WenowcomemoreparticularlytotheaffairsofFrance。Mr。Burke\'sbookhastheappearanceofbeingwrittenasinstructiontotheFrenchnation;
butifImaypermitmyselftheuseofanextravagantmetaphor,suitedtotheextravaganceofthecase,itisdarknessattemptingtoilluminatelight。
WhileIamwritingthisthereareaccidentallybeforemesomeproposalsforadeclarationofrightsbytheMarquisdelaFayette（Iaskhispardonforusinghisformeraddress,anddoitonlyfordistinction\'ssake）totheNationalAssembly,onthe11thofJuly,1789,threedaysbeforethetakingoftheBastille,andIcannotbutremarkwithastonishmenthowoppositethesourcesarefromwhichthatgentlemanandMr。Burkedrawtheirprinciples。
Insteadofreferringtomustyrecordsandmouldyparchmentstoprovethattherightsofthelivingarelost,\"renouncedandabdicatedforever,\"
bythosewhoarenownomore,asMr。Burkehasdone,M。delaFayetteappliestothelivingworld,andemphaticallysays:\"Calltomindthesentimentswhichnaturehasengravedontheheartofeverycitizen,andwhichtakeanewforcewhentheyaresolemnlyrecognisedbyall:—Foranationtoloveliberty,itissufficientthatsheknowsit;andtobefree,itissufficientthatshewillsit。\"Howdry,barren,andobscureisthesourcefromwhichMr。Burkelabors！andhowineffectual,thoughgaywithflowers,areallhisdeclamationandhisargumentscomparedwiththeseclear,concise,andsoul—animatingsentiments！Fewandshortastheyare,theyleadontoavastfieldofgenerousandmanlythinking,anddonotfinish,likeMr。Burke\'speriods,withmusicintheear,andnothingintheheart。
AsIhaveintroducedM。delaFayette,IwilltakethelibertyofaddingananecdoterespectinghisfarewelladdresstotheCongressofAmericain1783,andwhichoccurredfreshtomymind,whenIsawMr。Burke\'sthunderingattackontheFrenchRevolution。M。delaFayettewenttoAmericaattheearlyperiodofthewar,andcontinuedavolunteerinherservicetotheend。Hisconductthroughthewholeofthatenterpriseisoneofthemostextraordinarythatistobefoundinthehistoryofayoungman,scarcelytwentyyearsofage。Situatedinacountrythatwaslikethelapofsensualpleasure,andwiththemeansofenjoyingit,howfewaretheretobefoundwhowouldexchangesuchasceneforthewoodsandwildernessesofAmerica,andpassthefloweryyearsofyouthinunprofitabledangerandhardship！
butsuchisthefact。Whenthewarended,andhewasonthepointoftakinghisfinaldeparture,hepresentedhimselftoCongress,andcontemplatinginhisaffectionatefarewelltheRevolutionhehadseen,expressedhimselfinthesewords:\"Maythisgreatmonumentraisedtolibertyserveasalessontotheoppressor,andanexampletotheoppressed！\"WhenthisaddresscametothehandsofDr。Franklin,whowastheninFrance,heappliedtoCountVergennestohaveitinsertedintheFrenchGazette,butnevercouldobtainhisconsent。ThefactwasthatCountVergenneswasanaristocraticaldespotathome,anddreadedtheexampleoftheAmericanRevolutioninFrance,ascertainotherpersonsnowdreadtheexampleoftheFrenchRevolutioninEngland,andMr。Burke\'stributeoffear（forinthislighthisbookmustbeconsidered）runsparallelwithCountVergennes\'refusal。Buttoreturnmoreparticularlytohiswork。
\"Wehaveseen,\"saysMr。Burke,\"theFrenchrebelagainstamildandlawfulmonarch,withmorefury,outrage,andinsult,thananypeoplehasbeenknowntoriseagainstthemostillegalusurper,orthemostsanguinarytyrant。\"Thisisoneamongathousandotherinstances,inwhichMr。BurkeshowsthatheisignorantofthespringsandprinciplesoftheFrenchRevolution。
ItwasnotagainstLouisXVI。butagainstthedespoticprinciplesoftheGovernment,thatthenationrevolted。Theseprincipleshadnottheirorigininhim,butintheoriginalestablishment,manycenturiesback:
