lead the declaration of outlawry; on which the national guards refused all further obedience and adherence to the party they had been brought together to defend. Nothing was left to do, but to seize the heads of that party. Bourdon de L'Oise, accompanied with a sufficient force, rushed into the townhouse, where the dismay they were under, made their discomfiture a task of no difficulty. Most of them were seized, and most of those who escaped for the present were speedily taken. Robespierre was found alone in one of the rooms of the townhouse. He had discharged a pistol in his mouth, which had broke his under-jaw. He held a knife in his hand, apparently with the intention of dispatching himself; but a soldier who discovered him, thinking he meant to employ it in his defence, fired a pistol, which wounded him in the side. His brother three himself out of a window, and broke his leg and an arm; Couthon stabbed himself, but not mortally; only Lebas shot himself dead on the spot. Henriot, in the mean time, was endeavouring, from one of the windows of the town-house, to prevail by his entreaties on the soldiers who had been under his command, not to desert the cause they had promised faithfully to defend; but he was seized while he was speaking, and hurled headlong upon the stones, where he was bruised to death. The circumstances attending the latter hours of Robespierre were horrible. He was first conveyed to the house of the committee of general security, where he was held en a table, weltering in the blood that flowed from his wounds. VOL. XXXVI. A message being sent to the Convention to know whether he should be brought before them, the answer was, "that such a monster should no more disgrace them by his presence." The agony ef his mind corresponded with that of his body. The one seemed torn with the most violent remorse and agitation, and the other convulsed with the most excruciating pain and anguish. In this condition he was carried to the Hotel Dieu, a hospital for the reception of the sick and hurt of the lowest and most wretched classes. Here his wounds were drest, merely to enable him to go through the forms of justice. He was then removed to that prison, the Conciergerie, whither he had sent so many others, and brought from thence before the revolutionary tribunal, with his accomplices; where Fouquier Tinville, the public accuser his intimate and his creature, was officially compelled to demand sentence of death against him and them. He was conducted in their company to the place of execution, where he had caused such numbers to die, loaded all the way with the execrations of a multitude that exceeded any numbers ever assembled before on such an occasion :-so desirous were all people to glut their eyes with a sight of a being so celebrated for his iniquities, and so deservedly punished for them. The principal of those who suffered with him, were his brother, Couthon, St. Just, Henriot, Duinas,. Fleuriot, mayor of Paris, Vivres, president of the Jacobin club, and fourteen others of inferior notice. In the morning of this memorable day the 28th of July, they were deeply. busied in the most daring and dangerous conspiracy that ever threat M eced ened the Convention. The resolution of those who formed it, their abilities, their numbers, strength, and influence, were every way equal to the object they proposed; and it was rather uncertain for a while, whether they would not succeed but at five in the afternoon their vast projects had been overthrown, and they were all no more. The character of Robespierre has exercised the ingenuity of various writers: they all agree in reprobating his conduct; but they frequently differ in their opinion of his capacity. But in speaking of a man so well known by his actions, these alone are sufficient to convey an adequate idea of his abilities, as well as to shew the frame of his mind, and by what motive he was actuated. The features most predominant in his character, were, the lust of power, dissimulation. and cruelty. He had none of those magnanimous sentiments that occasionally counterpoise the very worst of vices, and command some respect for individuals for whom no real attachment can be felt. His vicious inclinations were always predominant; they were at the bottom of all the deep and latent views that perpetually occupied his thoughts. The only two qualities he had, which might be styled commendable, were contempt of money and impenetrable secrecy. By the first of these, he obtained the fame of disinterestedness and integrity: by the second, he was enabled to win the confidence of those with whom he was connected: considering him as an individual of great prudence and discretion, they trusted him the more readily with their own secrets. It was chiefly by these means, aided by an easy and impressive eloquence, not unfrequently adorned with the energetic brevity of a profound and bold sentiment* and a steady courage, that he rose into reputation, and gained the knowledge of those men whom he was desirous to cultivate, and of those measures which he sought to guide. He had arrived at the age of thirty before he attracted particular notice. His parts did not seem calculated for any exalted situation, nor even for much exertion in the ordinary occurrences of life. His person was the reverse of prepossessing; his