It is a shame, a complete and utter shame, that the armed forces of the Kingdom of France remain so utterly politicised and broken that seemingly no government, irregardless of its moderation or radicalism, can long endure; I am, and will always be, loyal to the House of Bourbon, and I find this coup to be nothing more than the latest of a long series of tragedies that will result in France’s destruction. Monsieur Parént and his allies I fear do not see the consequences of their actions, and that this vaunted republic of theirs is doomed to failure; the crowned heads of Europe will be loath to see the overthrowing of one of their own, and I fear that the army, as weakened and disunited as it is, will not be able to stand against the monarchical-counter-attack.
If a republic is what is to come, I will not stand against the public sentiment, for I have neither the resources nor the time to devote myself to such a worthless activity; however, I will not tolerate the capture and mistreatment of His Majesty or the Royal Family, regardless of whatever new government arises from the ashes of this new revolutionary fire pit. To those soldiers who remain loyal to the crown, I ask you to stand peaceably, and to cause no harm to your fellow Frenchmen; to those soldiers within Paris, I task you with the protection and the King and His family, and I fully expect you to fulfil your duties to the Sovereign and to France, and hope sincerely that no blood will be spilled.
For myself, I have been tasked by the previous government and by His Majesty himself to modernise, reform, and better the Army of France, a task which I intend to accomplish to the best of my abilities; so, should any of you ask me of my loyalties, whether to the cordeliers or to the Society or to this movement or that movement, I can only say this; I am loyal to France, above all. Irregardless of what man, monster, or committee is in power over her, I remain loyal to my Nation and to my Office, both of which I intend to serve as faithfully and effectively as I possibly can. And I, unlike the other officers of this nation, will not fall to idle chatter or injurious plotting, most certainly not whilst France is in such grave shape, and in ever graver danger.
~ His Excellency, Paul-Aurélien de St Sebastien, Baron d’Harfleur in Pretense, Secretary of State for War