354 4 Dialogue in Empyreum, between Louis XVI. and Charles 1 
dering their converfion probable, before 
the growth of a new chieftain, an inftan- 
taneous geferal tranquillity, and the ul- 
timate attachment of the nation to an 
equitable republicanifm was likely to en- 
fue from— 7% 
L. From murder? 
C. They felt, indeed, that, every illegal 
recedent facilitating a future breach of 
Pow; the oppreffion of a boor is a crime 
of infinite magnitude; becaufe liable to 
be repeated upon millions of the human 
race—that the arbitrary ufage of an ele- 
vated’ man is a heavy evil; becaufe it 
encourages againft thoufands the like 
wrong—and that the injury, even of a 
folitary clafs in fociety, befide being un- 
generous, is highly dangerous. But 
they thought, that by encompailing this 
crime with formalities, which would for 
ever necefktate the concurrence of many 
men reputable among the people, and re- 
fponfible to. potterity, they had deterred 
its repetition without mighty motives of 
national expediency. 
I. Such reafonings would apply in my 
cafe. + 
--<€, Would they ? 
L. And therefore muft be nugatory 
"and flagitious. * 
/ ©, Certainly my Exglith judges ‘did 
not forefee that the hereditary fuperitition, 
‘which,-during my life, was-an offspring 
of the ignorance of my fubjects, was by 
my-death to-become the-dotage of their 
paffions;* and therefore incurable—that 
the example was to fhake for ever tha 
confidence between fubjects and fove- 
reisns, Which°difpofes both parties to 
bring their? complaints before the pure 
tribunal of nniverfal reafon, and to arbi- 
trate by a gentler {way than that of force, 
“by the healing voice of deliberate public 
opinion, their’ reciprocal public griev- 
ances—that it was to embojden the 
French ‘nation firft, and in confequence 
of their fuccefs— 
L. O, they cannot fucceed againft the 
detefation of Europe. 
Ce Not unlefs that deteftation fhould 
appeal to force, and choofe an umpire 
whofe decifions are unconnected with 
right reafon. 
L. Heaven will avenge their breach of 
every duty. 
C: By infuring to all their conduét its 
natural reward. © 
L. Yet injuftice, you were infinuating 
may be policy. : 
G. The abligation’ to juftice, in all 
ezfes, undoubtedly depends upon its 
utilisy—and France is feverely feeling the 
horrid havoc of immoral legiflation. 
That unconfeientious temper, which could 
pardon to the demolifhers of the Baftille 
the exercife of fummary vengeance, firft 
weakened the perfonal fecurity of all thofe 
whofe functions or whofe condu& might 
become obnoxious to the fpirit of the 
times. Men content to derive advantage 
from the decent imprifonment of they 
king after the 6th of October, have little 
to charge upon thofe who fent a mob te ‘ 
the Louvre on the 2oth June. Propri- 
etors, who could deprive the clergy of 
France, in their life-time, of an income 
acquired and enjoyed under ancient fta- 
tutes, ought at leaft to tolerate the pro- 
pofal of other agrarian laws. The fup- 
preffion of feudal rights, without a full 
indemnity, is no lefs inequitable than 
the offer of a compofition upon national 
debts. Yet, where is the French patriot 
of integrity fo fevere as to have concurred 
in none of thefe wrongs? 
L. Did Roland? 
C. There are too few fuch. Can we 
treat one man’s life with levity, and ex- 
pect another’s to be refpected? View one 
torm of property with an indifference, 
and look tor another to be held facred ? 
But this rigid juftice once difpenfed with, 
each particular infringement muft be efti- 
mated by its own peculiar expediency, 
L. Judged of then by its fuccefs? 
C. Not if that fuccels becomes itfelf a 
misfortune to the human race. “The fuc- 
cefs of Harmodius encouraged Brutus to 
tyrannicide ; but- we now condemn them 
both with Sindercome and Ankarfircem. 
L. Would you have had Brutus affem- 
ble a convention of the Roman fenators, 
to decree Caeiar’s death? : 
C. The: tyrant would have been 
nifhed by an ex poff fadio law. 
L. There fhould too, be fome remedy 
for ufurpation. 
C. Surely no grievance of general 
concern can ever need an individual vic- 
tim. . The obnoxious power of any one 
man muft depend upon a force attached 
to him by pay, or by opinion. Are his 
refources perfonal property? it has a right 
to its natural operatton—Public property? 
it may be withheld. Does he conciliate 
opinion by perfonal qualities? they have 
aright to their natural operation—By a 
prejudice of fanétity or birth? remove 
the fuperftition, or -you effe& no cure. 
In every facrifice of individual property 
or life, to public pretexts, it has ever been 
ignorance that cuts-the knot, which fkill 
might have untied. 
L. Impatience rathier. 
C. Perhaps fo. The juft are feldom 
; numer- 
pu- 
