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Rebel left two children: Francis, who died in 1775, ^'"^ 

 Anne, the wife of the celebrated Lalande, mailer of the 

 king's baud. 



Rei!EL, FRAN901S, knight of St. Michael, nuiller, like 

 liis father, of the king's band, and director of liie opera, 

 bom 1702, and died in 1775. He was the fon of Jean- 

 Fen-y Rebel, director of the orchcllra at the opera, and one 

 of the twenty-four violins of the king's band. His foil had 

 obtained the reverfion, in 17 17, of chamber mufician to the 

 king, and in 1703, that of compofer ; having given proofs 

 of his abilities t)y many different works, but, above all, by 

 his " Pyramus and Thifbe," compofed in partnerfhip with 

 Francceur. 



He was fucceflively appointed to all the mufical polls of 

 honour anck profit under the royal patronage and that ot the 

 public. The clofe and uninterrupted friendlhip between this 

 mufician and Francceur, docs honour to tlic memory of 

 both ; having compofed jointly, for 50 years, fuccelsful 

 pieces, without difcovcring to which of them the greatefl 

 honour was due. Laborde. See Fkan'CCEUR. 



REBELLION originally fignilied a fecond refiftancc 

 or rifirig of fuch as had been formerly overcome in battle by 

 the Romans, and had yielded themfelves to their fubjec- 

 tion. 



It is now generally ufed for a traitcrous taking up of arms 

 againlt the king, either by his own natural fubjctfs, or by 

 thofe formerly fnbdued ; whether their view be to deprive 

 him of the fupreme authority, or whether they intend to 

 refill his commands in fome particular affairs, in order to im- 

 pofe conditions on him. Popular commotion is a concourfe 

 of people, tumultuoufiy alfembled, and refilling the voice 

 of their fuperiors, whether their defigns be againll thofe fu- 

 periors themfelves, or only fome private perfons. Such vio- 

 lent commotions are common when the people think them- 

 felves .iggrieved, and are occafioned by no order of men fo 

 frequently as the tax-gatherers, ( See the next article. ) If 

 the rage of the malcontents be particularly levelled at the 

 magiftrates, or others vefled with the public authority, and 

 they proceed to a formal difobcdience or violent proceedings, 

 it is called a " fedition." When the evil fpreads, infefting 

 great numbers in the city or provinces, and fubfifts in fuch 

 a manner, that the fovereign is no longer obeyed, fuch a dif- 

 order cutlom has more efpecially diitinguiflied by the name 

 of " infurreftion." All thefe violences diflurb the public 

 order, and are crimes of ftate, even when arifing from jufl 

 caufes of complaint. For violent' meafures are interdifted in 

 civil fociety ; the injured party fhould have recourle to the ma- 

 giilrates, to whom they may apply for redrefs ; and if juflice 

 be not obtained from them, their complaints may then be laid 

 at the foot of the throne. Every citizen fhould even patiently 

 fuffer fupportable evils, rather than diflurb the public peace. 

 Nothing lefs than a denial of juilice from the fovereign, or af- 

 fefted delays, can excufe the furious commotions of a provoked 

 people ; they in fome meafure juftify themfelves, if tlie evils 

 be intolerable, and the opprefiions great and manifeft. But, 

 it may be aflced, what conduft fliall the fovereign obferve 

 towards the infurgents ? The reply in general is, that which 

 fhall at the fame time be moft confonant to juflice, and mofl 

 falutary to the flate. If he is to reprefs thofe who unnecefla- 

 tily diflurb the public peace ; he is, by the fame reafoning, 

 to fhew clemency towards unfortunate perfons, to whom 

 juft caufe of com.plaint has been given, and who are guilty 

 only in having undertaken to do themfelves juflice ; fo that 

 they have been wanting in patience rather than fidelity. The 

 fovereign fltould confider that his rights are derived fr6m 

 thofe of civil fociety, from the truft repofed in him, from 

 the obligation devolved upon him of watching over the 



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welfare of the nation, of procuring its greatefl happinefs, 

