7535. REVOLUTION (French), Notables called.—
The King has called an
Assemblée des Notables. This has not been done
for one hundred and sixty years past. Of
course it calls up all the attention of the people.
The objects of this Assembly are not named.
Several are conjectured. The tolerating the
Protestant religion; removing all the internal
custom houses to the frontier; equalizing the
gabelles on salt through the kingdom; the sale
of the King's domains to raise money; or,
finally, the effecting this necessary end by some
other means are talked of. But in truth, nothing
is known about it. This government practices
secrecy so systematically, that it never
publishes its purposes or its proceedings sooner
or more extensively than is necessary.—
To John Jay. Washington ed. ii, 91.
(P.
1787)
