CALONNE, Charles-Alexandre de. Mémoire justificatif, en forme de requête, adressé au Roi [suivi de] Développemens et pièces justificatives adressés au Roi, pour faire suite au Mémoire. 1787.

First editions.

Charles de Calonne (1734-1802) was Necker's successor as finance minister to Louis XVI between 1784 and 1787.
After his resignation, the former minister fell out of favor and faced many attacks on his administration and France's growing deficit. In this book, he explained his defence to the king, facing five charges against the subjects of acquisitions and exchanges, operations in the revision of currencies, funds from the royal treasury provided clandestinely to support the "agiotage" (financial speculative practice), extensions of loans, and abuses of authority and other abuses of authority of all kinds.
The second book, published shortly afterwards, is the sequel in which Calonne provides many in-depth insights.