The church and the French revolution : a history of the relations of church and state, from 1789-1802

Front matter

Le gn ae aoe >

RS o De AT ol ne Re A ant mn de rs

Y PRIN | ERA OF fa Toy

Preface

TO THE

EE L TS ES EP ELON.

I BELIEVE that present circumstances impart a new interest to the subject treated of in my book, on ‘‘ The Church and the French Revolution,” which has just obtained the honour of an English translation. Let it be permitted me to show this in a few words.

The question of the separation of Church and State occupies the first place in the order of the day of our epoch. It is vain to wish to set it aside:or to postpone it; it returns more urgent, more irresistible, as an imperious social and religious necessity which is evolved from all the events of politics, and all the conflicts of the Church. On the European Continent the Roman question is nothing else than the question of the relations of the temporal and spiritual, in that spot of the world where the bonds between the two powers have been the most closely drawn to the misfortune and shame of both. It cannot be resolved in the metropolis of Catholicism without the ancient system being shaken everywhere, for the various concordats which unite the Church to the State in the principal

Vill PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION OF countries of Europe, are conceived at the point of view of the temporal power of the Bishop of Rome. ‘This power could not fall to pieces without drawing them down with it, and producing a radical renovation in the relations of civil and religious society. Now we know to what degree the temporal power of the Pope js sapped at the base. Personification of all abuses, of all tyrannies, it has against it all the liberal aspirations of the entire world, not to mention the justifiable hatred of Italy, of which it is the curse, and of the Roman people, on whom it presses with its whole weight. Nothing is more decaying than the Vatican. This old citadel of civil and religious despotism is sustained only by the States outside. Lo, Spain is failing her ; there is no longer any but France. We may apply to this last country, with a little modification, the ironical words of Francis the First on woman—

““ So oft does France alter, A fool he who trusts her ! ”

Let it not be forgotten that, by the side of the French Government there is the public intelligence, which does not always find its exact representation in a éme in which all initiatives belong to the Sovereign. At the very time, therefore, when the second Roman expedition obtained its sad victory at Mentana, opinion was passionately pronounced, not only against the Roman theocracy, but against all State religions and all paid and protected worships. The movement in this direction becomes every day more general and more powerful, and we may hope everything for its invigoration from the approaching council, which, by raising the temporal power to the height of a dogma, will precipitate its definitive fall. The dead soon go. That which must die, feverishly hastens towards its dissolution. The attitude of

THE CHURCH AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. ix the Ultramontane party in Austria, with respect to the most elementary reforms, shows that no compromise with it is possible. Itself demands its letter of divorce from the State, by not accepting the most moderate proposals. It will most certainly obtain it, and will contribute, in its own way, to the enfranchisement of conscience.

The internal circumstances ofthe Churches on the Continent equally tend to press forward towards the same solution. Catholicism in Italy and in Spain is in full crisis ; the innovating or reforming elements that it may contain know that they can obtain their liberty only when the official frame-works shall have been broken. The Council will push them on towards this declivity with a force altogether new. As for European Protestantism, it is certain that recent events in Germany are casting it, often in despite of itself, into the way of the separation of Church and State. Thus the great Lutheran Churches forming a part of the new provinces annexed by Prussia, find only in the independent system, so. contrary nevertheless to their religious genius, a refuge against the ecclesiastical annexations with which *they are threatened ; we have seen, with astonishment, fanatical partisans of the theocracy inaugurating the enfranchisement from the civil power, and we have been ready to exclaim: “ Ha, what ! is Saul also among the prophets ?” French Protestantism united to the State is in full dissolution. It presents the most afflicting spectacle. ‘The official frame-works serve as a closed field to an infuriated struggle between two parties, or rather between two radically different religions which are contending for the pay and protection of the State. Suppress the pay, and this lamentable strife immediately ceases, or at least it is no longer intestine ; the separation takes place of itself between unbridled rationalism and the evangelical section, and the noble tradition of the Church of the fathers springs up again immediately. Minds

X PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION OF are weary with these unprofitable discussions which turn to dispute, and which dishonour Christianity at a time when infidelity no longer fixes limits to its audacious negations. All generous hearts, therefore, sigh after enfranchisement.

