HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
against the undertaking at that 
moment, and begging them to 
postpone it for a better oppor- 
tunity, being a matter of too great 
importance and of too much con- 
sequence to mankind to be hazard- 
ed.in that indigested manner, and 
ata period of so much uncertainty, 
confusion, and disagreement. The 
force of his reasoning was justly 
‘admitted, and his counsel fol- 
lowed, 
Some people have blamed Gene- 
ral Miranda for not having seized 
that opportunity of extending free- 
dom and independence to his native 
country. But it has sufficiently 
omen by subsequent events, 
that if he had followed the Jine of 
conduct proposed, he might have 
been the instrument of establishing 
anarchy and despotism, instead of 
liberty: and it must be matter of 
sincere satisfaction to General Mi- 
randa, that he was the means of 
preventing incalculable evils, both 
to Spain and South America, 
During these operations, it ap- 
pears that Dumouriez was much in 
want of money, and every kind of 
equipment for his army; his dis- 
putes with the Convention, and his 
necessities were so great, that he 
wished and offered to resign. The 
invasion of Holland was by this 
time determined on; and as that 
task was allotted to him, he, no 
doubt, was anxious to have his ar- 
my in the best possible state. In 
his correspondence with the Con- 
vention and the minister at war, 
to whom he imputed much blame, 
he was warm, and his expressions 
on some occasions had much aspe- 
rity. Complaints had been pri- 
vately preferred against those who 
contracts, or who otherwise 
supplied the army; and whether 
the-warmth of the General to de- 
[123 
fend these men, proceeded from. a 
justindignation at the injustice done 
to them, or otherwise, with a view 
to cloke their peculation, is a point 
very nice to be determined. We 
should, however, be rather inclined 
to suppose, that peculation did exist 
in the army: and we are willing to 
believe, that when Dumouriez de- 
manded the unrestrained controul 
over all departments, and the com- 
plete power of supplying the whole, 
that he was acting for the public 
good, and with a view of check- 
ing such irregularities as had crept 
in. We know that confidence 
must exist between the commander 
in chief and’ the immediate heads 
of departments; and the moment 
that he loses his consequence with 
them, and that the power is trans- 
ferred into distant hands, the dis- 
cipline, the first principle of actiony 
the spirit which animates the 
whole, is irrecoverably lost, and 
from that moment the army ceases 
to be organized. The General is 
the soul of his army, and a soldier 
has only him to look to fer his im- 
mediate means of support, and for 
the pay that is due to him from the 
state. Dumouriez went so far, that 
he requested to be suffered to ap- 
pear at the bar to defend the bank- 
ers, D’Espagnac and Malus, who 
had advanced him money for the 
pay of his troops:—He concluded 
by saying, ** That the situation of 
his army was such, that it lost the 
republic more men than the loss of 
a battle, and loudly calls for a new 
order of things.” 
The success of General Custine 
on the Lhan, induced the war-mi- 
nister, Pache, to order M. Biron to 
send whatever troops might be de- 
manded by that General to his im- 
mediate assistance. Biron, witha 
truly great.and magnanimousimind,. 
throw- 
