Part 14

(_b_) Chapters VII., IX., and Conclusion. Chapter VII. contains the second of d'Argenson's "plans." Chapter IX. and the Conclusion represent the Chapter VIII., articles 2 and 3, of 1764, re-written with a view to the second plan. To that "plan" they are pointedly directed, and they have neither the same date nor the same intention as the rest of the edition. The date of the second plan and of the second fragmentary revision is probably about 1755.

The evidence for the suggested dates must be succinctly given.

(_a_) Chapters I.--VI. and VIII. It is here purely internal, _e.g._:--

35 (1784) _cf._ 37 (1764). "tel s'imagine," &c.

40 " _cf._ 42, " Corruption in England.

42, 45 " _cf._ 43, 47, " Omission of "les circonstances présentes" and "sous le présent règne," pointing to date later than 1751.

49 " _cf._ 52, " Venice: "elle est revenue de ses erreurs."

63 " _cf._ 69, " "The House of Nassau," pointing to date as early as 1748.

64 " _cf._ 70, " Change of tone regarding Switzerland.

90 " _cf._ 104, " "Le roi de Prusse."

101-116 " Addition of two chapters on Paraguay and China.

153 " Appearance of proposal to sell Crown lands.

161 " _cf._ 173, (1764): "gemissants sans faire aucuns efforts."

164 " _cf._ 176, " Amplification of remarks on Councils.

168 " _cf._ 182, " Fleury's ministry.

173 " _cf._ 188, " "Les souverains commencent."

(1784) 265 note, "More than thirty years."

Sometimes the strongest evidence consists in slight touches of expression, _e.g._:--

93 (1784) _cf._ 107 (1764): "les vertus sociales" for "des manières polies."

104 (1784) "l'Être Suprème, auteur du Droit Naturel."

163 (1784) _cf._ 175 (1764): "en morale et en philosophie" for "en morale et en politesse."

172 " _cf._ 187 " "on se pique de générosité."

This evidence proves conclusively that a considerable period must have elapsed between the composition of the texts, a period extending beyond the close of d'Argenson's ministry. The revised version can scarcely be earlier than 1748 and scarcely later than 1752. It is separated from the original by ten to fifteen years.

(_b_) Chapters VII., IX., and Conclusion. These chapters are immeasurably in advance of the rest of the work, and represent a complete revolution of ideas. We know, on the witness of his invaluable Journal, that about the year 1753 such a revolution took place in d'Argenson's mind; and that any time between 1753 and his death in 1757 such ideas were possible and natural to him [see this essay, Chapter V.]. This portion of the work may be placed approximately about the year 1755.

C.

D'ARGENSON'S VIEWS ON PUBLIC QUESTIONS PRIOR TO HIS ACCESSION TO THE MINISTRY.

("_Journal et Mémoires_," Rathery, I.-IV.)

See for--

A. _The action of France with regard to the commercial rivalry between Spain and England._--I. 325, 328; II. 303, 330, 382, 390; III. 39, 43, 44, 45, 46, 50-1, 55, 59, 83, 145, 164, 170, 217, 245, 312, 318, 319, 419, 435-38; IV. 14, 19, 36.

B. _The question of the Imperial Succession._--I. 304-5, 323, 330; III. 208 (death of Emperor), 208-11, 215, 216, 218, 221, 229, 230, 238, 239, 240, 245, 246, 249, 253, 260, 266, 268, 274, 276, 278, 279, 285, 290-91, 295, 296, 299, 300, 303-5, 309, 310, 317, 322, 327, 328, 342, 342-3, 344, 346, 350, 354, 356, 367, 375, 378, 384, 394, 396; IV. 13, 15, 51, 81, 82, 85, 86, 95.

C. _The State of the Interior._--I. 342; II. 72, 148-49, 158-59, 165, 194, 218; III. 84, 92, 96, 97, 100, 131, 167, 169, 170-71, 173, 178, 205, 207, 213, 215, 222, 224, 280, 287, 310, 312, 363, 371, 380, 401-2, 403, 417, 418, 423, 434; IV. 69, 76, 83, 107-9.

D. _The Character of Louis XV._--I. 290, 335; II. 273; III. 81, 111, 124, 133, 138, 147, 148, 179, 182-84, 189, 192, 226, 243, 245, 257, 264, 265, 275, 308, 369, 370, 386, 387, 391, 393, 405, 409, 412, 413, 414, 415, 421, 424, 429, 430; IV. 47, 51, 52, 60, 68, 101, 103.

