THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 ' ! I* *r II 
 
University of California Berkeley 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 O F 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER, 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 . , . . VITAM QUI IMPENDERR VERO. 
 
 TRANSLATED BY JOHN FENWICK, 
 
 PART 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY SAMUEL HARRISON SMITH, 
 CHERRY*$TREET, ABOVE FOVRTH;STRSJ|r. 
 
 1 7 9 4-' 
 
DC 
 
 CONTENTS OF THE FIRST PART. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 Of the General State of Affairs in France 3 3 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 Of the State of the Armies 41 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 General Duimurier Departs from Leige to Paris 50 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 General Dumourier s abode at Paris 58 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 'Trial of the King 65 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Fruitless attempts of General Dumourier in be- 
 half of the King 7 1 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Death of the King . 78 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 General Dumourier s conferences with Camion 3 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Interview of General Dumourier 'with feme 
 Jacobins Q O 
 
 .., CHAP. X. 
 Of the Executive Council of France g 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Retreat of Roland from Adminijlration log 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Negociations with Holland and England 115 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Departure of De Maulde, of Maret, and of 
 General Dumourier from Paris 133 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 Fruit lefs Negociations. Declaration of War 1 <2 7 
 
 r-l 
 
 809 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IT is among the misfortunes that attend 
 General Dumourier, to be abandoned by 
 the world ; to be the outcaft of fociety ; to be 
 compelled to fly from city to city to feek an 
 afylum from the rage and madriefs of coun- 
 trymen who imagine they will ferve the public 
 caufe and rid the world of a traitor if they .can 
 but plunge a dagger into his breaft ; and to 
 avoid the wretch whofe avarice would tempt 
 him to gain the price offered for his blood by 
 the Convention. Compelled to live among 
 flrangers under the difguife of an aflumed 
 name, and to fubmit to the pain of liftening to 
 opinions on his conduct, equally fevere and 
 unjuft, that are induftrioufly circulated by the 
 hired journalifts of the different courts of Eu- 
 rope, who beftow their praifes only on the fuc- 
 cefsful, and every where encountering emi- 
 grants* who detefl him with as little reafon, 
 and as much ferocity as the Jacobins, this man, 
 whom Minifters and Courts received with 
 flattering careffes when he quitted the army, 
 but afterwards calumniated and perfecuted, 
 for having publifhed memorials which con- 
 tained his real and ferious opinions, at length 
 obeys the call of his duty, by giving to the 
 world the Memoirs of his life. 
 
 B The 
 
C vi ) 
 
 The moft extravagant and Contradictory 
 tales refpeciing him have filled the journals of 
 Europe, and portraits have been drawn of him 
 fo unlike each other, that not only his charac- 
 ter, but his exigence is become an enigma. 
 The Courier of Europe reprefents him 
 with the force of Hercules, the licentioufnefs 
 of Mark Anthony, the treachery of Hanni- 
 bal, the cruelty of Sylla, and the military 
 and political talents of Caefar ; they have alfo 
 attributed to him, the poffeffion of immenfe 
 riches in the Englifh funds. On the contra- 
 ry the Journal of the Lower Rhine defcribcs 
 him as pofleffing talents, but being defi- 
 cient in judgment. This opinion, Dumou- 
 rier regards as true praife, for he was never 
 dcfirous of being thought fubtile or praftifed 
 in the art of changing his opinions according 
 to his interefts. He has always had fixed 
 principles and a determined charafter. His 
 mind was formed by the fludy of Plutarch ; 
 and he has mixed too little with men, to 
 be known by any but a feleft few. Excep- 
 ting during his travels and his wars, he has 
 lived furroundcd only by his books, and his 
 chofen friends, of whom the greater part no 
 longer exift. Far from efteeming the ma- 
 xim of the Epicureans, which recommends 
 the concealment of our acStions, his whole 
 life fhall be expofcd to the obfervation and 
 judgment of his contemporaries. He has 
 nothing to lofe by his conduct ; already he 
 is poor, calumniated, profcribed, all that 
 mankind regard as miierable ; but he has 
 every thing to gain, fince men of elevated 
 
 and 
 
( vii ) 
 
 and upright minds, who read thefe Memoirs, 
 will become his friends. With fuch men 
 only he defires to live, and to whatever na- 
 tion they belong, he fhall always regard them 
 as his fellow citizens. 
 
 The celebrated Dictator Fabius Maximus, 
 he who alone could check the victories of 
 Hannibal, and whom Dumourier earneftly 
 endeavoured to imitate in his campaign a- 
 gainft the king of Pruffia, made this obfer- 
 vation to Paulus Emilius, when he went with 
 Varro, to command the army, " Let him 
 not fear who thlrjls for glory ; for, although we 
 of ten find that true merit is eclipfed for a time, 
 yue have never known It to be entirely loft; it 
 bur/Is at loft through the clouds which encircle It, 
 and appears arrayed In its bright and genuine co- 
 lours." 
 
 Dumourier thought like Fabius, but their 
 fituations were widely different. Fabius re- 
 fided on his eftate with his family, expofed 
 indeed to the calumnies of a faction, but 
 honoured in the Senate, and by all the fages 
 of Rome. They (till regarded his counfels 
 and preferved him in the command of the 
 army, nor had ingratitude effaced the many 
 fervices he had hitherto rendered his coun- 
 try, or deftroyed the expectation of his 
 ftill rendering them many more. Fabius 
 was thus enabled to follow the bent of his 
 mild and moderate difpofition ; and wait, 
 in tranquillity, the progrefs of truth and juf-r 
 tice. Such are not the happy circumftances 
 of Dumourier ; and however fhort a time 
 he may have to live, it will be too Ions; if 
 BO it 
 
( viii ) 
 
 it be ftained with the injuflice of the public 
 opinion. Not only therefore for himfelf, 
 his contemporaries, and his country to whom 
 he may one day be ufeful, but in juflice to 
 his friends, his relations, his advocates, he is 
 obliged to repel the calumnies which follow 
 him, and to diffipate the cloud which ob- 
 icures the truth. This he will dp by an ho- 
 jieft and accurate detail of fuch fafts as are 
 important, and of whjch he was a competent 
 witnefs. 
 
 For thefe reafons he is obliged to change 
 the order of his Memoirs, and to fubmit to 
 the public opinion the third volume, which 
 contains the circumftances of the year 1793. 
 Thefe are the more important as they will 
 enable the reader to forefee the iffue of the 
 ftrange events that have lately happened in 
 Europe, in ftudying the nature of their mo- 
 tives and caufcs. If General Dumourier have 
 flated any of them erroneoufly, his contem- 
 poraries are competent to deteft his injuf- 
 tice, but he has furely this great reafon for 
 fpeaking the fruth, that he may not increafe 
 the number of his enemies. He defcribes 
 the French as they really are, and not fuclj 
 as Europe has hitherto regarded them, who 
 feem to believe that the whole French na- 
 tion are without religion, without honour, 
 or humanity. The French are engaged in 
 a bad caufe. We are compelled to regarc{ 
 them with horror ; but prudence will not 
 permit us to defpife them. They have dif- 
 played a magnificent courage ; and, had they 
 followed the opinion of virtuous and expe- : 
 
 rienced 
 
rienced men, this period of their hiftory 
 would have been as honourable as it is now 
 difgraceful and wretched. 
 
 Unhappily, their licentious excefles have 
 deftroyed the liberties of Europe. The ex- 
 ample of their misfortunes, has induced 
 every people to believe that they had better 
 wear their chains in peace, than fall into an 
 anarchy that can never end but in abfolute 
 defpotifm. 
 
 There are two queftions that naturally pre- 
 fent themfelves to which Dumourier's j unifi- 
 cation ought to reply, by Hating the mo- 
 tives of his conduct, which appears to be 
 in contradiction "with his own opinions. 
 
 It is afked, why did Dumourier, after the 
 arreft of Louis on the loth of Auguft, refufe to 
 obey the orders that he had received from another 
 general, to make thefoldiers renew their oath of 
 fidelity to the king ? 
 
 Dumourier had then under his command 
 10,000 men in the camp of Maulde near 
 Tournay, and the Auftrians who had a much 
 larger army, were indefatigable in harraffing 
 his troops. Dillon had been lent to remove 
 the general in his command. The minifters 
 were then evidently inimical to the revo- 
 lution ; and, as we lhall fee in the fecond 
 volume of thefe Memoirs, purfued a conduct 
 that was the caufe of the king's misfortunes. 
 The circumftances of the frightful fcene of 
 the loth of Auguft, were not accurately 
 known in the camp. To engage the troops 
 to renew their oath, according to the or- 
 ders of General Dillon, was to prejudge 
 
 the 
 
the caufe of the people, to unfold the ftan- 
 dard of rebellion againft the nation, and to 
 engage the army in a difpute refpefting par- 
 ties, at the very moment when we had a fo- 
 reign enemy to combat ; and the inevitable 
 confequence would have been to have ex- 
 pofed the unfortunate Louis to the daggers 
 and vengeance of the populace. 
 
 Again it is demanded, how can Dumourier 
 juftify his conduct at the time when a Convention 
 was appointed for the purpofe of abolifhing the 
 monarchy and ejlablijhing a republic, in acknow- 
 ledging the authority of this Convention, giving 
 Aisfan&ion to the deflrution of the monarchy, 
 and to the ajfwned power of the republic. 
 
 It was fhortly after the general's refufal to 
 give the oath to the troops in the camp of 
 Maulde, that Fayette ddeited from his ar- 
 my, and Dumouiier was ordered to take the 
 command in his (lead. The king of Pruffia 
 Catered Champagne with a formidable body 
 of troops ; and terror and treafon cniiired. 
 his fuccefs. Longwi and Verdun were taken. 
 Durnourier, being in force in his camp at 
 Grandpre, affembled his army at St. Mane- 
 hould. The hiilory of France does not pre- 
 fent fo dangerous a crifis. The soth of 
 September, the day on which the Conven- 
 tion declared France to be a republic, Du- 
 mouiierand Kellerman repulfed the Pruf- 
 ii:ms, who had attacked them at Valary. 
 The two armies were in light of each other 
 
 1 e very day threatened to come to an 
 < ii^aeement ; and this furely was not the 
 moment to enter into quarrels refpefting the 
 
 form 
 
form of government ! The enemy were to 
 be driven from the territories of France, 
 The country was to be faved. Befidcs, the 
 people were incenfed againft the king, whom 
 they regarded as a traitor. At fuch a period 
 to have maintained his prerogative, woukl 
 have been the fignal for his maflacre. The 
 people would have looked upon fuch an at- 
 tempt as an acr. of treachery, which would 
 have deprived Dumourier of the confidence 
 of his countrymen, and thereby have left 
 France an eafy prey to the enemy. 
 
 As foon as the Pruffians had retreated, 
 Dumourier began the campaign in the Low 
 Countries, and it was not till he had gained 
 the Belgians for allies, and had acquired in- 
 fluence by his fuccefs, that he had any rea- 
 fon to hope that he could give peace to his 
 country, deliver the imprifoned king, and 
 eftabliih on fecure foundations the conftitu- 
 tion of 1789. After that period, circum- 
 fiances arofe fo extremely contrary to all 
 poffible expectation, Dumourier's journey 
 to Paris, and the horrible murder of Louis 
 XVI. fo clearly convinced Dumourier of the 
 guilty aims of the Convention, and the im- 
 placability and power of the Jacobins, that 
 the general refolved at all hazards to fepa- 
 rate the caufe of the country from that of 
 the monfters by whom it. was governed. His 
 plan was bold. No other perfon in France 
 had means in his power, for that purpofe, fo 
 apparently well founded. But every cir* 
 cumftance turned againft him, and, above 
 all, the inconftancy of his army. 
 
 The 
 
The apparent contradiction between Du- 1 
 mourier's political principles and his mili- 
 tary conduct have drawn upon him the un- 
 juit reproaches of many of the Emigrants, 
 and of feveral perfons of good fenfe, who 
 could only judge from their miftaken view 
 of the fafts. As minifter of foreign affairs, 
 Dumourier certainly has (hewn a fincere at- 
 tachment to the Conftitution ; of this his 
 difpatches, his difcourfes to the AfTembly,- 
 are an abundant proof. He has equally op- 
 pofed Republicans and Royalifts. He pro- 
 cured the difmiffion of three minifters of 
 the former party, without leaguing himfelf 
 with the court faction, and in confequence 
 he was expofed to the fury of the Jacobins, 
 who loudly demanded his being fent to the 
 prifon of Orleans. The public opinion of 
 Dumourier's principles at that period, was 
 fo decided, that the following couplet was 
 placed at the bottom of his portrait. 
 
 Inflexible foutien du tronc, et de la loi, 
 11 fut ami du peuple, il tut ami du Roi*. 
 
 Afterwards appointed to the command of 
 the army, he had neither time nor inclina- 
 tion to concern himfelf in the intrigues and 
 crimes of Paris. He was folely employed 
 in repelling the enemy. 
 
 He is reproached, however, with never 
 having changed his party, till he was no 
 longer victorious, but the reproach is un- 
 
 juft; 
 
 * Inflexible fupporter of the throne and of the law, he was at 
 once the friend of the people and of the king. 
 
juft ; for, in the firft place, he never chang- 
 ed his party, fince, although he quitted the 
 Republicans, with whom he had been long dif- 
 gufted, yet he did not join the Royalifts ; and 
 that no doubt might remain refpefting his opi- 
 nion, he inftantly proclaimed his defire of 
 re-eftablifhing the conftitution of 1789. Se- 
 condly, his ientiments were conftantly in 
 oppofition to thofe of the Convention, the 
 Jacobins, and the Minifter of War, during 
 the time of his expedition into Belgia, from 
 the month of November, as may be feen 
 in his correfpondence with Pache, publifhed 
 in January 1793. In this fame month of 
 January, he fent to the Convention four 
 memorials, againft the tyrannical decree of 
 the i5th of December, and he neither pre- 
 fented himfelf to the Convention, nor the 
 fociety of Jacobins ; on the contrary, he 
 gave in his refignation at that period. Third- 
 ly, compelled for his perfonal fafety to re- 
 turn to the army, he perfevered in oppof- 
 ing the tyranny and injuftice of the Con- 
 vention. It was on the i2th of March that 
 he wrote the well-known letter to the Con- 
 vention, which was conlidered by the Jaco- 
 bins as fo great a crime. Hence, before he 
 went to engage the Prince of Cobourg, and 
 to decide the fate of France and her ene- 
 mies on the plains of Nerwinde, his quar- 
 rel with the Convention was open and pro- 
 claimed. He was profcribed. He was, 
 therefore, compelled to overthrow the Con- 
 vention, or perifh. 
 
 C The 
 
The reproach that General Dumourier 
 never quitted the Republican party till he 
 was vanquifhed, was cxpreffed with the 
 greateft bitternefs, in a letter written by 
 the Elector of Cologne, to the General, 
 which was publifhed with a cruel oftenta- 
 tion which that prince might have foreborne 
 againft a man then unfortunate and a fugi- 
 tive. But furely it is to be fuppofed, that 
 this Prince will regret the injuitice done to 
 General Dumourier, when, by the reading 
 oi thcfe Memoirs, he ihall be convinced 
 that it is an injuftice. None of the wrongs 
 the General has endured, has afflicted him 
 fo much as this, fince the author of it is 
 held in fuch juft eftimation throughout Eu- 
 rope. 
 
 Every nation in Europe muft be con- 
 vinced, that itsmoft important interefls are 
 involved in the cataftrophe of the French 
 Revolution. If the belligerent powers fhould 
 re-eftablifh the monarchy, the vengeance of 
 the nobles, and confequent proscriptions 
 will fall on the greater part of the people. 
 But, as the people are fortunately the moft 
 numerous body, as they have enjoyed the 
 bleffings of Liberty, and felt the advan- 
 tage of holding the fovereign power in their 
 hands, the triumph of the nobility and 
 clergy, would be but momentary ; it will 
 endure no longer than while the foreign 
 troops are enabled to fupport them. Every 
 day will be productive of >frefh rebellions, 
 and another Revolution ftill more deftruc- 
 
 tive 
 
tive and terrible than the prefent, will re- 
 ftore the people to the exercife of the fove- 
 reignty. But if, by the imbecility of the 
 allied powers, the National Convention and 
 the Jacobins are enabled to maintain the 
 republic, then will their fyftern of frater- 
 nization be exercifed with irrefiftible force ; 
 and finally, not only the neighbouring na- 
 tions, but the moft diftant countries will 
 imitate the rebellion of France, and all Eu- 
 rope be reduced to a ftate of anarchy, while 
 by a grand and rapid Revolution, the exifU 
 ing governments of the world will be ha- 
 flened to definition. There is a juft me- 
 dium, however, which the fenfible part of 
 the French nation eagerly defire to be a- 
 dopted, and which would infure general 
 tranquillity to Europe ; it is that France 
 fliould become a limited monarchy. 
 
 It is to this end the fovereigns of Eu- 
 rope ought to direft their efforts ; and it 
 is by fo doing only they can fecure the 
 fafety of the monarch who (hall mount the 
 throne of France. It is the only bond of 
 univerfal peace. 
 
 If it be true that the ancient monarchy 
 cannot be reftored in France, it is no left 
 certain that the fpecies of Democracy, which 
 exifts there $t prefent, cannot be of long 
 duration. 
 
 Abftracl notions have been too touch 
 
 confulted in this important matter,, which 
 
 may eafily be reduced to a few limple truths. 
 
 There is no political conftitution which will 
 
 C a 
 
not render a people happy, if it be the 
 choice of the people, and if the govern- 
 ment be enabled to aft without any other 
 reftraint than that of the law. The monar-* 
 chical form of government is exclusively 
 fuited to large and populous nations, be-r 
 caufe fuch only are enabled to provide for 
 the expence of monarchy. The republican 
 form is better fuited to fmall and poor coun-r 
 tries, becaufe it is adminiftered with lefs 
 expence. In the former, there is a unity 
 of power, which coftitutes the perfection 
 of government ; and it alfo includes fecrecy 
 and promptitude, without which great and 
 complicated affairs cannot be faccefsfully 
 conducted. Ariftocracy is neceflary in a 
 Republic ; drawing together the authorities 
 that otherwife would be without union, and 
 excluding the tyranny that refults from the 
 arbitrary will of a people governing them- 
 felvcs. Pure democracy will always pro- 
 duce an inconliftent and ineffectual govern- 
 ment, becaufe it neither admits of union 
 of opinions, nor of prudence, promptitude, 
 nor fecrecy ; and it includes in itfelf prinr 
 ciples that beget diforders among the peo- 
 ple, and are entirely fubverfive of their 
 happinefs. 
 
 All the Republics that we are acquainted 
 with, ancient or modern, have been melior 
 rated by Ariftocracy. We mud not even 
 except Athens, which was devoid of fuccefs 
 and iplendor, excepting when its councils 
 were directed by Ariftides, Themiflocles, 
 
 Cyrnon, 
 
( xv ii ) 
 
 Cymon, and Pericles ; and was reduced to 
 flavery, at firft by Sparta, and afterwards 
 by Philip of Macedon, when the demo- 
 cracy triumphed, and when celebrated men 
 were no longer at the head of its affairs. 
 
 The civilization of our manners, the ex- 
 tent of our commerce, our wealth, our 
 luxuries, in a word all the enjoyments on 
 which are founded the fplendor and hap- 
 pinefs of our age, are oppofed to the efta- 
 blifhmcnt of a Republic. If we will have 
 a perfeft equality among men for the bafis 
 of our political union, we muft go back to 
 the fimplicity of the firft ages, caft away our 
 advantages, and return to a ftate of nature. 
 A government founded on equality can be 
 nothing more than the contra6l of a favage 
 people, who, for the firft time, have ajf- 
 fembled in fociety. 
 
 The French have erred ftrangely in this 
 refpeft. They compare themfelves to the 
 firft Romans ; but Brutus, in freeing Rome 
 from the Tarquins who were deteftable ty- 
 rants, in abolilhing royalty, was better in- 
 formed of the interefts of men, than to cfta- 
 blifh equality and democracy. He preferved 
 the royal authority while he divided it be- 
 tween the Confuls, to whom he left the 
 Lictors, the Fafces, and the Ax, as well as 
 all the real attributes of royalty. He new 
 modelled thefovereign power, by ordaining 
 that the hands which held it fhould- be 
 changed every year. Yet the Confuls were 
 taken from the Senate, that is to fay, from 
 
 the 
 
( xviii ) 
 
 the Ariftocracy. Afterward, indeed, new 
 changes took place in the government, when 
 bold plebeians attacked the privileges of the 
 fenate by their decemvirs and tribunes. But 
 the government remained five hundred years 
 an ariftocracy : and when the people had made 
 innovations, if the fenate had not conceived 
 the fublime policy of rendering the Roman 
 people a nation of conquerors, its govern- 
 ment would have refembled that which we 
 have fince fecn in the Republic of Florence : 
 Always feeble, always agitated by civil wars, 
 and open to the invafion of every ambitious 
 neighbour, Rome would have been con- 
 quered, or would have become, a dower, 
 or a heritage like Florence ; and fcarcely 
 would hiftory have fpoken of that city, 
 which her ariftocracy rendered the moft 
 celebrated of the whole world. 
 
 But even this fpecies of republic which 
 Brutus founded, and which may be confi- 
 dered as a mixed government, extending 
 only over a finall territory, it would have 
 been impoffible to have re-eftablifhed, after 
 the death of Csefar, or Tiberius, or Nero. 
 The, circumftances of the Roman Empire, 
 at that period, would have deftroyed the 
 Republican fpirit in its birth. The bounds 
 of the empire were too much enlarged ; the 
 Romans were too rich ; luxury, arts, and 
 all the enjoyments that fpring from them, 
 had fpread their influence too much to ac- 
 cord with the aufterity of a Republic. And 
 liberty does not necefiarily demand a Re- 
 publican. 
 
publican government. England is a proof, 
 that a people may be free under a monarch. 
 Liberty confifts in being free from obedience 
 to all laws but thofe that the people them- 
 felves have made. The law is the fanc- 
 tuary in which the fovereignty refidcs ; and 
 kings or other magiftrates to whom the exe- 
 cutive power Is delegated, being fubje6t to 
 the law, the people are as free as they can 
 be confidently with their happinefs. Such 
 are the bounds of a true liberty, and all be- 
 yond is anarchy. 
 
 Nothing can be better proved than that a 
 republic cannot now be eftabliftied, without 
 the deftruction of thofe very advantages 
 which diftinguifh the age. We cannot ob- 
 tain the object, without confounding pro- 
 perty, and forcing the minds of men to fub- 
 miffloii by terror and crimes. To be a Re- 
 public, we muft firft be in a ftate of an- 
 archy ; but does anarchy condut to equality 
 and liberty? No. It overthrows all efta- 
 bliihed order ; and, in the place of here- 
 ditary authority, fubftitutes that of the po- 
 pulace, which being directed by lefs reafon- 
 able principles, neceffarily exercifes an in- 
 fupportable ryranny : Of which France is an 
 example. The palaces and rich property of 
 the nobility and clergy cannot be equally 
 divided, and they become the prey of thofe 
 miicreants that are the moft depraved and 
 daring, and perhaps, one day we may fee 
 the Ex-capuchin Chabot, Lord of Chantilly ; 
 Bazire, Lord of Chambord, and Merlin, 
 
 Lord 
 
Lord of Chant eloup ; and filling the places 
 of the great Conde, the Marefchal de Saxe, 
 and the Duke de Choifeuil. Perhaps we 
 fhall fee changes a thoufand times more ex- 
 travagant and ridiculous. And what good 
 will refult to the people by thefe hideous 
 changes ? They will ftill have matters. But 
 of what a new and contemptible race ! 
 
 This difaftrous ttate of things is at prefent 
 confined to France, but its democratic or 
 rather monftrous Republic cannot exift but 
 by the fpreading of anarchy among all its 
 neighbours. Thus her intereft, and every 
 part of her policy, (which me is not even 
 defirous of concealing) confifts in preaching 
 and propagating anarchy. As experience 
 proves that it is eafy to deceive and betray 
 a people in preaching liberty to them, (fince 
 it is lefs difficult to create confufion than to 
 reftore order), and as the poor are more 
 numerous in every country than the rich 
 and the noble, it is to be feared that, tempted 
 by the example and fupport of the licentious 
 people of France, all nations will imitate 
 her exceffes, and turbulence and anarchy 
 become univerfal. 
 
 This confufion, accompanied with all its 
 miferies, is inevitable, if the foreign powers 
 are unable to flop the progrefs of the French 
 Revolution. The forces employed by the 
 allies are fo great that fuccefs is infallible if 
 they be directed by wifdom and prudence. 
 But if the allies abufe their power and rob 
 the unfortunate family, whofe defenders they 
 
 avo\v 
 
( xxi ) 
 
 avow themfelves to be, the excefs of the. 
 French people will bejuftified, and the lame 
 dangers and .misfortunes will again dcfolate 
 Europe. 
 
 General Dumourier has difcuiTed this fub- 
 je6l more fully in another work, which he 
 has delivered to perfonswho have promifed 
 to convey it to the Emperor, and he hopes 
 for the fake of mankind, that it will not be 
 neglected or forgotten, 
 
 Although General Durnourier has afferted 
 the neceillty of founding every liable go- 
 vernment on an ariftocracy, it is not to be 
 underi'lood that he would grant all right and 
 privilege to the nobles and nothing to the 
 people-. Nobility was in its original the 
 reward of virtue ; and the titles, honours, 
 and feudal rights attached to it, are the legi- 
 timate property of their defcendants, and 
 nothing could be more unjuft than to deprive 
 fuch of the nobility as have not borne arms 
 againft France pf any part of their hereditary 
 rights. But nobles fhould have no privileges 
 in the eye of the law, either in engrofling of 
 places, or in exemption from duties. In a 
 free government, all are equal in this refpect, 
 and a nobleman is a iimple citizen, He has 
 no juft claim to the acquifition pf places but 
 by his fervices, his talents, apd his virtues* 
 He has thjs advantages of education, leiiiire, 
 and the j example of his anceftry. Of thefe 
 it is his duty to avail himfelf ; but thefe are 
 his only juft aelvantages ; and in this fyftem 
 is to be found the only true equality that 
 has exifted in any age, or among any people. 
 "P It 
 
( xxii ) 
 
 I It is not becaufe all the* members of the 
 Convention, and the generals of the armies 
 of France have been raifed from among the 
 vulgar that the decrees of the former, or the 
 military conduft of the latter, excite the dif- 
 dain and the indignation of Europe, but be- 
 caufe they are abfurd, criminal, ignorant, 
 and cruel. 
 
 Certainly a ftatemay exift without a king, 
 a court, or a nobility ; but it is not true 
 that a great and powerful nation can exift 
 without nobility ; for nobility being the 
 reward of virtue, becomes a motive not 
 eafily to be deflroyed in the defcendants of 
 the virtuous man. 
 
 This applies only to nobility, as it exifted 
 in its origin, for that which is fold by kings 
 is a wretched abufe, the offspring of the ava- 
 lice of kings, and will'ceafe of itfelf as a ri- 
 diculous vanity, when titles lhall no longer 
 be attended with pecuniary privileges, 
 which the public opinion has forever abo~ 
 lifhed in France, and which if an attempt be 
 made to reftore it by foreign powers will but 
 ferve to produce another Revolution. 
 
 The ariilocracy that General Dumouiier 
 regards as-ncceffary to all government is that 
 of virtue and talent. To govern men, to 
 fit in judgment upon a hues, or to decide on 
 queftions of property, to mftrucft men in 
 the duties of religion, to conduft the citi- 
 zens of a great empire in war, are employ- 
 ments that rnuft be ftudied as other employ- 
 ments are. The declaration of the Mights 
 of Man, and the Confutation to which 'it 
 
 feiveel 
 
( xxiii ) 
 
 ferved as a bafis, will inflruct the future 
 king of the French, in what manner it is 
 his duty to feleft thofe who are to aid him 
 in the government of the kingdom. The 
 right of chooiing iuch men: is the nobleft at- 
 tribute of royalty. Let us examine thatfub- 
 lime Conflitution, and we will find that no 
 condition can be found more happy for a 
 wife and virtuous man than that of a king of 
 France. 
 
 Frenchmen, liflen to the temperate and 
 informed part of Europe, again adopt with 
 fincerity, that true code cf philofophy, and 
 your monarch will be 1 pow- 
 
 erful, your nobility will again become wor- 
 thy of their anceftors, your clergy pious, 
 worthy, and ufeful, and you will become the 
 happieft nation of the earth ! 
 
 Such is the zealous wifh of a man whom 
 you would deftroy, becaufe he favcd your 
 country, and has always fpoken with fince- 
 rity ; whom the Emigrants load with calum- 
 nies, becaufe in quitting his country he 
 would ,not turn his arms againft her like 
 themfelves ; whom the minifters of foreign 
 courts declared to be a dangerous man be- 
 caufe he afferts that the fovereign power re- 
 fides in the people. No fufferings will in- 
 duce him to change either his opinions or 
 his conduct, or his withes for your happinefs, 
 fince reaibn and not the chances of fortune 
 ought to conduct the wife man. 
 
 And you alib, fovereigns of Europe, be 
 perfuadcd that the pcrlecuted man whom 
 you fcem to pondenjijji to whom you refufe 
 
 the 
 
C xx iv ) 
 
 the afylum which he ought to find among 
 you, although he brings no other title than a 
 pure and honeft mind, be .perfuaded that he 
 is influenced by the love of mankind, which 
 infpires him with refpecl: for all juft autho- 
 rity, that he is actuated with the defire of 
 feeing peace reftorcd to all nations, that he 
 abhors war, and ^enounc-s it for hit ''; If, 
 even in the fei vi_ of his country, excepting 
 when he believes it to b neceflary tq an eft 
 the courfe of ambition and iir 
 
 A BRIEf 
 
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THK 
 LIFE OF 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER, 
 
 EXTRACTED FROM A LETTER WRITTEN TO A FRIEND-. 
 
 AT prefent, my dear friend, let us quit 
 
 thefe abftrad notions, too fublime to be the ge- 
 neral fubjed of a letter, and let us enquire what 
 is the relult of fuch principles. It is that we 
 ought to do all the good we can in our ftations ; to 
 be humane; but, above all, to be juft. It is 
 never our duty to enquire what the opinions of 
 men refpecling us will be, and our aclions ought 
 never to be influeiiLcd by an attention to the 
 queition of what may be thought of them. It is 
 in times of great public commotion, during the 
 revolutions of empires, that this principle ought 
 to be maintained with the greateft firmnefs. It is 
 then that the juft man will call forth his talents to 
 fave his country, exert his genius to reprefent 
 the dangers of excefs, and his courage to ftand 
 between the nation and a great crime. 
 
 He will be hated and perfecuted by all parties, 
 fmce he will not flatter the paflions of fa*<5tion ; 
 but he confoles himfelf in recollecting that he 
 performs his duty. Perfecutions appear but an 
 incident that he was to expecl ; and he fupports 
 them with fortitude, becaufe he knows they are 
 the effec"l of miftake that cannot be lafting. 
 
 Hiftory reftores the virtuous man to his jufl 
 rank among his fellow-citizens. My enemies 
 cannot deny that I have acquired great military 
 fame ; but, to obfcure it, they paint me as a faith- 
 
 E lefs, 
 
lefs, immoral, unprincipled man. They would 
 drive me from the theatre of Europe to make room 
 for meaner actors. I am willing to remain a 
 fpeclator of the fcene, but I cannot confent to 
 defcend from the flage with opprobrium. Thefe 
 confiderations have driven me to two decilive 
 measures. The fir ft, to publHh the fads that 
 juftify the latter period of my public life, which 
 has been the moft calumniated. The fecond, to 
 deliver myfelf up into the hands of the emperor, 
 who, instigated and deceived by the grofs calum- 
 nies of my perfecutors, has given orders to have 
 me arreiled. Prudence perhaps would dictate a 
 different conduct on my part, but duty refts on 
 other calculations. Thefe are mine : that this 
 valuntary furrender of myfelf into his power 
 ought to convince the emperor of my innocence, 
 and incline him to lay aiide his prejudices. He 
 is reprefented as a juft man ; I believe him to be 
 fuch. He will value, the. confidence I place in 
 his character, he will produce the accufations they 
 have urged againlt me, and I fhall prove their 
 falfehood. Thefe memoirs will have appeared, 
 in the interval, tojuflify me to the world; and, 
 having gained the confidence of a monarch even 
 more than any other intereiled in the fe-eflablifh- 
 ment of peace and order, I may again render 
 fervices to humanity and my unhappy country. 
 Should the emperor refufe to hear ray juftifica- 
 tion, and conlign me to the ' oblivion of a prifcn, 
 I mall only have to iuffer and to die. But this 
 hiftory of my life will vindicate my name. The 
 confequences of the treachery and injuitice of my 
 perfecutors will fall on themfelves ; and the em- 
 peror himfelf will regret me. 
 
 In the approaching month, I fhall be fifty-five 
 years of age. Shall I really fuffer lefs, if, by 
 fhamefully concealing myfelf, I can efcape a few 
 days of reproach or imprifonment ? 
 
 I will 
 
[ xxv ii ] 
 
 I will now give you a fhort hiftory of my life, 
 which may ierve as a fiipplement to my memoirs, 
 if I am not allowed time to fmim. them. I was 
 born at Cambray in 1739, of paients not affluent, 
 although noble. My father was a man of great 
 virtue and underftanding ; he bellowed on me a 
 very careful and extenfive education; at eighteen 
 years of age I became a foldier ; and at two-^and- 
 twenty I was honoured with the crofs of St. Louis, 
 and had received twenty-two wounds. 
 
 On peace being made in 1 763, I began my tra- 
 vels, to ftudy the languages and manners of diffe- 
 rent nations. The Emigrants have faid, that at 
 this time, I was employed as a fpy by the French 
 miniftry. It is not improbable that the petit- 
 wait res of Tarentum and Athens (if there were 
 any fuch men there) have faid as much of Py- 
 thagoras and Plato. 
 
 In 1768, I was put upon the ftaff belonging 
 to the army in Cornea ; and, having ferved with 
 reputation in the two campaigns of 1768 and 
 1 769, -I was railed to the rank of Colonel. 
 
 In 1770, the Duke de Choifeuil appointed me 
 minifter to the confederates of Poland ; and I 
 commanded a body of men in that country during 
 two campaigns, and concluded feveral very im- 
 portant negotiations with various fuccefs. As the 
 meafures of the confederates were ill concerted, 
 their revolution was unfortunate, .and ended in 
 the partition of Poland. 
 
 In 1772, the Marquis of Monteynard, minifter 
 of war, employed me in correcting and reviling 
 the military code of laws ; at the end of the fame 
 year, this minifter by the expreis order of Louis 
 the XV. entrufted me with the management of 
 a fecret negotiation relative to the revolution in. 
 Sweden ; but, having received my iaftrudions 
 on this affair immediately from the king himfelf, 
 and unknown to the. Duke D'Aiguillon, minifter 
 E2 of 
 
[ xxvi ] 
 
 lefs, immoral, unprincipled man. They would 
 drive me from the theatre of Europe to make room 
 for meaner actors.' I am willing to remain a 
 fpeclator of the fcene, but I cannot confent to 
 defcend from the flage with opprobrium. Thefe 
 con fide rat ions have driven me to two deciiive 
 mealures. The firft, to publiih the facls that 
 juilify the latter period of my public life, which 
 has been the moft calumniated. The fecond, to 
 deliver myfelf up into the hands of the emperor, 
 who, inftigated and deceived by the grofs calum- 
 nies of my perfecutors, has given orders to have 
 me arrefted. Prudence perhaps would dictate a 
 different conduct on my part, but duty refts on 
 other calculations. Thefe are mine : that this 
 valuntary furrender of myfelf into his power 
 ought to convince the emperor of my innocence, 
 and incline him to lay alide his prejudices. He 
 is reprefented as a juft man ; I believe him to be 
 fuch. He will v;ilue the. confidence I place in 
 his character, he will produce the accufations they 
 have urged againlt me, and I fhall prove their 
 falfehood. Thefe memoirs will have appeared,, 
 in the interval, to juftify me to the world ; and, 
 having gained the confidence of a monarch even 
 more than any other intereiled in the re-eftablifh- 
 ment of peace and order, I may again render 
 fervices to humanity and my unhappy country. 
 Should the emperor refufe to hear ray juflifica- 
 tion, and conlign me to the 'oblivion of a prifcn, 
 I fhall only have to iuffer and to die. But this 
 hiftory of my life will vindicate my name. The 
 confequences of the treachery and injiifHce of my 
 perfecutors will fall on themfelves ; and the em- 
 peror himfelf will regret me. 
 
 In the approaching month, I fhall be fifty-five 
 years of age. Shall I really fuffer iefs, if, by 
 mamefully concealing myfelf, I can efcape a few 
 days of reproach or imprifonment ? 
 
 J will 
 
[ xxvii ] 
 
 I will now give you a fhort hifiory of my life, 
 which may ierve as a fupplement to my memoirs, 
 if I am not allowed time to finim them. I was 
 born at Cambray in 1739, of parents not affluent, 
 although noble. My father was a man of great 
 virtue and underitanding ; he bellowed on me a 
 very careful and extenfive education; at eighteen 
 years of age I became a foldier ; and at two-and- 
 twenty I was honoured with the crofs of St. Louis, 
 and had received twenty-two wounds. 
 
 On peace being made in 1763, I began my tra- 
 vels, to ftudy the languages and manners of diffe- 
 rent nations. The Emigrants have faid, that at 
 this time, I was employed as a fpy by the French 
 miniftry. It is not improbable that the petit- 
 wait res of Tarentum arid Athens (if there were 
 any fuch men there) have faid as much of Py- 
 thagoras and Plato. 
 
 In 1768, I was put upon the ftaff belonging 
 to the army in Cornea ; and, having ferved with 
 reputation in the two campaigns of 1768 and 
 1 769, I was railed to the rank of Colonel. 
 
 In 1770, the Duke de Choifeuil appointed me 
 minifter to the confederates of Poland ; and I 
 commanded a body of men in that country during 
 two campaigns, and conducted ieveral very im- 
 portant negotiations -with various fucceis. As the 
 meafures of the confederates were ill concerted, 
 their revolution was unfortunate, .and ended in 
 the partition of Poland. 
 
 In 1772, the Marquis of Monteynard, minifler 
 of war, employed me in corredhig and reviling 
 the military code of laws ; at the end of the fame 
 year, this minifter by the exprefs order of Louis 
 the XV. entrufted me with the management of 
 a fecret negotiation relative to the revolution in 
 Sweden ; but, having received my inftrudions 
 on this affair immediately from the king hirafelf, 
 and unknown to the, Duke D'Aiguillon, mini'fter 
 2 of 
 
( xxviii ) 
 
 of foreign affairs ; I \vas arrefted at Hamburg in 
 1773, and conducted to the Baftile by the orders 
 of thaf minifter. The irrefolute Louis XV. 
 yielding to the importunities of Madame du Barry 
 his miftrefs, and the Duke Aiguillon, difgraced 
 the virtuous Monteynard, forebore to inform the 
 Duke of the authority he had given me to' nego- 
 tiate, and fuffered me to bear the weight of a 
 criminal profecution, which the Duke D' Aiguillon 
 iufpecting the truth, feared to carry to all its ex- 
 tremity. I rejected offers of friendfhip and pro- 
 teclion made me by this defpotic minifter whom I 
 .did not efleem; and after lying fix months in the 
 Baftile, I was baniihed to the Caftle of Caen for 
 three months. 
 
 Louis XV. died foon after ; and D' Aiguillon 
 was difgraced. I had no inclination to take advan- 
 tage of the expiration of the Lettre de Cachet, for 
 the purpofe of regaining my liberty ; I was anxi- 
 ous to be completely juftified, and therefore peti- 
 tioned Lcuis XVI. to remove me to the Baftile and 
 to order a revifion of my trial. The king would 
 not permit me to remain in prifon, and com- 
 manded M. du Muy, M. de Vergennes, and 
 M. de Sartine to revife the trial, and thofe three 
 miniilers figned a declaration that 1 had been un- 
 juftly profecuted. Immediately after I was fent 
 to Lille, in my rank of colonel, to make a report 
 refpecling the new military manoeuvres which the 
 Baron de Pirfch had brought from Pruilia. 
 I had alfo a commiflion to exatnine a plan for 
 irriproving the navigation of the river Lys, and 
 another plan of forming a harbour in the channel 
 at Ambleteufe. And thefe employments occu- 
 pied the latter end of the year 1774, and the whole 
 
 In 1776, I was joined in a commifTion with the 
 Chevalier D'Oify, captain of a man of war, and 
 Colonel la Roziere, one of the ablefb engineers in 
 
 Europe 
 
( xxix ) 
 
 Europe, to determine on a proper place in the 
 channel for the conftruclion of a naval port. I 
 parted the year 1777, in the country twenty 
 leagues from Paris. It is the only period of re- 
 pofe in my life. At the end of that year, I was 
 invited to Paris, by M. de Montbarey, minifter of 
 war, on account of the rupture between England 
 and her colonies, which I had long predicted. 
 
 In 1778, I procured the office of commandant 
 of Cherbourg to be revived and given to me. 
 Being perfuaded that Cherbourg was better calcu- 
 lated that any other place in the channel for a na- 
 tional harbour, and being aided by the zeal, acti- 
 vity, and influence of the Duke dTIareourt, 
 governor of the province, I obtained a decihon, in 
 favour of Cherbourg, of a queftion that had been 
 agitated during an hundred years, concerning the 
 preference to be given to Cherbourg or La Hogue, 
 for the fite of a naval port. From that time till 
 1789, I was occupied in fuperintending the 
 works of Cherbourg ; and, during that period, I 
 was but three times at Paris. When I firft arrived 
 at Cherbourg, it contained no more than feven 
 thoufand three hundred inhabitants, and when I 
 quitted that place it contained nearly twenty thou- 
 fand inhabitants. 
 
 The emigrants, not contented with faying I was 
 a fpy from the mmiftry while I was on my travels, 
 have alfo reported that I was employed by the 
 war office as one of the tools of itsfecret intrigues, 
 although the time that I have palled at Paris, in 
 the different journeys I made to that place during 
 twelve years, did not altogether amount to fix 
 months, and although in theie journeys I very 
 rarely vifited Verfailles. 
 
 Let us review this hiflory : twenty two wounds 
 received in battle, fix campaigns made in Germany, 
 two in Corfica, and two in Poland, important 
 .trufls difcharged, a city raifed from obfcurity to a 
 
 'flou- 
 
xxx ] 
 
 fkmrifhing condition, a naval port eflablifhed, 
 fortified, and rendered fit for the purpoles of the 
 navy, twenty years fpent in travels, that had a 
 knowledge of mankind for their objed, and in fine 
 the ftudy of languages, of the military art, and of 
 the policy of nations ; fuch are the events of which 
 it is compofed. It will be happy for France if 
 (he produce many fuch deiigning and felfifh men. 
 If thofe who were called by their birth, their 
 wealth, and their dignities to maintain the honour, 
 and produce the happinefs of their country, had 
 qualified themfelves with equal care, France would 
 either have needed no revolution, or the revolu- 
 tion would have been more happy and honourable. 
 
 For my part, the revolution was not neceflary to 
 raife me to dignities. I mould foon have been 
 lieutenant-general in the ordinary courfe of pro- 
 niotion, and was ori the point of receiving honours 
 that men at that period fought after. I polYeiTed 
 an income of 2o,coo livrcs, which was equal to 
 my wants and defires. Yet I could not but fee 
 that France was difgraced abroad, and ruined 
 within. I forefaw that (he haftened to this latter 
 period of her mifery ; and have often warned thofe 
 of the mimfters, whom I efteemed to be honeit 
 men, of the event. 
 
 When the revolution commenced, I deprived 
 its character of much of its evil in the place where 
 I commanded. At Cherbourg, the exceiTes of the 
 populace were puniihed by me with death ; but 
 the people could not accufe rne of being inimical 
 to' their liberty. Thofe who were placed in 
 like ikuations would have rendered an ineftimable 
 fcrvice to their country, in exerting the lame firrn- 
 nefs with the fame difcernmenu 
 
 The military governments of towns in France 
 being fupprerTed, I went to Paris, where, during 
 two years, I fludied the influence and character of 
 the revQlution. The flight of the princes of France 
 
 was 
 
[ xxxi ] 
 
 was an irreparable injury done to the caule of the 
 king. I fore Taw that the exercife of the Veto would 
 not produce the end that was propofed by it, and 
 would occafion the ruin of the monarch's caufe, 
 and I oppoled it by all the means that were in my 
 power. 
 
 In 1791, I was appointed to the command of the 
 country from Nantes to Bourdeaux. At that period 
 a religious war raged in La Vendee, and the peo~ 
 pie laid wafte the cailies and lands of the nobilky, 
 I had the good fortune to calm the minds of the 
 people, and to preferve tranquillity in that coun- 
 try till the month of February, 1792, when I was 
 recalled to Paris, was raifed to the rank of lieute- 
 nant-general, and appointed rninifter of foreign 
 atiairs. 
 
 I am reproached with having caufed the war by 
 my counfels ; but I (hall prove that the war was 
 already inevitable, when I began my adminiftra- 
 tion, and that indeed it might be faid to have com- 
 menced. I acknowledge, however, that my opinion 
 was decidedly for the declaration of war, as was 
 alfo that of the king, who, not only approved of my 
 memorial to the National AiTembly on that fubjecl, 
 (which was three days in his hands) but made 
 corrections in it, and himfelf compoied the dif- 
 courfe he delivered to the ailembly on that 
 occaiion. 
 
 At the end of three months, finding myfelf em- 
 barrarled by the various factions, and being 
 fincerely deiirous to fee the king's council poffei- 
 iing proper dignity, and his meaiures governed by 
 conftitutional principles, I changed the miniftiy, 
 and obtained a promiie that the king would fanction 
 two decrees which appeared expedient to his fer- 
 vice. Having done Ib, I would have retired from 
 the adminiftration. The king would not grant 
 me his permiflion ; the miniilry was again changed 
 by his order, and I took the war department. But, 
 
 icon 
 
( xxxii ) 
 
 foon perceiving that the court had deceived me, I 
 refolved noc to be the inftrument of their intrigues. 
 I predicted to the unhappy king and queen all 
 the misfortunes in which they were involving 
 themfelves, and I gave in my refignation three 
 days after being appointed miniiler of war. 
 
 I was not driven from the councils of the king 
 as the emigrants have afierted,. but refigned in 
 oppofition to the entreaties of Louis. He was two 
 days before he would accept of my refignation, 
 and he did not fuffer me to depart without ex- 
 prerling the deepeft regret. 
 
 After that period, I commanded the armies with 
 the greatefl fuccefs. If the French had difplayed 
 as much moderation and virtue as they have en- 
 joyed of fuccefs, peace had been long iince reftored 
 to Europe ; Louis would have been on his throne ; 
 and the nation would not have been, as now, 
 ilained with crimes, and the ilave of anarchy. 
 France would have been happy and illuftrious 
 under her conftitution and her king. 
 
 I have now, my worthy friend, given you a 
 fliort hiltory of my life, and it will Hand in the 
 place of one more circumftantial, if opportunity 
 be not given me to prepare a fuller account for 
 the public. My heart is unburthened in fending 
 you this letter. Here, I wait the orders of the 
 emperor, and the deciiion of my fate, without 
 inquietude. My mind, far from being weakened 
 is fortified by difaflers ; and I fliall be always 
 myfelf. 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 O F 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 
 
 BOOK L 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 Of the General State of Affairs In France \ 
 
 1 N the early periods of the Revolution we have 
 feen the French combating for their indepen- 
 dence with courage* But there was too much vio- 
 lence in their mode of acquiring liberty to afford 
 any hope that they would enjoy either that or their 
 fubfequent fucceffes with moderation. Having 
 been hitherto victorious, they had no doubt that 
 they were now invincible* They no longer thought 
 of maintaining the good-will of a people who had 
 received them with open arms. They beheld no- 
 thing but conquefts before them ; and, while they 
 tyrannized over the minds of their newly adopted 
 brethren by turbulent clubs they robbed them of 
 
 F their 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 their property; and left them without any fpecieS 
 of liberty either moral or phyfica-L- 
 
 Every pelfon 'of* cha&Vcier and^polhical expe- 
 rience had retired from the management of affairs, 
 to efcape the perfections of an Ochlocracy that go- 
 verned under the fanclion of the dreadful fociety 
 of Jacobins. The King was in prifon. 1 he 
 worthy .of every defcription were perfecuted un- 
 der the names of Feuillans, Moderes, and In- 
 triguers. The conftitution was deftroyed. Paris 
 was in the hands of the federates, invited there 
 by the Girondine party, but who, on their ar- 
 rival at Paris, had been gained by the Jacobins. 
 Thefe federates now threatened to bring to the 
 fcaffold Pethion, Briffot, and all the leaders of the 
 Girondine party. But their threats were loudeft 
 againft General Dumourier, whom Marat, Rober- 
 fpierre, and the other heads of the Jacobins pointed 
 out as the inurument and protector of that party, 
 then diftinguiihed by the name of the politicians*. 
 This was a prejudice againft the general altogether 
 unfounded; for he was unconnected with either 
 party, having no more efteem for one than the 
 other, but regarding them as equally adverfe to the 
 tranquillity of France, which he faw no means of 
 effobliihing but by a revolution capable of de- 
 ftroying the influence of both. To this end his 
 army was his only engine; and it will foon be 
 feen how little there was to be relied on. 
 
 France at the period of which we are now fpeak- 
 ing, ailumed an appearance of profperky that de- 
 ceived and elated the people; and more especially, 
 the predominant party. But (he had rendered 
 herfelf odious to foreign nations; and was, in 
 
 truth, 
 
 *, The word in the original is Tolitiqvcs. At Paris, the Circa- 
 difts were called Les Politiques, or Les Hommes d'Etat. But thefe 
 epithets were ufed in difdain, becaufe the politics of Statefmen 
 were deemed to be unworthy of the firaplicity of freemen. 
 
35 ) 
 
 truth, divided and weakened within herfelf. On 
 the fide of Italy, the French army was extended 
 among the Alps by the acqiuiition of Savoy ; and 
 was further aggrandized by the addition of the 
 county of Nice. Theie territories had incorpo- 
 rated themfelves with the Republic, but violence 
 alone was the author of the union. 
 
 Clubs compofed by a few corrupt men, who 
 could exiil only by a change in the government,., 
 were eilablifhed in every city by the Jacobin fol- 
 diers that were fcattered throughout the different 
 armies. Their violent reiblutions at once acquired 
 the validity of law. Queftions were not even put 
 to the vote. Every thing was carried by menaces 
 and force. And patriotic addreffes arrived at Paris 
 from the foot of the Alps, from the mountains of 
 the principality of Bafle, from Mayence, Liege, and 
 the cities of Belgium. The National Convention 
 believed, or affected to believe, that the bleiTmgs 
 of our condition were afcertained by foreigners 
 ranging themfelves under our colours, 
 
 Geneva became a club inilead of a republic. 
 Claviere gave a icofe to old refentments that he 
 harboured againfthis country; and being appoint- 
 ed minifler of finance by the Girondine party, he 
 facrificed General Monte fquieu, who, in dilcharge 
 of his duty as general of the army in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Geneva, had attempted to fave that 
 city and Switzerland from the baneful influence 
 of the Jacobins. 
 
 The principality of Porentruy, deceived by Go- 
 bet biihop of Paris, and by his nephew Ringler, 
 two defpicable adventurers, had alfo incorporated 
 itfelf with France, and had adopted its dangerous 
 reveries, 
 
 Cuflinc was mailer of Worms, Spire, and 
 
 Mayence; but he had neglected to enter Coblentz, 
 
 and had evacuated Franckfort, after having excited 
 
 the deteftation of the inhabitants againft the ava- 
 
 F 2 rice 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 rice and turbulence of a people in whofe braids 
 the torch of philofophy had lighted up the flames 
 of difcord. 
 
 Between Outline's army and that commanded 
 by Dumourier in the Netherlands, ap other had 
 been placed under the orders of General Bournon- 
 ville. But this army had been nearly annihilated 
 in a difgraceful expedition undertaken by its gene- 
 ral agatnft Treves, after he had loft the opportu- 
 nity of attacking that city with advantage. One 
 third of his army being thus deftroyed, the re- 
 mainder retired for the purpofes of recruiting in- 
 to cantonments in Lorraine. The Prufnans and 
 Auftrians took poflefiion of the intervals left open 
 by this retreat ; and their pofition, connected with 
 Coblentz, Treves, and Luxembourg, entirely cut 
 oft the communication between Cuftine and Du- 
 mourier ; fo that there was no longer any concert 
 in the efforts of the two armies. And indeed Du- 
 mourier's plans had already been deranged by the 
 flupid pride of Cuftine, by the ignorance of the 
 convention, and by the treachery of Pache, Meu- 
 nier, and HaiTenfratz, who having the direction of 
 the war department and refolving to ruin Dumou- 
 rier, had diforganized the armies and with-held 
 their means of fubfiftence. The Netherlands were 
 in the hands of the French army called the army of 
 Belgium, compofed of that of Dumourier and the 
 army of the Ardennes commanded by General Va- 
 lence. The latter was not more than 15,000 
 ftrong* The two armies occupied Aix-la-Chapelle 
 and the banks of the Meule. Clubs agitated all 
 the cities of Belgium. The convention had fent 
 commiilioners to execute the odious decree of the 
 35th of December, that fequeilered the public 
 property of Belgium; and fo had frufrrated the 
 hopes of uniting thofe rich provinces to the 
 French republic although that union was die very 
 objecl of this opprellive decree. But the con- 
 vention 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 vent ion were eager to feize on the wealth of Bel- 
 gium previous to any union. Such was the plan 
 of the financier Cambori ; and he beaded of the 
 project. 
 
 The immoral and ferocious difpofitions of the 
 fix commiflioners employed in this affair were well 
 calculated to ruin thefcheme. Danton was a man 
 of great energy of character ; but was without edu- 
 cation and equally detefiabie in mind as he was 
 coarfe and difguilful in appearance. La Croix 
 was an adventurer, a debauchee, and a braggart ; 
 and was deftitute of all fenfe and honour. Camus, 
 the moft rugged, haughty, aukward, and pedantic 
 of the Janfenifls. Trielliard, little differing from 
 Camus. Merlin of Douay, a well-meaning man ; 
 but fplenetic, and infected with extravagant and 
 theoretic notions. And Gofluin, a monfter of a 
 brutal and fordid fpirit*. 
 
 To thefe commiflioners were joined thirty-two 
 others named by the executive council, but re- 
 commended by the club of Jacobins at Paris. The 
 greater part of thefe affiftants were mifcreants who 
 came only to mauacre and pillage throughout the 
 rich provinces of Belgium. They over-ran the 
 unfortunate country ; and while, by the terror of 
 
 labres 
 
 * Fhefe portraits feern to be drawn with too much (eycrlty. If 
 much may be faid againft thefe deputies, it is alfowell known 
 that they have rendered many fervices to their country. We 
 mould have been unwilling to have pubiifucd thefe and ether 
 perfonalities that are to be fbun'd in General Dumoarier's Me- 
 moirs, if we had had any right to fupprcfs them, and if we 
 are not morever perfuaded tl;at the important fact?, extonllve 
 views, and ufefui objects of the work would amply compenfate 
 for fome intemperate pafTages. Befides when we recoll'ecl: the 
 ingratitude and grofs calumnies that have purfued General Du- 
 moarier (w!;o probably has difcovered more talent and conducT: 
 than any other perfon in the revolution, and who certainly as a 
 general has gained the moft important victories and acquired the 
 greateft glory) we cannot wonder that in writing of his bitterest 
 enemies, he has indulged himfelf in writing faiire inftcad oi 
 hiilory. Note bj ihc Britifn Edihr. 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 fabres and fufees, they drove the inhabitants to de- 
 mand their being incorporated with the French 
 republic, thefe men plundered the churches and 
 palaces, emptied the coffers and fold the furniture 
 of all who fell utider their difpleafure, and whom 
 they marked with the odious name of Ariftocrats ; 
 and whom often coniifting of fathers of families 
 and old men, and women and children, they fent 
 as hoilages into the fortified towns of France. 
 
 The north and weft of France began to unfold 
 the feeds of difcontent againit this bloody and 
 horrible anarchy. The revolters of La Vendee 
 were not however dangerous as yet; and there 
 had been no difficulty in cruftiing them utterly, if 
 any forefight had exiiled in the National Conven- 
 tion, or in the Councils of the executive power. 
 But what is to be expected from a government in 
 which while the wife heiitated, mad men Hep in 
 and decide. 
 
 Two factions equally attrocious, the Mountain, 
 and the Girondine party, divided the Convention. 
 
 The former, made up of the moll furious Jaco- 
 bin?, neither palliated their wicked principles nor 
 their crimes. They fpoke of nothing but blood 
 :md death. And, being without capacity to govern, 
 having neither knowledge nor digefted plan, they 
 would fufier no dominion whatever. Not even the 
 principal men of the faction could boa It of ruling 
 it ; and the liberty of the faction confuted in an- 
 archy. 
 
 The other faction, compofed of metaphyficians 
 and intriguing ftatefmen, had long abuied the 
 iuperiority acquired by their tulents, and their 
 more cultivated education, They had treated the 
 jacobins with difdain. The executive council was 
 their inftrument. And they imagined they fe- 
 rurely held the reins of government. But the 
 Convention had been difguited by their infolence 
 <md prick ; and it was knowp, that this faction 
 
 were 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 were the enemies of royalty only becaufe they af- . 
 pired to fill its place. Hence the independent part 
 of the .aflembly, thofe men who execrated the atro- 
 cities of the Jacobins, flood yet more in fear of the 
 ambition of Condorcet, Briffot, Pethion, Genfonne, 
 Guadet, Vergniaux, &c. And thus all other 
 parties became united to humble the prefumptu- 
 ous Girondiils. 
 
 The ineafure of bringing the unhappy king to 
 trial, refulted from the hatred of the two factions,- 
 It ferved them mutually for food ; but the Giron- 
 diils have too late difcovered how fatal it has been 
 to them. Louis, the victim of their ambition and 
 of their cowardice dragged them down in his fall, 
 and left the field open to the triumph of the Ja- 
 cobins. 
 
 The factions that fplit the affembly, divided the 
 departments alfo ; each efpouiing the paffions of 
 their deputies. Bourdeaux, Marfeilles, and Lyons, 
 hated the Mountain ; and were the firft to begin an 
 oppofition, that has fince degenerated into a civil 
 war. 
 
 The Pyrennees and the inclemency of the fea- 
 fon, ilill fecured the frontier provinces of Spain ; 
 and that kingdom, at its leifure, collected the 
 forces that were afterwards directed again Roufiil- 
 lon ; while the Convention, occupied entirely by 
 their own quarrels, and by the ilate of Paris, pro- 
 vided none of the means of repelling the attack. 
 
 Paris, the moil: miferable and moil guilty city 
 that has exiiled, thought herfelf the rival of Rome, 
 becaufe in the fpace of a few months, {he had be- 
 come the fcene of crimes, marTacres, and cata- 
 flrophes, that were the accumulation of ages in 
 the capital of the Roman empire. Forty theatres, 
 always crowded, amufed her trifling, cowardly, 
 and cruel inhabitants ; while a fmall band of vil- 
 lains, no lefs ridiculous in their pretenfions, than 
 barbarous in their deeds, fupported by two or 
 
 three 
 
three thoufand dependants, the outcafts of the 
 provinces, and many of whom, indeed, were 
 not Frenchmen, deftroyed the memory of the 
 maffacres and horrors of each evening^ by thofe of 
 the fucceeding morning. The frightful cavern of 
 the Jacobins vomited forth every ill, and fpread 
 terror through every houfe. All men of property 
 trembled, and citizens, who, in peaceful times 
 would have been mild and virtuous, hardened their 
 hearts againft pity, and were ready to applaud 
 guilt, left ' they {hould become its victims. All 
 who had the remains of virtue or ihame were 
 fled or were driven from the adminiftration of the 
 department, of the municipality, and of the fec- 
 tions. An infallible fign always precedes the fall 
 of nations. Then good men hide themfelves ; 
 and the wicked and violent alone remain in the 
 conducl of affairs. And in this crifis, it is not 
 even in the power of fupernatural aid to fave the 
 people from the effeds of public phrenzy. 
 
 Such was the terrible fituation of France in the 
 beginning of the year 1793. Such is the gulph 
 to which democracy leads, when the populace 
 takes the place of the nation, and tyrannizes over 
 it by the Oligarchy of a few depraved wretches 
 feleded from "the refufe of the people. At Rome 
 a fenate, during many ages, controuled popular 
 vehemence ; and directed it, not towards happi- 
 nefs, but to the aggrandifement of. the nation ; 
 for Rome turned her arms abroad, that {he might 
 not deftroy her own offspring. France has no 
 fuch counterpoife as that of the Senate of Rome ; 
 and thewant of virtue in the governing party can 
 bring nothing but difgrace and misfortune on her 
 head. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the State of the Armies. 
 
 ALTHOUGH the political condition of 
 France had even pofTeffed more folidity, and had 
 been regulated by a prudent aflembly, although 
 France had gained the hearts of the nations to 
 which her arms had opened her the way inftead 
 of having difgufted them by a tyranny more of- 
 fenfive than that of a formal defpotifm, it had 
 been impofiible that this new Republic fhould 
 fupport herfelf againft the interefts of the whole of 
 Europe, unlefs (he had eftablimed a military fyftem 
 capable of making head againft a univerfal attack 
 upon her territory by fea and land. The National 
 Convention, never miftrufting themfelves on any 
 fubjecl, becaufe they were ignorant of the political 
 combinations of things, iffued a decree on the l gth 
 of November, 179*2, againft every defpot in the 
 univerfe, and invited the people every where, to 
 throw off their yoke ; promiiing them protection 
 and fraternity on condition of their adopting the 
 French Syftem. But they ought to have humbled 
 the Empire, PrufTia, Spain, andRufTia, before they 
 made fo proud a declaration. A juft afTembly, an 
 ailembly regarding the rights of man united in 
 fociety, (for man in a favage (late has no rights, 
 and a ftate of nature confounds all rights) would 
 have perceived fuch a decree to have been unjufL 
 The maxim of compelling men to come in is not more 
 philofophical in a focial view, than it is in theo- 
 logy. The Jacobin preacher is not lefs unjuft, 
 than the preacher of the church of Rome ; and it 
 is unbecoming of liberty to be propagated, like 
 the alcoran, by the fword. 
 
 G But 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 Bat in taking the violent ftep of the igth of 
 November, it will at leaft be iuppofed, that the 
 Convention, deiiring to range all men on the lide 
 of liberty, had taken due precautions that the 
 decree fhould be fomething more than a vain and 
 dangerous boaft, and consequently that they had 
 placed their military eftabiifhment on the itrongeit 
 footing. General Dumourier, on becoming mini- 
 iler of the war department (which iituation he 
 held but three days, being appointed on the 1 3th 
 and quitting it on the i6:h of June, 179*2) read a 
 bold memorial to the National Affembly, proving 
 clearly, that they thought not of the army, and 
 that far from placing it in a ftate to fupport the 
 war, they were trilling with the public liberty and 
 fafety. This memorial was forgotten. The cam- 
 paign was begun. The General's fuccefs which 
 ought to have gained him the confidence of his 
 fellow-citizens, if no further yet as far as refpecfted 
 the military department, ferved merely to throw 
 fufpicion on every advice he gave them. They 
 not only altered his plan of the campaign, but 
 they were deiirous of retarding his too rapid pro- 
 grefs. The Girondine party frankly told him, 
 they fhould be extremely lorry to fee him force the 
 enemy too promptly to demand peace, fince they 
 feared the confequence of the return of the army 
 before they fhould have fmifhed the ccnilitution. 
 
