Paris I 3 i 



found still more corrections and alterations which Monsieur 

 Necker had made after quitting him; they were chiefly in style, 

 and show how very solicitous he was in regard to the form and 

 decoration of his matter: the ideas in my opinion wanted this 

 attention more than the style. Monsieur Broussonet himself 

 told me this little anecdote. This morning in the states three 

 cures of Poitou have joined themselves to the commons for the 

 verification of their powers, and were received with a kind of 

 madness of applause ; and this evening at Paris nothing else is 

 talked of. The nobles have been all day in debate without coming 

 to any conclusion and have adjourned to Monday. 



14th. To the king's garden where Monsieur Thouin had the 

 goodness to show me some small experiments he has made on 

 plants that promise greatly for the farmer, particularly the 

 lathyrus biennis and the melilotus syberica^ which now make an 

 immense figure for forage ; both are biennial ; but will last three 

 or four years if not seeded ; the Achillcea syberica promises well, 

 and an astragalus; he has promised me seeds. The Chinese 

 hemp has perfected its seeds, which it had not done before in 

 France. The more I see of Monsieur Thouin the better I like 

 him, he is one of the most amiable men I know. 



To the repository of the royal machines, which Monsieur 

 Vandermond showed and explained to me, with great readiness 

 and politeness. What struck me most was Monsieur Vaucus- 

 son's machine for making a chain, which I was told Mr. Watt 

 of Birmingham admired very much, at which my attendants 

 seemed not displeased. Another for making the cogs indented in 

 iron wheels. There is a chaff cutter, from an English original; 

 and a model of the nonsensical plough to go without horses, these 

 are the only ones in agriculture. Many of very ingenious con- 

 trivance for winding silk, etc. In the evening to the theatre 

 Francoise, the Siege of Calais, by Monsieur de Belloy, not a good, 

 but a popular performance. 



It is now decided by the popular leaders that they will move 

 to-morrow to declare all taxes illegal not raised by authority of 

 the states-general, but to grant them immediately for a term; 

 either for two years, or for the duration of the present session of 

 the states. This plan is highly approved at Paris by all 

 friends of liberty ; and it is certainly a rational mode of proceed- 

 ing, founded on just principles, and will involve the court in a 

 great dilemma. 



1 1 have since cultivated these plants in small quantities, and believe 

 them to be a very important object. — Author's note. 



