women and children
are sent forth: deaf Dubois sends them back;--rains in mere fire and
madness. Our 'redouts of cotton-bags' are taken, retaken; Precy under
his Fleur-de-lys is valiant as Despair. What will become of Lyons? It is
a siege of seventy days. (Deux Amis, xi. 80-143.)

Or see, in these same weeks, far in the Western waters: breasting
through the Bay of Biscay, a greasy dingy little Merchantship, with
Scotch skipper; under hatches whereof sit, disconsolate,--the last
forlorn nucleus of Girondism, the Deputies from Quimper! Several have
dissipated themselves, whithersoever they could. Poor Riouffe fell into
the talons of Revolutionary Committee, and Paris Prison. The rest sit
here under hatches; reverend Petion with his grey hair, angry Buzot,
suspicious Louvet, brave young Barbaroux, and others. They have escaped
from Quimper, in this sad craft; are now tacking and struggling; in
danger from the waves, in danger from the English, in still worse danger
from the French;--banished by Heaven and Earth to the greasy belly of
this Scotch skipper's Merchant-vessel, unfruitful Atlantic raving round.
They are for Bourdeaux, if peradventure hope yet linger there. Enter
not Bourdeaux, O Friends! Bloody Convention Representatives, Tallien and
such like, with their Edicts, with their Guillotine, have arrived there;
Respectability is driven under ground; Jacobinism lords it on high.
From that Reole landingplace, or Beak of Ambes, as it were, Pale Death,
waving his Revolutionary Sword of sharpness, waves you elsewhither!

On one side or the other of that Bec d'Ambes, the Scotch Skipper with
difficulty moors, a dexterous greasy man; with difficulty lands his
Girondins;--who, after reconnoitring, must rapidly burrow in the Earth;
and so, in subterranean ways, in friends' back-closets, in cellars,
barn-lofts, in Caves of Saint-Emilion and Libourne, stave off cruel
Death. (Louvet, p. 180-199.) Unhappiest of all Senators!

Chapter 3.4.VI.

Risen against Tyrants.

Against all which incalculable impediments, horrors and disasters, what
can a Jacobin Convention oppose? The uncalculating Spirit of Jacobinism,
and Sansculottic sans-formulistic Frenzy! Our Enemies press in on us,
says Danton, but they shall not conquer us, "we will burn France to
ashes rather, nous brulerons la France."

Committees, of Surete or Salut, have raised themselves 'a la hauteur,
to the height of circumstances.' Let all mortals raise themselves a l