s fell on his neck, when they had
withdrawn, and said with tears, Mon pauvre Deseze. Louis himself, before
withdrawing, had added a few words, "perhaps the last he would utter to
them:" how it pained his heart, above all things, to be held guilty of
that bloodshed on the Tenth of August; or of ever shedding or wishing to
shed French blood. So saying, he withdrew from that Hall;--having
indeed finished his work there. Many are the strange errands he has had
thither; but this strange one is the last.

And now, why will the Convention loiter? Here is the Indictment and
Evidence; here is the Pleading: does not the rest follow of itself? The
Mountain, and Patriotism in general, clamours still louder for despatch;
for Permanent-session, till the task be done. Nevertheless a doubting,
apprehensive Convention decides that it will still deliberate first;
that all Members, who desire it, shall have leave to speak.--To your
desks, therefore, ye eloquent Members! Down with your thoughts, your
echoes and hearsays of thoughts: now is the time to shew oneself;
France and the Universe listens! Members are not wanting: Oration
spoken Pamphlet follows spoken Pamphlet, with what eloquence it can:
President's List swells ever higher with names claiming to speak; from
day to day, all days and all hours, the constant Tribune drones;--shrill
Galleries supplying, very variably, the tenor and treble. It were a dull
tune otherwise.

The Patriots, in Mountain and Galleries, or taking counsel nightly in
Section-house, in Mother Society, amid their shrill Tricoteuses, have
to watch lynx-eyed; to give voice when needful; occasionally very loud.
Deputy Thuriot, he who was Advocate Thuriot, who was Elector Thuriot,
and from the top of the Bastille, saw Saint-Antoine rising like the
ocean; this Thuriot can stretch a Formula as heartily as most men. Cruel
Billaud is not silent, if you incite him. Nor is cruel Jean-Bon silent;
a kind of Jesuit he too;--write him not, as the Dictionaries too often
do, Jambon, which signifies mere Ham.

But, on the whole, let no man conceive it possible that Louis is not
guilty. The only question for a reasonable man is, or was: Can the
Convention judge Louis? Or must it be the whole People: in Primary
Assembly, and with delay? Always delay, ye Girondins, false hommes
d'etat! so bellows Patriotism, its patience almost failing.--But indeed,
if we consider it, what shall these poor Girondins do? Speak their
convictions th