Chapter I: Preface

THE following sheets contain a journal of principal events of the French Revolution. The best authorities have been resorted to, and the facts are related without any comment. The reader will find a faithful outline of an interesting and momentous period of history, and will see how naturally each error produced its corresponding misfortune.

Various causes contributed to effect a revolution in the minds of Frenchmen, and led the way to a revolution in the state. The arbitrary nature of the government had been long submitted to, and perhaps would have continued so much longer, if France had not taken part in the American war.

The perfidious policy of VERGENNES, who, with a view of humbling the pride of England, assisted the subject in arms against his Sovereign, soon imported into his own nation the seeds of liberty, which it had helped to cultivate in a country of rebellion; and the crown of France, as I once heard it emphatically observed, was lost in the plains of America. The soldier returned to Europe with new doctrines instead of new discipline, and the army in general soon grew dissatisfied with the Monarch, on account of unusual, and, as they thought, ignominious rigours which were introduced into it from the military school of Germany. The King also, from a necessity of retrenchment, had induced his ministers to adopt some mistaken measures of economy respecting the troops, and thus increased the odium which pride had fostered, and by diminishing the splendour of the crown, stripped it of its security and protection.

To this was added the wanton profusion of the Court in other expenses, and the external parade and brilliancy, which, if they impoverish, often dazzle and gratify the people, was exchanged for familiar entertainments, which gave rise to frequent jealousies among the nobles, and tended to lower that sense of awe and respect for royalty among the people, which in monarchies it is of the utmost importance to preserve.

At this time, also, philosophical discussion had reached its pinnacle of boldness. Infidelity had woven the web of discord in the human mind, which was now ripe for experiment, and ROUSSEAU and VOLTAIRE were the favourite authors.

Previous to the year 1789, from the extreme disorder of the finances, it became necessary to raise money by extraordinary taxes, which the common powers of the parliament were deemed insufficient to authorize; and afraid, in the present temper of the people, to impose upon them unusual burthens, ministers looked with solicitude for some other sanctions.

Monsieur DE CALONNE was unwilling to adopt so dangerous an expedient as that of assembling the states-general; [Footnote: An Assembly consisting of deputies from the three orders of citizens in France, namely, the clergy, the nobility, and the tiers-etat; which last included every French citizen who was not of the clergy or nobility.] he therefore adopted the expedient of summoning an assembly of _notables_, or eminent persons, chosen by the King from the different parts of the kingdom.

This assembly did not prove so favourable to the measures of the minister as he expected: Monsieur DE CALONNE was displaced, and the assembly was soon after dissolved, having declared itself incompetent to decide on the taxes proposed.

The King then commanded the parliament of Paris to register his edicts for successive loans to the government; but his commands were rejected. [Footnote: Chiefly, as it was supposed, through the influence of the Duke of Orleans.]

In the meantime, that spirit of discussing philosophical subjects, which we have before mentioned, now fixed itself on politics. The people exclaimed against the weight of taxes, and the extravagance of courtiers; they complained of peculiar exemptions from the general burthens, and of grievances which arose from lettres-de -cachet, and other despotic powers of the government.

The King, desirous of yielding to the wishes of the people, recalled Monsieur NECKAR to the administration, and in conformity to his advice, his Majesty declared his resolution of convening the states-general. But in order to regulate all matters relative to the meeting of this important assembly, it was resolved to convoke the notables a second time. Among these, a diversity of opinion appeared respecting the comparative number of deputies to be sent by the Commons, and the two other orders; the cardinal point on which the whole success of the revolution eventually turned. [Footnote: The last assembly of the states-general, which had been held in France in 1614, was composed of 140 deputies from the order of the clergy, among whom were five cardinals, seven archbishops, and 47 bishops; 132, representatives of the nobility; and 192 deputies from the commons. The Cardinal de JOYEUSE was president of the clergy; the Baron SENECEY of the nobility; and the president of the commons was ROBERT MIRON, Prêvot-de-Marchands, (an officer similar to that of mayor of Paris.)] All the classes into which the notables were divided, decided for an equality of deputies, except those in which MONSIEUR and the Duke of ORLEANS presided.

In these, it was agreed that the representatives of the commons should be equal in number to those of the other two states. The ministry were of opinion that this double representation was adviseable (sic), and persuaded themselves that, through their weight and influence they should be able to prevent any mischief to be apprehended from this preponderance of the tiers-etat. By their advice, the King issued an ordinance in January 1789, throughout the whole kingdom, commanding the people to assemble in their bailiwicks, and to nominate deputies to represent them in the states-general; viz. 300 for the clergy, 300 for the nobility, and 600 for the commons.

