PAINE'S ADDRESS TO THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE; SEPTEMBER 25, 1792.
PAINE'S ADDRESS TO THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE; SEPTEMBER 25, 1792.
LONDON: PUBLISHED BY W. HOLLAND, No 50, OXFORD STREET.
[PRICE SIXPENCE.]
OF WHOM MAY BE HAD PAINE's LETTER TO DUNDAS, On the Inſult offered to him at Dover; with an Account of his Reception at Calais.
LIKEWISE HIS ADDRESS TO THE ADDRESSERS, ON THE LATE PROCLAMATION.
PAINE's ADDRESS, &c.
[]I RECEIVE, with affectionate gratitude, the honour which the late National Aſſem⯑bly has conferred upon me, by adopting me a Citizen of France; and the additional honour of being elected by my Fellow Citizens a Member of the National Con⯑vention. Happily impreſſed as I am, by [6]thoſe teſtimonies of reſpect ſhewn towards me as an individual, I feel my felicity en⯑creaſed by ſeeing the barrier broke down that divided Patriotiſm by ſpots of earth, and limited Citizenſhip to the ſoil, like vegetation.
Had thoſe honours been conferred in an hour of national tranquillity, they would have afforded no other means of ſhewing my affection, than to have accepted and enjoyed them; but they come accompanied with circumſtances that give me the honourable opportunity of commencing my Citizen⯑ſhip in the ſtormy hour of difficulties. I come not to enjoy repoſe. Convinced that the cauſe of France is the cauſe of all mankind, and that as Liberty cannot be purchaſed by a wiſh, I gladly ſhare with. [7]you the dangers and honours neceſſary to ſucceſs.
I am well aware, that the moment of any great change, ſuch as that accompliſhed on the, 10th of Auguſt, is unavoidably the moment of terror and confuſion. The mind, highly agitated by hope, ſuſpicion, and apprehenſion, continues without reſt till the change be accompliſhed. But let us now look calmly and confidentially for⯑ward, and ſucceſs is certain. It is no longer the paltry cauſe of Kings, or of this, or of that individual, that calls France and her armies into action. It is the great cauſe of ALL. It is the eſtabliſhment of a new aera, that ſhall, blot Deſpotiſm from the earth, and fix, on the laſting principles of Peace and Citizenſhip, the great Republic of Man.
[8]It has been my fate to have borne a ſhare in the commencement and complete eſtabliſhment of one Revolution (I mean the Revolution of America). The ſucceſs and events of that Revolution are encou⯑raging to us. The proſperity and happi⯑neſs that have ſince flowed to that country, have amply rewarded her for all the hard⯑ſhips ſhe endured, and for all the dangers ſhe encountered.
The principles on which that Revolu⯑tion began, have extended themſelves to Europe; and an over-ruling Providence is regenerating the Old World by the princi⯑ples of the New. The diſtance of America from all the other parts of the globe, did not admit of her carrying thoſe principles beyond her own ſituation. It is to the pe⯑culiar honour of France, that ſhe now raiſes [9]the ſtandard of Liberty for all nations; and in fighting her own battles contends for the rights of all mankind.
The ſame ſpirit of fortitude that in⯑ſured ſucceſs to America, will inſure it to France; for it is impoſſible to conquer a nation determined to be free! the military circumſtances that now unite themſelves to France, are ſuch as the deſpots of the earth know nothing of, and can form no calcula⯑tion upon. They know not what it is to fight againſt a nation. They have only been accuſtomed to make war upon each other; and they know from ſyſtem and practice, how to calculate the probable ſuc⯑ceſs of Deſpot againſt Deſpot; and here their knowledge and experience end.
But in a conteſt like the preſent, a new [10]and boundleſs variety of circumſtances ariſes, that deranges all ſuch cuſtomary calculations. When a whole nation acts as an army, the Deſpot knows not the extent of the power againſt which he contends. New armies riſe againſt him with the neceſ⯑ſity of the moment. It is then that the difficulties of an invading enemy multiply, as in the former caſe they diminiſhed; and he finds them at their height when he ex⯑pected them to end.
