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AN HISTORICAL AND MORAL VIEW OF The French Revolution. BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
Introduction. Progress of society. End of government. Rise of political discussion amongst the French. Re|volution in America. Virtue attempted to be built on false principles. The croisades, and the age of chi|valry. Administration of Richelieu, and of Cardi|nal Mazarin. Theatrical entertainments, and dra|matic poets of the French,—Moliere,—Corn••ille,— Racine. Louis XIV. The Regency. Louis XV.
WHEN we contemplate the infancy of man, his gradual advance towards maturity, hi•• miserable weakness as a solitary being, and the crudeness of his first notions respecting the na|ture of civil society, it will not appear extraordi|nary, that the acquirement of political knowledge has been so extremely slow; or, that public hap|piness has not been more rapidly and generally diffused.