E. _Frederick of Prussia._--III. 28, 105, 108, 109, 112, 138, 143, 153, 240, 249, 250, 290-91, 294, 299, 317, 378, 383, 395; IV. 13, 56.

D.

INDEX TO THE GREAT PUBLIC QUESTIONS NOTICED IN THE LAST FIVE VOLUMES OF D'ARGENSON'S JOURNAL.

The volumes V.--IX. embrace the period 1746-56.

A. _D'Argenson's views on the conduct of French policy at home and abroad._--V. 102, 119, 123, 138, 276, 301, 361, 409, 413, 425, 441, 443, 472; VI. 46, 49, 51, 114, 136, 159, 181, 197, 200, 209, 245, 252, 256, 268, 271, 288, 296, 305, 314, 317, 327, 336, 359, 383, 424, 425, 451; VII. 79, 81, 102, 118, 144, 232, 284, 299, 332, 370, 387, 391, 404, 434; VIII. 8, 37, 166, 220, 299, 324, 339, 357, 478; IX. 74, 111, 112, 300.

B. _The Political Opposition._--V. 138, 142, 227, 230, 238, 250, 268, 278, 339, 343, 346, 352, 356, 365, 369, 372, 380, 384, 402, 404, 409-11, 415-16, 425, 433, 444, 454; VI. 10, 11, 15, 24, 39, 61, 151, 172, 174, 183, 191, 211-12, 213-16, 217, 219, 228, 240, 243, 257, 258-59, 265, 277, 318, 319-20, 330, 403, 425, 450, 452, 458, 464; VII. 23, 86, 199, 233, 243, 266, 284, 294, 296, 330, 339, 342, 369, 374, 379, 394, 448, 450, 464; VIII. 11, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 33, 35, 55, 72, 80, 110, 113, 116, 124, 126, 152, 153, 160, 162, 176, 189, 203, 222, 248, 265, 272, 302, 309, 313, 315, 344, 365, 397, 445, 452; IX. 9, 48, 112, 221, 227, 247, 294, 334, 336, 361, 366, 368, 370, 376, 377.

C. _The "Philosophical" Opposition._--VI. 10, 26, 34, 81, 209, 249, 310, 353, 390, 464; VII. 47, 51, 56-7, 58, 63, 68, 71, 95, 97, 106, 110, 112, 123, 130, 224, 242, 294-95, 309, 419, 424, 457, 464; VIII. 3, 18, 35, 43, 57, 60, 64, 66, 95, 141, 202, 289, 333, 372, 386, 439; IX. 7, 22, 182, 220.

D. _Relations with Prussia. Change in alliances._--V. 141, 210, 251, 252; VI. 302, 338; VII. 50, 79, 302; VIII. 62, 164; IX. 61, 136, 180-81, 185, 278-79, 280-82, 284, 289, 312, 324-25, 328, 356.

E. _Relations with England._--V. 90, 91, 138, 428; VI. 46, 68, 97, 153, 171, 301, 335, 344, 346, 354, 464, 473; VII. 15, 31, 54, 98, 140, 287, 388, 397, 401; VIII. 73, 83, 100, 110, 188, 196, 348, 400, 450, 452, 460, 467, 476; IX. 16, 28, 33, 93, 100, 107, 117, 145, 168, 178, 229, 235, 239, 253, 260, 273, 300.

_NOTES._

NOTES.

[Footnote 1: Despite d'Argenson's distinguished place among the worthies of his time, the literature relating to him is singularly meagre. Apart from his own works, it consists entirely of--

(_a_) Brief introductions to the two editions of his Journal.

(_b_) A few literary notices of the Journal by M. Scherer ("Études," III.), and Sainte Beuve ("Causeries du lundi," XII. and XIV.); and an admirable review by M. Aubertin in the "Esprit Public."

(_c_) Incidental notices in the more general works which deal with d'Argenson's ministry. The most important are those by M. le duc de Broglie and M. Zevort.]

[Footnote 2: Fontenelle, "Éloge de Marc René d'Argenson," Oeuvres (1818), I. p. 311.]

[Footnote 3: In a letter dated from Amiens, June 7, 1646. "Lettres de Mazarin" Cheruel, Imprimerie Nationale, 1889.]

