The disposition of Louis, naturally humane, was most honourably displayed this year, by the abolition of the practice of putting the question by torture ; and his desire to relieve his subjects as much as possible from the pres sure of the taxes, was evinced by the further diminution of his own expenditure, and by his dismissing at once 406 officers belonging to his court. In this adherence to a system of economy so unusual in the sovereigns of France, Louis was undoubtedly strengthened by the advice, and perhaps the remonstrances, of Neckar. This minister continued to be uncommonly active and faithful in the dis charge of the duties of his important and arduous situa tion ; but he was rather a man of detail than of general principles or comprehensive mind ; and he did not always perceive the necessity or advantage of accommodating his .plans, in some degree, to the habits and prejudices of the French nation. lie conceived the impracticable idea of maintaining the war by loans, without additional taxes ; not reflecting that loans cannot be raised in any country, in which there is not only a great superabundance of capital, but also the most implicit confidence in the faith of govern ment. Unfortunately for his scheme, capital was far from being abundant in France, and the measures of former sovereigns, as well as the nature of the government, were by no means calculated to inspire confidence. There were besides other causes, which shook the popularity of Neckar ; his temper was austere and unaccommodating ; the reforms and retrenchments which he had introduced into the various departments of the royal household, were represented as derogatory to the dignity and splendour of the crown ; and his foreign birth and mercantile education and habits, increased the jealousy and dislike created by his temper and plans of economy. The King for some time endeavoured to oppose his favour and countenance to the intrigues that were formed against him ; but at length, towards the close of 1781, he was dismissed from his office of comptroller-general, and Monsieur de Joli Fleury suc ceeded him. The people at large beheld this change with regret, which was by no means diminished when the new comptroller-general reverted to the old plan of raising taxes. It was, however, soon ascertained, that the bur dens of the nation could not be much more augmented ; and the ministry, in order to multiply the resources of government, without pushing taxation to a dangerous ex tent, endeavoured to kindle in Paris, and throughout the provinces, such a degree of enthusiasm as would produce voluntary contributions towards carrying OR the war. Their efforts were seconded by the consternation and feeling of humiliated pride, which the defeat of Count de Grasse produced throughout the kingdom ; and several states dis played their zeal in building and fitting out ships of war, to repair the loss which had been occasioned by this de feat. The clergy also came forward at this time, with a free gift of 15,000,000 of lilacs towards the exigencies of the state ; and they also offered another million to be ap plied to the support of wounded seamen, and of the widows and orphans of those who had been killed in the various naval engagements.
About this period, the attention of the French ministry was directed to the commotions that agitated the republic of Geneva. These commotions arose from the magistrates and senate having increased their own authority, and di minished the privileges of the people : the latter were still farther irritated by the additional taxes which were impos ed upon them ; and, at length, their leaders insisted on hav ing a regular code of laws, which might prescribe the au thority of the rulers, .0.d sanction the rights of the people.
The aristocracy objected to this ; and in their own support called for the interference of foreign powers. The King of France, as protector of the republic, concerted, with the King of Sardinia, and the cantons of Zurich and Berne, such measures as tIwy thought would restore tranquillity to it ; and in order to give weight to these measures, an army of 12,000 men was encamped under the walls of the city. Thus protected, the magistrates gained a complete ascendency over the people ; but they afterwards, during the French Revolution, had too good reason to repent hav ing called in the interference of France, thus virtually ac knowledging a dependence on that power, which was not forgotten.
Although the preparations for war in 1783 were very great, yet Louis was disposed for peace, and therefore ac cepted the mediation of the Emperor of Germany and the Empress of Russia. This mediation was successful, and a treaty of peace with Great Britain was concluded on the 20th of January. By this treaty, France acquired an addi tional extent of fishery off Newfoundland. In the West Indies, she regained St Lucie and Tobago, but relinquish ed Grenada, St Vincent's, Dominica, St Christopher's, Nevis, and Montserrat. In Africa, she acquired the full sovereignty of the forts on the Senegal, and regained Go ree ; while she guaranteed to Britain, Fort St James's, and the river Gambia. In the East Indies, all that she had lost was restored, and some additions were made to her former possessions. But the most gratifying article of this treaty to the national glory of France, was, that the fortifications of Dunkirk were no longer to be forbidden,—the stipula tions exacted from Louis XIV. and XV. respecting them being formally abolished by the peace of Paris.
The joy created in France by the termination of a war, in which she had been so eminently successful in weaken ing Great Britain, was not of long duration. The state of her finances grew daily worse. Three different succes sors of Monsieur Neckar had in vain attempted to remedy or palliate the evil ; public credit, as well as the public re sources, were too nearly exhausted to be revived. Govern ment refused, or delayed, the payment of the bills drawn upon them by their army in America ; and nearly at the same time the Caisse d'Escompte stopt payment. This last circumstance created general and excessive alarm. Their notes having been hitherto always convertible into specie at the option of the holders, had circulated very widely ; and as they were not out to individuals at this pe riod to a larger amount than usual, or than their known capital authorised, the suspicion was created that they had, to the prejudice of the holders of their notes, and contrary to their own interest, as well as that of the public at large, accommodated government with the specie, which ought to have been exclusively devoted to the payment of their notes. It now became absolutely necessary for govern ment to interfere, in order, by supporting this bank, to re store the confidence of the public in it. Four edicts, there fore, were issued with this View by these, the banks of Paris were ordered to receive the notes of the Caisse d'Es compte as currency ; and a lottery, with a stock of one million sterling, was established, redeemable in eight years, the tickets for which might be purchased in the deprecia ted notes. At the same time, government having procur ed money, paid their American bills. Public credit was thus restored ; and the stock of the Caisse d'Escompto rose considerably above its original subscription.