Gazette Of The United States

Extract of a letter from Paris, Sept. 7.

"The manner of doing business in this kingdom is now such, especially with Foreign Ambassadors, that no absolute certainty of measures can be come at. Mirabeau, for the moment, does every thing; but it is to be hoped, his power will not last. The doctrine of war is his; the negotiation with foreign ministers is directed by him. The King has no more power than an infant. His ministers are insignificant. Every thing centers in the Assembly—and there half a dozen men govern absolutely. Things are coming fast to a crisis—which must end in a civil or foreign war. Perhaps this devoted country may experience the horrible consequences of both.

M. Necker was again seized a few days ago with a slight return of his complaint, which he generally feels when any fresh cause of grief arises. Notwithstanding which, he was earnestly preparing the memorial on the subject of assignats* when a mob, raised to oppose a vote of thanks to the Marquis de Bouille, and to the Garde Nationale of Metz under his command, demanded aloud in the Thuilleries, not only the dismission, but also the heads of the Ministers, and more violently that of M. de la Tour du Pin, and M. Necker.—Horse and foot were instantly ready to protect them; but the General thought it his duty at the same time to insinuate, that he wished they would absent themselves a few hours.

Mr. Necker was in his closet. Several of his friends came out of breath from the Thuilleries, telling him he had not five minutes to lose, for the mob were coming. At that moment an Aid du Camp of M. de la Fayette, came in, saying, "I beg, Sir, you will not be alarmed; I have 8000 men with me, and we will all die; before one hair of your head is touched." M. Necker no longer resisted, and said, "Since it is so, I will go; for were a single bayonet to be used in my cause, I should never be happy."

Of this he had brought a coach—in which Mr. and Mrs. Necker, and the Aid du Camp, having seated themselves, they drove out of the hotel, unattended, to avoid being remarked. It was then nine o'clock in the evening. The aid-du-camp directed the coachman thro every street which he knew to be without danger. From that hour until three o'clock in the morning, that virtuous Minister wandered in the dark on the high roads, and across the fields, in a hired coach with two horses, attended by his faithful companion, and the aid-du-camp.

At two o'clock, M. de la Fayette, who knew the road he had taken, sent another aid-du camp to him, to inform him that Paris was perfectly quiet, and to invite his return. M. Necker re-entered the gates at three o'clock, and the same morning he sent his resignation to the King, and wrote a letter to the Assembly.

M. de la Tour du Pin, Minister of War, spent also the best part of the night out of his house.

I have some idea that this late tumult is, in part, owing to the planners of the immense emission of Assignats, who dread M. Necker's opposition."

* Assignats are a sort of paper money, like bank-bills. Mons. Mirabeau proposed to issue to the amount of two millions sterling, in this manner, and when the estates of the Clergy were to be sold those assignats were to be accepted as cash.