May 1. 1778
which was very large, and into all the Rooms and first Suite of Chambers in
the house. The Rooms were very elegant and the furniture very rich. The Library
was begun by the Ambassador and augmented by Cardinal
Noailles in the Time of Lewis the fourteenth and
Madame De Maintenon, who was his great friend. He is
represented by Mr. Malesherbes in two Volumes which he wrote
upon Toleration in the latter part of his Life to have contributed much to the
revocation of the Edict of
Nantes. The Cardinals Picture We also saw.
The Duchess D'Ayen had five or six Children contrary to the
Custom of the Country, I saw no Amie there and this family appeared to be the
most regular and exemplary of any that I had seen.
When I began to attempt a little conversation in french I was very
inquisitive concerning this great Family of Noailles and I was
told by some of the most intelligent Men in
France,
ecclesiasticks as well
as others, that there were no less than six Marshalls of
France of this Family, that they held so many Offices under the
King that they received Eighteen millions of Livres annually from the Crown.
That the Family had been remarkable for Ages, for their harmony with one
another and for doing nothing of any consequence without a previous Council and
concert. That, when the American Revolution commenced, a family Council had
been called to deliberate upon that great Event and determine what part they
should take in it, or what Conduct they should hold towards it. After they had
sufficiently considered, they all agreed in Opinion that it was a Crisis of the
highest importance, in the Affairs of
Europe and the World. That it must affect
France in so essential a manner, that the King could not and
ought not to avoid taking a capital Interest and part of it. That it would
therefore be the best policy of the Family, to give their Countenance to it as
early as possible. And that it was expedient
for the family to send
one of their Sons over to
America to serve in her Army under General
Washington. The Prince de Poix as the Heir apparent,
of the Duke de Mouchy, they thought of too much importance to
their Views and expectations to be risked in so hazardous a Voyage and so
extraordinary a Service, and therefore it was concluded, to offer the
Enterprize to the Viscount de Noailles,
and if he should decline it, to the Marquis de la Fayette. The
Viscount after due consideration, thought it most prudent to
remain at
Page 2
home for the present. The Marquis, who was represented as
a youth of the finest Accomplishments and most amiable disposition, panting for
Glory, ardent to distinguish himself in military Service, and impatient to wipe
out a slight imputation which had been thrown, whether by Truth or Calumny upon
the Memory of his father who though he had been slain in Battle was suspected
to have lost his Life by too much caution to preserve it, most joyfully
consented to embark in the
Enterprize. All
France pronounced it to be the first page in the History of a
great Man.
This Family was in short become more powerfull than the House of Bourbon. At
least they had more influence in the Army, and when they afterwards united with
the Duke of Orleans, the Le Rochefoucaults,
the Le Moignons [Lamoignons] and a few
others, the World knows too much of the Consequences. If they advised the
calling of the Assembly of Notables The Wisdom of their Family Councils, had
certainly departed.
May 2. Saturday. 1778.
Dined at Mr. Izzards, with Mr. Lloyd and
his Lady, Mr. Francois
[Francs] a
French Gentleman who had served in
England as Charge D'Affairs for so many Years, that the Language
was become very familiar to him, which enabled him to be often
usefull to the Americans in
Paris. There was much other Company and after dinner We went to
the French Comedy, where We saw the Brutus, a Tragedy
of Voltaire, and after it the Cocher Suppose. As I was
coming out of the Box, after the representation, a Gentleman seized me by the
hand. I looked at him. -- Governor Wentworth, Sir, said the
Gentleman. -- At first I was somewhat embarrassed, and knew not how to behave
towards him. As my Classmate and Friend at
Colledge and ever since, I could have pressed him to my
Bosom, with most cordial Affection. But We now belonged to two different
Nations at War with each other and consequently We were Enemies. Both the
Governor and the Minister were probably watched by the Spies of the Police, and
our Interview would be known the next morning at Versailles. The
Governor however relieved me from my reverie by asking me questions concerning
his Father and Friends in
America, which I answered according to my
Page 3
Knowledge.
