Never had unjust promotions been so frequent; so also never had more universal discontent been seen.
Money and intrigue took the place of all else, and brought in their train commands and power.

Nobles and upstarts, with influence at the capital and self-sufficiency in the seaports, thought themselves dispensed with merit.

Waste of the revenues of the State and of the dock-yards knew no bounds.

Honor and modesty were turned into ridicule.

As if the evils were not thus great enough, the ministry took pains to efface the heroic traditions of the past which had escaped the general wreck.