WenowcomemoreparticularlytotheaffairsofFrance。Mr。Burke'sbookhastheappearanceofbeingwrittenasinstructiontotheFrenchnation;
　　butifImaypermitmyselftheuseofanextravagantmetaphor,suitedtotheextravaganceofthecase,itisdarknessattemptingtoilluminatelight。
　　WhileIamwritingthisthereareaccidentallybeforemesomeproposalsforadeclarationofrightsbytheMarquisdelaFayette（Iaskhispardonforusinghisformeraddress,anddoitonlyfordistinction'ssake）totheNationalAssembly,onthe11thofJuly,1789,threedaysbeforethetakingoftheBastille,andIcannotbutremarkwithastonishmenthowoppositethesourcesarefromwhichthatgentlemanandMr。Burkedrawtheirprinciples。
　　Insteadofreferringtomustyrecordsandmouldyparchmentstoprovethattherightsofthelivingarelost,"renouncedandabdicatedforever,"
　　bythosewhoarenownomore,asMr。Burkehasdone,M。delaFayetteappliestothelivingworld,andemphaticallysays:"Calltomindthesentimentswhichnaturehasengravedontheheartofeverycitizen,andwhichtakeanewforcewhentheyaresolemnlyrecognisedbyall:—Foranationtoloveliberty,itissufficientthatsheknowsit;andtobefree,itissufficientthatshewillsit。"Howdry,barren,andobscureisthesourcefromwhichMr。Burkelabors！andhowineffectual,thoughgaywithflowers,areallhisdeclamationandhisargumentscomparedwiththeseclear,concise,andsoul—animatingsentiments！Fewandshortastheyare,theyleadontoavastfieldofgenerousandmanlythinking,anddonotfinish,likeMr。Burke'speriods,withmusicintheear,andnothingintheheart。
　　AsIhaveintroducedM。delaFayette,IwilltakethelibertyofaddingananecdoterespectinghisfarewelladdresstotheCongressofAmericain1783,andwhichoccurredfreshtomymind,whenIsawMr。Burke'sthunderingattackontheFrenchRevolution。M。delaFayettewenttoAmericaattheearlyperiodofthewar,andcontinuedavolunteerinherservicetotheend。Hisconductthroughthewholeofthatenterpriseisoneofthemostextraordinarythatistobefoundinthehistoryofayoungman,scarcelytwentyyearsofage。Situatedinacountrythatwaslikethelapofsensualpleasure,andwiththemeansofenjoyingit,howfewaretheretobefoundwhowouldexchangesuchasceneforthewoodsandwildernessesofAmerica,andpassthefloweryyearsofyouthinunprofitabledangerandhardship！
　　butsuchisthefact。Whenthewarended,andhewasonthepointoftakinghisfinaldeparture,hepresentedhimselftoCongress,andcontemplatinginhisaffectionatefarewelltheRevolutionhehadseen,expressedhimselfinthesewords:"Maythisgreatmonumentraisedtolibertyserveasalessontotheoppressor,andanexampletotheoppressed！"WhenthisaddresscametothehandsofDr。Franklin,whowastheninFrance,heappliedtoCountVergennestohaveitinsertedintheFrenchGazette,butnevercouldobtainhisconsent。ThefactwasthatCountVergenneswasanaristocraticaldespotathome,anddreadedtheexampleoftheAmericanRevolutioninFrance,ascertainotherpersonsnowdreadtheexampleoftheFrenchRevolutioninEngland,andMr。Burke'stributeoffear（forinthislighthisbookmustbeconsidered）runsparallelwithCountVergennes'refusal。Buttoreturnmoreparticularlytohiswork。
　　"Wehaveseen,"saysMr。Burke,"theFrenchrebelagainstamildandlawfulmonarch,withmorefury,outrage,andinsult,thananypeoplehasbeenknowntoriseagainstthemostillegalusurper,orthemostsanguinarytyrant。"Thisisoneamongathousandotherinstances,inwhichMr。BurkeshowsthatheisignorantofthespringsandprinciplesoftheFrenchRevolution。
　　ItwasnotagainstLouisXVI。butagainstthedespoticprinciplesoftheGovernment,thatthenationrevolted。Theseprincipleshadnottheirorigininhim,butintheoriginalestablishment,manycenturiesback:
