XXIII. 1797. vate its fate; but to share in its spoliation, to seize CHAP. upon its capital, and extinguish its existence, is an act of rapacity for which no apology can be offered, and which must for ever form a foul stain on the Austrian annals. the Venetian Nor can the aristocracy of Venice be absolved from their full share of the blame consequent on the Weakness of destruction of their country. It was clearly pointed Aristocracy. out to them; and they might have known, that the contest in which Europe was engaged with France, was one of such a kind as to admit of no neutrality or compromise; that those who were not with the democratic party were against them; that their exclusive and ancient aristocracy was, in an especial manner, the object of Republican jealousy; and that if they were fortunate enough to escape destruction at the hands of the French armies, they certainly could not hope to avoid it from their own revolutionary u bjects. Often, during the course of the struggle, they held the balance of power in their hands, and might have interposed with decisive effect in behalf of the cause which was ultimately to be their own. Had they put their armies on a war footing, and joined the Austrians when the scales of war hung even at Castiglione, Arcola, or Rivoli, they might have rolled back the tide of revolutionary conquest, and secured to themselves and their country an honoured and independent existence. They did not do so; they pursued that timid policy which is ever the most perilous in presence of danger; they shrunk from a contest which honour and duty alike required, and were, in consequence, assailed by the revolutionary tempest when they had no longer the power to resist it, and doomed to destruction amidst CHAP. the maledictions of their countrymen, and the contempt of their enemies. XXIII. 1797. cratic party. Last in the catalogue of political delinquency, the Insanity of popular party are answerable for the indulgence of the Demo- that insane and unpatriotic spirit of faction which never fails, in the end, to bring ruin upon those who indulge it. Following the phantom of democratic ambition; forgetting all the ties of kindred and country in the pursuit of popular exaltation, they leagued with the stranger against their native land, and paralysed the state in the moment of its utmost peril, by the fatal passions which they introduced into its bosom. With their own hands they tore down the venerable ensign of St Mark; with their own oars they ferried the invaders across the Lagunae, which no enemy had passed for fourteen hundred years; * with their own arms they subjugated the Senate of their country, and compelled, in the last extremity, a perilous and disgraceful submission to the enemy. They received in consequence the natural and appropriate reward of such conduct, the contempt of their enemies, the batred of their friends; the robbery of their trophies, the partition of their territory, the extinction of their liberties, and the annihilation of their country. What a contrast to this timid and vacillating conduct in the rulers, and these flagitious passions in *The last occasion on which the place of St Mark had seen the Transalpine soldiers, was when the French crusaders knelt to the Venetian people to implore succour from that opulent Republic, in the last crusade, against the infidels in the Holy Land. The unanimous shout of approbation in the assembled multitude-" It is the will of God! It is the will of God!" led to that cordial union of these two powers which overturned the throne of Constantinople.—" Maximus," says Bacon, "innovator tempus."-See Gibbon, Chap. Ix. XXIII. 1797. the people of Venice, does the firmness of the British CHAP. Government, and the spirit of the British people, afford at this juncture! They, too, were counselled to temporize in danger, or yield to the tempter; they, Striking too, were shaken in credit and paralysed by revolt; contrast exthey, too, were assailed by democratic ambition, and the same peurged to conciliate and yield as the only means of salvation. The Venetian aristocracy did what the people of British aristocracy were urged to do. They cau tiously abstained from hostilities with the revolutionary power; they did nothing to coerce the spirit of disaffection in their own dominions; they yielded at length to the demands of the populace, and admitted a sudden and portentous change in the internal structure of the constitution. Had the British Government done the same, they might have expected similar results to those which there took place; to see the revolutionary spirit acquire irresistible force, the means of national resistance prostrated by the divisions of those who should wield them, and the state become an easy prey to the ambition of those neighbouring powers who had fomented its passions to profit by its weakness From the glorious result of the firmness of the one, and the miserable consequences of the pusillanimity of the other, a memorable lesson may be learned both by rulers and nations; that courage in danger is often the