W74
V.12

686219

COPYRIGHT, 1904, 1907

BY HENRY SMITH WILLIAMS

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Prof. Adolf Erman, University of Berlin.

Prof. Joseph Halévy, College of France.

Prof. Thomas K. Cheyne, Oxford University.

Prof. Andrew C. McLaughlin, University of Michigan.
Prof. David H. Müller, University of Vienna.
Prof. Alfred Rambaud, University of Paris.
Capt. F. Brinkley, Tokio.

Prof. Eduard Meyer, University of Berlin.

Dr. James T. Shotwell, Columbia University.

Prof. Theodor Nöldeke, University of Strasburg.
Prof. Albert B. Hart, Harvard University.

Dr. Paul Brönnle, Royal Asiatic Society.
Dr. James Gairdner, C.B., London.

Prof. Ulrich von Wilamowitz Möllendorff, University of Berlin.
Prof. H. Marczali, University of Budapest.

Dr. G. W. Botsford, Columbia University.

Prof. Julius Wellhausen, University of Göttingen.
Prof. Franz R. von Krones, University of Graz.
Prof. Wilhelm Soltau, Zabern University.

Prof. R. W. Rogers, Drew Theological Seminary.
Prof. A. Vambéry, University of Budapest.

Prof. Otto Hirschfeld, University of Berlin.
Dr. Frederick Robertson Jones, Bryn Mawr College.
Baron Bernardo di San Severino Quaranta, London.
Dr. John P. Peters, New York.

Prof. Adolph Harnack, University of Berlin.

Dr. S. Rappoport, School of Oriental Languages, Paris.

Prof. Hermann Diels, University of Berlin.

Prof. C. W. C. Oman, Oxford University.

Prof. W. L. Fleming, University of West Virginia.
Prof. I. Goldziher, University of Vienna.

Prof. R. Koser, University of Berlin.

The Regency, 9. John Law and the "Mississippi Bubble," 12. Saint-Simon's

portrait of the Regent and his Minister, 17. Foreign affairs; free thought, 22. The

majority of Louis XV and Ministry of Bourbon, 25. De Tocqueville's portrait of

Fleury, 26. War for the Polish crown, 27. The degeneracy of the court, 30. Pros-

perity in the colonies, 32. The Corvée, 34. The war of the Austrian Succession, 35.

First Silesian War, 36. Second Silesian War, 40. Taillendier's account of Law-

feld, 43. Other affairs on land and sea, 45. Wars in India, 46.

CHAPTER II

(1748–1764 a.D.) .

49

"THE REGENCY OF POMPADOUR."
The character of Pompadour, 51. The influence of Pompadour on art, 52. The

Parc-aux-cerfs; court degeneracy, 54. Financial distresses, 58. Religious disputes,

60. The Encyclopædia as an engine of opinion, 62. The approach of war, 64.

Opening of the Seven Years' War, 66. The French take Minorca, 67. Other French

successes, 69. France commits a great blunder, 70. Attempt to assassinate the

King, 71. French victories on land, 72. Ruin of the French navy; losses in India

and America, 77. Choiseul banishes the Jesuits, 80. The last days of Pompa-

dour, 81.

CHAPTER III

THE LAST DECADE OF LOUIS XV. (1764-1774 a.D.) .

83

Evils of the Parliaments, 86. Conflicts between King and Parliament, 88. Du

Barry, the new mistress, 92. Capefigue's defence of Du Barry, 92. Financial tyran-

nies, 94. The Parliaments defy the King, 95. Parliament adjourns, 99. Fall of the

Parliaments, 100. The last days of Louis XV, 105. Carlyle on the last hours of

Louis XV, 106.