at the fame time told Madame de Neuville, Lady of the Bed-chamber to the Dauphin, to drefs him, and Madame Royale being come, went with her, the Dauphin, Madame Brugnier and Madame de Neuville to an apartment where they found the King, the Queen, Madame Elizabeth, and two perfons unknown. One of thefe perfons was directed to conduct Madame Brugnier, and Madame de Neuville, to the carriage at the Pont-Royal, whence they repaired to Clayes, according to their orders. The other conducted Madame de Tourzel, with the Dauphin, and Madame Royal, by the little ftair-cafe to the Prince's Court, where a carriage was waiting for them. The carriage ftopped at the end of the Caroufel, to wait for the reft of the Royal Family. Madame Elizabeth and the Queen arrived alone, and on foot, and were handed into the carriage by the driver. The King followed, attended by the Sieur Maldan, who got up behind the carriage, which then took the road to Bundy.

At the gate of St Martin, the Royal Family took a more convenient carriage, which was waiting for them. The fame coachman was directed to drive them to Bondy, where the Sieur Vallory put the poft horfes he had provided to the carriage. At Clayes, the carriage with the Ladies of the Bed-chamber joined them, and the whole party proceeded to Varennes without any interruption.

They alighted feveral times at the different ftages, converfed with those whom they met, and fhewed the greatest appearance of fecurity and confidence.

On Tuesday the 21ft, at eleven o'clock at night, the poft-mafter of Clermont came to M. late Marquis de Villee, now Prefident of the diftrict of that place. He told him that a courier had juft paffed who put three louis into his hand, and ordered eleven horfes.

During his surprise at this generofity, a large voiture, very carefully thut up, arrived, and while he was harneffing the horfes, a voice called out to him, "How far is it from here to Verdun ?". Three pofts; this Foutte, and Varennes. M. de Damas went to the man who rode firft, drew him on one fide, and converfed with him in a very low voice. This air of myftery induced the poftmafter to fuppofe that the voiture contained fome perfons of confequence.

The Municipality were therefore immediately informed of it, and the Prefident went to affemble the Directory.

M. de Damas had ordered his dragoons tomount, whom the citizens had obferved with fome uneafiness in the course of the day, preparing their portmanteaus as for a journey. Thefe dragoons were fo flow in bringing out their horfes, that the Național Guard had time to affemble in arms; a circumstance which, though improbable, is confirmed by feveral perfons, and which at the time very clearly fhewed their unwillingness to obey their Colonel.

When the latter had placed himself at their head, the Guard oppofed their departure. "Sir," faid the Mayor to him,

Your precipitate conduct alarms the citizens; they fay, that you are to protest the efcape of the Queen. If this is true, we will oppofe your departure; if it is not, you may go at day-break, which will be time enough. Then, addreffing himfelf to the foldiers, "Friends," faid he, "the fafety of France is in your hands: Will you either kill your brethren in arms, or fuffer them to fire upon you? We are about three hundred, refolved not to fuffer you to pafs.'

""

The dragoons fhewed fome fymptoms of irrefolution. M. de Damas advanced in great anger; faid, that they were not to receive commands from the Municipality; that he had fuperior orders; andfhewed thofe from M. de Bouille, directing him to repair to Varennes. He ordered the dragoons to march. The Mayor prefented his musket, " B- if you advance one fiep, I will kill you.

M. de Damas ordered his men to difmount, made a feint of returning to his inn, and fet off immediately by another road for Varennes, accompanied by two of his officers. In the mean time, the municipal officers had taken fecure meafures, had founded the Tocfin, poffeffed themselves of the paffages, and cut down fome fmall bridges.

One of the National Guard had fled with the utmost hafte to Varennes, in order to give the alarm, and was furprifed to find the King himself arrested. Dronet, the poftmafter of St Monehoud, had conceived fome fufpicions, in confe quence of which, he fet out immediately for Varennes. He communicated these fufpicions to the landlord of the Golden Arms, the inn at which their Majefties had stopped, and perfuaded him to detain the voiture.

He placed himself at the entrance of a paflage which feparates the upper from the lower town, and through which the carriage must go. It appeared he took

aim

aim at the poftilion, and ordered him to flop: "We are patriots," said the man, "let us pafs." "Patriots or devils, fhall not pafs here: if you make one step I fhall fire into the carriage."

The King bade the postillion dismount, and the innkeeper led the carriage back as quietly as poffible. A mesenger was difpatched to Vancourt, a neighbouring village, the inhabitants of which are an hardy rate, chiedy nail-makers, and much accustomed to runt in the neigh bouring woods, fo that every man had a gun. They poffeffed themfelves of a bridge, which was not guarded by the huffars of Layun, quartered near it, and the National Guard, who fled to arms in an inftant,ed the avenues to the bridge, and the quay of a rivulet, which was almost dry.

