£26 



Memoirs of Mr. Nechr^ by his Daughters [Jan. 1, 



cree at the moment when the enthufiafm 

 for equality was moft prevalent. It was 

 not titles in general, but the utility of 

 titles in a monarchy, which was analysed 

 in this traft. It ill luits me to expatiate 

 here on the philofophic motives which 

 often induced my father to embrace opi- 

 nions that might be confidered as anti- 

 philofophic : neither does it belong to my 

 iubjeft at prefent to point out that admi- 

 rable union of contrafted qualities, or ra- 

 ther that enlarged mind, which rendered 

 him the true friend of liberal inftitutions, 

 and the moit able advocate of the fixed 

 barriers which (hould limit thefe Inftitu- 

 tions ; but when I come to publith the 

 Works of my father, I fliall annex a cal- 

 leflion of all the Memoirs he furnilhed 

 the King and the National AfTembly dur- 

 ing the laft fifteen months of his adminif- 

 tration ; and I can confidently promife 

 that thefe Memoirs prove that there exifts 

 noinjuftice towards theopprefled, no fault 

 in political inflitutions, which he did not 

 firft point out, and which has not fince 

 been acknowledged. 



But could the harmonious voice of an 

 eloquence as full of argument as of fenfi- 

 bility be heard at the moment when every 

 political paflion was ronfed, when hope 

 and fear had doubled theaftivity of every 

 man's charafter, and when this great 

 kingdom of France was become for true 

 enthufialts the moft extenfive field for the 

 exercile of the imagination, and for ambi- 

 tious projectors the richeft domain which 

 an avidity of wealth or power everrtiared ? 



My father's houfe was threatened : my 

 mother trembled for his life : and as he 

 had no further means of being uleful, he 

 retired in 1790, producing at the fame 

 time a Memoir on AiFignats, in which he 

 ftated every thing which has happened 

 fince. But even in predifting with cer- 

 tainty the ruin of the creditors of the ftate, 

 he left his two millions as adepofit in the 

 royal treafury. He poffcfled, however, a 

 fecurity (^bon) from the King, authorizing 

 him to withdraw them whenever he chofe, 

 and as Minifter of Finance he had more 

 facility than any other man to pay him- 

 felf what was due to him. Some perfons 

 liave deemed this laft aft of generofity 

 fomewhat bUmeable ; and fo it might be 

 elttemed, if ii were not confidered that my 

 father wiflied 10 leave a pledge of his ad- 

 miniftration, and not detach his fate alto- 

 gether ficm that of France \ and befides, 

 although he had every reaibn to believe 

 that the inteieft would be paid in paper- 

 money, he could not think it poflible that 

 the principal of a debt (9 facred could b; 



fequeftered even in the midft of the moft 

 violent political agitations. 



In returning to Switzerland through 

 Bade, my father was arretted at Ar^y-fur- 

 Aiibe, and his life was threatened at 

 Vefont, owing to the popular fufpicions 

 which the libels againft him had excited. 

 He was accufed of having betrayed the in- 

 terefts of the people, of having joined tha 

 emigrant party, who affuredly had not 

 fiiewn themfelves his friends. It was thus 

 he retraced the very route which fifteen 

 months before he had parted fo triumph- 

 antly. Cruel viciflitude, that might have 

 foured the firmeft foul, but which an unful- 

 lied confcience could fupport with refigna- 

 tion ! 



At length he arrived at his feat at 

 Coppet. It is now fourteen years ago, 

 and I followed him foon after. I found 

 him (ad, thoughtful, but without one fen- 

 timentof gall. One day he was converf- 

 ing with me about the deputies of the city 

 ot Tours, who had lodged with him fomc 

 months during the federation, and he laid 

 to me, " A year ago this city bore me 

 much good-will : perhaps it is not yetde. 

 ftroyed : perhaps in this part of France 

 they love me ftill I" It is neceflary to 

 have been acquainted with him, it is ne- 

 ctrtary to have known how noble and ele- 

 vated were his looks, how gentle and con- 

 genial with his words was the tone of his 

 voice, to form an idea of the efFeft of them 

 on a heart that fo pafiionately loved him. 

 The moments were rare when he unfoldeti 

 his moft inmoft heart. His habitual man- 

 ner was dignified and rcltrained, and par- 

 ticularly in what related to himfelf: he 

 had that referve which is the chief charac- 

 teriltic of profound imprefTions. It was 

 this period of his arrival at Coppet which 

 commenced that admirable life of folitude 

 and refignation by which he acquired the 

 efteem even of his enemies. It was there 

 that he compofed thofe Works on 

 the various political fituations of France 

 which have fucceffively obtained the ap- 

 probation of all ihofe whofe opinions were 

 overpowered, and the blame of all thofe 

 whofe opinions were viftorious. It was 

 in this retreat that he difplayed a celeltial 

 mind, a charafter every day more puie, 

 more noble, more refined. It was there 

 that he imprefled on the hearts of all who 

 faw him a fentime-nt which they muft all 

 preferve to the end of their lives. 



Ill writing the political life of my fa- 

 ther, I (liail endeavour to examine the cha- 

 rtftei' and objeft of his writings ; and as 

 fome of them relate to the circumftances 

 of tlie moment, perhaps I may one day ab- 



llraft 



