BOOK and placed him in the foremost rank of favorites and courtiers. XXIV. 1790. This extraordinary production gave rise to Reflections numberless replies, of which by far the most me by Thomas morable was that written by Thomas Paine, the answered Paine. author of the famous pamphlet styled CoмMON SENSE, which, by its almost magical effect on the minds of the people of America, at a most important crisis, paved the way for the declaration of independency. His present work, RIGHTS OF MAN, was written with no less power of intellect and force of language, and made a correspondent, perhaps an indelible impression upon the public mind. Not content with pointing out and exposing with the most sarcastic severity the absur, dities and misrepresentations of Mr. Burke—not content with painting in just and striking colors the abuses and corruptions of the existing government-he with daring and unhallowed hand attacked the principles of the constitution itself, describing it in terms the most indecent, as radically vicious and tyrannical; and reprobating the introduction of aristocracy or monarchy, under whatever modifications, into any form of government, as a flagrant usurpation and invasion of the unalienable rights of man. A few detached quotations from this famous. publication may serve as specimens, to gratify curiosity, of the wonder-working power with XXIV. 1790. which it cannot be denied to have been written. BOOK "The countries of the Old World have been long harassed by the quarrels and intrigues of their governments. Age after age has rolled away for no other purpose than to behold their wretchedness. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretences for revenue and taxation;-it watches prosperity as its prey. All monarchical governments are military-War is their trade, and plunder their object-Wearied with human butchery, they sit down to rest, and call it peace. If we would delineate human nature with a baseness of heart and hypocrisy of countenance that reflection would shudder at and humanity disown, it is kings, courts, and cabinets, that must sit for the portrait. War is the pharo table of governments, and nations the dupes of the game. Government on the old system is an assumption of power for the aggrandizement of itself on the new, a delegation of power for the common benefit of society. Monarchy is the master-fraud which shelters all others. By admitting a participation of the spoil, it makes itself friends; and when it ceases to do this, it will cease to be the idol of courtiers. There is a morning of reason rising upon man on the subject of government, that has not appeared before. The trade of courts is beginning to be understood; and the affectation of mystery, with all the artificial sorcery BOOK by which they imposed upon mankind, is on the XXIV. 1790. Wonderful effects of decline. It has received its death-wound; and though it may linger, it will expire. No question has arisen within the records of History, that presses with the importance of the present. It is not whether this or that party shall be in or out; or Whig or Tory, or High or Low Church, shall prevail; but whether man shall inherit his rights, and universal civilization shall take place.—When it shall be said in any country in the world, My poor are happy, neither ignorance nor distress is to be found amongst them-my gaols are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars-the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive-the rational world is my friend, because I am the friend of its happiness' when these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and go. vernment. When we survey (says this temerarious writer) the wretched condition of man under the monarchical and hereditary systems of government, dragged from his home by one power, or driven by another, and impoverished by taxes more than by enemies, it becomes evident that those systems are bad, and that a GENERAL REVOLUTION in the principle and construction of governments is necessary." This pamphlet unfortunately appearing at a Paine's time when a large proportion of the community, and those the most zealously attached to liberty, pamphlet. XXIV. 1790. were, from causes already specified, in a state of BOOK great irritation and discontent; and the book, notwithstanding its absurd and mischievous political positions, being written in a style and manner which "came home to men's business and bosoms," innumerable converts were made to its general system, and infinite pains were taken to circulate it amongst the body of the people. Political institutions were also instituted in every part of the kingdom, professing to have in view the reform of the constitution, but which with too much reason were suspected really to aim at its subversion. Such were the lamentable consequences resulting from the rashness and folly of Mr. Burke-whose boasted panacea operated upon the body-politic as a most deadly poison; and which served to prove that learning, parts, and eloquence, may subsist in the highest perfection, without being accompanied with a single particle of wisdom.* * Long before the appearance of Mr. Burke's publication, the sentiments of the monarch were well known to be hostile in the highest degree to the French revolution. In the secret repository of the unfortunate Louis was found a letter from M. de Calonne to the French king, dated April 1790, in which the writer warns his sovereign not to suffer himself to be deceived as to the real views and inclinations of the king of Great Britain. In order to satisfy the doubts of the king of France up, n this subject, he states that he had applied personally to Mr. Pitt, leaving in the hands of the minister, and by his desire, a note, which BOOK 1790. New par liament 66 That the stupendous effect produced by the Rights of Man" was entirely owing to that state of irritation and resentment which the wretched policy of the administration had recently excited, is apparent from the consideration that the same anti-monarchical principles were fourteen or fifteen years before inculcated with equal force and virulence in the pamphlet styled "Common Sense," without making in this country any visible impression; while in America, where the public mind was in a proper state to receive these doctrines, it operated as a sort of intellectual gunpowder, causing an instantaneous explosion, which laid the whole fabric of monarchy in ruins. The new parliament assembled on the 25th of assembled. November (1790). In his opening speech the was afterwards put into the hands of the king of Great Britain. "J'étois bien sûr (says M. de Calonne) que sa majesté Britannique, qui plus d'une fois m'avoit témoigné le vif intérêt qu'elle prenoit à la position de votre majesté, s'empresseroit de détruire les doutes qu'on veut vous inspirer sur ses dispositions. Mon attente n'a pas été trompée. George III. a chargé M. Pitt non seulement de réitérer de sa part les assurances déjà données à ceux qui semblent ne les avoir pas transmises fort exactement, mais même de m'écrire à ce sujet une lettre conçue dans des termes les plus précis, et dont je puisse faire usage pour détromper votre majesté. J'ai l'honneur de vous envoyer, sire, une copie certifiée de cette lettre de M. Pitt. Votre majesté verra ce qu'elle doit attendre d'un monarque pénétré de cette vérité que votre cause est la cause de tous les souverains, et qui est profondément indigné des traitemens qu'on vous a fait."-Memoires de Moleville. |