XXIII. 1797. CHAP. the other, a memorable lesson may be learned both by rulers and nations. Thence they may see that courage in danger is often the most prudent as well as the most honourable course; that periods of foreign peril are never those in which considerable internal changes can with safety be adopted; and that, whatever may be the defects of government, they are the worst enemies of their country who league with foreign nations for their redress. CHAPTER XXIV. INTERNAL GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE, FROM THE ARGUMENT. CHAP. XXIV. Retrospect of the previous changes of the Revolution-Maximum of Freedom, with Minimum of Democracy, the great object of Civil Government-Provision of Nature against the Evil of Democratic anarchy-State of the Public Mind and Manners in France in the beginning of 1796-First Proceedings of the New Legislature-Choice 1795. of the Directory-Barras, Rewbell, Lareveilliere Lepaux-Letourneur-First Measure of the Directory-Extreme Difficulties of their Situation-Liberation of the Duchess d'Angoulême, who is exchanged for the Deputies delivered up by Dumourier-Successful Efforts of the Directory to restore order in France-But Irreligion continues triumphant-Theophilanthropists-Singular character, tenets, and worship of this Sect-Napoleon's views on this subject-Renewed efforts of the Jacobins-Principles of the new Conspirators-Babœuf, his extreme Revolutionary Principles- Mr Burke's early appreciation of the Jacobins-Progress of the Insurrection - But they fail now in rousing the People-Renewed Efforts of the Revolutionists-Plans of the Conspirators-The Conspiracy is discovered, and Babœuf arrested-His Partisans break out at Grenelle-But are Defeated and Executed-Trial of the Leaders previously arrested-Abortive attempt of the Royalists-Singular Manners at this period in France-But the Result of the Elections is preparing a Catastrophe-The Royalists prevail in the New Elections-Barthelemy is chosen a Director in lieu of Letourneur, and joins Carnot-Club of Clichy, the great centre of the Royalists-Club of Salm, of the Republicans-General Reaction in favour of Royalist Principles - Measures of the Directory to avert the danger-Camille-Jourdan's Efforts in favour of Religion-General return of the Emigrants and Clergy-Great alarm of the Directory-The Republican majority of the Directory resolve on Decisive Measures-They change all the Ministers, and collect Troops round Paris-Measures of NapoleonHe resolves to support the Democratic Party, and for that purpose sends Lavallette to Paris in Spring 1797-And Augereau in July-His Proclamation to his Soldiers on 14th July-The Army strongly support the Directory-Extravagant Addresses to them from the Soldiers-Strength of the opposite party consisted only in their Talents and Eloquence-Their defensive measures, but they decline to commence HostilitiesSlender Military Force at their command-Re-organization of the National Guard decreed by the Councils-Violent Measures of the Directory-They surround the Tuilleries with Troops-And the Guard there join Augereau-Revolution of 18th CHAP. Fructidor-Passive submission of the People-Address of the Directory to the Councils Tyrannical Measures of the minority of the Councils-Extinction of the Liberty of the Press-Transportation of the most illustrious Citizens of France-Cruel fate of 1795. the Exiles- Escape of Pichegru from Guiana-Vigorous and despotic measures of the Directory-This Revolution had been previously concerted with Napoleon-But he is disgusted with the severe use they make of their Victory-This is the true commencement of Military Despotism in France-Reflections on these Events. Retrospect vious chan ges of the Revolution. THE different eras of the Revolution, which have of the pre- hitherto been traced, shew the progress of the principles of democracy through their natural stages of public transports, moneyed insecurity, financial embarrassment, arbitrary confiscation, general distress, plebeian insurrection, sanguinary oppression, civil warfare, and military despotism. It remains to examine its progress during the receding tide; to trace the declining and enfeebled efforts of Republican fury during the period when its desolating effects had become generally known, and the public strength refused to lend its aid to the ambition and the illusion of individuals. During this period it is evident that the chief desire of the human mind is for repose; the contentions, the miseries of former years rise up in fearful remembrance to all classes of citizens; the chimera of equality can no longer seduce the illusion of power no longer mislead; and men, bitterly suffering under the consequences of former error, eagerly range themselves under any government which promises to save them from "the worst of tyrannies, the tyranny of a 1 Aristotle. multitude of tyrants." of freedom, 991 To effect the maximum of freedom, with the miniMaximum mum of democracy, is the great problem of civil gowith mini-vernment; just as the chief object of war is to attain mum of de- the greatest possible national security, at the smallest the great expenditure of human life. The democratic passion is frequently necessary to sustain the conflicts of freedom, just as the military spirit is often necessary to mocracy, object of government. XXIV. purchase national independence, and always essential CHAP. to its security; but it is not a less evil in itself, if not kept under due restraint, than the savage passion for 1795. the destruction of the species. When too vehemently excited, it often becomes an evil incomparably greater than the political grievances which awakened its fury. Great national objects sometimes cannot be achieved without the excitation of this passion, because it is desire, and not reason, which ever governs the masses of mankind; but when it becomes the ruling power, the last extremities of suffering are at hand. Like all other passions, however, whether in the individual or society, it cannot be indulged to excess, without inducing evils which speedily terminate its ascendency, and punish the delinquencies to which it has given rise. The democratic passion is to nations what the desire of licentious freedom is to the individual: it bears the same relation to the principle of genuine liberty, as the chastened attachment of marriage, which "peoples heaven," does to the wild excesses of lust, which finds inmates for hell. The fleeting enjoyments of guilt are speedily lost in its lasting pains; the extravagance of democratic ambition, if it obtains unresisted sway, invariably terminates, before the expiry of a few years, in universal suffering. of Nature mocratic Nature never intended that the great body of mankind should be immediately concerned in government, Provision because their intellects and information are unequal against the to, and their situation inconsistent with, the task, evil of deUseful and necessary as a check upon the government anarchy. of others, they bring about the greatest calamities when they become the governors themselves;-respectable, virtuous, and useful when employed in their proper sphere, they become dangerous, empassioned, and irrational, when called to the exercise of duties XXIV. 1795. CHAP. which do not belong to them. The restraint of holding property, and consequently suffering themselves from any shocks it may receive, is the only security against the undue abuse of power. As the great body of the people cannot possess this advantage, and consequently political power cannot be exercised by them without injury, first, to others, and at last to themselves, Nature has wisely provided for the speedy and effectual extinction of the passion for it, in the necessary consequence of the effects which it produces. The insecurity, privations, and suffering which it induces, unavoidably lead to military despotism. Some democratic states, as Milan, Florence, and Sienna, to terminate their dissensions, have voluntarily submitted to the yoke of a military leader; others have fallen under his dominion at the close of a sanguinary period of domestic strife; all have, in one way or other, expelled the deadly venom from the system; and to shun the horrors of anarchy, shielded themselves under the lasting government of the sword. State of the public manners in ning of 1796. The illusions of republicanism were now dispelled in France; men had passed through so many vicissimind and tudes, and lived so long in a few years, that all their France in pristine ideas were overturned. The rule of the the begin- middle class, and of the multitude, had successively passed like a rapid and bloody phantasmagoria. The age was far removed from France of the 14th July 1789, with its enthusiastic feelings, its high resolves, its ardent aspirations, its popular magistrates, and its buoyant population; it was still further removed from France of the 10th August, when a single class, and that the most licentious, had usurped the whole authority of the state, and borne to the seat of government its vulgar manners and sanguinary ideas-its distrust of all above, and its severity to all beneath itself. |