fembly, or from other moft refpectable fources. We have endeavoured to flate facts with the utmost impartiality; and though we profefs to be the friends of freedom in general, the reader will find that we have not been sparing of our ftrictures on the conduct of both parties, whenever the principles of juftice were outraged; and whenever the caufe of liberty was disgraced, as in too many inftances it was, by the populace of France and their demagogues. One effect we are led to hope for confidently from the reprefentation we have drawn of thefe affairs, which is, that it will ferve to abate the violence of both parties on the subject-Such is ever the effect of truth.-The favourers of the French revolution will learn from our statement, that though the principle is impregnable, the conduct of the actors in this great event was not always immaculate; and thofe who are, in the general, hoftile to it, may perhaps be induced to allow that fuch an amazing change in a defpotic government, the abuses of which fo many were interested in preferving, could not be conducted without fome acts of violence and outrageWhere the people are to do every thing, they will do fome things wrong.

Another principle which a fair view of this fubject will establish, and which may alfo ferve to diminish the animofity of parties in this country, at least, is, that no grounds of comparifon exift between

the prefent ftate of this nation and that of France, previous to the revolution; confequently there is no neceflity for a revolution here, nor ought any appre henfion of it to be entertained. The monarchy, the hierarchy, the aristocracy, of France were all totally different from ours, indeed formed upon almoft oppofite principles. We would not be underftood to infinuate that our prefent conftitution is perfect; but the vices of our government are entirely different from the vices of the old government of France, and must be reformed in a different manner. The increafing information and fober fenfe of the people will gradually produce a legal reform in whatever parts of our conftitution are decayed; but corruption and tyranny were fo rooted in the old government of France, that it could not be corrected, but must be neceffarily overthrown.

We have alfo, in different parts of the narrative, given cur fentiments very freely on the errors and imperfections which we think we have difcovered in the new conftitution of France: and in all difcuffions which appeared of general importance or utility we have endeavoured to condenfe the arguments and opinions on each fide, fo as to prefent the queftion to the reader, as nearly as we could, in that precife view in which we conceive it muft have appeared to the national assembly.

In the debates of our own parliament we have proceeded upon nearly a fimilar plan, and have ftudied to give a concise view of all the arguments which were adduced on both fides on every great or important queftion; and this we trust is done with fairness and impartiality.

The other departments of the work have been executed with the ufual attention, and we flatter our

CONTENTS.

THE Hiftory of Knowledge, Learning, and Tafle, in Great Britain, during

the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Part the Third.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN HISTORY.

CHAPTER

I.

Page i

France. State of Parties previous to the Meeting of the States-Generals

Riot at Paris. Assembly of the States. Conteft with respect to the Mode of

voting by Orders or by Poll. The Tiers Etat conftitute themselves a Na-

tional Affembly. Afembly repulfed from the Hall of the States. Take an

oath never to feparate till the Conftitution be settled. Royal Seffion. Union

of the Orders. Projects of the Court. Paris encircled with Military.

Soldiers releafed from Prifon by the Populace. Famine in Paris. Remon

france of the Aembly. Difmiffion of M. Neckar. Difturbances at Paris.

Firmnefs of the National Aembly. The Baftille taken.

CHAPTER II.

3

State of Paris after the Capture of the Baftille. Nomination of Meff. Bailly

and La Fayette to the Offices of Mayor of Paris, and Commander in Chief

of the National Guard. Te Deum jung at Paris in celebration of the taking

of the Baftille. M. Neckar recalled. The King vifits Paris. Difperfion

of the Miniftry. Murder of M. M. Foulon and Berthier. Revolt in the

Provinces. Affair of Quincey. Perfecution of the Nobility. Private Cor-

refpondence held facred. Triumphant Return of M. Neckar. Unpopular

At of the Electors of Paris. Outrages in the Provinces. Abolition of the

Feudal Syftem, &c. Projected Loans. Riot at Paris. Organization f

the Municipality and Militia of the Metropolis. Debates on the King's Veto.

On the Permanence of the Legislature. On two Chambers. New Scheme of

Finance. Dreadful Infurrection of the 5th of October. The Royal Family

remove from Verfailles to Paris.

25

Emigration of the Ariftocratic Members of the Affembly. Title of King of

the French. Duke of Orleans retires to England. A Baker hanged by the

Mob at Paris. Riot Act. New Divifion of the Empire. Church Lands

applied to the Exigencies of the State. Lettres de Cachet abolished. Coms

mittee appointed to infpect the Penfion Lift. Diftinction of Orders abolished.

Oppofition of the Provincial States and Parliaments. Riots at Marjeilles

and Toulon. Melancholy Event at Senlis. Debate on the Eligibility of

Minifters to the National Affembly. Corfica declared a conflituent Part of

the French Empire. Plan of the Caille de l'Extraordinaire. Refusal of a

Donation from Geneva. Of an Alliance with Brabant. Refiftance of the

Parliament of Brittany. Affair of the Marquis de Favras. Municipalities

made responsible for Damages fufained by Riots. Suppreffion of Mmafteries.

Emilion of Affignats. Gabelle, &c. abolished. Reform of the Jurifpru-

dence. Troubles in St. Domingo, c. Publication of the Red Bosk. Re-

ligious Infurrections at Toulouf, Montabon, and Nifmes. Right of making

War and Peace. Organization of the Clergy. Abolition of Tules, Ec.

Grand Confederation. Return of M. d'Orleans.

61

Courts of Juftice. New Taxes. Droit d'Aubaine, &c. abolished. Accufa-

tion of the Chatelit, against M. M. d'Orleans and Mirabeau. Provincial

Difturbances. Affair of Nancy. Refignation of M. Neckar. Mutiny at

Breft. Riot at Paris. Affairs of Avignon. Ejectment of the non-juring

Clergy from their Benefices. League formed by Foreign Powers agai ft

France. Troubles at Aix, Lyons, and Brittany. Emegration of the King's

Aunts. Armed Men found in the Palace. Decrees relative to the Army, the

Regency, &c. Difcuffion of the Law of Inheritances. Death and Cha-

racter of M. de Mirabeau. Organization of the Miniftry. The King

Stopped as he was going to St. Cloud. Infurrections in the French Colonies.

Flight of the King. His Return. Hoftile preparations on the Frontiers.

Martial Law preclaimed at Paris. The New Conftiution prefented, and

accepted by the King.

CHAPTER V.

94

State of Germany. Revolt of the Netherlands. Their Reduction. Turkish

War. Conference of Reichenbach. Peace between Auftria and Russia.

Peace between Rufa and Sweden. Taking of Ifmail. Difgrace and Death

of the Vizir. Taking of Maczin, &c. Mediation of Pruffia and

land. Peace between Ruffia and the Porte. Polifh Revolution. Affairs

of Liege.

118

Negociation and Convention with Spain concerning Nootka Sound, &c. War

in India with Tippoo Sultan. Diffolution of Parliament. Meeting of the

New Parliament. His Majefty's Speech. Address moved and carried.

Papers prefented relative to the Convention with Spain. Further Commu-

nications moved for. Debate on that Subject. On the Convention. Debate

on that Subject in the Lords. Ways and Means for the Expences of the

Armament. Debate on the Question, Whether Impeachments abate by a

Diffolution of Parliament? Debate on a Motion relative to abandoning

cer-