ABSTRACT
George Washington (1732-99) had been inaugurated as first President of the United States on 30 April 1789. Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816), a prominent member of the Continental Congress of 1776, was a New Yorker who went to France on business in 1789 and later served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France in 1792-94. Washington notes to Morris that he was aware of the Revolution’s progress until early August.
To Gouverneur Morris
New York, October 13th 1789.
Dear Sir,
…
The revolution which has been effected in France is of so wonderful a nature that the mind can hardly realise the fact – If it ends as our last accounts to the first of August predict that nation will be the most powerful and happy in Europe; but I fear though it has gone triumphantly through the first paroxysm, it is not the last it has to encounter before matters are finally settled.
In a word the revolution is of too great magnitude to be effected in so short a space, and with the loss of so little blood – The mortification of the King, the intrigues of the Queen, and the discontents of the Princes, and the Noblesse will foment divisions, if possible, in the national assembly, and avail themselves of every faux pas in the formation of the constitution if they do not give a more open, active opposition.
To these the licentiousness of the People on one hand and sanguinary punishments on the other will alarm the best-disposed friends to the measure, and contribute not a little to the overthrow of their object – Great temperance, firmness, and foresight are necessary in the movements of that Body. To forbear running from one extreme to another is no easy matter, and should this be the case, rocks and shelves not visible at present may wreck the vessel.
Source: https://founders.archives.gov" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-04-02-0125