Contemporary Letters On The French Revolution.

cap ital is above that of those to whom it is granted , and that their being denied that favour must bring on the ruin of their commerce or manufactories . The report of the Committee is , however , always carried against the reckimations o £

the individual , which is every Deputy in his turn . Should the violence which actuates the Deputies prevail in the Provices , a thousand petty wars must be the consequence . I forgot to mention that Marseilles has

addressed the National Assembly to restore to the Executive Power its former force . That they have declared they will receive with pleasure all those who are at present exiles , and that they will maintain their Prevofcwhom Monsieur Mirabeau has

at-, tacked in the Assembly , against all persons whatsoever . They have given the command of their Militia to Monsieur de Laraman , a violent Aristocrate . In Paris the National Assembly are certainly all powerful ; but a subject of dispute must

e ' er long arise between them , unless the absolute awe in which the Assembly stands of the Capital and the necessity it has of support should induce the Assembly to

adopt measures which the rest of the kingdom must disapprove . They have not yet organised the muncipality of Paris ; that is , reserved . till every other City has obeyed the decrees of the Assembly ; should the Capital then refuse , they hope the general indignation would induce them to

submit . Eighteen , however , of the sixtytwo districts of Paris , have resolved themselves to be permament and immutable . I must again repeat that the present Assembl y is too much the creature of Paris , and Paris too necessary to the Assembly

for any separation to take place . The police is at present under some regulation . The Mayor and Common Council have taken possession of all the power formerly exercised by the Lieutenant de Police , and are as despotic as he formerlwas . They

y threaten imprisonment for all disobedience of their orders , and beg the different districts to assist in the execution of thorn . In order to alleviate the distresses , and of course the discontent , of the Capital , they pay ancl employ 50000 workmen .

, To furnish the money necessary for their wants they appropriate to their use the taxes received at the Gates of Paris , you may imagine in the present situation of

affairs how much the deduction of so large a sum as is raised by that means , must be felt in the Royal Treasury . They begin at present to execute the orders of the Police with some effect , for they have within these few days taken up two people , concerned in

an abusive paper , although agaiust the Aristocrates . The National Militia look with a mixture of fear and jealousy on the Milice Soldee or the ancien Gardes Francois . The latter laced their hopes in being restored to the

p honor of guarding the royal person , which they hoped to effect by bringing him . prisoner to Paris . They have been disappointed , as the number of them who mount guard daily with the Bourgeoise is very small . They are vexed ancl displeased , and

their companions alarmed . Several Aristocrates have been chosen Mayors of the new Municipalites , particularly l'Eveque de Langres and the intendant of Metz . The King has certainly no party , and I

believe he only wishes for a quiet life . His speech of yesterday has certainly rendered him very popular , and if the Aristocrates make due advantages of the little inclination the Assembly have shown to comply with the King ' s desires , it might produce great effects , especially if they dwelt on the want of exterior respejt shown by their Priseclent in their name .

I cannot conceive that if Monsieur ( who never appears ) was as favourable to the population as his speech to the Common Council of Paris seemed to manifest , that his household and those whose fortune is

dependant on him would be so violent in their opposition to it . I leave you to judge from the King ' s speech whether the Democrates who have occasioned this step , have reason to be satisfied and to look upon it as a triumph , which they do . All Paris was last nig ht illuminated , and I believe the

King to be sincerely and greatly beloved by his people . One advantage the Democrates may derive from it is , that it may revive the hopes ancl confidence of the people which began to diminish . I suppose you know that all edicts now run—' - ' Louis , par la Grace de Dieu et l ' etat constitutionelle' Roi des Francois . "

An idea prevails here as ridiculous as absurd , but you may be assured it is believed , not by the lower orders only , but that it is received as a fact in the King ' s Cabinet , 2 n