They sought them in obscurity, and believed they had found them in Claviere, Roland, Dumouriez, Lacoste, and Duranton,--they made only one mistake: Dumouriez, under the guise of an adventurer, had talents equal to any emergency.[18] X.
The party thus distributed, and Madame Roland informed of the proposed elevation of her husband, the Girondists attacked the ministry in the person of M.de Lessart, at the sitting of the 10th of March.

Brissot read against this minister a bill of accusation, skilfully and perfidiously fabricated, in which the appearance presented by facts and the conjecture derived from proofs, cast on the negotiation of M.de Lessart all the odium and criminality of treason.

He proposed that a decree of accusation should proceed against the minister for foreign affairs.

The Assembly was silent or applauded.

Some members, with a view of defending the minister, demanded time in order that the Assembly might reflect on the charge, and thus, at least, affect the impartiality of justice.