Particulars of the Capture of the King and Queen of France. goons to mount, whom the Citizens had obferved with fome uneafinefs, in the courfe of the day, preparing their portmanteaus, as for a journey. Thefe dragoons were fo flow in bringing out their horses, that the National guard had time to affemble in arms; a circumitance, which, though improbable, is confirmed to me by feveral perfons, and which, at the time, very clearly fhewed their unwillingness to obey their Colonel. "When the latter had placed himfelf at their head, the guard oppofed their departure. "Sir," faid the Mayor to him, your precipitate conduct alarms the Citizens. They fay that you are to protect the efcape of the Queen. If this is true, we will oppose your departure; if it is not, you may go at day-break, which will be time enough." Then, addreffing bimfelf to the foldiers, "Friends," faid he―" the safety of France is in your hands-Will you either kill your brethren in arms, or fuffer them to fire upon you? We are about three hundred, refolved not to fuffer you to pafs." "The dragoons fhewed fome fymptoms of irrefolution. M. de Damas advanced in great anger; faid, that they were not to receive commands from the Municipality; that he had fuperior orders, and fhewed thofe from M. de Bouille, directing him to repair to Varennes. He ordered the dragoons to march. The Mayor prefented his mufquet-" Be-if you advance one step, I will kill you." M. de Damas ordered his men to difmount-made a feint of returning to his inn, and fet off immediately by another road for Varennes, accompanied by two of his officers. In the mean time, the municipal Officers had taken fecure measures, had founded the Tocfin, poffeffed themselves of the paffages, and cut down fome fmall bridges. "One of the National Guard fled with the utmost hafte to Varennes, in order to give the alarm, and was fur 5 prized to find the King himself arrested. Drouet, the poft mafter of St. Menechould, had conceived fome fufpifions, in confequence of which he fet out immediately for Varennes. He communicated thefe fufpicions to the landlord of the "Golden Arms," the inn, at which their Majefties had ftopped, and perfuaded him to detain the voiture. "He placed himself at the entrance of a paffage, which feparates the Upper from the Lower town, and through which the carriage must go: -It appeared, he took aim at the poftilion, and ordered him to ftop: We are patriots," faid the man, "let us pafs." "Patriots, or Devils, fhall not pais here. If you make one ftep, I shall fire into the carriage." "The King bade the poftilion difmount, and the innkeeper led the carriage back as quietly as poffible. A meffenger was difpatched to Vaucourt, a neighbouring village, the inhabitants of which are an hardy race, chiefly nail-makers, and much accuf tomed to hunt in the neighbouring woods fo that every man had a gun. They poffeffed themfelves of a bridge, which was not guarded by the huffars of Lauyun, quartered near it, and the National Guard, who fled to arms in an inftant, filled the avenues to the bridge, and the quay of a rivulet, which was almost dry. "One Lauce, the procureur-fyndie, faid to a corps, which he had got together, of about fifty ill-armed citizens, "Neither you, or I, are foldiere, but I think that in cafe of an attack, four fhould ftand in front, and a perpetual fire fhould be kept up by firing in divifions, each four retiring immediately after a difcharge, and loading in the rear." They had two fmall field-pieces, but no cartridges, or ball for them. "After thefe difpofitions, Lauce went to find the King, who ftill thought himself unknown. "Sir," faid he, " as you may be detained here here fome time, accept of a more convenient lodging-permit me to conduct you to my house." "But why may I not go? here is a great deal of tumult about a ftranger;-befides, you may fee that I have a right to proceed." The King then fhewed a paffport figned Louis and Montmorin, "for the Baronefs de Korff, who was going to Frankfort, with two children, a valet de chambre, and two women. “Sir,” said the man, 66 we are here conftantly upon our guard; we apprehend an incurfion of the enemy; you hear the Tocfin; you cannot be fafe before day." "The King, without difcovering the leaft uncatinefs, thanked M. de Lauce for his attentions; the Queen and Madame Elizabeth, leaned upon his arms; the King took his children by the hand, and thus they proceeded