KENNETH R. H. MACKENZIE.
January 26. 1852.
FRENCH REVOLUTIONS FORETOLD.
It seems strange to find in Dr. Jackson's Works a prophecy which, if then thought applicable to the French nation, is much more so now. I have no opportunity of verifying his reference, but will extract all verbatim, giving the Italics as I find them:—
"And without prejudice to many noble patriots and worthy members of Christ this day living in that famous kingdom of France, I should interpret that dream of Bassina (see Aimoinus, aliter Annonius) de Gestis Francorum, lib. i. c. 7. & 8. in the Corpus Franciæ Histor., Printed in folio, 1613, Hanoviæ, Queen unto Childerick the First, of the present state of France: in which the last part of that threefold vision is more truly verified than it was even in the lineal succession of Childerick and Bassina, or any of the Merovingian or Carlovingian families. The vision was of three sorts of beasts: the first, lions and leopards; the second, bears and wolves; the third, of dogs, or lesser creatures, biting and devouring one another.
"The interpretation which Bassina made of it was registered certain hundred years ago. That these troups of vermin or lesser creatures did signifie a people without fear or reverence of their princes, so pliable and devoutly obsequious to follow the peers or potentates of that nation in their factious quarrels, that they should involve themselves in inextricable tumults to their own destruction. Had this vision been painted only with this general notification, that it was to be emblematically understood of some state in Europe: who is he that can discern a picture by the known party whom it represents, but could have known as easily that this was a map of those miseries that lately have befallen France, whose bowels were almost rent and torn with civil and domestic broyls? God grant her closed wounds fall not to bleed afresh again. And that her people be not so eagerly set to bite and tear one another (like dogs or other testie creatures) until all become a prey to wolves and bears, or other great ravenous beasts, which seek not so much to tear or rent in heat of revenge, as lie in wait continually to devour and swallow with insatiate greediness the whole bodies of mighty kingdoms, and to die her robes, that rides as queen of monsters upon that many headed beast, with streams of bloud that issue from the bodies squeezed and crushed between their violent teeth; yea, even with the royal bloud of kings and princes."
Works, book i. cap. xiii. lib. i. pp. 46-7.: Lond. 1673, fol.
RT.
Warmington.
IDEES NAPOLEONIENNES.
We hear a vast deal in these ages of what are called "Idées Napoléoniennes," the wisdom of Napoleon, and so forth. Some of this is invented by the writers, and ascribed to Napoleon; some of it is no wisdom at all; and some is what may be called second-hand wisdom, an old familiar face with a new dress. Of the latter sort is the famous saying: