The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...

Online Library of Liberty: The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2
the plan of Danton was to obtain the resignation of the King and get himself
appointed Chief of a Council of Regency, composed of his creatures, during the
minority of the Dauphin. This idea has never, I believe, been wholly abandoned. The
Cordeliers (or privy council which directs the Jacobin movements) know well the
design of interverting the order of succession. They know how to appreciate the
fluctuating opinions of their countrymen, and, though they are very willing to employ
the Duke of Orleans in their work, I am much mistaken if they will consent to elevate
him to the throne. So that, for his share of the guilt, he may probably be rewarded
with the shame of it, and the mortifying reflection that, after all the conflicts of his
political warfare, he has gained no victory but over his own conscience. It is worthy
of remark that, although the Convention has been now near four months in session, no
plan of a constitution is yet produced. Nevertheless, the special authority committed
to them by the people, and the only authority, perhaps, which cannot be contested,
was to prepare such a plan. On the conduct likely to be pursued by Great Britain I
shall not permit myself to hazard much conjecture. I have already troubled you with
some ideas respecting the interior state of Great Britain, and I add here my opinion
that, sooner or later, they must go into war. As to Spain, I think the Court is too
corrupt and too profligate to make any considerable efforts. Bankrupt almost in full
peace, with the mines of Mexico and Peru at their disposal, what would war produce?
Russia menaces, but the state of her finances, and the great distance, must make her
efforts fall short of her wishes. Every art is used on each side to influence the Turk,
and I own to you that I rather apprehend that England and the Imperial Court
combined will prove successful, especially as M. de Choiseul Gouffier is now openly
active there on the part of the emigrant princes. Austria and Prussia are making their
utmost efforts, and the Prince of Hesse, who (strange as it may seem) is adored by his
subjects, will second those efforts to the utmost of his ability.
“Such, my dear sir, is the foreign storm lowering over this country, in which you will
see that my predictions respecting corn have been hitherto exactly verified. How they
are to obtain supplies from abroad, in the face of the maritime powers, I am myself at
a loss to conjecture. It is nevertheless in this awful moment, and immediately after
expediting the orders to recruit their army to six hundred thousand effectives in order
to sustain the landwar, that they affect to wish Britain would declare war against
them, and actually menace, as you see, the government with an appeal to the nation.
There are cases in which events must decide on the quality of actions, which are bold
or rash according to the success. If I may venture to judge from appearances, there is
now in the wind a storm not unlike that of the 2d of September. Whether it will burst
or blow over it is impossible to determine.”
“You will have seen from the public prints,” Morris wrote to Alexander Hamilton,
December 24th, “the wonderful success of the French arms, arising from the
following causes: 1st. That the enemy, deceived by the emigrants, counted too highly
on the opposition he was to meet with. 2d. That from like misinformation, instead of
attacking on the northern frontier, backed by the resources of Flanders and those
which the ocean could supply, they came across the Ardennes to that part of
Champagne nicknamed ‘the lousy,’ from its barrenness and misery. 3d. That in this
expedition, where the difficulty of the roads, transportation, and communication was
the greatest they expected, it so happened that the season, usually dry and fair (when
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