 The Jacobins, who fuppofed the General to be 
 connected with the Girondine party, accufed him 
 of ambition. Their contemptible journals, efpe- 
 cially that of Marat, affected to make him at one 
 time diclator, at another Duke of Brabant, and at 
 another head of the Orleans faction, and under 
 this latf fiction, defcribed him as intending to place 
 the eldeft fon of the infamous and odious Philip, on 
 the throne. Nothing could be more contradictory 
 thanthefe calumnies ; for if Dumourier delired to 
 be dictator, he furely was-not the agent of the houfe 
 
 of 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 of Orleans ; if his aim was to be Duke of Brabant, 
 he had then an interefr, foreign to the party in- 
 trigues of his country. But the abfurdeit accuia- 
 tions were fufficient in France to tarnifti inno- 
 cence. It has however feen that calumny was too 
 feeble to flop the progrefs of a victorious general ; 
 and machinations of a more effective nature were 
 employed, and which ended in the destruction of 
 the miliary refources. 
 
 Servan, having discovered the difficulties of the 
 war department, feigned iicknefs ; and while he 
 declared the infufficiency of his Strength for the 
 fatigues of his Situation, he appointed himSelf ge- 
 neral of the army of the Pyrennees. Servan was. 
 lieutenant colonel in the preceding month of May- 
 His health unequal to the duties of the cabinet, 
 was robuft enough to Support the fatigues of the 
 field. Yet the Revolution, it Seems, was under- 
 taken to reform the improper diitribution and 
 abuSe of employments ! 
 
 Roland, minifter of the interior department, 
 was the moil: intriguing and leaft capable of the 
 Girondine party. He had a friend, named Pache ; 
 a man of talents and great zeal, who had formerly 
 been Secretary to the MareSchal de Caftries and 
 had educated his Son. Roland imagined he could 
 make himSelf matter of the war department, in 
 procuring it for Pache. We (hall afterwards See 
 how far the reSult was favourable to the deiigns of 
 Roland. 
 
 Pache now became miniiler of war, chofe the 
 following men, or was obliged to appoint them, to 
 Sill the principal departments of his office; MeuSr 
 nier, an academician and a man of Senie, but of as 
 depraved a mind as could be found in France ; 
 another academician, named Vandermoncle ; a Ja- 
 cobin who had rendered himSelf ridiculous by the 
 aflecled vulgarity of his manners, and dangerous 
 by his intrigues, and who had a [Turned the name of 
 G 2 Haffenfratg 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 HaiTenfratz to conceal the name of le Lievre, tin- 
 der which he would have been recognized to his 
 difgrace ; and Audouin who was Vicar of St. Eu- 
 flache and ion^in-law of Pache. 
 
 Thefe new minifters threw every thing into 
 confufion in the different departments of the war 
 office, during the moft important and hazardous 
 campaign. The few perfons of experience that 
 remained were discharged and their iituations rilled, 
 not merely by Jacobins, but by fuch of them as 
 had diftmguifhed themfelves in the mafiacres of 
 the firft fix days of September. The adminiilra- 
 tions eftablilhed for the fupply of arms, clcathing, 
 provifions, and for regulating the hofpitals, were 
 aboliihed. The old and experienced commifFaries 
 and contractors were either difmifled, or calumni- 
 ated, or dragged to the bar of juftice ; or thrown 
 into prifon, and rendered infamous without being 
 heard. As the r e imprudent and unjufl meafures 
 equally afifecled all the aimies, although particu- 
 larly aimed at that of Dumourier, the complaints 
 of the generals were univerfal. Commiflioners 
 irom the Convention were fent to examine into 
 the truth of the complaints, Their reports were 
 alarming. But the committee of military affairs, 
 who in no cafe could have any other effect than to 
 cmbarrafs the meafures of the war department 
 however wifely concerted, was now made the in- 
 ftrument of juftifying the falfe flatements of Pache 
 in direct oppofition to thofe of the generals and 
 commiflioners. The Convention parTed to the 
 order of the day ; and Pache efcaped with having 
 been fimpiy ordered to the bar, and with the 
 reproaches which the generals continued to lay 
 upon him. 
 
 The commifTioners Camus, Goffoin, Danton, 
 and la Croix, were themfelves witnerTes in the 
 month of December, of the difireffed condition of 
 the army jn the camp of Liege ; and rendered an 
 
 account 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 account of it in their reports to the Convention, 
 but without applying any effective remedy to the 
 evil. The army was compofed of forty-eight bat- 
 talions ; the completed of which were from three 
 hundred and fifty, to four hundred men, and 
 many of them were not more than two hundred : 
 the whole amounting t,o between fourteen and fif- 
 teen thoufand foot. The cavalry were about three 
 thoufand two hundred. Moil of the foldiers were 
 without (hoes, and encamped in the mud, their 
 feet being protected by nothing but hay twilled 
 together. The reft of their cloathing correfponded 
 with this deplorable appearance. Clothes had 
 been diftributed to fonie, but thofe, to the num- 
 ber of fifteen hundred, deferted and returned to 
 their refpeclive homes. The rick filled the hof- 
 pitals, where they were in want of every thing. 
 To fucha flate was the victorious army of Jemappe 
 reduced after the conqueft of Belgia. 
 
 This army had been obliged to flop fliort on 
 the banks of the Meufe for want of provifions ; 
 and, if its difrrefs had been known to general C'iair-* 
 fait, he might have engaged it with great advan- 
 tage, for the carriages of the artillery were aimoft 
 entirely defiroyed, and in the preceding month of 
 December fix thoufand artillery horfes had died at 
 Tongres and at Liege for want of forage. The 
 foot had but ten thoufand fufecs in a condition for 
 fervice. The cavalry were in want of boots, fad- 
 dies, cloaks, carbines, piftols and fabres. The 
 army was without money ; and often the fiaff offi- 
 cers raifed contributions among themielves to 
 make out the foldiers fubfiftence-money for the 
 
 day. 
 
 General Dumcurier could have fupplied all 
 thefe wants in Brabant, Liege, and Holland ; and 
 had even entered into the neceiiaiy contracts and 
 made reports refpeding them ; but every plan was 
 rejected and all his arrangements deftrgyedi The 
 
 commif- 
 
commiflary Ron fin, had orders to condemn, 
 embarrafs and retard every meafure. His hofti- 
 lity was open ; he paid no regard to the opinion 
 of the general : for he was certain of the iupport 
 of the military committee, of the financier Cam- 
 bon, of Pache and his dependants, together with 
 the iecret protection of the commifiioners of the 
 Convention, who appeared to blame thefe difor- 
 ders, but fuffered them to remain without a check, 
 and in the account they rendered in the month of 
 January excufed Ronlin although ..they acknow- 
 ledged him to be unfit for his fituation. 
 
 Manufactures were ellablHhed at Paris for every 
 tiling wanted in the armies. Cloth was convey- 
 ed from Liege to Paris to make clothing for the 
 troops. Leather was bought at Liege, at Dinans, 
 and all along the banks of the Meufe, to make 
 faces at Paris, which were fent to the army at nine 
 livres each pair, altho' at Liege flioescofl. no more 
 than four livres, or four livres ten fous per pair. 
 Cloaks that could be manufactured at Antwerp for 
 nineteen or twenty-one livres each, coll fifty livres 
 each at Paris ; and cloaks were fent from Paris to 
 the army. The corn of the Netherlands was fent 
 to Nantz, from Nantz to Paris, was ground in the 
 mills of Mont Martre, near Paris, and fent back to 
 the Netherlands. 
 
 The greateii evil that refulted from thefe dif- 
 orders, was their influence on the conduct of the 
 foidiery. We have already taken a review of the 
 character of thefe troops, and have feen how diffi- 
 cult it was for General Dumourier to avail himfelf 
 of their courage. It may even be laid, thai, he 
 had accompliihed what feemed to be impofiible ; 
 and that in beating the Pruflians and Auiirians," he 
 had obtained a victory more tedious and difficult 
 over his licentious foldiers, having introduced dil- 
 cipline and love of order into an army, one fourth 
 
 part 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 part of which was compofed of troops of the line, 
 infected by the fpirit of the times, and the other 
 three parts of volunteers, each having an opinion 
 of his own, and each proud of his victories, and 
 rendered fufceptible of more mifchief than good, 
 by his notions of equality. 
 
 In the beginning of the campaign of 1792, the 
 battalions were in want of officers. The iuperior 
 officers were ill chofen, and were without influence. 
 The foldiers themfelves chofe their captains, 
 lieutenants, and fubaltern officers, and hence thefe 
 officers were fubjecl to the caprice of men, . who 
 acknowledged no fuperior. A {ingle Jacobin was 
 Tufficient to ruin a battalion by his licentious dif- 
 courfes ; and it was only by culpable condefcen- 
 tions that an officer could preferve his rank, or 
 obtain promotion. 
 
 The city of Liege was the tomb of Frenchmen. 
 They died there of hunger and every fpecies of 
 diftrefs. And this city, where the army knew 
 nothing but wants, was more fatal to it than Ca- 
 pua, with its enjoyments, had been to the Cartha- 
 ginians. 
 
 The people of Liege had carried the Revolu- 
 tionary fpirit to an excefs, proportioned to the 
 excefs of their fufferings when they were betrayed 
 and fubdued by the PruiTians. They had there- 
 fore withdrawn their confidence from the leaders 
 of the Revolution, who laboured to fecure liberty 
 on the foundations of wife principles. Fabry and 
 Cheftrel, who were very honeft men, and wiihed 
 only ior the welfare of their country, had entirely 
 loll their influence. The populace of Outremeufe, 
 perhaps the moft dangerous in Europe after thofe 
 of London and Paris, had made themfelves maf- 
 ters, not of the government, for there was none, 
 but of the public force. Thofe unhappy men 
 thought only of vengeance and punimment. 
 They conducted the French fpldiers into the 
 
 houf * 
 
houfes of their particular enemies, whom they 
 treated as Ariftocrats ; that is to fay, they pillaged 
 and murdered them. This cruel inteftine war, in 
 which each French foidier took an active part 
 either for or againit his hoft, deftroyed the little 
 difcipline. and good ronducl: which had hitherto 
 exifted in the French army in the midit of mifery, 
 want, and complicated diiireiles. But it was im- 
 pofiible to punifh, for it was impcfubie to diicover 
 the guilty. The people of I/iege call the fault 
 upon the French ; and the French recriminated 
 upon the people of Liege. The General would 
 have eftablHhed the pumfhment of death for fuch 
 crimes. It had even been demanded of him by 
 his army in a moment of enthufiafm. But the 
 Commiliioners, while they feemed to approve of 
 this feverity, fecretly and effectually oppofed it. 
 Since that time, we have feen that one of the 
 caufes of the execution of the unfortunate Cuftine, 
 was the having eftablifhed the punifhrnent of death 
 in his army. 
 
 Durhourier's army occupied cantonments from 
 Aix-la-Chapelle to Liege, in which cities were all 
 the officers who could not procure quarters with 
 their battalions. So that the foldiers were almoft 
 left without commanders. Want had carried 
 marauding to its utmoft pitch. The foldiers rob- 
 bed in bands from village to village ; and the psa- 
 fants took their revenge in killing fuch as, at any 
 time, they found fingle. 
 
 General Dumourier, prevented by thefe circum- 
 fhmces from pufhing on to Cologne, and forcing 
 Clairfait to repafs the Rhine, reiblved at lead to 
 fecure the Meufe. lie therefore ordered the 
 army of the Ardennes, confuting of 15000 men, 
 and commanded by General Valence, to join him ; 
 and placed them on his right, in the countries of 
 Stavelo, Malmedy, Spa, Verviers, and Huy. A 
 body of 18000 men under the command of Gene- 
 
 jal 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 ral d'Harville, occupied the Meufe from Givet to 
 Namur ; having his out-pofts at Ciney, Marche, 
 and Rochefort. The army under General Miranda 
 occupied the left from Tongres to Ruremonde. It 
 confiiled of 18000 men. New battalions, .lately 
 arrived from France, formed the gamfon of the 
 Netherlands. And this line along the Meufe a- 
 mounted to from 65,000 to 70,000 men ; and would 
 have been fufficient to have feized upon the conn-* 
 try between the Meufe and the Rhine, and to have 
 occupied the banks of that la ft river from Burick 
 to Cologne, if it had been pcfiible, firft, to take 
 Maeltricht, which General Dumourier was not 
 permitted to do, although he had propofed it in 
 the beginning of December, and had it then in 
 his power; fecondly, to place a garrifon in Juliers, 
 which was alfo forbidden hiixx becaufe it was 
 deemed necefTary to keep terms with the Elector 
 Palatine, left he ihould deliver the pafTage of Man- 
 heim to the Imperial army, by which means they 
 would have cut off the army of Cuitine from 
 Alface ; and, lailly, if the army of Belgia had been 
 provided with proviiions, arms, cioathing and 
 money, fo that it might have marched in the month 
 of December, and have forced the Imperialists to 
 repafs the Rhine. 
 
 General Dumourier was perfuaded of thQ im- 
 poilibility of his preferving his poiition on the 
 Meufe, while he fhould neither be in pcfTefiion of 
 Gueiders, Venloo, Maeftricht, nor Juliers, He 
 wrote to the Convention and the Minifter of the 
 War Department to that effecl. The reafcns of 
 his opinion will be found in his correfpondence 
 with rache, printed in January, 1793. It was to- 
 ward the clofe of the preceding November that 
 his quarrel commenced with that Minifter, with 
 the Jacobins who fupported him, and with the 
 Convention who had not difcernment to forefee 
 the effeds of his criminal conduct. In December 
 
 H began 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 began the trial of the unfortunate Monarch, whole 
 mild character conducted him to the fcaifold. 
 From that inftant, the general forefaw the crimes 
 and misfortunes that have fmce fprung from the 
 chaos in France. He attempted to found the dif- 
 pofitions of his army respecting the King, but his 
 Staff-officers whom he employed in the taflt eriecV 
 ed nothing, and thenceforward the general was 
 profcribed. Not one foldier, not one officer 
 would confider the cafe of the king. Every one 
 difcovered the fame ap-athy ; and this cold difpo- 
 lition in the army ou that point, hailened the 
 General's deUgn of viiiting Paris. 
 
 C H A P. III. 
 
 General Dumottrier departs Jrom Leige for Paris. 
 
 G 
 
 'ENERAL Dumourler was thus a prey to va- 
 rious' chagrins in the palace of the Prince Biihop 
 of Leige ; and, if it can be a confolation to that 
 Prelate, he may read with pleafure that after the 
 moil fplendid victories, this general was more 
 unfortunate than himfeif. He had been harraded 
 by the calumnies of the Jacobins from the mo- 
 ment that he had faved France by driving a for- 
 midable foe out of her territory. The conqueii 
 of Belgium had in-created the column cf Lis ene- 
 mies-, to exprefs himfeif in the words he ufed to 
 the National Convention after the battle of Je- 
 mappe. He almoft reproached himfeif with 
 having loft the opportunity of quitting the com- 
 mand that was offered him on his return from 
 Champagne, by the ingratitude^ of his fellow- 
 citizens. He had caufed the war to be declared, 
 
 in 
 
( 5' ) 
 
 in his former fituation as miniller of foreign af- 
 fairs ; he had afterward concluded it with glory 
 as a general ; he had nothing wherewith to re- 
 proach himfelf on thefe accounts ; but he faw 
 the fucceffes of the war mouldering away, and he 
 could not but be penetrated with grief, iince the 
 important (hare he had taken in the public con- 
 cerns during nine months, had identified his fate 
 with that of his country. 
 
 All his letters and memorials were either re- 
 jected or millnterpreted;. and his counfels flight- 
 ed. Cambon declared, nothing could be more 
 dangerous to a republic than a victorious general. 
 It was laid down as an axiom in the tribune of 
 the National Convention, that ingratitude was a 
 neceffary virtue in Republicans. The Conven- 
 tion with-held the recompences due to the he- 
 roes of Champagne and Belgium, becaufe the 
 General had demanded them. By a decree, they 
 authorized the minifter of war to annul the nomi- 
 nation of officers made by the Generals. The 
 corps were left deftitute of officers. New and 
 ignorant men came from France, to gather the 
 fruits of the army's toils. The General com- 
 plained of thefe things to the National Conven- 
 tion ; and declared, if they would not do him 
 right refpecling them, both as to the wants of his 
 army and the other evils which were the caufe of 
 its deftruclion and diforganization, he fliould be 
 compelled to give in his refignation. 
 
 He demanded as an indifpeniible flep, the re- 
 vocation of the impolitic and unjuft decree of the 
 1 5th of December, that had driven the Belgians 
 to defpair. Notwithlianding the remon (trances 
 oi- the General, it had been reioived in the Con- 
 vention that the decree ihoukl take place on the 
 flril of January. Cambon had obtained this cle- 
 cifion ; the four Commiffioners Camus, Goifuin, 
 on, ancl La Croix, fupported him; and the 
 Ii 2 
 
( 52 ) 
 
 two latter boafted that they had done fo, to a-, 
 venge themfelves for an in'fult they had received 
 at Ath, where they had been refufed a lodging. 
 The General's honour was concerned in pre- 
 venting the execution of the tyrannical decree, 
 becaufe when he entered the Netherlands en the 
 third of November he had publifhed, with the 
 fancftion of the National Convention, a procla- 
 mation declaring to the Belgians, that the French 
 entered their country as friends and brethren ; 
 that they came to give them entire liberty ; and 
 that the people fhould be left to chufe their own 
 constitution and mode of government, without 
 interference from the French. The decree not 
 only dcftroyed the force of this proclamation, but 
 alfo robbed the unhappy Belgians of all remains 
 of liberty. The Commifiioners fequeflered the 
 public property and that of the clergy ; and this 
 nation no longer pofleiTed any public revenue, 
 nor the authorities necelTary to preferve even the 
 form of government. 
 
 Cambon expected to find money for- the ex- 
 pences of the war, in this plunder of a country 
 th^t was the friend of France, and that had not 
 been conquered, but had voluntarily afibciated 
 itfelf with the Republic. This criminal and 
 fordid conduct produced no benefit to France ; 
 on the contrary, it deprived her of 40,000 men, 
 that the Belgians were willing to furnifli, and fifty 
 millions of livres that they would have poured 
 into the French treaiury, to contribute to the de- 
 fence of their liberty ; and was followed by the 
 Ic's of thofe fine Provinces, and excited a de- 
 tailation of the National Convention and their 
 Commifiioners, that will be eternal. 
 
 By an article of the decree the generals were 
 charged with its execution, and were required to 
 place the feals on the public property. General 
 Dumourier rejected this dishonourable employ- 
 ment ; 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 ment; and the cornmiflioners gave the charge to 
 JR-oniin, \vho employed as his inftruments, iol- 
 diers and clerks of office, ail Jacobins, who Hole 
 half the wealth they were ordered to fecure in the 
 name of the nation. 
 
 The general, being unable to prevent thefe bafe 
 actions, refolved, at lead, to mark his difapproba- 
 tion of them as much as he could, to the Bel- 
 gians, by being abfent, if that were poilible,, 
 while they fhould be tranfacling. On thefe, and, 
 all the other fubjecls of his vexation, he explain- 
 ed his views fo clearly to the commiffioners, and 
 General Valence iupported his realbnings with 
 fuch force, that in a conference held at Leige be- 
 tween the cottiiniffioners, the generals, and the 
 adm iniflrators that were entrufted with providing 
 fubliftence for the army, it being clearly fliewn 
 to thefe admini ftrators that they could not furnifh 
 him proviiions even to remain at Leige, much lefk 
 to march forward, it was decided that Camus, the 
 Prefident of the com million, fhould return to 
 Paris, attended by General Thouvenct, the firll 
 to make a fuitable report to the National Conven- 
 tion, and the fecond to lay before the military 
 committee an account of the wants of the army, 
 and to obtain the neceflary arrangements, and aiib 
 iblid and ample contracts for eftablifhing maga- 
 zines on the Meufe, and mere than all the reil v 
 to obtain a revocation of the decree of the l f>th 
 of December, which added the whole Belgic na- 
 tion to the number of our enemies. General 
 Thouvenot took with him alfo written obferva- 
 tions of generals on the plan of the campaign, 
 as laid down by the minifler of war, and was to 
 bring back with him a decifion en that point. 
 The journey, however, was altogether unibccefs- 
 ful, notwithstanding the talents of General Thou- 
 venot, becaufe Camus, opiniated, deceitful and 
 vulgar, .and not contented without engroff- 
 
 ing 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 ing all the honour of the embafTy, afTumed the 
 iole right of ipeaking, fupported the decree, 
 and yielded to the will of others refpeding the 
 article of the committee of contracts. Thus, 
 inilead of removing the evils complained of, he 
 only increaled the difficulty of the general's litn- 
 ation. 
 
 Meanwhile General Dumourier {hut himfelf 
 up in the palace of Liege, and was employed in 
 iblliciting leave to return to Paris, and in re- 
 fleding on his mifery. He continued to declare 
 in his letters and memorials that it was impoflible 
 for him any longer to hold the command if the 
 Convention did not abolifh the committee of 
 contracts, which was no better than a den of 
 knaves, and had cancelled his bargains of every 
 kind with the Belgians; and if they .did not 
 change the minirler for the war department, who 
 had nearly ruined the armies, and if they Ihculd 
 continue to treat as conquered countries the pro- 
 vinces that mould be allied to France. 
 
 Such were the ofieniibie motives on whir!: the 
 general demanded leave to go to Paris. \ He had 
 another, however, much more efiential ; but 
 which he concealed with the utmoft care. It was 
 to endeavour to iave the unfortunate Louis the 
 XVIth, by reprefenting to the governing party 
 the clanger to which the nation was expofed with- 
 out ; and the neceliity of forming a foiid plan for 
 the campaign, which it would be neceifary to 
 commence at a very early period. He hoped the 
 weight of this coniideration, aided by other mo- 
 tives, he meant to urge on the different factions 
 : ti the convention, would iecure a iulpenlion o 
 the abominable trial. 
 
 General Dumourier was in this embarralTrd 
 iirration at Leige, and his mind agitated in the 
 manner we have icen, at. the very moment when 
 the jacobins were contriving to bring him to 
 
 trial ; 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 
 
 trial ; and when they pretended that he paffed 
 his time furrounded by courtezans and aclreiTes. 
 The miniilry indeed had fent him a detachment 
 from the opera ; but thefe returned to Paris after 
 a flay of no more -than twenty-four hours. This 
 expedition, and that of a troop of comedians 
 from the theatre of Montanfier, coil the nation 
 more than 100,000 livres, the government pre- 
 tending to inculcate French revolutionary prin- 
 ciples to the Belgians, by exhibiting democratic 
 pieces in their theatres. The -general difdained 
 to be the protector of fuch follies. Ail that he 
 faw of thefe deputies from the opera was at his 
 table, having invited them to dinner. And 
 certainty they conducted themfelves with much 
 decency and good fenfe ; and difcovered much 
 more fagacity than the miniflers that had fent 
 them. 
 
 The general found it extremely difficult to ob- 
 tain his leave of abfence. Pache and the Ja- 
 cobins feared his prefence at Paris. And hav- 
 ing in vain urged the {late of his health and his 
 need of repofe, he was at length compelled to 
 engage the commiilioners to demand the leave of 
 abfence directly in their own name, and to de- 
 clare folemnly his determination to reiign in cafe 
 of refufal. 
 
 In the midfi of the vices that infeded the 
 army, there remained a fentiment of juftice a- 
 mong the foldiers which fccured their attach- 
 ment to a general with whom they had always 
 been victorious, and to whom they could no 
 way attribute their prefent diftrefs. The com- 
 mifTioners therefore declared in their letters that 
 the army would certainly difband themfelves 
 mould the general refign. The leave of abfence 
 arrived ; and the General prepared inftantly to 
 depart, although La Croix propofed to make a 
 tour with him to Aix-la-Chapelle, in the hope 
 
 of 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 of detaining him flill longer in that country. But 
 Duniourier had fecretty determined never more to 
 refume the commancr; and was not willing by 
 viiiting the quarters, to make a tacit engagement 
 with the ibldlers for his return. 
 
 He arrived at Bnvftels ; the command of which 
 he had given to General Moreton. This mar,, 
 who died in good time at Douay, had played a 
 very curious part at Paris in the Revolution. Pie 
 was an Aristocrat, taking that word in its moft 
 odious acceptation. He had been colonel of the 
 regiment of La Fere, and he had been broken 
 under the old government for the vileft acts of 
 military deipctiirn. Refentment threw him into 
 the hands of the Republican party ; and his in- 
 fluence in the councils of the Palais Royal had 
 made him one of the chief actors in the Revolu- 
 tion. Become lecretary of the Jacobins he plotted 
 to procure a revifion of his former fentence ; but 
 the fentence remained in its original Date. He 
 was afterwards appointed colonel in the army of 
 the north, and as he was well acquainted with 
 all the parts of the difcipline of the infantry, 
 and had considerable ability, General Dumou- 
 rier appointed him chief of the fhff to the ar- 
 my of the North. When Dumourier took upon 
 him the command in Champagne, Moreton, who 
 could not penetrate the veil that covered that 
 affair, although perfectly brave, mifconducted 
 himfelf at the breaking up of the camp of Maulde ; 
 and was in danger of being maffacred by the peo- 
 ple of Valenciennes. General Bumourier's re- 
 turn to the army of the north, then become the 
 army of Belgium, replaced Moreton at the head 
 of his llaff. But as Thouvenot poifeffed qualities 
 for the iituation which Moreton wanted, Dumou- 
 rier made the latter lieutenant-general by feniority 
 (for fix months was fufficient to advance men to 
 the higheft rank by feniority in this revolutionary 
 
 army) 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 army) and gave him the command at BrmTels and 
 in Brabant, in order to make General Thouvenot 
 head of the ftarY. Moreton then threw off all re- 
 irraint toward General Dumourier, and entirely 
 gained by the Jacobins^ to whom he already owed 
 many obligations, he oppofed the fentiments and 
 judgment of his General in every pofllble way. 
 He adopted the decree of the 15th of December ; 
 and became hateful to the people of Brabant. 
 General Dumourier found him furrounded by the 
 Jacobin populace. He had raifed a corps that 
 aliumed the name of the Sans Culottes. Thefe 
 -came to make an harangue to the General ; and 
 ufed the phrafes tbou and citizen. Dumourier 
 was offended with this grofinefs ; and plainly told 
 them that being chiefly French foldiers, they ought 
 not to addrefs him in fuch familiar phrafes, be- 
 caufe fuch exprefled an equality inconfiftent with 
 the difcipline of an army ; that they ought to call 
 him General or Citizen-general, but never citizen, 
 without fuch like addition. He ordered their fta- 
 tutes to be brought to him, and told them, that oil 
 his return from Paris, he would decide reflecting 
 them : for this mob demanded pay ; and were 
 really paid, though unknown to the General, with 
 the confent of the commiflioners, as a reccmpenfe 
 for their fbrvices, or rather for the atrocious vex- 
 ations they had committed. 
 
 General Dumcurier had before this, fent a pro- 
 clamation from Liege, to engage the Belgians 
 fpeedily to hold their primary affemblies, and 
 forthwith to chufe a conflituent afTembly ; becaiife 
 in the decree of the 15th of December it was faid, 
 that the fequeftration of the public property Should 
 ceafe when the people of Belgia ihould have chofen 
 their reprefentatives. The commiflioners faw 
 clearly enough that the appointment of an afTembly: 
 would reftore the Belgians to their liberty, and 
 would deprive the qommiflioners of the admini- 
 I ftration 
 
ftration of the public revenue, and efpecially of 
 the plundering of the churches. They therefore 
 delayed the publifhing of the General's proclama- 
 tion"; and afterwards its execution, and prevented 
 the holding of the primary afiemblies at Aloft, the 
 place Dumourier had appointed, with a view to 
 counteract the iniluence of the populace of Brui- 
 fels. The General had been warned by the ex- 
 ample of Louis the XVI. who might ha\e avoided 
 the influence of Paris, by affembling the dates- 
 general at Tours, Orleans, Blois, or Bourges. 
 But feeing, now, that the only means of (hatching 
 Belgium from the tyranny of the French Conven- 
 tion had failed, he continued his journey without 
 delay to Paris. 
 
 C II A P. IV. 
 
 General Dumourier s abode at Pans* 
 
 \jrENERAL Dumourier arrived in Paris on the 
 firft of January. Having reflected that, on his 
 vifit to that place after the expullicn of the Pruf- 
 fians from Champagne, Marat and the other Ja- 
 cobin journalifts had reproached him with (hew- 
 ing himfelf at the theatre, and with feeking popu- 
 larity, he refolved to avoid all places of public 
 refort, to live as privately as poifible, and to fee 
 Only his particular friends, or fuch perfons as 
 might be ufeful to him in the objects of his jour- 
 ney. 
 
 He was five days without leaving his apart- 
 ments, during which he ccmpofed four memo- 
 rials : the iir ft on the neceffity of recalling the de- 
 cree 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 cree of the I5tb of December, which had been 
 confirmed and even -aggravated by two decrees 
 palled on the 28th and 311! of the fame month ; 
 the iecond, refpecling the ill effects of the com- 
 mittee of contracts, and the neceility of replacing 
 on the old footing the fupplying of the army with 
 proviiions, forage, horfes, clothing, Sec. by the 
 appointment of intelligent contractors ; and the 
 third and fourth on military affairs and the plans 
 of the enfuing campaign. He concluded each 
 of thefe memorials by a new declaration of his 
 refolution to reiign if the National Convention 
 ihould neglect any of thefe objeds. He accom-r 
 panied them by a letter to the Preiident, requeft- 
 jng him to engage the Convention to form a new 
 committee for the purpofe of treating with the 
 Generals, both as to the wants of the armies and 
 future military operations. On the yth of Janu- 
 ary, he fent the memorials and his letter to the 
 preiident, whole name was Treilhard, who had for- 
 merly been an advocate, and who Ihoitly after this 
 was joined with Merlin of Douay, another advocate, 
 to the four former commiilioners of Belgia. The 
 preiident neglecting to communicate the papers 
 to the Convention, General Dumourier wrote him 
 Another letter, very fhort and peremptory. 
 
 On the nth of January, a fummary account 
 of the affajr was given to the convention. The 
 letter was read. The memorials were fuppreffed 
 there, and fent to a committee of twenty-one 
 members recently efhblHhed under the name of 
 the committee of general fafefy. The mo ft po- 
 pular members of the other committees had been 
 ielecled for this committee, They opened their 
 fittings on the 13th, and the General was invited 
 to a (lift. The memorials were read. Ignorane 
 and frivolous diiputes fucceeded, All ipoke to^ 
 gether. And, after fitting three hours, they broke, 
 up without making the leail progrcfs. A further 
 I ? i$emorial, 
 
( 60 ) 
 
 memorial, more detailed on certain points, was 
 demanded of the General. As to the plan of the 
 campaign, the members unanimoufly agreed ut- 
 terly to decline the confideration of it, alleging 
 that it belonged properly to the executive coun- 
 cil. The General attended a 1'econd fitting of 
 the committee, held on the evening of the 15111 
 with a memorial containing a minute ilatement 
 of the required information. There were not 
 mere than half of the members prefent. They 
 dropped in one after another; and, running 
 ilightiy through the memorial, which was very long 
 and intricate, no more was faid of the matter. 
 
 General Valence arrived previous to this fitting; 
 lie was admitted, and read a memorial refpecting 
 the* recruiting and new modelling of the army, 
 He propofed that the infantry fhould be divided 
 into brigades, by incorporating two battalions of 
 the National guards with each battalion of the line. 
 This projeci, adopted by the Convention in the 
 midft of the enfuing campaign, completed the 
 ruin- of the French army, by rendering it a body 
 of mere volunteers without reflraint or diicipline. 
 The attention of the committee, whole trifling and 
 inquilitive difpofition was equalled only by their 
 ignorance and indifference to the public welfare, 
 was caught by this novelty, although it ought never 
 to have been difcuifed hut in a time of peace, or 
 at leaf! not till the concluiion of the campaign ; 
 and the committee entirely threw afide the impor- 
 tant objects contained in the General's memoirs.. 
 
 General Biron, having quitted the army of AI- 
 iace to take upon him the command of that in the 
 country of Kice, afliiled alfo at the third fitting ; 
 and read a very preffing memorial refpecting the. 
 new contractors and the committee of contracts, 
 The miniflcr of war being ordered to attend, and. 
 not being able to anfwer the accusations of the 
 three Generals, was very grofCy treated by the 
 
 - committee 
 
( 6! ) 
 
 (Committee, charmed with finding an opportunity 
 of humbling a mhnfler. They had, however, a 
 "juft occafion in the prefent inftance, for the mi- 
 nifter had no other defence to oiler than the pre- 
 fenting of ftatements taxed with being faife. And 
 the whole affair was referred to the military com- 
 mittee, the leaft refpectable of all the committees 
 of the Convention. 
 
 General Dumourier afterwards attended a fourth 
 fitting. There were but five members prefent. 
 They difcufied nothing. And, when they fepa- 
 rated, they told him they would fend for him 
 when they fliould have occafion to confuit him 
 again. Immediately the General retired to a fmall 
 country houfe at Ciichy, from whence he came 
 every day to Paris in the prcfecuticn of his great- 
 eft object, that of faving the king, He was never 
 again called to attend the committee of general 
 fafety. All the important affairs of France were 
 fufpended during that moment for the purluit of 
 a meafure that involved the ruin of the nation. 
 The Convention were occupied bv nothing but 
 the trial of the king ; which was profecuted with 
 the greateft bitternefs and mod indecent bar- 
 barity. 
 
 It was from the fate of his memorials that Ge- 
 neral Durnourier expected the falvatic-n or the 
 ruin of his country. Had they been adopted, he 
 cleiigned to have presented himfelf to the Con- 
 vention, to have appeared in public, and openly 
 to have canvaffed for the unfortunate monarch. 
 He might then have promifed himielf an impor- 
 tant influence. He would have been furrounded 
 by a number of officers and foldiers of his army 
 who were on leave of abfence at Paris. And, 
 by adding other means to thefe, he would have 
 commanded a party fafficiently llrong to counter- 
 act the Jacobins, and their fupport, the federates. 
 This refource was loft ; and, far from being able 
 
 to 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 to fave the king, General Dumourier, deflittite of 
 power and influence, and coniidered as a man 
 dangerous to the republic, becaufe he difapproved 
 of the crimes that were committing, feared only to 
 injure Louis XVI. to precipitate the horrible ca- 
 tairrophe, which thenceforward appeared inevita- 
 ble, and which has coft the General nothing but 
 anguifli. 
 
 A contemptible man, a man without knowledge 
 and capacity, General La Bourdonnaye, the per- 
 fonal enemy of General Dumourier, in revenge 
 for having loft the command of the army of the 
 north in the preceding year, in coniequence of 
 complaints made againlt him by General Dumou- 
 rier, pnblifhed throughout Paris that the General 
 had no other object in coming there than to lave 
 ihe moft hone ft man in ihe kingdom, it was an ap- 
 pellation that indeed General Dumourier had very 
 juilly given to the king in a letter written in 1 791 ; 
 and which had been printed, with the other papers 
 found in the iron cheft, that Roland had lately 
 delivered up to the Convention. 
 
 The fame report was fpread by the Jacobins, 
 efpecially by Marat and his too active faction-. 
 It was faid tha the General held confutations with 
 Roland and the Girondiils every evening. And 
 thefe lait, offended that he was as unwilling to vilit 
 them in private, as the Jacobins, fpread the ru- 
 mour that he fecretiy law Philip Egalite^ that 
 man unworthy of bearing the name i;f Duke of 
 Orleans. 
 
 Dumourier \vent each day to the council ; and 
 returned in the evening to Clichy. But he never 
 dined with any of the Miniders, except Le Brim 
 and Garat. He avowedly fhunncd the houles of 
 Monge, mmifter of the marine ; Roland, miniiier 
 of the hcrne department ; Claviere, minifter of 
 the finances ; and above all, that of Pache, niiniiter 
 oi the war department. 
 
 The 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 The war-office was become the filthieft place 
 imaginable, where 400 clerks, and numbers of 
 women, affected to carry flovenlinefs of drefs and 
 coarfenefs of manners into a fyftem : Nothing was 
 forwarded in the office, and nothing but rapacity 
 was to be feen on all hands. Several of the vil- 
 lains employed in this department, having Hal- 
 fenfratz and Meufnier at their head, worked day 
 and night to colled falfe depositions, and to forge 
 papers, to fubftantiate the accusation that HafFen- 
 fratz had made at the Jacobin ibciety again ft the 
 General, charging him with having embezzled 
 twelve hundred thoufand livres in his contracts in 
 Belgium. They excited the hatred of the federates 
 againft the General; and often palling by groupes 
 of thefe, he has heard them propole in a loud 
 voice to place his head on the top of a pike. One 
 day in particular, he thought himfelf happy in 
 efcaping through a narrow paflage from a gang of 
 thofe federates in the ftreet of Montmartre, being 
 warned againft them by a tradefman who knew 
 him, he having formerly lived two years in the 
 fame ftreet. In the general meetings of the fee- 
 tions and in the coffee-houfes, men were paid to 
 declaim againft him ; and it was more than once 
 in contemplation to feize upon his perfcn. 
 
 The frightful Santerre, commander of the Na- 
 tional guards of Paris, profetTed a great attachment 
 to General Dumourier; and frequently prefied 
 him to dine with his brother-in-law. His defign 
 was to entice him to dine with Marat. The Ge- 
 neral always declined the invitation, but on thq 
 politeft pretences ; obliged, in order to efcape af- 
 iafiination, to behave with feeming refpecl to this 
 execrable man. 
 
 A circumftance that happened at this time, ren- 
 dered the fuuation of the General more critical, 
 although he, had no concern in it. Colonel Wei- 
 terrnan had caned Marat on the Fom-neuf, for 
 
having in his journal accufed the Colonel of being 
 the creaaire of General Dumourier, and the prin- 
 cipal iriitrument of his robberies. Marat thirfted 
 to revenge himfelt on the General, whom he fup- 
 pcfed to be the author of the infult. Dumourier 
 every day received intimations of Marat's deiigns 
 againll him, both from particular friends and by 
 anonymous letters. And the General, for the firit 
 time in his life, adopted the precaution of carry- 
 ing piftols in his pocket. 
 
 Du Bois de Crance, the mod cowardly and bar- 
 barous of the Jacobins, being one day at table 
 v.ith the General, (hewed a difpoiition to offend 
 him, imagining that the General, would be terri- 
 fied by his great bulk and the ferocity of his air. 
 General Dumourier laid hold of him, and im- 
 paled filence upon him very effectually. Du Bois 
 de Crance, in revenge, repeated every day in the 
 Convention that Dumourier defpifed its members, 
 painting it as an affembly confining of four hun- 
 dred fools headed by three hundred robbers. Thus 
 a violent iiorm gathered round the General ; and 
 his enemies waited only for his resignation to ar- 
 reft and try him. He had long before been pro- 
 fcribed. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 # 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Trial of the King, 
 
 J. T was in the fame temper that this horde of 
 cannibals pufhed on the trial of the King with the 
 bitterer! fury and the rrioft horrible joy. The trial 
 is in the hands of all the nations of Europe. The 
 proofs, documents, and pleadings are publifhed, 
 and will remain the diihonour of the French na- 
 tion to all pofterity. Never was crime committed 
 with fuch cowardice, fuch cold bloodednefs, an-d 
 fuch deliberation of mind. More than an hun- 
 dred and fifty members of the pretended tribunal, 
 had printed and publifhed their opinion even be- 
 fore they had been made acquainted with the facts 
 and papers, on which it ought to nave been found- 
 ed. They ought therefore to have abftained from 
 giving their vote, or their vote ought to have been 
 rejected; but the unfortunate Louis XVI. had 
 none of the privileges of an accufed man on his 
 trial. It is aftoni thing that the three hundred 
 and. ten members, who had the courage to vote 
 for pre-ferving the king's life in fpite of the dag- 
 gers at their throats, had not refolutely infilled 
 that each of the judges who had given his opinion 
 publicly in writing, ihould be incapacitated from 
 voting. But thofe friends of humanity will par- 
 don this reflection in an hiftorian, who, far from 
 deiigning to call a reproach upon them, withes 
 to have the power of railing a column to their 
 names, as deferring of remembrance, as were the 
 names of the heroes at Marathon. In the unwor- 
 
 K ihieft 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 thief! affembly in the world, were found three hun- 
 dred and ten men, who acted with confcience and 
 courage in the midft rf general depravity and cow- 
 ardice, and to 'whom the royal family of France 
 has an eternal obligation. Juft and humane citi- 
 zens, receive the homage of a foldier, who ac- 
 knowledges more courage in your conduct than he 
 has (hewn, or than he has feen, in all his battles 
 where he commanded with iuch fuccefs and glory! 
 
 This homage is pure and difmterefted. He 
 who pays it expects nothing from kings, and is 
 the friend of liberty ; and, having ferved his 
 country honeitly has renounced her, whether 
 ilie again be brought under the terrible yoke of 
 defpbtifm, or, by the ignorance and falfe policy 
 of the combined powers, (he {hall remain a re- 
 public under the iron fyftem of the Jacobins : 
 For he no longer has any hope of feeing France 
 governed by a conilitutional king, fubject to the 
 law, and the fupport of the law. Your virtue 
 (hall be more refpected in after times, inafmuch 
 as it {hall appear in the fame page with the con- 
 dud of the Girondifts, whofe intrigues, as far at 
 leaf! as they are known to General Dumourier, 
 (hall be delivered over, one by one, to hiflory 
 whole province it is to punifh crimes. 
 
 It has often been demanded if it were the in- 
 tention of the Girondine party to fave the king. 
 The quelrj'on is difficult to anfwer ; and it does not 
 feemthat we candifcover the truth, but in dillin- 
 guifliing two periods of very different characters 
 in the exigence of this faction, and confequently 
 in its ambitious members, that varied with the 
 change of circumflances. 
 
 It is certain that this faction, after having long 
 fwayed the Convention and the miniitry, elated 
 by the excefs of their influence, openly afpired to 
 the efrablifliing of a Republic, as the means of 
 perpetuating their power. They had fubdued the 
 
 feu il Jans,, 
 
( 67 ) . 
 
 feuillans, the moderate party, and the royalifts. 
 They had enlifled moft of the daily journals on 
 their fide. The Paris Journal, the Chronicle, 
 the Monitor, the Patriot, the Thermometer, the 
 Journals of Gorlas and of Carra, in a word, all 
 that were efteemed, and in great circulation, were 
 compofed, corrected, and edited by the -members 
 of this faction. The beft orators of the Conven- 
 tion, Gaudet, Vergneaux, La Source, Briilbt,. 
 Genfonne, and Condorcet, gave reputation and 
 currency to the opinions of the faction. They 
 had feized upon the direction of the principal 
 committees. Sieyes and Condorcet were at the 
 head of the committee of the conilitution. Briilbt 
 and Genfonne governed the diplomatic com- 
 mittee aflbciated with that of general fafety. The 
 committee of finances was entirely at the devotion 
 of Cambon, whom the Girondine party at that 
 time believed to be their partizan. And they 
 ruled Paris during all the mayoralty of Pethion. 
 
 This faction may be called the Jefuits of the Re^ 
 volution, They acted on the fame political fyilem ; 
 they poflefled at firit the lame unlimited power ; 
 blinded, afterwards, in a like manner, by*pride, 
 they committed the fame faults, and underwent 
 the fame fate. During their reign they contemned 
 and infulted the royal family. Pethion, in the 
 fame carriage with the King and Queen, on their 
 return from Varennes, took every occafionto de- 
 clare that he no longer deiigned to iupport the 
 monarchy. The unfortunate Queen related the 
 fact to General Dumourier ; and Pethion after- 
 wards acknowledged it, on his naming it to him. 
 
 But in the month of November 1792, circum- 
 fiances were entirely changed. The popularity 
 of King Pelbion, for fo he was called in Paris, 
 had funk under the afcendancy of the Jaco- 
 bins, and the Marfeillois, whom the Jacobins 
 had gained by patriotic orgies. A weak but honeil 
 K 2 man, 
 
man, named Chambon, had fucceeded Pethioii 
 in .he mayoralty. He was defpifed, and without 
 power. The Jacobins tyrannized over the fec- 
 tions ; and the commune of Paris afTumed an au- 
 thority independent of the Convention and fre- 
 quently fuperior to at. 
 
 Barbaroux, deputy from Marfeilles, one of the 
 Girondine party, relying on his influence in that 
 city, undertook to bring a new body of men from 
 Marfeilles ; and, mean while, the party employed 
 Roland, the minirter of the interior, to invite the 
 deparments to find Federates to relieve Paris and 
 the Convention from the tyranny of the former 
 body of Marfeillois. Nothing could be more im- 
 prudent than this meafure. It could not fail to 
 produce a civil war, unlefs the new Federates, 
 Ihould ftrengthen them againft their antagonifts : 
 gained like the former by the Jacobins, which 
 happened in the fequel. 
 
 The intrigues of the Girondifls were upmafked 
 with great capacity, by Danton, La Croix, Rober- 
 fpierre, and Marat. Impartial men in the Con- 
 vention, faw the dangerous ambition of the Gi- 
 rondine faction. It was then that the party ought 
 to have adopted a decifive conduct in defending 
 the innocence of the king, and oppoiing the fen- 
 tence of death ; and then, had they fallen, they 
 would, at lead, have fallen with honour. But it 
 it is moft probable that, on the contrary, their 
 efforts would have been fuccefsful, that the de- 
 partments would have joined them to fove the king 
 and the country, and that the Jacobiris would have 
 been crumed. But the Girondine party poffefleej 
 not the courage their fituation, demanded. They 
 contented themfelves with propoling an inade- 
 quate appeal to the people ou the fate of Louis XVL 
 And this was confidered as holding out another 'fig- 
 nal of civil war, 
 
 The 
 
The Girondifts were terrified, and yielded to 
 the torrent ; but they did not fave themfelves by 
 their cowardice in voting with the Jacobins againft 
 the unfortunate monarch, who thus fell the victim 
 of the united villainy of implacable monfters, and 
 ignorant intriguers. Pethion had the bafe cruelty, 
 in a moment, while pity yet heiitated to condemn 
 the king, to recall the remembrance of the vio- 
 lence that was afcribed to him on the unhappy 
 .days of the gth and l oth of Auguft. Having thus 
 incenfed his hearers by an unworthy charge, he 
 .concluded by voting for death. The veiled opi- 
 nion of Condorcet, amounted to the fame fentence. 
 The conduct of this artful fchoolrnan, abounding 
 in fubtlety, and deftitute of feeling, has been 
 equally atrocious in every ftage of the Revolution. 
 
 Briflbt, Gaudet, Genlbnne, and Vergniaux, 
 were even eager to vote contrary to their known 
 fentiments. 
 
 The accufation againft Louis XVI. contained 
 no article fuiricjenty weighty to fanclion the judg- 
 ment. The cataftrophe of the loth of Auguft, 
 was no crime to be imputed to the king. Carra 
 had the impudence to publifli in his journal, and 
 declare in the Convention, that the event of that 
 day had been prepared by a committee of five per- 
 fbns, among whom were Pethion, Roberfpierre, 
 and he, Carra ; that the committee met in a fmall 
 public houfe in the Fauxbough St. Antoine ; that 
 the fcheme of obliging the king to arm and oppofo 
 the people, had failed twice, and had even been 
 on the point of failing on the loth of Auguft, 
 Hence it is clear, had this paper cf Carra, been 
 produced on the trial, it had ' juilified the king, by 
 proving the neeellity of his taking up arms in his 
 own defence. But neither juirice nor policy, nor 
 good lenfc, were concerned in his trial. 
 
 Providence 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Providence feems to have deftined the arrival 
 of this period, fo difgraceful to France, and fo 
 decifive of her fate. All things confpired againit 
 the unfortunate and innocent viclim. Even the 
 Emigrants, in the zeal of a mifiaken attachment, 
 adopted meafures that were fatal to him. Ber- 
 trand, ex-minifter of the marine, a refugee in 
 England, imagined he could fave the kiag by fend- 
 ing to the Convention authentic papers, proving 
 that the leaders of both parties had negociated with 
 the king in fecret. Danton and La Croix, efpe- 
 cially, were fo directly implicated in the papers, 
 that their credit had been utterly ruined, if Dan- 
 ton, mailer of the mountain, that is to fay the Ja- 
 cobin party, and La Croix, who influenced the 
 Plain, that is to fay, the independent part of the 
 aiTembly, had not united their efforts to bury the 
 memory of thofe papers with the ill-fated king. 
 The zeal of Bertrand^inilead of laving Louis, 
 haftened his death. jPfie murder was committed. 
 On the guilty evening all the theatres were full. 
 Unhappy Frenchmen! When you (hall read this 
 chapter, bathed with the tears of him who offers 
 the picture of the greateft of your crimes to your 
 view, you {hall tremble for yourfelves, and you 
 ihall acknowledge the terrible vengeance that 
 a\va i ts you t o be j uft. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
C H A P. VI." 
 
 Fruitkfs attempts of General Dumourler in behalf 
 of the King. 
 
 XxMONG the abfurd and unjuft accufations of 
 the Emigrants againil General Dumourier, that 
 which has obtained moil credit with ignorant 
 and Superficial men is, that he did not avail him- 
 felf of the afcendancy which his victories gave 
 him over his army, to lead it to Paris, and libe- 
 rate the king. But it is to be confidered, firfr, 
 that his influence with his army was always very 
 precarious, and events afterwards proved that 
 it was not to be relied on ; fecondly, that this 
 army was more than a hundred leagues from Pa- 
 ris, was in want of every neceffary for a inarch, 
 not being able even to quit the country of Leige, 
 without great hazard of lofing its artillery for the 
 want of horfes ; that this Hep would have aban- 
 doned that country to the Auilrians, who alib 
 would have followed him ; and that it would have 
 been a degree of treachery to the honour and in- 
 tereils of the French nation, which would have 
 coil the General and all his principal officers their 
 heads before they could even have entered France; 
 thirdly, that this army had for fome time been in 
 an abiblute incapacity of proceeding even to the 
 Rhine, which was only twenty leagues difhmt, 
 and confequently could not accomplifli the longer 
 inarch to Paris. 
 
 General Dumourier, however, ^dkl entertain 
 the project of conducting, not the whole of his 
 army to Paris, but a choien detachment of troops 
 of the line. But the example of Fayr.tte, taught 
 
 him 
 
( 7* ) 
 
 him to regard this meafure as a perilous extre- 
 mity ; and fome legal form and pretence was 
 wanting to give it colour, and to preierve to him 
 the confidence of his foldiers in the execution f 
 it. He had declared, and written and repeated 
 often to the leaders of the Girondine patty s and 
 efpecially to Barrere, who has fince occafioned 
 fuch mifchief by his verfatility, that, if the con- 
 vention were overawed, they had to write but 
 four lines in the form of a decree, and he would 
 forthwith march Q 0,000 men to their afliflance. 
 Whether it were the effect of timidity, or a con- 
 fidence in their own means and intrigues, the 
 members that were ftill coniidered as the moft 
 refpeclable in the affembly were unwilling to em-, 
 ploy this refource. Indeed their views, fuch as 
 they have fince been difcovered to be, would na- 
 turally prevent them from placing much confi- 
 dence in the General, whom they knew to be 
 perfectly attached to the constitution and to the 
 re-eftablHhriient of order. Seeing no hope of 
 fuch a decree as the General had pointed out, and 
 governed by the motive^that have been amply 
 detailed in the foregoing chapters, he departed 
 fingly for Paris ; but he had fent before him, on 
 leave of abfence, many of the officers command- 
 ing corps, and other officers, and foldiers, both 
 of the line and national guards, and among them 
 fome Parifians, all of whom had prcmifed him 
 their fervices in behalf cf the king. It is to be 
 cbferved alfo that at the time of his depar- 
 ture, although the trial of Louis XVI. was be- 
 gun, it could not be forefeen, eipecially by one 
 at the diftance of an hundred leagues, that the 
 iilue would have been Ib fpeedy and fatal. The 
 General well knew that the criminal ferocity of 
 the Jacobins would incite them to prefs forward 
 this hateful and bloody cataftrophe by every 
 means within their reach : but lie thought that 
 
 the 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 the Gircndiils, not for honed reafons, but for 
 political. reaions and for their own fafety, would 
 ipin out this affair, and fo give him time to take 
 meafures for the refcue of the king. It was not 
 till his arrival at Paris that he knew the true ilate 
 of things, and (aw how inadequate his refources 
 were to the magnitude of the tafk. 
 
 General Ekimourier had been on terms of 
 friendship with Genfonne, a deputy of the de- 
 partment of Gironde, and had found an oppor- 
 tunity of pardoning fome hollile meafures of that 
 deputy toward him the preceding year, when 
 Dumourier quitted the miniftry. He had dif- 
 covered in Genfonne great capacity and judg- 
 ment and a humane dilpoiition ; and he willingly 
 renewed his connexions with him. General Du- 
 mourier opened his mind to him relative to the 
 king. He exprefied his horror at the crime that 
 v/as about to itain the nation ; he made him fen- 
 fible that fuch a deteftable triumph given to the 
 Jacobins would end in the ruin of all the honed 
 part of the nation, and would render the an- 
 archy that afTiuTted France incurable ; that fuch 
 of the nations of Europe as had regarded with 
 indifference and perhaps with pleaiure our inte- 
 rior ftruggles, our war with Auiiria and Priillia, 
 and perhaps were not unwilling to fee our i ac- 
 cedes againil thofe two powers, could not but be 
 ihocked at the barbarity of murdering Louis 
 XVI. and would be thenceforward engaged in 
 honour to join the enemies of France, till we 
 fhould have every power in ^urope againil: us 
 without one ally. Thefe reflections feemcd to 
 make great impreffion on Genfonne ; but to 
 whatever caufe it was owing, he undertook no- 
 thing, and even avoided the General, who had 
 afterward little opportunity of feeing him. 
 
 Dumourier converfed with ieveral ether de- 
 puties of the fame party, as well as with many 
 
 L of 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 of the independent party in the Convention, to 
 whom he reprefented that, the nation being now 
 a republic, Louis was to be treated limply as an 
 individual ; that it was indecent, impolitic, and 
 unreafonable to wafte time, that ought to be em- 
 ployed in preparations againfl the dangers of the 
 enfuing campaign and in reinforcing the armies, 
 in the profecution of the trial of a fingle man, 
 whole fate was of no importance to the% nation ; 
 and that it would be wife at leal! to iuipend this 
 ufelefs meafure till after the war. The more 
 reafonable of them acknowledged the trial to be 
 an unjult and unwife proceeding, but faid, that 
 the members of the Mountain had taken their 
 meafures, and, mould the trial now be abandoned 
 by the Convention, the Jacobins would excite an 
 infurreclipn, fall upon the temple, and maffacre 
 the whole of the prifoners. The General then 
 told them that he could not think they were fuffi- 
 ciently authorized by their condiments to try 
 the king ; that, fince they made an affair of 
 confequence of the trial, it appeared to him it 
 would be neceffary to their own fecurity to de- 
 mand inilructions in precife terms on the point 
 from the departments, leaft one day they fhoul4 
 be reproached for the deed by the nation, and 
 lead they iliould one day become personally ref- 
 ponlible for the irregularity and violence of the 
 act. They anfwered to this, that the imprudent 
 propofal of appealing to the people made by the 
 Girondine party had deprived them of the re- 
 fource the General now propofed ; fince it was 
 feared the convoking of the primary aflemblies 
 for fuch infiructions would be the fignal of a ci- 
 vil war. 
 
 It then occurred to the General to fuggeft an 
 idea that feemed to have great weight with tliefe 
 deputies, although in the end it failed of e if eel 
 like all the reft, becaufe every man feeing a. 
 
 poiguard 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 poignard at his bread, chofe rather to be a mur- 
 derer than a victim. The idea was, that a long 
 war had exiiled between the nation and the king, 
 that the day of the loth of Auguft had decided 
 the fate of both, that the king had fallen into 
 their hands, and could no longer be confidered 
 as any thing but a prifoner of war, yet without 
 criminality, becaufe both parties had in like 
 manner had recourfe to arms ; that a foreign war 
 raged againil the nation, and that they ought to 
 deem themfelves fortunate in having' a precious 
 hoftage in this prifoner, who might ferve them in 
 a cafe of extremity. The General added, that 
 fhould they perfiil in thinking the king guilty, 
 they ought to form a tribunal authorized to col- 
 lect facls, to examine and confront the witnefles, 
 and to prepare the way for a final decifion, with a 
 deliberation due to the fubjecl; that this acl of 
 juftice would fatisfy the bittereft enemies of roy- 
 alty, would give the people time to reflect, and to 
 the Convention an opportunity to finifli the con- 
 flitution, which was the grand object of their 
 million ; and when the primary aiTemblies fiiould 
 be convoked for the acceptance of the conftitu- 
 tion, all the proceedings of the tribunal might 
 be laid before them, and they be called upon to 
 decide the fate of the king. 
 
 Having fpread this opinion in converfation 
 and even in writing, the General faw Pethion, 
 with whom till this period he had been on terms 
 of friendmip, and reprefented to him that it be- 
 came him perfonally to intereft himfelf in behalf 
 of Louis XVI. fince otherwife, a malignity of 
 mind would be imputed to him that certainly was 
 not in his character. Pethion appeared to be 
 moved by the General's reafoning; and declared 
 that perfonally he loved the king, and that he 
 would exert his utmoft influence to fave him. 
 
 L 3 GeneraJ 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 General Dumourier then addrefled himfelf i& 
 Roberfpierre, by the medium of cue of his 
 friends. lie reprefenied that it was entirely ia 
 Roberfpierre's power to fave Louis XVI. that the 
 magnanimity of the action would immortalize his 
 name, and that in confequence of it the generals 
 of the army would look up to him as the fiiil man 
 in the ft ate, and that the diclatorfhip would be the 
 reward of his virtue ; but that otherwiie he would 
 fall into the fame contempt and execration as 
 Marat, with whofe name that of Roberfpierre 
 wouid thenceforth be contiantly allbciated. This 
 idea the General knew to be peculiarly odious 
 to Roberfpierre. 
 
 General Dumourier knew that the Jacobins 
 defpiied the Convention and hated the Giron- 
 dine party. He infinuated to them by iecre* 
 agents, that if they wiflaed to become mailers of 
 France and Europe, and to rife on the ruins of 
 the National Convention, they had only to de- 
 clare their will that the trial of Louis [hould be 
 fufpended, and thai: a more important object, 
 die ilate of the war r {hould be taken into confi- 
 deration. 
 
 Drouet,, poft-raafter of St. Menehould, who 
 had arreiled the king at Varennes, was a deputy 
 of the Convention and a Jacobin. Ihe brother 
 of Drouet, a very honefl and faithful man, was 
 in the General's iervice,. and was greatly attached 
 to him. Dumourier gave this man inilruclions 
 to prepare his brother's mind for the iniprefEons 
 ke wifKed it to receive,, and afterwards to bring 
 him to Clichy^ The General painted to Drouet. 
 the crime he and his ailbciates were committing 
 againll the king, with fuch energy, that Drouet, 
 ilruck with horror, promifed to move for the 
 lufpeniion of the trial both in the Convention 
 and in the club of the Jacobins. Had there been 
 
 one 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 one member fufficiently refolnte to make the pro- 
 poiition, the king had been laved. No one had 
 the courage. Drouet fell lick and was not pre- 
 fent when the fentence was palled. 
 
 Each day the General vjiited various parts of 
 Paris, went into the {hops and houfes of indivi- 
 duals, and took occaiicn always to turn the 
 converiation to the king's trial. lie oblerved 
 how ftrange a circumiiance it feemed that the 
 Convention Ihculd fuddenly become a tribunal ; 
 that if Louis were ftill king, the nation ought to 
 decide by whom and with what forms he ihould 
 be judged ; that if he were no longer king, it 
 was unfit that time fo precious to the nation, 
 ihould be loll in enquiring into the guilt of an 
 individual. And to thefe confederations he added 
 reflections on the mild virtues and misfortunes of 
 Louis XVI. Sometimes he was lillened to with 
 eagernefs and pity; but frequently, he was re- 
 quelled to forbear fpeaking of fo dangerous a to- 
 pic ; and fometimes condemned for introducing 
 it. At times, he expoled himfelf to ferious dan- 
 ger, by expreiiing his furprize, that in a great 
 city like Paris, there ihouid not be five or lix 
 thoufand men with courage fufficient to rife a- 
 gainft two or three thoufand villains, who calling 
 theiiifelves Federates, held the city in ablblute 
 iabjection. A well informed trade fm an, calling 
 down his eyes and blufhing with iliame, made 
 this anfwer one day to the general : Citizen, I fee 
 'what you would have us to do. But we arc cow- 
 ards and the king will be facrifced. What do you 
 hope from a city that, having 80,000 armed r,ien, 
 Juffered itjclf to Ic intimidated on the firjl days cf 
 September, by lefs than 6000 Marfeliois and Bre- 
 tons ? I'he general left the man's houfe, and re- 
 tired to an unfrequented part of a public walk, 
 to indulge in his melancholy reile-ftions. 
 
 Thole 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 Thofe foldierd of his army that he met witbr 
 from time to time, feemecl to be devoted to re- 
 velling, and to be wholly infected with the 
 phrenzy of the Federates; and feme even join* 
 ed the party of his enemies, rilling the different 
 clubs and meetings of the factions with ablurd 
 accufations againil him. 
 
 From all thefe attempts to ferve the king, 
 which the general renewed every day in various 
 forms and difguifes, and with much rifk to his 
 own perfcn, he reaped nothing but the dreadful 
 certainty of the king's ruin. Paris i'eemed in- 
 different on the iitbjecl. During the twenty days 
 previous to the death of the king, that he itudied 
 the temper of that city, he perceived not the 
 fmalleft commiferaticn, neither amcrg indivi- 
 duals nor in the public, in behalf of the unfor- 
 tunate Louis. Nor indeed any abftinence from 
 their amufements in the frivolous and favage Pa- 
 
 C II A P. YII V 
 
 Death of tic King. 
 
 ALTHOUGH General Dumourier's conftitu- 
 tion was rebuff, his health yielded for a while to 
 the acute vexations of his mind. On the i8th 
 of January, he fell fick and was confined at his 
 houfe at Clichy, till the 22d. He now refolved 
 to quit Paris in a few days; and never to enter it 
 more till he ihould come to difperfe that, un- 
 
 worthy 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 worthy affembly, who were bale and wicked 
 enough, wantonly, precipitately, and without 
 proof, to condemn to death an innocent king, 
 who had ever loved his people, whole faults were 
 not his own, who had ba mined ^e torture from 
 criminal trials, who readily adopted every pro- 
 pofal for the public benefit, and had hiinfelf in- 
 vited the nation to remedy all abufes and to pro- 
 vide for its happinefs. Kings are fubject in com- 
 mon to many of the caufes by which Louis XVI. 
 was reduced to this unhappy condition ; they are 
 beiieged and betrayed ; they are kept in ignorance 
 and fee nothing as it really exills ; nor have they 
 power to quit the circle in which they are placed', 
 in fearch of the virtuous man whofe pure dignity 
 fhuns the corruption and iniolence of courts. - 
 But it mu ft have been the completed diforder 
 that could hurry a whole nation to the murder of 
 their king, after having often blefled and adored 
 him; and having compared him to Louis XII. 
 Henry IV. and all the beft and moil beloved of 
 their monarchs. The club of Jacobins con- 
 dueled the French to this pitch of folly and wick- 
 ed nefs. 
 
