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[[start left-hand column]] To the EDITOR of the TRUE BRITON. Sir, Having been most grossly abused and attacked by the Oracle, although you have been the first to arraign me at the bar of the Public, I still flatter myself that you will readily insert in your Paper the Reply I beg leave to inclose. I remain, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, ANDRE JAQUES GARNERIN. Oct. 22, 1802. TO THE EDITOR. SIR, NOTHING but my absence from London could have prevented me from replying sooner to the series of unprovoked attacks which have been made upon my character, by The Oracle. That part of them which relates merely to "the useless art I profess" (an art, however, not found so useless at the battle of Fleurus), I will pass over. It is comparatively of insignificant consideration, when compared with those charges which would depict me to the universe as a monster, unfit for the society of human beings. My reply to them, to be satisfactory need not be long. What I shall assert, I shall be able to prove; and against me, at least, shall not be urged the accusation of making up, by virulence and invective, for the deficiency of argument and truth. The Editor of The Oracle himself seems, I know not why, to have placed himself at the head of the battle. Against him, personally, I never brought any charge; I considered him merely as a dupe.- But I complained of the conduct of a person describing himself as a Writer in The Oracle, and introducing himself to me, with a request I would communicate, exclusively, to that Paper (which he asserted to be the leading one of England, and particularly celebrated for its scientific, as well as political, knowledge), my accounts, then not deemed to be so useless, of my aeronautic experiments, during my residence in England. Such a request, in favour of The Oracle, gave me every reason to believe that the person was really a Writer in it. - And what reason have I now for thinking that he gave a false account of himself? The Editor of The Oracle, in his Paper of the 5th of October, denies that that person has any connection whatsoever with his paper; but he, in the very same sentence, announces - "that the writer alluded to has promised him a vindication of his conduct," which promise was fulfilled on the subsequent day; with the positive declaration from this person, so totally unconnected with The Oracle, "that he gave the particulars of my life, which appeared in The Daily Advertiser and Oracle, and that he was answerable for his assertions." I leave the Editor and this person to settle their contradictions between themselves. I proceed now, Sir, to the attacks of that person, Mr. John Neville. Soon after my arrival in England, a combination was made between John Neville and my interpreter, Francis Souley. Neville was introduced to me by the latter, with whom he said he had been acquainted twenty years. Neville told me he had translated the memorial of my captivity in Austria, which I had drawn up between five and six years ago, at the express order of my Government. He then made me an offer of half the profits of the publication, if I would furnish him with my Portrait, the drawings of my Balloons and Parachute, and an explanation of the means I employed in filling my Balloons, &c. To this offer, at the second interview with him, I gave a decided refusal, alledging as a reason for it, "That as Peace had now happily been re-established between France, England, and Austria, such a publication would be unseasonable, and could only tend to revive sentiments that were now fortunately appeased." -After that interview, I saw Mr. Neville no more. But on the 22nd of June, I received the following Letter from him: SIR - Not having heard from you, although you promised you would have written to me, either the following day or the day after that I had the honour of seeing you at your house, I see myself compelled to trouble you in order to inform you that since you decline acceding to my demand, I will publish your Memoirs, with such Notes as I think proper to add, to replace what I desired you to send me. The pamphlet will sell the better for it, and to yourself alone you will be indebted for the consequences attached to the publication of your Memorial. Nothing shall be made public but what truth will loudly proclaim. As I am but seldom at home, and as the distance to your house besides is great, every personal explanation (explication de vive voix) becomes henceforth impossible; and for that very reason, I once more subjoin my address, (Signed) JOHN NEVILLE. Monday Evening, 47, Little Britain. I leave it to the reader to decide, whether the above letter does or does not contain any menace. So convinced, however, was I that it was a