In every other regard, his Majesty offered the States "all possible favours and pleasures." Certainly, after having been thus kept in prison for a month, the ambassadors had small cause to be contented with this very cold communication.

To be forbidden the royal presence, and to be turned out of the country without even an official and accredited answer to a communication in which they had offered the sovereignty of their fatherland, was not flattering to their dignity.

"We little thought," said they to Brulart, after a brief consultation among themselves, "to receive such a reply as this.

It displeases us infinitely that his Majesty will not do us the honour to grant us an audience.

We must take the liberty of saying, that 'tis treating the States, our masters, with too much contempt.