lic, that vaft numbers of the Genevese abandoned the city, to feek an afylum in diftant regions, where they might again poffefs that freedom their ancestors had once enjoyed. The deferted habitations of the citizens were converted into barracks, and a great part of the city, once flourishing under the benign influence of their liberal inftitutions, reduced to a defert. Thus, as observed,—“ It is a juft fubject of regret, "that the ambition of fome individuals, who "aimed at a degree of power to which they "had no just claim, should have thus put a pe"riod to the profperity of a republic, which "has been the abode of fo much liberty and happiness." Amidft the diftreffes of their state, the Genevefe had applied to the earl of Abingdon, once a refident among them, and a known friend to the liberties of mankind in every part of the world, to employ his influence in their favor with the court of Great Britain. In this his lordfhip was fuccefslefs. They had befought the noble earl to continue his friendly difpofition, and to urge his nation to watch over the fituation of a little state, now on the point of being facrificed to the principles of defpotifm, whofe ftruggles must be interefting to all in whom the fine feelings of humanity were not totally extinguifhed. He replied, that it was with much regret, that he had not fucceeded in his appli CHAP. XXII. 1781. CHAP. XXII. 1781. cation to the British miniftry to afford relief to the oppreffed state of Geneva, and that there was too much reafon to fear no affistance would be lent them. He attributed this to the present situation of Great Britain, rent by divisions at home, and furrounded by enemies abroad.* It is however probable, that their indifference might arife from the general spirit of all monarchies, to difcountenance every effort of the people in favor of republicanifm. It is not to be expected, there fhould be any partial bias to those liberal principles of democratic government, where a monarch fits enthroned with all the powers of defpotism in his hands, a parliament at command to enforce his mandates, and a people ready to relinquish their own will to the caprice or the pride of a fovereign.. His lordship had obferved in anfwer to the Genevan application, that "there was a time "when the fleets of England were the speaking trumpets to the whole world. At that pe"riod their grievances would have been liften"ed to, and their redrefs would have been cer"tain. But there was a fad reverse in the af"fairs of Great Britain, which was no longer *See the earl of Abingdon's reply to the applications of the Genevans. "in a capacity to speak to the enemies of the CHAP. XXII. "liberties of mankind, in its wonted tone of 66 authority." In Ireland, the emigrants from the ruined ftate of Geneva met with the moft liberal encouragement, from the government, from the nobility, and from the nation at large. In an affembly of delegates of the province of Leinfter, it was unanimoufly refolved, "that the "virtuous citizens of Geneva who wished for an asylum in that kingdom, from the hand of "tyranny and oppreffion, deferved their high"eft commendation; and that fuch of them "as had established themselves amongst them, "fhould upon every occafion receive their ut"moft attention and fupport." Sympathy for oppreffed fufferers under the hand of defpotic power, had been taught the inhabitants of Ireland from fimilar afflictions, under which they had long groaned, and against which they were ftill ftruggling to rescue their proftrated rights and privileges, which were invaded by the haughty and domineering spirit of a more potent fifter kingdom. The hiftory of Geneva difplays a striking portrait of the means by which moft republics have been fubverted. This is generally done by the pride of a few families, the ambition of 1781. 1781. CHAP. XXIL individuals, and the fupineness of the people. Thus an undue authority is established by a select number, more mortifying to the middling clafs of mankind, and which has a tendency to render more abject and fervile the mafs of the people, than the single arm of the most despotic individual.* *The history of Geneva has very properly been recommended to the study of every American citizen, by a political writer. CHAPTER XXIII. General Obfervations on the Conduct of the British King and Parliament, after the Intelligence of the Capture of Lord Cornwallis and his Army.-King's Speech.-Addrefs of Thanks oppofed.-Propofition by Sir Thomas Pitt to withhold Supplies from the Crown.-Vote carried in Favor of granting Supplies.-General Burgoyne defends the American Oppofition to the Measures of the Court. Variety of defultory Circumstances discussed in Parliament. The THE clofe of the campaign in Virginia, in the CHAP. XXIII. 1781. |