An eye witness account of the French Revolution – William Augustus Miles remarkable autograph letter significantly not signed [so that its author could not be identified if the letter were intercepted] from the British master spy William Augustus Miles to his principal contact Thomas Somers Cocks (in Downing Street) dated Paris, January 11th 1791, one page 4to with integral address panel – a secret letter sent by special messenger, which originally contained another secret letter : ‘...I wish you very much to deliver the inclosed yourself to your neighbour in Old Palace Yard [presumably the Prime Minister, William Pitt]whom I have requested to give you the answer...Sunday last was a day of terror , humiliation and sorrow to the clergy of this Metropolis, all the troops were under arms to preserve the ecclesiastics from the fury of the population resolved upon hanging them – the next Sabbath will product a similar scene...this business I am afraid will accelerate civil war so ardently desired by the enemies of the revolution – they are in momentary expectation of a revolt in the South of France – the people are under arms. The disaffection is greatest at Marseilles to the new Government. A remarkable eye witness account. Miles was a significant figure in supplying intelligence to the British Government concerning the events of the French Revolution which were unfolding in front of him. It seems remarkable in itself that he managed to survive, being an Englishman living and working in Paris at the time. A wealth of his correspondence was published at the end of the 19th c, but this letter is unpublished and has remained unavailable to historians of the Revolution since it was originally sent. It is of interest that he singles out Marseilles as a hot bed of disaffection as it was in that city that what has now become the French national anthem is believed to have been composed at this very time.