most prudent as well as the most honourable course; that periods of foreign peril are never those in which considerable internal changes can with safety be adopted; and that, whatever may be the defects of government, they are the worst enemies of their country who league with foreign nations for their redress. hibited at riod by the nobility and England. CHAPTER XXIV. INTERNAL GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE, FROM THE ESTABLISH- CHAP. XXIV. 1795. ARGUMENT. Retrospect of the previous changes of the Revolution-Maximum of Freedom, with Minimum of Democracy, the great object of civil government-Provision of Nature against the Evil of Democratic Anarchy-State of Public Mind and Manners in France in the beginning of 1796-First Proceedings of the New Legisla ture-Choice of the Directory-Barras, Rewbell, Lareveillere, Lessaux-Letourneur First Measure of the Directory-Extreme difficulties of their SituationLiberation of the Duchess d'Angoulême, who is exchanged for the Deputies delivered up by Dumourier-Successful efforts of the Directory to restore order in France-But Irreligion continues triumphant--Theophilanthropists-Singular character, tenets, and worship of this Sect-Renewed efforts of the Jacobins→ Baboeuf, his extreme Revolutionary Principles-But they fail now in rousing the People-Renewed efforts of the Revolutionists—Plans of the Conspirators—The Conspiracy is discovered, and Baboeuf arrested-His Partisans break out at Grenelle-But are Defeated and Executed-Trial of the Leaders previously arrested-Abortive attempt of the Royalists-Singular Manners at this period in France-But the Result of the Elections is preparing a Catastrophe―The Royalists prevail in the New Elections-Barthelemy is chosen a Director in lieu of Letourneur, and joins Carnot-Club of Clichy, the great centre of the Royalists-Club of Salm of the Republicans—General reaction in favour of Royalist Principles -Measures of the Directory to avert the danger-Camille-Jordan's efforts in favour of Religion-General return of the Emigrants and Clergy-Great alarm of the Directory-The Republican majority of the Directory resolve on decisive measures-They change all the Ministers, and collect Troops round Paris-Measures of Napoleon-He resolves to support the Democratic Party, and for that purpose sends Lavalette to Paris in spring 1797-And Augereau in July-His Proclamation to his Soldiers on 14th July-The Army strongly support the DirectoryExtravagant Addresses to them from the Soldiers-Strength of the Opposite Party consisted only in their talents and eloquence—Their Defensive Measures, but they decline to commence Hostilities-Slender Military Force at their Command-Reorganization of the National Guard decreed by the Councils-Violent Measures of the Directory-They surround the Tuileries with Troops-And the Guard there join Augereau-Revolution of 18th Fructidor-Passive submission of the People CHAP. 1795. -Address of the Directory to the Councils-Tyrannical Measures of the minority of the Councils-Extinction of the Liberty of the Press-Transportation of XXIV. the most illustrious Citizens of France-Cruel fate of the Exiles-Escape of Pichegru from Guiana-Vigorous and despotic measures of the Directory-This Revolution had been previously concerted with Napoleon-But he is disgusted with the severe use they make of their Victory-This is the true commencement of Military Despotism in France-Reflections on these Events. of the pre ges of the Revolution. THE different eras of the Revolution, which have hitherto been traced, show the progress of the prin- Retrospect ciples of democracy through their natural stages of vious chanpublic transports, monied insecurity, financial em barrassment, arbitrary confiscation, general distress, plebeian insurrection, sanguinary oppression, civil warfare, and military despotism. It remains to examine its progress during the receding tide; to trace the declining and enfeebled efforts of Republican fury during the period when its desolating effects had become generally known, and the public strength refused to lend its aid to the ambition and the illusions of individuals. During this period it is evident that the chief desire of the human mind is for repose; the contentions, the miseries of former years rise up in fearful remembrance to all classes of citizens; the chimera of equality can no longer seduce the illusion of power no longer mislead; and men, bitterly suffering under the consequences of former error, eagerly range themselves under any government which promises to save them from "the worst of 'Aristotle. tyrannies, the tyranny of a multitude of tyrants."1 of freedom, To effect the maximum of freedom, with the minimum of democracy, is the great problem of civil Maximum government; just as the chief object of war is to with miniattain the greatest possible national security, at the mum of desmallest expenditure of human life. The democratic great object passion is frequently necessary to sustain the conflicts of freedom, just as the military spirit is often mocracy, the of govern ment. |