Paris 1 49 



night the fire-works^ and illuminations, and mob, and noise, at the 

 Palais Royal increased; the expense must be enormous; and 

 yet nobody knows with certainty from whence it arises : shops 

 there are, however, that for 12 sous give as many squibs and 

 serpents as would cost 5 livres. There is no doubt of its being 

 the Due d'Orleans's money: the people are thus kept in a con- 

 tinual ferment, are for ever assembled, and ready to be in the 

 last degree of commotion whenever called on by the men they 

 have confidence in. Lately a company of Swiss would have 

 crushed all this; a regiment would do it now if led with firmness; 

 but, let it last a fortnight longer, and an army will be wanting. — 

 At the play. Mademoiselle Conta, in the Misanthrope of Moli^re, 

 charmed me. She is truly a great actress; ease, grace, person, 

 beauty, wit, and soul. Mola did the misanthrope admirably. 

 I will not take leave of the theatre Francois without once more 

 giving it the preference to all I have ever seen. I shall leave 

 Paris, however, truly rejoiced that the representatives of the 

 people have it undoubtedly in their power so to improve the 

 constitution of their country as to render all great abuses in 

 future, if not impossible, at least exceedingly difficult, and con- 

 sequently will establish to all useful purposes an undoubted 

 political liberty; and if they effect this, it cannot be doubted 

 but that they will have a thousand opportunities to secure to 

 their fellow-subjects the invaluable blessing of civil liberty also. 

 The state of the finances is such that the government may easily 

 be kept virtually dependent on the states, and their periodical 



1 existence absolutely secured. Such benefits will confer happiness 

 on 25,000,000 of people; a noble and animating idea, that ought 

 to fill the mind of every citizen of the world, whatever be his 

 country, religion, or pursuit. I will not allow myself to believe 

 for a moment, that the representatives of the people can ever 

 so far forget their duty to the French nation, to hum^anity, and 

 their own fame, as to suffer any inordinate and impracticable 

 views, — any visionary or theoretic systems, — any frivolous ideas 

 of speculative perfection : much less any ambitious private views, 

 to impede their progress, or turn aside their exertions, from that 

 security which is in their hands, to place on the chance and 

 hazard of public commotion and civil war the invaluable bless- 

 ings which are certainly in their power. I will not conceive it 

 possible, that men who have eternal fame within their grasp, 

 will place the rich inheritance on the cast of a die, and, losing 

 the venture, be damned among the worst and most profligate 

 adventurers that ever disgraced humanity. — The Due de Lian- 



