lmer
time, he would demand an investigation of his conduct, and give an
explanation both of his actions and designs. In order to gain their
point, the commissioners replied that no harm was meant to his person,
and alleging the example of the ancient Roman generals, they contended
that it was his duty to submit to the republic. To this Dumouriez
rejoined, "Gentlemen, we are constantly committing mistakes in our
quotations from the classics; we parody and disfigure Roman history
in citing their virtues to excuse our crimes. The Romans did not kill
Tarquin: the Romans had a well-regulated republic and good laws; and
they had neither a Jacobin Club nor a revolutionary tribunal. We are
plunged in anarchy; we are wading in blood." "Citizen general," said
Camus, one of the commissioners, "will you obey the decree of the
National Convention or not?" "Not exactly at this moment," replied
Dumouriez. "Well then," continued Camus, "I declare, in the name of the
convention, that you are no longer general of this army, and I order
that your papers be seized, and that you be arrested," "This is very
strong," replied Dumouriez, and calling for his German hussars, he
ordered them to seize the commissioners, and to convey them to General
Clairfait's head-quarters at Tournay, as hostages for the safety of
the royal family of France. During that night Dumouriez drew up a
proclamation to his army and to all France, in which he called upon
all true Frenchmen to rise and rally round him and the monarchical
constitution of 1791. His troops were informed of all that had happened
on the following morning, and the measure was enthusiastically approved
by those of the line and the artillery. Dumouriez, however, had enemies
in his camp. He had an appointment with Colonel Mack, the Archduke
Charles, and the Prince of Saxe-Cobourg on the 4th of April, in order to
regulate future operations; and at an early hour on the morning of that
day he set off with his staff; but he and his party had scarcely got
upon the road which led to Conde, when they met two battalions of
volunteers who were marching without order, and apparently without
instructions. The design of these volunteers was to arrest Dumouriez and
his party; and on discovering this they quitted the high-road and struck
across the country, towards the Austrian lines, for protection. They
reached Rury in the evening, where they were soon after joined by
Saxe-Cobourg and Mack, who, with Dumouriez,