ThePresidentoftheNationalAssemblydoesnotasktheKingtogranttotheAssemblylibertyofspeech,asisthecasewiththeEnglishHouseofCommons。TheconstitutionaldignityoftheNationalAssemblycannotdebaseitself。Speechis,inthefirstplace,oneofthenaturalrightsofmanalwaysretained;andwithrespecttotheNationalAssemblytheuseofitistheirduty,andthenationistheirauthority。TheywereelectedbythegreatestbodyofmenexercisingtherightofelectiontheEuropeanworldeversaw。Theysprungnotfromthefilthofrottenboroughs,noraretheythevassalrepresentativesofaristocraticalones。Feelingtheproperdignityoftheircharactertheysupportit。TheirParliamentarylanguage,whetherfororagainstaquestion,isfree,boldandmanly,andextendstoallthepartsandcircumstancesofthecase。Ifanymatterorsubjectrespectingtheexecutivedepartmentorthepersonwhopresidesinit（theking）comesbeforethemitisdebatedonwiththespiritofmen,andinthelanguageofgentlemen;andtheiranswerortheiraddressisreturnedinthesamestyle。Theystandnotaloofwiththegapingvacuityofvulgarignorance,norbendwiththecringeofsycophanticinsignificance。
Thegracefulprideoftruthknowsnoextremes,andpreserves,ineverylatitudeoflife,theright—angledcharacterofman。
Letusnowlooktotheothersideofthequestion。IntheaddressesoftheEnglishParliamentstotheirkingsweseeneithertheintrepidspiritoftheoldParliamentsofFrance,northeserenedignityofthepresentNationalAssembly;neitherdoweseeinthemanythingofthestyleofEnglishmanners,whichbordersomewhatonbluntness。Sincethentheyareneitherofforeignextraction,nornaturallyofEnglishproduction,theiroriginmustbesoughtforelsewhere,andthatoriginistheNormanConquest。Theyareevidentlyofthevassalageclassofmanners,andemphaticallymarktheprostratedistancethatexistsinnootherconditionofmenthanbetweentheconquerorandtheconquered。ThatthisvassalageideaandstyleofspeakingwasnotgotridofevenattheRevolutionof1688,isevidentfromthedeclarationofParliamenttoWilliamandMaryinthesewords:
"Wedomosthumblyandfaithfullysubmitourselves,ourheirsandposterities,forever。"Submissioniswhollyavassalageterm,repugnanttothedignityoffreedom,andanechoofthelanguageusedattheConquest。
Astheestimationofallthingsisgivenbycomparison,theRevolutionof1688,howeverfromcircumstancesitmayhavebeenexaltedbeyonditsvalue,willfinditslevel。Itisalreadyonthewane,eclipsedbytheenlargingorbofreason,andtheluminousrevolutionsofAmericaandFrance。
Inlessthananothercenturyitwillgo,aswellasMr。Burke'slabours,"tothefamilyvaultofalltheCapulets。"MankindwillthenscarcelybelievethatacountrycallingitselffreewouldsendtoHollandforaman,andclothehimwithpoweronpurposetoputthemselvesinfearofhim,andgivehimalmostamillionsterlingayearforleavetosubmitthemselvesandtheirposterity,likebondmenandbondwomen,forever。
Butthereisatruththatoughttobemadeknown;Ihavehadtheopportunityofseeingit;whichis,thatnotwithstandingappearances,thereisnotanydescriptionofmenthatdespisemonarchysomuchascourtiers。Buttheywellknow,thatifitwereseenbyothers,asitisseenbythem,thejugglecouldnotbekeptup;theyareintheconditionofmenwhogettheirlivingbyashow,andtowhomthefollyofthatshowissofamiliarthattheyridiculeit;butweretheaudiencetobemadeaswiseinthisrespectasthemselves,therewouldbeanendtotheshowandtheprofitswithit。Thedifferencebetweenarepublicanandacourtierwithrespecttomonarchy,isthattheoneopposesmonarchy,believingittobesomething;
andtheotherlaughsatit,knowingittobenothing。
