Death of Louis XV.--Education of Louis XVI.--Maurepas, Prime Minister. --Turgot; his Expulsion from Office.--Necker.--Franklin.--Sympathy with the Americans.--La Fayette.--Views of the Court.--Treaty with America. --Popularity of Voltaire.--Embarrassment of Necker.--_Compte Rendu au Roi._--Necker driven into Exile.--Enslavement of France.--New Extravagance.--Calonne 57 CHAPTER VII. THE ASSEMBLY OF THE NOTABLES. Measures of Brienne.--The Bed of Justice.--Remonstrance of Parliament. --Parliament Exiled.--Submission of Parliament.--Duke of Orleans. --Treasonable Plans of the Duke of Orleans.--Anxiety of the Queen. --The Diamond Necklace.--Monsieur, the King's Brother.--Bagatelle. --Desperation of Brienne.--Edict for abolishing the Parliaments. --Energy of the Court.--Arrest of D'Espréménil and Goislard.--Tumults in Grenoble.--Terrific Hail-storm 67 CHAPTER VIII. THE APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. Recall of Necker.--Reassembling the Notables.--Pamphlet of the Abbé Sièyes.--Vote of the King's Brother.--His supposed Motive.--The Basis of Representation.--Arrangements for the Meeting of the States. --Statement of Grievances.--Mirabeau; his Menace.--Sympathy of the Curates with the People.--Remonstrance of the Nobles.--First Riot. --Meeting of the States-General.--New Effort of the privileged Classes 77 CHAPTER IX. ASSEMBLING OF THE STATES-GENERAL. Opening of the States-General.--Sermon of the Bishop of Nancy.--Insult to the Deputies of the People.--Aspect of Mirabeau.--Boldness of the Third Estate.--Journal of Mirabeau.--Commencement of the Conflict.--First Appearance of Robespierre.--Decided Stand taken by the Commons.--Views of the Curates.--Dismay of the Nobles.--Excitement in Paris.--The National Assembly.--The Oath 85 CHAPTER X. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. First Acts of the Assembly.--Confusion of the Court.--Hall of the Assembly closed.--Adjournment to the Tennis-court.--Cabinet Councils. --Despotic Measures.--The Tennis-court closed.--Exultation of the Court. --Union with the Clergy.--Peril of the Assembly.--The Royal Sitting. --Speech of the King 92 CHAPTER XI. REVOLUTIONARY MEASURES. Speech of Mirabeau.--Approach of the Soldiers and Peril of the Assembly. --Elation of the Queen.--Triumph of Necker.--Embarrassment of the Bishops and the Nobles.--Letter of the King.--The Bishops and Nobles join the Assembly.--Desperate Resolve of the Nobles.--The Troops sympathizing with the People 99 CHAPTER XII. THE TUMULT IN PARIS.