[Footnote 4: "Je suis bien ayse de la constance des Catalans. J'attribue en partie cela à la prudence et à l'adresse avec laquelle vous les sçavez gouverner" (Letter of July 16, 1643). In another of September 4th, in the same year, Mazarin speaks to him of "la reconnaissance que vos services méritent." Mazarin was not the first great minister whose appreciation d'Argenson won. There exists a letter of Richelieu, such as is only written to a man upon whose regard one can lean and upon whose strength one can rely. (Tarascon, July 30, 1632.) (Alfred Barbier, "Notice Biographique sur René de Voyer d'Argenson." Poitiers, 1885. [Bibliothèque Nationale.])]

[Footnote 5: He was taken prisoner at Milan, and ransomed for ten thousand crowns. Alfred Barbier, "Notice Biographique." Barbier's date is 1639.]

[Footnote 6: See "Biographie Universelle," V. 44, and "Notice Biographique" above.]

[Footnote 7: "Biographie Universelle," ibid.]

[Footnote 8: His name, by decree of the Senate, was inscribed in the Book of Gold, and he was authorised to add to his escutcheon the arms of Venice. Henceforth the arms of d'Argenson bear the lion of St. Mark. See Daru, "Histoire de Venise," XXXIII., p. 16, and Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, MS. 4161 "Généalogie de M. le Marquis d'Argenson."]

[Footnote 9: D'Argenson, Journal (Rathery), I. p. 2.]

[Footnote 10: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 2. "Il paraissait se complaire à être maltraité."]

[Footnote 11: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 2.]

[Footnote 12: M. Hippolyte de Laporte, "Biographie Universelle," V. 44.]

[Footnote 13: D'Argenson himself said of him: "Je compte que son petit-fils ne démérite pas, ayant tourné son zèle à la dévotion à l'état et à sa chère patrie" (Journal, Rathery, I. p. 3, note).]

[Footnote 14: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 8, _cf._ St. Simon, "Mémoires," XIV. p. 316.]

[Footnote 15: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 7, _cf._ St. Simon, XIV. p. 315.]

[Footnote 16: Ibid, I. p. 6.]

[Footnote 17: Fontenelle, "Éloge de Marc René d'Argenson," Oeuvres, I. p. 314. "L'âme, toujours agissante et presque inconnue, de ce grand corps."]

[Footnote 18: Fontenelle, "Éloge," I. p. 315.]

[Footnote 19: St. Simon, VII. p. 71; and Fontenelle, ibid.]

[Footnote 20: St. Simon, VII. p. 143, _cf._ Marais, "Journal," I. p. 287.]

[Footnote 21: "Du 21 mai, 1717, 10 heures du matin. François Mario Arouet, âge de vingt-deux ans, ayant aucune profession." Procés-verbal at the Bastille, see Voltaire, Édition Garnier, I. p. 299; and Buvat, "Journal," I. p. 514.]

[Footnote 22: Buvat, I. p. 517.]

[Footnote 23: Oeuvres, I. p. 315.]

[Footnote 24: St. Simon, XIV. p. 368.]

[Footnote 25: Fontenelle, I. p. 318.]

[Footnote 26: St. Simon, XIV. p. 369.]

[Footnote 27: Ibid., XIV. p. 368.]

[Footnote 28: Ibid., XIV. p. 315.]

[Footnote 29: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 7.]

[Footnote 30: St. Simon, XVII. p. 102; XVI. p. 369; _cf._ Marais, I. p. 272.]

[Footnote 31: He was the real creator of the administration, which St. Simon says he managed "d'une manière transcendante," XIV. 314.]

[Footnote 32: "Une figure effrayante qui retraçoit celle des trois juges des enfers" (St. Simon, XIV. p. 315).]

[Footnote 33: "Au milieu des fonctions pénibles, l'humanité trouvoit aisément grâce devant lui" (St. Simon, ibid.).]

[Footnote 34: Fontenelle, Oeuvres, I. pp. 314-15.]

[Footnote 35: Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. p. 40: St. Simon, XIV. pp. 316, 317.]

[Footnote 36: St. Simon, XVI. p. 48. "Quand tout fut posé et rassis, le garde des sceaux demeura quelques minutes dans sa chaire, immobile, regardant au dessous, et ce feu d'esprit qui lui sortoit des yeux sembloit percer toutes les poitrines." It is one of St. Simon's finest episodes.]

[Footnote 37: "Le roi veut être obéi, et obéi sur-le-champ" (St. Simon, XVI p. 51).]

[Footnote 38: Fontenelle, "Éloge," I. p. 316.]

[Footnote 39: Ibid., I. p. 317.]

