An historical and moral view of the origin and progress of the French Revolution; and the effect it has produced in EuropeWollstonecraft, Mary
Philosophy
An historical and moral view of the origin and progress of the French Revolution; and the effect it has produced in Europe
Wollstonecraft, Mary
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Causes
Few events have happened at Paris, that have not been attributed by the
different parties to the machinations of the leaders on the other side;
to blacken whose characters, when they had the upper hand, the most
audacious falsehoods have been industriously circulated; the detection
of which has induced many calm observers to believe, that all the
accounts of plots and conspiracies were fabricated in the same manner;
not considering, that even the universality of these suspicions was a
proof of the intriguing character of the people, who from a knowledge of
themselves became thus mistrustful of others. It was currently reported,
that very considerable sums had been distributed amongst the mob, before
it marched to Versailles; and, though many fabulous stories of showers
of gold have since been retailed by the credulous, this seems, from
their subsequent conduct, to have had some foundation: for nothing like
the heroism, the disinterestedness, appeared, which, in most other
risings of the parisians, has formed a striking contrast with their
barbarity; sometimes sufficient to oblige us, lamenting the delusions of
ignorance, to give the soft name of enthusiasm to cruelty; respecting
the intention, though detesting the effects. Now, on the contrary,
acting like a gang of thieves, they gave colour to the report—that the
first instigators of the riot were hired assassins.—And hired by
whom?—The public voice repeats, on every side, the despicable duke of
Orleans, whose immense estate had given him an undue influence in the
bailliages, and who still exercised all the means that cunning could
devise, and wealth produce, to revenge himself on the royal family. He
was particularly incensed against the queen, who having treated him with
the contempt which he doubtless merited, and even influenced the king to
banish him to one of his country seats, when he uttered some popular
sentiments, he continued to nourish the most implacable hatred to her
person, whilst the changing sentiments of the nation respecting the
present branch of his family excited in him hopes, that would at once
have gratified both his revenge and his ambition.
There is no calculating the mischief which may be produced by a
revengeful cunning knave, possessing the forcible engine of gold to move
his projects, and acting by agency, which, like a subterraneous fire,
that for a long time has been putting the combustible matter into a
state of fusion, bursts out unexpectedly, and the sudden eruption
spreads around terrour and destruction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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