viz., the Abbe Cerutti, an Italian Jesuit, who had been in the service
of the Dauphin, the father of Louis XVI., and who, like so many others,
threw his religion and his allegiance behind his back when they could no
longer subserve his personal ends, and who was, moreover, with Mirabeau
and Talleyrand, one of the most active promoters of the popular cause.
This trio, in conjunction with Condorcet, started, in 1789, the first
democratical journal known in Paris. It was called the _Feuille
Villageoise_, and was designed for circulation among the rural
populations of the provinces. It has been accused of having provoked
many of the atrocities of the Revolution; but this, it would seem, was a
mistake. It only fanned the flames after they had broken out, but did
not excite them: and it was remarkable for "burning columns" from
Mirabeau, the ex-noble; for "cold, bitter irony," from Cerutti, the
ex-Jesuit; and for recommendations of the "divisions of church property,
&c." from Talleyrand, the ex-bishop. Such pastimes could have done no
harm, according to M. Colmache; and were obviously inadequate to the
production of a revolution--and such a revolution! Let us acquit these
patriots, then, of treason against society, and let us believe that they
were actuated by the purest motives, when they used every effort within
their reach to rouse to madness an ignorant and excitable multitude, and
stimulated by every possible means, the cupidity of the poor by
suggestions to plunder the rich and to despoil the Church. It may be
difficult to do this, but there is no help for it; and with such
undeniable proofs of the wisdom, virtue, and moderation of this
celebrated junta, as M. Colmache has been pleased to furnish, we may let
the matter drop.

Talleyrand was consumed by a burning hatred of England, even before the
Revolution broke out, and, in conjunction with a friend, gave a
practical illustration of his hostility by fitting out a privateer at
Brest, which was designed to intercept British ships trading to the West
Indies; and as we do not remember to have seen this strange incident in
his life mentioned elsewhere, we shall give the short account of it
which M. Colmache has furnished:

"The sudden change from the frivolous _papillotage_ of the _ancien
regime_ to the sombre enthusiasm which broke out at the epoch of the
American war, made but little impression on M. Talleyrand. He was
evidently prepared; and at once declared his opinio