Volume II Part 19 (1/2)
I have antic.i.p.ated your advice, and taken refuge here. I feel already the advantage of air, and of rather more exercise than I have been able lately to allow myself. I am sorry if my former letter bore the appearance of depression, but you know that my mind has not been at ease on other subjects, and will therefore allow for the effect of the weight of fresh labour and anxiety suddenly thrown upon me.
Ever, my dear brother, Most truly and affectionately yours, G.
The Duke of Leeds resigned on the 8th of June, and was succeeded by Mr.
Dundas.
At this moment, not England alone, but all Europe, was engrossed by the strange drama that was going forward in Paris. The first piece of intelligence that arrived was an announcement that the King and the royal family had effected their escape at night from the Tuileries by a subterranean pa.s.sage leading to the Seine; and, as it afterwards appeared, that His Majesty had left behind him a paper formally revoking, on the grounds of compulsion, the oaths and declarations to which he had been forced to subscribe. Lord Grenville conveyed the startling news, just as it had reached him, in a hasty note to Lord Buckingham.
LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
St. James's Square, June 25th, 1791.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
The enclosed, which I received this morning from Lord Gower, will inform you of the very unexpected event which has happened at Paris. As the messenger came through Calais, he heard a report, which was circulated with much confidence, that the King, &c., had been stopped at a place which he calls Quinault, and which I guess to be Quenoy in the Cambresis, if, indeed, there is any foundation at all for the story. Montmorin is to write to Lucerne, to make a communication here from the National a.s.sembly, of _their_ intention to maintain peace with other countries. We have, of course, not had time to consider what answer to give, or what steps to take.
One of the French papers contains an account of a party of travellers pa.s.sing through Senlis about four or five in the same morning, which evidently appears to have been the King and his suite. This account was read at the a.s.sembly; and confirms the idea of their having taken the route of the Netherlands.
You will have the goodness to communicate this letter and its enclosure, to Lord Camelford.
Ever most affectionately yours, G.
Tell me what Lord Camelford and you think we ought to do; as it is very possible we may not have taken our determination before I can receive your answer.
The story was, of course, doubted at first. But it turned out to be true in every particular except the name of the place, which was Varennes.
The royal fugitives were seized on the 22nd of June, and carried back to Paris to be confronted with the Provisional Executive Council that had been established as soon as their flight was known.
LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
St. James's Square, June 26th, 1791.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
The King and Queen of France were stopped at Varennes, a small town between St. Menchond and Luxemburg. The post-master at St.
Menchond, suspected them to be aristocrats making their escape, and followed the carriage. Seeing it strike out from the great road, to Verdun, he got before them by another road, to Varennes, and gave the alarm. When they arrived, the National Guard was already drawn out; and they were forced to stop, and go into the inn. There they were known by a man of the town. They were prevailed upon, without much resistance, as it appears, on their part, to turn their horses' heads, and to go back to Chalons, where they slept that night. They were to sleep at Epernay the Thursday night; and were expected in Paris, Friday, or more probably, Sat.u.r.day.
Commissioners have been named by the a.s.sembly, at the head of whom is Barnave, to _protect their return_ to Paris. The proclamation, or manifesto, left behind him, by the King is curious, and in some parts well drawn. I hope to be able to send it you by to-morrow's post. Paris had remained pretty quiet; but there was some disposition in the Poissardes and Faubourg St. Antoine to a.s.semble, in order to manifest their joy. Bouille appears to have been in the plot, and is suspended from his command by the a.s.sembly, who have also given orders to arrest him; but I suppose he is too wise to suffer himself to fall into their hands.
Monsieur and Madame are safely arrived at Mons; so that if the King had taken that route, he might probably have escaped. I feel sincerely for him; and still more for the Queen, who, I imagine, must expect to suffer much.
Ever most affectionately yours, G.
LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
St. James's Square, June 29th, 1791.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
Lord Gower's courier arrived this morning, with an account of the King and Queen being brought back to Paris. Everything pa.s.sed with a black and sullen silence; no mark of respect whatever was allowed to be shown them. Biron and Lafayette were in the carriage with them. The mob followed the carriage into the garden of Tuileries; and on alighting, these wretched captives heard every species of abuse and insult, that even a Paris mob is capable of.