debt, or L20,000,000 sterling, had been incurred for expenses
too ignominious to bear the light, or even to be named in the
public accounts. It appears from an authentic document,
quoted in Soulavie's history, that in the sixteen months
immediately preceding the death of Louis XV., Madame du Barry
(originally a courtesan,) had drawn from the royal treasury
no less than 2,450,000 francs, or equal to about L200,000 of
our present money. ["Histoire de la Decadence de la Monarchie
Francaise," par Soulavie l'Aine, iii. 330.] "La corruption,"
says Lacretelle, "entrait dans les plus paisibles menages,
dans les familles les plus obscures. Elle [Madame du Barri]
etait savamment et longtemps combinee par ceux qui servaient
les debauches de Louis. Des emissaires etaient employees a
seduire des filles qui n'etaient point encore nubiles, a
combattre dans de jeunes femmes des principes de pudeur et de
fidelite. Amant de grade, il livrait a la prostitution
publique celles de ses sujettes qu'il avait prematurement
corrompues. Il souffrait que les enfans de ses infames
plaisirs partageassent la destinee obscure et dangereuse de
ceux qu'un pere n'avoue point." LACRETELLE, _Histoire de
France pendant le xviii Siecle_, iii. 171-173.]

But their persecution was now in a great measure at an end. It is
true the Protestants were not recognised, but they nevertheless held
their worship openly, and were not interfered with. When Louis XVI.
succeeded to the throne in 1774, on the administration of the oath for
the extermination of heretics denounced by the Church, the Archbishop
of Toulouse said to him: "It is reserved for you to strike the final
blow against Calvinism in your dominions. Command the dispersion of
the schismatic assemblies of the Protestants, exclude the sectarians,
without distinction, from all offices of the public administration,
and you will insure among your subjects the unity of the true
Christian religion."

No attention was paid to this and similar appeals for the restoration
of intolerance. On the contrary, an Edict of Toleration was issued by
Louis XVI. in 1787, which, though granting a legal existence to the
Protestants, nevertheless set forth that "The Catholic, Apostolic, and
Roman religion alone shall continue to enjoy the right o