[Footnote 378: The aspiration was not so absurd as it might seem. Could d'Argenson have acquired, by long acquaintance with affairs, that practical aptitude which his brother possessed, he might have been one of the greatest among men. He had a range of mind and a depth of character to which Count d'Argenson could lay no claim.] [Footnote 379: Journal (Rathery), V. p. 142.] [Footnote 380: Ibid., V. p. 314. December, 1748.] [Footnote 381: The best account of the whole movement is to be found in Felix Rocquain, "L'esprit révolutionnaire avant la révolution."] [Footnote 382: "La Philosophie."] [Footnote 383: Journal (Rathery), VI. p. 201, _cf._ Ibid., VI. p. 208. The sentence displays his frequent disregard of syntax in directness and force of expression.] [Footnote 384: Ibid., VII. p. 199. April, 1752.] [Footnote 385: Ibid., VI. p. 320. December, 1750.] [Footnote 386: Ibid., VII. p. 23. November, 1751.] [Footnote 387: Ibid., VII. p. 294. September, 1752.] [Footnote 388: Ibid., VIII. p. 315. June, 1754.] [Footnote 389: Ibid., VI. p. 26. August, 1749.] [Footnote 390: Ibid., VI. p. 81. December, 1749.] [Footnote 391: Ibid., VI. p. 390. April, 1751.] [Footnote 392: Ibid., VII. p. 457. April, 1753.] [Footnote 393: Ibid., VIII. p. 60. June, 1753.] [Footnote 394: Ibid., VII. p. 106., _cf._ Ibid., 110, 111. February, 1752.] [Footnote 395: The "Considérations." See Chap. VI.] [Footnote 396: The "advanced" views privately held among the wealthier clergy are well known. On hearing of a diocesan sermon on the subject of "infidelity, d'Argenson observes that it is an absurd theme upon which to preach to the clergy of France. It was very necessary, however.] [Footnote 397: D'Argenson did not disguise his sympathy with the "philosophers." When the Abbé de Prades was fleeing the country he took refuge in the neighbourhood of d'Argenson's château; and the latter wrote to his powerful brother to intercede for the indiscreet ecclesiastic (Journal, Rathery, VII. p. 57, note). D'Argenson was naturally proud too of his friendship with d'Alembert.] [Footnote 398: Journal (Rathery), VII. p. 424. March, 1758.] [Footnote 399: D'Argenson had a personal reason for ill-feeling against the Sorbonne. It proposed to condemn a "Histoire du droit public ecclésiastique français," published (1737) in two large quarto volumes by a Jesuit, de la Motte. It was based upon some papers which had been read by d'Argenson before the Entresol (Journal, Rathery, VI. p. 168), and afterwards given as an act of charity to la Motte, who was one of d'Argenson's old masters at the Collège Louis-le-Grand. The book was published without d'Argenson's sanction, but his share in the work was pretty generally known--far too generally for his peace of mind. _Cf._ p. 57.] [Footnote 400: Journal (Rathery), VIII. p. 289. May, 1754.] [Footnote 401: "Les deux philosophies."] [Footnote 402: Journal (Rathery), VIII. p. 291.]