If they were to guard against an invasion from France, the merits of this plan of a merely defensive resistance might be supported by plausible topics; but as the attack does not operate against these countries externally, but by an internal corruption, (a sort of dry rot,) they who pursue this merely defensive plan against a danger which the plan itself supposes to be serious cannot possibly escape it.  For it is in the nature of all defensive measures to be sharp and vigorous under the impressions of the first alarm, and to relax by degrees, until at length the danger, by not operating instantly, comes to appear as a false alarm,—­so much so, that the next menacing appearance will look less formidable, and will be less provided against.  But to those who are on the offensive it is not necessary to be always alert.  Possibly it is more their interest not to be so.  For their unforeseen attacks contribute to their success.

[Sidenote:  The French party how composed.]

In the mean time a system of French conspiracy is gaining ground in every country.  This system, happening to be founded on principles the most delusive indeed, but the most flattering to the natural propensities of the unthinking multitude, and to the speculations of all those who think, without thinking very profoundly, must daily extend its influence.  A predominant inclination towards it appears in all those who have no religion, when otherwise their disposition leads them to be advocates even for despotism.  Hence Hume, though I cannot say that he does not throw out some expressions of disapprobation on the proceedings of the levellers in the reign of Richard the Second, yet affirms that the doctrines of John Ball were “conformable to the ideas of primitive equality which are engraven in the hearts of all men.”

Boldness formerly was not the character of atheists as such.  They were even of a character nearly the reverse; they were formerly like the old Epicureans, rather an unenterprising race.  But of late they are grown active, designing, turbulent, and seditious.  They are sworn enemies to kings, nobility, and priesthood.  We have seen all the Academicians at Paris, with Condorcet, the friend and correspondent of Priestley, at their head, the most furious of the extravagant republicans.

[Sidenote:  Condorcet.]

The late Assembly, after the last captivity of the king, had actually chosen this Condorcet, by a majority on the ballot, for preceptor to the Dauphin, who was to be taken out of the hands and direction of his parents, and to be delivered over to this fanatic atheist and furious democratic republican.  His untractability to these leaders, and his figure in the club of Jacobins, which at that time they wished to bring under, alone prevented that part of the arrangement, and others in the same style, from being carried into execution.  Whilst he was candidate for this office, he produced his title to it by promulgating the following ideas of the title of his royal pupil to the crown.  In a paper written by him, and published with his name, against the reestablishment even of the appearance of monarchy under any qualifications, he says:—­