SKELETON OUTLINE OF REIGN OF LOUIS XVI

Louis XVI. 1774-92,

A rew notes on the Administration of this reign may not be out of place.

Attempt at reform ; Turgot in control of Finance ; Vergennes of Foreign affairs; St. Germain of the Army ; Malesherbes of the Household ; Maurepas nominal head of Government.

N.B. (1). Parlement of Paris re-established.

(2). Many state prisoners released : abuse of lettres de cachet diminished.

(3). Re-organization of army, especially of its artillery.

(4). Nine tenths of useless pensions abolished in order to reduce National Debt. (100 million francs cleared off.)

(5). Internal free trade in corn established.

(6). Guilds and other close industrial corporations dissolved.

(7). Abolition of Corvées. KRoad-tax imposed on possessors of the soil.

These reforms were opposed by Parlement and Nobles, because, although beneficial to the community, they were carried out in an arbitrary manner, and tended to increase the royal power; also, Turgot was known to contemplate other more sweeping changes. On May 10, 1776, Malesherbes resigned in disgust : ‘ Vous êtes bien heureux de pouvoir donner votre démission, said Louis. Two days later, the influence of the Queen and Court prevailed and Turgot received his dismissal,