 The 21 ft of January, the day of the death of 
 Louis XVI. is the true epoch of the ruin of the 
 Republic, of the relic-ration of the monarchy, and 
 it may be feared of the triumph of defpotifrn. 
 The French nation began the career of liberty 
 glorioufly. Their firf} exceffes were pardonable, 
 as they refulted from the obitinacy of the abufes it 
 was neceflary to deiiroy, A noble conftituticn, 
 although in forne degree it was imperfect, feemed 
 to fecure the happinefs of France. General Du- 
 mourier's journeys into England, Germany, Swit- 
 zerland, and Italy, at that period, convinced him 
 of the general approbation it obtained. But the 
 king, {educed by his perfidious counfeliors, at-, 
 tempted to elcape from his ppople, after having 
 
 fworn 
 
fworn to maintain the conftitution. He was dif- 
 covered and taken. The National Ailembly of 
 France acted as became a great nation. They re- 
 flored the king to his rights ; and from that inflant 
 the king ceafed to be dairgerous to the liberties 
 of the people. He was governed faithfully by 
 the principles of the conftitution. They were 
 engraven on his heart. And if his minifters or 
 his courtiers flill fought to violate the law, the 
 conftitution had provided a remedy for-the evil. 
 The agents of the executive power were refpon- 
 fible with their lives for mifconduct in the govern- 
 ment, but an abfolute inviolability was attached 
 to the perfon of the king. The third legifiature 
 of France however, tended vilibly to Republic- 
 anifm ; they were bent on the overthrow of the 
 conftitution. It was necefiary to raiie new accu- 
 fat ions again ft the king for his -deftruclion ; and 
 to this objecl the Girondine faction proceeded 
 with the moil: refined perfidy, while the Jacobins 
 openly acled in the fame caufe wiih a wild and 
 brutal infolence. Carra and the journaMs of the 
 Jacobins have' placed this fubject in the clearer! 
 light, in tracing the intrigues which engendered 
 the catailrophe of the loth of Auguil. 
 
 The aiiair of the 2 ill of June, was a prelude 
 to that catailrophe, although direclly it produced 
 nothing more than a difgulling infultto the nation 
 and the coniiitution, in the unfortunate perfon of 
 tlie king. The ferocious Santerre was heard to 
 fay on that day, We have failed, noiv, but we -:r/7/ 
 return a^aln. The National Convention neither 
 puniihed nor relented the infult. On the con- 
 trary, the t\vo faclions, which nctwithfianding 
 their mutual hatred had many wicked objects in 
 common, were preparing for the execution ot a 
 greater plot; and had aifembled the Marfellois 
 and Bretons from the extremities of the kingdom, 
 to infure iucceis, 
 
 Thefe 
 
( 81 ) 
 
 Thefe were' the true caufes of the bloody and 
 decifive loth of Auguft. The miniiters and ge- 
 nerals, it is true, took meafures, on their part, 
 againft the aiTembly, and the Jacobins ; fuppofing 
 however, that they were culpable, the law was 
 armed again it them, but ought to have had no ope- 
 ration on the king, who was both innocent and 
 inviolable, and who was to be considered merely 
 as the occafion and not as the author of die licps* 
 taken in his nane. The nation was convinced of 
 this truth; and if Louis had been firm he had not 
 fallen. His aiiailms bafely puniChed the mildnefs 
 of his chnracler with death ; and the mildnefs of 
 his character iliould have pleaded for mercy. 
 
 But this good and weak monarch found in his 
 religious principles, a fti'ength that bore him he- 
 roically through his martyrdom. The particulars 
 of his death are preferved, and are ineftirnable 
 aids in the ftudy of the human heart. They add 
 new aggravations to the crimes of the Pariiians. 
 An innumerable crowd attended the execution. 
 Barbarous joy, or an unfeeling carioiity, were the 
 only impreilions that appeared in the guilty fpec- 
 tators. No one had th.e courage to med a tear ; 
 and it will fcarcely be believed, that the domef- 
 tics of the good king preiTed neareft to the fcaf- 
 fold, and were the moll implacable of the multi- 
 tude. 
 
 On arriving at Paris, on the 22d, General Du* 
 mourier went to the houe 6f Garat, miniiter of 
 juilice, who feemed to be extremely aflecied by 
 the death of the king, but more efpecially by the 
 duty that had been impofed on him, and the other 
 minifters, of reading the fentence to the king. 
 The unfortunate Louis during the iblemn office, 
 remained (landing, and aiTumed a tranquil and ma- 
 jeftic countenance, without offering remonilrance 
 or complaint. He laid only, that it was not juft 
 to charge him with treafon, iince his intentions 
 
 M had 
 
( 6* ) 
 
 bad always been pure, and fifke he had conflantly 
 deiired the welfare of his fellow-citizens. After, 
 requeuing a little time to prepare for his death, he 
 clifmiiTed the rnimflers with an air cf dignity and 
 v:idenefs, the remembrance of which affected 
 Garat very much in fpeakifig of it. General Du- 
 mourier, Cabanis the friend and phyikian of Mi- 
 rabeau, and the mmifter, were mutually affected. 
 They read over the will of this unfortunate prince. 
 It had been written with his own hand, in feme 
 places there were erafures, but the writing was/ 
 clear, and without any marks of being w^ftten 
 with agitation. It contained four pages written on 
 letter paper. The' firil: was ccnfecrated to reli- 
 gion, and the homage was juft ; iince, in that prin- 
 ciple, he found courage, iupport and ccnfolation. 
 The three other pages exhibited an example of 
 magnanimity, reafon, and philoiophy. This will, 
 imce published to the world, is one of the nobleft 
 writings that the mind ever produced under fuffer- 
 ing circumfforices. The moniiers of the' National 
 Convention have fa-id, that this- writing juftitied 
 the king's fentence; . becaufe T having no object 
 in common with the world, on the point of be- 
 coming the victim of the ingratitude of his ilih 
 jecls, he had employed in two or three places the 
 language of royalty, and difdainecl to flatter their 
 prejudices. 
 
 During the exiileuce of n monarchy of fourteen 
 hundred years the French have aflaMlnated many of 
 their kings. But the deed was always the crime 
 of an individual ; the rage of the nation againft 
 the perpetrator was extreme ; and the villain was 
 punifhed with the molt horrible tortures. It was 
 referred to an enlightened and philoiophical age to 
 produce ^ like crime, committed in the name of 
 the whole French nation, approved by the majo- 
 rity, and regarded as an act of Heroifm, 
 
 Is 
 
Is the continuance and pro fperity of a republic, 
 founded on fuch guile, foberiy to be expected? 
 certainly not. The monfters have killed Louis 
 XVI. but they have reftoretl royalty. This incon- 
 fiderate and .changeable nation, always running to 
 the extremes of paiYiori, will herfelf maffacre her 
 iniquitous judges and her furious Jacobins, and run 
 to adore new kings. The efforts for a reafonable 
 liberty that have been made during three years by 
 true Patriots will be loft; and France will prefent 
 the picture of a monarchy crowded with drfg races 
 tmd crimes, diimembercd and ruined, in which a 
 rigid defpotifm mufl long combat a detlructive 
 anarchy before the reign of the laws can be re- 
 ilored : and then it {hall not be the laws of the 
 people. The -whole of this generation, even thofe 
 that are but newly born, {hall endure the puniih- 
 ment of the atrocious crimes of four years : crimes 
 that poiienty will fcarcely be periuaded to credit. 
 
 C H A P. VIIL 
 
 General Dumouner s Conference with Cam&on. 
 
 li A V ING particularly traced the tranfaclion? 
 that moil aftecled General Durnourier in a cata- 
 (Irophe that he could neither prevent nor fore- 
 fee, it will be necellary to purlue the account of 
 his other occupations in Paris during this unhappy 
 month of January. An eileaticil object of his 
 journey \vas to obtain tJKe fupprefiion of* the decree 
 of the i^t-h of December, or at lead a tacit agree- 
 ment from the Convention, that it fhould not be 
 put in execution in Brabant. Fie demonfirated to 
 M 2 the 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 the Convention that the people of Brabant were 
 wholly alienated from the French; than an open 
 rebellion was to be feared if the decree fhould be 
 executed ; that on the appearance of the Auflrians 
 in force the Fre-ncb wouid have an additional ene- 
 my in the Belgians, who might eafily attack their 
 weakened garrifons, cut off their proviiions and 
 Tender their retreat impodible. The Convention 
 were too prefumptuous, and too much taken up 
 with the king's trial to attend to thefe remcn- 
 ilrances. 
 
 One individual of the Convention controlled 
 the department of the finances with-the moil: abfo- 
 lute fway. This was Cambon a man of a moil: ii> 
 regular mind; ignorant and deftitute of found 
 principles, yet fcheming and unrelenting in his 
 projects, D'Efpagnac had been arrefted on the 
 22d of November, along with Maius, for fulfilling 
 an engagement that they had made with S.ervan 
 Tefpecting carriages for the army, and which was 
 very important to the nation. He was ftill a pri- 
 foner at Paris; but at liberty to go about with a 
 guard. He poiTefied a mind abounding in reiour- 
 ces. He had gained the confidence of Cambon en 
 all the fubjects of finance, and offered to procure 
 the General a conference with this dictator of the 
 national treafury ; the General confented and they 
 went to breakfaft with Cambon-- This man bcaii- 
 ed of having obtained and fupported the decree of 
 the 15th of December. His reafons for the project 
 he faid were that the treafury was empty ; that 
 France had fix hundred thoufand troops on foot, 
 and paid two hundred million oflivres per month 
 for the expences of the war. The General obferv- 
 ed that fix hundred thoufand men ought not to 
 coll two hundred millions per month, and that the 
 armies of France did not amount to more than 
 three hundred thoufand effective men. Cambon 
 anfwered, that the national guards of alj the fron- 
 tier 
 
tier cities received the fame pay as the army, as 
 well as part of the national guards of Paris; he 
 declared he law no other relburce, than the exe- 
 cution of the decree, for carrying on the war ; that 
 fpecie already coll the nation fifty per cent, and 
 that foon it would not be procured even at cent, 
 per cent. ; that he had but one remedy againft this 
 evil, which was to feize on all the ipecie in Bel- 
 gia, and the iiiver in the churches and banks. He 
 acknowledged this to be unjuiT, but he thought it 
 unavoidable ; lie laid, that when the Belgians 
 fliould be ruined and reduced to the fame diitrefs 
 as the French, they would neceffarily unite their 
 fate with that of France, as the people of Liege 
 had done r who threw themfelves into our arms, 
 being poor and involved in debt. He added, 
 that then France would admit the Belgians as 
 members of the Republic, and with the lame po- 
 licy they might h^pe to proceed conquering peo- 
 ple after people ; that the decree of the 15th of 
 December was well calculated for this purpofe, 
 becaufe it tended to cli ["organize the neighbouring 
 ftates, that being the moil fortunate thing that 
 could be done for France. 
 
 The General objected that, beiide the barbarity 
 of the project, it was impracticable ; that we 
 were now in the middle of the month of January ; 
 that our armies were weakened ; that no one 
 thought of the means of recruiting them ; nor of 
 the plan of the enfuing campaign, although on the 
 eve of being opened; that the people of Belgium 
 were entirely averfe to the cliforganizing prin- 
 ciples of our Revolution ; that we had neither 
 time before us to remove what he (Cambon) call- 
 ed their prejudices, nor to crudi them ; that in 
 the beginning of the approaching March, the 
 enemy would attack the French polls upon the 
 Meufe, which were too diflant from each other, 
 and not fufftciently llrong; that, mailers of the 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 paiTage of Maefbricht, they would penetrate the 
 centre of the French line ; that the Belgians, 
 finding a power to protect them, would take up 
 arms every where at once, arid would put to the 
 fvvord the garrifons in the interior part of Belgium, 
 compoled of feeble battalions of new levies ; 
 that, occupying the* pods behind the French, 
 they would not only cut of the proviiions of the 
 army, but its retreat ; that in this iiluaticn the 
 army could not gain France, but would be en- 
 tirely ruined, and thus all would be loft to the 
 Republic. General Dumourier reprefented, more- 
 over, that theie odious robberies would not pro- 
 duce as much to France as would a juft conduct 
 toward the Belgians ; that it would be more pru- 
 dent to borrow part of the treafures of the clergy, 
 and fo to interelt them in our ihccefs, than to 
 feize upon the whole by violence ; that, as to 
 fpecie, there would be no neceflity for fending 
 any from France into Belgium, where it was in 
 abundance ; that the true means of putting it in 
 circulation, and at length to replace it by afiig- 
 nats, was to engage the rich merchants of Ant- 
 werp, BrulTels, and Ghent, in the furnifhing of 
 proviiions, clothing, and ail the neceiTaries for 
 the war ; that, in this way, the fupply of every 
 thing would be fecured, and the eypences re- 
 duced to one half; that the contractors would re- 
 ceive afiignats in payment, and would be com- 
 pelled by their own intereft to give them curren- 
 cy. The General obferved that the Convention, 
 by annulling the decree of the i^th of December, 
 would effectually free the Belgians, whom they 
 had reduced to a Haver y more revolting than their 
 former fervitude ; that in this cafe the Belgians 
 would form a free conliitution, raife troops, and 
 ioin our arms; that this fraternity of arms and 
 mutual fervices would induce them, more effec- 
 tually than any other means, to demand at leall a 
 
 permanent 
 
( 87 ) 
 
 permanent aliianoe with the Republic, if not an 
 .entire union. 
 
 Cambon ieemed inclined to yield, especially 
 when the general promifed him that, ihould theie 
 juit, moderate and wife means be adopted, he 
 would not only forbear longer to demand any 
 thing for his army, which the reiources of Bel- 
 gium could provide for in abundance, but that he 
 would procure the French treaiury ieveral mil- 
 lions by way of loan. He well knew that the 
 Belgians, to withdraw themfelvcs from their pre- 
 fent ruinous ilavery, would fulfil the promifes 
 which he now made in their name. 
 
 After this firft conference, Cam boa went to the 
 Convention, and, in the heat of the debate, faid 
 in the tribune, that if the decree of the i^th of 
 December was not executed, it would be becaufe 
 Durnourier had oppofed it by the prerogative of 
 his Veto. Notwithftanding this dark treachery, 
 in which, to render General Durnourier odious, 
 Cambon aflimilated Him with the king, whofe trial 
 was then profecuting with bitternefs, the General 
 confented to have another interview with him, 
 and even invited him to dinner, together with a 
 deputy named Ducos. 
 
 The feconcl conference, which laded more than 
 fix hours, was not carried on with much tenv- 
 per. General Dumourier-having faid that if Cam- 
 bon was refolved upon opprefling the Belgians, 
 he might feek another General, iince Dumourier 
 never would Content to become an Alii! a to a peo- 
 ple who had received the French as friends and 
 brethren ; Cambon took an opportunity to tell the 
 Convention that nothing could be more indecent 
 than to hear a General threatening to reiign in 
 confequence of every decree that was paft con- 
 trary to his opinion ; that the Republic muft not 
 reft' upon one man, and that they ought either to 
 impoie filence on the General, or to puniih him. 
 
 In 
 
C 88 ) 
 
 In this fruitlefs manner terminated the General's 
 conferences with Cambon, whom he expreflly 
 warned againil the events that have fince hap- 
 pened. 
 
 It was not without reafon, Cambon had faid, 
 that he was devoid of refources for the war. In 
 January, there was no more in the national trea- 
 fury than an hundred and ninety-two millions of 
 livres in aflignats, and from fifteen to twenty mil- 
 lions of livres in fpecie. Thefe fums were not 
 fufficient for the army till the month of April, 
 and the whole prefumed value of the lauds of the 
 clergy was already confirmed by the emifiicn of 
 aflignats on that fund. 
 
 Dumcurier acquired this knowledge in the 
 fecond fitting of the committee of general fafe- 
 ty. As it was then refolved to augment the ar- 
 'my to three hundred and fcventy thoufand men, 
 he reprefented to the committee, that the de- 
 cree for that purpofe would be ufelefs, as was the 
 cafe with others of the fame kind the preceding 
 year, if the minifler of war did not at the fame 
 time prefent a ftatement of the iumsneceliary for 
 each particular article belonging to the augmenta- 
 tion, fuch as clothing, arm?, horfes, &c. and if 
 the Convention did not place thefe fums at the im- 
 mediate difpofition of the minifter of war. Cam- 
 bon, who ailifted at the fitting, acknowledged the 
 truth of the General's obfervation, but Rated the 
 poverty of the treafury* and faid he kn.e\v not on 
 what fund to ifiue new aflignats, fince the only re- 
 fource that remained was the national forefis, and 
 the eilates of the emigrants. Inilantly, the vio- 
 lent part of the committee cried out, they had 
 nothing to do but to fell thofe eflates forthwith. 
 Difputes fucceeding, the General requeued leave 
 to give his opinion. 
 
 He defired the committee to confider that the 
 lands of the clergy had fold exceedingly ill ; that 
 
 a part 
 
a part' frill remained unfold, the general appre- 
 heniion being fuch that there were no buyers ; 
 that, if under thefe circumftances, they fhould 
 order the fale of the eftates of the emigrants, va- 
 lued at more than twelve hundred millions of 
 livres, this great addition to the lands on iale 
 would ftill further diminifli the value of the whole, 
 and complete the ruin of the nation ; that the diff- 
 ered it of alTignats recently iiiued would be (till in- 
 crealed by this fatal operation ; iince the public, 
 judging by the price of the lands, would doubt the 
 fiuTiciency of the funds on which the ailignatsweie 
 grounded; for, fuppoiing they fhould hazard the 
 emiflion of twelve hundred millions on the eflates 
 of the emigrants, as fome members had propofed, 
 either they would not find purchafers, or the pro- 
 duce of the'fale would not amount to the third of the 
 enormous fum ; that then the (late would lole the 
 other two thirds of that fum, and would be me- 
 naced with inevitable bankruptcy. 
 
 As to the national forefts, he reprefented that 
 wood was already very fcarce in France, and, if 
 they alienated thefe forefts, the purchafers would 
 cut down the whole ; that, befides the enormous 
 confirmation of wood for articles of every kind, 
 France had not a fufficient quantity of coal for fir- 
 ing ; and that, independent of this inconvenience, 
 which France would feel for more than a century, 
 this refource would not produce, at the utmoir, 
 more than two or three hundred mill ions of livres, 
 although it flood valued at eight hundred mil- 
 lions. 
 
 The weight of thefe confiderations was acknow- 
 ledged, and it was agreed to leave thefe two ob- 
 *jeds untouched; and thus, General Dumourier 
 Hived the eftates of the emigrants for that time : 
 but, neither this fervice, nor many others General 
 Dumourier has rendered the emigrants, could 
 ever obtain him jufrice or candour on their part. 
 N 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 The committee refolved upon propofmg to the 
 Convention the ifluing of iix* hundred millions 
 of iivres in ailignats, on the grois fund of all the 
 national lands, without appropriating any Ipecific 
 part for the fecurity. 
 
 This mode of iivuing paper on vague funds is 
 a dangerous praclice in finance, and it was this 
 kind of abufe of confidence which ruined Law's 
 fyitem in 1720. However, the committee had as 
 yet kept it within bounds. It has fmce been car- 
 ried to twelve hundred millions of Iivres. This 
 is a fmooth defcent that leads to bankruptcy ; but 
 bankruptcy is the la It refource of Cambon. He 
 has himfelf faid that it is inevitable. As to the 
 Convention they are not employed in confiderati- 
 ons fo profound. They have no object but to 
 exiit from day to day, without the trouble of in- 
 quiring what will be the refult. In fuch hands 
 is the richeit kingdom in the univerfe* 
 
 A P. fX. 
 
 Interview of General Dumourier ivith Jome 
 cobins. 
 
 had been a member of the fo- 
 ciety of Jacobins in the early part of its career ; 
 but,, at that period, neither Marat, Camille Def- 
 mculiiiSy Bazire^ Merlin, Chabot, nor Bourdon, 
 .were known in the fociety, nor the relt of that 
 liii: ;;f conternptible characters, afterward chofen, 
 t-o. the furprife of all juft men, to form the molt 
 ?i'fr.ociou3 alTembly in the univerfe. The Gene- 
 ral never attended their meetings very afliduoufly; 
 
 although 
 
although the adventure of the red cap, which he 
 was obliged to put on when he went to the Jacobin 
 fociety on his being made minifter, might beget 
 an opinion that he was a zealous partizan of the 
 feel. 
 
 The following is the hiftory of the faci. Du-* 
 mourier told the King, that he imagined it would 
 be ufeful to the King's perfonal intereft, but ef- 
 pecially to the public concerns, for the new mi- 
 nifters, named by him on the ^recommendation 
 of the people, and who were members of the 
 Jacobin fociety, to prefent themfelves to the 
 ibciety, leit they mould now be fufpected cf 
 joining the ariftocracy ; and he propofed to at- 
 tend the fitting of that evening himfeif. The 
 King perceived the importance of the men lure, 
 and approved of Dumourier's deiign. Some 
 days previous to that, the factions had adopted 
 the red cap for the emblem of liberty. Du- 
 mourier, and the Girondine party, who had 
 hitherto profeiled to be the friends of order, and 
 who, indeed, cannot be reproached with having 
 flattered the Jacobins at any period, convinced 
 Pethion, then mayor of Paris, then beloved by 
 the Jacobins, then all-powerful, that this badge 
 aflumed by the people, might be productive of 
 the greatelt diforders, if not of the horrors at- 
 tending the contefl of the white and red roles m 
 England, and that of the times cf the hoods in 
 King John's reign at Paris. Pethion, at that pe- 
 riod, poflefied an abfolute afcendency ever Ko T 
 beripierre and the Jacobins ; and promifed that 
 he would write a note to them on the fubjecl, 
 and that the red cap ihould be luppreiled. 'Ihe 
 day on which Pethion was to write was the 
 fame that Durnourier had chofeii for paying his 
 refpecls to the Jacobins. The letter was indeed 
 written, bat hacj not arrived when Dumourier 
 entered the hall of the ailembly. All the mem- 
 N 2 ber 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 bers had red caps on their heads, and a cap 
 offered to Dumourier as he was rn Quoting the 
 tribune. He was compelled to put it on, or im- 
 prudently to fubject himfelf to very great rifts. * 
 Dmnourier fa id little in the tribune. Having 
 allured them that, when war fliould be declared, 
 he would quit his pen to ferve them with his 
 fword, he left the hall. He was fcarcely gone, 
 when Pethion's letter was announced and ready 
 and produced the deiired effect, in baniihing the 
 caps from the affembly ; fo that half an hcur 
 would have faved the minifter this difgrace. The 
 public, milled by falfe royaliiis, that is to fay, by 
 the anti-conftitutional party, have misjudged this 
 facl, which was but a mere accident. 
 
 At the time of Dumourier's quitting the admi- 
 niilration, the Jacobins were become his bitterer! 
 enemies. The General's fuccels in Champagne, 
 had reitored him a little to their favour, in ipite 
 of Marat's accufations ; and he appeared at the 
 club, for a quarter of an hour, en his being at 
 Pans, in October 1792. But he never held any 
 correfpondence with the fociety, nor with any 
 one of its members. 
 
 Haflenfratz, Andouin, and the other clerks of 
 the war-office, were never abfent from the meet- 
 ings of the Jacobins. They multiplied accufati- 
 ons agamil the General ; and often demanded 
 that he fhould be compelled to appear at the bar 
 tn anfwer their charges. But in the midil of thefe 
 intrigues, the Jacobins were deiirous of attach-' 
 ing the General to their party. The majority 
 nfually oppofed his enemies; and. when HafTen- 
 fratz produced his grand accufation refpecting the 
 embezzlement of two hundred thouiand -livres, 
 together with the papers to fubilantiate the charge, 
 the fociety filenced him, and palled to the order 
 of the day. 
 
 The 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 / 
 
 The Jacobins even employed feveral of their 
 emiilaries, to induce the General to attend their 
 fittings. Anacharfis Clootz, uied various arts to 
 that end ; but the General always excufed him- 
 feif, on the ground that he could not appear at 
 the iociety till he had offered his homage to the 
 Convention. Doclor SeyfFer made attempts of 
 the fame nature ; as well as Proli, an adventurer 
 of BruiTels, who was defirous of procuring at 
 leaf! an interview between the General and one 
 Desfieux, a celebrated Jacobin, and one of the. 
 moil active itinerants of the fed, who, arriving 
 at Bourdeaux, found means of difgracing the 
 members of the Girondine party, and of exci- 
 ting the populace againft the honeft part of tha,t 
 great city. Jean-Bon St. Andre, who was a 
 member of the Convention, and an enthutiaflic 
 Jacobin, notwithilanding he had the reputation, 
 of being an honeft man, having conceived a 
 great efteem for Dumourier, although he had no 
 perfonal acquaintance with the General, was ex- 
 tremely anxious to bring about this interview, 
 and requeiled that he might be prefent. The 
 General was not fatisfled that the adventurer 
 Proli, whom he defpifed, fliould be the medium 
 of this negociation ; however, for many impor- 
 tant reaipns, he, at length, confented to the in- 
 terview. 
 
 On the day appointed, the General was inclif- 
 pofed ; but as he would not, by a violation of his 
 word, feem to be wanting in refpecl to Desfieux 
 and St. Andre, to both of whom he was a ill anger, 
 he made another appointment to meet them at the 
 houfe of Bonne-Carrere, who was the intimate 
 friend of thefe two perfons. 
 
 The interview took place at the houfe of 
 Bonne-Carrere. Desfieux appeared to the Ge- 
 neral to be a man of mean capacity, and of a 
 violent difpofit ion. Jean-Boa St. Andre feemed 
 
 better 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 better informed, and more moderate. No ar- 
 rangement could be made refpeciing the trode 
 of the Genera i's prefenting hiijife f i.> ' - ico- 
 bin fociety ; nor on the conctna ae locicrv would 
 obferve towards him, governed as it faas by 
 Marat. Dumourier, therefore, declined enter- 
 ing into any engagement to prefent hiinfelf to the 
 fociety; nor did he make any decliunr.cn of a 
 contrary intention. 
 
 As to the trial of the King, which the General 
 feared to touch upon, excepting very (lightly, 
 left he fliould injure the caufe by ieeming to be 
 interefted in it, he faw that Desfieux and Jean- 
 Bonne St. Andre, were governed by favage rage 
 againft the King, which vented itfelf in the vileft 
 and moFt unjull terms ; and he perceived clearly, 
 that he had nothing to hope on that point from 
 thefe men. 
 
 They vehemently fupported Pache and his 
 affociates, and Desfieux, who called himfelf the 
 organ of the Jacobins, requefted Dumourier to 
 withdraw his accufations againft the minifter of 
 war, whom the Jacobins, he faid, w r ere deter- 
 mined to preierve in his place ; and invited the 
 General to join their faction in difgracing Le 
 Brun, Garat, Claviere, and above all, Roland ; 
 which minifters they considered as the agents of 
 the Girondine party. 
 
 The General now refolved to break off thefe 
 negociatipns entirely ; and informed Bonne- 
 Carrere of his determination. But he felt the 
 danger to which he {hould expofe himfelf in 
 taking this ftep ; and efpecially in purfuing the 
 plan he had laid down, and which he had an- 
 nounced to the convention, of refigrjing the 
 command. Ie well knew, that thenceforth he 
 either join the Jacobins, and become the 
 ,:r:p!ice of their crimes, or deprived of the 
 command, his only ihield againft his enemies, 
 
 fie 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 be fhould be pnrfued on the unjuft accufatiorrs of 
 Haifenfratz, and delivered over to the execrable 
 Revolutionary Tribunal, that has iince murdered 
 Cuftine on the flighted pretences. 
 
 Dumourier therefore made up his mind upon 
 the courie he mould purfue; and which he after- 
 ward adapted to the political cir cum fiances that 
 will be related in the following chapters. Loiing 
 all hope of faving the king, he now thought only 
 of the means of avenging his death, of faving his 
 unfortunate queen and her fon, and, by the efla- 
 blifhment of a limited monarchy, of putting an 
 end to the frightful diforders that were compleat- 
 ing the difgrace and ruin of France, 
 
 C H A P. X. 
 
 Of the Executive Council of France. 
 
 IT was with the fix miniiters exerciling the ex- 
 ecutive power in France, that General Dumou- 
 rier tranfacled the chief part of his buimefs dur- 
 ing the twenty-fix days that he pafied at Paris. 
 And here it will be necefiary to obferve that, in 
 a writing he publimed after that period, by an 
 error in the prefs, twenty- fix hours were put for 
 twenty-fix days. In confequence of which error, 
 a criticifm appeared in one of the Englifh papers, 
 in which the general was ferioufly reproached 
 with averting he had performed, in twenty-fix 
 hours, the bufinefs of twenty-fix days. 
 
 The minifters were Roland, to whom we will 
 give a chapter apart. He was hated by the other 
 
 five, 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 five, who concealed all they could from him. 
 They were themfelves divided into two very 
 oppoiite parties. One was compofed of Le Brim, 
 miniirer of foreign affairs, whom Dumourier had 
 made fir ft clerk, ami who was very fit for that 
 fitaation, bein^ induftrious and well informed ; 
 but he had neither iliificient dignity nor energy 
 of mincl to act /or himleif, and was rendered 
 deceitful by his timidity of character, even to- 
 ward his benefactor, although he flill regarded 
 him as neceflary to his fupport. He had difrnif- 
 fed from his office Marar and Ncel, two men 
 neither deficient in talents nor hone 11 y ; had ap- 
 pointed no perfoft to iuperintend the bufmefs of 
 the office, and to dtftribute the work to the dif- 
 ferent fuperior clerks ; and he had taken for his 
 principal fecretary a man of the name of Ifabeau, 
 whofe reputation was none of the faireft. Occu- 
 pied, like minifters of former times, by intrigues 
 for the prefervation of his place, he was more 
 influenced by the Jacobins than became a man, 
 to whom Briilbt, Condorcet, and the other heads 
 of the Girondine party dictated the policy of his 
 foreign negotiations. 
 
 Of the faction of Le Brun was Garat T minifter 
 cf juftice, a man of an able and upright mind, 
 and to whom no reproach could be made except- 
 ing that, by an adulation unworthy of himfelf, he 
 had endeavoured to apologize for the well known 
 murders of the fir ft days of September. Grou- 
 velle, although only fecretary of the council, may 
 be confidered as having ail the influence of a 
 minifter, fince he ailumed much authority and 
 gave his opinion, and decided on every thing. 
 lie was a man of letters, overbearing, and open 
 in his avowal of bold and extravagant notions of 
 liberty. 
 
 On the other fide was Pache, minifter of war, 
 a man of fenfe, and poffibly an honeft man, but 
 
 ignorant 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 ignorant and blindly devoted to the Jacobin party. 
 He had a wife and daughter, equally ugly and ill 
 tempered, who frequented the clubs and even the 
 haunts of the Marfeillois, to demand the king's 
 death. The war-office was become a club, breath- 
 ing nothing but blood and carnage. The clerks 
 always wore the red cap at their defks, and ufed 
 the phrafes thou and tbee to every one, even to 
 the minifter, who himfelf affected a flovenly drefs, 
 and courted the Pariiian populace, by aiturnmg 
 their manners. 
 
 The fame difgufting fcene prefented itfelf in the 
 office of the marine department, from which all 
 the clerks of character and experience were driven, 
 to make way for ignorant and furious Jacobins, 
 who, notwithstanding the filthinefs of their appear- 
 ance, have acquired immenfe fortunes. 
 
 The war-office and that of the marine depart- 
 ment, united in piefenting an addrefs to the Na- 
 tional Convention, (igned alfo, as it was faid, by 
 the two miniiters, demanding that the king ihould 
 be put to death. Monge, the minifter of the ma- 
 rine, was an academician, had been an excellent 
 lecturer in hydrography, and feemed a man of 
 limple manners, but was a little ungracious in his 
 behaviour. He was entirely devoted to Pache ; 
 and, in concert with him, fupported the Jacobin 
 faction in the council. 
 
 Ciaviere, minifter of the finances, although he 
 was connected with and fupported by the Giron- 
 difts, and was the relation of Rriffot, frequently 
 joined the other faction, from a love of contradic- 
 tion, and becaufe it was the molt active and pow- 
 erful. Like the reft, he thought of nothing but 
 of preferving his place, which Cambon, and the 
 committee of finance were endeavouring to flip- 
 prefs. 
 
 Such was the executive council of France, in 
 the rnoft critical period of her exigence. An ob- 
 
 O vicus 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 Vious and fad reflection naturally prefents itfelf $ 
 theFrenchRevohition, under the pretence of equa- 
 lizing all men, has debafed all men. Moil of the 
 Jacobins, belonged to the loweft clafs of the peo- 
 ple ; and, unable to find among themfelves perfons 
 equni to the firft Rations, they lowered the nature 
 of thofe (rations to their own level. Hence, there 
 is neither dignity, nor character, in the govern- 
 . ment : nor respectability, nor a fenfe of duty in 
 the people; and the populace, unlike the Athenian 
 democracy, are drunken and favage flaves, ufurp- 
 ing the place of the Spartans. The ancient go- 
 vernment was deftroyed to remedy the abufe of 
 diitvibuting places among the nobles, without any 
 regard to their moral capacities. Yet, inftead of 
 the Revolution replacing them by men of talents* 
 it has filled their feats with artful and impudent 
 plebeians.' 
 
 France cannot efcape her entire ruin T but in 
 freeing herfelf from the fubaltern tyrants that in- 
 vade every department. Unhappily, (he no long- 
 er has the means in her own hands, fince thefe 
 tyrants are matters of trie money, arms r power, 
 and authority of the nation. But the ignorance 
 and barbarous rage of this horde is dettrucftive of 
 itfelf; and foreign arms will rettore the ancient 
 defpotifrn, inftead of forming that juft equilibrium 
 between the talents of men and the employments 
 of the lla-te that conttitutes the perfection of go- 
 vernment. This Hate of things however, cannot 
 remain long ; becaufe the love of liberty is too 
 deeply rooted in France to be ever again wholly 
 deftroyed; and the reiteration- of defpotifrn will 
 beget another revolution, the moment: that foreign 
 troops {hall be withdrawn from the country, and 
 ihall leave the nobles of France, fcattered over 
 that vaft kingdom, to the vengeance of the people, 
 called down on their heads by the abufe of thei* 
 fiiort lived triumph. 
 
 The 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 The council did not interfere in the fate cf the 
 king. Le Brim and Garat, feemed to .apprehend 
 the confequences of the trial ; but they feared to 
 employ the means, or to indulge in the idea, of 
 putting a Hop to it, or of fufpending it ; and con- 
 fined tbemfelves to a declaration, that it was un- 
 fortunate for France that fuch a trial had commen- 
 ced. Roland was the moft terrified of all the 
 rninirrers at this trial ; becaufe, in reflect in gout he 
 imprudence, and on the injuflice of his former 
 complaints againft the King, no doubt he felt that 
 he was the principal caufe of the king's danger. 
 He relented and was iilent. It belonged to the 
 malignant mind of Claviere, to rejoice at the trial ; 
 and befides, he had always difcovered a perfonal 
 hatred againft Louis XVI. As to Pache and Monge, 
 they canvafTed openly for the king's death. And 
 Grouvelle declared, that it was neceffary to the 
 honour of the Republic, that he (houid die. 
 
 The open and bitter quarrels that exiiled. be- 
 tween the mmifter of war rcid. the generals, on 
 the complaints made by the latter respecting the 
 armies, and the providing of neceffanes for the 
 troops, could never bring the council to take any 
 ftep in its collective capacity relative to thofe fub- 
 jecls. Exery one of the members referved an 
 exclufive authority in his .own department ; and 
 Pache laid before the council, as well as before 
 jthe committee of war, ibtements which were al- 
 together faife, and which w r ere uniformly oppofed 
 by new complaints from the Generals, and by the 
 reports of the CommilTioners of the Convention 
 with the armies. The council heard all the re- 
 ports and complaints, but they full upheld the 
 committee of contracts, which was fecr.etiy influ- 
 enced by Claviere, the friend of Bidermann, who 
 was at the head of the committee ; and the affairs 
 of the armies were conducted as before. No pro- 
 iilon was made cither for the clothinc, fubfifU 
 O2 
 
ence, or accoutrements of the troops, nor for 
 the hofpitals, nor for the ammunition that was 
 wanted in the frontier places, nor for the works 
 necefTary to put them in a flute of defence. At 
 that time the Jacobins had refolved to place one 
 of their faclion at the head of the municipality, 
 and had promifed to make Pache mayor of Paris ; 
 he, therefore, gave himfelf little uneafinefs re^ 
 fpecling the future embarrafTments of the war 
 department; which Haffenfratz and Meufnier were 
 to quit along with him. 
 
 The more we reflect on the conduct: of the Ja- 
 cobins, the more are we lofl in conjecture ref- 
 pecling the fpirit by which they were guided. It 
 is Certain, that they have been continually in- 
 duflrious to diforganize France, and to render 
 ufelefs the immenfe refources (lie pofleiTed for 
 the defence of her liberty ; they have ruined the 
 fleets and armies ; they have imprifoned or driven 
 out of the kingdom, the ablefl officers ; they have 
 Javifhed the treafures of the nation in wild and 
 ineffectual expences ; they have deflroyed the 
 commercial and political connections of France 
 with other nations ; and have fet every nation at 
 defiance ; and it cannot be doubted, that the fo- 
 ciety has been influenced by Englifh, Italians, 
 Flemings and Germans, pretending to be furious 
 Jacobins, and who were known to be the fpies of 
 foreign governments. In this clafs may be ranked 
 Clootz, Marat, Chabot, Pio, the Je\V Ephraim, 
 De Bufcher, and many others. 
 
 The decree of the 15th of December, far from 
 being difapproved of by the Council, was fup- 
 ported by every one of the members, Le Brim 
 had been iecretary to the people of Liege, during 
 this revolution, to which he had given his lup- 
 port by a periodical work, entitled, u The Jour- 
 nal of Europe." This paper was not ill written ; 
 and it was in -ccnfequence of feeing it, that Da- 
 
 mourier 
 
fnonrier had placed him at the department of fo- 
 reign affairs. Le Brun was of opinion, as well 
 as moft of the other revplppcoiifo of Ftajice, that 
 a revolution could not be'- iliccefaful without be- 
 ing attended by a compje.te^diforg^^^tiqn; fo 
 that he could not fail to -'approve of a decree, 'cal- 
 culated to diforganize a people, who had the 
 misfortune to call upon us for aid. The prin- 
 ciples of Durnourier, which inclined him to 
 refpedl the liberty, property, and opinions of 
 others, could not be very acceptable to Le Brun. 
 But Le Brun was filent on the fubjecl to Durnou* 
 rier, although he, in concert with Marat, Chepy, 
 .and his other emjilaries, hid eftablrlhed a de- 
 ftruclive engine in Belgium, under the name 
 of the Revolutionary Committee. The General 
 complained to the miniiler of the language and 
 conduct of Chepy, defiring he might be recalled, 
 as being dangerous to the affairs of France in 
 Belgium. Le Brun, however, not only counte- 
 nanced Chepy, but gave him new inflructicns 
 jthat greatly extended his power. 
 
 In the fame manner while the General was 
 foliciting the revocation of the decree of the l^th 
 of. December, the council appointed, on the re- 
 commendation of the Jacobins, thirty-two com- 
 rai{!k>ners of the Executive Power, to whofe fitu- 
 ation was annexed the falary of 1 0,000 livres, 
 befides the expences of their journey, and the 
 profits of their robberies. Thele commiflioners 
 were furnifhed with ridiculous indruclions, in 
 which the council feigned to confine their au- 
 thority within narrow bounds ; but the commif- 
 lioners paid no regard to their inftructions, having 
 thernfelves given an arbitrary latitude to their 
 power. Thefe mifcreants inflicled the greateil 
 wrongs on the Belgians, and catifed among that 
 people an utter abhorrence of the French name. 
 
 The 
 
( 10* ) 
 
 The plan of the campaign remained yet to be 
 fettled. Cambon had aflerted that France main- 
 tained 600,000 troops, ' It was now the 15th of 
 January; 'and the council knew not how many 
 troog-s Fa r.ce.r Airily had on .foot, nor how many 
 enemies the would 'have to contend with, in the 
 campaign. The General Hated to the Council that, 
 although all Europe fhould declare" again!! France, 
 (he having no civil war, (for the revolt in La 
 Vendee had not yet broken out) might defend her 
 frontiers with three hundred aud feventy thoufand 
 men (the fixth part of them being cavalry )exclunve 
 tot the garrifons and troops of the fleet, by (landing 
 on the defenlive on the fouth and on the banks of 
 the Rhine, and confining their ciienfive opera- 
 tions to the frontiers extending from the Mozelle 
 to Dunkirk. The General propofed to diflribute 
 the troops in the following manner : 80,000 men 
 to compofe the army of Belgium ; 40,000 men 
 that of the Ardennes ; a corps of 2o,ooo to be 
 polled on the Mozelle, to keep open the commu- 
 nication between the armies of the Ardennes and 
 that of the Rhine ; 50,000 to compofe the army 
 of the Rhine ; a reierve of 2o,ooo men to be 
 placed at Chalons or Soiflbns ; a corps of 15,000 
 at Lyons, to watch Switzerland and Piedmont ; 
 40,000 for the army of Savoy and countries of 
 Nice and Provence ; 25,000 ipr the army of the 
 Pyrennees ; 40,000 for the coaft of the Weil, from 
 Bciyonne to Breil ; and 40,000 for the coafts along 
 the channel, from Breft to Dunkirk. All thefe 
 armies might mutually alM each other; and, as 
 the whole of France was armed, even mould the 
 enemy penetrate any part, it was not to be doubted 
 they would be repulfed or overwhelmed. 
 
 General Dumourier alfo propofed that Cuftine's 
 army, which had already evacuated Franckfort, 
 iljoiild f::U back upon Landau, leaving a garrifon 
 
 in 
 
in Mayence fnfEcient to compel the king of Pruf- 
 iia to lofe three or four months before that place, 
 which would aiford time to put the fortified towns 
 of Aiface, Lorraine, and the Ardennes, into a 
 proper irate of defence, and to make the enemy 
 on that lide lofe the reft of the campaign. 
 
 The General further propoled. that the greatefi: 
 efforts fhould be made to pufh the campaign on 
 with vigour on the fide of Belgium, becaufe that 
 being a flat country without fortified places, or 
 even without any of thofe naturally itrong iitua- 
 tions of country which ftand in the place of for- 
 trefles, the fate of the war in thefe provinces muft 
 be decided by battles. On this fcheme, if the 
 French mould be victorious, the greater part of 
 the French army might pafs the Rhine : and if 
 unfuccefsful, might retire behind the fortrefles of 
 Flanders and Artois; however the whole cam- 
 paign might pafs without the French lines being 
 broke in upon in this quarter. 
 
 Inftead of this plan, which Dumourier laid 
 before the Committee of General Safety, as well 
 as the Executive Council, La Clos, who had jufl 
 been appointed to the command in India, propofed 
 that they fhould inftantly fend him out with fifteen 
 velTels and 15,000 men, which meafure necefih- 
 rily involved a war with England and Holland, 
 although it had then been very eafy and was very 
 necellary to the fafety of France to have avoided 
 that war. 
 
 The object of this expedition of La Clos was to 
 make himfelf mailer of the Cape of Good Hope 
 and the ifland of Ceylon ; and afterwards, to join 
 Tippoo Saib and to attack Bengal. 
 
 Keller-maim, on paying his refpects to the Na- 
 tional Convention, on his departure to take the 
 command of the army of Dauphine, which amount- 
 ed to nearly twenty thoufand men (excludve of 
 'the army of the country of Nice, under General 
 
 Biron, 
 
10 4 
 
 Biron, from ten to twelve thoufand men) re- 
 ceived orders from the Preiident to go and 
 conquer Rome ; and the General gravely an- 
 fwered, that he took his leave to go to Rome. 
 This army had alib been weakened by draw- 
 ing between ieven and eight thoufand men from 
 ii. for the fleet that lay at Toulon, deftined to 
 conquer Sardinia. This expedition was under- 
 taken in the in oft ftormy part of the .year, in a. 
 narrow feaj abuundin-* with rocks and iflands ; 
 and part of the fleet \vas loil, and the expedition 
 foiled: 
 
 The army of the Pyrennees confided only of an 
 exienilve eilablifhment of naff otncers, without 
 troops. Yet the Convention had refolved upon 
 conquering Spain, and had deftined 40,000 men, 
 that were not raifed, and General Servan, for 
 the purpofe. There were no troops on the coaft 
 of the weft and north; excepting ibme weak gar- 
 rifons at Belleifle, and at two or three other places 
 on that coaft. There was no army of referve. 
 Fifty thoufand men were wanting to complete the 
 army of Belgium and that of the Ardennes ; the 
 army of Aiface did not amount to 2o,oo men, 
 exclulive of 22,ooo flint up in Mayence ; and the 
 army of the Mczelle did not amount to 12,000 
 men. 
 
 In order therefore to put the plan of General 
 Dumourier in execution, there were wanting more 
 than 150,000 men ; together with the provifions, 
 arrns, and clothing, for this large body of troops. 
 Above all, France was in want, of cavalry. The 
 armies of Belgium and of the Ardennes required 
 a body of 2o,ooo cavalry ; and the two armies had 
 not 6,000 ; and they were in want of 15,000 ar- 
 tillery hories. 
 
 The General's plan was adopted ; the 370,000 
 men were decreed to be raifed ; and a few altera- 
 tions made in the diitribution of the troops ; but 
 
 this 
 
( 105 ) 
 
 this was all that ever was done towards the exe- 
 cution of the plan. However, the General ob- 
 tained an order a few days before his departure 
 for 15,000 men of the new-railed battalions to 
 inarch from the third line in Picardy, Flanders, 
 and Artois, where they were altogether ufelefs, 
 into maritime Flanders. 
 
 Independent of the Executive Council, from 
 which (as Le Brun and Garat fufpeded) a great 
 many projects were concealed, elpecially thofe 
 refpeclmg foreign politics, there were two pri- 
 vate committees held at the houfe of General Du- 
 inourier, which feemed to difpofe of the fate of 
 the empire ; and which in fad produced nothing. 
 They were compofed of the twominifters Le Brun 
 and Garat, and thofe members of the Girondine 
 party, Condorcet, Pethion, Genfonne and Brifibt* 
 It is probable that the only objed of the party, 
 in ellablifhing thefe committees, was that their 
 exigence mould be known to Paris, in order to 
 beget an opinion that the General was entirely 
 devoted to them ; and thereby to ftrengthen the 
 party, by the acquiiition of his friends, Le Brim 
 even feemed unwilling that the negociations then 
 carrying on with England and Holland fliould be 
 at all enquired into by the committees; and re- 
 quefted the General to forbear touching on the 
 fubjed ; and it was never introduced. 
 
 BrifTot beaded of his plans for the conqueft of 
 Spain and Italy; but the General eafily deteded 
 the folly of his calculations. 
 
 The iituation of the Republic with Switzerland, 
 was an interefting fubjecl. The malignity of Cla- 
 viere, had been lately gratified, in compelling 
 General Montefquieu to become an exile to efcape 
 the fangs of his perfecutor the vile Du Bois de 
 Crance ; and, in diforganizing Geneva, his na- 
 tive country. BriiTbt and his adherents maintained, 
 that it was necefiary to compel the Swifs Can- 
 P to 115 
 
( loD ) 
 
 tons to abandon their neutrality; or, in cafe of 
 refufal to attack them ; and it is probable that in 
 this they were acted upon by the ;;p;ents of the 
 combined. .powers., to whom it was veiy.impoi! 
 that Switzerland ihould join the confederacy. 
 t The General proved by ai s drawn firm 
 
 the relative iituations of France, Switzerland, 
 nnd the Cornbineel Poweis, to which theie nifeta- 
 clchns were frraiigers, that it was prudent to 
 conciliate the p;ocd dilpoiitions of the Helvetic 
 -body towards France ; yet, at the fame time to 
 Liitatoi an arrnv of 15,00.0. men to cover Lyons, 
 land to I U T on any emergency en that fide. 
 
 1 DanToiiner was the more elelirous of preferring 
 , becauie it was during his admini- 
 irnitien, rhut the event of the dilarming the regi- 
 -inent of Erneil happened at Aix. At that, period, 
 he made- every con^penlaticn he could to that brave 
 regiment, for the injuilice of his countrymeri ; he 
 pi eiented the red ribband to the two principal of- 
 ficers, and provided for the iafety of their retreat 
 with their men to. the frontiers. 
 
 GenerabDumourier always exerted everv means 
 erto yjreferve peace with Switzerland; 
 a nieaiur'e that was io juii, and ib neceliary to 
 the welfare of the two nations. But he rriufi: 
 own, that his efforts have leis contributed to that 
 difficult tsfk, than the prudent and firm conduct 
 of Colonel cle Weiio, a member of the ibvereign 
 council of Berne, avid a writer diflinguifhed bv 
 works which dilplav ex tenure knowledge, energy 
 cf mind, and gocdnefs of heart. This ofHcer, 
 without . pohcJlm^' acv ofiennble diplomatic cha- 
 racter, 'Avas Tefpected by the miniilry, \vasliiien- 
 ed to in the committee?, 'and had even acquired 
 an ntion. , Tranquil when 
 
 furrounded -by danger, nnd uncorrupted in the 
 michl of crime", bi j .to fay to one of 
 
 th; . I kwzv ibiit you can cuifje vie 
 
 to 
 
to le arr-Jled or maffucred ; but proofs cf your 
 fainy. that would bring you to tie fcajfotd in eight 
 days, are within my reach: I demand that a pc. 
 ab'e conduct on the fart of France, toward my 
 country, be the price of my Jikti^c. 
 
 On another trying occaiion, when a fupcrior 
 officer had bluntly interrupted him, in' the midit 
 of a fentence, to demand if, daring to ipeak the 
 language he held, he had a 100,000 men at hij 
 beck in the Fauxbourgs of Paris, JNo, lie an- 
 fwered haughtily, 1 am fingle ; but I have a hun- 
 dred thoufand republican J'tnthnents in my heart of 
 ivhicb you are deftiiute. He was applauded bv 
 his audience ; and continued his difcourfe. 
 
 His work entitled, A rapid furvey of the rela- 
 tive inter efts of the Helvetic body, and the French 
 Republic, which was publiftied in a criiis of great 
 danger to both countries, expofed and defeated 
 the hoftile projects of a faction, towards Switzer- 
 land, on the eve of execution ; and if is very 
 probable that, without the foreiight and courage 
 of Colonel de Weifs, war had been declared a-r 
 gainfl the Helvetic body before i.he end of Fe- 
 bruary. Various fecret preparations were already 
 making for an attack upon Switzerland, in puiv 
 fait of an ill digotied plan of Robert, Gaviere, 
 and other Swifs emigrants.- The attack was to be 
 made on three points at once. A column, com- 
 pofed of part of the army of the Upper Rhine, 
 and augmented by new; levies, \ias to take Bade 
 by lurprive, or nllhi.ik, and keep the A.uiln'.?n.> 
 in check. Another column, drnun from the 
 army of the Alps, was to blockade Geneva, vvhcie 
 the French had numcrrous partiziv 1 to pe- 
 
 netrate by Veribix into the Pays de V: I he 
 
 third diviiion, .v\ of cliofc.'. ;, was 
 
 to milrch fuddeiilv bv die Pals of Porentnl, al- 
 ready occupied by the 'French, sgainli Berne, 
 whole treaiurv, STimaries, and aiicn;:. : ed 
 
 F 2 thp 
 
the cupidity of the projedors of this plan. Berne 
 bad been already fecretly reconnoitred ; and, al- 
 though it be nearly furrounded by a rapid and 
 deep river, it was expected that the place would 
 be carried, by pouring in bombs and red-hct 
 balls from the neighbouring heights, before the 
 Swifs militia could affemble with force to oppofe 
 the attack. The projectors of the plan alfo ex- 
 pected a powerful diverfion to be made in their 
 behalf, by the difcontented party, (whofe num- 
 bers were greatly exaggerated) of the Lower Va- 
 lais, Neuf-Chatel, Pays de Vaud, Soleure, Lu- 
 cerne, and Fribourg. This lafl city was deftined 
 to be an objed of fignal vengeance, on account of 
 fome offence (he had committed refpeding the 
 aflignats. The popular governments were to be 
 informed that theie hoftilities would not a fled 
 them, and that France would continue to preferve 
 peace with them. As to the other cantons, the 
 commiflioners and other feditious preachers were 
 to overthrow their conftitutions, flir up the poor 
 againft the rich, malTacre, imprifon, or banifli 
 the magiftrates and principal citizens, feize upon 
 fpecie, provifions, horles, and arms, compel 
 men of property to emigrate that their eflates 
 might be confifcated, outrage religion, and in the 
 name of liberty and the public good to ruin this 
 free and happy people, and reduce them to fla- 
 very. The expedition was to have been prompt ; 
 but the explolion w r as prevented, and Clavier^ 
 and Briflbt, overawed by Weifs, laid afide a pro- 
 led in which Switzerland, from the character of 
 the times, had every thing to hazard. 
 
 The conqueil of Rome and Spain, were defer- 
 red till armies could be raifed to march again!! 
 thofe countries. As to all other affairs, the fit- 
 tings of thefe two committees were as fruitlefs as 
 were the deliberations of the committee of gene- 
 ral iafety, and thofe of the executive council. 
 
 Dumourier 
 
( 109 ) 
 
 D amour ier could not, by any motive, obtain of 
 them the accomplishment of any objecl, calcu- 
 lated to ferve the nation^ 
 
 CHAP, xi 
 
 Retreat of Roland from the Adminiftration. 
 
 J\T the time of the king's death, Roland, who 
 had long (trove to maintain his fituation in the 
 miniilry, againft the will of the Jacobins, as well 
 .as againil the real inclinations of his own party, 
 lent a letter to his colleagues announcing his re- 
 fignation. The miniilers never appeared more 
 chearful than on the day they received this letter, 
 and the council appeared more like a fchool re- 
 lieved from the reftraints of a troublefome pe- 
 dant, than a grave meeting of Statefmen. Ko- 
 land's refignation, made part of a compromife 
 between the Jacobin and Gironde parties, ill 
 which it was agreed, that both Roland and Pache 
 (hould quit the miniilry. But the confequences 
 were very different to thofe two miniiters, the 
 latter of them acquiring a fituation of more real 
 importance than any in the miniilry ; while the 
 former remained more than ever expofed to the 
 infults and perfections of the Jacobins. 
 
 This facrifice made of Roland by his party, is 
 another intlance of the cowardice of that faction, 
 which ought never to have abandoned a man, of 
 
 whole 
 
( "0 ) 
 
 whofe fervlces they had availed themfelves, with- 
 out any refpecl to his peace or lately. In truth, 
 the whole conduct of Roland, in his public cha- 
 racter, was a miftakcn policy, which expofed 
 himlclf and his party to continual danger. Ro- 
 land did not poiTefs much flrength of mind, but 
 had acquired extenfive information on the diffe- 
 rent, branches of trade and manufactures; and, 
 Ji it had been expedient to divide the duties of 
 flic adrniniitration of the home department, 
 v.'hi.-h was too extenfive and too complicated for 
 a mind of i'uch little energy, it is probable, he. 
 would have made an excellent miniiler of com- 
 -I'KTcia! concerns. lie was upright' in his de- 
 %;!!>, and was poffeffed of a mild and philan- 
 thropic difpofition ; but the defire of appearing a 
 
 moralin. induced him to aflume a feverity of 
 character unnatural to him. He hoped to refera- 
 ble Cato the Cenfor, and had adopted his turn of 
 ccnvedation, at once cold and repulhve, but 
 Without the genius and boldnels of that celebra- 
 ted mrjn. In his drefs he was nice and iingular, 
 following the fafhions of former times ; but this 
 was at leaii lei's difpleafmg; than the fiovenly affec- 
 tation of the Jacobins. His deportment was grave, 
 and not unbecoming the dignity of his ilation. 
 lie was indefatigable m the application of his ta- 
 lents. But he loved too much to gratify the will 
 of the people, and Was too ready to believe that 
 
 ; ;.;her orders were opprefilve and ur-juii ; and 
 this diipofkion, that becomes dargeroiis- when it 
 is roo generally indulged, conducted him habitu- 
 precipitate and imprudent meafure-. 
 He was candid in his examinaticn of the lubjecls 
 belor i he other departments of the govern- 
 
 ment, fu^i ns thole rdaung to the 
 
 :;-, ail I fiirei ciaticns ; and ihpported, 
 
 - itfi ^rfei iinccv, : prcpoiitinii 
 
 '? council" o r a juft and rcjicnable m- 
 
( 8* ) 
 
 hire. ..Perceiving the equivocal conducl of the 
 other miniilers, miilruftirig. their talents and 
 
 hap- . .cd faith, he would no longer admit 
 
 of any relpoijfibality of the council in a coikxfUve 
 rapacity : a::i his pertinacity in refilling to ; 
 iwer for any meaiures but ihofe that were ; 
 ccnieqcence of his direct orders begat a 
 hatred of -him than ever among his colleagues. 
 
 The temper and qualities of Roland would 
 have, fitted him well enough for the rmiiiilry hr.d 
 the republic been lettied on its foundations, and 
 if the times had been more free from the vio- 
 lence .of party rage, for he was a rigid repubik i 
 This difpoiition was the caufe of his ill conduce 
 to Louis the XVI. and of the imprudent Rep of 
 delivering into the hands of the Convention the 
 fatal cheit containing the monarch's paffivt:* cor- 
 refpondence, in which thofe bafe men found 
 pretexts for the martyrdom of that unfortunate 
 prince. 
 
 Perhaps it. was prejudicial to the interefls of 
 Roland that he was governed by his wife, who 
 was a woman of line talents, and whom he ac- 
 knowledged to be the critic, that gave a polifh to 
 his numerous works ; but certainly it was among 
 his misfortunes to be furrouiided by ignorant and 
 deiigning journaliits, who compoied, under his 
 directions, thofe verbofe harangues that covered 
 the walls and public buildings of Paris ; for the 
 
 Jacobins 
 
 * Pajfiye? Such is the v/ord in the original, and it- is print. 
 ed in Italics. Dumonrier fecras to have thought that Louis 
 XVI. was. innocent, becaufe he had not courage. or capacity 
 to contrive- thz means of injurirfg the nation. Suppofino he is 
 not miftiiken in that conclusion, he Teems to have forgotten, 
 that he was conceding one of the great points, infilled upon 
 by the friends of Democracy, that it is in vain to. have ai> 
 innocent king, if his mmifters, miilreUes, wives, or favou- 
 rites, be not innocent alfo : -as it would be in -vain that thefe 
 latter Ihould be innocent, if the king .be: avaricious, dccc. 
 or tyrannical- T. 
 
( "2 ) 
 
 Jacobins had the addrefs to turn this engine of 
 faction againit him and his party. 
 
 Among the women who have rifen to celebrity 
 during the French revolution, no one has aded a 
 more confpicuous or noble part than that of Ma- 
 dame Roland. She was between thirty and forty 
 years of age, had a lively and healthy counte- 
 nance, and a molt interesting figure ; ihe drefled 
 with great taite ; converfed with ability, although 
 perhaps with too much wit and refinement ; fhe 
 was innocently gay, and had placed herfelf at the 
 head of a party confuting of metaphyficians, 
 icholars, members of the Convention, and rni- 
 nifters. Every day thefe partizans of Madame 
 Roland paid their refpeds to her, and on the Fri- 
 day of every week they dined at her houfe, where 
 the condud and politics of flatefmeii took their 
 
 character from Madame Roland's opinions.- 
 
 None of the wives of the other miniflers were 
 admitted to thefe meetings. 
 
 It would be unjuft not to notice the fpirit with 
 which Madame Roland concluded herfelf under 
 an infult of the Jacobins, at a time when her 
 hufband's name had already fallen into great dif- 
 credit. Interrogated at the bar of the Conven- 
 tion, refpeding the injurious acculaticns of an 
 unprincipled man named Viard, fhe faid, I am 
 the wife of citizen Roland / / bear the name of a 
 virtuous man, to whom I am proud to le allied. < 
 Certainly it required all the malignity of the Ja- 
 cobins to perfecute fuch a woman. 
 
 Although Madame Roland poiTefTed much 
 good fenfe, fhe permitted it to be feen that ihe 
 governed her hufoand, and thereby did a difler- 
 vice to his reputation, for which fhe could not 
 compenfate by the value of her councils. It was 
 Madame Roland that (elected Pache and Lanthe- 
 nas to aid her hufband in his adminiftration ; and 
 the former of them fo entirely gained the confi- 
 dence 
 
deuce of Roland, that he was appointed minifter 
 of war through Roland's intereft. Pache was no 
 fooner the colleague of Roland, than he became 
 his enemy, and fought by every means to ruin 
 him, and for that purpofe he did not hefitate to 
 become the partifan of the moil intemperate men 
 among the Jacobins. The conteft between thole 
 two minifters was open, and their hofliie attacks 
 were without meafure or decency. They both 
 defcended from their iituations, but with Pache 
 it was only to rife to higher power. Roland was 
 to be fubjeded to new and more bitter misfor- 
 tunes. 
 
 Other women have alfo diih'nguiihed them- 
 felves during the revolution, but without the dig- 
 nity that has been preferred by Madame Roland ; 
 excepting, indeed, it be Madame Necker, who, 
 in many refpecls, may be confidered as the rival 
 of Madame Roland's fame, and whofe age and 
 experience, if it rendered her lefs agreeable to 
 the thoughtlefs, gave her the advantage as the 
 counfellor of her hufband. Mademoifelle La 
 BroufTet, Madame de Stael, Condorcet, Paftoret, 
 Coigny and Theroigne, were either artful females, 
 like thofe who haunted the courts of former times, 
 or differed in nothing from the vulgar and furious 
 women of the Fauxbourgs of Paris, 
 
 One unfortunate woman, Elizabeth Corday, 
 has coniigned her name to hiflory, by an acl, 
 which happily for humanity will find few imi- 
 tators, although it delivered the earth from a 
 monfter. 
 
 The executive council feemed to have under- 
 gone no change by the retreat of Roland from 
 the mini {try. During a confiderable period be- 
 fore his resignation, he had been entirely occu- 
 pied in brooding over his vexations, the attacks 
 of his enemies, and the means of his defence. 
 Every fatire of the Jacobins that was directed 
 
 Q. againil 
 
( "4 ) 
 
 ft him, begat in his apprehennon the obliga- 
 tion of juilifying himfelf to the Convention; and 
 the members of the Convention, who, perhaps, 
 were more irritated by the auiterity of Roland's 
 virtue, than by the petulance of his fpirit, iaw 
 nothing in thofe homilies but an infupportabie 
 pride. His own party, no longer deriving repu- 
 tation from his name, had, in truth, renounced 
 him ; and had very ignorantly refolved to iacri- 
 fice him. Roland flattered himfelf that his refig- 
 naticn would not be accepted, and he remained 
 in the houfe appropriated to the minifter of "the 
 Home Department, till he was no longer per- 
 mitted to doubt of his fate. During the latter 
 part of his administration, he feldom flept in this 
 houfe; as the Jacobins, to terrify him, frequently 
 fent bands of the foederates to make excursions 
 during the night round the houfe; In this man- 
 ner were the reprefentatives of the executive 
 power treated in France. Le Brun and Claviere 
 iave been lince accufed and imprilbned; and 
 Garat was accufed and arrefled after having re- 
 ligned. So ferocious has been the character of 
 this revolution that, of the men who have had an 
 eminent part in it, fuch only have been out of 
 the reach of a violent death as have fled and are 
 in exile. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
CHAP. XII. 
 