AsIusedsometimestocorrespondwithMr。Burkebelievinghimthentobeamanofsounderprinciplesthanhisbookshowshimtobe,IwrotetohimlastwinterfromParis,andgavehimanaccounthowprosperouslymattersweregoingon。Amongothersubjectsinthatletter,IreferredtothehappysituationtheNationalAssemblywereplacedin;thattheyhadtakengroundonwhichtheirmoraldutyandtheirpoliticalinterestwereunited。Theyhavenottoholdoutalanguagewhichtheydonotthemselvesbelieve,forthefraudulentpurposeofmakingothersbelieveit。Theirstationrequiresnoartificetosupportit,andcanonlybemaintainedbyenlighteningmankind。Itisnottheirinteresttocherishignorance,buttodispelit。TheyarenotinthecaseofaministerialoranoppositionpartyinEngland,who,thoughtheyareopposed,arestillunitedtokeepupthecommonmystery。TheNationalAssemblymustthrowopenamagazineoflight。Itmustshowmanthepropercharacterofman;andtheneareritcanbringhimtothatstandard,thestrongertheNationalAssemblybecomes。
IncontemplatingtheFrenchConstitution,weseeinitarationalorderofthings。Theprinciplesharmonisewiththeforms,andbothwiththeirorigin。Itmayperhapsbesaidasanexcuseforbadforms,thattheyarenothingmorethanforms;butthisisamistake。Formsgrowoutofprinciples,andoperatetocontinuetheprinciplestheygrowfrom。Itisimpossibletopractiseabadformonanythingbutabadprinciple。Itcannotbeingraftedonagoodone;andwherevertheformsinanygovernmentarebad,itisacertainindicationthattheprinciplesarebadalso。
Iwillherefinallyclosethissubject。IbeganitbyremarkingthatMr。BurkehadvoluntarilydeclinedgoingintoacomparisonoftheEnglishandFrenchConstitutions。Heapologises（inpage241）fornotdoingit,bysayingthathehadnottime。Mr。Burke'sbookwasupwardsofeightmonthsinhand,andisextendedtoavolumeofthreehundredandsixty—sixpages。
Ashisomissiondoesinjurytohiscause,hisapologymakesitworse;andmenontheEnglishsideofthewaterwillbegintoconsider,whetherthereisnotsomeradicaldefectinwhatiscalledtheEnglishconstitution,thatmadeitnecessaryforMr。Burketosuppressthecomparison,toavoidbringingitintoview。
AsMr。BurkehasnotwrittenonconstitutionssoneitherhashewrittenontheFrenchRevolution。Hegivesnoaccountofitscommencementoritsprogress。Heonlyexpresseshiswonder。"Itlooks,"sayshe,"tome,asifIwereinagreatcrisis,notoftheaffairsofFrancealone,butofallEurope,perhapsofmorethanEurope。Allcircumstancestakentogether,theFrenchRevolutionisthemostastonishingthathashithertohappenedintheworld。"
Aswisemenareastonishedatfoolishthings,andotherpeopleatwiseones,IknownotonwhichgroundtoaccountforMr。Burke'sastonishment;
butcertainitis,thathedoesnotunderstandtheFrenchRevolution。Ithasapparentlyburstforthlikeacreationfromachaos,butitisnomorethantheconsequenceofamentalrevolutionpriorilyexistinginFrance。
Themindofthenationhadchangedbeforehand,andtheneworderofthingshasnaturallyfollowedtheneworderofthoughts。Iwillhere,asconciselyasIcan,traceoutthegrowthoftheFrenchRevolution,andmarkthecircumstancesthathavecontributedtoproduceit。
ThedespotismofLouisXIV。,unitedwiththegaietyofhisCourt,andthegaudyostentationofhischaracter,hadsohumbled,andatthesametimesofascinatedthemindofFrance,thatthepeopleappearedtohavelostallsenseoftheirowndignity,incontemplatingthatoftheirGrandMonarch;andthewholereignofLouisXV。,remarkableonlyforweaknessandeffeminacy,madenootheralterationthanthatofspreadingasortoflethargyoverthenation,fromwhichitshowednodispositiontorise。
TheonlysignswhichappearedtothespiritofLibertyduringthoseperiods,aretobefoundinthewritingsoftheFrenchphilosophers。Montesquieu,PresidentoftheParliamentofBordeaux,wentasfarasawriterunderadespoticgovernmentcouldwellproceed;andbeingobligedtodividehimselfbetweenprincipleandprudence,hismindoftenappearsunderaveil,andweoughttogivehimcreditformorethanhehasexpressed。
