I am sure many of the members who
compose even the majority of that body must feel as I do,
notwithstanding the applauses of the Revolution Society. Miserable
king! miserable assembly! How must that assembly be silently
scandalized with those of their members who could call a day which
seemed to blot the sun out of heaven "un beau jour!"* How must they be
inwardly indignant at hearing others who thought fit to declare to
them "that the vessel of the state would fly forward in her course
toward regeneration with more speed than ever", from the stiff gale of
treason and murder which preceded our preacher's triumph! What must
they have felt whilst, with outward patience and inward indignation,
they heard, of the slaughter of innocent gentlemen in their houses,
that "the blood spilled was not the most pure!" What must they have
felt, when they were besieged by complaints of disorders which shook
their country to its foundations, at being compelled coolly to tell
the complainants that they were under the protection of the law, and
that they would address the king (the captive king) to cause the
laws to be enforced for their protection; when the enslaved
ministers of that captive king had formally notified to them that
there were neither law nor authority nor power left to protect? What
must they have felt at being obliged, as a felicitation on the present
new year, to request their captive king to forget the stormy period of
the last, on account of the great good which he was likely to
produce to his people; to the complete attainment of which good they
adjourned the practical demonstrations of their loyalty, assuring
him of their obedience when he should no longer possess any
authority to command?
* 6th of October, 1789.
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