XXIV. 1791. dom. The principle of this new code was, that BOOK all men were by nature free and equal in respect of their rights. If this code therefore were admitted, the power of the house could extend no farther than to call together the inhabitants of Canada to choose a constitution for themselves. The practical effects of this system might be seen in St. Domingo and the other French islands. They were flourishing and happy till they heard of the Rights of Man. As soon as this system arrived among them, Pandora's box, replete with every mortal evil, seemed to fly open, hell itself to yawn, and every dæmon of mischief to overspread the face of the country."-Mr. Burke continuing to launch out into the most violent invectives against the constitution and government of France, he was repeatedly and loudly called to order, and at length compelled to sit down. Mr. Fox, when the tumult had subsided, with firmness defended his former sentiments relative to the French revolution; and repeated" that he thought it upon the whole one of the most glori ous events in the history of mankind. In this assertion, however, he spoke of the revolution, not of the constitution, which still remained to be improved by experience, and accommodated to cirThe Rights of Man, which his right honorable friend had ridiculed as visionary, were the basis of the British constitution. Our statute cumstances. XXIV. 1791. BOOK book recognized the original inherent rights of the people as men, which no prescription could supersede, no accident remove or obliterate.' These had once been the principles of his right honorable friend, from whom he had learned them. His right honorable friend had said with equal energy and emphasis that he knew not how to draw a bill of indictment against a whole people.' Having been taught by him that no revolt of a nation was caused without provocation, he could not help rejoicing at the success of a revolution resting upon the same basis with our own-the immutable and unalienable Rights of Man." Mr. Burke rose again, and in vehement terms insisted "that he was perfectly in order; and that the discussion of the Quebec bill was a proper opportunity to put the country on its guard against those dangerous doctrines which prevailed in France, and which had found so many advocates here. He observed, that he had differed on many occasions from Mr. Fox, but there had been no loss of friendship between them. But there was something in the ACCURSED French constitution that envenomed every thing." Mr. Fox, on hearing this, interrupted him, say. ing, "there was no loss of friendship." Mr. Burke replied, "THERE WAS-he knew the price of his conduct; he had done his duty, and their friend, ship was at an END." XXIV. 1791. Mr. Fox, on whom the attention of the house BOOK was now eagerly fixed, rose to reply, but his feelings were too powerful for utterance. All the ideas so long cherished, of gratitude, esteem, and affection, rushed upon his susceptible and generous mind, and involuntary tears were observed to steal down his cheek. A profound and expressive silence pervaded the house. At length Mr. Fox recovering himself, said, "that however events might have altered the mind of his right honorable friend, for such he must still call him, he could not so easily consent to relinquish and dissolve that intimate connection which had for twenty-five years subsisted between them. He hoped that Mr. Burke would think on past times; and, whatever expressions of his had caused the offence, that he would at least believe such was not his intention." The concessions of Mr. Fox made no visible impression on the haughty and unbending temper of Mr. Burke; and from this day a schism took place in the politics of the opposition party, productive of very important consequences. As the most luminous introduction to the principal remaining transaction of this session of parliament, it will be proper now to advert to the actual situation of affairs on the continent. No sooner had Leopold king of Hungary assumed the Austrian sceptre, than he resolved on terminating 1791. Conven chenbach. BOOK the war with Turkey; and under the powerful' XXIV. mediation of England and Prussia a convention was concluded, August 1790, at Reichenbach, tion of Rei-after a negociation of some months protracted in Reduction the unavailing hope of retaining possession of Belof Belgium. grade, that important fortress which, fifty years before, England had exerted her utmost influence to secure to the house of Austria. But now, sway. ed by Prussian counsels, and eagerly solicitous to advance the interests of that upstart and insolent power, in contradistinction to those of Austria, the antient and genuine ally of Britain, she harshly and peremptorily insisted on its restitution, in common with all the other Austrian conquests-Choczim alone being with difficulty excepted-to the Ottoman Porte. In return, the Austrian Netherlands were guarantied to the house of Austria, and the possession of the Imperial crown eventually ensured to his Hungarian majesty. The Flemings refusing, notwithstanding their present state of abandonment, to return to the Austrian dominion, a great military force was sent into that country in the autumn of 1795, under the command of mareschal Bender, which quickly effected their total reduction, without granting the restitution of their antient privileges; and on the 1st of January, 1791, a solemn Te Deum was sung at Brussels in celebration of that happy event. The States of Brabant, through the medium of M. Vandernoodt, had ear. BOOK 1791. nestly requested the interposition of France in sup- XXIV. port of their claims of emancipation. But the National Assembly, with a moderation approaching even to 'tameness, persisted for twelve months to remain tranquil and passive spectators, while the Imperial power completed the re-conquest of the Low Countries. Sweden also, disappointed in her views and projects of ambition, thought proper to sign a separate peace with Russia, August 1790, Peace signat Varela upon the Kymen, on the basis of the Sweden and former treaties of Nystadt and Abo. ed between Russia. dispute The courts of London and Berlin, elated with Alarming the success of their mediation at Reichenbach, now with Russia. in high and arrogant language signified to the empress of Russia their pleasure that peace should be restored between the Ottoman and Russian empires, on the terms of a general restitution of conquests. The empress replied with equal haughtiness, "that she would make peace and war with whom she pleased, without the intervention of any foreign power." Not however choosing too far to provoke the resentment of these formidable and self-created arbitrators, she secretly intimated her willingness to conclude a peace with Turkey, on the condition of retaining the country eastward of the Neister, as a reasonable indemnification for the expenses of the war. This was a waste and desert tract of territory, valuable only for the security it afforded to her former acquisitions, and for ir |