　　andtheywerebecometoodeeplyrootedtoberemoved,andtheAugeanstablesofparasitesandplundererstooabominablyfilthytobecleansedbyanythingshortofacompleteanduniversalRevolution。Whenitbecomesnecessarytodoanything,thewholeheartandsoulshouldgointothemeasure,ornotattemptit。Thatcrisiswasthenarrived,andthereremainednochoicebuttoactwithdeterminedvigor,ornottoactatall。Thekingwasknowntobethefriendofthenation,andthiscircumstancewasfavorabletotheenterprise。Perhapsnomanbredupinthestyleofanabsoluteking,everpossessedaheartsolittledisposedtotheexerciseofthatspeciesofpowerasthepresentKingofFrance。ButtheprinciplesoftheGovernmentitselfstillremainedthesame。TheMonarchandtheMonarchyweredistinctandseparatethings;anditwasagainsttheestablisheddespotismofthelatter,andnotagainstthepersonorprinciplesoftheformer,thattherevoltcommenced,andtheRevolutionhasbeencarried。
　　Mr。Burkedoesnotattendtothedistinctionbetweenmenandprinciples,and,therefore,hedoesnotseethatarevoltmaytakeplaceagainstthedespotismofthelatter,whilethereliesnochargeofdespotismagainsttheformer。
　　ThenaturalmoderationofLouisXVI。contributednothingtoalterthehereditarydespotismofthemonarchy。Allthetyranniesofformerreigns,actedunderthathereditarydespotism,werestillliabletoberevivedinthehandsofasuccessor。ItwasnottherespiteofareignthatwouldsatisfyFrance,enlightenedasshewasthenbecome。Acasualdiscontinuanceofthepracticeofdespotism,isnotadiscontinuanceofitsprinciples:
　　theformerdependsonthevirtueoftheindividualwhoisinimmediatepossessionofthepower;thelatter,onthevirtueandfortitudeofthenation。InthecaseofCharlesI。andJamesII。ofEngland,therevoltwasagainstthepersonaldespotismofthemen;whereasinFrance,itwasagainstthehereditarydespotismoftheestablishedGovernment。Butmenwhocanconsignovertherightsofposterityforeverontheauthorityofamouldyparchment,likeMr。Burke,arenotqualifiedtojudgeofthisRevolution。Ittakesinafieldtoovastfortheirviewstoexplore,andproceedswithamightinessofreasontheycannotkeeppacewith。
　　ButtherearemanypointsofviewinwhichthisRevolutionmaybeconsidered。
　　Whendespotismhasestablisheditselfforagesinacountry,asinFrance,itisnotinthepersonofthekingonlythatitresides。Ithastheappearanceofbeingsoinshow,andinnominalauthority;butitisnotsoinpracticeandinfact。Ithasitsstandardeverywhere。Everyofficeanddepartmenthasitsdespotism,foundeduponcustomandusage。EveryplacehasitsBastille,andeveryBastilleitsdespot。Theoriginalhereditarydespotismresidentinthepersonoftheking,dividesandsub—dividesitselfintoathousandshapesandforms,tillatlastthewholeofitisactedbydeputation。
　　ThiswasthecaseinFrance;andagainstthisspeciesofdespotism,proceedingonthroughanendlesslabyrinthofofficetillthesourceofitisscarcelyperceptible,thereisnomodeofredress。Itstrengthensitselfbyassumingtheappearanceofduty,andtyranniesunderthepretenceofobeying。
　　WhenamanreflectsontheconditionwhichFrancewasinfromthenatureofhergovernment,hewillseeothercausesforrevoltthanthosewhichimmediatelyconnectthemselveswiththepersonorcharacterofLouisXVI。
　　Therewere,ifImaysoexpressit,athousanddespotismstobereformedinFrance,whichhadgrownupunderthehereditarydespotismofthemonarchy,andbecamesorootedastobeinagreatmeasureindependentofit。BetweentheMonarchy,theParliament,andtheChurchtherewasarivalshipofdespotism;
　　besidesthefeudaldespotismoperatinglocally,andtheministerialdespotismoperatingeverywhere。ButMr。Burke,byconsideringthekingastheonlypossibleobjectofarevolt,speaksasifFrancewasavillage,inwhicheverythingthatpassedmustbeknowntoitscommandingofficer,andnooppressioncouldbeactedbutwhathecouldimmediatelycontrol。Mr。BurkemighthavebeenintheBastillehiswholelife,aswellunderLouisXVI。