to the houfe of the Sieur Lauce, who is a tallow chandler, paffed through his fhop, and climbed into a fmallroom above it. The King with an air of content,jafked for fomethingto drink, and his hoft brought a bottle of Burgundy, with fome cheese. "His Majefty drank, begged his hoftefs to inform him concerning the fituation of the town, faid, that he had never tafted better liquor, and be gan a very familiar converfation with him. He interrogated him as to his office, the number of priests in the place, and afked where the Mayor was?" At the National Affembly." At thefe words, the King, for the first time, fhewed fome indignation. "Have you a club here?" No, Sir. "So much the better;-thefe wretchedclubs have destroyed France." During this converfation, the King fhewed fome fert of reftie finefs and uneafinefs, as if he was in a ftate of conftant expectation. The Queen, at times, faid a few words indiftinétly. M. Lauce went out frequently, at the request of the King, to prevent a tumult, and affure the people that it was only a common traveller. Whenever he left the room, the King faid, "Come back as foon as poffible; I want you; your converfation is very acceptable." Once he said, "Have you a bridge here?" "Yes, Sir, but it is so incumbered with carriages, that you cannot pafs it." "Very well, then I can go over the ford," "That is worse. I have already faid, that we were in fear of the Au ftrians, and I have been obliged to fill the bed of the river with wolf-traps, and spikes, fo that no horfe can pass it." "But cannot you clear the bridge?" "Yes, I will go and give orders.' In the mean time, the huffars had arrived at the bridge, and wifhed to pafs it; but the peasants kept a good countenance, and prevented them. They retired without firing a mufquet. "M. Lauce, who had amufed the King, in order to give the National Guards time to arrive, perceiving now that it rained men, (this is the expreffion) thought it time to tell his Majefty it was day-light, and that he mult prepare to return to Paris. He went into the apartment with this intention, but at firft was at a loss how to addrefs him. The King and he walked up and down the room toge ther; at latt M. de Lauce, pointing to a portait of his Majefty, faid "There, Sir, is your portrait." "The King feemed in great confufion; and after a few words, threw himself upon the neck of Lauce, "Yes, my friend," faid he, " it is your King, who is in your power; it is your King, who implores you, Will you betray him, and deliver him to his molt crucl enemies? I put my felf under your protection; fave my wife my children-Accompany us-guide; I promise an immenfe fortune to you and yours. Take this take this"-producing fome money, and fearching haftily in all his pockets. The Queen took the Dauphin in her arms Particulars of the laft Sickness and Death of M. De Mirabeau. arms, fell almost upon her knees from "You have accepted it, Sir." the chair in which she fat, and conjur-, It was now feven o'clock in the ed him to fave the child. morning, and an aid-de-camp from M. de la Fayette, had arrived with the decree of the National Affembly, the King recollected him, and called him by his name;the Queen treated him with the utmoft contempt. "It is you, villain, who have caufed"--the other words were not heard. Lauce was inexorable. "No, Sir," faid he, "What you defire is impoffible. I have only two things worth preferving-my life and my honour. My life is yours- difpofe of it as you pleafe; but do not hope to make me act contrary to my honour. I have fworn to be faithful to the nation, the law, and you ; in yielding to your requeft, I fhould betray all three; I fhall betray the conftitution, which you have fworn to defend as well as myfelf; I fhould difobey the decrees, which you have yourself Lanctioned." "Immediately afterwards, the Siuer Chemin, fent by the diftrict of Clermont, came, and made ufe of fome harsh language to the King. His Majefty, with fome warmth, interrupted him, and then turning to thofe about him, faid-" My friends, advife me what must be done "Take a bold and decided part, Sir," faid M. Damas. A Sieur Ntuel, formerly Intendant to the Prince de Conde, entered at this moment, and be gan an harangue; but the King turned his back upon him. His Majesty then faid, that " he had a decree, which permitted him to travel all over the kingdom, and that he was going to Montmedi." They fhewed him that, which