of the decadal fêtes to the Supreme | mortality; while Cicero invokes against Being, to Truth, to Justice, to Modesty, the traitor the sword of the laws and to Friendship, to Frugality, to Good the vengeance of Heaven! Socrates, Faith, to Glory, and to Immortality! on the verge of death, discoursed with Barère prepared a report on the sup- his friends on the ennobling theme; pression of mendicity, and the means of Leonidas, at Thermopylæ, on the eve relieving the indigent poor. Robespierre of executing the most heroic design had now reached the zenith of his po- ever conceived by man, invited his compularity with his faction; he was deno- panions to a banquet in another world. minated the Great Man of the Repub- The principles of the Stoics gave birth lic; his virtue, his genius, his eloquence, to Brutus and Cato, even in the ages were in every mouth. The speech which which witnessed the expiry of Roman he made on this occasion was one of virtue; they alone saved the honour of the most remarkable of his whole career. human nature, almost obliterated by "The idea," said he, "of a Supreme the vices and the corruption of the Being, and of the immortality of the empire. The Encyclopedists contained soul, is a continual call to justice; it is some estimable characters, but a much therefore a social and republican prin- greater number of ambitious rascals. ciple. Who has authorised you to de- Many of them became leading men in clare that the Deity does not exist? O the state. Whoever does not study you who support in such impassioned their influence and policy would form strains so arid a doctrine, what advan- a most imperfect notion of our Revolutage do you expect to derive from the tion. It was they who introduced the principle that a blind fatality regulates frightful doctrine of atheism; they were the affairs of men, and that the soul is ever in politics below the dignity of nothing but a breath of air impelled freedom; in morality they went as far towards the tomb? Will the idea of beyond the destruction of religious annihilation inspire man with more pure prejudices. Their disciples declaimed and elevated sentiments than that of im- against despotism, and received the penmortality? will it awaken more respect sions of despots; they composed alterfor others or himself, more courage to nately tirades against kings, and madresist tyranny, greater contempt for rigals for their mistresses; they were pleasure or death? You who regret a fierce with their pens, and rampant in virtuous friend, can you endure the antechambers. That sect propagated thought that his noblest part has not with infinite care the principles of Maescaped dissolution? You who weep terialism, which spread so rapidly among over the remains of a child or a wife, the great and the beaux esprits. We are you consoled by the thought that a owe to them that selfish philosophy handful of dust is all that remains of which reduced egotism to a system; the beloved object? You, the unfor- regarded human society as a game of tunate, who expire under the strokes of chance, where success was the sole disan assassin, is not your last voice raised tinction between what was just and to appeal to the justice of the Most unjust; probity as an affair of taste High? Innocence on the scaffold, sup- or good breeding; the world as the ported by such thoughts, makes the patrimony of the most dexterous of tyrant turn pale on his triumphal car. scoundrels. Could such an ascendant be felt, if the tomb levelled alike the oppressor and his victim?

"Observe how, on all former occasions, tyrants have sought to stifle the idea of the immortality of the soul. With what art did Cæsar, when pleading in the Roman Senate in favour of the accomplices of Catiline, endeavour to throw doubts on the belief of its im

"Among the great men of that period was one* distinguished by the elevation

* Rousseau, whose remains had shortly be

fore been translated to the Pantheon. Robespierre composed this eloquent speech in the cottage which Rousseau had inhabited at Montmorency, or in the forest of the same name-a striking proof of the influences which directed him, from the opening to the close of his eventful career.-LAMARTINE, Histoire des Girondins, viii. 175.

for aristocracy and tyranny by their war against the Deity? No! it was because they all alike, though from different motives, strove to dry up the fountains of whatever is grand and generous in the human heart. They embraced with transport, to justify their selfish designs, a system which, confounding the destiny of the good and the bad, leaves no other difference between them but the casual distinctions of fortune-no other arbiter but the right of the strongest or the most deceitful.

