The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
to the measure of his understanding. In this way, no void would have
been created, courting the usurpation of a military adventurer, nor
occasion given for those enormities which demoralized the nations of
the world, and destroyed, and is yet to destroy, millions and millions
of its inhabitants. There are three epochs in history, signalized
by the total extinction of national morality. The first was of the
successors of Alexander, not omitting himself: The next, the successors
of the first Cæsar: The third, our own age. This was begun by the
partition of Poland, followed by that of the treaty of Pilnitz; next
the conflagration of Copenhagen; then the enormities of Bonaparte,
partitioning the earth at his will, and devastating it with fire
and sword; now the conspiracy of Kings, the successors of Bonaparte,
blasphemously calling themselves the Holy Alliance, and treading in the
footsteps of their incarcerated leader; not yet, indeed, usurping the
government of other nations, avowedly and in detail, but controlling by
their armies the forms in which they will permit them to be governed;
and reserving, _in petto_, the order and extent of the usurpations
further meditated. But I will return from a digression, anticipated,
too, in time, into which I have been led by reflection on the criminal
passions which refused to the world a favorable occasion of saving it
from the afflictions it has since suffered.
M. Necker had reached Basle before he was overtaken by the letter of
the King, inviting him back to resume the office he had recently left.
He returned immediately, and all the other Ministers having resigned,
a new administration was named, to wit: St. Priest and Montmorin were
restored; the Archbishop of Bordeaux was appointed Garde des sceaux, La
Tour du Pin, Minister of War; La Luzerne, Minister of Marine. This last
was believed to have been effected by the friendship of Montmorin; for
although differing in politics, they continued firm in friendship, and
Luzerne, although not an able man, was thought an honest one. And the
Prince of Bauvau was taken into the Council.
Seven Princes of the blood Royal, six ex-Ministers, and many of the
high Noblesse, having fled, and the present Ministers, except Luzerne,
being all of the popular party, all the functionaries of government
moved, for the present, in perfect harmony.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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