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 Elbe is opened [March 11th], though the season is very backward, and the fleet
of British frigates is arrived at the mouth to convey the Princess of Wales to England.
By the gazettes it would seem that the system of cruelty is going more and more out
of fashion in France. The Abbé St. Albin tells me of the refusal of the Prince of Wales
to marry unless they pay his debts, which appear twice what he announced, and more
than Pitt dare propose to the Commons.”
“We learn from France [April 13th] that Paris is far from quiet, and the scarcity of
food becomes daily more sensible. Yesterday I plucked a violet on the south side of a
steep hill; it is the first I have seen. I present it and some other flowers to Madame de
Flahaut, who is lodging at Altona,? and write at the same time:
Reçois les prémices que je viens de cueillir;
Depuis longtemps tu sais qu’elles te sont consacrées—
Mes travaux et mes soins, mes soins, mes jeux et mon loisir,
Les fleurs du printemps et les fruits de l’été.
Voilà l’hiver qui vient, et d’un pas de géant,
Où le jour est si triste et la nuit est si bonne;
Jouissons au plus vite, jouissons, chère enfant,
Car déjà je me sens au milieu de l’automne.”
“It is affirmed [April 19th], as announced by five couriers, that peace is signed
between Prussia and France. Boyd tells me that Pitt had offered a subsidy to the King
of Prussia, but he knows not the conditions.”
“I have company to dine [April 21st] and am told that the treaty between Prussia and
France is published, and that the Prussian possessions beyond the Rhine are
provisoirement to remain in the hands of France. Walk and visit Madame de Flahaut.
M. Thouvenot has told her that a loan can be obtained for the young Duke of Orleans
if I will be his surety. I think over the proposition for a day and tell Madame de
Flahaut that I will become surety, etc., and form a joint concern. M. Thouvenot calls
and takes notes of my proposals. The young man is disinclined to making great
engagements, and I am of his opinion. The Princesse de Vaudemont brings the Duc de
Choiseul to dine with me. He is just escaped from Dunkirk, whither he had been
carried by a French frigate which had taken him on board of a British packet. Call on
the Duke of Orleans, who goes off this evening on a journey northward. Madame de
Flahaut tells me that she is informed that Paris will soon be the scene of great
commotions. By advices as late as the 27th of last month they are reduced to four
ounces of bread per day. She also told me last evening that Madame de Beaurepaire
was to call this morning in order to get a cap made, and wished me to ask her and her
companion, M. de Boursac, to dine, which I agreed to, but this morning wrote an
additional invitation:
Eh, bon jour, belle faiseuse
De romans et de bonnets;
Parfois vive et paresseuse,
Bonne et douce et sans apprêt.
Quand vous ouvrirez boutique
PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 46 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/1170