of his soul and the greatness of his character, who showed himself a worthy preceptor of the human race. He attacked tyranny with boldness; he spoke with enthusiasm of the Deity. His masculine and upright eloquence drew in colours of fire the charms of virtue; it defended the elevated doctrines which reason affords to console the human heart. The purity of his principles; his profound hatred of vice, his supreme contempt for the intriguing sophists who usurped the name of philosophers, drew upon him the hatred and persecu- "Fanatics! hope nothing from us. tion of his rivals and his friends. Could To recall the worship of the Supreme he have witnessed our Revolution, of Being is to level a mortal stroke at fawhich he was the precursor, and which naticism. Fiction in the end disappears bore him to the Pantheon, can we doubt before truth, folly before reason: unhe would have embraced with transport restrained, unpersecuted, all sects should the doctrine of justice and equality? be lost in the universal religion of naBut what have the others done? They ture. Ambitious priests! do not exhave frittered away their opinions, sold pect us to restore your reign. Such an themselves to the gold of d'Orléans, or enterprise would be beyond our power. withdrawn into a base neutrality. The (Loud applause.) Priests are to men of letters in general have dis- morality what charlatans are to medihonoured themselves in this revolution; cine. How different is the God of naand, to the eternal disgrace of talent, ture from the God of the church!— the reason of the people alone accom- (Loud applause.) The priests have plished its triumphs. figured to themselves a god in their own image; they have made him jealous, capricious, cruel, covetous, implacable; they have enthroned him in the heavens as a palace, and called him to the earth only to demand, for their behoof, tithes, riches, pleasures, honours, and power. The true temple of the Supreme Being is the universe; his worship, virtue; his fêtes, the joy of a great people, assembled under his eyes to draw closer the bonds of social affection, and present to him the homage of pure and grateful hearts." In the midst of the acclamations produced by these eloquent words, the Convention decreed unanimously that they recognised the existence of the Supreme Being, and the immortality of the soul, and that the worship most worthy of Him was the practice of the social virtues.

"What strange coalitions have we seen, in persons embracing the most opposite opinions, in favour of the doctrines which I combat! Have we not heard, in a popular society, the traitor Guadet denounce a citizen for having pronounced the name of Providence? Have we not, some time after, heard Hébert accusing another of having written against atheism? Was it not Vergniaud and Gensonné who, in your very presence, descanted with fervour from your tribune on the propriety of banishing from the preamble of the constitution the name of the Supreme Being, which you had placed there? Danton, who smiled with scorn at the words glory, virtue, posterity-Danton, whose system it was to vilify whatever can dignify the mind-Danton, who was cold and mute in the midst of the greatest dangers of liberty, was warm and eloquent in support of the same atheistical principles. Whence so singular a union on this subject among men so divided on others? Did they wish to compensate their indulgence

24. This speech is not only remarkable as containing the religious views of so memorable an actor in the bloodiest periods of the Revolution, but as involving a moral lesson of perhaps greater moment than any that has occurred in the history of mankind. For the first

time in the annals of mankind, a great | intrepid man, of the name of L'Amiral, nation had thrown off all religious prin- who tried to assassinate Collot d'Herciple, and openly defied the power of bois; the second, against Robespierre, Heaven itself; and from amidst the by a young woman, named Cécile Rewreck which was occasioned by the un- naud. L'Amiral, when brought before chaining of human passions, arose a so- his judges, openly avowed that he had lemn recognition of the Supreme Being intended to assassinate Robespierre beand the immortality of the soul! It fore Collot d'Herbois.* When called seemed as if Providence had permitted on to divulge who prompted him to the human wickedness to run its utmost commission of such a crime, he replied length, in order, amidst the frightful firmly-" That it was not a crime; that scene, to demonstrate the necessity of he wished only to render a service to religious belief, and vindicate the ma- his country; that he had conceived the jesty of its moral government. In vain project without any external suggesan infidel generation sought to establish tion; and that his only regret was that the frigid doctrine of Materialism, and he had not succeeded." Cécile called extinguish all belief of an existence or at Robespierre's house, and entreated retribution hereafter. Their principles in the most earnest manner to see him; received their full development; the the urgency of her manner excited the anarchy they are fitted to induce was suspicion of his attendants, and she was experienced, and that recognition was arrested. Two knives, found in her wrung from a suffering which had been bundle, afforded a presumption as to denied by a prosperous age. Nor is the purpose of her visit; but there was this speech less striking as evincing the no other evidence against her, and she fanaticism of that extraordinary period, positively denied on her examination and the manner in which, during re- having intended to injure any one. volutionary convulsions, the most atro- Being asked what was her motive for cious actions are made to flow from the wishing to see him, she replied, "I purest and most benevolent expressions. wished to see how a tyrant was made. If you consider the actions of Robes- I admit I am a Royalist, because I prepierre, he appears the most sanguinary fer one king to fifty thousand." She tyrant that ever desolated the earth; if behaved on the scaffold, when executed, you reflect on his words, they seem dic-in accordance with the sentence of the tated only by the noblest and most ele- Revolutionary Tribunal, some weeks vated feelings. There is nothing im- after, with the firmness of Charlotte possible in such a combination; the Corday. L'Amiral, turning to Cécile history of the world exhibits too many Renaud, and gazing on the multitude, examples of its occurrence. It is the said, "You wished to see how one tynature of fanaticism, whether religious rant was made: there are hundreds or political, to produce it. The inqui- under your eyes." The cortège consition of Spain, the crusade against the sisted of eight chariots; and the beauty Albigeois, the fires of Smithfield, the of the women seated in them, as well autos-da-fé of Castile, arose from the as the scarlet robes in which they were same principles as the daily executions *The following letter, found among Robesof the French tyrant. It is because re-pierre's papers, shows with what feelings he volutions lead to such terrible results, by so flowery and seductive a path, that they are chiefly dangerous; and because the ruin thus induced is irrevocable, that the seducers of nations are doomed by inexorable justice to the same infamy as the betrayers of individuals.

