The Online Library of Liberty A Project Of Liberty Fund, Inc. Germaine de Staël, Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution (LF ed.) [2008] The Online Library Of Liberty This E-Book (PDF format) is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, non-profit, educational foundation established in 1960 to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. 2010 was the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Liberty Fund. It is part of the Online Library of Liberty web site http://oll.libertyfund.org, which was established in 2004 in order to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. To find out more about the author or title, to use the site's powerful search engine, to see other titles in other formats (HTML, facsimile PDF), or to make use of the hundreds of essays, educational aids, and study guides, please visit the OLL web site. 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Edition Used: Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution, newly revised translation of the 1818 English edition, edited, with an introduction and notes by Aurelian Craiutu (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2008). Author: Germaine de Staël Editor: Aurelian Craiutu About This Title: Considerations is considered de Staël’s magnum opus and sheds renewed light on the familiar figures and events of the Revolution, among them, the financier and statesman Jacques Necker, her father. Editor Aurelian Craiutu states that Considerations explores “the prerequisites of liberty, constitutionalism and rule of law, the necessary limits on power, the relation between social order and political order, the dependence of liberty on morality and religion, and the question of the institutional foundations of a free regime.” PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 2 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2212 Online Library of Liberty: Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution (LF ed.) About Liberty Fund: Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. Copyright Information: The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc. Fair Use Statement: This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 3 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2212 Online Library of Liberty: Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution (LF ed.) Table Of Contents Introduction A Thinker For Our Times: Madame De Staël, Her Life and Works Life of Madame De Staël Works of Madame De Staël Madame De Staël and Napoléon The Ideas of Considerations The Reception of Considerations Madame De Staël and America Note On the Present Edition Considerations On the Principal Events of the French Revolution Notice By the Editors 1 Advertisement of the Author Part I Chapter I: General Reflections. Chapter II: Considerations On the History of France. Chapter III: On the State of Public Opinion In France At the Accession of Louis XVI. Chapter IV: Of the Character of M. Necker As a Public Man. Chapter V: M. Necker’s Plans of Finance. Chapter VI: M. Necker’s Plans of Administration. Chapter VII: Of the American War. Chapter VIII: M. Necker’s Retirement From Office In 1781. Chapter IX: The Circumstances That Led to the Assembling of the Estates General.—ministry of M. De Calonne. Chapter X: Sequel of the Preceding.—ministry of the Archbishop of Toulouse. Chapter XI: Did France Possess a Constitution Before the Revolution? 1 Chapter XII: On the Recall of M. Necker In 1788. Chapter XIII: Conduct of the Last Estates General, Held At Paris In 1614. Chapter XIV: The Division of the Estates General Into Orders. Chapter XV: What Was the Public Feeling of Europe At the Time of Convening the Estates General? Chapter XVI: Opening of the Estates General On the 5th of May, 1789. Chapter XVII: Of the Resistance of the Privileged Orders to the Demands of the Third Estate In 1789. Chapter XVIII: Conduct of the Third Estate During the First Two Months of the Session of the Estates General. Chapter XIX: Means Possessed By the Crown In 1789 of Opposing the Revolution. Chapter XX: The Royal Session of 23d June, 1789. Chapter XXI: Events Caused By the Royal Session of 23d June, 1789. Chapter XXII: Revolution of the 14th of July (1789). Chapter XXIII: Return of M. Necker. Part Ii Chapter I: Mirabeau. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 4 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2212 Online Library of Liberty: Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution (LF ed.) Chapter II: Of the Constituent Assembly After the 14th of July. Chapter III: General La Fayette. Chapter IV: Of the Good Effected By the Constituent Assembly. Chapter V: Liberty of the Press, and State of the Police, During the Time of the Constituent Assembly. Chapter VI: Of the Different Parties Conspicuous In the Constituent Assembly. Chapter VII: Of the Errors of the Constituent Assembly In Matters of Administration. Chapter VIII: Of the Errors of the National Assembly In Regard to the Constitution. Chapter IX: Efforts Made By M. Necker With the Popular Party In the Constituent Assembly to Induce It to Establish the English Constitution In France. Chapter X: Did the English Government Give Money to Foment Troubles In France? Chapter XI: Events of the 5th and 6th of October, 1789. Chapter XII: The Constituent Assembly At Paris. Chapter XIII: Of the Decrees of the Constituent Assembly In Regard to the Clergy. Chapter XIV: Of the Suppression of Titles of Nobility. Chapter XV: Of the Royal Authority As It Was Established By the Constituent Assembly. Chapter XVI: Federation of 14th July, 1790. Chapter XVII: Of the State of Society In Paris During the Time of the Constituent Assembly. Chapter XVIII: The Introduction of Assignats, and Retirement of M. Necker. Chapter XIX: State of Affairs and of Political Parties In the Winter of 1790–91. Chapter XX: Death of Mirabeau. Chapter XXI: Departure of the King On the 21st of June, 1791. Chapter XXII: Revision of the Constitution. Chapter XXIII: Acceptance of the Constitution, Called the Constitution of 1791. Part Iii Chapter I: On the Emigration. Chapter II: Prediction of M. Necker On the Fate of the Constitution of 1791. Chapter III: Of the Different Parties Which Composed the Legislative Assembly. Chapter IV: Spirit of the Decrees of the Legislative Assembly. Chapter V: Of the First War Between France and Europe. Chapter VI: Of the Means Employed In 1792 to Establish the Republic. Chapter VII: Anniversary of 14th July Celebrated In 1792. Chapter VIII: Manifesto of the Duke of Brunswick. Chapter IX: Revolution of the 10th of August, 1792—overthrow of the Monarchy. Chapter X: Private Anecdotes. Chapter XI: The Foreign Troops Driven From France In 1792. Chapter XII: Trial of Louis XVI. Chapter XIII: Charles I and Louis XVI. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 5 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2212 Online Library of Liberty: Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution (LF ed.) Chapter XIV: War Between France and England. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox. Chapter XV: Of Political Fanaticism. Chapter XVI: Of the Government Called the Reign of Terror. Chapter XVII: The French Army During the Reign of Terror; the Federalists and La Vendée. Chapter XVIII: Of the Situation of the Friends of Liberty Out of France During the Reign of Terror. Chapter XIX: Fall of Robespierre, and Change of System In the Government. Chapter XX: Of the State of Minds At the Moment When the Directorial Republic Was Established In France. Chapter XXI: Of the Twenty Months During Which the Republic Existed In France, From November 1795 to the 18th of Fructidor (4th of September) 1797. Chapter XXII: Two Singular Predictions Drawn From the History of the Revolution, By M. Necker. Chapter XXIII: Of the Army of Italy. Chapter XXIV: Of the Introduction of Military Government Into France By the Occurrences of the 18th of Fructidor. Chapter XXV: Private Anecdotes. Chapter XXVI: Treaty of Campo Formio In 1797. Arrival of General Bonaparte At Paris. Chapter XXVII: Preparations of General Bonaparte For Proceeding to Egypt. His Opinion On the Invasion of Switzerland. Chapter XXVIII: The Invasion of Switzerland. Chapter XXIX: Of the Termination of the Directory. Part Iv Chapter I: News From Egypt: Return of Bonaparte. Chapter II: Revolution of the 18th of Brumaire. Chapter III: Of the Establishment of the Consular Constitution. Chapter IV: Progress of Bonaparte to Absolute Power. Chapter V: Should England Have Made Peace With Bonaparte At His Accession to the Consulate? Chapter VI: Of the Solemn Celebration of the Concordat At Nôtre-dame.