One Lauce, the procureur-findic, faid to a corps which he had got together, of about 50 ill-armed citizens" Neither you, nor 1, are foldiers; but I think that, in cafe of an attack, four should stand in front, and a perpetual fire should be kept up by firing in divifions, each four retiring immediately after a discharge, and loading in the rear." They had two Ymall field-pieces, but no cartridges, or ball for them.

After these dispositions Lauce, went to find the King, who ftill thought himself unknown. "Sir," faid he," As you may be detained here fome time, ac cept of a more convenient lodging; permit me to conduct you to my houle.'

"But why may I not go here is a great deal of tumult about a ftranger; befides, you may see that I have a right to proceed." The King then shewed a paffport figned Louis and Montmorin, for the Baronnels de Korff, who was going to Frankfort, with two children, a valetde-chambre, and two women. "Sir," faid the man,, "We are hear conftantly upon our guard; we apprehend an incurfion of the enemy; you hear the Tocfin; you cannot be fafe before day."

The King, without difcovering the leaft uneasiness, thanked M. de Lauce for his attentions; the Queen, and Madame Elizabeth, leaned upon his arm; the King took his children by the hand, and thus they proceeded to the house of the Sieur Lauce, who is a tallow-chandler, paffed through his thor and climbed inio a fmall room above it. The King, with an air of content, afked for fomething to drink, and his hoft brought him fome Burgundy, with fome cheese...

His Majey drank, begged his hoft to inforin him concerning the fituation of the town, faid, that he had never tafted better liquor, and began a very familiar converfation with him. He interogated him as to his office, the number of priests in the place, and afked where the Mayor was? At the National Affembly." At thefe words the King, for the first time, fhewed fome indignation. "Have you a club here?" No, Sir."-" So much the better; thefe wretched clubs have destroyed France."

During this converfation, the King fhewed fome fort of reft efsnefs and uneafinefs, as if he was in a ftate of conftant expectation. The Queen, at times, faid a few words indiftin&ly. M. Lauce went out frequently, at the request of the King, to prevent a tumult, and affure the people that it was only a common traveller. Whenever he left the room, the King faid, "Come back as foon as poffible; I want you, your converfation is very acceptable." Once he faid, "have you a bridge here?" Yes, Sir, but it is fo eucumbered with carriages, that you cannot pals it."- Very well, then I can go over the ford."- "That is worfe. I have already faid, that we were in fear of the Auftrians, and I have been obliged to fill the bed of the river with wolf-traps and spikes, fo that no horfe can pafs it."-"But cannot you clear the bridge?—Yes, I will go and give or ders." In the mean time, the huffars had arrived at the bridge, and wifhed to pafs it; but the pealants kept a good countenance, and prevented them. They retired without firing a mufquet.

M. Lauce, who had amufed the King, in order to give the National Guard time to arrive; perceiving now that it rained men (this is the expreffion) thought it time to tell his Majefty it was day-light, and that he muft prepare to return to Paris.

Finding it impoffible to diffemble any longer, the King threw himself in the arms of the Procureur of the community, and faid, I am your King, placed in the

capital amid poignards and bayonets: "I come to feek in the provinces, in the "midft of my faithful fubjects, the liber

ty and peace which you enjoy. I can "remain no longer in Paris but at the "rifk of my life-my family's too," and he embraced thofe who ftood around him. In vain they preffed him with tears in their eyes to return to the capital. The idea of danger with which he was im

K 2

preffed

He placed confiderable forces at every poft, and they proceeded with the greatest rapidity to efcape purfuit, very improbable, doubtlefs, but which it was prudent: to guard againft, as poffible.

tend him.

In the mean time, twenty-five dragoons were traverfing the place; and it is uncertain what part the hufars, who were inaking evolutions under the command of the Sieur Douglas would take. The cannon were placed at the extremities of the fireet, fo as to place the detachment between two fires. The Sieur Douglas perceived the infufficiency of his force, and was going to bring a re-inforcement, The Major of the National Guard ftop ped him, and his aid-de-camp attempting to force a paffage, made a blow at the the Major with his fabre, which he a voided, and difcharged a piftol at the af failant, which wounded him in the fhould er. The aid-de-camp retreated. This took place in the fight of the huffars, who flood motionlèfs, and immediately demanded an officer of the National Guard to head them. In an inftant, Live the King, the Nation, and the "National Affembly!" refounded from all quarters.

