"Despotism is what never entered into the head of the king. He never had any wish but the happiness of his people, and this was the only consideration that could be ever employed as a means of influencing him. If any acts of authority were to be resorted to, he was never to be persuaded but by showing him that some good was to be attained or some evil avoided. I am convinced that his authority was never considered by him, nor did he wish to maintain it but as the best means of supporting and securing the tranquillity and peace of the community. As we are now speaking of the causes that produced this regeneration of the country, let us state the first to be the character of Louis XVI. A king less of a good man and ministers more adroit, and we should have had no revolution." FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 134: "The French Guards, those generous citizens, rebels to their masters, in the language of despotism, but faithful to the nation, are the first to swear never to turn their arms against her."--_M. Rabaud de St. Etienne_, vol. i., p. 62. Mr. Alison calls this the "_revolt and treason of the French Guards_." The same occurrence assumes very different aspects as seen from different stand-points.] [Footnote 135: M. Rabaud de St. Etienne.] [Footnote 136: Hist. Parlementaire, vol. ii., p. 32. Michelet, vol. i., p. 127.] [Footnote 137: Histoire des Montagnards, par Alphonse Esquiros, p. 15.] [Footnote 138: Thiers, vol. i., p. 61.] [Footnote 139: "While on this subject I can not refrain from remarking on the impolitic conduct of the nobles and the bishops. As they aimed only to dissolve the Assembly, to throw discredit on its operations, when the president stated a question they left the hall, inviting the deputies of their party to follow them. With this senseless conduct they combined an insulting disdain, both of the Assembly and of the people who attended the sittings. Instead of listening, they laughed and talked aloud, thus confirming the people in the unfavorable opinion which it had conceived of them; and instead of striving to recover the confidence and the esteem of the people, they strove only to gain their hatred and contempt."--_Ferrières_, t. ii., p. 122.] [Footnote 140: Histoire des Montagnards, par Alphonse Esquiros, p. 15.] [Footnote 141: France and its Revolutions, by George Long, Esq.] [Footnote 142: Some authorities say the 9th.] [Footnote 143: France and its Revolutions, by George Long, Esq., vol. i., p. 25.] [Footnote 144: It is said that this famous address to the king was composed by M. Dumont, the leading ideas having been communicated to him by Mirabeau. A few extracts will give one an idea of the spirit of the piece.