all my trunks and drawers, and dived to the bottom of water-jugs and flower-jars with great zeal, but neglected to search a large portfolio that lay on the table, probably from not knowing the use of it; and my servant conveyed away some letters, while I amused them with the sight of a blue-bottle fly through a microscope.  They were at first much puzzled to know whether books and music were included under the article of papers, and were very desirous of burning a history of France, because they discovered, by the title-plate, that it was “about Kings;” but the most difficult part of this momentous transaction was taking an account of it in writing.  However, as only one of the company could write, there was no disputing as to the scribe, though there was much about the manner of execution.  I did not see the composition, but I could hear that it stated “comme quoi,” they had found the seals unbroken, “comme quoi,” they had taken them off, and divers “as hows” of the same kind.  The whole being concluded, and my papers deposited in a box, I was at length freed from my guests, and left in possession of my apartments.

It is impossible to account for this treatment of the English by any mode of reasoning that does not exclude both justice and policy; and viewing it only as a symptom of that desperate wickedness which commits evil, not as a means, but an end, I am extremely alarmed for our situation.  At this moment the whole of French politics seems to center in an endeavour to render the English odious both as a nation and as individuals.  The Convention, the clubs, and the streets of Paris, resound with low abuse of this tendency; and a motion was made in the former, by one Garnier, to procure the assassination of Mr. Pitt.  Couthon, a member of the Comite de Salut Publique, has proposed and carried a decree to declare him the enemy of mankind; and the citizens of Paris are stunned by the hawkers of Mr. Pitt’s plots with the Queen to “starve all France,” and “massacre all the patriots.”—­Amidst so many efforts* to provoke the destruction of the English, it is wonderful, when we consider the sanguinary character which the French people have lately evinced, that we are yet safe, and it is in effect only to be accounted for by their disinclination to take any part in the animosities of their government.

* When our representative appeared at Abbeville with an intention of arresting the English and other foreigners, the people, to whom these missionaries with unlimited powers were yet new, took the alarm, and became very apprehensive that he was come likewise to disarm their Garde Nationale.  The streets were crouded, the town house was beset, and Citizen Dumout found it necessary to quiet the town’s people by the following proclamation.  One part of his purpose, that of insuring his personal safety, was answered by it; but that of exciting the people against the English, failed—­ insomuch, that I was told even the lowest classes, so far from giving credit to the malignant calumnies propagated against the English, openly regretted their arrestation.

     “Citizens,