Gouverneur Morris in Counter-Revolution: Selected Political Commentary from his Diary

Gouverneur Morris, Paris, June-July 1789.

12: The Tiers have called on the Nobles and Clergy to join them and proceed to Business, which has thrown the former into a Rage. He [Thomas Jefferson] considers the Affairs of this Country as being in a very critical Situation. They are so, but the Royal Authority has yet great Weight, and if brought in to the Aid of the privileged Orders may yet prevent their Destruction. However, he and I differ in our Systems of Politics. He, with all the Leaders of Liberty here, are desirous of annihilating Distinctions of Order. How far such Views may be right respecting Mankind in general is I think extremely problematical, but with Respect to this Nation I am sure it is wrong and cannot eventuate well.

19: From hence go to the Club and read the Papers. The Clergy have this Day by a small Majority determined to join the Tiers. This Stroke is fatal to the Noblesse, for the Tiers having already constituted themselves the National Assembly as representing 96/100 of the Nation, they will now have the Claim to be the Majority of Orders also, as well as of Heads. Unless the Royal Authority be interposed to save the Nobles they are gone. And of this there seems to be but slender Probability. … Mr. de Boursac tells me (which is the aristocratic Consolation) that the King has called a Council on the present State of Affairs in which each is to deliver his Opinion in his Majesty’s Presence. I do not believe that this will produce any Effect whatever, for the Decision of this Day will awe those who two Days ago would have been loud against Mr. Neckar; and probably those who called or prompted the Call of this Council will find the Event to be the direct Reverse of their Wishes and Expectations.

20: This Morning the different Corps of the States General were prevented from meeting, the Chambers being surrounded with Guards. The Reason assigned is that the King intends to have a Séance royale on Monday and that some Alterations are necessary to the Salle. … [G]o to Club. Meet the Count de Croix, Due de Rochefoucault, Vicomtes de Noailles et de Ségur, young Dillon and sundry others. Various Conjectures about the Object of the Séance royale to be held on Monday. I believe that this Step would not have been taken had the Court foreseen the Step of the Clergy Yesterday. They have very inflammable Materials to handle now, and must take good Heed. The general Idea seems to be that this Séance is consequential upon what passed in the Tiers when they assumed to themselves the Title of National Assembly, but I conjecture that however this Incident may have precipitated that Event, it originates in the Idea of arranging the different Corps in such Way as that they may act instead of being as at present an useless Herd.

21: Thence to the Club. Hardly any Company. It is said that the Séance royale intended for toMorrow is postponed. The Tiers met Yesterday and swore to form a Constitution before they part. Mr. Neckar at 5 o’Clock wrote a Letter to the Lieutenant de Police, assuring that it is not intended to prevent the further Session of the States. Where there is Apprehension on one Side and Determination on the other it is easy to see how Things will eventuate. For my Part I presume that the Séance royale is postponed that they may come to a new Determination, consequent on the Resolution of the Clergé.

22: Madame de Boursac. A Deal of Politics with her Husband who anticipates a World of Triumph to the Noblesse in the Séance of to Morrow. He will I think be mistaken. Madame is of a somewhat different Opinion from Monsieur, not because she has any Reason to be of any Opinion but because she chuses not to be of the same with him.

23: Thence to Madame de Tessé’s, who gives me a cordial Reception, complaining however of my Politics. … The King has this Day in his Séance royale pleased the Nobility and very much displeased the Tier. I find it difficult to learn exactly what has passed, but it seems to me that the Nobility have less Cause for Exultation than they imagine. At Dinner I sit next to Monsr. de La Fayette who tells me I injure the Cause, for that my Sentiments are continually quoted against the good Party. I seize this Opportunity to tell him that I am opposed to the Democracy from Regard to Liberty. That I see they are going Headlong to Destruction and would fain stop them if I could. That their Views respecting this Nation are totally inconsistent with the Materials of which it is composed, and that the worst Thing which could happen would be to grant their Wishes. He tells me that he is sensible his Party are mad, and tells them so, but is not the less determined to die with them. I tell him I think it would be quite as well to bring them to their Senses and live with them. He says he is determined to resign his Seat, which Step I approve of because the Instructions by which he is bound are contrary to his Conscience. Before we part I take an Opportunity to tell him that if the Tiers are now very moderate they will probably succeed, but if violent must inevitably fail. … Thence to Madame de Montboissieur’s where the Party is aristocratical. Delighted with the King. In the Course of Conversation they tell me some Anecdotes which convince me that the King and Queen are both confoundedly frightened and I am thence led to conjecture that the Court will still recede. Mr. Neckar Yesterday offered to resign but the King refused to accept of his Resignation. This Afternoon he waits on his Majesty, surrounded by the common People who attend him with Shouts of Applause to the Door of the Château. At half past seven, when I leave Versailles, he is still with the King.

