It attempted to reason; the 'Lettre sur la Musique Francoise' refuted its reasoning.

These two little productions, the former of which was by Grimm, the latter by myself, are the only ones which have outlived the quarrel; all the rest are long since forgotten.
But the Petit Prophete, which, notwithstanding all I could say, was for a long time attributed to me, was considered as a pleasantry, and did not produce the least inconvenience to the author: whereas the letter on music was taken seriously, and incensed against me the whole nation, which thought itself offended by this attack on its music.

The description of the incredible effect of this pamphlet would be worthy of the pen of Tacitus.

The great quarrel between the parliament and the clergy was then at its height.

The parliament had just been exiled; the fermentation was general; everything announced an approaching insurrection.