He then enquired after the health of
Dr. Franklin,
and said he must come out to
Passi and pay his Compliments to him. He should not dare to see
the Marquis of Rockingham after his return, without making a
Visit to Dr. Franklin. Accordingly in a day or two, he came
and made Us a Morning Visit. Dr. Franklin and I received him
together. But there was no conversation but upon Trifles. The Governors Motives
for this Trip to
Paris and visit to
Passy I never knew. If they bore any resemblance to those
of Mr. Hartley, his deportment and language were very
different. Not an indelicate expression to Us or our Country or our Ally
escaped him. His whole
behaviour was that of an
accomplished Gentleman.Mr. Hartley on the contrary was at
least
[to ]me very offensive. In his conversation he seemed
to consider our Treaty with
France as a Nullity, that We might disregard at our pleasure and
treat with
England
seperately, or come again
under her Government at our Pleasure. This appeared to me offensive to our
honor and an insult to our good faith, and although I always endeavoured to
treat him with civility, I doubt not I sometimes received it somewhat
"ungraciously."
It is now high time to introduce some Facts, which occurred within the first
Week or ten days of my residence at
Passi. I have omitted them till this time because I was unable
to ascertain the precise days, when they happened. I have before observed
that Dr. Franklin, from my first Arrival had taken all
opportunities to prejudice me against the Lees, Mr.
Izzard &c., that Mr. Lee had been very silent and
reserved upon the Subject of Parties &c. But within a few days after I had
got settled in my Lodgings Mr. Izzard came out
to Passi, and requested some private conversation with me. I
accordingly attended him alone. Mr. Izzard began upon the
Subject of the
disagreable Situation of our
Affairs in
France and the miserable Conduct of them by Mr.
Deane and Dr. Franklin, and their subordinate Agents,
Adherents and Friends, upon the pillage that was committed upon Us, to gratify
petty french Agents and Emissaries
from and Instruments,
of whom nobody knew. Enlarged upon the Characters
of Holker,Monthieu,
Baumarchais and Chaumont. Represented the
enormous Waste of Money by Mr. Deane, whom Dr.
Franklin
Page 4
supported in all Things. Talked about the Money
that was offered by Beaumarchais to Mr. Lee in
London as a free Gift from the King, and for the Use of the
United States in presence of Mr. Wilks and
others: complained of foul play by intercepting dispatches, and of frauds in
the qualities and Prices of Articles which had been purchased and shipped
to America &c. &c. &c. He then introduced Dr.
Bancroft, said he had known him in
England and had there entertained an high Opinion of his Talents
and had thought him an honest Man. But here, he found him a mere Tool and Dupe
of Mr. Deane, Dr. Franklin and their French
Satellites, and as unprincipled as any of them. Then he represented the whole
Group of them as in a Conspiracy to persecute him and the
two Lees and all their friends, and related to me an amazing
number of Calumnies they had propagated concerning them at Court,
in Paris,
Passi and the Country. That they had not confined their Lies and
Slanders to Americans in
France, but had extended them to Mr. Richard Henry
Lee in
America and to Dr. Berkenhout in
London &c.
As he enlarged upon the defamations and Persecutions against himself and his
Friends he grew Warm. Mr. Izzard, with great honor and
integrity, had irritable Nerves and very strong Passions. He either had or at
least was reputed to have great pride. There was however more of the Appearance
of this Vice in his external behaviour, than in his
heart. A hesitancy in his Speech and an appearance of impatience that was often
occasioned by it, contributed very much to the Suspicion and imputation of
hautiness. In enumerating the detractions against himself and his friends, his
passions transported him beyond all bounds. He declared and with asseverations
which I will not repeat but which all who knew Mr. Izard may
easily imagine, that Dr. Franklin was one of the most
unprincipled Men upon Earth: that he was a Man of no Veracity, no honor, no
Integrity, as great a Villain as ever breathed: as much worse than Mr.
Deane as he had more experience, Art, cunning and
Hypocricy.Mr. Izzard dilated on many of these particulars and
his harrangue was extended to a great length.
I was thunderstruck and shuddered at the Situation I was in. By Dr.
Franklins continual insinuations to me, I was convinced that the rancour in his heart was not less, though his Language had
not been so explicit.
