"The lawless set of people," he added, "whom the late troubles have set to work, make it very unsafe travelling at present, especially by night; and I really think it necessary that some public caution be given to put those upon their guard who may propose to visit this part of the Continent."
He concluded by proposing to take leave of absence, and it is evident that his position had become untenable. He commissioned young Cox Hippisley[1] (afterwards Sir John Cox Hippisley), who was returning to England, to describe to the Duke of Leeds what he had witnessed. Hippisley had seen from a window the murder of the unfortunate Berthier on the 22nd July, and had endeavoured at Versailles to silence the calumnies against the English. Dorset's opinion of the Revolution had in a fortnight so completely changed—he seems to have been a purely ornamental personage, formerly "quite the fashion in the annals of gallantry," and with little diplomatic ability—that he was anxious to resign his post, and in point of fact he did not return. He continued, however, from England to supply Marie Antoinette with English gloves, and in August 1791 he transmitted to her a letter of advice from Burke, rewritten in cipher for the sake of safety, and made too concise for Burke's liking.
Lord Robert Fitzgerald acted as charge d'affaires
- ↑ To whom the titular Henry IX., Cardinal of York, bequeathed the gauze veil worn by Mary Stuart on her way to execution.
