HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
writer on both political and meta- 
physical studies, in a valedictory 
sermon to his dissenting congrega- 
tion at Hackney, one of the sub- 
urbs of London, in allusion to the 
revolutionary spirit of the times, 
and particularly to the French re- 
volution, chose for his text the 
words of Simeon, when he had 
seen the infant Jesus: ‘* Lord, now 
lettest thou thy servant depart in 
peace, according to thy word ; for 
mine eyes have seen thy salva- 
tion*.” All these classes of men 
in the different kingdoms of Eu- 
rope, and other parts of the world, 
wished well to the French revolu- 
- tion, and Jooked up to the wisdom 
and patriotism of the constituent 
assembly with the most pleasing ex- 
pectations. Never did any as- 
sembly of men seem to act, on so 
extended a theatre, so conspicuous 
a part. They seemed to hold in 
their hand the destinies of the hu- 
man race. The Genius of France 
having assumed the tone of a hu- 
mane and grave philosopher, had 
taken human nature under his pro- 
tection, and promised to raise them 
to dignity and happiness by a re- 
formation, civil and religious. The 
new constitution was completed. 
Universal and eternal peace was 
proclaimed on the part of France; 
and if ever this should be inter- 
rupted, it would be only by unjust 
aggression. But soon did corrupt 
nature re-assume her reign! Soon 
did the Genius of France lay aside 
the habit and tone of the humane 
_ philosopher, and completely realize 
the fable of the cat metamorphosed 
into a fine lady. 
. The seeds of dissolution were 
sown inthe constitution itself, in 
- * Luke, chap. 
2) 
[9 
the means by which it had been 
obtained, in the character of the 
French nation, the depravity of 
their morals, and the violence of 
their passions. The new govern- 
ment, mistrustful, and bearing no 
good-will to the sovereign prince 
whom they had treated so ill, tho’ 
the most amiable of men ; and jea- 
lous ef the sovereign powers whose 
authority was indirectly attacked 
by the revolution, saw no security 
to themselves but in reducing still 
farther the royal power, already 
too much contracted by the recent 
constitution; and in the propaga- 
tion of their political creed, and a 
general fraternization with neigh- 
bouring states and kingdoms. 
While emissaries were employed 
for this purpose abroad, attacks 
were successively made at home, 
on the prerogatives of the king, the 
privileges of the nobility and the 
clergy, and on all who possessed 
property. The great mass of the 
people, taught to consider them- 
selves as fractions of the sovereign 
will, became impatient of controul, 
and imperious, Disappointed in 
their blindand extravagant expecta- 
tions of some unknown and indefi- 
nite good from the new constitu- 
tion, they became discontented,rest- 
less, unruly, and fit instruments of 
all manner of crimes in the hands 
of designing men, who aimed at 
farther and farther changes in go- 
vernment. While the greatest 
disorders prevailed in France, fo- 
reign armies, advancing to her 
frontiers, threatened the restora- 
tion of monarchy. But the French, 
while all was wild and inhuman 
uproar in their own country, dis- 
played in their conduct to other 
2.ver, 29, 30. 
nations 
