HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



81 



Very different results arising from 

 their national councils. But there 

 is another circumstance of diversit;' 

 besides all these, to which, partlyj 

 the wide difference between these 

 results may be traced. In all the 

 5ta<Tes of the American revolution, 

 one regulating and presiding mind 

 combined a great variety of parts, 

 and harmonized them into that 

 unity and consistency of design 

 which is scarcely to be expected 

 from the joint councils of a num- 

 ber of men, actuated by a variety 

 of opposite views and passions. Per- 

 haps, if Mirabeau had lived, and 

 only perhaps, France might have 

 derived from him benefits similar 

 to those conferred on America by 

 General Washington. 



It was natural that, viewing the 

 progress of revolutionary measures, 

 attended by such direful conse- 

 quences, a large party should em- 

 brace the contrary side of the ques- 

 tion. Comparing the inexorable 

 character of those who supported 

 the democratic establishment that 

 rose on the ruins of monarchy, with 

 the severity of which this latter 

 wzs accused, they could readily 

 perceive, that in the very worst 

 periods of monarchy, no such bar- 

 barities had been exercised as since 

 its abolition. 



As facts are always more impres- 

 sive than arguments and reasonings, 

 howsver plausible, or even well 

 founded, the " multitude was forci- 

 bly struck with this difference, and 

 paid little attention to the apolo- 

 gies that were made for the harsh 

 measures that were pursued. Their 

 barbarity was obvious; and no pre- 

 tence of their necessity could screen 

 them. Tiiough strongly attached 

 to the cause of freedom, the peo- 

 ple siucerelv regretted thut i.uGh 



Vol. XXXV J. 



means should be employed to main- 

 tain it. The only motive that in- 

 duced the generality not to ap- 

 prove, butj in some degree, tt bear 

 with the system of terror and im- 

 placability now triumphant, was 

 the apprehension that, were the 

 formidable coalition, now acting 

 against France, to prove successful, 

 no mercy would be shewn to its 

 opponents ; and France, after be- 

 ing converted into a field of slaugh- 

 ter and destruction, would . finally 

 be parcelled out among the caa-» 

 lesced powers, in the same manner 

 as the unhappy kingdom of Po ; 

 land. 



To such considerations may be 

 imputed the tame acquiescence 

 with which the Frencli beheld the 

 supreme ppwcr devolve into the 

 hands of the most merciless tyrant 

 that ever was, through an unfor<;- 

 seen concourse of events, fortui- 

 tously raised, in reality, though not 

 in name, to a dictatorial throne. 



la the mean time, the cruelty 

 of the ruling powers, and especially 

 of him in whom all the power of 

 the state became finally centered, 

 had excited the adherents of the 

 monarchy to unite with more vi- 

 jrour and firmness than ever in 

 opposing the new system. Among 

 those numerous opponents none 

 signalized themselves so conspi- 

 cuously as the inhabitants of that 

 part of France formerly called 

 Poictou ; and in the new division 

 of that ^country denominated La 

 Vendee. As they acted with no 

 less sincerity than zed in the cause 

 they undertook, to maintain, nothing 

 cjuld exceed thei* acti icy aod 

 couraare. Hnd not the strenyth and 

 abihties they had to contend with 

 b.'en of thi first rate, it is prgbai^le 

 that the issue of the 'cajjtiist would 

 G have 