25: This Day the Majority of the Clergy and a Minority of the Noblesse have joined the Tiers. The Minority of the Clergy have constituted themselves into a Body and agreed to the King’s Propositions. The Majority of the Noblesse, who of Course continue to be the Body, have (it is said) determined also to accept the same Propositions but with some Modifications. The National Assembly, or whatever else they may now chuse to call themselves, have agreed on a Deputation to the King. The Question is whether his Majesty will receive it, because thereon depends the ultimate Fate of the Noblesse.

27: Then go to Club. The Nobles have this Day, agreably to a Request of the King, joined the other two Orders so that at length the great Question is determined and the Votes will be par Tête. It remains only for them to form a Constitution, and as the King is extremely timid he will of Course surrender at Discretion. The Existence of the Monarchy therefore depends on the Moderation of this Assembly. For the Rest, I think they will soon establish their Credit, which among other Things will bring the Exchange between France and foreign Nations to be more favorable. If the Money of this Country be brought into free Circulation I think it will lower Interest everywhere, for the Sum is immense and its Effects must be commensurate to its Activity & Mass. At present it lies dead and is poorly supplied by the paper of the Caisse D’Escompte.

30: [Go] from thence to Club. Find that the Mob have broken open the Prison and released some Soldiers who were confined for their late Breaches of military Discipline, consequent on their Inebriation by those who were debauching them from their Duty. This makes, as it ought to, a serious Impression. Probably ToMorrow will produce similar and greater Excesses. Mr. Jefferson tells me that from the large Camp which is forming under the Maréchal de Broglio, from the Air of many who are unfriendly to the present Measures of the Tiers, and from the Influence of the Count d’Artois in the Council, very serious Events are apprehended. That perhaps the King will be prompted to attempt a Resumption of his Authority. All this is mighty well but under the existing Ideas of this Moment it is very doubtful whether he could prevail on his Soldiery to act, and if not, his Fulminations will become as contemptible as those of the Church, for in both Cases it is the secular Arm of Flesh which alone renders the Anathema terrible.

