"The populace of France," said the court boldly, "is liable to talliage and forced labor at will, and that is a part of the constitution which the king cannot change." Louis XVI.
summoned the Parliament to Versailles, and had the edicts enregistered at a bed of justice.

"It is a bed of beneficence!" exclaimed Voltaire, a passionate admirer of Turgot.
The comptroller-general was triumphant; but his victory was but the prelude to his fall.

Too many enemies were leagued against him, irritated both by the noblest qualities of his character, and at the same time by the natural defects of his manners.

Possessed of love "for a beautiful ideal, of a rage for perfection," M.Turgot had wanted to attempt everything, undertake everything, reform everything at one blow.
He fought single-handed.

M.de Malesherbes, firm as a rock at the head of the Court of Aids, supported as he was by the traditions and corporate feeling of the magistracy, had shown weakness as a minister.