as in Lomenie there is no plan of
forming or holding these most desirable States-General, 'thinkers are
invited' to furnish him with one,--through the medium of discussion by
the public press!

What could a poor Minister do? There are still ten months of respite
reserved: a sinking pilot will fling out all things, his very
biscuit-bags, lead, log, compass and quadrant, before flinging out
himself. It is on this principle, of sinking, and the incipient delirium
of despair, that we explain likewise the almost miraculous 'invitation
to thinkers.' Invitation to Chaos to be so kind as build, out of its
tumultuous drift-wood, an Ark of Escape for him! In these cases, not
invitation but command has usually proved serviceable.--The Queen stood,
that evening, pensive, in a window, with her face turned towards the
Garden. The Chef de Gobelet had followed her with an obsequious cup of
coffee; and then retired till it were sipped. Her Majesty beckoned Dame
Campan to approach: "Grand Dieu!" murmured she, with the cup in her
hand, "what a piece of news will be made public to-day! The King grants
States-General." Then raising her eyes to Heaven (if Campan were not
mistaken), she added: "'Tis a first beat of the drum, of ill-omen for
France. This Noblesse will ruin us." (Campan, iii. 104, 111.)

During all that hatching of the Plenary Court, while Lamoignon looked so
mysterious, Besenval had kept asking him one question: Whether they had
cash? To which as Lamoignon always answered (on the faith of Lomenie)
that the cash was safe, judicious Besenval rejoined that then all was
safe. Nevertheless, the melancholy fact is, that the royal coffers are
almost getting literally void of coin. Indeed, apart from all other
things this 'invitation to thinkers,' and the great change now at hand
are enough to 'arrest the circulation of capital,' and forward only that
of pamphlets. A few thousand gold louis are now all of money or money's
worth that remains in the King's Treasury. With another movement as
of desperation, Lomenie invites Necker to come and be Controller of
Finances! Necker has other work in view than controlling Finances for
Lomenie: with a dry refusal he stands taciturn; awaiting his time.

What shall a desperate Prime Minister do? He has grasped at the
strongbox of the King's Theatre: some Lottery had been set on foot for
those sufferers by the hailstorm; in his extreme necessity, Lomenie
lays hands even on this. (Besenval, iii. 36