Book Description

Excerpt from An Examination of the Principles of the French Revolution In the long train of revolutions which form the history of empires, there is not one to be compared with the French. All others were only local and momentary shocks, the effect of which was confined to the transfer of power from one hand to another; or, at most, to a change of the form of a Government. In it foreigners took no interest, any further than as they were connected with the leaders of one party or the other; and whatever was the issue, the agitations of one country shook not the constitution of other states. The French Revolution hath taken, from its origin, a different character. Without grievances, without pretexts, without visible leaders, in the midst of a profound peace, and under a government the most mild, a nation hath been entirely convulsed by a sudden change of opinions. The most powerful monarchy in Europe hath given way to a philosophical system, the principles of which, being applicable to every people, menace every government. The plan of this astonishing revolution embraces the universe: all nations are invited to enjoy its blessings, or to partake of its disasters. Hitherto, this system hath not the suffrage of experience in its favour; and though it were certain that posterity would reap the fruits of the crimes and calamities of the present generation, their reiteration justness would not absolve the innovators from the dreadful evils to which they have condemned us. The hope however of such happiness to come is forbidden: the revolution promises to our descendants only what it hath given to ourselves. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.