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perty is not attacked in France; there you hear no such assertions; on the return of the Commissioners, Members of the Convention from the riots at Chartres, where they were nearly destroyed, it was asserted on facts, in the Convention itself, that all the principles of an Agrarian Law were in agitation (mis en avance) *.

"Before we quit this subject of the Security of Property at present in France, let us examine shortly the case of that most interesting portion of property, the crop in the hands of the farmer: we know well in England, from the conviction of long experience, that if this species of property is not sacred, all the classes of the society instantly suffer; it is a vital wound that affects the whole system.

"The late crop of 1792, in that kingdom, is said to be plentiful; but natural plenty, under a government of anarchy, avails little; the mob prohibiting the free transport of corn, the immediate consequence was so high a price in many districts, that the people found it more convenient to seize the corn than to pay for it: this, of course, added every where to the mischief; for the farmers were not ready to carry their products into the jaws of a plunderer. These distractions-these blessings of a government that had the power of converting even good crops into the means of famine-drew from the Minister of the Home Department threats even of violence; he

* Monit. Dec. 2.

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wrote to a variety of cities, from all which pa pers it would be too tedious to give extracts. He thus expresses himself to Tours The Municipalities ought to use all possible means of persuasion with the farmers for engaging them to supply the markets: for I must tell you, that if the possessors of corn resist these paternal invitations, MEANS OF EXTREMITY must be used against them on sera bien contraint d'employer envers eux les moyens extremes *. It is worth the attention of English farmers, to reflect well on the nature of this case: their brethren in France, content with a moderate and fair price for their corn, carry it freely to market; the operations of the people raise the price; and then to revenge, the result of their own violence, they plunder. Such a conduct is sure to create, at least, apprehensions of famine; and to obviate it, the minister does not threaten the mob, from whom all the mischief arises, but the FARMERS; he threatens them with EXTREMITIES, as a punishment for having been plundered by the rab ble-by the nation! If the farmer, thus robbed, has the misfortune to be a proprietor, and particularly a large proprietor, he has first the oppression of paying those taxes which an armed populace will not pay; and, that he may be able to do this, his corn is seized by the consumer, and he is threatened with extremities by the Minister; as if any extremities could be greater * Monit. Sept. 17.

than

than taking his crops by violence: if more, however was not meant, the folly of the denunciation was equal to the knavery of it. Those intellects which can see any difference between such a government and the cudgel of a Turkish Basha, are much more acute than mine.

"The same Minister writes to the Convention, Oct. 15: 'I am informed that the overseers of the military subsistences do not cease to fly through the country, and to force, with arms in their hands, the farmers to furnish their commodities. Such practices destroy every measure of order, and infinitely impede the free circulation of corn. I cannot dissemble with the Convention, that this conduct of the military contractors tends to spread disorder every where; and that if they continue to take by force, or at their own price, provisions from the farmers, it will be impossible to insure the supply of Paris.''

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"In all these, and a thousand other instances, we see the living and effective consequence of Paine's doctrines; he expatiated on the luxury of great estates, and recommended their seizure; French practice realized the doctrine, and doubtless there were French farmers who rejoiced at the spectacle of all the great properties of the kingdom being levelled by the nation; they did not however foresee, that it would be their own turn next; that the principle of Equality being ence abroad, would infallibly level ALL pro

perty;

perty; and would give to the beggar, without a loaf, but with a pike on his shoulder, the means of levelling the enormous inequality between his own wallet, without a kernel, and the well-stored granary of a warm farmer. Let ours, therefore, never forget, that the same principle which attacks a property of 40,000l. a year, because it is too large relatively to other properties, attacks also a farm of 2001. a year for the same reason; nay, of 501. a year, because that also is large, when compared with the property of those who have little. And let us all be persuaded, that the fearful events at present passing in France, with a celerity of mischief that surpasses equally all that history has to offer, or fancy to conceive, afford a spectacle interesting to every man who possesses PROPERTY; and to none more than farmers. The quarrel now raging in that once flourishing kingdom is not between Liberty and Tyranny, or between protecting and oppressive systems of government: it is, on the contrary, collected to a single point-it is alonea question of property; it is a trial at arms, whether those who have nothing shall not seize and possess the property of those who have something! A dreadful question-a horrid struggle, which can never end but in the equal and universal ruin of all; in which he who gains the loss of his neighbour, gains but to lose, in his turn, to some sturdier robber; till riot, confusion, and anarchy, render property but the signal of inva

sion, and poverty the best shield against the attacks and tyranny of the mob *."

"Life and property in France are in this situation, if raised a single point above the level of the populace; a gigantic and devouring despotism has levelled in the dust all security to those whose properties raise them above the mob. In one word, Law does not reign; there is a power every where superior: a despotic authority may fill the ranks of their armies, as the slaves of Algiers are made to arm and to fight; but the kingdom is as much ruined with the victory attending her standard, as if the German banners were flying at Paris, Marseilles, and Bourdeaux,"

"Such are the consequences of the French Revolution. Our next inquiry is, from what have these evils arisen? They may be attributed to three prominent features in the new system of

* Pursue the Declaration of Rights through every article, and it will be found, that there is not a single one registered as an imprescriptible right of man that has not been violated under circumstances of the most odious and abominable cruelty.

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An Englishman is proud of the idea of his house being his castle; see the practice of Jacobin government in this respect! Decreed, that the Municipalities are authorised to search the houses of all persons for arms, and to take an account of horses and carriages applicable to the war.' And, soon after, their absolute seizure decreed! This was sounding the alarm bell, in order to give up the houses of all the gentlemen in the kingdom to the plunder of brigands; and this by the Legislature itself-elected by personal representation.

If we are asked what apology the tyrants of Paris have to make for their actions, their answer is STATE EXPEDIENCY; which an English reformer calls the offspring of hell!

VOL. III.

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