270 To MANN 22 FEBRUARY 1771 totally an anti-Gaul, assured me he did not believe this project—still I am very glad such a boute-feu is removed. This treaty is an epoch, and puts a total end to all our preceding histories. Long quiet is never probable, nor shall I guess who will disturb it: but whatever happens, must be thoroughly new matter, though some of the actors perhaps may not be so. Both Lord Chat­ ham and Wilkes are at the end of their reckoning, and the Opposi­ tion can do nothing without fresh fuel. The scene that is closed here, seems to be but opening in France. The Parliament of Paris banished/ a new one arbitrarily appointed,5 the Princes of the Blood refractory and disobedient,6 the other parlia­ ments as mutinous/ and distress everywhere—if the army catches the infection, what may not happen, when the King is despised, his agents detested, and no ministry settled? Some say the mistress and her faction keep him hourly diverted or drunk; others that he has got a new passion—how creditable at sixty—still I think 'tis the crisis of their constitution. If the monarch prevails, he becomes ab­ solute as a czar—if he is forced to bend, will the Parliaments stop there? In the meantime our most serious war is between two operas. Mr Bn Howard de Walden, 1784; cr. (1788) members of the council, is quoted in Bn Braybrooke; M.P. Andover 1749-84 Gazette de Leyde 1 Feb. and in the Mer­ (MONTAGU ii. 139, n. 9; Repertorium der cure historique, 1771, clxx. 344-8. diplomatischen Vertreter aller Lander, 6. Louis XV in a letter of 29 Jan. Vol. II, ed. Friedrich Hausmann, Zurich, scolded the royal Princes for their 'as­ 1950, p. 245; GM 1807, lxxvii pt i. 597, pt semblee' and in a subsequent letter for­ ii. 679). bad them to comply with a request by 4. The night of 19-20 Jan. (contem­ the parliament of Rouen ('protestations' porary account in DU DEFFAND vi. 181-2; of 12 April, signed by the Dukes of Or­ Gazette de Leyde 1 Feb.). leans, Chartres, and Bourbon, the Princes 5. By letters patent 23 Jan., a 'conseil of Conde and Conti, and the Comte de du Roi ou d'£tat est nomme pour faire Clermont, cited in C.-A. Chambelland, les fonctions du Parlement' (DU DEFFAND, Vie de L.-J. de Bourbon-Condi 1819-20, loc. cit.). 'The King of France had named i. 303-17). a new parliament, but nobody would 7. 'La plupart des parlements du roy­ carry a cause before it, concluding, if the aume ont fait des arretes, ecrit des lettres, old should return, that their cause would et presente des remontrances au Roi, en be reheard; nor would any advocate plead faveur de celui de Paris' (Mercure his­ before the new tribunal. The King or­ torique, 1771, clxx. 356). 'La Cour des dered the Princes of the Blood to take Aides, la Chambre des Comptes, la Cour their seats in the new assembly; not one des Monnaies, et le Chatelet de cette capi- would obey but the Comte de Marche, tale ont fait aussi des arretes, des remon­ son of the Prince of Conti' (HW's MS trances, et des protestations, sans vouloir Journal of the Most Remarkable Events reconnaitre la nouvelle legislation' (ibid. of . [1771}, P- 92, sub 13 Feb.). clxx. 475). Louis XV's decree, with a list of .