they, to be regarded as a political heresy to assert, that while there exist two parties so decidedly opposed, it is not just to punish the re-action, before those are punished, who, by their bad treatment, have given occasion to that re-action. It is because this eternal truth has been disregarded, that disorder continues in that country."* In a country like this it is a chimera, for some time, to talk of free constitutions. It is idle to talk of religion. The latter is unknown, and the former cannot exist. From such a society we have seen what Representatives have been chosen, and we may form some idea of what will. They must be votaries of ferocity, ignorance, superstition, or Atheism. The amount of the knowledge which France seems to have gained by all her atrocities, internal and external, seems to be, that she has learned only political injustice, moral depravity, and religious bigotry..

While these tragic scenes were passing in the South of France, numerous bands of armed robbers infested the public roads, and carried terror and death over other parts of the country. The free corps, in particular, wherever these appeared spared neither friend nor foe, but carried desolation over whole provinces. "The crops rot on the ground. The inhabitants," said Fouche, "fly before bands of undisciplined soldiers." To them the Cossacks were mild, and the Prussians merciful. In Paris the rallying cries and the ensign of rebellion were still seen and heard. The violet was thrown aside for the red pink which designated the friends of Napoleon. The presence, however, of the allied armies, prevented the occurrence of scenes like those at Nismes. The gaiety of the Parisians nevertheless, continued undiminished. The march and triumphant reviews of the allied armies which should have recalled to their minds the humiliation and disgrace of their country, were in general, to all outward appearance, beheld with satisfaction and exultation. The King issued ordinances for the better observation of the Sabbath and the duties of religion. But the capital had not time to attend to such serious matters. The theatres, more crowded on Sabbath than on any other day of the week, afforded them greater pleasure. The receipts of

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Narrative of the affairs at Nismes published by the French Government, 1815.. Fouche's report, afterwards mentioned.

these places of amusement for a month, ending September 11th, was 462,912 francs, (about £23,000.*) Their joy for the return of the King, and the overthrow of oppression, was not shewn in the way that any other rational nation would have expressed it. It was net by the silent thankfulness of the heart, or the solemn voice of religious obedience, No! "we are assured," said their Journals, "that a great number of our most elegant ladies mean to celebrate the return of the best of Kings, by dancing, to-morrow (Sunday) evening, in the garden of the Thuilleries under the windows of the palace. This charming assembly would have taken place last Sunday, but for the bad weather." This "charming" employment continued afterwards to be their Sunday employment, except when compelled to yield to the fury of the elements, or to the seditious cries and wicked tricks of the Jacobins and pink wearers, to whom all days were alike if employed in mischief. A few, but the smaller number, followed a more rational course. In the above manner, Bonaparte was wont to allow the Parisians to amuse themselves and him on the Sabbath. The King was forced to tolerate the system. Such proceedings, however, shewed not that solid judgment and reflection, which constitutes the character of a man or a people; but merely displayed that giddy levity which fixes itself on every object, and yet has affection or care for none. Such things may appear of little consequence. It is because that they were in this instance trifling, that they become dangerous. Followed in such perilous moments, in such solemn hours, big with fate and heavy with collected vengeance, these pursuits are beneath the dignity of the nobler feelings of the human mind. Such proceedings are of much more importance than the thoughtless are aware of, or the irreligious willing to allow. In the minds of my countrymen, and in the breasts of the generality of the people of Europe, such proceedings do, and will continue to excite contempt and abhorrence. Whatever Frenchmen may do, they will consider that six days are quite sufficient for every enjoyment of rational mirth and pubfic diversion, in all times; but more especially when the anger of Heaven, for national crimes, hangs over a guilty land in e • Gazette de France, September 11th, 1815.

Journal des Debats, July 15th, 1815.

