第2章
加入书架 A- A+
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  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。

点击下载App,搜索"The Rights Of Man",免费读到尾