A VIEW OF THE PROGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENT OF ENGLAND, ACCESSION OF HIS MAJESTY. IN FOUR VOLUMES. BY ROBERT BISSET, LL. D. A NEW EDITION. VOL. IV. PUBLISHED BY INSKEEP & BRADFORD, NEW YORK, & WILLIAM M'ILHENNEY, BOSTON. THOMAS L. PLOWMAN, PRINTER· 1811. OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE III. CHAPTER XLIX. The French revolution chiefly engages the attention of the continent and of Britain.—The British government still resolved not to interfere in the internal affairs of France.-Catharine's views respecting Poland-she desires to embroil her powerful neighbours in war with France.-Cautious prudence of Leopold.-Convention at Pilnitz between the chief powers of Germany.—The parties disavow hostile intentions against France.-The French king notifies to foreign princes his acceptance of the new constitution-answers of the different powers. -Circular note of the emperor.-Sweden and Russia urge the German powers to active hostilities, but without effect.-Proceedings in France.Meeting of the second national assembly-they conceive internal revolution a reason for changing the law of nations.-Seizure of Avignon-Operations of the French exiles at Coblentz.The king urges them to return-rapid diminution of the king's power.-General character of the French nation, -violent passions, ardour of pursuit, and energy of action-the same character appears in their religious, loyal, and democratical enthusiasm—progress of republicanism. -Intrigues between the royalist and republican leaders -from the emptiness of the royal coffers are unavailing. -The king refuses to attempt his escape.-Different views of the emigrant princes and of the nobles-of foreign potentates.-Disputes between the French government and the elector of Treves.-The princes of the empire headed by the emperor and supported by Prussia ་ form a confederacy for defending their rights.-Sudden death of the emperor.-Preparations of the king of Sweden. Assassination of that heroic prince.-The French government demands of Austria and Prussia the disavowal of a concert hostile to France.-Basis of tranquillity proposed by Francis and Frederic William.French declare war against Austria and Prussia.-Counter declarations. The duke of Brunswic is appointed general of the combined armies of Germany.-Preparations of France and distribution of the armies.—The French invade the Austrian Netherlands-their first operations are desultory and unsuccessful-unprovided state of their armies-is imputed to treachery.—Dispositions of government to remedy this defect.-The duke of Brunswic arrives at Coblentz. The allied powers misinformed concerning the disposition of the French nation-under this misinformation they concert the plan of the campaign-they propose to invade France and restore monarchy-manifesto of the duke of Brunswicthreatens more than its authors can execute unwise and hurtful to the cause.-State of parties in France-the manifesto combines diversity of sentiment into unanimous determination to resist foreign interference-hurries the downfal of kingly power—and completely defeats the purposes of its framers. Proceedings at Paris-power of the jacobins the sanscullottes-decrees for raising a jacobin army and punishing refractory priests—the king refuses his sanction.-La Fayette repairs to Paris—but is obliged to fly-he leaves the French army and surrenders to the Austrians.-French enthusiasm on the approach of the combined armies.-Anniversary of July 14th.-The Marseillois-passive citizens.-The mayor of Paris in the name of his constituents demands the deposition of the king.-Proceedings of the 10th of August a banditti assault the Thuilleries-valour of the Swiss -guards-they are overpowered and massacred by the savage mob.-The royal family carried prisoners to the temple deposition of the king-plan of provisionary government drawn up by Brissot-manifestoes to the French and to foreign powers-plan of a conventionpersecution of the unyielding priests.-Church plate is |