[9] Compare this to the situation in year 1999 where irresponsible democratic governments sell enormous fortunes in the form of bonds to the popular pension funds, fortunes which they expect that the next generation shall repay. (Sr.)

[10] Roux and Buchez, I. 190.  “Rapport,” M. de Calonne.

[11] Champfort, p. 105.

[12] De Tocqueville, 261.

[13] D’Argenson, April 12, 1752, February 11, 1752, July 24, 1753, December 7, 1753. — Archives nationales, O1, 738.

[14] Characters in Molière’s comedies. — Tr.

[15] De Ségur.  I. 17.

[16] Lucas de Montigny, Letter of the Marquis de Mirabeau, March 23, 1783.

[17] Mme. Vigée-Lebrun, I. 269, 231. (The domestic establishment of two farmers-general, M. de Verdun, at Colombes, and M. de St. James, at Neuilly). — A superior type of the bourgeois and of the merchant has already been put on the stage by Sedaine in “Le Philosophe sans le Savoir.”

[18] John Andrews, “A comparative view,” etc. p. 58.

[19] De Tilly, “Mémoires,” I. 31.

[20] Goffroy, “Gustave III,” letter of Mme. Staël (August, 1786).

[21] Mme. de Genlis, “Adele et Théodore” (1782), I. 312. —­ Already in 1762, Bachaumont mentions several pieces written by grand seigniors, such as “Clytemnestre,” by the Comte de Lauraguais; “Alexandre,” by the Chevalier de Fénélon; “Don Carlos,” by the Marquis de Ximènès.

[22] Champfort, 119.

[23] De Vaublanc, I. 117. — Beugnot, “Mémoires,” (the first and second passages relating to society at the domiciles of M. de Brienne, and the Duc de Penthièvre.)

[24] Barbier, II, 16; III. 255 (May, 1751).  “The king is robbed by all the seigniors around him, especially on his journeys to his different châteaux, which are frequent.” —­ And September, 1750. — - Cf.  Aubertin, 291, 415 ("Mémoires,” manuscript by Hardy).

[25] Treaties of Paris and Hubersbourg, 1763. — The trial of La Chalotais, 1765. — Bankruptcy of Terray, 1770. — Destruction of the Parliament, 1771. — The first partition of Poland, 1772. — Rousseau, “Discours sur l’inégalité,” 1753. — “Héloise,” 1759. — “Emile” and “Contrat Social,” 1762.

[26] De Barante, “Tableau de la littérature française au dix-huitième siècle,” 312.

[27] “Mercure britannique,” vol.  II, 360.

[28] Lacretelle, “Dix ans d’épreuves,” p. 21.

[29] “Memoires,” by Pasquier (Etienne-Dennis, duc), chancelier de France. in VI volumes, Librarie Plon, Paris 1893.

[30] “Le Compère Mathieu,” by Dulaurens (1766).  “Our sufferings are due to the way in which we are brought up, namely, the state of society in which we are born.  Now that state being the source of all our ills its dissolution must become that of all our good.”

[31] The “Tableau de Paris,” by Mercier (12 vols.), is the completest and most exact portrayal of the ideas and aspirations of the middle class from 1781 to 1788.