notwithstanding the antient hoftility which had subsisted between England and France, there were many of the English who fincerely rejoiced that the French had regained their liberties, and wifhed to see them fully eftablifhed. It was with the fame view that more than fix hundred perfons affembled in the city of London, on the 6th of July, 1790, in order to celebrate the Revolution in France, on the fame day in which it was fo magnificently celebrated at Paris. I took fome pains to promote this meeting in London, and attended it with an high degree of pleasure, as I have always wifhed for the establishment of liberty in France 14, and been defirous of promoting

every

**Before the congratulatory address of the Revolution Society, and before the French Revolution had taken place, I had expreffed, and very fincerely, my wishes for the establishment of liberty in France. On the

every public testimony of the fame fentiments among my countrymen. But Mr. Burke seems to be of opinion, that public

decla

4th of November, 1788, it being a century from the period of the Revolution, I delivered a short oration to the Revolution fociety, by their defire, and which at their request was printed. In a note to this is the following paffage, which was published many months before the destruction of the Bastile, and the other events which have contributed to the establishment of the French revolution. I fincerely wish fuccefs to all the < efforts of the French nation for the recovery of their < liberties; and I should rejoice to see them poffeffed of a constitution fimilar to that of England. It muft, indeed, be the with of every friend to the rights ⚫ of mankind, that the bleffings of freedom may be ex< tended to the whole human race. Having mentioned the French nation, I fhall alfo remark, that it is ardently to be desired, that England and France may no longer continue their antient hoftility against each other; but that France may regain poffeffion of her liberties; and that two nations, fo eminently ⚫ diftinguished in arms, and in literature, instead of exhaufting themselves in fanguinary wars, for no "valuable

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declarations, refpecting the tranfactions of foreign countries, fhould be made only by perfons invested with authority. It is however, not among lords of the treasury, or fecretaries of state, or the favourites of a court, that men distinguished by their zeal

• valuable purpose, may unite together in communicating the advantages of freedom, fcience, and the arts, to the most remote regions of the earth.'

[The above note was inferted in the first edition of this tract, which was printed in 1790. At that time, at least when the first note appeared in 1788, no idea appeared to be entertained, that the French nation intended to establish a republic. I therefore expreffed my wishes, that they might obtain a conftitution fimilar to that of England. But as I hold it to be an axiom in politics, that no nation has a right to interfere with the internal government of another country, in oppofition to the known sense of the majority of the inhabitants of that country, from the moment that the French nation, publickly and authentically, expreffed their defire of a republican form of government, no man in France more fincerely wished the establishment of the French republic than myself.]

for

for the promotion of human liberty, and human happiness, are often to be found. They who are invested with the powers of government in any country, may be actuated by very different motives from those of an enlarged philanthropy; but that is no reason why the inhabitants of a free country, or any part of them, should not testify, if they judge it expedient, in the most public and folemn manner, their joy at such events as happen in other countries, which may tend to the advantage of fuch countries, to advance the liberty of the inhabitants, and to increase the felicity of mankind. Such intercourfes between different nations are calculated to promote that enlarged and comprehensive benevo lence, the diffufion of which would communicate peace and happiness to the world. THE meeting in London, on the 14th of July, 1790, to celebrate the French revolution,

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volution, gave rife to the Anglo-Gallic feftival at Nantes, on the 23d of Auguft

following, to which all the English in that city, and in the neighbouring towns, were invited. This festival was given by the "Société des Amis de la Conftitution à "Nantes," a fociety confifting of several hundred members, and from that fociety M. Français, their prefident, and M. Bougon ", were fent as deputies to the Revo

2

lution

"Thefe gentlemen, during their refidence in London, were much and deservedly respected for the politeness of their manners, the good fenfe and knowledge which they displayed, their love of liberty, and the strong defire which they manifefted to promote perpetual peace and union between France and Great Britain. Some other perfons, as well as Mr. Burke, might poffibly entertain suspicions respecting the nature of these gentlemen's commiffion: but they had evidently no other aim than that of testifying their regard, and that of thofe who fent them, for the people of England, and advancing the interefts of liberty and

peace

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