The suppression of our packet-boats cruelly extends the distance which separates us. I only received your letter from June 8 at the end of last month, and we have had news of you since that date. You had a strong attack of the gout and the stone, and the alteration of your handwriting proves that you have suffered much. We impatiently await a more satisfying letter from you.
The state of our affairs has absolutely changed since my last letter. The archbishop and the keeper of the seals, thoroughly hated by the nation, were dismissed after having entirely drained the royal treasury and credit. The King would not have found [a way to borrow] at twenty percent. M. Lambert, the so-called Controller General, handed in his resignation. M. Necker, General Director of Finances, has been admitted to the council and is consequently a minister; the tribunals have been reestablished and are already menacing, the exiles have been called back. The Estates General have been announced for January 1789, and all citizens are invited to be instructed and offer insight on the present state of affairs. The notables have assembled a second time to give their opinion and guide public opinion on the way to convoke, elect, and compose the Estates General. The notables promise a new order of things, but it will be difficult, it seems to me even impossible, to have the Estates General in January. The majority of intentions seem to be united to give the preponderance to the Third Estate, which is in reality the nation, for if the King admits today [that he holds?] his power only by the consent of the nation, the clergy and the nobles must concede as well that they hold their prerogatives and their privileges only by the consent of this same nation. Therefore there exists a nation before the kings, clergy, and nobles, and it is this nation that the Estates General must represent. So their number must be composed from this nation, and it is up to the nation to confirm, abolish, or rectify all claims.
You tell me, then, my dear friend: “you are not so considerate, you are a hard Task-master, you insist on his writing his life, already a long work, and at the same Time would have him continually employ'd in augmenting the subject, while the time shortens in which the work is [to] be executed.” Allow me to remind you that in your preceding letter from last April 22, you wrote me: “I have come to a resolution to proceed in that Work to morrow, and continue at it daily till finished which if my health permits, may be in the course of the ensuing summer as it goes on, I will have a copy made for you, and you may expect to receive a part by the next Pacquet,” and that Pacquet and these Pacquets have come without this copy, and I only want this copy for your own glory and the happiness of the human race. You have total liberty at present; I hope therefore that you are busy fulfilling this task, I almost said duty.
We are inundated with pamphlets, memoirs, and brochures on the Estates General. Each author composes them, instructs them, and directs them according to his fancy, but, as one writer says, we want them very much, but don't know how to proceed. MM. Target, de la Cretelle, and d'Entragues have distinguished themselves. The latter is the least capable, and despite the government's invitation to write, and the almost universal liberty to do so, he is rigorously forbidden. But there is a book which dominates all the others like a giant among the Pygmies; more daring than any of the rest, and yet it is sold without opposition. This is the work by M. de Mirabeau on the Prussian Monarchy, filling eight volumes in octavo, as well as an atlas, and it is quite expensive. It is the history of the Prussian government in all its aspects. He discusses them and generalizes from them in such a way that the critical examination of each topic naturally applies to all states, to all kings, and particularly to France. I will only quote you one passage; it deals with national banks. He finds them dangerous when they are in the hands of individuals: “But,” he says, “what do you call it when the administration, which has no idea of its revenues, or of accounting, and whose expenses are of the most arid sterility, when the bank, of whatever kind, lies in its hands; what do you call it when the administration holds the formidable power of enjoying the riches of all its citizens, and of doubling its expenses? If you are familiar with sovereigns, if you have studied these unfortunates against whom all are conspiring, nature, education, habits, courtesans, nationals, foreigners, priests, philosophers even, since knowing the truth they lack the courage to tell it: tell us in whose hands this inexhaustible means of abuse would be more dangerous? Whether by ignorance in calculation, or in subject matter, or in influence; or by the violence of unrestrainable passions which cast away all consideration; or by the sterility of leisure, I dare you to respond that in a bank of deposits they will not seize the deposited funds; that in a bank of cash, they will not make double employment of the state revenues; and that in every case, the downfall of the circulation, of trade and of good faith does not rely on the one who must be the most ignorant, the most immoderate, the most absolute, and the least moral of men?" And this book is sold publicly! In France! In Paris and at Versailles!
Your friend King George is quite ill; he has lost his head and the fear of his successor causes great consternation in England.