HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
lent party, which had been guilty of 
-$O Many crimes, but of that which 
Was equally inimical to the op- 
pression of many, and to the go. 
yernment of one. Those were equally 
averse to the rigid republicanism of 
the terrorists and to the restoration 
of monarchy ; both which they 
were determined to oppose. To 
such then he appointment of one 
person, to preside over the affairs of 
‘the nation, would have borne such 
An appearance of monarchy, that it 
would not have been safe to make 
the attempt. Their prejudices 
against royalty would not have per- 
mitted them to distinguish between 
a responsible magistrate and a pos- 
‘sessor of absolute power. It was 
necessary, therefore, to consult the 
disposition of the times, especially 
of the metropolis. This abounded 
with those who would have re. 
» [99 
volted at the idea of a supreme go. 
vernor, which would have recalled 
to their remembrance no less the 
tyranny of Roberspierre, than the 
authority exercised by the king, 
previously to the revolution. As 
they held both in abhorrence, the 
former probably more than the lat- 
ter, the very image or resemblance 
was carefully to be avoided. It 
was a common saying among the 
populace, that if they must have a 
king, a Bourbon was at least as 
good as any other. While senti- 
ments of this kind prevailed among 
the greater number, and among the 
people of Paris more than any 
others, it was prudent, in those who 
were to plan the new constitution, 
to admit of nothing in it that 
might furnish a pretext to the jaco- 
bins, for accusing them of inclining 
to royalism, 
[Hz] CH A:?, 
