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bourg, Fenestrange, Dieuze, Moyenvie, Nancy, Toul, Ligny, Barleduc, St. Diziers, Vitry, Chalons sur Marne, Epernay, Cha teau Thierri, Meaux, to Paris, where I arrived on the 23rd of April : and I had the satisfaction to reflect, that by this journey, our credit was secured, the new government was placed at ease for two years to come, and that, as well as myself, relieved from the torment of incessant duns, whose just complaints could not be silenced by any means within our power.
A Consular Convention had been agreed on in 84, between Dr. Franklin and the French government, containing several articles, so entirely inconsistent with the laws of the several states, and the general spirit of our citizens, that Congress withheld their ratifica tion, and sent it back to me, with instructions to get those articles expunged, or modified so as to render them compatible with our laws. The Minister unwillingly released us from these concessions, which, indeed, authorised the exercise of powers very offensive in a free state. After much discussion, the Convention was re formed in a considerable degree, and was signed by the Count Montmorin and myself, on the 14th of November, 88 ; not, indeed, such as I would have wished ; but such as could be obtained with good humor and friendship.
On my return from Holland, I found Paris as I had left it, still in high fermentation. Had the Archbishop, on the close of the Assembly of Notables, immediately carried into operation the measures contemplated, it was believed they would all have been registered by the Parliament ; but he was slow, presented his edicts, one after another, and at considerable intervals, which gave time for the feelings excited by the proceedings of the Notables to cool off, new claims to be advanced, and a pressure to arise for a fixed constitution, not subject to changes at the will of the King. Nor should we wonder at this pressure, when we consider the monstrous abuses of power under which this people were ground to powder ; when we pass in review the weight of their taxes, and the inequality of their distribution ; the oppressions of the tythes, the tailles, the corvees, the gabelles, the farms and the barriers; the shackles on commerce by monopolies; on industry by guilds and corporations ; on the freedom of conscience, of thought, and of speech ; on the freedom of the press by the Cen sure ; and of the person by Lettres de Cachet ; the cruelty of the Criminal code generally ; the atrocities of the Rack ; the venality of Judges, and their partialities to the rich ; the monopoly of Military honors by the Noblesse ; the enormous expenses of the Queen, the Princes and the Court ; the prodigalities of pensions; and the riches, luxury, indolence and immorality of the Clergy. Surely under such
