The king, however, when the ministry was completed, wrote the Assembly a letter, more resembling an abdication into the hands of opinion than the constitutional act of a free power.  Was this humiliating resignation an affectation of slavery, or a sign of restraint and degradation made from the throne to the armed powers, in order that they might comprehend that he was no longer free, and only see in him the crowned automaton of the Jacobins?  The letter was in these terms: 

“Profoundly touched by the disorders that afflict the French nation, and by the duty imposed on me by the constitution of watching over the maintenance of order and public tranquillity, I have not ceased to employ every means that it places at my disposal to execute the laws.  I had selected as my prime agents men recommended by the purity of their principles and their opinions.  They have quitted the ministry; and I have felt it my duty to replace them by men who hold a high position in public favour.  You have so often repeated that this measure was the only means of ensuring the re-establishment of order and the enforcement of the laws, that I have deemed it fitting to adopt it, that no pretext may be afforded for doubting my sincere desire to add to the prosperity and happiness of my country.  I have appointed M. Claviere minister of the contributions, and M. Roland minister of the interior.  The person whom I had chosen as the minister of justice has prayed me to make another choice:  when I shall have again made it the Assembly shall be duly informed. (Signed) Louis.”

The Assembly received this message with loud applause:  for with the king once in its power, it could employ him in the works of regeneration.  The most perfect harmony appeared to reign in the council.  The king astonished his new ministers by his assiduity and his aptitude for business.  He conversed with everyone on the subject that most interested him.  He questioned Roland on his works, Dumouriez on his adventures, and Claviere on the finances, whilst he avoided the irritating topics of general policy.  Madame Roland reproached her husband with these conversations, and besought him to make use of his time, to take abstracts of these conversations, and to keep an authentic register, which would one day cover his responsibility.  The ministers appeared to dine four times a week together, in order to concert their acts and language in the king’s presence.  It was at these private meetings that Buzot, Guadet, Vergniaud, Geneveive and Brissot infused into the ministers the feelings of their party and reigned unseen over the Assembly and the king.  Dumouriez soon became an object of suspicion to them for his mind escaped their dominion by its greatness, and his character escaped fanaticism by its pliability.  Madame Roland, seduced by his eloquence, yet experienced remorse for her admiration; she felt that the genius of this man was necessary to her party, but that genius without virtue would