people within the city, as what the citizens were doing was unknown
to the ministry; and what movements Broglio might make for the
support or relief of the place, were to the citizens equally as
unknown. All was mystery and hazard.

That the Bastille was attacked with an enthusiasm of heroism, such
only as the highest animation of liberty could inspire, and carried
in the space of a few hours, is an event which the world is fully
possessed of. I am not undertaking the detail of the attack, but
bringing into view the conspiracy against the nation which provoked
it, and which fell with the Bastille. The prison to which the new
ministry were dooming the National Assembly, in addition to its being
the high altar and castle of despotism, became the proper object to
begin with. This enterprise broke up the new ministry, who began now
to fly from the ruin they had prepared for others. The troops of
Broglio dispersed, and himself fled also.

Mr. Burke has spoken a great deal about plots, but he has never once
spoken of this plot against the National Assembly, and the liberties
of the nation; and that he might not, he has passed over all the
circumstances that might throw it in his way. The exiles who have
fled from France, whose case he so much interests himself in, and
from whom he has had his lesson, fled in consequence of the
miscarriage of this plot. No plot was formed against them; they were
plotting against others; and those who fell, met, not unjustly, the
punishment they were preparing to execute. But will Mr. Burke say
that if this plot, contrived with the subtilty of an ambuscade, had
succeeded, the successful party would have restrained their wrath so
soon? Let the history of all governments answer the question.