Louis Philippe comte de Ségur

Louis Philippe, comte de Ségur was born in Paris.  He had a successful military career rising to the level of colonel in the American War of Independence.  He served as an ambassador to Russia and developed a close relationship with Catherine the Great.

In the early stages of his career he carried on his successful diplomatic career and was sent to Berlin.  In his later years he would become a member of the council of state and senator under Napoleon.  He would later support the Revolution of 1830.

Comte de Segur on Louis XV.  Memoirs of Louis Philippe Comte de Segur, The Folio Society, London (1960) p8-9

Born in 1753, my infancy, and the early days of my youth, were spent under the reign of Louis XV.  This good, but weak monarch was, in his youth, the object of an enthusiasm which was too little deserved; and in his old age, of severe reproaches which were equally exaggerated.  Heir to the absolute power of Louis XIV, he reigned sixty years without having been accused of a single act of cruelty, a fact very rare and for that reason very remarkable in the annals of arbitrary power.

The first years of his reign were distinguished by the victories of Racoux, Lawfeld, and Fontenoy; but he was merely present at these battles, which were decided, fought, and won by his generals.

Holding the reins of the state with a weak hand, he was ever governed either by his ministers or his mistresses.  The Duc d'Orléans, Regent of France, Cardinal Dubois, the Duc de Bourbon, and Cardinal de Fleury, governed the state for a long time in his name.

The disorder of the finances, caused by the ambition of Louis XIV, and increased by the follies into which the Scotsman Law (John Law Director General of finances who was seen as responsible for the Mississippi Bubble) led the Regent, cannot reasonably be laid to his charge; and his youth must equally absolve him from the blame due to the excessive licentiousness which prevailed during the time of the Regency.

Indeed, that licentiousness may, in some degree, explain or excuse his excessive passion for women, and the shameful debaucheries which tarnished his life; for there never did exist any prince who did not participate more or less in the errors and weakness of his age.

Comte de Segur on the clergy before the revolution.  Memoirs of Louis Philippe Comte de Segur, The Folio Society, London (1960) p15

The clergy, proud of their influence and wealth, were far from apprehending any danger to their existence, but they were exasperated at the boldness of the philosophers.  Although, by mixing too much in the world, some members of the clergy participated to some extent in the new fashions, they were not content with just directing their attacks against license, but vainly attempted to resist the introduction of truths which the removal of darkness had rendered evident to all, and they persisted in upholding certain antiquated and childish superstitions which the grapeshot of ridicule and the torch of reason had dispersed forever.

Comte de Segur on the young Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI.  Memoirs of Louis Philippe Comte de Segur, The Folio Society, London (1960) p21

The throne was occupied by a young Prince who was already universally known by the goodness of his heart, the correctness of his mind, and the simplicity of his manners.  He appeared to feel no other passion than that of carrying out his duties, and making his people happy.  Averse to ostentation, to luxury, to pride, and to flattery, it seemed as if heaven had modelled this King not for his court, but for his subjects.

Queen Marie-Antoinette, endowed with all the charms of her sex, united that dignity of deportment which commands respect, and that grace which softens the pride of majesty.  The expression of her features alone retained a degree of Austrian pride.  Her manners and conversation were amiable, engaging, and truly French.  Too much wearied perhaps with the etiquette to which her Lady-in-Waiting, Madame de Mouchy, endeavoured to induce her to conform, she used too many efforts to free herself from its troublesome restraint in order to enjoy the sweets of private life; she felt the want of friendly intercourse, a want very seldom experienced by persons in so elevated a station….

For a young King, whose chief defect consisted in feeling too much diffidence in his own powers and in being ashamed of the careless education he had received, and a Queen who, though endowed with wit, was both thoughtless and inexperienced, it was a difficult task to govern a fickle, impassioned nation which thirsted after glory and novelty, at a time when the finances were in complete disorder and the minds of the people were aflame, all thirsting to avenge the disgrace of an unfortunate war and the shame of a licentious reign.

Comte de Segur on finance minister Necker publishing accounts of the government.  Memoirs of Louis Philippe Comte de Segur, The Folio Society, London (1960) p103

Monsieur Necker, who administered the finances with great skill, had adopted a measure which by some way was considered great and valuable, and by others hurtful and dangerous.  He caused the account of the state of the finances, as he had presented it to the King, to be printed and published.