forbids his going further than twenty leagues from the legiflative body. He looked at it, but throwing it afide, with indignation faid, "I never fanctioned this." "The King wished to be conduct ed to Fontainbleau, and difputed probably to gain time; his defign was feen, and they fhewed him the multitude of National Guards, whofe num ber would increase the longer he staid. At half paft feven o'clock he fet off. "During the difpute, an Aid-decamp of M. de Bouille, generally believed to be his fon, prefented himself, and wifhed to speak to the King, but was oppofed." The King then is not free," faid he" No," and, at the fame time, a piftol was discharged at him, by which one of his ribs was broke; they feized him, but, notwithstanding his wound and and the number of troops, he escaped. (While I write this, I am told that he is retaken). "The King proceeded, efcorted by a number of troops, whofe appearance was terrible, yet calm; the Aid-decamp fitting upon the box of the carriage, appearing to give himself the credit of the event, though, in fact, he had not arrived till fix hours after it happened. The march was very tranquil, only at times fhouts were heard of Vive la nation; les Ariftocrates a la lanterne. Particulars of the last Sickness and Death of M. De Mirabeau, by J. P. G. Cabanis, the Phyfician who attended him. [Continued from our laft, page 392.] 'AN who is faid to love frank MAN that one ought to have no other phy- has the higheft cfteem for your talents, and refpect for your moral character. He has cited to me expreffions of yours that contain, in a manner, the whole Revolution, and features, that prove, that in the midst of social inftitutions, and notwithstanding the extraordinary cultivation of your mind, you are ftill the man of nature. If I had had the happiness to have met with fuch a man, he would have become, I think, my friend; and this, Sir, is the whole reason that has induced me to fee you." friends, faw him this day, one in the moring, the other in evening. The refult of his conversation with the latter the public are already acquainted with. The vifit of the Bishop of Lyon was fhort. Notwithstanding the affertions of certain Journals, thefe were the only divines he faw during his illness; and they were worthy of receiving his laft fentiments. Mr Petit examined the patient very attentively. Mirabeau was defirous I quitted him not during the whole of knowing what was his opinion: night, but flept on a fofa by the fide of he asked it with the franknefs of his bed. His breaft became worse and truth, affuring him that he was prepar- worfe, and his mifery was very great. ed to hear it." I believe," anfwer- Meanwhile his mind retained fuch aced Mr. Petit, "that we fhall fave tivity, that his ideas made him forget you, but I will not anfwer for it."- his fufferings, and his convulfive refWe retired into another room.." He piration feemed to be a difagreeable is loft infaliably," faid he to me. noife, to which he only attended as it "Let us do, however, what his fitua- interrupted his meditations. He fre tion dictates." quently excited converfation to fufWhen we returned to the apart-pend the whirl of his ideas, fearing ment of our patient, "You fee, Mr. Petit," faid he," all the perfons who are about my bed; they are my friends, but they take care of me as if they were my fervants. It is furely pardonable to love and regret life when one leaves fuch wealth behind one.” After dinner he wished to make his will. He fent for his notary, and in the mean time he talked with Mr. Frochot of the duties he had to fulfil. "I have debts," faid he, "and I know not what is their exact amount; I am as little acquainted with the ftate of my fortune; yet I have many obligations important to my confcience and dear to my heart." Mr. Frochot repeated this to M. de la Mark, who replied, "Tell him, that if his fortune be not equal to the legacies he fhall bequeath, I will take upon myself any that his friendfhip fhall recommend to me: it is neceffary to make his mind easy."