History of Europe: From the Commencement of the French Revolution to the Restoration of the Bourbons in MDCCCXV [i.e. 1815], Volume 1

Sir Archibald Alison

Blackwood, 1849

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION PROGRESS OF FREEDOM IN THE WORLD BEFORE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION 1 Importance and magnificence of the su...	1

Comparison of the era of Napoleon with others in the world	2

Splendour of its events ib 4 Extraordinary varieties of character which it exhibited	3

Character and virtues of the European nations which were exhibited	4

Its intellectual efforts ib 7 Causes of these characteristics	5

Causes of the early depression of the lower orders	6

Consequent universality of and necessity for slavery	7

Difference in the condition of slaves in early and later times	8

Universal storm against Calonne on these proposals	332

Causes of this general combination	333

Pretences of the Notables to elude the plan and finance contests	334

Death of Vergennes and continued resistance of the Notables	336

Character of the Archbishop of Toulouse	338

Briennes dangerous speech on dismissing the Notables	340

Birth of the Princess Royal and the Dauphin	341

The Queen becomes the object of persecution to the Orleans party	343

Causes which perpetuate slavery	9

The independence of pastoral life ib 13 The security of walled cities	12

Real causes of the decay of the Roman Empire	13

First irruption of the northern nations Its great effects	14

Lamentable prostration of the vanquished	15

Separation thence induced between the classes of society in modern times	16

Entire prostration of the vanquished ib 22 Total absence of representative governments in antiquity	17

And in the northern nations on their first establishment in Europe	18

Causes which led to representative governments in modern Europe	19

They are borrowed from the assemblies of the Church	20

Are universally established in Europe	21

And on the national wars of the English	22

Fatal defects of the feudal system	23

Cause of the early corruption of barbarous conquerors	24

Important effect of the loss of the English possessions in France	25

Effects of the private wars of the nobles	26

Insular situation 28 AngloSaxon institutions	28

Entire want of protection to the rural labourers	29

Causes of the decay of the feudal liberty in Spain	31

Its decline in France and Germany	32

And in England	33

It was only fitted for a barbarous age	34

Opulence undermined the power of the nobles	35

Progress of freedom in the south of Europe	36

Rapid rise of the urban civilisation of Italy Great and patriotic efforts of these states	37

Causes of their decline	38

Decline of Flemish freedom 39 General defection of the subject states on disaster	39

Causes of the humanity of the Great Rebellion	40

Common conclusions as to the tendency to decay in all communities	41

Causes which restored liberty Influence of Christianity	42

Difference of European and Asiatic northern conquest	43

Causes to which it is to be ascribed	44

Great influence of religious enthusiasm on human affairs	45

Art of printing Its advantages	46

And dangers	47

Ultimate benefits of knowledge	48

Discovery of gunpowder destroyed the power of the nobility	49

Increase of luxury tended to the same effect	50

Combination of these causes in inducing the French Revolution	51

Vast effect of the revolt of armies on the cause of democracy	52

Danger from popular license which now threatens society	53

Slow growth of durable freedom	54

Effect of the standing armies of the crown on public freedom	55

The new opinions are carried out still further by their successors 173	56

Privileges of the nobility Their pernicious effect	57

Great effects of Richelieus system of government	58

His measures to carry these designs into effect	59

Prodigious effects of these changes	60

Real causes which brought it about	61

Weakened state of the church at this period 174 175 176 177 178 180	62

Splendour of the reign of Louis XIV	63

Failure of the Reformation in France	64

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes	65

Its extreme severity	66

Dreadful ultimate retribution to which it led	67

Composition of the privileged classes 68 Privileges of the nobles	68

Rigorous distinction of noble and roturier in France	69

Prosperous condition of the Tiers Etat	71

Vast growth of Paris and the principal towns of the kingdom	72

Superior education of the Tiers Etat	73

Taxation Its inequalities	74

Inequality in the imposition of the direct taxes in France	75

Indirect taxes	76

State of the labouring poor	77

Nonresident proprietors	78

Feudal services	79

Their variety and oppressive character	80

Exaggeration on this subject	81

Further measures on both sides	103

374	109

Manner in which this retribution was brought about	112

VOL I	113

Beneficial effects of periods of suffering	114

Slow growth and invaluable inheritance of real freedom	115

CHAPTER I	117

Its advantages for inland trade	118

Statistics of the country	119

Remarkable disproportion between agriculturists and manufacturers in France and England	120

