首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第35章

第35章

  willobserve,thatthatofMr。Neckarstatedtherealandordinarydeficittobefifty-sixmillions,andthatheshewedthatthiscouldbemadeupwithoutanewtax,byeconomiesandbonificationswhichhespecified。Severalarticlesofthelatterareliabletotheobjection,thattheyareproposedonbranchesoftherevenue,ofwhichthenationhasdemandedasuppression。Hetrippedtoolightlyoverthegreatarticlesofconstitutionalreformation,thesebeingnotasclearlyenouncedinthisdiscourseastheywereinhis`Rapportauroy,’whichIsentyousometimeago。Onthewhole,hisdiscoursehasnotsatisfiedthepatrioticparty。Itisnow,forthefirsttime,thattheirrevolutionislikelytoreceiveaseriouscheck,andbeginstowearafearfulappearance。TheprogressoflightandliberalityintheorderoftheNoblesse,hasequalledexpectationinParisonly,anditsvicinities。Thegreatmassofdeputiesofthatorder,whichcomefromthecountry,shewthatthehabitsoftyrannyoverthepeople,aredeeplyrootedinthem。Theywillconsent,indeed,toequaltaxation;butfive-sixthsofthatchamberarethoughttobe,decidedly,forvotingbyorders;sothat,hadthisgreatpreliminaryquestionrestedonthisbody,whichformedheretoforethesolehope,thathopewouldhavebeencompletelydisappointed。Someaid,however,comesinfromaquarterwhencenonewasexpected。Itwasimaginedtheecclesiasticalelectionswouldhavebeengenerallyinfavorofthehigherclergy;onthecontrary,thelowerclergyhaveobtainedfive-sixthsofthesedeputations。
  Thesearethesonsofpeasants,whohavedoneallthedrudgeryoftheservice,forten,twentyandthirtyguineasayear,andwhoseoppressionsandpenury,contrastedwiththeprideandluxuryofthehigherclergy,haverenderedthemperfectlydisposedtohumblethelatter。Theyhavedoneit,inmanyinstances,withaboldnesstheywerethoughtinsusceptibleof。Greathopeshavebeenformed,thatthesewouldconcurwiththeTiersEtat,invotingbypersons。Infact,abouthalfofthemseemasyetsodisposed;butthebishopsareintriguing,anddrawingthemoverwiththeaddresswhichhasevermarkedecclesiasticalintrigue。ThedeputiesoftheTiersEtatseem,almosttoaman,inflexiblydeterminedagainstthevotebyorders。
  Thisisthestateofparties,aswellascanbejudgedfromconversationonly,duringthefortnighttheyhavebeennowtogether。
  Butasnobusinesshasbeenyetbegun,novotesasyettaken,thiscalculationcannotbeconsideredassure。Amiddlepropositionistalkedof,toformthetwoprivilegedordersintoonechamber。Itisthoughtmorepossibletobringthemintoit,thantheTiersEtat。
  Anotherpropositionis,todistinguishquestions,referringthoseofcertaindescriptionstoavotebypersons,otherstoavotebyorders。Thisseemstoadmitofendlessaltercation,andtheTiersEtatmanifestnorespectforthat,oranyothermodificationwhatever。Werethissinglequestionaccommodated,Iamofopinion,therewouldnotoccurtheleastdifficultyinthegreatandessentialpointsofconstitutionalreformation。Butonthispreliminaryquestionthepartiesaresoirreconcilable,thatitisimpossibletoforeseewhatissueitwillhave。TheTiersEtat,asconstitutingthenation,mayproposetodothebusinessofthenation,eitherwithorwithouttheminoritiesintheHousesofClergyandNobles,whichsidewiththem。Inthatcase,iftheKingshouldagreetoit,themajoritiesinthosetwoHouseswouldsecede,andmightresistthetaxgatherers。Thiswouldbringonacivilwar。Ontheotherhand,theprivilegedorders,offeringtosubmittoequaltaxation,mayproposetotheKingtocontinuethegovernmentinitsformertrain,resumingtohimselfthepoweroftaxation。Here,thetaxgatherersmightberesistedbythepeople。Infine,itisbuttoopossible,thatbetweenpartiessoanimated,theKingmayinclinethebalanceashepleases。Happythatheisanhonest,unambitiousman,whodesiresneithermoneynorpowerforhimself;andthathismostoperativeminister,thoughhehasappearedtotrimalittle,isstill,inthemain,afriendtopublicliberty。