aspect was sickly; and the cheerfulness that usually marks his countrymen, was not visible in any of his features: yet, with all these disadvantages, the necessity of rendering himself acceptable to those who employed him in the line of his profession, which was the law, had taught him obsequiousness and complaisance. He thereby procured himself the goodwill of his acquaintances, and, through their means, together with his parts, made an advantageous figure at the bar in his native city of Arras, the capital of the province of Artois. The credit and * At a meeting of his political friends, during the trial of the King, when some of them seemed doubtful and wavering in their resolution how to act, Robespierre, with a very serious and significant look, said, "If Lewis XVI. be not guilty, what are you?" This produced an immediate effect-many voted for the death of the King, through the fear of death to themselves. esteem esteem he was in at the time when the court thought it necessary to convoke the States' General, procured his election as deputy to the Tiers Etat. Here his behaviour at first was cautious and moderate; and he seems to have enjoyed the favourable opinion of his fellowmembers. His principles however were completely popular, and the declamations in union with the opposition to court. He did not at this period shine much as an orator, being rather bold than argumentative. It was not till towards the close of the constituent assembly that he was held in any consideration as a speaker: by this time his faculties had expanded; and through assiduity of practice, and study of those models continually before him, especially of Mirabeau and Barnave, he attained at length to a degree of oratorial merit that strongly recommended him to the notice of his party. His ambitious disposition began now to operate. Favoured by the cominonalty, with many of whom the intrigues of the time had made him acquainted, he readily perceived to what use they could be converted, and of course of what importance he might render himself by the influence he could exert over them. But the connexion which laid the foundation of his subsequent power, and raised him to the summit of his ambition, was, that which he formed with the Jacobin club, now become the moving spring of all the political transac tions of that day. His initiation into that society, and his vehement speeches on the manifold subjects brought forward by the restless spirit of that tempestuous æra, increased his popularity to the highest pitch. He became the decided favourite of this assembly, and of the people of Paris; and he had the address to retain them equally in his interest to the very last moment of his existence; a proof, it may be added, of his talents for intrigue, and no less of his uncommon dexterity in securing the attachment of those whom he wanted. People Theanimosity which actuated the opposite parties,had sharpened their industry in devising all possible means to thwart each other's measures in the Convention. were hired by both parties, who filled the galleries, and applauded and disapproved, by murmurs and vociferations, whatever was proposed by the party which they were engaged to abet or to discountenance. Robespierre was particularly active in organizing the instruments of his party; and to his ingenuity were due various of the methods and devices practised on those occasions. He no less distinguished himself by his exertions to depress the royal authority, and to criminate the conduct of its ministers and adnerents, to exculpate the people in the excesses of which they were guilty, and which he maintained ought to be attributed solely to the misery and wretchedness to which they were reduced: they were naturally well-intentioned, and seldom apt to complain without sufficient reason. It was by speeches of this tendency that he laboured with indefatigable assiduity to recommend himself to the mu'titude, and he succeeded to the utmost of his wishes He took up, with the same ardour, the defence of the clubs. There was, in short, not a motion made to extend the rights and immunities of the people, and the abolition of monarchy; but to consult his own interest by adhering to the republican system, which was triumphant in the Jacobin club; the great arbiter of public opinion. to abridge the powers of government in general, of which he did not appear a strenuous advocate. So fervently did he strive to express the warmest feelings for the public, that he deceived many into a per- But we have not been able, after suasion of his sincerity, who were not a little inquiry, to find any sanot apt to be misled by specious tisfactory proof that there ever s protestations. He had brought subsisted any degree of intimacy or himself, at the same time, into the correspondence between the Duke good graces of every patriotic cir- of Orleans and Robespierre. Had cle, by the studied modesty of his Robespierre aimed at nothing deportment. He disclaimed all higher than some post of emipersonal importance, and listened nence under governmeut, he might with marked deference to the dis- have obtained this from the court, course and opinions of others, but which, it is well enough known, encontrived in the same moment, with deavoured by all means to gain him exquisite art, to bring forward un- over to its interests. But