Thus far for the Continent. It does not belong to me to relate the great ecclesiastical crisis through which England is now passing. It is certain that, apart from the considerable progress of independent Christianity in its various sections, a great shaking has been communicated to minds by the warm debates which the question of the Irish Church is provoking. ‘The passionate efforts of the Conservative party to resist Mr. Gladstone’s proposal, have _ had the effect of enlarging the debate instead of localising it, and of raising the ecclesiastical problem in its entirety, by saying to the whole Anglican Church, De fe fabula narratur—‘It is of thee that the question is.” Now, when a question of this order has been thus broached in a country, we can no more cause it to disappear. The partial and momentary checks only precipitate the movement of minds. The important point is that the question is stated; the solution may tarry, it is certain. The valiant English race has too much energy and logic to leave such a problem in suspense, or to be satisfied with an expedient. I am of opinion then, that this century will not have completed its . course before the noble motto of Cavour: “ Zhe free Church in the free State,” shall have been realised on this side of the Atlantic as on the other shore.

The circumstances which I have described seem to me to give a new opportuneness to the work which has the honour of appearing before the lettered public of Great Britain. The experience of a recent past affords salutary instructions to the present generation, at a time when it is struggling with the same difficulties. The French Revolution found itself in presence of a powerful State Church which was the greatest proprietor in the

THE CHURCH AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. x1 country. The question was not merely of abolishing its privileges, it was necessary also to settle its position. Two systems were discussed ; the first subjected it to the common law in all things, and abandoned it to itself whilst leaving to it the means of selfsupport, a thing easy enough, considering its immense possessions which might be equitably reduced to just proportions. The second system consisted in putting it under the hand of the State, on condition that this hand should open to give to it a recompense. Unhappily it was with this party that the Constituent of 1789 sided, and to which the First Consul returned at the time of the signing of the Concordat with Rome, after a too short interregnum of enfranchisement. This book presents the complete picture of the memorable debates which had this deplorable conclusion, and of the fatal consequences which it entailed on religion and liberty.

May this sincere recital contribute to the avoiding of the same faults by the present generation, and persuade it that, without the entire separation of Church and State on equitable bases in what concerns ecclesiastical property, there is only disturbance for the civil society, oppression and debasement for the religious society. I should esteem it a great honour if I could in this way serve the cause which is dear to me, the cause which unites the Gospel and liberty, in that great and noble country of England, which no one admires more than J, as the classic land of a Protestantism truly liberal.

EDMOND DE PRESSENSE.

Paris, 15th December, 1868.

Table Of Contents

PAGE PRM StaNOMS OL KOLACE es RE Sn LAVAL AL NET vanes Sole Vv Authors Preface to the English Eqitioni. se he. 20h vil

Introduction

Situation of the Church of France on the Eve of the Revolution.— State of Opinion on Liberty of Conscience and Organisation of Worship.

The Religious Question and the Revolution, 1.—State of the Ancient Church of France, 5.—Close Alliance with the Ancient Régime, 7—Catholicism alone recognised, 9.—Wealth and Privileges of the Church of France, 9.—Subordination to the Civil Power, 11.—The Concordat of Francis I. and the Gallican Liberties, 12.—Increasing Dependence with respect to Royalty, 13—Enervation of Faith, 15.—Maxims of Intolerance, 18.—Movement of Opinion against the Church, 19.—Toleration universally Demanded, 19.—Religious Liberty misunderstood, 20.—Baleful influence of Rousseau, 21.— Backward Opinions of the Assemblies of the Clergy, 23.— Opposition to the Reforms, 26.—Distinction between the High and the Low Clergy, 29.

Book I. The Constituent

Chapter t. | | Legislative Preliminaries—The First Debate on Liberty of Worships.

