Gouverneur Morris

Gouverneur Morris was born in 1752 in New York City.  He was a key figure during the American War of Independence being a famed orator at the Convention and pursuing reform of the Continental Army.  He was given the opportunity to help draft the final version of the constitution.  In 1780 he managed to shatter one of his legs which had to be amputated and replaced with a wooden leg when supposedly it was caught in the spokes of a wagon’s wheels.  Less charitable souls claimed he broke his leg jumping from the window of a woman he was romantically involved with when her husband returned.

He went to France on a matter of business in 1789 and acted as Minister Plenipotentiary to France from 1792 to 1794.  The United States government demanded the recall of the French ambassador, Edmond Genet who was seeking to create support for the French Wars against other European powers amongst the American populace.   The French government in turn demanded Morris be sent home amongst rumours he had tried to plot to help Louis XVI escape.   During his time in France he kept a detailed diary highlighting the seismic changes that were occurring.  It is clear throughout that he was willing to criticise the Revolution. The diary was never meant to be published only being released in the 1880s.

Morris died in 1816 after causing himself substantial internal injuries while using a piece of whale bone to attempt clearing a blockage in his urinary tract.

Gouverneur Morris at this point in France on business from the United States on the National Assembly. Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p75

There are some able men in the National Assembly, yet the best heads among them would not be injured by experience, and unfortunately there are a good number who, with much imagination, have little knowledge, judgement, or reflection.  You may consider the revolution as complete; that is to say, the authority of the king and of the nobility is completely subdued, but yet I tremble for the constitution.  They have all the romantic spirit, and all those romantic ideas of government which, happily for America, we were cured of before it was too late.  They are advancing rapidly… the whole army of France have declared for liberty, and… His majesty… does not know a single regiment that would obey him.

Gouverneur Morris on the Duke D’Orleans. Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p78-79

The lees too of the patriotic party, of wicked principles and desperate fortunes, hoping to pillage something in the wreck of their country, are attaching themselves to the faction of the Duke of Orleans, that faction is caballing with the populace, and intriguing at London, the Hague and Berlin and have evidently in view the transfer of the crown to the D. of Orleans.  He is a man of moderate understanding, of no principle, absorbed in low vice, and incapable of abstracting himself from the fifth of that to direct anything else.  His name and his money therefore are mere tools in the hands of those who are duping him.  Mirabeau is their chief.  They may produce a temporary confusion, and even a temporary civil war, supported as they will be by the money of England: but cannot have success ultimately.   

Gouverneur Morris airs his views on Louis XVI and his position in January 1790. Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p108

Poor man, he little thinks how unstable is his situation.  He is beloved, but it is not with the sort of love which a monarch should inspire; it is that kind of good natured pity which one feels for a led captive.  There is, besides, no possibility of serving him, for at the slightest show of opposition he gives up everything, and every person.

Gouverneur Morris on the Jacobins in November 1790.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p127

The enragés, long since known by the name of the Jacobins, have lost much in the public opinion, so that they are less powerful in the Assembly than they were; but the committees of correspondence spread all over the kingdom, have given them a deep and strong hold over the people.

Gouverneur Morris on hearing first reports on the royal family's flight from Paris in June 1791.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p138

We hear that the king and queen of France have effected their escape from the Tuileries and have got six or seven hours the start on their keepers.  This will produce some considerable consequences.  If they get off safely a war is inevitable, and if retaken, it will probably suspend for some time all monarchical government in France.

Gouverneur Morris reports on the Champs de Mars Massacre in July 1791.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p144-145

The militia would, not as usual, ground their arms on receiving the word of command from the mob.  The last began, according to custom, to pelt them with stones.  It was hot weather and it was Sunday afternoon, for which time, according to usage immemorial, the inhabitants of this capital have generally some pleasurable engagements.  To be disappointed in their amusement, to be paraded through streets through a scorching sun, and then stand, like holiday turkeys, to be knocked down by brickbats was a little more than they had patience to bear; so that, without waiting for orders, they fired and killed a dozen or two of the ragged regiment… Lafayette was very near being killed in the morning,

Gouverneur Morris comments on Louis XVI trial and his probable fate in December 1792.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p179

It would seem strange that the mildest monarch who ever filled the French throne, one who is precipitated from it precisely because he would not adopt the harsh measures of his predecessors, a man whom none could charge with a criminal act, should be prosecuted as one of the most nefarious tyrants that ever disgraced the annals of human nature….. I think it highly probable that he may suffer (execution), and that for the following causes: The majority of the Assembly found it necessary to raise against this unhappy prince the national odium, in order to justify dethroning him… and to induce the ready adoption of a republican form of government…. The rage which has been excited was terrible; and, although it begins to subside, the Convention are still in great straits-fearing to acquit, fearing to condemn, and yet urged to destroy their captive monarch.

Gouverneur Morris comments on the Terror in December 1792.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p188

Some days ago a man applied to the Convention for damages done to his quarry.  The quarries are deep pits, dug through several feet of earth into the bed of stone under the surface.  The damage done to him was by the number of dead bodies thrown into his pit, and which choked it up so that he could not get men to work at it.

Gouverneur Morris comments on Marie Antoinette’s execution in October 1793.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p181

The queen was executed the day before yesterday.  Insulted during her trial and reviled in her last moments, she behaved with dignity throughout.  This execution will, I think, give future hostilities a deeper dye, and unite more intimately the Allied Powers.  It will silence the opposition of those who would not listen to the dismemberment of their country, and therefore it may be concluded that the blow by which she died was directed from a distance.  But whatever may be the lot of France in remote futurity, and putting aside the military events, it seems evident that she soon be governed by a single despot.

Gouverneur Morris comments on the end of Danton.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p185

Danton, when condemned, or shortly before it, told his judges that he had observed in reading history that men generally perished by the instruments of destruction which they themselves had created. ‘I’ (says he) ‘created the Revolutionary Tribunal by which I am shortly to be destroyed.’  Shakespeare had made Macbeth pronounce the same dreadful sentence on the wickedly ambitious long ago.

Gouverneur Morris comments on the crushing of the Dantonists and Hébertists.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p190

Both the Dantonists and Hébertists are crushed.  The fall of Danton seems to terminate the idea of a triumvirate.  The chief who would in such case have been one of his colleagues has wisely put out of the way a dangerous competitor…. It is a wonderful thing sir that four years of convulsion among four and twenty millions of people has brought forth no one, either in civil or military life, whose head would fit the cap which fortune has woven.  Robespierre has been the most consistent.

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