M.de Lessart, placed by his position between the armed emigrants, the impatient Assembly, undecided Europe, and the inculpated king, could not fail to fall under his own good intentions.

His plan was to avoid war in his own country by temporising and negotiations--to suspend the hostile demonstration of foreign power: to present to the intimidated Assembly the king, as sole arbiter and negotiator of peace between his people and the foreigner; and he trusted thus to adjourn the final collisions between the Assembly and the throne, and to re-establish the regular authority of the king by preserving peace.

The personal arrangements of the emperor Leopold aided him in his plans; he had only to contend against the fatality which urges men and things to their _denouement_.

The Girondists, and Brissot especially, overwhelmed him with accusations, inasmuch as he was the man who could most retard their triumph.

By sacrificing him they could sacrifice a whole system: their press and their harangues pointed him out to the fury of the people;--the partisans of war marked him down as their victim.