Those violent acts, those stormy oscillations between insolence and repentance, which had marked the inauguration of the Assembly, had painfully undeceived him.

His astonished ministry already trembled before so much audacity, and in the council avowed their incompetency.

The king was desirous of retaining men who had given him such proofs of devotion to his person.

Some of them, confidants or accomplices, served the king and queen, either by keeping up communications with the emigrants or by their intrigues in the interior.
M.de Montmorin, an able man, but unequal to the difficulties of the crisis, had retired.

The two principal men of the ministry were M.de Lessart for Foreign Affairs; M.Bertrand de Molleville in the Marine Department.