A deputation of the National Assembly went to Varennes; upon the road they took what information they could collect -they took, at the fame time, neceffary measures, that the greatest order, the greatest tranquillity and safety, might accompany the return of the King.

They learnt that he was at Chalons, where a numerous body of the National Guard was affembled from the neighbouring departments. Defirous that the refpect due to the Royal dignity fhould be conftantly maintained, they gave orders that the troops of all defcriptions hould affemble wherever they fhould think neceffary.

They ftopped at Dormans, where they were informed that the King had quit ted Chalons in his way to Epernay, but they learnt the alarming news that he was purfued-other accounts faid, that without being purfued, endeavours were making to intercept his return and carry off his perion.

In confequence of this, M. Damas, who accompanied them, took all the precautions neceffary, that every fuch attempt might be repelled.

They met the King between Dormant and Epernay. They found in the car

Queen, Madame Royal, daughter of the King, Madame Elizabeth, and Madame Tourtel, Governess to the Dauphin. They found upon the coach-box three perfons, who told them their names were Valori, Dumotier, and Maldan, who had been all Gardes du Corps. They were dreffed as Couriers.

There was a fecond carriage, in which were two women, who faid their names were Madame Brigny, and Madame Fourville, the one Fille de Chambre to Madame Royal, and the other to the Dauphin.

One of them read to the King, the decree authorifing their miffion. The King anfwered in a very few words, and teltified much fenfibility on account of the precautions taken by the National Affembly for his fafety, and for the maintainance of the Royal dignity. He befides faid, he never had any intention of paffing the limits of his kingdom.

The Royal family paffed the night at Dormans, from whence they proceeded very flowly, many of the National Guard being on foot, to Meaux.

They wrote from Meaux to the Prefident of the National Affembly, the Mayor, and the Commander of the National Guard at Paris, to intreat them to take the neceffary meafures to fecure the public tranquillity upon the King's arrival, and to fend a body of National Guards to guard the avenues upon his approach. When they joined the Royal Family, they addreffed a proclamation to all the administrative bodies, in order to provide for the fafety of the King's perfon. Every where they were received with the expreffions of the greatest zeal and attachment to the public intereft; every where prevailed the greatefl tranquillity and order, united with the firmest courage.

They departed from Meaux at half paft fix. The number of the National Guards fucceffively increased, not only of horfemen but of infantry. Their progrefs was obftructed by the immenfe concourfe of citizens upon the road as they paffed; fo that they did not arrive in Paris till feven o'clock, where they placed

the

"I think it neceffary, refpecting the miffion with which you are charged, to obferve to you, that I do not understand fubmitting to interrogatories; but I will willingly, fince the National Affembly requires it, make public the motives which induced me to quit Paris;-They were, the threats and outrages committed againft my family and myself, and which have been circulated in different publications and all thefe infults have remained unpunished. I thence thought that it was neither fafe nor proper for me to remain any longer in Paris; but, in quitting the capital, Inever had an intention of going out of the kingdom. I ne ver made, on this fubject, any agreement, either with the neighbouring Powers, with my family, or with the French mal contents in foreign countries. My plan was, to retire to Mont-medi; for which purpose I had, previously, ordered apart ments to be prepared for me there. As that town is well fortified, I thought I could not choose a better place for the fafety of my family. Being near the frontiers, I should have been more at hand to oppofe every invasion of France which might be attempted. I fhould befides have been able to go, with more facility, to those places where my prefence might be neceffary. Another powerful motive for my retreat was, to put an end to the affertion of my not being at liberty. If my intention had been to go into a foreign country, I fhould not have publifhed my memorial before my departure -I would have done it after I pafled the frontiers. Befides, fhould a knowledge of our intentions be defired in that particular, let the fame memorial be confulted; at the end of which will be feen with how much pleafure I promife to the Parifians to join them again. As a further corroboration of this, I had in my carriage only 13,000 livres in gold, and 56,000l. in affignats. I declare folemnly, that I was not advifed to this ftep by any one, and that I alone projected

and executed it. Finformed Monfieur of it only on the evening of my departure; and it was agreed between us, that we fhould not purdue the fame route. I gave orders to the three perfons who were found with me to follow me the fame evening one of them received my orders. The paffport which I had with me was neceffary to facilitate my journey, and the route for Franckfort was not even kept. I have made no other proteftation than the memorial which I left behind me, and which has been published, in which there is no attack against the prin ciples of the Conftitution, but only againft the form-the decrees not having been paffed together, I could not fo well judge. of their propriety. I experienced in my journey, that the public opinion, was decidedly in favour of the Conftitution. I did not believe that I could with certainty come at a knowledge of this fact at Paris. Convinced how much it was ne→ ceffary to give force to the established › powers, as foon as I knew the general will, I did not hesitate to make thofe facrifices, which the welfare of the people, always the object of my wishes, requi red of me. LOUIS."

