“Our situation with regard to the emperor,” replied he to himself, “is, that the French interests are sacrificed to the house of Austria; our finances and our armies wasted in her service—­our alliances broken, and what mark of reciprocity do we receive?  The Revolution insulted; our cockade profaned; the emigres permitted to congregate in the states dependent on Austria; and, lastly, the avowal of the coalition of the powers against us.  When from the heart of Luxembourg our princes threaten us with an invasion, and boast of the support of the other powers, Austria remains silent, and thus tacitly sanctions the threats of our enemies.  It is true she affects from time to time to blame the hostile demonstrations against France, but this was but an hypocritical peace.  The white cockade and the counter-revolutionary uniform are openly worn in her states, whilst our national colours are proscribed.  When the king threatened the elector of Treves that he would march into his territories and disperse the emigres by force, the emperor ordered general Bender to advance to the assistance of the elector of Treves.  This is but a slight matter:  in the report drawn up at Pilnitz, the emperor declares, in concert with the king of Prussia, that the two powers would consider the steps to be taken, with regard to France, by the other European courts; and that should war ensue, they would mutually assist each other.  Thus it is manifest that the emperor had violated the treaty of 1756, by contracting alliances without the knowledge of France; and that he has made himself the promoter and pivot of an anti-French system.  What can be his aim but to intimidate and subdue us, in order to bring us to accept a congress, and the introduction of shameful modifications in our new institutions?

“Perhaps,” added Gensonne, “this idea has germinated in France?  Perhaps secret information induces the emperor to hope that peace may be maintained on such conditions.  He is deceived:  it is not at the moment when the flame of liberty is first kindled in a nation of twenty-four millions, that Frenchmen would consent to a capitulation, to which they would prefer death.  Such is our situation, that war, which in other times would be a scourge to the human race, would now be useful to the public welfare.  This salutary crisis would elevate the people to the level of their destiny; it would restore to them their pristine energy—­it would re-establish our finances, and stifle the germ of intestine dissension.  In a similar situation Frederic the Great broke the league formed against him by the court of Vienna, by forestalling it.  Your committee propose that the preparations for war be accelerated.  A congress would be a disgrace—­war is necessary—­public opinion wishes for it—­and public safety demands it.”

The committee concluded, by demanding clear and satisfactory explanations from the emperor; and that in case these explanations should not be given before the 10th of February, this refusal to reply should be considered as an act of hostility.