HAC FONTE DERIVATA CLADES.

******

N. B. The first legislature, which was called the National Assembly, has now the name of the "Constituent Assembly."

The second is called the "Legislative Assembly;" and the third legislature is called "the National Convention."

****** HISTORICAL EPOCHS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

******

1787.
_March_. THE Assembly of Notables first convened under the
ministry of Mons. de Calonne, comptroller-general
of the finances.
1788.
_August_. Mons. Necker replaced at the head of the finances
on the dismission (sic) of Mons. de Calonne; and
Mons. de Lomenie, archbishop of Toulouse, made
prime minister.
_Nov_. Mons. Necker persuades the King to call the
Notables together a second time.
1789.
_January_. Letters issued in the name of the King for an
assembly of the States-general. The clergy to
depute 300 representatives, the nobility the like
number, and the commons 600.
_May_ 5. Opening of the States-general at Versailles.
_June_ 17. The chamber of the Tiers-Etat (commons) declares
itself a national assembly.
19. The Tiers-Etat takes the famous oath, known by the
"serment au Jeu de Paume," not to separate until
the constitution should be established.
23. The King goes in person to the assembly--but his
presence, far from intimidating the members,
renders them so intractable that from this epoch
may be dated the first attacks upon the royal
authority.
24. Forty-eight of the nobles, with the Duke of Orleans
at their head, unite with the tiers-etat (third
estate, or commons).
A considerable number of the clergy follow their
example.
28. The King, from a desire of peace, requests the
whole body of nobility and clergy to unite in one
assembly with the commons; which is acceded to.
29. Great rejoicings in Paris on account of this union.
_July_ 11. The King in disgust dismisses Monsieur Necker.
12. The Prince de Lambesc appears at the Tuilleries
with an armed party of soldiers.
13. The city of Paris flies to arms. The Bastille is
attacked, and taken by the populace;

