1804.] > 
revolution. But why is the virtuous and 
refpectable body of its clergy, with which 
he has .ever fince been in direct oppofiz 
tion, to be branded with the infamy of 
an apoftate member, and who had even 
long fince ceafed to be fo at all? Tally- 
vand has uniformly facrificed his princi- 
ples, if ever he had any, to his intereft, 
that he fhould perfift in fo doing, it is but 
reafonable to expect: the great body of 
the French elergy have as uniformly 
facrificed their intereft to their principles ; 
that they fhould continue fo to do, it is 
likewife as fair to expect. What have 
they then in common; and how uncandid 
is it to aflert, upon mere furmife, that at 
this juncture they are vying with each 
other in giving the only proof of ingra- 
titude towards this country that is in 
their power ? 
Of what is paffing in France, it is not 
eafy, even for thofe who ‘have correfpon- 
dents there, to obtain any very exact in- 
telligence. I will however venture to 
affert,, that I have better grounds for con- 
tradiéting fuch a pofition, than Oedipus 
can have for affirming it. That the 
conftitutional clergy, who never faw 
England, may be echoing the prayers 
for, and prayers of, the Chief Conful, is 
yery probable; they are particularly fa- 
voured by him, .and owe this country no 
‘more gratitude than he does. It is, how- 
ever, very unfortunate for thofe I mean 
to defend, that the artful manner, in which’ ~ 
Bonaparte has confounded them togetber, 
fhould involve them all in the fame dif. 
grace; for many donot know, and many 
affecét not to. know, that there is any 
difference between them. 
Permit me, Sir, for the information of 
the candid. among your readers, to affert 
that there is a very effential one; all the 
difference between time ferving men, and 
thofe of inflexible integrity. Of thole 
who were protecied in this country; 
fome, jultly doubting the arch-hypocrite’s 
yiews, {till remain “here; fome are ftill 
perfecuted by him at home; many are 
unemployed, fome from choice, fome 
_.from neceffity ; and of thofe who are em- 
ployed, moft, if not all, unpaid. Oedipus 
{peaks of the manner in which they left 
their country, when after three years of 
the moft virulent perfecurion that ever 
difgraced humanity, they were, for their 
wnfhaken fidelity to theiy principles, at 
dength driven from it, as if they had 
been criminals fleeing from its juftice! 
‘ 
Defence of the Emigrant Clergy. 
old. 
23 
This is wilful mifreprefentation. On 
their condué&t while they. remained in this 
country, a ten years exile! calumny 
itfelf has not been able to faften any 
imputation; it was. uniformly regular 
and exemplary, and’ fuch as juftified to 
the fullelt extent the protection afforded 
them: that they fhould all at once have 
abandoned their printiples, and become 
the vipers your correfpondent fo lightly 
and fo infidioufly flyles them, it requires 
better authority to proves for it is the 
property of virtue, 1 mean that folid kind 
of virtue which has religion for its bafis, . 
to be confiftent.  —- . 
Obferving in your laft the name o 
La Reveillere L’Epaux, reminds me of 
him, that when a private individual at 
Angiers, where he refided, he was confi- 
dered asa peaceable man, of gentle and 
pleafant manners, and in: general well- 
beloved. The revolution arrived, and 
whirled him, with other rubbith, to the 
dignity of one of its directors. In this 
elevation he grew giddy, as might be 
expected, and became the founder of a 
new feét, which he called Les Philoax- 
thropes,. and the French, according to 
their ufual cuftom of jelting upen every 
thing, Les Filous en troupes, or The 
pick-pockets in a troop..’ As the: prophet 
er apolile, or what you pleafe, of this 
new religion, he thought it peculiarly 
incumbent on him, his heart partaking 
the diforder of his head, to periecute the 
Some particular inftruétions on this 
fubjeét, publicly. addreft :o all the de- 
partments, bearing the name of the Exe. 
cutive Directory, but of which L’Epaux 
has the chief honour, prove his talents 
for the office, and how much philcfe- 
phers, who have been inveighing fo long 
againft intolerance, can improve wpon the 
practice, have thefe remarkable expref- 
fons; {peaking of what he calls the 
Fanaticks, he fays, ‘ Defolez leur pati- 
ence, enveloppez les de votre Surveil- 
lance; quelle les inquiet le jour; qu'elle 
les trouble le nuit; ne leurs donnez pas 
un moment de relache; que fans vous 
veir ils vous fentent partout a chaque 
inftant!’? Thofe, inftruéticns are dated. 
in the month of Frimaire in the 4th yéar 
of the Indivifible Republic. I do not at, 
tempt a tranflation, being difiident of my | 
abilities, to do juice to the energy of 
philofophical intolerance. 
; Your's, &c. 
; THE 
