TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR.

Paris, August 9, 1788.

Dear Sir,

While our second revolution is just brought to a happy end with you, yours here is but cleverly under way.  For some days I was really melancholy with the apprehension, that arms would be appealed to, and the opposition crushed in its first efforts.  But things seem now to wear a better aspect.  While the opposition keeps at its highest wholesome point, government, unwilling to draw the sword, is not forced to do it.  The contest here is exactly what it was in Holland:  a contest between the monarchical and aristocratical parts of the government for a monopoly of despotism over the people.  The aristocracy in Holland, seeing that their common prey was likely to escape out of their clutches, chose rather to retain its former portion, and therefore coalesced with the single head.  The people remained victims.  Here, I think, it will take a happier turn.  The parliamentary part of the aristocracy is alone firmly united.  The Noblesse and Clergy, but especially the former, are divided partly between the parliamentary and the despotic party, and partly united with the real patriots, who are endeavoring to gain for the nation what they can, both from the parliamentary and the single despotism.  I think I am not mistaken in believing, that the King and some of his ministers are well affected to this band; and surely, that they will make great cessions to the people, rather than small ones to the parliament.  They are, accordingly, yielding daily to the national reclamations, and will probably end in according a well-tempered constitution.  They promise the States General for the next year, and I have good information that an Arret will appear the day after to-morrow, announcing them for May, 1789.  How they will be composed, and what they will do, cannot be foreseen.  Their convocation, however, will tranquillize the public mind, in a great degree, till their meeting.  There are, however, two intervening difficulties. 1.  Justice cannot till then continue completely suspended, as it now is.  The parliament will not resume their functions, but in their entire body.  The bailliages are afraid to accept of them.  What will be done? 2.  There are well-founded fears of a bankruptcy before the month of May.  In the mean time, the war is spreading from nation to nation.  Sweden has commenced hostilities against Russia; Denmark is showing its teeth against Sweden; Prussia against Denmark; and England too deeply engaged in playing the back game, to avoid coming forward, and dragging this country and Spain in with her.  But even war will not prevent the assembly of the States General, because it cannot be carried on without them.  War, however, is not the most favorable moment for divesting the monarchy of power.  On the contrary, it is the moment when the energy of a single hand shows itself in the most seducing form.