14. Mons. de L'Aulnay, the governor, falls a victim to
the fury of the assailants. Bertier, intendant of
Paris; Foulon, secretary of state; and de
Flesselle, prêvot des Marchands, (somewhat like
mayor of Paris) are massacred. From, this period
the maxim was adopted, "that insurrection was the
most sacred of duties."
15. The King goes to the assembly to confer with it
upon the disturbances of Paris. Many considerable
persons fly the country.
16. The Marquis de la Fayette, and Monsieur Bailly, are
nominated, one to command the national guards of
Paris, the other to be mayor of Paris.
17. In hopes of quieting the alarming tumults, the King
comes to Paris. Bailly harangues him freely at the
Hotel de la Ville, (sic) and the King receives the
three-coloured cockade.
_August_ 1. Massacre of the mayor of St. Dennis.
4. Abolition of tithes, and of all feudal rights and
privileges.
Louis is proclaimed the restorer of French liberty.
7. The King is obliged to recall Necker.
27. The liberty of the press is established.
_Sept_. 15. The person of the King is decreed to be inviolable;
and the crown of France hereditary and indivisible.
29. Decreed, that it be recommended that all church
plate be brought to the mint.
_Oct_. 1. The King is forced to accept and give the sanction
of his approbation to the famous "Rights of Man."
5. The Marquis de la Fayette at the head of 30,000
Parisians marches to Versailles.
6. After murdering the King's guards under the windows
of the Palace, they forcibly conduct both him and
the Queen to Paris amidst the insults of the
populace, and with great danger of their lives.
10. Tayllerang-Perigord, bishop of Autun, proposes that
the nation should seize the property of the clergy.
12. Decreed, that the National Assembly be removed from
Versailles to Paris.
15. The Duke of Orleans obtains leave to go to England.
19. The first sitting of the National Constituent
Assembly at Paris.
21. The people of Paris hang a baker.
The Jacobin Club commenced at this time; first
known by the name of the "Club de la Propagande."
The name of Jacobins was derived from the house
where the club met, and which had belonged to the
religious order of Jacobins.
_Nov_. 22. The commune of Paris makes a patriotic gift of its
silver buckles.
A general patriotic contribution is first
requested, and afterwards forced.
_Dec_. 7. Decree upon the disturbances at Toulon.
Another for dividing France into 83 departments, 83
tribunals, 544 civil tribunals, 548 districts, and
43,815 municipalities.
10. Vandernoot, and the disaffected in Brabant, write
to the King and to the National Constituent
Assembly; but their letter is returned.
25. Mons. de Favras, knight of St. Louis, arrested.
1790.
_January_ 1. The King is stripped of most of his royal
prerogatives.
4. The assembly desires him to fix the amount of his
civil list.
6. The castle of Kéralier burnt by plunderers.
The three orders of the clergy, nobility, and
commons, suppressed as distinct orders of the
monarchy.
7. Decree for the form of a civic oath to be taken by
the national guards.
13. Decreed that Paris shall form one department.
Decree in favour of Jews; another to remove the
prejudices which are attached to the families of
criminals.
_Feb_. 1. The King, after a long speech to the assembly,
takes the civic oath, together with all the
members.
19. De Favras executed.
20. Death of Joseph IId. emperor of Germany.
_March_. Massacres and fires in Lower-Languedoc.
7. Grand review of the national guards in the Elysian
fields.
The scarcity of specie induces the necessity of
issuing paper money called assignats.
8. Decreed, that the colonies form a part of the
French empire.
11. Insurrection at Meaux.
12. The red-book (book of court-accounts) made
publick.(sic)
14. Insurrection at the national theatre.
18. Sale of the property of the church decreed, by
which the government is enabled to abolish the duty
on salt.
_April_. The Prince of Conti takes the civic oath in the
municipality of Paris.
11. The Abbé Maury and Viscount Mirabeau attacked
by the populace on coming out of the assembly.
The assembly refuses to acknowledge the Roman
Catholick (sic) religion as the religion of the
state; and this resolution is followed by
forbidding all particularity of dress or form in
ecclesiastics.
22. General Paoli, at the head of a deputation from
Corsica, presents himself to the national assembly.
24. Insurrection at Marseilles.
_May_. Report and decree upon the disturbances at Mount
Auban.
Monastic vows prohibited in future.
17. Orders of knighthood and military decorations
abolished.
22. Decreed, that the right of making peace and war
belongs to the people.
25. The Parisians occupied with hanging several
robbers.
_June_. Public Seminaries and academies of instruction
suppressed.
9. The King goes to the assembly, and requires 25
millions of livres for his civil list.
10. The Queen's dower fixed at four millions.
One million is voted for the King's brothers.
16. Massacres and disorders at Nismes (sic).
19. Suppression of nobility, of all titles and orders,
of armorial bearings, and of livery-servants.
_July_ 3. Justices of the peace appointed throughout the
kingdom.
14. Ceremony of a general federation, at which the King
is obliged to assist, to commemorate the destruction
of the Bastille.
Trial by jury introduced in criminal matters.
Judges to be chosen by cantons and districts; one
for the former, and five for the latter.
26. The constituent assembly publishes a civil
constitution for the acceptance of the clergy,
which they refuse to admit.
_August_. Affair at Nancy--five regiments revolt.
Insurrection at Martinico (sic) announced.
Désilles shot at Nancy by the Swiss.
Mons. Necker, whose popularity declined, is obliged
to leave the kingdom precipitately.
The assembly, having declared the property of the
Crown to be that of the nation, grants to the King the
sum he required for his civil list.
_Sept_. Horrid massacres in the colonies.
_Oct_. 28. Fourteen castles are burned and plundered in
Dauphiny.
30. Outrageous conduct of two regiments at Béfort.
_Nov_. 2. The clergy propose to raise four millions of livres
in their own body for the exigence of the state.
The assembly seizes the whole ecclesiastical
revenue, without any respect of persons or
property.
13. Pillage of the house of the Marshal de Castries at
Paris.
21. Duport-du-Terre appointed keeper of the seals.
27. The assembly requires that every ecclesiastic,
doing duty, shall swear to maintain with all his
power and interest the constitution, and every
thing that had been or should be ordained by its
decrees.
1791.