[Footnote 40: See Buvat, I. p. 312; _cf._ I. p. 318, where the Regent speaks of him as "un tartufe et un insolent."]

[Footnote 41: Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. pp. 61, 62.]

[Footnote 42: Marais, "Journal," I. p. 283.]

[Footnote 43: Ibid., II. p. 148.]

[Footnote 44: It was drawn more briefly by the rude daring of the "esprit gaulois." Among the caricatures which accompanied his fall, we find--

_"Sixty thousand livres reward!_

Lost, between the Rue St. Antoine and the Palais Royal or the Palais des Tuileries an old black dog with a red collar" (the cordon rouge of the order of St. Louis), "who was to be seen about the neighbourhood. Anyone returning the same will receive the above reward. Apply the Abbey of La Madeleine de Traisnel, in the Faubourg St. Antoine" (Buvat, II. p. 102: _cf._ Marais, I. p. 320).]

[Footnote 45: St. Simon, XVII. p. 102.]

[Footnote 46: "Le ministère gêné et passager:" Voltaire, "Siècle de Louis XIV.," Édit. Garnier, XIV. p. 503.]

[Footnote 47: Marais, II. p. 128.]

[Footnote 48: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 23.]

[Footnote 49: It is a little perplexing to find this incident related under date 1718. It is clear from the tone of the passage that d'Argenson is little more than a boy, without ordinary official experience, and by no means a man of twenty four, on the eve of receiving an Intendancy. Suspicions of the date are confirmed by the fact that for only twenty-seven days of the year 1718 was his father Chief of Police at all. The incident probably occurred some time between 1712, when he appears to have left school, and 1716, when his public career began. A mistake of the kind might naturally arise, as the earlier part of the Journal was not written until long after the events recorded--probably about 1730.]

[Footnote 50: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 18.]

[Footnote 51: His mother's ideas in this matter seem to have followed the liberality of the prevailing fashion. In an unsigned letter to Madame d'Argenson's sister, the Marquise de Balleroy, we come across the following passage:

"Il vient d'y avoir un grand changement entre plusieurs nobles dames et messieurs, tant de la ville que de la cour.... Madame d'Argenson, vacante par la mort du chevalier d'Oppède, a choisi pour consolation le marquis d'Alleurs, jeune homme d'une discrétion au-dessus de son âge" (December 27, 1717). As we have seen, her husband did not go comfortless. See p.16.]

[Footnote 52: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 15.]

[Footnote 53: A number of d'Argenson's early drawings are preserved in the Library of the Arsenal (MS. 6164). They are distinguished chiefly by care of execution, and a natural loyalty to the ancestral domain. They consist principally of views of the family seats in Touraine.]

[Footnote 54: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 16.]

[Footnote 55: Ibid., I. p. 17.]

[Footnote 56: Émond, "Histoire du Collège Louis-le-Grand."]

[Footnote 57: "Des gens du monde à bonnes fortunes" (Journal, Rathery, I. p. 17).]

[Footnote 58: Ibid., I. p. 17.]

[Footnote 59: Ibid., I. p. 17. The metaphor is of d'Argenson's compounding.]

[Footnote 60: The man who is known to history for having reviled the young Voltaire, now one of d'Argenson's schoolfellows, as the future coryphæus of deism in France.]

[Footnote 61: We are indebted to St. Simon for this explanation of the young d'Argensons' escape. See "Mémoires," XIII. pp. 213, 214. The incident aptly illustrates the mysterious power which the Chief of Police exercised.]

[Footnote 62: "Je me trouvais trop sot de n'en avoir profité, et j'en ai eu depuis de longs repentirs" (Journal, Rathery, I. p. 19).]

[Footnote 63: "L'épopée royale" (Arsène Houssaye, "La Régence," p. 4).]

[Footnote 64: See Martin, "Histoire de France," XIV. pp. 366-617.]

[Footnote 65: See p. 15; St. Simon's "Mémoires," VII. p. 71; and Fontenelle, I. p. 315.]

[Footnote 66: With this, the most famous society of the time, d'Argenson was only remotely connected. He tells us ["Loisirs d'un Ministre," I. p. 187 (1785)] that he had met and talked with Chaulieu occasionally at the Duchesse de Maine's, whither the "Anacreon of the Temple" was attracted by his passion for the famous Mdlle. de Launay.]

[Footnote 67: _E.g._, Journal (Rathery), I. p. 186.]

[Footnote 68: Ibid., I. p. 6, _cf._ p. 16.]

