ESSAYS HISTORICAL AND LITERARY. 199

the crown in difficult and dangerous emergen-
cies. On examination this aliiembly dilicovered,
that the molt flagrant embezzlements had taken
place in the royal treafury. The downfal of M.
de Calonne, the Comptroller General of the Fi-
nances, was the immediate refult of this difco-
very; and the elevation of M. Neckar, who had
formerly occupied that important Ration. The
NptaHes, however, acknowledged their total in-
competency to reform the abulies or relieve the
embarrafTments of the fiate. And they con-
cluded their deliberations by adviling the King
without delay to convoke the States General of»
the kingdom, who alone pofTeiTed fufficient in-

fluence and authority to apply thole remedies
which the political diforders of the {late rendered

indifpenfably neceflary. This had in fact been -

for feveral years palt the grand object of the
hopes and wilhes of the people. And the inflex-
ible refolution of the Parliament of Paris not to
enregifler the edicts of the crown was apparently
and almolt avowedly direéitefi to the accomplilh-
ment of this purpofe.

The monarch, feeing himlelf without re-
fources, alarmed at the critical and dangerous
fituation to which he wasimperceptibly reduced,
and delirous to regain the alTeElions of the peo-
ple, at length declared his refolution to convene
the States General, which had not met fince the

() 4 year