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e often requested of me； but this line of conduct exposed me to every species of ill…will； and on the same day I saw myself denounced by Prud'homme； in his 'Gazette Revolutionnaire'； as capable of making an aristocrat of the mother of the Gracchi； if a person so dangerous as myself could have got into her household； and by Gauthier's Gazette Royaliste； as a monarchist； a constitutionalist； more dangerous to the Queen's interests than a Jacobin。
At this period an event with which I had nothing to do placed me in a still more critical situation。 My brother； M。 Genet； began his diplomatic career successfully。 At eighteen he was attached to the embassy to Vienna； at twenty he was appointed chief secretary of Legation in England； on occasion of the peace of 1783。 A memorial which he presented to M。 de Vergennes upon the dangers of the treaty of commerce then entered into with England gave offence to M。 de Calonne； a patron of that treaty； and particularly to M。 Gerard de Rayneval； chief clerk for foreign affairs。 So long as M。 de Vergennes lived； having upon my father's death declared himself the protector of my brother； he supported him against the enemies his views had created。 But on his death M。 de Montmorin； being much in need of the long experience in business which he found in M。 de Rayneval； was guided solely by the latter。 The office of which my brother was the head was suppressed。 He then went to St。 Petersburg； strongly recommended to the Comte de Segur； minister from France to that Court； who appointed him secretary of Legation。 Some time afterwards the Comte de Segur left him at St。 Petersburg； charged with the affairs of France。 After his return from Russia； M。 Genet was appointed ambassador to the United States by the party called Girondists； the deputies who headed it being from the department of the Gironde。 He was recalled by the Robespierre party； which overthrew the former faction； on the 31st of May； 1793； and condemned to appear before the Convention。 Vice…President Clinton； at that time Governor of New York； offered him an asylum in his house and the hand of his daughter； and M。 Genet established himself prosperously in America。
When my brother quitted Versailles he was much hurt at being deprived of a considerable income for having penned a memorial which his zeal alone had dictated； and the importance of which was afterwards but too well understood。 I perceived from his correspondence that he inclined to some of the new notions。 He told me it was right he should no longer conceal from me that he sided with the constitutional party； that the King had in fact commanded it； having himself accepted the constitution； that he would proceed firmly in that course； because in this case disingenuousness would be fatal； and that he took that side of the question because he had had it proved to him that the foreign powers would not serve the King's cause without advancing pretensions prompted by long…standing interests； which always would influence their councils； that he saw no salvation for the King and Queen but from within France； and that he would serve the constitutional King as he served him before the Revolution。 And lastly； he requested me to impart to the Queen the real sentiments of one of his Majesty's agents at a foreign Court。 I immediately went to the Queen and gave her my brother's letter； she read it attentively； and said； 〃This is the letter of a young man led astray by discontent and ambition； I know you do not think as he does； do not fear that you will lose the confidence of the King and myself。〃 I offered to discontinue all correspondence with my brother； she opposed that； saying it would be dangerous。 I then entreated she would permit me in future to show her my own and my brother's letters； to which she consented。 I wrote warmly to my brother against the course he had adopted。 I sent my letters by sure channels； he answered me by the post； and no longer touched upon anything but family affairs。 Once only he informed me that if I should write to him respecting the affairs of the day he would give me no answer。 〃Serve your august mistress with the unbounded devotion which is due from you；〃 said he； 〃and let us each do our duty。 I will only observe to you that at Paris the fogs of the Seine often prevent people from seeing that immense capital； even from the Pavilion of Flora； and I see it more clearly from St。 Petersburg。〃 The Queen said； as she read this letter； 〃Perhaps he speaks but too truly； who can decide upon so disastrous a position as ours has become？〃 The day on which I gave the Queen my brother's first letter to read she had several audiences to give to ladies and other persons belonging to the Court； who came on purpose to inform her that my brother was an avowed constitutionalist and revolutionist。 The Queen replied； 〃I know it； Madame Campan has told me so。〃 Persons jealous of my situation having subjected me to mortifications； and these unpleasant circumstances recurring daily； I requested the Queen's permission to withdraw from Court。 She exclaimed against the very idea； represented it to me as extremely dangerous for my own reputation； and had the kindness to add that； for my sake as well as for her own； she never would consent to it。 After this conversation I retired to my apartment。 A few minutes later a footman brought me this note from the Queen： 〃I have never ceased to give you and yours proofs of my attachment； I wish to tell you in writing that I have full faith in your honour and fidelity； as well as in your other good qualities； and that I ever rely on the zeal and address you exert to serve me。〃
＇I had just received this letter from the Queen when M。 de la Chapelle； commissary…general of the King's household； and head of the offices of M。 de Laporte； minister of the civil list； came to see me。 The palace having been already sacked by the brigands on the 20th of June； 1792； he proposed that I should entrust the paper to him； that he might place it in a safer situation than the apartments of the Queen。 When he returned into his offices he placed the letter she had condescended to write to me behind a large picture in his closet； but on the loth of August M。 de la Chapelle was thrown into the prisons of the Abbaye； and the committee of public safety established themselves in his offices； whence they issued all their decrees of death。 There it was that a villainous servant belonging to M。 de Laporte went to declare that in the minister's apartments； under a board in the floor； a number of papers would be found。 They were brought forth； and M。 de Laporte was sent to the scaffold； where he suffered for having betrayed the State by serving his master and sovereign。 M。 de la Chapelle was saved； as if by a miracle； from the massacres of the 2d of September。 The committee of public safety having removed to the King's apartments at the Tuileries； M。 de la Chapelle had permission to return to his closet to take away some property belonging to him。 Turning round the picture； behind which he had hidden the Queen's letter； he found it in the place into which he had slipped it； and； delighted to see that I was safe from the ill consequences the discovery of this paper might have brought upon me； he burnt it instantly。 In times of danger a mere nothing may save life or destroy it。MADAME CAMPAN＇
At the moment that I was going to express my gratitude to the Queen I heard a tapping at the door of my room； which opened upon the Queen's inner corridor。 I opened it； it was the King。 I was confused； he perceived it； and said to me； kindly： 〃I alarm you； Madame Campan； I come； however； to comfort you； the Queen has told me how much she is hurt at the injustice of several persons towards you。 But how is it that you complain of injustice and calumny when you see that we are victims of them？ In some of your companions it is jealousy； in the people belonging to the Court it is anxiety。 Our situation is so disastrous； and we have met with so much ingratitude and treachery； that the apprehensions of those who love us are excusable！ I could quiet them by telling them all the secret services you perform for us daily； but I will not do it。 Out of good…will to you they would repeat all I should say； and you would be lost with the Assembly。 It is much better； both for you and for us； that you should be thought a constitutionalist。 It has been mentioned to me a hundred times already； I have never contradicted it； but I come to give you my word that if we are fortunate enough to see an end of all this； I will； at the Queen's residence； and in the presence of my brothers； relate the important services you have rendered us； and I will recompense you and your son for them。〃 I threw myself at the King's feet and kissed his hand。 He raised me up； saying； 〃Come； come； do not grieve； the Queen； who loves you； confides in you as I do。〃
Down to the day of the acceptance it was impossible to introduce Barnave into the interior of the palace； but when the Queen was free from the inner guard she said she would see him。 The very great precau