ABSTRACT
NeckerwasthenrecalledtopowerasDirector-Generalof theFinances.Thekingdislikedhimasaprotestant anda foreigner,andthequeenrealizedthathewouldbedifficult tocontrol.Publicopinion,however,regardedNeckerasthe onlymancapableofavertingfinancialchaosand,fromthe momenthejoinedtheministryhispositioninitwaspreponderant.Unfortunately,hehadnoneofthequalitiesofthetrue statesmanandnoteventhedeterminationofthesuccessful politician.Hisprestigeasafinancierenabledhimtoavert nationalbankruptcy,butdidnotfithimtosolvetheconstitutionalissuesraisedbythesummonsoftheStatesGeneralor enablehimtodeviseapoliticalprogramme,whichmight
have eased the transition from absolutism to limited monarchy.
