npside down, inasmuch as those who are the most
useful to society, who improve its condition, and add
to its riches, occupy a subordinate position to persons
who are totally useless, and often very expensive/^
In order to impress this truth with greater vividness
upon the mind of the reader, Saint-Simon thought
fit to throw his ideas into the form of a parable. In it
he enumerates many of the trades, professions, and other
occupations of life, and asks with some appearance
of truth, whether the principal persons employed in
those pursuits would not be a greater loss than any of
the members of the royal family, or than any of the mi-
nisters of state. He unfortunately mentioned by name
several persons of eminence, and amongst others the
Duke of Berry. The assassination of the Duke in the
following year, exposed Saint- Simon to a public pro-
secution, — he was accused of having incited to mur-
der ; the charge, which was quite unfounded, ended
in an acquittal. The trial brought Saiii,t-Simon pro-
minently before the public, and aflTorded him an
opportunity of addressing four letters to the jury who
were to try him. Ho professed his loyalty to the
Bourbon family, and admitted that they should occupy
the throne so long as royalty continiied to exist in
France; he, however, prophesied their fall, unless
they allied themselves with the people.
54 SAINT-SIMOX.
