PEIESTLEY 49 



end of the story. The storming of the Bastille was almost 

 as much applauded in London as in Paris, but the burning, 

 the plundering, the executions in the name of justice, by 

 which the politest nation in the world seemed to be de- 

 grading itself by acts which would disgrace a horde of 

 savages, soon alienated most Englishmen. The times were 

 troublous ones, still the city of Paris maintained its round 

 of gaiety undisturbed ; for " Paris is a volcano with two 

 craters, one of passion and one of pleasure." On the still 

 fresh ruins of the grim Bastille, now demolished for ever, 

 Frenchmen danced with glee. It was one way of showing 

 that the ancient regime had for ever disappeared. The 

 Kevolution was accomplished amid song and dance the 

 "Marseillaise" and the " Carmagnole." In this country 

 party passion ran high. Burke published his Reflections 

 on the Revolution in France, in which he denounced in 

 eloquent and impressive language the terrible doings in 

 France. This book called forth many rejoinders, of which 

 Tom Paine's Rights of Man, and Mackintosh's Vindicice 

 Gallicce are the most remarkable. We can see the reason 

 why Burke spoke against Priestley ; his opinions were 

 considered heretical and violent. Priestley had written 

 with great fierceness against the episcopacy and ecclesi- 

 astical governments generally, and regarded all civil 

 establishments of Christianity, and all connections between 

 Church and State, as abuses and barriers to the propaga- 

 tion of truth. Consequently, he and his friends rejoiced 



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