HISTORY OF EUROPE. [143 
elected anfwered little or no pur- 
ofe, 
The affembly annexed the ifland 
of Coriica infeparably to France, by 
conitituting ic a member of the 
kingdom, and thus, in the language 
of Rabaut, attaching it by the de- 
lightful chains of liberty and equa- 
lity. That body likewife, looking 
_ forward to the future greatnefs and 
glory of France, as well as to fan 
and increafe to its utmoft height the 
_ glowing flame of liberty, in the true 
dpirit of ancient republicanifm, de- 
_ ereed mural crowns to be publicly 
prefented to the conquerors of the 
Baftile. 
’ The unexpected difpute between 
_ Spain and England, which was a 
_ matter of furprife, as well from its 
_ fuddennefs as the infignificance of 
__ the caufe, to all Europe, interrupted, 
“in fome decree, the proceedings of 
the national affembly in the regula- 
tion of domettic affairs and govern- 
ment. ‘The court of Madrid having 
upon this occafion claimed the af- 
fiftance which France was bound by 
the family compact to afford, in cafe 
May 13th of a war, the king fent 
” a meflage to the affem- 
FyOD- bly, mforming them of 
the difpute, the claim, and of the 
great naval preparations made by 
the Englith; at the fame time re- 
quiring their affiftance, for the e- 
" quipment of 2 fleet of 14 fail of the 
line, to be in readinefs to aflift in 
fulfilling the mutual engagements 
fubfifting between the nations. 
Though the anfwer to this meflage 
was civil enough, butguarded againtt 
‘at all entering into the fubject, it 
immediately brought up a very in- 
) terefting debate upon a moft import- 
ant fubjcct; this was the grand 
gueftion, in whofe hands the power 
* 
enforced, byt’ from that being ne- 
| 
ef making peace and war, fhould at 
the prefent and in future be lodged 4 
‘The moft violent of the democratic 
party infifted, that this great autho- 
rity could be fafely lodged in no 
other hands but thofe of the affem- 
bly; and in fupporting this opinion, - 
repeated with great energy all thofe 
common-place topics of abufe, and 
railing acgufations, which it was 
now fo fafhionable to bring forward, 
againit kings, tyrants, and conquer, 
ors; as if no republics had ever en- 
tered into wars, and as if none of 
their factious demagogues, to an- 
{wer their private purpofes or am- 
bition, had ever unjuitly and impo-~ 
liticaliy caufed them, 
One of the deputies on the other 
fide gave a great turn to the debate 
by telling the aflembly, “ that if 
they took this power to themf¢lves, 
a battle would foon be fought in the 
middle of their hall between Spanifh 
piaitres and Englifh guineas.” This 
troke had great effect, and contrie 
buted to a jort of compromife be- 
tween the parties, which at length 
produced a decree, the main purport 
of which with refpect to the quef. 
tion was, that war fhould not be 
made, but by a decree of the nationa} 
affembly, after the king’s forma! nos 
tification of his opinion of the necef- 
fity of war; and that the king fhould 
be obliged to make peace if the af- 
fembly require it. 
In this decree was included that 
celebrated claufe, which was for % 
time the fubject of fo much panegy- 
ric, and which, in the name of the 
French nation, renounced for ever, 
all conquelts, and confequently all 
wars leading to that object. Ifthis , 
excellent refolution had been adher- 
ed to, it would have produced a moft 
happy effect, through the favourable 
nppreffion which it would have made 
Bpon 
