HISTORY OF ‘EUROPE. 
fudden fit of enthufiafm, difman- 
tled all their own fhoes one day 
in a moment. Such was the 
rage of fafhion while it lafted, that 
the pooreft people, even thofe 
who were little better than living 
On charity, prefented their offer- 
[27 
eminently diftinguifhed for. their 
patriotifm on this occafion, freely 
offering a fhare of their earnings’ to 
the fupport of the public.—It was 
undoubtedly the moi difpraceful 
meafure, with refpect both to the 
nation and to themfelves, that ever 
ings. The loweft as well as the 
was adopted by any body of mica 
higher orders of courtezans were 
in fimilar circumftances. 
fo Nae PA kee? ~ 
King and queen fend their gold and filver plate to the mint. Patriotic doa 
tions incapable of relieving the neceffities of the fiate. Extraordinary tax 
decreed, under the name of a patriotic contribution, by which each wan was 
to contribute one fourth of his annual revenue to the exigencies of the ftate. 
Loud complaints and violent animofities excited by this partial tax. Em- 
barraffnents and difficulties which the national affembly experienced in fram~ 
ing the néw declaration of rights. Great debates upon the propriety or 
inexpedience of adopting the meafure. Declaration at length paffed and pro- 
mulgated. Saying of Mirabeau upon the fubjed. Affembly divided into a 
_ number of Jections or committees, to each of which is affigned fome fpecified 
part of the new conftitution, on which it is to make a report. Grand 
queftion arifes, What fhare of authority it was fitting the king fFould po/- 
JSefs in the new legiflature? This operates like a touchflone in trying every 
man’s principles, and compelling him to an open avowal of them. Afjembly 
arranged, face to face, in two great hoftile divifions, apparently equal 
in ftrength and numbers. . Violent contefts enfue, and are fo long cons 
tinued, that the people without, and at length the whole nation, become 
parties in them. State of the parties within and without, who thus di- 
vided the affembly and the nation, King’s veto, or negative, with refpet 
to the paffing of laws, one of the fubjecis moft violently and generally agi- 
tated. Populace of Paris interfere openly in the queftion of the veto; 
while the crowds in the galleries of the afembly become fo daringly auda- 
cious, as by hootings and revilings to endeavour to drown the voices, and by 
infults and menaces to deter from giving their votes all thofe members who 
Supported the rights of the crown. Long lifts of members who were marked 
Sor profeription, and deftined to be victims to the vengeance of the people, 
publifoed in Paris, and diftributed through every part of the kingdom. Po 
_ pular fermentation in Paris rifen nearly to its highe/t pitch. The notorious 
St. Huruge, attempts to have the king, the dauphin, and the national afem- 
bly, brought to Paris; but by the spirited exertions of La Fayette, Bailly, 
and the Hotel de Ville, the leaders are committed to prifon, and the fedition 
quelled. Heavy complaints made to the affémbly by feveral of its members 
of thofe treafinable attempts againft the freedom of the king, as well as of 
that body itfelf; and likewife of the lifts of profcription which were pub- 
lifbed, and of the incendiary letters by which they were continually menaced 
with deftruction; but Mirabeau with his fa@ion turn the whole complaint 
into ridicule. Numberlefs charges of Juppofed plots and confpirccies now 
‘made againft the royalifts; which effectually anfwer one purpofe, in exciting 
1 ; @ general 
