e
the restoration of peace and the marriage of Louis XIV.

The nation seemed all mad with the excitement of play. During the
minority of Louis XV. a foreign gamester, the celebrated Scotchman, John
Law, having become Controller-General of France, undertook to restore
the finances of the nation by making every man a player or gamester.
He propounded a _SYSTEM;_ he established a bank, which nearly upset the
state; and seduced even those who had escaped the epidemic of games of
chance. He was finally expelled like a foul fog; but they ought to have
hanged him as a deliberate corrupter. And yet this is the man of whom
Voltaire wrote as follows: 'We are far from evincing the gratitude which
is due to John Law.(58) Voltaire's praise was always as suspicious as
his blame. Just let us consider the tendency of John Law's 'system.'
However general may be the fury of gambling, _EVERYBODY_ does not
gamble; certain professions impose a certain restraint, and their
members would blush to resort to games the turpitude of which would
subject them to unanimous condemnation. But only change the _NAMES_ of
these games--only change their _FORM_, and let the bait be presented
under the sanction of the legislature: then, although the _THING_ be not
less vicious, nor less repugnant to true principle, then we witness the
gambling ardour of savages, such as we have described it, manifesting
itself with more risk, and communicated to the entire nation--the
ministers of the altar, the magistracy, the members of every profession,
fathers, mothers of families, without distinction of rank, means, or
duties.... Let this short generalization be well pondered, and the
conclusion must be reached that this Scotch adventurer, John Law, was
guilty of the crime of treason against humanity.

(57) Nous sommes loin de la reconnoissance qui est due a Jean Law. Mel.
de Litt., d'Hist., &c. ii.

John Law, whom the French called _Jean Lass_, opened a gulf into which
half the nation eagerly poured its money. Fortunes were made in a few
days--in a few _HOURS_. Many were enriched by merely lending their
signatures. A sudden and horrible revolution amazed the entire
people--like the bursting of a bomb-shell or an incendiary explosion.
Six hundred thousand of the best families, who had taken _PAPER_ on
the faith of the government, lost, together with their fortunes, their
offices and appointments, and were almost annihilated. Some of
the stock-jobbers escaped; ot