Riot at Briennes hotel	121

General character of the French people	122

French colonies and the cause of their loss ib 7 Vast colonial trade of France with St Domingo	124

Its naval forces as compared with those of England ib 9 Military strength of France before the war	125

Real force of France in 1792	126

Household troops of the king	127

What then led to the Revolution?	128

The collision of the classes did not necessarily produce revolution	130

Middle ranks desirous of elevation ib 16 Slavery prevented this appearing in ancient times and pressure from below brings it out in modern	131

General operation of these principles in modern times	132

Its important effects in modern times	133

Extinction of public spirit by private opulence is long averted by these causes	134

Perils of this progressive rise of the lower orders	135

Collision of the higher and lower orders is unavoidable in every advancing modern state	136

Destruction of the power of the nobles	137

Military spirit of the people	138

Philosophy and literature	139

Causes of the general delusion regarding public opinion	140

Classical allusions which generally prevailed	141

Influence of the French stage on the public mind	142

State of the Church	143

Fatal effects of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes	144

Weakness it induced on the Gallican Church	145

It issues in the contests of the Jesuits and Jansenists ib 32 Transition of this contest into that of the parliaments with the king	146

Powers of the parliaments	148

Progress of the contest with the parliaments	149

COMPARATIVE PROGRESS OF FREEDOM IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND Page	158

Administration of justice	201

Royal prerogative	202

Extreme inconsistency with which the royal power had been exercised	204

Terrible torture which was still continued in France	205

Horrors of the old punishments	206

Corruption at court	208

Profligacy of the Regent Orleans and Louis XV	209

Madame Pompadour and Madame du Barri	211

Dissolute habits of young Egalité	212

Contrast to the manners of the middle classes at that period	214

27	215

Ineffectual efforts of preceding sovereigns to make up the deficit	216

28	219

Inefficiency of the noblesse as a political body	220

Fatal division in France between the old families and the nouveaux anoblis	222

Distracted state of the clergy	223

Disastrous effect of the great influence of Paris	224

The element of rural loyalty was wanting or very weak in France	225

Remarkable observation of Lord Chesterfield on the state of France	226

Louis XV foresaw the dangers of the French monarchy	227

ib 29	228

Suppression of the parliaments	229

Mr Burkes reflections on this event	231

Conquest of Corsica which made Napoleon a French citizen	232

Death of Louis XV	233

Advantages of the French system of government	234

Excellence of the parliaments as courts of law ib 109 Advantages of seats in them being acquired by purchase	236

Difference in consequence between the independence of the courts of law in the two countries prior to their Revolutions	237

Excellence of the French system of intendants of provinces ib 112 Reflections on the causes which preceded the Revolution	239

What are the real causes of revolution ib 114 It was the national vices not the national sufferings which produced the Revolution	241

It is the loss of public virtue which produces a revolution	242

CHAPTER III	243

Early characters of the Dauphins three sons	244

Early disposition of Louis XVI	245

His character	246

To what this irresolution was owing	247

Birth and early years of Marie Antoinette	248

Grief for her departure from Vienna and splendour of her reception in France	250

Magnificent fête at Paris on the marriage	251

Dreadful accident which occurred on this occasion	252

General panic and melancholy catastrophe ib 11 Jealousies at court which make the Dauphin and Dauphiness live retired	253

186	254

Mr Burkes picture of Marie Antoinette	255

Character of the Queen	256

Her imprudences and the falsehoods to which they gave rise	257

Her heroic qualities and domestic virtues	258

Popular acts of the King and Queen on their accession	260

Character of Maurepas	262

His system of government	264

Dismissal of Abbé Terray and Maupeou and recall of the Parliaments	265

Importance of the step thus taken	267

Ingratitude of the parliament	269

Change in the system of government	270

Birth and early history of Turgot ib 24 His character as a minister	272

Fatal errors in his principles	273

Turgots finance measures	274

He establishes a free trade in grain and tumults in consequence	275

Violent disorders which ensued	276

History and character of Malesherbes	278

30	279

31	280

33	281

34	282

35	283

36	285

ib 37	286

Breaks up the Hôtel des Invalides Great discontents this excited in the army	288

39	289

ib 40	290

41	291

42	293

Causes of these disastrous results	294

ib 44	295

45	297

46	298

48	300

Parallel between the French and English Revolutions 2 Moderation in England and violence in France after victory 49	301