  Imentionedtoyouinaformerletter,theconstructionwhichourbankersatAmsterdamhadputontheresolutionofCongress,appropriatingthelastDutchloan,bywhichthemoneyforourcaptiveswouldnotbefurnishedtilltheendoftheyear1790。
  Ordersfromtheboardoftreasury,havenowsettledthisquestion。
  Theinterestofthenextmonthistobefirstpaid,andafterthat,themoneyforthecaptivesandforeignofficersistobefurnished,beforeanyotherpaymentofinterest。ThisinsuresitwhenthenextFebruaryinterestbecomespayable。Myrepresentationstothem,onaccountofthecontractsIhadenteredintoformakingthemedals,haveproducedfromthemthemoneyforthatobject,whichislodgedinthehandsofMr。Grand。
  Mr。Neckar,inhisdiscourse,proposesamonghisbonificationsofrevenue,thesuppressionofourtwofreeportsofBayonneandL’Orient,whichhesays,occasionalossofsixhundredthousandlivresannually,tothecrown,bycontraband。Thespeechbeingnotyetprinted,Istatethisonlyasitstruckmyearwhenhedeliveredit。IfIhavemistakenit,Ibegyoutoreceivethisasmyapology,andtoconsiderwhatfollows,aswrittenonthatideaonly。Ihaveneverbeenabletoseethatthesefreeportswereworthonecoppertous。ToBayonneourtradeneverwent,anditisleavingL’Orient。
  Besides,therightofentrepotisaperfectsubstitutefortherightoffreeport。Thelatterisalittlelesstroublesomeonly,tothemerchantsandcaptains。Ishouldthink,therefore,thatathingsouselesstousandprejudicialtothemmightberelinquishedbyus,onthecommonprinciplesoffriendship。Iknowthemerchantsoftheseportswillmakeaclamour,becausethefranchisecoverstheircontrabandwithalltheworld。HasMonsieurdeMoustiersaidanythingtoyouonthissubject?Ithasneverbeenmentionedtome。Ifnotmentionedineitherway,itisratheranindecentproceeding,consideringthatthisrightoffreeportisfoundedintreaty。I
  shallaskofM。deMontmorin,onthefirstoccasion,whetherhehascommunicatedthistoyouthroughhisminister;andifhehasnot,I
  willendeavortonoticetheinfractiontohiminsuchmanner,asneithertoreclaimnorabandontherightoffreeport,butleaveourgovernmentfreetodoeither。
  ThegazettesofFranceandLeyden,asusual,willaccompanythis。Iaminhourlyexpectationofreceivingfromyoumyleaveofabsence,andkeepmyaffairssoarranged,thatIcanleavePariswithineightdaysafterreceivingthepermission。Ihavethehonortobe,withsentimentsofthemostperfectesteemandrespect,Sir,yourmostobedientandmosthumbleservant,ACHARTERFORFRANCE
  _ToRaboutdeSt。Etienne,withDraftofaCharterofRights_
  _Paris,June3,1789_
  SIR,——Afteryouquittedusyesterdayevening,wecontinuedourconversationMonsr。delaFayette,Mr。Short&myselfonthesubjectofthedifficultieswhichenvironyou。ThedesirableobjectbeingtosecurethegoodwhichtheKinghasoffered&toavoidtheillwhichseemstothreaten,anideawassuggested,whichappearingtomakeanimpressiononMonsr。delaFayette,IwasencouragedtopursueitonmyreturntoParis,toputitintoform,&nowtosendittoyou&him。Itisthis,thattheKing,ina_seanceroyale_
  shouldcomeforwardwithaCharterofRightsinhishand,tobesignedbyhimself&byeverymemberofthethreeorders。ThischartertocontainthefivegreatpointswhichtheResultatofDecemberofferedonthepartoftheKing,theabolitionofpecuniaryprivilegesofferedbytheprivilegedorders,&theadoptionoftheNationaldebtandagrantofthesumofmoneyaskedfromthenation。