 and of maintaining in it order, juflice, and peace. He will 

 .^lfo duly dillinguifli the nature and degree of the different 

 diforders which may diilurb the flate, oblige him to take 

 arms, or fubflitute the means of force inilead of thofe of 

 authority. By confiderations of this kind he will regulate 

 his behaviour towards revolted fubjedts. It cannot be quef- 

 tioned, that fubjeds rifing againfl their prince without caufe 

 deferve fevere punifhments ; yet in tliis cafe the number of 

 delinquents calls for the fovereign's clemency ; fhall he de- 

 populate a city, or defolate a province, in punidiing their 

 rebellion ? Such a challifement, however jufl in itfelf, be- 

 comes a cruelty when extended to fo great a number of per- 

 fons. Had the infurreiStioii of the Netherlands againft Spain 

 been totally unwarrantable, every man of virtue would Hill 

 execrate the memory of the duke of Alva, who made it his 

 boaft that he had caufed above 20,000 heads to be flruck off 

 by the hands of the common executioner. Let not his faii- 

 guinary imitators (fays the excellent Vattel) expeft to juf- 

 tify their enormities by neceflity. Who was ever more uii- 

 defcrvedly infulted by his fubjecls than Henry the Great of 

 France ? His conquefls were ever accompanied by an uni- 

 form clemency, and at length that excellent prince obtained 

 the fuccefs he deferved : he thereby gained over faithful fub- 

 jefts ; whereas the duke of Alva lofl his mafter the United 

 Provinces. Tyrants alone will treat, as feditious, thofe 

 brave and refolute citizens, who exhort the people to pre- 

 ferve themfelves from opprelTion in the vindication of their 

 riglits and privileges ; a good prince will commend fuch vir- 

 tuous patriots, provided their zeal be tempered with mode- 

 ration and prudence. If he has juflice and his duty at heart ; 

 if he afpires to that immortal and unfullied glory of being 

 the father of his people ; let him miflrufl the felfifh fuggef- 

 tions of a miiiifter, who reprefents to him as rebels all thofe 

 citizens who do not hold out their hands to chains, who re- 

 fufe tamely to fuffer the flrokes of arbitrary power. 



The fafeft, and the moft jufl way thoroughly to aopeafe 

 fedition, is to give the people fatisfaition ; and if the infurrec- 

 tion has been without caufe, which perhaps has never been 

 the cafe, Hill an amnefty is to be granted where the offenders 

 are numerous. When this amnefly is once publifhed and ac- 

 cepted, whatever has paft mufl be buried in oblivion. A 

 prince who makes any confcience of his word, is faithfully 

 to keep what he has promifed to rebels themfelves ; i. e. to 

 thofe fubjefts who have revolted without reafon or neceflity. 

 If his promifes are not inviolable, what fecurity have the 

 rebels in treating with him i When they have once drawn 

 the fword, they have nothing to do but, as one of the an- 

 cients expr'&ffesit, to tlirow away the fcabbard. The prince 

 will then want the mild and falutary means of appeafing a 

 revolt : to exterminate the rebels will be the only expedient 

 remaining. Thefe will become formidable through defpair ; 

 companion will bellow fuccours on them ; their party will 

 increafe, and the flate will be in danger. Vattel's Law of 

 Nations, b. iii. See Civil War. 



Rebel is fometimes alfo ufed, in our ancient ftatutes, for a 

 perfon who wilfully breaks a law ; and lometimes for a vil- 

 lain difobeying his lord. 



Rebellion, Commijfwn of. See Commission. 



REBELLIOUS Assembly, a gathering of twelve 

 ^perfons, or more, intending, going about, or praftifing, 

 unlawfully, and of their own authority, to change any laws 

 of the realm, or to deftroy the inclofure of any park or 

 ground inclofed, banks of fifh-ponds, pools, conduits, &c. 

 to the intent the fame fhall remain void, or that they fhall 

 have way in any of the faid grounds ; or to deflroy the deer 

 in any park, fifh in ponds, coneys in any waiTen, dove- 



houfes. 