 Negoctattons with Holland and England. 
 
 R A N C E, at that period, had no other de- 
 clared enemies than Auilria, Pfuffia, and Sar- 
 dinia. She had difplayed a fuperiority over thole 
 powers during the preceding campaign, which 
 would have been entirely decifive, if, according 
 to the plan of General Dumourier, Cuftine, in- 
 ftead of palling the Rhine to levy an incontider- 
 able contribution on Frankfort, and for which 
 France paid fo dearly, had made himfelf matter 
 of Coblentz, where there was no garrifon; and if 
 the wants of the army had been fupplied, fo that 
 the army of Belgium might have taken up its 
 winter quarters along the banks of the Rhine, 
 from Cleves to Cologne ; that of the Ardennes, 
 from Cologne to Andernnch ; that of the Mo- 
 zelle, from Andernach to Mayence, including 
 Coblentz ; and that of Alface, from Mayence to 
 Landau, including Spires. This petition would 
 have compelled the county of Luxembourg to 
 have furrendered, by cutting off its fupplies of 
 proviiions. The armies would have had behind 
 them a country on which, whether it were neuter 
 or an enemy, they might long have fubiiilecl ; and, 
 by opening the campaign early in the {pring, 
 might have palled the Rhine without difficulty, 
 and have penetrated into the center of Germany, 
 where the French would have been received with 
 open arms, if they had poffeilVd the prudence to 
 have forborne from excitin terror in the inhabi- 
 
t::r:ts by unj aft decrees and by the fending of ra- 
 pacious commiflioners to commit violence, iniults 
 and robberies. 
 
 This great plan was neglected ; yet France 
 might have fnilained herfelf with reputation and 
 effect againil her enemies who were in truth al- 
 ready overcome, if her conduct had not drawn 
 new enemies upon her. 
 
 Means exiiied, at this period, for preferring 
 Spain in her neutrality ,- and by employing them 
 the nation would have fpared herfelf the guilt of a 
 great crime. The king of Spain engaged with 
 the Convention to remain neuter, on condition 
 that the life of the unfortunate Louis XVI. fhould 
 be fpared. This llep does honour to the Spanifh 
 monarch; and it is difficult to imagine why the 
 French princes did not follow fo bright an exam- 
 ple. The implacable, ignorant Convention re- 
 jected the terms of the Spanifli monarch with dif- 
 dain, and thereby committed a new crime againfl 
 the nation, by creating her a new enemy, without 
 confulting her on the necellity or prudence of 
 their conduct. 
 
 The courts of London and the Hague, had for 
 feme time betrayed a hatred to the French revolu- 
 tion; and the death of Louis XVI. could not 
 but increafe that hatred. But, in England, no 
 part of the nation was willing to enter into a war 
 agaimt France, excepting the king , who coraiider- 
 ed his differences with the French as a perfonal 
 quarrel. And in Holland, every party dreaded 
 to be drawn into a war. It was therefore pcllible 
 for France to preferve peace with thofe two coun- 
 tries; and, till that period, {he had wiiely culti- 
 vated the good will of Holland, from whence 
 ihe drew fpecie and proviiions ; and it was eafy to 
 have continued that fyitem. 
 
 In the latter end of the month of November, 
 General Dumourier prcpofed to the executive 
 
 council, 
 
( 11? ) 
 
 council, the taking of Maeftricht, without which 
 he could neither defend the Meufe nor the country 
 of Leige. He thought it reafonable, after many 
 examples in former wars, to take and hold this 
 place, engaging by a duly authorifed manifefro, 
 to reftore it at the end of the war. At that period 
 his army was victorious and full of ardour. He 
 had, after the taking of the citadel of Antwerp, 
 aflembled the whole of his heavy artillery at 
 Tongres and Leige, in order not to expofe the 
 horfes belonging to the artillery to die for want of 
 forage, (as the Jacobins have ftupidly afferted) 
 but to make himfelf mailer of Maeilricht. That 
 place was not as yet palifadoed, nor provided 
 with a garrifon, nor with any thing neceflary to 
 fuftain a fiege. Venloo was in the fame condition. 
 Caufes of complaint were not wanting to give a 
 colour to the enterprize ; and to throw the impu- 
 tation of being the aggreilbrs upon the Dutch, if 
 they fhould refent his conduct, for they had al- 
 ready frequently violated the neutrality, and had 
 recently prohibited on pain of death, all exporta- 
 tions of provifions to France, while provifions in 
 immenfe quantities were drawn from Holland, to 
 eftablim magazines, on the Lower Rhine, for the 
 Imperialiiis and PrufTians, The executive coun- 
 cil rejected the general's proportions, and ex- 
 prefsly commanded him to preferve the ftricteft 
 neutrality toward Holland, which injunction the 
 general was punctual in cbferving. They then 
 lent him an order to undertake the fiege of Lux- 
 embourg during the winter; but, the general 
 (hewing the abfurdity of the plan, it was not put 
 in execution. 
 
 .As the executive council had thus neglefted the 
 opportunity of feizing upon Maefmcht, which 
 maybe regarded as the key of the Nether] anas on, 
 the iide of the Meufe, the general was of opinion 
 that it would no longer "be pvudfiit to commit any 
 
 hoiUlhy 
 
hollility on the part of France again ft Holland, 
 being convinced that a war with England muft be 
 the confequence of fuch hoftility ; and his advice 
 was thenceforward to preferve a neutrality with 
 both England and Holland, with the utmcit 
 iolicitude. 
 
 The friendihip of Holland was indifpenfibly 
 necefihry to enable France to hold Belgium, for 
 if the Dutch delivered the paffages of Maefcritcht 
 and Yenloo to the Aufirians, the Meufe \vould be 
 no longer tenable, and the French would be com- 
 pelled to abandon the countries of Leige, Guel- 
 dre, Limbourg, Brabant, and Namur, and retreat 
 lie-hind the Scheld ; contracting their lines within 
 the country lying between the citadel of Antwerp 
 and Valenciennes. And in the cafe of the 
 Jinglifh and Dutch afiembling an army in Dutch 
 Flanders, the French would be further forced to 
 abandon the Scheld, and retire behind the river 
 Lys, and under the fortified places of French Flan- 
 ders and Artois. 
 
 At this time there were at Paris many Dutch 
 refugees victims of the Dutch revolution, and of 
 the faithlcfs and feeble conduct of the mini Her 
 Brienne. Many among them were refpeclable 
 and opulent men, who allured the French mininry 
 that their party in Holland was much more confi- 
 derable than that of the Stadtholder, which indeed 
 was true. Thefe reprefentations were difregarded 
 tilHhe month of January, when Le Brun after 
 giving them an hearing, referred them to General 
 Dumourier for his opinion refpecting their re- 
 fources, and efpecially reipecling a plan of inva- 
 ding Zealand which the Dutch patriots reprefented 
 ns eafy to be undertaken, and certain of fuccefs. 
 Alter a deliberate examination the general judged 
 the plan to be impracticable, but wrote to the mi- 
 uiilcr that he mould poftpone giving a definite an- 
 i'v,-er till lie iiiculd be at Antwerp, and be able- 
 
( U9 ) 
 
 more particularly to examine the feveral parts t 
 the project ; and it was refolved that the Dutch 
 refugees fhould proceed to Antwerp with their 
 revolutionary committee ; and orders were given 
 to the Dutch legion, ccnfifting nearly or 1 0,000- 
 men, to garriibn Antwerp, and to be ready to 
 form the advanced guard of the French army, in 
 cafe of a war with Holland. 
 
 An agent of Le Brim was appointed to attend 
 the Dutch revolutionary committee ; but no poll- 
 dve engagement with them was entered into, and 
 all that related to them was rendered dependent 
 on the ifYue of a negociation which was then on the 
 point of commencing. 
 
 At the time that Dumourier had been mmifler 
 for foreign affairs he had fent to the Hague, as 
 minifter plenipotentiary, Emanuel de Maulde, a 
 colonel in the French army, who had conducted 
 himfelf with great prudence and ability, had pro- 
 cured arms and horfes for France, and had fo well 
 reconciled his attention to the interells of the re- 
 fugees with the refped due to the government of 
 the country, as to acquire the confidence and 
 efleem of the two factions that divided Holland.. 
 This conduct, which was conformable to his in 
 ftrudions, was too moderate to be agreeable to .the 
 temper cf the prefent times ; and de Maulde had 
 moreover the misfortune to be noble. Le Brim 
 in particular conceived an averiioii to him. The 
 military committee difapproved of his fending 
 fufees to Dunkirk. His meafures were oppofed 
 on every iide, and his intentions calumniated. He 
 was recalled ; and in his room was appointed 
 Noel, whom the general had made principal clerk 
 in the office for foreign affairs. Noel, although 
 an extremely honeit man, arriving with prejudices 
 againtl de Maulde and plans much lefs moderate 
 than thofe on which Maulde had adecl, was very ill 
 
 received 
 
C 120 .) 
 
 received ; and, attributing his reception to dc 
 Maulde, became bis enemy and accufer. 
 
 De Maulde, on his arrival at Paris, called upon 
 the general ; and told him that, if France defired 
 to preferve a neutrality with Holland and Eng- 
 land, nothing was more eafy ; that, although the 
 miniiiers of the two courts would neither acknow- 
 ledge the National Convention, nor treat with Le 
 Brun, yet the grand peniioner of Holland, Van 
 Spiegel, and the Englim Ambafiador, Lord Auck- 
 land, had charged him to declare that they would 
 willingly treat with General Dumourier. 
 
 At the fame time, Benoit, who had been agent 
 of the French miniiiry at London, and had jult 
 arrived from that place, informed Le Brun on the 
 part of Talleyrand, late BHhop of Autun, De 
 Talon, and other French emigrants, who had po- 
 litical connections with the Britiih. miniiiry, that 
 Pitt and the council of St. James's had nothing 
 more at heart than to treat for the prefervation of 
 the neutrality, provided that General Dumourier 
 fhould be charged with the negociation, and fhould 
 proceed to England for the purpofe of fettling its 
 terms, which he might eafily accomplifh before 
 the opening of the campaign. 
 
 This overture of the Englifh miniiiry was, at 
 firft, communicated to no other perfon of the execu- 
 tive council than Garat and Le Brun. Garat, 
 who was pofiefled of a found judgment, zealoufly 
 embraced the offer, and propofed to fend the ge- 
 neral as ambafiador extraordinary to England, 
 without, however fuperfeding Chauvelin, with in- 
 iiruclions to demand a deciiive anfwer refpecting 
 war or peace. The king's trial was not yet con- 
 cluded, but the cruel cataflrophe was fufficiently 
 forefeen ; this circumitance fuggefted new conside- 
 rations to Garat, who feared that the Englim court 
 might be treacherous enough to detain Dumou- 
 rier in England, and thereby deprive France of 
 
 her 
 
her bed general. Dumourier was compelled to 
 difiernble that he alfo law the probability of that 
 event, and that it was the only thing he dehred. 
 In order that he might efcape from the hands of 
 the mifcreants who governed his country, he 
 appeared to fubfcribe to the prudence of Garat's 
 precaution. It was however, determined that the 
 affair fliould be laid before the council, and a pro- 
 petition be made by Carat to fend General Dumou- 
 rier as Ambaffador extraordinary to London, in 
 confequence of the overtures made by the minif- 
 ters of England and Holland ; to give the Gene- 
 ral i nil ructions to conduct the negociation with 
 fuitable dignity and promptitude, and whatever 
 might be the ifTue, to return inilantly to put him- 
 felf at the head of the armies. It was refplved to 
 demand from the Englifh miniftry every pofli- 
 ble fecurity for the perfon of General Dumourier, 
 and for the full liberty of returning at his pleafure. 
 
 When the proportion was laid before the coun- 
 cil, Ciaviere, Pache and Monge oppofed it in the 
 molt decided manner, undoubtedly incited by jea- 
 loufy and love of oppofition, for they well knew the 
 diiirefs of their refpeclive departments and their 
 incapability of fupporyng a war that would be- 
 come fo general. 
 
 Dumourier was extremely afflicted with the fate 
 of a meafure which feemed to have promifed his 
 deliverance, as well as an important occafion of 
 ferving his country ; but he was not difcouraged. 
 He was of the opinion of Garat and Le Brun that 
 the defign fliould not be difcufled any more in the 
 council, but profecuted fecretly till it fhouid be 
 in a ftate to infure fuccefs. It was agreed that 
 de Maulcle (liould depart inftantly for the Hague, 
 under the pretence of his private concerns ; that 
 Noel mould be recalled and placed elfewhere ; that 
 the General fliould charge de Maulde with a letter 
 for Lord Auckland, informing him that the Gene- 
 
 R ral 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 ral would be at Antwerp on the ift of February to 
 viiit his troops in their winter quarters, and that 
 having learnt from de Maulcle, his friend, that 
 Lord Auckland had fpoken of him with efteem and 
 confidence, it would be a circumftance of great 
 plea lure to him if an opportunity {hor.ld offer of 
 meeting that nobleman on the frontiers, and that 
 perhaps this interview might be beneficial to the 
 mterefts of the two nations, and the caufe of hu- 
 manity. It was alfo determined that, mould Lord 
 Auckland receive this invitation with the good 
 will that was to be expefted, the General mould 
 give him a meeting, and might even if it was 
 found neceiTary pals into England. 
 
 It was further decided, that Maret, who had 
 already been ieveral times in England, mould be 
 lent to London, to learn from Mr. Pitt if he really 
 defired to treat perfonally with General Dumou- 
 rier. Chauvelin, minifter plenipotentiary of 
 France to the court of London, did not at all ac- 
 cord with Talleyrand, who had been lent with him 
 as an advertifer in his negociation, and . had not 
 at all fucceeded in the object of his embafly, which 
 he was ambitious of conducting without the parti- 
 cipation of his colleague. Many indeed were the 
 ebftacles Chauvelin had to encounter; he had 
 againft him the prejudices of the Engliih nation ; 
 
 the king of England, the moil- * in Europe, 
 
 and the moft enraged againft the French Revolu- 
 tion ; the French emigrants ; the perfons who had 
 been given him as advertifers and affiftants ; the 
 National Convention of France ; and his own in- 
 experience. It was thought neceffary if Dumou- 
 rier's journey fhould take place to iacrifice Chau- 
 velin, or rather to give him fome other embafiy ; 
 for Dumourier, who had been the intimate friend 
 of his father, and had given him the appoint- 
 
 * Defpotique. 
 
 mem 
 
ment to England, infilled that he fhould be fent to 
 Venice or Florence, that he might continue his 
 diplomatic career with fuccefs. 
 
 It appears to be but j aft to fay a word here of 
 the diipoiition that Dumourier has always difplayed 
 in his public character. 
 
 Whether it were the effect of good nature, or of 
 a fenfe of juftice, he has been anxious not to pre- 
 judice the interefts of any other perfon in the pub- 
 lic employment, and has obliged and ferved great 
 numbers ; and of courfe it is not greatly furpri- 
 ling, that he has met with much ingratitude, 
 
 Chauvelin, as it has been faid, was to be recalled, 
 and Ma ret was to be appointed to his fituation, 
 on the general's departure from London ; fo that 
 Maret was extremely interefted in the fuccefs of 
 the negociation, and had ftrong motives for 
 fmoothing the difficulties that might be in the ge- 
 neral's way, and thereby to render his ftay at ths 
 .court of London as iliort aspoflible. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Departure of de Maulde, of Maret, and. of General 
 T^umouricr jrom Paris. 
 
 purfiiance of thefe plans, Ernanuel do MauLio, 
 proceeded to the Hague, although the death of the: 
 king, which happened while they were in agita- 
 tion, feemed to be an event entirely deiliudive of 
 them ; for the certainty that Holland was eager to 
 preferve peace induced Carat and Le Brun to be- 
 lieve that ail refentment excited by that horrible 
 
 calaftrophe 
 
( '24 ) 
 
 cslaftrophe would yield to the great object of pre- 
 ferring peace, and they were not deceived. 
 
 Marel's departure was unwifely poflponed, (tak- 
 ing place only on the fame day that General Du- 
 mourier left Paris) under pretence of firft found- 
 ing Mr. Pitt refpeding the General's journey to 
 England, by the means of one of his friends, who 
 had already been employed in the fame capacity en 
 a former occalion by Maret. But the General had 
 reafon to believe that Le Brun, offended that the 
 Court of St. James's would neither treat with him 
 as miniiier of foreign affairs, nor with the Conven- 
 tion, was not forry to undermine this negotiation 
 by giving fcope to the rafh ignorance of BriiTct, 
 and the folly of the diplomatic committee, who 
 feeming to think that France had not enemies 
 enough to contend with, fludied to increafe the 
 number, by infulting every nation. 
 
 Maret's million was altogether unfuccefsful, 
 Chauvelin had never been acknowledged in Eng- 
 land as miniiier of the Republic, the Court of St. 
 James having confidered his mifFion at an end on 
 the abolition of Royalty in France, and having 
 permitted his fray in London merely as an indul- 
 gence granted to an individual. And when the 
 news of the cruel death of Louis XVI. arrived in 
 England, Chauvelin was ordered to quit London 
 in four and twenty hours, and the kingdom in 
 eight days. It was under thefe circumftances that 
 Maiet arrived in England, and received an order 
 from the council inftantly to quit the kingdom. 
 
 But this reception of Maret by the Court of 
 St. James's, did not put a itop to the negotiation 
 in Holland. General Dumourier departed from 
 Paris, on the 26th of January, with a mind filled 
 with appreheniions ; he had not been able to pre- 
 vent the commiiiion of an unprovoked, fruitlefs, 
 difgraceful, and fatal crime ; he had net fuccecd- 
 ed in procuring a revocation of the decree of the 
 
J 5th December, nor in obtaining an exception in 
 behalf of Belgium, and thereby to preferve the 
 French army in cafe of retreat; nor in eilablifh- 
 ing an effective adminiftration for the fupply of 
 arms, fubfiftence, &c. for the army ; nor in his 
 attempts to procure the neceflary repairs of the 
 fortified places, reinforcements of the armies, 
 horfes for the cavalry, or any of that multitude 
 of objecls, the fupply of which was necefiary to 
 the opening of the campaign ; nor (which in every 
 cafe was the greateft of his afflictions) to fave an 
 innocent king, whofe goodnefs was peribnally 
 known to him. He was about to refume the com- 
 mand of a diforganifed army, abandoning itlelf 
 to robberies, and every fpecies of excefs, ill arm- 
 ed, in want of cloathing, and difperfed in the 
 impoverifhed villages along the Meufe, and the 
 Roer. New troops were daily arriving from 
 Germany to augment the army of General Clair- 
 fait, who with great capacity had made a (land, 
 and maintained himfelf between the Herffle and 
 the Roer with a comparatively fmall number of 
 troops, in want of every thing, and terrified at 
 the rapacity with which the conquell of Belgium 
 had been accomplifhecl : That general having 
 counteracted all the ill efiecls of their long re- 
 treat. 
 
 The Prince of Cobourg, celebrated for his glo- 
 rious campaign againft the Turks, was about to 
 take the command of this army. In the cafe of 
 Dumourier waiting till the Prince of Cobourg 
 fhould attack him, he was well aflured that he 
 could not refill that General in front, and, at the 
 lame time, the Prince of Hohenloe, who would at- 
 tack him on his right flank by Namur, the citadel 
 of which was then repairing very flowly by the 
 French ; and if the EngiHh and Dutch mould have 
 time to alVemble an army on his left flank, en the 
 fide ol Aip.verp and Dutch Flanders, even the re- 
 treat 
 
C 126 ) 
 
 treat of Dumonrier would no longer be fecure, 
 Laving to march through fifty leagues of flat coun-* 
 try, with a diforderly army, purfuecl and almoft 
 furrounded by three armies more coniiderable 
 than his own, and continually affailed by the Pea- 
 fants and the inhabitants of the cities, whom, the 
 exceffes committed by order of the Convention, 
 had driven to defperation. Deneral Dumourier, 
 therefore had no other hope of diminifhing his 
 perplexities, but the negociation committed to the 
 care of de Maulde. In truth, his confidence in 
 that was conficterable, iince Holland had the ut- 
 mofr. dread of a rupture with France, being quite 
 unprepared for it, and having the greateft interefl 
 in the prefervation of the neutrality. 
 
 We are about to give an account of the furl her 
 circumilances of this negociation, which was bro- 
 ken off in the beginning of February, by the un- 
 wife and haughty impetuofity of the National Con- 
 vention. The abrupt declaration of war, made by 
 that AiTembly againft England and Holland, gave 
 France an air of perfidy, refpecling that negocia- 
 tion with which the Engiifh have reproached them 
 with fome appearance of reafon ; but the fame 
 charge may be retorted on the EnglHh, and it is 
 probable that Pitt had no other defign than to 
 amufe General Dumourier, to gain time to make 
 the neceffary preparatives for war ; and the treaty 
 entered into by the Court of St. James's with the 
 court of Turin, at that very period, confirms the 
 opinion. So much truth is there in the obferva- 
 tion, that hiilory is but a picture of the errors and 
 crimes of government, 
 
 C II A P. 
 
C II A P. XIV. 
 
 Frultiefs Negotiations. Declaration of ffiar. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY on the arrival of de Maulde at 
 the Hague, which was in the latter end of January, 
 he prefented General Dumourier's letter to Lord 
 Auckland, who teilified the greateft pleafure to cle 
 Maulde on reading it, and told him that the in- 
 terefts of England and Holland being infeparable 
 in this affair, he Ihould communicate the propofal 
 to Van Spiegle ; which was no fooner clone, than 
 the latter embraced the project of a conference on 
 the frontiers between the Ambafiador of England, 
 the Grand Peniioner, and General Dumourier. 
 
 Lord Auckland difpatched three packet boats, 
 immediately fucceeding each other, to his court, 
 and de Maulde fent his fecretary to Antwerp, 
 where the General had arrived on the 2d of Fe- 
 bruary, after having viiited the polls from Dun- 
 kirk to Antwerp. 
 
 Throughout Picardy, Artois, and maritime 
 Flanders, Dumourier found the people overwhelm- 
 ed with terror and grief, at the tragical death of 
 Louis XVI, The very name of Jacobin, he per- 
 ceived, excited equal fear and horror. In all the 
 cities, however, there were numerous emiiTaries 
 of the Jacobins, who flirred up the populace 
 againft the moderate and wife part of the citizens, 
 and collected accufations, little regarding whether 
 true or falie, againft the different adminiiirators of 
 the departments. 
 
 At St. Orners and Dunkirk, there was not the 
 lead: appearance of preparations being made for the 
 
 war, 
 
( 128 ) 
 
 war, and there were fcarcely any troops to be feen* 
 for the miniiter of war had weakened maritime 
 Flanders to furnifh the augmentation of 1 0,000 
 foot and 1500 cavalry, for the army in Auftrian 
 Flanders, in conlequence of the General's having 
 demanded that reinforcement. The minifter of 
 war even drew new battalions afterwards from this 
 country, which was part of the actual feat of the 
 war, to form a body of 12, ooo men near Cher- 
 bourg, from whence the General had obferved a 
 diveriion might be made into England, in_cafe 
 war with that power could not be avoided. 
 
 Nieuport and Oftend, were in the fame condi- 
 tion as St. Omers and Dunkirk, not having a iin- 
 gle battery mounted, to prevent any vefiels of war 
 entering thofe ports. There were not even can- 
 non for the purpofe ; nor could any be obtained, 
 without taking them from Dunkirk, which had not 
 fufficient for its own fortifications. 
 
 Durnourier (truck with the diforder that perva- 
 ded the whole country, and feeing that his embar- 
 raiTments every moment increafed, was greatly fa- 
 tisfied with the fir it fuccefs of cle Maulde's nego- 
 ciation. He inilantly difpatched a courier to Le 
 Bran, with the original anfwer of Lord Auckland, 
 which Hated that the Britifh miniiler and the 
 grand Penfionary of Holland, had agreed to pro- 
 ceed together to the frontiers to confer with the 
 General ; that Lord Auckland had fent feveral dif- 
 patches to his court, to obtain its fanclion, and in- 
 itruclicns relative to the conference ; that he 
 (lioulcl foon receive an anfwer, and that his inten- 
 tions were not to gain time, nor to retard the 
 General's preparations for the campaign. 
 
 The difpatches of de Maulde, which accompa- 
 nied thofe of Lord Auckland, gave an account of 
 the circumitances of his interview with the Britifh 
 minifler, and the grand Penfionary of Holland. 
 Thofe miniiters, as de Maulde was prepared to 
 
 find 
 
find, expired the utter abhorrence of the atro- 
 cious barbarity recently committed at Paris ; but 
 as de Maulde gave them pofitive aflurances that the 
 General partook 'of their fehtiments en that iub- 
 jecl, and was filled with the profoundell indigna- 
 tion againft the authors of the crime, th;*t horrible 
 affair did not retard the negotiation; and it was fet- 
 tled without any difficulty, that as foon as Lord 
 Auckland mould have received the inii ructions of 
 his court, the conference mould take place at the 
 Moor Dyke, on board a yatch belonging to the 
 Prince of Orange, which would be prepared to re- 
 ceive the General. De Maulde concluded by de- 
 claring his perfaaiion, that the conference would 
 be attended with the greateft fuccefs. 
 
 The General entertained the fame hopes, and 
 had prefcribed to Iiimfelf the plan he thought it his 
 duty to follow. He relblved not to betray the in- 
 terells of his unhappy country ; on the contrary, 
 it was his intention to diminifh the number of her 
 enemies, in fettling the neutrality of England and 
 Holland on a fure bails ; but, after he mould have 
 rendered this lad of his fervices to France, he 
 refolved to free himfelf from the imputation of 
 partaking in the crime of his countrymen, and no 
 longer to fight for abfurd tyrants whom he was 
 anxious to puniih, inftead of aiding in the fupport 
 of their hideous tyranny. He did not deiign 
 therefore to return to Antwerp but to retire to the 
 Ihgue, and from thence to 'publ'ifh a memorial in 
 juilification of his conduct. 
 
 lie unfolded a part of thefe.defigns in a letter to 
 de Maulde, which was communicated to the'.twp 
 rmniilers. They requeued leave .to take a copy of 
 it, bat cle Maulde decliiied granting that permiiiion; 
 being unauthorifcd by his friencf; .but at the fame 
 time he delivered Lord Auckland'-* letter from the 
 General, informing that minifler that he fhouid 
 
 r-eceive 
 S 
 
( 130 ) 
 
 receive with great pleafure news of the fanclion ojf 
 the Britiih court to thefe meafures. 
 
 At the moment when the negociation was in 
 this promiiing flate< while the General confoled 
 himfelf with the hope of being fre^ed from the in- 
 fupportable yoke of combating for tyrants, under 
 the certainty of becoming one day the viclim of 
 their ingratitude and cruelty, whatever might be 
 his fuccefs ; while he thus flattered himfelf, on the 
 7th of February he learnt by the public papers 
 that the National Convention had declared war 
 againft Holland and England, on a report made 
 by Briffot in the name of the diplomatic commit- 
 tee. This news reduced him to defpair, for it 
 was altogether unexpected. He had quitted Pa- 
 ris on the 26th of January ; had arrived at An- 
 twerp, only on the 2d of February ; Le Brim* 
 then, had not waited to receive his firft difpatches, 
 nor intelligence refpedting de Maulde's negocia- 
 tion. It ieems that Le Brim had precipitated the 
 report of the affront offered to the Republic in the 
 perfon of Chauvelin, by order of the king of Eng- 
 gland, to excite the anger of the thoughtlefs Con- 
 vention, and. thereby raife an infurmountable ob~ 
 fiacle to the meafures he had concerted with the 
 General. 
 
 As to Briffot, he had, as was ufual with him, 
 availed himfelf of this opportunity of infulting 
 both kings and. people, in which lie was zealoufly 
 feconcled by Barrere and the Jacobins. Thus the 
 'two factions united in taking a moft difaftrous ilep 
 without dikullion and without consideration. 
 
 The war 'was declared, but Le Brun fent no in- 
 telligence to General Bumourier, on whom th^ 
 burthen felFwitli the greateft weight, and little en- 
 quiry was made in the council, whether he was at 
 all in a condition ^o fupport himfelf againft thefe 
 
 V 4 
 
 On 
 
C 131 ) 
 
 On the day that General Dumourier, heard of 
 the declaration of war againfl England and Hol- 
 land, de Maulde arrived at Antwerp from the 
 Hague, with a fecond letter from Lord Auckland, 
 congratulating him an having received an autho- 
 rity from his court to enser on the conference, 
 which was fixed to commence on the l oth, at the 
 Moor Dyke. The General inftantly difpatched a 
 courier, informing Lord Auckland of the declare 
 tion of war ; and obferving, that although he muft 
 admit the declaration of war to have been a little 
 abrupt, he muft obferve it had been occafioned by 
 the conduct of the Englifh Miniflry ; firfi, in de- 
 taining two French veflels laden with corn, not- 
 wit hi/landing the remonft ranees of the French mir- 
 niftry to the contrary ; fecondly, in contempts 
 oufly ordering the French AmbafTador to quit the 
 kingdom, while a negociation was pending be- 
 tween the two nations ; and thirdly, in caufing 
 Lord Auckland to publifh, on the 2d of February, 
 an addrefs to the States General, which was an in- 
 fult to the French nation, and equivalent to a de-r 
 claration of war. 
 
 The General had alfo caufes of complaint againfl: 
 the Grand Penfionary Van Spiegle. He had in 
 vain demanded of him the liberation of Colonel 
 Micoud, a French officer, who, after gaining a 
 eonfiderable law-fuit againfl a merchant in Hol- 
 land, had been thrown into priibn, through the 
 credit of the merchant, on a vague accufation of 
 having fpoken too freely of the government. He 
 had driven a troop df French comedians from 
 Amfterdam without even granting them time to 
 collecl the fums due to them ; he had permitted 
 Noel the French mirjifter at the Hague, and 
 Thainville, his fecretary, to be infulted by fhe 
 emigrants, and had afterwards abruptly ordered 
 them to quit the country ; he had allowed the 
 rriigrant$ to appear in military uniforms at the 
 
 S 
 
Hague ; and finally had fuffered the grealeft enmi- 
 ty to be expreffed againft France with impunity. 
 
 It is certain that the conduct of the courts of.St, 
 James's and the Hague was inexpiable, iince iu 
 the rnidil of a negociation entered into (in coi 
 quence of overtures from themielves) with. Gene- 
 ral Dumourier, whom they had demanded to con- 
 dud the negociation, they had provoked the anger 
 of the National Convention, whom they knew to 
 be haughty and impatient, and incapable of a tem- 
 perate conduct. It is but juft therefore to reproach 
 them as well as the French with the evils refulting 
 from this war, which is to be confidered as only in. 
 its beginning, and which will be the fource of 
 other equally deftructive wars. 
 
 It may be faid, that providence has united all, 
 the people of Europe to inflidt a puniihment on, 
 the enormous crimes committed by the French 
 nation; and perhaps to punifh their own errors by 
 the calamities they will have to endure in this long, 
 afflicting and bloody conteft. The Atheifts of the 
 National Convention, and thefe are the moil: ig- 
 norant and wicked of the members,, becaufe it Is. 
 not through the influence of philofophy that they 
 have become Atheifts, but through the influence 
 of their crimes, have confidered what the General 
 has faid to them refpecling Providence in his let- 
 ter of the 12th of March, as an unmeaning rhapfp- 
 dy ; to fuch men he has to anfwer, that Provi- 
 dence leaves us free to make a virtuous or vicious 
 choice, but that from the firft choice neceffarily re- 
 fults the character of our actions, good or bad ; 
 that^vhiclx is juft is alone true ; that which is un- 
 juft is the effect of error in the rnind ; that this is 
 above, all true with reipecl to governments ; and 
 that juitice conduces nations to happinefs, and in- 
 juftice to mifery; that when a nation is aniverfally 
 infecl-cd with a licentious fpirit, as is the cafe with 
 France, all her motives and action^ tend to her 
 
 ruin ; 
 
( 133 ) 
 
 ruin ; hence the fame phrenzy which induced 
 France to commit the fruitlefs crime of murdering 
 Louis XVI. and of treating his family as a herd of 
 (laves, dictated the decree of the 15th of Decem- 
 ber, which is equally devoid of juftice and policy, 
 which has loft the nation the good- will of every 
 people who were attached to her, has infufed di- 
 viiions into her councils, familiarifed her with ac- 
 cufations, robberies, and maifacres, has begotten 
 her filthinefs and groffnefs of manners ; her wan- 
 tonnefs in creating of enemies, and indifference to 
 the means of refilling them ; and*in fine her anar- 
 chy and total want of order, which has already in- 
 iiicted upon her the firft puniihments of that long 
 feries that awaits her. For from the moment that 
 France became a Republic , Ihe degenerated into 
 the moft unfortunate country that the annals of 
 the world have produced. 
 
 We will conclude this book with a melancholy 
 reflection on the condition to which France has 
 reduced herfelf by her errors ; me had been pre- 
 fented with a conftitution formed in a fhort and 
 difficult period by her firft legiftature, which was 
 not indeed perfect but highly valuable, and which 
 every people of Europe admired and envied. The 
 two factions that exifted in France, in combating 
 each other, neverthelefs were of one mind to de- 
 ftroy this conftitution. The court hoped to re- 
 cover its former power and numerous means of 
 gratifications ; and the Jacobins entirely to beat 
 down royalty, which they hated, but which was fp 
 necefTary to the happinefs of Frenchmen ; and 
 while the conftitution was a* theme of praife with 
 all reafonable men in other parts of Europe, the 
 French blamed, fpurned and rejected it. But the 
 merits of the conftitution were unknown to the 
 people of France, for they never permitted them- 
 felves to judge of it but through the medium of 
 their furious pailions. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST PART, 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER, 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 . . . VITAM QJJI IMPENDERE VERO, 
 
 TRANSLATED BY JOHN FENWICK, 
 
 PART II. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED SY SAMUEL HARRISON SMITH, 
 CHERRY-STREET, ABOVE FOURTH-STREET, 
 
 1794, 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SECOND PART. 
 
 C H A P. I. Page 
 
 Plan of the Campaign. 14 j: 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 I 
 
 Preparations for the Expedition again/I Holland. 
 Orders to the grand Army. Advice given by Ge- 
 neral Dumourier to the Minifler of War. Gene- 
 ral Thouvenot and the Com?nifj r ary Petit- Jean at 
 Antzuerp. Orders for the raifing of Battalions in 
 Belgium. General Valence at Antwerp. Loan. 
 Manifejlp. - 148 
 
 C H A P, III. 
 
 ^ffembling the Army. Its Amount. Firft Move- 
 ments. General Dumourier j meeting with the Swe- 
 difh Ambajfador. Taking of Breda, Klundert, 
 andGertruydenberg. Siege of Williamjladt. Block- 
 fide of Bergen-op-oom, and Steenberg. Sunnnons 
 given to Heufden. General Dumourier at the Moor 
 Dyke. Preparations for faffing to Dort t by the 
 Moor-Dyke and Roowaert. Second Project of 
 pajfing by Gertruydenberg. The General receives 
 Orders to join the Grand Army : Departs. Inflruc- 
 tions given to General de Flers* - " T 57 
 
 CHAP, IV. 
 
 The General arrives at Antiuerp. Sends the Agents 
 of the Executive Power from that Town. Arrives 
 at Eruffels. Addreffes the Reprefeniatives of the 
 People. Writes to the Convention. Arrejls Chepy, 
 and Eflienne. Several Proclamations. Arrives 
 en the i^th of March at Louvain. The Commijji- 
 oners of the Convention come to that City to meet 
 the General. - - - - - * i ^4 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 State of the Army. Its Pofition. The General's Or- 
 ders to the different Divifio-ns. He refolvts to give 
 Battle to the Enemy. - - * - i So 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Battle ef Nerzvinde - 193 
 
 C II A P. VII. 
 Retreat of the ityth of March. Action ofGotzcnhovcn. 199 
 
 C H A P. VIII. 
 
 Retreat of the. 2Oth and 2 ijl of Marc &. Engagement 
 of Neerwelpe. La Croix and Danton at Louvain. 
 Engagement cf t/ie 22 d of March. - - 303 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Retreat to Bruffels. Evacuation of Eru/fels. C&mp 
 of Enghien. Camp of Ath. Conference at Ath 
 withCoionel Mack. The Arrejt cf General Miianda. 209 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Camp of Tournay. - - 215 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Retreat to the Camp of Ma ulde. - 218 
 
 C H A P. XII. 
 
 Arrcft of the Commiffioners of the Convention, Camus, 
 La Marque, Bancat, and Qumette ; and of Bcur- 
 ncnville, Minijler of War. - 227 
 
 C H A P. XIII. 
 
 Attempt to ajfqj/inate General Dumourier on the %tk 
 of April. 'Events of the $th oj April. Depar- 
 ture of General Dumoinier. - - 238 
 
 C H .A P. XIV. 
 
 Dumourier at Mons. Ejlattiftnnent of the French 
 at Leuze. Congrefs of Antwerp. Second pro- 
 clamation of the Prince of Cobourg. Departure 
 of the General for Brufels. - 248 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Condufion. 2 53 
 
MEMOIR s 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER. 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 
 
 BOOK IL 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Plan of the Campaign. 
 
 E are now entering upon the hiftory of a campaign 
 more rapid, more varied, and perhaps more important, 
 in its events, than any of former or later times. The 
 nature of the campaign was not forefeen till the firft week 
 of February ; the plan was conceived and arranged be- 
 tween the -/th and the 22d of that month ; and the cam- 
 paign finiihed on the 5th of the following April. 
 
 The hiftory of this fhort period, offers to the contem- 
 plation of the military man, Cities taken in defiance of 
 of immenfe innundations, a great battle, a variety of en- 
 gagements, and a retreat which excited the aftonifhment 
 of the generals of the enemy, aad from which they could 
 not withhold their praife t It exhibits an example of 
 the two fpecies of war, the ofFenfive, and defenfive : 
 And it may be laid to have involved confequences that 
 will decide the fate of France, and perhaps that of 
 Europe. 
 
 Nor is this hiftory lefs interefting to the philofopher, 
 whom it will confirm in the opinion, that the deftiny of 
 empires is often dependent on circumftances that are 
 apparently inconfiderable ; and that the character and 
 fortune of one man may decide the fate of a nation. In 
 sfce preceding year, General Dumourier had preferved 
 U *he 
 
flic independence of France, by hi? fi;c<~cfs in tne plainsof 
 Champagne, and rendered her name illuftrious in thofe 
 of Belgium : for, at that p'jr'u;H, the greatucfs (-1 the 
 danger. Which threatened France united $11 njincls under 
 Ills ilnmiard. and compelled the nation to di<plny her 
 energy under the direction of hi: '-ornfJb. In the pe- 
 riod we are now confidcriuc, the I'itiulion and character 
 of the French people were changed. The nation or 
 rather thofe- who governed and iniiled the nation, intox- 
 icated with fuccefs, and blinded by their crimes, no lon- 
 ger liftened to the general, who would now have fa ved 
 his countrymen, both from a foreign yoke, and from 
 the tyranny of their own miitaken paflions. 
 
 He was not feconded in his efforts. He was net obey- 
 ed. He was oppofed, and betrayed ; and his cam- 
 paign was unfortunate, notwithstanding his exertions to 
 turn the fortune of war in his favour. On the point of 
 conquering Holland, theconqueft was fnatchcd from his 
 hands. He formed a fecond plan, and viclory was torn 
 from him by his own troops. Jn the midfl of a retreat, 
 that was as fuccefsfully conducted as it was bloody and 
 deftructive, he projected another defign, which preferv- 
 ed his army, and arrefted the ruin of Belgium, which, 
 otherwife, would have been complete. But this defign 
 fell (hort of its greateft object, the deliverance of France : 
 and. in that, it was defeated by the fierce pride of the con- 
 vention, and by the ficklenefs of his troops ; and Gene- 
 ral Dumourier was compelled to quit his army, and I? 
 feek a retreat among flrangers, who could not forbear to 
 clteera him. 
 
 Thenceforth, the French were no longer t]ie uime 
 people. In the foKiiery, favage rage fucceedcd valour ; 
 {here was neither talent in the plan of the war, nor 
 conduct: in its execution ; the French flew and were 
 (lain, witliout remorfc, or consideration. It was not 
 \var that they carried on ; and the carnage would already 
 have hecii terminated, if the force that oppofed them 
 were that of a {ingle people, or were not rendered inef- 
 fectual by the claihing of various interefts and counfels. 
 
 The iltuation of General Dumourier was cmbarraiUng, 
 when he knew that England and Holland were on the 
 point of adding their forces to thofe of the other enemies 
 of France. If the perfons who were at the head of affairs, 
 had been well informed and prudent men, he dirccl- 
 ly would have adviicd them to evacuate the Netherlands 
 
 which, 
 
( 143 ) 
 
 which could no longer be preferved ; and t.opoft the troops 
 behind the fortified places of the north, holding tor a while 
 the banks of the Scheld, and the citadel of Narnur. 
 But this reafonable proportion would have been regarded 
 as proceeding from cowardice or treachery ; and would 
 have brought the general to the icarfbld. Or, if it had 
 been accepted, it would have delivered the General 
 into the hands of tyrants whom it was his object to .crufh 
 for the fafety and happinefs of his country. rli;ter:;;g 
 France with an enemy in purfuit of him j and with the 
 appearance of a flight, he would have infraiitly loft his 
 military reputation, which was only to be preferred by 
 fingle faccelTes ; and his fate v/ould have been at the 
 difpofal of the Jacobins of Paris, whom this 'retreat 
 would have reinforced with the whole amount of his 
 army. He could not therefore extricate himfelf from 
 this defper^te fit nation, but by the hardieft and moft de-s- 
 olive means. His military fame and the celerity of his 
 movements, could alone open him the way to the fupply 
 pf all that was wanting to his army. Clothing, accou- 
 trements, horfes, arms, provifions, money, all were to 
 be found in Holland; and there, he was compelled to 
 feek them. He conceived the defign of conquering 
 Holland by a daring blow ; and we will now rapidly re* 
 view his plan, and his refourccs- 
 
 The Dutch refugees had formed a fmall revolutionary 
 committee at Antwerp, where was alfo the Dutch legion. 
 The committee poOeifed more zeal than ability ; and, 
 although they expended confiderable Aims of money in 
 maintaining a fecret correfpondence witll the different 
 Provinces of the Dutch Republic, the information .which 
 the general received thror^h th/ir means was extremely 
 deficient, efpeciaHy refpucling the military (late of that 
 country. All that could be relied on with certainty was, 
 that the party of the patriots was very confulerabJe : 
 particularly at Amiterdam, Kaeriem, Doit, and through- 
 out Zealand. The general prjfe:;;!?ci to reaiYiime thrj 
 coniideratioi] of the plan, which the committee had laid 
 before him at Paris, of making an irruption into Zealand. 
 IleafFeCted to examine it iniuutely in pre-encc of the 
 committee, and feigned to give it hts at-probation ; in 
 order to cover a plan mor-'J bold in r.p; ..rnce, but ia 
 truth more certain of iV.cccfs, b'ecauie it appearer t > be 
 more impracAicable. He did not d'fclofe that dcligu to 
 any Qther perlbns than to Mr. Kccli ^i; J i'/I': v De Nifs, 
 U : whiYf* 
 
( 144 ) 
 
 whom he thought deferring of his entire confidence ; 
 whole zeal, probity, ftrength of mind, and love of their 
 country, entitled them to be the deliverers of their fel- 
 low citizens. 
 
 The plan for the invafion of Zealand, was as follows : 
 The refugees had learnt that the Stadtholder had formed 
 the defign of fortifying the Ifland of Walcheren, as a 
 place of retreat for the States General and the members 
 of the government, in cafe the French fhould enter the 
 country, and mould be joined by the people, whom the 
 government miftrufted. The Dutch Committee propoied 
 that a cofiderable body of men mould depart from Ant- 
 werp, and proceed, with as great fecrecy and difpatch 
 as poffible, by Sandvliet to the ifland of South Beveland, 
 and from thence to the iiland of Walcheren, and, feizing 
 \ipoq Middleburg and Fluming, mould make themfclves 
 matters of that latter ifland. The ganifons ofthofe two 
 towns, it is true, did not amount to more than twelve or 
 fifteen hundred men, and were raw and undifciplined 
 troops. But if the inhabitants had not joined their deli- 
 verers, the French foldiers would infallibly have been 
 cut ofF. There was nothing to prevent the iiland receiv- 
 ing fuccours to double the amount of the French detach- 
 ment ; there were already feveral Englim frigates at 
 Fluming ; and the Dutch had a fquadron of armed veflels 
 in the Scheld, lying under the fortrefs of Batz, a league 
 below Lillo, which would entirely have cut oft the retreat 
 of the detachment to the main land. 
 
 No fuccefs could be expected in this expcdit'on, with- 
 out fuch promptitude and exactnefs in the execution, as 
 the general could not cxpe6t either from his own troops, 
 or thole of the Dutch patriots. He had not a finglc 
 general officer under his command to whom he could 
 confide fo dangerous an enterprize. He could not aban- 
 don the command of the main army, to undertake the ex- 
 pedition himfelf. Had he yielded to the opinion of the 
 Dutch patriots, he would certainly have been led into an 
 luinfuccefsful enterprize; and this unfortunate check in 
 the beginning of the campaign would have complete*! 
 the ruin of his fmall army, coniifting of new troops, that 
 had already fuffered much by his abfence, and wera 
 ihortly after beaten, difcouraged, and almoft difperfed 
 on the Roer and the Meufc. 
 
 But if, by the chance that belongs to military move- 
 ments, tru's, expedition had been i'uccefsful, however bril- 
 liant 
 
( '45 ) 
 
 liant it might have been, it would have produced no real 
 benefit to the general. On the contrary, it would have 
 deprived him of five or fix thoufand of his troops, who, 
 would have been feparated from him by an arm of the fea, 
 and all the places of Dutch Flanders : leaving him with- 
 out a force fufricient to undertake any thing further- 
 
 The better to conce-al his real defigns, however, ha 
 profeiled to adopt that plan of attacking Holland, and he 
 made feme dipofitions as if he was about to undertake it 
 leriouily. He had, at Antwerp, fome imall vciTels 
 under the command of Captain Monition, an American 
 officer in the French fervice, who had aflitted in the tak- 
 ing; of the citadel of Antwerp. This fmall fquadron confifted 
 of the Ariel of 24 guns, a brig of 14 guns, and three gun- 
 boats. He ordered thefe velTels to be fitted out, to pro* 
 ceed to fort Lillo, and there to'caft anchor. He directed 
 a furnace to be conftruted on each of the gun-boats, for 
 the purpofe of heating bails. He commanded the fort of 
 'Li!lo, and that of Lief kenfhosck, and the citadel of Ant- 
 werp, to be furnifiied with provifions, and put in a (late to 
 fufbin a liege. He aiTembled, at Antwerp, all the Dutch 
 veiTels that on the declaration of war had been detained 
 in the canals of the Scheldt, and ordered them to be 
 prepared to ferve as fire-fhips. 
 
 He wifhed it to be believed that his object was to burn 
 the Dutch veffels lying at anchor under the fort of Batz ; 
 and to feize upon that fort, which mounted forty guns. 
 The Dutch veffels retired to Ramekens. In fhort, every 
 thing feemed to indicate, during feveral days, that the 
 general's movements were directed againft Zealand; and 
 he gave the enemy reafon to imagine that the campaign 
 would open by the invafion of that country. Mean- 
 while, the general's thoughts were wholly occupied with 
 his own plan ; which was extremely fimple, although, 
 had it never been attempted it mud; have appeared wholly 
 impracticable. This plan was, to make his way with a 
 body of troops to the'Moordyke, deceiving and evading 
 the garrilons of Breda, and Gertruydenburg, on his 
 right ; Bergen-up-fZoorn, Steenburg, Klundert, and 
 Williamftadt, on his left: and, pairing the arm of the 
 fea which runs between the Moor-dyke and Dort, and 
 which is about two leagues in breadth, to land at Dort: 
 where being arrived he mould be in the heart of Holland, 
 and would have no obllacles to encounter in marching by 
 
 Rotterdam, 
 
( '46 ) 
 
 Rotterdam, Delft, the Hague, Lcydcn and Haerlcm, to 
 Ainfterduni, By this plan, he would take all the iUong 
 places of Holland in the rear. Meanwhile, Gc-neral 
 Alirancb, with a detachment of the grand army, was 10 
 bombard Maeilricht, and Venice; and, as ioon as he 
 fhoukl know that General Dumourier had reached Dort, 
 lie was to leave General Valence to continue the fiege of 
 Maeilricht, and to march wi t h 25,000 men ;<gaiml 
 Nimeguen, where General Dumourier was to join him 
 by the route of Utrecht. 
 
 This plan, executed with rapidity, would have had 
 little ferious dfficulty to encoutcr, fmce the Stedtholder 
 neithir had an army affembled, nor had adopted any let- 
 tied plan of defence ; and fmce, of all the enterprises that 
 might be undertaken by Dumourier, this was the leaft to 
 be expedited: for it fcemed to be no better than an attempt 
 to march an aimy through the eye of a needle*. 
 
 Dmourier's nevt deiign was, as foon as he mould be 
 malier of Holland, to fend the battalions of national guards 
 back into Belgium; to alembic an army entirely com- 
 pofed of troops of the line, and commanded by generals 
 of whole fidelity he was allured, and to compel the 
 States General of the United Provinces, to order a fur- 
 render of all their towns ; to make no changes in the govern- 
 ment, but iuch as mould be indifpenfibly neceflary ; to 
 diiloive the Dutch Revolutionary Committee, to the 
 members of which he had already fignitied that in cafe of 
 fuccefs, they mi^ht be feverally appointed to the public 
 foliations of their refpc&ive Provinces, fuppofing them 
 to poflei's the confidence of their fellow citizens ; to pre- 
 ferve the Dutch Republic from the tyranny of the com- 
 miliioners of the national convention, and from the in- 
 fluence of Jacobinifm ; to fit out a fleet \vith all poffiblc 
 expedition at Rotterdam, in Zealand, and in the Texel,- 
 in order to feize upon the Dutch iettlemcnts in India, 
 and to fecure the poileffion of them by ftrong ,^arrifons ; 
 to offer a perf?c\ neutrality to the Englifli ; to ftation, in 
 the conntry of Zutphen and Dutch Gi.eklers, an army 
 of obfervation conti ft ing of 30,000 men ; to f\ir?ii: : :: : 
 and arms for the railing a body of 30,000 men, in the 
 countries of Antwerp, the two Flanders, and Carnpint*, 
 ph whole attachment he could rely ; to permit the French 
 
 (u 
 
 Tht fc are the worclt of Dumour^r. 
 
?o occupy no other part of the Netherlands, tlun the 
 country of Liege ; to annul, throughout Belgium tin- decree 
 f the 1 5 of December ; to invite the people of that coun- 
 try to alterable. at Aloft, Antwerp, or Ghent, for the pui> 
 pofe of forming on a iblid hafis fuch a government as 
 ihould be agreeable to them ; and after that to affemble an 
 army of Belgians of 40, ooo men, compofed of battalions of 
 800 men each, together with a body of cavalry. Dumbu- 
 rier further defigned to oiler a fufpenfion of arms to the Im- 
 perialifts ; and in cafe of its being rejected, to raiie an 
 army of 150,000 men in order to drive them beyond the 
 Rhine; but if it were accepted he hoped to gain time 
 and means to execute the reft of his plan, which was, 
 cither to form a Republic of the eighteen Provinces of the 
 Netherlands, if that ihould be agreeable to'the people, cr 
 to make an o^bfrfivc and clefenfive alliance between the 
 Republic of the Seven 'United Provinces and that of 
 Belgium, 'and toraife an army of 80,000 men in the two 
 countries for their joint defence, till the conclufion of the 
 war; to invite France to enter into an alliance with the two 
 Republics, and to put an end to her anarch} by re-adopt- 
 ing the. conftitution of 1789 ; and in cafe of France refu- 
 fing to accede to this propofal, to march to Paris wiih an 
 army compofed of the French troops of the line, and a 
 body of 40,000 Dutch and Belgians, in order to cliffolve 
 the National Convention, and annihilate the power of the 
 Jacobins. 
 
 Such were the outlines of General Dumouiier's plan, 
 which was communicated only to four perfons. It will 
 appear vifionary to the reader ; but being founded on the 
 circumftances of the times, and on well combined calcu- 
 lations, it could not have failed of iuccels, if the moil 
 difaftrous events, entirely unconnected with the conduct 
 and arrangements of General Dumouricr, had not broken 
 all his meafures, and forced him to facrificcall his hopes 
 to the immediate fafety of the grand army, on the point 
 of being entirely defiroyed, by the milmanagement of the 
 officers who commanded under him. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
I 
 
 148 y 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Preparations for the Expedition again/I Holland. Ordets 
 to the g rand Army. Advice given by Generd Dumourier 
 to the Mini/Her of War. General Thouvenot and the 
 Commijfary Petit- Jean at Antwerp. Orders for the 
 Taifmg of Battalions in Belgium.. General Valence at 
 Antwerp. Loan. Manifejlo. 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER, having taken his rcfo- 
 lution, may be ftill laid to have had all his means to 
 create. At Antwerp, there were two battalions of 
 national gendarmerie, confuting of 350 men each, who 
 were dangerous only to their officers anc. the peaceable 
 inhabitants of the city, being* the moil deteftable and 
 undifciplined foldiers that ever entered the field of battle, 
 Thefe ferocious Janiflaries received each 40 fols per day 
 in fpecie without deduction ; appointed their own officers ; 
 and comitted every kind of ciime. The general, after 
 paffing them in review, declared in the ftrongeft terms, 
 that, fhould they continue to commit the exceffes of 
 which they were accufed, or to be guilty of any difobe- 
 dience of orders, he would inftantly fend them back to 
 France. This body of gendarmerie was compofed of 
 the ancient French guards. There were alfo, at Ant- 
 werp, one hundred and fifty dragoons of the 2oth regi- 
 ment ; three battalions of national guards ; and about 
 two thoufand of the Dutch legion, two hundred of which 
 were horfe. Twelve battalions of national guards, newly 
 raifed, and having neither fufees, accoutrements, nor 
 {hoes, were quartered in the cities and villages of Weft 
 Flanders ; and had no idea that they mould be obliged to 
 take the field till the month of May. 
 
 Cannon, mortars, magazines, money, commilTaries, 
 together with their amTtants, were altogether \vanting* 
 But there was not a moment to be loft. The rafhnefs of 
 the national convention, in declaring war againft Holland, 
 had warned the Dutch to prepare tor their defence ; and, 
 unlefs the general had attacked them with the utmoft 
 celerity, the enterprize would have become titerly chi- 
 merical. And, indeed, had the Dutch prepared for 
 their defence with as great a&ivity as the generaj. ufed 
 fcr attacking them, the projcft muft have been unfucccfs- 
 ful. General 
 
( '49 ) 
 
 General Miranda had remained at the head of" the 
 army of the North during the whole winter. This 
 general was a Peruvian by birth ; and was a man of 
 capacity, and extend \e information. He was better 
 veried in the theory of war than any other of the French 
 generals, but he was not equally well verfed in the 
 practice. His intimacy with Pethion had been the caufe 
 of his entering the fervice the preceding year, as major 
 general. He joined Dumourier at the camp of Grand- 
 pie ; and had been of great fervice to him, in the differ- 
 ent attacks of the Pruffians, particularly in the retreat 
 of the 1 5th of September. But he had a haughtinefs of 
 difpofition, and a biuntnefsof manner, which begat him ; 
 many enemies ; and he was unfit to command the 
 French, whole confidence it is impoffible to gain but by 
 good humour and a conduct exprellive of refpect for 
 them. 
 
 Dumourier had procured him the appointment of 
 lieutenant-general, in the month of November 1792 ; 
 had conferred upon him the command of the army of the 
 North, and had promifed to obtain him the rank of gene- 
 ral, on the firit opportunity. Miranda was afterward 
 offended that Valence, an older lieutenant-general than 
 himfelf, (having commanded with great reputation gene- 
 ral Keliermann's advanced guard, and fe cral detached 
 corps, during the campaign of 1792) mould have been 
 railed to the rank of general on the recommendation of 
 Dumourier. He never forgave this preference ; but his 
 refentment, unfortunately for France, did not difplay 
 itfclf till the day of the battle of Nerwiride. At the time 
 we now fpeak of, he ftiil appeared full of attachment to 
 Dumourier. And that general had written to him from 
 Paris to make preparations for the opening of the cam- 
 paign, very early in the fpring, by the iiege of Maeftricht, 
 in cafe a rupture mould prove to be unavoidable with 
 England and Holland. 
 
 Dumourier's own army was then under the command 
 of jreneral Lanoue, who was a very brave and honed 
 man. Fifty years paft in the fervice had rendered him 
 refpel.ible ; but had alfo diminUhed his vigour. He 
 was aflifted by general Thouvenot, an officer of very 
 uncommon merit. 
 
 The army of general Valence was commanded, in his 
 abfence by lieutenant-general Le Veneur, a man ot 
 great courage but of a limked capacity, 
 
 X Dumourier 
 
pumourier ordered General Miranda to prefcnt hirn- 
 f'elf before IMaeftricht with a part of his arim , without 
 too much weakening the poftson the Meufe ; to reinforce 
 hiinfelf to the number of 25 or 50.000 men drawn from 
 the other two armies ; and to communicate thefe orders 
 to the rcfpecftive generals, that they might contract their 
 lines, and hold their troops in readinefs to take the field, 
 if the Imperiaiifts, whole num' ers were cLi-ly increafing 
 in their quarters on the Herfrle, and the PrniTians who 
 were aifo daily receiving reinforcements at WefTel, 
 iliould betray anv dcfigns of forming a jur;iion to relieve 
 Macftricht, which v. ; .red. General Durnourier 
 
 thought it prudent not to point out the pofition that might 
 he proper for this army of obfcrvation ; and he acknow- 
 i: ! >es that, in this, he committed a great error. 
 
 In the remaining part of General Dumourier's inftruc- 
 tipns to Miranda i he confidentially unfolded his plan for 
 attacking Holland. He dcfired him not to open the f;ege 
 iarly before Macftncht, being too early in the ieaion 
 f;,r 1'uch an undertaking, but to endeavour to carry the 
 place by a v! go re us cllault with bombs and red hot balls, 
 in the fame manner as the Duke of Saxe-Tefchen had 
 attempted to carry Lille ; and, when General Diuncurier 
 ihonld have informed him that he had reached Dort by 
 the Moor Dyke, to kave General Valence befbre 
 Maeftricht, and to proceed by forced marches to NJme- 
 4 rruen ? pirip/n^b.y the frontier of the Dulchy of Cicves, in 
 order to intercept the Prufiian-:, if they fliculd attempt to 
 reach Holland before him : and, to this Jatfer purpofe, 
 Durnourier defired him to fend. General Champmorin 
 (a molt able engineer) ag? t inft Venioo, while Miranda 
 j}iou:d Vt euep:e Maeftricht, and by that means to make 
 liimielf mailer of the lo\ver part of the Meufe as far as 
 Gcnep. 
 
 General Durnourier confined the number of men that 
 Miranda mould emplov in this expedition to 25,000 or 
 -0,000, at the utmofl, that he might not too much weaken 
 the pofh on the Meufe. He recommended the greateft 
 difpiitch in the preparations, ib that Maeftricht might be 
 invefted by the I2th or I5th of that month; and he 
 appointed lieutenant-general Bouchet, an experienced 
 engineer, to afli'ft Miranda in the liege. 
 
 Dumourier wrote nearly in the fame terms to Lanoue 
 and Thouvenot ; enjoining them to inform the troops, 
 that he ihould review them, after having vifited the 
 
 quarter* 
 
quarters on the lower Meufe. He wrote to lieutenant- 
 gcneral Moreton, who commanded in BruiTcls, that he 
 was letting; oiF immediately for that city. And to 
 General d'Harviiie, ordering him to alTefnble his troops 
 at N.vmur on the 2Oth of February, as he deiigned to 
 review his divifion on the 2:?.d of that month. Thus, in 
 miileading fuch of his generals as were not to be employ- 
 ed in the expedition he effectually deceived the enemy, 
 \vho were utterly at a lofs to conjecture in what point he 
 would begin the campaign. 
 
 Some days after General Dumouricr quitted Paris, 
 Pache refigned the war department in order to be cholea 
 Mayor of Paris, and was fucceeded by General Bour- 
 nonviile, for whom Dumourier had procured the rank. 
 of lieutenant-general and afterward of general in a very 
 fnort fpace of time. Dumourier had been ufed to call 
 him his Ajax and his fon. In truth he had commenced 
 his career with great fpirit, and had evinced a fincere 
 attachment to the general. Dumourier now informed 
 him merely, that it was his delign to attack Holland, 
 without entering into any detail of his plan, Jell: he 
 ihould be betrayed by the indiicrction or the difhonefty 
 of the clerks of the war ofiice. 
 
 Pache, a little while before his quitting the miniftry, 
 had ordered the demolition of the fmall part of the fortifi- 
 cations of Mons and Tournay which then remainec ? . 
 Tfaefe imprudent orders had difgufied the inhabitants 
 of thofe two cities. General Dumourier fuipended the 
 execution of the order ; and, he not only defired the 
 new minifter of war to revoke it, but ftrongly recom- 
 mended to him to repair the fortifications of thofe two 
 places, with the utmoir difpach. He alfo counfelled 
 him (o fortify with equal fpecd the (Vrong place of the 
 caftlc of Huy ; to make ditches round Malmes, which 
 might eafily be put in a ftale of defence by inundations ; 
 to erect ftrong batteries at Oilend, Nieuport, and Dun- 
 kirk, in order to firengthen our frontiers on that fide, 
 in the probable cafe or' our being obliged to evacuate 
 Belgium. General Dumourier further advifcd Burnon- 
 viiie to complete the line;; from Dunkirk to Berjues ; 
 to form an intrenched camp at Mount Caiieli; and to 
 fortify Orchies between Liile, Douay, and Conde ; 
 ftavay, as an out-poft to Ouelnoy, between Conde and 
 Maubege ; and Beaumont, between Maub?gc and 
 Phiiippevillu. 
 
 X 2 Such 
 
Such were the counfels refpeclir.g fortifying; tb-t fron- 
 tier \vhich wcic given by General Duniourier, although 
 he is accufed of having bctrsved his country. General 
 Dumourier faithfully ferved his country till the moment 
 that he quitted her; and lie will again feive her; 
 with the fame zeal and fidelity, if he {houid ever 
 fee her governed bv a king-, under the func- 
 tion of a conftitution. Had his counfels been followed, 
 the combined armies would have been detained longer on 
 the exterior frontier, by that line of pods and would not, 
 have penetrated fo eafily into France. 
 
 General Dumourier alfo requeued Bournonville to fend 
 him reinforcements of men , and to order General D'Ar- 
 ron to join him, with fome able engineers, having to 
 make a campaign that would abound in fieges. Bcurnon- 
 viile acceded to all Dumourier's requefts, as far as was 
 in liJs power, with promptitude ; and General D'Arcon 
 arrived at the army immediately afterward. 
 