Opening of the States-General, 31.—The Official Instructions of the Clergy, 32.—The Union of the Three Orders, 35.—Part borne by Riot

XIV CONTENTS.

in the Revolution, 42.—Favourable Dispositions of the People towards Religion, 43.—Night of the 4th of August, 44.—Numerous Clerical Renunciations, 45:—Abolition of the Tithes, 47.—Declaration of Rights, 51.—First Debate on Religious Liberty, 52.— Motion of M. Castellane, 55.—Speech of Mirabeau, 55.—Ambiguous Vote, 57.—Fine Article of Mirabeau on the Debate, 58.—Spirit of the Majority of the Assembly, 59.

Chapter ii

Discussion on the Property of the Clergy—Attitude of the different Parties — Speeches of Mirabeau, of Maury, and of Matouet.— Suppression of the Religious Orders.—The Payment of Worships..

Ecclesiastical Property before the Revolution, 63.—The Question is. - entered upon by the Assembly, 67.— Propositions of Talleyrand and of Mirabeau, 69, 70.—Opening of the Debate, 72.—Three groups of Opinions, 72.—Opinion of the Right. Opinion of the Left, 73.— Speech of Malouet, 77.— Speech of Mirabeau, 80.—Resolution of the Assembly, 83.—The Revolution too Faithfultothe Ancient Régime, 83.— The right of the State with respect to. Corporations, 85.—The True Solution, 89.—Reorganisation of the Ecclesiastical Committee, 92.— New Propositions, 94.—Alienation of the Property of the Clergy, 95.— Discussion on the Monastic Orders, 96.—Proposition of the Payment of Worships by the State, 104. — Report of Chasset, 104.—The Debate is entered upon, 106.—Anger of the Right, 108.—Motion of Dom Gerle, 109.—Agitation in Paris, 111.—Discussion of the Motion of Dom Gerle, 112.—Defeat of the Motion, 115.—Inconsistencies of both : Parties, 118.—Reparation made to the Protestants, 120.—Civie Rights granted to the Jews, 120.—Civic Rights granted to the Comedians, 122.

Chapter iii

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy.—The Assembly transformed into a Council.

Bill of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 125.—General Discussion, 128.—Discussion of the Articles, 132.—Retrospective Application admitted, 135.—The Civil Constitution true to the Ancient Régime, 135.

CONTENTS. XV

Chapter ib.

First resistances of the Clergy.—Disturbances at Nimes and Montauban. —The Political Oath imposed on the Clergy.—Pathetic Scene in the Assembly —Address of Mirabeau to the Nation —Pamphlet o7 Camille Desmoulins.

War breaks out between the Revolution and Religion, 139.—Effect of the Measures of the Assembly in the Country, 140.—Disturbances in the South and in Alsace, 140.—Massacres at Nimes, 141.—Organisation of Resistance at Rome, 145.—Statement of Principles of the Bishops opposed to the Civil Constitution, 150.—Violent Mandates, 152.— . Proposition to impose on the Ecclesiastics an Oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 155.—Speech of Mirabeau, 156.—First Effect of the Decree on the Oath, 160.—Perplexity of the King, 160.—He sanctions the Decree, 162.—Pathetic Scene in the Assembly, 163.— Violences of the Left, 168.—Decree against the Refusal of the Oath, 169.— Address explanatory of the Civil Constitution, 170.—Bill of Mirabeau, 170.—Magnificent beginning, 171.—Conclusion full of inconsistency, 173.—Pamphlet of Camille Desmoulins, 175.

Chapter b,

The Schism Constituted—Correspondence with Rome.—Consequence of the Legislative Measures in the Country.—Splendid Debate on Religious Liberty on the occasion of the Opening of the First Church of the Nonjurors.— Speeches of Sieyès and Talleyrand.— End of the Constituent Assembly.

