The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-30
sIRleteuarlp.

The following condenfed and generally core'
character of the French nation, is extracted
from DR.. Atkins " Geographical Define.
atious," juf publiIhed. 1t NUT be rccol.
letted that DR.. A. is one of the mott intel
)igent writers of England, and once an ardent
enthu6aR in the caufe of the French Revo.
luton.
A country 70 well adapted to the reidence oil
man, has from early times podeGed large popula
ton. and been Injured all the forms and ni:u,on,
oi civil life. The French people are chiefly COM
pound Of Celtic and Gothic Rock but the long con-
tinuance Of the Roman dominion in Gaul mud have
given froug Italian intuition lincs il allie to in
Produce language with Latin bats. Bu., whate-
vcr were the dSeriities Of origin, the natives of
France have aualgamated into a mals poleipg ma
tional character diaiha and clearly marked as tina,
OF any numerous community in the civilized parts of
the globe. The ehence Of this character is an exu-
beranee of animal fpiri,s producing sSee of mobil
~ and perpetual reltlefs activity They are quick
Ingenious, inventive fertile in expedients, Luoyant
aganit difficulty adveriity but mu,able, triang
confident, vain, credulous, and incapable ofmodera.
tion. With much that renders them anlable in feel
ETY., as readines obge, delicate attentions kind
Sympathy and lively feniibty, they are often of in
feeure commerce, from laxity of principle, unnean-
ing projections jealous rritability, ard roug pro-
pentity to intrigue. Their feelings every kind
verge to exee; and there is nothing, either good or
bad, OF which they are rot capable, under the nflu-
ence OF their iupetuous ardour No cabinet has ex-
Sted 10 much diffurbance among the neighborine !
ifates, from ambition and the fprt Of ntcrmeddling
as that of France and havef cen that no change
of political fyaem at home has made an alteration in
their foreign polity The French, beyond all people,
are the Creatures ffociety; by their manners and
fentiments falhoned, and in conferred their
chief Pleaiures aud qualifications. They would excel
all nations in the of converlation not the
oeilre OF Dining universal. The love of glory O.
Perates upon them with extraordinary force, and -
mulates them to great cxertions out it is often at
tended with empty ohentation and gafconade.
Although PATTON for novelty is apt TO lead |
them into multiplicity aud rapid change of pur- |
iu'ts yet they capable of long and Ready appli-
cation, when deeply intereGed in an obiea and in |
every department offeience and they have attain
ed high degree of perfection. Even the mathemat-
zeal licences have been cultivated by them with a |
fuccefs inferior to that of any other nation. Their
writers haze rendered their language familiar to the
lovers Of literature throughout Europe, and in the va
iae OF their productions they nave equals among
the moderns, with the foIc exception of the Englilh
heir tate in letters upon the WHOLE purer than in
the fine arts in which they generally marked BY
fuperabundapce of ornament and affected manner.
In ione of the inferior arts indeed, they uurva
pS,l
and are the fupreme arbiters of faihion in drels.
The French, naturally nquiitive, and prone to !
dhcuiiioB, had proceeded far in enaneipsting their
minds from the ihackles of arbitrary fyem of go
vernnient and religion, before any correspondent
change had taken place in their public intutons at
the fame time, refined luxury and general Obligation
had relaxed the bands of morality and accumulated
abuie and diiorder in every department. Financial
difficulties brought on neeeflity for reform; and
when the idea of change once admitted, i, was
not in the national character proceed in ir with
canton and moderation. Violent ltruggles between
Old and new principles terminated in revolution in
which monarchy, elabhed religion, and every nlti-
luton ianaioned by age and veneration went to
wreck. The events of this dreadful period dlplay.
ed prodigieus energy in the nation, bur accompanied
by erocity and d[regard of Juice and humanity,
which involved the caufe of reform and its iuppor-
tersin indeiibe digraee. hot foreign foes unit
ed TO fupprefs the dangerous flame, or to make ad-
vantage of the coKfuion; but the vgeur Of the new
republic not only reed all aaults but carried its
conquering arms into the surrounding countries and
finally extended the limits of France farther than her
moff ambitions p,onarchs had ever attempted This
ineceis however produced by exertions of auho-
rity which iubverted every thing free republican
IN the contribution, & prepared the way for military
defPotiim. The moG fuccelsful of the generals,
man OF daring genius, and capacious views feized
the reins and fir0 under the title of Chief Conful
NeTCheu, "ithout contronI, the authority OF the
nafrepublic. Europe has fnce witneffed the sao-
mining fpetacle of the fame man, an oblcure Cori-
can by birth, caung himief to be declared Emperor
with hereditary lucceiioH in his own family, crown
ed by the Pope, recognized by all orders of the ate
and thus founding dynaay, while the Bour-
bons are wandering from country TO country as ex-
lies The Roman Catholic religion has been re- eC-
,ablihed; kind ofnew nobility has been iuhtuted,
arbitrary government and all the pageantry of
court have been rsored and it eems at preient to
be an allowed political MAXIM that tie F,.rs are in
eEf~6's'ef BE AsLiag, FIR FREE eo.fif3ios."