INSTRUCTIONS FOR MYSELF.” WH HENEVER His Majefty talks to mê about the distress of the people, the low state of the finances, or of fuch things, I muft expatiate on glory, the love of empire, Louis le Grand, &c. If His Majefty fhould enquire for the par ticulars of our lofs at Pondicherry, I will immediately recount the arms, ammunition, and warlike ftores, fo gloriously taken at Senegal. It is but a flight tranfition from Afia to Africa, and His Majefty is no pedant in geography. D'Eftaing's fquadron is in fo bad a way, that it is now high time for me to discover that I always have thought he would not fucceed I have looked melancholy for the two laft levees, but this is not enough. I muft *It coft the Editor great pains to decypher thefe private memorandums-they appeared by the M. S. to have been sketched out at different times by M. De Sartine, fometimes with a pen, and fometimes with a pencil. muft take a decided line-I am therefore de termined, at all events, the very first time the King mentions D'Eftaing, to shake my bead: nay I have my doubts whether it may not be eligible even to shrug up my shoulders. Though its very right to praise so young a King as ours, for his generofity and difinterested love for America, yet it's not politic to say too much of this. In an absolute monarchy it is dangerous to talk fo warmly of the love of liberty; befides it may appear a little inconfiftent, for tho' we are now fo kind to America, we can't quite forget how the Englith differed in opinion with us about Corfica; and if our court is fo liberal to Dr. Franklyn, does not his Britannic majefty fupport poor Paoli ? I begin to think it's high time we should furnish His Majefty with a mistress in our interefts; for, though the Queen, who is quite our friend, governs him pretty well at prefent, it cannot be reafonably fuppofed that a wife can long retain her influence. I must talk to Du The on this fubject-fome woman muft always govern France; and whether Madame Maintenon was a wife, or a mistrefs, the equally refuted the Salic law. It It will be very prudent to hire a good quantity of poets, painters, fculptors, and engravers, to keep His Majefty in good humour with himself, and chafe away all melancholy thoughts from Verfailles. On every occafion of bad news, it will be neceffary to give variety to adulation. Sometimes, to present His Majefty with an ode or two; in which he shall be ranked with the Jupiters, the Apollos, the Alexanders, &c.-at other times to furpafs, if poffible, the flattering pencil of Le Brun-now to represent in allegory his protection of America, under the form of a fountain with thirteen fpouts watering thirteen laurels-Invention must be racked for new designs in medals; for example, His Majesty binding thirteen faggots His Majesty a coloffus, one foot at Paris, the other at Philadelphia. The misfortune is, it will be almost impoffible to invent novelties; for, while Louis the XIV. was at war with the Hollanders, he had almost as many medals in honour of his love of liberty, as he fuffered defeats for actually combating against it. However, if medals can't be managed well, we may try what tapestry can do. Colbert was a cunning Scot, and certainly founded the Gobelins, as a new refource for flattery. We muft improve on this system, and new hang the Louvre with worsted laurels over over the thirteen American stripes interspersed with fleur de lys. Neckar either has a little too much conscience, or he deceives people very artfully; for he refufes any falary for his office; yet, if he has no douceurs, no bribes, no contracts, how very falfe the old proverb is, point d'argent point de Suiffe ! LONDON, LONDON, 25th January, 1779 то MONSIEUR DE SARTINE, &c. I SIR, HAD the honour to receive your commands, conveyed in the most obliging manner, by your fecretary. The connections which fome year's refidence here has enabled me to form, affifted by the introductions you have fo judicioufly pointed out, may give me fome few occafions of making discoveries, not wholly unworthy your attention. But I must own, I fear these will be but few; were I employed in this kind of fecret embally, by almost any one but Monfieur de Sartine, I might, perhaps, magnify trifles, and repeat trite details, with an officioufnefs and myftery fufficient to promote my own interest. But, when I write to you, what event can I communicate, which your wisdom will. not have foreseen? What opinions can I fuggeft, that can be new to your understanding? This difficulty would be great in any country: |