menace, and a deep-laid scheme, that I took the liberty of sending a copy of it to the French Minister here on the 24th, and had the honour of receiving on the 25th of June, his approbation of the motives which had induced me to resist both the offer and the threatened consequences of my refusal. I now expected Mr. Neville's publication, and should not, but for his Letter in The Oracle, of the 6th of October, have been able to account for his delay. After I had refused to partake in the publication, Mr. Neville is seized with a sudden fit of delicacy towards Austria; and though he had, at his first interview with me, assured me had already translated the work, he says, in his letter to The Oracle, "that he resolved, before he translated a single line of my Memoirs, to address the Imperial Ambassador, and ask if he had any objection to the production, which he transmitted him, being published in English." The regard I have for the Imperial Ambassador prevents me from making a single comment upon his Letter. His Excellency, however, ought to know, for he cannot have forgotten the treatment of the French Ambassadors, and of the Representatives of the People, that the complaints of the French Prisoners, of the manner in which they were treated in the Austrian Dominions, were but too well founded. With respect to my behaviour to my Interpreter, Francois Souley, I answer, that the charge brought by John Neville, of seducing him from Paris, and abandoning him in London, is infamous and false.- [[end column]] [[start centre column]] To the EDITOR of THE TRUE BRITON. ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] SIR, I trouble you with some observations on GARNERIN'S unique composition, (as it appeared in several Papers of Saturday last), having solicited and obtained your permission to that effect. I begin with remarking, that, as a Translation, taut bonne que mauvaise, of my Letters to GARNERIN has appeared, I conceive the Question with respect to me, is completely put to rest; but I have sincerely to regret, that I should, in one of them, have expressed myself most unbecomingly relative to The TRUE BRITON, concerning which I had been led by misinformation into a gross error. I solemnly declare, that I was fully convinced, the Property and Editorship of the Paper alluded to, had passed into the hands of a person of most equivocal Politics*, as soon as Peace was concluded; nor was I undeceived, until about three weeks back, I was told the contrary was the case. I here emphatically abjure my errors! The Natural Philosopher, GARNERIN, tells the world, with a mixture of effrontery and folly, that his (atrocious) Memoirs do not contain any thing disrespectful to the ILLUSTRIOUS CHIEF of the gallant Army of this Country - it would be idle, it would be insolent in me, a very humble individual, to volunteer the defence of the ROYAL GENERAL, to whom no charge can possibly attach - but as the little Abbé has deposited in the Pantheon the effusions of his licentious brain, I shall only say to the Public, "tolle, lege." With respect, Mr. Editor, to the reception which GARNERIN says I experienced at Windsor from one of the late Deputy-Commissaries for Prisoners of War on the Continent - I mean Mr. WALKER - I shall only observe, that I was received by that Gentleman, at his house, with the same convincing proofs of cordiality as I, on former occasions, greeted him in my military quarters, as a friend, wedded to the cause of liberty and of reason. But, to prove the truth of my assertion, I shall present a copy of his letter to me some days ago:- "DEAR SIR, Windsor, October 23, 1802. "This day I have seen M. GARNERIN'S Defence in the "Morning Post. Proceeding on the principle I have uni- "formly observed, I have only to remark, that I certainly "gave him no reason to state that you did not meet with "that kind attention I had ever received from you. "Mr. John Neville. "ALEX. WALKER." As to the DESERTION of GARNERIN, or the BREAKING OF HIS PAROLE, when a Prisoner at Oudenarde, I beg leave to refer M. GARNERIN, or the Reader, to Mr. WALKER'S own voluntary Letter, dated Windsor, October 6th, addressed to Mr. STUART, and inserted in The Daily Advertiser and Oracle of the 9th October instant, where the notorious fact is affirmed with all the vigour of truth, and all the sensibility of a Gentleman who knows well how to appreciate a Soldier's honour. If, however, it be necessary, for the sake of public information, I shall request of Mr. STUART to republish Mr. WALKER's letter The shameful desertion, or breaking of parole, by GARNERIN, awoke the indignation of the French Officers at Oudenarde; and it was from them that the Deputy Commissary, Mr. WALKER, learned how GARNERIN could be apprehended and brought back. Now, Mr. Editor, do you