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"Displays distinguished merit, is a Noble
"Of Nature's own creation."]—
These lines are Thomson's, and are among those sentiments which are now called (when used by living writers), not common‐place declamation, but sentiments of dangerous tendency.
"Exalt not from the crowd."]—It has been said, and with great appearance of truth, that the contempt in which the Nobility of France held the common people, was remembered, and with all that vindictive asperity which long endurance of oppression naturally excites, when, by a wonderful concurrence of circumstances, the people acquired the power of retaliation. Yet let me here add, what seems to be in some degree inconsistent with the former charge, that the French are good masters to their servants, and that in their treatment of their Negro slaves, they are allowed to be more mild and merciful than other Europeans.
"But more the Men."]—The Financiers and Fermiers Generaux are here intended. In the present moment of clamour against all those who have spoken or written in favour of the first Revolution of France, the declaimers seem to have forgotten, that under the reign of a mild and easy tempered Monarch, in the most voluptuous Court in the world, the abuses by which men of this description were enriched, had arisen to such height, that their prodigality exhausted the immense resources of France: and, unable to supply the exigencies of Government, the Ministry were compelled to call Le Tiers Etat; a meeting that gave birth to the Revolution, which has since been so ruinously conducted.
"The breast of Patriot Virtue."]—This sentiment will probably renew against me the indignation of those, who have an interest in asserting that no such virtue any where exists.
