Contemporary Letters On The French Revolution

half , but spoke in vain of those who were thus cruelly deprived almost of the means of subsistance . The storm has been for some time brewing . I own I did not forsee it ; the extreme security of all the faction imposed upon meand I did not imaginethat those

, , who were walking on the brink of a precipice thought themselves beyond the reach of danger because they said they were safe . The conduct of M . de la Fayette , and the part he took in last Saturday ' s debate , appeared to me inexplicablenot contented

, with all the blows that were that ni ght , the lot of the Aristocrates , he seemed without necessity or provocation co plunge the dagger still deeper by the attack on the titles of the princes of the blood . He was at that day at St . Cloud , when

he received notice of the propositions to be made in the evening . If he opposed , inferences were to be drawn and proofs induced of his being a convert from principles or interest to the aristocratic party . If he supported the motion he became at least suspiciousif not obnoxious to those

, who , having lost all hopes of re-establishing their own affairs , thought it necessary to maintain him in his present situation . He ho ] ed that the part he then took would be justified by necessity in the eyes of one partyand re-establish him with

, the other , so far as to allow him to espouse with more effect the cause of those he probably thought injured . Wednesday , however , undeceived him , and he was obliged to soften his defence for the clergy to demands for their creditors .

The life I am obliged to lead has prevented me from being often near the fountain head , and I therefore cannot explain to you by what manoeuvres this overture has taken place . I suspect that Neckar and his friends have played double , and

that the avowed inclination of the Party de la Fayette to adopt the cause of Spain has alarmed him with the fears of a war to which his climiatwnism is not equal . Without doors the friends of M . de la Fayette do not see his dangerand any

, idea that the meeting of the 14 th of Jul y will prove contrary to his wishes , or that M . de la Mett ' s wishes can affect his overthrow , is treated as ridiculous . Those humours which began to sub side , that violence of party which seemed

smothered , if not appeased , has broken out with undiminished violence on the decree relative to names , liveries and arms . It is a dh'ty vengeance , which even the Democrates disapprove , which the people despise , and at which all the dependants of greatnesslacementaylorsshopkeepers of

, , , every class , complain of . It has produced no other effect than to be despised by their friends , disapproved of by the moderate , and to enrage their enemies and all their connexions beyond all bounds . The decree relative to the clergy will

drive all their dependants to despair and ruin , thousands to whom it will be utterl y impossible they should pay their immense debts . It is thus that those who now lead affairs are causing fermentation and violence

in every order of the kingdom , when calmness and moderation is more necessary than ever . They probably hope to receive their recompense on the 14 th of July . The prudent Aristocrates mean to retire from a farce humiliating if not dangerous , and which is to conclude by the confederation

declaring , like the lloman armies , and saluting the kingEmperor . Every idea of imitation , every trifling ridicule which folly can invent or vanity adopt , becomes in a moment the enthusiastic idea of this country , and they do not perceive that in

order to comply with this extravagance they must overturn a constitutional point of their new Government , and the first act of their confederation be the reversal of a decree .

Ihe Military Code will not be compleated till after that period , if they are so tame or so ill-managed as to seperate without knowing whether they apjprove or disapprove those laws by which they are to be governed . The defeat ( and I cannot but think

unexpected defeat ) of M . de la Fayette has certainly retarded , if not entirely set aside , a letter M . de Montmorin had prepared , in which he informed the Assembly that the Court of Spain were not contented with the dubious answer they had received ,

and demanded to know positively in what light she was to consider her engagements with this country , and what hopes she might form of its assistance . I do not give implicit faith to all our friend at the Luxembourg says in regard to finances . His enmity to Neckar and