' XIX. • Christianisme "culte allegorique du Soleil, BOOK sous les noms cabalistiques de Chris-en ou Yes-us *" In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, "that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished his worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep :-in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex, in indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations t." It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while "the death dance of * TACITUS gives an account somewhat different :-" Auctor nominis ejus CHRISTUS, qui, Tiberio imperitante, per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio affectus erat." Annal. 15. § 44. + Hall's Discourse on Modern Infidelity. 1793. Reign of terror. BOOK democratic revolution" was still in rapid move XIX. ment, among the tears of affliction, and the 1793. cries of despair," the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace The picture which enraptured speculatists had once delighted to draw of the glorious and happy effect of this unparalleled revolution was now enveloped in impenetrable gloom, and the flattering delusions of hope had vanished as the unsubstantial colors of the gilded bow; while the enemies and detractors of the fair form of Freedom, now lying prostrate in the dust, exclaimed, That out of the tomb of a murdered monarchy had arisen a vast tremendous unformed spectre, in a guise far more terrific than had ever before appalled the imagination and subdued the fortitude of man †. The manners of Robespierre, who in a short time acquired an absolute ascendency in the Convention, were uniformly gloomy and austere. Laborious, suspicious, irascible, vindictive, imperious, a contemner of wealth and pomp, Barrère termed him "the giant of the revolution. My astonished genius," said he, "trembles before his." M. Garat, speaking of his own intercession *Burke's 'Regicide Peace.' + Burke's Reflections. XIX. with Robespierre in behalf of the imprisoned BOOK Girondists, says: "Je vis à l'instant qu'il mettoit lui son orgueil, son triomphe, et sa grandeur, 1793. à écraser impitoyablement ses ennemis :-Je vis à l'instant que lui ne trouvoit sa sureté que dans le destruction de tous ceux qui lui inspiroient des craintes * " The figure of this extraordinary man is described as mean and insignificant, his countenance sallow and disgusting; but such was his eloquence, that, when he rose to speak, his personal defects were in a manner forgotten. His voice, which in common conversation was weak and tremulous, in the Tribune acquired the most commanding tone and animated expression; his whole aspect became imposing, and his eyes seemed to flash sparkles of fire. During the reign of this ferocious tyrant there was under every footstep a mine, in every house a spy, on every bench of justice an assassin. From the Var to the Moselle, from the Pyrénées to the Ardennes, Terror reared her gorgon crest, and the hearts of all were frozen with consternation. actions. Such has long been the vast superiority of the Naval transnaval power of England, that, in every war waged for more than a century past, maritime conquests seem regarded by the English nation * Mémoires de Garat, p. 57. XIX. Tobago taken. BOOK almost as a matter of course. The valuable island of Tobago was taken by a British squadron 1793. under admiral Laforey, about the beginning of April. From an early period of the French revolution the West-India islands belonging to France, and particularly St. Domingo, had been agitated and convulsed by the revolutionary spirit, and by premature and injudicious attempts to confer the rights of free citizens in that part of the globe upon the "gens de couleur," who constitute a large proportion of Forts in St. the inhabitants. In consequence of the violence Domingo captured. of the internal commotions in that extensive island, which had become a scene of dreadful desolation and bloodshed, the settlements of Fort Jérémie and Cape Nicola-Mole were surrendered to the English before the conclusion of the summer. The islands of Miquelon and St. Pierre, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, were Pondicherri, given up at the first summons. Early intelthe French ligence of the war being also transmitted to the East Indies, Pondicherri, Mahé, and the other of Coroman- French settlements on the coasts of Coromandel Mahé, and settlements on the coast del, reduced. Neutral powers in and Malabar were captured, with little resistance, by the troops of the India Company, under the conduct of general Stewart. It is remarkable, that although the chief sulted by complaint against the French government, on the court of the part of the English ministry, was founded London. XIX. on its invasion of the rights of neutral powers, BOOK and though they had assumed great merit with the nation, however falsely, for having observed 1793. the exactest neutrality themselves, those very ministers had no sooner engaged in the war, than they adopted the most violent measures to compel the powers still remaining neutral, to fraternise with England. Mr. Drake, the British envoy at Genoa, peremptorily insisted upon an immediate and unqualified declaration of hostility on the part of that republic against France. He maintained “that neutrality among nations cannot take place but with respect to such wars as are carried on between lawful powers: that to talk of neutrality in the case of a contest between religion and atheism, laws and anarchy, loyalty and perjury, virtue and vice, humanity and murder, is to vilify its very name: and that of course, in the present war against the usurpers of the supreme power in France, no government can declare itself neuter without becoming their accomplice, and degrading itself in the eyes of all Europe." But the Genoese government, animated by the eloquence and patriotism of the doge, a worthy descendant of the illustrious house of Doria, with equal spirit and dignity, replied, "That if the republic were to be forced from her neutrality, she never would take part with those who had threatened her with such |