The Online Library of Liberty

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• A Discourse, &c.
• Appendix.
• Thirty Millions of People In France. (page 49.)
• The Declaration of Rights, Which Has Been Agreed to By the National Assembly of France, and Sanctioned By the King, and Which Forms the Basis of the New Constitution of France, Contains Such an Authority For Some of the Sentiments In the Foregoing
• Declaration of the Rights of Men and of Citizens,
• Society For Commemorating the Glorious Revolution of 1668.
• Preamble.
• Three Propositions Containing the Fundamental Principles of the Society:
• Published By the Same Author, and Printed For T. Cadell, In the Strand.
• Additions to Dr. Price’s Discourse On the Love of Our Country, Containing Communications From France Occasioned By the Congratulatory Address of the Revolution Society to the National Assembly of France, With the Answers to Them.
• Additions to the Appendix.
• Extract From a Letter of the Duke De Rochefoucauld to Dr. Price. — Dated Paris, December 2 D, 1789.
• Translation.
• Extract From the Votes of the National Assembly of France, of Wednesday the 25 Th of Nov. 1789, Transmitted By the Archbishop of Aix, President of the National Assembly, to Earl Stanhope, Chairman of the Revolution Society In London. Extrait
• Translation. Extract From the Votes of the National Assembly of Wednesday the 25 Th Nov. 1789.
• Letter From the Archbishop of Aix, President of the National Assembly, to Earl Stanhope, Chairman of the Revolution Society. (copy.)
• Translation.
• Resolution of Thanks From the Patriotic Society At Dijon, Transmitted By M. L’abbé Volfius, the Chairman, to Earl Stanhope, Chairman of the Revolution Society. Extrait Du Registre Des Deliberations Du Club Patriotique De Dijon.
• Translation. Extract From the Register of the Deliberations of the Patriotic Society of Dijon.
• Letter From the Members of the Patriotic Union of the Town and Castleward of Lisle, to the Chairman and Members of the Revolution Society In London. Copy.
• Translation.
• Note In Answer to the Archbishop of Aix’s Letter.
• Letter In Answer to the Letter From the Patriotic Society At Dijon.
• Letter In Answer to the Letter From the Members of the Patriotic Union of the Town of Lisle.

Resolution of Thanks from the Patriotic Society at Dijon, transmitted by M. l’AbbéVolfius,the Chairman, to EarlStanhope,Chairman of the Revolution Society.

Extrait du Registre des Deliberations du Club Patriotique de Dijon.

Séance du Lundi, 30me Novembre, 1789.

M. M. l’Abbe Volfius, President.

Navier; de Morveau; Mazuyé, Medccin; Mazuyé, Avocat; Gouget, Primé; Dezé; Larché, Vaudrey; Gillotte; Villiers; Chamy; Durande fils; Bazire, cadet; Renaud; Leroux: Vaillant, ainé; Purverié; Muzard; Maret; Gouget-Dessandres; Jacotot; et Vaillant, cadet; presens.

M. Navier a dit:

Messieurs,

L’ADRESSE de felicitation, envoiée à l’Assemblèe Nationale de France, par la Société de la Révolution de Londres, a excité votre admiration et celle de tous les vrais amis bu bonheur public. Des Anglois qui dédaignent les préventions nationales, et qui applaudissent aux efforts de leurs rivaux, pour secouer le joug du pouvoir abitraire, présentent un spectacle sur le quel les philosophes attentiss aux progrès de l’esprit humain, ne peuvent pas manquer de fixer leurs regards.

Telle est donc la victoire remportée par la raison et la philantrophie sur les prejuges et les jalousies populaires, que nous avons lieu d’esperer désormais que tous les peuples oubliant des interêts partiels s’incourageront mutuellement à la conquéte de la liberté, et qu’ainsi, dans toutes les parties de l’Europe, l’homme sera bientot reintégré dans des droits que le despotisme a bien pû enchainer pour un temps, mais qu’il n’est point en son pouvoir d’anéantir.

Pourquoi craindrions-nous le l’avouer, Messieurs? La revolution qui s’opere aujourd’hui dans notre patrie, est due surtout à l’exemple que l’Angleterre nous a donné depuis un siecle. C’est du jour où nous avons appris à connaitre la constitution politique de cette Isle, et les prospérités que l’accompagnent, que notre haine pour le despotisme a pris une veritable énergie. En assurant leur bonheur, les Angloises ont préparé celui de l’Univers. Tandis que de toutes parts, les tyrans s’éfforçaient d’eteindre le feu sacré de la liberte, nos voisins veillaient avec un soin courageux, à l’entretenir toujours dans leur sein. Nous en avons recueilli des étincelles bienfaisantes; et ce feu embrasant toutes les ames, va, dans l’Europe entiere, reduire pour jamais en cendres les liens dont le despotisme accablait les nations.