(Signed)

Declaration of the QUEEN.

"I declare, that the King being defirous of quitting Paris with his children, nothing in nature could have diffuaded me from following him; for, that I never will confent to quit him, my whole conduct for thefe two years paff has given fufficient proofs. I was confirmed in my determation to follow him, from the confidence and perfuafion which I had, that he would never quit the kingdom. Had he been fo inclined, all my influence would have been exerted to prevent him. The Governess of my daughter, who had been indifpofed for five weeks, did not receive orders for departure till the evening preceding-She had not even taken any clothes with her

I was obliged to lend her fome-She was abfolutely ignorant of our deftination. The three couriers neither knew the deltination nor the object of our journeythey were fupplied, from time to time,

with money upon the road, and received our orders as we proceeded. The two femmes de chambre did not receive orders till the moment of our departure-One of them, whofe hufband was in the palace, had not an opportunity of seeing him. Monfieur and Madame feparated from us, and took the road to Mons, only to avoid embarraffment, and to prevent delay from the want of horses upon the road-They were to rejoin us in France. We went out of the palace by paffing through the apartment of M. Villequier; and, that we might not be perceived, we went feparately, and at fome distance of time from each other,

(Signed) MARIE-ANTOINETTE.”

"Three months have scarcely elapfed fince we Deputies underfigned, made known to our Conftituents, our proteft against a decree, which attacked the fa cred principle of the inviolability of the King's perfon. The zeal with which many of us defended it on the 28th of March, the conviction which we entertained that it was impoffible to violate with impunity this principle effential to all Monarchy, are too well juftified by the afflicting fpectacle of which we have

the misfortune to be witnefs.

"The King and the Royal Family conducted as prifoners, by authority of the decrees of the National Affembly; the Monarch guarded in his palace by foldiers, not fubject to his command; the Royal Framily entrusted to a guard over whom the King has no authority; the right of directing the education of the Prefumptive Heir to the Throne taken from him, who, both as King and Father, had the moit undoubted right, and the frongeft obligation to direct it; in fine, the Monarch, whose inviolability was declared even by the new conftitution, fufpended by a decree from the exercife of his authority; fuch is the affting fpectacle, which we and all good Frenchmen lament, and fuch are the too obvious and too fatal confequences of the firft violation offered to this facred and fundamental principle.

"And we ought to declare it, fince we are compelled to refer to the decree itfelf againft which we have protefted, and against which we ftill proteft, there is none of those measures which were not before prefcribed by the constitution, in the name of which they are taken. The facred perfon of the King was declared inviolable: one only cafe was provided for, in which, contrary to all the principles effential to Monarchy, it was fupposed that that inviolability might ceate. This case has not yet occurred; nevertheless, the King is dragged as a criminal into his own capital, made a prifoner in his own palace, and defpoiled of his own prerogative. Thus, after having infringed the inviolability of the King by decrees, they annul them in order completely to deftroy it.

"Amidft these outrages offered to the Monarch, to his auguft family, and in their perfons to the whole nation, what has become of the Monarchy? The decrees of the National Affembly have centered in themfelves all the Royal power: the feal of the State has been depofited on their table; the decrees are rendered executory without requiring fanction: they give direct orders to all the agents of the executive power; they impofe, in their own name, oaths, in which Frenchmen do not even find the name of their King: Commiffioners, who have received their miflion from them alone, traverfed the provinces, in order to receive oaths which they exact, and give directions to the army; thus, at the moment at which the inviolability of the King was annulled, Monarchy was deftroyed; the appearance of royalty no longer exift ted: a Republican Interim has fucceeded.

"Far from all thofe, who are acquainted with the rules of our conduct (and, we believe, there are very few Frenchmen who do not rightly appreci ate them,) be the idea that we could concur in fuch decrees. They are not lefs unpleasant to our feelings, than repugnant to our principles. Never have we more feverely felt the rigour of our duty, never have we more lamented the fatal cenfequences refulting from the miffion with which we were charged, than when forced to remain witnesses of acts, which we regarded as culpable attempts; while thofe who are most frequently our organ, become timid, for the firft time condemned themselves to filence that they might not involve the facred caufe in that unpopularity which has so ingeniously been

contrived