Annexation of Avignon, 177.—Discussion on the Annexation of — Avignon, 179.—Letter from the Pope to the Bishops, 180.—Answer of the Bishops, 182.—Brief from the Pope on the Civil Constitution, 183.—Numerous Resignations, 184.—Principal Bishops of the New . Clergy, 185.—First manifestions of the New Clergy, 187.—Ridiculous Mandate of Gobel, 188.—Irritation of the People of Paris against the Nonjurors, 189.—Resolution of the Directory with respect to the Dissident Temples, 190.—The King prevented from proceeding to St. Cloud, 191.—Riot against Religious Liberty, 191.—Noble attitude of Lafayette, 192.—New Debates on Liberty of Worships, 193.—Speech of Talleyrand, 195.—Strength of his Conclusions, 196.—Sieyés defends the same Cause. 197.—He puts aside all Sophisms, 198.—Religious Agitation increases, 199.—Removal of the ashes of Voltaire to the

XVI CONTENTS.

Panthéon, 201.—End of the Constituent Assembly. The Flight of Varennés precipitates the Crisis, 202.—Final Judgment RCE the Constituent, 204.

BOOK LT

THE LEGISLATIVE AND THE CONVENTION TO THE PROCLAMATION , OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

Chapter fi.

Religious Strife under the Legtslative Assembly.

Dispositions of the New Assembly, 207.—Passions of the Gironde, 208.—Situation of the Country, 209.—Popular Violences against the Nonjurors, 210.—State of La Vendée, 212.—Report of Gallois and Gensonné, 212.—La Vendée wishes only Liberty of Worships, 215.-— Rising in the South, 215.—Blindness of the Court of Rome, 216.— Strange Memorial of Maury, 216.—Massacre of the Glaciére, 219.— Vergniaud obtains the Amnesty, 220.—Letter of André Chénier, 221.— He demands the Separation of Church and State, 223.—Measures _against the Emigrants, 224.—First Debates on the Nonjurors, 225.— Fauchet demands Persecution, 226.—Liberal Speech of Torné, 227.— The True Solution caught sight of, 229—Noble Speech of Ducos, 230.—Speech of Gensonné, 231.—Bad News from the Departments, 233.—Violence of Isnard, 235.—Propostion of François de Neuchateau, 236—Iniquitous Decree of the 29th of November, 1791, 239.—The King opposes his Veto, 240.—Noble Petition of the Directory of Paris, 241.—Counter-Petition to the Assembly, 243.— Petition of Camille Desmoulins, 244.—Effects of the Veto in the Departments, 245.—-Ill-treatment inflicted on the Retractories, 246.— Persecution in the Convents of Women at Paris, 247.—Protestation of the Refractory Clergy, 249.—Liberal Report of Cahier-Gerville, 249.— New Brief from the Pope, 251.—Disorders among the Constitutional Clergy, 252.—Continuation of Persecution, 253.—Abolition of the Ecclesiastical Costume, 254.—Roland favours Illegal Persecutions, 255.—Report of Français de Nantes, 256.—Weakness of the Right, 258.—Vote of the Decree of the 25th of May, 1792, 259.—The 2oth of June, 261.—Terrible Speech of Vergniaud against the King, 261.— Persecution increases in the Province, 263.—The.1oth of: August, 264.—Confirmation of the Decrees against the Nonjurors, 265.—The Civil State committed to the Municipalities, 265.—Massacres of September, 267.

CONTENTS. XVII

Chapter fi,

The Church under the Convention to the Abolition of the Payment of Worships.

