The same cause which obliged other clerks to abandon the
service of Thelusson, determined Necker to continue in it. By submitting
to the brutality of his master with a servile resignation, whilst,
at the same time, he devoted the most unremitting attention to his
business, he recommended himself to his confidence, and was taken into
partnership. Ordinary abilities only were requisite to avail him of the
multitude of favorable circumstances, which, before he entered into the
administration, built up a fortune of six millions of livres. He owed
much of his good fortune to his connections with the Abbe Terrai,
of whose ignorance he did not scruple to profit. His riches,
his profession, his table, and a virtuous, reasonable, and well
informed wife, procured him the acquaintance of many persons of
distinction, among whom were many men of letters, who celebrated his
knowledge and wisdom.
The wise and just principles by which Turgot aimed to correct the Abuses
of the administration, not having been received with favor, he seized
the occasion to flatter ignorance and malignity, by publishing his work
against the freedom of the corn trade.
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