50	302

Views of Turgot and Necker on the American war	303

Growing interest of the French in favour of the insurgents	304

Great influence of religion in England and of infidel principles in France 51	305

Political weight in France since the Revolution compared with England 54	307

What that cause was ib 56	308

Degraded state of the inhabitants of both Gaul and Britain under the Romans	309

Total prostration of the Britons and Gauls after the fall of Rome 13 Effects of AngloSaxon conquests 58	310

Existing Statesgeneral in some of the provinces	311

Effect of the insular situation of Britain 59	312

And of the piratical incursions of the Danes 60	313

Cause which was beginning to prove fatal to freedom 61	314

General regret at his leaving the administration	315

Successor of Necker in the finance and increasing difficulties	316

Death of Maurepas and appointment of Vergennes as prime minister	318

Resignation of Joly de Fleuri	319

DOrmesson appointed finance minister	320

Character of Calonne ib 68 His system of finance	322

His exposition to the King of the real state of the finances	323

Increasing loans of Calonne who is at last driven to extremities	325

Calonnes plan for the convocation of the Notables	326

Convocation of the Notables is agreed to by the King	327

His candid exposition of the state of the finances	329

Consequent aristocratic tendency of society among the AngloSaxons 18 Great effects of the Norman Conquest	330

192	344

Character of the Duke of Orleans and his party 844	346

Queens increasing influence at court inflames the hostility against her	347

Increased rigour in favour of the aristocracy in regard to commissions in the army	348

Aid which these calumnies received from the Queens imprudent conduct	349

Nocturnal parties on the terraces at Versailles	350

Total change of ladies dress is introduced by the Queen	351

Affair of the diamond necklace	352

Trial of Cardinal Rohan and Mad de la Mothe	354

General spirit of innovation	356

Great extent of the Anglomania ib 95 General tendency to delusion in the public mind	358

First measures of Brienne which are successful	360

Progress of the dispute with the Parliament	361

Who continue to refuse to register the Edicts	362

Banishment of the Parliament to Troyes	363

A compromise between the Crown and the Parliament	364

Brienne proposes large new loans	365

The loan is rejected and the Duke of Orleans exiled	366

62	370

194	374

196	379

Who did wrong at this period of the Revolution	419

The forcing of the King into the American war	420

Fault of the nobles and clergy in resisting equal taxation ib 150 The Parliaments did wrong in refusing to register the taxes	421

Neckers fatal error in the convocation of the Statesgeneral Effect of his concessions	422

Limits of conciliation and concession	423

What constituted the great error of Neckers measures	424

Effect of Neckers concessions	425

Slow growth of the ability to wield political power	426

Distinction between the love of freedom and the passion for power ib 157 Revolution headed by the higher classes	427

CHAPTER IV	429

Rashness of the Constituent Assembly and peril of hasty innovation	430

Opening of the Statesgeneral	431

Madame de Staels and Madame de Montmorins observations on the ceremony	432

Meeting of the Statesgeneral	434

Speech of the King	435

The generous sentiments it expressed ib 9 Incipient division on the King sitting down	436

Speech of M Necker and general disappointment it occasioned	437

197	439

First interference of the electors and municipality of Paris with the government	440

Tiers Etat insist for one Assembly which completely stops the public business	441

Violent contest betwixt the parties Advantages of the Commons ib 15 Sentiments and cahiers of the nobles	442

Views and instructions of the clergy	444

Of the Tiers Etat ib 18 Views of the King	445

And of the people of Paris	446

Absence of philosophers and literary men	448

Few great proprietors	449

Birth and early life of Mirabeau	450

His first adventures in life	451

His varied and licentious writings	452

His career before the Revolution	453

Character of Mirabeau	454

His character as an orator	456

Character of the Abbé Maury	458

His invincible moral courage	459

Character of M Cazalès	460

Of M Bailly	461

Character and biography of M Lafayette	464

Character of ClermontTonnerre	467

Of LallyTollendal and the two Lameths	468

Character of Barnave	470

Biography of Talleyrand	472

The Club Montrougethe centre of the Orleans conspiracy	473

The Club Bretonthe cradle of the Jacobins	474

199	475

Vacillation and terror of the ministry	476

Remarkable prophecy of Father BeauRegard	477

Views of the conspirators on the popular side ib 43 First appearance of Robespierre in the Assembly	479

