Louis XVI. ascended the throne on May 11, 1774.  Finances, whose deficiencies neither the restorative ministry of Cardinal de Fleury, nor the bankrupt ministry of the Abbe Terray had been able to make good, authority disregarded, an imperious public opinion; such were the difficulties which the new reign inherited from its predecessors.  And in choosing, on his accession to the throne, Maurepas as prime minister, Louis XVI. eminently contributed to the irresolute character of his reign.  On the death of Maurepas the queen took his place with Louis XVI., and inherited all his influence over him.  Maurepas, mistrusting court ministers, had always chosen popular ministers; it is true he did not support them; but if good was not brought about, at least evil did not increase.  After his death, court ministers succeeded the popular ministers, and by their faults rendered the crisis inevitable which others had endeavoured to prevent by their reforms.  This difference of choice is very remarkable; this it was which, by the change of men, brought on the change of the system of administration. The revolution dates front this epoch; the abandonment of reforms and the return of disorders hastened its approach and augmented its fury.

After the failure of the queen’s minister the States-General had become the only means of government, and the last resources of the throne.  The king, on August 8, 1788, fixed the opening for May 1, 1789.  Necker, the popular minister of finance, was recalled, and prepared everything for the election of deputies and the holding of the States.

A religious ceremony preceded their installation.  The king, his family, his ministers, the deputies of the three orders, went in procession from the Church of Notre Dame to that of St. Louis, to hear the opening mass.

The royal sitting took place the following day in the Salle des Menus.  Galleries, arranged in the form of an amphitheatre, were filled with spectators.  The deputies were summoned, and introduced according to the order established in 1614.  The clergy were conducted to the right, the nobility to the left, and the commons in front of the throne at the end of the hall.  The deputations from Dauphine, from Crepy-en-Valois, to which the Duke of Orleans belonged, and from Provence, were received with loud applause.  Necker was also received on his entrance with general enthusiasm.

Barentin, keeper of the seals, spoke next after the king.  His speech displayed little knowledge of the wishes of the nation, or it sought openly to combat them.  The dissatisfied assembly looked to M. Necker, from whom it expected different language.