he is their general by birth. The people, down to 1789, regard him as
the redresser of abuses, the guardian of the right, the protector of
the weak, the great almoner and the universal refuge. At the beginning
of the reign of Louis XVI "shouts of Vive le roi, which began at six
o'clock in the morning, continued scarcely interrupted until after
sunset."[17] When the Dauphin was born the joy of France was that of
a whole family. "People stopped each other in the streets, spoke
together without any acquaintance, and everybody embraced everybody he
knew."[18] Every one, through vague tradition, through immemorial
respect, feels that France is a ship constructed by his hands and the
hands of his ancestors. In this sense, the vessel is his property; it
is his right to it is the same as that of each passenger to his
private goods. The king's only duty consists in being expert and
vigilant in guiding across the oceans and beneath his banner the
magnificent ship upon which everyone's welfare depends.-Under the
ascendancy of such an idea he was allowed to do everything. By fair
means or foul, he so reduced ancient authorities as to make them a
fragment, a pretense, a souvenir. The nobles are simply his officials
or his courtiers. Since the Concordat he nominates the dignitaries of
the Church. The States-General were not convoked for a hundred and
seventy-five years; the provincial assemblies, which continue to
subsist, do nothing but apportion the taxes; the parliaments are
exiled when they risk a remonstrance. Through his council, his
intendants, his sub-delegates, he intervenes in the most trifling of
local matters. His revenue is four hundred and seventy-seven
millions.[19] He disburses one-half of that of the Clergy. In short,
he is absolute master, and he so declares himself.[20] -Possessions,
freedom from taxation, the satisfactions of vanity, a few remnants of
local jurisdiction and authority, are consequently all that is left to
his ancient rivals; in exchange for these they enjoy his favors and