276 
people will not spend their time in 
vefuting the calumnies spread against 
them in foreign countries, nor in 
apologizing for that anarchy with 
which, for four years, the nation 
has been reproached. But is it cre- 
dible that 25,000,000 of people can 
have lived four years in anarchy ? 
that a million of men can take arms, 
fly to the frontiers, and fight in 
support of anarchy? Where is the 
people whose governors are in bet- 
ter understanding with the govern- 
ed, whose government is more vigo- 
rously administered than in this na- 
tion, the pretended seat of anarchy ? 
Let the representatives of that 
nation here call upon the ambassa- 
dors of foreign powers. Has not 
that people, said to be in anarchy, 
in the very height of its insurrec- 
tions and conflicts, when no power 
could withstand its omnipotent will, 
constantly respected the inviolable 
habitaticns and privileges of foreign 
ambassadors ? 
Let those who speak of anarchy 
visit our camps, where, in spite of 
the immense numbers, reign order 
-and discipline, indefatigable and un- 
conquerable courage !—A people in 
anarchy is a people of egctists! the 
individuals hide themselves, and 
do not fly to battle—the discipline 
required for combat will not be 
submitted to by a people in anar- 
chy.—But if foreign nations mean 
to be convinced of the love of order 
now existing in France, iet them 
attend to an instance of it that is 
new to the world, an instance that 
miust convince the most reluctant, 
and that is, the bold, the solemn 
probation to which France at this 
moment submits herself; while a 
most formidable coalition is threat- 
ening her with numerous armies 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1792. 
trained to war, well-disciplined, al- 
ready at her gates in her very terri- 
tories. At such a crisis, France 
sees her King suspended, a new 
ministry formed, the people invited 
to rise, primary assemblies convok- 
ed, the present legislature supersed- 
ed by a National Convention, em- 
powered to express the supreme will 
of the people to judge the constitu- 
tion and the King.—Does the his- 
tory of any people offer an example 
of so sublime, so bold a measure ? 
And, did not a steady love of order 
pervade the realm, would not the 
mere mention of such a measure 
have long ago set every thing in up- 
roar? whereas at present it unites 
the citizens more closely together, 
stifles all dissentions, and melts dowa 
all parties into one; for there is but 
one parly remaining at this day, ever 
since the retreat of that chief, whose 
family is the only pretending one in 
France. What kingdom in Europe 
would not have been torn by dissen- 
tions and disorders, had the smallest 
of the above-mentioned operations 
been attempted therein ? 
A nation so united as to undergo 
without danger such a probation, is 
as formidable to her adversaries as 
she will be to all foreigners, and 
constant in her attachments; for 
all her virtues are linked together. 
She will therefore more calmly wait 
till more sound reflections bring 
back to her tne neutral powers who 
have taken the alarm at the last re- 
volution. Trusting in the rectitude 
of her intentions, the justice of her 
cause, the power of her arms, the 
bravery of her citizens, and espe- 
cially their unshaken resolution te 
live free or perish, she will continue 
to live in good understanding with 
the neutral powers, and to cultivate 
the 
