These outrages were not the effect of the principles of the
Revolution, but of the degraded mind that existed before the
Revolution, and which the Revolution is calculated to reform. Place
them then to their proper cause, and take the reproach of them to
your own side.

It is the honour of the National Assembly and the city of Paris that,
during such a tremendous scene of arms and confusion, beyond the
control of all authority, they have been able, by the influence of
example and exhortation, to restrain so much. Never were more pains
taken to instruct and enlighten mankind, and to make them see that
their interest consisted in their virtue, and not in their revenge,
than have been displayed in the Revolution of France. I now proceed
to make some remarks on Mr. Burke's account of the expedition to
Versailles, October the 5th and 6th.

I can consider Mr. Burke's book in scarcely any other light than a
dramatic performance; and he must, I think, have considered it in the
same light himself, by the poetical liberties he has taken of
omitting some facts, distorting others, and making the whole
machinery bend to produce a stage effect. Of this kind is his account
of the expedition to Versailles. He begins this account by omitting
the only facts which as causes are known to be true; everything
beyond these is conjecture, even in Paris; and he then works up a
tale accommodated to his own passions and prejudices.

It is to be observed throughout Mr. Burke's book that he never speaks
of plots against the Revolution; and it is from those plots that all
the mischiefs have arisen. It suits his purpose to exhibit the
consequences without their causes. It is one of the arts of the drama