302 ANNUAL REGISTER, 
Letter of M. Louis de Narbonne, 
Minister at War of France, to the 
Duke of Brunswick. Paris, Jan. 
9, 1792. 
My Lord, 
} AD I followed the rules of 
ordinary policy, I should not 
have been induced to make the 
bold demand which I address to 
you in the name of the King, and 
which I should have addressed to 
you also in the name of the nation, 
had the secrecy which this step re- 
quires permitted me to consult its 
wishes. Come and assume the 
command of the French army— 
I know not what the Duke of 
Brunswick, as a prince of the Ger- 
man empire, as a member of the 
Germanic body, may have to offer 
in answer to this proposal, but I 
address myself to an hereditary 
prince, to one who has courted 
success in war, and who has been 
so often gratified in that high am- 
bition. I can say to him “ among 
us you will acquire a glory worthy 
of your character.” Is not this 
sufficient to engage you? Should 
you say, my Lord, that you are 
going to command an undisciplined 
army, I will answer, that political 
quarrels have divided it; but that 
it will rally under the standards of 
a man who depends only on his 
own genius, and who, in the cause 
of equality, finds himself previously 
disinterested by all the gifts of na- 
ture. - 
You will perhaps say also, that 
it is against the cause of Kings 
that you are going to take up arms: 
but our principles have consecrated 
monarchical government; and,with- 
out defending them in every point, 
I will remind you, that the Duke 
of Brunswick has practised in all 
his states several of our maxims; 
1792. 
that the greatest general of Europe 
has not endeavoured by force to 
render his country more military 
than the extent of it would allow; 
that he has done nothing but what 
is worthy of a great character; 
and that the glory, even the most 
suited to his genius, has not made 
him pursue measures contrary to 
the happiness of his people. 
Whatever our principles may have 
exaggerated ; whatever violence, 
above all, may be in our constitu- 
tion, time already begins to apply 
a remedy; but nothing can equal 
the effect which will be produced 
by the presence of the Duke of 
Brunswick. In taking an oath to 
defend liberty, you would give 
cause of exultation to the French 
people; that mistrust which has 
ruined us would not approach the 
Duke of Brunswick.—Who would 
dare to doubt his word? Is not 
courage the surest pledge of loy- 
alty ? 
The scourge of war might per- 
haps be averted from France. The 
name of the Duke of Brunswick 
will perhaps be sufficient to pre- 
serve us from it; but, even in the 
midst of peace, the glory of creating 
a power, and of re-establishing an 
army, would belong to him. 
The faults and enemies of France 
may, perhaps, have made it be 
considered by Europe asa kingdom 
almost annihilated. Twenty-four 
millions of people, distant posses- 
sions, arts, all have been in danger 
of being forgotten; but all these 
still exist, all wait for the genius of 
good order. The French nation 
is susceptible of enthusiasm: the 
glory and example of your Se- 
rene Highness would excite it. 
By this sentiment you would rally a 
nation which is ruined only by be- 
ing 