andtheywerebecometoodeeplyrootedtoberemoved,andtheAugeanstablesofparasitesandplundererstooabominablyfilthytobecleansedbyanythingshortofacompleteanduniversalRevolution。Whenitbecomesnecessarytodoanything,thewholeheartandsoulshouldgointothemeasure,ornotattemptit。Thatcrisiswasthenarrived,andthereremainednochoicebuttoactwithdeterminedvigor,ornottoactatall。Thekingwasknowntobethefriendofthenation,andthiscircumstancewasfavorabletotheenterprise。Perhapsnomanbredupinthestyleofanabsoluteking,everpossessedaheartsolittledisposedtotheexerciseofthatspeciesofpowerasthepresentKingofFrance。ButtheprinciplesoftheGovernmentitselfstillremainedthesame。TheMonarchandtheMonarchyweredistinctandseparatethings;anditwasagainsttheestablisheddespotismofthelatter,andnotagainstthepersonorprinciplesoftheformer,thattherevoltcommenced,andtheRevolutionhasbeencarried。
Mr。Burkedoesnotattendtothedistinctionbetweenmenandprinciples,and,therefore,hedoesnotseethatarevoltmaytakeplaceagainstthedespotismofthelatter,whilethereliesnochargeofdespotismagainsttheformer。
ThenaturalmoderationofLouisXVI。contributednothingtoalterthehereditarydespotismofthemonarchy。Allthetyranniesofformerreigns,actedunderthathereditarydespotism,werestillliabletoberevivedinthehandsofasuccessor。ItwasnottherespiteofareignthatwouldsatisfyFrance,enlightenedasshewasthenbecome。Acasualdiscontinuanceofthepracticeofdespotism,isnotadiscontinuanceofitsprinciples:
theformerdependsonthevirtueoftheindividualwhoisinimmediatepossessionofthepower;thelatter,onthevirtueandfortitudeofthenation。InthecaseofCharlesI。andJamesII。ofEngland,therevoltwasagainstthepersonaldespotismofthemen;whereasinFrance,itwasagainstthehereditarydespotismoftheestablishedGovernment。Butmenwhocanconsignovertherightsofposterityforeverontheauthorityofamouldyparchment,likeMr。Burke,arenotqualifiedtojudgeofthisRevolution。Ittakesinafieldtoovastfortheirviewstoexplore,andproceedswithamightinessofreasontheycannotkeeppacewith。
ButtherearemanypointsofviewinwhichthisRevolutionmaybeconsidered。
Whendespotismhasestablisheditselfforagesinacountry,asinFrance,itisnotinthepersonofthekingonlythatitresides。Ithastheappearanceofbeingsoinshow,andinnominalauthority;butitisnotsoinpracticeandinfact。Ithasitsstandardeverywhere。Everyofficeanddepartmenthasitsdespotism,foundeduponcustomandusage。EveryplacehasitsBastille,andeveryBastilleitsdespot。Theoriginalhereditarydespotismresidentinthepersonoftheking,dividesandsub—dividesitselfintoathousandshapesandforms,tillatlastthewholeofitisactedbydeputation。
ThiswasthecaseinFrance;andagainstthisspeciesofdespotism,proceedingonthroughanendlesslabyrinthofofficetillthesourceofitisscarcelyperceptible,thereisnomodeofredress。Itstrengthensitselfbyassumingtheappearanceofduty,andtyranniesunderthepretenceofobeying。
WhenamanreflectsontheconditionwhichFrancewasinfromthenatureofhergovernment,hewillseeothercausesforrevoltthanthosewhichimmediatelyconnectthemselveswiththepersonorcharacterofLouisXVI。
Therewere,ifImaysoexpressit,athousanddespotismstobereformedinFrance,whichhadgrownupunderthehereditarydespotismofthemonarchy,andbecamesorootedastobeinagreatmeasureindependentofit。BetweentheMonarchy,theParliament,andtheChurchtherewasarivalshipofdespotism;
besidesthefeudaldespotismoperatinglocally,andtheministerialdespotismoperatingeverywhere。ButMr。Burke,byconsideringthekingastheonlypossibleobjectofarevolt,speaksasifFrancewasavillage,inwhicheverythingthatpassedmustbeknowntoitscommandingofficer,andnooppressioncouldbeactedbutwhathecouldimmediatelycontrol。Mr。BurkemighthavebeenintheBastillehiswholelife,aswellunderLouisXVI。