1st July, Letter to John Jay: I am too much occupied to find Time for the Use of a Cypher, and in Effect the Government here is so occupied with its own Affairs that in transmitting to you a Letter under an Envelope there is no Risque. This, however, I am pretty certain will go safe. The States General have now been a long Time in Session and have done Nothing. Hitherto they have been engaged in a Dispute whether they shall form one Body or three. The Commons, who are represented by a Number equal to both the others and who besides have at least one half the Representatives of the Clergy, insist on forming a single House. They have succeeded, but the Nobles deeply feel their Situation. The King after siding with them was frightened into an Abandonment of them. He acts from Terror only. The Soldiery in this City, particularly the french Guards, declare they will not act against the People. They are now treated by the Nobility and parade about the Streets drunk, huzzaing for the Tiers. Some of them have in Consequence been confined, not by the Force but by the Adroitness of Authority. Last Night this Circumstance became known and immediately a Mob repaired to the Prison. The Soldiers on Guard unfixed their Bayonets and joined the Assailants. A Party of Dragoons, ordered on Duty to disperse the Riot, thought it better to drink with the Rioters and return back to their Quarters. The Soldiers, with others confined in the same Prison, were then paraded in Triumph to the palais Royal, which is now the Liberty Pole of this City, and there they celebrated as usual their Joy. Probably this Evening some other Prisons will be opened, for Liberté is now the general Cry and Autorité is a Name, not a real Existence. The Court are about to form a Camp in the Neighbourhood of Paris of 25,000 Men under the Command of the Maréchal de Broglie. I do not know him personally, therefore cannot judge what may be expected from his Talents, but all my Information goes to the Point that he will never bring his Army to act against the People. The Gardes du Corps are as warm Adherents (in general) to the Tiers as any Body else, strange as that may seem, so that in Effect the Sword has slipped out of the Monarch’s Hands without his perceiving a Tittle of the Matter. All these Things in a Nation not yet fitted by Education and Habit for the Enjoyment of Freedom gives me frequently Suspicions that they will greatly overshoot their Mark, if indeed they have not already done it. Already some People talk of limiting the King’s Negative upon the Laws. And as they have hitherto felt severely the Authority exercised in the Name of their Princes, every Limitation of that Authority seems to them desirable. Never having felt the Evils of too weak an Executive the Disorders to be apprehended from Anarchy make as yet no Impression. The provincial Assemblies or Administrations, in other Words the popular executive of the Provinces, which Turgot had imagined as a Means of moderating the royal legislative of the Court, is now insisted on as a counter Security against the Monarch when they shall have established a democratical legislative, for you will observe that the noble and clerical Orders are henceforth to be Vox et pretera Nihil. The King is to be limited to the exact Sum needful for his personal Expenses. The Management of the public Debt and Revenues to provide for it will be taken entirely out of his Hands and the Subsistence of the Army is to depend on temporary Grants. Hence it must follow that his Negative in whatever Form reserved will be of little Avail. These are the Outlines of the proposed Constitution by which at the same Time Lettres de Cachet are to be abrogated and the Liberty of the Press established. My private Opinion is that the King, to get fairly out of the Scrape in which he finds himself, would subscribe to any Thing. And truly from him little is to be expected in any Way. The Queen, hated, humbled, mortified, feels and feigns and intrigues to save some shatter’d Remnants of the royal Authority, but to know that she favors a Measure is the certain Means to frustrate its Success. The Count D’Artois, alike hated, is equally busy but has neither Sense to counsel himself nor chuse Counsellors for himself, much less to counsel others. The Nobles look up to him for Support and lean on what they know to be a broken Reed for Want of some more solid Dependance. In their Anguish they curse Neckar, who is in Fact less the Cause than the Instrument of their Sufferings. His Popularity depends now more on the Opposition he meets with from one Party than any serious Regard of the Other. It is the Attempt to throw him down which saves him from Falling. He has no longer the preponderating Weight in Council which a Fortnight ago decided every Thing. If they were not afraid of Consequences he would be dismissed, and on the same Principle the King has refused to accept his Resignation. If his Abilities were equal to his Genius and he were as much supported by Firmness as he is swayed by Ambition, he would have had the exalted Honor of giving a free Constitution to above twenty Millions of his fellow Creatures and would have reigned long in their Hearts and received the unanimous Applause of Posterity. But as it is he must soon fall. Whether his Exit will be phisical or moral must depend on Events which I cannot foresee. The best Chance which Royalty has is that popular Excesses may alarm. At the Rate in which Things are now going the King of France must soon be one of the most limited Monarchs in Europe.

8: Mr. Jefferson who tells me the News of Versailles. There will be by Saturday Night 25,000 Men in and about Paris. Some Talk of a Séance royale on Monday but this is not founded. Go to Mr. Le Couteulx’s. They have sad News. That the États généraux are to be dissolved, a Bankruptcy declared and the Pay of the Troops increased &ca., &ca., &ca.

11: The King, in Answer to the Address of the States respecting the Troops, has told them that he had no Intentions to affect them and if their Apprehensions continue he will remove the Session of the States to Soissons or Noyons and go himself to Compiègne. This is an artful Reply. If he can get them far from Paris he will weaken that Impulse which at present creates such Alarm. But the Evil lies deeper than his Counsellors are aware of and the Business now broached must have its complete Course. …There are now in and about this City above a Million of human Creatures whose only Resource for Bread is in the Vigilance and Attention of Government, whose utmost Exertions however can but just keep Pace with the Necessity.

