he exemption of certain persons from
these, the award of pardon for crimes,... the creation of nobles, the
foundation of universities,... the assembling of the etats-generaux or
provinciaux, etc."--Bossuet, "Politique tiree de l'Ecriture sainte": The
entire state exists in the person of the prince."--Louis XIV., "aeuvres,"
I., 50 (to his son): "You should be aware that kings can naturally
dispose fully and freely of all possessions belonging as well to persons
of the church as to laymen, to make use of at all times with wise
economy, that is to say, according to the general requirements of their
government."--Sorel, "L'Europe et la Revolution francaise," I., 231
(Letter of the "intendant" Foucault): "It is an illusion, which cannot
proceed from anything but blind preoccupation, that of making any
distinction between obligations of conscience and the obedience which is
due to the King."]

[Footnote 2315: "The Ancient Regime," p.9 and following
pages.--"Correspondance de Mirabeau et du Comte de le Marck," II., 74
(Note by Mirabeau, July 3, 1790): "Previous to the present revolution,
royal authority was incomplete: the king was compelled to humor his
nobles, to treat with the parliaments,, to be prodigal of favors to the
court."]

[Footnote 2316: "The Revolution," III., p.318. (Laff.II. p. 237-238).--"
The Ancient Regime," p. 10 (Laff. I. 25n.) Speech by the Chancellor
Seguier, 1775: "Our kings have themselves declared that they are
fortunately powerless to attack property."]

[Footnote 2317: Rousseau's text in the "Contrat Social."--On the meaning
and effect of this principle cf "The Revolution," I., 217 and following
pages, and III., book VI., ch. I. Laff. 182-186 et II. 47 to 74).]

[Footnote 2318: The opinion, or rather the resignation which confers
omnipotence on the central power, goes back to the second half of the
fifteenth century, after the Hundred Years' war, and is due to that war;
the omnipotence of the king was then the only refuge against the English
invaders, and the ravages of the Ecorcheurs.--Cf. Fortescue, "In
leges Angliae," and" "The Difference between an Absolute and a Limited
Monarchy" (end of the fifteenth century), on the difference at this date
between the English and the French government.--The same decision is
found in the dispatches of the Venetian ambassadors of this date: "In
France everything is based on the will of the king. Nobody, whatever
might be his conscientious scruples, would da