not wear stays, neither do they make many of their gowns so long as to
draw on the ground, which is a waste, and a dirty indecent fashion.
The gentlemen dress much as we do in London, only they sometimes wear
cloaks, and the collars of their coats are not quite so high as ours. I
have sometimes wondered that cloaks are not more in fashion in London.
The French are very merry and cheerful; and their light and airy
turn makes them patient in times of adversity; they have also the
just reputation of being witty; and it has been said, that they are
sometimes too cunning for the English. This brings to my mind the
following anecdote, _viz._ A Frenchman, who had supped and lodged at an
inn kept by an Englishman, demanded his reckoning: the landlord made
out a bill of ten shillings, which the Frenchman paid, thinking in
the mean time that his host was something extravagant in his demands,
and was therefore resolved to be _up_ with him. The landlord soon
complained that he was very much troubled with rats. "Vell," said the
Frenchman, "for von bouteille of vin, I vill tell how you may get rid
of dem all." The landlord gave the wine. "Vell," said the Frenchman,
"do you make out a bill, and charge dem rats ten shillings a-piece for
every night da have lodged in your house, and I vill be bound da vill
all go off, and never trouble you any more."
I shall here give a slight specimen of the _French courtship_, which a
gentleman repeated to me; and if the gentlemen in England, Scotland,
Ireland, America, or elsewhere, shall see fit to follow the same mode
of address to the ladies, I shall have no objection, providing they
address themselves to proper persons.
"Madame,
"Upon the consideration of the good reputation you bear in the
nation, I find an inclination to offer you my salutation; and, upon
my salvation, if this my declaration finds your acceptation, it will
cause an obligation that will be of long continuation, even from
generation to generation."
The ladies in France are very amorous, and those that are married are
not much troubled with their husbands being jealous of them, let them
be honest or dishonest: and you may court a Frenchman's wife before
his face, and he will not be jealous of you, as I was informed. Great
numbers of the lewd women are said to be licensed by authority, to keep
public houses for the entertainment of persons of that character.
The disease that is commonly spread by such people is rather upon the
decline at Paris, it is said; owing to the frequent use of different
kinds of remedies, as preventatives, &c.
CHAP. XIV.
_The Length, Breadth, Boundaries, Inhabitants, New Divisions,
Mountains, Rivers, Soil, Produce, Manufactories, Commerce, Religion,
and Laws of_ France.
The kingdom of France is about six hundred and twenty-two miles in
length from north to south, and six hundred and twenty in breadth
from east to west: It is bounded--Easterly on Germany, Switzerland,
Savoy, and Piedmont--Southerly on the Mediterranean sea, and the
Pyrenean mountains, which separate it from Spain--Westerly on the
Bay of Biscay--Northerly on the English channel--and North-easterly
on the Spanish Netherlands. It contains near 26,950-7/12 square
leagues--25,000,000 of inhabitants--Eighteen arch-bishoprics--167,000
clergymen--28 universities--25 academies--750 great convents of
monks--200 of nuns--10,000 of a smaller kind--and upwards of 200,000 of
monks and nuns.
I understand that the National Assembly have divided the kingdom into
eighty grand divisions, or counties, of eighteen leagues in length, and
as many in breadth; and each grand division into nine commonalities,
that are six leagues square; and also each commonality into nine
cantons, of two leagues in length, and two in breadth.
Hence there are eighty grand divisions, seven hundred and twenty
commonalities, and 6480 cantons in the kingdom.
The mountains in France are, the Alps--the Pyrenees--the Vague--Mount
Jura--the Convennes--and Mount Dor.
The chief rivers are, the Rhone--the Garoune--the Loire--the Seine--the
Somme--and the Ardour.
The climate is mild and healthy, as has already been observed; and the
soil fruitful, though not equal to Great Britain for corn: but their
fruits are more numerous, and of a higher flavour than ours, by reason
of their growing in a more southern country. They have the largest
plumbs I ever saw: but their beans, peas, and strawberries were small.
In the northern provinces they have good cider and perry; and in the
southern the best of wines. In the province of Languedoc they raise
silk and olive oil.
