nciergerie, have they now, by the
course of things, arrived. Fouquier Tinville must give what account of
them he can.

Undoubtedly this Trial of the Girondins is the greatest that Fouquier
has yet had to do. Twenty-two, all chief Republicans, ranged in a line
there; the most eloquent in France; Lawyers too; not without friends
in the auditory. How will Tinville prove these men guilty of Royalism,
Federalism, Conspiracy against the Republic? Vergniaud's eloquence
awakes once more; 'draws tears,' they say. And Journalists report,
and the Trial lengthens itself out day after day; 'threatens to become
eternal,' murmur many. Jacobinism and Municipality rise to the aid of
Fouquier. On the 28th of the month, Hebert and others come in deputation
to inform a Patriot Convention that the Revolutionary Tribunal is quite
'shackled by forms of Law;' that a Patriot Jury ought to have 'the power
of cutting short, of terminer les debats, when they feel themselves
convinced.' Which pregnant suggestion, of cutting short, passes itself,
with all despatch, into a Decree.

Accordingly, at ten o'clock on the night of the 30th of October, the
Twenty-two, summoned back once more, receive this information, That the
Jury feeling themselves convinced have cut short, have brought in their
verdict; that the Accused are found guilty, and the Sentence on one and
all of them is Death with confiscation of goods.

Loud natural clamour rises among the poor Girondins; tumult; which can
only be repressed by the gendarmes. Valaze stabs himself; falls down
dead on the spot. The rest, amid loud clamour and confusion, are driven
back to their Conciergerie; Lasource exclaiming, "I die on the day when
the People have lost their reason; ye will die when they recover it."
(Greek,--Plut. Opp. t. iv. p. 310. ed. Reiske, 1776.) No help! Yielding
to violence, the Doomed uplift the Hymn of the Marseillese; return
singing to their dungeon.

Riouffe, who was their Prison-mate in these last days, has lovingly
recorded what death they made. To our notions, it is not an edifying
death. Gay satirical Pot-pourri by Ducos; rhymed Scenes of Tragedy,
wherein Barrere and Robespierre discourse with Satan; death's eve spent
in 'singing' and 'sallies of gaiety,' with 'discourses on the happiness
of peoples:' these things, and the like of these, we have to accept for
what they are worth. It is the manner in which the Girondins make their
Last Supper. Valaze, with bloody breast, sl