that were hourly arriving to their aid. Disordered and fatigued by their long purfuit, the royalifts had no time to rally, and were unable to stand the charge of fresh troops. They were put to the rout, and a prodigious daughter was made of them by the republican cavalry, which followed them in their flight as far as the central divifion. Here was the baggage, the provifions, and all the ammunition and ftores of the infurgent army, with the aged, the fick, and the wounded. This divifion, unprepared for fo unforeseen an attack, was inftantly broken through, and thrown into irrecoverable confufion. No quarter was given; and the maffacre extended indifcriminately to young and old. Those who escaped to the first divifion, threw it, by their reports, into fuch confternation, that it loft all courage and prefence of mind. Laroche and Stoflet united their efforts to re-animate them; but all was in vain: fuch a panic had feized them, that they thought no longer of any thing but flight. In order to be the less encumbered, they even threw away their arms, and difperfed on all fides over the face of the country. But they were chaced with the most bar barous fury to every fpot where they had fought concealment, and unmercifully flaughtered, without diftinction of age or fex. According to accounts reputed authentic, this inhuman execution extended to more than one hundred miles. The space through which they were purfued was ftrewed with the dead bodies of thofe unfortunate men; and the computation of the numbers flain amounted to more than 70,000, which was nearly three parts in four of their whole number. So eager were the vic tors in this work of deftruction, that the fearching out and execution of this multitude was completed in fifteen days. The manner in which numbers of them were put to death was fo atrocious, as almoft to stagger belief. They were fhut up by hundreds in barns, wherein they were burnt alive; others were thrown by whole companies into rivers; and fuch of them as kept above water, or got afhore, were hot. General Wefterman being now called to the bar of the Convention, informed them, that of the re bel army, which had been 90,000 ftrong in the district of Mons, not a fingle combatant had efcaped. "Chiefs, officers, foldiers, bishops, Counteffes, Marchioneffes, and Princeffes, had all perished by the fword, by the flames, or by the waves." This report was heard with applause in the galleries, mixed with burfts of laughter. Some part of the infurgents, who had, through more coolnefs and determination than the reft, effected a retreat, and efcaped the fate of their companions, finding it impracticable to return to their country by croffing the Loire, made the beft of their way to the diftrict of Morbihan in Brittany; of which the inhabitants were well known to be in the royal interest. But the deftiny of their unhappy compa nions overtook them. They were, after a variety of adventures, af-. failed and overcome by numbers, and perifhed altogether, as the others had done before them. While the infergent army under Laroche and Stoflet were fuffering fo many dilafters, that body commanded by Charette, had accelf Tully fully attacked the island of Noirmutier, lying oppofite to the coaft of Poictou: but as foon as they were apprized of the misfortune that had befallen their affociates, they were fo terrified, that they immediately disbanded. Out of twenty-five thousand men, of which his force confifted, Charette faw himfelf at once reduced to little more than four thousand. They were men, however, on whofe fidelity and valour he could rely, and who, knowing that they had no mercy to expect, were all refolved to die with arms in their hands, rather than be paffively maffacred in the field, or fubmit to an ignominious death. With this handful of men he took the intrepid refolution of confronting his numerous foes, and of difputing every inch of ground in his poffeffion. But in defpite of his invincible spirit and the courage of his adherents, he was not able long to retain Noirmoutier. The importance of this ifland was too well known, for the republican Generals to fuffer it to remain in his hands. The dread of its falling into the power of the English, induced them to affault it with all poflible fpeed. After as brave a defence as the inconfiderable ftrength he had would allow, he was compelled to abandon it, together with the hopes he had formed of being able, through means of the English, to make it a place of arms; from whence the royal party in the neighbouring parts might derive a variety of the most important advantages. The lofs of this ifland exposed him and his followers to unceafing dangers. His conduct and their unconquer. able courage, afforded conftant employment to the republican troops; and it was not without the utmost exertions they fucceeded at laft in putting a period to their refiftance, and compelling them to difperfe. This was not effected without many combats and much effufion of blood. Forced at length to yield to inevitable neceffity, his brave and faithful band was obliged to difperfe for individual fafety; which could no longer be preterved while they continued in a body. Both he and they parted with the most extreme reluctance; nor did