New severities on the part of the Parliament and the grand council dealt a blow to the philosophers before long: the editors' privilege was revoked.

Orders were given to seize Diderot's papers.

Lamoignon de Malesherbes, who was at that time director of the press, and favorable to freedom without ever having abused it in thought or action, sent him secret warning.

Diderot ran home in consternation.
"What's to be done ?" he cried; "how move all my manuscripts in twenty- four hours?
I haven't time even to make a selection.

And, above all, where find people who would and can take charge of them safely ?" "Send them all to me," replied M.de Malesherbes; "nobody will come thither to look for them." Feeble governments are ill served even by their worthiest servants; the severities ordered against the _Encyclopaedia_ did not stop its publication; D'Alembert, however, weary of the struggle, had ceased to take part in the editorship.