On receipt of this letter on the 14th, Maret at once showed it to Miles, who urged him to request an immediate interview with the Prime Minister. This was accorded, and at 8 p.m. of that day, Maret met Pitt again. I have found no account of this interview. All we know is that it was short and depressing. Maret had to impart the unwelcome news that all the communications to the French Government must pass through the hands of Chauvelin--a personal triumph for that envoy. Pitt on his side declined to give any answer on the subject of Maret's communication, or on that of receiving Chauvelin.[137] We can imagine that under that stiff and cold exterior the Prime Minister concealed deep agitation; for the determination of the French rigidly to adhere to their decrees, to force Chauvelin upon the British Government, and to require the recognition of the French Republic, meant war. FOOTNOTES: [83] Aulard, "La Rev. Franc.," 270-2. [84] "Dropmore P.," ii, 291. [85] "Bland Burges P.," 207, 211. [86] Dumont, "Souvenirs"; Bulwer Lytton, "Hist. Characters" (Talleyrand). [87] W. A. Miles, "Corresp.," i, 349-51; Sorel, iii, 18-20. [88] Burke, "Corresp.," iv, 7. [89] Sorel, iii, 139. [90] Carlyle, "Fr. Rev.," iii, bk. i, ch. vi. [91] "Mems. of Romilly," i, 351, 352. [92] "Dropmore P.," ii, 318. [93] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 19, 20. [94] _Ibid._ In all, 3,772 French refugees landed in September 1792 ("Ann. Reg." 39). The first subscription for them realized L1,468. Burke gave L20. [95] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 21; Twiss, "Life of Lord Eldon," i, 218; "Bland Burges P.," 203. Our agent, Munro, on 17th December 1792 reported from Paris: "Dr. Maxwell has at last obtained a company in the French service, and I understand is soon to leave this to join the army" (Gower's "Despatches," 260). Mr. Elgar has not been able to trace him afterwards. [96] Massey, iv, 45. This was said to be spoken to Bland Burges; but the papers of the latter (p. 204) contain no reference to it. [97] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 21. [98] _Ibid._ [99] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 21. [100] Miles ("Corresp.," 333) states that the editors of the "Argus" and "Morning Chronicle" were regularly paid by the French Embassy and were often there. [101] "Bland Burges P.," 227-9. [102] Virgil, "Georgics," i, 463-5. "Who would dare call the sun a liar? In truth, he often warns of the approach of hidden seditions and of the swellings of treachery and strifes yet unseen." [103] "F. O.," France, 40. [104] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 22. [105] "Dropmore P.," ii, 322. [106] "Auckland Journals," ii, 449, 455; "Dropmore P.," ii, 324. [107] Sorel, iii, 143. [108] "Auckland Journals," ii, 465. [109] On 24th November Noel wrote from London to Lebrun: "Tous les symptomes annoncent que les mouvements revolutionnaires ne peuvent etre eloignes." Quoted by Sorel, iii, 214. See, too, Ernouf's "Maret," p. 84.