well as the little； either in money； or in kind； or in services。 There
are in the king's household fifty…four horses for the grand equerry；
thirty…eight of them being for Mme。 de Brionne； the administratrix of
the office of the stables during her son's minority； there are two
hundred and fifteen grooms on duty； and about as many horses kept at
the king's expense for various other persons； entire strangers to the
department。＇12＇ What a nest of parasites on this one branch of the
royal tree！ Elsewhere I find Madame Elisabeth； so moderate； consuming
fish amounting to 30；000 francs per annum； meat and game to 70；000
francs； candles to 60；000 francs； Mesdames burn white and yellow
candles to the amount of 215；068 francs； the light for the queen comes
to 157；109 francs。 The street at Versailles is still shown； formerly
lined with stalls； to which the king's valets resorted to nourish
Versailles by the sale of his dessert。 There is no article from which
the domestic insects do not manage to scrape and glean something。 The
king is supposed to drink orgeat and lemonade to the value of 2；190
francs。 〃The grand broth； day and night；〃 which Mme。 Royale； aged six
years； sometimes drinks； costs 5；201 francs per annum。 Towards the end
of the preceding reign＇13＇ the femmes…de…chambre enumerate in the
Dauphine's outlay 〃four pairs of shoes per week； three ells of ribbon
per diem； to tie her dressing…gown； two ells of taffeta per diem； to
cover the basket in which she keeps her gloves and fan。〃 A few years
earlier the king paid 200；000 francs for coffee； lemonade； chocolate；
barley…water； and water…ices； several persons were inscribed on the
list for ten or twelve cups a day； while it was estimated that the
coffee； milk and bread each morning for each lady of the bed…chamber
cost 2；000 francs per annum。＇14＇ We can readily understand how； in
households thus managed； the purveyors are willing to wait。 They wait
so well that often under Louis XV they refuse to provide and 〃hide
themselves。〃 Even the delay is so regular that； at last； they are
obliged to pay them five per cent。 interest on their advances； at this
rate； in 1778； after all Turgot's economic reforms； the king still
owes nearly 800；000 livres to his wine merch