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rapidly healing. Public credit flourished, and commerce was widely and beneficially extended; the nation seemed to enjoy the reward of its patience and magnanimity under past calamities and inflictions, in such a state of peace, tranquillity, and prosperity, that the warmest patriot could only express his true sentiment in a prayer that it might be permanent.

CHAP.

LXV.

1789.

CHAPTER THE SIXTY-SIXTH.

1789-1790.

French Revolution.-Causes assigned for this event-difference between the French and other revolutions.- Age of Louis the Fourteenth-licentiousness prevails-growth of infidelity.—The Regency.--Louis the Fifteenth.-Accession and character of Louis the Sixteenth.-The royal family.— Public Education.-Scarcity.-De Brienne minister.-He proposes taxes-rejected by the Parliament.-Bed of justice-the Parliament banished-recalled.-New plan of the minister-royal sitting — registration of taxes refused.— Conduct of the Duke of Orleans-he is banished--returnsStates-general promised.-Other attempts of De Brienne.-Plan of a cour plenière-great secrecy-the plan discovered -d'Esprémenil imprisoned.—Notables assembled-bed of justice--outline of the cour plenière – rejected by the Parliament-renounced by the Notables-resignation of De Brienne.-Administration of Necker-his anxiety to convoke the States-general-necessity of that measure-efforts of the Parliament.-Notables again assembled---Statesgeneral decreed-double representations of the tiers état -effect on the nation.- Causes of public fermentationlicentiousness of the press.-The Queen.-Clubs formed.The Duke of Orléans.-Scarcity.-Deputies returned to the States-general. Want of system in their convocation-they are presented to the King-opening of the sittings.-Destruction of Reveillon's manufactory.- Contest on verifications of powers.-Renunciation of pecuniary privileges.— Conduct of the King. - Death of the Dauphin.-National Assembly formed- some of the clergy secede from their

body-and are followed by the residue.-Royal sitting proclaimed.--Scene in the Assembly.-Oath taken in the Tennis Court.-Royal sitting.-Conduct of M. Necker.-Declaration of the King-energetic conduct of the Assembly.— Effect of these proceedings.—Union of the three orders.-Character of the Duke of Orléans-other popular members -Lafayette - Mirabeau - Royalist members - the Abbé Mauri-of M. Necker.-State of Paris--power assumed by the factions.-Seduction of the Gardes-françoises - troops collected. - Proceedings in the National Assembly.-Retreat of M. Necker.-Its effect in Paris.-The national colours and cockade established.-Conduct of the Duke of Orléans -conflict in the garden of the Tuilleries.-Conduct of the Assembly-a new government formed in Paris.-Arms obtained—national guard.-Capture of the Bastile.-State of the Court.-The King goes to the Assembly-conduct of that body.--Ministry dismissed.—The King goes to Parisreception. More murders committed.—In the provincesSystem in these proceedings-indifference of the Assembly. -Necker's triumph.-Observations--the legislative body— the King-the nobility-emigration.-Progress of the National Assembly-overthrow of privileges.-Remonstrances *to the Assembly-a loan attempted-plate melted-patriotic gifts. Pay to members. -Declaration of the Rights of Man -the King delays his sanction-persecution of religionlicentiousness of the press-violence of mobs-scarcity of bread-the regiment of Flanders sent to Versailles.-Dinners given anger excited-misrepresentations-consequent proceedings-insurrection in Paris.-Proceedings at Versailles-National Assembly-arrival of the mob.-Deputation to the King-further proceeding of the mob-the King forced to assent to the declaration of the Rights of Man.— Arrival of Lafayette-his proceedings-and assurances.—State of the mob- they break into the palace-escape of the Queen -the royal family forced to go to Paris-their progress-they are lodged in the Louvre.

CHAP.
LXVI.

FROM the war which still raged between Russia and the Porte, and from all other transactions in the political world, attention is now diverted to an event French Revo- of a more stupendous nature; most deeply affecting,

lution.

Causes as

event.

in its progress, the interests and welfare of England and of Europe-the French Revolution. So widely extensive have been the effects of this great convulsion on the condition, the politics, the morals, and the religion of other communities, that it is impossible to narrate the history of any European nation without the mixture of details respecting France; as forming, not the principal object of the work, but necessarily introduced to explain the acts of governments, the motions of the people, and the principles and views of states

men.

Causes for this wondrous political phenomenon signed for this have been assigned by various writers*; some are too remote and general to bear particularly on the subject; and if, in producing them, the writers have shewn learning, research, and ingenuity, still the application is not sufficiently cogent and obvious to elucidate events by clear, certain, and defined propositions. Thus, when it is said that the invention of gunpowder, of printing, and the compass, the reformation of religion, and the discovery of America, were among the causes of the French revolution, the assertion, taken in a general sense, is truef; but they had no more actual effect on that than on every other great political event which has occurred. Causes more perceptibly operative are to be discovered in the recent history and modern transactions of France.

Time, the great operator of change, had produced more than usual effect in this kingdom. The springs of government were relaxed, the machinery defective, and it was easy to perceive, that, without great alteration, it could not be made to act certainly or benefi

This subject is treated on so amply in the various histories of France during the period in question, that reference on general heads would seem superfluous and affected; for some particular statements and opinions, authorities will be given.

See Pages Histoire secrète de la Révolution, vol. i. p. 266. Necker on the French Revolution, vol. i. p. 3. Alison's History of Europe during the French Revolution, vol. i. p. lxi. Introduction.

CHAP.
LXVI.

Difference be-
French and

tween the

other Revolu

cially. But it is useful to observe, that no revolution
recorded in modern history resembles that of France.
The removal of obnoxious rulers, the restoration of
interrupted rights, or the repeal of oppressive and un-
just laws, have generally formed the motive and the
end of domestic revolutions. The constitution, or tions.
ancient state of the country, has always been con-
sidered as the object to be preserved, the centre
around which all were to rally; and although, in other
revolutions where the authority of a governing or
mother country has been rejected, a greater change
has taken place in forms, still the original prin-
ciples of the social union, the ranks of society,
the distinctions of locality, and the tenure of pro-
perty, were left undisturbed, and cautiously protected*.
In France, on the contrary, every establishment, civil
and religious, was to be destroyed, every trace of
former times to be obliterated, and, that the change
might be perfect and total, property was to be taken
from those who believed they held it in absolute secu-
rity, and the long-recognized divisions of the kingdom
were to receive new limits, new forms, and new appel-
lations. These great changes were not productive of
each other; innovations were not occasioned by the
opposition which was directed against early efforts,
by the exasperation which conflict, or the violence
which success, occasioned; they were the result of
plans carefully laid down and maturely considered,
nourished in the abstract moments of meditation, for-
warded through the influence of the press, and per-
fected by the union of talent, resolution, and persever-

ance.

Fourteenth.

In the reign of Louis the Fourteenth, the power of Age of the crown and the fame of the nation were carried to Louis the an unexampled height. The nobles were controlled, the lower classes submissive; the splendour of martial achievement and the lustre of gallant and expensive festivities threw a dazzling glory around the throne. Wits of the first eminence, in unprecedented number,

See Bertrand's Annals, vol. i. page i, Introduction.-Causes of the French Revolution, by Lord John Russell, p. 1.

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