rtal
gods; scarcely a Patriot or two will drive out so far, and bid you be of
firm courage. You are in furnished lodgings, far from home and domestic
comfort: little to do, but wander over the unlovely Champagne fields;
seeing the grapes ripen; taking counsel about the thousand-times
consulted: a prey to tedium; in danger even that Paris may forget you.
Messengers come and go: pacific Lomenie is not slack in negotiating,
promising; D'Ormesson and the prudent elder Members see no good in
strife.

After a dull month, the Parlement, yielding and retaining, makes truce,
as all Parlements must. The Stamp-tax is withdrawn: the Subvention
Land-tax is also withdrawn; but, in its stead, there is granted, what
they call a 'Prorogation of the Second Twentieth,'--itself a kind of
Land-tax, but not so oppressive to the Influential classes; which lies
mainly on the Dumb class. Moreover, secret promises exist (on the part
of the Elders), that finances may be raised by Loan. Of the ugly word
States-General there shall be no mention.

And so, on the 20th of September, our exiled Parlement returns:
D'Espremenil said, 'it went out covered with glory, but had come back
covered with mud (de boue).' Not so, Aristogiton; or if so, thou surely
art the man to clean it.

Chapter 1.3.VI.

Lomenie's Plots.

Was ever unfortunate Chief Minister so bested as Lomenie-Brienne? The
reins of the State fairly in his hand these six months; and not the
smallest motive-power (of Finance) to stir from the spot with, this
way or that! He flourishes his whip, but advances not. Instead
of ready-money, there is nothing but rebellious debating and
recalcitrating.

Far is the public mind from having calmed; it goes chafing and fuming
ever worse: and in the royal coffers, with such yearly Deficit
running on, there is hardly the colour of coin. Ominous prognostics!
Malesherbes, seeing an exhausted, exasperated France grow hotter and
hotter, talks of 'conflagration:' Mirabeau, without talk, has, as we
perceive, descended on Paris again, close on the rear of the Parlement,
(Fils Adoptif, Mirabeau, iv. l. 5.)--not to quit his native soil any
more.

Over the Frontiers, behold Holland invaded by Prussia; (October, 1787.
Montgaillard, i. 374. Besenval, iii. 283.) the French party oppressed,
England and the Stadtholder triumphing: to the sorrow of War-Secretary
Montmorin and all men. But without money, sinews of war, as of work, and
of existence itself, what