asLouisXIV。,andneithertheonenortheotherhaveknownthatsuchamanasBurkeexisted。Thedespoticprinciplesofthegovernmentwerethesameinbothreigns,thoughthedispositionsofthemenwereasremoteastyrannyandbenevolence。
WhatMr。BurkeconsidersasareproachtotheFrenchRevolution（thatofbringingitforwardunderareignmoremildthantheprecedingones）
isoneofitshighesthonors。TheRevolutionsthathavetakenplaceinotherEuropeancountries,havebeenexcitedbypersonalhatred。Theragewasagainsttheman,andhebecamethevictim。But,intheinstanceofFranceweseeaRevolutiongeneratedintherationalcontemplationoftheRightsofMan,anddistinguishingfromthebeginningbetweenpersonsandprinciples。
ButMr。BurkeappearstohavenoideaofprincipleswhenheiscontemplatingGovernments。\"Tenyearsago,\"sayshe,\"IcouldhavefelicitatedFranceonherhavingaGovernment,withoutinquiringwhatthenatureofthatGovernmentwas,orhowitwasadministered。\"Isthisthelanguageofarationalman？
Isitthelanguageofaheartfeelingasitoughttofeelfortherightsandhappinessofthehumanrace？Onthisground,Mr。BurkemustcomplimentalltheGovernmentsintheworld,whilethevictimswhosufferunderthem,whethersoldintoslavery,ortorturedoutofexistence,arewhollyforgotten。
Itispower,andnotprinciples,thatMr。Burkevenerates;andunderthisabominabledepravityheisdisqualifiedtojudgebetweenthem。ThusmuchforhisopinionastotheoccasionsoftheFrenchRevolution。Inowproceedtootherconsiderations。
IknowaplaceinAmericacalledPoint—no—Point,becauseasyouproceedalongtheshore,gayandfloweryasMr。Burke\'slanguage,itcontinuallyrecedesandpresentsitselfatadistancebeforeyou;butwhenyouhavegotasfarasyoucango,thereisnopointatall。JustthusitiswithMr。Burke\'sthreehundredandsixty—sixpages。Itisthereforedifficulttoreplytohim。Butasthepointshewishestoestablishmaybeinferredfromwhatheabuses,itisinhisparadoxesthatwemustlookforhisarguments。
AstothetragicpaintingsbywhichMr。Burkehasoutragedhisownimagination,andseekstoworkuponthatofhisreaders,theyareverywellcalculatedfortheatricalrepresentation,wherefactsaremanufacturedforthesakeofshow,andaccommodatedtoproduce,throughtheweaknessofsympathy,aweepingeffect。ButMr。Burkeshouldrecollectthatheiswritinghistory,andnotplays,andthathisreaderswillexpecttruth,andnotthespoutingrantofhigh—tonedexclamation。
Whenweseeamandramaticallylamentinginapublicationintendedtobebelievedthat\"Theageofchivalryisgone！thatThegloryofEuropeisextinguishedforever！thatTheunboughtgraceoflife（ifanyoneknowswhatitis）,thecheapdefenceofnations,thenurseofmanlysentimentandheroicenterpriseisgone！\"andallthisbecausetheQuixotageofchivalrynonsenseisgone,whatopinioncanweformofhisjudgment,orwhatregardcanwepaytohisfacts？Intherhapsodyofhisimaginationhehasdiscoveredaworldofwindmills,andhissorrowsarethattherearenoQuixotstoattackthem。Butiftheageofaristocracy,likethatofchivalry,shouldfall（andtheyhadoriginallysomeconnection）Mr。
Burke,thetrumpeteroftheOrder,maycontinuehisparodytotheend,andfinishwithexclaiming:\"Othello\'soccupation\'sgone！\"
NotwithstandingMr。Burke\'shorridpaintings,whentheFrenchRevolutioniscomparedwiththeRevolutionsofothercountries,theastonishmentwillbethatitismarkedwithsofewsacrifices;butthisastonishmentwillceasewhenwereflectthatprinciples,andnotpersons,werethemeditatedobjectsofdestruction。Themindofthenationwasacteduponbyahigherstimulusthanwhattheconsiderationofpersonscouldinspire,andsoughtahigherconquestthancouldbeproducedbythedownfallofanenemy。Amongthefewwhofelltheredonotappeartobeanythatwereintentionallysingledout。Theyallofthemhadtheirfateinthecircumstancesofthemoment,andwerenotpursuedwiththatlong,cold—bloodedunabatedrevengewhichpursuedtheunfortunateScotchintheaffairof1745。
