The reaction must come from them, and not from the people; it must come from their hands as a benefit, instead of from the hands of the people as a vengeance. This is the only path of safety which is open to them, and also. the only means of arresting the terrible scourge of anarchy which destroys both people and kings.

Such is the law of action and of reaction: it fulfils itself in a day, or in twelve centuries; all people believe in it, and all men call for it; it is, perhaps, the law of nature upon which the most of faith and hope reposes! What complainings, therefore, and what groans arise at the slightest appearance of an exception; one would believe that the world was distracted! A great criminal remains unpunished; one of the agents of Robespierre, the assassin or the accomplice of a king; and there he is drinking, eating, and smiling at his victims! Earth is then forsaken! Heaven is then powerless! Then they blaspheme, and cry out, and the voice of multitudes is raised to apprise Providence that a wicked wretch is about to escape—as if eternity were not before him.

CHAPTER XXII.

MAN ALWAYS INCLINES

TO THAT WHICH

IS MOST

GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL-A MORAL LAW OF NATURE.

Quand on peint quelque trait de candeur, de bonté

Ou brille en son jour la tendre humanité,
Tous les cœurs sont remplis d'une volupté pure,

Et c'est là qu'on entend le cri de la nature !"

GRESSET.

Quand l'homme détrompé de l'humaine grandeur
Contemple de la nuit la lugubre splendeur;
Et ces brillants déserts, et ces voutes profondes
Ou des mondes sans fin éclatent sur des mondes,
Abimé dans l'extase, il cherche, audacieux
Quelle main a semé les soleils dans les cieux,
Quel monarque caché dans sa toute-puissance
S'élève encore plus grand que son empire immense.'
DE PONGERVILLE.

WHEN Society rests its foundations (point d'appui) upon the material well-being, it renders men active, eager, restless, intelligent; enemies to each other, insatiable in pursuit of riches and pleasures. On seeing a whole people thus attached to the wheel of fortune, one would suppose them incapable of sublime actions and thoughts. And yet, if you cause to shine on a sudden before this greedy multitude a sentiment which awakens its soul,-if you present to it, I do not say hopes of happiness, but something great or generous to be effected, all the bad passions are hushed, personal interest is forgotten, and a whole people are prodigal of their riches and their lives, in order to procure the

triumph of that which they believe to be just or great. The rudest soldier braves death only because his soul is excited by the illusions of a glory which he will not enjoy, but which he attaches to his colours, or to his general. What did all our brave men pursue, who fell on the fields of Austerlitz and Wagram? An imperceptible portion of the immense renown of their chief. It was not the man -it was not the emperor-it was nothing earthly that the soldiers worshipped in Bonaparte: it was the illusions of his glory—the infinity of his power and of his genius, and an indefinite something of the magnificent, which radiated upon themselves from the conquest of the world.

But what more striking example of this position is there, than the establishment of Christianity? The earth was covered with temples, in which men worshipped their own passions; when a voice arose, which, despising the idols of the world, called men to a more perfect good than the goods of the earth, and placed their future destiny, not in this life, but in eternity. From this time the vocation of the people declared itself, and the army of martyrs was formed. A something superior to earthly riches and pleasures was shown to them, and they hastened to it triumphantly they hastened to it through tortures and death!

Thus, the man of the people, the soldier, the martyr, and the saint, equally incline towards that which they know to be great or beautiful. As often as you explore history, so often will you see the multitude detaching itself from its bad passions beneath the influence of magnanimous passions or sentiments.

That which we admire in the masses, we find in individuals. Every reader of Tacitus or of Plutarch can bear witness to this great law of nature. Our soul flies to meet all that they narrate of noble and generous: it recognises

itself, if we may so speak, in these heroic deeds, joyfully accepting exile or death in the bosom of virtue; identifying itself with Socrates or Aristides, but never with Anytus or Sylla, even when at the summit of their power and their triumph.. And, what indignation does it not feel at their crimes! what disgust at their pleasures? and what contempt for this fortune which raised them so high, and which gave rise among the people of their age to so much envy and fear!

This is a sentiment which comes in collision with our senses, and places us in opposition to our strongest material interests; to all the animal pleasures, the will of enjoying, of commanding, and of living. Do you not discover in this passion for the beau-ideal a being of another nature than the lion or the tiger? To die is nothing, but to die for an idea of which the reward is not in this world,-O my soul, what a sublime manifestation is this of thy immortality!

Thus, in order to regulate the grosser passions, it will suffice to oppose to them celestial passions. Man follows the law of his being, and raising himself by degrees above his material desires, he at last attains the only treasures which there is not greatness of soul in despising.

Do not believe that these sentiments derive their source from education and civilisation; they belong to our nature, and not to our schools, nor to the world: they are found among savages, and even in the most barbarous countries of Africa. We will quote, in support of this assertion, the interview of Bello, Sultan of Felathas, with Captain Clapperton, the first traveller, who, in the political relations. with the kings who sell their subjects, expressed sentiments worthy of a civilised people. After having offered the customary presents, among which were a compass and a telescope, the conversation commenced-"All these