==================== HES POSTING ===================== Regarding Jeff Lipkes' posting: I agree with the most of the details provided by Jeffrey. But I insist that it's in the Legislative assembly (1791) and not in the Convention (1792) that the left-right opposition has its origin. The "Jacobins", so called because they met and worked in the jacobins former convent, seated on the left. They were mostly republicans, but not at all "socialist". The "Feuillants", so called because they met and worked in the feuillants former convent, seated on the right. They were mostly monarchist (constitutionally). As for Dupont de Nemours, he already belonged with Mirabeau to the first assembly, the "Assemblee Nationale Constituante", where he protested against the emission of 2 billions "assignats" without interest, secured on the national assets (taken from the Church). It's relevant that in his discourse, quoting his friend Lavoisier, as well as Hume and Smith, he defended a strictly orthodox quantity theory of money. Considering the following events, up to the "18 brumaire", there is no doubt for me, although I admit it can be controversed, that the revolution was driven, in last resort, by the capitalist bourgeoisie, but a bourgeoisie shared between the "laisser-faire" and the necessity of the state protection (mercantilist reminiscense), as the english one at the same time (what explains the napoleon war against England, following the former conflicts of the seventeenth). Regards RK ============ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ============ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]