FRANCE. 155 



words being reported, feveral books were 

 prefently publifhed on the fubjedt, with 

 elaborate dedications to her. Being thus 

 reminded of a point in which (he might 

 fhew her power, (he fpoke to the King, 

 and the confequence was, the edict of 1764. 

 Thus, a meafure which was generally attri- 

 buted to a long and accurate investigation 

 of the real interefts of the kingdom in fo 

 important a matter, was, in reality, a back- 

 ftairs bufmefs ; the work of a perfon who 

 would juft as readily have prohibited it for 

 ever, or laid a tax upon every plough in 

 France. 



Under the influence of this edict, France 

 for feveral years had a flourifhing corn trade; 

 and it is calculated, that, from the ifluing 

 the one which allowed the trade, to the 

 other which deftroyed it, this export brought 

 into the kingdom near two millions fterling. 

 But bad crops happening unfortunately for 

 two or three years fucceffively, the price 

 arofe at home, until, towards the end of 

 1767, the government again prohibited ex- 

 portation ; whereas, had they continued 

 their ports open, it was believed the price 

 would, upon an average of three or four 



years 



