fembly, or from other moft refpectable fources. We

have endeavoured to ftate 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 justice were outraged; and whenever the cause of liberty was difgraced 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 representation 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 effe& 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 those who are, in the general, hoftile to it, may perhaps be induced to allow that fuch an amazing change in a defpotic government, the abufes of which fo many were interested in preferving, could not be conducted without fome acts of violence and outrage— Where the people are to do every thing, they will do fome things wrong.

Another principle which a fair view of this subject will establish, and which may also ferve to diminish the animofity of parties in this country, at leaft, is, that no grounds of comparison exist between

the

the present state of this nation and that of France, previous to the revolution; confequently there is no neceflity for a revolution here, nor ought any apprehenfion of it to be entertained. The monarchy, the hierarchy, the ariftocracy, of France were all totally different from ours, indeed formed upon almoft oppofite principles. We would not be underftood to infinuate that our present 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 increasing 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 our 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 question to the reader, as nearly as we could, in that precife view in which we conceive it must have appeared to the national affembly.

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

The other departments of the work have been executed with the ufual attention, and we flatter ourfelves will be received with the ufual candour.

CON.

CONTENTS.

THE Hiftory of Knowledge, Learning, and Tafte, 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-General.

Riot at Paris. Affembly 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. Aembly repulfed from the Hall of the States. Take an

oath never to feparate till the Conftitution be fettled. 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 Affembly. Difmiffion of M. Neckar. Difturbances at Paris.

Firmness of the National Aembly. The Baftille taken.

3

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

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

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

of the Baftille. M. Neckar recall d. The King wifits Paris. Difperfion

of the Ministry. 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

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

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

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 Ve failles to Paris.

CHAPTER III.

25

Emigration of the Ariftocratic Members of the Aembly. Title of King of
the French. Duke of Orleans retires to England. A Baker banged by the

Mob at Paris. Riot A. New Divifion of the Empires Church Lunds

ap-

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

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

Oppofition of the Provincial States and Parliaments. Riets at Marfeilles

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

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

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

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

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

made refponible for Damages fuftained by Riots. Suppreffion of Monafteries.

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

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

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

War and Peace. Organization of the Clergy. Abolition of Titles, &c.

Grand Confederation. Return of M. d'Orleans.

CHAPTER IV.

61

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

tion of the Chatelet, againft M. M. d'Orleans and Mirabeau. Provincial

Disturbances. 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 against

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 proclaimed at Paris. The New Conftiution prefented, and

accepted by the King.

94

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

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

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

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

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

of Liege.

CHAPTER

VI.

118

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

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

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

Papers prejented 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 Queftion, Whether Impeachments abate by a

DJolution of Parliament? Debate on a Motion relative to abandoning

cer-