This country still pursues its line of peace. The ministry seem now all
united in it; some from a belief of their inability to carry on a war;
others from a desire to arrange their internal affairs, and improve
their constitution. The differences between the King and parliaments
threaten a serious issue. Many symptoms indicate that the government has
in contemplation some act of highhanded authority. An extra number of
printers have for several days been employed, the apartment wherein they
are at work being surrounded by a body of guards, who permit no body
either to come out or go in. The commanders of the provinces, civil and
military, have been ordered to be at their stations on a certain day
of the ensuing week. They are accordingly gone: so that the will of the
King is probably to be announced through the whole kingdom on the same
day. The parliament of Paris, apprehending that some innovation is to
be attempted, which may take from them the opportunity of deciding on it
after it shall be made known, came last night to the resolution of
which I have the honor to enclose you a manuscript copy.
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