Contemporary Letters On The French Revolution.

sible that the steps they take are far from approaching towards conciliation . As certainly the great party of the Democrates are either Advocates , or Procureurs , or cures who are destitute of fortune , and who live at Paris at a trifling

expense , and receive eighteen livres per clay for their attendance ( besides that great numbers of them have a share in the direction of the inundation of daily papers ) , the Partie Modere are apprehensive that they prolong their existence from views of

private interest . The moderes place all their hopes and expectations in the second meeting of the National Assembly , from which all who have at present seats are excluded unless they are elected with the unanimous consent of the electors . The fear of another

revolution , however , inclines the Partie Modere to join with the Democrates . It is on the basis of the desire manifested by the Democrates to continue a power flattering to their ambition , ancl necessary to their finances that the Aristocrates build their hopes of future success .

They are induced to believe that the people will at last grow weary of useless discussions , by which anarchy and distress are equally prolonged , and will drive their new masters from Paris .

Even the Partie Modere seems of this opinion , and declares that if in three months the finances are not settled , it will be necessary to have recourse to the ancient form of government . At the Comte de Modene ' s I met a large cabal of Aristocrates , with one of their leaders the Comte D'Entraigues ; from their conversation I should be induced to

conclude that they would embrace with joy any proposition which would leave them in possession of honourable distinction and a Chambre Haute . If they have any hopes ( although the King should be restored to his former power ) of being reinstated in the situation they once held , particularly the privilege of not paying taxes , lis Manquerent de leur but , car ils visent trap loin , and the whole nation under anv form of

government will oppose their pretensions , which if limited to those I have above mentioned they will find the Partie Modere read y to WISH granted them . But I am afraid their chance of these comparatively Moderate advantages can only arise from the army ' s returning to a sense of loyalty .

The people mig ht perhaps be willing to drive away the present National Assembly but I think the milice , particularly that of Paris , find their existence too closely united to that of the Assembly to be easily separated . It is not but that the olderwiserancl better part of the

Bour-, , goisie mi g ht not be of the opinion of the people at large , but all the young Bourgois who compose it are delighted with the consequence they derive from it . They have so long been regarded with contempt by the noblesse and the army , that they

are delighted with -repaying the treatment they once received . Their insolence and air of consequential authority surpass whatever they have endured , and will possibly prove one of the causes of their ruin . You are to recollect that with les ancien

Gardes Francoises , deserters and others , they have 6 , 000 men of regular troops who must feel that at any settlement of the ancient government disgrace and punishment must be their reward . The Partie" Modere' pretend that the

Bourgeois are tired of playing the soldier , and only continue it from the fear of insurrections and pillaging . I confess it does not appear . The King still continues firm in his resolution of not quitting the walls of the Thuilleries till his Guards arerestored .

In order to pacify the mmds of the people in regard to the captivity of their monarch the Democrates pretend , and the Partie Modere join with them , in giving out that the Aristocrates are desirous of putting an end to him from the idea that he is never

enough to be depended on , and is too timid and irresolute to take just steps for the establisnment of , his authority and their consequence . They say , therefore , that to preserve his life , the King is desirous of remaining a prisoner , and is sensible he owes his safety to M . de la Fayette .

Perhaps the wishes of the Aristocrates may accord with the assertions of their opponents , for I have heard it often said by them , " I fear we can never ' relever cet homme . '" They now lament the folly of their conduct . Le Comte de Modene

reproached them with not being willing to join twelve livres a month for a newspaper devoted to their party . Could they be again assembled together they might perhaps effect something beneficial to their party , but their ignorance of one another ,