Proposals of the Tiers Etat	480

Rejection of the arbitration of the King by the Orders	481

The Tiers Etat resolve to constitute the Statesgeneral alone	482

Answer of the noblesse and the clergy	483

Serious disturbances and alarm over all France	484

Tumults in the provinces	485

Three Curés join the Tiers Etat	486

Debates on the title the Tiers Etat were to assume	487

Speech in opposition by Mirabeau	488

The Tiers Etat assume the title of National Assembly	490

Resolutions of the National Assembly declaring all taxes illegal if they were dissolved	492

Immense enthusiasm over France on these events ib 56 Commencement of the persecution of the unpopular deputies	493

Measures of the noblesse	494

Debates on the subject in the Chamber of the Clergy	495

Neckers measures in this crisis	496

TennisCourt oath	498

Error of the King on this occasion	499

One hundred and fortyeight of the clergy join the Tiers Etat	500

Reflections on this step of the Commons ib 64 Repulse by Necker of Mirabeaus advances	501

Grand council at Marly where the declaration of 23d June is resolved on	502

Royal sitting of the 23d June Great concessions of the King	503

Which give no satisfaction	504

The Commons refuse to leave the hall	505

Vast amount of these concessions of the King	506

Royal authority overthrown	507

Duke of Orleans and fortysix of the nobility join the Commons	508

Great difficulties of the Kings situation	509

Immense effervescence in Paris ib 74 Interview of the King with M de Luxembourg	510

The Kings answer to the representations of the Duke	512

the Tiers Etat	513

Junction of the orders	514

Revolt and treason of the French guards	515

Vigorous measures are resolved on by the court	516

Great agitation in the capital	517

Power daily passing from the government to the multitude	518

Indecision of Necker and the ministers	519

More violent views of the war party in the council	520

Speech of Mirabeau in the Assembly against the troops	521

Address of the Assembly to the King	522

Answer of the King	524

Dissatisfaction of the Assembly	525

Commencement of the insurrection and dismissal of M Necker	526

Progress of the revolt in Paris and first appearance of Camille Desmoulins	528

Combat in front of the barracks and treachery of the troops troops	529

Efforts of the Orleans party to increase the excitement	530

Continuance of the riots on the 13th and want of preparation on the part of the court	531

Vigorous preparations of the Revolutionists	532

201	533

202	534

Capture of the Hôtel des Invalides ib 98 It is determined to attack the Bastille	536

Preparations for storming the Bastille	537

Description of the Bastille	538

The insurgents break into the fortress	539

Arrival of the Gardes Françaises	540

Proposals made by the civic authorities	541

Delaunay is forced to capitulate	542

Violation of the capitulation and massacre of some prisoners	543

Massacre of Delaunay and Delosme and the Provost Flesselles	544

The rest of the Invalids and Swiss are saved by the French Guards	545

Interior of the Bastille	546

Great agitation in Paris during the night	547

State of Versailles and change of measures by the court	548

The King resolves on concession	549

Violent agitation in the Assembly	550

State of the court on the night of the 14th	551

The King goes to the Assembly and declares he will dismiss the troops	552

The King visits Paris	553

Share of the Orleans faction in the insurrection	554

Who did wrong in this stage of the Revolution?	556

Usurpation and treason of the Tiers Etat ib 119 The military did wrong in revolting against the throne	557

Error of the King in the period chosen for making a stand	558

Fatal results of this treason and treachery to the cause of freedom in France	559

All classes might have done their duty	560

Which would have avoided all the calamities of the Revolution	561

CHAPTER V	563

Necessity for an executive occasioned the disasters which followed	564

Gentle character of the King	565

Mirabeaus picture of these events	566

their misery and famine ib 6 Efforts to feed Paris prove insufficient	567

Which nothing can alleviate	569

Necessary institution of the Municipality on a democratic basis	570

Formation of the primary assemblies to control the Municipality	571

Dumonts account of these primary assemblies ib 11 Establishment of similar municipalities over all France	572

