September the 20th. The combination of bankers and other ministerial
tools had led me into the error (when I wrote my last letter), into
which they had led most people, that the loan lately opened here went on
well. The truth is, that very little has been borrowed, perhaps not more
than six or eight millions. The King and his ministers were yesterday to
carry their plate to the mint. The ladies are giving up their jewels to
the National Assembly. A contribution of plate in the time of Louis XV.
is said to have carried about eight millions to the treasury. Plate is
much more common now, and therefore, if the example prevail now in
the same degree it did then, it will produce more. The contribution of
jewels will hardly be general, and will be unproductive. Mr. Necker
is, on the 25th, to go to the Assembly, to make some proposition. The
hundreth penny is talked of.