Sunday 12.—This Morning I begin to take Bark by itself and the Stomach is no longer out of Humour. Write all the Morning. Dine with the Maréchal de Castries who enquires very kindly the State of my Business. I tell him that I am about to conclude an indirect Agreement for 10,000 hds. at 31₶, instead of 20,000 at 36₶, because un mauvais Accomodement vaut mieux qu’un bon Procés. He agrees in this Sentiment and is glad that my Voyage has not been wholly fruitless. He tells me that he is in Town for a few Days which he devotes to Business & therefore enquires how mine goes on. As I am going away he takes me aside and informs me that Mr. Neckar is no longer in Place. He is much affected at this Intelligence, and indeed so am I. Urge him to go immediately to Versailles. He says he will not; that they have undoubtedly taken all their Measures before this Movement and therefore he must be too late. I tell him that it is not too late to warn the King of his Danger which is infinitely greater than he imagines. That his Army will not fight against the Nation, and that if he listens to violent Counsels the Nation will undoubtedly be against him. That the Sword has fallen imperceptibly from his Hand, and that the Sovereignty of this Nation is in the Assemblée Nationale. He makes no precise Answer to this but is very deeply affected. He tells me that if he stays longer in Town he will inform me, that we may see each other again. Call on Madame de La Suze who is not at Home, and then on Madame de Puisignieu who is just going out of Town; as He did not intend to depart untill ToMorrow Evening I presume that he has received Orders in Consequence of the new Arrangements. Call agreably to my Promise on Madame de Flahaut. Learn that the whole Administration is routed and Mr. Neckar banished. Much Alarm here. Paris begins to be in Commotion, and from the Invalid Guard of the Louvre a few of the Nobility take a Drum and beat to Arms. Monsr. de Narbonne, the friend of Madame de Stahl, considers a civil War as inevitable and is about to join his Regiment, being as he says in a Conflict between the Dictates of his Duty and of his Conscience. I tell him that I know of no Duty but that which Conscience dictates. I presume that his Conscience will dictate to join the strongest Side. The little humpbacked Abbé Bertrand, after sallying out in a Fiacre, returns frightened because of a large Mob in the Rue St. Honoré, and presently comes in another Abbé who is of the Parliament and who, rejoicing inwardly at the Change, is confoundedly frightened at the Commotions. I calm the Fears of Madame, whose Husband is mad and in a printed List, it seems, of the furious Aristocrats. Offer to conduct the Abbés safely Home, which Offer Bertrand accepts of. His Terror as we go along is truly diverting. As we approach the Rue St. Honoré his Imagination magnifies the ordinary Passengers into a vast Mob, and I can scarcely perswade him to trust his Eyes instead of his Fears. Having set him down, I depart for Mr. Jefferson’s; in riding along the Boulevards, all at once the Carriages, Horses and Foot Passengers turn about and pass rapidly. Presently after we meet a Body of Cavalry with their Sabres drawn, and coming Half Speed. After they have passed us a little Way they stop. When we come to the Place Louis Quinze observe the People, to the Number of perhaps an hundred, picking up Stones, and on looking back find that the Cavalry are returning. Stop at the Angle to see the Fray, if any. The People take Post among the Stone which lies scattered about the whole Place, being there hewn for the Bridge now building. The Officer at the Head of this Party is saluted by a Stone and immediately turns his Horse in a menacing Manner towards the Assailant. But his Adversaries are posted in Ground where the Cavalry cannot act. He pursues his Route therefore and the Pace is soon encreased to a Gallop amid a Shower of Stones. One of the Soldiers is either knocked from his Horse or the Horse falls under him. He is taken Prisoner and at first ill treated. They had fired several Pistols but without Effect, probably they were not even charged with Ball. A Party of the Swiss Guards are posted in the Champs Elisées with Cannon. Proceed to Mr. Jefferson’s. He tells me that Mr. Neckar received Yesterday about Noon a Letter from the King, by the Hands of Monsieur de La Luzerne, in which he orders him to leave the Kingdom, and at the same Time Monsr. de La Luzerne is desired to exact a Promise that he will not mention the Matter to any Body. Mr. Neckar dines, and proposes to his Wife a Visit to a female friend in the Neighbourhood. On the Route he communicates the Intelligence and they go to a Country Seat, make the needful Arrangements and depart. Mr. de Montmorin immediately resigned, and is now in Paris. In returning from Mr. Jefferson’s I am turned off to the left by the Vidette posted on the Road to the Place Louis Quinze. Go to Club. A Gentleman just arrived from Versailles gives us an Account of the new Administration. The People are employed in breaking open the Armorers’ Shops, and presently a large Body of the Gardes Françoises appear with Bayonets fixed, in the Garden, mingled with the Mob, some of whom are also armed. These poor Fellows have passed the Rubicon with a Witness. Success or a Halter must now be their Motto. I think the Court will again recede, and if they do, all farther Efforts will be idle. If they do not, a Civil War is among the Events most probable. If the Representatives of the Tiers have formed a just Estimate of their Constituents, in ten Days all France will be in Commotion. The little Affray which I have witnessed will probably be magnified into a bloody Battle before it reaches the Frontiers, and in that Case an infinity of Corps Bourgeois will march to the Relief of the Capital. They had better gather in the Harvest. Return Home. This has been a pleasant Day and the Evening is cool.

