You will have seen in the public papers, that the King has called an
Assembly of the Notables of this country. 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 practises secrecy so systematically, that it never publishes
its purposes or its proceedings, sooner or more extensively than
necessary. I send you a pamphlet, which, giving an account of the last
_Assemblee des Notable_, may give an idea of what the present will be.
A great desire prevails here of encouraging manufactures. The famous
Boulton and Watt, who are at the head of the plated manufactures
of Birmingham, the steam mills of London, copying presses and other
mechanical works, have been here.
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