walg 
agriculture. 
consequence 
of five years, all the debts of the crown were 
revenue was ted four millions of livres ; 
expenditure in the treasury, while the taxes were much 
Though Sully was convinced that while the finances 
i were embarrassed, the operations of govern- 
and 
with it in 
and viewed the re-establishment of the 
te 
giving due effect to its laws and regulations, 
consequently i 
finances as a measure first demanding his 
attention, he 
im 
laws are re- 
of a nation, he resolved to secure them b 
enacting good laws, and by every other method whi 
pt ewe gipee and sagacity could devise. He was, in- 
, not one of those politicians, who coldly, as 
well as unwisely, regard the real stength of a nation to 
consist entirely in its pecuniary resources, or even in its 
In Sully’s character, there was a grand and dignified 
simplicity, which accorded better with the manners, than 
with the feelings and wishes of Henry ; for though that 
monarch, in his private life, was free from ali unneces- 
sary pomp, and his gellen 
was forgotten in or companion, yet his t- 
ry and love of pleasure, too often led him aside from 
path of simplicity, and to prefer ostentation and 
show. Sully, on the con , could not suffer himself 
to entertain the idea, that Juxury was not prejudicial, 
‘both to the moral feelings and principles, and to the real 
of a peo He therefore patronised most 
i pursuits, and seems to have formed 
the i that an agricultural nation possessed within 
itself all thet was necessary for its happiness and secu- 
were four millions of surplus above the regular i 
enjoyed himself most, when the king i 
the friend 
sisprucnani 
but she was violent and unguarded in her love. of plea- 
sure; and mingling the fervours of religion with the ex- 
cesses of dissipation, her time was alternately occupi 
by enthusiastic devotion, and unrestrained sensuality. 
enry, coldly averse to her from the very period of 
their marriage, was by no means select A, ges i 
except when some woman of uncommon beauty and ace 
complishments captivated him, For some considerable - 
time before the peace of Vervins, Gabrielle D’Estrees, 
whom he had successively created marchioness of Mon« 
and of legitimating his astoual children ; pte 
even made out a promise of marriage thstandi) 
he was not yet divorced from Margaret. This promise 
he shewed to Sully, who tore it to pieces. . “I believe 
you are turned a fool,” said . 1 know it,” re- 
an Sully, «and I wish I were the only fool in France.” 
otwithstanding this daring and virtuous freedom of 
Sully, Henry was so sensible of his real worth, and sin« 
cere attachment to him, that, so far from being offended, 