　　asLouisXIV。,andneithertheonenortheotherhaveknownthatsuchamanasBurkeexisted。Thedespoticprinciplesofthegovernmentwerethesameinbothreigns,thoughthedispositionsofthemenwereasremoteastyrannyandbenevolence。
　　WhatMr。BurkeconsidersasareproachtotheFrenchRevolution（thatofbringingitforwardunderareignmoremildthantheprecedingones）
　　isoneofitshighesthonors。TheRevolutionsthathavetakenplaceinotherEuropeancountries,havebeenexcitedbypersonalhatred。Theragewasagainsttheman,andhebecamethevictim。But,intheinstanceofFranceweseeaRevolutiongeneratedintherationalcontemplationoftheRightsofMan,anddistinguishingfromthebeginningbetweenpersonsandprinciples。
　　ButMr。BurkeappearstohavenoideaofprincipleswhenheiscontemplatingGovernments。"Tenyearsago,"sayshe,"IcouldhavefelicitatedFranceonherhavingaGovernment,withoutinquiringwhatthenatureofthatGovernmentwas,orhowitwasadministered。"Isthisthelanguageofarationalman？
　　Isitthelanguageofaheartfeelingasitoughttofeelfortherightsandhappinessofthehumanrace？Onthisground,Mr。BurkemustcomplimentalltheGovernmentsintheworld,whilethevictimswhosufferunderthem,whethersoldintoslavery,ortorturedoutofexistence,arewhollyforgotten。
　　Itispower,andnotprinciples,thatMr。Burkevenerates;andunderthisabominabledepravityheisdisqualifiedtojudgebetweenthem。ThusmuchforhisopinionastotheoccasionsoftheFrenchRevolution。Inowproceedtootherconsiderations。
　　IknowaplaceinAmericacalledPoint—no—Point,becauseasyouproceedalongtheshore,gayandfloweryasMr。Burke'slanguage,itcontinuallyrecedesandpresentsitselfatadistancebeforeyou;butwhenyouhavegotasfarasyoucango,thereisnopointatall。JustthusitiswithMr。Burke'sthreehundredandsixty—sixpages。Itisthereforedifficulttoreplytohim。Butasthepointshewishestoestablishmaybeinferredfromwhatheabuses,itisinhisparadoxesthatwemustlookforhisarguments。
　　AstothetragicpaintingsbywhichMr。Burkehasoutragedhisownimagination,andseekstoworkuponthatofhisreaders,theyareverywellcalculatedfortheatricalrepresentation,wherefactsaremanufacturedforthesakeofshow,andaccommodatedtoproduce,throughtheweaknessofsympathy,aweepingeffect。ButMr。Burkeshouldrecollectthatheiswritinghistory,andnotplays,andthathisreaderswillexpecttruth,andnotthespoutingrantofhigh—tonedexclamation。
　　Whenweseeamandramaticallylamentinginapublicationintendedtobebelievedthat"Theageofchivalryisgone！thatThegloryofEuropeisextinguishedforever！thatTheunboughtgraceoflife（ifanyoneknowswhatitis）,thecheapdefenceofnations,thenurseofmanlysentimentandheroicenterpriseisgone！"andallthisbecausetheQuixotageofchivalrynonsenseisgone,whatopinioncanweformofhisjudgment,orwhatregardcanwepaytohisfacts？Intherhapsodyofhisimaginationhehasdiscoveredaworldofwindmills,andhissorrowsarethattherearenoQuixotstoattackthem。Butiftheageofaristocracy,likethatofchivalry,shouldfall（andtheyhadoriginallysomeconnection）Mr。
　　Burke,thetrumpeteroftheOrder,maycontinuehisparodytotheend,andfinishwithexclaiming:"Othello'soccupation'sgone！"
　　NotwithstandingMr。Burke'shorridpaintings,whentheFrenchRevolutioniscomparedwiththeRevolutionsofothercountries,theastonishmentwillbethatitismarkedwithsofewsacrifices;butthisastonishmentwillceasewhenwereflectthatprinciples,andnotpersons,werethemeditatedobjectsofdestruction。Themindofthenationwasacteduponbyahigherstimulusthanwhattheconsiderationofpersonscouldinspire,andsoughtahigherconquestthancouldbeproducedbythedownfallofanenemy。Amongthefewwhofelltheredonotappeartobeanythatwereintentionallysingledout。Theyallofthemhadtheirfateinthecircumstancesofthemoment,andwerenotpursuedwiththatlong,cold—bloodedunabatedrevengewhichpursuedtheunfortunateScotchintheaffairof1745。
