Beaumarchais and the War of American Independence Volume II Part 3

But if men were angels there would be no need of religion to enlighten them, of laws to govern them, of magistrates to restrain them, of soldiers to subdue them; and the earth instead of being a faithful image of h.e.l.l, would be indeed a celestial abode. All we can do is to take men as they are, and the wisest king can go no farther than the legislator Solon, who said: 'I do not give the Athenians the best laws, but only those adapted for the place, the time and the people for whom I make them.' ...

"I entreat you, Sire, in the name of your subjects, to whom you owe your best efforts; in the name of that inward repose which your Majesty so properly cherishes; in the name of the glory and prosperity of a reign begun under such happy auspices; I entreat you, Sire, not to be deceived by the brilliant sophism of a false sensibility. _Summum jus, summa injuria._ This deplorable excess of equity towards your enemies would be the most signal injustice towards your subjects who soon suffer the penalty of scruples out of place.

"I have treated the gravest questions summarily, for fear of weakening my arguments by giving them greater extension, and especially through fear of wearying the attention of Your Majesty. If any doubts still remain, Sire, after reading what I have presented to you, efface my signature, and have this attempt copied by another hand, in order that the feebleness of the reasoner may not diminish the force of the argument, and lay this discussion before any man instructed by experience and knowledge of worldly affairs; and if there is one, beginning with M. de Vergennes, who does not agree with me, I close my mouth; ...

"Finally, Sire, I must confess to being so confounded by your Majesty's refusal, that, unable to find a better reason for it, I conjecture that the negotiator is an obstacle to the success of this important affair in the mind of Your Majesty. Sire, my own interest is nothing, that of serving you is everything. Select any man of probity, intelligence and discretion, who can be relied upon; I will take him to England and make such efforts as I hope will attain for him the same confidence that has been awarded to myself. He shall conduct the affair to a successful issue, while I will return and fall back into the quiet obscurity from which I emerged, rejoicing in having at least begun an affair of the greatest utility that any negotiator was ever honored with.

"Caron de Beaumarchais."

_Post Scriptum._

"It is absolutely impossible to give in writing all that relates to this affair at bottom on account of the profound secrecy which it requires, although it is extremely easy for me to demonstrate the safety of the undertaking, the facility of doing, the certainty of success, and the immense harvest of glory and tranquillity which, Sire, this small grain of seed, sowed in time, must give to your reign.

"May the guardian angel of this government incline the mind of Your Majesty. Should he award us this first success, the rest will take care of itself. I answer for it."

Consider for a moment that the loyal subject who dared to write thus to an absolute king, his master, was a civilly degraded man, incapable in the eyes of the law of fulfilling any public function. It is the same man to whom had been addressed several years previously, the famous letter from some English admirer, which was inscribed "To Beaumarchais, the only free man in France," and it was delivered to him.

No special attention seems to have been paid to this memoir. At least no outward sign was given; and Beaumarchais after waiting several days, resorted to another measure. He addressed a letter to the King upon the very inconsequent subject of the costume which the Chevalier D'Eon should a.s.sume and the disposition that should be made of his man's attire. To such questions, at least, Louis XVI would not fear to give a definite answer-perhaps he might be induced to take an additional step and half unconsciously to decide weightier matters. The expedient was worth a trial and Beaumarchais resorted to it. In writing the letter he left a wide margin and humbly begged the King to write the answer opposite each question.

"The autograph," said Lomenie, "is interesting. The body of the piece is written in the hand of Beaumarchais and signed by him; the replies to each question are traced in the margin, in a handwriting fine, but uneven, weak, undecided, where the v's and t's are scarcely indicated.

It is the hand of the good, though weak and unhappy sovereign whom the revolution was to devour seventeen years later.... Below is written and signed in the hand of Vergennes, 'All the additions are in the handwriting of the King.'"

"Essential points which I implore M. de Vergennes to present for the decision of the King to be replied to on the margin:

[Sidenote: In the provinces only.]

"Does the King accord the demoiselle d'Eon permission to wear her cross of St. Louis on her woman's attire?

[Sidenote: Yes.]

"Does His Majesty approve the gratification of 2000 pounds which I allowed that demoiselle for her Trousseau?

