[Sidenote:  Difference between this Revolution and others.]

There have been many internal revolutions in the government of countries, both as to persons and forms, in which the neighboring states have had little or no concern.  Whatever the government might be with respect to those persons and those forms, the stationary interests of the nation concerned have most commonly influenced the new governments in the same manner in which they influenced the old; and the revolution, turning on matter of local grievance or of local accommodation, did not extend beyond its territory.

[Sidenote:  Nature of the French Revolution.]

The present Revolution in France seems to me to be quite of another character and description, and to bear little resemblance or analogy to any of those which have been brought about in Europe, upon principles merely political. It is a Revolution of doctrine and theoretic dogma.  It has a much greater resemblance to those changes which have been made upon religious grounds, in which a spirit of proselytism makes an essential part.

The last revolution of doctrine and theory which has happened in Europe is the Reformation.  It is not for my purpose to take any notice here of the merits of that revolution, but to state one only of its effects.

[Sidenote:  Its effects.]

That effect was, to introduce other interests into all countries than those which arose from their locality and natural circumstances.  The principle of the Reformation was such as, by its essence, could not be local or confined to the country in which it had its origin.  For instance, the doctrine of “Justification by Faith or by Works,” which was the original basis of the Reformation, could not have one of its alternatives true as to Germany and false as to every other country.  Neither are questions of theoretic truth and falsehood governed by circumstances any more than by places.  On that occasion, therefore, the spirit of proselytism expanded itself with great elasticity upon all sides:  and great divisions were everywhere the result.

These divisions, however in appearance merely dogmatic, soon became mixed with the political; and their effects were rendered much more intense from this combination.  Europe was for a long time divided into two great factions, under the name of Catholic and Protestant, which not only often alienated state from state, but also divided almost every state within itself.  The warm parties in each state were more affectionately attached to those of their own doctrinal interest in some other country than to their fellow-citizens or to their natural government, when they or either of them happened to be of a different persuasion.  These factions, wherever they prevailed, if they did not absolutely destroy, at least weakened and distracted the locality of patriotism.  The public affections came to have other motives and other ties.

It would be to repeat the history of the two last centuries to exemplify the effects of this revolution.