If this be not the only way of explaining Mr. Fox's conduct, there remains but one other, which is, to suppose, that, when the French Revolution was the object of consideration, his usual reason and superior sagacity abandoned him. This is not a very frequent example in the history of the human mind, but neither does it stand alone. The most profound thinkers have, on some particular subjects, where they have long employed. their minds, lost the faculty of clear discrimination. This very probably was the case with Mr. Fox; but whether it was so or not, those persons who follow the political opinions of manner, the Abbe Raynal made a violent protest against the Constitution of 1789, which he predicted would ruin the cause of national liberty. Neither Neckar nor Raynal could be suspected of being Royalists; they had no personal interest in what they did; on the contrary, Raynal did it at a very great personal risque, and was, in fact, obliged to get away from Paris quickly and secretly, to avoid the danger he had brought on himself by his remon

strance.

Were there no other reasons for refusing approbation to the French Constitution than that Neckar, Raynal, Mounier, Lally Tollendal, Clermont, Tonnere, and the most able and well disposed advocates in the cause of liberty, confessed their error, or united in condemning it, we should be sceptical with regard to its wisdom; but, when we go farther, and consider the awful result so easily and clearly traced to that Constitution, it is very difficult to form any notion of reasons for approving of it, particularly in terms so unqualified, and so decisive, as those made use of by Mr. Fox, a man certainly of the first rate abilities, and the goodness of whose heart was never called in question. This is a strong example of the violent and dangerous effects of too strong a bias to one side of a question, when that has operated on the mind for a series of years. Mr. Fox

VOL. III.

P

Mr. Fox should consider what principles they allude to, as those by which he was understood to be guided through the greater part of his life, were quite opposite to those he avowed in his latter years; though it is to be hoped that the true Whig principles are understood to be meant, and not the French theories which he so much applauded and admired.

MAJOR JAMES.

MAJOR JAMES.

(EXTENUATION*.)

THIS gentleman, possessed of a warm, a patriotic, and a philanthropic heart, was one of the English Nation who, at the breaking out of the French Revolution, saw the greatness of the event; and, by great and creditable exertion, endeavoured to dive into its ultimate tendency, and into the characters of those who were lead ers at the time.

His title of "EXTENUATION" is modest and moderate; and his view seems evidently to have been that of a well-wishing intelligent stranger, who aimed at moderating the opinions of those writers who attributed nothing but bad intention to those who conducted the French Revolution at. its first outset.

Mr. James saw many things in their true light, and, from personal knowledge, ascertained, that many of the leaders were men of good intention;. but he did not foresee, that those who were at first the leaders would be compelled to become the instruments, and, finally, the victims of the Utopian plan. He was an observer, not a prophet; and knowing that what was done was

*This Pamphlet was originally written in Paris, and was published in London in the month of October, 1792.

+ We must except the conclusion of his Work, wherein he very clearly foretels the fall of the Duke of Orleans, and of the Terrorists.

meant to produce good, did not foresee that it would terminate in evil. Even those who knew Robespierre during the First Assembly said, that he was too humane to be a great man; so much were men deceived in calculating upon the characters of those who, embarking in a desperate undertaking, were obliged to sail with the current. The many-headed monster (the people) was let loose, and became ungovernable, unless those who governed would give a vent to that spirit of destruction which was the consequence of the theories of well-informed men, when become the guide of the ignorant.

Partizans and imitators, or, in other words, the lower class, who adopt opinions upon the credit of others, never have any doubts as to the wisdom and justice of what they are about to do, and therefore they have no moderation.

Mr. James has certainly produced proofs of good intention in the French Rulers* being converted to the worst of purposes, by uninformed men, when heated by events, and stimulated by falsehoods industriously and artfully propagated; and no lesson is of more utility. The man who leads the mob should consider himself like one who carries a burning torch, with which, if he once sets fire to a large pile, he cannot extin

* Particularly in that part of "THE EXTENUATION" where he gives the substance of a conversation, which passed at Paris, between him and al eading Member of the Convention, in November, 1792. The Member alluded to was afterwards guillotined with Brissotines.

guish the conflagration. It is of more importance to know this than any other fact relative to revolution; for it shews what mischief men may some times do, even when actuated with the desire of doing good. That the French Leaders did not foresee the consequences of their actions is clear from this that they became victims: and surely no one will suppose, that they expected such a result; and if Brissot and his Associates are not to be accused of knowingly bringing on their own destruction, neither are they to be accused of bringing on the anarchy and reign of terror with an intention.-They were the instruments, the cause, but it was in ignorance.-This is a lesson that ought to be learned by all those who launch into reforms, the extent of which they cannot calculate.

The greatest and the most complete refutation of the Rights of Man is founded in the character of the men who produced it, and the fate that attended them.

M. Mounier, a man of great abilities and of good character, produced the Declaration of Rights that was adopted, and, in less than four months, he was driven into exile*; for his Declation of Rights had rendered the people mad and ungovernable: and in succession Lally Tollen

* M. Mounier was President of the National Assembly on the 4th of October, when the mob went to Versailles to drag the Royal Family into captivity. He fled from his place when the mob entered, declaring that he would neither baconspirator nor an accomplice.

dal,