[Sidenote: She must sell it.]

"Does His Majesty allow her the entire disposition of her man's attire?

[Sidenote: Good.]

"The King not being able to refuse a recognition in good form of the papers which I have brought back from England, I have begged M. de Vergennes, to implore His Majesty to add with his own hand, several words showing his approval of the way in which I have filled my mission. That recompense, the dearest to my heart, may one day be of great utility to me....

[Sidenote: That you received none.]

"As the first person whom I will see in England is milord Rochford, and as he is likely to ask me in secret the reply of the King of France to the prayer which the King of England made through me, what shall I reply?

[Sidenote: Perhaps.]

"If that lord wishes secretly to engage me to see the monarch shall I accept or not?

[Sidenote: It is useless.]

"If that minister ... wishes to bring me into connection with other ministers, or if the occasion in any way arises shall I accept or not?"

Finally Beaumarchais brought forward the demand for which the rest of the letter is but a cloak, the one burning question for the answer of which he had waited so long and in vain and to which Louis XVI still made no reply:

"And now I ask before starting, the positive response to my last memoir; but if ever question was important, it must be admitted that it is this one. I answer on my head, after having well reflected, for the most glorious success of this operation for the entire reign of my master, without his person, or of that of his ministers, or his interests being in the least compromised.

Can anyone of those who influence His Majesty against this measure answer on his head to the King for the evil which will infallibly come to France if it is rejected?

"In the case that we shall be so unhappy as that the King should constantly refuse to adopt a plan so simple and so wise, I implore His Majesty to permit me to take note for him of the date when I arranged this superb resource, in order that one day he may render me the justice due to my views, when it will only be left to us bitterly to regret not having followed them.

"Caron de Beaumarchais."

[Ill.u.s.tration: CHARLES GRAVIER-COMTE DE VERGENNES]

"The temerity of the secret agent," says M. de Lomenie, "in the end prevailed over the prudence of the King; but for the moment ...

Beaumarchais was obliged to start for London knowing only that d'Eon must sell his old clothes."

For the moment the hopes of Beaumarchais seemed wholly shattered.

"Intrigues of the court," said Doniol, "controlled the actions of M. de Vergennes, and made him feel the danger. The minister was visibly the b.u.t.t of serious attacks, Beaumarchais was in consequence held at a distance. Everything seemed to be compromised. He seized the occasion of the new year to write to M. de Vergennes.

"January 1, 1776.

"Monsieur le comte:

"It is impossible to be so deeply touched as I am with your favors without being very much so by your apparent coldness. I have examined myself well, and I feel that I do not merit it. How could you know that I had carried my zeal too far, if you do not first enter with me into the details of what I have done or ought to have done?

"Great experience with men, and the habit of misfortune, have given me that watchful prudence, which makes me think of everything and direct things according to the timid or courageous character of those for whom I do them."

Thus the year 1775 ended and the new year began with but little encouragement for the agent of the King in the cause of America; but his was a heart that did not easily lose courage. More than this, matters were really advancing; the timid policy of the King and the objections of the ministers began to give way to "the quiet and uniform influence of M. de Vergennes, which imperceptibly overcame the scruples of the inexperienced Prince, who never comprehended the far reaching influence of the question." (Bancroft-History of America, IV, p. 363.)

CHAPTER XVII

"_It was absolutely necessary to the existence and prosperity of France that the great commercial power and a.s.sumed preponderance of Great Britain and her attempted monopoly of the seas should be broken. The revolt of the American Colonies was her opportunity._"

_George Clinton Genet in Magazine of American History, Nov., 1878._

Beaumarchais's English connections-With Lord Rochford-With Wilkes-Meets Arthur Lee-Sends Memoir to the King-His Commission to Buy Portuguese Coin-Called to Account by Lord Rochford-Vergennes's Acceptance of his Ideas-Article in _The Morning Chronicle_.

As has been stated already, Beaumarchais during his stay in London came in touch with all cla.s.ses. It was Lord Rochford whom he had known intimately at Madrid who introduced him at the court of St. James. It was d'Eon and Morande who brought him into touch with the brilliant, daring Wilkes, then Lord Mayor of London.