If I had intended to do
otherwise, the materials in my hands for such a task are not
altogether perfect. On this subject I refer the reader to M. de
Calonne's work; and the tremendous display that he has made of the
havoc and devastation in the public estate, and in all the affairs
of France, caused by the presumptuous good intentions of ignorance and
incapacity. Such effects those causes will always produce. Looking
over that account with a pretty strict eye, and, with perhaps too much
rigor, deducting everything which may be placed to the account of a
financier out of place, who might be supposed by his enemies
desirous of making the most of his cause, I believe it will be found
that a more salutary lesson of caution against the daring spirit of
innovators than what has been supplied at the expense of France
never was at any time furnished to mankind.
It remains only to consider the proofs of financial ability
furnished by the present French managers when they are to raise
supplies on credit. Here I am a little at a stand, for credit,
properly speaking, they have none. The credit of the ancient
government was not indeed the best, but they could always, on some
terms, command money, not only at home, but from most of the countries
of Europe where a surplus capital was accumulated; and the credit of
that government was improving daily. The establishment of a system
of liberty would of course be supposed to give it new strength; and so
it would actually have done if a system of liberty had been
established.
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