the course of the day; but the next morning he had changed his mind, upon hearing of M. d'Hervilly's reconciliation with the nobility, because he looked upon the measure as quite unneceffary; and in fpite of my earnest expostulations, he never could refolve upon publishing this decree, the execution of which might probably have stopped the progress of the revolt and the general diforder.

CHAP. V.

Progrefs of the infurrection.-Infolence of Procureur du Roi.-Reprefentations of the commiffion intermediaire* of the ftates. -Violent conduct of the archbishop of Sens. -Decrees of the council.-Tumults.Weakness of M. de Thiard.-Designs formed against me-My departure for Paris.-Its confequences.-M. de Thiard's recall.-Replaced by M. de Stainville.Retreat of the archbishop of Sens—And of M. de Lamoignon.-Recall of Mr. Necker. -M. de Barentin appointed chancellor.Mr. Necker prepares the convocation of the States General.-His motives.

HE establishment of the baillage at

T Rennes was become abfolutely impof

fible, from the contempt into which royal

* Commiffion intermediaire was composed of a certain number of the deputies of the three orders, who, during the intervals of the fittings of the States, were employed to execute fome parts of the adminiftration of that province.

authority

authority had fallen, from the proteft of the parliament against the new laws, and from the inefficacy of all means of force in the hands of a commandant fuch as M. de Thiard. My correfpondence with the ministers, and principally with the archbishop of Sens, turned upon the neceffity of qualifying his measures, of abandoning his miferable Cour Pleniere, and, above all, of fufpending the execution of the new laws in Britanny, until fuch time as they should receive the approbation of the ftates, according to the privileges of that province, and the engage. ment which the king renewed at every fitting, never to make any attempt against them. The archbishop's anfwers were always laconic, and to a ridiculous height imperious; as for inftance, "The king will be obeyed.—The king knows how to make himself obeyed.-You will immedi ately receive fuch orders as the circumstances require." But a difregard of fubordination and the spirit of revolt were fo rapid, and these orders were dispatched fo flowly, that we always received them about a fortnight after

VOL. I.

H

after the period in which they might have been of fervice.

The enthusiasm of infurrection had fo heated every mind, and the disorder and weakness of government were fo apparent, that those who, from motives of interest as well as duty, ought to have been its surest fupport, gloried in fhewing themselves the moft eager in attacking it. Thus, while the commiffion intermediaire addreffed the most infolent expoftulations to the king against the new edicts, and while the Procureur Sindic of the ftates travelled poft over the municipalities of the province, to force them to take a proteft against his majefty's orders, under pain of incurring the cenfure of the ftates and the parliament, the Procureur du roi au prefidial threatened to profecute us if we did not fet at liberty a feditious fellow, who had been taken up before the Hotel de Cuillé. This fellow was at the head of a mob, exciting the people againft the foldiers. A piftol and ammunition were found in his pockets. The Procureur infifted, that if the man was

liable to be tried, it belonged to him, and not to us, to profecute him. M. de Thiard faw no impropriety in delivering up the fellow to the jurifdiction of the Procureur, in spite of my remonftrances against such a measure; and after a flight examination, this vagabond was fet at liberty, as was to have been expected, amidst the acclamations of the populace, who conducted him home in triumph. It was even thought neceffary to give him a few louis d'ors, to prevent his raising a process against us for damages, in which he would certainly have been fuccessful.

The archbishop of Sens, confident in the resources of his own genius, and perfuaded that his measures would be crowned with fuccefs, regarded the oppofition in Britanny with contemptuous indifference; seeing that the greatest number of the baillages were established, and in activity, he thought that it would be in his power to restore that province to tranquillity when he pleased. He was, however, ftung to the quick at the difrespectful style in which he and his measures