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ANNTTAL REGISTER, 179^* 



posed to pursue ks obiect through 

 certain d;m;;ers, rather Jiaii o \v;m 

 for its cer ain and safe accomplish- 

 ment at any future period. 



This was the moment whici-i he 

 spirit of novelty and reforn^ seized 

 with the keenest avidity for im- 

 mediate exertion The ver>' na- 

 tion so sinated, abounded wi h spi- 

 rits of this stamp. They 'ost no 

 time in seizing so favo rabie an 

 opportunity of introducing them- 

 selves into the most active func- 

 tions, and of preparifi^; the ma- 

 terials wherewith to erect the 

 fabric they had in contemplation. 



With a circumspection arising 

 from the piofoundest policy, they 

 concealed their ultimate views from 

 the majority ; whose minds, though 

 in strong unison with their o ■ n 

 respecting a multiplicity of objects, 

 were not yet arrived at that point 

 which would be requisite for the 

 accomplishment of those ends 

 which were finally proposed ; but 

 when, through a surprizing va- 

 riej;y of favourable incidents, they 

 had gained possession of the public 

 mind, they threw away all con- 

 cealment, and openly avowed their 

 purposes to the world. 



As these purposes were highly 

 soothing to the sentiments of men 

 desirous of making a figure in so- 

 ciety, they were instantly joined 

 by all the bold and daring spirits in 

 the nation. Of such only they ac- 

 cepted for the execution of those 

 projects which were necessary for 

 the security of the system they had 

 established. In thf coilision of the 

 many rivals struggling successively 

 for power, all principles of human- 

 ity were trampled to the ground ; 

 but those principles on which their 

 System had been founded, remained 

 unshaken in the attachment of the 



public. The very suspicion of en~ 

 mity to these w;is a crime ; and 

 tyranny, cloked a wiiiie v ith the 

 pretext of patriotic .severity, was, on 

 the instaiii of its discovery, do>med 

 to inmediate d'-struction. 



1 he'se. maxmis and passions have 

 wr- light a radical change in the 

 reciprc'cal conduct of the French 

 and'the Enronean piwerg, in their 

 vaiions rflafion with, each other. 

 Conscidu- of the irradicab e enmity 

 bo. iie by those powers to their prin- 

 ciples, they c n be friendly to 

 none, and are therefore suspect* 

 ed of eai^erlv watching for oppor- 

 tunities of subverting every system 

 of gosernment but their own. 



While Europe remains suspended 

 in its expectations and fears of 

 what will finally prove the result 

 of this natural state of hosility be- 

 tween Frame and those potentates 

 whose all is now at stake, dissimula- 

 tion may hold forth the appearance 

 of peace ; but its reality will never, 

 it is much to be feared, be known 

 till that awful decision is made 

 which will either confirm the new 

 system of things, or procure, thro' 

 its entire ruin, the restoration of 

 the old : a consideration complete 

 with terror, when that fatal alter- 

 native is weighed, which hence 

 will of necessity arise, or at least 

 may be dreadf lly apprehended, 

 that either France wili ultimately 

 succeed in overturning every go- 

 vernment in Europe, or that, attcr 

 shedding seas of blood, and con- 

 verting this part of the world into 

 scenes of devastation and horror, 

 the old government wiil etlect the 

 total ruin of that country and peo- 

 ple, and ensure, by the rights of war, 

 its depression and degradation for 

 ages to come. 



In searching for an event, or apra 



in 



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