The only war that has any, ſimilarity of circumſtances with the preſent is the late Revolution-war in America. On her part, as it now is in France, it was a war of the whole nation. There it was, that the enemy, by beginning to conquer, put himſelf in a condition of being conquered. His firſt victories prepared him for defeat. He ad⯑vanced [11]till he could not retreat, and found himſelf in the midſt of a nation of armies.
Were it now to be propoſed to the Auſtrians and Pruſſians, to eſcort them into the middle of France, and there leave them to make the moſt of ſuch a ſituation, they would ſee too much into the, dangers of it, to accept the offer; and the ſame dangers would attend them, could they arrive there by any other means. Where, then, is the military policy of their attempting to obtain by force, that which they would refuſe by choice? But to reaſon with Deſpots is throwing reaſon away. The beſt of argu⯑ments is a vigorous preparation.
Man is ever a ſtranger to the ways by which Providence regulates the order of things. The interference of foreign Deſpots [12]may ſerve to introduce into their own en⯑ſlaved countries the principles they come to oppoſe. Liberty and Equality are bleſ⯑ſings too great to be the inheritance of France alone. It is honour to her to be the firſt champion; and ſhe may now ſay to her enemies with a mighty voice, "O! ye Auſtrians, ye Pruſſians! ye who now turn your bayonets againſt us; it is for you; it is for all Europe; it is for all mankind, and not for France alone, that ſhe raiſes the ſtandard of Liberty and Equality!"
The public cauſe has hitherto ſuffered from the contradictions contained in the Conſtitution of the former Conſtituent Aſſembly. Thoſe contradictions have ſerved to divide the opinions of individuals at home, and to obſcure the great principles of the revolution in other countries. But [13]when thoſe contradictions ſhall be removed, and the Conſtitution be made conformable to the Declaration of Rights; when the bagatelles of monarchy, royalty, regency, and hereditary ſucceſſion, ſhall be expoſed with all their abſurdities, a new ray of light will be thrown over the world, and the Re⯑volution will derive new ſtrength by being univerſally underſtood.
The ſcene that now opens itſelf to France extends far beyond the boundaries of her own dominions. Every nation is becoming her colleague, and every Court is become her enemy. It is now the cauſe of all Nations againſt the cauſe of all Courts. The terrors that Deſpotiſm felt, clandeſ⯑tinely begot a confederation of Deſpots; and their attack upon France is produced by their fears at home.
[14]In entering on this great ſcene, greater than any nation has yet been called to act in, let us ſay to the agitated mind—be calm. —Let us puniſh by inſtructing, rather than revenge. Let us begin the new aera by a greatneſs of friendſhip, and hail the ap⯑proach of union and ſucceſs.
Appendix A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and PRINTS, PUBLISHED BY W. HOLLAND, No. 50, Oxford Street.
[]- ELEMENTS of Bacchus; or, Toaſts and Sentiments given by diſtinguiſhed Characters. Illuſtrated with Forty Portraits in Aquatinta. With a numerous Collec⯑tion of Anecdotes, and humorous Eccentricities. Price 1 l. 1 s. plain; or 1 l. 11 s. 6 d. with the Prints coloured.
- A new Edition with Additions, of the Feſtival of Anacreon, in Two Parts, including, with many others, the whole of Captain Morris's Songs. Each Part, 3 s. 6 d.
- A Second Volume of the Feſtival of Wit, by the Author of the Firſt, George K—, Summer Reſident at Windſor. 3 s.
- Trial of Roſe Dillon and Doctor Quirk, for Adultery, and poiſoning Michael Dillon, Eſq. 1 s. 6 d.
- Trial of General Gunning for Adultery. 2 s.
- Trial of the Hon. Charles Wyndham for Adultery. 2 s.
- Trial of Captain Sykes for Adultery, and of Lieu⯑tenant Kendillan for a Rape. 2 s.
- Wit and Mirth, or, Tom D'Urfey's Pills to purge Melancholy, being a Selection of all his beſt Songs into One Volume. 3 s.
- []Nimrod's Songs of the Chace. 3 s. 6 d.
- The Oeconomy of Love, Birth of the Roſe, Geranium, and Epithalamium from Secundus. 2 s. 6 d.
