[296] Boileau, in his fifth Epître, says also: “Qui vit content de rien possède toute chose.”
[297] Jean Fauconnet, fermier-général des domaines de France, became also receiver-general of two other taxes, which was very unusual. Our author speaks of “Fauconnets,” to indicate farmers of the revenues in general, though there was only one Fauconnet. In La Bruyèreʼs time the financiers seem to have despised men of letters; but later on, during the Regency and the reign of Louis XV. and Louis XVI., it became the fashion to invite literary men on every festive occasion, and to lionise them—a custom not unknown, even at the present time, and in other countries than France.
[298] Our author had René Descartesʼ (1596-1650) name printed in small capitals, to remind his readers of the persecutions this philosopher had suffered.
[299] Au denier dix in the original.
[300] In former times French Governments often suppressed certain monies or diminished their legal value, and a law to this effect had been passed by Louis XIV. as late as 1679.
[301] Orontes is supposed to be a certain M. Neyret de la Ravoye, who became later trésorier-général de la marine, and who married a Mademoiselle Valière.
[302] En bon français in the original; just as we say “in plain English.”
[303] A certain Count de Marsan seems to have made his fortune by marrying first one rich widow and then another.
[304] These different degrees of legal dignity were formerly in French praticien, officier, magistrat, président.
[305] Without any proof whatever, the “Keys” pretend that a certain intendant des finances, M. du Buisson, was meant.