ABSTRACT

The royal proclamations and the number of associated bodies on various pretexts in different parts of the kingdom are a sufficient proof, that the minds of men are At present greatly agitated; and that the utmost vigour of government, aided by the exertions of every lover of his country, is necessary to preserve us, from falling into all the honours attendant on civil commotions. Having been warned of our danger, it becomes us to consider, by what means we may escape the impending evil: and no one should take a decisive part, without weighing fully and impartially the consequences of his conduct. The assassinations, murders, massacres, burning of houses; plundering of property, open violations of justice, which have marked the progress of the French revolution, must stagger the boldest republican in his wishes to overthrow any constitution: and on the other hand he must be a weak or a wicked man, who lost in admiration of the beauties of a voluptuous and effeminate court, forgets the miseries of the poor subjects, whose bodies were bowed down to the grindstone for its support, and brands with every mark of aristocratick insolence the efforts of those patriots, who put an end to the despotism of the antient government. It is an aweful example, which providence holds out to an astonished world; and happy will that nation be, which derives from it lessons of wisdom. Surely there cannot be a diffentient voice on this opinion; and no blame can that writer ineur, who calls on the contending parties in our own country, to make a proper use of the divine judgements, and instead of exasperating each other by useless invectives, to unite cordially in their endeavours to promote the common good, and to remove those grievances, if any such there be, which occasion the present discontent.