to this must be attributed the accomplishment of those extraordinary measures which at the outset appeared calculated, not only for unhinging the governments of Europe, but dissolving all the political system in the world. The most remarkable occurrences, however, are the annihilation of monarchy and the expulsion of catholicism in France. The convention was no sooner assembled, than those ideas, which were implanted by early prejudice, and studiously cherished by education, underwent a total change; and the fabric of institutions, rendered sacred by the custom of ages, crumbled to dust. Perhaps the most surprising part of these transactions is, that they were accomplished by men, before that period, destitute of influence, who were little known, and whose abilities, but for the circumstances which developed them, would have remained for ever in obscurity. They were not conspicuous either by birth, station, or riches-Yet many of them displayed the most shining talents, mixed with a boldness and decision which were rendered more conspicuous from the singularity of events by which they were rendered necessary and called into action.

CHAP. VII.

Election of the Deputies to the New Legislature.--The Directory.---Disappointment of the Chiefs of the Terrorists.---Society of the Pantheon.---Is suppressed.---Laudable Conduct of the Directory. ---Religious Toleration.---Treaties of Peace between the French Republic and other Powers.--Success of the predatory Maritime Warfare of the French.---Superiority of British Seamen.--Engagement between the Blanche and La Pique, and Death of Captain Faulkner.---A French Squadron defeated by Admiral Hotham.---Masterly Retreat of Admiral Cornwallis.---Victory obtained by Lord Bridport.---Lord Cochrane's Speech on the Navy Estimates.---Capture of the Cape of Good Hope, and of the Dutch Fleet.--Depredations on the British Trade.---Unpopularity of the Minister.---Acquittal of Warren Hastings.---Marriage of the Prince of Wales, &c.---His Majesty hissed, his Carriage Window broken by a Bullet, &c.---Proceedings in Parlia

ment.

IN electing the deputies to the new legislature, the people evinced their regard for those men who had so spiritedly opposed the designs of the Jacobin fac

tion against the new constitution; and notwithstanding the intrigues of this party, the departments vied with each for the honor of being represented by them. But in thus manifesting their aversion of the terrorists, they were inadvertently promoting their preponderance, as each of the favorites could only take his seat for one, and being elected for many, gave their opponents an opportunity of nominating their own party to the vacant seats. The obnoxious faction consequently formed the majority, while the minority was backed by the voice of the nation. Yet it must in justice be acknowledged, that advances of reconciliation had been made by the chiefs of the terrorists to the heads of the moderate party; but the latter contemptuously refused the offer, disdaining to coalesce with men, whom they regarded as partisans of Robespierre, and whose example they would not scruple to follow the moment that opportunity presented. Finding their advances slighted, and that the nation warmly supported their rivals; conscious at the same time that the new constitution would operate to their disadvantage, unless they could place their party at the head of it, they found means to exclude, for the most part, from the management of affairs, those men whom they knew would act strictly according to its spirit and letter.

The great object of ambition was the directorial office, and four of the obnoxious faction, in opposition to the will of the nation, were exalted to this dignity.

-These were Rewbell,* Barras, Latourneur de la Manche, and Sieyes. These four members of the

* Rewbell was born at Colmar, in 1746; was bred to the bar, and arrived at considerable eminence as an advocate in the sovereign court of Alsace. He was elected a member of the states general, and distinguished himself in that brilliant assembly, where great talents were so common, and where he acquired the reputation of an enlightened friend of liberty.

+ Latourneur was born at Granville in the year 1751. The revolution found him captain in a corps of engineers. In the legislative assembly, of which he was a member, he seldom spoke upon the spur of the occasion, though he made several excellent reports in the name of the committee of Marine.

+

Latourneur is a man of reserved disposition, though the irritability of his temper sometimes borders upon petulance. Upright in his own dealings, he is apt to suspect the good faith of others. Sieyes was born at Frejus, in the eastern part of Provence, in the year 1748. He was gradually a clergyman, a vicar general, a canon, and Chancellor of the church of Chartres; and lastly, had the permanent administrative employment in Paris of counsellor commissary, nominated by the diocese of Chartres to the superior clergy of France. He was esteemed a learned civilian and canonist, and possessed a considerable share of knowledge in the Belleslettres: his favorite studies, however, were metaphysics, politics, and œconomics. He spent the greatest part of every year in Paris, where he associated with d'Alembert, Diderot, Condorcet, &c.

Notwithstanding these qualifications and connections, it is more than probable that Sieyes would have continued in obscurity through life, if the accident of the revolution had not brought him into a situation to display his talents. Being appointed a deputy to the states general, he began his career by the publication of a judicious pamphlet, entitled, "WHAT IS THE TIERS ETAT?" This work became, at that time, the most fashionable book in Paris. After the meeting of the TIERS ETAT at Versailles, he was the first person who proposed that they should call themselves

directory were avowedly of the predominant faction, which would most willingly have added a fifth, had

"THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FRENCH

PEOPLE," and he supported his project with considerable metaphysical ingenuity. Mirabeau, who was the better statesman, seeing his predilection for metaphysics, took this occasion to warn him of the inconveniences which might arise from applying abstract deductions to the practice of government and legislation.

Sometime previously to the month of October, when the king was attacked in his palace at Versailles by the Parisian mob, a secret committee, consisting of the duke of Orleans, Mirabeau, Laclos, and the abbe Sieyes, was formed in the village of Mourouge, near Paris. They had agreed upon a scheme for placing the duke of Orleans in so distinguished a situation in the government, that, with the assistance of his fortune, and under the influence of his name, they could not fail to have the command of the populace, and consequently possess a decisive weight in the national assembly.

Sieyes was the author of the famous declaration of "the rights of man," which was decreed by the national assembly. In 1792, he was appointed a member of the national convention. Nothing remarkable distinguished his conduct in the first period of that tumultuous assembly. When, however, the convention voted the punishment of Louis, such was the influence of Sieyes, that a great number of members reserved themselves till they had heard his opinion. It was consequently understood, that upon that opinion would depend the fate of the king.-Sieyes at length mounted the tribune, an awful silence pervaded the anxious assembly; eloquence, combined with philosophy, was expected; he, however, interrupted the solemn pause with only five emphatic monosyllables "Je suis pour la mort !" (I am for death!) and instantly withdrew. From this time he was so far concealed from the public eye, that it was actually made a question whether he was dead or alive. It has, however, been thought by the Parisians, that he directed, from his philosophical den, many of the atrocities which were committed under the reign of Robespierre. Sieyes took no part in the re