CHAPTER THE FIRST. Wisdom of the National Assembly in framing a new Conflitution-Remarks on the Declaration of Rights-Natural Equality of Mankind-End of focial Diftinctions, and political Affociations -Right of Sovereignty in the People-Different Systems confidered-Objections to the Declaration of Rights anfwered-Importance of general Principles. THE 'HE representatives of the people of France, formed into a National Affembly, appear at the commencement of their proceedings, to have been ftrongly impressed with a sense of that duty they owed to their constituents; the most neceffary and important part of which was, the formation of a conftitution; and fuch a conftitution, as might prevent the renewal of thofe accumulated evils, under which the people had for ages fuffered. The fituation of the French, antecedent to the revolution, was almost hopeless. The government was defpotic. The whole was a most wretched fyftem of mifmanagement. The nnmerous numerous tribe of nobility were poffeffed of extraordinary privileges, and exempted from most of the taxes; while the lower clafs of people were groaning under oppreffion and flavery. The clergy were rioting on one hundred and fifty millions sterling of national property, while infidelity and vice were continually on the increase, Such was the miferable ftate of the finances, that it was univerfally thought a national bankruptcy would have fhortly followed; an event which must have plunged the empire into the depth of mifery. But it is unnecessary to enlarge on the complicated evils refulting from a defpotic government, where kings, minifters of ftate, and the miftreffes of each, had opprefied and pillaged the people without controul; and where, even under the mildeft administration, the moft intolerable abuses were unrestrained*, The neceffity of a regenerated govern I have been affured, fays Judge Blackstone, on good authority, that during the mild adminiftration of Cardinal Fleury, above FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND lettres de cachet were iffucd, upon the fingle ground of the famous bull unigenitus. (Commentaries, vol. I. page 135). The liberty of the prefs was under fuch restrictions, that all the journalists were prohibited by an arret of council, dated March 22. 1785, from publishing any letter or differtation in regard to legiflation or jurisprudence, or any effay attempting to interpret the laws of the kingdom. Those who wish to fee the abuses of the old fyftem laid open, have only to confult La Police de Paris devoillée, 2 vol. 8vo. printed at Paris, and fold by de Boffe in London. Or if the reader has any inelination to fee the dreadful effects of defpotifm, and of ariftocratic |