He had published, two years before, an eulogy on Colbert. Both these
productions exhibited the limited capacity of a banker, and, in no
degree, the enlarged views of a statesman. Not at all delicate in the
choice of his means, he succeeded to his wish in his object, which was
the establishing himself in public opinion. Elevated by a secret cabal
to the direction of the finances, he began by refusing the salaries of
his office. He affected a spirit of economy and austerity, which imposed
even on foreign nations, and showed the possibility of making war
without laying new taxes. Such at least was his boast; but, in reality,
they have been increased under his administration, about twenty
millions, partly by a secret augmentation of the bailies and of the
poll-tax, partly by some verifications of the twentieths, and partly
by the natural progression, which is tested by the amount of taxes
on consumption, the necessary result of the successive increase of
population, of riches, and of expensive tastes.
All these circumstances reared for him an astonishing reputation, which
his fall has consecrated.
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