General Character of the Convention, 271.—Organisation of the Revolutionary Tribunal, 276.—The Majority Hostile to Religion, 277. — First Manifestation of this Hostility, 278.—The People of Paris still attached to Religion, 279.—New Formula of the Oath, 280.—Debate on Transportation, 281.—Condemnation to Death of numerous Refractories, 282.—First Plans of Constitution at the Convention, 283.—Plans of Condorcet and Robespierre, 283.—Constitution of 1793, 286.—Discussion on Liberty of Worships, 287.—First Proposition to Abolish the Payment of Worships, 288.—Robespierre defends the Payment of Worships by the State, 289.—Attacks against the Constitutional Church, 292.—Gigantic Struggle of the Revolution, 294.—Recrudescence of the Terror, 295.—The Commune of Paris at the Head of the Atheistic Movement, 297.—New Calendar, 298.—Speech of Fabre d'Eglantine, 299.—First Manifestation of Impiety, 300.—Inauguration of the Worship of Reason at the Convention, 302.—Numerous Apostasies at the Tribune, 303.—Noble Conduct of Grégoire, 304.—Objects of Worship carried to the Commune, 307.—Organisation of the Worship of Reason, 308.—Impious Saturnalia, 309.—Persecuting Measures, 311.—Absolute Proscription of Religion, 313.—Robespierre Attacks the Commune, _ 314.—His Speech at the Jacobins, 316.—Recantation of Hébert and Chaumette, 317.—Recantation of the Convention, 318.—Robespierre gets Liberty of Worships Voted, 319.—Derisive Decree on Liberty of Worships, 320.—Condemnation of the Dantonists, 321.—Speech of Robespierre on the Supreme Being, 323.—The Festival of the Supreme Being is Voted, 325.—Celebration of the Festival, 326.—The oth of Thermidor, 327. |

BOOK. IIT.

THE REGIME OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

Chapter t.

Measures taken by the Convention with respect to Religion, from the events of Thermidor to the expiration of its Powers.

Immorality of the Thermidorians, 330.—Their Impiety, 331.—Main-

B xviti CONTENTS. tenance of the Laws against the Priests, 332.—Sufferings of the Priests on the Hulks, 334.—Grégoire pleads their Cause, 336—Noble Speech of Grégoire, 337:—The Assembly Votes the previous Question, 340.— Cambon proposes to abolish the Payment of Worships, 341.—His Proposition is Adopted, 342.—Motion of Boissy d’Anglas, 343.—He redemands Liberty of Worships, 345.—Law of the 3rd of Ventose year III. on Liberty of Worships, 346.—Rigorous Measures against the Refractories, 347.— Good Effect of Toleration in La Vendée, 349. —Decree of the 18th Fructidor year III. against the Priests, 352.—The Churches are no longer Interdicted from ‘Worship, 352.—Private Worship may be Celebrated without Authorisation, 353.—Decree on the Police of Worships, 354.—Bill to replace Worship by Civic Festivals, 355.—Constitution of the year III., 357.—Last measure of the Convention against the Refractories, 359.—End of the Convention, 360.

Chapter tt, Régime of Worships under the Directory.

Shameful Régime of the Directory, 362.—The Directory a sworn enemy of Liberty of Worships, 365.—Proposal of a New Decree of Proscription, 365.— Violence of the Directory against the Court of Rome, 367.—Treaty of Tolentino, 369—Report of Camille Jordan on Liberty of Worships, 371.—Fine Debate on Liberty of Worships, 373. —Speech of Royer-Collard, 375—Coup d'état of the 18th of Fructidor and its Results, 376.—Return to the Proscriptions against the Priests, 379.—Forced Celebration of the Decadi, 381.—Carrying off of Pope Pius VL, his death at Valence, 383.—End of the Directory, 383.

Chapter tit.

Worships restored by Liberty.

Moral State of the Country under the Directory, 385.—Hostility of the Two Clergies, 386.—Establishment of the Worship of the Theophilanthropists, 388.—The Worship of the Theophilanthropists, 389.-~Progress of the Worship of the Nonjurors, 391.—It is still the Object of Surveillance, 394.—This Worship was Self-supporting, 395.—Restora- : tion of the Constitutional Church, 396.— Part of Grégoire in this

CONTENTS. XIX

Restoration, 397.—Great Concourse of People in the Churches, 399.— Moral Severity of the Constitutional Church, 400. — Reformatory Tendencies, 401. — Worship Re-established in 40,000 Parishes, 4or. —Ill-will of the Authorities, 402.—Re-organisation of the Constitutional Church, 405.—First Council in 1797, 406.—Acts of the First Gallican Con 407.—The Second Council Dissolved by Order, 408.—Position of on at this period, 410.—The Altars raised again, 412.

