None  took  the  alarm  more  violently  than  the  boroughmongering
oligarchy  of  England,  with  Pitt  at  their  head.  They  saw,  if  this
spirit  went  on,  nothing  could  prevent  its  flying  across  the  channel ;
and  that  down  would  go  before  the  roused  anger  of  the  whole
people,  the  wdiole  of  that  juggling  machinery  by  which  they  had
possessed  themselves  of  the  wealth,  the  liberties,  and  the  actual
monarchy  of  Enpland.     Thev  rushed,  therefore,  headlono;  into  the


246  PROGRESS  OF

contest  to  stifle  liberty  in  France,  that  it  might  not  annihilate  them
here.     But  they  soon  found  themselves  engaged  in  the  most  despe-
rate conflict  in  which  this  or  any  other  nation  ever  was  involved.
