The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-22
His voice was heard no more
Amid the martial throng."
Mr.. Everett's Lectures on the French Re-
vOluti0ns.

The Hon. Alexander H. Everett commenced
last evening a course of two lectures upon the
French revolution of $780, and that which in our
own times has placed Louis Philippe upon the
throne of France, before the members of the New
York Lyceum, in the Broadway Tabernacle.
The lecture lest night upon the first revolu-
ton, from its commencement in the year 1889, to
the period of the abdication of Napoleon. Upon
subject so vast as this, Mr. Everett observed, that
Of course the auditory would not expect more from
him than bare outline, interspersed with few
comments upon its chief events and the leading
characters in them. There had probably been no
period in history interesting this, full of
importance in its consequences upon the world
The reformation, the crusades, the fall of the Ro
man empire, were attended with rude political
commissions which unsettled for time the whole
fabric of civilized society; but making every proper
allowance for them, 1t could hardly be denied that
the events he was about to discuss were among the
most important which had ever occurred There
was this difference, too, between them: the former
had occurred in barbarous periods, consequently
we felt less interest in them. The French revolution
ipon the contrary, was wrought out in the broad
daylight of civilized age. II must therefore be
regarded as one of the most magnificent and most
appalling spectacles ever presented to the world
within the history OF man. The immediate cause
Of this vast movement was not commensurate in
Importance with the magnitude and character of
its results At the period of the of American
independence the annual revenue of France, in
consequence of her having taken part in that con-
test against Great Britain fell short but as her re-
sources were unimpaired, a skilful financier would
lave had great difficulty in repairing the appa-
rently trihing mischief. The councillors of Louis
the 10Th, however, could think of no other remedy
than that Of calling an assembly of the notables
who correspOnded to our national convention a
course which IN its results led to the great move
ments OF the revolution. The financial difficulties
being ostenslble rather than real, it not proba
BILE that so small matter could have produced
such great consequences, unless the kingdom had
been ripe for revolution. In point of fact, the real
ncongruity, produced by the spread of civilization,
between the condition of the people and the exls.
ling form OF government. The fendal system had
prevailed throughout France and Europe, and the
general progress OF civilization affected that
system, in two ways-by. corrupting the mobiles
and thus diminishing their importance, and
next by releasing the body Of the people from bond
age, endowing them with wealth and knowledge, thus
giving men substantial importance in the State This
louble operation had proceeded so far at the commence
the French revolution and the privileged classes
with many ustrious exceptions had become COMPARE.
lively imbecile whilst the mass of the peopleapossessed
al the learning information and proby in the community
In the meantime the form Of government by which the
whole political power remained with the nobes remained
unchanged The Able sieze, about this period wrote
England the Commons, and here the people were every
thing. The Able asked these questions "whnt has
something" This feeling spread through France; and
eventually almost every other country in Europe In fact
the right Of the people to be something too plain
be gainsad In fact from the period ofthe Reformation
series OF mastery writers had appeared who created
sieclng Locke and Monesqueu, Voaire and Rous-
'eau and, in the meantime, standing commentary
upon their works the example of England was
2erpetuaily Preferred to-a country where, IL
me people not every thing" they were some.
thing" and the State none the worse for IT, Thus
there was of circumstances bring about
sort oil crisis and nothing was wanting but some
dental spark to cause explosion This spark sup.
piled by the American revolution which furnished
nipple OF successful resistance to oppression and mis-.
government Such were the and immediate,
II the French revolution Having thus stated the opera
ling causes Mr. Everett proceeded to describe the const