s this will excite, and
the disorders it may admit, will be loud, and near to the royal ear and
person. The parliamentary fragments permitted to remain, have already
some of them refused, and probably all will refuse, to act under that
form. The assembly of the clergy which happens to be sitting, have
addressed the King to call the States General immediately. Of the Dukes
and Peers (thirty-eight in number), nearly half are either minors or
superannuated; two thirds of the acting half seem disposed to avoid
taking a part; the rest, about eight or nine, have refused, by letters
to the King, to act in the new courts. A proposition excited among the
Dukes and Peers, to assemble and address the King for a modification of
the Plenary court, seems to show that the government would be willing to
compromise on that head. It has been prevented by the Dukes and Peers in
opposition, because they suppose that no modification to be made by the
government will give to that body the form they desire, which is that of
a representative of the nation. They foresee that if the government
is forced to this, they will call them, as nearly as they can, in the
ancient forms; in which case, less good will be to be expected from
them. But they hope they may be got to concur in a declaration of
rights, at least, so that the nation may be acknowledged to have some
fundamental rights, not alterable by their ordinary legislature, and
that this may form a ground-work for future improvements. These seem to
be the views of the most enlightened and disinterested characters of the
opposition. But they may be frustrated by the nation's making no cry at
all, or by a hasty and premature appeal to arms. There is neither
head nor body in the nation, to promise a successful opposition to
two hundred thousand regular troops. Some think the army could not
be depended on by the government; but the breaking men to military
discipline, is breaking their spirits to principles of passive
obedience. A firm, but quiet opposition, will be the most likely
to succeed. Whatever turn this crisis takes, a revolution in their
constitution seems inevitable, unless foreign war supervene, to suspend
the present contest. And a foreign war they will avoid, if possible,
from an inability to get money. The loan of one hundred and twenty
millions, of the present year, is filled up by such subscriptions as may
be relied on. But that of eighty millions, proposed for the next year,
canno