HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
convention disapproved of this 
measure, and determined to ef- 
feét a total revolution in Geneva; 
solicited, as they observed, by a 
plurality of the inhabitants, who 
complained that the title of citi- 
zen was restricted to those only 
who composed the general assem- 
bly, but ought to be extended 
to every inhabitant without 
exception. The ruling _party 
resolved instantly, for the sake of 
peace, to admit of these preten- 
sions: but that portion of the ci- 
tizens, who were styled natives, 
without waiting for the formal 
sanétion of the general assembly, 
hastily took up arms, and insisted, 
that, for the security of their 
claims, all posts and places should 
be resigned to persons of their 
Own party. ‘Their strength and 
resolution prevailed, and they ob- 
tained all their requests. A con- 
vention eleéted by universal suf- 
frage, assembled and took the su- 
preme power into their hands. 
They new modelled the whole 
government; and, among other al- 
terations, introduced the trial by 
jury. They met with opponents 
and censurers, in those whom they 
had ousted. But they paid the 
strictest regard to property, and 
acted altogether in so equitable 
and popular a manner, that, ina 
general assembly of the people, 
held for the purpose of accept. 
ing or rejecting the new consti- 
tution, it was confirmed by four 
thousand against only two hun- 
dred. The satisfaGtion of the ge- 
nerality was, however, disturbed, 
shortly after, by the machinations 
of an individual, who declaimed 
against the constituted government, 
az inclined to favour the rich 
4M opposition to the poorer classes,. 
“ 
[141 
in the assessment of taxes that 
was then projecting. Through his 
suggestions, a desperate mob arose, 
and took possession, by surprize, 
of the arms of those whom they 
looked upon as enemies to their 
designs, and of whom they im- 
prisoned such as they conceived 
the most dangerous. Suspending 
the constitutional government, they 
assumed the legislative and the 
executive power, under the deno. 
mination of arevolutionary tribunal, 
of which, Bousquet, the leader of 
this insurrection, was declared pre- 
sident. But their condu@ was 
-marked by too much lenity, in 
the opinion of multitudes of their 
adherents, who insisted on the 
immediate massacre of all the pri- 
soners, amounting to near six hun. 
dred. They were compelled, in 
order to appease this multitude, 
to pass sentence of death upon 
seven out of eight individuals 
brought before them, two of whom 
only they had at first condemned. 
An appeal was made, to the body 
of the people in favour of the 
other five, and the sentence was, 
in consequence, reversed in be- 
half of three of them: but the 
violent ‘party still persisted on the 
execution of the seven, and t 
tribunal did not dare to disobey. 
This merciless party proceeded 
to a variety of other oppressive 
and cruel aéts. No man was 
spared, either in person or pro. 
perty, against whom they con- 
ceived suspicions. In the course of 
fourteen days, upwards of five 
hundred individuals underwent a 
trial before the revolutionary tri- 
bunal; out of these, thirty-seven 
were condemned to die, but only 
eleven were executed; the others 
not appearing to their Nee 
f) 
