2 sanctioned, they sent notice of the before the tribunal, the jury having found them guilty of the several charges laid to them, out of sixteen, one only was acquitted. This was Lallier, a person of the least importance among them. This sentence was pronouncedat three in the afternoon; and they were all executed at six in the evening;-so expeditious were the judgments of this bloody tribunal, in depriving of their lives all those whom it condemned to lose them. The prisoners submitted to their fate with great firmness. The intrepidity of Danton was remarka ble. He retained the cheerfulness and pleasantry of his disposition to the last moment, and met the stroke of death with an air of dignity that was long remembered. The various discourses and arguments used by Danton on his trial, were carefully circulated by the many friends who adhered to him in secret, and who lamented their deprivation of a man, by whose courage and talents they had hoped to be powerfully assisted in the project they were already forming for the destruction of Robespierre; in whom they had long discovered a character so sanguinary, and so fraught with suspicion and rancour that the smallest difference of opi nion was sufficient to convert him into an enemy to his most faithful intimates, and to induce him to sa crifice them without the least hesitation. The character of Danton, though sullied with unpardonable blemishes, was, when compared to that of his rival, deserving of respect. His temper was open and sociable; and he was not inclined to deceive those in whom he found a readiness to trust him. Like those who pro moted . appearance and terror to all who were concerned with him in repeliing it. When the Austrian and Prussian armies had invaded France, and were advancing through Champagne towards Paris, he stood fore most among those who resolved to wait the enemy, and bury themselves in the ruins of the capital sooner than abandon it. This determination, through the powers of his eloquence, became that of all men; aud he had the honour of preventing the disgrace that would have fallen upon the French name and character, had Paris, at this critical period, been deserted by those on whom it, was chiefly incumbent to behave with unyielding firmness; and to give those examples of patriotism to their countrymen, which were then so much needed. He became, during a considerable tinie, the nioving spring of the Jacobin and Cordelier Clubs, which then directed the motions of all France: and though he fre moted the revolution, he had his private views; but they were mixed with public considerations. His conduct respecting the King, cannot in any manner be exculpated; but he would not possibly have gone the lengths he did on this occasion, had he not been convinced that his opposition would have been fruitJess; and that he must have perished as all those ultimately did, who ventured to oppose the party of the Mountain. As ambition was his predominant passion, he joined that Iniquitous faction, through which only his discernment pointed out the attainment of power, and of riches, to the latter of which he frequently paid a criminal attention, and of which he seldom lost sightin any of his projects. In other respects, he was neither of an opprese sive disposition, nor wantonly cruel; though it must beacknowledged, to his shame, that to serve his political ends, he occasionally countenanced great cruelties. As soon as he be came possessed of power and consequently excited and made use of quence, heshewed himself adequate to his exaltation, and displayed abilities that equally confirmed the attachment of his partisans, and struck his enemies with dread. Yet even to these he neither acted with inveteracy, nor showed himself irreconcileable. His courage on great occasions, seemed precisely calculated for them; and he excelled in the greatest of political arts, that of inspiring others with his own sentiments and animation. Difficulties never daunted him, and only drew forth the latent resources of his fertile and intrepid mind. Danger seemed the element wherein he was most himself. He encountered it with so chearful and unaffected magnanimity, as to lessen its their fury for the accomplishment of his ends, he also restrained it occasionally. Though he lived at an æra of dissimulation, he practised it little: the boldness of his disposition set him above it. He had a peculiar talent in discovering the talents and virtues of men; and so quick was his perception, that he looked through them, as it were, at a glance, and seldom was deceived in the instantaneous judgments heso shrewdly formed of their character. Rapid and decisivein all his resolves, when once he had formed them, he was 'uncontroulably expeditious in their execution. To this may be ascribed the criminal activity with which he co-operated in the king's trial, and the impetuous violence with which he assisted in converting the monarchy into a republic. In the many daring transactions wherein his enterprising genius involved him, he never steered a middle course, nor ever stopped at little means to compass great ends. He moved boldly forward towards the object before him, removing without exception every obstacle, and employing exertions equal to the magnitude of his plan. When the European potentates formed that coalition against France, which the world at first thought irressistible, he first conceived that grand idea of raising the French nation, as much as possible, in a mass *; which matured and realized through his sagacity and judiciousregulating, enabled France alone to contend victoriously with all Europe. The revolutionary institutions that contributed so effectually to the preservation of the republic, were no less due to his conceptions. Though they became engines of cruelty and despotism in the tyrannical hands that seized the management of them, yet their original plan was of evident utility at the tempestuous season that gave it birth, and certainly required an instant and powerful barrier against the daily attempts to overturn the new order of things; which, without either approving or condemning those who had established it, thought themselves authorised to maintain. Among the many qualifications that contributed to Danton's celebrity, was his eloquence. It was the gift of nature, and not the acquisition of art or study. It supplied him on all occasions with a formidable, and generally a successful weapon. Though it flowed from him without forethought or preparation, the impression it made was deep and strong, and seldom failed to overcome the arguments of his opponents. His expressions were truly the representatives of his ideas, and, like them, were singular and striking. Often has he been known, with a few words, to have completely foiled the purpose of long and deliberate speeches. But the powers of his oratory were not merely verbal; his look, his voice, his gesture, equally commanded attention and deference. His aspect, especially, carried such autho rity, that with a cast of his eye he was able to disconcert some of the most artful of his antagonists, and to derange all the ideas they had premeditated. Endowed