(Private.) PARIS, November 3, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--I shall take the liberty of confiding sometimes to a private
letter such details of the small history of the court or cabinet, as
may be worthy of being known, and yet not proper to be publicly
communicated. I doubt whether the administration is yet in a permanent
form. The Count de Montmorin and Baron de Breteuil are, I believe, firm
enough in their places. It was doubted whether they would wait for the
Count de La Luzerne, if the war had taken place; but at present, I
suppose they will. I wish it also, because M. de Hector, his only
competitor, has on some occasions shown little value for the connection
with us. Lambert, the Comptroller General, is thought to be very
insecure. I should be sorry also to lose him. I have worked several
days with him, the Marquis de La Fayette, and Monsieur du Pont, (father
of the young gentleman gone to America with the Count de Moustier) to
reduce into one _Arret_, whatever concerned our commerce. I have found
him a man of great judgment and application, possessing good general
principles on subjects of commerce, and friendly dispositions towards
us. He passed the _Arret_ in a very favorable form, but it has been
opposed in the Council, and will, I fear, suffer some alteration in the
article of whale oil. That of tobacco, which was put into a separate
instrument, experiences difficulties also, which do not come from him.
M. du Pont has rendered us essential service on these occasions. I wish
his son could be so well noticed, as to make a favorable report to his
father; he would, I think, be gratified by it, and his good
dispositions be strengthened, and rendered further useful to us.
Whether I shall be able to send you these regulations by the present
packet, will depend on their getting through the Council in time. The
Archbishop continues well with his patroness. Her object is, a close
connection with her brother. I suppose he convinces her, that peace
will furnish the best occasion of cementing that connection.
It may not be uninstructive, to give you the origin and nature of his
influence with the Queen. When the Duke de Choiseul proposed the
marriage of the Dauphin with this lady, he thought it proper to send a
person to Vienna, to perfect her in the language. He asked his friend,
the Archbishop of Thoulouse, to recommend to him a proper person. He
recommended a certain Abbé. The Abbé, from his first arrival at Vienna,
either tutored by his patron, or prompted by gratitude, impressed on
the Queen's mind, the exalted talents and merit of the Archbishop, and
continually represented him as the only man fit to be placed at the
helm of affairs. On his return to Paris, being retained near the person
of the Queen, he kept him constantly in her view. The Archbishop was
named of the Assembly des Notables, had occasion enough there to prove
his talents, and Count de Vergennes, his great enemy, dying
opportunely, the Queen got him into place. He uses the Abbé even yet,
for instilling all his notions into her mind. That he has imposing
talents and patriotic dispositions, I think is certain. Good judges
think him a theorist only, little acquainted with the details of
business, and spoiling all his plans by a bungled execution. He may
perhaps undergo a severe trial. His best actions are exciting against
him a host of enemies, particularly the reduction of the pensions, and
reforms in other branches of economy. Some think the other ministers
are willing he should stay in, till he has effected this odious, yet
necessary work, and that they will then make him the scape-goat of the
transaction. The declarations too, which I send you in my public
letter, if they should become public, will probably raise an universal
cry. It will all fall on him, because Montmorin and Breteuil say,
without reserve, that the sacrifice of the Dutch has been against their
advice. He will, perhaps, not permit these declarations to appear in
this country. They are absolutely unknown; they were communicated to me
by the Duke of Dorset, and I believe no other copy has been given here.
They Till be published doubtless in England, as a proof of their
triumph, and may thence make their way into this country. If the
Premier can stem a few months, he may remain long in office, and will
never make war if he can help it. If he should be removed, the peace
will probably be short. He is solely chargeable with the loss of
Holland. True, they could not have raised money by taxes, to supply the
necessities of war; but could they do it were their finances ever so
well arranged? No nation makes war now-a-days, but by the aid of loans;
and it is probable, that in a war for the liberties of Holland, all the
treasures of that country would have been at their service. They have
now lost the cow which furnishes the milk of war. She will be on the
side of their enemies, whenever a rupture shall take place; and no
arrangement of their finances can countervail this circumstance.
I have no doubt, you permit access to the letters of your foreign
ministers, by persons only of the most perfect trust. It is in the
European system, to bribe the clerks high, in order to obtain copies of
interesting papers. I am sure you are equally attentive to the
conveyance of your letters to us, as you know that all are opened that
pass through any post-office of Europe. Your letters which come by the
packet, if put into the mail at New York, or into the post-office at
Havre, wear proofs that they have been opened. The passenger to whom
they are confided, should be cautioned always to keep them in his own
hands, till he can deliver them personally in Paris.
I have the honor to be, with very sincere esteem and respect, dear Sir,
your most obedient, and most humble servant.