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
worse—illuminés. I tell him they are Prussian, and if the Prussian Court be not
otherwise employed they will soon steal Hanover. He is of the same opinion. I go to
Putney, and dine with Mr. and Mrs. John B. Church. There is a party of English
Jacobins, who are really insufferable. If their conduct may be estimated by their
conversation, they will certainly be compromised to the extreme. I do not wonder that
Mr. Pinckney should have given offence by keeping such company.”
“To-day [July 11th] I call on Count Woronzow, and show him a draft of a manifesto
by the new King of France, which I gave to Lord Grenville last Wednesday, and
which he has returned with his wish that it may arrive in season. Count Woronzow is
well pleased with it, and thinks the Duc d’Harcourt should give money to the person
who will carry it to the King. I tell him that is a matter to be settled among them. He
gives me an account of the strange levity and wild negotiations of the Comte d’Artois;
the pitiful folly of a M. Serenne to whom he gives his confidence. He fears that, when
arrived in La Vendée, he will surround himself by such petits maîtres, and disgust the
chiefs who have acquired the confidence of the people in that quarter; namely,
Puisaye, Labourdonnaye, Charette, Stoflet, etc., and wishes me to caution some of his
entours. I tell him that would have no other effect than to lead the persons to whom I
may give such caution into a communication of it to all those who are about the
Prince, and by that means more effectually produce the mischief we mean to avoid.”
“The people in this town seem [July 14th] very riotous, The scarcity and dearness of
bread is a principal cause of this disposition, fomented doubtless by designing men.
This necessary article has risen to double the former price, and wheat was this day, I
understand, so high that fifty per cent. of that former price is to be added. It has sold
as high as £5 per quarter, or 12s. 6d. per bushel. Go to dine at Mr. Pitt’s. We sit down
six. Lord Grenville, Chatham, and another come later. The rule is established for six
precisely, which is right, I think. The wines are good, and the conversation flippant.
After dinner I have some further conversation with Lord Grenville, and mention par
hasard M. de Boursac, my companion in a tour through Holstein—his poverty,
among other things—and he says the means of joining the army shall be supplied. We
agree that I shall give him (if still at Altona) a credit on my banker for £100. He says
he has taken the liberty to give Lord Macartney a copy of the manifesto which I had
showed him, which I do not, of course, disapprove of. Indeed, I knew it before. I am
to see Mr. Pitt to-morrow. The mob broke his windows yesterday and are rioting in
Moorfield this evening.”
Enclosing an order on Messrs. Parish & Co., Hamburg, for one hundred pounds
sterling, Mr. Morris sent the following letter to the Vicomte de Boursac:
“Dans les circonstances actuelles, monsieur, vous désirez certainement vous
rapprocher de votre chef. Il est possible que vous manquiez de moyens pecuniaires, et
la lettre ci-jointe vous en fournira. Ne parlez pas d’obligations. Souvenez-vous
toujours de nos conversations, et tâchez de faire comprendre à tout le monde combien
il est essentiel de pardonner, d’oublier le passé, en ne pensant qu’à l’avenir. Les
dispositions ici sont excellentes. Ils veulent franchement rétablir la France, mais ils ne
veulent pas verser le sang et les trésors de l’Angleterre pour assouvir des vengeances
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