Monday 13.—The Health begins to be reestablished. La Caze calls; I desire him to urge Mr. Le Normd. to get the Affair finished with the Farm. Read him a Part of Mr. Ross’s Letter. He asks my Advice and I treat the Question somewhat indignantly. Martin comes in and tells me that the Hôtel de Force is forced and all the Prisoners out. Presently after a Letter is brought to him, enclosing one to me from Mr. Nesbitt who is at the Temple and wishes to see me, but my Cocher tells me he cannot bring my Carriage, having already been stopped and turned back. In Effect, the little City of Paris is in as fine a Tumult as any one could wish. They are getting Arms wherever they can find any. Seize sixty Barrils of Powder in a Boat on the Seine. Break into the Monastery of St. Lazar and find a Store of Grain which the holy Brotherhood had laid in. Immediately it is put into Carts and sent to the Market, and on every Cart a Friar. The Gardemeuble du Roy is attacked and the Arms are delivered up, to prevent worse Consequences. These however are more curious than useful. But the Detail of the Variety of this Day’s Deeds would be endless. Dine at Home and La Caze dines with me. After Dinner dress and walk to the Louvre, having previously ornamented my Hat with a green Bow in Honor of the Tier, for this is the Fashion of the Day which every Body is obliged to comply with who means to march in Peace. It is somewhat whimsical that this Day of Violence and Tumult is the only one in which I have dared to walk the Streets, but as no Carriages are abroad but the Fiacres I do not hazard being crushed, and I apprehend nothing from the Populace. Madame de Flahaut is under great Apprehension, which I endeavor to appease. Capellis comes in, and when we are about to set off for the Palais royal we meet on the Stairs Monsr. de —— from Versailles, who tells us the News there. Go to Club and sit awhile chatting on the State of Public Affairs. Monsr de Moreton tells us that the present Ministers are a Set of Rascals & Tyrants; that he knows them perfectly well; and one of them it seems is his Relation, for whom however he exhibits no Partiality. After a while Monsr. de —— arrives from Versailles and tells us that the fashion at Court this Day is to believe that the Disturbances at Paris are very trifling. The Assemblée Nationale have addressed the King to recall the former Ministry, and to permit the Assembly to send a Deputation to Paris to recommend the forming des Corps Bourgeois for the Maintenance of Order in the City. To the first he replied that the Executive Power is his and he will appoint who he pleases to be his Ministers, and he disapproves of the second Measure. In Consequence of this the Assembly make some sharp Resolutions, whose Purport seems to be the devoting to public Infamy the present Administration and declaring his Majesty’s Advisers to be guilty of high Treason. Thus the Court and popular Party are already pitted against each other. In ten Days I think it will be decided whether the Retreat of the Monarch will be immediate and only ruin his Counsellors, or whether it will be remote and his own Ruin involved in that of his Ministers. Some Horses are brought into the Garden of the Palais Royal. We go to see what they are, but cannot learn. We are told however by one of the Orators, that they have received a Deputation from the two Regiments quartered at St Denis, offering to join the Tiers if they will come out and receive them. My Companions urge them by all Means to go, but this Manoeuvre must at least be deferred till ToMorrow. The Leaders here I think err in not bringing about immediately some pretty severe Action between the foreign and national Troops. The Consequences would, in my Opinion, be decisive. Return Home. The Weather has been cool and pleasant toDay but this Evening it approaches towards cold. Martin gives me another Note from Mr. Nesbitt who wants more Money than I can spare. Indeed his Wants surprize me, for he has lived now for three Months on what I have advanced so that he appears to have made no Provision whatever for his Existence in this Country, or else his Friends are so kind as to neglect him entirely and leave the Weight of his Support upon my Shoulders.