 This general, although one of the heft engineers and 
 one of the worthieft men in France, had been accufed of 
 ariftocracy by the well known Prince of HeiTe, a con- 
 temptible Jacobin ; and had been deprived of his com- 
 mand ; but General Dumourier, who had been long ac- 
 quainted with his merit, reflored him to the fervice of 
 his country, and found him worthy of the trufl repofed 
 in him. 
 
 General de Flers commanded at Bruges. He was a 
 brave man ; but was opinionated, and did not poflefs 
 much capacity. Having received a wound with a muf- 
 ket ball in the camp of Maulde, Dumcurier made him 
 major-general ; and afterwards fent him to Bruges, to 
 take upon him the command in Weft Flanders, and had 
 given him orders to receive the reinforcement of 10,000 
 men, which Pache had marched into that country on the 
 General's requeft. 
 
 When Dumourier arrived at Bruges, de Flers laid be- 
 fore him a plan >which he had formed for furprifing the 
 city of SJuys. The general pretended to adopt the plan ; 
 and fent de Flers to Bournonville, with a requeft to give 
 de Flers a body of 5 or 6000 men and a fmall train of 
 artillery, to enable him to menace Dutch Flanders. The 
 requeft was complied with, fpeediiy and compleatlv. 
 
 The general had no defign that de Flers ihould attack 
 the Duich towns in Flanders, which it was not puflile for 
 him to take ; but he placed this fmall body of men under 
 
 his 
 
( '53 ) 
 
 his orders, to be ready to replace, on the fide of Antwerp 
 and Breda, the forces that the general ihoulcl march into 
 Holland. And he knew that the ailembling this final 1 
 army in the neighbourhood of Bruges would ftill aid in 
 deceiving the Dutch re (peeking the general's defigns, ef- 
 p^ciaiiy as de Flersvvas himfclf deceived, and made feri- 
 ous preparations tor his expedition. 
 
 General Dumourier had left all the 'officers of hisftaff 
 at Liege, together with his aids de camp, and was accom- 
 panied by his faithful Baptiue. lie Lad alfo left his 
 equipage with the grand army, to favour the opinion that 
 he defigned to return ; and had only ordered a few horlcs 
 to attend him at Antwerp, under pretence of \ ifuing the 
 cantonments on -the Meufe. To form Ins flafl therefore, 
 he lent for four of his officer:;, at the head of whom he 
 placed Colonel Thouvenot, brother to the general of the 
 fame name. This officer, who, under every circumfhincc, 
 has been the zealous friend of General Dumourier, 
 abounded in coinage, information, and refourccs of mind. 
 He was in an an eminent degree important to the gene- 
 ral during the campaign in Holland ; and when they 
 quitted the army together rendered the general every fer- 
 vice in his power. 
 
 The prefence of General Thouvenot was necefTary to 
 the grand army. He was the only officer that perfeclly 
 undetftood the details of duty in winter quarters ; and was 
 the only one that had influence enough to heal the fre- 
 quent quarrels that happened among the generals. Jt was 
 known that he poffeiTed the entire confidence of Dumou- 
 rier, and alfo that his merit entitled him to that confi- 
 dence ; and although he was not the better beloved en 
 that account, it obtained him a greater degree of reJpcct ; 
 and, it being known that he was pe fecily acquainted with 
 the general's intentions, his opinion was received with, 
 the fame deference that was paid to the general's orders. 
 
 There was no other commlfTary with the army, than 
 Petit-Jean, to provide magazines and every thin^ necef- 
 fary for the fiege of Maeflricht, and for the cantonments 
 between the Meufe and the Roer, and the different quar- 
 ters in Belgium. It ieemed imprudent to take him a mo- 
 ment from thefe multiplied concerns, before the arrival 
 of Mains, who wasilill detained at Paris, although a pro- 
 inife had been made to the general tipt he ihould ue fent 
 to the army. 
 
 Not- 
 
( 154 ) 
 
 NotwithftancFng thefe reafons, Dumour'er ordered 
 1 General Thouvenct and Petit- Jean to attend him at Ant- 
 werp ; and, in two days, he fettled with them all the ne- 
 cetiary engagements to enable his troops to take the 
 fftld for the expedition. 
 
 Dumourier at the fam~ time fent to Liege for General 
 La Fayette, and Lieutenant-Colonel La Maitiniere, to 
 form Ms train of artillery, which indeed was veiy in- 
 coufidcrable. Thefe two office's ferved him wfth a zeal 
 and knowledge defcrving of the higheft euloginms. 
 
 Oa the departure of Thouvenot and Petit Jean, Gene- 
 ral DuniGurij'' gave them idflrO&ions for a new levy of 
 twenty-five battalions of Belgians, porififtfng of 800 men 
 each, and he charged the generals and other officeis 
 commanding in the different provinces with the execu- 
 tion of thefe orders, and appointed Thouvenct inspector 
 general and Petit Jean commiiTary general ; in puifu- 
 ance of a decree cf the National Convention, which p'a- 
 ced thofe troops on the footing of French ibkiiers. '! ill 
 that period, the Belgic Provinces had rrnde levies of le- 
 gions, regiments, and corps at their pleafure. Thefe 
 troops were filled with a difproportionate number of of- 
 ficers, and were paid on the credit of the Belgic military 
 committee, the members of which were very ignorant and 
 dilhonelt, and were governed by General Kozieie, who 
 had formerly been an officer in the fervice of France, 
 and was neither a man of honour nor talents. 
 
 General Valence, on his route from Paris, paffed thro* 
 Antwerp to take Dumourier's orders. Dumourier com- 
 municated his entire plan to Valence ; and informed him 
 that he was to cover the fiege of Maeftricbt, with the ar- 
 my under his command, till Miranda fbould depart for 
 Nimeguen, afterward to continue the fiege, if the town 
 Ihould not be then taken. He recommended to the ge- 
 neral to vifit all the winter quarters of the army, to 
 choofe a proper pofitiah for the covering aimy, to watch 
 the motions of the enemy, and to hold hirnfelf ready to 
 engage them if thev ihoukl endeavour to relieve Mae- 
 ftricht, which was reafonably to be expected. Above ail 
 things, he recommended to him to act v.'iih promptnefscmd 
 vigour ; to concert meafures fmcerely and 'cordially '-with 
 General Miranda; and to ccnfult General Thouvenct, 
 .whole knowledge could not fail to be of infinite fervice 
 to him. At the fame time lie lent orders to Lanoue to 
 General \'a'j;:cc. 
 
 The 
 
( '55 ) 
 
 71ie Committee of Finance cf the Convention, rn'f- 
 trufting the general, or being denrous of counteivftiui; 
 and infulting them, had ordered the U'cafury to furnilh 
 no more money to the troops than their pav, and not to 
 appropriate fums for the other expencc;, although the 
 troops were i n want offhoes, cloaths and arms. The 
 paymafler of the army fupplied r.o more for tlic troops 
 deftined agduilt Holland, than the pay of fifteen day?, 
 which amounted to only 240,000 iivrcs ; and the troop.; 
 did not even coll the nation that fum, fince they lived at 
 the expence of the country. The expedition however 
 was attended with prodigious incidental expences. 
 
 NoUvichitanding the rapacity and unjuft conduct, of 
 the French in Belgium, the whole of that nation rendered 
 juttice to the conduct of General Dumourier. In no citv 
 of Europe are there a greater number of wealthy inhabi- 
 tants than at Antwerp. After the commerce of that citv 
 had fallen into decay, the inhabitants had fubftituted the 
 mod rigid ccconomy in the pkcc of that rcfource. Their 
 expences were uiually conhned within the bounds of a 
 part of their revenues, fo tint their fortunes could not but 
 accumulate greatly. General Durnourier affemblecj tlic 
 magiftrates and principal ciiizens, and opened a lean of 
 1,200,000 florins. A merchant named Verbiouck was 
 charged with the receipt of the money, and the coir.niif- 
 fary Petit- Jean with the fuperiritendance of its expendi- 
 ture. 1 he lo^n produced 200,000 florins., vv'hich in the 
 end was an ineftimable reiburce. It ferved to cloath and' 
 arm the legion of the North, the huflars of the Republic, 
 and feveral other French and Relgic corps. General 
 Dumourier, who never had leifure even to examine the 
 accounts of the expenditure, and who was in Holland 
 while it was received and expended, has been calumnia- 
 ted on this ground alfo. He was charged in the Jacobin 
 Society, and afterward in the Convention, with having ap- 
 propriated this furn to hisownufe. But he whofe mind 
 is occupied with great and intercfting concerns, is not 
 liable to be greatly tempted by the love cf wealth. 
 
 General Dumourier, before he entered Holland, pub- 
 lilhcd a mamfefto, with which the Houfe of Orange 
 has been juftly offended. That declaration, it is true, 
 in a war of ordinary circumftances had been very unjuft 
 and lin wife, although we have been accuftcmed to "fee 
 iioftilities between the moft civilized nations preceded by 
 mutual abufc and accufations. Bu* it would be a wrong 
 
done to General Dumcurier, to impute to his moral cha- 
 racter, actions that were impofed upon him by his public 
 fituation. -He was called upon to give encourage- 
 ment fto a very confiderable party in the Dutch nation, 
 who were difpirited by former misfoi tunes ; and to 
 
 terrify the partizans of the Stadtholdeiv It became 
 
 him, in the ftation he filled, to. fcparate the people of 
 Holland from the aiufe of the Stadtl-'oldiT, iince the 
 Dutch nation, had it been ! to'hei i mine, would 
 
 Lave" avoided the war, dreading it as altogether contrary 
 to her interefts. Dumounei's declaration refultcd from 
 thefe circumOanecs ; and be fide, it was neceflary to 
 fcreen the general from the cenfure and refentment of 
 the NanonaFConvention, till he 'mould Le able to pene- 
 trate with fuccefs into Holland. 
 
 'The preparations of which we have fpoken were made, 
 and the army alTembled with even n /cedr.ry, in ten days; 
 and the advanced p-unr'd 'entered Holland, on the lyth 
 of February' The inoft nT-poiti-nt diiiicv;ltyv':s,'to con- 
 ceal the inconfidcrable amount of this fmall army. And, 
 in that, the general Succeeded fo perfectly, that the 
 troops themielves vrere perfuaded that they were not lefs 
 thay* 30,000 .ftrorg ; while the Dutch hr/Jt;.Jned they had 
 to contend with an immenie arniy ; in winch (.pn^oi/, 
 they were confirmed by the inhabitants of Antwerp, 
 who extremely ociiffgerated tlic number of troops,, which 
 parted through that city. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( '59 ) 
 
 The rear-guard of the army was compofed of a~bntta- 
 lion of National guards ; a Dutch battalion ; two hundred 
 Belgians ; a hundred troopers of tne 20 th regiment ; and 
 a hundred of the Belgic huflars ; and was commanded by 
 Colonel Tilly, an aid-du-camp of the general. A part 
 of the artillery was attached to each ofthefe divifions. 
 
 Vv r ith this iimil army the general undertook the con- 
 quell of Holland. But he had a powerful party in the 
 country, who expected him with impatience, and were 
 ready to declare themfelves on his penetrating into the 
 country. He had neither time, on account of the necef- 
 iary rapidity of his movements, nor means, for want of 
 good officers in the different corps, to form and difc'pline 
 thefe troops. But they were ardent, courageous, and 
 impatient for action ; and the enter prize they were un- 
 dertaking had a boldnefs in it, that extremely well fuited 
 the genius of the nation* The general informed this 
 little army of the rigour of the climate into which they 
 were going ; the number of ftrong places, fufrounded by 
 inundations, to be taken ; and the canals and arms of the 
 fea to be croffed. But while he told them of thele obfla- 
 cles, he declared to them that, being once arrived in Hol- 
 land, they would be joined by numerous friends, and 
 would find provifions, money and every thing they want- 
 ed, in abundance. 
 
 The French foldicr poffeffes great feasibility and un 
 derftanding ; and is not to be conducted with fuccefs by 
 the ordinary means of military men. If his general have 
 the good fenfe to unfold to him the obftacles of an enter- 
 prize, he thinks no longer of any thing but conquering 
 them, and actually makes the enter prize an aifair of 
 pleafure. But if the danger be concealed from him, he is 
 confounded in difcoveringit ; and if he be once difpirited, 
 or rather difgufted with being led blindly to a defperate 
 talk, h'j gives way to mtftruft, and it becomes impoflible- 
 to rally him ; or afterwards to controul him*. 
 
 Dumourier had can fed General Berneron to march 
 forward, on the i6th, with the advanced guard ; promifing 
 that he mould be fupported Ihortly by the reft of the avm'% 
 l-i written imtrufiions which he delivered to General 
 Berneron, he ordered him inllantiv to fend a detachment 
 confiding of 800 infantry and 100 cavalry, commanded 
 by lieutenant-colonel DaenJels, a Dutch lefdgee, to the 
 
 * Ihi, is a ji /ins ifture efi ' i :>r. 
 
Moor Dyke, in order to feize upon all the veffels lie 
 fhould find there, or at Swaluve, or Roovvaert : to poft 
 the remainder of his divifion along the little river of 
 Merck, from Oudenbofch and Sevenbergen to Breda : 
 and to throw a bridge over the river Merck, in order to 
 fecure a communication with lieutenant-colonel Daendels, 
 and to be able to lupport him againft any forties that 
 might be made by the neighbouring garrifons. 
 
 In Bergen-up-Zoom,Gertruydenberg, and Breda, there 
 were three regiments of dragoons, amounting to more 
 than all the cavalry of General Dumourier, and a fuffi- 
 cient number of infantry to a6l with them. It is certain 
 that if thefe had been afiembled together, and had been 
 joined by the cavalry of Bois-le-Duc, and Hcufden, they 
 would have been fufficiently ftrong to have compelled the 
 advanced guard to retire, and thereby to have ruined the 
 expedition. But Dumourier knew that there was not 
 any one of the Dutch generals charged with the defence 
 of the country, or who had authority to draw all the 
 cavalry together ; and he was certain that the officers who 
 commanded in the different towns, having r.o plan of 
 r.^neral defence, would attend only to the danger which 
 threatened them refpe6lively, and would not hazard any 
 part of their ganifons, agairifl an army, which each of 
 them believed to be very itrong, and which appeared by 
 the extent of its cantonments to menace feveial cities at 
 once. Befide, that the commanding officers of the gar- 
 rifons were fufficiently embarraflod in preparing means 
 for their defence ; not having expected ib fudden an at- 
 tack, and in this early part of the feafon. 
 
 On the 22d, the general arrived at his firft poft ; and 
 was aftonifhed and arBicled to find that his oiders had 
 not been executed. No part of the advanced guard had 
 yet palled the Merck ; ( by which neglect, time was given 
 to the Dutch to withdraw all their vellels from the Moor 
 Dyke to the fide of Dort, and piace them under the pro^- 
 tr ',: lion of three guardftjlps, which were on that ilation. 
 is fir ft error rendered the fienerai's paiTa^e to Dort ex- 
 
 l O 
 
 tremely difficult, and altnoft impracticable, unlefs he could 
 in other boats in the place of thefe he iiad expected to 
 feize. 
 
 He inflantly coTmanded Berncron and Daendels to 
 puffi forward ; and General d'Arcon to inveft Breda with 
 t'ne ri^ht divilioo ; and Colonel le Clerc rlcftrlv to block- 
 ade .Dcrgeri-op-Zoom, and Stcenbei^g, with the left. The 
 
officers who commanded in thofc two kill places abandoned 
 all their out-pofts. Colonel le Clerk made hinifelf matter 
 of the final 1 fort of Blaw-fTuys, at a little diftance from 
 Steerrberg, which place he fummoncd to furrender. The 
 girrifon of Bergen-op-Zoom, made two or three incon- 
 fiderable tallies ; which produced no other effect than 
 the defertion of fome of their men, \vhoentered into the 
 Dutch legion. 
 
 General Dumourier proceeded, with his rear guard, 
 between the two diviiions of his army, to Sevenbergen ; 
 fending his advanced guard forward to Klundert and Wil- 
 liiimftadt, wirh orders to befiege thofc two places. And 
 he commanded Lieutenant-Colonel Daendels to poil him- 
 felf at Nordfchantz, in order to cutoffthe communication 
 between Williamftadt and Klundert. This officer feized 
 three velTels at Nordfchantz. 
 
 The general appointed MelTrs. Kcch and De Nifs :o 
 be colonels. The former of them, who was an eloquent 
 fpeaker, and a man of enterprifing character, was ordered 
 to affift Daendels ; and the latter, a man of information 
 and temperate courage, accompanied the general. 
 
 Dumourier did not conceal from him fe If the difficulty of 
 pa fling to Dort, by the Moor Dyke. The following was 
 the plan firM projected for that purpofe. Koch and Daen- 
 dels, according to the infcructions given to Berneron, 
 were to proceed by the ryth to the Moor Dvke with 900 
 men, fupp cried by the whole cf the advanced guard, port- 
 ed on the Merck. They were to collect all the vefTels 
 they could find on that fide ; and, on the 2 ill or 22d at 
 furthed, embarking all the men they could croud info 
 thefe veiTels, were to pafs to Dort, which they had reafon 
 to hope would join them ; and, aided by the inhabitants, 
 were to diiarm the ^rrifon, confiding of 250 men, unleis 
 they fhou'd be willing to incorporate themfelves \vith the 
 army. There were more tha a hundred vefiels lyins: t 
 Dcrt. Thefe t 1 r,ey were to conduct to the Moor Dyke ; 
 and, arming three or four with the larrell cannon, were 
 to lend them forward to drive olFlhc three iina 11 guard 
 fnips. - Indeed it was propofed to make themfelves 
 mailers of theie veileis by boarding them, they being both 
 ill-armed an. I ill manned. 
 
 The plan thus far accompli Hied, the main body of the 
 army was to proceed to S.: ;-,, O-idenbofch, Moor 
 
 Dyke and Swaluv? ; and, from thenc :, t:.> pafs to Dort, 
 in o?ie or two dirifions ; their embarkation being protected 
 
 by 
 
( 162 ) 
 
 by the rear guard, who were to deftroy the bridge that 
 lliould be thrown over the Merck, and to prevent the 
 garriibns, that might attempt to harrafs the army, from 
 palling the river. The army being once arrived at Dort 
 there was no longer any obftacle to be feared. 
 
 On the evening in which General Dumourier quitted 
 Antwerp, he met, at a little village on his route, the Ba- 
 ron de Stael, who formerly had been Ambafiklor from 
 Sweden to France, and was now going to Paris. The 
 Baron fupped with Dumourier, and informed him 
 that every part of Germany and Holland through which 
 he h;-d palled was friendly to the General's enterprife ;, 
 and that at Utrecht he was impatiently expecied. He 
 alib confirmed the intelligence, which the General had 
 already received, that the party of the Stadtholder were 
 in the greatest confternation. Without endeavouring to 
 difcover the object of the Baron's journey, the General 
 counfelied him to wait the iilue of the prefent expedition 
 before he (hould explain himfelf confidentially to the 
 French Miniftry, tint he might not too haftily pledge his 
 court to any certain line of conduct, or expoie his mea- 
 fures to be afterwards difcwned ; and he advifed him by 
 all means to be filent, at Paris, on any fubjet but fuch 
 as he was willing mould be known to the whole world. 
 This Minifter allured the General that he was going to 
 Paris on his private concerns. Dumourier before his de- 
 parture from Antwerp, had given the fame counfel to a 
 perfonage from Poland, of very high rank and confe- 
 quence ; who, being on his route, had paid a vifit to the 
 General at his quarters. Indeed, the General's maxim 
 uniformly was to take every opportunity of preventing 
 foreign courts from pledging themfelves to a miniilry, the 
 (lave of an affemhiy of 700 men, without prudence, expe- 
 rience or honor. 
 
 Dumourier's original plan was totally deranged by the 
 negligence of the officers, to whom he had entrufted the 
 advanced guard, and the execution of his firff operations. 
 -But he did not abandon his hopes of fuccefs. He con- 
 certed new means. In the canals between Oudenlofch 
 and Scvenbsrgen, he found 23 veiTels from 20 to 70 tens. 
 fie ordered one of his CommilTaries, named Bourher, an 
 indefatigable and intelligent man, to make them fit to 
 carry 1200 men ; and to mount four of them with cannon, 
 for the advanced guard of this little fquadron. He im- 
 prclfrt! all the carpenters and failors, of the faiall ports 
 
 that 
 
that are to be found in that part, and afligned them very 
 confiderable pay, on the funds already railed by the Dutch 
 Committee, on the credit of the property of the Prince of 
 Orange and his known pnrtizans. 
 
 From the moment that Dumourier entered Holland, 
 the army no longer ccfi the French treafuiy any thine; 
 more than the daily pay. The inhabitants of their own 
 accord, furnifhed provisions and forage, as well as money 
 to forward the expedition. Never was an army received 
 with fuch cordiality ; nor ever did i'oldiers lefs merit fuch 
 reception ; the Gendarmerie and light troops indulging 
 themfelves in rapine and every fpecics of oppreiTicn. 
 But from the difgrace of this conduct, the troops of the 
 line, and national guards, are to be wholly exempted ; 
 fince, on all occafions, thefe conducted themfelves with 
 urbanity and jufrice. 
 
 As it demanded time to prepare the veflels, the general 
 made another important change in his iirft plan. Accor- 
 ding to that, he meant to deceive and evade the ftrong 
 places ; and, flealing as it were, between them, to embark . 
 directly at the Moor Dyke. After that he would have 
 had time to harrais thofe places ; and relying on the 
 iveaknefs of the garrifons, and inexperience of the 
 commanding officers, he calculated on making himfelf 
 mailer of at lead one of them, which event would give 
 great relief to his army, and furnifh him with artillery 
 and ammunition, in both of which he was extremely ill 
 provided. 
 
 He refolved to undertake no one fiege in form.' To 
 prefs a regular fiege forward with vigour, he muft have* 
 aflembled his little army in one point, and thereby hae 
 given the enemy an opportunity of knowing its weaknefs ; 
 and, being no longer mailer of the country, it would have 
 been eafy for the garrifons that were not attacked to re- 
 cover from their furprife, affcmble troops to cut off his 
 communication with Antwerp, drive away his workmen, 
 and deftroy his little fleet, without which he had nothing 
 to hope. Wherefore, while Colonel Le Clerccontinued 
 to blockade Bergen-op-Zoom and Steenberg, he ordered 
 General d'Arcon to attack Breda, and his advanced 
 guard at the fame time to fall upon Klundert. 
 
 Breda is a town celebrated for its ilrengtru It was fur- 
 niihed with two hundred pieces of cannon, was well pa- 
 lifadoed, and protected by an inundation. Twelve hun- 
 dred infantry, anda regiment of dragoons, garrifoncd the 
 place ; but the Governor, the Count de By land, was a 
 
 coui tier* 
 
 
( 164 ) 
 
 courtier, and had feen no Jen- ice. The troops bought 
 their bread at the bakers, their meat at the butchers, 
 without having any magazines. The Dutch towns are 
 moil of them well protected by inundations, and abound 
 with ftrong exterior works ; but are greatly deficient in, 
 calcinates, and the inhabitants are greatly diiariected to 
 the government. 
 
 General d'Arcon, without opening any trenches, erec~t- 
 ed two batteries of four mortars and four howitzers, ex- 
 tremely near the town, on the fide of the village of Hc-ge. 
 The enemy anfwered by a very brilk fire, during three 
 days ; on the fourth, General d'Arcon had no more than 
 fixty bombs left, and mr.fl have been under the neceffity 
 of railing the fiege after throwing them into the place. 
 At thismornentjColonel Philip deVaux, an Aid-de-Camp 
 of General Dumourier, entered the place to lummon it 
 for the fecond time, and represented to the Count de 
 Byland, that General Dumourier was on the point of ar- 
 riving with his whole army, and that then no quarters 
 would be given to the garrifon, which fo alarmed the Go- 
 vernor that he capitulated with the confent of his officers. 
 The honors of war and all the Governor's demands were 
 granted him. The French entered the place ; which, ex- 
 cepting fome few houfes, was not at all damaged. They 
 found two hundred and fifty benches a feu*, near three 
 hundred thoufand weight of powder, and five thoufand 
 fufees, of which they were in great want. This fiege 
 did not ccft more than twenty men en each fide. The 
 French carried their temerity to f;.;r as to dance the 
 C&rmagnolt on the glacis, on the tide which was not 
 inundated. Thirty dragoons cf the regiment of By- 
 land fallied out upon theie men, killed fome and returned 
 with fix prilbners, having loft two or three men and fome 
 o\ their horfcs. 
 
 The befieging army amounted to no more than five 
 thoufand men ; and, of theie, twelve hundred were de- 
 tached to feize upon forts on the Unices, on the fide of 
 Hucfden. 
 
 Klundert was taken in two days after the furrender of 
 Breda. The works cf this irrmil iort were extremely re- 
 gular, and the place was protected by inundations that 
 entirely furrounded it. It was defended with great vigour* 
 but with little judgment, by a lieutenant colonel in the 
 
 * 1 he tranHaur dees i:?: Luo\v wbJ iL.L are. 
 
 Dutch 
 
Dutch fervice, who was a Weftphalian. He had no 
 more than a hundred and fifty men in the place. General. 
 Berneron had erected a battery of four cannon and a num- 
 ber of final I mortars dole behind the dyke, at a hundred 
 and fifty toifcs from the place ; fo that the houfes of that 
 imall city were almoft entirely deftroyed. The com- 
 manding officer, after keeping up an almoft inceflant fire 
 during ieveral days with little effect, and having no long- 
 er any ihelterfor his troops, refolved to fpike his cannon, 
 and to endeavour to retreat with the remainder of his gar- 
 rifon to Williamftadt. He was intercepted by a detach- 
 ment of the Dutch refugees, commanded by Lieutenant 
 Colonel Hartmann, whom he fhotdead, receiving at the 
 fame time a ball which killed him on the fpot, and his 
 men \tere made prifoners. The French carried the body 
 of this officer to Klundert, after having taken the keys of 
 the town which were found in his pocket. 
 
 In this place were found fifty-three pieces of cannon, 
 fome mortars, a great quantity of bombs and mot, and 
 about eighty thoufand weight of powder. 
 
 General Dumourier loft no time in fending Berneron 
 to befiege Williamftadt. And it was with the ammuni- 
 tion and artillery of Klundert that the new fiege was un- 
 dertaken. 
 
 Dumourier alfo ordered General d'Arcon to commence 
 the fiege of Gcrtruydenberg. This imall towrvwas ill 
 defended on the fide of Ramfdoneck, having in that 
 quarter only a flight pallifadoe along the river, and be- 
 ing commanded by neighbouring heights. But on the 
 left fide of the Donge, it was protected by an extenfive in- 
 undation, and by two lines of extremely ftrong outworks, 
 which could not have been carried in three weeks, had 
 they been ably and vigoroufly defended. 1 he garrifon was 
 compofed of the regiment ofHertzel, amounting to be- 
 tween eight or nine hundred men, and of a fine regiment 
 of dragoons belonging to the Stadtholder's guard. The go- 
 vernor, named Bedault, a major general in the fervice, 
 was an old man of eighty. General d'Arcon began the 
 attack with cannon, and mortars that he brought from 
 Breda. All the outworks were carried, or abandoned by 
 the enemy on the fecond day. D'Arcon erected batteries 
 on fome of them ; and after a few (hot were exchanged, 
 Colonel de Vaux entered the place, the capitulation was 
 fettled, the honours of war were granted, and General Du- 
 mourier, 
 Z 
 
{ '66 ) 
 
 momief, who had arrived mean tv bile, dined with the old 
 General Bedault> who acknowledged to him that he had 
 iurrendered becaufe he had been difappointed in his ex- 
 peditions of receiving veflcls from Dort to Gorcum, to 
 enable him to evacuate the place. A few bombs had fal- 
 len on the city and one on the general's lionfe. 
 
 During dinner, a rncflfen'ger came to inform the gover- 
 nor that the terms of capitulation had been violated by a 
 lieutenant-colonel of the National guards, who, being 
 drunk, infolcntly iniifted on entering the city in fpitc of 
 the centirvels; and had attempted to difcharge apiftol at the 
 lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of Plirtzel.; General 
 Durnourier ordered the drunkard to be brought into the 
 room, tore the epaulet from his moulder, and reduced him 
 to the ranks, to the great affonifhment of the officers of 
 the garrifon, who interceded for his pardon. 
 
 General Durnourier converfed much with this garriibii, 
 which confined of exceeding fine troops. He has fre- 
 quently fmce thought of an expreflion of the lieutenant 
 colonel of the regiment of Hirtzel, who walking with him 
 on the ramparts, laid Hodu miki, eras tibi. The honeft 
 Swifs fpoke prophetically. 
 
 This new conqueft gave us a hundred and fifty bandies 
 a feu, two hundred thoufand weight of powder, a quantity 
 of bombs and ball, twenty-five hundred new fuiees, and 
 what was moft cflential an excellent port, and more than 
 thirty veflels of various fizes. We had aifo taken five 
 veiTds at Breda. 
 
 This was in the beginning of March. While thefe 
 fie^es were carrying forward, the general palled the 
 greater part of the time at the Moor Dyke, whence, it be- 
 ing in the centre of his operations, he directed the lieges 
 on his right and left, and fuperintended the fitting oiit of 
 his fquadron. I Us commiflary Bourfier having, with in- 
 credible exei'tions, found means to arm twenty-three vef- 
 fels, and to victual them for twelve hundred men, the 
 general fent them down the canal of Sevenbergen to Roo- 
 waert, which is a fmall creek, lying a quarter of a league 
 weft of the Moor Dyke. 
 
 On the day the general eftablimed his quarters in this 
 village with an hundred Dutch chafleurs and fifty dra- 
 goons, he xvas cannonaded the whole day, by three guard 
 {hips. Having polled his chafleurs along fhe Dyke, by 
 which two men were killed on board the veflels, he com- 
 pelled them to abandon their fituation. A few hours af- 
 ter, 
 
ter, lie ordered twelve twenty-four pounders from Breda, 
 together with ammunition, and constructed feveral batte- 
 ries, one of which was at Roowacit, to protect the failing 
 of his fquadron,and the reft at the Moor Dyke to cover 
 his embarkment. He was there persuaded that his cannon 
 would cany more than half way oyer the canal ; and in- 
 deed the enem) '$ armed (hips did not again approach 
 the fide occupied by the French. 
 
 He caufed huts covered with ftraw to be raifcd along 
 the fands from Roowaert to Swaluve. There the ibldiers 
 amufed themfelves and were extremely happy, but impa- 
 tient to crofs to Dort. Dumourier jeftingly told them that 
 they refembled beavers ; and he named this aquatic can- 
 tonment, the camp of Beavers. Provifions were in plen- 
 ty ; the water was not bad ; and brandy ivas diflributed to 
 the troops every morning. The general gave his troops 
 an example of firmnefs ; and was lodged and lived like 
 the reft. 
 
 In this expedition, the general chalked himfelf out a 
 fyftem for carrying on war in countries overflowed by 
 water. It would not be impofilble, by means of dykes, to 
 march over any part of Holland, to conduct artillery, and 
 eftablim batteries at pleafure : excepting in the cafe of 
 being oppofcd by gun-boats, when it would be necelFary 
 to have an adequate force of the fame nature. 
 
 General Dumourier had, among his battalions of volun- 
 teers, feveral mfn from Gafcony, Brittany, Normairdy, 
 and Dunkirk. Of thefe men he formed a body of from 
 four to five hundred failors, giving them twenty fols per 
 day in addition to their pay. The general's fquadron at 
 Roowaert was defigned to carry his advanced guard, and 
 he appointed an Englim naval ofiiccr, und a lieutenant 
 of the Dutch navy to command it ; with the afliftance of 
 fome pilots belonging to the country. But the neceflaryde- 
 lays had given time to the Dutch to augment confiderably 
 their fquadron in the Bi/bos t which is the fmall lea of thd 
 Moor Dyke, That fquadron conftfted already of twelve 
 armed fhips, one of which carried twenty guns ; and thefe 
 veflels were difpofed of with great judgment for oppo- 
 fing the general's pailage, and acling in concert. But 
 Dwnourier calculated, in cafe the wind fhould be fettled, 
 that not more than half the fquadron could ongaee him, 
 as thofe which iliould be to leeward of him would not, in 
 jjhat cafe, be a.ble to reach him. 
 
 The 
 3 
 
( '68 ) 
 
 The Dutch had alfo erected batteries at Stry, and all 
 along the coaft of the illand of Dort ; which it was faid 
 was reinforced by 1200 of the Englifn guards, who had 
 landed fince the declaration of war at Helvoet Sluys. The 
 general however was convinced that the enemy had no 
 certain intelligence of his plan, bccaufe the Prince of 
 Orange was making his greateft preparations for defence 
 at Gorcum, and had allembled an army there to oppofe 
 his march : this army was yet inconfiderable ; the rein- 
 forcements of the Englifh and emigrants augmenting it to 
 no more than 4030 men. 
 
 Dumourier, ftill to deceive the enemy fefpe6ting his 
 real defign, continued the blockade of Bergen-op-Zcom 
 and Steenberg. General de Flers was returned from 
 Paris, and had obtained the reinforcement that he de- 
 manded, which arrived with great di (patch. Durnourier 
 ordered him to occupy the cantonments of Colonel Le 
 Clerc at Rofendael, and round Bergen -op-Zporn with 
 6000 men, which orders were rapidly executed. He or- 
 dered the left divifion to approach Oudenboich, and Se- 
 vernbergen. He fent the national gendarmerie, with fome 
 cavalry, from his right, to {hew themfelves on the fide of 
 Heufden. A lieutenant-colonel of the gendarmerie fum- 
 moned that place ; and, ridiculoufly enough, addrefTed 
 the governor by the phrafe of citizen governor, inftead of 
 the ufual appellation. 
 
 General Berneron continued the fiege of Williamftadt ; 
 but with very ill fuccefs. He had commenced his attack 
 at too great adiftance ; and confumed a great quantity of 
 ammunition, without making any progrefs. There was 
 but one front of this town which was open to attack, and 
 that was extremely narrow : and the Dutch had thrown 
 re-inforcements into the town by fea. Dumouricr fent 
 to the affiftance of General Berneron, Duboisde Cmnce, 
 (an engineer of great merit, and very different in charac- 
 ter from his unworthy brother, the member of the na- 
 tional convention) and another engineer named Marefcof. 
 Thcfe two valuable officers refolved to draw nearer the 
 town ; and while they were erecting a battery at the dii- 
 tancc of 200 toifes from the place, they were abandoned 
 by their foldiers, and were fhin in a fortie, that the enemy 
 made on the workmen. General Berneron, notwith- 
 fhnding, continued the fiege obilinately, which was not 
 railed till after the departure of General Dumourier for 
 the grand army. 
 
 The 
 
The general having found a confiderab'e quantity of 
 (hipping at Gertruydenberg, he refolved to. ufe them in 
 facilitating; his paffaefe to Dort. lie had afufficient num- 
 ber of veflels at Roowaert for his advanced guard. Maf- 
 ter of Breda, Klundert, and Gertruydenberg, and leaving 
 the corps under General de Flers to continue the block- 
 ade of Steenberg and Bergen-op-Zoom, he had fecurcd 
 his rear guard from being harraffed. He therefore coufed 
 his rear guard to advance to Swaluve, at which place there 
 were refills for its embarkation ; and he relblved to em- 
 bark his right divifion in the veffels of Gertruydenberp> 
 
 The paffage from Gertruydenberg to the ifland of Dort 
 is fomev/hat longer than that from the Moor Dyke. To 
 the right, and even in" front of this port, the Biflos is filled 
 with fond banks, and numerous fmall iflands detached 
 from the main land of Gorcum ; moil of which are cover- 
 ed with trees and underwood. The armed (hips of the 
 enemy drew too much water to approach thefe iilands. 
 There were however, three barks each carrying four 
 cannon, and thirty men, (rationed at different points to 
 guard the p.iffage. Beyond thefe fmall iflands many of 
 which are covered by the tide at high water, was fituated 
 an iiland much more elevated above the water than the 
 fell, on which was a fmall farm belonging to an inhabi- 
 tant of Gertruydenberg. This ifland, which the enemy's 
 largeit veffels could not approach within feven or eight 
 hundred toifes, was feparated from the iiland of Dort only 
 by a fpace of fix hundred toifes, which was guarded by a 
 battery mounting fix cannon, (landing on a low and mud- 
 dy foil on the iiland of Dort, and by a frigate of fourteen 
 guns, flattened under the battery. 
 
 The general refolved to land two battalions, with fix 
 four and twenty pounders in this ifland ; and to creel: a 
 battery to drive clFthe frigate, whcfe guns appeared to be 
 fmall. Having done this, he defigned to embark with 
 his right divifion in thefmaller vetTcls belonging to Ger- 
 truydenberg and to pals over in the fame route. 
 
 As he might be compelled to engage one of the veffels 
 of four guns, in his pafTage to the iiland, he defigned to 
 fill feveral large fhallops with chofen men on board that 
 veffel, and ordered two veffels each carrying two cannon 
 to be ready to precede him, giving the command of one to 
 an Englifh naval ofr.cer named White, and of the other to 
 Lieutenant Colonel La Rue, an aid-de-camp of the gene- 
 ral, who had been in the ica-lerviee. Every preparation 
 
 was 
 
( '70 ) 
 
 was made with fuch celerity that it was the general's dc- 
 fign to have attempted the paffageon the night of the 8th 
 or 1 6th, But events of a very different nature were ar- 
 riving, and the rapidity of his firft luccefs was followed 
 by a ft ill more rapid fucceflion of evils which decided the 
 fate of the war. 
 
 Dumourier in the mid ft of his plans, and notwithftand- 
 jng his fucceffes, had for fome days been a prey to the 
 greateft uneafinefs. The fiege of Maeftricht had been 
 commenced on the 2oth of February ; but although Ge- 
 neral Miranda had let fire to leveral quarters of the city, 
 it was defended it with extreme obftinacy, by reinforce- 
 ments of the emigrants, who affembled there in great num- 
 bers, headed by M. d'Autichamp, a, lieutenant-general Jr? 
 the army of the Prince of Conde, and an excellent officer ; 
 to whom it is laid the Dutch owe the fafety of the city of 
 Maeftricht, 
 
 General Champmorin had, without any opppfition made 
 himfelf mafter of the fort of Stevenfwaert, on the Meufe ; 
 and alfo of fort St. Michael, which cornmandsthe entrance, 
 the left fide of that river, of the bridge of Venloo. But 
 he had not been able to take poffeffion of Venloo, the Pruf- 
 fians having already entered it. 
 
 General Valence, although he poffeffed military talents, 
 had not acquired fufficient authority over the troops effec- 
 tually to compenfate for the abfence of Dumourier. He 
 remained at Leige ; and had neither railed the winter quar- 
 ters of the troops, nor drawn them clofer together. And 
 great mifunderftandings exifted among the generals. 
 
 General Stengel occupied the quarters round Aix-la- 
 Chapclle. He was an officer well verfed in the difci^ 
 pline and duties of light troops, and was excellently cal- 
 culated to command an advanced guard. 
 
 General Dampierre commanded in Aix-la-Chapelle, 
 where he "Was entirely taken up with his pleafures, and 
 the means of gratifying his rapacity. He was a man of a 
 fierce, and ambitious fpirit, rath in the extreme, but was 
 without talent, and was even timid at times through his 
 exceffive Ignorance. He hated his fuperiors ; and ma- 
 chinated with the Jacobins of Paris, for the fabrication of 
 calumnies, by which he aimed at the command of the ar- 
 mies. 
 
 '] he Prince of Coburg, who had arrived at Cologne, 
 was acquainted with the mifunderftandingsof the generals, 
 jind the injudicious, and feeble, difpofuion of the troops. 
 
 AfTemblini; 
 
Affemblinglns army he inarched to Aldenhoven, where 
 he penetrated into the French quarters without obftacle. 
 The French inftantly abandoned all their polls, without 
 making the leaft ftand againft the enemy ; and fell back 
 upon Liege in the greateft confufion. General le Vc- 
 neur, who commanded the attack of Maeftricht on the 
 fide of Wyck, had the good fortune to have fufficienf 
 time to pafs the Meufe with his cannon. The Imperialifts 
 entered Maftricht. Miranda, notwithstanding ought to 
 have continued the bombardment from the left fide of the 
 river; and, collecting his army between Tongres and 
 Maeftricht, which was a tolerable pofition, he might then 
 have prevented the further progrefs cf the Prince of Co- 
 burg. 
 
 Thefe were the orders given to Miranda by General 
 Dumourier, on his receiving news of the difafter. This 
 was alfo the advice of General Valence. That General 
 a few days after faved a column confifting of twenty-fe- 
 tr en battalions on their retreat from Liege, by making a 
 vigorous charge on the enemy, at the head of his cavalry 
 on the plains of Tongres : and Lieutenant-General La- 
 noue difplayed the greateft bravery, in his retreat from 
 Aix-la-Chapellc. 
 
 But Miranda wasdifconcerted, and loft all prefence of 
 mind. On his own authority, he ordered the troops to 
 abandon the Meufe. The Imperialifts followed up their 
 victory, palled the Meufe, entered Liege, and took pcf- 
 feflion of the French magazines, which were confiderablc, 
 cfpecially in the article of cloathing. So great was the 
 confternation in the French army, that, excepting the 
 heavy artillery which was carried off to Louvain, and 
 from thence to Tournay, every thing was abandoned, 
 including even the baggage of the troops. 
 
 The two generals, Miranda and Valence, aflembled 
 their forces in the camp of Louvain. Champorin, who 
 could no longer maintain his pofition on the left fide of 
 the Meufe, evacuated Stevenfwaert, and FortSt.M'chael, 
 (in which places he ought to have left garrifons) and re- 
 treated to Dieft. General la Marliere, who was at Rure- 
 monde, fell back to the fame place. This retreat left 
 the Pruflians mafters of the Lower Meufe. They had 
 it in their power inftantly to have eroded the country of 
 Campine ; and, by the route of Antwerp or Bois-lc-Duc, 
 might have fallen on the rear of the French army in Hol- 
 land. 
 
land. Prince Frederick of Brunfvvick loft this important 
 opportunity ; and General Durr.ourier, availing himfelf 
 of the neglect, afterward placed his army in fecurity. 
 
 The troops under Miranda and Valence, were utterly 
 difcouraged. 1 hey openly blamed and menaced their 
 general ofltcers, more efpecially Miranda, who was in 
 confidcrable danger of his life. At length however Ge- 
 neral Valence, aided by the prudence of General Thou- 
 venot, refto'red lome degree of order in the army. But 
 the defertion of the army was enormous. More than 
 10,000 men abfolutely returned to Fiance. The army 
 loudly demanded the prefcnce of General Dumourier. 
 The commiilloncrs of the Convention dilpatched courier 
 after courier, urging his departure for Louyain. The 
 general conttantly anfwered them, that they might main- 
 tain the army in its prefent poin'on ; and that ilill there 
 was nothing to be feared if they. gave him time to aecom- 
 plilh his prefent object. This was true. General Va- 
 lence, and General Thouvenot were of the fame opinion. 
 But Miranda now betrayed a terror altogether proportion- 
 ate to the rafhnefs which had hitherto governed him, 
 which juflified the difpatches of General Valence, who 
 from the nift predicted this check, while Miranda's let- 
 ters uniformly aflerted, that the army of the Im-perialifis 
 was not to be feared. And certainly his opinions would 
 have been juft, if the French had taken a judicious pofi- 
 tion, with an equal force, which they might and ought to 
 have done. It was to be presumed that the Prince of Co- 
 bourg would not rnve chofen to hazard a battle ; or, if 
 he had, the French had no reafon to fear the iffue. 
 
 The co'mmiffioners of the Convention him led precipi- 
 tately to Paris. They made a report fo alarming, and 
 painted the confirmation of the foldiers in fuch itrong co- 
 lours, that it was univerfally acknowledged that General 
 Dumourier could alone flop the jpi ogre is of the difafter, 
 and fave the army* He was commanded in the moil ab- 
 iblute terms, to abandon the expedition of Holland, and 
 inftantly to put himielf at the head of the grand army. He 
 received the orders on the evening of the 8th of March, 
 and departed on the <jth, in a itate bordering no defpair. 
 
 Dumourier gave the command of his army to General 
 de Flers. He knew the capacity of this general to be in- 
 adequate to the tafk ; but he had not another general 
 officer he could put in his place. General d'Arcon was 
 extremlv afflicted with the sjout, and could not keep the 
 
( '73 ) 
 
 fteld, and had even refufed the rank of lieutenant-gene- 
 ral, which Dumourier would have obtained for him, sa 
 a reward for the taking of Breda. He retired to Antwerp. 
 Lieutenant General Marafle , an old foldier, who com- 
 manded at Antwerp, could not on account of his great 
 age, be enti ufted in an active fituation, although he was 
 a man of courage and experience. And it was Dumou- 
 rier's defign to fend General Miranda into Holland, on 
 his arrival at the grand army. 
 
 Dumourier left Colonel Thouvenot, who was the foul 
 of his little army, with General de Flers. He gave the 
 colonel a copy of the inftru&ions he had delivered toGene- 
 ral de Flers, whom he recommended to undertake no en- 
 terprize without the concurrence of Colonel Thouvenot. 
 He ordered him inftantly to attempt the paffage of Ger- 
 truydenberg ; and, in cafe of fuccefs, to forward dif- 
 patches to Dumourier, and to remain at Dort till he 
 ihuld receive his further inftruclions. 
 
 But the departure of General Dumourier, utterly dif- 
 pirited this army. Thofe who hci been moft forward, 
 impatient, and daring, on every occafion, now cofider- 
 ed the undertaking to be impracticable. In truth, it 
 became fuch ihortly afterward. The Dutch fquadron be- 
 ing reinforced, and the Piudians being on their march 
 by Bois-le-duc, de Flers, in purfuanceof his inftruclions 
 in the cafe of the paffage to Dort not taking place, threw 
 himfelf into Breda, with fix battalions and two hundred 
 horfe, Colonel Tilly into Gertruydenberg, with thre* 
 battalions, and fifty horfe, The remainder of the army- 
 returned lafely to Antwerp, owing to the good conduct 
 of Colonel de Vaux, and Colonel Thouvenot. Thofe 
 officers withdrew from the batteries of the Moor Dyke, 
 with the greateft prudence, and conftancy ; and^lthou^h 
 the army was thrown into diforder, they effected the re- 
 treat without lofs. The fortifications of Klundert were 
 blown up bv Thouvenot, who had not time to put that 
 fmall fort in a ft ate of defence. 
 
 And thus terminated Dumourier's enterprize againft 
 Holland. t An enterprize, projected and begun in ten 
 days, which did not burthen France with tbe additional 
 charge of one fol, and which probably had fuccecded but 
 for the unfortunate retreat of Aix-la-Chapelle. 
 
 Two ftrong places were acquired in this expedition, by 
 which the progrefs of the enemy might have been arrefted ; 
 and which might ferve as magazines, and a place of arms, 
 
 A a if 
 
if th.e dtfiga of entering Holland bad Veen refumec;. Iii 
 a word, France reaped no cifgrace in this quarter. Cut 
 now Dumourier's projects were oncerrore charged ; anil 
 he was again compelled to form new p'ans,a well rerpccl- 
 ing;the interior iHuatiou of France, as with refpecl to 
 her enemies. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The -General arrives at Antwerp. Sends the Agents of the 
 Executive Power from that Town. Arrives at Brujfels. 
 Addre/fes the Representatives of the. People. Writes to 
 the. Convention. Arrcfis Chepy, and FJhenns. Several 
 Proclamations. Arrives on the lojh cf March at Lou- 
 vain. The Commijjioners of the. Convention come to that 
 City to meet the General. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the importance of the con- 
 cerns which had occupied General Dumourier's mind, 
 imce his departure from Paris, he had not overlooked, 
 nor failed to lament as much as the Belgians themfelves, 
 thedeteftable tyranny excrcifed over them by the National 
 Convention, and by the agents of the Executive Fewer. 
 The infolence of thefe latter, the Satellites of avarice and 
 onpretlion, was not exceeded even by their atrocious vil- 
 lainies. Their conclwft was a tiflue of ridiculous circum- 
 ftances. Moft of them a (Turned the military honors, 
 and never walked the ftreets without a guard. Thev 
 let all rules at defiance ; and, finding that they were 
 not luflicientlv numerous to fpread their extortions 
 through the whole extent of thofe rich provinces, they 
 augmented their means by ifluing commiitions to other 
 perfons like themfclves. 
 
 In paifinp; through Bruges the General wss invited to 
 a ball* One of theic gentlemen, who was dancing, ac- 
 cofted -the General on his entering the room; and an- 
 nouncing himfelf as a Commiffioner of the Executive Pow- 
 er, he acquainted the General that he was on his rend to 
 Oftend and Nieuport, to put thofe places in a proper ftafe 
 of defence. The General fternly commanded him to con- 
 fine himfelf to the functions of his office ; to execute thoie. 
 with modefty j and thenceforward, to forlpear intruding 
 
 himfelr 
 
himfelf into military concerns. 
 
 Another of thefe perfonages, named, as I think, Lieu- 
 taud, who was Rationed at Ruremonde, as a talk-mailer 
 to General la Mariierc, wrote a long letter to Dumourier, 
 Tkouing and Tkeeing him throughout, and commanding 
 him to abandon every other enterprizc, in order to march 
 to the afMance of Ruremonde. The General lent this 
 letter to Le Brim, contenting himfelf with adding by 
 \vay of poftfcript, This letter ought to be datzd, CHAREN- 
 TON. 
 
 A third, nam^d Cochelet, who redded at Liege, having 
 received notice of the declaration of war decreed on the firll 
 bFFebruity, ordered a detachment of troops to attend him, 
 and, marching on the Dutch territory before Maeflricht, 
 proclaimed the war, tore up the pofts on which were the 
 arms of the States General, and took pofTeffion of the Se- 
 ven United Provinces, in the name of the French Repub- 
 lic. 
 
 This impertinent parade ferved as a warning to the 
 Governor of Maeftricht to withdraw his cavalry cantoned 
 round the city, (together with a considerable quantity of 
 forage) which General Miaczynfky was on the point of i'ur- 
 prifing. General Miranda naturally condemned this con- 
 duit, becaufe he was not yet prepared to a<St againft 
 Maeftricht. Cochelet fent the General a written order to 
 take Maeftricht before the 2oth of February, on pain of 
 being denounced as a traitor ; and he fent a copy of the 
 letter to the National Convention, who applauded his 
 Roman firmnefs. Cochelet, however, was recalled ; be- 
 caufe, intoxicated with the honors of his proconfulfhip, he 
 had treated contemptuoufly the authority of the deputies 
 of the Convention. 
 
 When General Dumourier arrived at Antwerp on the 
 fecond of February, he found that city humiliated and ter- 
 rified by the prefence of one of thefe fubaltern tyrants, 
 whofe name he has forgotten, and whom he caufeji to 
 be recalled. Every city in Belgium v/as governed by 
 one or more of thefe execrable Proconfuls. They enter- 
 ed on their office by fequeftering the filver of the churches, 
 the revenues of the clergy, and the eftates of the nobility. 
 They th m pillaged, or fold to the JT accomplices at an ex- 
 celfively inferior price, the furniture of the nobles and 
 clergy. They fupprefled the national impofts to flatter 
 the people, degraded the magiftrates from their feats, ereci- 
 A a 2 e 
 
ed clubs, and excrcifed an. arbitrary authority, by the aid 
 of the military, who blindly obeyed them. 
 
 Throughout the provincesof Belgium this wild tyranny 
 was become insupportable. Dumourier had made reiter- 
 ated complaints of this tyranny to the Convention, as well 
 as to the Cornmidioners of the Convention, Camus, Treil- 
 hard, Merlin and GolTuin, whom he met at Ghent; but 
 theie latter either were not willing, or had not authority 
 to redreis the evil. He reprefented to them, that on the 
 Prin.-:? of Coburg's appearing in force on the frontier, a 
 general infu reciion of the Belgians was to be expected, 
 that our weakened garrifons would be maiTacred, and our 
 crimes punilhed by the hands of thofe we had oppreffed ; 
 and that this war was, in a manifold degree, more 
 dangerous than the war with the Impenalifts. 
 
 The route of the troops at Aix-la Chapelie, their pre- 
 cipitate flight to Louvain, their confunon, terror, and 
 defertion, greatly increafed the danger, which Du- 
 mourier had forefeen, of a general iniurre&ion in Bel- 
 gium. 
 
 The danger was aggravated by the conduct of the 
 Commiffioncrsof the Convention. They called on the 
 provinces to exprefs their refolution of being united to 
 France, The people were affembled in the churches 
 without any order or decency. A French Commiffioner, 
 fupported by the commanding officer of the place, by 
 ibldiers, and by French and Bclgic Clubifts, read the 
 a6l of union, which feldom was underilood by any perfon 
 prefent, any more than the harangue made on the occa- 
 iion ; the acl was notwithflanding figned by the audience, 
 generally with trembling hands ; reports of the proceed- 
 ings were printed, and fent to the Convention, who forth- 
 with created another department. 
 
 Thele fraternal proceedings were often efFecled by vi- 
 olence. At Brufrels and at Mons, mufkets and fabres were 
 employed in the aflembly, and feveral perfons were 
 wounded. Protefts were formally made againft the union. 
 Partial infurre6tions took place at Wawres, Hall, Braine, 
 andSoigntes. The rnoft dangerous was at Grammont. Ten 
 thoufand peafants affembled in arms, and had pefleffed 
 fhemfeives of feveral cannon. They imprifoncd the Com- 
 rniffioners, and drove back detachments of the gacrilbn of 
 Ghent. Thefe tumults increafed hourly. The French ar- 
 rny, fcarcely in force te **ft fhe Irnperialifts , coujd not 
 
 fparc 
 
( '77 ) 
 
 fpare troops fo put an end to thefe cruel confefts, which 
 were fpreading over the whole of Belgium ; and it had been 
 eafy tor a few Flemifh officers belonging to the Imperial 
 army, with fome chofen foldiers, to have infinuatedthem- 
 felves into the French quarters, by means of their know- 
 ledge of the language, and to have given a regular form 
 to this inteftine war. 
 
 Dumourier hated the injuftice of the National Conven- 
 vention, and refilled every attenjpt to make him the in- 
 ftrument of its tyranny and the fcourge of Belgium. A 
 two-fold intereft therefore directed his conduct at prefent. 
 His objects were to deliver this unhapy country, and to 
 lave his army. As to his fuccefs in the former, he invokes 
 the teftimony of the Belgians, from whom he recei- 
 ved the moft honourable marks of efteern and gratitude, 
 in travelling through that country, when he'' no longer 
 poflefled the influence of (lation. 
 
 Arriving at Antwerp on the nth, he found that city 
 in the greateft confufionand alarm. A Commiflioner of 
 the Executive Power, named Chauflart, who modefUy 
 furnamed hirnfe!f Publicola, had recently removed the 
 magiftrates, and had iflued orders to arreft them and the 
 Other principal citizens, to the number of fixty-feven.. 
 General Marafle eluded the execution of this order, with 
 which he was charged by Publicola ; but the bifhop of Ant- 
 werp and the other profcribed perfons were either fled or 
 had concealed themfelves* Dumourier fent a written or- 
 der to ChaufTart and his colleagues, to quit Antwerp, and 
 t go to Bruflels inftantly, declaring, in cafe of difobedi- 
 ence, that he would give orders to General Marafle 
 to take them there by force. Chauffarl came to the Ge- 
 neral with much dignity, or infolence, and complained 
 of this order, faying, that it feemed to be dictated by a 
 Vizir. The General anfwered with good humour, I am 
 certainly as much of a Vizir, as you are, of Publicola* 
 
 General Dumourier compelled Chauflart to quit the 
 town immediately. Fie reinftated the magiilrates, and re- 
 ftored the peace of that important city. He ifTued an or- 
 dinance, prohibiting the Jacobin club in any degree to 
 interfere in public affairs. He commanded General 
 Marafle to wall up the door of the hall where the club af-r 
 iembled, to imprifon every member that difobeyed this 
 ordinance, to print the order in both languages, and ta 
 f oft it up and pub'iih it througiwot the city. 
 
 Dumourier 
 
Durrsourier afterwards departed for Bruffels. Having 
 received complaints from that city of the attrocious ccn- 
 duV of General Moretern, he had a few days previous to 
 his departure removed him from the command ; which he 
 had conferred on Lieutenant-General Duval. Moreton 
 at firft refufed to obey the General ; but in confequencc 
 of an order from the minifter at war> he took upon him the 
 command at Douay, where he had an opportunity of pur- 
 fuing his former fyftemof conduft till his death. 
 
 General Duval was an extremely good officer, and it 
 was the ill Oate of his health alone which prevented his 
 being with the army. He had ferved the preceding year 
 with great reputation and fuccefs. His judgment was 
 clear, he abounded in the qualities that beget efteem, and 
 was perfectly calculated to heal the wounds inflicted by 
 Moreton's tyranny. 
 
 D-ival gave the general a more particular account, 
 than he had hitherto received, of thediforderand confter- 
 nation that reigned among the troops aflembled at Lou- 
 vain, from which place Duval had recently arrived. Al- 
 rnoft all the tents had been loft in the retreat. There 
 was not left a fufficient number to encamp half the army J 
 yet it was irapoffible to reftore any degree of courage to 
 the troops, or to make any movement with fafety, with- 
 out encamping them for a while. A great part of the 
 field pieces had been alfo loft. 
 
 The general officers commanding the artillery, receiv- 
 ing no orders during the confufion cf the retreat, nor in- 
 deed demanding any, held a council of war among them* 
 felves, in which it was refolved to carry cffthe whole park 
 of artillery and conduct it into France. All the twenty- 
 four pounders, the fixteen pounders, the mortars, and pon- 
 toons, were already at Tcurnay, on their route to France ; 
 fortunately, however, the heavy artillery, and the how- 
 itzers, were ftill at Anderletcht. Thefe latter the gene- 
 ral ordered to join the army at Louvain ; and thofe aj 
 Tournay not to proceed on their route to France. 
 
 Bruffels was filled with officers and fpldiers of the ar- 
 my, who were on their return to France. The general 
 fcnt them back te the camp at Louvain ; and difpatchcd 
 orders to Tournuy and Mons, and the cities in the de- 
 partment o( thr north, to nrreft and fend back to the ar- 
 my all the fugitives returning into France.- 
 
 Pum our I'.'r ordered General Stengel, who had retired 
 to Nr.nr.ir, r.n/j frvvo iqtiadrcns of huiTars, to join the army* 
 
 General 
 
( 179 ) 
 
 G?.encrai Neullly,who was in his winter quarters in the 
 country of Stavclo, with the ha if of the advanced guard 
 of the army of the Ardennes, at the time of the flight from 
 Aix-la-Chapelle, had alfo retired to Namur, and the ge- 
 neral ordered him to port his troops at Judoignc, to ie- 
 cure the communication between the grand army, and 
 the corps commanded by Lieutenant-general d'Harvilie. 
 To General d 'ilarville, he lent repeated orders to en- 
 camp his troops, or, if he had not a fufficient number cf 
 tents for the purpofe, to make his cantonments as connect- 
 ed and compadt as poffible, in order to prevent the Prince 
 of Hohenloe and General Bcauiieu, from forcing the pa f- 
 fage of the Meufe, or turning the right of the army, and 
 i'o falling upon BruiTels and Mcns. The garrifon of. 
 BruiTels was by no means ftrong, yet the general was 
 obliged to felett fome of its bed battalions to reinforce the 
 army. 
 
 Ten thoufand men hailily raifed in the department of 
 the north were fent to the army. This reinforcement 
 was greatly beaded of. The name of centurions had 
 been given t theie troops. They confided of companies" 
 which were nominally a hundred men each, but were, in 
 fact, much below that number, cornpofed of old men and 
 -children, armed with pikes, culavTes, fowling pieces, and 
 piftols. They had been promifed twenty fols per day, 
 and were defigned to garrifon the towns of Belgium, but 
 not, as they themfelves laid, to defend them, or to fis;ht*. 
 This militia, the offspring of a plan of Goffuin and Mer- 
 lin, ferved only to heighten the embarraffment, confufion, 
 and want of difcipline, which already prevailed, and the 
 
 funeral was impatient till he had fent them back to 
 ranee. 
 
 But an object even more important to General Du- 
 rnourier, than thefe concerns, was to calm the minds of 
 the Belgians^and to reftore public confidence throughout 
 the country, by putting a final period to the lydem under 
 which they had fu.ffered. lie was not ignorant that' in 
 this attempt he fhould excite the Jacobins, and the conven- 
 tion, to proceed to extremity with him. The time, how- 
 ever, for conciliatory ineafurer,as wellas for deliberation, 
 was entirely palled : fo great were the evils to be reme- 
 
 * - de gardcr let plticfsde la clgiyiic t tna'-s nin f>a t Jifuwit ii*, de les 
 findrt. Til dejairt L^utrre* 
 
 died, 
 
f 180 ) 
 
 died, fo enormous the \vrcngs that had been dpne to the 
 Belgians, and 10 immediately was the danger of vengeance 
 being taken by that people. 
 
 A few days before Dumourier arrived at BrufTels, Chepy 
 had urged General Duval to order ieveral executions. 
 He threatened to fire Bruflels, or to put it to the fword. 
 He had arreited ieveral of the wealthier! citizens, and fent 
 them to be confined in the fortrefles of the department of 
 the north. General Dumourier now arrefted him, and 
 lent him, under a guard, to Paris. 
 
 The legion of Sans-Culottes^ raifed by General More- 
 ton, and compofed of the loweft of the populace, held the 
 city in awe, and daily committed unheard of cruelties and 
 extortions. A Frenchman, a man of abandoned charac- 
 ter, named Eftienne, commanded it, with the title of Ge- 
 neral. Dumourier threw him into prifon, and published 
 an ordinance, breaking this corps, and forbidding all per- 
 fons to diftinguiPnthemielvesby the name of Sans- culottes. 
 
 He avTembled the magiftrates of the city. He befought 
 them before all the people, not to attribute to the French 
 nation, crimes committed only by individuals. He fo- 
 lemnly promifed to punifh the guilty, and to reft ore to 
 their families, peaceable citizens, who had been torn from 
 them, under the pretence of ferving as hoftages to France. 
 The reprefentatives of the people ihed tears of gratitude,, 
 and caufed accounts of thefe interefting proceedings to be 
 publilhed. 
 
 General Dumourier JfTued 'a proclamation to authorife 
 the citizens to deliver complaints to the magiitrates, re- 
 fpeciing vexations committed by the French, and em- 
 powering the fn a gift rates to verify arid give a legal form 
 to thefe complaints. By another proclamation, he prohi- 
 bited the clubs from interfering in public affairs, and by 
 another, he commanded all the facred vales, to be reftored 
 to the churches, enjoining the magiftrates and military 
 officers to aid in reftoring them. 
 
 Thefe proclamations were printed in both languages, 
 and fent into every part of Belgium. Their effect, was 
 immediate. The inhabitants of Grammont wrote to the 
 general, that they laid down their arms. Peace was re- 
 ftored between the French and the Belgians. Thefe wor- 
 thy people forgot 4he evils they had fuffered, and agai^n 
 embraced the French as their brethren and defenders. In- 
 deed it is but juft to fay, the garrifons had always conduct- 
 ed themfelves in a manner no ways difcreditable, efpe- 
 
 cially 
 
daily in ttoe great cities ; and, had it not been for the de- 
 cree "of the 1 5th of December, and the conduct of the a- 
 gents.of the executive power, the French character would 
 have been efteerned and beloved in that country. 
 
