PREFACE. THE latest events have at all times appeared the most important. Present scenes seem more crowded than such as are past; and there are few periods, not imagined by the existing generation to be at least as worthy of a place in history as any that have preceded them. With a full recollection of this partiality, we hesitate not to affirm, that the years 1791 and 1792 are of singular, and even of unpre cedented interest and importance in the history of the world: no antecedent period, of equal duration, has presented so great a number of extraordinary revolutions: the intercourses of mankind were more extended, and the means of their communication more generally diffused, as well as eagerly employed among all ranks of society, in all civilized nations. The changes that were produced by the prevailing opinions, and an artful address to those opinions partook of the quickness of thought from whence they sprung. Though many and various, and involving the most serious consequences, they were yet less remarkable for their number and magnitude, than for the extreme rapidity of their succession. By means of the press, the grand forum on which all public affairs were agitated, a principle of restless discontent and endless commotion had been introduced into the most populous and centrical, the most refined, ardent, and inflammable nation in Europe; and whose fashions, manners, and opinions most of the other nations were prone to follow. Meta a 2 PREFACE. THE latest events have at all times appeared the most important. Present scenes seem more crowded than such as are past; and there are few periods, not imagined by the existing generation to be at least as worthy of a place in history as any that have preceded them. With a full recollection of this partiality, we hesitate not to affirm, that the years 1791 and 1792 are of singular, and even of unprecedented interest and importance in the history of the world: no antecedent period, of equal duration, has presented so great a number of extraordinary revolutions: the intercourses of mankind were more extended, and the means of their communication more generally diffused, as well as eagerly employed among all ranks of society, in all civilized nations. The changes that were produced by the prevailing opinions, and an artful address to those opinions partook of the quickness of thought from whence they sprung. Though many and various, and involving the most serious consequences, they were yet less remarkable for their number and magnitude, than for the extreme rapidity of their succession. By means of the press, the grand forum on which all public affairs were agitated, a principle of restless discontent and endless commotion had been introduced into the most populous and centrical, the most refined, ardent, and inflammable nation in Europe; and whose fashions, manners, and opinions most of the other nations were prone to follow. Meta a 2 Metaphysicians, geometers, and astronomers, applied the compasses of abstraction to human passions, propensities, and habits the minds of men were alienated from kings, and became enamoured of political philosophy. The old government of France was completely subverted; religion and morality were equally despised; dominion was gradually transferred, from well meaning men, perhaps, to bad-from bad to worse; and the maxim of the noble philosopher, statesman, and historian of Rome was inverted *. A bloody anarchy was erected on the ruins of social subordination. The ruling party, armed at once with enthusiasm, and a command of the finance and whole property of the nation, trampled on the rights of their fellow-citizens, and held the law of nations and foreign treaties in derision. In the pretended pursuit of liberty, they violated all regard to humanity. The laws were without force; innocence without protection; obscurity and indigence, or a participation in crimes, the only safety. The destructive infection of this attempt to reduce what is called the modern philosophy into practice, spread rapidly abroad before the effects of the fatal experiment were known at home: and it would be dif ficult to determine whether the progress of the evil was more forwarded by the ill-judged exertions of individuals, whether by political writers, statesmen, or sovereign princes, to oppose it,-or, by the impunity with which it had been suffered, in its commencement, to prevail in France, and to extend to every country in Europe. While the atrocities of democracy pled the cause of monarchical and even absolute governments, the insatiate ambition, and unprincipled policy of monarchs, not more shamefully than foolishly displayed in the partition of Po * Ita imperium semper ad optumum quemque a minus bono transfertur. land, land, apologized for the excesses of democracy. On the whole, it appeared that the European nations, however advanced in speculative knowledge, had made but very progress in practical and political wisdom. very little Since the events of this period are manifold and surpriz ing beyond all example, it may perhaps be expected by some of our readers, that we, like certain other journalists, should increase our volumes to a size, bearing a kind of proportion to the variety and extent of the busy scenes of the years that form their respective subjects: but this would be absurd, unless it should be thought proper wholly to call off attention from former scenes; or possible to enlarge the faculties of men, and extend the period of human life. Science does not exist in the enumeration of facts, but in their classification. There are no facts of any kind, either instructive or interesting, otherwise than as they are connected with principles and views; with theories, whether true or only hypothetical. When events cease to surprize by novelty they become instructive by their want of it. In proportion as transactions and operations of the same kind, springing from similar causes, and producing similar effects, are so multiplied as to become common, it is not ne cessary to detail facts; but sufficient to mention general results and principles of action. It is thus that knowledge of every kind is advanced: the gradual and leisurely deductions of one age, or generation, being taken in the next, for things granted. If it were otherwise, the boundaries of science could never be enlarged; and the republic of letters, like that of Rome, would sink under its own magnitude. If in writing the History of Europe for 1791 and 1792, we should attempt to describe every thing that passed, we should, in fact, describe nothing the compli cated scene would be too various and vast for human comprehension. -- |