　　ThroughthewholeofMr。Burke'sbookIdonotobservethattheBastilleismentionedmorethanonce,andthatwithakindofimplicationasifheweresorryitwaspulleddown,andwisheditwerebuiltupagain。"WehaverebuiltNewgate,"sayshe,"andtenantedthemansion;andwehaveprisonsalmostasstrongastheBastilleforthosewhodaretolibelthequeensofFrance。"*[2]AstowhatamadmanlikethepersoncalledLordGeorgeGordonmightsay,andtowhomNewgateisratherabedlamthanaprison,itisunworthyarationalconsideration。Itwasamadmanthatlibelled,andthatissufficientapology;anditaffordedanopportunityforconfininghim,whichwasthethingthatwaswishedfor。ButcertainitisthatMr。
　　Burke,whodoesnotcallhimselfamadman（whateverotherpeoplemaydo）,haslibelledinthemostunprovokedmanner,andinthegrosseststyleofthemostvulgarabuse,thewholerepresentativeauthorityofFrance,andyetMr。BurketakeshisseatintheBritishHouseofCommons！Fromhisviolenceandhisgrief,hissilenceonsomepointsandhisexcessonothers,itisdifficultnottobelievethatMr。Burkeissorry,extremelysorry,thatarbitrarypower,thepowerofthePopeandtheBastille,arepulleddown。
　　Notoneglanceofcompassion,notonecommiseratingreflectionthatIcanfindthroughouthisbook,hashebestowedonthosewholingeredoutthemostwretchedoflives,alifewithouthopeinthemostmiserableofprisons。Itispainfultobeholdamanemployinghistalentstocorrupthimself。NaturehasbeenkindertoMr。Burkethanheistoher。Heisnotaffectedbytherealityofdistresstouchinghisheart,butbytheshowyresemblanceofitstrikinghisimagination。Hepitiestheplumage,butforgetsthedyingbird。Accustomedtokissthearistocraticalhandthathathpurloinedhimfromhimself,hedegeneratesintoacompositionofart,andthegenuinesoulofnatureforsakeshim。Hisheroorhisheroinemustbeatragedy—victimexpiringinshow,andnottherealprisonerofmisery,slidingintodeathinthesilenceofadungeon。
　　AsMr。BurkehaspassedoverthewholetransactionoftheBastille（andhissilenceisnothinginhisfavour）,andhasentertainedhisreaderswithrefectionsonsupposedfactsdistortedintorealfalsehoods,Iwillgive,sincehehasnot,someaccountofthecircumstanceswhichprecededthattransaction。TheywillservetoshowthatlessmischiefcouldscarcelyhaveaccompaniedsuchaneventwhenconsideredwiththetreacherousandhostileaggravationsoftheenemiesoftheRevolution。
　　ThemindcanhardlypicturetoitselfamoretremendousscenethanwhatthecityofParisexhibitedatthetimeoftakingtheBastille,andfortwodaysbeforeandafter,norperceivethepossibilityofitsquietingsosoon。Atadistancethistransactionhasappearedonlyasanactofheroismstandingonitself,andtheclosepoliticalconnectionithadwiththeRevolutionislostinthebrilliancyoftheachievement。Butwearetoconsideritasthestrengthofthepartiesbroughtmantoman,andcontendingfortheissue。TheBastillewastobeeithertheprizeortheprisonoftheassailants。Thedownfallofitincludedtheideaofthedownfallofdespotism,andthiscompoundedimagewasbecomeasfigurativelyunitedasBunyan'sDoubtingCastleandGiantDespair。
　　TheNationalAssembly,beforeandatthetimeoftakingtheBastille,wassittingatVersailles,twelvemilesdistantfromParis。AboutaweekbeforetherisingofthePartisans,andtheirtakingtheBastille,itwasdiscoveredthataplotwasforming,attheheadofwhichwastheCountD'Artois,theking'syoungestbrother,fordemolishingtheNationalAssembly,seizingitsmembers,andtherebycrushing,byacoupdemain,allhopesandprospectsofformingafreegovernment。Forthesakeofhumanity,aswellasfreedom,itiswellthisplandidnotsucceed。Examplesare。notwantingtoshowhowdreadfullyvindictiveandcruelarealloldgovernments,whentheyaresuccessfulagainstwhattheycallarevolt。
