1789. BOOK ferocity. The new system commenced with the XXIII. revival of the former attempt against the university of Louvain. This being resolutely resisted, the rector and professors were expelled by the point of the bayonet, August 1788, and many lives lost by the indiscriminate firing of the soldiery. Similar outrages and excesses taking place at Antwerp, Mechlin, &c. in consequence of the orders issued by the government; and military law, enforced by military execution, being in a manner proclaimed through the provinces; a prodigious emigration of the principal inhabitants immediately succeeded. The emigrants being favored and protected by the Dutch government, now under the influence of England and Prussia, assembled in numerous bodies on the frontier: at length, in the autumn of 1789, they entered Austrian Flanders in great force, and in a very short space of time over-ran the whole country, a few fortresses excepted, the Austrians flying before them with the most disgraceful precipitation. The emperor now once more offered, in the most flattering and conciliatory language, to restore to them their antient constitution, and even to endow them with additional privileges; but his overtures were rejected with scorn. The states of Brabant assembling at Brussels, December the 22d, 1789, in concert with the deputies of the other provinces, for mally disclaimed allegiance to the emperor, and XXIII. 1789. proceeded to the appointment of an administration. BOOK General Vandermersch, distinguished for his patriotism and bravery, was nominated to the command of the troops. M. Vandernoodt was declared prime-minister, and M. Van-Eupen secretary of state. In the month of January, 1790, the plan of a federal constitution was formed by the BEL.GIC States-such was the appellation they now assumed, nearly similar to that of the United Provinces. Unfortunately, however, it soon appeared that the leaders of the revolt, either little understanding or little regarding the essential rights of the people, had merely changed the imperial despotism to an aristocratical tyranny. The Catholic religion was established in its most intolerant form, the power of arbitrary imprisonment was assumed, the liberty of the press disallowed, and the immunities of the privileged orders confirmed and even extended. In the midst of these transactions, and while Death of theemperor the insurgents were at the height of their successes, Joseph II. died, February 1790, the emperor Joseph. He was succeeded in his hereditary dominions by his brother Leopold, grand duke of Tuscany, and who now took upon him the style and title of king of Hungary. This prince, as the sovereign of a small state, had acquired the reputation of moderation, and even sagacity. But in proportion to the elevation of his situation his faults be XXIII. BOOK came more conspicuous, while his excellences either wholly disappeared, or were henceforth very dimly 1789. Alarming commotions in France. seen. Interesting as the transactions now related ap peared in the view of Europe, they nevertheless yielded both in importance and singularity to the events which were at the same time taking place in the kingdom of France. In the west, in the bosom of an antient monarchy, at the foot of a majestic throne, in the midst of an immense and corrupted city, was heard on a sudden the word LIBERTY; and at the cry every noble, and every base passion was enflamed. The appointment of the archbishop of Toulouse, as successor to M. de Calonne, proved the source of equal disappointment to the court and to the nation. On his eleva tion to the post of minister, his patriotism seemed to vanish; and, by losing the confidence of the people, he deprived himself of the power of being serviceable to the monarch. The project of the court to obtain the sanction of the Assembly of Notables to the measures in contemplation had proved wholly abortive; recourse must now again therefore be had to the Parliament of Paris; and on the 12th of June, 1787, an edict was sent to that body for enregistry, imposing a heavy duty on stamps. Instead of a loyal and dutiful compliance, the parliament demanded the communication of such documents as should enable them to judge of the necessity of introducing new taxes. XXIIL 1789. That this was a just claim, they said, the very ex. BOOK pression of verifying the royal edicts implied. The refusal of this demand produced a refusal on their part to enregister the edict; and after violent debates and repeated efforts of the patriotic party in parliament, it was at length voted that a national assembly would be necessary previous to the imposition of a new tax, and a resolution at the same time passed to supplicate the sovereign to assemble the STATES GENERAL of the kingdom. In the remonstrance presented on this occasion by parliament to the throne, the stamp duty is pronounced more dangerous than even the exploded gabelle; and they remark" that after five years of peace, after an augmentation of the revenue during the present reign of five millions sterling, it was scarcely to have been expected that the name of TAX should have been pronounced by a beneficent sovereign, but for the purpose of alleviating the burdens of the people." The answer of the king was peremptory and haughty. Far from conceding to the wishes and prayers of the parliament, he rose still higher in his demands. Reserving to a future day the declaration of his intentions respecting the stamp-tax, he transmitted to them a new edict of far greater importance, for commuting the existing vingtièmes into a regular and equal land-tax, "which, from the zeal and loyalty of his parliament, (his majesty was pleased XXIII. 1789. BOOK to say) he expected them immediately to register." The parliament, assuming more intrepidity as the danger became more imminent, summoned the peers of France on the following day, as was usual in great emergencies, to assist in their deliberations; and it was voted in full assembly, that the parliament persisted in their resolution, and renewed their supplication to the sovereign to assemble the States General of the kingdom. Before the second address could be presented, a royal message was delivered, announcing the intention of the king to hold a bed of justice. The parliament, immediately re-assembling, came to several resolutions expressive of their determined resistance. The bed of justice was nevertheless held and in defiance of the resolutions read by the first president, M. d'Aligre, the edicts were forcibly enregistered. These proceedings, contemptuously described as "the empty form of collecting by the keeper of the seals the opinions of the assembly, where no one could give a vote," were at the subsequent meeting of parliament declared null and void, and expunged from their records. This resolute opposition of the parlia ment produced a wonderful effect on the already highly agitated state of the public mind. Such were the apprehensions entertained by the government of the general spirit which pervaded the mass of the people, that great numbers of the military |