HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
same to bear a great, and in many 
places a principal fhare, in all thole 
dreadful tumults and diforders which 
were continually breaking out, and 
fpreading every degree of outrage 
and violence in the greater towns 
and cities. Thefe were, in general, 
kindly confidered as the genuine 
marks and effects of patriotifm, and 
if at all regarded as evils, were only 
deemed to be the neceflary appen- 
dages of revolutions, in which cer- 
tain degrees of wrong and violence 
paved the way for the attainment of 
the great end. 
. At Nancy, the capital of Lor- 
rain, thefe exceffes were carried by 
the troops, and by the ruling party 
of the townfmen, who feemed jointly 
to fet the affembly at defiance, to fo 
extraordinary a pitch, that-they were 
_ deemed, if not declared, to be in a 
| 
‘ftate of abfolute rebellion. The mar- 
quis de Bouille, (who, we have for- 
mertly feen, had been fo much diftin- 
oe by the honour and humani- 
, as well as by the ability which he 
difplayed in the Weft Indies, dur- 
ing the late war with England) then 
commanded the troops at Metz, and 
4 that quarter; and received an 
order from the affembly to fupprefs 
the infurgents at Nancy by force of 
arms. ‘This order was repented al- 
moft as foon as it was iffued; for 
befides its being contrary to the 
‘eftablifhed practice of never punifh- 
ing democratic criminals, they fuf- 
petted Bouille of being an arifto- 
/ rat, and were apprehenfive that he 
Might direct the army which he had 
thus colleéted to the purpofe of a 
counter-revolution. Under this im- 
preffion they were debating about 
recalling the decree, and fending 
commiffioners to pacify, inftead of 
troops to reduce the infurgents. 
“Gut De Bonille was too alert and 
[53 
active a commander, and knew the 
duties of his profeffion too well, to 
lofe any time in the execution of 
his orders. He, as it were inftarit- 
ly, colleéted a confiderable force, 
compofed partly of national troops, 
and partly of thofe of the line ; and 
the officers being particularly at- 
tached to him, as were even the 
common foldiery of the old troops, 
in no fmall degree, he appeared be- 
fore Nancy with an_ expedition 
which furprifed every body elfe as 
well as the infurgents. He. found 
the latter, however, prepared for, 
and determined on a vigorous de- 
fence. A bloody conteft took place, 
in which the infurgents were re- 
duced with confiderable flaughter, 
and with no {mall lofs to the affail- 
ants. 
The embarraffinent of the affem- 
bly on Bouille’s fuccefs feemed ra- 
ther ridiculous. They could not 
but apparently approve the conduét 
of an officer, wha had difplayed 
great fpirit and extraordinary dif- 
patch in the execution of their or- 
ders; at the fame time that they were 
in fact forry for the event, and not a 
little uneafy at placing fo much 
power in the hands of a man who 
they unjuftly fufpeéted would ap- 
ply it to dangerous purpofes. But 
the rage of the Parifians at the fhed- 
ding of fo much patriotic blood 
was beyond all defcription, They 
confidered and reprefented all the 
infurgents who were flain as mar- 
tyrs to the caufe of liberty, and 
Bouille with his troops as niurder. 
ing ariftocrates, who were endea- 
vouring to commence a counter-re- 
volution.’ They furrounded the 
houfe of affembly in great bodies, 
and loudly and peremptorily de- 
manded the head of Bouille, and the 
heads of all the minifters who hadany 
I concern 