BOOK IV.

THE CONCORDAT.

Chapter t.

Preparation for the Concordat.

Political Circumstances which prepared the Concordat, 415.— True Motive of the Concordat, 425.—Opinion of Napoleon on Religion, 427. —He sees in it only an instrument of Reigning, 428.—His Speech to the Parish Priests of Milan, 429.—His Confidences at Malmaison, 431. —The Liberty of the Church inseparable from the Free Régime, 433. —First Measures of the Consuls with respect to Religion, 435.—Plan of Negotiating with Rome, 436.—Based on the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 437.—Opinion Adverse to these Negotiations, 439.—Explanations of the First Consul, 441.—Interdiction of Religious Discussions, 443.

Chapter it.

Negotiation and Conclusion of the Concordat.

The Negotiations of the Concordat, 446.—Beginnings of the Negotiation, 448.—The Delays of Rome irritate the First Consul. 450.— Threats of Rupture, 450.—Gonzalvi repairs to Paris, 451.—Opinion at Rome inclines to the Concordat, 452.—Conclusion of the Concordat, 453.—Opposition in the Political Bodies, 456.— Winnowing of the Legislative Body and Tribunate, 458.—The Organic Laws of Germinal year X., 460.—Legislation of Germinal year X., 462.—The Concordat presented to the Tribunate, 467.—The Concordat presented to the Legislative Body, 468.—Speech of Portalis, 469.—Speech of Lucien

Be

XX CONTENTS. ‘

Bonaparte and Jaucourt, 474.— Publication of the Concordat, 475.— Ceremony at Notre Dame, 476.—Proclamation of the First Consul, 477. — Not favoured by Public Opinion, 478.

Chapter tit.

Consequences of the Concordat.—Conclusion.

Effects of the Concordat, 480.—Suppression of Liberty of Worships, 482.—Moral Decrease of Protestantism, 483.—Episcopal Flatteries to the New Sovereign, 486.—Servility of the High Clergy, 487.— The Imperial Catechism, 489.—Minute Surveillance exercised over the Clergy, 491.—Severe Measures against the Recalcitrants, 492.—More : than five hundred Priests incarcerated, 493.—Debates with Rome, 494. —The Pope is Insulted, 497.—Open Rupture, 497.—Carrying off of the Pope, 499.— Napoleon Regrets the Concordat, 501.—Cardinal Pacca unfavourable to the Temporal Power of the Pope, 501.—Conclusion, 502.

> May

June

OF ,THE

EVENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS HISTORY.

INTRODUCTORY.

. Pragmatic sanction of Louis IX. (Saint Louis) lays the Foundation of the liberties of the Gallican Church, p. 12.

. Confirmed by Charles VIL., 12. . Concordat between Francis I. and Leo X., 12. . Edict of Nantes issued, guaranteeing to the Protestants the free exercise of their religion, II.

. Edict of Louis XIV., 13.

. Edict of Nantes revoked by Louis XIV.

. Bull Unigenitus issued, 15.

. Montesquieu publishes his ‘ Esprit des Lois,” 20.

. Machault proposes to alienate a portion of the property of the clergy, 10.

. Francois Rochette, a Protestant pastor, executed, 24.

Rousseauw’s “ Emile” published and burnt, 21.

. Affair of the diamond necklace, 17. ‘ . Malesherbes’s memorials on toleration, 25. . Assembly of Notables sat from February 22nd to May 25th.

Edict of Toleration, 25.

. Assembly of the clergy protest, 23, 27, 28.

Aug. 8th.—Royal edict for the Assembling of the States- General in May next.

