and then do but
touch some spring dexterously, the whole machine, clattering and jerking
seven-hundred-fold, will whirl with huge crash, and, next moment, is
pointing westward! Thus Marat, absolved and applauded, victorious in
this turn of fence, is, as the Debate goes on, prickt at again by
some dexterous Girondin; and then and shrieks rise anew, and Decree of
Accusation is on the point of passing; till the dingy People's-Friend
bobs aloft once more; croaks once more persuasive stillness, and the
Decree of Accusation sinks, Whereupon he draws forth--a Pistol; and
setting it to his Head, the seat of such thought and prophecy, says: "If
they had passed their Accusation Decree, he, the People's-Friend, would
have blown his brains out." A People's Friend has that faculty in
him. For the rest, as to this of the two hundred and sixty thousand
Aristocrat Heads, Marat candidly says, "C'est la mon avis, such is my
opinion." Also it is not indisputable: "No power on Earth can prevent
me from seeing into traitors, and unmasking them,"--by my superior
originality of mind? (Moniteur Newspaper, Nos. 271, 280, 294, Annee
premiere; Moore's Journal, ii. 21, 157, &c. which, however, may
perhaps, as in similar cases, be only a copy of the Newspaper.)
An honourable member like this Friend of the People few terrestrial
Parliaments have had.

We observe, however, that this first onslaught by the Friends of Order,
as sharp and prompt as it was, has failed. For neither can Robespierre,
summoned out by talk of Dictatorship, and greeted with the like rumour
on shewing himself, be thrown into Prison, into Accusation;--not though
Barbarous openly bear testimony against him, and sign it on paper. With
such sanctified meekness does the Incorruptible lift his seagreen cheek
to the smiter; lift his thin voice, and with jesuitic dexterity plead,
and prosper: asking at last, in a prosperous manner: "But what witnesses
has the Citoyen Barbaroux to support his testimony?" "Moi!" cries
hot Rebecqui, standing up, striking his breast with both hands,
and answering, "Me!" (Moniteur, ut supra; Seance du 25 Septembre.)
Nevertheless the Seagreen pleads again, and makes it good: the long
hurlyburly, 'personal merely,' while so much public matter lies fallow,
has ended in the order of the day. O Friends of the Gironde, why will
you occupy our august sessions with mere paltry Personalities, while the
grand Nationality lies in such a state?--The Gironde has touche