[Footnote 69: See p. 17., _cf._ Journal (Rathery), I. p. 42.]

[Footnote 70: See p. 16., _cf._ St. Simon, XIV. p. 315.]

[Footnote 71: We are continually sensible of the sulphurous atmosphere through which Marc René d'Argenson is seen in contemporary memoirs.]

[Footnote 72: _E.g._, one which crops up incidentally in a letter of the Marquis de Balleroy, July 26, 1722. "Effectivement tout le monde dit qu'il fait son intendance à merveille, et mieux que bien des gens qui ont l'esprit plus brillant que lui" (Barthélemy, II. p. 270). _Cf._ also a letter of St. Pierre to d'Argenson, quoted p. 41.]

[Footnote 73: The father of the famous Controller-General.]

[Footnote 74: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 125.]

[Footnote 75: The edition here cited is that of Count Édouard de Barthélemy, lately published in two volumes. The edition consists of a series of extracts from certain of the letters, and represents only a fraction of the whole correspondence, which occupies eight volumes. (Bibliothèque Mazarine, MS. 2341).]

[Footnote 76: See Lacroix, "xviii. Siècle--Le Libraire."]

[Footnote 77: The great "Constitution Unigenitus," which served as a rallying cry for the rival factions for half a century.]

[Footnote 78: Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. p. 109.]

[Footnote 79: St. Simon speaks of Marc René d'Argenson's efforts to break the weight of the religious persecution; and the modest expression of gratitude which closes Fontenelle's "Éloge" was evoked by the protection d'Argenson had given him in the storm which gathered round the "Histoire des Oracles."]

[Footnote 80: Marais, "Journal," I. p. 287. "A la vérité, il disait, et c'est à moi-même qu'il l'a dit, que les jésuites étaient des fripons aussi, et qu'il avait la preuve de l'un et de l'autre."]

[Footnote 81: Barthélemy, I. p. 141.]

[Footnote 82: Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. p. 40.]

[Footnote 83: Barthélemy, I. p. 208.]

[Footnote 84: Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. p. 65.]

[Footnote 85: _Cf._ Aubertin, "L'esprit public," chap. iii.]

[Footnote 86: _Cf._ Journal (Rathery), I. 123.]

[Footnote 87: Journal (Rathery), I. 23.]

[Footnote 88: See p. 18.]

[Footnote 89: See pp. 71-3.]

[Footnote 90: November 12, 1719. Barthélemy, II. p. 83.]

[Footnote 91: Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. 55.]

[Footnote 92: Ibid., XV. p. 56.]

[Footnote 93: Buvat, "Journal," II. p. 35.]

[Footnote 94: D'Argenson became Master of Requests on his marriage with Mademoiselle Méliand, who brought him the position as part of her dowry. See Journal (Rathery), IV. p. 29.]

[Footnote 95: Barthélemy, II. p. 130.]

[Footnote 96: St. Simon, "Mémoires," XVI. p. 435. "On n'avait jamais oui parler d'un conseiller d'état et intendant de Hainaut de vingt-quatre ans; ni d'un lieutenant de police encore plus jeune." D'Argenson, as a matter of fact, was twenty-six.]

[Footnote 97: D'Argenson's first notice of his Intendancy is dated April (Journal, Rathery, I. p. 35). We have however a letter written by him to Madame de Balleroy from Valenciennes on March 22nd. He says so little as to suggest that he had just arrived, and had little pleasant to say. On April 7th he writes the charming letter, part of which is quoted below.]

[Footnote 98: See Martin, "Histoire de France," XV. p. 64. In a witty satire upon the System which appeared upon the walls at this period, we read: "Jean Law, médecin empirique, directeur des hôpitaux; d'Argenson, chirugeon-major" (Arsène Houssaye, "La Régence ").]

[Footnote 99: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 43, and note. See also Buvat, II. p. 195.]

[Footnote 100: The translation here is from d'Argenson's handwriting (Bibliothèque Mazarine, MS. 2341, V. fol. 130). The passage is rendered by Barthélemy (II. p. 153): "Un très joli lansquenet, _un bon_ picquet, quadrille et même brélan." The manuscript has: "Nous avons un très joli lansquenet, _ombre_, picquet, _cela ne manque en province_, quadrille et memo brélan." It is without stops, but otherwise there is no difficulty.]

[Footnote 101: Letters are addressed to her at her château "near Bayeux."]

[Footnote 102: See Aubertin, "L'esprit public," chap. iv.]