ThroughthewholeofMr。Burke\'sbookIdonotobservethattheBastilleismentionedmorethanonce,andthatwithakindofimplicationasifheweresorryitwaspulleddown,andwisheditwerebuiltupagain。\"WehaverebuiltNewgate,\"sayshe,\"andtenantedthemansion;andwehaveprisonsalmostasstrongastheBastilleforthosewhodaretolibelthequeensofFrance。\"*[2]AstowhatamadmanlikethepersoncalledLordGeorgeGordonmightsay,andtowhomNewgateisratherabedlamthanaprison,itisunworthyarationalconsideration。Itwasamadmanthatlibelled,andthatissufficientapology;anditaffordedanopportunityforconfininghim,whichwasthethingthatwaswishedfor。ButcertainitisthatMr。
Burke,whodoesnotcallhimselfamadman（whateverotherpeoplemaydo）,haslibelledinthemostunprovokedmanner,andinthegrosseststyleofthemostvulgarabuse,thewholerepresentativeauthorityofFrance,andyetMr。BurketakeshisseatintheBritishHouseofCommons！Fromhisviolenceandhisgrief,hissilenceonsomepointsandhisexcessonothers,itisdifficultnottobelievethatMr。Burkeissorry,extremelysorry,thatarbitrarypower,thepowerofthePopeandtheBastille,arepulleddown。
Notoneglanceofcompassion,notonecommiseratingreflectionthatIcanfindthroughouthisbook,hashebestowedonthosewholingeredoutthemostwretchedoflives,alifewithouthopeinthemostmiserableofprisons。Itispainfultobeholdamanemployinghistalentstocorrupthimself。NaturehasbeenkindertoMr。Burkethanheistoher。Heisnotaffectedbytherealityofdistresstouchinghisheart,butbytheshowyresemblanceofitstrikinghisimagination。Hepitiestheplumage,butforgetsthedyingbird。Accustomedtokissthearistocraticalhandthathathpurloinedhimfromhimself,hedegeneratesintoacompositionofart,andthegenuinesoulofnatureforsakeshim。Hisheroorhisheroinemustbeatragedy—victimexpiringinshow,andnottherealprisonerofmisery,slidingintodeathinthesilenceofadungeon。
AsMr。BurkehaspassedoverthewholetransactionoftheBastille（andhissilenceisnothinginhisfavour）,andhasentertainedhisreaderswithrefectionsonsupposedfactsdistortedintorealfalsehoods,Iwillgive,sincehehasnot,someaccountofthecircumstanceswhichprecededthattransaction。TheywillservetoshowthatlessmischiefcouldscarcelyhaveaccompaniedsuchaneventwhenconsideredwiththetreacherousandhostileaggravationsoftheenemiesoftheRevolution。
ThemindcanhardlypicturetoitselfamoretremendousscenethanwhatthecityofParisexhibitedatthetimeoftakingtheBastille,andfortwodaysbeforeandafter,norperceivethepossibilityofitsquietingsosoon。Atadistancethistransactionhasappearedonlyasanactofheroismstandingonitself,andtheclosepoliticalconnectionithadwiththeRevolutionislostinthebrilliancyoftheachievement。Butwearetoconsideritasthestrengthofthepartiesbroughtmantoman,andcontendingfortheissue。TheBastillewastobeeithertheprizeortheprisonoftheassailants。Thedownfallofitincludedtheideaofthedownfallofdespotism,andthiscompoundedimagewasbecomeasfigurativelyunitedasBunyan\'sDoubtingCastleandGiantDespair。
TheNationalAssembly,beforeandatthetimeoftakingtheBastille,wassittingatVersailles,twelvemilesdistantfromParis。AboutaweekbeforetherisingofthePartisans,andtheirtakingtheBastille,itwasdiscoveredthataplotwasforming,attheheadofwhichwastheCountD\'Artois,theking\'syoungestbrother,fordemolishingtheNationalAssembly,seizingitsmembers,andtherebycrushing,byacoupdemain,allhopesandprospectsofformingafreegovernment。Forthesakeofhumanity,aswellasfreedom,itiswellthisplandidnotsucceed。Examplesare。notwantingtoshowhowdreadfullyvindictiveandcruelarealloldgovernments,whentheyaresuccessfulagainstwhattheycallarevolt。
