10] 
nations the highest degree of ge- 
nius and courage. <A. striking as- 
semblage was exhibited of virtues 
and crimes; of a general devotion 
to liberty, and an inhuman feroci- 
ty in the pursuit of it; of great- 
ness and meanness of mind; of 
treachery and fidelity ; of the most 
shocking ingratitude and generous 
attachment; of public exertion well 
directed, and private profligacy and 
every species of depravity and ex- 
cess. ‘There is an active fortitude, 
and there is a passive fortitude. 
The latent energy of the French 
character, which had either been 
benumbed or perverted for ages, 
shone forth in instances of the for- 
mer on the frontier, and examples 
of the latter in the interior of the 
kingdom. The weaker sex, on 
manifold occasions displayed a con- 
stancy that shewed how independ- 
ent the sublimest courage is of 
bodily strength. Though a gene- 
ral lethargy had fatlen on the no- 
bility, yet they were not on the 
whole disobedient to the calls of 
honour. In the church, the noblest 
patterns were exhibited of Chris- 
tian submissionand resignation; and 
many obtained the crown of mar- 
tyrdom. But it was in the royal 
family that the most magnanimous 
and affecting constancy and good- 
ness was displayed—a family, which 
in this extremity of fortune, ap- 
peared the first in dignity as in sta- 
tion. 
From the minds, however of 
all those who were the most active 
in the internal. convulsions of 
France, all principle, all faith, all 
natural affection seemed for a time 
to be expelled; and all things were 
involved in distrust, fear, rapine, 
and frenzy. The convention which 
succeeded to the constituent assem- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
bly, was in general such as the 
lowest class of the people brought 
into play by the downward pro- 
gression of power in times of civil 
commotion, by whom it was form- 
ed, directed, or intimidated. Or 
if they attempted to exert an au- 
thority of their own, it was suffici- 
ent only to enforce the commission 
of crimes, not to restrain them. 
The most perfect tyranny was dis- 
guised under the name of revelu- 
tionary ardour. Anarchy, accord- 
ing to the nature of extremes, ran 
into despotism; and in the midst 
of this horrid tumult of contending 
views and passions, the levity and 
impetuosity of the Frenck character 
were still predominant. 
The concurring testimony of all 
the journalsof the times willscarcely 
render it credible to posterity, that 
the very first act of the legislative 
assembly, after swearing to maintain, 
to the utmost of their power, the 
constitution of the kingdom, de- 
creed by the constituent assembly, 
was to seize the small territory of 
Avignon (Oct. 1791) which had 
been ceded to the Pope, and the 
cession repeatedly ratified; and 
the Bishopric of Basle, which secur- 
ed certain defiles that open a pas- 
sage into Switzerland. A chosen 
band of assassins under the com- 
mand of one Jourdan, distinguish- 
ed by the name of Cut-throat, 
which then was far from being 
considered as a term of reproach, 
was dispatched to that beautiful 
spot where the nature of the in- 
habitants was congenial with the 
mild benignity of the climate. 
They began the system of their 
Operations by instituting a club, 
and gaining partizans among the 
people. After massacring the most 
peaceable and respectable inhabi- 
tants, 
