Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/668

 662 LOUIS XVI. (FBANCE) lute, showed at length both vigor and pru- dence, and the disturbances were quieted by the amnesty of May, 1775. In the following year the opposition to reform, supported by the queen, succeeded in effecting the with- drawal of Turgot from the cabinet ; and after various changes the finances were at length intrusted to the celebrated Necker, from whose skill and talent the highest expectations were entertained. When the war of the American revolution broke out, and the agents of the United States, Franklin and Deane, arrived in Paris to solicit aid for the struggling colonies, Louis, though sympathizing with the Ameri- cans, was averse to embarking in war on their account; but his pacific inclinations were at length overcome by the urgency of his min- isters and of the queen, and by the enthusiasm of the court and people, and on Feb. 6, 1778, he concluded the treaty of alliance with the United States, which in a few months resulted in the declaration of hostilities between France and Great Britain. The war cost France about 1,400,000,000 livres; and besides the irrepa- rable deficit it produced in the already disor- dered finances, it tended greatly to weaken the monarchy by diffusing republican and revolu- tionary ideas. Necker became by his attempts at reform so obnoxious to the court and the ar- istocracy that he was obliged to resign in 1781. He was succeeded, after some changes, by Oalonne, whose extravagance was unbounded. The queen and the court gave themselves up to gayety and profusion, excepting the king, whose tastes were simple and moderate, and who refused himself expensive indulgences which he granted to the queen and the princes. In 1785 a swindling trick by which, in the name of the queen used without her knowl- edge, a jeweller of Paris was defrauded of a diamond necklace of immense value, created much excitement, threw great scandal on the queen and court, and disgraced the throne in popular estimation. (See LAMOTTE-YALOIS.) At length the king was persuaded to convene the assembly of the notables or principal no- bility of the kingdom, for the purpose of de- vising some means of raising money, the de- ficit in the finances having reached the sum of 140,000,000 livres. The notables met in Feb- ruary, 1787, but rejected the proposal of a uni- versal taxation which should embrace both the nobles and the clergy, upon which Calonne resigned. His successor, Lom<nie de Brienne, was not more successful in grappling with the difficulties which beset the state, and was com- pelled to resign at a time when the scarcity of money had become so great that all cash pay- ments were suspended and a state bankruptcy appeared inevitable. Necker, who was ex- ceedingly popular, was recalled to the ministry in 1788 ; and the states general, which had not met since 1614, were summoned, and assem- bled at Versailles, May 5, 1789. An order of the king fixed the number of noble and eccle- siastical members at about 300 each, and that of the third estate or citizens at about 600. A quarrel broke out between the three estates at their first sitting, the main question at issue being whether the estates should vote sepa- rately or all together. In the former case, the house of nobles would have the power of pre- venting any action displeasing to them ; in the latter, the third estate, or commons, themselves forming half of the whole number of mem- bers, and who were also sure of the concur- rence of many of the clergy of the inferior orders, would have the absolute power in the assembly. After a contest of some weeks the third estate declared itself (June 17) to be the national assembly, and was joined by portions of the other estates. The assembly began im- mediately a series of financial reforms which excited the greatest enthusiasm throughout France. Necker prepared a plan of a consti- tution for a limited monarchy like that of England ; but the nobility persuaded the king to consent to violent measures, and on June 20 the hall of the assembly was closed by mili- tary force. The members, however, met in an adjoining tennis court and unanimously took an oath never to separate until the constitu- tion of the kingdom and the regeneration of the public order were established on a solid basis. On June 23 a royal sitting was held, and Louis from the throne made a speech to the assem- bly, and proposed various important reforms and the establishment of constitutional rights, securing the liberties and privileges of the peo- ple. His concessions were received with cold- ness, and after the termination of the sitting he dissolved the assembly. The third estate, how- ever, refused to be dissolved ; and one of its most prominent members, Mirabeau, replied to the official who summoned them to obey the king: "Tell your master that we sit hereby the power of the people, and that we are only to be driven out by the bayonet." The king yielded to this resolute resistance, the assem- bly remained in session, and the nobility and clergy, who had accepted the mandate of dis- solution, now returned and took their seats at the request of the monarch. During these proceedings great excitement prevailed among the people of Paris. A national guard was formed, embracing nearly all the citizens capa- ble of bearing arms, with Lafayette for com- mander, and the government of the city be- came a democratic municipality with Bailly for mayor. The irresolute king was now per- suaded to dismiss Necker and banish him from the kingdom, and to surround Paris with a powerful army commanded by Marshal Bro- glie. Paris, exasperated at these reactionary measures, rose in insurrection and stormed the Bastile on July 14. The king was startled and dismayed, and meditated flight beyond the frontier, though he did not yet fully appreciate the dangers of his position. The next morn- ing Louis, who had a horror of bloodshed, and would not use the force at his command, made his appearance in the national assembly, which