all the three, with the clearest
instantaneous concord; and rush off to propose him to the King; 'in such
haste,' says Besenval, 'that M. de Lamoignon had to borrow a simarre,'
seemingly some kind of cloth apparatus necessary for that. (Ib. iii.
224.)

Lomenie-Brienne, who had all his life 'felt a kind of predestination for
the highest offices,' has now therefore obtained them. He presides over
the Finances; he shall have the title of Prime Minister itself, and
the effort of his long life be realised. Unhappy only that it took such
talent and industry to gain the place; that to qualify for it hardly any
talent or industry was left disposable! Looking now into his inner
man, what qualification he may have, Lomenie beholds, not without
astonishment, next to nothing but vacuity and possibility. Principles or
methods, acquirement outward or inward (for his very body is wasted, by
hard tear and wear) he finds none; not so much as a plan, even an
unwise one. Lucky, in these circumstances, that Calonne has had a plan!
Calonne's plan was gathered from Turgot's and Necker's by compilation;
shall become Lomenie's by adoption. Not in vain has Lomenie studied
the working of the British Constitution; for he professes to have some
Anglomania, of a sort. Why, in that free country, does one Minister,
driven out by Parliament, vanish from his King's presence, and another
enter, borne in by Parliament? (Montgaillard, Histoire de France, i.
410-17.) Surely not for mere change (which is ever wasteful); but that
all men may have share of what is going; and so the strife of Freedom
indefinitely prolong itself, and no harm be done.

The Notables, mollified by Easter festivities, by the sacrifice of
Calonne, are not in the worst humour. Already his Majesty, while the
'interlunar shadows' were in office, had held session of Notables; and
from his throne delivered promissory conciliatory eloquence: 'The Queen
stood waiting at a window, till his carriage came back; and Monsieur
from afar clapped hands to her,' in sign that all was well. (Besenval,
iii. 220.) It has had the best effect; if such do but last. Leading
Notables meanwhile can be 'caressed;' Brienne's new gloss, Lamoignon's
long head will profit somewhat; conciliatory eloquence shall not be
wanting. On the whole, however, is it not undeniable that this of
ousting Calonne and adopting the plans of Calonne, is a measure which,
to produce its best effect, should be looked at from a certai