Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy, [15 August 1792]
Wednesday night
Dear Giddy
I imagine an article of the Gen. Ev. Post will have you in the same horrid suspense in which it had left another person. The melancholy truth, for such it must be, <whatever it is> has not yet reached this place – The existence of violence & outrages in a greater degree than perhaps they have yet been committed at Paris is too certain.
The following letter was received by a merchant whose name I forget & transmitted by him to the ministry. ‘The tocsin sounded in the night. At 2 o’clock the general was beat. All was in motion in the fauxbourgs. About 20 Aristocrats were seized, & the heads of 6 of them cut off at 8 o’clock, & carried about the streets. At 9, the King, Queen & R. family got to the Assembly. At ½ p. 10 a decree was passed that the King had forfeited the crown. At ½ past 11 there was firing at the palace. I just hear that the palace is forced & Swiss guards put to the sword. But this fact I cannot warrant. We are all now in the greatest consternation’.
See what the Assembly has gained by their pusillanimous toleration of mobs in the gallery, by their intolerance of Petion & their suffering the Banditti of Marseilles to range Paris & commit whatever violence they choose – My opinion has been for some time past that the assembly contains some very able & honest men, Mr Vanblanc, Dumas, Pastoret – some incendiaries of abilities Brissot, & a shame to philosophy Condorcet but the great body I conceive to be incapable – Now a ballast of men of integrity & sense if not of distinguished abilities is necessary to the good conduct of every large legislative body – If it does not exist – that assembly will be the sport of the factions, in one situation of society, & of a corrupt junto in another – France & England may furnish examples in illustration of this important truth. By the very favourable accounts from the frontiers relative to the desertion of the Austrian soldiers, I flattered myself that the tree of despotism was decaying at its roots – But this infernal club of Jacobins with its mad mob will water it with innocent blood; & it will take fresh root & put forth new branches & cover the whole earth with its blasting shadow – You may be sure I wait with the most ardent impatience for the paper of tomorrow morning – It can bring nothing consoling – Yours sincerely
T. Beddoes
Address: To Davies Giddy Esq. / Tredrea / Marazion / Cornwall
Endorsement: Doctor Beddoes / 1792 / August
MS: Cornish Archives MS DG 41/18