“You ask of us,” runs this epistle, “what is our opinion as to the state of France, and the choice of measures fit to save the public weal.  Questioned by you concerning such important interests, we do not hesitate to reply.  The conduct of the executive power is the cause of all the evil.  The king is deceived by persuading him that it is the clubs and factions which foment public agitation.  This is placing the cause of the evil in its symptoms.  If the people was reassured of the loyalty of the king, it would grow tranquil, and factions die a natural death.  But so long as conspiracies, internal and external, appear favoured by the king, troubles will perpetually spring up, and continually increase the mistrust of the citizens.  The present tendency of things is evidently towards a crisis, all the chances of which are opposed to royalty.  They are making of the chief of a free nation, the chief of a party.  The opposite party ought to consider him, not as a king, but as an enemy.  What is to be hoped from the success of manoeuvres carried on with foreigners, in order to restore the authority of the throne?  They will give to the king the appearance of a violent usurpation of the rights of the nation.  The same force which would have served this violent restoration would be necessary to maintain it.  It would produce a permanent civil war.  Attached as we are to the interests of the nation, from which we shall never separate those of the king, we think that the sole means by which he can alleviate the evils that threaten the empire and the throne, is to identify himself with the nation.  Renewed protestations are useless; we must have deeds.  Let the king abandon every idea of increased power offered to him by the succour of foreigners.  Let him obtain from cabinets hostile to the Revolution the withdrawal of the troops who press upon our frontiers.  If that be impossible, let him arm the nation himself, and direct it against the enemies of the constitution.  Let him choose his ministers amongst the leading men of the Revolution.  Let him offer the muskets and horses of his own guard.  Let him publish the documents connected with the civil list, and thus prove that the secret treasury is not the source of counter-revolutionary plots.  Let him apply himself for a law respecting the education of the prince royal, and let him be brought up in the spirit of the constitution.  Finally, let him withdraw from M. de La Fayette the command of the army.  If the king shall adopt these determinations, and persist in them with firmness, the constitution is saved!”

This letter, conveyed to the king by Thierri, had not been sought by him.  He was annoyed at the many plans of succour sent to him.  “What do these men mean?” he inquired of Boze; “Have I not done all that they advise?  Have I not chosen patriots for ministers?  Have I not rejected succour from without?  Have I not repudiated my brothers, and hindered, as far as in me lies, the coalition, and armed the frontiers?  Have I not been, since my acceptance of the constitution, more faithful than the malcontents themselves to my oath?”