most conspicuous manner. The Atheist may mock, the foot may laugh at these truths; the immoral and irreligious may treat these conclusions as erroneous; but let them turn their attention to the walks of private life, and see, hear, and learn, from the numerous victims of violated laws, the origin of a life mispent, and these will tell them that thoughtless pleasures on Sunday first led them to days of wickedness-to weeks of dissipation to months of crimes-to trial—to condemnation, and an untimely and an ignominious death. Let them unfold the volume of the history of those nations which have enjoyed the privilege of revealed religion, and particularly that volume dictated by unerring wisdom, and from whose invulnerable pages the darts of Voltaire, and, the shafts of the goddess of Reason, wielded by her stoutest champions, rebound, discomfited and broken; and they will see this important truth exemplified in a strong and in a striking manner. It forms the severest complaint of the Lord of Hosts against his chosen people, and a continued profanation of this day by them brought with it his anger, foreign armies, captivity and desolation. And was not France at this moment, experiencing a similar visitation for this, as well as for other offences. Let infidelity herself, examine into what the conduct of this people, in this respect, has been for the last thirty years, and she must acknowledge the conclusion to be just. Foreign armies now occupied the capital and overspread the provinces of France; called together to secure all that is valuable to mankind, and to beat down all that is dangerous to them. But not in this instance only was the punishment of France conspicuous. The following important fact ap pears to me to be so remarkable, that I shall notice it in a particular manner. In a general review of the allied forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington at Paris, this chief, accompanied by all the sovereigns of Europe, with their suites, consisting of the chief men from every state, took their triumphant stand upon that bloody spot, where Louis XVI. was murdered, where the first permanent Guillotine was erected, and the numerous revolutionary murders or rather massacres, were openly and exultingly perpetrated. It was on the 24th July that this review took place. The Duke of Wellington as commander in chief, having on his right the

Emperor of Russia, and on his left the Emperor of Austria, with the King of Prussia, and accompanied with all their re tinues, took his stand upon this memorable and fatal spot: and thus, a general of that nation, which had opposed with more firmness than others the principles and the power which had occasioned those catastrophes, and which had been pursued with more than common hatred, was made the instrument before the eyes of all Europe, to tread in triumph over that hideous spot, the bloodiest in the annals of mankind. It was not because Louis XVI. was a tyrant, but because he was a sovereign; not so much because he was a Sovereign, as because he was the head of regular government, order, and laws, that he was cut off, and that those who supported him suffered. It was not that here religion and morality were overthrown, derided, denied. It was not that mere human laws and institutions which were here violated and trampled upon; but it was that here the safe guards of human nature were broken down, and the laws of the Creator, for its protection, trampled upon with exultation, and violated with mockery and scorn. At that moment the good amongst mankind trembled: the opinions of many were shaken. The conséquences which followed these deeds, were for a while so successful and so dazzling, that amongst multitudes of mankind these were stripped of their criminality. Time passed: the events were faintly remembered; even where these took place. But these were registered where they could not be obliterated. These were laid up where they could not be forgotten; and the hour advanced with giant steps, which, by the voice of an united and indignant world, was to redress and triumph over those crimes committed against human nature, on that spot where all its feelings were outraged; where all its safeguards were broken down-where all its laws were violated. In the crime these committed all Europe was interested. Its consequences all Europe felt; and it would seem as if the retribution of Heaven had collectcd the chiefs of Europe to that spot, on it to erect their påvilions, whose appearance and security covered the murderers of that Prince and so many other innocent victims, with shame; and France, because she deserved it, with humiliation. The perpetrators may, and still do, think other

wise. They may deny these truths; they may treat with contempt this awful inference. It is not expected to convince them of their error, any more than in this instance of the just application of the punishment. But, on the fatal 21st of January 1793, had any one told them, that on the spot where Santerre drowned the voice of his innocent Sovereign, and where a horde of demons afterwards, with cries of "Vive la Marat! Vive la Nation!" stifled the voice of nature and the feelings of humanity; had he been told that all the sovereigns of Europe, with their princes and servants, should, at no distant day, take their stand upon it to review those conquering hosts which, in defence of truth and justice, had laid France at their feet, the individual would no more have been believed or attended to than what the prophet Jeremiah was by the obstinate Jews, when, in the midst of Egyptian security, and in their sight, he hid the “great stones" in "the clay at the brick kiln," which was "at the entry of Pharoah's house in Tahpannes," and there foretold to them that "the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel," would "send and take Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon," his "servant," and "set his throne upon these stones," and "spread his royal pavilion over them."* Yet the event was literally fulfilled. And from the hand of unerring Justice, violence and murder will, in every age, and in every country, whether perpetrated by a nation or by an individual, receive commensurate punishment.

While France was thus bleeding at every pore, from the ef fects of foreign invasion and internal commotion, the spirit of revolt and rebellion had spread to her colonies in the Carribbean Ocean. The promptitude and decision, however, of the British officers commanding on that station, with the loyalty and firmness of Count Vangirard, governor of Martinique, saved that fine colony from any convulsion. That island had preserved its ancient affection for its legitimate Sovereign. Captured by the British in 1794, it was saved from all the horrors of that spirit of evil which was beginning to work in the western world. Except from the peace of Amiens till 1808, it was constantly under the British flag, and had imbibed no revolutionary or disorganizing principles.. Its inhabitants.

* Jeremiah xliii. 9, 10.