 On the I2tfy of March, Dumourier wrote a letter to the 
 National Convention, which appeared fo deplorably true 
 "in its contents, that the Prefident and committee to which 
 it was referred, did not dare to read it in the Tribune. 
 A copy of the letter Hole abroad, and was printed at Ant- 
 werp. In it the general frankly ftated to lh convention, 
 the meafureshe had been compelled to purfue in order to 
 fave Belgium and the French army. He referred the 
 Convention, for minute information on each point, to the 
 rninifter, to whom he fent copies of the proclamation^ 
 and an oc count of his proceedings, demanding of him, that 
 he mould produce the whole to the convention, without 
 referve or difguife. 
 
 He fent for the commiiTary Petit- Jean, and, aiTeinbling 
 all the adminiftrators of provifions, &c. he informed them, 
 that he was on the eve of making a great movement, 
 with the army, and in a few days would engage the ene- 
 my ; and he made fuch arrangements with them as were 
 necefTary to his purpofe. He almo'l immediately procu- 
 red provisions for fifteen days, and prepared his travelling 
 hofpital to attend the army. 
 
 The pay-mailer of the army had retired to L'ile, with 
 two millions of Livres in fpecie, and the general wrote 
 to the commandant of Lifle, to fend him back to the army 
 with a ftrong efcort. 
 
 General Dumourier harranged the garrifon at BruiTels, 
 with fuch etfecl, that the different corps demanded leave 
 to follow him againft the enemy. He departed on the eve- 
 ning of the 12th of March, for Louvain. 
 
 Before we enter on the hiftoiy of the military opera- 
 tions that follow, and tint we may not be obliged to in- 
 terrupt them, it will be neceftary to fpeak here of the vifii 
 which the general received at Louvain from the com- 
 ir.iflioners of the National Convention.. When the <Jii~ 
 after befel the army, Camus, Treiihard, Merlin, and Gof~ 
 fuin, retired to the frontiers of France, while L,a Croix 
 and Danton, v/ent to Paris. When the former knew cf 
 the general's arrival from Holland, they proceeded to Lou- 
 to meet him, havin milled him at Bruflels, 
 
 pro- 
 be 
 B'b 
 
 Camus, and Treiihurd complained of the general's pr 
 n^itions, efncciciDv th.U which ordered the filver to 
 
{ 183 ) 
 
 r'eftored to the churches. They told the general that he. 
 ought not to have acled with fuch precipitation, but have 
 waited their ariival, and that it was beyond the bounds 
 'of his authority to interfere with the adminiftration of the 
 civil government. The general anfwcred that the fir ft 
 of all duties was that of attending to the public iafety ; 
 that the convention might be deceived, as indeed they had 
 been, by their emiilaries ; that the who ] e weight of the 
 xvar, the honour of the nation, and the prefervation of 
 the army, refted upon him ; that for theie he was rcfpon- 
 'fible* not orrly to his fuperiors,. but to pcfteiity ; that he 
 had undertaken no meafure inconfiderately, but after the 
 matured deliberation ; that, had they been prefem, lie 
 ihould not have confulted (hem, although he ihould have-, 
 endeavoured to have won them to adt with him, in putting 
 an end to the crimes, which had long opprefled the Bel- 
 gians and di (honoured France ; and, had they oppoled his 
 intentions, he would notvrithft a riding have iflued the prpt 
 clamations. 
 
 He appealed particularly to Camus, who was religious 
 and iuperfHtious, on the proclamation that refpedied the 
 churches. He exprefled his furprife, that a man, who 
 pro fe fled a zeal for religion, mould be the advocate of a 
 iacrilege committed on a people, whom the French con- 
 fidered as allies and friends. Go to the church oj St. Gu- 
 dule, Dumourier laid to him, fee the. hojl trodden under 
 foot, and wafted on the pave?nent ; the altars broken : and 
 paintings, the mafter pieces of art, torn intojhreds ; and 
 juftify ttiefe profanations, or rather own the. nece/fity of 
 funi/liing the agents ^f your criminal orders. IJ the Con- 
 tention applaud theft crimes, if Jhe have no feeling of 
 their enormity, flie is to be pitied ; and, Jldlmore, -my. un- 
 happy country. Know, that if my country cannot be /avtd, 
 without the cammijjion of crimes, .1 will not commit them* 
 But here the crimes of France are ready to : turn upon ker- 
 fij ; and I feme her in endeavouring to dejlroy them. 
 
 Camus obierved the great difficulty there would be Jn 
 reftoring the velTels to the churches, fmce tliey had been 
 broken, to be heaped in cotters- No matter, the general 
 laid ; fines the. metal remains, it will not cojl us muck tt 
 have them remade. 
 
 Camus and Treiljiard perfifled in faying that the gene- 
 raj had failed in refpeit and obedience due to the 
 Convention. Merlin and Gofluin, more reafonable, 
 Jhat the gen-etal's conduct had been juft. 
 
 and 
 
{ -83 ) 
 
 nd a violent altercation arofe between the two pat- 
 'ties. Camus faid, that it was a duty he muft not de- 
 cline, to report the general's conduct, to the convention. 
 The general exhorted him to do fo, and (aid that he had 
 already, himfelf rendered an account of ,his conduct. 
 The general produced his letter of the I2th, which be- 
 came a new iubjcdl of contention. 
 
 It was during this interview that Camus, the mod iraf- 
 ciblc of mec, laid with an air, partly fmiling, and partly 
 fcrious,General you are acciifednfde/igmng to becomeQ&tdil 
 and I defign to become Brutus. The general an (wered, Dear 
 Camus, neither am I Caefar, or you Brutus, and your 
 threat is ihe bejl affurance 1 have of immortality. 
 
 Thefe commifiioners, after three or four hours conver- 
 iatien with the general, departed the fame night for Bruf- 
 feU. Camus was faithful to kis promife. He drew up 
 his report to the Convention, with all the bitternefs of a 
 perfidious and malignant mind ; and, thenceforth, he be- 
 came the decided enemy of Dumourier. 
 
 The general, on his part, returned to the confederation 
 of the means left him to repair the faults of his officers, 
 and to reftore vigour to an army that no longer poffcffed 
 the fpirit which conducted them in the former campaign. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 State of the army. Its fofition. Tim General's or-' 
 ders to the different divijions. He refolves to give 
 battle to the enemy. 
 
 THE troops appeared to refume all their courage at 
 the fight of their general. Joy and confidence (hone in 
 the eyes of the foldiers. They embraced the general. 
 They called him their father. They difcovered ihame 
 and forrow for their difgrace, and loudly demanded to b 
 led againft the enemy. 
 
 Dumourier reproached them with their want of difcj- 
 pline, but above all with their miftruil of generals, who* 
 till this fatal difafter, had conducted them to victory, and 
 who were hrsfcholars and companions. He reprefented 
 , that their impatience, their want of fubojdination, 
 
 Bb 2 
 
and the fatal confequdnces of thefe in their retreat*, had . 
 wrcfted the conqueu of Holland from his hands, and per- 
 haps had determined the fafe of the campaign. They 
 appeared extremely affected by their dil grace, and dif- 
 pofed to repair their faults, on condition that he would 
 net abandon them, but would infhmtly lead them to re- 
 cover their honour. 
 
 This difpofition greatly aided the general in reftorirg 
 order to the army. But he was greatly affifted by Gene- 
 ral Thouvenot, who, with every ether military talent, had 
 that alfo of conciliating the minds of the foldiery, and in- 
 filling order into all the parts of a great army. With 
 great pleafure, Dumourier renders this teftimony of the 
 merit of his friend, who may one day become one of the 
 beft genfcrals in France, if he mould return to the fer- 
 vice of his country, and prejudice do not prevent his ri- 
 fingto the command. 
 
 The army amounted to near forty thoufand infantry, 
 nnd near live thoufand horfe ; and this was exclufive of 
 the garrifons of Belgium : of a divifton of 5000 men (800 
 of whom were horfe) under the orders of General la Mar- 
 liere ; the divifion of Namur, under General d'Harville, 
 conf.ftingof 12,000 infantry, and 1500 cavalry ; and of 
 the corps of the army employed in the expedition againft 
 Holland, which amounted to 18,000 foot, and 2,000 horfe, 
 / after the jun&ion of General de Flers. 
 
 The infantry, confiding of fixty-tv.'o battalions, were 
 formed into four diviftons. The right was formed by 
 General Valence ; the centre by the Duke de Chartres, 
 who at that period, WHS named Egalite ; and the left by 
 General Miranda. Each of thefe divifions confifted of 
 eighteen battalions, and crnou'fited to fcven thoufand men. 
 The refcrvc confining of eight battalions of grenadier.*, 
 commanded by General Chancel, was placed under the 
 orders of the Duke dc Chartres. 
 
 Miranda had under his orders General Minc/infky, 
 who commanded the left flank of the army, confiding of 
 two thoufand infantry, and one thoufand horfe ; and Ge- 
 neral Champmorin, who commanded a body of four thou- 
 fand foot and one thoufand horfe. General Valence had 
 under his orders General Dampierre, who commanded 
 the right flank, conuTtiug of an equal force with that o 
 General Miaczinfky ; and Generel Ncuiily, who com- 
 manded a body of three thoufand foot and one thoufand 
 horfe. 
 
 The 
 
nced guard was compofed cf fix tlioufand 
 tnen, fifteen hundred of which were horfe, commanded 
 by General la Marche. He was an old officer, who had 
 feen a great deal of fervicc, and had been an excellent 
 colonel of HmTurs. He w *s forward to undertake an en- 
 ferprife, but eafily difcoura'ged. He was aiTiiled by two 
 excellent officers, although they were very young, who 
 conn felled him with great fucceis, when he would differ 
 himfelf to he counfelled. Thefe were Colonel Montjoye, 
 who wasadjutant-general, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barois, 
 who commanded the horfe aitillery. But the ill-health 
 of this old general, ajnd ftill more his want of capacity, 
 rendered hirn very dangerous. 
 
 The rapidity with which in this war, officers role to the 
 higheft rank in the army, inverted the order of every 
 thing. The corps and regiments loft officers that com- 
 manded them with effect, arid the army acquired inexpe- 
 rienced generals. Yet the army was really in want of 
 generals. At this period it had no more than five lieu- 
 tenant-generals, and twelve major-generals, fix of which 
 commanded detached corps : fo that h e were but fix re- 
 maining to command in the line. 
 
 When general Dumourier arrived at Louvain, on the 
 morning of the I3th, he found that the three divifionsof 
 his infantry were encamped on the heights behind Lou- 
 vain, having the canal of JVIalines in front. The referve, 
 with a fmall body of horfe, was at the diftance of two 
 leagues, beyond Bauterfem ,* and the advanced guard at 
 more than two leagues beyond the referve, at Cumptich, 
 having a fmall force of four hundred men in Tirlemont. 
 
 The enemy advanced and occupied all the villages 
 between Tirlemont and Tongres. The defign of the 
 enemy was to turn our right on the iGlh ; and if that 
 had been executed on the icth or J4th, the advanced 
 guarc} would have fallen back on the referve, and the 
 referve on the main body, and the whole army would 
 have been defeated and difperled, having no known 
 point at which to rally. 
 
 On the I4th Dumourier vifited his advanced guard ; 
 and he infhntly ordered feveral movements, by which 
 the pofition of his army was mych more firm and fecure r 
 He placed General Dampierre, with the troops under his 
 command, at Hougaerde to the right of Cumptich, and 
 ordered General Neuiliy to advance from Judoigne to 
 
Lumm-en, in order to flrengthen this right wtng of th# 
 army, and to extend the line beyond that of the enemy. 
 He commanded General Miacziniky to take a pofition 
 to the left, between Died: and Tirlemont, on the fide of 
 Halen, and having the river Gette in front of him* He 
 ordered General Champmorin to occupy Died, with his 
 divifion. This general, having informed him that Died 
 \vas a fmall city with walls, which might be made a 
 ftrong port, Dumouriei" ordered him to add as much as- 
 poffiblc to its ftrength, and to leave in it two battalions 
 and fifty horfe, when he mould receive orders to march 
 forward with his troops. 
 
 He commanded General la Mariiere to leave a fmali 
 body of troops at Aerfchette, in order to keep open the 
 communication with Dieit ; and to proceed with the reft 
 of his troops to Liers to overawe the country of Cam- 
 pine, to check the Vruffian column who might advancer 
 in that quarter, and to cover the retreat of the army f 
 Holland, whom Dumourier concluded had abandoned 
 the project of paffing to Dort, and which indeed was the 
 cafe. 
 
 He fent orders to General de Flers to throw rnmfelf 
 with all poffible difpatch into Breda ; to fend Colonel 
 Tilly to Gertruydenberg, with the garrifons named in 
 the orders, and to fend back the remainder of that army 
 to the lines of Antwerp, to be placed under the orders 
 of General MaraiTe. Dumourier ordered Colonel Wef- 
 terrnann to take poll: at Turnhout, with the gendarmerie 
 and the legion of the north, in order to protect this re- 
 treat, to check the enemy in that quarter, and to keep 
 open the communication with General la Mariiere, and 
 by his divifion, with the grand army. 
 
 On the morning of the 15111 of March, the advanced 
 guard, of the enemy attacked Tirlemont, and the 400 
 men who were polled there fell back, without engaging 
 but with a lofs, having fufFered thernfelves to be fur- 
 prifed. General Dampierre, accuilomed to retreats, 
 took upon him, on hearing the firing at a diftance, to 
 abandon his pott of Hougaerdc, where he guarded one 
 f the pafTages of the Gette, and fell back upon Lou- 
 vain, at the fame time prdcring General Neuilly to re- 
 tire on his fide to Judoigne. Dumourier had not time to 
 examine whether it were fear or treachery which caufed 
 this dangerous movement on his right. Had it been 
 known to the enemy, the French army might have been 
 
 overthrown 
 
overthrown. Dumourier contented liimfelf with repair- 
 ing this fault, which was io much the more weighty, a's 
 it accuftomed the troops to give way on the firft appear- 
 ance of danger ; and on the lame night he cauicd thefe 
 two di/ifions to' return to their former poits* 
 
 It was very fingular, that on the left General Miao 
 zinfky committed the fame fault, and withdrew into the 
 wood near Louvain, and was not to be found for two 
 days. But the pofition he had quitted was occupied by 
 the body of troops under General Champmorin, whom 
 the General ordered on the i^th to proceed with the 
 greateft difpateh to occupy the heights of Oplintcr, on 
 the left of Tirlemont. Champmorin took that pofition 
 on the evening of the i6th. 
 
 Fortunately the enemy, who had fixed the i6th for 
 their march, discovered nothing of the retrograde move- 
 ments of the j 5th, and were not prepared to profit by 
 them. On the fame day, the General advanced with the 
 whole of his army beyond Bauterfem and near to Cuinp- 
 *ich, to prepare for his revenge on the following day, and 
 not to leave the enemy the advantage they had gained. 
 It was abfolutely neceflary for him to take Tirlemont ; 
 fince., otherwife, he mud have fallen back, and again 
 have fubje&ed his troops to be difcouraged and terrified. 
 
 The Imperialifts, with a confiderable advanced guard, 
 occupied Tirlemont, and the fpace lying: between the 
 two Gettes, from the caufeway of St. Trcn, to thp 
 ground oppofite the pod of Hougacrde. 
 
 On the morning of the i6th, the General made a 
 vigorous a-ttack upon the Imperialifts. As the heights 
 of Oplinter commanded the high read of St. Trcn, 
 when the General had made himfelf mailer of Tirle- 
 mont, (which he gained after fome refinance) the Im- 
 perialifts finding their right flanked by the troops under 
 Miranda on the heights of Oplinter, made a precipitate 
 march, to pafs a fmall arm of the Gette, to retire to thp 
 heights of Neerlanden, Nerwinde,. Middlewinde and 
 Qberwinde. 
 
 Between the two Gettes, at a league and a half on 
 the right beyond Tirlemont., was a village n^med Gotz- 
 cnhoven, which Commanded the whole plain. It flood 
 on a fmall hill ; having hedges along the front, and 
 pitches filled with water on the right and in the rear. 
 
 The Irnperialifls did not appear to" perceive the import 
 .tance of this poft, till Dumourier ha.d f^nt QeneraJ la 
 
Mm the, with his advanced guard, fupported with cannon,- 
 to take pofleffion of it. At that time the Imperialists were 
 ilill in polTeffion of the two villages of Meer and Hatten- 
 dover, and Dumoiuier caufed thele to be attacked by his 
 colufnns as quickly as they could form after filing thro' 
 Tirlemont. The Imperialifts committed a great error 
 in not occupying Gotzsnhoven in fufikient force, as that 
 poft might have defended, or might have laid in aihes ? 
 the two villages of Meer and Hattendover. The Impe- 
 riaiitls collected a ftrong body of infantry and hpife, to 
 endeavour to diilodgc the French from Gotzenhoven. ? 
 They performed prodigies of valour in this attack, Al- 
 though without iuccefs. '1 he cuirailiers charged the 
 French infantry with the greateft intrepidity, even a- 
 iiiGue; the very hedges of the village, and their lofs was 
 very great. The attack was recommenced feveral times. 
 The enemy attempted in vain to turn Gotzenhoven on 
 {he right, for General Neuiliy, having palled the gi eater 
 Gette at Dummen, had opportunely arrived in this quar- 
 ter, with his divifion to take the pofition of Neerhelyf- 
 fen. The engagement did not finifn till four o'clock in 
 the afternoon, when the Imperialifis Were in full retreat. 
 It lafted at leaft eight hours between the advanced guards 
 of the Irnperialifts and the French, which were nearly 
 of equal force, and were both of them fupported by the 
 main bodies of their refpective armies. The lofs of the 
 Imperialifis was much greater than that of the French. 
 The advantage remained with the latter, but they were 
 pn the point of lonng their geperal at the attack of GoU- 
 pnhoven. 
 
 Tiiis engagement, which cofl the Impeiialiils mere 
 than 1 200 men, entirely reftored the courage of the 
 French trpops. Dumouiier formed his army into two 
 divifions, extending from Gotzenlioven tq4he highroad, 
 among the villages, which had been the field of battle. 
 General Neuiliy, fhtionect near Neerhelyflen fupported 
 ?IiC right. General Dampierre, having arrived on the 
 evening of the engagement, was.ppfkd at Kfemael, in 
 front of the centre. General Miac.zinfky arriving with 
 his cavalry (his infantry confiding of eight battalions 
 being left near Louvain, was pofied at the bridge of the 
 Jefier Gette, oppofite to'Orfmael.. A part of the divi- 
 iion of General Miranda remained behind the grea& 
 Gette, to the left of Tirlemont, extending to Oplinter : 
 : ; v-hich l-ift p'ace General jfhanipmprin arrive^ \vTth 
 his troops duiing the night. /ittcv 
 
After this firft fuccefs, Dumourier faw that it was He- 
 Ciliary to take a decifive ftep. Troops were continually 
 on their march to reinforce the Imperialifts, and the 
 French army had very inconiiderabio or no reinforce- 
 ments to expect. The Imperial cavalry was double the 
 number of that of the French, and in every refpec~t 
 greatly fuperior. It was impcffible for the French to 
 coti'end with a difciplined army, for the pofTeffion of the 
 Netherlands, foot by foot ; being in want of generals, 
 incapab'e of executing prompt marches of bold impor- 
 tant manoeuvres, in face of a numerous and experienced 
 cavalry, and having behind them no ftrong and fortified 
 places. 
 
 There xvas, however* a neceflity for flopping the 
 progrefs of the enemy, which could not be done without 
 hazarding a battle. Under thefe circumftances found 
 and true prudence called on Dumourier to rifk every 
 thing, before the Prince of Cobourg ihould have received 
 the remainder of the reinforcements for which he waited 
 to begin the campaign* The two armies were of equal 
 force. That which mould attack would have the advan- 
 tage in fpirit and confidence, which always belong to the 
 party beginning the attack. This advantage had, during 
 fifteen days, been in the hands of the Prince of Co- 
 bourg j but General Dumourier had regained it by the 
 iffue of the engagement of Tirlemont. 
 
 If General Damourier (hould have the good fortune to 
 ain a decifive battle and fuch he refolved this to be, his 
 fituation would be entirely changed : for firft, it would 
 reftore him in the opinion of his army to his former fape- 
 riority, and would intimidate the enemy ; fecondly, it 
 would have fecured the Belgians in his intereft, and 
 would have greatly forwarded the levies of twenty-five 
 battalions which the nation had undertaken, and fo 
 would have ftrengthened his army by the acquifition of 
 twenty thoufand infantry, at the leaft ; thirdly, lie wouldf 
 have regained the ground loft on the fide of Liege, for 
 the Auurians would not have been able to have held that 
 city, nor even Aix-la-chapelle. and would have been 
 compelled to have intrenched themfelves under the protec- 
 tion of Maeftricht ,* and lailly, it would have compelled 
 the Prince of Cobourg to have repafTed the Meufe, and 
 would have fo greatly weakened his army, as to prevent 
 hi retaking the field before the month cf May. 
 
 Cc General 
 
General Dumouner's clefign was, in cafe of fuc<Teis> 
 fo have formed an entrenched camp, in a ftrong potition, 
 between the two Gettes, under the command of General 
 Valence, who in that fituation might have watched the 
 enernv ard might have received the different reinforce- 
 ments arriving from France and Belgium ; while Gene- 
 ral d'Harville might have been equally reinforced on the 
 fide of Namur. General Valence would have been 
 mailer of the country, and would have held the Prince 
 of Cobouig in check, Miranda would have been polled 
 with an army at Antwerp, and General Dumourier ad- 
 vancing with 30,000 men, againil Bois-le-duc, would 
 have relumed his project againil Holland, and would a-t 
 once have forced the paffages of the Moor Dyke, and 
 Gorcurn. But if he couid not have penetrated into Hol- 
 land, he might at leaft have made hinifelf mailer of 
 Dutch Flanders, by which means he would have cover- 
 ed his left, and would have procured arms, clothing, 
 money, and pro-vitions. 
 
 In that cafe, he would have been independent of the 
 National Convention, and probably might have been 
 able to give it law r for the repofe of his unhappy country, 
 for the avenging of Lewis XVI. and for the rc-eftablifh- 
 ing of the Co-nilitational Monarchy. 
 
 On the contrary, ihould the general be defeated, lie 
 defigned, in the iiift place, to take a petition behind the 
 canal of Louvain, in order for a while to cover Biuffels, 
 a ;d to reinforce his army ; fecondly, to maintain the 
 petition of Namur r raiting the corps of General d'Har- 
 ville to the amount of 25,000 men, and to place the 
 clivition of General Neuilly at Judoigne, to cover 
 Dumourier's retreat by the foreft of Soignics, for the 
 purpofe of fupporting BruHels ; thirdly, to affemble a 
 body of 25.000 men near Antwerp, and, Ail! holding 
 Breda and Gertruydenberg, to keep the communication 
 open to theie places bv means of the polls of Lieis and 
 Dieft ; fourthly, to affemble a body ef 14 or i ^,000 men 
 on the fide of Bruges, to cover Maritime Flanders ; 
 tiftly, to negotiate with the Imperialists for a fufpenfion 
 of arms, and mean while to endeavour to convince tin 
 troops in the different camps, that their want of fubordi- 
 nation, together with the difafters refulting from it, was 
 one erFecl of the abfurd government of the convention, 
 hat it was high time to put an end to the anarchy which 
 
 would 
 
would otherwife caufe the entire ruin of France, and 
 that on the army alone retted the hopes and fate of the 
 Country. When , the minds of the troops fhould have 
 been fufficiently prepared, his next defign was to rein- 
 force the army with battalions of Belgians, who held the 
 Convention and Jacobins in abhorrence, to declare open- 
 ly in favour of a limited Monarchy, to lay hold of hofta- 
 ges for the fecurity of the prifoners in the Temple, and 
 to march to Paris. 
 
 Thefc were General Dumourier's objects previous to 
 the battle of Nerwinde, and it will be feen how urgent 
 his motives were for rifking a decifive battle, and for 
 tiling every effort to gain the vi&ory. He never had 
 the bafeneis to wifh to be beaten. He earneftly ftrove to 
 mailer events. Although he held the Tyrants of France 
 in deteftation, although he viewed with horror the cruel- 
 ties that difhonored France, he was not the iefs folicitous 
 to maintain the honor of his country, and to prove him- 
 felf worthy of her confidence. In every cafe, and in 
 every moment till the laft, the end of his meafures was 
 to prevent a foe from giving law to France, arid to fave 
 his country from infult or injury, and it is this which 
 has drawn upon him the ill founded reproach, from rnif- 
 informed perfons, and in particular from the Elec^oiveff 
 Cologne, o-f having changed his party only when he was 
 vanquifhed. 
 
 Had he not previous to the lofs of the battle of Ner- 
 winde openly declared his hoftility to the Jacobins by his 
 proclamations at Antwerp and Bruflels V Had he nor 
 impriibned or driven out of the country the rapacious 
 agents of the Convention ? Had he not written his letter 
 of the 1 2th of March ? Had he not compelled the filver 
 of the churches to be reftorcd V Had not his correfpond- 
 ence with Pache, Bournonville and Le Brun, (which 
 was printed and which appeared alfo in the Monitors of 
 March and April) declared the firmed truths and the 
 freeft opinions , refpeiting the authors of the miferies of 
 France. If in thofe he did not fpeak of the royal family, 
 it was that he feared his mention ot them would become 
 a fignal for their death. 
 
 He who reads thefe Memoirs, antl calls to remem- 
 brance the circ.unflances and the public documents of 
 thofe times, will fee that the opinions of General Du- 
 mourier have been confiftent. He has been the zealous 
 defender of his country. Her enemies have been his 
 C c 2 enemies. 
 
nviesj but the war he has made upon them has been 
 open and generous ; for his love of his country was nei- 
 ther fanatical, unjuft, nor favage. The Emigrants, by 
 whom he is detefted as greatly as by the Jacobins, have, 
 on all occafions, found him humane and liberal. In a 
 war, differing from all others in character, a war of 
 opinion, in which infLbility of principles and conduct 
 might find excufe, he has no Ihifting of opinion where- 
 with to reproach himfelf, no perfidy, no cruelty, no in- 
 folence in fuccefs, nor weaknefs in misfortune and dif- 
 grace. In a word, moved only by humanity, he re- 
 flared the Netherlands to the Emperor, as was acknow- 
 ledged by the Archduke Charles, by the Emperor's 3VII- 
 nifters and Generals, by his army, and by the people 
 of the country. Nor did he make conditions or icierves 
 for himfelf. He did not di-marid an afylum in the Fm- 
 peror's dominions. He demanded nothing of the Prince 
 of Cobourg but his marching to Paris, with the object, 
 and in the hope, of delivering his country. 
 
 Bafely mifreprefentcd to the emperor, denied a place 
 of fafety in the Emperor's dominions, which ought to 
 have been free to him, though all others had been fhut 
 sgainft him, he expects juftice from time, which unveils 
 the truth ,* and confoles himfelf in faying with Valerius 
 
 Maximus, -Perfecla ars, Joriunae Icnocinio defefla^ 
 
 fiducia jiifta non exuiler, quamque fc.ii fe laudem meteri, 
 'tarn ft/i ab alns. non impdrat, domeftico t$mcn 
 
 C II A P. VI, 
 
 Battle of Nerwindt. 
 
 THE Prince of Cobourg advanced between Tori- 
 gres, St. Tron, and Landen ; and the two armies were 
 in fight of each other. General Dumourier pa fled the 
 day of the i^th in reconnoitring the pofition of the ene- 
 my, in forming his troops in order of battle, and in pre- 
 paring his plan of attack. lie had, in his front, the 
 J^efTer Gette, which rifes in the townfhip of Jaudrain, 
 and runs almoll parallel with the greater Gette, into 
 
 which 
 
( '93 ) 
 
 which it falls below Leaw. This river ran between the 
 two armies. Both fides of the river were extremely hil- 
 ly ; and the ground, on the fide occupied by the Irrpe- 
 /ialills, formed an amphitheatre rifirig from the liver to 
 the more elevated fituations of Landen and St. Tron. 
 
 Dumouricr judged that the pofition of the Prince of 
 Cobourg was by much the ftrongeft on the fide i-i Ton- 
 gres and St. Tron; becaufe of the neceility of his draw- 
 ing his provifions from Maeitricht and I : 
 confequentiy his left, which was co:i! n " 
 
 on the fide of "Landen, mull be me: -- 
 
 liable to be turned, or broken. 
 
 Dumourier knew alfo, tl <. Prtnceof C 
 neglected to occupy the i'.L^c city of J aa\v 
 a very important poft, and which mu.Ui eitbei s a 
 
 centre to the motions of the army making t;,e aUac , ? or 
 a point of refiftance for the army that mould be ;/ 
 tacked. 
 
 In the front of that part of the enemy's line, which 
 extended from Landen towards Leaw, were the three 
 villages of Oberwinde, Middlewinde, and Nerwinde. 
 Near Middlewinde was an eminence, called the Tomb 
 of Middlewinde, which commanded the three villages, 
 and a valley which feparates them from the city of Lan- 
 den. He, therefore, who fhould occupy this place, 
 mud be mafter of all the plain, and muil neceffarily, in 
 cafe of an attack, repulfe his enemy. 
 
 On thefe fads, Dumourier laid down his plan for the, 
 battle, which was as follows : The firft column, forrn~ 
 ing the right flank of the army, compofed of the advanced 
 guard, under General la Marche, proceeding by the 
 bridge of Neerhellyilen, was to enter the plain 
 between Landen and Oberwinde ; and to extend itielf 
 beyond the left of the enemy, in order to harrafs that 
 flank. The fecond column, conipofed of the infantry of 
 the army of the Ardennes, commanded by Lieutenant- 
 general le Veneur, and fupported by a ftrong body of 
 cavalry, entering the plain by the fame bridge, was to 
 gain the Tomb of Middlewinde by a rapid movement, and 
 to attack the village of Obenvinde, which could not 
 withiland a di (charge of 12 pounders that were to be 
 planted on the Tomb. And while this attack Ihould take 
 place, the third column under the command of General 
 Netiilly, entering the plain alfo by the fame bridg, waes 
 to fail on the right of the village of Nerwinde. 
 
 Thefc 
 
( '94 ) 
 
 Thcfe three columns formed the right Wing of the 
 srmy, commanded by General Valence, who, in cai'd 
 of fuccefs, wheeling to the left, and driving the left 
 wing of the enemy before him, was to continue his 
 march in order of battle, leaving Landen behind him, and 
 having his front facing St. Tron. 
 
 The centre, commanded by the Duke de Chartres, 
 was compofed of two columns. The firfr, (which was 
 the fourth column in the order of attack) commanded 
 by lieutenant-general Dietman, palling the river by the 
 bridge of Laer, and rapidly croffing the village of the 
 fame name, which was only occupied by a few indiffe- 
 rent troops belonging to the 1 m per ia lifts, was to prefs 
 forward, and fall directly upon the front of the village 
 of Nerwinde. The fifth column, commanded by Gen. 
 Dampierre, was to pafs by the bridge of Efemael, and 
 to attack the left of Nerwinde. Thefe two columns 
 were afterward to follow the right wing, forming a dia- 
 gonal line with the point of their departure. 
 
 The left wing, under the command of General Mi- 
 randa, was compofed of three columns. The firfr (be- 
 ing the fixth in the order of attack) under General Mi- 
 aczinfky, pafling the river at Over-helpen, was to charge 
 ftraight forward proceeding toward Neerlanden, but be- 
 ing careful never to prefs beyond the head of the fifth 
 column. The feventh column, under General Rualt, 
 was to pafs the river at the bridge of Orfmael, and en- 
 fl^ge the enemy by the high road of St. Tron. The 
 eighth column, under Gen.Champmorin, was to pafs the 
 river below Neerlinter, at the bridge of Bingen, and to 
 throw itfelf into the Leaw, which it was to occupy till 
 the end of the battle. 
 
 In cafe of complete fuccefs, the army at the end of 
 the action would be rarrged in order of battle, with the 
 left wing at Leaw, and the right at St. Tron, and having 
 its front toward Tongres : which was the only point by 
 which the Imperialisms could retreat; And batteries were 
 erected on the banks of the Gette, within reach of the 
 bridges, to protect the retreat of the columns, in cafe of 
 their being repulfed. 
 
 On the morning of the i8th of March, between feven 
 and eight o'clock, the feveral columns began to move in 
 the fame inftant, in great order, and pa (Ted the river 
 without cbfhcle. General la Marche committed the firft 
 rrror of that day. He entered the plain of Landen ac- 
 cording 
 
r 195 ) 
 
 Cording to his inftruclions, but finding no enemy there, 
 he made a movement to the left, to tali upon the village 
 of Ooerwinde, and thence was thrown into confufion by 
 the fecond column. Although the troops of the fecond 
 column were retarded in their march by their artillery, 
 yet they attacked the village of Oberwinde, and the 
 Tomb of Midldewinde, with fuch vigour v that by ten 
 
 o'clock they had carried thole ports. But General 
 
 Je Veneur did not take iuiiicient precautions to 
 
 ftrengthon himfelf in the latter poll. 1*, was ibcn 
 
 after re-taken by the Auilrians, and the poiTeffion of it 
 difputed the whole day. General Neuiily brilkly en- 
 tered Nerwinde with the third column, and drov* out the 
 Imperialifts ; but, almoft immediately abandoning the 
 village, he advanced into the plain toward the 
 iecoud column. General Neuiily alTerted, that he re- 
 ceived an order to that effect fiom General Valence, who 
 on his hde declared, it was a mifunderftanding of Gen. 
 Neuiily. 
 
 In a fhort time, the Imperialifts re-entered Nerwinde; 
 from which they were again driven, by the fourth and 
 iifth columns, under the command of the Duke de Char- 
 tres. In this attack General Desforets, an excellent of- 
 ficer, received a wound in the head with a mufquet-bali. 
 This part ot the army fell into confufion. The infantry 
 crowded in too great numbers into the village, and were 
 in fuch complete disorder, that on the appearance of a 
 fecond attack from the enemy they abandoned the place. 
 
 General Dumourier arriving in this moment, caufefl 
 the village to be once move attacked. It was again car- 
 ried ; but the troops prefently quitted the village again, 
 and all the efforts of Gen. Dnrnourier prevailed no fttf- 
 ther than to rally them at a hundred paces from Nerwinde, 
 which was filled with the d-ead and wounded cf the two 
 parties. But the Imperialitls did not re-enter the vil- 
 lage until the eveuiu^. 
 
 It was during the diibrder in this quarter, that the Im- 
 perial cavalry rufhing into the plain between Nerwinde, 
 and Middlewiude, charged the French cavalry ; at the 
 head of which was General Valence, who fought with 
 great intrepidity, was wounded, and obliged to retire 
 from the field of battle to Tirlemont. The Imperial 
 horfe were, however, repulfed with great {laughter. 
 
 While the horfe were thus engaged, another body of 
 cavalry entered the plain on the left of Nerwinde, ;;qd 
 
 threw 
 
( '96 ) 
 
 threw thernfelves with great fury r.pon the infantry of the" 
 fourth column. General Thouvenot, who was at the 
 head of that column, opened his /anks to the Imperial 
 horie, and immediately cauied the regiment of Deux- 
 ponts to make fo timely and \veli-clirccted a discharge of 
 grape-fhot and muiquetrv upon that body cf horie, that 
 almoft the whole of it was defiroyed. 
 
 From that inilant, the fate of the battle feemed deter- 
 mined in favour of the French, on their il^ht and in 
 the centre* The troops were again in perfect order, 
 were full of confidence and courage, and pa fled the night 
 on the field of battle, preparing to complete their victory 
 the following morning. The irnperiaiiits have acknow- 
 ledged that they were on the point of retreating, and that 
 orders had been actually given to their baggage to retire 
 to Torigres* 
 
 But it was quite cthettvife with the French troops on 
 the left. The fixth and leventh columns had attacked 
 the enemy with great vigour ; but, when they were al- 
 ready matters of Orfmacl, a panic feized upon the batta- 
 lions of Volunteers, ar,d they fled, leaving the tioops of 
 the line expofed. The Imperialifts> feeing the diforder, 
 charged the two columns with their horie, which put it 
 entirely to the rout. Guifcard, Major-general of the 
 artillery, was killed, as well as great numbers of the 
 Aids-dc-camp and officers of the ftafF; and General 
 Kuault and General Ihlerwere wounded. 
 
 Still, however, great opportunity remained of reftor- 
 in the fortune of the day in that quarter. It was not 
 more'than t\vo o'clock in the afternoon, when the co- 
 lumns ('led. They repaiTed the bridge of Orfmacl, and 
 were not purfucd further by the Imperial ifts. At that 
 moment, General Miranda was informed, that the eight 
 battalions of Miaczinfliy's corps v. ere arrived at Tirle^ 
 tnont. Thefe troops were quite freih, and General Mi- 
 randa might have reinforced himfeif, by placing them on 
 the heights of Wommerfem, on the fide of the Gette next 
 Tirlemont. But General Miranda, eitlier being difcon- 
 ccrted, or, which is more probable, feeing the iucccfs of 
 the right wing, commanded by his rival General Va- 
 lence, he yielded to his rcfentmcnt, and refolving to fa- 
 crifice him, ordered his troops to retreat ; and retired be- 
 hind Tiriemont, at more than two leagues diftam:e from 
 the field of battle. Whatever be the cafe, his conduct 
 was perfidious in fending no advice of. his retreat to Ge- 
 neral 
 
Trerai Dntr curler, which expofed the riglit and centre of 
 the army to the whole weight of the enemy. But the 
 enemy did not avail themleives of this cowardly retreat ; 
 either to cut o(f the left wing, which they might have 
 compleatly done by continuing the purfuit to Tirlemonf, 
 or to renew the attack upon the centre and the right, 
 whole flank was entirely expofed to them. 
 
 Genera! Champmorin, who had made himfelf mjfler of 
 Lcavv, and had remained in that pofition, till he faw the 
 retreat of General Miranda, did not abandon it till Jate in 
 the day, when he repafled the river by the bridge of Bin- 
 gen, which he cut down after him, and returned to his 
 former pofition of Oplinter. And, perhaps, it was owing 
 to the pofleffion of this ppft at Leaw, that the Imperialifts 
 did noi purfue theii advantage againft the left wing of the 
 French, on the retreat of Miranda ; fince, in that cafe, 
 General Champmorin might have taken their right in 
 flank. 
 
 General Dumourier patted the whole time of action in 
 regarding the movements of his centre and right wing, in 
 re-eftabiifhing order in the different parts that gave way, 
 and enfuring luccefs in that quarter, which was the more 
 elVential, as it was charged with the whole weight of the 
 manoeuvres. At two in the afternoon, he obferved that 
 the firing on his left, which till then had been very brifk, 
 had ceafed ; but he attributed this filence to fuccefs. 
 The nature of the ground prevented his feeing the fixth 
 and feventh columns ; and, during the firing of thefe co- 
 lumns, he could perceive they were advancing forward. 
 He had, therefore, reafon to fuppofc that, the enemy, be- 
 ing driven in that quarter, had halted, that they might 
 not over-run the head of the columns on their right. But 
 no circumftances could lead him to conjecture the incredi- 
 ble retreat of General Miranda : and he was, perhaps, 
 happy in being ignorant of it, while he was repairing the 
 disorders of his right and centre. 
 
 Towards the clofe of the day, he obferved, that feveral 
 columns of the Imperialifts moved from their right to re- 
 inforce their left, which led him to lufpeft. the truth ; but, 
 it was as yet only fufpicion, having received no meflage 
 from General Miranda. In this iituation, he pafled the 
 greater part of the evening before the village of Nerwinde. 
 At length, his fufpicions, which he had communicated to 
 no other perfon than General Thouvenot, were fucceeded 
 
 by 
 Dd 
 
{ 193 ) 
 
 by the livelleft inquietude. He departed for his Icft^ ac- 
 companied by General Thouvenot, two aids-de-camp, 
 and two domeflics. Arriving at the village of Laer, at 
 ten at night, he was utterly aftoniihed to find that it had 
 been abanded by order of General Dampierre, who after 
 conducting himielf with great valour during trie engage- 
 ment, had in the clofe of the evening without orders re- 
 paiTcd the Gette with his divifion, and retired to his for- 
 mer pofition at the village of Efemael. 
 
 General Dumourier, continuing his route, arrived near 
 the bridge of Oriinael, which he fuppoled to be occupied 
 by Miranda's troops, but found it was in the poffeiiion of 
 th- Auftrian Hulans, by whom he was on the point ot 
 being taken. He turned back ; and proceeded, by the 
 high road of Tongrcs, and Tirlemont : aftonifhed with 
 the filence and folitude that reigned around him, till he 
 arrived within half a league of that city. He then learnt 
 from three or four battalions, that were fcattered in diior- 
 der, without cavalry, along the fide of the highroad, the 
 difafter and difgrace of his left wing. 
 
 In Tirlemont, he found General Miranda writing to his 
 friends with great compoiure. General Valence had al- 
 ready ufed every effort to induce Miranda to return to the 
 attack, alluring him that the French were victorious on 
 their right, and in the centre ; and that, by his return, 
 fucccfs would be altogether infured. General Dumourier 
 commanded him, in very feverc terms, to affemble his 
 troops immediately, even during the night, and to poft 
 them on the heights of Wommerfem, on the high road, 
 and on the bridge of Orfmael, as well as that of Neer- 
 helpen, for the purpofe of, at leaft, fecuring the paflage of 
 the Gette, and the retreat of the right and centre, now 
 in the midft: of the enemy's army, with a river behind 
 them. 
 
 Such was the fate of the battle of Nerwinde ; which had 
 been entirely fuccefsfal on the part of the French, if Ge- 
 neral Miranda, inftead of retreating, on perceiving the 
 firft diforder in his two columns, had lined the Gette with 
 his troops, and had maintained the two bridges of Orf- 
 mael and Neerhelpcn. This retreat was the more unfor- 
 tunate, as the two columns loft abovp two thoufand men, 
 while the reft of the army did not lofe more than fix 
 hundred men. The French had about three thoufand 
 killed or taken, and more than a thoufand wounded, and 
 loft great part of their cannon. 
 
 In 
 
( 199 ) 
 
 In this engagement faults were committed on both fides. 
 The French did not attack the town of Middlewinde, 
 which was the decifive point of the adtion, with fufficient 
 vigour, and afterward abandoned that port without any vi~ 
 fible neceflity. General Neuilly, after the tirft fucccfs, 
 put every thing to hazard, by abandoning the village of 
 Nerwinde, on an uncertain order. Miranda, having al- 
 ready made himfelf matter of the village of Orfmael, turn- 
 ed the fate of the day, by yielding to the terror of his 
 troops, and commanding a retreat that became an abfolute 
 flight. 
 
 The Imperialifts committed feveral errors : in not'dii- 
 puting the paffage of the Gette ; in not falling upon the 
 three columns of the right, bothin front and in flank, while 
 they xvere marching forward to the attack, and were ex- 
 pofed to the fire of the villages of Laer, of Nerwinde, Mid- 
 dlewinde, and Oberwinde ; in abandoning the elevated 
 and advantageous poll of the tomb of Middlewinde, and 
 in not creeling a battery on it previous to the engage- 
 ment ; in neglecting to occupy Le. t w, on their right ; 
 and, finally, in not having availed themfclves of Miran- 
 da's retreat, either in falling upon his troops, or attacking 
 the left flank of the columns belonging to the centre of 
 the French army, that were in the heat of the a&ion be- 
 fore Nerwinde, by the whole of their right wing which 
 po longer had an enemy in front of theirs. 
 
 C H A P. VII, 
 
 Retreat of the iqth of March. Action of Gotzcnkovw. 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER now faw the neceffity of 
 fecuring his retreat. The pott ofLeavv, on which the 
 poilefFion of the field of battle depended, was abandoned 
 by his troops ; and, in the difrnay which had icized upon 
 the other two columns of his left wing, the mofl he could 
 hope was to lead them back to the banks of the Letter Gerte; 
 to induce them to pals the river, and to return to the ficlcj 
 of battle, was impoffible. Thefe two columns had loft 
 part pf .tlieir cannon in the flight ; the Generals, and fu- 
 
 rciior 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 pcrior officers of thefe troops, \vcre in no condition to 
 undergo a frcfh combat ; and, independent of the real loi's 
 of i hole columns by the fword of the enemy, more than 
 6000 men had deferted, and were on the road to Brufieis 
 and France. 
 
 Dumouricr palled the remainder of the night in giving 
 orders for the retreat of his centre, and right wing, which 
 was then commanded by the Duke tie Chartres, who con- 
 ducted himfelf with coolncfs, courage, and judgment. 
 
 The Imperialists had in truth gained a great victory , but 
 they were not certain of their fituation. They had been 
 'o difconcerted with the important advantages gained by 
 t'lc right and centre of the French army, that they made no 
 attempt to purfue. their advantage over the left. They 
 ft\v the French full in order of battle and ready to recom- 
 mence the atlion, and they really imagined that the left 
 wing of the French was about to return to its former po- 
 fition. Hence they threw no more obftacleson the French 
 in their retreat, than the day before on their advancing to 
 the attack. 
 
 This retreat was effected in open day-light, the columns 
 repufTing the river in the order in which they advanced, 
 and altogether with the fame ileadinefs. Dumourier lent 
 General Thouvenot to the right, to receive the columns, 
 and place them in the order of battle from Gotzhenhoven 
 to Hcickendower, while he took upon himfelf to aill-mhle 
 thecolumns of the left wing, and to pott them on the heights 
 of Wommerfcm, and at the bridge of Orlrnael. The 
 enemy's troops were already mailer of this bridge ; and 
 Dumourier, to prevent their advancing further on the 
 cauieway, lent orders to General Dampiene, polled at 
 FJemad, to make a movement to the left with half of his 
 divifion, for the purpo.fe of flanking the caufeway, and to 
 maintain that pofition till the centre Ihould have repaiTed 
 the river, and thc<i to retreat llowly to the new pofition 
 th-it the'.- -,jops were taking,with their rightatGotzenhoven, 
 their u-ff at Hackendower, u,,'d having the Letter Gette 
 in their front. 
 
 'Piisordcr, completely executed by General Dampierrc, 
 prviV;; v ,. f j the rn-iiiy from (Miriiciion ; fur the two columns 
 that hail Hed h;.id acquired inch apathy fiom the uiarneof 
 th" pr-"Ci':iiiir dav. and were ib icattcrrd, that it was ten 
 in Jiie mornir.g before Durnourier could form them, ib a% 
 to i- \:\h with good order to take poA at Hackenduwer, 
 oa the r : ght and left of the high road. 
 
The firft column of the Impsrial army had pa fled the 
 bridge ofOrfmael, and had already formed with its artil- 
 lery" in the heights of Wommerfem. But Durnourier 
 could never prevail on his troops to attack that poll, which 
 commanded the ground on which they had formed, altho* 
 they were extremelv harraffed by the artillery on thofe 
 heights, and fuftained this inceflant firinj with unfhaken 
 
 conftancy. 
 
 On this occafion Dumourier had nearV fallen. His 
 horfe was killed under him by a cannon ball. The rea- 
 diijefs with which he recovered from this fituation was the 
 means of preventing new diforder, and probably a fecond 
 flight which this circumftance was on the point of occa- 
 fion ing. 
 
 The troops, which in the action of the preceding day, 
 had fled with fuch precipitation, now endured the terrible 
 difcharge of the Imperiaiifts, with great intrepidity. But 
 in this conduct General Dumourier perceived nothing 
 more than a blind obftinacy, altogether deftitute of the 
 daring courage that he urifhed to excite in them. He ex- 
 horted them to charge with bayonets the enemy on the 
 heights of Wommerfem, and feveral times he put himfelf 
 at their head, without being able to make them advance ; 
 too happy, indeed in feeing them continue firm in their 
 pofition, which was imminently more dangerous than a 
 vigorous attack on thofe troops, who, being feparated 
 from the reft of the Imperial army, and having the river 
 in their rear, might have been totally overthrown. 
 
 The left wing of the Imperialiils betrayed the lame dif- 
 pofition, occasioned by the fame cauie,as that of the French. 
 Thefe troops iufi'ered the right and centre of the French 
 to re pa fs the river without moleftation, and even to range 
 (hemfelvcs in order of battle in thepofnion of Gotzrnhoven, 
 before they could refolve to pafs the river in order to at- 
 tack them. Thus, the whole day pa (Ted on both fides in 
 manoeuvring, with the exception of iome canormading and' 
 difcharge of mufquets. The two armirs relied on their 
 arms, in order of battle, the whole ni^ht, very near to 
 each other. 
 
 This cool and fteady retreat was the more admired by 
 the I in pe rial ills, becaufe the troops did not fall back more 
 than three quarters of a league, and fccined oniv to be re- 
 turning in great order to the ground they occupied before 
 the battle. During the evening of the Jylh, however, Ge- 
 neral Dumourier perceived by ihenpai'iv which pervaded 
 hi.? troops, that, mould he make a fhnd the next morning 
 agamft the enemy, he would be infallibiv beaten. 
 
There has been no period when the French foldiery 
 could be conducted fucceisfully without great regard being 
 paid to their temper and their feelings ; and the importance- 
 of this circumftance, in conducting them to battle, has 
 been eminently heightened by the revolution, \vhich, hav- 
 ing entirely deftroyed military difcipline, has increafcd 
 the force of the intractable and capricious fpirit belong- 
 ing to the national character. The active and impetuous 
 tiiipoiuion of the French is calculated to carry them for- 
 ward to conqueft, and not to preferve conquers. A de- 
 fenfive and methodical war does not diminim their bra- 
 very, but it wearies and contradicts their impatient fpirit. 
 When once wearied and difpirited, the French troops bo 
 ing no longer retrained by the feverity of military laws, 
 abandon their leaders and their colours, and defert with- 
 out the leaft thought of the consequences. 
 
 The troops of the line, (till influenced by a remnant of 
 their former military fpirit, an attachment to their colours, 
 and the fear pfdifgrace, continued firm, and were yet to 
 be relied on by the General ; but the national-guards, 
 compofing three-fourthsof the army, declaring loudly that 
 it was fruitlefs to lavifh their lives in Belgium, and that 
 they oiFght to return and defend their own frontiers, de- 
 parted by whole companies and battalions. To have at- 
 tempted to retain them by force would have been ineffec- 
 tual, as well as dangerous. 
 
 NQ courfe was now left to Dumour'ier but to retreat with 
 the troops, in good order, for the purpofe of concealing 
 their defections, and to prevent their being maflacred by 
 the* Imperialists and the peafantsof the country. In this 
 lad condition the General was conftrained to pafs the 
 Greater Gette during the night, arid to retire to the heights 
 of Cumptich, behind Tirlemont. All his movements for 
 this purpofe, being performed with a prccifion that fcarce- 
 lv could have been expected from more difciplincd, and 
 even victorious troops, were attended with the greateft fuc- 
 cefs. The Imperialifts, deceived by the fires that were 
 carefully kept up, and retrained by the vigour of the rear 
 guard, did not put themfelves in motion till the 2Oth, 
 ivhen they reconnoitred Tirlemont, from which the French 
 had had time to withdraw their magazines. However, 
 General Miaczinikv, who was charged with the evacua- 
 tion of that city, loft one of his cannon by the precipiLi- 
 ?;on of his retreat. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Retreat of the 2Otk and 21 ft of March. Engagement of 
 Necrwelpe "La Croix and Danton at Lo uv am. ~ En- 
 gagement of the 22cl of March* 
 
 DUMOURIER's pofition at Cumptich had the advan- 
 tage of being confiderably elevated above the Gette. In 
 this camp his front faced Tirlemont ; his left was fecured 
 by the river Welpe, which turning ihort ran upon his 
 rear, by Bauterfem .and Wertryk; his right, pofted be- 
 hind Hougaerde, was not fo well defended. The Gene- 
 ral, however, could not maintain himfelf long in this po- 
 fition, nor was it any protection to Louvain if the Impe- 
 rialifts fhould pafs by Dieft ; nor to BruiTels if they fhould 
 turn by Judoigne. He therefore availed himfelf of the 
 2Oth of March, while the enemy were before Tirlemont, 
 to pafs the Welpe, and encamp near Bauterfern, having 
 his right at Op and Neerwelpe, and his left on the heights 
 and in the woods in front of Zuellenberg. 
 
 Fie fent General Neuilly, with his divifion increafed 
 to 6000 men, toward Judoigne, with orders to prevent de- 
 tachments ofthe Imperialifts from penetrating on that fide, 
 to watch their motions, and, if they mould appear with a 
 force greatly fuperior, to fall back to Bruflcls by the forcft 
 of Soignies. Dumourier gave General Neuilly inftructions 
 refpefting the means of defending this foreft, and wrote 
 to General Duval, to reinforce Neuilly with as many men 
 as he could fpare from the garrifon of Brutlels, and the 
 new levies which might arrive there. He alfo ordered 
 Genera] Duval to arreft the deferters and fend them back 
 to his army. 
 
 He commanded General d'Hartille to place a garrifon 
 of 2,500 men in the citadel of Namur, and to hold himfelf 
 in readincfs to inarch with the remainder of his troops, 
 cither toward BrufTels, or in fuch other direction as mould 
 be neceflary by the motions of General Beaulieu, who 
 was advancing with 8000 or 10,000 men bv the route of 
 Huy 
 
 fteM 
 
Dumourier threw into Dieft a garrifon, which appear- 
 ec! to him to be fufficient ; General Champmcrin having 
 inaccurately reported this place to be flronger than in fact 
 it was. He polled General Miaczinfky at the abbey cf 
 Gemps, in communication with Dieft. He reinforced the 
 garriibn of Maiines. He lent General Ruault to Ant- 
 werp, to aililt Lieutenant-Genera! Maraffe,and to take the 
 command of thearmy in.tjxat quarter, which reinforced by 
 the divifion of General Marliere, amounted to more than 
 20,000 men. He recommended to General Ruault to hold 
 the poft of Riers as long as it was poflible, and to fall 
 back within the lines of Antwerp, if the Pruffians and 
 Dutch (hould advance upon him in too great force. 
 
 On the fame day, on the 2oth of March, a detach- 
 ment of the enemy without cannon, and inferior in num- 
 bers to the garriibn of Dieit, appearing before that place, 
 the garriibn fled in a cowardly manner as far as Maiines. 
 But the advanced guard of the Imperialitls making <?n at- 
 tack upon the villages of Op and Neenvelpe was repul- 
 fed. 
 
 While Dumourier was engaged in rcpulf.ng this attack, 
 the commirlioners of the Convention, La Croix and Dan- 
 ton, arrived in his camp, but he fer.t them to Louvain, 
 where he followed them on the evening of that day. 
 They appeared extremely aflcdted with the recent defeat 
 of the army, but in a fiill greater degree with the dcfcr- 
 tion of the troops ; having met at liruilels and in various 
 parts of their route, entire corps returning to France. But, 
 whatever was their concern on thei'e fubjects, their minds 
 were much more engaged, as they laid, in the execution 
 of the commifTion with which they were charged : to 
 prevail on the general to retract his letter of the I2th of 
 March ; which, by its too great franknefs, had ftirred up 
 the bittcrcft refentment of the convention againft him. 
 
 Dumourier anfwered that he had exprefled no more 
 in his letter than his real fentirr.ents ; that the dilaftersto 
 whichthey were witnefswere the ncceffary confequence 
 of the evils of which he had complained ; that he fought 
 only to remedy thole evils b\ putting an end to the tyran- 
 ny and injuitice exercifed in Belgium ; that the neceffity 
 which they mult perceive of his retiring from a country 
 in which he had no means of defence ought to Convince 
 them of the prudent tenor ot his proclamations, againit 
 which, the convention were prejudiced, only bccaufethey 
 were miiinformed and betrayed ; that thofe proclama- 
 tions 
 
t 165 ) 
 
 tionshad induced the peafants of Belgium to lay down their 
 arms, and had reftored a degree of confidence between 
 the French and Belgians, and were, therefore, the means 
 of laving; the trfcops, who diforganized, beaten, difgufled 
 and dilpirit-d, were altogether incapable of defending 
 themfelves againfl the Irnperialifts, more numerous than 
 themfelves and flushed with viftory, and at the fame time 
 againft the people of the country, {hould the refentment 
 of the latter be again excited. 
 
 The commiffioners were conftrained to acknowledge 
 the juftice of thefe reprefentations ; but ftill continued to 
 infill on the general's retracting his letter. The gene- 
 ral, after reviewing before them all the fubjets of his 
 complaints, and fetting forth in the ftrongeft manner, the 
 misfortunes that were on the eve of refulting from the un- 
 wile and unjuft conduct of the convention, made a pofi- 
 tive declaration to the commifTioners that he would in no 
 part retract his letter, fmce the lofs or the gain of a battle 
 could not effect any change in his principles, opinions or 
 character. The CommifTioners conducted this conference 
 with much addrefs and energy, and endeavoured to win 
 Dumourier by the moft flattering confiderations. At 
 length, after a very long conteft, the general confcnted 
 to write a few lines to the prefident of the convention, in 
 which he requefled, that the convention would poftpont 
 their judgement on his letter of the 1 2th of March, till he 
 fliould have an opportunity of fending them an explana- 
 tion of the reafuns of that letter. The two deputies de- 
 parted with this unimportant declaration. 
 
 On the 21, the general being informed of the lofs of 
 Dieft, refolved to take a pofition nearer Lou\ain, left the 
 enemy, pafliner the canal, ihould cut offhis communication 
 with Malines, or fall upon Louvain itfelf. He ported the 
 divifion of General Champmorio on the heights of Pel - 
 lenberg, flanking his left by that of Miaczinfky, pofted 
 at St. Peterfroede : General La Marche with the advanced 
 guard on the heights of Corbec, fkirting the high road : 
 eighteen battalions of the army of the Ardennes, com- 
 manded by General Le Vcrtcur, on the heights, and in 
 the woods of Mezendacl : and the divifion of General 
 Dampierre at Fiorival, in communication with General 
 Ncuilly's divifion, which fell back tov/ari.Tombeck, at 
 the entrance of the foreft of Soignics. 
 
 During 
 E e 
 
 
( 206 ) 
 
 During tbefe movements, the troops were harrafTcd by 
 the Imperialisms, who cannonaded them the whole day. 
 On the morning of the 22d, the enemy made a general 
 attack on the poits of Pellenberg, Corbec and the woods 
 ofMazendael. Blierbeck was between the enemy and 
 General Le Veneur, and he had thought proper to occu- 
 py it. A column of Hungarian grenadiers made thern- 
 Jelves mailers of this village but were -driven out with 
 great (laughter, and with the lois of two pieces of cannon, 
 by the regiment of Auvcrgne, commanded by Colonel 
 Dumas. The attack on the advanced guard was lefs vi- 
 gorous, but that on the poll of Pellenberg was extremely 
 bloody, General Champmorin defending himielf with 
 equal courage and ability. He received a ftrong rein-" 
 forcement during the attack, and the enemy were unable 
 to make any impreffion en his lines. This action was 
 extremely hot, and lafted the whole day. The Auflrian 
 columns furFered great lois, and were compelled to re- 
 tire. 
 
 On the evening preceding this brilliant aclion, General 
 Dumourier had occafion to lend Colonel Montjoye to the 
 head-quarters of the Prince of Cobourg, to treat refpedl- 
 ing the wounded and the priioncrs. He then law Colo- 
 nel Mack, an officer of uncommon merit, who obferved 
 to Colonel Montjoye, that it might be equally advantage- 
 ous to both pairties to agree to a fufpenfien of arms. Du- 
 mourier, who had deeply considered the dangerous fitua- 
 tion of his army, fent Montjoye again to Colonel Mack 
 on the 22cl, to demand if ha would come to Lovain, and 
 make the lame proportion to Dumourier. Colonel Mack 
 came in the evening, 1 he following articles were ver- 
 bally agreed to ; Firit, :hat the Imperialifts (hould 
 not again attack the French army in great force, nor Ge- 
 neral Dumourier again offer battle to the Imperialiils. 
 Secondly, tint on the faith of this tacit armitlice, the 
 French Should retire to Brufiels flowly and in good order, 
 without any oppofition from the enemy. And lafily that 
 Dumourier and Colonel Mack fhould have another inter- 
 view after the evacuation of Brufiels, in order to fettle fur- 
 ther articles that might then be mutually deemed ne- 
 eeflary. 
 
 This ftipulation, the firft that was entered into between 
 the two generals, became hourly of more importance to 
 Dumourier. His army was greatly dirninimed, efpecially 
 in officers. He had fcarcely ammunition for a battle ; 
 
 and 
 
( 207 ) 
 
 and unfortunately, he was well perfuaded that, in cafe of 
 a fcrious attack, he ihould be abandoned by his army. 
 
 He had fufficient proof of this on the following day. 
 The Imperialifts thought themfelves fo little bound by 
 the articles agreed to by Colonel Mack, that General 
 Clairfait (who was ignorant of thefe articles) fell upon the 
 advanced guard and the troops ported at Peilenberg. The 
 action became general along the whole front of the army. 
 Champmorin defended himfelf with the fame obftinacy as 
 before ; but toward the clofe of the action, when the Im- 
 perial infantry were actually retiring, and there was no 
 longer any enemy before the army, excepting fome light 
 troops, old General La Marche berame fuddenly terrified; 
 and, notwithftanding the intrcaties of Mont joy e, De Ba- 
 rois, and other officers of diilinciion, he retired in great 
 confufion, firft to the abbey of Duparc, and afterwards to 
 the other fide of the river Dyle, behind Louvain. 
 
 The Imperialifls, who acknowledged a lofs of 700 
 men, (that .is to fay 2000 in both actions) were fo much 
 difcouraged that they took no advantage of this cowardly 
 retreat, which left a very dangerous interval between Ge- 
 neral Le Veneur arid General Chain pmorin. 
 
 General Le Veneur had fought with great vigour du- 
 ring the whole of the action, but, feeing himfelf aban- 
 doned by La Marche, he alfo paffed the Dyle, without 
 waiting for any orders, and polled himfelf between Ccor<- 
 bceck and Reverie. 
 
 After the defection of thcfe two divifions, Dumouricr 
 vras compelled to order General Chaippmcnn to abandon 
 Peilenberg, and to retreat alfo behind Louvain, pafling 
 through the city, and by the abbey of Vlierbecke. 
 
 General Miaczinfky retired by a bridge on the hig;h 
 roa 1 of Did!, being protected by a battery of cannon 
 placed on the heights above. 
 
 Dumourier availed himfelf of thefe two days, to re- 
 move his wounded, and the flour for his army, in boats, 
 to Malines. Other articles belonging to the troops were 
 thrown into the river ; but the confufion attending the 
 evacuation of Louvain, and the avarice of individuals, 
 caufed a great quantity of thefe articles lo fail into the 
 hands of the enemy, who entered Louvain that very 
 evening, as the general retired with the garrifon, confiff- 
 ing of five battalions, which formed his rear guard. 
 The ImperiaUfts alfo took fome boats laden with wound- 
 
 cd, 
 E e 2 
 
ed, which the efcort abandoned on fight of a few huf- 
 fars. Thefe wounded foldiers were treated with gre$t 
 humanity, notwithftanding the atrocious calumnies of the 
 Jacobins, fpread with a defign of irritating the French 
 troops, and of inftigating them to make war without 
 quarter, and with greater barbarity. 
 