Voltaire,whowasboththeflattererandthesatiristofdespotism,tookanotherline。Hisfortelayinexposingandridiculingthesuperstitionswhichpriest—craft,unitedwithstate—craft,hadinterwovenwithgovernments。Itwasnotfromthepurityofhisprinciples,orhisloveofmankind（forsatireandphilanthropyarenotnaturallyconcordant）,butfromhisstrongcapacityofseeingfollyinitstrueshape,andhisirresistiblepropensitytoexposeit,thathemadethoseattacks。Theywere,however,asformidableasifthemotivehadbeenvirtuous;andhemeritsthethanksratherthantheesteemofmankind。
Onthecontrary,wefindinthewritingsofRousseau,andtheAbbeRaynal,alovelinessofsentimentinfavourofliberty,thatexcitesrespect,andelevatesthehumanfaculties;buthavingraisedthisanimation,theydonotdirectitsoperation,andleavethemindinlovewithanobject,withoutdescribingthemeansofpossessingit。
ThewritingsofQuesnay,Turgot,andthefriendsofthoseauthors,areoftheseriouskind;buttheylabouredunderthesamedisadvantagewithMontesquieu;theirwritingsaboundwithmoralmaximsofgovernment,butareratherdirectedtoeconomiseandreformtheadministrationofthegovernment,thanthegovernmentitself。
Butallthosewritingsandmanyothershadtheirweight;andbythedifferentmannerinwhichtheytreatedthesubjectofgovernment,Montesquieubyhisjudgmentandknowledgeoflaws,Voltairebyhiswit,RousseauandRaynalbytheiranimation,andQuesnayandTurgotbytheirmoralmaximsandsystemsofeconomy,readersofeveryclassmetwithsomethingtotheirtaste,andaspiritofpoliticalinquirybegantodiffuseitselfthroughthenationatthetimethedisputebetweenEnglandandthethencoloniesofAmericabrokeout。
InthewarwhichFranceafterwardsengagedin,itisverywellknownthatthenationappearedtobebefore—handwiththeFrenchministry。Eachofthemhaditsview;butthoseviewsweredirectedtodifferentobjects;
theonesoughtliberty,andtheotherretaliationonEngland。TheFrenchofficersandsoldierswhoafterthiswenttoAmerica,wereeventuallyplacedintheschoolofFreedom,andlearnedthepracticeaswellastheprinciplesofitbyheart。
AsitwasimpossibletoseparatethemilitaryeventswhichtookplaceinAmericafromtheprinciplesoftheAmericanRevolution,thepublicationofthoseeventsinFrancenecessarilyconnectedthemselveswiththeprincipleswhichproducedthem。Manyofthefactswereinthemselvesprinciples;suchasthedeclarationofAmericanIndependence,andthetreatyofalliancebetweenFranceandAmerica,whichrecognisedthenaturalrightsofman,andjustifiedresistancetooppression。
ThethenMinisterofFrance,CountVergennes,wasnotthefriendofAmerica;anditisbothjusticeandgratitudetosay,thatitwastheQueenofFrancewhogavethecauseofAmericaafashionattheFrenchCourt。
CountVergenneswasthepersonalandsocialfriendofDr。Franklin;andtheDoctorhadobtained,byhissensiblegracefulness,asortofinfluenceoverhim;butwithrespecttoprinciplesCountVergenneswasadespot。
ThesituationofDr。Franklin,asMinisterfromAmericatoFrance,shouldbetakenintothechainofcircumstances。Thediplomaticcharacterisofitselfthenarrowestsphereofsocietythatmancanactin。Itforbidsintercoursebythereciprocityofsuspicion;andadiplomaticisasortofunconnectedatom,continuallyrepellingandrepelled。ButthiswasnotthecasewithDr。Franklin。HewasnotthediplomaticofaCourt,butofMAN。Hischaracterasaphilosopherhadbeenlongestablished,andhiscircleofsocietyinFrancewasuniversal。
CountVergennesresistedforaconsiderabletimethepublicationinFranceofAmericanconstitutions,translatedintotheFrenchlanguage:
buteveninthishewasobligedtogivewaytopublicopinion,andasortofproprietyinadmittingtoappearwhathehadundertakentodefend。TheAmericanconstitutionsweretolibertywhatagrammaristolanguage:theydefineitspartsofspeech,andpracticallyconstructthemintosyntax。
ThepeculiarsituationofthethenMarquisdelaFayetteisanotherlinkinthegreatchain。HeservedinAmericaasanAmericanofficerunderacommissionofCongress,andbytheuniversalityofhisacquaintancewasinclosefriendshipwiththecivilgovernmentofAmerica,aswellaswiththemilitaryline。Hespokethelanguageofthecountry,enteredintothediscussionsontheprinciplesofgovernment,andwasalwaysawelcomefriendatanyelection。