France does not abound in coal, which obliges the people to raise and
burn wood, and sometimes turf. There are many excellent forests between
Paris and Calais, and some beds of turf. In Paris they have the largest
magazines of wood that I ever saw.
The animals in France are of the same kinds of those in England; only
they have some wolves, as I was informed.
The French manufacture silks, woollens, velvets, brocades, alamodes,
lawns, laces, cambrics, tapestry, glass, hardware, war-like implements,
paper, hats, thread, toys, &c. but I do not think their manufacturies
are equal to those of England in all respects.
France carries on the greatest foreign trade of any kingdom in the
world, except Great Britain; and the inland trade is very large, by the
way of their navigable rivers, canals, &c. One of the latter is said to
be one hundred miles in length, and opens a communication between the
ocean and the Mediterranean; it is carried over mountains and vallies,
and through one mountain. It was begun and finished in the reign of
Lewis XIV. It is called the Royal Canal, or Canal of Languedoc.
The established religion of France is that of the Roman Catholicks; but
of late the Protestants have been allowed a toleration.
I was told at Paris that many of the people look upon the Romish clergy
as impostors, and that they had found them out, and intend to pull them
down.
It was said that a few of the laws of France were very arbitrary
and tyrannical before the late Revolution, as they were totally
inconsistent with the laws of humanity; among which was that for
confiscating the property of foreigners dying in France, and
appropriating it to the use of the state. But since my arrival at
Paris the National Assembly have abolished for ever that unreasonable
decree. Had I died whilst I was in that kingdom, and before the decree
was abolished, my hat, shirts, coats, waistcoats, breeches, stockings,
shoes, buckles, books, trunk, money, diploma, recommendations, &c.
would have been confiscated and taken from my heirs; and for no other
crime than that of my going to see the country, and do business for
myself in Paris!
How unreasonable was it, that the heirs of the deceased, _viz._ the
poor widows and the fatherless children, should have their property
alienated in such a manner! Surely such a transaction must be
disgraceful, not only to Christendom, but even to the most barbarous
nations!
I was told that the National Assembly had also abolished, for ever, two
other decrees, which they deemed unreasonable. They were those that
debarred the clergy from the liberty of entering into the bands of
matrimony, and certain females the same privilege; and also, for the
keeping them in confinement all the days of their lives in nunneries.
Before the Revolution the laws were executed with the utmost severity.
A servant would be hung for stealing less then a shilling. Murderers
and high-way robbers, and those that attempted to poison any body, were
broke on the wheel.
Smugglers were condemned to be gally-slaves for life.
Women brought to bed with dead bastard children, without having made
known their pregnancy, were burnt alive.
Priests that revealed the confessions of penitents, had their tongues
tore out, their gowns stripped off, and were expelled from their
employments.
He that robbed a church had his hands cut off at the church door, and
was afterwards burnt at the place of execution, which was always in the
centre of the town.
People of family, convicted of a capital offence, though not executed,
are disennobled, with all their relations, turned out of their public
employments, and rendered incapable of holding any afterwards, and all
marriage contracts become void.
The nobility and clergy, with the burgesses of Paris, and some other
free cities, were exempted from paying land taxes.
CHAP. XV.
France _an unlimited Monarchy before the Revolution.--The Kingdom was
divided into fifteen Parts, in which were as many Parliaments.--It
was also divided into twenty-five Generalities.--The King nominated
the Bishops.--The Privileges of the Clergy.--The Orders of
Knighthood.--From what the Revenues were collected.--A Statement
of the Annual Incomes and Expences.--Of the Gold and Silver in
Circulation.--National Debt, &c._
Having, partly from my own knowledge, and partly from credible
information, given in the preceding chapter a short geographical
description of the kingdom of France, I proceed, in the next place, to
say something concerning its Constitution and Government before the
late Revolution.
Let us therefore observe,
1. That France was an unlimited monarchy.
2. That both the legislative and executive powers resided in the king.
3. That his decrees had the same force as our acts of parliament.
4. That the kingdom was divided into fifteen parts, each of which had
a parliament; as that of Paris, Toulouse, Rouen, Grenoble, Bordeaux,
Dijon, Aix, Rennes, Pau, Besancon, Metz, Dowa, Perpignan, Arras, and
Alsace.