_Jan_. The debts of the church decreed to be national.
The King refuses to sanction the above decrees
respecting the clergy, but is at length forced to
it by threats and terror.
4. The clergy in the national assembly refuse to comply
with the foregoing decree, and in consequence of
their refusal a law passes that their benefices
shall be filled by such of the clergy as will take
the oaths of allegiance to the state.
Abolition of all the parliaments and sovereign
courts of France.
The Count d'Artois finds it prudent to quit the
kingdom.
Out of 138 prelates only four take the
constitutional oath, namely, the archbishop of
Sens, the bishops of Viviers, Orleans, and Autun.
The latter alone carries his apostacy (sic) so far
as to consecrate other bishops, who were presented
to the vacant sees.
Horrid treatment at Chateau-Gouthier of Mad'lle de
la Barne de Joyeuse.
10. Decree about stamps.
14. Decreed, that bishops and parsons shall be elected
by the people.
23. A violent meeting at the Jacobin club.
24. Massacres at the village de-la-Chapelle near Paris.
26. Decree to enforce the oath by priests.
29. Mirabeau president of the constituent national
assembly.
_February_. Deputation of Quakers to the assembly.
Decree to admit the free cultivation of tobacco.
Disorders in Le Querci.
21. The King's aunts stopped at Arnay-le-Duc, and
forced to shew their pass, and permission to retire
to Rome. With difficulty they obtain leave to
proceed.
Insurrection at Vincennes near Paris.
_March_ 4. The pope issues two letters against the
ecclesiastical constitution of France, and the
clergy who had taken the oath to it. He deprives
the archbishop of Sens, the Cardinal de Lomenie de
Brienne, of his cardinal's hat.
Massacres at St. Domingo.
5. Indisposition of the King.
9. Decreed, that the prisoners charged with treason
(lêze-nation) shall be conveyed to Orleans.
Gobet, a member of the assembly, appointed bishop
of Paris.
Insurrection and massacres at Douai.
22. Decree excluding women from the regency.
25. The majority of the Kings of France fixed at
eighteen years.
Discussion on the fate of the invalids.
Mons. de M'Nemara massacred at l'Isle-de-France.
26. Public functionaries compelled to residence.
28. The monarchical club at Paris attacked by the
populace with stones, and dispersed.
29. Report upon an insurrection at Toulon.
The minister of the church of St. Sulpice, who had
not conformed to the national oath, escapes with
great difficulty from the violence of the populace.
_April_ 3. The death of Mirabeau announced to the assembly:
decreed, that he shall have the honours of the
Pantheon, (formerly the beautiful church of St.
Genevieve).
7. Decreed, that no deputy to the national assembly
shall be admissible into the ministry until four
years after the expiration of the legislature of
which he is a member.
8. Decreed that no deputy to the assembly shall accept
any favour from the executive power for four
years.
Several nuns in Paris and elsewhere were publicly
whipped for persisting to adhere to the old forms
of worship.
10. Insurrection at Cevennes.
Report on the insurrection of a regiment in
Languedoc.
13. Engagement between the officers and garrison of
Weissembourg.
14. Riot at Nantz (sic) on account of the inauguration
of the three-coloured flag.
17. The sale of the property of the church is decreed.
18. The King proposes to go to St. Cloud; the people
oppose and stop him.
The King complains of this violence to the
national assembly, but with little effect.
20. Report of massacres in the county of Venaissin.
The King's ministers, through the influence or fear
of the national assembly, write to all the foreign
courts, that the King had placed himself at the
head of the revolution--from this epoch may be dated
the great emigrations of the nobility and other
considerable persons.
The Abbé Maury, the most intrepid defender of the
cause of the church and the King, retires
precipitately to Rome.
23. Sad recital in the assembly of distresses in St.
Domingo.
26. Assignats of five livres are issued.
27. Massacres in the Limousin.
28. Decreed, that soldiers may frequent jacobin
societies.
_May_ 1. The barriers are thrown open--all duties in the
interior parts of the kingdom abolished.
Civil war in the Venaissin.
3. The effigy of the pope (sic) burnt in the
Palais-Royal.
7. Decree permitting priests, who have not conformed,
to officiate in private.
Mons. de Massei massacred at Tulle.
Decree upon the people of colour.
19. Massacre in the Vivarais.
26. Decreed, that the Louvre and the Tuilleries united
shall be the habitation of the King, and that all
monuments of science and art shall be collected and
kept there.
31. Decreed, that the punishment of death shall be
inflicted without torture. From thence came the
use of the guillotine;-an instrument of death so
called from its author, a member of the national
assembly.
_June_. Letter of the Abbé Raynal to the assembly.
Persecutions against non-conforming priests. Their
tithes given to the proprietors of the estates.
5. The King deprived by decree of the power of
granting pardons.
7. A law against regicides.
Conforming priests are everywhere put in possession
