1792, with particular inftru&ions to inquire into the political
fyftem, the opinions, topography, commerce, and productions
of thefe countries ;— in Volney s Travels into Egypt;— in Son-
tiinfs Inveftigations in the fame country ;— in Sebajliant.s Mif-
fion and Report, the objects of which are too glaring to be
miftaken ;— and in thofe perfons who, under the name of Commercial
Agents, had accepted the odious employment of fpies.
Few Engliihmen, indeed, it is to be hoped, would undertake
a commiffion, which might be confidered"as degrading to execute,
but for which a Frenchman holds his government alone
refponfible, and its fan&ion a fufficient excufe. If, by any act
in a foreign country, he can gain the favour and countenance of
his government at home, he will feldom ftick at the means.
Hence we find, in every part of the world, Frenchmen labouring
for the interefts of their nation, in the various characters of
ambafiadors to the court, miflionaries for propagating the Chrif-
tian religion, commiffaries of commerce, emifiaries of a fubor-
dinate rank, and voluntary adventurers. A Frenchman, travelling
in foreign countries, generally combines national with
individual views. Since the late revolution they have been
difperfed, like the Jews, over the whole world; but their
difperfion is yet too recent to have obliterated the amor patrice
which, next to that of the ties of blood, clings, perhaps, clofeft
to the heart. To their ufual propenfity for intrigue at foreign
courts, and their national enmity againft England, the emigrants
have now the additional fpur of doing fomething that may recommend
them to the notice of their country. The Travels of
Le Due de Rochefaucault Uancourt through the American ftates,
furnilh
furniih a ftriking inftance of this obfervation. Thé fentiments
of this nobleman, openly avowed when it no longer ferved
his purpofe to conceal them, may be confidered as thofe of a
very great number of the French emigrants ; and. it is lefs
a fubjeét of wonder that fuch fhould be their fentiments, than
that men fhould be credulous enough to think them otherwife;
In the publication of L ia n c o u r t , we perceive the national antipathy
burft forth in almoft every page, amidft an apparent inclination,
on the part of the individual, to be grateful for acknowledged
benefits and multiplied civilities. But it is evident
that his feelings of abhorrence for the crimes of the French
revolution are not more Itrong than thofe of envy and hatred
at the fucceifes and profperity of the Britiih nation. One paf-
fage, in the neble author, is fo remarkable, that I am tempted
to extraû it.
“ Je fuis embarrafle de me rendre compte à moi-même des
“ differens fentiments qui m’opprimaient et m’empêchaient de
“ me livrer entièrement à la reconnaiffance et à la douceur qui
“ en refulte. J’aime les Anglais plus peut-être qu’aucun Fran-
“ çais ne les aime ; j ’en ai toujours été très-bien traité ; j ’ai
“ des amis parmi eux ; je reconnais à ce peuple beaucoup de
“ grandes qualités et de talens. Je hais les crimes infâmes
“ dont la revolution Françaife a été fouillé, que m’ont d’ailleurs
“ enlevé des objets chéris à mon affeétion et à mon eftime ;
“ je fuis banni de France, mes biens font confifqués ; je fuis
“ traité par le gouvernement de mon pays comme fi j ’etais un
“ criminel ou un mauvais citoyen; féparé de tout ce qui
“ m’eft cher, Roberfpierre et les autres brigands par qui ma
“ nation