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252 R. M. Johnston of total indifference to me ; but with the spectators it is far otherwise, and I note this as having been intended as some sort of reparation to France ' ' ' In his dispatch of December 2, 1786, occurs a curious passage, too long to quote, in which Mirabeau with many expressions of dis- like and horror describes proceedings and rites of initiation which he ascribes to the Illumines. Among many authentic descriptions of Rosicrucian, Masonic and Illunrtine ceremonies none can be found to tally with the one here given, and it bears every appearance of being fictitious and of having been written for other eyes than those of Talleyrand. As early as the end of October the expatriated pamphleteer was tiring of his not very satisfactory, and unfruitful mission. Politically there was nothing to be done, the millions of Frederick seemed no nearer the safes of Panchaud's bank, or the linings of Mirabeau's pockets. He' writes : " I am full of disgust and lassitude ; I appeal to your honor and friendship to tell me what I am, what I am doing, where I am being carried, or to arrange matters so that I may again enjoy freedom. The editors will deal with me more kindly than our rulers do, and I shall not be called on to treat them so tenderly. I will perform anything at the bidding of friendship, but not at that of those in authority, and I should be a great fool to exert myself more in their behalf than they do themselves." Whenever the irascible e.xile gave forth threats, Talleyrand, prompted by Calonne as we may guess, poured oil on the troubled waters, as witness the following extract from a letter of the Abbe to Mirabeau in which, if flattery occupies a large place, the propor- tion of truth must remain highly problematical : " We are more than pleased with your correspondence, as I hear repeated every day. The King reads it with the utmost interest. M. de Calonne thanks you for your promptness, for the care with which your dis- patches are drawn ; I have laid emphasis on the excellence of your statistical information. The value of your work has been appre- ciated." In the month of January, 1787, Mirabeau had come to the final conclusion that he had nothing to hope from either Frederick Wil- liam or Calonne. He could do nothing more at Berlin. On the 1 3th of that month he wrote to Talleyrand a letter which shall be the last noticed here and in which occur the following passages : "Never did kingdom show more symptoms of rapid decline than this. It is being undermined from all sides at once. Sources of reve- nue cut off; expenses increased; principles out of fashion; public opinion wasted ; the army weakened ; the few useful men discouraged ;