Whenthewarclosed,avastreinforcementtothecauseofLibertyspreaditselfoverFrance,bythereturnoftheFrenchofficersandsoldiers。
Aknowledgeofthepracticewasthenjoinedtothetheory;andallthatwaswantingtogiveitrealexistencewasopportunity。Mancannot,properlyspeaking,makecircumstancesforhispurpose,buthealwayshasitinhispowertoimprovethemwhentheyoccur,andthiswasthecaseinFrance。
M。NeckarwasdisplacedinMay,1781;andbytheill—managementofthefinancesafterwards,andparticularlyduringtheextravagantadministrationofM。Calonne,therevenueofFrance,whichwasnearlytwenty—fourmillionssterlingperyear,wasbecomeunequaltotheexpenditure,notbecausetherevenuehaddecreased,butbecausetheexpenseshadincreased;andthiswasacircumstancewhichthenationlaidholdoftobringforwardaRevolution。
TheEnglishMinister,Mr。Pitt,hasfrequentlyalludedtothestateoftheFrenchfinancesinhisbudgets,withoutunderstandingthesubject。
HadtheFrenchParliamentsbeenasreadytoregisteredictsfornewtaxesasanEnglishParliamentistograntthem,therehadbeennoderangementinthefinances,noryetanyRevolution;butthiswillbetterexplainitselfasIproceed。
ItwillbenecessaryheretoshowhowtaxeswereformerlyraisedinFrance。TheKing,orrathertheCourtorMinistryactingundertheuseofthatname,framedtheedictsfortaxesattheirowndiscretion,andsentthemtotheParliamentstoberegistered;foruntiltheywereregisteredbytheParliamentstheywerenotoperative。Disputeshadlongexistedbetween。
theCourtandtheParliamentswithrespecttotheextentoftheParliament'sauthorityonthishead。TheCourtinsistedthattheauthorityofParliamentswentnofartherthantoremonstrateorshowreasonsagainstthetax,reservingtoitselftherightofdeterminingwhetherthereasonswerewellorill—founded;
andinconsequencethereof,eithertowithdrawtheedictasamatterofchoice,ortoorderittobeunregisteredasamatterofauthority。TheParliamentsontheirpartinsistedthattheyhadnotonlyarighttoremonstrate,buttoreject;andonthisgroundtheywerealwayssupportedbythenation。
Buttoreturntotheorderofmynarrative。M。Calonnewantedmoney:
andasheknewthesturdydispositionoftheParliamentswithrespecttonewtaxes,heingeniouslysoughteithertoapproachthembyamoregentlemeansthanthatofdirectauthority,ortogetovertheirheadsbyamanoeuvre;
andforthispurposeherevivedtheprojectofassemblingabodyofmenfromtheseveralprovinces,underthestyleofan"AssemblyoftheNotables,"
ormenofnote,whometin1787,andwhowereeithertorecommendtaxestotheParliaments,ortoactasaParliamentthemselves。AnAssemblyunderthisnamehadbeencalledin1617。
AswearetoviewthisasthefirstpracticalsteptowardstheRevolution,itwillbepropertoenterintosomeparticularsrespectingit。TheAssemblyoftheNotableshasinsomeplacesbeenmistakenfortheStates—General,butwaswhollyadifferentbody,theStates—Generalbeingalwaysbyelection。
ThepersonswhocomposedtheAssemblyoftheNotableswereallnominatedbytheking,andconsistedofonehundredandfortymembers。ButasM。
CalonnecouldnotdependuponamajorityofthisAssemblyinhisfavour,heveryingeniouslyarrangedtheminsuchamannerastomakeforty—fouramajorityofonehundredandforty;toeffectthishedisposedofthemintosevenseparatecommittees,oftwentymemberseach。Everygeneralquestionwastobedecided,notbyamajorityofpersons,butbyamajorityofcommittee,andaselevenvoteswouldmakeamajorityinacommittee,andfourcommitteesamajorityofseven,M。Calonnehadgoodreasontoconcludethatasforty—fourwoulddetermineanygeneralquestionhecouldnotbeoutvoted。Butallhisplansdeceivedhim,andintheeventbecamehisoverthrow。
ThethenMarquisdelaFayettewasplacedinthesecondcommittee,ofwhichtheCountD'Artoiswaspresident,andasmoneymattersweretheobject,itnaturallybroughtintovieweverycircumstanceconnectedwithit。M。
