DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26300#0019
PREFACE.
IX
tinual diffenfions and feuds; the miferable hate of their
difcipline; and their ridiculous ignorance of the art of
war. On the other hand are reprefented, in the ftrong-
eft colours, the oppreffed condition of the people ; their
ftrength in labour, and fortitude in fuffering; and,
above all, the probability of their taking arms againfl
their oppreffors, whenever a favourable opportunity fhall
offer e. Now, if it fhould be afked, with what view all
this has been done, One of the moft acute and mif-
chievous of French travellers will fupply us with an
anfwer; not dire&ly to the point indeed, but too plain
to be miftaken—“ I have for fome time entertained an
“ opinion,” fays Volney, “ that nothing is easier
“ THAN TO EFFECT IN ASIA A GREAT REVOLUTION
“ BOTH POLITICAL AND CIVIL V’
Let us however do juftice to thefe unprincipled fpoilers,
and acknowledge, that they are not the firft of their
countrymen, who have entertained ideas of aggrandiz-
ing France at the expence of this devoted kingdom. In
the beginning of this century, Maillet, the French conful
at Cairo, fuggefled a plan for removing the Pillar to
Paris. The fcheme indeed was not perfectly honourable;
€ Volney, tom. i. c. io, n, 12.
f “ Ces deux exemples me rendent encore plus probable une conjecture
“ que j’avois deja formee, que rien n’eft plus facile que d’operer une grande
“ revolution politique et civile dans l’Afie.” Tom. i. p. 383. N.
b
IX
tinual diffenfions and feuds; the miferable hate of their
difcipline; and their ridiculous ignorance of the art of
war. On the other hand are reprefented, in the ftrong-
eft colours, the oppreffed condition of the people ; their
ftrength in labour, and fortitude in fuffering; and,
above all, the probability of their taking arms againfl
their oppreffors, whenever a favourable opportunity fhall
offer e. Now, if it fhould be afked, with what view all
this has been done, One of the moft acute and mif-
chievous of French travellers will fupply us with an
anfwer; not dire&ly to the point indeed, but too plain
to be miftaken—“ I have for fome time entertained an
“ opinion,” fays Volney, “ that nothing is easier
“ THAN TO EFFECT IN ASIA A GREAT REVOLUTION
“ BOTH POLITICAL AND CIVIL V’
Let us however do juftice to thefe unprincipled fpoilers,
and acknowledge, that they are not the firft of their
countrymen, who have entertained ideas of aggrandiz-
ing France at the expence of this devoted kingdom. In
the beginning of this century, Maillet, the French conful
at Cairo, fuggefled a plan for removing the Pillar to
Paris. The fcheme indeed was not perfectly honourable;
€ Volney, tom. i. c. io, n, 12.
f “ Ces deux exemples me rendent encore plus probable une conjecture
“ que j’avois deja formee, que rien n’eft plus facile que d’operer une grande
“ revolution politique et civile dans l’Afie.” Tom. i. p. 383. N.
b