14: While sitting here a Person comes in and announces the taking of the Bastile, the Governor of which is beheaded and the Prevost des Marchands is killed and also beheaded; they are carrying the Heads in Triumph thro the City. The carrying of this Citadel is among the most extraordinary Things that I have met with; it cost the Assailants sixty Men it is said. The Hôtel Royal des Invalides was forced this Morning and the Cannon and small Arms &ca., &ca. brought off. The Citizens are by these Means well armed; at least there are the Materials for about thirty thousand to be equipped with, and that is a sufficient Army. I find that the Information received last Night as to the Arrêté of the Assemblée Nationale is not just. They have only declared that the last Administration carry with them the Regret of the Chamber, that they will persist in insisting on the Removal of the Troops and that his Majesty’s Advisers, whatever their Rank and Station, are guilty of all the Consequences which may ensue. Yesterday it was the Fashion at Versailles not to believe that there were any disturbances at Paris. I presume that this Day’s Transactions will induce a Conviction that all is not perfectly quiet.

15: I learn thro and from them the secret History of the Resolution of this Day. Yesterday Evening an Address was presented by the Assembly, to which his Majesty returned an Answer by no Means satisfactory. The Queen, Count D’Artois and Dutchess de Polignac had been all Day tampering with two Regiments who were made almost drunk and every Officer was presented to the King, who was induced to give Promises, Money, &ca., &ca., to these Regiments. They shouted Vive la Reine! Vive le Comte D’Artois! Vive la Duchesse de Polignac! and their Music came and played under her Majesty’s Window. In the mean Time the Maréchal de Broglio was tampering in Person with the Artillery. The Plan was to reduce Paris by Famine and to take two hundred Members of the National Assembly Prisoners. But they found that the Troops would not serve against their Country, of Course these Plans could not be carried into Effect. They took Care however not to inform the King of all the Mischiefs. At two o’Clock in the Morning the Duc de Liancourt went into his Bed Chamber and waked him. Told him all. Told him that he pawned his Life on the Truth of his Narration and that unless he changed his Measures speedily all was lost. The King took his Determination, the Bishop D’Autun (they say) was called on to prepare un Discours, which he did. The Orders were given for dispersing the Troops; and at the Meeting of the Assembly the King, accompanied by his two Brothers and the Captain of his Guard, came in and made his Speech. This produced very enthusiastic Emotions of Joy, and he was reconducted to the Château by the whole Assembly and by all the Inhabitants of Versailles. They tell me that the Baron de Bezenvald is dénoncé by the Assemblée Nationale, which Appellation the King recognizes in his Discours; that they will pursue the present Ministry &ca., &ca., I give my Opinion that after what is passed the Count D’Artois should not be suffered to stay in France. In this they agree. They say that they will faire le Procés of the Maréchal de Broglio & probably of the Baron de Breteuil. Sup with them, and the Claret being better than any I have tasted in France, I give them as a Toast the Liberty of the French Nation and then the City of Paris, which are drank with very good Will. Return Home. This has been a very fine Day. It is said that the King is to be in Town at Eleven o’Clock ToMorrow. But for what? — Bon Mot: the Baron de Bezenval is dénoncé on Account of some Letters he had written which were intercepted. The Duke de La Rochefoucault, appointed one of the Deputies from the Assemblée Nationale to the City of Paris, meets the Baron coming out of the King’s Cabinet. ’Eh bien! Monsieur le Baron, avez vous encore des Ordres à donner pour Paris?’ The Baron takes it as a Politesse. ‘Non, Monsieur le Duc, excepté qu’on m’envoie ma Voiture.’ — ‘Aparemment c’est une Voiture de Poste, Monsieur le Baron. — Another. In the Procession Yesterday the King and Count D’Artois, walking together, were much crowded. One of the Deputies said to another: ‘Voyez comme on presse le Roi et Monsieur le Comte D’Artois.’ The other answered: ‘Il y a cette Différence pourtant, que le Roi est pressé par l’Amour de ses Peuples.’ To which the King, perhaps not hearing more than the last Words of the Conversation, replied in turning round: ‘Oui, c’est juste.’

