History. 
—\—" ‘be on the 
takes place. 
excesses in 
different 
al Assem- 
~ bly. 
FRANCE. 
The King now ived:that his sole reliance must 
y, since it was absolutely necessary to 
restore order and obedience before he could go on with 
his plans of reformation ; but the army, which had al- 
ways been characterised by their extreme devotion to 
the Monarch, openly declared that they would not fight 
against their fellow-citizens. No alternative theselors 
remained for the King, but concession. Neckar was 
tecalled ; the King himself returned from Versailles to 
Paris ; wridwiid obtiged So oububle to the speech of M. 
Bailly, (who had been chosen ca on delivering 
the keys of the capital, in which he plainly told him; 
that the le that day reconquered their king. 
* Louis already signified his approbation of the 
plan of forming a national militia ; or in other words, 
an armed body, who would obey not him, but the Na- 
tional Assembly; it had been accordingly formed, and 
the Marquis de la Fayette, whom we have already men- 
tioned as having gone to fight in the cause of American 
independence, was i colonel: this appointment, 
Louis deemed it t to sanction. At this period 
the more obnoxious members of the oe re ram as 
well as several of the nobility, determined to leave 
France ; this they were induced to do, not merely from 
Fr wet mrtg dro but because they hoped to 
i foreign powers to support the royal cause. 
these em> ts, the most cele’ were the 
Count D’Artois, the Prince of Condé, and the Marshal 
The King stil pursued his plan of concession and 
conciliation ; corn was t into the capital, in or- 
der to reduce its price there; and corporal punishment 
was abolished in the army. By these measures the 
hap were of Paris was preserved for a short time; 
but the provinces were in a state of complete anarchy ; 
the peasantry rose, and ed the churches and 
seats of the nob with savage fury: the more ob- 
noxious of the nobles were seized and exposed to the 
most barbarous and | ing deaths. 
The return of Neckar was celebrated at Paris with so 
much joy, that it was hoped his influence might restore 
ity and obedience ; but he soon found that cir- 
cumstances were radically and fatally changed during 
his absence ; and his very first attempt to procure a ge- 
neral amnesty was defeated. Fresh commotions arose, 
and were marked by additional excesses and cruelties. 
At St Denis, Caen, and S' , the conduct of the 
populace would have di most barbarous pe- 
riods of the most barbarous nations that ever existed; it 
was no longer the reformation of abuses, even by violent 
means, that they aimed at; but the gratification of the 
most diabolical passions. The revenge too, which they 
took, was, in most instances, iownsll in the extreme; 
and extended even to those who been their best 
friends and 
Geedoct of Had the members of the National Assembly been 
Nation- the enlightened advocates of liberty 
, and the true 
friends 
the 
tical or civil privileges of the people, Sot by om 
joyed by them, till they were restored to a sense of their 
627 
endeavouring to 
the capital and the provinces of France,—instead even 
of enacting laws which were applicable to the state of 
the country, and which’ might ually have condu- 
ced, at once, to restore the privileges and liberties of 
the people, and to repress their licentiousness ;—instead 
of acting in this sensible manner, they spent their 
time in di ing abstract propbsitions, which either 
were unintelligible, or could not possibly have any prac- 
tical application to the existing state of the country, 
Had France been in perfect tranquillity, and every law 
been passed which was essential,to preserve that tran- 
uillity, and to secure the liberty of the subject, such 
Senae ions might have been ‘excused, because they 
would have done little harm, and not have occupied 
time and abilities which had much more urgent de- 
mands upon them; but when the machinery of the 
state was in complete disorder, and at the same time 
working with the most mischievous and fatal rapidity, 
it was absurd and criminal in the highest d 5, to be 
discussing the principles on which it had been, or 
might be, constructed, instead of repairing its defects. 
Yet such was the conduct of the National Assembly. 
The abstract proposition of the rights of man, which, 
besides being abstract, and therefore improper for the 
discussion of the Assembly, was not very intelligible, 
occupied their time and attention at the very period 
when the smallest reflection, the most limited practical 
knowledge of mankind, might have convinced them, 
that the le of France could not be put in posses- 
sion of their rights with advantage to themselves, or 
with safety to the community, while they continued so 
forgetful of their duties, as to give themselves up to an- 
ar B plunder, and murder. 
The other discussions of the National Assembly were 
on subjects more practical, and therefore more fitted to 
their c er and situation; but even these should 
have been ed till they had proved their autho- 
rity over the people, by restoring order and tranquilli- 
ty. The feudal system, in all its branches, was abolish- 4 buses 
ed; the public burdens were equalized ; the most op- reformed. 
pressive taxes were repealed ; the clergy gave up their 
territorial rights ; and a resolution was passed to in« 
uire into the pensions granted hy the court. As the 
King did not oppose these pr: ings, he became po- 
pular for a short time, and was honoured with the ap- 
pellation of the Restorer of the Liberties of France. In- 
deed, it was now evident, that if he did not yield to the 
storm, he would be overwhelmed by it, for he had no 
supporters ; even the Swiss and French guards had 
deserted him, 
Could observation and experience have taught the 
National Assembly the folly of their conduct, in not be- 
ginning by ear p 4 the insurrectionary spirit of the 
people, they would have learnt wisdom by the events 
of éach passing day. In Paris corn was still dear ; and 
the le, let loose from all restraint, were still more 
quia a on to no eee bre a In 
the provinces, the , taking advan of the 
abolition of the fedal rights, plingel into the most 
dreadful excesses ; the nobility were murdered ; justice 
was set at nought ; and even the harvest, the means of 
their own fature support, suffered ftom their blind and 
ee fury. 
the revenue of the country was inadequate yer Financial 
the tumults which disgraced _ History. 