- Jordan's Cure for the Spleen, being a Collection of all the Songs ſung by Mrs. Jordan in different Entertain⯑ments, with a Sketch of her Life. 2 s. 6 d.
- Wax-Work and Monumental Records in Weſtminſter Abbey, in the Year 1892, with five Prints. 6 s.
- Themidore and Roſette; or, Memoirs of a Pariſian Counſellor and Courtezan. 3 s. 6 d.
And the following CARICATURES:
The World as it Goes, a Caricature Proceſſion, exhi⯑biting above Two Hundred Figures, among which the following are the moſt conſpicuous:—Biſhops; Second Order of the Clergy; Curates; Quack Doctor in his Chariot, with his Merry-Andrew, &c. Reſurrection Men and Skeleton Mounters; Doctors and Apothecaries; Undertakers; Lawyers; Clients; Apollo, the Muſes, and Sons of Genius; a Corporation, including a Woman and Six Children, Conſtables, Overſeers, and Church-wardens, a Juſtice of the Peace and an old Woman, a Cook with a live Turtle, Mace Bearer, Mayor, Band of Inſtruments, Aldermen, &c. Bottle Conjuror; Grand Air Balloon; Magnetic Profeſſors; the Learned Pig; the Speaking Figure; Monſtrous Craws; the Stone Eater; Wonders! Wonders! Earth Bathing; Pugiliſtic Profeſ⯑ſors; Opera Singers; Opera Dancers; Old Batchelors with their proper Emblems; Old Maids with their Re⯑galia, &c. The whole of this admirable Caricature bears appropriate Panners, Inſcriptions, Mottos, &c. []ſuch as may be expected to flow from the fountain of true Genius. Deſigned by G. M. Woodward. Price 1 l. 1 s. coloured, or 9 s. plain.
FIVE SCENES IN FRANCE,
From beautiful Drawings, by the late F. G. Byron, Eſq. will be ſhortly publiſhed, price 12 s. each, coloured in the manner of the Drawings. Thoſe Scenes repreſent, an Inn Yard at Calais—changing Horſes near Abbeville— Breakfaſt at Breteuil—Viſit to the Convent at Amiens— and a Party of the Pariſian Guards returning from the Review at the Champ de Mars, the Sunday after the Federation, in the Year 1790.
The Drawings may be ſeen in HOLLAND'S Collection, together with many others by the ſame excellent Genius, particularly his French Federation, in July, 1790, which for ſublimity of penciling, has not its equal in this Kingdom.
☞ Some Bookſellers having ſold to many Ladies and Gentlemen the FESTIVAL OF LOVE, which they, through intereſted Motives, declared to be the Second Volume of the Feſtival of Wit, the Author and Compiler of both Volumes of that en⯑tertaining and popular Production thinks it right to ſtep forward and declare the Second Volume was printed for, and publiſhed by WILLIAM HOLLAND, No. 50, Ox⯑ford Street; and, like the Firſt Volume, conſiſts of original and fugitive Flights of Wit, Humour, and Genius, not a Collection of Poems, like the FESTIVAL OF LOVE.
- 1 PATHETIC PARTICULARS of a POOR BOY ſentenced to ſuffer Seven Years ſolitary Impriſonment in Glouceſ⯑ter Jail; with a Portrait of the Boy and the Jailor. Price 6 d.
- 2 MUSGRAVIANA; or, the Battle between Doctor FARMER and PETER MUSGRAVE the Cambridge Taylor, with a Caricature of the Battle. 1 s. 6 d.
And the following Caricatures:
An Hobgoblin; Fairies; a Sprite; Laying a Ghoſt; Reſurrection Men. 2 s. each. Sturdy Beggars collecting for the French Clergy. 3 s. The Duke of Brunſwick attacking the Rear of the Sans-Culotte Army, 2 s. A Party of the Sans-Culotte Army marching to the Frontiers, 2 s. 6 d. Affrighted Travellers; or, the illuminated Turnep, 3 s. 6 d. The Haunted Cellar, 3 s. 6 d. One too many, 3 s. 6 d.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 3707 Paine s address to the republic of France September 25 1792. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5ADA-A