17: It seems that his Majesty was escorted by the Militia of Versailles to the Point de Jour, where he entered the double File of Parisian Militia which extends from thence to the Hôtel de Ville; each Line composed of three Ranks, consequently it is a Body six deep extending that Distance. The Assemblée Nationale walk promiscuously together in the Procession. The King’s Horse Guards, some of the Gardes de Corps, and all those who attend him have the Cockades of the City, viz: Red and Blue. It is a magnificent Procession in every Respect. … The King this Day confirmed the Choice made of a Mayor. [Bailly.] Gave his Approbation of the Regiment of City Guards &ca., &ca. He put in his Hat a large Cockade of the Red and Blue Ribbands and then, and not till then, received the general Shouts of Vive le Roi! This Day I think will prove an useful Lesson to him for the Rest of his Life, but he is so weak that unless he be kept out of bad Company it is impossible that he should not act wrongly.

20: He [La Fayette] gives me my Passport. Suggest to him my Plan respecting the Gardes Françaises, which he likes. Advise him to have a compleat Plan for the Militia prepared and to submit it to the Committee. Ask him if he can think of any Steps which may be taken to induce the King to confer on him the Government of the Isle of France. He tells me that he would prefer that of Paris simply. That he has had the utmost Power his Heart could wish and is grown tired of it. That he has commanded absolutely an hundred thousand Men, has marched his Sovereign about the Streets as he pleased, prescribed the Degree of Applause which he should receive, and could have detained him Prisoner had he thought proper. He wishes therefore as soon as possible to return to private Life. In this last Expression he deceives himself or wishes to deceive me; a little of both perhaps. But in Fact he is the Lover of Freedom from Ambition, of which there are two Kinds, the one born of Pride, the other of Vanity and his partakes most of the latter.

25: Am requested to throw together some Thoughts respecting the Constitution of this Country for a Member of the States General. While I am about it Doctor Mc. Donald comes in. I read to him what I have written and see him forcibly struck with the Thoughts and with the Manner. This serves as Evidence to me that there is some Weight and Truth in my Observations.

26: Visit Made. de Fl:. She desires to know whether I will go to Versailles to confer with the Committee who are to report a Constitution. She is charged by one of them to make this Request. I reply that if it will not delay my Departure for London I shall consent, conceiving it a Duty to render every Service I can to this Country. I explain to her the Paper written yesterday that she may translate it.

27: Go by Appt. at five to Mad: de Flahaut. She is at her Toilet. Monsr. comes in. She dresses before us with perfect Decency even to the Shift. Monsieur leaves us to make a long Visit and we are to occupy ourselves with making a Translation. We sit down with the best Disposition imaginable but instead of a Translation we use the *[one and a half lines illegible, lined over] Superior Force &ca. &ca. The Misfortune is that I am obliged to undertake the Translation.

*Sexually explicit passages throughout the manuscript have been lined over and become impossible to decipher. While Davenport's edition also censors some that haven't been tampered with, in the Online Diary edition (and the recent French translation by Hugues), the deciphering work of Miller has revealed some of the crossed-out passages, meanwhile uncensoring those of Davenport's. But these lines here remain illegible.

28: To Monsr. de La Fayette’s. Dine. After Dinner mention again Mr. St. Martin’s Affair and he promises to do all in his Power. Urge again the taking Measures to put the King at Ease. (Note: Madame de Flahaut gave me Yesterday the Communication.) Upon which he is desirous of knowing my Reasons. I tell him that they arise from a Secret communicated, therefore cannot go farther. Propose an Association to protect the Prince and to declare those who may insult him Enemies both public and personal. Propose a Plan to get rid of the Difficulty of the Assemblée Nationale, which is bound not to tax till the Constitution is compleated and which is pressed in Consequence for Time. Then urge strongly the Danger of a Constitution too democratical and leave him (I think) much impressed.

