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and more enduring than that springing from passion; hutit exercises little immediate influence over others, andis acknowledged and appreciated only in hours of calm.Amidst the tempest of political struggles it is passed byas timid, cold, and impotent.
A philosopher of this sort was destined to have greatinfluence at the commencement of the French Revo-lution , while men acted from a sense of right and avirtuous desire to found the changes they broughtabout on reason, justice, and the good of mankind.His integrity caused him to be respected, and hispowers of mind to receive attention.
He anticipated change, and had contributed to it byspreading abroad his opinions for the enfranchisementof the French people from the laws and customs thatground them to the earth. When the ferment beganhe assisted in directing it by his writings, and as-sembled at his house the most distinguished men of theliberal party. He was now no longer a young man.Flabit had confirmed all his opinions, while matureyears imparted that calm which caused him to seeclearly and act firmly, but without precipitation orviolence. On the convocation of the states general,he wrote a declaration of the rights of man, to serveas a guide and model to the future legislators of hiscountry. He caused it to be translated into English by Dr. Gems, and brought it out as the work of an1788 . American. When the states general met, he becameA! tat. m ore and more absorbed by the political state of his44 ' country. He did not make one of the assembly; but theinfluence from without was of vast importance, not onlyto inspire the members with energy and constancy,but to daunt the court and the nobles, who scarcelyunderstood and longed to spurn the claimants of apower of which they had long held possession, whilethey misused it to the ruin first of their country andthen of themselves. Condorcet wrote a refutation ofan address presented in favour of the court and theprivileged orders, and demanded a partial confiscationof church property to pay the national debt. He pub-