按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
meetings for pleasure or other purposes had become petty States…
Generals in which the women； transformed into legislators； established
the premises and confidently propounded maxims of public right。〃 The
Comtesse d'Egmont； a correspondent of the King of Sweden； sends him a
paper on the fundamental law of France； favoring the Parliament； the
last defender of national liberty； against the encroachments of
Chancellor Maupeou。 〃The Chancellor；〃 she says；＇39＇ 〃within the last
six months has brought people to know the history of France who would
have died without any knowledge of it。 。 。 。 I have no doubt；
sire；〃 she adds； 〃that you never will abuse the power an enraptured
people have entrusted to you without limitation。 。 。 。 May
your reign prove the epoch of the re…establishment of a free and
independent government； but never the source of absolute authority。〃
Numbers of women of the first rank； Mesdames de la Marck； de
Boufflers； de Brienne； de Mesmes； de Luxembourg； de Croy； think and
write in the same style。 〃Absolute power；〃 says one of these； 〃is a
mortal malady which； insensibly corrupting moral qualities； ends in
the destruction of states。 。 。 。 The actions of sovereigns are
subject to the censure of their subjects as to that of the universe。
。 。 。 France is undone if the present administration lasts。〃＇40＇
… When； under Louis XVI； a new administration proposes and withdraws
feeble measures of reform。 their criticism shows the same firmness：
〃Childishness； weakness； constant inconsistency；〃 writes another；＇41＇
〃incessant change； and always worse off than we were before。
Monsieur and M。 le Comte d'Artois have just made a journey through the
provinces； but only as people of that kind travel； with a frightful
expenditure and devastation along the whole road； coming back
extraordinarily fat； Monsieur is as big as a hogshead； as to M。 le
Comte d'Artois he is bringing about order by the life he leads。〃 …
An inspiration of humanity animates these feminine breasts along with
that of liberty。 They interest themselves in the poor； in children；
in the people； Madame d'Egmont recommends Gustavus III to plant
Dalecarlia with potatoes。 On the appearance of the engraving
published for the benefit of Calas＇42＇ 〃all France and even all
Europe； hastens to subscribe for it； the Empress of Russia giving
5；000 livres＇43＇。 〃Agriculture； economy； reform； philosophy；〃 writes
Walpole； 〃are bon ton； even at the court。〃 … President Dupaty
having drawn up a memorandum in behalf of three innocent persons；
sentenced 〃to be broken on the wheel； everybody in society is talking
about it；〃 〃idle conversation no longer prevails in society；〃 says a
correspondent of Gustavus III＇44＇ 〃since it is that which forms public
opinion。 Words have become actions。 Every sensitive heart praises
with joy a publication inspired by humanity and which appears full of
talent because it is full of feeling。〃 When Latude is released from
the prison of Bicêtre Mme。 de Luxembourg； Mme。 de Boufflers； and
Mme。 de Sta？l dine with the grocer…woman who 〃for three years and a
half moved heaven and earth 〃 to set the prisoner free。 It is owing
to the women； to their sensibility and zeal； to a conspiracy of their
sympathies； that M。 de Lally succeeds in the rehabilitation of his
father。 When they take a fancy to a person they become infatuated
with him； Madame de Lauzun； very timid； goes so far as to publicly
insult a man who speaks ill of M。 Necker。 … It must be borne in
mind that； in this century； the women were queens； setting the
fashion； giving the tone； leading in conversation and naturally
shaping ideas and opinions＇45＇。 When they take the lead on the
political field we may be sure that the men will follow them： each one
carries her drawing room circle with her。
VI。 WELL…MEANING GOVERNMENT。
Infinite； vague aspirations。 … Generosity of sentiments and of
conduct。 … The mildness and good intentions of the government。 …
Its blindness and optimism。
An aristocracy imbued with humanitarian and radical maxims；
courtiers hostile to the court； privileged persons aiding in
undermining privileges； presents to us a strange spectacle in the
testimony of the time。 A contemporary states that it is an accepted
principle 〃to change and upset everything。〃＇46＇ High and low； in
assemblages； in public places； only reformers and opposing parties are
