Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 04.djvu/350

 Tax-Edicts, Stamptax (Édit du Timbre, July 6th, 1787) and others, with 'successive loans,' and the like; which the Parlement, greatly to the joy of the Public, will not register. Ominous condition of the Public, all virtually in opposition; Parlements, at Paris and elsewhere, have a cheap method of becoming glorious. Contests of Loménie and Parlement. Beds-of-Justice (first of them, August 6th, 1787); Lettres-de-Cachet, and the like methods; general 'Exile' of Parlement (August 15th, 1787), who return upon conditions, September 20th. Increasing ferment of the Public. Loménie helps himself by temporary shifts till he can, privately, get ready for wrestling down the rebellious Parlement.

1788. January–September.

Spring of 1788, grand scheme of dismissing the Parlement altogether, and nominating instead a 'Plenary Court (Cour Plénière),' which shall be obedient in 'registering' and in other points. Scheme detected before quite ripe: Parlement in permanent session thereupon; haranguing all night (May 3d); applausive idle crowds inundating the Outer Courts: D'Espréménil and Goeslard de Monsabert seized by military in the grey of the morning (May 4th), and whirled off to distant places of imprisonment: Parlement itself dismissed to exile. Attempt to govern (that is, to raise supplies) by Royal Edict simply,—'Plenary Court' having expired in the birth. Rebellion of all the Provincial Parlements; idle Public more and more noisily approving and applauding. Destructive Hailstorm, July 13th, which was remembered next year. Royal Edict (August 8th), That States-General, often vaguely promised before, shall actually assemble in May next. Proclamation (August 16th), That 'Treasury Payments be henceforth three-fifths in cash, two-fifths in paper,'—in other words, that the Treasury is fallen insolvent. Loménie thereupon immediately dismissed: with immense explosion of popular rejoicing, more riotous than usual. Necker, favourite of all the world, is immediately (August 24th) recalled from Switzerland to succeed him, and be 'Saviour of France.'

1788. November–December.

Second Convocation of the Notables (November 6th–December 12th), by Necker, for the purpose of settling how, in various essential particulars, the States-General shall be held. For instance, Are the Three Estates to meet as one Deliberative Body? Or as Three, or Two? Above all, what is to be the relative force, in deciding, of the Third Estate or Commonalty? Notables, as other less formal Assemblages had done and do, depart without settling any of the points in question; most points remain unsettled,—especially that of the Third Estate and its relative force. Elections begin everywhere, January 1789. Troubles of France seem