　　Thisplanmusthavebeensometimeincontemplation;because,inordertocarryitintoexecution,itwasnecessarytocollectalargemilitaryforceroundParis,andcutoffthecommunicationbetweenthatcityandtheNationalAssemblyatVersailles。ThetroopsdestinedforthisservicewerechieflytheforeigntroopsinthepayofFrance,andwho,forthisparticularpurpose,weredrawnfromthedistantprovinceswheretheywerethenstationed。Whentheywerecollectedtotheamountofbetweentwenty—fiveandthirtythousand,itwasjudgedtimetoputtheplanintoexecution。
　　Theministrywhoweretheninoffice,andwhowerefriendlytotheRevolution,wereinstantlydismissedandanewministryformedofthosewhohadconcertedtheproject,amongwhomwasCountdeBroglio,andtohissharewasgiventhecommandofthosetroops。ThecharacterofthismanasdescribedtomeinaletterwhichIcommunicatedtoMr。Burkebeforehebegantowritehisbook,andfromanauthoritywhichMr。Burkewellknowswasgood,wasthatof"ahigh—flyingaristocrat,cool,andcapableofeverymischief。"
　　Whilethesematterswereagitating,theNationalAssemblystoodinthemostperilousandcriticalsituationthatabodyofmencanbesupposedtoactin。Theywerethedevotedvictims,andtheyknewit。Theyhadtheheartsandwishesoftheircountryontheirside,butmilitaryauthoritytheyhadnone。TheguardsofBrogliosurroundedthehallwheretheAssemblysat,ready,atthewordofcommand,toseizetheirpersons,ashadbeendonetheyearbeforetotheParliamentofParis。HadtheNationalAssemblydesertedtheirtrust,orhadtheyexhibitedsignsofweaknessorfear,theirenemieshadbeenencouragedandtheircountrydepressed。Whenthesituationtheystoodin,thecausetheywereengagedin,andthecrisisthenreadytoburst,whichshoulddeterminetheirpersonalandpoliticalfateandthatoftheircountry,andprobablyofEurope,aretakenintooneview,nonebutaheartcallouswithprejudiceorcorruptedbydependencecanavoidinterestingitselfintheirsuccess。
　　TheArchbishopofViennewasatthistimePresidentoftheNationalAssembly—apersontoooldtoundergothescenethatafewdaysorafewhoursmightbringforth。Amanofmoreactivityandbolderfortitudewasnecessary,andtheNationalAssemblychose（undertheformofaVice—President,forthePresidencystillresidedintheArchbishop）M。delaFayette;andthisistheonlyinstanceofaVice—Presidentbeingchosen。Itwasatthemomentthatthisstormwaspending（July11th）thatadeclarationofrightswasbroughtforwardbyM。delaFayette,andisthesamewhichisalludedtoearlier。Itwashastilydrawnup,andmakesonlyapartofthemoreextensivedeclarationofrightsagreeduponandadoptedafterwardsbytheNationalAssembly。Theparticularreasonforbringingitforwardatthismoment（M。delaFayettehassinceinformedme）wasthat,iftheNationalAssemblyshouldfallinthethreateneddestructionthatthensurroundedit,sometraceofitsprinciplesmighthavethechanceofsurvivingthewreck。
　　Everythingnowwasdrawingtoacrisis。Theeventwasfreedomorslavery。
　　Ononeside,anarmyofnearlythirtythousandmen;ontheother,anunarmedbodyofcitizens—forthecitizensofParis,onwhomtheNationalAssemblymustthenimmediatelydepend,wereasunarmedandasundisciplinedasthecitizensofLondonarenow。TheFrenchguardshadgivenstrongsymptomsoftheirbeingattachedtothenationalcause;buttheirnumbersweresmall,notatenthpartoftheforcethatBrogliocommanded,andtheirofficerswereintheinterestofBroglio。
　　Mattersbeingnowripeforexecution,thenewministrymadetheirappearanceinoffice。ThereaderwillcarryinhismindthattheBastillewastakenthe14thJuly;thepointoftimeIamnowspeakingofisthe12th。ImmediatelyonthenewsofthechangeofministryreachingParis,intheafternoon,alltheplayhousesandplacesofentertainment,shopsandhouses,wereshutup。Thechangeofministrywasconsideredasthepreludeofhostilities,andtheopinionwasrightlyfounded。
