| [Amiens,] | Jan. 23, 1795. |
| [Amiens,] | Jan. 30, 1795. |
| [Beauvais,] | March 13, 1795. |
| [Amiens,] | May 9, 1795. |
| [Amiens,] | May 26, 1795. |
| [Paris,] | June 3, 1795. |
| [Paris,] | June 6, 1795. |
| [Paris,] | June 8, 1795. |
| [Paris,] | June 15, 1795. |
| [Amiens,] | June 18, 1795. |
| [Havre,] | June 22, 1795. |
Amiens, Jan. 23, 1795.
Nothing proves more that the French republican government was originally founded on principles of deſpotiſm and injuſtice, than the weakneſs and anarchy which ſeem to accompany every deviation from theſe principles. It is ſtrong to deſtroy and weak to protect: becauſe, deriving itſ ſupport from the power of the bad and the ſubmiſſion of the timid, it iſ deſerted or oppoſed by the former when it ceaſes to plunder or oppreſſ— while the fears and habits of the latter ſtill prevail, and render them as unwilling to defend a better ſyſtem as they have been to reſiſt the worſt poſſible.
The reforms that have taken place ſince the death of Robeſpierre, though not ſufficient for the demands of juſtice, are yet enough to relax the ſtrength of the government; and the Jacobins, though excluded from authority, yet influence by the turbulence of their chiefs in the Convention, and the recollection of their paſt tyranny—againſt the return of which the fluctuating politics of the Aſſembly offer no ſecurity. The Committees of Public Welfare and General Safety (whoſe members were intended, according to the original inſtitution, to be removed monthly) were, under Robeſpierre, perpetual; and the union they preſerved in certain points, however unfavourable to liberty, gave a vigour to the government, of which from its conformation it ſhould appear to have been incapable. It is now diſcovered, that an undefined power, not ſubject to the reſtriction of fixed laws, cannot remain long in the ſame hands without producing tyranny. A fourth part of the Members of theſe Committees are, therefore, now changed every month; but thiſ regulation, more advantageous to the Convention than the people, keepſ alive animoſities, ſtimulates ambition, and retains the country in anxiety and ſuſpenſe; for no one can gueſs this month what ſyſtem may be adopted the next—and the admiſſion of two or three new Jacobin memberſ would be ſufficient to excite an univerſal alarm.
We watch theſe renewals with a ſolicitude inconceivable to thoſe who ſtudy politics as they do a new opera, and have nothing to apprehend from the perſonal characters of Miniſters; and our hopes and fears vary according as the members elected are Moderates, Doubtfuls, or decided Mountaineers.*
* For inſtance, Carnot, whoſe talents in the military department obliged the Convention (even if they had not been ſo diſpoſed) to forget his compliances with Robeſpierre, his friendſhip for Barrere and Collot, and his eulogiums on Carrier.
—This mixture of principles, which intrigue, intimidation, or expediency, occaſions in the Committees, is felt daily; and if the languor and verſatility of the government be not more apparent, it iſ that habits of ſubmiſſion ſtill continue, and that the force of terror operates in the branches, though the main ſpring be relaxed. Were armieſ to be raiſed, or means deviſed to pay them now, it could not be done; though, being once put in motion, they continue to act, and the requiſitions ſtill in a certain degree ſupply them.
The Convention, while they have loſt much of their real power, have alſo become more externally contemptible than ever. When they were overawed by the impoſing tone of their Committees, they were tolerably decent; but as this reſtraint has worn off, the ſcandalous tumult of their debateſ increaſes, and they exhibit whatever you can imagine of an aſſemblage of men, moſt of whom are probably unacquainted with thoſe ſalutary formſ which correct the paſſions, and ſoften the intercourſe of poliſhed ſociety. They queſtion each other's veracity with a frankneſs truly democratic, and come fraternally to "Touchſtone's ſeventh remove" at once, without paſſing any of the intermediate progreſſions. It was but lately that one Gaſton advanced with a ſtick in full aſſembly to threſh Legendre; and Cambon and Duhem are ſometimes obliged to be holden by the arms and legs, to prevent their falling on Tallien and Freron. I deſcribed ſcenes of this nature to you at the opening of the Convention; but I aſſure you, the ſilent meditations of the members under Robeſpierre have extremely improved them in that ſpecies of eloquence, which is not ſuſceptible of tranſlation or tranſcription. We may conclude, that theſe licences are inherent to a perfect democracy; for the greater the number of repreſentatives, and the nearer they approach to the maſs of the people, the leſs they will be influenced by ariſtocratic ceremonials. We have, however, no intereſt in diſputing the right of the Convention to uſe violence and laviſh abuſe amongſt themſelves; for, perhaps, theſe ſcenes form the only part of their journals which does not record or applaud ſome real miſchief.