Thisplanmusthavebeensometimeincontemplation;because,inordertocarryitintoexecution,itwasnecessarytocollectalargemilitaryforceroundParis,andcutoffthecommunicationbetweenthatcityandtheNationalAssemblyatVersailles。ThetroopsdestinedforthisservicewerechieflytheforeigntroopsinthepayofFrance,andwho,forthisparticularpurpose,weredrawnfromthedistantprovinceswheretheywerethenstationed。Whentheywerecollectedtotheamountofbetweentwenty—fiveandthirtythousand,itwasjudgedtimetoputtheplanintoexecution。
Theministrywhoweretheninoffice,andwhowerefriendlytotheRevolution,wereinstantlydismissedandanewministryformedofthosewhohadconcertedtheproject,amongwhomwasCountdeBroglio,andtohissharewasgiventhecommandofthosetroops。ThecharacterofthismanasdescribedtomeinaletterwhichIcommunicatedtoMr。Burkebeforehebegantowritehisbook,andfromanauthoritywhichMr。Burkewellknowswasgood,wasthatof\"ahigh—flyingaristocrat,cool,andcapableofeverymischief。\"
Whilethesematterswereagitating,theNationalAssemblystoodinthemostperilousandcriticalsituationthatabodyofmencanbesupposedtoactin。Theywerethedevotedvictims,andtheyknewit。Theyhadtheheartsandwishesoftheircountryontheirside,butmilitaryauthoritytheyhadnone。TheguardsofBrogliosurroundedthehallwheretheAssemblysat,ready,atthewordofcommand,toseizetheirpersons,ashadbeendonetheyearbeforetotheParliamentofParis。HadtheNationalAssemblydesertedtheirtrust,orhadtheyexhibitedsignsofweaknessorfear,theirenemieshadbeenencouragedandtheircountrydepressed。Whenthesituationtheystoodin,thecausetheywereengagedin,andthecrisisthenreadytoburst,whichshoulddeterminetheirpersonalandpoliticalfateandthatoftheircountry,andprobablyofEurope,aretakenintooneview,nonebutaheartcallouswithprejudiceorcorruptedbydependencecanavoidinterestingitselfintheirsuccess。
TheArchbishopofViennewasatthistimePresidentoftheNationalAssembly—apersontoooldtoundergothescenethatafewdaysorafewhoursmightbringforth。Amanofmoreactivityandbolderfortitudewasnecessary,andtheNationalAssemblychose（undertheformofaVice—President,forthePresidencystillresidedintheArchbishop）M。delaFayette;andthisistheonlyinstanceofaVice—Presidentbeingchosen。Itwasatthemomentthatthisstormwaspending（July11th）thatadeclarationofrightswasbroughtforwardbyM。delaFayette,andisthesamewhichisalludedtoearlier。Itwashastilydrawnup,andmakesonlyapartofthemoreextensivedeclarationofrightsagreeduponandadoptedafterwardsbytheNationalAssembly。Theparticularreasonforbringingitforwardatthismoment（M。delaFayettehassinceinformedme）wasthat,iftheNationalAssemblyshouldfallinthethreateneddestructionthatthensurroundedit,sometraceofitsprinciplesmighthavethechanceofsurvivingthewreck。
Everythingnowwasdrawingtoacrisis。Theeventwasfreedomorslavery。
Ononeside,anarmyofnearlythirtythousandmen;ontheother,anunarmedbodyofcitizens—forthecitizensofParis,onwhomtheNationalAssemblymustthenimmediatelydepend,wereasunarmedandasundisciplinedasthecitizensofLondonarenow。TheFrenchguardshadgivenstrongsymptomsoftheirbeingattachedtothenationalcause;buttheirnumbersweresmall,notatenthpartoftheforcethatBrogliocommanded,andtheirofficerswereintheinterestofBroglio。
Mattersbeingnowripeforexecution,thenewministrymadetheirappearanceinoffice。ThereaderwillcarryinhismindthattheBastillewastakenthe14thJuly;thepointoftimeIamnowspeakingofisthe12th。ImmediatelyonthenewsofthechangeofministryreachingParis,intheafternoon,alltheplayhousesandplacesofentertainment,shopsandhouses,wereshutup。Thechangeofministrywasconsideredasthepreludeofhostilities,andtheopinionwasrightlyfounded。
