views and sentiments of Lafayette, and in detecting the causes of the
excesses, which eventually disgraced the French revolution of that period,
that it will be proper to record it in this connexion. He wrote to the King
at the same time, expressing great anxiety for his safety, and declaring
his wish to maintain the constitution.


Lafayette's letter to the Legislative body.


"_At the entrenched camp of Maubeuge_, 16_th June_, 1792.

"GENTLEMEN,

"At the moment, perhaps too long deferred, in which I am about to call your
attention to the highest public interests, and to point out among our
dangers, the _conduct of a ministry_, whom I have for a long time censured
in my correspondence, I learn that, unmasked in consequence of its own
divisions, it has fallen a sacrifice to its own intrigues. [This was the
Brissotin ministry.] It is not enough however, that _this branch_ of the
government has been delivered from its disastrous influence. The public
welfare is in peril--The fate of France depends principally on its
representatives--The nation expects from them its security. But in giving
them a _constitution_, France has prescribed to them the _only_ means by
which she can be saved.

"Persuaded, gentlemen, that as the rights of man are the law of every
constituent assembly, a constitution ought to be the law of the
legislators, which that constitution shall have established. It is to you
that I ought to denounce the too powerful efforts which are making, to