delaFayettemadeaverbalchargeagainstCalonneforsellingcrownlandstotheamountoftwomillionsoflivres,inamannerthatappearedtobeunknowntotheking。TheCountD'Artois（asiftointimidate,fortheBastillewastheninbeing）askedtheMarquisifhewouldrenderthechargeinwriting？
Herepliedthathewould。TheCountD'Artoisdidnotdemandit,butbroughtamessagefromthekingtothatpurport。M。delaFayettethendeliveredinhischargeinwriting,tobegiventotheking,undertakingtosupportit。Nofartherproceedingswerehaduponthisaffair,butM。CalonnewassoonafterdismissedbythekingandsetofftoEngland。
AsM。delaFayette,fromtheexperienceofwhathehadseeninAmerica,wasbetteracquaintedwiththescienceofcivilgovernmentthanthegeneralityofthememberswhocomposedtheAssemblyoftheNotablescouldthenbe,thebruntofthebusinessfellconsiderablytohisshare。TheplanofthosewhohadaconstitutioninviewwastocontendwiththeCourtonthegroundoftaxes,andsomeofthemopenlyprofessedtheirobject。DisputesfrequentlyarosebetweenCountD'ArtoisandM。delaFayetteuponvarioussubjects。
Withrespecttothearrearsalreadyincurredthelatterproposedtoremedythembyaccommodatingtheexpensestotherevenueinsteadoftherevenuetotheexpenses;andasobjectsofreformheproposedtoabolishtheBastilleandalltheStateprisonsthroughoutthenation（thekeepingofwhichwasattendedwithgreatexpense）,andtosuppressLettresdeCachet;butthosematterswerenotthenmuchattendedto,andwithrespecttoLettresdeCachet,amajorityoftheNoblesappearedtobeinfavourofthem。
OnthesubjectofsupplyingtheTreasurybynewtaxestheAssemblydeclinedtakingthematteronthemselves,concurringintheopinionthattheyhadnotauthority。InadebateonthissubjectM。delaFayettesaidthatraisingmoneybytaxescouldonlybedonebyaNationalAssembly,freelyelectedbythepeople,andactingastheirrepresentatives。Doyoumean,saidtheCountD'Artois,theStates—General？M。delaFayetterepliedthathedid。
Willyou,saidtheCountD'Artois,signwhatyousaytobegiventotheking？Theotherrepliedthathewouldnotonlydothisbutthathewouldgofarther,andsaythattheeffectualmodewouldbeforthekingtoagreetotheestablishmentofaconstitution。
Asoneoftheplanshadthusfailed,thatofgettingtheAssemblytoactasaParliament,theothercameintoview,thatofrecommending。OnthissubjecttheAssemblyagreedtorecommendtwonewtaxestobeunregisteredbytheParliament:theoneastamp—taxandtheotheraterritorialtax,orsortofland—tax。Thetwohavebeenestimatedataboutfivemillionssterlingperannum。WehavenowtoturnourattentiontotheParliaments,onwhomthebusinesswasagaindevolving。
TheArchbishopofThoulouse（sinceArchbishopofSens,andnowaCardinal）,wasappointedtotheadministrationofthefinancessoonafterthedismissionofCalonne。HewasalsomadePrimeMinister,anofficethatdidnotalwaysexistinFrance。Whenthisofficedidnotexist,thechiefofeachoftheprincipaldepartmentstransactedbusinessimmediatelywiththeKing,butwhenaPrimeMinisterwasappointedtheydidbusinessonlywithhim。TheArchbishoparrivedtomorestateauthoritythananyministersincetheDukedeChoiseul,andthenationwasstronglydisposedinhisfavour;butbyalineofconductscarcelytobeaccountedforhepervertedeveryopportunity,turnedoutadespot,andsunkintodisgrace,andaCardinal。
TheAssemblyoftheNotableshavingbrokenup,theministersenttheedictsforthetwonewtaxesrecommendedbytheAssemblytotheParliamentstobeunregistered。TheyofcoursecamefirstbeforetheParliamentofParis,whoreturnedforanswer:"thatwithsucharevenueasthenationthensupportedthenameoftaxesoughtnottobementionedbutforthepurposeofreducingthem";andthrewboththeedictsout。*[8]OnthisrefusaltheParliamentwasorderedtoVersailles,where,intheusualform,theKingheldwhatundertheoldgovernmentwascalledaBedofjustice;andthetwoedictswereunregisteredinpresenceoftheParliamentbyanorderofState,inthemannermentioned,earlier。OnthistheParliamentimmediatelyreturnedtoParis,renewedtheirsessioninform,andorderedtheenregisteringtobestruckout,declaringthateverythingdoneatVersailleswasillegal。
