[The sincerity of General Dumouriez cannot be doubted in this instance.  The second volume of his Memoirs shows how unjust the mistrust and reproaches of the Queen were.  By rejecting his services, Marie Antoinette deprived herself of her only remaining support.  He who saved France in the defiles of Argonne would perhaps have saved France before the 20th of June, had he obtained the full confidence of Louis XVI. and the Queen.—­Note by the editor.]

that, moreover, the Princes particularly recommended that no confidence should be placed in any proposition emanating from within the kingdom; that the force without became imposing; and that it was better to rely upon their success, and upon the protection due from Heaven to a sovereign so virtuous as Louis XVI. and to so just a cause.

The constitutionalists, on their part, saw that there had been nothing more than a pretence of listening to them.  Barnave’s last advice was as to the means of continuing, a few weeks longer, the Constitutional Guard, which had been denounced to the Assembly, and was to be disbanded.  The denunciation against the Constitutional Guard affected only its staff, and the Duc de Brissac.  Barnave wrote to the Queen that the staff of the guard was already attacked; that the Assembly was about to pass a decree to reduce it; and he entreated her to prevail on the King, the very instant the decree should appear, to form the staff afresh of persons whose names he sent her.  Barnave said that all who were set down in it passed for decided Jacobins, but were not so in fact; that they, as well as himself, were in despair at seeing the monarchical government attacked; that they had learnt to dissemble their sentiments, and that it would be at least a fortnight before the Assembly could know them well, and certainly before it could succeed in making them unpopular; that it would be necessary to take advantage of that short space of time to get away from Paris, immediately after their nomination.  The Queen was of opinion that she ought not to yield to this advice.  The Duc de Brissac was sent to Orleans, and the guard was disbanded.

Barnave, seeing that the Queen did not follow his counsel in anything, and convinced that she placed all her reliance on assistance from abroad, determined to quit Paris.  He obtained a last audience.  “Your misfortunes, Madame,” said he, “and those which I anticipate for France, determined me to sacrifice myself to serve you.  I see, however, that my advice does not agree with the views of your Majesties.  I augur but little advantage from the plan you are induced to pursue,—­you are too remote from your succours; you will be lost before they reach you.  Most ardently do I wish I may be mistaken in so lamentable a prediction; but I am sure to pay with my head for the interest your misfortunes have raised in me, and the services I have sought to render you.  I request, for my