Contemporary Letters On The French Revolution.

CONTEMPORARY LETTERS ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION .

Letter VI . Paris , March 26 th , 1790 . The want of money is daily increasing , and in proportion as that scarcity groAvs greater , the discontent and fermentation of the people is more visible . The

exchange Avas last night at 75 liv . for a 1 , 000 . But the popular fury does not yet deviate from its original course ; they still exclaim Avith unabated virulence against those whom they believe to be the cause

of all their present misfortunes , by the opposition they make to the decrees of the A . ssembly . The partisans of the Assembl y , -within ancl without its walls , find the necessity of turning on their enemies the rage

excited by general misery , ancl which is only to be appeased by the sacrifice of its real or jiretended authors . They therefore maintain aud are believed , that the misery which prevails proceeds not from the revolutionor their

, decrees , but from the clamours and conspirations of a dispersed and ruined party . The Oaisse D'Escompte and its administrators are in this moment the objects of public execration . To their A giotage is

ascribed the total Avant of specie . To the assistance they haA'e formerly given , and still continue to give to the public treasurer is attributed the misfortunes under which the country at present labour . The good effects which mi ght be

expected from the hopes of the Billets de la Caisse being soon reimbursed by assignments , is lost by the length of time that will elapse before they can be issued . Should the storm that loAvers really burstthe Finance will be the first victims

, , but at the same time will fall all those who are obnoxious to the popular party , all those Avhose riches or the reputation of whose riches may make them suspected of being possessed of large sums of read y money .

Any new troubles will therefore only add to the misery of those whose misfortune seems to Avant no addition , and tumults could only serve the Aristocratic

party , by increasing the distresses of the capital . They are playing a secret and underhand game , and you may be assured that they will not have recourse to force till the people themselves demand their assistance . In the mean time they hope that the

irregular form of the Avheels , the defect of the machine , ancl the obstacles they secretly place in the Avay will prove the impossibility of its reaching its destined end , and thus serve them more effectuall y than an opposition which Avould only inflame .

In case of any popular commotions the part of M . de la Fayette will be difficult to play . The better order of Bourgeoisie are certainly at his absolute disposal , but to la milice soldee , the numerous substitutes which they have admitted to do the dut y ,

though not to replace the real citizen , but who in the mean time are possessed of the clothing , the ammunition and the arms , all these it is most likely will join the people . If the mob has small beginnings , it Avill be prevented . If it bursts in

one general flame , it will not cease till it can burn no more . Should M . de la Fayette oppose—he may not succeed if he does notr-his credit and reputation are lost for ever , His ambition will no doubt lead him to

adopt the former . But from a conversation I had Avith one of his aide-de-camps , a son of the Due de Chabost , I doubt his want of resolution ancl a sufficient confidence in his troops Avill make him delay violent measures till they will be too late .

Never famous for my . calculations or knowledge of Finance , I here find my ideas more perplexed , my information less certain , than on any other subject , and littleknoAVledge is to be derived from the conversation of others . One party represents Avith

exaggerated hopes , and their- opponents Avith exaggerated losses . Besides , when in calculations formed from the same documents the Minister and the President of the Committee of Finances ( M . de Montesquieu ) differ so Avidelas to state

y one Article la Contribution Patriotique , the former at 30 , and the latter at 100 millions ; others , who " can collect only from report may find excuse if they should happen to he deceived .