who will decide by a simple majority the ultimate event of the law.  This body will therefore be a mere council of revision.  It is proposed that they shall be of a certain age and property, and be for life.  They may make them also their court of impeachment.  They will suppress the parliaments, and establish a system of judicature somewhat like that of England, with trial by jury in criminal cases, perhaps also in civil.  Each province will have a subordinate provincial government, and the great cities, a municipal one on a free basis.  These are the ideas and views of the most distinguished members.  But they may suffer great modifications from the Assembly, and the longer the delay, the greater will be the modifications.  Considerable interval having taken place since any popular execution, the aristocratic party is raising its head.  They are strengthened by a considerable defection from the patriots, in consequence of the general suppression of the abuses of the 4th of August, in which many were interested.  Another faction too, of the most desperate views, has acquired strength in the Assembly, as well as out of it.  These wish to dethrone the reigning branch, and transfer the crown to the Duke d’Orleans.  The members of this faction are mostly persons of wicked and desperate fortunes, who have nothing at heart but to pillage from the wreck of their country.  The Duke himself is as unprincipled as his followers; sunk in debaucheries of the lowest kind, and incapable of quitting them for business; not a fool, yet not head enough to conduct any thing.  In fact, I suppose him used merely as a tool, because of his immense wealth, and that he acquired a certain degree of popularity by his first opposition to the government, then credited to him as upon virtuous motives.  He is certainly borrowing money on a large scale.  He is in understanding with the court of London, where he had been long in habits of intimacy.  The ministry here are apprehensive, that that ministry will support his designs by war.  I have no idea of this, but no doubt, at the same time, that they will furnish him money liberally to aliment a civil war, and prevent the regeneration of this country.

It was suggested to me, some days ago, that the court of Versailles were treating with that of London, for a surrender of their West India possessions, in consideration of a great sum of money to relieve their present distress.  Every principle of common sense was in opposition to this fact; yet it was so affirmed as to merit inquiry.  I became satisfied the government had never such an idea; but that the story was not without foundation altogether; that something like this was in contemplation between the faction of Orleans and the court of London, as a means of obtaining money from that court.  In a conversation with the Count de Montmorin, two days ago, he told me their colonies were speaking a language which gave them uneasiness, and for which there was no foundation.  I asked him if he knew