25. Two unsuccessful attempts at assassination increased, as is always the case, the power of the tyrants. The first of these was made by an obscure, but

was regarded at the time by his partisans: I have been struck with horror on hearing the dangers you have run; reassure yourself, brave republican! The Supreme Being, whose existence you have just proved, watches over your life; it will be preserved in spite of your numerous enemies, and the Republic will be saved. A trap has been set for you in offering you the national palace for a residence; take care not to accept it: it is impossible to dwell in a palace and continue a PIERRE, 12 Prairial, An. 2. Papiers inédits friend of the people."-Citoyen D. à ROBEStrouvés chez Robespierre, ii. 132.

my report on the project of assassination, and I will include the family Saint Amaranthe in it.” "You shall do no such thing," said Robespierre, in a haughty tone. "I have the proofs," replied Vadier, "and I shall bring them all forward." "Proofs or no proofs," resumed Robespierre; "if you do, I will attack you.” "You are the tyrant of the Committee," exclaimed Vadier. "I the tyrant of the Committee !" rejoined Robespierre: "well, I free you from my tyranny: I retire. Save the country without me if you can: as for me, my mind is made up; I will not play the part of Cromwell." He withdrew, and was not again at the dread

arrayed, excited unusual attention. A great number of other persons, sixty in all, were involved in Cécile Renaud's fate, among whom were a number of young men brought from the frontier, where they had been bravely combating in defence of their country. Her father, aunt, and brother, were doomed along with her, though she solemnly protested their innocence, and there was not a vestige of evidence against them. Among the rest were, a youth named Hypolite Montmorency Laval, of distinguished talents and fine figure, whose only offence was the name he bore and the genius he had inherited; M. de Sombreuil, and M. Michonis, jailer of the Temple, accused of humanity to its il-ful Committee. But though convinced lustrious inmates; the Prince de St Maurice; an elegant actress, Grandmaison, accused of no other crime but having awakened the love of M. Sartines; and a beautiful young woman, Mademoiselle Saint Amaranthe, a friend of Robespierre, who was executed with her mother for an expression accidentally dropped when in company with himself, at dinner at his own house, on the number of deputies who were about to be brought to punishment.* The whole sixty were conducted together in red shirts to the place of execution, as if they had all been assassins; though not one stroke had been given, and hardly one knew another even by sight. The trial of the whole before the Revolutionary Tribunal occupied only two hours. Fouquier Tinville was indignant at their firmness. "I must get," said he, "with the cortège to the scaffold, should it cost me my dinner, to see if they will brazen it out to the last." Robespierre strongly opposed, in the Committee of Public Salvation, the proposal to include Mademoiselle Saint Amaranthe in the prosecution, which was brought forward by Vadier. "I propose," said the latter, "to make

*Mademoiselle Saint Amaranthe looked so beautiful with the scarlet robe reflected on her cheeks, that in a fortnight all the Parisian ladies had red shawls "à la Sainte Amaranthe."-Deux Amis, xii. 302.

"Voyez,' dit Fouquier, comme elles sont effrontées! Il faut que j'aille les voir monter sur l'échafaud pour m'assurer si elles conserveront ce caractère, dussé-je me passer de diner.'"-PRUDHOMME, V. 277.

of her innocence, Robespierre had not the courage to defend Mademoiselle St Amaranthe and her family in the Convention, where a word from him might have averted their fate. Such is the slavery in democratic times under which statesmen lie to public opinion. But this pusillanimity led to its own punishment, for it caused the people to ascribe all the executions to Robespierre, when in reality he had come to disapprove of them, and thus prepared the public mind to rejoice at his fall.

