“‘I perfectly agree with you,’ answered the Queen.  That cruel moment when I witnessed the humiliating state to which royalty had been reduced by the constituents, when they placed the President of their Assembly upon a level with the King; gave a plebeian, exercising his functions pro tempore, prerogatives in the face of the nation to trample down hereditary monarchy and legislative authority—­that cruel moment discovered the fatal truth.  In the anguish of my heart, I told His Majesty that he had outlived his kingly authority:  Here she burst into tears, hiding her face in her handkerchief.

“With the mildness of a saint, the angelic Princesse Elizabeth exclaimed, turning to the King, ‘Say something to the Queen, to calm her anguish!’

“‘It will be of no avail,’ said the King; ’her grief adds to my affliction.  I have been the innocent cause of her participating in this total ruin, and as it is only her fortitude which has hitherto supported me, with the same philosophical and religious resignation we must await what fate destines!’

“‘Yes,’ observed M. de Montmorin; ’but Providence has also given us the rational faculty of opposing imminent danger, and by activity and exertion obviating its consequences.’

“‘In what manner, sir?’ cried the Queen; ’tell me how this is to be effected, and, with the King’s sanction, I am ready to do anything to avert the storm, which so loudly threatens the august head of the French nation.’

“‘Vienna, Madame,’ replied he; ’Vienna!  Your Majesty’s presence at Vienna would do more for the King’s safety, and the nation’s future tranquillity, than the most powerful army.’

“‘We have long since suggested,’ said the Princesse Elizabeth, ’that Her Majesty should fly from France and take refuge——­’

“‘Pardon me, Princess,’ interrupted M. de Montmorin, ’it is not for refuge solely I would have Her Majesty go thither.  It is to give efficacy to the love she bears the King and his family, in being there the powerful advocate to check the fallacious march of a foreign army to invade us for the subjection of the French nation.  All these external attempts will prove abortive, and only tend to exasperate the French to crime and madness.  Here I coincide with my coadjutors, Barnave, Duport, De Lameth, etc.  The principle on which the re-establishment of the order and tranquillity of France depends, can be effected only by the non-interference of foreign powers.  Let them leave the rational resources of our own internal force to re-establish our real interests, which every honest Frenchman will strive to secure, if not thwarted by the threats and menaces of those who have no right to interfere.  Besides, Madame, they are too far from us to afford immediate relief from the present dangers internally surrounding us.  These are the points of fearful import.  It is not the threats and menaces of a foreign army which can subdue a nation’s internal factions.  These only rouse them to prolong disorders.  National commotions can be quelled only by national spirit, whose fury, once exhausted on those who have aroused it, leave it free to look within, and work a reform upon itself.’