ant. He had no misgivings as to his right to spend the
people's money. From his principle, "_L'Etat, c'est moi_," followed the
corollary, "The income of the State is mine." From 1664 to 1690 one
hundred and sixteen millions of livres were laid out in unnecessary
_hotels, chateaux_, and gardens. His ministers imitated him at a humble
distance. Louvois boasted that he had reached his fourteenth million at
Meudon. "I like," said Louis, "to have those who manage my affairs
skilfully do a good business for themselves."

Before many years had passed, it was evident that Colbert, with all his
energy and his systems, did not make both the financial ends meet any
better than the Surintendant. A merchant of Paris, with whom he
consulted, told him,--"You found the cart upset on one side, and you
have upset it on the other." Colbert had tried to lighten it by striking
eight millions of _rentes_ from the funded debt; but it was too deeply
imbedded in the mire; the shoulder of Hercules at the wheel could not
have extricated it. After Colbert was removed, times grew harder. Long
before the King's death the financial distress was greater than in the
wars and days of the Fronde. Every possible contrivance by which money
could be raised was resorted to. Lotteries were drawn, tontines
established, letters of nobility offered for sale at two thousand crowns
each. Those who preferred official rank could buy the title of
Councillor of State or of Commissioner of Police. New and
profitable offices were created and disposed of to the highest
bidder,--inspectorships of wood, of hay, of wine, of butter. Arbitrary
power, no matter whether we call it sovereign prince or sovereign
people, falls instinctively into the same ways in all times and
countries. The Demos of a neighboring State, absolute and greedy as any
monarch, have furnished us with plenty of examples of this last
imposition upon industry. Zealous servants are rewarded and
election-expenses paid by similar inspectorships and commissionerships,
not only useless, but injurious, to every one except those who hold
them.

When these resources became exhausted, a capitation-tax was laid,
followed by an assessment of one tenth, and the adulteration of the
currency. The King cut off the pension-list, sold his plate, and
dismissed his servants. Misery and starvation laid waste the realm. At
last, the pompous, "stagy" old monarch died, full of infirmities and of
humiliations; and the road from