think that Gentleman would have received le Sieur GARNERIN with distinction, had he known at the time that he accuses him, in his atrocious Memoirs (as the Ambassador of an Imperial Court styles them) of having refused to return him his great coat and other effects? You will, perhaps, answer negatively. Now, I say, he would still be polite to him - because it is known that an English Officer, whether in the military or the [[?]] department, does not stand in absolute need [[of the?]] great coat of a Sans Culottes, nor of any other [[of his?]] effects; and because an attempt to repel a charge so very ridiculous, would be giving weight and importance to absurdity. I now, Mr. Editor, beg leave to submit to your consideration ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT FACT, which may serve to illustrate the character and conduct of M. GARNERIN and his Brother JEAN BAPTISTE GARNERIN. In the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post, &c. of the 24th September last, M. GARNERIN endeavours to vindicate himself and his family from the aspersions advanced in some of the Morning Prints, insinuating, that both he and his Brother had enacted parts - certainly not very honourable to men of humane feelings - during the period of the French Revolution. HIS OWN WORDS ARE - "A Correspondent, whose veracity they (the Editors) "ought to have suspected, has asked me, whether I did not "play an infamous part in the French Revolution? Sir, (Mr. "Editor) there are in France BUT TWO - MY BROTHER AND "MYSELF - of the name of GARNERIN - and we have played "no other part than that which honour may avow in all Coun- "tries, and at all times!" In his last Letter, inserted in the Morning Post, Morning Chronicle, True Briton, and Courier, of Saturday, the 23d instant, in which he attacks me with much virulence and asperity, M. GARNERIN, to corroborate, as he thinks, his former assertions, respecting the purity and honour of HIMSELF and BROTHER, makes the FOLLOWING REMARKABLE DECLARATION:- "I conclude with two lines relative to Jean BAPTISTE "GARNERIN, whom I am proud to call MY BROTHER: He "is a respectable father of six children, was NEVER a Mem- "ber of a Revolutionary Committee, and in the same manner "can I affirm, that HE NEVER was a Witness against the "QUEEN of FRANCE, whose trial may be referred to in every "Bookseller's shop in Europe!" No Declaration can be stronger, or more unequivocal! In this M. GARNERIN shews - although inadvertently - some regard for TRUTH, as he challenges, in a very bold and unreserved manner, a careful perusal of that remarkable document, the mock TRIAL of the QUEEN of FRANCE! I am much obliged to him for pointing out to me the mode of his own conviction; and the following is the result of my search respecting ONE of the TWO - consequently M. GARNERIN's Brother: EXTRACT FROM THE AUTHENTIC PARIS COPY OF THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN OF FRANCE, "To be referred to in every Bookseller's Shop in Europe!" "JEAN BAPTISTE GARNERIN, ci-devant Secretary to the "Commission of Twenty-four, deposed, that having been ----- * We think it necessary to inform our Readers, that the Gentleman to whom we suppose Mr. NEVILLE alludes, is no longer connected with The TRUE BRITON. [[end column]] [[start right-hand column]] [[clipping 1 of 2]] "to number and arrange the Papers found at the house of "SEPTEUIL (the King's Valet-de-Chambre and Treasurer to the "Civil List), he saw among them an order for about Eighty "Thousand Livres, signed 'ANTOINETTE,' in favour of the "ci-devant POLIGNAC, with a Note respecting LAZAILLE; "and another Paper which attested, that the accused "had sold her Diamonds, to transmit the produce of them "to the French Emigrants. The Deponent observed, that "he then delivered all the said Papers into the hands of VA- "LAZE, Member of the Commission charged to draw up the "Act of Accusation against LOUIS CAPET; but that the "Deponent (GARNERIN) learned, not without astonishment, "that VALAZE, in the Report which he made to the Na- "tional Convention, did not speak of the Papers signed "MARIE ANTOINETTE." (Here the execrable President of the infernal, self-created Court, put the following Question to the ROYAL VICTIM, to the illustrious offspring of so many CAESARS.) PRESIDENT to the QUEEN - "Have you any observations "to make on the Deposition of the Witness GARNERIN? QUEEN - "I persist in saying that I never gave any such "orders. PRESIDENT - "Do you know the above-named LA- "ZAILLE? QUEEN - "Yes, I know him to be an Officer of the Ma- "rine, and have seen him at Court, at Versailles, as I saw "others. "The Witness, TISSET, (another perjured Evidence) re- "quested the President to call upon Citizen GARNERIN, to "declare, if he also did not recollect to have