Ambitious, intriguing, debauched, unbelieving, the new minister, like his predecessor, was agreeable, brilliant, capable even, and accustomed in his diocese to important affairs.

He was received without disfavor by public opinion.
The notables and the chief of the council of finance undertook in concert the disentanglement of the accounts submitted to them.
In this labyrinth of contradictory figures and statements, the deficit alone came out clearly.

M.de Brienne promised important economies, the Assembly voted a loan: they were not willing to accept the responsibility of the important reforms demanded by the king.

The speeches were long and vague, the objections endless.

All the schemes of imposts were censured one after the other.