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hatred of despotism and a passionate love of constitutional liberty. These sentiments were the more extraordinary as the former was directed against institutions, not against persons,[1] while the latter, largely under the control of reason, did not degenerate into philosophical theories and dreams impossible of realization; the natural fairness of his mind and his practical training preserved him from such errors.[2]
Led, at an early age, to think deeply upon constitutional questions, the experiences of an eventful life furnished him with an abundance of material on which to exercise his mind and pen.[3] The governments of Holland, England and Prussia were examined in turn, and his great work, "De la Monarchie Prussienne sous Frederic le Grand" (1788), was the fruit of his constitutional studies.[4] About to undertake a similar work upon the English government, he was called to employ his great talents and extensive knowledge in framing a constitution for his own country. This opportunity he had long desired, and was firmly resolved that no fault of his own should deprive him of it.[5]
But on the very threshold of public life, he encountered the spectre that was to confront him at every turn during his brief career — the immorality of his youth. Rejected by the nobility of Provence,[6] he was elected as a representative of the
- ↑ "Aucune animosité particuliere ne m'excite; mon ouvrage n'est point une satyre maligne, fruit de l'aigreur et du resentiment" — Des lettres de cachet et des prisons d'état, p. XI.
- ↑ "Et a dire vrai, je me méfie un politique de toute sureté qui n'est pas d'aréthmitique". To Mauvillon, Dec. 3. 1789.
- ↑ Between 1774 and 1789, Mirabeau published some twenty works, treating questions of politics, administration and finance.
- ↑ "Car je regarde la Monarchic Prussienne comme un imperissable monument, que nous devons soigner et perfectionner toute notre vie." To Mauvillon, 31 Jan. 1799.
- ↑ "Mon partie est irrévocablement pris de ne rien imprimer sur les questions qui nous divissent, et en général sur l'assemblée nationale, qui je ne sois sûr d'en être ow de n'en être pas; parceque je ne veux pas me donner une seule chance par ma faute pour en être exclus." To Manvillon, Nov. 8, 1788.
- ↑ "Il m'a aussi répété plusieurs fois que si en Provence, l'ordre de la noblesse ne l'avait pas repoussé il se serait trouvé placé naturellement dans une tout autre direction." De la Marck I, 109.