seen, among "the Papers found at the house of SEPTEUIL, Invoices of "Purchases in Sugar, Coffee, Corn, &c. &c. amounting to "the Sum of Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Livres of "which had been already paid; and if he did not also know "that these Invoices, some days after, were not to be "found. GARNERIN - "I have no knowledge of that fact; I, how- "ever know, that throughout all France there were people "charged with commissions to buy up large quantities of "provisions by forestalling, in order to raise the price of "them, that by these means the people might be disgusted "with the Revolution and Liberty, and induced to call "again for their chains. PRESIDENT to the QUEEN - "Do you know any thing of "immense purchases, by forestalling the most necessary ar- "ticles of provision, made by order of the Court to starve "the people, and to force them to demand back the ancient "order of things, so favourable to Tyrants and their infa- "mous agents, who have kept them under the yoke for "fourteen centuries? QUEEN - "I do not know that there were any purchases "by forestalling." Thus ends the precious evidence of GARNERIN; and by referring to the summing up of the iniquitous whole, it will clearly appear, that the respectable Father of six Children, whom our flying Philosopher, the Ex-Commissioner of the gentle ROBESPIERRE, is proud to call his brother, was one of the murderers of the good, the unfortunate, and the beautiful QUEEN of FRANCE, as very particular stress was laid on his execrable testimony! "Te [[lapes?]] et montes, innataque rupibus altis "Robera, te sevae [[progenuere?]] Ferae!" I now, Mr. Editor, display M. GARNERIN in his proper colours; and if I have, as an eminent Writer once said, made for him "a bed of thorns," he has himself only to blame for his irksome situation. - M. GARNERIN has the modesty to affirm, that I have made a dupe of the Editor of The Oracle. I have that Gentleman's authority for saying, that to-morrow he will condescend to bestow a few Parting Observations on the wonderful Aeronaut's last Letter. Let M. GARNERIN seriously weigh the TRUTHS now advanced, and compare them with the falsehood, the folly, and absurdity of those who have wantonly involved him in the disagreeable discussion, and, in allusion to a celebrated Dramatic Author, I may now ask him - Who's the Dupe? October 26. JOHN NEVILLE. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 2]] To the EDITOR of the TRUE BRITON. SIR, Being in the very moment of leaving this Country, I have neither time nor inclination to continue the contest I have been led into by The Oracle and JOHN NEVILLE. The Public must be heartily tired of it; but, in order to vindicate myself from the imputation of having broke my parole, I most earnestly beg the insertion of the letter I have just received from Mr. WALKER, Deputy Commissary for the French Prisoners at Oudenarde. Happy to have this opportunity of paying you in person the tribute of my gratitude, for your kind attention and deportment towards me, I beg leave to assure you, that the reception I have met with, from the most distinguished characters in this country, and from the nation in general, has raised a monument to my pride, which never can be erased from my grateful remembrance. Oct. 28, 1802. GARNERIN. London, the 28th of October, 1802. Two o'Clock, P.M. SIR, I have seen, with much surprise and concern, the conclusions which are drawn in The Oracle, of this morning, from my letter of inquiry to Mr. Stuart, of the 6th of October last, respecting your desertion, no enumeration having ever been made by me, that you ever was on parole, or had ever broken it. This attestation I owe to you, I owe it to myself, and I owe it to the respectable characters who have shewn you attention and civility in this country. You have very amply explained the manner in which I have been led into the business, and how I was made to believe that the Memoirs in question were published in this country since your arrival - the negative of which you have so fully proved by the letter of M. Orro, of the 25th of July last. As the style of my Letter seems to have been tortured to answer private ends, it becomes incumbent on my duty, and a justice I owe both you and myself, to express my entire disapprobation of any of the Publications, which I think highly improper, inasmuch as they bear entirely on the circumstances of the war, which ought to have been done away by the Signature of Peace. As I understand you are, in a few hours, to set out for France, I wish you a safe and pleasant journey. And am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, To Mons. Garnerin. ALEX WALKER. [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[end page]] ^[[125 - handwritten in pencil at bottom of page]]
