HISTORY OF EUROPE. 179 



in^ her neighbours, the suspicions 

 of her ambitious disposition fully 

 countera&ted them, and at the same 

 time rendered her enmity to 

 France of no utility to the general 

 Combination against that power. 



But of all countries, that wherein 

 the revolution in France had been 

 rnost applauded was Grea't Britain. 

 Not withstanding the disapprobation 

 that followed the abolition of tno- 

 narchy, and the abhorrence of 

 those enormities perpetrated by the 

 republican party, a large portion of 

 the British nation remained partial 

 to a caVise which they looked upon 

 US that of liberty. V/hile they 

 condemned the excesses and hor- 

 rors to which the maintenance of 

 this liberty had given occasion, they 

 still thought that, of the two evils. 

 a temporary confusion arid aharchy 

 was preferable to the re-establish- 

 ment of despotism. But this por- 

 '^.tion, however considerable, wasyet_ 

 inferior to that which considered 

 the restoration of monarchy in 

 France as indispensably necessary 

 to the safety of the British constitu- 

 tionj and held «t the same time a 

 republican system of government 

 in that country, as incompatible 

 with the interests of every kingdom 

 in Europe. 



That portion of the British com- 

 ftiUnily which opposed those ideas, 



was represented by the dther as 

 harbouringSecret designs against the 

 constitution, and intending to sei2e 

 the first opportunityof imitatingthe 

 example set tbem by the French 

 republicans. So grievous an accu- 

 sation lay the heavier on these, from 

 the marked exultation they dis- 

 played at the victories obtained by 

 the French, and their continual 

 complaints and reprobation of all 

 ministerial measures. But what 

 chiefly contributed to render this 

 party suspected of the very worst 

 designs, was their positive and ex* 

 plicit demand of such alterations in 

 the constitution, as would tend 

 to thro^ the whole power of the 

 state into the hands of the people 

 This, together with a strict imita- 

 tion, in their nuifterous meetings, 

 of the phrases and personal modes 

 of addressing each other, adopted 

 by the French republicans, ap- 

 peared indisputable proofs of a de- 

 termination to overthrow the pre- 

 sent govern.ment, and to substitute 

 in its' place ' an absolute demo- 

 cracy. 



Hence arose the two odious ap- 

 pellations of Aristocrat and Demo- 

 crat*, The former, bestowed on 

 those who opposed all changes in 

 the constitution ; the latter, on 

 those who demanded these, toge- 

 ther with an immediate peace with 



• The word Aristocracy properly S'gnifie?, the sovereign povrer in the hands of 

 the V)cst men : Democracy, the sovereign power in the hands of the people. As 

 there is no one who would not wish to pass f6r a friend at once to the .people and 

 to moral Wisdom, there is no one who should be ofiended at being called either an 

 aristocrat or democrat, it it a pity that these two terms, v.h;ch, according to their 

 original signification, should recall sentiments of union and philanthropy to the 

 tnind; of all mSn, should have become the watch-wonls of general discord ! The 

 question is. Whether wisdom and virtue are most likely to be' found among the higher 

 lankj, denominated aristocrats, or in the mass of the people? The general Wel- 

 fare IS the pretence of both parties. The, real object of the leaders, and most 

 fCjlous partisans of both, has been found altwost uniformly to be their own private 

 jrterts? anJ ambition. 



JVi France, 