　　Theforeigntroopsbegantoadvancetowardsthecity。ThePrincedeLambesc,whocommandedabodyofGermancavalry,approachedbythePlaceofLouisXV。,whichconnectsitselfwithsomeofthestreets。Inhismarch,heinsultedandstruckanoldmanwithasword。TheFrenchareremarkablefortheirrespecttooldage;andtheinsolencewithwhichitappearedtobedone,unitingwiththegeneralfermentationtheywerein,producedapowerfuleffect,andacryof"Toarms！toarms！"spreaditselfinamomentoverthecity。
　　Armstheyhadnone,norscarcelyanyonewhoknewtheuseofthem;butdesperateresolution,wheneveryhopeisatstake,supplies,forawhile,thewantofarms。NearwherethePrincedeLambescwasdrawnup,werelargepilesofstonescollectedforbuildingthenewbridge,andwiththesethepeopleattackedthecavalry。ApartyofFrenchguardsuponhearingthefiring,rushedfromtheirquartersandjoinedthepeople;andnightcomingon,thecavalryretreated。
　　ThestreetsofParis,beingnarrow,arefavourablefordefence,andtheloftinessofthehouses,consistingofmanystories,fromwhichgreatannoyancemightbegiven,securedthemagainstnocturnalenterprises;andthenightwasspentinprovidingthemselveswitheverysortofweapontheycouldmakeorprocure:guns,swords,blacksmiths'hammers,carpenters'
　　axes,ironcrows,pikes,halberts,pitchforks,spits,clubs,etc。,etc。
　　Theincrediblenumbersinwhichtheyassembledthenextmorning,andthestillmoreincredibleresolutiontheyexhibited,embarrassedandastonishedtheirenemies。Littledidthenewministryexpectsuchasalute。Accustomedtoslaverythemselves,theyhadnoideathatlibertywascapableofsuchinspiration,orthatabodyofunarmedcitizenswoulddaretofacethemilitaryforceofthirtythousandmen。Everymomentofthisdaywasemployedincollectingarms,concertingplans,andarrangingthemselvesintothebestorderwhichsuchaninstantaneousmovementcouldafford。Brogliocontinuedlyingroundthecity,butmadenofurtheradvancesthisday,andthesucceedingnightpassedwithasmuchtranquilityassuchascenecouldpossiblyproduce。
　　Butdefenceonlywasnottheobjectofthecitizens。Theyhadacauseatstake,onwhichdependedtheirfreedomortheirslavery。Theyeverymomentexpectedanattack,ortohearofonemadeontheNationalAssembly;
　　andinsuchasituation,themostpromptmeasuresaresometimesthebest。
　　TheobjectthatnowpresenteditselfwastheBastille;andtheeclatofcarryingsuchafortressinthefaceofsuchanarmy,couldnotfailtostriketerrorintothenewministry,whohadscarcelyyethadtimetomeet。
　　Bysomeinterceptedcorrespondencethismorning,itwasdiscoveredthattheMayorofParis,M。Defflesselles,whoappearedtobeintheinterestofthecitizens,wasbetrayingthem;andfromthisdiscovery,thereremainednodoubtthatBrogliowouldreinforcetheBastilletheensuingevening。
　　Itwasthereforenecessarytoattackitthatday;butbeforethiscouldbedone,itwasfirstnecessarytoprocureabettersupplyofarmsthantheywerethenpossessedof。
　　Therewas,adjoiningtothecityalargemagazineofarmsdepositedattheHospitaloftheInvalids,whichthecitizenssummonedtosurrender;
　　andastheplacewasneitherdefensible,norattemptedmuchdefence,theysoonsucceeded。Thussupplied,theymarchedtoattacktheBastille;avastmixedmultitudeofallages,andofalldegrees,armedwithallsortsofweapons。Imaginationwouldfailindescribingtoitselftheappearanceofsuchaprocession,andoftheanxietyoftheeventswhichafewhoursorafewminutesmightproduce。Whatplanstheministrywereforming,wereasunknowntothepeoplewithinthecity,aswhatthecitizensweredoingwasunknowntotheministry;andwhatmovementsBrogliomightmakeforthesupportorreliefoftheplace,weretothecitizensequallyasunknown。
　　Allwasmysteryandhazard。
　　ThattheBastillewasattackedwithanenthusiasmofheroism,suchonlyasthehighestanimationoflibertycouldinspire,andcarriedinthespaceofafewhours,isaneventwhichtheworldisfullypossessedof。Iamnotundertakingthedetailoftheattack,butbringingintoviewtheconspiracyagainstthenationwhichprovokedit,andwhichfellwiththeBastille。