with all these qualities, it was not surprising that his partizans were numerous and warmly attached to him, as a man upon whose abilities and firmness they could place a sure dependence. The only instance wherein want of penetration was imputable to him, was the unguardedness of his conduct towards Robespierre; whose violent proceedings he dis approved, and against whose resentment, on account of this disapprobation, he ought in prudence tohave duly prepared himself. Had he suspected the intentions of Robespierre, it is highly probable that he might have easily counteracted them; the envy, and still more the hatred, borne to his sanguinary rival by those over whom he arrogated such undue power and preeminence; the fears they began to entertain of his ambitious and cruel disposition; the inveteracy of See reflections on this subject, page 66. those those who had suffered through his tyranny, and the manifest proofs of its daily increase, and of his determination to exercise it without moderation or control, and to retain it atapy cost, these motives would have furnished Danton with ample means of defence. His personal resolution would have engaged numbers to join him. The remains of those parties, destroyed by the barbarous faction of which Robes pierre was the head, and the measures of which Danton had never approved, would have seized the opportunity of revenging their friends and securing themselves, by rallying round so spirited a chief as Danton. The two clubs of the Jacobins and Cordeliers would not have deserted one who had acted so conspicuous a part among them, In the first, his credit stood high; and the latter was full of resentment for the loss of their principal member and director, Hebert, who had been recently sent to the guillotine. Through the support he would have derived from these various quarters, and his own conrage and abilities, he might not only have intimidated his rival, and have prevented his own fate, but raised the standard of insurrection against him and his party, and ins stead of being destroyed himself, have brought them to destruction. The probability of such an event was fully countenanced by the readiness testified on the death of Danton, to speak of him with respect, and to commemorate with warmth the many essential services he had rendered the republic. The accusations brought against him were so improbable, and so destitute of truth, that all discerning people readily perceived what must have been the real causes of his condemnation, and united in regretting his hard destiny. But those who, by their situation, stood nearest to the danger of sharing in it, were sensible that, unless they made a common cause, and joined in a firm and speedy union against the oppressive power through which he fell, their own fall would in all likelihood be soon or late effected. Conside rations of this nature produced a confederacy of the most resolute. and able members of the Convention. Their designs however never transpired. As the profoundest secrecy was necessary to their success, no indication of them appeared that could subject them to the least discovery, CHAP. VII. Confederacy formed in the Convention against Robespierre. General Dillor arrested, tried, and condemned, t-gether with the Wife of Desmoulins. They are both executed, with Gobat, Chaumette, and others. The Convention orders every Member, on Pain of Death, to give an Account of his Revenue before and since the Revolution. Robespierre's Conduct in pecuniary Matters. Conventional Decrees against Ex-nobles and Aliens. Decrees relating to Law-Suits. D-crees against Anti-revolutionary Discourses. Decrees against Aged and Nonju ing Clergymen. Decree prohibiting the Marriage of the Wives of Emigrants with Foreigners. Attempt to defame the Memory of Louis XVI. Farmers-General tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal, and several of them condemned and executed. His Trial and Execution of the Princess Elizabeth, Sister to Louis XVI. Terror occasioned by the cruel Administration of Robespierre. His En deavours to retain and increase his Popularity. His affected Zeal for Religion. Decrees of the Convention relating to Religious and Moral Su'jects. Various Festivals decreed. Festivals in Honour of the Supreme Being. sittempts to assassinate Robespierre and Collot D'Herbois. General Discontent at the Cruelties of Robespierre. He remains inflexible in his Conduct. Robespierre arrives at the Plenitude of his Power. Prepossession of the lower Classes in his Favour. Dreaded by his Adherents: His numerous and severe Decrees. Dangerous State of Society occasioned by them. Encouragement of Informers. Revolutionary Tribunal and Committee of Public Safety entirely under his Orders. Organization of Juries. His Method of directing their Verdict. Extensive Powers granted through him to the Revolutionary Tribunal. Powers of the Committee of Public Safety enlarged through his Means, in order to serve his Purposes. That Committee made permanent. Through the Subserviency of that Committee, his Power becomes uncontrouled. Sulmissiveness of the Convention to his Authority. He procures a Revolu tionary Army, and encourages a sanguin ry Spirit. His Persecution of the Royalists. Through his Instigation, the Jacobins petition and obtain that Terror should be declared the Order of the Day. He procures a Repeal of the Decree by which the Members of the Convention were entitled to be heard in their Defence, before the passing of an Accusation against them. His Severity encreases. Situation of Paris at that Period. Exaltation of the lower Classes. Depression of the better Sort. Abjectness and Degradation of the French under Robespierre. Wretched Condition of the People. Adulation and Homage prid to Robespierre. His Speech to the Convention on the 27th of May. That of Barrere on the 13th. Decree against giving Quarter to the English, or to the Towns taken from France on refusing to surrender in Twenty-four Hours. Power, Popularity, and Influence of Robespierre in Paris. Means by which he retains it. Reflections on his Conduct at this Time. Execution of Lamoignon Malesherbes. Conspiracies imputed to Persons imprisoned by Robespierre. Execution of Baron Trenck and Colonel Newton. Imprisonment of Thomas Payne. Barbarous Treatment of Prisoners. Numbers of Persons imprisoned at Paris. ROBESPIERRE, whatever sa tisfaction he might reap from the destruction of the only rival he dreaded, soon perceived that he had left aparty behind him, which would require his utmost vigilance. The defence made by Danton before the revolutionary tribunal; the invectives with which he had loaded his judges and their constituents; his admonitions to the people; the boldness with which he had fore told the downfal of the present rulers; the interest which numbers seemed to take in the magnanimity with which he met his fate; the circumstance, so particularly insisted on, of his resemblance to Socrates when going to die,-all these particulars were proofs to Robespierre, that the death of Danton had not-rid him of all his enemies, and that his power still remained precarious and unstable. This however he re |