Twenty years ago, the sons of dukes and ministers, of people attached to the court, of the relations and proteges of mistresses, became colonels at the age of sixteen.

M.de Choiseul caused loud complaints on extending this age to twenty-three years.

But to compensate favoritism and absolutism he assigned to the pure grace of the king, or rather to that of his ministers, the appointment to the grades of lieutenant-colonel and major which, until that time, belonged of right to priority of services in the government; also the commands of provinces and of towns.

You are aware that these places have been largely multiplied, and that they are bestowed through favor and credit, like the regiments.

The cordon bleu and the cordon rouge are in the like position, and abbeys are still more constantly subject to the regime of influence.