154'
to ourselves that we ought to ascribe the disgraces
of the late War. You had a man at the head of your
government (alluding to the first Lord Chat-
and
your
cou nsellors
RTE
men.
But
it
is
the curse of France that she is ruled by one, who
is, in fact, but the agent and organ of valets and
strumpets. The Court of France is no longer the
focus of the great men of the country, but a
band of profligates that have driven away the
great. This state of things, however, cannot last
long,
the
reign of
must draw to
the Pom padours
an end, and Frenchmen will one day take a ter-
rible revenge for the insults which they suffer
inbeing regarded only as the materials of those
who pander to the prodigality of the Court."
This singular address, made in the year 1763,
requires no comment; but it is a curious histo-
rical instance of
the
commencement
H10-
that
of
ral ire-action to oppression which subsequently
has so fully realized the prediction of the magis-
trate, and which, in its violence, has done so
much mischief, and occasioned so many misfor-
tunes _to Europe.