Chapter I

_Introduction. Progress of society. End of government. Rise of
political discussion amongst the french. Revolution in
America. Virtue attempted to be built on false principles.
The croisades, and the age of chivalry. Administration of
Richelieu, and of Cardinal Mazarin. Theatrical
entertainments, and dramatic poets of the
french—Moliere,—Corneille,—Racine. Louis XIV. The
regency.—Louis XV._ page 1.

CHAP. II.

_Marie-Antoinette. Louis XVI. Administration of Necker, and of
Calonne. Notables convened. Calonne disgraced,—and obliged to
flee the kingdom. His character. Causes of the enslaved state
of Europe._ p. 33.

CHAP. III.

_Administration of de Brienne. Dissolution of the notables.
Land tax and stamp duty recommended by them, but refused to
be sanctioned by the parliament. Bed of justice. The
parliament banished to Troyes,—but soon compromised for its
recall. Struggles of the court party to prevent the
convocation of the states-general. Banishment of the duke of
Orleans, and two spirited members of the parliament. Cour
pléniere. Remarks on the parliaments. Imprisonment of the
members. Deputies of the Province of Britanny sent to the
Bastille. The soldiery let loose upon the people._ p. 48.

CHAP. IV.

_Necker recalled. His character. Notables convened a second
time. Coalition of the nobility and clergy in defence of
their privileges. Provincial assemblies of the people.
Political publications in favour of the tiers-etat. General
reflections on reform,—on the present state of Europe,—and on
the revolution in France._ p. 59.

_BOOK II._

CHAP. I.

_Retrospective view of grievances in France—the nobles—the
military—the clergy—the farmers general. Election of deputies
to the states-general. Arts of the courtiers. Assembly of the
states. Riots excited at Paris. Opening of the
states-general. The king’s speech. Answer to it by the keeper
of the seals. Speech of Mr. Necker. Contest respecting the
mode of assembling. Tacit establishment of the liberty of the
press. Attempt of the court to refrain it. The deputies
declare themselves a national assembly._ p. 75.

CHAP. II.

_The national assembly proceed to business. Opposition of the
nobles, bishops, and court. A séance royale proclaimed, and
the hall of the assembly surrounded by soldiers. The members
adjourn to the tennis-court, and vow never to separate till a
constitution should be completed. The majority of the clergy
and two of the nobles join the commons. Séance royale. The
king’s speech. Spirited behaviour of the assembly. Speech of
Mirabeau. Persons of the deputies declared inviolable.
Minority of the nobles join the commons. At the request of
the king the minority of the clergy do the same,—and are at
length followed by the majority of the nobles. Character of
the queen of France,—of the king,—and of the nobles. Lectures
on liberty at the palais royal. Paris surrounded by troops.
Spirit of liberty infused into the soldiers. Eleven of the
french guards imprisoned because they would not fire on the
populace, and liberated by the people. Remonstrance of the
national assembly. The king proposes to remove the assembly
to Noyon, or Soissons. Necker dismissed. City militia
proposed. The populace attacked in the garden of the
Thuilleries by the prince of Lambesc. Nocturnal orgies at
Versailles._ p. 109.

CHAP. III.

_Preparations of the parisians for the defence of the city. The
guards, and city watch join the citizens. The armed citizens
appoint a commander in chief. Conduct of the national
assembly during the disturbances at Paris. They publish a
declaration of rights,—and offer their mediation with the
citizens,—which is haughtily refused by the king. Proceedings
at Paris on the 14th of July. Taking of the bastille. The
mayor shot. Proceedings of the national assembly at
Versailles. Appearance of the king in the assembly. His
speech._ p. 165.

CHAP. IV.

_Reflections on the conduct of the court and king. Injurious
consequences of the complication of laws. General diffusion
of knowledge. State of civilization amongst the ancients.
It’s progress. The croisades, and the reformation. Early
freedom of Britain. The british constitution. State of
liberty in Europe. Russia. Decline of the Aristotelian
philosophy, Descartes. Newton. Education improved. Germany.
Frederick II. of Prussia._ p. 215.