31, Letter to George Washington: I had the Honor to write to you on the twenty ninth of April last. I shall not trouble you with a Recital of Events, which Mr. Jefferson has I know communicated to the Office of foreign Affairs. But being now here on my way to London, and finding a Vessel bound directly to New York I take the Opportunity to send some Tables which contain the political, military, pecuniary and commercial State of this Country. I believe them to be tolerably authentic as far as they go. I will also communicate a Matter which Mr. Jefferson was not yet informed of, and which I could not tell him because I was forbidden to mention it to any Person here. You know, I dare say, that the Count de Moustiers has his Congé. His Successor will be Colo. Ternant. At first in the Character of Chargé des Affaires, and when Mr. de Moustiers is otherwise placed, it is highly probable that Ternant may be made Minister: but that will depend on the Situation of the Court at the Time, so that there I only state Probability. As to the other you may rely on it because my Intelligence I know to be good. The important Trait in this Appointment is that he is named as a Person who will be agreable to us. You may rely also on what I am about to mention, but which I pray you not to disclose. It is known to very few in this Country and may perhaps, (as it ought,) be buried in Oblivion. The King has actually formed the Design of going off to Spain. Whether the Measures set on Foot to dissuade him will have, as I hope, the desired Effect, Time only can discover. His Fears govern him absolutely, and they have of late been most strongly excited. He is a well-meaning Man but extremely weak, and probably these Circumstances will in every Event secure him from personal Injury; an able Man would not have fallen into his Situation, but I think that no Ability can now extricate him. He must float along on the Current of Events, being absolutely and entirely a Cypher. If however he should fly, it will not be easy to predict the Consequences, for this Country is at present as near to Anarchy as Society can approach without Dissolution. There are some able Men in the national Assembly, yet the best Heads among them would not be injured by Experience, and unfortunately there are a great Number who, with much Imagination, have little Knowlege, Judgement or Reflection. You may consider the Revolution as compleat; that is to say the Authority of the King and of the Nobility is compleatly subdued, but yet I tremble for the Constitution. They have all that romantic Spirit and all those romantic Ideas of Government which, happily for America, we were cured of before it was too late. They are advancing rapidly — but I must check myself or my Reflections will occupy too much Space both for you and for me. One of the last Persons I saw in Paris was Monsieur de La Fayette. He had promised to trust me with a Letter for you but he must be excused, for he is as busy as a Man can be. Not long since, speaking to him on his own Subject, I told him some Hints I had given tending to make him Governor of the Isle of France, which you know includes Paris. He declared that the Command of the Military in that City only, was the utmost of his Wishes. That he was satiated with Power. He had his Sovereign during the late Procession to Paris completely within his Power. He had marched him where he pleased, measured out the Degree of Applause he should receive as he pleased, and if he pleased could have detained him Prisoner. All this is strictly true. He commanded on that Day at least eighty thousend Men who during the King’s Progress thro them to the Hotel de Ville shouted Vive la Nation! and only on his return cried Vive le Roi! I do not know whether you will be informed of the critical situation in which Things were placed just before the last Ministry were turned out and the old one restored. My Authority is very good but yet I will not vouch for the Truth. It was resolved to reduce Paris by Famine, to take two hundred of the States General Prisoners, to dissolve that Assembly and to govern in the old fashioned Way. All this you will say was Madness and therefore improbable. But was it not equally mad to drive away Necker and change the Ministry at the Time and in the Manner which were chosen for that Purpose. The Men weak enough for the one were certainly mad enough for the other. Two German Regiments which were to be employed were regaled by the Queen in the Orangerie at Versailles. They received Promises and Largesses and were prevailed on to shout Vive la Reine! Vive le Conte d’Artois! Vive la duchesse de Polignac! Afterwards their Music played for Hours under her Majesty’s Window. The Maréchal de Broglie endeavored at the same Time to conciliate the Artillery. But it was at length discovered that tho the Troops would shout and sing, yet they would not fight against their Countrymen; all which might have been known long ago. At the Moment when this Intrigue was carrying on by the Court, the Gardes du Corps and Gardes françoises continued to defend the Members of the national Assembly. I pass over those Facts which you can not but know to mention in one Word that the whole Army of France have declared for Liberty; and that one Reason why his Majesty has not taken the Step above mentioned is that he does not know a single Regiment that would obey him.