Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 04.djvu/349

 except by the Siege of Gibraltar, and by the general result arrived at shortly after.

Continued Deficit of Revenue: Necker's ulterior plans still less approved of; by Noblesse and Clergy, least of all. January 1781, he publishes a Compte Rendu ('Account Rendered,' of himself and them), 'Two hundred thousand copies of it sold';—and is dismissed in the May following. Returns to Switzerland; and there writes New Books, on the same interesting subject or pair of subjects. Maurepas dies, November 21st, 1781: the essential 'Prime Minister' is henceforth the Controller-General, if any such could be found; there being an ever-increasing Deficit of Revenue,—a Millennium thought to be just coming on, and evidently no money in its pocket.

Siege of Gibraltar (September 13th, to middle of November, 1782): Siege futile on the part of France and Spain; hopeless since that day (September 13th) of the red-hot balls. General result arrived at is important: American Independence recognised (Peace of Versailles, January 20th, 1783.) Lafayette returns in illustrious condition; named Scipio Americanus by some able-editors of the time.

1783–1787.

Ever-increasing Deficit of Revenue. Worse, not better, since Necker's dismissal. After one or two transient Controllers, who can do nothing, Calonne, a memorable one, is nominated, November 1783. Who continues, with lavish expenditure raised by loans, contenting all the world by his liberality, 'quenching fire by oil thrown on it'; for three years and more. 'All the world was holding out its hand, I held out my hat.' Ominous scandalous Affair called of the Diamond Necklace (Cardinal de Rohan, Dame de Lamotte, Arch-Quack Cagliostro the principal actors), tragically compromising the Queen's name who had no vestige of concern with it, becomes public as Criminal-Trial, 1786; penal sentence on the above active parties and others, May 31st, 1786: with immense rumour and conjecture from all mankind. Calonne, his borrowing resources being out, convokes the Notables (First Convocation of the Notables) February 22d, 1787, to sanction his new Plans of Taxing; who will not hear of them or of him: so that he is dismissed, and 'exiled,' April 8th, 1787. First Convocation of Notables,—who treat not of this thing only, but of all manner of public things, and mention States-General among others,—sat from February 22d to May 25th, 1787.

1787.

Cardinal Loménie de Brienne, who had long been ambitious of the post, succeeds Calonne. A man now of sixty; dissolute, worthless;—devises