Question: what role did the french government play in the publication of the encyclopedia

title: Encyclopédie
text: The work consisted of 28 volumes , with 71,818 articles and 3,129 illustrations . The first seventeen volumes were published between 1751 and 1765 ; eleven volumes of plates were finished by 1772 . Engraver Robert Bénard provided at least 1,800 plates for the work . Because of its occasional radical contents ( see `` Contents '' below ) , the Encyclopédie caused much controversy in conservative circles , and on the initiative of the Parlement of Paris , the French government suspended the encyclopedia 's privilège in 1759 . Despite the suspension , work continued `` in secret , '' partially because the project had highly placed supporters , such as Malesherbes and Madame de Pompadour . The authorities deliberately ignored the continued work ; they thought their official ban was sufficient to appease the church and other enemies of the project . 

Answer: answer: The French government suspended the encyclopedia's privilège in 1759.   The authorities deliberately ignored the continued work; they thought their official ban was sufficient to appease the church and other enemies of the project.
answer: The French government suspended the encyclopedia's privilège in 1759. Despite the suspension, work continued ``in secret''. The authorities deliberately ignored the continued work; they thought their official ban was sufficient to appease the church and other enemies of the project.