5. That these parliaments consisted of a certain number of presidents
and inferior judges, who purchased their offices of the crown, or of
those that possessed them, as they were for life, unless the officers
were found guilty of malconduct in the execution of their office.
6. That the parliament of Paris was esteemed the highest, because
it was composed of princes of royal blood, dukes and peers, besides
ordinary judges. Here the king frequently came in person, and had his
royal edicts recorded and promulgated.
7. That the kingdom was also divided into twenty-five generalities,
every one of which had an intendant, on whom the king depended for the
administration of justice, in civil and criminal causes; for ruling and
governing the subordinate officers, and ordering and conducting his
finances and revenues.
8. That the king nominated the bishops and their livings, and then the
pope sent his bulls of consecration.
9. That the crown seized all the temporalities of archbishopricks, and
bishopricks, which was called the _regal_, and the king frequently
gave pensions to laymen out of the bishopricks.
The privileges of the clergy were:
1. An exemption from paying land-taxes.
2. From having their books seized, with the other things they used in
divine service.
3. They might be tried in criminal causes, if they chose it, before the
grand chamber, which is a court where the nobility were tried.
4. They had the liberty of being degraded, or placed lower, before they
could be executed for any atrocious crime.
5. They were exempt from having soldiers quartered on them.
6. Their persons could not be taken with executions in civil actions.
7. They were exempted from being brought before lay courts for personal
matters:
But they could not bring a layman before an ecclesiastical court.
All spiritual actions were recognizable in the ecclesiastical courts,
providing they were not blended with temporal matters; and when that
was the case, they were obliged to try their causes before the civil
courts.
There have been four orders of knighthood in France:
_Viz._ 1. Knights of the Holy Ghost,} { 1578.
2. Knights of St. Michael, } Instituted in { 1469.
3. Knights of St. Louis, and } { 1693.
4. Knights of St. Lazarus, }
The annual revenues were collected by a land-tax--by the customs--by a
tax on salt--by a poll-tax--by a tenth of estates and employments--by
a sale of all offices of justice--and by a tenth, or free gift of the
clergy. But this revenue was subject to an enlargment, by raising
the value of the coin, and by the compounding of the state bills and
debentures.
The annual revenue of France, before the Revolution, was said to be
585,000,000 of livres, or 24,375,000 pounds sterling. Of which sum the
clergy possessed 130,000,000 of livres. The annual balance of trade
in favour of France, was 70,000,000 of livres. The gold and silver
supposed to be in circulation 2,000,000,000 of livres, and the annual
increase of it 40,000,000 more.
The annual expences of France 610,000,000 livres, or 25,416,666_l._
13_s._ 4_d._ sterling. The annual income 24,375,000_l._ The nation run
in debt 1,041,666_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ _per annum_.
A GENERAL STATEMENT _of the Expences, Incomes, &c. stands thus_:
Livres Sterling.
Expences for collecting taxes 58,000,000 2,416,666 13 4
Annual of importations 230,000,000 9,583,333 6 8
Ditto of exportations 300,000,000 12,500,000 0 0
Ditto of balance of commerce 70,000,000 2,916,666 6 8
An. int. of the national debt 207,000,000 8,625,000 0 0
Annual charge of the army 124,650,000 5,193,750 0 0
Ditto of the navy 45,200,000 1,883,333 6 8
The amount of the taxes, &c. 585,000,000 24,375,000 0 0
Annual expences of the state 610,000,000 25,416,666 13 4
Gold and silver coin 2,200,000,000 91,666,666 13 4
Supposed annual increase 40,000,000 1,666,666 13 4
National debt 3,400,000,000 141,666,666 13 4
------------------------------
May 1, 1779, National expen. 475,294,000
Revenue 431,533,000
-----------
Nation fell in debt 43,761,000
===========
CHAP. XVI.
_The Constitution of_ France _changed from Monarchy to Democracy.--The
Number and Power of the National Assembly.--The King is only an
executive Officer.--A Decree of the National Assembly.--Titles of
Nobility abolished._
Having in the preceding chapter given an account of the constitution
and government of France before the Revolution, let us consider, in the
next place, of the present constitution and government of that kingdom.