he apobservedevery subject of discussion, pears to have been as indifferent to and to treasure up in his memory the common objects of ambition as whatever could be serviceable to he was to money. His constant him at a proper occasion, and which aim was, to raise himself individuhe never failed to deliver as his ally above all controul, while be own. At the dissolution of the tyrannized not only over the bodies, Constituent Assembly, Robespierre but as far as possible over the very stood in high credit with that party minds of others. In this respect, he which condemned the King's resto- bore a near resemblance to our royal ration after his flight from Paris. ` tyrant King Henry VIII. As there Many of them wished at that time were striking variations in the reto have abolished monarchy, and ligious creeds of the King, which, established republicanism. It has whatever they were, he imposed on been asserted, that Robespierre en- his subjects, so we have found vatertained some ideas, in conjunction riations in the religious and irreliwith the Duke of Orleans's party, gious professions of the dictator, of placing that prince on the throne which he also imposed on the nain the hope of holding higher posts tion, not less evident. How far he under him than he could have ex- participated in the events of the pected from the reigning monarch; 10th of August, 1792, has not and that even when he sent him to been clearly ascertained; but his the scaffold, he hesitated whether nomination to a seat of authority to consign him to the guillotine or by those who effected them, and his raise him to the throne. The noted exultation at their success, sufficieffeminacy of the Duke, it is said, ently shew that, however indirectly, determined Robespierre not to run he was certainly of that party. The any hazards to place the crown on dark veil that still covers many of the head of such a man, against the transactions of those sanguinary the sense of that formidable party times, renders it difficult to fix the which had decidedly resolved on degree of his guilt in the massacres of of September; but, from various circumstances, united with his inhuman despotism, there is little doubt of his having been accessary to them. From this dreadful period may be dated those ambitious prospects that filled the mind of Robespierre. Had he been cautious enough to let no indication of his design escape him till the destruction of the unhappy Lewis had been perfectly completed, the violent part he acted against him might have appeared to proceed from other motives: but his precipitation and vanity got the better of all discretion. The Convention was hardly met, when he was not only suspected but accused of designs inimical to liberty. They were in the course of a few sittings brought so strongly home to him, that had not the party that favoured his designs found means to elude, not to disprove the accusation, which was evidently well founded, not only his popularity but his very life must have been forfeited. The danger he incurred on this occasion did not render him quite so cautious as his unexpected and triumphant escape made him presumptuous and confident. He urged the King's death with every argument that his ferocious and sanguinarydisposition could suggest. His motives were constantly held up as patrionic, and founded on his conviction of the King's guilt, and the propriety of his being brought to public justice. But the detection of the criminal projects he had antecedently formed, was not forgotten; and the real motives that actuated him were visible to the world. He had however other impediments to remove,still more heasy and difficult to be overcome than even the monarchy and the monarch. A party, consisting of men of much superior endowments `to his own, had paved the way for the establishment of that form of government of which he projected, to avail himself for the execution of his plan. As their character was much more respectable than that of his party, he used every calumny and falsehood to blacken it. Plots and conspiracies were imputed to them, which had not the least shadow of probability, or even of consistency; he lavished, as it were, every means of villany to bring them todestruction. After accomplishing this, he proceeded to lay schemes of ruin for every man whose talents or spirit might prove an obstacle to that iniquitous exaltation he secretly meditated over all law and justice, and over all the constituted authorities of his country. In the prosecution of this attempt nothing was omitted that could forward it. Imprisonment, confiscation, banishment, death, were indiscriminately used, as they seemed most conveniently to suit his purposes. The friendships and attachments he had feigned, for he was incapable of forming them sincerely, dissolved the moment he thought he no longer needed them, and might by destroying the individuals he had thus deceived, either rid himself of rivals, or obviate his fears of future rivalship: conscious that he must be hated by all that knew him, he felt no affection for them; and he looked upon his nearest intimates as his most dangerous enemies, unless he had secured their attachment by a participation of his crimes. On this principle he sacrificed successively to his suspicions some who had been the principal instruments and |