Reflections on the Revolution in France: and on the proceedings in certain societies in London relative to that event. In a letter intended to have been sent to a gentleman in Paris. By the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.

of their most licentious and giddy coffee-houses. It is notorious, that all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 measures are decided before they are debated. It is beyond doubt, that under the terror of the bayonet, and the lamp-〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the torch to their houses, they are obliged to adopt all the crude and desperate measures suggested by clubs composed of a mon|strous medley of all conditions, tongues, and na|tions. Among these are found persons, in compa|rison of whom Catiline would be thought scrupu|lous, and Cethegus a man of sobriety and mode|ration. Nor is it in these clubs alone that the publick measures are deformed into monsters. They undergo a previous distortion in academies, intend|ed as so many seminaries for these clubs, which are set up in all the places of publick resort. In these meetings of all sorts, every counsel, in pro|portion as it is daring, and violent, and perfidious, is taken for the mark of superior genius. Huma|nity and compassion are ridiculed as the fruits of superstition and ignorance. Tenderness to indivi|duals is considered as treason to the public. Li|berty is always to be estimated perfect as property is rendered insecure. Amidst assassination, mas|sacre, and confiscation, perpetrated or meditated, they are forming plans for the good order of future society. Embracing in their arms the carcases of base criminals, and promoting their relations on the title of their offences, they drive hundreds of virtuous persons to the same end, by forcing them to subsist by beggary or by crime.