of riot, and threatening destruction should the King not be put to death. I cannot express the horror that was painted even in the countenance of every individual in the National Convention where the very worst of the very worst of mankind are assembled, when Égalité gave his vote for the death of His King and relation; Manuel in a very proper and spirited manner attacked him upon it. This execrable branch of the House of Bourbon has had a remittance of more than twenty thousand livres sent him lately from England; this in some manner contributes to the payment of the assassins he and Robespierre have now in pay. The King is perfectly reconciled to his fate, the situation of Her Majesty, Madame Elizabeth, and the Princess Royal is melancholy indeed. The last mentioned of this Royal Family has for some time past been unwell, and the indelicate conversation that took place in the Convention upon the Queen applying for her physician is not to be described. The Dauphin is perfectly well and universally beloved by all ranks of people. Should they attempt to put the King to death horrid scenes will then happen in Paris, indeed every one's mind is already prepared for it, and in order to intimidate the Royal party nothing but proscriptions and massacres are held out by Robespierre's party. One list is said to contain the names of more than forty thousand people. Many of the members of the National Convention I have spoke with never expect to escape, and fear possesses the mind of the strongest. The counter-revolution that was begun in Normandy was so miserably conducted that it scarcely merits being mentioned: the ringleaders were soon seized, and are now in prison, but that province as well as a majority of the others are for saving the life of His Majesty, and discontent and the dread of war with England reigns through them all. As I could commit nothing regularly to paper in Paris, I shall have the honour of communicating the remainder of my intelligence to you some time to-day, as I can extract it from the almost unintelligible notes I have. Monday morning 7 o'clock. LONDON, January 21st, 1793. Mr McDonald who I think writes for the Morning Post, and two other men who call themselves Sheares and are brothers, set off from Paris on Wednesday with an intention of going either to England or Ireland by way of Ostend. These three people particularly the two last are men of the most violent disposition, and are capable of executing the most desperate designs. If they cannot succeed in breeding disturbances in Ireland, which I think they mean to attempt, I am sure they will not hesitate in attempting to set fire to the dockyards or in doing this country any other kind of injury in their power. The Sheares are tall men, about six foot high, and the eldest has a large purple scar upon the right side of his face. Mr McDonald is perfectly known in London. As I passed through the provinces, more than three-fourths of every Department I spoke to were very averse to putting His Majesty to death, and I am confident that France has never been so torn to pieces by party since the Revolution began as it is now, and I am well convinced that, if they were left to themselves for a short time, the unavoidable consequence would be a civil war. If it was possible to prevent the exportation of horses it might put the French to a considerable inconvenience, as they procure vast quantities of horses from England; on the road I met with several strings. Many of their regiments are at present dismounted for want of horses and before the winter is at an end there will be still more. DIARY. 1791, July 6th. Set out for Dover at half past one, arrived there at ten. Found the Packet just going to and got out of the harbour a little after twelve. very little, great swell. Got to Calais about four. at Dessains. sail, embarked Fair wind but Went to bed July 7th. Set out about two o'clock for Paris by the Flanders road, received a pass from the municipality of Calais, which is granted of course without any further trouble than sending a "Laquais de Place" for it, but which is examined often on the road. To Ardres 2 Posts, La Recousse 1, to St Omer 2, to Aire 2. The road is very good and the country in general after you pass Ardres fine and prettily diversified. The crops upon the ground are very fine. We were advised at Calais to put national Cockades in our hats, which we did, but I believe it was not necessary. Aire is a dull melancholy town and the inn bad. Day fine. Miles 35. July 8th. To Lillers 14 Posts, Béthune 1, Touchet 2, Arras 1, Hervillers 2, Bapaume 1, Sailly 1, Péronne 14. As far as Péronne the road lies through a fine rich country, generally open but beautifully diversified with woods villages and inequality of ground. We passed several fine abbeys situated on commanding eminences whose appearance is magnificent. All these I was told are broke up and together with their estates are upon sale. This idea gave me concern and impressed me with those melancholy reflexions that attend the destructions of ancient splendid institutions. The present Government of France may subsist for a while on those spoils, but it appears to me that the country must suffer, as these possessions cannot fall into the hands of such good landlords as the last, and the numerous poor who were assisted by them must either starve or become a charge upon the publick. The fortifications which we saw seem going to decay, and we have not seen the face of a custom house officer who used to stop passengers at the entrance of most of them. Beyond Péronne, which is properly the ancient limit of France, we found the country much worse, less beautiful and less well cultivated. In all the former part of our journey we were much struck with the goodness of the crops of all kinds of grain. We likewise saw much flax and great quantities of poppies of which they make oil. To Marche le Pot 14 Posts. To Fonches 1. To Roye 1. Some rain in the morning: fine afterwards. Miles 80. July 9th. To Conchy 14 Posts. Cuvilly 1 P. Flat, ugly country greatly inferior in every respect to what I saw yesterday. Gournay 1 P. Bois de Lihen 1 P. Pont St Maxence 1 P. Country much improved, Pont St Maxence a town on the Oise with a handsome new bridge and the Seine round it pretty. Senlis 1 P. Chappelle en Serval 1 P. Lanvres 1 P. Bourget 11. Paris 13. The journey from Senlis is uninteresting till you come near Paris, when the prospect opens and presents several interesting objects, such as the Abbay of St Denis, Château d'Ecouen belonging to the Prince of Condé, the Hill of Montmartre and several others, together with the town itself which however does not show itself on that side in a very conspicuous manner. I found the roads good and the Posts well served, and as my carriage was light I was driven at the rate of nearly a Post and a half which is equal to 71⁄2 miles in the hour. Weather fine. Miles 55. Went to the Italians where I heard a very pretty comick opera as far as relates to the musick and the acting. The musick is very Italian but the stile of singing quite French and a severe strain upon ears that are not in the habit of hearing it. No good company there. Went to take a turn in the Palais Royal which is the great rendezvous of all sorts of people at night and indeed throughout the day. Excessively bad company and in a much worse stile than anything I remember here formerly. Sunday, July 10th. Went with the Vicompte de Noailles to the National Assembly, not a day of much business but was |