26. The Committee of Public Salvation took advantage of the sensation produced by this unsuccessful attempt, to bring forward a proposal for the refusing of quarter to the British and Hanoverian troops. On 29th May, Barère read in the Convention the report of that ruling Committee, which recounted all the hostilities of Great Britain, and accused that power as being the instigator of these conspiracies. "Too long," said he, "we have slept on conspiracies; the plots of Danton and Hébert have not awakened us. Yet a few days of impunity to the English and Austrians, and the country will become only a heap of ruins and ashes, covered with the crimes and vengeance of despotism. Let us, then, declare war to the death with the English and Hanoverians. Soldiers of liberty! when the chances of war shall throw an English or Hanoverian into your hands, think of the ashes of Toulon and of La Vendée. Strike! None should return to the liberticide shores

of Britain, nor enter the free realms of the wicked, and the wicked to respect France. Let the English slaves perish, the just; it is He who makes the moand Europe will be free." On this report ther's womb leap with tenderness and the Convention decreed unanimously, joy, and bathes with delicious tears the "No prisoner shall be taken from the eyes of a son pressed against his moEnglish or Hanoverians."* Robespierre ther's bosom; it is He who causes the spoke with singular satisfaction of this most imperious passions to yield to the bloody resolution. "It will," said he, love of country; it is He who has cov"be a noble subject of contemplation ered nature with charms, with riches, to posterity-it is already a spectacle and majesty. All that is good flows from worthy of the attention of earth and Him, or rather is a part of Himself. Evil heaven, to see the Representative As- springs from depraved man who opsembly of the French people, placed on presses, or permits the oppression of his the inexhaustible volcano of conspira- fellow-creatures. The Author of Nature, cies, with the one hand bear to the in engraving, with His immortal hand, Eternal Author of all things the homage on the heart of man the code of justice of a great people, and with the other and equality, has traced the sentence launch the thunderbolt against the ty- of death against tyrants. He has bound rants, and recall to the world the flying together all mortals by the chain of love footsteps of liberty, justice, and virtue.perish the tyrants who would venThey shall perish, the tyrants leagued ture to break it!" against the French people: they shall perish, all the factions which are leagued with them for the destruction of our liberties. You will not make peace, but you will give it to the world, you will take it from crime."-(Loud applause.) 27. Meanwhile, a magnificentfête was prepared by the Convention in honour of the Supreme Being. Two days before it took place, Robespierre was appointed President, and intrusted with the duty of Supreme Pontiff on the occasion. He marched fifteen feet in advance of his colleagues, in a brilliant costume, bearing flowers and fruits in his hands. His address to the people, which followed, was both powerful and eloquent. "God," said he, "has not created kings to devour the human race; He has not created priests to harness them like vile aninials to the chariots of kings, and to exhibit to the world examples of perfidy, avarice, and baseness; but He has created the universe to attest His power, and man to aid Him in the glorious undertaking to love his fellows, and arrive at happiness by the path of virtue. It is He who placed in the bosom of the triumphant oppressor remorse and terror, and in the heart of the oppressed innocent calmness and resolution; it is He who compels the just man to hate

* "Il ne sera aucun prisonnier Anglais ou Hanovrien."-Décret, 7 Prairial, (29th May) Moniteur, May 29, 1794.

28. These eloquent words excited, as well they might, the warmest hopes in all present that Robespierre was about to put his principles in practice, and at length bring the reign of blood to a close. But they were speedily dashed to the earth by the words which closed his address-"People! to-day let us give ourselves up to the transports of pure happiness; to-morrow we shall with increased energy combat vice and the tyrants!" The ceremony on this occasion, which was arranged under the direction of the painter David, was very magnificent. An amphitheatre was placed in the gardens of the Tuileries, opposite to which were statues representing Atheism, Discord, and Selfishness, which were destined to be burned by the hand of Robespierre. Beautiful music opened the ceremony, and the president, after an eloquent speech, seized a torch, and set fire to the figures, which were soon consumed; and when the smoke cleared away, an effigy of Wisdom was seen in their place, but it was remarked that it was blackened by the conflagration of those that had been consumed. Thence they proceeded to the Champ de Mars, where patriotic songs were sung, oaths taken by the young, and homage offered to the Supreme Being.

29. These measures and declarations on the part of Robespierre produced a great impression in Europe. Foreign