S324 
Thrice only on the whole journey did 
his Majefly alight from. the carriage); 
twice only forthe fhert time employed in 
changing horfes ; and this he did princi- 
pally to give his family a little relief from 
their crowded fituation; and. the third 
time when the carriage came togo down a 
hill fo fieep, that the poftillions were 
obliged to lock the wheels with the chain. 
‘The Dauphin and the Princefs Royal took 
the fame opportunity to ftretch their 
limbs, cramped with the confinement of 
the carriage. 
On the jaf of thefe occafions, when he 
had one foot on the fteps to enter the 
esach, which was Surrounded and befet 
with beggars, feemingly in the greateft 
diftrefs, he laid his hand on M.de Mouf- 
‘tier’s arm, who had turned himfelf fo as 
t: prevent the King from being narrowly 
examined, and with tears in his eyes de- 
fired M. de Mouft er not to take fo much 
trouble, adding, that fuch precautions 
were no longer neceflary, as no danger of 
difcovery was now to be apprehended.— 
He faid, at the fame time, that he could 
rot, without the mof lively forrow, be- 
hold, the }wretched ftate of the’ people 
around them, nor anticipate the mifery 
that muft be their lot, fhould no. favour- 
able,change in public affairs take place.— 
«* 4las!- (cried that feeling Prinee,) bow 
ny poor people are decerwed ! My own fuf- 
jerizgs would , be nothing to me, could they 
become the means of procuring the happine/s 
of ihe Fuench mation?” : 
On the fiilt occafion of his quitting the 
euriage, the King faid to, M. de Mouf 
tier :—* I am fo unfortunate that I caa- 
not perfuade myfelt that my fourney will 
be profpercuss Happen, however, what 
may, 1 fhall have only done my duiy, in 
Sfoewing to all the avorld, by this attempt 
taavithdraw from uty oppreffors, the thrat- 
dom ia which I have giiherto bee held.— 
Let xo one in future allege, that he has 
been “deceived or mifled by me, through any 
thing that I mey do, as bas been but too 
long the cafe during my cruel captivity. 
fimilar affertions from the mouths of perfons 
otberwife worthy of regard; and even of fome 
wha, in forergn lands, 
victims of their zeal for the caufe of the very 
Monarch whofe character they fo unjuftly, 
but unthinkingly, afperfed. He does in the 
‘moft folemn manner declare, that the ac- 
count here given is moft ftri@tly correct. 
+ The fame fentiments were more fully 
exprefled in the Declaration left by his Mae 
jefty oo the chimaey-piece inthe Thuille- 
ries, and afterwards made public, j 
were the fuffering — 
Fourney of Louis XVI, from Paris ta Varennes,’ [May 1, 
The confidence, or rather the hopes, of 
meeting with no interrupticn on the jour- 
ney, begen to decay wher the carriage 
reached St. Ménéhoud, where, while the 
horfes were changing, the commanding 
officer of a detachment of dragoons quar- 
tered in the town, paffing clofe by M. de 
Mouttier, but without fopping, and 
rather affecting to turn his head another 
way, faid tohim, ina way not to be over- 
heard by the furrounding peaple, * Make 
hafte, and begone ; if you da not fet off in- 
frantly, you are undone?’ This the of- 
ficer faid, although he faw M. de Mouf- 
tier with his own hands affifting to put 
the horfes to the carriage with the utmolt 
difpatch. | Oa a 
Soon after the King had left St. Méné- 
houd, this party of dragoons, was furs 
rounded and difarmed by the national 
guards of the place.” i a 
Tne Royal Family at laf arrived at 
Clermont en’ Argone, where lay Mon- 
fieur’s regiment of dragoons, commanded 
by M. de Damas. PR. g 
One of the officers came up to M. de 
Mouttier, and faid, ‘* Comrade, foall i 
order a party to mount and atténd you ?* 
M. de Moultiér declined accepting the 
offer, as it might have occafioned fome 
fufpicion cf the rank of the travellers ; 
faying to the officer, that he muft furely 
be in a miftake refpecting them, for that 
they were not accuftomed to travel with 
fuch attendants. UE 
The officer; either from prudence, or 
that he feared he had been too rath;. re- 
plied only that it might be dangerous for 
perions of diftinétion to travel through the 
woods in-the night. rie 
M, de Movtier thanked him for his 
attention, adding, that perfons who tra- 
velled as they did, always took care to be 
prepared againfi highwaymen, or what- 
ever: other inconveniences they could ex- 
pect to encounter. _ Pag 
When the carriage had left Clermont, 
M. de Damas ordered his regiment to 
mountand march ; but inftead ot obeying, 
the men fet up the cry of Vive la Na- 
tion 1* and .M, de Damas’ contrived, 
though with much difficulty, and after be- 
ing feverely threatened by them, to make 
* This extraordinary behaviour of the dra- 
goons, added to the condudt of the drivers, 
who evenon the beft road, between Clermont 
and Varennes, could never be prevailed on to 
proceed but extremely flow, in general walk- 
ing their horfes, may ferve to open the eyes 
of the world refpeéting the fcheme laid for 
interrupting his Majefty’s journey. nt 
Mg 
