lves, but to all the
world. Poets sang the destruction of the Bastille; orators applauded
the asserters of liberty; statesmen contemplated the revolution with
pleasure; and even divines from their pulpits did not blush to extol the
character of the French regenerators. Among the most ardent admirers of
the French revolution was an assemblage of persons, with Lord Stanhope
at their head, who had associated for many years for the purpose of
commemorating the British revolution of 1888. These revolutions were
totally different in character, but losing sight of this, the society
even went so far as to offer a formal address of "congratulation to
the national assembly on the event of the late glorious revolution in
France." It must be in charity supposed, that a great deal of ignorance
existed as to the real character of the movement in France, otherwise it
could only be concluded that a similar spirit existed in England as in
that country. It must not be disguised, however, that England contained
a certain class of discontented speculative men, who considered their
own country deficient in the liberty which, they imagined as agreeable
to man's natural rights; and who therefore looked upon the French
revolution as the precursor to a similar movement among ourselves: men
who, from a revolutionary ardour and a fondness for innovation, looked
on all resistance to power as commendable, confounded revolt with
liberty, and identified conspiracy with patriotism. But this section of
the community happily was not extensive: the many who admired the French
revolution did so from a generous sympathy, and while they lamented the
excesses committed, they attributed it to the old tyranny, which had
brutalized the people, and which they considered as not likely to
continue. They concluded, erroneously indeed, that a change from the old
system of despotism must be an improvement, and fondly hoped that the
alterations would produce a government in France, similar to that which
they themselves enjoyed. Others there were, however, who viewed the new
politics of France with horror. Looking from the present to the future,
they foresaw that the events which had taken place in that country,
instead of producing such a change in the condition of the French people
as every friend to rational and well-regulated freedom must desire,
would only produce the most lamentable consequences--would either
terminate in anarchy, or in the establishment of despoti