The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
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<strong>Online</strong> <strong>Library</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liberty: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Diary</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Gouverneur</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>, <strong>vol</strong>. 2<br />
Republic, <strong>and</strong> agree to the cession <strong>of</strong> the German provinces on the left bank <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Rhine; <strong>and</strong> she also consented that Lombardy <strong>and</strong> several adjoining States should<br />
become dependencies <strong>of</strong> the French Republic. Austria was given, in return for her<br />
immense losses, Venice as a spoil. This Bonaparte flung to her, notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing a<br />
protest from the Directory.”<br />
“It appears from the papers to-day [April 18th] that Bonaparte is still rapidly<br />
advancing, <strong>and</strong> that the Austrians have gained advantages in Tyrol which, followed<br />
up, will enable them to get into his rear <strong>and</strong> perhaps hem him up in the mountains <strong>of</strong><br />
Styria. Should this happen, the affairs <strong>of</strong> the world may take a turn entirely new.”<br />
“Accounts have arrived [April 23d] by the last French mail that the Directory have<br />
ordered the several <strong>of</strong>ficers to pay no attention to passports or certificates given by<br />
American ministers or consuls. This is curious enough; but if, as is far from<br />
impossible, Bonaparte receives a severe check, they will grow less arrogant.”<br />
Bonaparte seemed at this moment to the lookers-on “to be,” as <strong>Morris</strong> expressed it in<br />
a letter to Lord Grenville on April 25th, “completely in air; <strong>and</strong>, on the whole, my<br />
lord,” he continues, “I consider the situation <strong>of</strong> the Allies as being just now much<br />
better than it has been at any period since the commencement <strong>of</strong> the war. I repeat to<br />
you again, my lord, that the game seems to me to be in your h<strong>and</strong>s, provided you have<br />
patience to play out the cards. If it is possible to send a strong naval force into the<br />
Mediterranean, it will perhaps prove <strong>of</strong> very great importance.”<br />
“To-day [May 3d], while I am in a shop choosing some chintz for Madame de<br />
Nadaillac, Mr. Parish comes in, <strong>and</strong> tells me that the French Directory have issued<br />
letters <strong>of</strong> marque to capture American vessels going to <strong>and</strong> coming from Great<br />
Britain, <strong>and</strong> that Admiral Jarvis has blocked up the Spanish fleet at Cadiz.”<br />
“M. Talon breakfasts with me [May 5th]. He gives a strange account <strong>of</strong> affairs in<br />
America, so far as regards the l<strong>and</strong> speculations. He says the conduct <strong>of</strong> France<br />
towards America must be, in some measure, attributed to the Bishop <strong>of</strong> Autun, who,<br />
in a conference with the Directory <strong>and</strong> Minister for Foreign Affairs, told them<br />
America was to be considered in no other light than Geneva, <strong>and</strong> must follow<br />
implicitly the orders <strong>of</strong> France.”<br />
“It is so long since I had the pleasure <strong>of</strong> conversing with you,” Mr. <strong>Morris</strong> wrote to<br />
the Countess <strong>of</strong> Sutherl<strong>and</strong> on May 16th, “that I would seek the opportunity for<br />
novelty’s sake, were there no other charms but those <strong>of</strong> novelty to be found in your<br />
society. But, as things are, I find these last unnecessary. You will have seen that<br />
Austria has made peace in the critical moment, when her enemy was in the greatest<br />
danger. So Great Britain will save a subsidy; <strong>and</strong> now, unless they force America into<br />
the war, you will st<strong>and</strong> alone, for I do not count Portugal for anything. <strong>The</strong>y will only,<br />
I presume, furnish some money to France <strong>and</strong> shut their ports against you by way <strong>of</strong><br />
purchasing peace <strong>and</strong> what is called independence. <strong>The</strong> state <strong>of</strong> your finances, also, is<br />
far from encouraging, but yet I am convinced that (unless panic-struck) you will get<br />
through well. In effect, your enemy cannot employ against you that force in which she<br />
excels, <strong>and</strong> she cannot, I think, in some considerable time attack you on your own<br />
PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 154 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/1170