  Thislastwillbeacheappricefortheprecedingarticles,andletthesameactdeclareyourimmediateseparationtillthenextanniversarymeeting。Youwillcarrybacktoyourconstituentsmoregoodthaneverwaseffectedbeforewithoutviolence,andyouwillstopexactlyatthepointwhereviolencewouldotherwisebegin。Timewillbegained,thepublicmindwillcontinuetoripen&tobeinformed,abasisofsupportmaybepreparedwiththepeoplethemselves,andexpedientsoccurforgainingstillsomethingfurtheratyournextmeeting,&forstoppingagainatthepointofforce。I
  haveventuredtosendtoyourself&MonsieurdelaFayetteasketchofmyideasofwhatthisactmightcontainwithoutendangeringanydispute。Butitisofferedmerelyasacanvasforyoutoworkon,ifitbefittoworkonatall。Iknowtoolittleofthesubject,&youknowtoomuchofittojustifymeinofferinganythingbutahint。I
  havedoneittooinahurry:insomuchthatsincecommittingittowritingitoccurstomethatthe5’th。articlemaygivealarm,thatitisinagooddegreeincludedinthe4’th。,andisthereforeuseless。ButafterallwhatexcusecanImake,Sir,forthispresumption。IhavenonebutanunmeasureableloveforyournationandapainfulanxietylestDespotism,afteranunacceptedoffertobindit’sownhands,shouldseizeyouagainwithtenfoldfury。
  Permitmetoaddtotheseverysincereassurancesofthesentimentsofesteem&respectwithwhichIhavethehonortobe,Sir,Yourmostobed’t。&mosthumbleserv’t。
  _ACharterofRights,solemnlyestablishedbytheKingandNation。_
  1。TheStatesGeneralshallassemble,uncalled,onthefirstdayofNovember,annually,andshallremaintogethersolongastheyshallseecause。Theyshallregulatetheirownelectionsandproceedings,anduntiltheyshallordainotherwise,theirelectionsshallbeintheformsobservedinthepresentyear,andshallbetriennial。
  2。TheStatesGeneralaloneshalllevymoneyonthenation,andshallappropriateit。
  3。LawsshallbemadebytheStatesGeneralonly,withtheconsentoftheKing。
  4。Nopersonshallberestrainedofhisliberty,butbyregularprocessfromacourtofjustice,authorizedbyagenerallaw。
  ExceptthataNoblemaybeimprisonedbyorderofacourtofjustice,ontheprayeroftwelveofhisnearestrelations。Oncomplaintofanunlawfulimprisonment,toanyjudgewhatever,heshallhavetheprisonerimmediatelybroughtbeforehim,andshalldischargehim,ifhisimprisonmentbeunlawful。Theofficerinwhosecustodytheprisoneris,shallobeytheordersofthejudge;andbothjudgeandofficershallberesponsible,civillyandcriminally,forafailureofdutyherein。
  5。Themilitaryshallbesubordinatetothecivilauthority。
  6。Printersshallbeliabletolegalprosecutionforprintingandpublishingfalsefacts,injurioustothepartyprosecuting;buttheyshallbeundernootherrestraint。
  7。Allpecuniaryprivilegesandexemptions,enjoyedbyanydescriptionofpersons,areabolished。
  8。AlldebtsalreadycontractedbytheKing,areherebymadethedebtsofthenation;andthefaiththereofispledgedfortheirpaymentinduetime。
  9。EightymillionsoflivresarenowgrantedtotheKing,toberaisedbyloan,andreimbursedbythenation;andthetaxesheretoforepaid,shallcontinuetobepaidtotheendofthepresentyear,andnolonger。
  10。TheStatesGeneralshallnowseparate,andmeetagainonthe1stdayofNovembernext。
  Done,onbehalfofthewholenation,bytheKingandtheirrepresentativesintheStatesGeneral,atVersailles,this——dayofJune,1789。
  SignedbytheKing,andbyeverymemberindividually,andinhispresence。”THEFIRSTCHAPTER……OFEUROPEANLIBERTY”
  _ToDiodati_
  _aParis,ce3’me。Aout1789_
