Fauche immediately departed, arrived at Bale, and informed me of all that had passed.  I spent the night in writing a letter to General Pichegru. (The Prince de Conde, who was invested with all the powers of Louis XVIII, except that of granting the ‘cordon-bleu’, had, by a note in his own handwriting, deputed to me all his powers, to enable me to maintain a negotiation with General Pichegru).

I therefore wrote to the general, stating, in the outset, everything that was calculated to awaken in him that noble sentiment of pride which is the instinct of great minds; and after pointing out to him the vast good it was in his power to effect, I spoke of the gratitude of the King, and the benefit he would confer on his country by restoring royalty.  I told him that his Majesty would make him a marshal of France, and governor of Alsace, as no one could better govern the province than he who had so valiantly defended it.  I added that he would have the ‘cordon-rouge’, the Chateau de Chambord, with its park, and twelve pieces of cannon taken from the Austrians, a million of ready money, 200,000 livres per annum, and an hotel in Paris; that the town of Arbors, Pichegru’s native place, should bear his name, and be exempt from all taxation for twenty-five years; that a pension of 200,000 livres would be granted to him, with half reversion to his wife, and 50,000 livres to his heirs for ever, until the extinction of his family.  Such were the offers, made in the name of the King, to General Pichegru. (Than followed the boons to be granted to the officers and soldiers, an amnesty to the people, etc).  I added that the Prince de Coude desired that he would proclaim the King in the camps, surrender the city of Huningen to him, and join him for the purpose of marching on Paris.

Pichegru, having read my letter with great attention, said to Fauche, “This is all very well; but who is this M. de Montgaillard who talks of being thus authorised?  I neither know him nor his signature.  Is he the author?”—­“Yes,” replied Fauche.  “But,” said Pichegru, “I must, before making any negotiation on my part, be assured that the Prince de Conde, with whose handwriting I am well acquainted, approves of all that has been written is his name by M. de Montgaillard.  Return directly to M. de Montgaillard, and tell him to communicate my answer to the Prince.”

Fauche immediately departed, leaving M. Courant with Pichegru.  He arrived at Bale at nine o’clock in the evening.  I set off directly for Malheim, the Prince de Conde’s headquarters, and arrived there at half-past twelve.  The Prince was in bed, but I awoke him.  He made me sit down by his bedside, and our conference then commenced.

After having informed the Prince of the state of affairs, all that remained was to prevail on him to write to General Pichegru to confirm