| 
| 
HISTORY OF EUROPE: 
Gdentified. The only folvtion that 
‘could be found to this quefticn, was 
‘the fuppofition, that they were com- 
jofed of Germans and other fo- 
_ “yeigners, who had come to aris for 
the purpofe of raifing tumults, in 
order to facilitate the carrying of 
“this incomprehenfible plot into exe- 
“cution. 
Bezenval being acquitted, and 
“fafely difcharged from Paris, the 
‘chatelet how ventured upon what 
_ before would have feemed a moft 
‘dangerous tafk, that of proceeding 
_ to the trial of the prince of Lam- 
‘befc, of marfhal Broglio, and of fome 
‘others of thofe principal fugitives, 
_ who had been long accufed of that 
‘real or fuppofed plot, for the de- 
 “firuétion of the city of Paris, of the 
national affembly, for governing the 
__ kingdom entirely by the fword, and 
_ ‘placing the king in a ftate of more 
unbridled defpotifm, than even the 
“its fupport. B 
“wort of his predeceffors had poffef- 
_ $ed orattempted;and which had laid 
‘the foundation of the revolution in 
_ the preceding month of July, as well 
‘as of all its fubfequent confequences, 
*to the prefentday. As the event of 
*thefe trials feemed to include in no 
~fmall degree the grand queftion on 
, the neceflity, juitnefs, or fitnefs of 
the revolution, which derived its 
“birth from this fuppofed plot, fo no 
“taufe ‘could “be more interefting, or 
_ “excite greater expectation ; and the 
“Yeveral parts of it had been fo long, 
“fo° often, and fo peremptorily re- 
"peated and afferted, that it was fup- 
on fuch a body of evidence 4s 
Othing could ‘refit or controvert, ~' 
would now be brought forward in 
the inexpreflible 
_ “furprize of every body, excepting, 
sik thofe, ‘who Were’ in the im- 
+) Mediate fecret of thihgs, no” evi- 
Pabhce beyond Conjegtyre,' ference, 
[129 
vague reports, and hearfay conver- 
fations, appeared on the fide of the 
profecution; fo that the plot fill lay 
in its original ftate of darknefs, and 
‘Broglio,with the other fugitives,were 
of couyfe acquitted of the crime of 
leze nation. 
It will always be found difficult 
in many cafes, to reconcile or ac- 
count for the various contradictions 
‘and inconfiftencies, which appear in 
the conduct and aétions of men. 
Although this bufinefs undoubtedly 
ftood foremott in point of importance 
of all thofe which had been prefcrib- 
ed to the cognizance of the chatelet, 
yet there are good reafons for be~ 
lieving that its being bronght for- 
ward was highly difagreeable to the 
principal rulers; who could not with 
that the weaknefs which now ap- 
peared in fo effential a point, through 
the total failure of all evidence in 
its fupport, fhould have been thas 
nakedly expofed to all the worjd, 
It was probably imagined, that this 
was an affair which carried fuch ap- 
pearances of danger on whatever 
fide it was examined, that the cha- 
telet would not venture to meddle 
With it; and it was pofibly intend- 
ed, that no great apology would be 
neceflary to juftify the omiffion, 
However that was, the chatelet foon 
‘became an object of conftant abufe 
‘with the democratical writers, and 
was treated with a coldnefs and-in- 
‘difference by the aflembly, which 
ftrongly indicated that its new pow- 
ers were not likely to be lafting. 
It would feem'as if this itate of 
things produced in one inftance’ a 
difpofition to temporize, and accom- 
modate matters to the occafion, ‘in 
that court, which ill accorded with 
that high charatter of honour and 
inflexible integrity, which through 
‘a long courte of pat’ years ir had, 
in 
9 
