Inconsequenceoftherevolution,theannualinterestofthedebtofFrancewillbereducedatleastsixmillionssterling,bypayingoffupwardsofonehundredmillionsofthecapital;which,withlesseningtheformerexpensesofgovernmentatleastthreemillions,willplaceFranceinasituationworthytheimitationofEurope。
Uponawholereviewofthesubject,howvastisthecontrast！WhileMr。BurkehasbeentalkingofageneralbankruptcyinFrance,theNationalAssemblyhasbeenpayingoffthecapitalofitsdebt;andwhiletaxeshaveincreasednearamillionayearinEngland,theyhaveloweredseveralmillionsayearinFrance。NotawordhaseitherMr。BurkeorMr。PittsaidabouttheFrenchaffairs,orthestateoftheFrenchfinances,inthepresentSessionofParliament。Thesubjectbeginstobetoowellunderstood,andimpositionservesnolonger。
ThereisageneralenigmarunningthroughthewholeofMr。Burke\'sbook。
HewritesinarageagainsttheNationalAssembly;butwhatisheenragedabout？Ifhisassertionswereastrueastheyaregroundless,andthatFrancebyherRevolution,hadannihilatedherpower,andbecomewhathecallsachasm,itmightexcitethegriefofaFrenchman（consideringhimselfasanationalman）,andprovokehisrageagainsttheNationalAssembly;
butwhyshoulditexcitetherageofMr。Burke？Alas！itisnotthenationofFrancethatMr。Burkemeans,buttheCourt;andeveryCourtinEurope,dreadingthesamefate,isinmourning。HewritesneitherinthecharacterofaFrenchmannoranEnglishman,butinthefawningcharacterofthatcreatureknowninallcountries,andafriendtonone—acourtier。WhetheritbetheCourtofVersailles,ortheCourtofSt。James,orCarlton—House,ortheCourtinexpectation,signifiesnot;forthecaterpillarprincipleofallCourtsandCourtiersarealike。TheyformacommonpolicythroughoutEurope,detachedandseparatefromtheinterestofNations:andwhiletheyappeartoquarrel,theyagreetoplunder。NothingcanbemoreterribletoaCourtorCourtierthantheRevolutionofFrance。ThatwhichisablessingtoNationsisbitternesstothem:andastheirexistencedependsontheduplicityofacountry,theytrembleattheapproachofprinciples,anddreadtheprecedentthatthreatenstheiroverthrow。ConclusionReasonandIgnorance,theoppositesofeachother,influencethegreatbulkofmankind。Ifeitherofthesecanberenderedsufficientlyextensiveinacountry,themachineryofGovernmentgoeseasilyon。Reasonobeysitself;andIgnorancesubmitstowhateverisdictatedtoit。