  Jeviensderecevoir,monchereMonsieur,l’honneurdevotrelettredu24。Juillet。Lapeineaveclaquellejem’exprimeenFransoisferoitquemareponseseroitbiencourtes’ilnem’etoitpaspermisderepondrequedanscettelangue。Maisjessaisqu’avecquelqueconnoissancedelalangueAngloisevousmeme,vousaurezuneaidetressuffisantedansMadamelacomtessequej’oseprierd’ajouterasesamitiesmultiplieesdeversmoicellededevenirl’interpretedecequevaisecrireenmaproprelangue,etqu’elleembelliraenlarendantenFransois。
  Ipresumethatyourcorrespondentsherehavegivenyouahistoryofalltheeventswhichhavehappened。TheLeydengazette,tho’itcontainsseveralinconsiderableerrors,givesonthewholeajustenoughidea。ItisimpossibletoconceiveagreaterfermentationthanhasworkedinParis,nordoIbelievethatsogreatafermentationeverproducedsolittleinjuryinanyotherplace。I
  havebeenthro’itdaily,haveobservedthemobswithmyowneyesinordertobesatisfiedoftheirobjects,anddeclaretoyouthatIsawsoplainlythelegitimacyofthem,thatIhavesleptinmyhouseasquietlythro’thewholeasIeverdidinthemostpeaceablemoments。
  Sostronglyfortifiedwasthedespotismofthisgovernmentbylongpossession,bytherespect&thefearsofthepeople,bypossessingthepublicforce,bytheimposingauthorityofformsandoffaste,thathadithelditselfonthedefensiveonly,thenationalassemblywithalltheirgoodsense,wouldprobablyhaveonlyobtainedaconsiderableimprovementofthegovernment,notatotalrevisionofit。But,illinformedofthespiritoftheirnation,thedespotsaroundthethronehadrecoursetoviolentmeasures,theforerunnersofforce。Inthistheyhavebeencompletelyoverthrown,&thenationhasmadeatotalresumptionofrights,whichtheyhadcertainlyneverbeforeventuredeventothinkof。TheNationalassemblyhavenowascleanacanvastoworkonhereaswehadinAmerica。Suchhasbeenthefirmnessandwisdomoftheirproceedingsinmomentsofadversityaswellasprosperity,thatIhavethehighestconfidencethattheywillusetheirpowerjustly。AsfarasIcancollectfromconversationwiththeirmembers,theconstitutiontheywillproposewillresemblethatofEnglandinit’soutlines,butnotinit’sdefects。TheywillcertainlyleavethekingpossessedcompletelyoftheExecutivepowers,&particularlyofthepublicforce。Theirlegislaturewillconsistofoneorderonly,¬oftwoasinEngland:therepresentationwillbeequal¬abominablypartialasthatofEngland:itwillbeguardedagainstcorruption,insteadofhavingamajoritysoldtotheking,&renderinghiswillabsolute:
  whetheritwillbeinonechamber,orbrokeintotwocannotbeforeseen。Theywillmeetatcertainepochs&sitaslongastheyplease,insteadofmeetingonlywhen,&sittingonlyaslongasthekingpleasesasinEngland。Thereisadifferenceofopinionwhetherthekingshallhaveanabsolute,oronlyaqualifiedNegativeontheiracts。Theparliamentswillprobablybesuppressed;&juriesprovidedincriminalcasesperhapsevenincivilones。Thisiswhatappearsprobableatpresent。TheAssemblyisthisdaydiscussingthequestionwhethertheywillhaveadeclarationofrights。Parishasbeenledbyeventstoassumethegovernmentofitself。Ithashithertoworntoomuchtheappearanceofconformitytocontinuethusindependentlyofthewillofthenation。Reflectionwillprobablymakethemsensiblethatthesecurityofalldependsonthedependanceofallonthenationallegislature。Ihavesomuchconfidenceonthegoodsenseofman,andhisqualificationsforself-government,thatI
  amneverafraidoftheissuewherereasonisleftfreetoexertherforce;andIwillagreetobestonedasafalseprophetifalldoesnotendwellinthiscountry。Norwillitendwiththiscountry。
  HersisbutthefirstchapterofthehistoryofEuropeanliberty。
  ThecaptureoftheBaronBesenvalisveryembarrassingfortheStatesgeneral。Theyareprincipledagainstretrospectivelaws,&