THE, CONSTITUBNT. | 1789. 4. Meeting of the States-General at Versailles. The Third Estate, 661 Deputies ; Nobles, 285 ; Clergy, 308 ; total 1,254. 6. Nomination of Committee in Chamber of Clergy on dearness of grains, 39. 20, Saturday. “ Oath of the Tennis-Court.”

XXII June

July Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Jan.

Feb.

Feb.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

. Royal Session, 40.

. Union of the three orders in the National Assembly, 41.

. The Bastille stormed and taken, 44.

. Renunciation of Feudal privileges, 44.

. Question of ecclesiastical tithes, 47.

. Protest of ecclesiastics, 47.

. Proposal of Arnault to suppress the tithes, 48.

. Ecclesiastical Committee appointed to watch over the interests of the Church, 59; its composition, 93.

. Committee of Twelve nominated to discuss the guarantees of a loan of eighty millions, 69.

. Proposal that the Clergy should sacrifice their plgte, 68.

. Measure voted, 68.

. Discussion on the issue of paper money, 68.

. Insurrection of women. |

. Formal proposal to seize the property of the clergy, 60. 15. The Archbishop of Paris leads the way in emigration, 130. 23. Thouret’s speech on ecclesiastical property, 75.

24. Garat’s ditto, 75.

. Ecclesiastical property declared national property, 92, 83, 104. . Question of the annexation of Avignon raised, 178.

. Motion of Talleyrand resumed by Maury, 94.

. Talleyrand proposes to apply to the National Debt the sale of the Royal domain and ecclesiastical property, 95. |

. Treilhard supports Talleyrand’s proposal, 95. . Treilhard, in the name of the Ecclesiastical Committee, gives in his report on the religious orders, 99.

. Vote alienating 400 millions of livres of the property of the clergy, 95.

. Decree declaring Protestants admissible to all offices both civil and military, 120.

. France divided into eighty-three departments. 28. . Declarations required for the ecclesiastical pensions, 95. 11:

Decree granting civic rights to Jews born in France, 122.

Decree restoring the rights of French citizens to the descendants of Protestant refugees, 120.

. The Bishop of Nancy demands that the Catholic religion be declared national, 100 ; rejected, ror.

Febs19.

April 9.

May 10.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. xxIIL

Pensions decreed to the monks, 103.

Discussion on religious orders commenced, 90.

The Pope in a Consistory denounces the Revolution, 146.

Rabaut Saint-Etienne, the son of the old Huguenot minister, writes to his father that he is President of the National Assembly, 120.

Brief from the Pope on the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 180.

The proposal of the Commune of Paris to purchase alienated property to the amount of two hundred millions, eagerly welcomed by the Assembly, 96.

A Commission of twelve members nominated to carry out the business, 96.

Pensions granted to the monks remaining in the monasteries, 103.

Opening of the memorable debates on the Payment of Worships, 104.

. The Archbishop of Aix offers progressive sales made by the clergy of France for a sum of 600 millions, go.

. The Pope gives his final decision against the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 183.

. Large gathering of the Catholics at Nimes, to protest against the liberal measures of the Assembly, 141. Massacre of the patriots at Montauban, 144.

. Opening of the debate on the Civil Constitution of the :

Clergy, 125.

. Treilhard’s speech, 129.

June 13.

Civil strife breaks out at Nimes. More than 300 Catholics and many Protestants killed, 144.

. The Bill of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy passed, 134. . Retrospective application of the Bill voted, 135.

Suly* 1.

. Letter from the Pope to Louis XVI., to dissuade him from

The Bishop of Toulon publishes a protest against the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 152.

sanctioning the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 148.

. First National Federation. Feast of Pikes. .. Louis XVI. writes to the Pope, 148.

. Suppression of the Parlements. . The Bishop of Senez protests against the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 153.

XXIV

DEC.) Va:

Jane.

July 11.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

-Pétion’s speech on the annexation of Avignon, 179.

Decree of the oath to the Constitution to be taken by the Clergy, 160.

Tribunal of Cassation instituted, 276.

. Report of the opposition of the bishops, 154.