Theforeigntroopsbegantoadvancetowardsthecity。ThePrincedeLambesc,whocommandedabodyofGermancavalry,approachedbythePlaceofLouisXV。,whichconnectsitselfwithsomeofthestreets。Inhismarch,heinsultedandstruckanoldmanwithasword。TheFrenchareremarkablefortheirrespecttooldage;andtheinsolencewithwhichitappearedtobedone,unitingwiththegeneralfermentationtheywerein,producedapowerfuleffect,andacryof\"Toarms！toarms！\"spreaditselfinamomentoverthecity。
Armstheyhadnone,norscarcelyanyonewhoknewtheuseofthem;butdesperateresolution,wheneveryhopeisatstake,supplies,forawhile,thewantofarms。NearwherethePrincedeLambescwasdrawnup,werelargepilesofstonescollectedforbuildingthenewbridge,andwiththesethepeopleattackedthecavalry。ApartyofFrenchguardsuponhearingthefiring,rushedfromtheirquartersandjoinedthepeople;andnightcomingon,thecavalryretreated。
ThestreetsofParis,beingnarrow,arefavourablefordefence,andtheloftinessofthehouses,consistingofmanystories,fromwhichgreatannoyancemightbegiven,securedthemagainstnocturnalenterprises;andthenightwasspentinprovidingthemselveswitheverysortofweapontheycouldmakeorprocure:guns,swords,blacksmiths\'hammers,carpenters\'
axes,ironcrows,pikes,halberts,pitchforks,spits,clubs,etc。,etc。
Theincrediblenumbersinwhichtheyassembledthenextmorning,andthestillmoreincredibleresolutiontheyexhibited,embarrassedandastonishedtheirenemies。Littledidthenewministryexpectsuchasalute。Accustomedtoslaverythemselves,theyhadnoideathatlibertywascapableofsuchinspiration,orthatabodyofunarmedcitizenswoulddaretofacethemilitaryforceofthirtythousandmen。Everymomentofthisdaywasemployedincollectingarms,concertingplans,andarrangingthemselvesintothebestorderwhichsuchaninstantaneousmovementcouldafford。Brogliocontinuedlyingroundthecity,butmadenofurtheradvancesthisday,andthesucceedingnightpassedwithasmuchtranquilityassuchascenecouldpossiblyproduce。
Butdefenceonlywasnottheobjectofthecitizens。Theyhadacauseatstake,onwhichdependedtheirfreedomortheirslavery。Theyeverymomentexpectedanattack,ortohearofonemadeontheNationalAssembly;
andinsuchasituation,themostpromptmeasuresaresometimesthebest。
TheobjectthatnowpresenteditselfwastheBastille;andtheeclatofcarryingsuchafortressinthefaceofsuchanarmy,couldnotfailtostriketerrorintothenewministry,whohadscarcelyyethadtimetomeet。
Bysomeinterceptedcorrespondencethismorning,itwasdiscoveredthattheMayorofParis,M。Defflesselles,whoappearedtobeintheinterestofthecitizens,wasbetrayingthem;andfromthisdiscovery,thereremainednodoubtthatBrogliowouldreinforcetheBastilletheensuingevening。
Itwasthereforenecessarytoattackitthatday;butbeforethiscouldbedone,itwasfirstnecessarytoprocureabettersupplyofarmsthantheywerethenpossessedof。
Therewas,adjoiningtothecityalargemagazineofarmsdepositedattheHospitaloftheInvalids,whichthecitizenssummonedtosurrender;
andastheplacewasneitherdefensible,norattemptedmuchdefence,theysoonsucceeded。Thussupplied,theymarchedtoattacktheBastille;avastmixedmultitudeofallages,andofalldegrees,armedwithallsortsofweapons。Imaginationwouldfailindescribingtoitselftheappearanceofsuchaprocession,andoftheanxietyoftheeventswhichafewhoursorafewminutesmightproduce。Whatplanstheministrywereforming,wereasunknowntothepeoplewithinthecity,aswhatthecitizensweredoingwasunknowntotheministry;andwhatmovementsBrogliomightmakeforthesupportorreliefoftheplace,weretothecitizensequallyasunknown。
Allwasmysteryandhazard。
ThattheBastillewasattackedwithanenthusiasmofheroism,suchonlyasthehighestanimationoflibertycouldinspire,andcarriedinthespaceofafewhours,isaneventwhichtheworldisfullypossessedof。Iamnotundertakingthedetailoftheattack,butbringingintoviewtheconspiracyagainstthenationwhichprovokedit,andwhichfellwiththeBastille。
