of that destruction which, fourteen years after, his Monarchy was doomed to experience. At an interview, which took place at the village of Glorieux, in the vicinity of Verdun, on the 11th of October, between the Prussian General, Kalkreuth, and the French Generals, Galbaud and Arthur Dillon; the last, who was an Irishman, and who made his religion a pretext for entering into the service of the natural enemies of his country, told the Prussians, that the French revolution had been brought about by the experience of fourteen centuries; that the whole nation had but one opinion respecting it; that they had reason to wonder, that foreign powers should interfere with their domestic concerns, or should dread their ambition, particularly after their sublime declaration of beginning no war with a view to conquest;-a declaration which ought, he asserted, to procure to France as many friends as there were philosophers in Europe.* The falsehood of this assertion was known to the French General, at the moment when he made it. He knew perfectly, that the war against Austria was made expressly with a view to the conquest of the Netherlands;-that Avignon, and the Comtat, had been wrested * Histoire de France, par Toulongeon.---Piéces justificatives. Tom. II. p. 152. from the Pope and annexed to France; and that the reduction of Savoy was undertaken from a similar motive. In short, the conduct of the French rulers was essentially aggressive ;—and the plan was already laid, as Brissot has acknowledged, by these philanthropic professors of peace, to extend the flames of war, so as to set fire to the four corners of Europe. CHAPTER XXIII Reflections on the effects which recent occurrences in France ought to have produced on the early admirers of the French Revolution in England-Effects which they really produced-Addresses from English clubs to the French convention-Factious Address from a Society at Newington-Address from the Revolution Society, signed by Dr. Towers, congratulating the French on the deposition of their Monarch, and on the successful exercise of "The Right of Insurrection"-United address from societies at Manchester, Norwich, and London, imprecating the 'destruction of Monarchy through the world-Address of the Constitutional Society, anticipating a national convention in England, accompanied by a present of shoes to the military rebels of France-The President's answer to the address, announcing the near approach of a republic in England-Great confidence of the disaffected in the autumn of 1792-Critical state of the country-Mr. Reeves-His arrival in England---Origin of the Loyal Associations--Their rapid extension, and salutary effects---Their end and object explained--Wholly unconnected with government--Mr. Pitt doubts their policy, and intimates a wish for their suppression---The founders of the associations refuse to comply with his wish---Mr. Pitt changes his opinion, and expresses his approbation of the first committee appointed ---Expenses of the associations, wholly defrayed by the voluntary contributions of the Members---List of the Committee---Mr. Thomas Law---He is expelled from the Committee---Motives of that expulsion---Striking change in the internal appearance of the country General burst of loyalty-Mr. Pitt appointed warden of the Cinque Ports-Parliament meet-The King's speechDebates on the address-Loyal association abused by the opposition, who condemn a doctrine which they do not understand-Their censure of a printed paper, by the Reverend William Jones, of Nayland-That paper defended -Mr. Fox again avows his admiration of the French revolution-Motion for the amendment lost by a majority of two hundred and forty-New motion, by Mr. Fox, for opening a negotiation with the French republicHis praise of the French troops, and his abuse of the allied powers-Seconded by Mr. Sheridan-Opposed by Mr. Burke Motion negatived without a division--Unanimity of Parliament, in condemning the trial and approaching murder of the French King--- Alien bill introduced by Mr. Pitt---Reflections upon it---Opposed by Mr. Fox---Mr. Fox's inconsistency exposed by Mr. Burke---Atheism, the first fruits of French liberty--Daggers manufactured at Birmingham---One of these produced, by Mr. Burke, in the House of Commons--Kersaint's testimony to the neutrality of the English--Murder of Louis XVI---Dismissal of Chauvelin---Royal message---Debate on it---Mr. Pitt's speech--- His horror at the recent murder of the virtuous Louis---Advantages to be derived from that event, considered as a lesson, illustrative of French principles-Eulogy on the British constitution---Memorable decrees of the French Convention, for encouraging insurrection in foreign States -Strict neutrality of England, and the aggressive conduct of France demonstrated-Address of thanks to his Majesty, moved by Mr. Pitt-Observations on Mr. Pitt's conduct at this time---Speech of Mr. Fox---He asserts the Sovereignty of the People, as paramount to all laws, and their right to cashier Kings for misconduct ---The tendency of such declarations---Constant and earnest endeavours of Mr. Pitt to prevent a war, proved by the French agents themselves---Conference proposed by Dumouriez, with Lord Auckland and M. Von Spieghel--Communications on that subject---Lord Auckland receives instructions to hold the conference---Place appointed for the purpose---The French convention send orders to Dumouriez not to hold it. 1 [1792.] It was natural to suppose, that those scenes which had occurred in France, during the year 1792, and of which a faint sketch has been given in the preceding chapter, were such as would excite the indignation and abhorrence of every mind which had a respect for the principles of humanity, justice, and social order; that they would even be sufficient to produce a radical change of opinion in those who had, from the love of liberty, and from the hatred of despotism, hailed the first dawn of the French revolution, as the signal of approaching happiness to the civilized world. This supposition was natural, because the most superficial observer, who had paid any attention to those occurrences, could not fail to perceive that, instead of favouring the cause of freedom, they were calculated to destroy every vestige |