We must therefore observe:
1. That the constitution is changed from monarchy to democracy; that
the legislative powers are taken from the king, and vested in the
people.
2. That the kingdom is divided into eighty grand divisions, and
subdivided into seven hundred and twenty commonalities and 6480 cantons.
3. That each commonality is empowered to send one representative to the
National Assembly.
4. That the National Assembly is composed of seven hundred and twenty
members, when the whole are convened.
5. That this assembly is the supreme legislative head of the nation.
6. That the power of making laws, raising of taxes, the coining,
borrowing, and lending of money; the setting up and pulling down of
officers, granting of commissions and employments; the making of war
and peace; and the entering into treaties and alliances with foreign
powers, belongs to this assembly only.
7. That the king is only an executive officer, as he is to see the laws
of the representatives of the nation executed.
The king is to execute the actual decrees of the National Assembly,
respecting war and peace; and is allowed to provide for the safety of
the realm, in case of a foreign invasion, during the recess of the
assembly.
A decree of the National Assembly, passed in May last, runs thus:
"The king shall have the right to provide for the security of the
frontiers, to make every preparation, and take every necessary step to
defend the national possessions; to manage the operations of the war,
and to propose whatever he thinks proper for the general good:
"But the legislative body shall have the right to decide on the
propriety of the war, make peace, and settle treaties.
"In case of war, the king shall give immediate notice of it to the
legislative body, if the assembly is sitting, and if not, it shall be
summoned immediately."
I was informed in Paris, that the National Assembly have abolished all
the titles of nobility; and observed that their coats of arms were
taken from their carriages.
It was also reported, that the nobility are to pay land and other
taxes, in proportion to their abilities.
These are some of the fundamental alterations in the Constitution,
according to the best information that I have been able to obtain. Let
us then, in the next chapter, consider of the causes of the Revolution.
CHAP. XVII.
_Supposed Causes of the Revolution.--The Resolutions of the National
Assembly.--Names of some of the Officers appointed under the New
Constitution._
It is said that the Revolution arose from various causes: as,
1. The people had no part of the power of legislation.
2. They were deprived of the right of a trial by jury.
3. They paid more than their proportion of the public taxes, because
the nobility, clergy, &c. were exempted from paying a land-tax.
4. They were under some laws peculiarly oppressive.
Their grievances will appear by the following resolutions, which on the
4th of August, 1789, the National Assembly unanimously agreed to, as a
proof of their genuine patriotism to the people, as their affectionate
and disinterested representatives, devoid of every motive but the
common good; and, to give a great example to nations and ages, in the
sacrifice of every abusive right and privilege whatsoever, incidental
to all the orders, provinces, cities and communities, will raise the
French name to a heighth unparalleled in history, and consecrate
their memory as worthy of representing the enlightened knowledge, the
courage, and the virtues of so great and generous a people.
"Article I. An equality of taxes, to commence from the present moment.
"II. The renunciation of all privileges for orders, cities, provinces,
and individuals; a general uniformity to take place through the whole
kingdom.
"III. The redemption of all feudal rights.
"IV. A suppression of mortmain and personal servitude.
"V. The produce of the redemption of the estates of the clergy to be
applied to the augmentation of the salaries of the parish priests.
"VI. The abolition of the game laws, _capitaineries_.
"VII. The abolition of seigniorial jurisdictions.
"VIII. The abolition of the venality of officers.
"IX. Justice to be rendered gratuitously to the people.
"X. The abolition of privileged dove-coats and warrens, (a dreadful and
serious grievance to the French peasant).
"XI. The redemption of tithes and field-rents.
"XII. It is forbidden to create in future any rights of the same
nature, or any other feudal rights whatever.
"XIII. The abolition of the fees of parish priests, for births,
marriages, or deaths, except in the cities.
"XIV. A speedy augmentation of the benefices of parish priests.
"XV. A suppression of the _droits d'annates_, or first fruits. (The
sum paid by France to the pope on this head, ammounted annually to
357,133_l._ sterling.)
"XVI. The admission of all ranks of citizens to civil and military
employments.