Feeble conduct of the National Assembly on this point	573

Necker is recalled	576

Murder of Foulon ib 16 And of Berthier	578

Cruel excesses on the farmers near Paris	579

Bailly and Lafayette wish to resign but are not allowed	580

Atrocities in the provinces	581

Hideous murder of M de Belzunce	582

Atrocities at StDenis Troyes Strasbourg Orleans and Marseilles	583

Conflagration of the chateaus	584

Cruelties exercised on the seigneurs	585

Disgraceful supineness of the Assembly amidst these excesses	586

Commencement of the emigration of the Noblesse	587

The insurrection of the peasants renders the emigration general	588

Abandonment of the feudal rights by the nobles	589

Speech of the Duke dAiguillon	590

Universal transports of this meeting	591

Prodigious effects of those changes	592

Dangers with which they were attended	593

Argument against spoliation of the church by Sièyes ib 34 Argument for church spoliation by Mirabeau	594

Dignified conduct of the clergy	595

Foresight of Louis and decree of the Assembly	596

Unavailing regrets of the nobles and clergy who joined the popular party	597

Secret causes of this spoliation of the church at which all classes con nived	598

Abolition of the right of shooting and hunting Its effects	599

Dreadful distress at Paris	600

Anarchy in Paris	601

State of the finances	602

Declaration of the Rights of Man	603

Opinion entertained of it by its authors ib 45 Formation of a constitution	604

First appearance of entire laxity on the subject of religion	605

Division of the Assembly into the Côté Droit and Côté Gauche	606

Extraordinary haste in the formation of the constitution	607

Question of the absolute veto which is denied to the King ib 50 Mirabeau supports the crown in the debate	609

This was contrary to the general directions of the Cahiers	610

Increased misery and agitation in Paris	611

Neckers picture of the public distress	612

Mirabeau supports the proposal for a propertytax	613

Famine in Paris	614

Designs of the Orleanist conspirators	615

Views of the King at this period	616

Banquet at Versailles ib 59 Agitation in Paris at the news of it	617

State of the Assembly and the court and arrival of the mob at Ver sailles	619

The insurgents surround the Assembly	620

And soon after break into the palace	621

Irresolution of the King and heroism of the Queen ib 64 Lafayette retires to sleep	622

The mob again break into the palace and heroic defence of the body guard	623

Tardy arrival of General Lafayette	625

Heroic conduct of the Queen ib 68 The mob insist on the royal family going to Paris	626

The royal family come to Paris	627

Vast changes introduced by the Assembly	628

Their excessive rashness	629

Danger of sudden innovation ib 73 The victory of the 6th October was really over the Assembly	630

The period had arrived when resistance was necessary	631

Great fault of the nobility at this period ib 76 Sins of the peasantry and people	632

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History of Europe: From the Commencement of the French Revolution ..., Volume 1
Archibald Alison
Full view - 1849

History of Europe: From the Commencement of the French Revolution ..., Volume 1
Archibald Alison
Full view - 1856

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Common terms and phrases

Abbé acquired amidst ancient appeared aristocracy army assembly authority barons became Biog body Calonne cause century CHAP character church civilisation classes clergy conquest consequence constitution contest convulsion corruption corvées court crown despotism Droz Duc de Choiseul Duke of Orleans edict effect elevation England English estates Europe evils excited fatal favour feudal finances force France freedom French French Revolution genius Hist Histoire human Hume influence interest Jansenists King kingdom labour liberty Louis XVI Madame Madame du Barri Marie Antoinette Maurepas Memoirs ment military minister monarchy Necker nobility nobles noblesse Norman oppression orders parliament of Paris party passion peasantry period philosophers political popular princes principles privileges proprietors provinces Queen ranks reforms reign religion rendered resistance Revolution Roman royal Saxon Sism society soon Soul Soulavie sovereign spirit Stael States-general talents taxes throne Tiers Etat tion Turgot Versailles vols Voltaire wealth whole

Bibliographic information

Title	History of Europe: From the Commencement of the French Revolution to the Restoration of the Bourbons in MDCCCXV [i.e. 1815], Volume 1 History of Europe: From the Commencement of the French Revolution to the Restoration of the Bourbons in MDCCCXV [i.e. 1815], Sir Archibald Alison
Author	Sir Archibald Alison
Publisher	Blackwood, 1849
Original from	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Digitized	6 Oct 2014

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