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Vol. II.
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181
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C0ND0RCET.

181

lished a pamphlet, entitled “ On what has been done,and what remains to do,” full of clear and useful views’ for the future. He thus became a portion of the revo-; lution, and allied himself with its more illustrious chiefs,( who afterwards formed the girondist party, — a sect| which was republican in heart, but which would havebeen satisfied with a limited monarchy, could theyhave depended on the fidelity of the king to the con-stitution. The chief object of Condorcet ’s attacks was1 the church. He w r as an infidel, and believed philosophy; to be a better guide than religion both for states and1 individuals; besides this, he looked on the French clergyas a peculiarly obnoxious priesthood. The quarrels ofthe molinists and jansenists,— the extermination of thehuguenots,—the war they carried on against all know-• ledge and freedom, —made him ardently desire to limit■■■ their power within strict bounds, and he was eager tolessen their wealth, as the first sure step towards de-creasing their influence.

On every occasion he came forward to enlightenand guide the decisions of the assembly by his pub-lished arguments. He discussed the injury to arisefrom a division of the legislative power into twochambers, and showed great sagacity when he de-monstrated the evils attendant on the system ofassignats.

The weakness of the unfortunate king, who yieldedto the new state of things only on compulsion, andturned his eyes towards the emigrants and foreign po-tentates as deliverers, still hoping for a restoration toabsolute power, caused the moderate party of girondiststo abandon the cause of royalty altogether, and tobelieve that there was no possibility of confirming theblessings which they believed that their country reapedfrom the revolution, nor of protecting the nation frominvasion, and the re-establishment of absolutism armedwith foreign soldiers for the execution of vengeance,except in the dethronement of the king and erection ofa republic. The flight of Louis to Varennes put then 3