- When， under Louis XVI， a new administration proposes and withdraws feeble measures of reform. their criticism shows the same firmness：
"Childishness， weakness， constant inconsistency，" writes another，[41]
"incessant change； and always worse off than we were before.
Monsieur and M. le Comte d'Artois have just made a journey through the provinces， but only as people of that kind travel， with a frightful expenditure and devastation along the whole road， coming back extraordinarily fat； Monsieur is as big as a hogshead； as to M. le Comte d'Artois he is bringing about order by the life he leads." -An inspiration of humanity animates these feminine breasts along with that of liberty. They interest themselves in the poor， in children， in the people； Madame d'Egmont recommends Gustavus III to plant Dalecarlia with potatoes. On the appearance of the engraving published for the benefit of Calas[42] "all France and even all Europe， hastens to subscribe for it， the Empress of Russia giving 5，000 livres[43]. "Agriculture， economy， reform， philosophy，" writes Walpole， "are bon ton， even at the court." - President Dupaty having drawn up a memorandum in behalf of three innocent persons， sentenced "to be broken on the wheel， everybody in society is talking about it；" "idle conversation no longer prevails in society，" says a correspondent of Gustavus III[44] "since it is that which forms public opinion. Words have become actions. Every sensitive heart praises with joy a publication inspired by humanity and which appears full of talent because it is full of feeling." When Latude is released from the prison of Bicêtre Mme. de Luxembourg， Mme. de Boufflers， and Mme. de Sta？l dine with the grocer-woman who "for three years and a half moved heaven and earth " to set the prisoner free. It is owing to the women， to their sensibility and zeal， to a conspiracy of their sympathies， that M. de Lally succeeds in the rehabilitation of his father. When they take a fancy to a person they become infatuated with him； Madame de Lauzun， very timid， goes so far as to publicly insult a man who speaks ill of M. Necker. - It must be borne in mind that， in this century， the women were queens， setting the fashion， giving the tone， leading in conversation and naturally shaping ideas and opinions[45]. When they take the lead on the political field we may be sure that the men will follow them： each one carries her drawing room circle with her.
VI. WELL-MEANING GOVERNMENT.
Infinite， vague aspirations. - Generosity of sentiments and of conduct. - The mildness and good intentions of the government. -Its blindness and optimism.
An aristocracy imbued with humanitarian and radical maxims， courtiers hostile to the court， privileged persons aiding in undermining privileges， presents to us a strange spectacle in the testimony of the time. A contemporary states that it is an accepted principle "to change and upset everything."[46] High and low， in assemblages， in public places， only reformers and opposing parties are encountered among the privileged classes.
"In 1787， almost every prominent man of the peerage in the Parliament declared himself in favor of resistance. . . . Ihave seen at the dinners we then attended almost every idea put forward， which， soon afterwards， produced such startling effects."[47]
Already in 1774， M. de Vaublanc， on his way to Metz， finds a diligence containing an ecclesiastic and a count， a colonel in the hussars， talking political economy constantly[48]. "It was the fashion of the day. Everybody was an economist. People conversed together only about philosophy， political economy and especially humanity， and the means for relieving the people， (le bon peuple)， which two words were in everybody's mouth." To this must be added equality； Thomas， in a eulogy of Marshal Saxe says， "I cannot conceal it， he was of royal blood，" and this phrase was admired. A few of the heads of old parliamentary or seigniorial families maintain the old patrician and monarchical standard， the new generation succumbing to novelty. "For ourselves，" says one of them belonging to the youthful class of the nobility，[49] "with no regret for the past or anxiety for the future， we marched gaily along over a carpet of flowers concealing an abyss.
Mocking censors of antiquated ways， of the feudal pride of our fathers and of their sober etiquette， everything antique seemed to us annoying and ridiculous. The gravity of old doctrines oppressed us. The cheerful philosophy of Voltaire amused and took possession of us.
Without fathoming that of graver writers we admired it for its stamp of fearlessness and resistance to arbitrary power. . . .
Liberty， what-ever its language， delighted us with its spirit， and equality on account of its convenience. It is a pleasant thing to descend so long as one thinks one can ascend when one pleases； we were at once enjoying， without forethought， the advantages of the patriciate and the sweets of a commoner philosophy. Thus， although our privileges were at stake， and the remnants of our former supremacy were undermined under our feet， this little warfare gratified us.
Inexperienced in the attack， we simply admired the spectacle.