"XVII. The suppression of the duties of removal, paid by parish priests
to the bishops in certain provinces.
"XVIII. The suppression of corporations and wardenships.
"XIX. The suppression of the plurality of livings.
"XX. A medal to be struck to consecrate this memorable day; expressive
of the abolition of all the privileges, and of the complete union of
all the provinces and all the citizens.
"XXI. _Te Deum_ to be sung in the king's chapel, and throughout all
France.
"XXII. Louis XVI. proclaimed the restorer of public liberty."
There were several other articles, _viz._
The abolition of all unmerited pensions.
All artizens to be exempt from taxes, who employ no journeymen.
All suits for seignioral and royal rights, then pending in the courts,
to be suspended till the constitution shall be completed.
All the interior councils were suppressed; and the cabinet were
composed of the following ministers, who were responsible for every
measure of state:
1. M. Necker, minister of the finances, or first lord of the treasury.
2. M. Montmorin, secretary for the foreign department.
3. M. St. Priest, secretary for the home department.
4. M. de la Lazurne, minister of the marine department.
5. M. le Comté de la Tour du Piu Paulin, minister of the war department.
6. M. l'Archeveque de Bourdeaux, keeper of the seal.
7. M. l'Archeveque de Vienne, minister for bishops and abbies.
8. M. le Prince de Beauveau, to be of the council, but with no
particular department.
CHAP. XVIII.
_A Declaration of the Rights which have been adopted by the National
Assembly.--Reductions made from the Annual Revenues.--Two Banks
established.--Criminals may employ Counsel, &c._
"The representatives of the people of France, constituted in national
assembly, considering that ignorance, forgetfulness, or neglect of
the rights of man, are the sole causes of public misfortunes, and of
the corruption of governments, have resolved to explain, in a solemn
declaration, the natural imprescriptible, inalienable, and sacred
rights of man; to the end that this declaration, being constantly
presented to all the members of society, may unceasingly recal to their
minds their duties and their rights; and to the end that the acts of
legislative and executive powers, being at all times compared with the
design of the political institution, may be more respected, and that
the appeals of the citizens, being founded henceforward on plain and
incontestible principles, may always tend to the maintenance of the
constitution and the general happiness.
"The National Assembly, in consequence, recognizes and declares in
the presence, and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the sacred
rights of the man and the citizen.
"I. Men are born and remain free and equal in their rights. No
distinction can be founded, but in principles of general utility.
"II. The object of all society ought to be the preservation of the
natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are his
liberty, his property, his security, and the resistance of oppression.
"III. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the
nation; and no authority, which is not expressly derived from thence,
can be exercised by any associations, or any individual.
"IV. Liberty consists in the power of doing every thing which does not
injure another person: Thus the exercise of the natural rights of every
man, have no other boundaries, than those which assure to men the free
exercise of the same rights. These boundaries cannot be determined by
law.
"V. The law ought to prohibit only such actions as are injurious
to society. That which is not forbidden by the law, should not be
prevented; and no person can be compelled to do what the law does not
ordain.
"VI. The law is the expression of the general will; and all
citizens have a right to contribute, either personally, or by their
representatives, to its formation. The law, whether it protects or
punishes, ought to be the same to all. All citizens being equal
in its regard, are equally admissible to all dignities, places,
and employments, according to their capacities, without any other
distinction than what arises from their virtues and their talents.
"VII. No man can be accused, arrested, or retained, but in the case
determined by the law, and under the forms which it has prescribed.
Those who solicit, forward, execute, or cause to be punished. Every
citizen called on or arrested by the power of the law, ought to obey,
and renders himself culpable by resistance.
"VIII. The law should establish no punishments but what are strictly
and evidently necessary; and no person can be punished but by the
power of the law established; promulgated at a period anterior to the
offence, and legally applied.
"IX. Every man shall be presumed innocent until he is condemned. If
it be deemed indispensibly necessary that he should be detained in
custody, all rigour that is not absolutely necessary to secure his
person, should be severely repressed by law.
"X. No person shall be disturbed for his opinions, even though on
religion, provided that the manifestation of those opinions does not
disturb the public order established by law.