XXII. 1797. CHAP. sults to those which there took place; to see the revolutionary spirit acquire irresistible force, the means of national resistance prostrated by the divisions of those who should wield them, and the state become an easy prey to the ambition of those neighbouring powers who had fomented its passions to profit by its weakness. From the glorious result of the firmness of the one, and the miserable consequences of the pusillanimity of the other, a memorable lesson may be learned both by rulers and nations; that 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. СНАР. XXIII. 1795. CHAPTER XXIII. INTERNAL GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE, FROM THE ESTABLISH- ARGUMENT. 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 Public Mind and Manners in France in the beginning of 1796-First Proceedings of the New Legislature-Choice of the Directory-Barras, Rewbell, Lareveillere, Lessaux-Letourneur-First Measure of the Directory-Extreme difficulties of their SituationLiberation 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-Renewed efforts of the JacobinsBaboeuf, his extreme Revolutionary Principles-But they fail now in rousing the People-Renewed efforts of the Revolutionists-Plans of the Conspirators—The Conspiracy is discovered, and Baboeuf 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-Jordan'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 Napoleon-He resolves to support the Democratic Party, and for that purpose sends Lavalette to Paris in spring 1797-And Augereau in July-His Proclamation to his Soldiers on 14th July-The Army strongly support the DirectoryExtravagant 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 Hostilities-Slender Military Force at their Command-Reorganization of the National Guard decreed by the Councils-Violent Measures of the Directory-They surround the Tuileries with Troops-And the Guard there CHAP. 1795. Revolution. join Augereau-Revolution of 18th 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 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. THE different eras of the Revolution, which have Retrospect been hitherto traced, show the progress of the prinof the pre- ciples of democracy through their natural stages of ges of the public transports, monied 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 illusions 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 1 Aristotle. tyrannies, the tyranny of a multitude of tyrants.' To effect the maximum of freedom, with the Maximum minimum of democracy, is the great problem of with mini civil government; just as the chief object of war is mum of de- to attain the greatest possible national security, at great object the smallest expenditure of human life. The demoof govern cratic passion is frequently necessary to sustain the mocracy, the ment. XXII. 1795. conflicts of freedom, just as the military spirit is often CHAP. necessary to purchase national independence, and always essential to its security; but it is not a less evil in itself, if not kept under due restraint, than the savage passion for 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 invariably terminates, before the expiry of a few years, in universal suffering. Nature mocratic Nature never intended that the great body of Provision of mankind should be immediately concerned in go-ainst the vernment, because their intellects and information evil of deare unequal to, and their situation inconsistent anarchy. with, the task. As political passions cannot be indulged by a large a large portion of mankind, without destroying both their usefulness and their felicity, she has wisely provided for their speedy and effec XXIII. 1795. tual extinction, in the necessary consequence of the effects which they produce. The insecurity, privations, and suffering which they induce, 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 fatal government of the sword. The illusions of republicanism were now dispelled State of the in France; men had passed through so many vicissiand manners tudes, and lived so long in a few years, that all their in France in pristine ideas were overturned. The rule of the public mind the begin ning of 1796. middling 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 farther removed from France of the 10th August, when a single class 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. Society emerged, weakened and disjointed, from the chaos of revolution; and in despair of effecting any real amelioration in the social system, all classes rushed with unbounded vehemence to the enjoyments of private life. The elegances of opulence, long suspended, were resumed with unprecedented alacrity; balls, festivities, and theatres, frequented with more avidity than in the most corrupted era of the monar |