This innovation, unexampled in France, produced a kind of revolution in the public mind.  Hitherto, the nation, a stranger to its own affairs, had remained completely ignorant as to the receipts and expenditure of the public revenue, the debts of the state, the extent of its needs, and the resources it possessed.  All this was for every Frenchman, and even for the better informed classes, the true arcanum imperii (mystery of government).

The appeal to public opinion was an appeal to liberty; and, as soon as the nation had satisfied its curiosity respecting these important objects which had always been kept concealed from their view, they began to discuss and to judge, to praise and to censure.  Their eyes being thus opened on this most essential point relating to their interests, it was not long before they thought or recollected that, in matters of accounts and taxation, they were not to be reduced to the sole duty of paying, and they had a right to examine, to grant, or to refuse the burdens imposed upon them.

Comte de Segur on finance minister Necker’s first dismissal from power in 1781.  Memoirs of Louis Philippe Comte de Segur, The Folio Society, London (1960) p105

Monsieur Necker had, by simple means, supplied the government with immense resources to bear the expenses of the war not only without the necessity of an increase of taxation, but with the advantage, on the contrary, of a diminution of its burden.  He had filled the public coffers by the sale of annuities, the interest on which was to be paid by sums arising from reforms and economy in the expenditure of the court.

This line of conduct showed great skill in the management of affairs, but argued little knowledge of mankind.  The minister was not aware of the number and power of all the people, great as well as subordinate, who were interested in the existence of abuses.  He learnt it only too soon, to his cost.  Private interests gained the victory over the public weal, the state was sacrificed to the court, economy to luxury, prudence to vanity.

The storm now broke out on all sides, and the enemies of Monsieur Necker took advantage of an error into which he had been betrayed by vanity.  Not satisfied with the title of Director General of the Finances, he wished to become a minister, to be able the better to defend his plans in the King’s council.

The devout appeared scandalised at seeing a Protestant hold the helm of state, and the great felt offended at the pretensions of a mere banker from Geneva.  All accused him of pride and ambition.  The confidence of the King was shaken by these clamours and, as his principal defect consisted in too much diffidence in his own judgement, he fancied he heard the expression of public opinion whilst he was listening to that of the greatest number of the courtiers who surrounded his throne.  He, therefore, yielded, in opposition to his own wishes, and Monsieur Necker was removed from the administration, by the same adversaries who had obtained from the King the sacrifice of Monsieur Turgot, and decided the retreat of Monsieur Malesherbes.  

Comte de Segur on finance minister Calonne.  Memoirs of Louis Philippe Comte de Segur, The Folio Society, London (1960) p169-170

The administration of Calonne may be considered as the cause of the Revolution, which had perhaps become inevitable, but which might, at least, have been postponed.  The nomination of an ambitious and volatile minister, and the levity with which he was dismissed, had certainly accelerated the explosion which old resentments, worn out institutions, new manners, and a philosophy which combated every prejudice by arming all passions against them, had been long preparing.

Monsieur de Calonne combined in himself, all that could please the court, displease the people cherish the illusion of authority, and revive the alarm of the parlements.  His address and manners were more those of a man of the world than a magistrate.  He was admired for a refined mind, compliant character, lively imagination, and great facility of speech.  Perceiving everything with rapidity, but profound in nothing, no obstacle gave him uneasiness, nor checked his presumptuous confidence.

Calculating, with reason no doubt but with little prudence and judgement, the immensity of our resources, he rather abused than profited by them.  The embarrassments in which we were then involved through the effects of an expensive war, the prodigalities of the court, the scarcity of money, and the abuse of credit, did not give him the smallest anxiety.  Far from applying the only wise remedy- rigid economy- to so many real evils, he fancied he could increase the expenditure without danger, renew the power of the court by augmenting its brilliance, dazzle the public by displays, restore confidence by illusions, and cause without opposition the adoption of loans by bankers, of new taxes by the parlements, and of pecuniary sacrifices by the nobility and clergy.  The severity of Monsieur Necker had caused sadness and alarm; the mediocrity of his successors excited discouragement, while the boldness and gaiety of Monsieur de Calonne lulled the nation.  The peril ceased to appear great from the moment people saw that it was a mere pastime to the minister who was employed to extricate us from our difficulties.