Thoughts on the Present State of French Politics, and the Necessity and Policy of Diminishing France; For Her Internal Peace, and to Secure the Tranqu

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1793. Excerpt: ... THOUGHTS, &c. To give the more regularity to the following short essay on the affairs of France, I have thought it best to divide the subject, and in this I see a double advantage: the train of reasoning becoming much more simple, its justness may appear more distinctly when I am right, and my errors more clearly when I am wrong. The errors may be separated from what may be found just in what I say, and therefore they will not do the work so much harm, as if they were interwoven together in a more complex manner. Having already addressed the.Public more than once upon the affairs of France, what I C 2 have have now to say is rather as an addition to what I have already published, than as a beginning upon a new footing; for the Revolution of France taking such various forms, requires that when their affairs have been once entered upon, they should be followed up. Thus, when I criticised the French Constitution, which was so much vaunted, in 1792, I meant to stop the progress of those principles upon which it was sounded, and thereby prevent the spreading of that mad philosophy in England. When I wrote upon the actual resources of France, I meant to shew its weakness; and now that our country is fairly engaged in an honourable coalition, I will not lay with the house of Austria and the King of Prussia, but with the whole of Europe, against France, I mean to give my ideas of the method by which this honourable and necessary coalition of powers may best secure the peace of Europe, and save France from those evils with which (he is menaced from anarchy, and a perpetual tendency to revolution. That there is some arrogance in the attempt, may appear to many, and it requires an explanation from a man who does by no means means wish to assume the language of super...