That it should
remain to be made at this day, proves that the monarch is the last
person in his kingdom who yields to the progress of philanthropy and
civilization. 2. The organization of the whole judiciary department is
changed, by the institution of subordinate jurisdictions, the taking
from the parliaments the cognizance of all causes of less value than
twenty thousand livres, reducing their numbers to about a fourth, and
suppressing a number of special courts. Even this would be a great
improvement, if it did not imply that the King is the only person
in this nation, who has any rights or any power. 3. The right of
registering the laws is taken from the parliaments, and transferred to
a Plenary court, created by the King. This last is the measure most
obnoxious to all persons. Though the members are to be for life, yet a
great proportion of them are from descriptions of men always candidates
for the royal favor in other lines. As yet, the general consternation
has not sufficiently passed over, to say whether the matter will end
here. I send you some papers, which indicate symptoms of resistance.
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