 The difgraceful retreat of the French from Louvain, 
 is among the inftances that prove how delicate and dan- 
 gerous is the fituation of the gener.-ls commanding the 
 French armies. Having determined on their plan of 
 attack or defence, and having given orders for its exe- 
 cution, they will be continually fubjecl to defeat and 
 ruin, if they have not other plans in referve to fiand in 
 the place of orders ill executed or difobeyed : they can 
 have no reliance on the generals under their command, 
 who are frequently the firft to give the example of difo- 
 bedience, and ibmetimes of cowardice ; they can never 
 depend for a moment on the real flrcngtli or poiition of 
 the corps that are not in their fight, fince officers, as well 
 as men, defert or change their pofition at pleafure : they 
 have no means of remedying thefe ills, fince they dare 
 not punim, being certain of making mod: dangerous ene- 
 mies of thofe whofc faults they do but reprove : they arc 
 ever in danger of wanting even food fcr their troops, be- 
 caufe the ancient fyitcm of providing neceilaries for the 
 army has been changed, to ferve the purnofes cf ipno- 
 jant and felfiib men: and, they will feltlom dare to haz- 
 ard the great movements that decide the fate of war, with 
 ioldiers, who, though prefumptupuily brave, are defti- 
 tute of good officers, are ill armed, inexperienced, ea- 
 fily difcouraged, mutinous, fond of reafoning, and alto- 
 gether let loofe from military law. 
 
 But, if a General be notwithstanding fuccefsful, the 
 calumnies of the Journals and Clubs await him, and he 
 is fure of being acculcd before the fufpieious, blind, and 
 imprudent Convention. If he fee unfortunate, the whale 
 weight of refponfibility is thrown upon him, and he is 
 branded with the name of coxvard or traitor. 
 
 Such is the fituation in which the Republic of France 
 places her generals in a war, on which depends, not 
 only the political exiftence of the nation, but the indivi- 
 dual liberty of every citizen. Dumourier has been re- 
 placed by Dampierre, who had the good foitune to be 
 killed in battle ; Dampierre by CuHinc, who pcrilhed on 
 a fcaffoM ; the latter by Hcucha-rd, who tvas difgraced 
 
 the 
 
the moment that he had defeated the Duke of York, and 
 raifed the fiege of Dunkirk ; anil it is the detefrablc 
 Jourdan* who now commands the army, which alone 
 fbnds between Paris and the vengeance of the powers of 
 Europe. 
 
 In Alface, on the foutliern frontier, and in the interior 
 part of France, v/c have feen the i\me fucceffion of ge- 
 nerals. Every old and experienced officer has been crivcn 
 from the fervice ; and phyfioians, painters, and poftili- 
 lions command armies. It is laid that Caligula made his 
 horfe conful. People of France, become as degenerate 
 as you arc cruel, you youri'elves prepare the initruments 
 of your deftruotion ! 
 
 * We are affured by emigrant?, a-rjvin* here from the ?rmv, that Ir is not 
 Jourdan, ot' Avignon, who ccnimaurls the armies. Nate of the Editor^. 
 
 f By theatove note it appears that Dnraourier had ipiftafcen Gen. Jourdan, 
 who defeated the baibarians af Maubeuge, for Jourdaa the aiiailin of Avig- 
 f.on, T. 
 
 C H.A P. IX. 
 
 to Bnifft'h. Evacuation of Bru/fcls. Camp of 
 ' Camp of Afk. Conference at Ath zvith Cat, 
 k. The Arreji of Gen. 
 
 THE difordcr accompany Ing the retreat from louvain 
 utterly checked the energy the army had difplayed in the 
 two preceding combats. Happily, night concealed this 
 univerOil defetlion of the troops from the enemy, who, 
 notwithstanding the verbal fcirrulr.iicrjs agreed to by Col. 
 Mack, would probably have ic!::xi upon this opportunity 
 to deflroy cr entirely difperfe the French army. 
 
 Dumourier with g-eat difliculiy prevailed on the troops 
 to halt on the heights of Coztenbergu.e, half way on the 
 road *o Bruffels. And this new calamity induced him t 
 make an entire change in the difpofition of the feveral 
 corps under his command. lie lent aa order to General 
 l>uval to prepare for the evacuation of Bruflels. lie re- 
 moved old General la Marches from the command of the 
 
 advanced! 
 
advanced g,uard, which he gave to General Vouillc. He 
 formed this advanced guard, which was now become the 
 rear-guard, of a ftrong body of the artillery, of all 
 K cavalry of the army, and of twenty-five battalions, 
 ahnoft the whole of which w.eie. troops of the line, 
 lie himfelf took poft in this rear guard, which amounted 
 to near 1 5,000 men, and which indeed might he faid to 
 be his army. The other part of the troops marched under 
 the protection o f this chofen body, which behaved in a 
 manner worthy the importance of its (ration. 
 
 Dumourier eftabiifned his camp under the walls of Bruf- 
 fels, by the fide of the little river of Woluwe, having his 
 right at San-peters- waluwe, and his left at Vilverde. 
 Having taken the precaution of tranf porting his park of 
 anillery to Anderiecht, he lent it ofF on the 23d to 
 Tournay, by the road of E^ghien and Ath, keeping only 
 the cannon ncceflary for his rear guard. 
 
 The Prince of Cobourg, who was ignorant of the de- 
 plorable condition of the French troops, no doubt deem- 
 ed himielf happy in the fufpenfion of arms, which pro- 
 cured him pofteilion of the Netherlands, without further 
 combat. But refinance on the part of Dumourier could 
 only have tended to lay wafte the country, without ena- 
 bling him to keep his footing in it. Since the Empe- 
 ror Jofeph demoliihed the ftrong places of thoie Provin- 
 ces, they are deftitute of any point that can refill: an in- 
 vading army ; a battle gained gives the conqueror fifty 
 leagues of country, or perhaps drives the vanquiihed to 
 the extreme frontier. 
 
 The engagements entered into by Colonel Mack were 
 faithfully obierved by the Prince of Cobourg, who re- 
 mained three days at Louvain, fending only fmall de- 
 tachments to hang upon Dumourier's rear guard. 1 he 
 General was therefore at liberty to provide for the fafety 
 of BruiTels, and of the other great cities through which 
 t'le French army were compelled to pafs on their retreat. 
 Juftice and humanity demanded that the Belgians fhould 
 not be pillaged, and it was effential to avoid every means 
 pf irritating them. They had pardoned the exccffes 
 committed by the French, and had rendered them new 
 fcrvices, and it was a duty to avoid opening the re- 
 cent wounds of the country, fince in that cafe defpair 
 would have again driven them to aims, and the French, 
 furrounded by the Auftrians and Belgians, had been en- 
 tirely facrificetl. 
 
 On 
 
( 2" ) 
 
 On the 25111, the army patted through Bruffcls, ob* 
 jferving the greateft order and good conduit, and pro- 
 ceeded to Hail, from whence the General defigned they 
 fhould march in two columns to the frontiers of France, 
 No pillage xvas committed by the troops, nor were 
 any infults offered, or reproaches made on either part. 
 The inhabitants of Bruffels did not forget this ier- 
 vice rendered them by General Dumourier. They have 
 expreffed their remembrance of it bv marks of public 
 cfteem*. Dumourier renVcrs on the juftice they have 
 done him with pleufirtf, and he would not have been 
 profcribed, and a fugitive, had he every where found 
 equal juftice. 
 
 The General's object now was to provide for the fafety 
 of the different detached forces, and to concert fuch 
 movements as that their retreat might keep pace with his. 
 While General Beaulieu was penetrating with leven 
 or eight thouiand men by Huy, the Prince of Holienloe 
 was advancing by the province cf Luxemburg agair ft 
 Namur, which was occupied by 15,000 men, tinder the 
 command of General dTIarviile. But this divifion had 
 been formed at the expence of the garrifons of Givet and 
 Maubeuge ; and the Prjmceof Hohcnloe. turning by one 
 of thefe places, might ma.ke himfelf mafter of it, and 
 penetrate into France. 
 
 Dumourier commanded General d'Harville to leave 
 2,500 men with provifionsand ammunition in the citadel 
 of Namur ; and, dividing the remainder of his trcops 
 in two columns, to fend one to Givet under the 
 command of Lieutenant-general Bouchet, and to re- 
 tire with the other toward Maubeuge ; halting firft at 
 Charleroy, and afterward pofting himfelf on the heights 
 of Niny above Mons. In this polilion General d'Har- 
 ville would cover Maubeuge, la Qiiefnoy, Conde and 
 Valenciennes ,* and, as he would then be reinforced at 
 Mons with the divifion of General Neuilly, confifting of 
 6ooamen, his divifion would be augmented to 12,000 
 men, be fide the reinforcements daily arriving. 
 
 In anfwer to thefe inftructions, General d'Harville in- 
 formed Dumourier, that he had neither provifions, ammu- 
 
 * Duimurier will e^er be loved and refpefted by the Belgians. It was in 
 the attempt to iave them from the decree of the I5th of December that }.p 
 fell. They will never forget the courage and humanity that he exerted in theii 
 be halves. The DI TOR i-.-ntures to make tbit fr^ife in tkt name of bn cint- 
 try. .Note by th.s CritiQi Editer. 
 
Jtion nor money fufificient to provide for the citadel of 
 Namur fcarcely for fifteen days order ; that he muft 
 either abandon the citadel or defend it with the whole of 
 his divifion ; and demanded of General Dumourier de- 
 terminate orders in what manner to conduct himfelf. 
 With thefe difpatehes from General d'Harville, cam 
 alfo letters to the fame eflect from General Bouchot, and 
 documents from the Commiffary Earneville tliat juftified 
 his ftatements. 
 
 Dumourier had ro need to deliberate upon the orders 
 it was neceffary f o give General d'HarvilJe. To leave 
 this divifion at Nnmur, was to rifk the Jofs of Givet or 
 Maubcuge, both in want of troops, and had either of them 
 fallen into the hands of the enemy, the divifion of Namur 
 would hive been cafily furrornded ; and to leave 2,500 
 men in the citadel, without money and ammunition, was 
 in effect to deliver them to the Auftrians. 13 e therefore 
 ordered General cl'Earvil'e entirely to evacuate Namur, 
 and retire in good o : der to Givet and Maubeugc. 
 
 Dumourier ccniVered the fix battalions polled in Bre- 
 da, and the three in Gertruydenberg, as left, yet their 
 having provifions for four cr five months, r.nd great ftorc 
 of ammunition, would, he knev, r , enable them a confide- 
 rable time to flop the prorrtfs of the Pruflir.ns and Dutch. 
 In order to Leep open a communication xvith this divi- 
 fion of his army, Dun:curit:r law it wasneceflary to fecure 
 the citadel of Antwerp, and commanded General Berne- 
 ron to pofc himfelf : : that citadel with 2000 men, and fix 
 months ftore of prcvifisR*. 
 
 Dumouricr appointed Lieutenant-general Omoran to 
 the command at Ounkirk, and alosg the fea-coall; of the 
 department of the North ; and ordered him to repair the 
 lines and forts of the intrenched aunp between Dunkirk 
 and Bergucs ; to form 33 intrenched camp on Mount 
 Caflel ; to go in perfon to Coi rtray to take upon him the 
 command cf the army of Holta::d, r.nd to poll it in the 
 camp of Haerlebccke, Iiavins: the Scheldt in front. 
 
 He fent orders to General Mrra Heard General Ruault, 
 to make their retre?t, pafiing the Scheldt by the extremity 
 of Flanders through Ghent, to the crmp of Courtray, or 
 Haerlebecke, while the raniion of Malines (hou'd re- 
 tire to the fame place by Der.lermc/ode along the Scheldt ; 
 being careful not to precipitate their retreat, and to cut 
 down the bridges after them. 
 
 General Dumourier's defign was, if he could have held 
 *hc citadels of Namur and Antwerp, to have formed a 
 
 ftrong 
 
y 1 
 
 r: , without the territory of France, running froitt 
 Hie right- to the left oy Namuir, Mons, Tournay, Cbur- 
 tray, Antwerp, Breda, and Gertruydenberg. In this fi- 
 tuatidn, if the fufyenfiori of arms mould have continued^ 
 he hoped to have greater influence on the re-eftablifh- 
 ment of order in France. In the cafe of the fufpenfion 
 r>f arms being broken, the Imperialists finding themfehes 
 in the centre of a fcrnicircle, Would be compelled to com>- 
 mence their attack at the two extremities to proceed with 
 iafetyj which would turn the campaign into a war of fieges 
 on their pnrt, carried on at the expence of their own ter- 
 * itory. Thus Dumourier would have gained time to ire"- 
 organife and reinforce his army : which, having the 
 ftrong places df France behind it, might have been refto- 
 red to its former confide nee 4 
 
 On this fuppofitioe Dumourie'r would have occupied 
 the city of Tournay, and the. camp of Antoing ; from 
 which' place if the enemy had been greatly fupcrior, he 
 "ould have retired to a very ftrong pofition in his formei: 
 camp of Maulde. 
 
 In purfuit of this plan (which had undergone no other 
 rhangCj trnn that of the evacuation of the citadel of Na- 
 inur) he marched on the 26th to Enghien,, and on the 
 22th .to Ath, \vhile the divifion of General Neuilly 
 marched to Mons by Hall and Braine. 
 
 At Atlij he received orders from the Convention to 
 wrrcft the colonel of the 73d regiment of infantry, (who 
 had abandoned the army without orders, taking with him 
 his two battalions, and returned to France,) and alfo Ge- 
 neral Miranda. Dumourier executed the order that re- 
 l'pec\d General Miranda with regret, fince he was pr~ 
 funded, that this rigorous meafure was lefsanatof juittce.- 
 than the erfe<Sl of the hatred of the Jacobins againll Pe- 
 thion and the Girondifts, who were the friends and pro- 
 tcclors of Miranda. This General found means to ef- 
 cape the danger in accufmg Dumourier, after his quitting 
 the army f an event which was extremely favourable to 
 Nliranda. 
 
 On the fame day Colonel Mack arrived at Ath ; a 
 verbal agreement was again entered into between that of- 
 ficer and Dumourier ; but this was in much more forrnaL 
 tcrms than the former. The colonel began by ekpreffing 
 thf acknowledgments of the ImperialifU, for the peacea- 
 ble manner in which the retreat of the French troops was 
 ondirte;i, in con-le.iuence of the prudence of General 
 
 F f 
 
{ 2I 4 
 
 Dumourier's orders ; by which means the! country 
 fpared the 'nioft frightful difafters. On the other hand, he 
 noticed the moderation {hewn by the Imperial general, 
 who,- while he forbore to hairais the French troops on 
 their retreat^ took care, nevcrfhelefs, to conceal from both 
 armies the connivance between die two generals. 
 
 It was agreed upon by Fhnnourier, and Colonel Macjt, 
 that the French army fhould remain feme time longer in 
 the pofition of Moris, Tournav, and Courtray, without be- 
 -Ing harrafled by the Imperial army ; that General Du- 
 inourier, who did not conceal from Colonel Mack. his de- 
 iign of marching againft Paris, Ihould, xv;hen ihcirdefigns 
 were ripe for execution, regulate :i;'e motions of .the 1m- 
 perijliiis; who'fhould only act as auxiliaries in the execu- 
 tion of their plan ; that, -in fhe cafe of Dumourier's ha- 
 ving no need of affUtance, which was to be greatly defued 
 bv both parties, the Iri.perialiils ilioiud not advance far- 
 ther than the frontier of Trance, afid that the total evacu- 
 ation of Belgium ibould be the price of this condefcention, 
 but if Durnourier could not efiect the re-eflablifhment ot 
 a limited monarchy, (not a counter-revolution,) lie him- 
 ielf Ihould indicate the number and the kind of troops 
 which the Imperials ihould furnim, to aid in the proje5l, 
 nnd thould be entirely under Dumourjer's direction. 
 
 Dumoiifier made Colonel Ma'ck acquainted with his 
 defign of marching the following day to Tournay, with 
 the march of General Xeuilly to Mons, and of the army 
 uf Holland" to Courtray. 
 
 It was finally decided that in order to combine the ope- 
 rations of the Imperial troops under the Prince of Co- 
 bour, and thofe under the Prince of Hohenloe, at the 
 time" when Dumourier fhould march to Paris, Condc 
 thoukl be put into the hands of the Auftrians, as a pledge; 
 that the Aiifliians ihould trairifon the town, but without 
 any pretenfibns lo the fovereignty, and on the condition 
 that it ihould be reftorcd to France, af the conclufion of 
 the war, and after an indemnity ibould have been fettled 
 by the two parties ; but that all the other towns belonging 
 to France, fnould, in the cafe of the conftitutional party 
 needing the affiftancc of the Imperialifts, receive ga'rri- 
 lons, one half of which ihould be French troops, and "the 
 other half Imperialifts, under the orders of the Fr&nch. 
 General Valvnce. (General I'houvenot, the Duke dc 
 Chartres, and Colonel Mountjoye^affifted at this confer- 
 
 CHAP 
 
C H A P. X. 
 
 Camp of Tour nay. 
 
 ON the 28th, Dumourier marched to Tournay,'and 
 took the pofition of Antoing, having his advanced guard 
 in Tournay, and the flanking corps of the left, command- 
 ed by General Miackzinfky, on Mount Trinity. He 
 fent General le Veneur with the army or' the Ardennes, 
 to occupy the camp of Mauldc. 
 
 In this was Madame de Sillery, with Mademoifclle 
 d'Orleans, whom the general had never till then feen. 
 Thefe ladies had taken up their refidence at Tournay, 
 on the advice which Dumourier had before this given to 
 Lieutenant-General Omoran, who then commanded in 
 the Tournaifis ; becaufe Mademoifelle d'Orleans, who 
 xyas no more than fifteen years of age, was profcribed in 
 France bv the decree againft the Emigrants. This young 
 Princefs. (who as well as her brothers, the Duke de Char- 
 tres, and the Duke Montnenfier, is perfectly well bred, 
 and well. informed) is an example of virtue, refignation 
 and conftancy- 
 
 The Duke de Chartres, who had ferved the preceding 
 campaign with diflinguimed valour, and a pure arid dii- 
 interefled patriotifm, and who had recently "displayed a 
 degree of courage, and civifm, reflecting honour on the 
 French name, was included in the decree of banifhinent, 
 rendered againft the houfe of Bourbon, and would have 
 been fubjec\ to the crueleil vexations the moment that 
 he fhould enter France. 
 
 Dumourier, during the two days that he pafTed at Tour- 
 nay, tefHfted by every circumOance in his po\ver the li\c- 
 ly concern that he took in the fate of this unfortunate 
 nnd amia'jle princefs. As both ihe and Madame de Sil- 
 lery were greatly in -dread of falling- into the hands -of 
 the Imperialists, becauie of the -infli:ence which they fup- 
 pofed the emigrants to poiiei's with the ErhnerOr, Du- 
 mourierqn hi^ departure from Tournav, .cauled them tc 
 be conduced to St. AmanJ. When the generarY pro- 
 tection, tar from ferving, might have been fatal to thole 
 
 F f 3 ladies 
 
lauics , they accepted of an afylum In Mons, offered 
 by the Imperial generals. If the 'virtues of Mademoiiello 
 ^'Orleans do not fin^l their recompenie, at leaft, may ihe 
 find protection from the hands ot a beneficent Provi- 
 
 While Dumourier remained in the camp of Tournay, 
 he received intelligence, that General Neuilly's divifion, 
 onarivingat Mons,in(tead'pf "encamping on ihe heights 
 of Nimy, had pillaged the magazines, and afterward fled 
 in total ditprder (without however, being attacked by the 
 enemy,) to Conde and Valenciennes, The Cavaliy on- 
 ly remained with General Ncuilly, and Dumcmier com- 
 manded him to retreat with thole to Conde, fpreading 
 over as much ground on his march as he could between- 
 Binche, Roeux, Soignes, and Leufe ; carrying oli with 
 Him the forage, horfes, apd carriages, and cutting down; 
 the bridges behind him. 
 
 The evacuation of Mon,s rendered Dumourier's litua- 
 tion at Tournay very dangerous, his right being altogether 
 unprpte&ed ; but, independent of the fufpenfion of aims, 
 his knowledge of the country made him iecure of his re- 
 freat, which he was unwilling to undertake, till he~4hould 
 iiave known what movement was made by his left. He, 
 therefore only took the precaution cf .commanding Ge- 
 neral d'Haryille to cpniine himfeif within the carr.p of 
 Maubeuge and Givet, in order to pi event the enemy 
 from penetrating on the French, territpry, on that fide. 
 
 On the 29th- of March, three deputies from the Jacobins 
 arrival atTpurnay. They introduced themiejves to the 
 General by faying, that f hey 'bore a commiffipn fiom Le 
 Brun ;and, preleritinga letter from that minifter, con* 
 ceiveti in vague and uncertain terms ; they declared they' 
 had communications to m.ake to, him refpeciing the aftairs 
 of Belgium. Thefe three men were Proly, a contempt- 
 ible adventurer, born at BruiYels ; Desjardines, a wiitcr 
 of little note, who had formerly been driven from Bruf- 
 fels ; and pereira, a Portuguefe Jew. The frill of tjieic 
 we have Icen was already known to the general ; the ie- 
 cond called himfeif a man of letters, and the third was a 
 furious Jacobin. They were otiended that the general 
 refufed to enter op the fubjevl of ihcir embaify, before 
 Mademoifeile d'Qrleans, to v hofe apartments they had 
 exprels.ly come to utter a Philippic" againfl the general. 
 He made an appointment tq meet them nf hij own 
 
 The 
 
The converfation that took place between Dunrtourler 
 nnd jhefe men, is pretty nearly lucL as they ^^ve report* 
 ed it to be. They agreed with him in his opinion of the 
 imbecility of the convention, and on the necevTuy of dii- 
 perfmg tiRt afiembly, and eftabiiihing tome other legis- 
 lature. After that, they founded the general refpeUng, 
 the perfons who ihouid fueceed the convention in their 
 authority ; and one of them ventured to lay, that the Jaco* 
 bins rud their, prefident, regifters, tribunes, orators, as 
 well as the halut of dii cuffing or determining great con- 
 cerns ; and that therefore, there \vas no need to look fur- 
 ther. Dumourier, in his ufua! fincere and decifive man- 
 ner, utterly rejected this idea.; grounding his objection 
 on the immorality, rulhnels, cruelty, and incongupus 
 qualities of that fociety ; to which all the misfortunes of 
 France he declared were to be attributed. 
 
 Proly laid, how then will you be abls to replace the pre- 
 fent reprcfentativcs of the people, auii at the. jamt tuns 
 avoid the. delays and other d?fels of the modi of eleflion 
 hy primary ajjzmblies ? The general anlVered, nothing is 
 more fimpl 1 '., or more, eafdy acco/npliftied. The patnotifm 
 of the adniinijlrators of the departments and dijlrids is t 
 at preftnt, well tried and approved* For this otu time, if 
 is but to take all the prociueurs-general of the departments 
 and diftritli : and to complete the number by mtmb&rs of 
 the departments and diJlnSs. Thffe zvillfcrm a very com- 
 petent Icgiflature : they will re-ejtabl<fb the conjhtuiion of 
 1 789"? all divifions will be healed in France : the Royalb/is 
 will lay down their arms ; foreign powers will no lonfer 
 have any colour for carrying on the wj.r, and France, ha* 
 ving a folid government with which they can treat, Kill 
 li/len with readinefs to terms of peace. For do not you 
 imagine, the general added, the Republic can continue to 
 cxift : your crimes and your ignorance have dejlroyed it$ 
 fojjibility. 
 
 'Thefe three men made fomc objection to the genemTs 
 proportions, l>ut they liilened very tranquilly to thofc 
 frlafphemiet of the general, of which they afterward gave io 
 (ireadful an account. D^siardines, who proceeded fur- 
 ther thaa the reft in his addrefs and artifice, laid that he 
 iliould return 10 Paris to give an account of hisj miifion ; 
 and that he hoped fqoii to fee the general again. Thev 
 took their leave of Dumouiier vvi^iu>ut mo-i^ftation , and 
 certainly, he never thought pf arfie-fting eun .jkries of kicli 
 little confequer.ee. 
 
General Dumourier has no doubt that, had- lie feconded 
 their idea of replacing the National Convention .by* the 
 ibciety of Jacobins, he had entirely gained the Confidence 
 or that f(/:iety ; but he acknowledges that his temper, per- 
 haps too fi .c: r> in this inttance, robbed him of the poiTi- 
 biim of feemifig to yield to their meafures. Me inftant- 
 ly percer o lhat lie couM net turn this infinimer/t to his 
 p-ir poles, i.Ltt :.y plugging into a i cries of horrid c< jnres ; 
 ar. 1 'he everts that h ive I'ucceeded, have proved io him 
 tru, i tiis judgment WdS r?'f 'rrcneobs. 
 
 da , h.- -ecelvec; a letter from the feven 
 conh . lor < : c the convention, n.et at Liile, vho ccin- 
 him io r.ppear in that cityj to amwer to the 
 s .^i^i^ed agaihil him. Ke aniVered, that being 
 ht Oi the eneiYiV, employed -.in re-organ'izing'hi*' 
 and in iedorirtg \^ courag^^ (which .y.-s indeed 
 true) he could not quit ih? -UAV ': aa irit ; r ; nf ; hut if the 
 commiirioners would ccme to him at Tournay, he would 
 aniwer every accuiation with his ufual franknefs , that 
 when. he mould have accomplifhed hisretreat, and thear- 
 ntv mould be fafe in the French territory, he would have 
 more leifuretotake intoconfideration his peribnal arTairs; 
 in a \vord,that he would never enter Liile, excepting it 
 fhouid be with troops to puntlh cowaids, who had aban- 
 doned their colours and calumniated the moft intrepid d^- 
 fenders of their country. 
 
 C H A P. XL 
 
 Retreat to the Camp of Mauldz. 
 
 GENERAL DUMOURIER was extremely uricafy 
 
 respecting the fate of the froops at Antwerp ; having re- 
 
 ((.i'/ed no inteliigcnce from thut quarter, and fearing in- 
 
 ^at General Riult who ho<e. his orders to General 
 
 Nlarv. ., H :d fallen into-the )>and.s of the enemy. 
 
 ret-^t from Antwerp acrofs the Scheldt, by the 
 'inde r s, was long and dilhcult. I '.it l x u- 
 inb.r-'si-krievv ' ^e*-py were lei's numcron; ii t!inr 
 
 quarter than tl ;tv; ; -rp. The PruCia/is .-n-i 
 
 Dutch were before Gertruydenbcro; and Breda ; a'nd Co- 
 lonel 
 
( '21.9 ) 
 
 lonel .Mylius, .who prefentcd liimfelf before Antwerp 
 'had not 11101 e than 2000 rm:n, and 'hole \veie irregular 
 troops of the Irnpeiuil army. 
 
 But the French troops at Anfv erp 1 r r '' n into full 
 greater diibi dei than ar.y other part^j ' . '1 hey 
 
 were feized with a panir, and the . enen- is were ' o longer 
 inafteis of them. On the 26th, Colctiel Mylius had the 
 audacity to iurnmon the citv. Part of the I -euch tioops 
 hud already croiTed the Scheldt, but, infteac ^f waiting 
 for the remainder, they precipitately retired by Bit s to 
 Dunkirk, excepting a final! bodyof them, which Co^o, ei 
 TKouvenot prevailed upon to halt at Ghent. General 
 Maruife had lank the Ariel frigate according to. PL mou- 
 rier's ioilructions, after fending away her -malts, Hgging, 
 and guns, by the canals to Dunkirk. He had lUfo lent 
 away part of the magazines of the garrifon, but 'a great 
 part ilill remained, and more than 80.00 men, . 
 
 As the terror and conrufion which .before had fpread 
 among the troops redoubled on (he approach of Colonel 
 Mylius, a council of war was held, in which it was 
 unanimpuily decided, that it was more prudent to fave 
 this part of the army together with the magazines and 
 other cifects belonging to the French nation, than obfti- 
 natelv to riik the lofsof the whole. 
 
 It is impoflible for Dumourier to form a candid judg~ 
 me.nt of th.is- capitulation, fmc'e the rapid fucceiTion 
 of important events that followed, prevented, him 
 from any perfect knowledge of the circumftances 
 of the ga,rrifon. The Iinperialifls are extremely 
 dextrous in the diipofition and conduct of their advanced 
 guards, multiplying them to the eyes of an enemy, and 
 miilea-ding the enemy refpeting their real force. It is 
 alfo to be prefumed, that the French generals, emhar- 
 railed and difconccrted by the diforder prevailing among 
 the troops, imagined the whole Prufiian and Dutch 
 army to be before the place. No excufe, however, is to 
 be made for thtir having furrendered the citadel, which 
 was altogether independent of the city, and in no one 
 cafe ought to have been included in that capitula- 
 tion. 
 
 On the 27th or 28th of March, the French troops 
 quitted Antwerp. None of them palled by Coyrtray, 
 and they were not at liberty to encamp at Haerlebeck, as 
 had been defigned. They entered the French territory 
 in different bodies, and at different time?, and part of 
 
 them 
 
*i*em were difp'ofed of by General Omoran in the 
 of Caflel and the lines of Dunkirk, and the remain- 
 der helped to form the camp of Madelaine, near 
 Lille. 
 
 It was not till the 29th that Dumourief received intel- 
 ligence of this difpcrfion of more than 26,000 men ot 
 his army, and even then his intelligence was unaccompa- 
 nied by any detail* The difperfion of the body of troops 
 tinder Neuiliy, and the evacuation of Mofis, had expofed 
 his right, and that of Coirtray now expofed his left to' 
 ftill greater danger, which the enemy might turn, ap- 
 proaching by the left of the Schelt, and if he Jhould btf 
 compelled to retreat before the enemy in the preient dif- 
 pofition of his troop?, he had nothing to expect but to bef 
 completely routed. 
 
 For thefe reaions, he refolded to raife the camp of 
 Tournay in the morning of the cjoth. He had before this^ 
 fent General le Veneur to occupy that of ivTaulde. He 
 font the army of the North; by the bridge of Mortagne, 
 to encamp in the tlrong "jiofition of Brmlle, which he 
 ordered to be joined by tr.rLC ,'d^cs to the camp. He 
 fent General Miaczinfky with 4000 mrh to occupy ( )r- 
 ehies, to fecure a communication with Li!;?, and he 4 
 eftablifhed his head quarters Xvith his park of artiliefy at 
 St. Amand. 
 
 By the unexpected fufrcnder of the citadel 6f Ant'- 
 -verp, the garrifons of Breda and Gertrljyd^nberg were 
 entirely cutoff from all communication with die army* 
 They amounted to near 6000 men, tint were on the poini 
 of being facrificed -without the hope of affiilance, and 
 without any fervice to enfue to France. Dumourier, 
 therefore, fent orders, through the medium of Colonel 
 Mack, to General de Fler?, and to Colonel Tilly, who 
 commanded in thole tv/o pLicr.i to capitulate, on condi- 
 tion of being at liberty to march to France with arms 
 and ba*age. This wiis accordingly done ; and was art 
 important iervice rendered France, fince one half of the 
 army had already defer ted. 
 
 At this period the fafety of the frontier towns in France 
 was entirely owing to the foifpenfion of arm> ; for had 
 the Imperialifts preiTed forward, fuch was the difordcf 
 prevailing in the French army, they muft have penetra- 
 ted the frontiers. 
 
 In the midft of this chaos of things, and of the difcon- 
 tents and diiorders that refuited in the 'French army, the, 
 
 Uoopf 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 troops never cenfcd to exprefs an attachment to their 
 general, rendering juiucc to his eiforts-to preferve them 
 from ruin. The icar gu.ard, and the --oopsci" th~ line 
 especially , who had always icj:: him ihe Lit in every 
 retreat, in the day or at night, and always expoled to 
 the great dt danger, were moved with rei'pcct, and even 
 cornpaillon for the general) and with extieme refentment 
 againft his enemies, the Jacobins and the National Con- 
 vention. A with for the re-eftabliihment of a limited 
 Monarchy was alrnbft general in the army. A few of 
 the battalions of volunteers only dared openly to efpoufc 
 the Republic. The cavalry, and the troops of the line 
 were altogether decided ; and the artillery, declared that 
 in every cafe, they would defend their general. It was 
 openly 'propofed -to march to Paris, and to overthrow the 
 Anarchitls, to whom the army juftiy attributed the whole 
 of their difgracc and misfortunes. It being fa id that the 
 general was to be commanded to appear. at the bar of the 
 National Convention, their conftant language was, that 
 they themfelves would conduct the general to Paris, and 
 would mare his fortunes. 
 
 Dumourier attentively obferved this difppdtion in the 
 troops, which he faw was fupported by the complaints of 
 the generals, and of the greater, part of the other ofticers. 
 Thefe latter, feeing the generals under whom they had 
 been conducted to victory, outraged in the Jacobin Jour- 
 nals, accufed of treachery, arrefted, and treated without 
 regard to decency or juftice, naturally concluded, that 
 their own elevation to the fuperior ranks, would but 
 expofe them to the fame difafters. Some of the generals, 
 however, among whom was Dampiejre, kept up a per- 
 fidious correfpondcnce with the leaders of the Anarchills ; 
 and, hoping to fupplant their fuperior.s, by the aid of the 
 prefehi diforders, they loudly proclaimed the fame doc- 
 trines as their colleagues of Paris, and by their fa lie 
 infmuations kept alive the Jacobin phrenzy that infected 
 part of the army. 
 
 The two parties were now in the greated fermentation, 
 and the conteft tended to an iilue which could not but be 
 prompt and violent. Three Commiffioners of the Con- 
 vention, Lequinio, Cochon, and Bellegarde were m 
 Valenciennes ; thele already treated the army and its 
 generals as rebels, would not permit any communication* ~ 
 Hct\veen them :m<l I he garrifon, and ftopt their convoys 
 
of provifion and money* They -were bold enough to 
 hazard a manitefto againfl Dumourier, which they fent 
 to the army, and the garrilon of Condc. 
 
 The garrifon of Condc, confiding of four battalions 
 and a regiment of cavalry, under General Neuilly, 
 were extremely divided in opinion, but they ieemed to 
 incline to fupport Dumourier, to whom General Neuilly 
 was altogether attached. 
 
 At Lille, the contell was flill more marked and more 
 violent. The ComilTioncrs of the Convention, who had 
 made this place their point of union, and the Jacobin 
 Club inftigated an extremely numerous populace againft 
 the higher rank of citizens. On the other hand the 
 foldiers, efpccrally the troops of the line, broke out 
 into tumults, and (poke loudly in behalf of their gene- 
 ral, and againft the Anarchies. But they were without 
 leaders, and their meafures were void of plan and con- 
 duel- Allrgna'ts were allb fuccefsfuliy diftributed among 
 thefe troop's, and the fame means were employed in the 
 army under the general's immediate command, and even 
 with thofe nearciVto his perfon. 
 
 The ComtniiUoners of the Convention alfo endeavour- 
 ed to accomplifh their defigns by airafimation. On the 
 3 1 ft of March, fix volunteers, of the third battalion of 
 La Manic, demanded leave to fpeak to the general, whp 
 ordered them to be introduced. They cntexed with their 
 hats on, the back part being placed in the front, having 
 the word Republic chalked on them. They made a long 
 and fanatical harangue to the general, the purport of 
 which was, that they, and many others of their comrades, 
 had fworn to fend him to the bar of the National Con- 
 vention, or, in imitation of Brutus, to flab him. 
 Dumourier anfwcred with great compofure and gentle- 
 nefs, that they were blinded by a miftaken zeal ; that 
 they could not but perceive the unfortunate condition of 
 France ; and that the rage with which remedies were 
 applied, ferved only to prove the Jmpodibility of main- 
 taining the republic, fin ex: an urijuit and unrcftrairrec} 
 government could not long e^ift. While the general 
 fpoke, they approached with a defi^n of furrounding 
 him, which, perhaps, would have been effed^ed, but for 
 the intrepidity of the faithfull Baptiile, who feizcd upon 
 the forcmolt, and culled the general's guard to his aiTilt- 
 v ance. The volunteers attempted to refifl, but they were 
 
 overpowered 
 
( "3 
 
 overpowered ; and the general not only favcd their lives 
 but prevented their being ill treated. He contented 
 himfelf with fecuring their pcrfons in prifon. 
 
 The indignation of the army was general ; and on 
 the fame day the different corps prcfented adrcflcs figncd 
 by individuals of every rank, profeiling an inviolable 
 attachment to their general ; and the greater part of 
 them expreffing their dcfire of inarching to Paris to re- 
 eilablifh the confutation . 
 
 After hoftilirieshad been thus corn me need by the Com- 
 iniflioners of the Convention, and after the troops had thus 
 declared their .wilhes, Dumourier let about the means of 
 making himfclf mailer of Valenciennes, Comic, and 
 Lifle ; without which he could ftrike no blow of impor- 
 tance. 
 
 He now readily acknowledges th.it, although he did 
 not for a moment lofe Tight of his object, he failed in ne- 
 glecting means which, doubtlefs were necelFary at ihaf 
 period ; but which he was induced to reject by hi* avcr- 
 ion to perfidy and cruelty. He relied too confidently 
 on the ftrcngthof his legitimate means, and on the good 
 faith and conviction of his troops ; and he neither coun- 
 teracted his enemies by corruption, nor deftroyed the more 
 inveterate of them when it was in his power. A meafure 
 was pi'opofed to him that was probably eflenlial to his in- 
 tercft. It was to ailcmblc the troops of the line in a camp 
 apart from the reft, and to difarm and difband the national 
 guard. But this could not be oecomplifhed without a 
 dreadful efiiifion of blood ; fur there had long cxifted an 
 extreme animolity between the national guards, and the 
 troops of the line. There were many of the battalions 
 of national giurd.s, who had ferved under his command 
 with great valour, and had lately p re fen ted addreil'cs to 
 him, couched in loyal and firong terms ; and he coujd 
 not prevail on himfclf to recompence them \\\ih dilgrace, 
 or perhaps, with death. And, if he Ihould make excep- 
 tions in the execution of .the plan, thole might include 
 difg'iifed unarcljifts ; and he could no longer rely with 
 fafciy on his troops. 
 
 HiOory prefents no example of opinion having agita- 
 ted the paifinns of men to fo cxceflive a degree, of having 
 fo greatly disfigured their characters, and having fo com- 
 pletely bereaved them of all the iocial aiicCtions, as in the 
 Vr.:nch revolution. The love of liberty was a noble 
 
 Gg 2 
 
( "4 ] 
 
 Sadie u in 1789. It became licentious in 1790 and 1791. 
 y the fuccciTes of the year 1792, the love of freer} crn, 
 infteaii of being exalied into heroifm, Regenerated into a 
 blind, infolent, and barbarous phrenzy ; and the period 
 that v\'e are reviewing in thefe memoirs added to the fero- 
 city of its fpirit. 
 
 The ftruggle for afcendancy was not equal between 
 Dumourier and the Jacobins. His means were enfeebled 
 by his fcruples. The crimes of the Jacobins v.-ere not to 
 be crufhed but by crimes more incredible than thefe ; 
 corruption was to be oppofed by corruption, and treachery 
 and cruelty to the attrocities and horrors of the Jacobins, 
 The feel; of the Jacobins was not to be annihilated but by 
 a rnonfler more frightful than itfelf; or by a foreign 
 fword. And hence the fequel of this hiftory is no more 
 than an account of the miftakes of Dumourier ; who em- 
 braced the incompatible defigns of preferring his own 
 e'fteem, and purging the nation of her crimes. In a con- 
 venation he had formerly held at Louvain with Pan ton 
 and La Croix, on a propoial made bv thofe Comniimbherfc 
 relative to a conduct they wilfoed the general to adopt in 
 Belgium, by no means very reputable ; the general ob- 
 ierved (and lie has fince repeated the obfervation to Ca- 
 inus) that he would never commit an aclion which he re- 
 garded as a crime, even for the falvation of his country. 
 He hasfince been told that Danton faid General Dumou- 
 rier wants energy ; his mind has never rifcn to the hue 
 revolutionary pitch. The revolutionary pitch reft after 
 that period ; and, Dumourier, who has not changed, 
 could not but fail in the ftruggle, fince to fucceed it was 
 vjecciiaryto difplay crimes greater than thofe with which 
 lie had to combat. 
 
 Dumourier fent orders to General Miaczinfky, who was 
 al- Orchies to march with his divifion to Lifle ,- to arreft 
 the Cominilnoners of the Convention, and the leaders of 
 the clubs ; to proceed from thence to Douay and remove 
 General Moreton from the command of that town ; to pro- 
 claim there and at Lille the unanimous resolution of the 
 zirmv to reftore the Conllitution : and afterward to pro- 
 ceed by Cambray to Peronne, where be was to take r-cft. 
 This unfortunate General did not fiffrjciehtly perceive 
 the importance of his charge. He fpoke of it to various 
 perfons,and among the reft to St, Geurge, the celebrated 
 Mulatto, Colonel of a repfm'.ent of Huflars, who betravcd 
 the general aiui drew him into Liile \vith a very fniall ef- 
 
 coit 
 
( "5 .) 
 
 covt. The moment Miaczir<fly entered the town, the 
 gates were fhut upon him. lie was arrefted, conducted 
 to Paris, and 'brought to the. fcafrbld. This officer was a 
 native of Poland, and was one of the chiefs of the confede- 
 ration>., at the time that Dumourier was charged by the 
 court of France to direct its operations. Miaczinfky had 
 been made pri toner in an engagement with the Ruffians ; 
 and afterward, claiming an indemnity from France, in 
 which the general could not find means to ferve him, he 
 had obtained for him the rank of major-general, and per- 
 miffion to raife a free corps, and had afterward employed 
 him with great utility in France and the army. Miac- 
 zinfky, brave in war, did not difplay the fame courage 
 in his perfonal defence when he was taken, nor at his 
 death. He accufed Dumourier of various crimes againlt 
 the nation ; and even of fome grofs frauds, that were no 
 doubt fuggefted to him by the enemies of Dumourier. He 
 alfo accufed La Croix, which was the caule of his ruin. 
 
 Miaczinfky 's troops, after they were quitted by that 
 officer, wandered on the Glacis of Liilc, into which 
 place the garnfon would notadmit them* Dumourier, re- 
 ceiving intelligence of this, fent one of his aids-de-camp, 
 Colonel Philip de Vaux, to put himfelfat their head, and 
 to conduct them to Orchies and Douay. DC Vaux was 
 arrefted through the treachery of a brother officer, taken 
 to Paris, and executed. He died with great courage ard 
 conftancy. 
 
 Philip clc Vaux was born at BrufTels, had ferved In Au~ 
 flria, and had afterward taken part agalnfl the Frnperor 
 in the revolution of his own country. Durnor.rier had 
 known him at Paris, and appointed him his aid-de-ramp. 
 He was a man of capacity, of great courage, and of aii 
 exalted and feeling mind. In fine, he poflfe fifed the qua- 
 lities neceiTary to make a general ofiicer. 
 
 The garrifonof Valenciennes wus commanded by Ma- 
 jor-General Ferrano, whom Dumonricr had railed to the 
 rank of Colonel, and afterward to that of major-general ; 
 and whom he believed to be attached to his intcidts. Tins 
 officer wa-; of an age not very liable to be heated with 
 opinions ; and, till this period, had appeared to be u-ell 
 informed and moderate. Hut char^clers moulder away 
 bo fore opinion-;, and Ferrand became one of the moll in- 
 tern penite of UinnouiJ.-is acciiior^. v-J o'n'c-df the tirmeit 
 fupporters of the anarrhiih. 
 
 The 
 
The grand provoft of the army, named rEdiyer, de- 
 manded of Dumourier as a favour, the charge ofarrcfting 
 the Deputies at Valenciennes. He was no fooner in that 
 <:ity, than he became their confident, and inftrument : al- 
 though by a ftrange accident he perifhed afterward on the 
 fcafibl-d. While he was in Valenciennes, he had written 
 a circurnftantial letter to the general, iefpec~ting the ar- 
 rangements he had made for arrcfting the deputies, and 
 this letter was found in the pocket of the general's great- 
 coat on the 4th of .April. 
 
 Thcfe two men, Ferrand and J'Ecuyer, undermined the 
 general's plan for making himfelf mafter of Valenciennes ; 
 thefe being at firft confidentially communicated to them; 
 snd they effected an entire change in the difpoiition of the 
 troops which he had contrived to fend there. 
 
 Dumourier's defign on Lille and Valenciennes, being 
 thus fuddenlv defeated, lie had no other refource than to 
 make himfelf mafter of Conde. The fituation of the ar- 
 my, on the extreme frontier of Fiance, was become alto- 
 gether embarraffing. The army depending upon the 
 itrong towns for fubfiftcncc, Dumourier was compelled ei- 
 ther to dilband them, or to join the Imperialills, unlefs he 
 could obtain pofiefiion of one of the fhong towns. The 
 firft of thcfe rncafurcs would have deprived him of all re- 
 fource, and given a decifive victory to the anarchifts. The 
 fecond was repugnant to the feelings of the general, and 
 the troops, infpircd by the laudable principle of national 
 honour ; and he could not have obtained the univerfal 
 confent of his army to this mcafure, fmcc the opinions of 
 the troops were divided, and fmce the indefatigable in- 
 tritnJCF of the Jacobins had wrought fuch a change in the 
 (Hl'potition of the foldiery. And the latter was impracti- 
 cable, became the General had no artillery to undertake 
 a fiege ; his artillery being fent to Lilie when he retreated 
 from Belgium. The third of thcfe meafurcs alfo, muft 
 liave produced a civil war. A regular fiege would have 
 demanded great length of time, during which the foldicry 
 would have made the fame reflections that operated on the 
 mind of Dumouner, and which continually rcjftratncd 
 ' him in the plans that feemecl neceflary to his object : thcfe 
 reflections regarded the horror of feeing Frenchmen com*, 
 bat each other, having foreigners for fpedators, to whorn 
 buth parties would have become a prey, when they (houlq 
 be mutually incapable uf further rcfiftaocc, 
 
 Dumourier 
 
( "7 > 
 
 Dumourier therefore thought of leading his army to Pa- 
 ris. But he could fuccced in that, only in having a ma- 
 jority of opinions with him. Every other expedient was 
 at once painful and uncertain, Every day, every hour di- 
 minimed his hope. He beheld his Situation, without de- 
 ceiving himfelf, and being fubdued by his difficulties. lie 
 regarded them under every afpecl, and he cannot now re- 
 collect the Grit five days of April without horror. 
 
 C II A P. XII. 
 
 Arrefl of tie Commijfioners of the Convention, Camus, La 
 Marque, Bancal, and Quinettc ; and of Beurnonvilk, 
 MiniJlcrofWar. 
 
 ON the firfl of April, General Dumourier, in order to 
 be nearer his army, and to favour a project of furprifing 
 Valenciennes, (which had been propofed to him, and 
 which failed by the mifeonduct of the general officer who 
 was charged with its execution, ^ removed his head quar- 
 ters from the city of St. Amand to the fuburbs ; where 
 was Rationed a chofen body of cavalry, and where he was 
 alio nearer Conde. Various circurnftancs had prevented 
 his proceeding in the firft inftancc to the latter city, but in 
 that neglect he committed a great error, and perhaps it 
 was the caufe of cornpleating the ruin of his aftairs. Per- 
 haps it had been better if he had at iirft eftablilhed his head 
 quarters at Conde ; but the events that pafled in that pe- 
 riod were fo Hidden and unforefeen, he was fo effectually 
 imit out from intelligence, and was fo complcatly igno- 
 rant of all that paffed beyond Valenciennes and Liilc, and 
 he was fo entirely occupied in obferving and moulding 
 Co his piirpole the difpoiitions of his army, that to blame 
 or jtiflify the conduct into which he was driven by this 
 ftrong chain of circumftances, it i$ neceffary to have been 
 inhislituation. 
 
 Perhaps even it is well for him that he did not make him- 
 felf matter of Conde, for if the inconftancy of the French 
 character had then caufed a ftrong defection in his army, 
 being in the centre of that ftrong city, he had been de- 
 Mvered up to his enemies, or maflacred by his own troops. 
 
 The 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 The corn miffioners of fhcCcnvertion availed themfelvcs 
 of Duinourier'shefitationin this refpecl to vifitConde, and 
 to iiTue proclamations, circulate affignats, and fill the town 
 with emiflaries of the Jacobins, The fixth regiment of 
 infantry, the only corps of troops of the line which had 
 difcovered a decided fpirit of Jacobiniim, and a battalion 
 of National Guards of Veriailles, (Truck terror into the 
 mind of General Neuilly, who thenceforward was no 
 longer mailer of the place ; although he perfuaded him- 
 felf that he was, and continued to aflert it to Dumourier, 
 who too long relied on his ill founded confidence. 
 
 In this battalion of Verfailles, was a captain of the 
 artillery company, named Le Cointre, fon of the cele- 
 brated deputy of that, name of Versailles. This young 
 man declaimed vehemently againft the advocates of the 
 conftitution ; and, being rudely handled on that account 
 by fome dragoon officers, he quitted" the garrifon to lay 
 his complaims before Dumourier,, who caufed him to be 
 arrefted, that he might have an hoftage for himfelf, in 
 the perion of the fon of one of the mod furious among 
 the members of the Mountain. Dumourier alfo caufed 
 to be arrefted a lieutenant-colonel, an officer belonging to 
 the ftaff of the army , who declaimed openly and ve- 
 hemently again ft him *. and having no fecure place in 
 which he could keep thefe prifoners, he lent them toge- 
 ther with the fix volunteers, who had attempted to 
 aflaffinate him, to Tourr.ay ; requeuing General Clair- 
 fait to keep them as hoftagcs in the citadel. 
 
 Lieutenant-General le Veneur, who at the time of 
 La Fayette's deferiion had followed that officer, and who 
 was indebted to Dumourier for his pardon, and his re- 
 eftablifhment in his rank, now came to Dumourier to demand 
 permiffion to retire from the army, on the pretence of 
 being in an ill ftate of health. His objecl was, to ob- 
 tain the command of the army of the Anarchifts. Du- 
 mourier granted him permiffion to retire, and alfo to a 
 general named Stetenhorfen, a foreigner whom Dumou- 
 rier had made major-general. Dampierre was at Quef- 
 noy. with his divilion, and carried on a treaty wtth the 
 commiiTioners of the Convention, as did alfo General 
 Chancel, who was cantoned at Frefnes. And their 
 example was followed by General Rollers, and General 
 Kermorvan, who had the command of the Belgians in 
 the camp of Bruille. 
 
 Dumourier 
 
Dumouricr wtis the more affccled by thefe inftances of 
 treachery, becauie all thofc officers had been indebted 
 to him for their rank, had complained more loudly than 
 any others againft the Anarchifts, and had prelled with 
 more feerning impatience the execution of his defign of 
 reftoring order* Excepting Dampierre who died in the 
 command of the army, and Chancel who replaced 
 Neuilly at Conde, and was obliged to furrender after a 
 long fiege, thefe officers have been punifhed for their in- 
 gratitude, by the fufpicions and difdain of their patrons, 
 and the lofs of their employments. This unhappy ex- 
 ample of treachery of fuperior officers, who were in 
 appearance mod attached to the caufe of the general, 
 could not fail to produce a pernicious effect on the 
 foldiery, and add flrength to the party of the 
 Jacobins. 
 
 Dumourier now few that he could no longer hope to 
 Vnarch to Paris without oppofition from his army, as the ' 
 temper of his troops at firit feemed to promife. He faw 
 that he would have to commence by a civil war, which 
 he had always thought of with repugnance ; and to com- 
 pel one part of his troops to combat the other, a dreadful 
 extremity for a general who regarded his foldiers as his 
 children, and who had never conducted them but by 
 his kindnefs, and the influence of a mutual affec- 
 tion. 
 
 Another circumftance rendered him timid, and de- 
 prived all his meafures of energy. This was, the danger 
 of the prifoners in the temple. It was to be feared that 
 the JaCobins would inftantly facrifice the unfortunate 
 victims, whom they already treated too unworthily to 
 afford any hope that they would fpare them in the firft. 
 moments of their fear and refcntment. Had thofe pri- 
 foners been facrificed in confequence of Dumourier's 
 march to Paris, he would have incurred the reproaches 
 of Europe, and hiftory would have configned him to 
 infamy ; while he would have prepared for himfelf an 
 anguilh, that would have endured through the remainder 
 of his life. 
 
 General Dnmourier from the time of his being at 
 Tournay, inceflantly meditated on this dreadful circum- 
 ftance. Befide General Valence, the Duke de Chartresj 
 and General Thouvenot, who partook of his councils, 
 Me alfo confided his thoughts on this fubject to Colonel 
 Mont joy, and Colonel Nordrnann, colonel of the regi- 
 
 H h racnt 
 
merit of Berchiny. He propofed to fend thofe two 
 rs with three hundred huflfars to Paris, on the pre- 
 tOfct of arrefting deferters, and fending them back ta 
 .irnv. He meant to have given them difpatches to 
 the ininiiler of v/ar, which would have juiiified their 
 ^; to Paris, and would have given it a natural air, 
 i i the cafe of their being interrogated. They were to 
 proceed as covertly as poffible by the foreft of Bondy ; 
 r.nd afterward, reaching the priibn by the Boule\ard of 
 the temple, were to force the guard, making falfe attacks 
 in fevcral different points, carry off the four illufhious 
 prlibners, placing each of them behind an huflar, and 
 having a voiture ready in the foreft, to puih foiward 
 with the utmoft fneed to Pont St. Maxence, where 
 M-iother body of cavalry were to be pofted to meet 
 i hem. 
 
 But to this end it was necefTary to be in poflefilon of 
 c' tlier Valenciennes, or Lille ; and the circumflances 
 that followed defeated the project, to which thofe two 
 worthy officers whom we have juft named, were altoge- 
 t devoted. There remained no means of faving the 
 iiluilrious- prifcneis from the rage of the Jacobins. To 
 i a confpH^scy in Paris demanded time, and the 
 emigrants had ib ill fucceeded in attempts of that nature, 
 that it hud been madnefs in the general to have placed 
 / confidence in fuch a plan. Deprived then of all 
 1 of delivering the prifoners, the general had no 
 ,T refource in their behalf, than to poffefs himfelf of 
 /.^.ges for their fafety. Hence he had fo anxioufly 
 fought to feize upon the Commiilioners of the Conven- 
 tion at Lille, and Valenciennes ; aud he was now de- 
 termined to detain fuch as might put themfelves into his 
 pcvver. 
 
 On the morning of the ^th of April, a captain of 
 Qnlicurs, whom Dumourier had polled at Pont-a- 
 ivlarque, on the road between Lifle, and Douav, with 
 fifteen trufty and refolute men under his command, with 
 orders to arrell any couriers, but above all the Commif- 
 fioners of the Convention, if they took the road from 
 Lific. to Paris, brought him advice that Bcurnonville the 
 jT.iniiler of war had palled them on the road to Lifle, 
 and' had informed him (the captain of Chaflcurs) that 
 he ihould afterward proceed to the head quarters of his 
 Hend General Dumoufier. The intimacy that fubllired 
 etween this minifler and the General was known. 
 
 Dumourisr 
 
( 23' ) 
 
 Dumourier was aftonifhed that he had received no cy : r~ 
 cr from Bcurnonville, nor any manner of advice reipc.x- 
 ing his journey, at a time when the General could cb 
 longer doubt of his being profcribed, and when r'. 
 Rubicon was already patted. This was the firft and to- 
 only intimation which Dumourier received to pr. 
 him for the important fcene that followed. 
 
 About four o'clock in the evening, two couriers c rrv? 
 to the General to announce the arrival of the miniuer of 
 war with four commiffioners of the National Convention, 
 Terror and defpair were painted on the countenance o? 
 thiifc meiTengers. Interrogated by fome of the ftarFci'ii- 
 cers refpefting the caufe, they did not hefitate to fay t- ;it 
 General Dumourier was utterly loft, that the comniiii;- 
 oners came to conducl him to the bar of the Conve;, 
 in virtue of a decree, but that the general would n 
 reach Paris, fmce aiTaffins were planted on the re: 1 
 bands of twenty and thirty, at Gournay, Rpye, and Se'fii 
 lis, in order to murder him. They even indicated \:\ ; 
 thefeaflafTIns were, being foldiers belonging to two ir.v, 
 regiments, called the"*Hu(Tars and dragoons of the If re- 
 public. The general had broken a Iquadron of the I 
 iars, for having refilled to obey their colonel, and 
 lent them back to France on foot a^nd without ;: 
 which the Jacobins had reftored them in order to alT.::-* 
 finale their general. The regiment of dragoons cor.i 
 of men who had committed numerous crimes at Pa?%; 
 from which they had been fent with great difficult-/ f > 
 join the army, where they attempted to repeat t! . 
 crimes. Their conduct was cowardly and attrocious, ,: ' 
 the general was compelled to act with fe verity to: 
 them on his retreat from the Netherlands. They .::", 
 ward dcfertsd and fled to Paris, \vhen they were no\v 
 patched to be the accomplices of the liuilar^. 
 
 Immediately afterward the minifter of war nnn 
 followed by the four commilTioner, who were C:i, 
 Tvlirque, Bancal, and Qiiinettc. - The minider ; 
 bracino; the general with expredions natural to (he'r 
 tviai attaciim^nt, informed him" that the comi 
 c'une to notify to the general a decree of the ' 
 Convention. General Valence was already wi 
 mourier, and the reft of the ftaff officers now c;- \ 
 the apartment. Partaking of the opinions of th, 
 rul as they hud partaken of his fatigues, dangers, vkio -; ; ! 
 
 , 
 
 H h 3 
 
$nd defeats, his fate was not to be feparated from theirs ; 
 end indignation rather that inquietude was exprefied in 
 their looks. Dumouiier Taw that this temper of mind 
 tnicht break out into violent confequences, wnicHinduced 
 him the more to preferve the compofure \vith which he 
 was determined to acl in this critical moment. 
 
 Dumourier would be unjuft if he did not offer the ho- 
 range of his efteein and gratitude, to thofe generous men, 
 who in the midft of his difgraces preferred the conftancy 
 of their Friendfhip to him, and their attachment to princi- 
 ple, by facrificing emolument and hone^v to follow him 
 in his retreat. Nor can he forbear here to record the 
 magnanimity of General Valence, who being offered the 
 command of the Armies on condition of arrefting Du- 
 mourier, not only fpurned at the offer without hefitation, 
 but concealed the dangerous temptations laid before him 
 by the commiiliancrs of the Convention from the know- 
 ledge of Dumouricr. 
 
 Camus fpoke for the members of this deputation. In 
 a manner that exprefled fome degree of irrefolution, he 
 requeued the general to go into another room with the 
 deputies, and minifter of war, in order to hear a decree of 
 the Convention refpecting him. The general anfwered, 
 that as all his actions had ever been public, and as the 
 fubjecr of a decree palled by feven hundred perfons could 
 be no myftery, he faw no reafon for complying with the 
 requeft, and that the officers who were prefent ought to be 
 witneffes of whatever mould pafs in this interview. JBeuiv 
 nonville, however, as well as the deputies, urged the rc- 
 qucfi with fuch appearance of refpect that the General 
 went with them into an inner room, but his fblT officers 
 would not permit the door to be clpfed, and General Va-r 
 Jence entered the room with him. 
 
 Camus preferred the decree to Dumourier ; who, hav- 
 ing read it with perfect compolure, returned it, and ob- 
 ferved, that forbearing within certain limits to condemn 
 a decifion of the National Convention, he could not but 
 iudge this order to be untimely, iince the army was 
 difor^.int/.ed and difcontented, and fince his quitting it 
 in that condition would be followed by its total diOolution ; 
 that i.t' would be prudent to fufpcnd the execution of the 
 ik-.Tce, till he fhould have reftorcd the army to its proper 
 footing, when he would be ready to render an account of 
 his'rondr.ct ; and when it mieht be decided whether cii> 
 es required or permitted his appearance at Paris; 
 
 that 
 
that he read in that decree, an article empowering the 
 Cornmiflioners to fufpend him from his functions and ap- 
 point another General, in the cafe of his difobeying the 
 order ; that the Convention having charged them with a 
 commiflion including fuch fcverity toward the general, 
 and of fo delicate a nature with refpc6l to themfelves, had 
 certainly relied no lefs on their prudence than on their 
 firmncfs, that therefore he would throw himfelf on their 
 difcretion, and would not pofitively refufe obedience, but 
 merely demand a delay in the execution of their order : 
 that, in fine, being now judges of all the circumftances, 
 they could eafily refolve on the conduct that became 
 them, and if they were determined upon fufpcnding him, 
 he would meet them halfway, by himfelf offering his re- 
 fignation to them, which he had fo often tendered during 
 the laft three months to the Convention. 
 
 Camus replied that the deputies had no authority to re- 
 ceive the General's refignation ; and then fa\d,But if your 
 refignation were accepted of, what would be your conduct 
 afterwards ? I Jhould aft as became me, the General an- 
 iwered ; but I have no hefitation in declaring to you, I 
 will neither by going to Paris fubjecl my f elf I o be treated 
 unworthily byjanatics, nor to be condemned to death by a 
 revolutionary tribunal. Then you do net acknowledge that 
 tribunal, laid Camus.- Irecognife in it, replied the Gene- 
 ral, a tribunal of Blood and- of Crimes, to which I never 
 will fab mi t while I have a [word that will not deceive me, 
 I moreover declare, that had I the pQwer Iwould abolifk it, 
 as being, a dijlionour to a free Nation. 
 
 The other three deputies who were men of much more 
 temper and moderation than Camus, perceiving that the 
 converfhtion became intemperate, interpofcd, and en- 
 deavoured to convince the general that ihc Convention 
 had no inimical deiicns againft him ; that he was loved and 
 efteemed bv every one, and that his prcfencc in Paris 
 would deflroy the calumnies of his enemies ; that his ab- 
 fence from the troops would not lie long, and that the de- 
 puties and minider of war would remain with the a; my 
 till his return. Quinettc offered to accompany the gene- 
 ral to Paris to be the pledge of his fafely, and to return 
 with him, making the moll fervent protections that 
 he would perfonally expoic himfeif to all danger in the 
 general's defence. After this the convcrfation became 
 jnore'-cool and temperate, Bancal, a man of reading and 
 
 talent, 
 
talent, endeavoured to win the general by his regard for 
 his name, and cited examples of obedience and renVna- 
 tion to the laws of the Greeks and Romans. Let us have 
 done with mijlakes, Sir, laid the general ; we degrade the 
 Roman hi/lory ; and disfigure the Roman virtues, that 
 they mayfcrve as an excufefor our crimes. The Romans 
 did not majfacre Tarquin. The Roman republic pcjfc/fed 
 a flable government and ju/l laws. They neither had a 
 Jacobin club, nor a revolutionary tribunal. We are in a 
 jlate of anarchy. Ferocious men thirfl for my blood, and I 
 tell you that I have often acted the part ofDecius but never 
 will that of Cur tins. 
 
 The deputies allured Dumourier that he had formed an 
 unjuft idea of the Hate of Paris ; and that indeed he was 
 neither called before the Jacobins, nor the revolutionary 
 tribunal, but to the Bar of the National Convention, and 
 that he would fpeedily return to his poft. 
 
 I pajfed the month of January at Paris, faid the gene- 
 ral, and fur dy that city has not become more reafonable 
 fmce, efpecially in the moment of public danger. I know 
 by the moft authentic of your journals, that the Convention, 
 is governed by Marat, the Jacobins, and the tumultuous 
 tribunes filled with the emiffaries of the Jacobins. The 
 Convention has not the power of favin^ me from the fury 
 cf thefe men ; and, if it became the refpetl that I owe ?ny- 
 jelfto appear b ef or efuch judges, even my deportment would 
 provoke my death. 
 
 Camus then returned to his categorical qucftion. You 
 refufe to obey the decree of the Convention ? The general 
 anfwered that he had already Rated to the deputies his 
 view of the iubjeft. He urged them to take a moderate 
 courfe,and exhorted them to return to Valenciennes, and 
 from thence to make a report to the Convention, fetting 
 forth the general's reafons, and fupportingthofe by {hew- 
 ing the impoffibility of taking the general from his army 
 at this inftant, without incurring the greateil rifk of dif- 
 banding it. 
 
