Necker is our best and our last friend on the Continent," Burke had said in the House of Commons.

Knowing better than anybody the burdens which the war imposed upon the state, and which he alone had managed to find the means of supporting, M.Necker desired peace.

It was for Catholics and philosophers that the honor was reserved of restoring to Protestants the first right of citizens, recognition of their marriages and a civil status for their children.

The court, the parliaments, and the financiers were leagued against M.Necker.

"Who, pray, is this adventurer," cried the fiery Epremesnil, "who is this charlatan who dares to mete out the patriotism of the French magistracy, who dares to suppose them lukewarm in their attachments and to denounce them to a young king ?" The assessment of the twentieths (tax) had raised great storms; the mass of citizens were taxed rigorously, but the privileged had preserved the right of themselves making a declaration of their possessions; a decree of the council ordered verification of the income from properties.