which satisfied me as to the general disposition of the people; but
he gave me little satisfaction as to the measures taken for
improving this disposition, for driving the business on with vigour
if it tended to a revolution, or for supporting it with advantage if
it spun into a war. When I questioned him concerning several
persons whose disinclination to the Government admitted of no doubt,
and whose names, quality, and experience were very essential to the
success of the undertaking, he owned to me that they kept a great
reserve, and did, at most, but encourage others to act by general
and dark expressions.

I received this account and this summons ill in my bed; yet,
important as the matter was, a few minutes served to determine me.
The circumstances wanting to form a reasonable inducement to engage
did not escape me. But the smart of a Bill of Attainder tingled in
every vein; and I looked on my party to be under oppression and to
call for my assistance. Besides which I considered, first, that I
should certainly be informed, when I conferred with the Chevalier,
of many particulars unknown to this gentleman; for I did not imagine
that you could be so near to take arms, as he represented you to be,
on no other foundation than that which he exposed. And, secondly,
that I was obliged in honour to declare, without waiting for a more
particular information of what might be expected from England, since
my friends had taken their resolution to declare, without any
previous assurance of what might be expected from France. This
second motive weighed extremely with me at that time; there is,
however, more sound than sense in it, and it contains the original
error to which all your subsequent errors, and the thread of
misfortunes which followed, are to be ascribed.