392 INTRODUCTION. 



century a struggle in which civil liberty and religious 

 freedom and tolerance won their most substantial victory. 

 The great rebellion against feudal and mental oppression 

 in France which broke forth publicly in 1789, and resulted 

 in the overthrow of the French throne, is among these 

 memorable transitions, and is deeply interesting to the 

 present generation, being nearest to our own time, more 

 in harmony with the present condition of our people, be- 

 sides being most extraordinary in character, and far reach- 

 ing in its consequences. No period in history is more 

 fertile in attractions than that of the French nation from 

 the out-break of the revolution in 1789, to the downfall of 

 Napoleon III in 1871; certainly none presents more scenes 

 of thrilling interest, more subtle problems of character, 

 more intricate intrigues, more truths of political philoso- 

 phy, or more lessons of profound wisdom. No period is 

 richer in materials for the contemplation of the statesman, 

 the moralist or the Christian; none presents more warnings 

 against profligacy in high places and an utter disregard of 

 the rights, liberties and condition of the masses. The 

 fall of the empires of the ancient world, exhibiting scenes 

 of extensive suffering in their progress, and melancholy 

 calamity in their consummation, bore a somewhat different 

 character. The foreign sword helped to strike the diadem 

 from the brows of tyrannical rulers already sinking under 

 the weight of sovereignty, and the remains of empires 

 mouldered away by the course of nature. 



But the French monarchy was unassailed by any 

 external violence. In the midst of what seemed to the 

 eyes of Europe the full vigor of life, it perished in rapid 

 agonies, for which the public experience had no remedy, 

 and human annals scarcely a name. Like a body whose 

 flesh and blood would turn into fire, it consumed with 

 internal combustion, and at length, after an inter 

 indescribable torture, without a parallel in the hisU/. 