_BOOK III._

CHAP. I.

_A deputation of the national assembly arrives at Paris.
Baillie chosen mayor, and La Fayette commander in chief of
the national guards. Resignation of the ministry. Necker
recalled. The king visits Paris. Character of the parisians.
The revolution urged on prematurely. Emigrations of several
of the nobility and others. Calonne advises the french
princes to stir up foreign powers against France. Foulon
killed._ p. 241.

CHAP. II.

_The duke of Liancourt chosen president. The people arm for the
defence of the country. The municipal officers appointed
under the old government superseded by committees. Some
people treacherously destroyed by springing a mine at a civic
feast. The genevese resident taken up by the patrole. The
french suspicious of the designs of Britain. Necker returns.
General amnesty resolved by the debtors of Paris. Debate on a
declaration of rights. Declaration of rights separate from
the constitution determined on. Sacrifices made by the
nobles, clergy, &c._ p. 263.

CHAP. III.

_Reflections on the members of the national assembly. Secession
of several pseudo-patriots. Society ripe for improvement
throughout Europe. War natural to men in a savage state.
Remarks on the origin and progress of society. The
arts—property—inequality of conditions—war. Picture of
manners in modern France._ p. 295.

_BOOK IV._

CHAP. I.

_Opinions on the transactions of the fourth of August.
Disorders occasioned by those transactions. Necker demands
the assembly’s sanction to a loan. A loan decreed. Tithes
abolished. Debate on the declaration of rights. The formation
of a constitution. Debate on the executive power. The
suspensive veto adopted. Pretended and real views of the
combination of despots against France. Debate on the
constitution of a senate. Means of peaceably effecting a
reform should make a part of every constitution._ p. 313.

CHAP. II.

_Observations on the veto. The women offer up their ornaments
to the public. Debate whether the spanish branch of the
Bourbons could reign in France. Conduct of the king
respecting the decrees of the fourth of August. Vanity of the
french. Debates on quartering a thousand regulars at
Versailles. Individuals offer their jewels and plate to make
up the deficiency of the loan. The king sends his rich
service of plate to the mint. Necker’s proposal for every
citizen to give up a fourth of his income. Speech of Mirabeau
on it. His address to the nation._ p. 359.

CHAP. III.

_Reflections on the new mode of raising supplies. No just
system of taxation yet established. Paper money. Necessity of
gradual reform._ p. 388.

_BOOK V._

CHAP. I.

_Errour of the national assembly in neglecting to secure the
freedom of France. It’s conduct compared with that of the
american states. Necessity of forming a new constitution as
soon as an old government is destroyed. The declaring of the
king inviolable a wrong measure. Security of the french
against a counter-revolution. The flight of the king
meditated._ p. 399.

CHAP. II.

_Entertainment at Versailles. The national cockade trampled
under foot. A mob of women proceed to the hôtel-de-ville—and
thence to Versailles. The king’s reply to the national
assembly’s request, that he would sanction the declaration of
rights and the first articles of the constitution. Debates on
it. Arrival of the mob at Versailles. The king receives a
deputation from the women, and sanctions the decree for the
free circulation of grain. The assembly summoned. La Fayette
arrives with the parisian militia. The palace attacked by the
mob—who are dispersed by the national guards. Reflections on
the conduct of the duke of Orleans._ p. 420.

CHAP. III.

_The mob demand the king’s removal to Paris. This city
described. The king repairs to the capital, escorted by a
deputation of the national assembly and the parisian militia.
The king’s title changed. Proceedings of the national
assembly. Reflections on the declaration of rights._ p. 470.

CHAP. IV.

_Progress of reform. The encyclopedia. Liberty of the press.
Capitals. The french not properly qualified for the
revolution. Savage compared with civilized man. Effects of
extravagance—of commerce—and of manufactures. Excuse for the
ferocity of the parisians._ p. 492.

AN
HISTORICAL AND MORAL VIEW
OF THE
FRENCH REVOLUTION.

_BOOK I._