Rendons à nos voisins le juste tribut de reconnaissance que les amis d’humanité ne doivent point refuser aux plus zelés deffenseurs de ses droits. Que la Société de la Révolution apprenne que les Français ont été sensiblement touchés des felicitations qu’elle a adressés à l’Assemblée Nationale; Que ces vertueux philantrophes ne doutent plus du succes de leurs vœux, en voiant les habitans des provinces, le disputer à ceux de la capitale, dans l’amour ardent de la liberté.

La matiere mise en délibération; le Club Patriotique considerant qu’il entre parfaitement dans l’objet de son institution de manifester en toute occasion, le zéle de ses membres, pour l’accomplissement d’une révolution de la quelle dépend le bonheur de la nation; que l’Adresse de la Société de la Révolution à l’Assemblée Nationale, est un acte memorable qui mérite la reconnaissance de tous les Français; que le plus sûr moien d’assurer la félicité des peuples est de multiplier entre-eux les témoignages des sentimens d’union fraternelle qui doivent animer reciproquement des hommes égaux en droits, et vivans sous une constitution libre:

Le Club a délibéré unanimement que la Société de la Révolution serait priéré d’agréer l’expression de la sensibilité vive et reconnaissante dont il a été touché à la lecture de l’acte dans le quel la Société a si dignement manifesté l’interêt qu’elle prend aux efforts de la nation Française, pour obtenir une constitution qui lui fasse partager avec le peuple Anglais les grands biens attachés à la liberté: Le Club ne desirant rien avec tant d’ardeur, que de voir regner entre les deux nations la concorde fraternelle sans la quelle elles perdraient les fruits de cette liberté précieuse dont elles se sont montrées dignes.

Arrêté en outre que copie de la presente délibération sera envoiée par M. le Président à la Société de la Révolution de Londres.

(Signé au Régistre.) VOLFIUS.

(Copie.) Vaillant, Cadet.
Secretaire du Club Patriotique
de Dijon.

TRANSLATION.

Extract from the Register of the Deliberations of the Patriotic Society of Dijon.

At the Meeting held on Monday, Nov. 30, 1789.

Mr. L’Abbe Volfius, President.

Navier, &c. present.

Mr. Navier made the following Speech:

Gentlemen,

“THE Congratulatory Address sent to the National Assembly of France, by the Revolution Society of London, has excited your admiration, and that of every true friend of the public welfare.

“Englishmen disdaining national prejudices, and applauding the efforts of their rivals to shake off the yoke of arbitrary power, present a spectacle which philosophers, attentive to the progress of the human mind, cannot fail to contemplate with pleasure.

“Such then is the victory obtained by reason and philanthropy over popular prejudices and jealousies, that we have now cause to hope that all nations forgetting partial interests, will mutually encourage each other in the attainment of liberty; and that thus, throughout Europe, mankind will be shortly restored to those rights of which despotism has deprived them for a time, but which it never could annihilate.

“Why should we be ashamed, Gentlemen, to acknowledge that the Revolution which is now establishing itself in our country, is owing to the example given by England a century ago?

“It was from that day we became acquainted with the political constitution of that island, and the prosperity with which it was accompanied; it was from that day our hatred of despotism derived its energy. In securing their own happiness, Englishmen have prepared the way for that of the universe. Whilst on all sides tyrants were attempting to extinguish the sacred flame of liberty, our neighbours with intrepid watchfulness and care cherished it in their bosoms. We have caught some of these salutary sparks; and this fire enflaming every mind, is extending itself over all Europe, for ever to reduce to ashes those shackles with which despotism has oppressed mankind.

“Let us render to our neighbours that just tribute of gratitude which the friends of mankind ought never to refuse to the most zealous defenders of its rights.

“Let the Revolution Society know that Frenchmen have been sensibly affected by the congratulations which it has addressed to the National Assembly, that these virtuous philanthropists, seeing the inhabitants of the provinces vying with those of the metropolis in the ardent love of liberty, may be in no doubt about the attainment of their wishes.”

The subject having been debated, the Patriotic Society considering—that it is perfectly consistent with the object of its institution to manifest on every occasion, the zeal of its members for accomplishing a revolution on which depends the welfare of the nation;—that the address from the Revolution Society to the National Assembly is a memorable act, which deserves the gratitude of every Frenchman; and that the surest means to secure the happiness of different nations is to multiply between them those proofs of a fraternal union of sentiment which ought reciprocally to animate men equal in rights and happy in the enjoyment of the advantages of a free constitution:

It was therefore unanimously agreed, that the Revolution Society should be entreated to accept the effusions of lively sensibility and gratitude with which this Society was animated at the reading of the Address in which that Society has so worthily manifested the interest it takes in the efforts of the French nation, to establish a constitution which will enable it to be a partaker with the English people in the very great blessings attached to freedom: and that it desires nothing more ardently than to see fraternal concord established between the two nations, without which they would both lose the fruits of that precious freedom of which they have proved themselves so worthy.

Resolved also, that a Copy of the present resolution shall be sent by the President to the Revolution Society of London.

(The Register Signed) VOLFIUS.

(Extract Signed) Valiant Jun.
Secretary of the Patriotic Society of Dijon.