Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-19

would not allow him to afflx his ssnct'on'
By the first they sentenced to trs"sporta-
ton, every priest who had refused the con-
stitu,ional oath. ii he were denounced by
twenty active citizens, that is, citizens who
paid taxes and by the second they called
70 Paris legion of Masellois, whom they
knew TO be determined to act the part OF
eonspirators against the crown" Vol. ],
p. col.
The concessiye system which Louis had
adopted, he now sacrificed to the honora-
bic feeling that melted him to reject these
infamous laws. When his veto became
known, 90, 900 rudians armed with pixies
and lances, marched TO the Thuilleries,
where Louis displayed the fortitude OF a
martyr, and the spirit Of hero. His sister
Elizabeth magnanimously encouraged the
error of the mob, which mistook her Tor
Maria Antoinette. "The queen herself,
SAYS Madame de Stael sought to have been
recognized by the ardor with which she
pressed her children to her breast" Vol.
I, p. 292. The account given by our au-
tboress of the kings compulsory assistance
in celebrating the anniversary OF July l4.h,
is followed by a review of the duke OF
Brunswick's celebrated manifesto; the IN
surrection of the 10th of August, and the
massacres attending it; the abolition OF
royalty, and, (for our summary must now
contract ITSELF the execution OF Louis. 10
the description Of this dreadful act OF Jaeo-
binical despotism, is ADDED a parallel be-
tween the conduct ofthat monarch, and that
of the English Charles |. The chapter
containing ii we regard as the most curious
in the book, since it developes the made
quacy OF experience to furnish principles
of action, suited to revolutionary era
Scarcely point exists in the situation and
character of the two kings, in which strong
contrast is not perceivable yet they both
proceeded, tho by opposite roads. to the
same cruel altar, where they were immola-
ted, that liberty might spring from their
blood, like the flower from the blood OF the
tabled Hyacynthus. lit is, indeed, impro-
bable that the history of the world can ex-
hibit revolution so little affected by the
personal character Of the monarch as that OF
France. The mildness and benihcenee OF
Louis XVI. instead ofremoving an obstacle,
as some have imagined, TO the progress ire
form, ought more naturally to have produ-
ced acquiessence in his government. When
in the vicissltudes of society signal event
occurs nothing is more common than for as
piring curiosity to investigate its origin, and
10 shew what would have prevented it {;
but different result in the next coinci-
dence of similar circumstances often dis
plays the ineptitude Of general reasonings,
aud the operation of particular causes,
which experience had never intimated, nor
ingenuity surmised.
Madame de Stael's observations on the
war between England and the republic,
discover her usual wisdom and ii5erality.
But the comparison between Pitt and Fox,
which they comprise, is tainted with the
erroneous notion of their political senti-
ments that once prevailed. Because MIR.
Fox was the orator of the opposition, he
has been viewed as the sclt-denying apos.
tie of liberty; and MIR. Pitt, because ne
administered the power Of the state, as be-
ing unfriendIy to popular rights. Yet, on
occasions which afforded an unequivocal
test of their principles, the India bill and
the Regency bill, the consistency and alb
horrence of arbitrary power manifested by
MIR. Pitt, were by no means obvious IN his
rival. Of the talents of these illustrious
men, Madame de Stael has given far juster
estimate and, indeed, mankind seems now
to admit, that they differed more in kind
than degree.-After the sketch OF the IA
months reign of terror, and OF the Vendean
instructions. We arrive at the establish
ment of the directorial republic, during
which Rernadotle and Bonaparte appear
ed ON the political thea re. The cha
racter of the latter is prominent through
out the remainder OF the work, and is
portrayed with freshness and skill which
none other of the numerous attempts To des-
cribe him has exhibited. AT the time
when the treaty of Campo Formio was
concluded, Bonaparte was believed to add
an amiable and even poetic sens'billty
ol character to extraordinary talents