lettre XII, p. 239, n

Lettre XIV (secrète).

A Monsieur Piiikney , ministre des États-Unis à Londres.

Magdeburg, December the lltb, 1793.

My dear sir, I hâve, on the anniversary fourth of Jiily, given myself the pleasure to write a letter which, I hope, has reached yoiir friendly hands. Anolher which, at the time, could not be smuggledout, I hâve, for fear of a search, been obliged to destroy. Any avowed correspondance with the American ambassadors is positively denied, but as whatever I did Write was directed to be laid before yoii, and as my late aid-de-camp La Colombe will impart the dispatches inclosed, ï thinkyou will fully know the particulars of my situation, and my ideas about it, and need not to présent you again with the picture of a dungeon and the annals of inquisition and tyranny. But a more pleasing répétition I beg you to indulge, and most heartily I do renew my thanks for your exertions in my behalf ; to them I owe the cessation of that absolute gloomy silence, respecting the fate of every person I liold dear, a torture the most diabolical which revenge could invent. To them besides pecuniary support, the allowance of one liour's breathing ihe air; and to the fear of an American reckoning it is cerlainly owing that, instead of that lingering method, more speedily means to get rid of me hâve not hitherto been taken. I am informed lliat after many négociations with the combined powers, to obtain my delivery, you are prcparing a formai, public, spirited demand, a measure I am the boiter pleased with, as it appears to me ihe most likely to

siicceed and will, at ail events, be most agreeable to iiiy feelings.

IndeecI, my dear sir, wlien yoii think on past, présent and probable circiimstances, Avhen yoii hâve summed up my several letters and a few ideas wliich in a confidential note I liave only liinted at, I liope that my notions of public and personal concerns will not appear unreasonable; that the great cause of European liberty is now at a stake which, by its political and mercantile conséquences, cannot but greatly afFect the United States; that the Jacobine leaders strive to dishonour, hâve almost ruined and are successively selling that cause; that the views of coalitionary powers are illiberal, despotic and unbounded; that a Union of the British, Irish, Dutch and French true patriots is natural and necessary ; that in the présent storm doubly tossed with red capped and crowned tyranny, there still are virtuous and glorious means to insure the rights and promote the happiness of mankind, are so many considérations which no friend to trutli can deny, no friend to freedom can slight; nor do I think myself mistaken in my particular case, however honourable be so gênerai a combination against me, I so smartly feel the compliment, that I cannot disown it, and when to rescue me from the royal gang, we must give up the yielding measures which are beneath us, and the honest motives which are above them, there remain but two methods* to be employed, viz. a well concerted escape, or an American claim, supported by public opinion.

As to the first, we are so strangely shut up, so in-