Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-05-11
NJ Z S ELL a 81 y o
BICITING SCENES HIST0R,
ny A. ALLIso
Auttor Of the History of Europe.


In abiding to the sanguinary and ferocious
character of the French Revolution, our au-
thor argues thus alt arose, not from any pe-
cuiiaritles IN the disposition of the people, or
any faults exclusively owing to the govern
Iheh', Out the weight of despotsm which had
preceded, and the magnitude of the changes
which were to follow 1t. 1t was distinguished
by violence and stained with blood, because il
originated chiefly with the laboring classes,
and partook of the savage features of a servile
revolt; it totally subverted the institutions ne
The coun,ry, because it condensed within q few
wears the changes which should have taken
place III as many centuries 1t speedily fell
under the direction of the most depraved of the
people because its guidance was early ADAM
doned by the higher to the lower orders it
LED TO genera! spoliation of property. be-
cause IT was founded on universal insurrec
'ion OF the poor against the rich. France
wonid have done less at the Revolution, if she
Nad done more before it; she would not have
so numerically unsheathed the sword to gov
ern IL she had not so long been governed bv
the sword; she would not have fallen for
years under the guillotine Of the populace. if
she had not groaneu for centuries under thu Ge,-
tiers of the nobility.
tits IN periods of apparent disaster, during
liie suffering OF whole generations, that the
reatestlmprovements on human character have
been affected, and foundation laid for those
changes which ultimately prove most benef-
cial 10 the species. The wars of the Hen
tarchy, the Norman Conquest, the Contests of
Hoses, the Great Rebellion, are apparently the
most disastrous periods of our annals: those
IN which civil discord was most furious, and
public suffering most universal. Yet these are
precisely the periods in which its peculiar
temper was given to the English character, and
the greatest addition made to the causes of
English prosperity in which courage arose
out OF the extremity Of misfortune: national
union out of foreign oppression, public eman-
cipation out of arlstocratic dissention, general
freedom out of regal ambition. The national
character which we now possess. the public
benefits we now enjoy, the freedom by which
we are distinguished, the energy bv which we
are sustained, are in great measure owing TO
the renovating storrs which have, in former
ages, passed over our country. The darkest
periods of French annals, in like manner, those
OF the successors Of Charlemagne, of the Eng
iish wars, ofthe contests Of religion, Of the des-
Potism OF the Bourbons. are probably the ones
which have formed the most honorable fea-
lures OF the French character which have
"Sihi'eu ou tbe SIaVlSn HABITS OF Roman SER
Vltude the generous courage Of modern chiyal-
ry; on the passive submission of feudal ipnor-
ance, the mpetuous valor of victorious patri-
otisIn; which have extricated, from the COLI
sion OF opinion, the powers of thought, and
Dursed, amid the corruption Of despotism the
seeds of liberty. Through all the horrors of
the Revolution, the same beneficial law of Ma
| ture may be discerned and the annals of its
career will not be thrown away, if, amid the
greatest calamties, they teach confidence in
the wisdom which governs, and inspire ha-
tired al the vices which desolate the world"
And, tracing the effects which the American
Revolution had upon the public mind, and the
cause OF civil liberty in France, he saws
while the minds of The people were in state
oil lerment, arising from the concurrence of SC
many causes of dissatisfaction, the impruden
policy OF the French government in engaging
IN Inc American War, lighted spark which
specify set the train on fire. From Jealous,
OF the English power, and desire to Increas,
the difficulties Of that country in the contes
win her colonies, Louis XVI. took the dan
gerous step aiding the insurgents The con
sequence was, that the French soldiers, whc
we're sent over to support the cause of transat
lsnsIc freedom, imbibed the Intoxicating ideas
4 O patriotic resistance, language unknown il
tncIr own Country grew familiar to their ears
IRON being parties in a strife in which the au