-Mirabeau, worthy of this generous offer, felt all its value, but was not aftonished at it; he accepted it like a man who would have done as much himfelf; and he ufed it without the excefs of ufurpation, or the coolness of reserve. The Bishop of Lyon and late Bifhop of Autun, both his particular that if it increased it might become a true delirium. Thoughts and images prefented themselves with an aftonishing rapidity, and his language had never perhaps been fo precife, fo energetic, and fo brilliant. As foon as day appeared (May 2), he ordered his windows to be opened, with a firm voice and calm tone he said to me, "To-day, my friend, I fhall die. This being the cafe, nothing remains to be done but to be perfumed, adorned with flowers, and furrounded by mufic, that one may fall quietly in that flumber from which we shall no more awake." He called his valet; "Prepare my toilet that I may be fhaved and dreffed" I obferved to him, that the crifis was not yet paffed, that the leaft motion would be prejudical, and might render it mortal, whereas a continued repofe might produce a contrary effect. "It is mortal." he replied. His valet had been very ill the preceding day. "Well, my poor Teifch, how are you to-day ?""Ah! my dear master, I wifh with all my heart you were in my place."-After a moment's reflec tion he replied, "Hold, I would not have you in mine." (To be continued.) Reflections on the Revolution in France, in a Letter. By the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, I [Continued from our laft, page 352.] Had not the good fortune to know a great many of the parochial clergy; but in general I received a perfectly good account of their moFals, and of their attention to their duties. With fome of the higher clergy I had a perfonal acquaintance; and of the reft in that clafs, very good means of information. They were, almost all of them, perfons of noble birth. They refembled others of their own rank; and where there was any difference, it was in their favour. They were more fully educated than the military nobleffe; fo as by no means to difgrace their profeffion by ignorance, or by want of fitnefs for the exercise of their authority. They feemed to me, beyond the clerical character, liberal and open, with the hearts of gentlemen, and men of honour; neither infolent nor fervile in their manners and conduct. They feemed to me rather a superior class; a set of men, amongst whom you would not be surprised no find a Fenclon. I faw among the clergy in Paris (many of the defcription are not to be met with any where) men of great learning and candour; and I had reafon to believe, that this defcription was not confined to Paris. What I found in other places, I know was accidental; and therefore, to be prefumed a fair fample. I fpent a few days in a provincial town, where, in the abfence of the bishop, I paffed my evenings with three clergymen, his vicars general, perfons who would have done honour to any chuch. They were all well informed; two of them of deep, general, and extenfive erudition, antient and modern, oriental and western; particularly in their own profeffion. They had a more PeMAG.VOL. XXI. JULY, 1791. extenfive knowledge of our English divines than I expected; and they entered into the genius of those wri ters with a critical accuracy. One of thefe gentlemen is fince dead, the Abbé Morangis. I pay this tribute, without reluctancé, to the memory of that noble, reverend, learned, and excellent perfon; and I should do the fame, with equal cheerfulness, to the merits of the others, who I believe are ftill living, if I did not fear to hurt those whom I am unable to serve. Some of thefe ecclefiaftics of rank, are, by all titles, perfons deferving of general refpect. They are deferving of gratitude from me, and from many English If this letter fhould ever come into their hands, I hope they will believe there are thofe of our na tion who feel for their unmerited fall, and for the cruel confiscation of their fortunes, with no common fenfibility. What I fay of them is a teftimony, as far as one feeble voice can go, which I owe to truth. Whenever the queftion of this unnatural perfecution is concerned, I will pay it. No one fhall prevent me from being juft and grateful. The time is fitted for the duty; and it is particularly becoming to fhew our juftice and gratitute, when those who have deserved well of us and of mankiad, are labouring under popular oblogay, and the perfecutions of oppreflive power. You had before your revolution about an hundred and twenty bishops. A few of them were men of eminent fanctity, and charity without limit. When we talk of the heroic, of course we talk of rare virtue. I believe the inftances of eminent: depravity may be as rare amongst them as thofe of tranfcendent goodnefs. Examples of C avarice |