encountered among the privileged classes。
〃In 1787； almost every prominent man of the peerage in the
Parliament declared himself in favor of resistance。 。 。 。 I
have seen at the dinners we then attended almost every idea put
forward； which； soon afterwards； produced such startling effects。〃＇47＇
Already in 1774； M。 de Vaublanc； on his way to Metz； finds a diligence
containing an ecclesiastic and a count； a colonel in the hussars；
talking political economy constantly＇48＇。 〃It was the fashion of the
day。 Everybody was an economist。 People conversed together only
about philosophy； political economy and especially humanity； and the
means for relieving the people； （le bon peuple）； which two words were
in everybody's mouth。〃 To this must be added equality； Thomas； in a
eulogy of Marshal Saxe says； 〃I cannot conceal it； he was of royal
blood；〃 and this phrase was admired。 A few of the heads of old
parliamentary or seigniorial families maintain the old patrician and
monarchical standard； the new generation succumbing to novelty。 〃For
ourselves；〃 says one of them belonging to the youthful class of the
nobility；＇49＇ 〃with no regret for the past or anxiety for the future；
we marched gaily along over a carpet of flowers concealing an abyss。
Mocking censors of antiquated ways； of the feudal pride of our fathers
and of their sober etiquette； everything antique seemed to us annoying
and ridiculous。 The gravity of old doctrines oppressed us。 The
cheerful philosophy of Voltaire amused and took possession of us。
Without fathoming that of graver writers we admired it for its stamp
of fearlessness and resistance to arbitrary power。 。 。 。
Liberty； what…ever its language； delighted us with its spirit； and
equality on account of its convenience。 It is a pleasant thing to
descend so long as one thinks one can ascend when one pleases； we were
at once enjoying； without forethought； the advantages of the
patriciate and the sweets of a commoner philosophy。 Thus； although
our privileges were at stake； and the remnants of our former supremacy
were undermined under our feet； this little warfare gratified us。
Inexperienced in the attack； we simply admired the spectacle。
Combats with the pen and with words did not appear to us capable of
damaging our existing superiority； which several centuries of
possession had made us regard as impregnable。 The forms of the
edifice remaining intact； we could not see how it could be mined from
within。 We laughed at the serious alarm of the old court and of the
clergy which thundered against the spirit of innovation。 We
applauded republican scenes in the theater；＇50＇ philosophic discourses
in our Academies； the bold publications of the literary class。〃… If
inequality still subsists in the distribution of offices and of
places； 〃equality begins to reign in society。 On many occasions
literary titles obtain precedence over titles of nobility。 Courtiers
and servants of the passing fashion； paid their court to Marmontel；
d'Alembert and Raynal。 We frequently saw in company literary men of
the second and third rank greeted and receiving attentions not
extended to the nobles of the provinces。 。 。 。 Institutions
remained monarchical； but manners and customs became republican。 A
word of praise from d'Alembert or Diderot was more esteemed than the
most marked favor from a prince。 。 。 It was impossible to pass
an evening with d'Alembert； or at the H？tel de Larochefoucauld among
the friends of Turgot； to attend a breakfast at the Abbé Raynal's； to
be admitted into the society and family of M。 de Malesherbes； and
lastly； to approach a most amiable queen and a most upright king；
without believing ourselves about to enter upon a kind of golden era
of which preceding centuries afforded no idea。 。 。 。 We were
bewildered by the prismatic hues of fresh ideas and doctrines； radiant
with hopes； ardently aglow for every sort of reputation； enthusiastic
for all talents and beguiled by every seductive dream of a philosophy
that was about to secure the happiness of the human species。 Far
from foreseeing misfortune； excess； crime； the overthrow of thrones
and of principles； the future disclosed to us only the benefits which
humanity was to derive from the sovereignty of Reason。 Freedom of
the press and circulation was given to every reformative writing； to
every project of innovation； to the most liberal ideas and to the
boldest o