AllthemembersoftheParliamentwerethenservedwithLettresdeCachet,andexiledtoTroyes;butastheycontinuedasinflexibleinexileasbefore,andasvengeancedidnotsupplytheplaceoftaxes,theywereafterashorttimerecalledtoParis。
Theedictswereagaintenderedtothem,andtheCountD'ArtoisundertooktoactasrepresentativeoftheKing。ForthispurposehecamefromVersaillestoParis,inatrainofprocession;andtheParliamentwereassembledtoreceivehim。ButshowandparadehadlosttheirinfluenceinFrance;andwhateverideasofimportancehemightsetoffwith,hehadtoreturnwiththoseofmortificationanddisappointment。OnalightingfromhiscarriagetoascendthestepsoftheParliamentHouse,thecrowd（whichwasnumerouslycollected）threwouttriteexpressions,saying:"ThisisMonsieurD'Artois,whowantsmoreofourmoneytospend。"Themarkeddisapprobationwhichhesawimpressedhimwithapprehensions,andthewordAuxarmes！（Toarms！）
wasgivenoutbytheofficeroftheguardwhoattendedhim。Itwassoloudlyvociferated,thatitechoedthroughtheavenuesofthehouse,andproducedatemporaryconfusion。Iwasthenstandinginoneoftheapartmentsthroughwhichhehadtopass,andcouldnotavoidreflectinghowwretchedwastheconditionofadisrespectedman。
HeendeavouredtoimpresstheParliamentbygreatwords,andopenedhisauthoritybysaying,"TheKing,ourLordandMaster。"TheParliamentreceivedhimverycoolly,andwiththeirusualdeterminationnottoregisterthetaxes:andinthismannertheinterviewended。
Afterthisanewsubjecttookplace:InthevariousdebatesandcontestswhicharosebetweentheCourtandtheParliamentsonthesubjectoftaxes,theParliamentofParisatlastdeclaredthatalthoughithadbeencustomaryforParliamentstoenregisteredictsfortaxesasamatterofconvenience,therightbelongedonlytotheStates—General;andthat,therefore,theParliamentcouldnolongerwithproprietycontinuetodebateonwhatithadnotauthoritytoact。TheKingafterthiscametoParisandheldameetingwiththeParliament,inwhichhecontinuedfromteninthemorningtillaboutsixintheevening,and,inamannerthatappearedtoproceedfromhimasifunconsulteduponwiththeCabinetorMinistry,gavehiswordtotheParliamentthattheStates—Generalshouldbeconvened。
Butafterthisanotherscenearose,onagrounddifferentfromalltheformer。TheMinisterandtheCabinetwereaversetocallingtheStates—General。
TheywellknewthatiftheStates—Generalwereassembled,themselvesmustfall;andastheKinghadnotmentionedanytime,theyhitonaprojectcalculatedtoelude,withoutappearingtooppose。
Forthispurpose,theCourtsetaboutmakingasortofconstitutionitself。ItwasprincipallytheworkofM。Lamoignon,theKeeperoftheSeals,whoafterwardsshothimself。ThisnewarrangementconsistedinestablishingabodyunderthenameofaCourPleniere,orFullCourt,inwhichwereinvestedallthepowersthattheGovernmentmighthaveoccasiontomakeuseof。ThepersonscomposingthisCourtweretobenominatedbytheKing;
thecontendedrightoftaxationwasgivenuponthepartoftheKing,andanewcriminalcodeoflawsandlawproceedingswassubstitutedintheroomoftheformer。Thething,inmanypoints,containedbetterprinciplesthanthoseuponwhichtheGovernmenthadhithertobeenadministered;butwithrespecttotheCourPleniere,itwasnootherthanamediumthroughwhichdespotismwastopass,withoutappearingtoactdirectlyfromitself。
TheCabinethadhighexpectationsfromtheirnewcontrivance。ThepeoplewhoweretocomposetheCourPlenierewerealreadynominated;andasitwasnecessarytocarryafairappearance,manyofthebestcharactersinthenationwereappointedamongthenumber。ItwastocommenceonMay8,1788;butanoppositionarosetoitontwogrounds—theoneastoprinciple,theotherastoform。