Idid not think it expedient to remind him of it. He continued to obferve, that France being now unanimous for a republic, all the efforts of their enemies to conquer the country, or dictate a government to the inhabitants, would prove vain ; they would be exterminated, rather than fubmit to foreign powers, or to their old oppreffors.-" We have been," added he with great warmth, "too long oppreffed by a race of weak luxurious princes, and trode upon by an infolent yet flavish nobleffe; it is difficult to get rid de toutes ces vermines, but as they are now moftly gone, it will be our faults if we ever allow them to return."-Here I could not help reminding him, that many of the nobility had diftinguished themfelves as the friends of Liberty, and fome were actually at the head of the armies of the republic at that moment; I mentioned Cuftine, Biron, and Montefquieu. He acknowledged the merit of thofe I had named, and of fome others; "but

as for the greater part of the reft," added he, "the only fervice they ever rendered their country was by running away from it: if they had all remained, the democrates would not have fuch an eafy game, and Heaven knows what might have happened; but they are gone, and it is our business to keep them off: let them go and crouch to other kings, and domineer over other flaves, none are to be found in France.-This is the land of liberty and equality.-A camp is already formed at Douay, another is forming nearer Lille; if thirty thousand more men are required, they will be raised in this neighbourhood without difficulty: hardly a peasant or tradefman in France, but is zealous in the caufe of freedom, and ready to fhed his blood for his country."--The man talked with fuch animation of voice and gefture as drew a crowd around us, who all feemed to fympathise with what he said: this was not unobferved by the speaker,

who

who by the looks he threw on the furrounding circle, and by the elevation of voice, fhewed that he was as folicitous to be heard by it as by me.

I was told, after he quitted me, that he was not a citizen of Bethune, as I first imagined, but a Parifian. I understand that there are many fpies and emiffaries in the various towns of France, hired by the executive power for the express purpose of spreading those fentiments, and alfo to examine what are the prevailing opinions. Whether this man is one of those I know not, but he could not have fhewn himself a more zealous republican had he been ever fo well paid for it.

When we returned to the post-house, we were informed that we might have horses for the chaises, but there were no bidets for the fervants, all of them being employed by the couriers who were continually paffing and repaffing on the public fervice. There was a neceffity therefore to take the fervants

into the chaifes, and in this manner we were dragged through very bad roads to Arras.

We met a battalion of national guards on the way. The citizens of Amiens no fooner heard that Lille was invefted, than they raifed, clothed, and armed this battalion at their own expence. The men feem in high fpirits, and were marching with great ardour to Lille.

Robespierre is a native of Arras; this great luminary of the revolution not only renders Arras more confpicuous, but has thrown a ray of light on his brother, who lived here in obfcurity, but is now chofen a deputy to the convention.

Cuvilly, October 9.

We left Arras at fix in the morning, and with much difficulty arrived at this wretched village a little after it was dark: we had been detained feveral hours at Peronne, waiting

for

for the return of post-horses, and afterwards till the poor animals were fed, and had in fome measure recovered their fatigue.

Peronne is ftrongly fortified, but the only garrifon in it at prefent confifts of citizens; they are however well armed, and moft of the men, and all the officers, are in the uniform of the national guards.

A battalion of the Gens d'Armes of Paris are expected at Peronne this night. The quarter-master with fome other of the corps are already arrived.

I was witness to a fcene which will give fome idea of the kind of liberty which exists in France at present.

I had joined three officers of the city guards, who were walking in the fquare oppofite to the post-house. One of them, a very genteel and obliging man, was giving me what information I afked, when two men, in the uniform of the expected battalion, came up to us, and one of them in a haughty