[Footnote 103: The Chevalier's letters are sufficiently amusing, but not sufficiently frequent. He has sometimes to apologise for remissness on the old ground of lack of news.]

[Footnote 104: Barthélemy, I. p. 257.]

[Footnote 105: "La proposition n'est peut-être pas encore bien mesurée" (Barthélemy, I. p. 256). The word is more probably "proportion."]

[Footnote 106: Barthélemy, II. p. 475.]

[Footnote 107: Ibid., II. p. 475.]

[Footnote 108: For a sketch of the Caumartin character, see Aubertin, "L'esprit public," chap. iv.]

[Footnote 109: For a slight reflection of the feeling with regard to him, see Marais, "Mémoires," I. p. 308.]

[Footnote 110: Barthélemy, I. pp. 110, 111.]

[Footnote 111: Louis XIV. was dead, and his ministers were deserted.]

[Footnote 112: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 66.]

[Footnote 113: Édouard Goumy, "L'Abbé de St. Pierre," p. 50.]

[Footnote 114: D'Argenson, Journal (Édition Jannet), IV. p. 341.]

[Footnote 115: A remark of Marais ("Mémoires," III. p. 74) in expressing surprise at d'Argenson's resignation: "On dit que c'est volontairement, et qu'il aime mieux se reposer au conseil à trente ans, que de régir cet intendance, plus militaire que de justice et de finance."]

[Footnote 116: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 35.]

[Footnote 117: Ibid., I. 36.]

[Footnote 118: Ibid.]

[Footnote 119: Buvat, "Journal," II. p. 421.]

[Footnote 120: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 45.]

[Footnote 121: _Cf._ a very significant remark of the Marquis de Balleroy in a letter of July 26, 1722. See note 72.]

[Footnote 122: See p. 33.]

[Footnote 123: Journal (Rathery), IV. p. 30.]

[Footnote 124: Journal (Rathery), IV. pp. 28, 29. _Cf._ also Caumartin de Boissy's letters of May 12 and 14, 1721. (Barthélemy, II. pp. 328, 329.) See also Marais, II. p. 147.]

[Footnote 125: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 58.]

[Footnote 126: Ibid., I. pp. 55-61.]

[Footnote 127: The word is d'Argenson's, and characteristic of him.]

[Footnote 128: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 57.]

[Footnote 129: Ibid., I. p. 49.]

[Footnote 130: Ibid., I. p. 58.]

[Footnote 131: Count d'Argenson had become chief of police in succession to Machault in the spring of 1720. In June he was involved in his father's disgrace: see p. 34. Shortly afterwards he received the Intendancy of Touraine, and only returned to Paris in the early part of 1722, when he resumed the direction of the police. In the autumn of 1723, he became chancellor of the Orléans household, and held that position at the Regent's death in December. His dismissal from the police followed a few weeks afterwards: see below (Marais, "Journal," III. p. 73). Before the end of January 1724, through the influence of the young Duke of Orléans, he was provided with a seat at the Council of State.]

[Footnote 132: Mentioned by d'Argenson in the course of the letter of January 4 quoted below. _Cf._ Marais, "Journal," III. p. 77, and Barbier.]

[Footnote 133: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 59.]

[Footnote 134: Marais, "Journal," III. p. 73.]

[Footnote 135: Journal (Rathery), I. p. 59.]

[Footnote 136: Ibid., I. p. 63]

[Footnote 137: Ibid., I. p. 60.]

[Footnote 138: Ibid., I. pp. 64-67]

[Footnote 139: Ibid., I. p. 44.]

[Footnote 140: Ibid., I. pp. 67-70]

[Footnote 141: Ibid., I. p. 53.]

[Footnote 142: Ibid., I. p. 54.]

[Footnote 143: "L'esprit public au XVIII. siècle," p. 197. See also par. p. 200.]

[Footnote 144: As d'Argenson himself admits ("Essais," II. pp. 84,85).]

[Footnote 145: "Essais dans le goût de ceux de Montagne," (Montaigne) II. p. 84 (1785).]

[Footnote 146: Ibid., II. p. 86.]

[Footnote 147: These papers, after a chequered career, fell into the hands of the Abbé d'Olivet, Voltaire's correspondent, who published a selection of them as "Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de Louis XIV., par le feu M. l'Abbé de Choisy, de l'Académie Française" ("Essais," II. p. 86).]

[Footnote 148: The essay in which he refers to it was written some years after the suppression of the Entresol.]