 Dumourier acknowledges that, had they yielded to thefc 
 counfels, he mould have been imprudent enough to have 
 permitted their departure. The colleagues of Camus ap- 
 peared by no means unwilling to liften to reafon, altho' 
 on his part he rudely repulfed every conciliatory rnealure. 
 Call to mind, faid one of them, that your di [obedience in 
 this cafe- will caufe the ruin of the republic. Cambon/didin 
 y our tribune amidjlburfls -of applauft, anfwered the 
 
( 235 
 
 ral, that the fate of the republic refls not upon any ont\man. I 
 have, btfide, to obferve that the name, of the. republic does 
 not belong to us ; our condition is ahfolute anarchy. / 
 fwear to you that I have no defire to elude enquiry. I 
 promife you on my honour, a pledge that is inviolable with 
 military men, that when the nation /hall have a govern- 
 ment, and laws, I will give a faithful account of my aclions 
 and motives. I will my f elf demand a trial. At prefent, it 
 would be an acl ofinfanity in me. 
 
 The conference lafted more than two hours, but that 
 which has been itated was the exact purport of it. The 
 deputies retired into another chamber, to decide on the 
 courfe they (hould purfue. 
 
 Dumourier was at this period deceived refpecting the 
 defigns, and the conduct of Beurnonville ; in confequence 
 of which he has. made unjuft complaints of that minifter. He 
 learned afterward from a virtuous and impartial man, that 
 Beurnonville was conftant in his friendfhip to Dumourier ; 
 and the grofs accufations of Marat againft that miniiler is 
 an additional proof of the fat : and Dumourier is eager 
 to mal\e this public avowal of his error. 
 
 It is certain that Beurnonville, being feveral times ap- 
 pealed to by Dumourier refpecting the conduct he would 
 obferve in this cafe, conftantly faid, / cannot advife. 
 you. You know what it becomes you to do* As foon as 
 thedeputiies were withdrawn, the general complained that 
 Beurnonville had forborne to give him intelligence of the 
 approach of this important event, at the fame time how- 
 ever requeuing him to join the army, and again to take 
 upon him the command of the advanced guard. Beur- 
 nonville anfwercd, / know that I fhall fall a facrif.ce to 
 tny enemies, but I have refolved to die at my pofl. Mv fi- 
 tuation is terrifying. I fee you are decided, and that ike 
 Jl.ep you will take is of the mofl defperate kind. I demand 
 as a favour at your hands that you will not feparate ?ny 
 fate from that of the deputies. Be ajfured that I will not, 
 anfwered the General. Dumourier was at that moment 
 unjuft to the magnanimity of Beurnonville, whom he con- 
 fidered to be perfidious, or at the beft unworthily carried 
 away by circumftances. May he receive fome'confola- 
 tion in this juftice rendered to him by Dumourier. And 
 may his heart, juilly offended, be open to receive the at- 
 tenement of his friend ! 
 
 Beurnonville, Valence, and Dumourier returned to the 
 officers, who impatiently waited the refult of this long 
 
 conference. 
 
7 
 
 Conference. But their inquietude was not entirely 
 pated, for the general did not then acquaint them with the 
 refolution he had taken. Thelc officers have fmce told 
 him that, had he contented to go to Paris, they would have 
 prevented it by violence. 
 
 When the deputies firlt arrived at the general's quarters, 
 the regiment of Berchiny was drawn up in the court yard; 
 and the general had commanded Colonel Nordmann to 
 ielecl: an officer on whorr. he could rely, together with 
 thirty men,artd to hold them in readinefs to execute his 
 orders. The paftlons hy which the troops were agitated 
 were forcibly expreiled in their looks, and the general 
 exerted his influence to moderate them. 
 
 In this interval while the Deputies were deliberating* 
 Dumourier in walking met doctor Menuret, iurgeon to 
 the army, and faid to him, Wdl dcclcr, what remedy jhall 
 we apply to this ivound ? Menuret anfwered quickly, the 
 fame as in the preceding year at the camp of Maulde, a 
 grain of dif obedience-. 
 
 In about an hour the deputies returned to the General's 
 room, Camus much agitated, faid harihly, Citizen General, 
 Are you ready to obey the decree of the National Convention^ 
 and go with us to Pans? The General replied, Not in this 
 inflant. Then, faid Camus, / fufpwd you from your 
 functions. You no longer command the armies. I forbid 
 all per [on s to obey you, and command every one to affifl in 
 arrefting you. I ivill go myfelf and place thefcals on your 
 papers. 
 
 A murmur of indignation was heard. Give mt the 
 names of thoje perfons, Camus cried out rudely, pointing 
 to the officers around him. They will themfelves give you 
 their names. I have now other employment, replied Ca- 
 mus, who no longer knew what he faid : / demand your 
 papers. 
 
 Dumourier now faw that the emotion of his officers was 
 at its height and on the point of producing fome rafh 
 action. He faid, in a firm tone, This is infuffera bit. It 
 is time to put an end to Jnch injolc.nct. And, in the Ger^- 
 inan language he commanded the Huflars to enter. He 
 then ordered the officer of the hufiurs to arreft the four de- 
 puties and the minifter of war, but not to do them any per- 
 ibnai injury, and to leave BeurnonvJlle his arms. 
 
 Camus then faid, General Du?nourier, you are about to 
 dfflroy the Republic. Say rather it is you, old madman, 
 the General replied to him* 
 
 They 
 
( 237 ) 
 
 They were conduced into another chamber ; and af- 
 ter having dined, were conveyed in their own carriage to 
 Tournay, efcorted by a fquadron of the hurL,s of Ber- 
 chiny. Dumourier lent a letter to General Ciairfait, 
 faying thaj he lent him hoftages, who would be reiponfi- 
 blc for the excefles that might be committed at Paris. He 
 requeued General Clairfait to treat the minifter of war, 
 with more diftin6Uon than the reft. 
 
 Such were the facls relative to the arrcft of the Com- 
 miflioners of the Convention, which was a mcafure forced 
 on the General by circumftances. As to the a 61 of de- 
 livering them into the hands of the Imperialifts, it is to be 
 remembered thatDumourier had no fortrefs in which he could 
 keep them in fafety, and that the Imperialifts being as 
 deeply concerned as himfelf in the fate of the priibners of 
 the Temple, they could not be placed in any hands fo 
 fure. They could be detained merely as hoftages, nor 
 was there any danger to their perfonal fafety, their de- 
 tention being fimply an act of precau:ion on the part of 
 Dumourier. Befides, it is to be recollected, that the 
 Prince of Cobourg confented to ac~t on the footing of an 
 auxiliary to General Dumourier, in this war, for the 
 overthrow of the Jacobins, and for the re-efbbliihment of 
 Ihe Conllitution. Hence thefe hoftages were net really 
 priibners of the Imperiaiifts, but thofe of General Du- 
 mourier, for whom they held them. The deputies and 
 the minifter of war were lent to Maeftricht, where they 
 were kept till a change of circumftances required their 
 removal. 
 
 This event is one more Jnftance of the blind precipita- 
 tion attending upon all the meafuresofthe National Con- 
 vention. It is to be remarked aim, that Camus, who went 
 poft from Liege to vote for the death of Louis XVI. had 
 in this laft inftance, fuddenly quitted the frontier, to pro- 
 cure the arreft of General Dumourier, had himfelf dicta- 
 ted the decree, and had demanded to be charged with its 
 execution. It was therefore that he was fo Unrelenting 
 during the conference, left his colleagues ftiould have 
 yielded to perfuafion, and iliould have returned to Va- 
 jencknnes, as they were counfelleci to do by the Ge- 
 neral, 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 n 
 
CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Attempt to affaffmate General 'Dumourier on the $th of 
 April. Events of the. tjth of April. Departure of 
 General Dumourier. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY after this important event, Dumou- 
 rier fe-nt Colonel Montjoye to acquaint Colonel Mack 
 y'ith the circurnftance ; and to appoint a time and place, 
 for a conference between the General and Colonel Mack, 
 for the purpofe of finally concluding upon the terms of 
 their treaty, and for fettling the meaiures that ihould be 
 reciprocally taken, according to the conduct that ihculd 
 be adopted by Dumourier's army after this decifivc period. 
 Being informed that a congrefs of the Minifters of the 
 Combined Powers would fpeedily be held at Antwerp, 
 Dumourier fent General Valence to Bruflels that he might 
 b.c nearer the neighbourhood of the Congrefs. During 
 the night, Dumourier qomppfed a fhort manifefto, which 
 was digeited and put into form the following day. In 
 this, he drew up a recital of the facts of that day, and 
 t xpofed his motives for arrefting the Commiffioners of the 
 Convention. He particularly infifted on the neceffity of 
 poilcfling hofhges, a regard for whofc fafety might pre- 
 vent the crimes in which the Jacobins might otherwife in- 
 dulge on learning the event. 
 
 On the morning of the 3d of April, the General went 
 
 to the camp, and adure&'d the troops on the part he had 
 
 I, who appeared to approve of it with enthufiafm. He 
 
 nfrcrward went to St. Amand, io which place were thecorps 
 
 -tillcry, who teftified the fame approbation of the Ge- 
 
 .)nducl, as the troops in the camp, although the 
 
 : -;:;tigable zeal to feduce this corps was employed 
 
 <>y the emiilarics of the Jacobins of Valenciennes, and 
 
 illy .- f.vo of Dumourier's furcrior cfficers, one of 
 
 nt-colonel named BoubeiS, had received 
 
 r obligations from the General. 
 
 Dumourier 
 
( 239 
 
 Dumomier deemed it prudent to Deep at St. Amai^i, for 
 the purpofe of marking his confidence in the troops 
 there ; and at this place Colonel Montjoye brought him 
 the ani'wer of Colonel Mack. It was agreed that the 
 ' following morning the Prince of Cobourg, the Arch- 
 duke Charles, and the Baron de Mack friould me^t 
 General Dumourier, between Boffu and Conde, for I he 
 purpofe of refolving on the movements cf the t\vo 
 armies, an d refpe&ing the direction of the fuccours that 
 mould be granted of imperial troops in the cafe of Du- 
 mourier having cccafion to demand them. 
 
 The whole day of the 3d of .April paffed with as 
 great fuccefs as the General could expect. The army 
 appeared of one. mind, with the exception of fome mur- 
 murs that were heard among fome of the battalions of 
 volunteers : and a movement which the General prepared 
 to make on the 5th, was calculated to banifh the lecret 
 means of intrigue. The General defigned to take a 
 new pofition with the greater part of his army near 
 Orchies, by which means he would remove the troops from 
 the dangerous neighbourhood of Valenciennes ; would de- 
 ftroy the leii'ure that belongs to a permanent camp, and 
 in which intrigues have the greateil fcope for action ; 
 andjwould be able to menace Liile, Douay, and Bouchain. 
 He acknowledges that, had he adopted this plan imme- 
 diately on his entering the territory of Fiance, he would 
 probably have been more fuccefsfui. But, at that peri- 
 od he relied on Valenciennes and Conde ; and, perhaps, 
 it is to this error that the fequel is to be attributed. 
 
 It is, however, difficult to determine at prefent what 
 would have happened in that cafe. The character of the 
 events of that period, is fuch as no prudence could fore- 
 fee ; ftnce they were the fudden ais of the caprice of 
 the people, which were fubjccl to no calculation, and 
 that followed each other with a rapidity to which neither 
 forefight nor talent could oppofe any obffocle. And it 
 mud be acknowledged that the principle which fo 
 abruptly detached the French foldiers from a General 
 whom they had previously adored, has an afpec} 
 that cannot be regarded without aprobation. They were 
 in arms for the liberty of their country. They law 
 their General treat with the enemy. They thought 
 thcmfelves betrayed, and they paired from an efteem for 
 their General t?> the hatred of him. They were not 
 
 informed 
 
informed of the purport of his negotiations, nor of the 
 care the General had taken in that treaty, of the interests, 
 and honor of his country. He had not been able to do 
 more, with refpect to his troops, than to ftate to them in 
 general terms the necefTity of changing the government, 
 and putting an end to anarchy. '1 hey applauded the 
 defign ; but, as the General had not aided his plan by 
 feduclions, nor by terrors, the firft impreflion wore ea- 
 fily away ; and the activity of the Jacobins, more con- 
 ftant, more vigilant, and of a nature much more adapted 
 to make impreffions upon them, was employed with the 
 utmoft fuccefs. 
 
 The groffeft calumny takes root fpeedily in the minds 
 of men ; but more than in any other time, in a period 
 agitated by the dccmon of anarchy. Sufpicion ripens m 
 times of revolution, The word Traitor being once pro- 
 nounced, the multitude endeavoured to find in the defini- 
 tion of this word, the exact portrait of the General, whom 
 proclamations, but fb'U more the baier intrigues of cor- 
 ruption, devoted to difgrace. His prudence was now ar- 
 tifice ; his love of the public welfare, perfonal ambition ; 
 and a filence dictated by his judgment, knavery. One 
 quarter of an hour employed in the concealed labour of 
 falfehood, iupported by the powerful engine of corruption, 
 effaced all fober reflection in men, whole condition pre- 
 cludes them from much thought, and who delight in bar- 
 barous and bloody fcencs. 
 
 If we coolyexamine the progrefs of the revolution, we 
 fhatlfee that the activity of the Guillotine is the motive of 
 the- high patriotifm of the French. The fpectacle of fe- 
 vered heads, of torn limbs, carried in proceffion throughout 
 Paris and other cities, has begotten a terror in fome, and 
 in the reft an audacious barbarity ; and in both cafes has 
 produced a decifive effect, leading the former by fear, 
 and the latter by the neceffity of providing for their im- 
 punity, to the endlefs multiplication of murders. The 
 confequence is that the blood fpilt by this dreadful engine 
 has converted the nation into a mafs capable of efTeCiing 
 aftonifhing objects. 
 
 Frenchmen, do not be led to fuppofe that the indul- 
 gence with which Dumourier judges you, is an eulogium 
 on your conduct ! He detcfts your crimes. He regards 
 the fpecies of liberty you enjoy, as wild and incompatible 
 with the interefts of fociety ; and he would rather perifli 
 on your unjuft and permanent fcaffold, than be the apolo- 
 gift or partaker of your phrenzy I 
 
 This 
 
( 24' ) 
 
 This digreftion faithfully paints the feelings of Du- 
 mourier's mind, at the dreadful period which perhaps de- 
 cided the fate of France. Agitated by the various paf- 
 iions springing from his fituation, but fti 11 directed by prin- 
 ciples, he refilled the temptations of ambition. His jiftice 
 would not permit him to be Cromvve ; l, nor Monk, nor 
 Coriolanus. His power was extreme, but his \vifhes mo- 
 derate. And it is now a confoiation to him that he is 
 un/ortunate rather thnn criminal. 
 
 D'imoUrier received various reports every ii.fV.int, re- 
 fp^6ti:ig the diipofition of the g.irriibn of Conde. Pre- 
 vious to his moving with his army to Orchies, he faw thu 
 ncceflity of affuringhimfelf perfectly of Conde ; in order 
 to arrange the movements of the Imperialifts, his treaty 
 with whom he dared not avow, till he Ihould have made a 
 declaration to his troops of his ultimate views, and ihould 
 have commenced his march to Paris. 
 
 On the morning of the 4th, he departed from St. Amand 
 for Coade. He had left General Thouvenot at St. 
 Amarid,to regulate various details relative to his projected 
 movement, and to watch the public temper. An efcort 
 of tifty huffars, which he ordered to attend him, not arriv- 
 ing as he expected, and the time for his conference \vith 
 the Prince of Coburg approaching, he left one of his aids- 
 de-camp to follow him with the efcort, and departed with 
 the Duke de Chartres, Colonel Thouvenot, Colonel Mont- 
 joye, fome aids-de-cam-p, and eight ImlTars ; forming to- 
 gether a company of about thirtv perfons. 
 
 Dumourier proceeded towards Conde without any ap- 
 prehenfion, his thoughts being deeply engaged on fubjcCTS 
 far difiFerentfrom the fatal event which was about to arrive, 
 and of which he had not the lead prefentiment. 
 
 Being within half a league of Conde, between Frefnes 
 and Doumet, he met an officer difpatcheJ by General 
 Neuilly, to inform him that the garrifon were in the 
 greateft fermentation, and that it would not be pru- 
 dent for him to enter the place, till the commotion fhould 
 have ended, whether it ihould be in his favour or againft 
 him. Dumourier lent back the officer with an order to 
 General Neuilly, to fend the 1 8th regiment of cavalry to 
 Doumet to efcort him. 
 
 He had a little before overtaken a column of three bat- 
 talions of volun-tee-s marching; towards Conde, with their 
 baggage a-nd trtilk'iy. Surprifed at this march, for which 
 he had given no orders, he demanded of the officers where 
 
 they 
 
they were going. They anfwcred to Valenciennes,- 2nd 
 he obierved to them that they had turned their back on 
 Valenciennes, and were proceeding to Conde. At this 
 time he was in the midft of them, and had ilopped by the fide 
 of a ditch to fufFer them to pals. He does not conceive 
 why they did not then arrefl him. 
 
 While they were yet in light it was that General Neu- 
 illy's meflenger arrived. Then comparing in his mind 
 the tumult of the garrifon of Conde, and the. unexpected 
 march of thefe three battalions, he withdrew an hundred 
 paces from the high road, with a clefign of entering the 
 iiril houfe in Doumet, for the purpofe of writing a formal 
 order to thefe three battalions, to return to the camp of 
 Bruille, to which they belonged. 
 
 At this inftant, the head of the column fuddenly quit- 
 ted the high road, and ran toward him, uttering dreadful 
 cries. He then remounted his horfe, and proceeded at a 
 moderate pace toward a broad ditch, on the other fide of 
 which was a marmy ground. Shouts, infults, repioaches, 
 and above all the word s,//tf/; ,/?<?/>, forced him to pafs the 
 ditch. His horfe having refuied to take it, he was obli- 
 ged to clear it on foot. He was no fooner on the other 
 iide, than a difcharge of mufkets fucceeded the former tu- 
 multuous cries. The whole column was inftanily in mo- 
 tion ; the head and centre endeavouring to overtake him, 
 and the rear quitting the high road with equal rapidity, 
 to get between him and the camp of Bruille, which he was 
 endeavouring to regain. 
 
 He was now in the moft imminent danger. He was 
 on foot. The Baron de Scomberg threw himfelf frcm his 
 horfe, and infilled on the general's mounting, though with 
 the certain facrifice of his own life. The general refufed. 
 At length he mounted a horfe belonging to a domefHc of 
 the Duke de Chartres, who, being extremely active, fled 
 on foot. Dumourier's horfe was taken and led in tri- 
 umph to Valenciennes. Two huffars were killed, as well 
 us two of the general's domeftics, one of whom carried 
 his great coat. Colonel Thouvenot had two horfes kil- 
 led under him, and faved himfelf at laft by mounting be- 
 hind the faithful Baptiile, who alfo loft two horfes. The 
 unfortunate Cantin, the general's fecretary, was taken and 
 perifhed on a fcaffold. This young man pciTefied great 
 underftanding, courage, fidelity, and patriotifm. The 
 three battalions fired more than ten thoufand ball. 
 
 The 
 
243 
 
 - The general, unable to regain his camp, proceeded a- 
 long the Scheldt, and arrived, (1111 purfued, though not ib 
 clofely, at a ferry, a little diftance from the village of 
 Wihers, which was fituated on the Imperial territory. He 
 palled the river, accompanied by five other perfons. The 
 remainder gained the camp of Maulde, through adilcharge 
 of mufquetry. As foon as the general had pafled the river 
 he proceeded on foot through a morafs, to a neighbouring 
 houfe ; where, at firft he was refufed admittance, but on 
 announcing his name was immediately received by the 
 worthy owner. Thence he continued his route on foot 
 to Bury, where was quartered a divifion of the Imperial 
 regiment of dragoons of la Tour. Here he wrote to Co- 
 lonel Mack, and took fome refremment, of which he 
 flood greatly in need. Fie was already joined by the 
 faithful Baptifte, who, paffing through the whole of the 
 camp, had turned by Montagne, and had every where 
 fpread an alarm. 
 
 Dumourier learnt from Baptifte, and other perfons du- 
 ring the courfe of the day, that the defigns of the three 
 battalions were entirely unknown to the troops ; that, on 
 the n~\vs of their defertion and attempt to murder the ge- 
 neral being Spread, the ftrongeft indignation was expref- 
 ed by the foldiery ; and that the efcort of huflarsand feme 
 other horfe had purfned the three battalions, who fudderi-. 
 ly Wheeling, had fled to Valenciennes. Baptifte ddded, 
 that the whole camp was in a (late of the greateil inquie- 
 tude, and importunately demanded the return of the gene- 
 ral. 
 
 It was now too late to rejoin his army, and it was ne- 
 cefTary that hefhoald wait for Colonel Mack, to whom he 
 owed an account of the reafon of his failing in the appoint 
 ment in the morning. That officer arrived in the eve- 
 ning ; and Dumcurier having recited to him the attempt 
 which had been made on his perfon, obferved, that this 
 was the crime of individuals, which far from corrupting 
 the difpofition of his troops, would neceflarily ftrengthen 
 their attachment to their General, and deftroy all their 
 remaining connection with the anarchies ; that confequent- 
 Iv, far from being clifcouraged, his defign was to return to 
 his camp by day-break the following morning, to put him- 
 felf at the head of his foldiers who loudly demanded his 
 return, and to purfue his plan openly and with the utmoll 
 vigour. 
 
 Colonel 
 
( 244 ) 
 
 Colonel Mack, to whom the m Hilary virtues were fa- 
 miliar, has firce acknowledged thai this fpccies of cou- 
 rage then appeared to him rr.oie aftcnifhing than that\\ hich 
 is difplayed in the dangers cf a battle. Had htr then feen 
 all the foul of Dumourier, he would have found lu^ ap-< 
 parent fecurity mingled with apprehenfjon, excited by the 
 ex;. rrip e and L.te of La Fayette. But the general's refo- 
 lution was taken. He refolved to facrilice himielf through- 
 out ; and would not give his -army occafion to lay, 
 that the defertion was on his part, or that, being recalled 
 by his foidicrs, he had refitted their wifhes. 
 
 Dumourier pailedpait of the night in digefting, with Colo- 
 re. * 'Vc k,the prodamationofthePrii cecfCcbourg,\\ hich 
 appeared on the 5th of April, with that of General Du- 
 )],. .ner. The Imperial General in his proclamation de- 
 clared, that he was now no more than an auxiliary in the 
 vrar, apainft the anarchifts of Trance ; that it was not the 
 intention ot his fovereigri to make con quefts, but toco-ope- 
 rat*, in reftoring peace and order to France, with Gene- 
 ril Dumourier, whole principles, as they were exprelTed 
 in his pioclnmation, he adopted. 
 
 It was again agreed by Colonel Mack, and Dumourier, 
 that, as fjoa as the latter fhould be mafter of Conde, he 
 ihould deliver it to the Auftrians, in order to ferve as a 
 riiae;a>.i>.;e and place of arms for the Imperial arrnyj in the 
 cafe of aid being demanded by Dumourier ; that he {1-ould 
 beinftantly furnifhtd wnL fuch fuccouisa'; he mould de- 
 mand ; that he {horH fpecify the number of infantry and 
 cavalry to be granted him, the mode ii? which thefe ii.ould 
 fcrve, whether by a jundtion with b.is troops, or by mak- 
 ing one or more feparate diveifions in behalf of the caufe ; 
 that, however, DuOiouiier ihould not call for fuccours, but 
 in cafe of ablblute need, it being more agreeable to the 
 mutual object of the parties, that hefheuld endeavour to ac- 
 complifhi it by his own troops only ; r.nd that, in cafe of 
 his being able to do fo, the Irrrperialifts fi ould remain 
 neuter, and fhouid not pafs the frontiers of France.' 
 
 The proclamation of the Prirce of Cobourg, made in 
 conftquence of this negociation, has been condemned but 
 unjuftly. Of what real advantage had it not been to the 
 ]-n per ia lifts, and what folid glory had they not acquired, 
 if", by enabling Dumourier to march to Paris, they could 
 hv iVs ruble moderation have fpared the blood and tres- 
 fure t;at will be wafted in this quarrel, for which the towns 
 
( 245 ) 
 
 that may be acquired with infinite difficulty will be nj 
 manner of compenfation, 
 
 It is to be feared that an avidity for conquefts among 
 the belligerent powers is the real obftaclc to the termina- 
 tion of this deftruclive war. By this paffion they were 
 prevented from feizing upon the occafion offered ,by the 
 departure of General Dumourier, and the confequent 
 annihilation of his army, of preffing forward to Paris. 
 The combined powers have fince loft their time in ma- 
 king a methodical war, while the French have been able 
 to recover themfelves, and tl,~ir armies have become 
 more numerous, and better difciplined. 
 
 On the 5th of April at day-break, Dumourier pro- 
 ceeded with an efcort of fifty Imperial dragoons to the 
 advanced guard of his camp at Maulde, where he was 
 received with the greateft joy. He harangued the feve- 
 ral corps, by whom he was ^nfwered with expreflions of 
 affcdHon. Notwithftanding, he remarked that there 
 were fome indications of a contrary fpirit, and leverai 
 factious groups aflfembled in different parts. 
 
 His next defign was to go to St. Amand, to prepare for 
 the movement of his troops to Orchies, according to his 
 former plan. As he was entering the city, one of his 
 aids-de-camp came toward him on the full gallop, and 
 informed him that during the night the corps of artillery, 
 excited by the emiffaries of Valenciennes, who had fpread 
 the report that the general was drowned in the Scheldt 
 in flying to the enemy, had fent a deputation to Valen- 
 ciennes, and that on the return of their deputies they 
 had inftantly role upon their generals, driven them from 
 the place, and were preparing to march to Valenci- 
 ennes. 
 
 Dumourier had with him, two fquadrons of the regi- 
 ment of Berchiny, a fquadron of the buffers of Saxe f 
 fifty curiaflfiers, and a fquadron of the dragoons of Bour- 
 bon. Yielding to his emotions of paffion, he refolved 
 to fall upon St. Amand with this body of cavalry. His 
 officers, however, reprefented the danger and inutility of 
 this ftep, as he had no infantry at hand, and would fub- 
 jet his efcort to be mown down by the artillery* He 
 gave way to their reafoning. He learnt {hortly after that 
 the corps of artillery went to Valenciennes. The money 
 belonging to the army and the equipages of the officers 
 remaining in the city without guard, he commanded 
 them to be conduced to Rumegies, at the diflance of a 
 
 Kfc leagim 
 
C '46 ) 
 
 league from his camp, on the rond to Orchies; t-IiaU 
 village being protected by a part of his advanced guard 
 cantoned there. 
 
 The corps of artillery was the flower and ftrength ot" 
 the French army. Feeling its importance,, it abounded 
 mare than the others in vflubs and orators, and indeed,, 
 might pals for the Pretorian guard of the revolution. 
 When iti defertion was known in the two camps, part 
 of the troops followed, and confufion and difrnay were 
 pre i among the reft. Several of the general officers 
 who waited for the opportunity were cae;er to lead entire 
 divifions to Valenciennes. Thofe who Hill remained, 
 attached to the perfon, or principles of Dumourier, 
 fnllcad of ihewing themfelues t their troops, and fetting, 
 an example of" courage, were ftruck with terror, conceal- 
 ed t he raj elves, or thought only of their WIT fafety. 
 General La Marlicr had been among the weft, forward 
 ot the enemies of Anarchy, and poflerTed the entire 
 confidence of General Valence ; who, when he depar- 
 ted from Bruffels,' confided the whole of his baggage 
 and effects to him, with a reqjueft that he would fend 
 them after. Valence to. Tournay. La Marlier appropri- 
 ated the money, Fiorfcs-, and property f his. general to- 
 Iiis own.ufe, a*id defcrted to Valenciennes.. 
 
 Dumourier was at Uumesaes, dictating ordsrs to ber 
 iflued to the different parts of trie army, when he heard 
 of the detection of the troops in camp. Nothing was 
 left him now but to provide for his perional fafety.- He 
 mounted, his horfe, attended by General Thouvenof, 
 and Iiis brother the colonei, the Duke de Ghartres, 
 Colonel Montjoye, and Lieutenant-colonel Barrois, two 
 or three others of his ftaff, and fome Aids-de-camp y 
 having no efcort ; and retiring to Tournay alighted at 
 the quarters of General Clairfait. Lie was followed i/Y 
 about an Fiour afterward, *by fifty Cuira fliers half a 
 iqu^.d'-on of 'the huiTars of'Saxe, and the wlioic of th.j 
 regiaient of Bsrchir/y. Thole brave and worthy men r 
 brought \vith them the equipages be ] ongir.2 to the general 
 and the ftaft*ofHcers, excepting the laddie horlVs of the 
 genera', which were ftalen by one of Lis giooms, who 
 joined' tlie anarcIiiRs. 
 
 The- tr >ops of which we have ji ft fj'oken and a few 
 ^thers that, arrived ihortly afterward, amountJnc: to about 
 leven hundred liorfe, and eight hundred infantry, fol- 
 lowed the General without uiiy iclicitation en his parr; 
 
 and 
 
( 247 ) 
 
 xnd tliis circumftance renders hitn the more anxious re- 
 i peeling the fate of thole men, the companions of his 
 former gjpry, and of his laft dil grace. 
 
 Dumoiirier in retiring from France invited no one to 
 follow him. His plan had totally failed, and a few 
 men more or 1-efs on either fide would not influence 
 events. Tire individuals attached to h-is caufe had 
 ties of family and of inteivft in France, and he re- 
 folved not t-o multiply misfortunes without benefit, 
 riiofe who followed him, therefore, had the real merit 
 of being guided by principle. 
 
 In the confmSon that fucceeded the General's depar- 
 ture, none of the orders that had been itiucd were exe- 
 cuted. Lieutenant-general Vouille, who commanded 
 the advanced guard, did not receive the order of with- 
 drawing it within the campof Maulde till the 6th, when, 
 it was no longer in his power. The General retired to 
 Totirnay, as did alto Major-general Neuilly, who had 
 ftfcaiidoned Conde, Major-general de Bannes, Second, 
 and de Dumas, and lorne of the principal officers of the 
 battalions of Volunteers ; where they were afterward 
 joined by Lieutenant-general Marafle, Major Generals 
 Rault and Berneroji, and Colonel Amandin. 
 
 The treafury or" the Army contained two millions of 
 livres in fpecie. It had been carried from St. Amand 
 to Fumes, between Conde and Valenciennes, by a 
 battalion of Chaileurs, who at hrft deliberated refpe&ing 
 the dividing of it among themlelves, but afterward being 
 jikely to quarrel, in order to avoid the bloodshed that 
 would enfue, made a merit of their patriotism and con- 
 ducted it to Valenciennes. Soliva, a commiflary of the 
 army of the Ardennes, m-.rfued thcfe troops with a 
 fquadron of the dragoons of Bourbon, retook the money 
 on the Glacis of Valenciennes, and led it back to Fur- 
 nes ; but beins, preflcd by new battalions was a^ain 
 obliged to adandon it. Soiiva and tire dragoons retired 
 by Mons. They might have brought off the money had 
 they pa fled by Braille, and Mortugne, but the confuficm 
 of the moment prevented recollection and forefiaht. If 
 the treafurv of the army had been laved, the General's 
 fituation had been very diiibrent ; and the little armv 
 that followed his fortunes, would have encrcafed rapidly, 
 being in a irate to piy them, inltead of being as he really 
 was, without money. This circurnftance proves, that 
 the pay of the army was not embezzled by him, nor em- 
 K k 2 lo 
 
ployed as a means of corruption. Dumourier placed little 
 confidence in means of corruption, in which as the lea- 
 der of a party his conduct was greatly erroneous. 
 
 Dumourier had not the qualities that were requifite for 
 the leader of a party. It is probable that he would have 
 filled the ftation of a General or an AmbaiTador with fuc- 
 cefs, under a ftable government, whether monarchical,or 
 republican. But the violent (late of things in France, 
 deftru&ive of all his pre-conceived ideas of juftice, and in- 
 juftice, threw him entirely out of his fphere. His acti- 
 vity, fo greatly fpoken of even by his enemies, was re- 
 preffed by his dread of committing crimes ; and he pre- 
 ferred his own efteem to fuccefs. Thus in his firft re- 
 flections, after his retreat among the Imperialills, he faw 
 the caufe of his failure in himfelf, but he felicitated him- 
 fclf on the fa6t. To have fwayed the fortune of France, 
 had undoubtedly given him a noble place in hiftory ; but 
 to have been indebted for it to the flagiticmfnefs of his con- 
 duct, was too fevere a condition ; and he was happy in 
 refigning one to efcape the other. 
 
 He invites men of high Nations to examine themfelves 
 with the fame aufterity ; and moralifts, to fludy the influ- 
 ence which character has on events. ' Csefar and Pom- 
 pey, determined a noble quarrel by noble means, and on 
 both fides were difplayed greatnefs of mind, virtues, and 
 talents. Had thole men been furrounded with the low- 
 eft vices of the meaneft claffes in fociety , they would have 
 fl^d, or would have fallen viclims. It demands a Maa- 
 niello to conduct the populace. But when a great nation 
 becomes an entire populace, neighbouring nations are 
 thrown into the greateft embarraflment ; becaufe the elec- 
 tric ipirit fpreads with more rapidity among the people, 
 than among the higher orders of men. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Dumourier at Mons* Eft&tli/Jiytcirt of tfye French at 
 Leuze. Congrefs oj Antwerp. Second Prodajnatwn of 
 the Prince of Cobourg. Departure of the General jor 
 BruJJcls. 
 
 OENERALCLAIRFAITgaveordersforthererrption 
 of the French troops which might arri ve in the villages round 
 the town of Leuze, which was fixed upon for the refidence 
 oi'.ihe French gen era I officers ; and Dumourier departed for 
 
( 249 ) 
 
 Mons, accompanied by the Duke dc Chartrcs, Colonel 
 Thouvenot, Colonel Montjoye, and Lieutenant Colonel 
 Barrois, paiTing by Bury, to concert meafures with the of- 
 ficer commanding the Imperial advanced poft, for proteft- 
 ing the retreat of fuch of the French as ihould join the 
 Imperialifts. 
 
 The Impcria lifts were faithful to their truce. It is cer- 
 tain that had they fallen on the French camp on the jjth 
 of April, they might have utterly deftroyed the army. 
 Their conduct was therefore highly honourable : yet, 
 without incurring the blame of perfidy, perhaps on that 
 day they ought to have made a movement with their army, 
 taking pofleffion of the camp of Maulde, and (hewing 
 themfelves at St. Amand : they not only would have 
 found no refinance, but probably would have been joined 
 by feveral battalions of the French, which during more 
 than four-and-twenty hours, appeared by their movements 
 to be irrefolute as to the conduct they fhould purfue. But 
 however this may be, the fidelity of the Imperialifts to their 
 engagements, is to be- applauded. Their motives were 
 mod worthy, as well as the gencrofity with which they re- 
 ceived the French refugees, who had certainly been a- 
 mong the bravefl of their enemies. 
 
 Durnourier found Colonel Mack at Bury, from which 
 place they departed together for Mons, in the general's 
 carriage. It was agreed between them, that the Impe- 
 rialifts fhould inftantly befiege Conde, and that the place 
 ihould be fummoned in the name of General Dumourier, 
 who accordingly wrote the fummons and lent it the fol- 
 lowing day to the Imperial headquarters. It was further 
 agreed that a return fhould be made of the officers and fol- 
 diers which accompanied or followed Dumourier ; that 
 confidering their haying unfortunately loft theis -military 
 cheft, they fhould receive the pay of their refpecKve rank.% 
 at the rate that officers of the fame rank in the Imperial 
 fervice were paid, and fhould be placed on the fame foot- 
 ing ; that a commiffury of war belonging to the Imperial 
 army ihould be attached to thcfe troops, together with a 
 French commiflary, to certify the juftice of the returns ; 
 that an advance ihould be made from the Imperial trea- 
 fury of 30,000 florins, which ihould be put into the hands 
 cf the French ftalF officers for the pay of their troops, that 
 Dumourier fhould have the rank, and eftabliihment of 
 Fcld-zctigmtiftcr (general of the artillery) ; and that fi- 
 nally, this pay and advance ihould be regarded as a loan 
 to the party of Dumourier, and that the general fhould en- 
 gage, as focn as any progrefs fhould be made in. France, 
 * reimburse this fum to. the Imperial treafury. 
 
It is a confolation to General Durnourier, that the com- 
 panions of his mifortunes continue to enjoy this eftablilh- 
 .ment. Indeed they have, fmce that -period, heen fubjeft- 
 ed to the condition of taking an oath, which was not in 
 thefirft inftanc required ; but at that period they were 
 the foldiers of a party which no longer exifts, and it hns 
 been fince deemed neceffary to demand that fccurity for 
 their fidelity. Dumourier would himfelf become their 
 pledge with readinefs, having throughout the war tried 
 their fidelity, courage, and refignation. Let them accept 
 of this teftimcfny of the efteem and arlecYion of their ge- 
 neral, and may they be recompsnfed for their virtues in 
 contributing to the fuccefs of the power whom they will 
 faithfully ferve, 
 
 In purfuance of thefe arrangments, Dnrnourier caufed^ 
 by the order of the Prince of Cobourg, 10,000 florins to 
 be advanced to the French troops at Leuze; unwilling, 
 through motives of delicacy, to take the whole of the mo- 
 ney agreed to be advanced, becaufe in penetrating fpeed- 
 ilv into France this fum would have ierved till they could 
 have proceeded further into the interior part of the coun- 
 try ; and Durnourier appeals to the Prince of Cobourg, 
 Colonel Mack, and the other principal officers of the 
 Imperial army, refpe&ing the clearnefs and dihtereftednefs 
 of his condi:6t. It was further decided that the general, 
 till he ihould be employed with his troops, fhould be pro- 
 vided with quarters, near thofe of the Prince of Cobourg; 
 end the Imperial head quarters being cflablifhed at Bouil'u, 
 General Dumourier's quarters were fixed at the abbey of 
 St. Ghillain. 
 
 Dumourier makes here an avowal of his gratitude to 
 the general officers of the Imperial army, by whom he was 
 treated with diftingmihed marks of regard, and more par- 
 ticularly by the Archduke Charles, and the Prince of Co- 
 bour<r. Ac this time was formed a friendfhip between 
 Colonel Mack and Dumourier, which on the part of the 
 latter will never be diminifhed. Colonel Mack is an of- 
 ficer of uncommon virtue, and military talents, and the un- 
 bounded confidence placed in him by the Imperial army 
 is the jufi recompence of his fervices. It is greatly 
 to be hoped, for the intercO: of the houfe of Auftria, that 
 the health of this officer will be reftorcd. 
 
 During two days that Dumourier was at Mons, he was 
 treated by the inabitants in a manner that is flattering to 
 his own honour ; and his reception was the fame at Tour- 
 ray, Leuze, and indeed, throughout the whole of that 
 country ; ihefe worthy people being fenfible of the fer- 
 
( 35' ) 
 
 vices he had rendered them, efpecially on his rctrun from 
 Holland, and during the retreat of his army to France. 
 
 It would be injuftice not to name aa inftance of the de- 
 licate attention of the Prince of Cobourg to Dumourier's 
 Situation. The General feeing a corps of two hundred 
 chaffeurs belonging to the emigrants, as they pailed thro* 
 Mons, on their route to join the advanced guard of the 
 army, represented to the Prince of Cobourg, that this 
 mingling of the emigrants with his troops could not but 
 produce fatal effects, cfpecially on entering France ; and 
 the Prince of Cobourg inftantly gave counter orders to the 
 chafTeurs ; lending them by Namur, to fcrve in the ad- 
 vanced guard of the Prince of Hohenloe. 
 
 The Prince of Lambefc-Lorraine tcftified alfo to the 
 general his gratitude for the eiTential fervice rendered to 
 his houfe by Dumourier when he was Minifter of Fo- 
 reign Affairs, in preventing an unjuft confifcation of his 
 property, and of that >.f the Princefs of Vaudemont. 
 
 On the yth of April, the Prince of Cobourg departed*, 
 with Colonel Mack, to attend the Congrefs, held at Ant- 
 werp ; from which place he returned on the evening cf 
 the 8th. Dumourier pafled thole two days at Leuze, in 
 the midflof his comrades, whole tincafinefs he diffipatcd 
 by informing them- of the eftablifhments made for them 
 by the Imperialifts. General Vouille took the command 
 of thefe troops ; and Dumourier, affiiled by General 
 Thouvenot, began to reform them, according to the re- 
 gulations of the Imperial army ; which was the more ne- 
 eeflary, as the refugees werccompofed only of fragments 
 of the different corps ; withthe exception of the regiment 
 of Berchiriy. Durnouriei quitted the companions of his 
 misfortune^ on the evening of the 8fh, and felt fome pre- 
 fentimenl that he fhculd not return to them. On the- 
 snorning of the qth he arrived at Mons, where he founf 
 the Prince of 'Cobourg, letting off for his head quarters-. 
 Dumouri'er went there alfo ; and after treating further oa 
 what regarded their mutual interefts r he went in the eve- 
 ning to the quarters which had been prepared for him at 
 the abbey of St. Ghiilafn. 
 
 On the morning of the icth of April, a proclamation 
 ef the Prince of Cobourg was brought to Dumoimer, datccJ 
 the gth, which entirely annulled the former proclamation 
 of the 5th;.andexprefsly declared, thatthePrinceofCobourg 
 would thenceforth carry on the war againft France, in 
 behalf of his fovereign, and would hold fuch towns, as 
 lie rni^ht take, by the right of conqueft, amd on tlte ground 
 ef indemnity. 
 
The emigrants have had the imprudence to rejoice at 
 the iffuing of this latter, and to condemn the former. It 
 might be demanded if thefe emigrants were Frenchmen. 
 But, letting alide the influence of paffions, by which not 
 only individuals, but alfo the governments interefted in 
 this war are influenced, it will appear but too true, that 
 the fecond proclamation of the Prince of Cobourg, in de- 
 priving Dumourier's- party of all means of a&ing in con- 
 cert, and in fetting forth the belligerent powers as rapa- 
 cious conquerors, has attached the whole of the French 
 armies to the intereft of the National Convention, which 
 the greater part of them had previoufly detefted ; has 
 compelled the caufe of royalty to be forgotten, in the dan- 
 ger of the country ; has pointed out the falvation of France 
 asrefting on the exigence of the Republic ; has rallied 
 the different parties round the ftandard of the national 
 honour ; and has certainly been injurious to the fuccefs 
 of the campaign, and rendered the ifluc of the war ex- 
 tremely uncertain. 
 
 This fecond pioclamation was ifiued at the conclufion 
 of the Congrefs at Antwerp, in confequencc of the deter- 
 mination of the minifters of the combined powers. Du- 
 mourier now faw that his treaty with the Imperialifts was 
 entirely deflroyed ; and, without offering ufelefs 'com- 
 plaints of this fudclen change in the councils of the Impe- 
 rialifts, he confulted only his character, and principles, 
 and refolved to lacrificc all his peribnal interefts. 
 
 He repaired inftantly to the head quarters, and told the 
 Prince of Cobourg frankly, that he came to thank him for 
 the perfonal kindneffes he had rendered him, and that he 
 hoped to continue to merit his cfleem ; that when he en- 
 tered into a treaty with the Prince of Cobourg, his obje6l 
 was the regenera^on of France, and not its difmember- 
 ment ; that he would not enter into any difcuvnon con- 
 cerning the motives of the combined powers ; but that for 
 his part, he could have no mare in leffening the territory 
 of France, or employ either his influence, or his mode- 
 rate talents, in that tafk ; and that therefore he felt him- 
 ielf obliged to withdraw from the coalition, and muft be- 
 fcech the Prince cf Cobourg to grant him a paflfport. 
 
 The Prince of Cobourg could not forbear to exprefs his 
 high efteem of his delicacy. The Arch Duke Charles, 
 and Colonel Mack, alfo exprefled their efteem for the ge- 
 neral ,* and he departed for Bruffels. Dumourier can 
 have no doubt that, after a direct violation of the princi- 
 ples of the treaty that had taken place, and after an open 
 difavowal of the proclamation iiTued in confequence of 
 
( '53 ) 
 
 "(hat treaty, liis prefencc muft have been embarraffing to 
 the Imperialiils, and th.it they regarded the refolution he 
 took with plealure. But itwas not long that he left them in 
 any perplexity, his refolution was taken the moment he 
 perceived ther dcfigns. ' 
 
 Before Dumourier quitted the Imperial army, he had 
 the fatisfadtkm of knowing that his former companions 
 would be continued in their rank and employments. 
 They are well treated and ferve in the Imperial army, 
 where affuredly they will fupport their reputation, 
 
 Being arrived at Bruflels, he explained the motives of 
 his conduct to the Count de Metternich, the emperor's 
 miniiler in the Netherlands, who received him with the 
 greateft friendfnip, and gave him a paiTport for Ger- 
 many. 
 
 In this place the memoirs of the public life of General 
 Dumourier are concluded. The remainder of his life 
 has been filled up with difficulties, dangers, perfections, 
 and calumnies of every kind, of which he may one day 
 render an account to the public. But this hiftory can 
 only intereft thofc who are truly his friends, and they are 
 not many : or, real philofophers, and -fucli are indeed 
 rare. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 Conclufion. 
 
 SUCH is the ferics of events in three of the moft 
 difaftrous months of General Dumourier's life. In this 
 fliort period he has experienced all the miferies, and all 
 the dangers, that the weaknefs and wickednefs of man 
 can inflict upon a public character. Calumny and injuf- 
 tice form the outline of this dark picture, which may 
 ferve as a leffon to men of every defcription, and from 
 which philofophy alone can extract thofe confolatory 
 reflections which propriety of conduct and rectitude of 
 motive fupply. He hates, neither thofe who have de- 
 famed his character, nor thofe who have purfued his life, 
 nor thofe who have refufed him an afylum, and whole 
 ungenerous and ill founded refentment pcrfecutes him 
 wherever he flies. The firft, are ignorant of the true 
 (late of thofe facts, which, from their very fingularity, 
 are exceedingly liable to mifreprefef.tation. The fecond, 
 
 L 1 
 
are actuated by that Ipirit of fanaticifm, winch is rcafon- 
 uble proof. The third, arc prejudiced by calumny, 
 and confider him as a dani.ejous character. 
 
 The Mh.ii.ers of f<>n }. n courts have "iven it out, after 
 the Emigrants, that be Is a proper. aB.jcft of luipicion, 
 that they can never be hire he wiij rot veer about 
 and put liimfelf at the liead of the French. His pro- 
 icription, and his three declarations, ought to be a iuffi- 
 cient pledge of his firmnefs : thofe three pieces have 
 ivii.'cd him rrnny enemies by the perverie imfccnftruo 
 i'.u'a given to his. expDajfiotiS. 
 
 He avows liiat.he jlafilonatcly loves his country. and 
 that he will never hefitate a mcnu-'iit to facrii:ce his life 
 to its welfare; but he declares, at the fame time, that 
 v/hilft it is polluted with crime?, and delivered over to 
 the horrors of anarchy, he will never enter it again : 
 that, profcribed, as he is. and an out raft of ibciety, he 
 prefers all the miferies and all the dangers he may incur, 
 TJ) the moft fplendid fituation in which the opprefibrs of 
 hrs countrymen, and the inciters of their mad exceiies, 
 could place him. 
 
 [c has. been the open enemy of thofe powers who 
 wifiied to interfere in the internal attairs of his country, 
 lot-i whilft he was a minifier, and whilft he was a gene- 
 ral; becaufe he was moil firmly perfuaded, that the 
 Revolution, v/hich \vns ' doubileis, expedient ad inevi- 
 table, would liave h-ecn accorrl|)lifhed;, not only with 
 
 open inCQuragemehJ given to the emigrants, liad not 
 c \aiperated to rnadnels a people by nature impetu- 
 ous and violent. After licentioufneis and anarchy had 
 destroyed eve Bjcarrcei he w'lhed to avail him- 
 
 ieif of thefune ibreiiin powers to re-eftabjija order, not 
 i-ricrely without irpurv to his country, but with the 
 ii-icic tender Eegafd i<:r its intertTt and its glory. 
 
 When he fnw that this became impructicL-.ble, he form- 
 ed the plan of a diveriion, by which he conceived re 
 > inlit cITenti :: the c;::;fe of his country a.nd of 
 
 >pe. Diiiruil, or other motives, prevented its exe- 
 cution. He grieves Mt iho protraction of -the U.llciings 
 cf human nntiire : he fjrtiis impaf ' the fcnrjina- 
 
 iion of ihiscaiauiitions.wa", wbbqut i^v. feeing the means 
 <f its ac'.-ompliihment,: ;Vr in tlrii;; \vhich r?;w takes- 
 
 o in Europe, wirh rtf%eiSt^o France, c?.n he 
 fd upon aiier the coKiHion ii:;iAiirs of policy ar.d 
 
It 'has been faid that he was bi Ibed ever 
 Patriots, and afterward ibid to the Prince of Orange a 
 l\i\ of trie principal confpirators. This abfurd inn 
 <ion appears in a German work on the French Revolu- 
 tion, called Minerva, much -eiteemed for the beauty of 
 its ftyle. The author has certainly been deceived in this 
 as well as in many other cicumdances, ef General I_\i- 
 mourier's life, which the natural love of the marvellous 
 has conftantly magnified and blackened. He doc-arc?, 
 that he never poiieiied a lift of the Dutch Patriots, thr.t 
 he knew only a very fm.ill party of thefe refugees in 
 France, that he knew thefe only becaufe they formed a 
 Batavian Revolutionary Committee at Aatwerp ; that he 
 does not know the names of any of thole who may enter- 
 tain the fame opinions in Holland ; that he has never 
 had any communication, either before or f;ncc, with the 
 Stadtholder's party ; that it is even impoifible fuch a. 
 communication mould have exillcd, as that court r.ever 
 forgave the manifefto which preceded his expedition into 
 Holland ; that he never received a bribe ; that he is- poor, 
 and glories in being Jo, 
 
 He will conclude thefe Mctiwlrs with feme -.ob Nerva- 
 tions on the thre; claiies of French emigrants. Foreign- 
 ers are furprifed, that they fhould not unite in their dif- 
 trefs, becaufe they are unacquainted with their difiingi 
 ing characters. Their divilions are a. great misfortune, but 
 they are aimed: without a remedy. 
 
 The firlt clafs, of which the Princes of the Koufe of 
 Bourbon are the leaders, confifts of the old court, the high - 
 er order of eccleuaftics, the parliaments, and the princi- 
 pal ftnanciai department. Allured by the frduciive in- 
 fluence of this party on the one hand, and terrified by the 
 extravagance of the Jacobins on the other, -the low no- 
 b.iflfTe have been induced to join them in mi-itary arrav." 
 This rials Is conifsoled of pure K&yaiifls : they \viih and 
 demand the rc-e-i-.i'^i'b.iTient of the av;ch':it \r\ -md 
 
 of courie, of abfohite defpotii'm ; and r^ '--ifti- 
 
 tutions with all their abufes, infliCutionw.whJch it.i&im- 
 pofBble rnoiiM ever re- appear i Bnce a'n^wHr>derof thinphs 
 has rendered France no longer the l/Yauc" of f6rmef.dav s i 
 but a new natinji,. requliin:); as u new T ):;' : ,::;, a ue'v mo- 
 ral and political c< ;, to re-cih; l -.H'h on the broad 
 bafis of general utility the iecunty.c . . nnc! 
 the. co-afiJeii-re of tlie people. 
 
 f-r i^ ^ 
 
 LI 1 
 
The fecond chfs, of which Fayettc is the apparent 
 leader, confifts of the conftitutional monarchies, men who 
 dcfire a great reformation, or rather a total reformation, 
 in the principles and forms of the old government. The 
 greater part of this clafs were employed in the firft Na- 
 tional ArTemb'y in the great work of forming the New 
 Constitution ; but falling, as they foon did, a iacrifice to the 
 cabals of the people of Paris, and above all to the frantic 
 exceiles of the Jacobins, paid dearly for the propagation 
 of thofe principles of Liberty and Equality, which, having 
 been originally laid down by themfelves without any mo- 
 dification, and taken up by the people in too profs and 
 literal a icnfc, were puflied to that extravagant extent, 
 which has brought about the fubverfion of all the efhtcs, 
 and the general anarchy of France. 
 
 The third clafs, which is fcarcely difunguifhable frcm 
 the former, but by the later date of their defection confifts 
 of the military who followed General Dumourier : and 
 all the nobles profcribed on this occafion, who could ef- 
 ciipe from their country. This clafs includes all thofe 
 members cf the National Convention who had the courage 
 to vote in favour of Louis XVI. and again!! all the abomi- 
 nations which refulted from his execution ; and \vho, 
 having atteftcd their vvifhes in a proteft, had the good for- 
 tune to efc.-i.pe. 
 
 The firft: dais, the rrcft numerous, the moft fplendid, 
 the moil: difFufed over Europe, and the moft favoured by 
 its attentions by -little effectual aid, but great promiies, 
 and ilill pftcn.er by humiliations and caprice, poflefTes the 
 rnefl decided avcrfion to the t\vo others ; and confounds 
 them in its ignorant preemption with the Jacobins them- 
 feives. The unjttft imprifonment of Fayette excites in 
 their hofoms no mercy for that unfortunate General. But 
 againft Dumouner, they level all their rage : and the 
 ::cal with which they calumniate his character augment 
 his drftreifes, and encourage his univerfal profcriplion, is 
 truly furprifing. 
 
 This clafs has prefervcd all its pride and all its pretsn- 
 f-ons. It will have every thine; or nothing. The laft 
 fuccefsof the Combined Armies fills them with frantic joy; 
 and nothing is heard but ofFenfivc fchemes of revenge and 
 perfonal ambition. If the operations of the fame armies 
 flacken fora feafon thev are betrayed they nr? defert- 
 cd, they are undone ?ind this moment the King of PruiMa 
 the next the Emperor's, are aiTailed 
 n-u!i ;hoir iovid atid i:::!ca(bnab!c rcpior.ches. Always 
 
extravagant and always difguftful to the people where 
 they re fide, who coolly obferve their motions, and con- 
 clude, with fome plaufibility, that felfifnnefs is their fble 
 leading principle, they have the prefumption to think that 
 all Europe is only armed for their fakes, and that when 
 they re-enter their country, where they will recognife 
 nothing not even the vefliges of their demolifhed villas, 
 they mall take poffcfRon of their town-manfions, their 
 country cottages, their elegant luxuries, their domeftics, 
 their dependents, and above all their power, and their 
 credit. 
 
 The intolerance of this clafs of emigrants towards the 
 two others precludes that union which is fo eflentially ne- 
 ceflary in their prefect unfortunate iituation, were it only 
 to excite the attention and companion of thefeveral States 
 where they have fled for protection, and rove without a 
 fcttlement. There are notwithflanding in this clafs, fome 
 few individuals of fenfe borne away in the general mafs 
 by their unlucky fituation, and the prejudices of their 
 birth, who form an exception to the general rule, and fin- 
 cerely reprobate the extravagance of the reft, but they are 
 little attended to. This clafs is divided too, within itfelf, 
 into factions as active, as intriguing, as full of bickerings 
 and jealoufies, as when it g'ittered at Paris or Verfailles. 
 It is a court itinerant, which has loft nothing of its occu- 
 pation, though deprived of its (lability. 
 
 The other two cla'Tes of emigrants are infinitely more 
 moderate and reafonable, and might fcon be brought tQ 
 coaleice. Fayette and Dumourier, if they met in any 
 other place than a prifon, would foon understand each 
 other ; and the (hades of difference, which have hitherto 
 only feparated them, perhaps for want of a due explana- 
 tion, would melt away, and vaiiifh before the comrrtbn in- 
 tereft of their country, and the common fuffenngsof them- 
 felves. For thefe two chiefs, and thcfe Iwo clafies have 
 both been ilreru'.ousfor the eftabiithmentof liberty in their 
 country, and the reformation of abufes. The) have fi.-p- 
 ported with firmnefs the great caufe of human nature, and, 
 if they have differed in the means, they have agreed in 
 the principle. 
 
 General Durnourier declares to the emigrants cf every 
 defcription, whom force or inclination has feparated from 
 their country, that it is only by a well cemented union 
 they can acquire that connderation, winch alone can bet- 
 ter their fituation at the clofe of the war, whether they 
 iuccecd in return; Jig; to their country, or whether they are 
 
cTocmGi! to relinquifh it forever: (hat it is the advantage 
 of misfortune to purify the mind, and to temper it for the 
 hardier virtues : that it is time to renounce the language 
 of prejudice, iince it is no longer underfrood in France.: 
 thr.t, that country is more different from. the France .of 
 1 78.8,, than fro,m Gaul in Julius Casfar's time ; that it even 
 changes every fix months ; and, that unfortunately the 
 Jacobins have been more prudential in the gradations of 
 their cringes th:m the emi'zract?, who, without giving 
 themfelves the trouble to examine the pro^refs of tl.-e na- 
 tional genius, build all their fcheme-, on the (late of France 
 at the point of time th?t they left it. 
 
 Their unfortunate iituation may continue a long time, 
 it may become utterly without a * emedy : the worl* Iboulcl 
 always be fuppofed, that we mnv net be milled by falla- 
 cious ex peciations. If they don't pcriiit in (baking cfF 
 their arrogance, their extravagance, their imprudence, 
 their internal difcord, they will foon difguft the people 
 who give them {belter, and whole temper will infallibly be 
 toured oa a thousand occasions by the war ,- their minds 
 will not be fortified to bear the triumphs of fuccefs, or the 
 Generation of a failure : in the.firft cafe, they will abufe 
 their return, and be driven into a baniihment more hope- 
 lefs than ihc.ir nrcfcnt one ; in the fccond, they will be- 
 co-ue ib.e mofi H'pfitche^ men upon the face of the earth, 
 
 Daniihmen 1 ', li !\o everv ether condition of human na- 
 ture, h-'s its advantage*:. If f-i^es us objects of companion, 
 of which we wou'd never othcrwife have an idea ; it gives 
 us inform '-lion ; it calls forth our energies by its difficul- 
 ties ; it renders us indulgent and fociablc , it excites be- 
 tween ourfelves and our proteclors a reciprocation of fcn- 
 fibilitv an;! benevolence. The upright man, the man of 
 wiillorn and refleticn, brings back from this involuntary 
 pilgrimage, a ftore of thole hardy and of thole gentle viv- 
 -, wliich qualify him better to benefit his country, and 
 lend to tint univerfal philanthropy M hlch din.ilhes the dif- 
 mal ile^s of national partialities* 
 
 Oeneral L^'uinourier pjives them another pie, e of a'! i: T-?, 
 
 which he carefully oblerves himfelf to be indulgent 
 
 to their countrymen, and not to revile a whole nation by 
 tco indiscriminate reproaches. It is imp-indent, at lea ft, 
 to brand ?s rebels tu entv miliions of n^en who lile againft 
 p hundred thoufhnd. Thefe tv/c-ntv millions form luch an 
 imrrienfo majoiity, t];-:t tiiehiincircd thouiand are more de- 
 iffvi!->- of the n.jme o c rebels. T'he cn-igrants of every 
 ' > lo\c. their cour.trv, a-d are worthy o.C 
 
returning to it, nva)fairly -under the denial apprehen- 
 iion, lelt anarchy iluild produce the total fubxeiiion and 
 disorganization of lie empire may fairly deleft five or 
 fix hundred- fcoun<rels who lead that amiable people 
 affray,, and hurry tern beyond the reafonable bounds of 
 true liberty, of true atriotifm, oi feafible equality, and of 
 the poflible means o public happineis and order; but they 
 ihou ! d"~furely prefers, in misfortune efpecially, that love 
 for their com;Uy wl ,;h mail Jains then title to its blefi- 
 ingr. 
 
 They (houid neve calum.nite the nation at largfc I they 
 may juftly lament th.t the French are blindfolded, and led 
 through crimes into every extravagance. But there is 
 one point of view v'hich is condolatory to every true 
 Frenchman : lie feesihrouah all tins anarchy, a moft'de- 
 tennitied courage, aid the greateft frankneis of opinion. 
 With thefe qualities he French may br: brought back from 
 -their errors ; but it :s by reafon, and not by reproaches, 
 that this can be accorlpliihed. Let thofe among the emi- 
 grants whole fituatioi, whole influence, and whole know- 
 ledge, may one (lav- tall them to the important duty of re- 
 eftabliihing order in France, let thefe men lit themfeives 
 for reclaiming the public opinion, by -inftan'tly iacriiicing 
 their refentment, of v.hatevcr nature, or liowever juft, and 
 ceaiing to exafperatc by inve6iives the whole of the peo- 
 ple of France. Tie character of that people may be 
 eclipfed for a lime, bit will never be entirely obliterated ; 
 and what is crime in fome few individuals, is energy in 
 the nation at large. 
 
 The hiftory of the .vorld does not prcfent an inflancc of 
 a nation aiTai led by fo many enennes at once, lefs terridrd 
 at the thunder of the charge, or keeping them at bay in 
 every quarter whh f.ich obftinate refolulion. The laft 
 campaign, which v/ns enough to have crufhed them at 
 once, only difplayedone general rnafs of valour ; and if 
 thev yield, the next campaign, they \viil be fubducd, but 
 they will not be degraded. " It is 'greatly the intereft of 
 the emigrants that the French fhould rot be defpifed ; for 
 whatever their nation may fuller in the cftimation of 1-u- 
 ropc, will be a lofs to ihcmfeiver,. They have already, 
 for the laft two years, been guilty of a great rnifiake m 
 repreienting to foreign powers that the French armies 
 \verc contemptible, and utterly incapable of making any 
 refinance. " This miftake, which has' proved fo fatal to the 
 PruiTians, Ins taken away all credit fiom their reports. 
 Let us never hear fuch mifreprcfer.triticns again ^They 
 2;i;e much too Iciiuu'j. 
 
( 260 ) 
 
 The French nation, colle&ively tken, will always be 
 amiable. She is labouring at this mment under a moral 
 cliftemper, whofe dreadful convulfiois only render her a 
 greater object of alarm. Foreignrs may employ the 
 fword, but her emigrant offspring fould or.ly approach 
 her with the foothing accents of pefuafion : it is their 
 intereft todofo : their defign of luperiducing order on that 
 ccnfufion which has driven them fron their country, will, 
 otherwife, every month and every yeek, become more 
 perfectly hopelefs. 
 
 This advice is not the refult of ba' compliance, or per- 
 fonal intereft, or ambition. Genera Dumourier declares, 
 and his Memoirs will prove, that h reprobates the pre- 
 ient itate of things in France ; thatjie fees in them only 
 the fubverfion of every rational principle, and the utter 
 impracticability of promoting pubic happinefs ; he de- 
 clares, that he will never warp to fu<h an order of things ; 
 and that he would chufe beggary, pn>fcription, wretched- 
 nefsand perpetual exile, in prefererre to any re-efrabliih- 
 ment in his country that mud be purhafed by the facrifice 
 
 of his moral principles, but he declares, too, that he 
 
 loves his countrymen, and that wfre he poignarded in 
 their delirium tomorrow, he wouli breathe out his lafl 
 accents, in a lamentation of their errors, and a bene- 
 diction to his country. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Ifclfl 
 
 yew 
 
GENERAL LIBRARY - U.C. BERKELEY 
 
 6000801044