[48] Maurepas was born in 1701. "At the age of eighty, he presented to the world the ridiculous spectacle of caducity affecting the frivolity of youth, and employed that time in penning a sonnet which would more properly have been devoted to correcting a despatch, or preparing an armament." He died in 1781.—See Lacretelle, tom. v., p. 8.
[49] The Count de Vergennes was born at Dijon in 1717. He died in 1787, greatly regretted by Louis, who was impressed by the conviction that, had his life been prolonged, the Revolution would not have taken place.
[50] Calonne was born at Douay in 1734. After being an exile in England, and other parts of Europe, he died at Paris in 1802.
[51] They were summoned on 29th December, 1786, and met on 22d February of the subsequent year.—S.
[52] M. Loménie de Brienne was born at Paris in 1727. On being appointed Prime Minister, he was made Archbishop of Sens, and on retiring from office, in 1788, he obtained a cardinal's hat. He died in prison in 1794.
Such Convocations all our ills descry,
And promise much, but no true cure apply.
[54] Viz., One on timber, and one on territorial possessions.—See Thiers, vol. i., p. 14.
[55] "Lit de Justice"—the throne upon which the King was seated when he went to the Parliament.
[56] Mignet, Hist. de la Rev. Française, tom. i., p. 21.