Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-04
General Alorcau's leter to tie First Consul

General liorGdu's letter to the First Consul.
As cur readers no doubt feel 4 considcra.
bic curiosity To read fhe zvhoic OF this let
ter written OH the l7,h last Veniose, we
take the present opportunity ofiaying it
before them.
1t IS now nearly month since have
been imprisoned. us the accomplice of
Georges and Pichegru, and Shall at
length perhaps De obliged to appear before
the tribunals in order to exculpate myself
from the crime of having plotted against
the safety Of the state and The chiefof the
government.
was far from expecting after having
passed through t5e revolution and the war
exempt from the least reproaeh of Incl
vism, and ambition, and particularly hay.
ing been at the head of great victorious
armies, at time when had the means of
satisfying them, that should be accused
of such folly whilst living rs d private in
dividuai, occupied with my family, and
seeing but very few friends. No doubt
but my former connections with general
Pichegyu must hl~r been Ike motive.
Before | enter upon my Justification,
permit me general, to trace these connec-
tons 10 their source, and ! here entertain
no doubt Of convincing you that the rela.
tons have kept up with an ancient chief
and an old friend, although divided in OPT
mon, and having served different parties,
are far from being criminal.
General PIchegru took the command
OF the army OF the north in the beginning
Of the year 2, when had been general of
brigade for about six months, filed her
interim hefunGtions ofgeneral ofdivision.
Satisfied with MY dispositions and with
those successes | had been able 10 obtain,
Inc quickly procured for me the rank.
lie had no sooner opened the campaign.
than he bestowed on me the command of
one half of the amy, and appointed me
to carry into effect the most important o.
PeralioBs.
Two months before the end of the cam
paign his health forced him to absent him
self, and the government then dire6led
me i'll consequence of his application in
my lavor to finish the conquest of part
OF Dutch Brabant and Cumberland. AT
Ter the winter campaign which rendered
us masters OF the remaining part of Hol-
land, PichegJu passed to the army of the
upper Rhine, and nominated me for his
successor, which WAS afterwards appoint
ed by the national onvention.-A
twelve month afterwards, replaced him
in the army of the Rhine; he was called
TO the legislative body, and then ceased
TO have frequent relations with him.
In the short cdmfaign of the year when
we took the 6ureaHr belonging 10 the staff
OF the enemy's army, great number Of
papers we're brought me, which general
Dcsaix, at that time wounded, amused
himself in reading. I! appeared to us by
this correspondence that general PicIcgru
hadrelGfiors 7cih he French h,incts. This
q scovery aft Gled US very much, and me
mast particularly. We agreed to consign
II To oblivion. Pichegru in the legislative
body, was still less incapable Of iniuring
the public welfare, as peace was secured.
! took precautions nevertheless for the
safety OF the army, in order TO guard d.
gan,t an cationnnge which might have
been productive or mischieyous effects to-
ward It'll be researches and deciphering
SO requisite on this occasion, forced us TO
place these documents in The hands DINA
ny individuals.
No sooner were the events of the 18th
Fructidor made known, than public unea-
siness became very great two officers, in
consequence who knew Of this correshond.
cnce 'ndHced me- 10 make he government &C.
qi'a'nfcd SIh IL, and gave me to understand
that 1t was becoming very public, and that
al Sirasburg, there we're persons who we're
taking measures to inform the directory
Of il.
Twas apublic flnGionary, and couldkeep
silence no longer. But without address.
ing myself directly to the government, ]
made known the correspondence c>gfdea-
italy 10 Barthetemy, one OF its members,
ihtrea'ing him 10 advise me how I should
acl' and informing him that these docu-
ments, although in an authentic form,