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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Letter from the Archbishop of Aix, President of the National Assembly, to Earl Stanhope, Chairman of the Revolution Society. (COPY.) - A Discourse on the Love of Our Country

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Subject Area: Political Theory
Debate: The Debate about the French Revolution

Letter from the Archbishop of Aix, President of the National Assembly, to Earl Stanhope, Chairman of the Revolution Society. (COPY.) - Richard Price, A Discourse on the Love of Our Country [1789]

Edition used:

A Discourse on the Love of Our Country, delivered on Nov. 4, 1789, at the Meeting-House in the Old Jewry, to the Society for Commemorating the Revolution in Britain. With an Appendix. Second edition (London: T. Cadell, 1789).

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Letter from theArchbishopofAix,President of the National Assembly, to EarlStanhope,Chairman of the Revolution Society.

(COPY.)

IL est digne, Milord, d’une Société célébre et d’un peuple heureux et libre de s’interesser à tous les progrés du bonheur et de la liberté publique.

Depuis long-tems la nation Française éxeroit l’empire de ses connaissances et de ses arts, elle dirigeoit son gouvernement par ses opinions, quand elle ne se gouvernoit pas encore elle même par ses loix.

Elle poursuivoit avec ardeur des vérités utiles, et répandant chaque jour la lumiere sur toutes les parties de son administration, elle sembloit entrainée, comme par un mouvement universel, aux changemens qui lui donnent sa consistance et sa force.

Un Roi que nous pouvons appeller le meilleur des hommes, et le premier des citoyens, encourageoit, par ses vertus, les espérances de sa nation, et maintenant, un concours unanime établit une constitution durable, sur les droits imprescriptibles des hommes et des citoyens.

“Il appartient sans doute à notre siécle, quand la raison s’étend avec la liberté, de faire disparoitre à jamais les haines et les rivalites nationales: il ne faut pas que les guerres, ces erreurs de gouvernemens, soient l’éffet des préjugés que sont les vices des nations, et les deux peuples, les plus instruits de l’Europe, doivent montrer par leur éxemple, que l’amour de la patrie s’accorde avec tous les sentimens de l’humanité.

“L’Assemblée Nationale a reconnu dans l’Adresse de la Société de la Revolution d’Angleterre, ces principes de bienveillance universelle qui doivent lier, dans tous les pays du monde, les vrais amis du bonheur, et de la liberté des nations: Elle a consigné les témoignages, de sa vive et profonde sensibilité, dans une délibération solemnelle, qu’elle me charge de vous communiquer.

Reçevez les assurances de tous les sentimens, avec les quels, l’ai l’honneur d’être,

Mylord,
Votre trés humble,
Et tres obéisant serviteur,

(Signé) L’ARCH. d’AIX,
President de l’Assemblée Nationale.

TRANSLATION.

IT is worthy, my Lord, of a celebrated Society, and of an happy and free people, to interest themselves in the progress of public liberty and happiness.

The French nation has long been improving in knowledge and arts; and its government was directed by opinions derived from them even before the country governed itself by the laws which they dictated.

The nation pursued with ardour useful truths, and daily diffusing light over every branch of the administration, it appeared to be carried, as by an universal impulse, to those changes which now give it strength and stability.

A King whom we may call the best of men, and the first of citizens, encouraged by his virtues the hopes of the nation, and now, by universal concurrence, a durable constitution is established, founded on the unalienable rights of men and citizens.

It undoubtedly belongs to our age, in which reason and liberty are extending themselves together, to extinguish for ever national hatred and rivalship.

We must not allow the prejudices which disgrace nations to produce wars, those errors of governments. But the two most enlightened people of Europe ought to shew, by their example, that the love of their country is perfectly compatible with every sentiment of humanity.

The National Assembly discovers in the Address of the Revolution Society of England, those principles of universal benevolence which ought to bind together, in all countries of the world, the true friends to the happiness and liberty of mankind.

The National Assembly has given the most undeniable testimony of its strong and deep sense of this truth, by the solemn vote which it has directed me to communicate to you.

Accept the assurance of those sentiments with which I have the honour to be,

My Lord,
Your most humble,
And most obedient servant,
The ARCHBISHOP of AIX,
President of the National Assembly.

To Lord Stanhope, Chairman
of the Revolution Society.