Considerations on the Nature of the French Revolution; and on the Causes Which Prolong Its Duration

T HE French Revolution was neecflarily* and not accidentally the caufe of the War, and is attaining perfection by the very efforts of its Enemies* I fay perfcEliony becaufe, for fifteen months’ part* dangers have to that Revolution proved refources, her fucceffes have eftablifhed her authority, and the flight checks the has met* have been the inftruments of her invafions. Terror has added ftrength to the immenfe force which the poffefied from opinion. She has levelled every thing under the axe of her affaffins; Royalty, King, Gonftitution, Laws, every faculty of Government, the law of Nature, the law of Nations, all feeling, all remorfe, all ‘duty’; nothing remains for her to accompli (h, but the pillage of the little landed property, of which die ft ill, .and for the moment coridefcends to allow the ulufrtidt to its poffeffors.

Thefe events are pafting in the prefence of all Europe in arms; yet the genius which prefides in her councils, five hundred thoufand valiant foldiers, eighty fhips of the line* afiifted by an inteftine W ar, have not torn ten leagues of territory from that Confederation of crimes, which has intitled itfelf the French Republic! The duration of fiich a conflidt begins already to give her fome dignity. Already the public, grown callous, forgets the crimes of the Jacobins, and thinks only of their refiftance. Three months more of uncertainty, and a race of men degenerated by felfifhnefs will pafs from furprize to admiration.