320 Travels in France 



from the king's situation than from any other circumstance. 

 They cannot, after the scenes that have passed, venture to set 

 him at liberty before the constitution is finished: and they 

 dread, at the same time, a change working in his favour in the 

 minds of the people : in this dilemma a plan is laid for persuad- 

 ing his majesty to go suddenly to the National Assembly and, in 

 a speech, to declare himself perfectly satisfied with their pro- 

 ceedings and to consider himself as at the head of the revolution^ 

 in terms so couched as to take away all idea or pretence of his 

 being in a state of confinement or coercion. This is at present 

 a favourite plan ; the only difficulty will be to persuade the king 

 to take a step that will apparently preclude him. from whatever 

 turn or advantage the general feeling of the provinces may work 

 in his favour; for after such a measure, he will have reason to 

 expect that his friends will second the views of the democratical 

 party, from an absolute despair of any other principles becoming 

 efficient. It is thought probable that this scheme will be brought 

 about; and if it is it will do more to ease their apprehensions of 

 any attempts than any other plan. I have been among the 

 booksellers with a catalogue in hand to collect publications, 

 which, unfortunately for my purse, I find I must have on various 

 topics that concern the present state of France. — These are now 

 every day so numerous, especially on the subjects of commerce, 

 colonies, finances, taxation, deficit, etc., not to speak of the 

 subject immediately of the revolution itself, that it demands 

 many hours every day to lessen the number to be bought, by 

 reading pen in hand. The collection the Duke of Liancourt has 

 made from the very commencement of the revolution, at the 

 first meeting of the notables, is prodigious, and has cost many 

 hundred louis d'ors. It is uncommonly complete, and will 

 hereafter be of the greatest value to consult on abundance of 

 curious questions. 



i']th. The plan I mentioned yesterday, that was proposed to 

 the king, was urged in vain: his majesty received the proposi- 

 tion in such a manner as does not leave any great hope of the 

 scheme being executed; but the Marquis La Fayette is so 

 strenuous for its being brought about, that it will not yet be 

 abandoned; but proposed again at a more favourable moment. 

 The royalists, who know of this plan (for the public have it not), 

 are delighted at the chance of its failing. The refusal is 

 attributed to the queen. Another circumstance which gives 

 great disquiet at present to the leaders of the revolution are the 

 accounts daily received from all parts of the kingdom of the 