Louis XVI. writes to the King of Prussia invoking his help, 161.

. Camus declares that force should be used against the clergy who resist, 162.

. Grégoire endeavours to dissipate their scruples, 163.

The oath refused, 164.

The Assembly pass to the order of the day, 167. Grand scene of the refusal of the oath, 165, 163.

. An unknown Abbé wishes to subject the refractory clergy to a sort of inquisition, 167.

. Marat, in his “ Journal,” urges the people to hoot the priests,

174. ,

. Malouet’s protest against Barnave’s proposal, 168. . Decree for filling the offices of ecclesiastics who had not taken the oath, 170, 168.

Address, explanatory of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, drawn up by the Ecclesiastical Committee, 170.

. The new Bishop of Auch pays his homage to the Assembly,

187. and 4 Death and Funeral of Mirabeau.

. Nuns whipped in public, 189. . Visit of the King to St. Cloud violently prevented by the populace, 191.

Church of the Theatines at Paris, which had been re-opened by the nonjuring priests, invaded by the populace, 199, 191.

. Thouret proposes to forbid the publishing any act of the

Court of Rome not confirmed by the Assembly, 2or. The Assembly restricts the prohibition to public ecclesiastical functionaries, 202.

. Flight of the King to Varennes. . Manifesto explaining his reasons for attempting to escape, 202. June 25.

The King brought back from Varennes.

The remains of Voltaire transferred to the Panthéon.

Aug. 4.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. XXV

Legrand presents an alarming report on ecclesiastical affairs, 203. | Convention of Pilnitz against the French Revolution.

The re-union of Avignon to France voted, 170.

The Constitution finished. Louis XVI. accepts it, and swears to maintain it.

The National Assembly decrees a general amnesty for all political offences, 220.

The Pope accepts the resignation of Cardinal de Brienne, 186.

Rights of citizenship granted to all Jews, 122.

Last sitting of the Constituent Assembly, 203.

THE OLEGISLATIVE AND THE ‘CONVENTION: TO: THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH

AND STATE. 1791.

Oct. 1. First sitting of the Legislative Assembly ; sat till September 21st, 1792 : twelve months all but nine days. 7. Couthon opens the debate against the refractory clergy, 225. 9. Report of Gallois and Gensonneé on the condition of La Vendée, 212. 11. Lafayette’s farewell proclamation, 210. 16. Massacres at Avignon, 210. 22. André Chénier’s letter on religious liberty, 221. 27. Ramond proposes that all worships should be paid by the State, 220. 28. Fine speech of Ducos on religious liberty, 229. Nov. 3. Speech of Gensonné on the nonjurors, 231. 6. François de Neuchateau brings in the draft of a decree requiring the civic oath to be taken within a week by all ecclesiastics not functionaries, 236.

The Assembly informed of religious agitation having broken out in Anjou, 233.

Nov. 12. Decree interdicting nonjuring priests from celebrating mass in buildings consecrated to official worship, 234. 13. Bill presented demanding the civic oath of all pensioned and officiating priests, 235.

XXVI

March.

May 4. . Debate on the Bill of François de Nantes. . Ramond and Moy, the defenders of the cause of liberty,

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

Decree depriving priests of their pensions who did not take the civic oath, 240, 237.

The King puts his ve/o to the decree.

Liberal report of Cahier-Gerville, Minister of the Interior, to the Assembly, 249.

Persecution of the nuns in the Dominican Convent at Paris,

. The Pope in a new brief congratulates the nonjuring priests,

251.

Amnesty granted to the assassins of Avignon, 220.

. The Legislative dissolves the teaching bodies, 254.

Prohibition of ecclesiastical costumes,

. Roland announces the das of disturbances in Aveyron,

255:

. Roland again draws the attention of the Assembly to religious disturbances, 255.

. Francois de Nantes’ report from the Committee of Twelve on the internal tranquillity of the kingdom, 256. Newreportfrom François de Nantes against thenonjurors, 257.