of the benefices of those who would not conform.
A general sale of ecclesiastical property.
18. Decreed, that all military men take an oath of
fidelity to the nation.
Insurrection at Bastia.
21. The King and royal family make their escape
22. from Paris; they had nearly reached the frontiers,
when they were stopped at Varennes,
25. and brought back ignominiously to Paris.
Count Dampierre is massacred under the King's eyes.
The Marquis de Bouillé writes a menacing letter to
the assembly on the subject of the King.
An order is intimated to the King to disband his
body guards. All the royal functions are
suspended. The King is kept a close prisoner.
Monsieur, the King's brother, escapes to Coblentz.
_July_ 9. M. de Cazelés resigns his place as a deputy.
10. The national guards ordered to the frontiers.
11. The body of Voltaire transferred to the Pantheon.
14. Grand celebration of the anniversary of this day.
17. Insurrection in the Champ de Mars--the red flag (the
signal of danger) continues flying a long time.
Disorders in the Pays-de-Caux, and at
Brie-Compte-Robert.
23. Violent decree against emigrant nobles.
The assembly proceeds rigorously against those who
accompanied the King in his flight.
The King himself is not considered so culpable.
All distinctions of nobility, and all titles, are
wholly abolished.
The ministers are required to give an account every
ten days to the assembly of the execution of its
decrees.
The decree on people of colour spreads
consternation at St. Domingo.
_August_. Money is coined from the metal of the bells in
churches.
One hundred thousand livres voted to the academy of
science for the purpose of bringing weights and
measures to one uniform standard.
The title of Dauphin changed to that of Prince
Royal.
Rewards are decreed to all those who stopped the
King.
A committee is appointed to manage national
domains; that is, the confiscated property of the
King and clergy.
Decreed, that if within a month the King do not
take the oath to the nation, or if he retract it,
he shall be adjudged to have forfeited the crown.
Decreed, that the guard for the King shall not
exceed 1200 foot, and 600 horse.
Those who may be placed in succession to the throne
to have no other title than that of French princes.
Registers of the births, marriages, and burials, of
the royal family to be deposited in the archives of
the national assembly.
Suppression of the payment of a mark of silver,
which was heretofore required from such as were
deputed to the legislature.
Decreed, that every law relative to taxes shall be
independent of the royal sanction.
The ceremony of marriage to be considered
hereafter as a civil contract only.
Rousseau admitted to a place in the Pantheon.
The national assembly declares, that it will not
revise the constitution which it has just
established, before the expiration of thirty years.
_Sept_. The completion of the constitution announced to the
people, and that it will admit of no change. The
departments are all occupied in electing new
deputies to represent them in a second assembly.
Sixty members are appointed to carry the act of the
constitution to the King.
4. The King restored to liberty.
Suppression of the order of St. Esprit; the
decorations of the blue ribband to be appropriated
to the King and the Prince-royal only. The King
declines to retain a distinction which he cannot
communicate.
Decreed, that the Rhine and Rhone be united by a
canal.
14. The King accepts the constitution in form; he takes
the oath in presence of the assembly; and is
crowned by the president with a constitutional
crown.
Great rejoicings throughout all France.
The national guard to take place of the King's.
Whipping, and burning in the hand, annulled.
Three days allowed to every person under accusation
to defend himself and repel the charge.
In consequence of the acceptance of the
constitution, all criminal proceedings are stopped;
all persons confined on suspicion of
anti-revolutionary principles set at liberty; no
more passports required; a general amnesty takes
place; and the decree against emigrants is revoked.
Disturbances at Arles--suppression of the high
national court of Orleans--and of all royal
notaries--national notaries appointed.
Prohibitory or commanding clauses in wills to be of
no avail henceforward.
Every sort of property dependent upon, or connected
with, churches or charities, is confiscated.
All the world admitted to the title and rank of
French citizen, without any distinction of country.
Decree to unite Avignon and the county of Venaissin
to France.
Certificates of catholicism suppressed, which
hitherto were required before admission into any
office.
Severe penalties against introducing titles of
nobility into any public document.
All the chambers and societies of commerce
abolished.
Jews admitted to the rights of French citizens.
The constituent assembly prepares to lay down its
powers, without rendering any account of its
proceedings.
Violent remonstrances against this.
Decree against clubs and popular associations.
30. The King goes in state to close the session of this
first or _constituent assembly_.