60
pour augmenter le nombre des partisans de la bonne cause. II me reste, Monsieur, de vous parler de la surete personelle des Patriotes. Vous les assurerez, que dans tout etat de cause, le roi les prend sous sa protection immediate, et vous ferez connoitre, partout on vous le jugerez necessaire, que sa Majeste regarderoit comme une offense personnelle, tout ce qu on entreprenderoit contre leur liberte. II est a presumer que ce langage, tenu avec energie, en imposera a Paudace des Anglomanes, et que Monsieur le Prince de Nassau croira courir quelque risque en provoquant le ressentiment de sa Majeste.' *
This letter was communicated by the Patriots to me, when at Amsterdam, in 1788, and a copy sent by me to Mr. Jay, in my letter to him of March 16, 1788.
The object of the Patriots was, to establish a representative and republican government. The majority of the States General were with them, but the majority of the populace of the towns was with the Prince of Orange ; and that populace was played off with great effect, by the triumvirate of * * * Harris, the English Ambassador, afterwards Lord Malmesbury, the Prince of Orange, a stupid man, and the Princess as much a man as either of her colleagues, in audaciousness, in enterprize, and in the thirst of domination. By these, the mobs of the Hague were excited against the mem bers of the States General ; their persons were insulted, and en dangered in the streets; the sanctuary of their houses was violated ;
[* Extract from the despatch of the Count de Vergennes, to the Marquis de Verac, Ambassador from France, at the Hague, dated March 1, 1786. 'The King will give his aid, as far as may be in his power, towards the suc cess of the affair, and will, on his part, invite the Patriots to communicate to him their views, their plans, and their discontents. You may assure them that the King takes a real interest in themselves, as well as their cause, and that they may rely upon his protection. On this they may place the greater depend- ance, as we do not conceal, that if the Stadtholder resumes his former influ ence, the English System will soon prevail, and our alliance become a mere affair of the imagination. The Patriots will readilv feel, that this position would be incompatible both with the dignity and consideration of his Majesty. But in case the chief of the Patriots should have to fear a division, they woiild have time sufficient to reclaim those whom the Anglomaniacs had misled, and to prepare matters in such a manner, that the question when again agitated, might be decided according to their wishes. In such a hypothetical case, the King authorizes you to act in concert with them, to pursue the direction which they may think proper to give you, and to employ every means to augment the num ber of the partisans of the good cause. It remains for me to speak of the per sonal security of the Patriots. You may assure them, that under every circum stance, the King will take them under his immediate protection, and you will make known wherever you may judge necessary, that his Majesty will regard, as a personal offence, every undertaking against their liberty. It is to be pre- sumed that this language, energetically maintained, may have some effect on the audacity of the Anglomaniacs, and that the Prince de Nassau will feel that he runs some risk in provoking the resentment of his Majesty.' ]
