Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-04

~ thing was III cyphers,
My letter arrived ~ Paris few minutes
after citizen Bsrlheiemy hadbeen arrested,
and the Director, 70 whom it was deliver.
ed sent me orders to give up the papers
mentioned in it.
When Pichegru was at Cayenne, and
when he returned from it to Germany and
England, kept up no kind OF relation
with him. .Hhnte time after fierce had been
concluded zvi'h England, lIr. David, uncle
togeneral Sonham, who had passed year
with him in the army OF the north, wrote
me that general Piciegru was the only one
OF the /'aefidgrians vvho had nor returned,
and that he 7caS asionished to learn that this
circnr'stCs'cc s:as occaSioi;ed Soielv BIZ my OH
Position, that you refuse to permit his re-
turn to France. replied to MIR. David,
that far from having opposed his re urn,
made it my business, on The contrary, To
obtain permission FIR it. He communi.
Gated my letter to different persons, and
we'll know that this permission was asked
OF you.
Some time afterwards Mr.. David wrote
me that he had attempted to persuade
Pichegru TO request you himself 10 have
his name erased Off the list of emigrants
but that he would not consent to il until he
WAS certain that the request would be
grained" Furthermore, he directed him
TO thank me for the reply, which | had
made to the imputation of having opposed
his return, observing that lie never tho't
me capable Of such proceeding; tha, he
knew with regard to the correshcnde nee of
KEm5lin, must haze been in u veiv delicate
h2sifion, MIR. David sent besiIcs three or
four very insignificant letters upon this
subject. Since his arrest he wrote me TO
request | would take some steps in his
favor. was very sorry that the enstrane.e.
ment between the government and NV.
self, did not permit me to enliphten
your justice in this respect, for enter
tam little doubt but what it would have
been easy To have removed those Ore
Judices which you had apparently imbib
ed. heard no more said Of Pichegru,
but in very indirect manner, and by per
sons whom the war had forced to return
10 France-From this period until the
present moment, during the two first cam
Pa'gns in Germany and since peace, dis
tant overiures have been made 20 me, 10
know whether 1t were possible for me 10
enter into re!ations 7uith the French Erinccs.
but thought This so ridiculous that even
made no reply. With regard To the pre-
sent conspiracy, can equally affirm TO
you, that am far from having borne the
least share in il, SIC. repeat to you. pc
neral, whatever proposal may have been
made TO me, l repulsed it as in one oppo-
siuon 10 my opinions, and because looked
on 1T as the most egregious folly, when
the chance ct descent in England was
represented to me as favorable TO a change
oil government, observed that the senate
was the authority to which all Frenchmen
would not fail 10 have recourse in the
case of trouble, and that should be the
first to submit to its orders. Such over.
lures made to me, solitary individual,
wishing to keep up no kind OF relation Ell
Their with the army, of which the nine
tenths had served under my orders, or with
any authority whatever, could only de.
mand refusal on my part to become
an lntormer was too repugnant from nv
character, almost always Judged with Sc
verify, it becomes odious, and STAMPS
him with rcprobaiion who has been guilty
of it, towards those to whom gratitude
is owing, or with whom we may have for
merly lived on terms of friendship -
duty even may sometimes yield to the
sentiments of public opinion.
This, general, is what have to lay be-
fore you concerning my relations with
Pichegru; it will surely convince you
that very false consequences have been
drawn from my steps and actions, which,
however inprudent, were far from being
criminal, and have no doubt that had YOU
asked all explanation of me concerning
the greater part ofihese facts which would
have FASTENED to give you, it would have
saved you the regret Of causing me 10 be
imprisoned, and me the humiliation of
wearing letters sand perhaps olbeirg Obliged
to so before a tribunal TO declare that |
am not a conspirator, and to bring forward
IN aid Of my justification probily oftwen
iy five years, which was never called in
question, and the services have render
ed my country. ] shall not speak To- YOU
OF these general; | ilatter myself they
are not yet entirely efIaced from your me.
mory, but permit me to recall to your re.
collection that if my ambition o. the Grand