You are not much obliged to me for this long letter, as I own I have scribbled rather for my own amusement than with a view to yours.—­ Contrary to our expectation, the trial of the King has begun; and, though I cannot properly be said to have any real interest in the affairs of this country, I take a very sincere one in the fate of its unfortunate Monarch—­indeed our whole house has worn an appearance of dejection since the commencement of the business.  Most people seem to expect it will terminate favourably, and, I believe, there are few who do not wish it.  Even the Convention seem at present disposed to be merciful; and as they judge now, so may they be judged hereafter!

—­Yours.

Amiens, January 1793.

I do all possible justice to the liberality of my countrymen, who are become such passionate admirers of the French; and I cannot but lament their having been so unfortunate in the choice of the aera from whence they date this new friendship.  It is, however, a proof, that their regards are not much the effect of that kind of vanity which esteems objects in proportion as they are esteemed by the rest of the world; and the sincerity of an attachment cannot be better evinced than by its surviving irretrievable disgrace and universal abhorrence.  Many will swell the triumph of a hero, or add a trophy to his tomb; but he who exhibits himself with a culprit at the gallows, or decorates the gibbet with a wreath, is a friend indeed.

If ever the character of a people were repugnant to amity, or inimical to connection, it is that of the French for the last three years.—­*

* The editor of the Courier de l’Egalite, a most decided patriot, thus expresses himself on the injuries and insults received by the King from the Parisians, and their municipality, previous to his trial: 

“I know that Louis is guilty—­but are we to double his punishment before it is pronounced by the law?  Indeed one is tempted to say that, instead of being guided by the humanity and philosophy which dictated the revolution, we have taken lessons of barbarity from the most ferocious savages!  Let us be virtuous if we would be republicans; if we go on as we do, we never shall, and must have recourse to a despot:  for of two evils it is better to choose the least.”

The editor, whose opinion of the present politics is thus expressed, is so truly a revolutionist, and so confidential a patriot, that, in August last, when almost all the journalists were murdered, his paper was the only one that, for some time, was allowed to reach the departments.