they confent to this feparation, until their numbers had been fo reduced by the fword, that those who remained could not, without the most blameable temerity, hope for fuccefs in any farther refistance. It was at this calamitous period that the barbarity of the French government was carried to an excess that difgraced it throughout all Europe, even with the warmest wellwifhers to the republican fyftem; and that affixed in the imaginations of men a ftigma to the national character *, which will require many years to be obliterated. The cruelties that fullied the fucceffes obtained over the in Though not perhaps altogether, it is alleged by fome, with juftice. Whether at this period (the question has been put) are we to look for the French character among the royalifts, or the republican government? When the Romans groaned under profcriptions, they were to be confidered rather as an unhappy than a cruel people. Yet it cannot reasonably be fuppofed that fuch a tyrant as Ro befpierre would have found in Britain, Germany, Poland, Denmark, or Sweden, so many prompt executioners of his bloody purposes. furgents Argents were fuch, that had not the Convention, ftruck with their horrors, deemed itself bound, in compliance with the general feelings of their friends as well as their foes, to bring to open juftice the principal agent of thofe atrocious proceedings, the world, however inclined to hold their conduct in abhorrence, would not have given credit to the horrid reports that were circulated of the abominable treatment experienced by the royalifts, after their infurrection had been fuppreffed, and the republican adminiftration felt itself at liberty to give an unbounded loofe to its rage. The only extenuation, if it be one, for the inhuman fury that actuated the whole of their conduct, was, that it originated in one of the moft execrable characters that ever held the reins of government in that or in any country. The decrees that either authorized or gave occafion to the atrocious tranfactions of thofe bloody times, were afcribed to Robespierte and his affociates. The gloomy and inexorable difpofition of this infamous tyrant, is certainly well known: but had there not exifted an aptitude in the inftruments of his enormities for the perpetration of any inhuman deed, he could have fuggefted; and had not these vile inftruments proved as numerous and willing to obey him as his fanguinary temper required, France would not have feen fo fhocking a proportion of its inhabitants acting cheerfully the part of the most unfeeling executioners, and betraying, as it were, a native propenfity to fport with the lives of their fellow-crea.tures. refpected for its civilization, its hofpitality, its manners, and its eminence in arts, its knowledge, and whatever adorns and refines human life, Europe beheld, and pofterity will learn with aftonishment and horror, that for the fpace of feveral months a tribunal exifted in the large and populous city of Nantz, legally commiffioned by public authority, to exercife the most mercilefs and cruel defpotifin, and to condemn to the most unfeeling and fcandalous modes of deftruction, whole tribes and diftricts of their fellow-citizens. Allo wing that they had been guilty of rebellion against the conftituted authorities of their country, and that their lives had been forfeited by the law of the land, ftill the world muft recoil with deteftation at that strict and undifcriminating feverity which excluded all fpecies of compaffion, and could at one breath fentence to perdition whole multitudes of men, women, and children, congregated for this purpose before that horrible, tribunal. Death, fufficiently awful of itself to human nature, was clad in every additional terror that could appal the firmeft mind. Thoufands at once, in pairs of different fexes, were lafhed to each other naked, and fent in this manner to be fhot or drowned, in derifion of every fentiment of humanity. Thefe dreadful executions were ftyled Republican Weddings. Another fpecies of execution, equally terrifying, was also adopted :-Á boat, contrived to drop its bottom at will, was filled with crowds of thofe unhappy people, who thus were funk in a moment." This was denominated the Patriotic Navigation, or Bathing. But these In a country and nation hitherto frightful deeds were still exceeded by by thofe that were perpetrated in La Vendée. Here the vengeance of the republican party was glutted in a meafure far beyond the other. After having faid this, to enumerate the cruelties committed here would be equally painful and needlefs: it must be left to the imagination to conceive them. Ingenuity was excrted to fecure the perpetuation of calamity and wretchednefs in this unfortunate country: it was literally devoted to univerfal and everlasting ruin. The houses and habitations of mankind, and of the very cattle, were committed to the flames: the fruit-trees, and all that was combuftible in gardens and cultivated grounds, were fet on fire. When we reflect on this fpirit of death and devastation, and confider at the fame time that it raged in the centre of Europe, in the heart of Chriftendom, me lancholy indeed muft the fate of nations appear which neither arts can foften, nor religion humanize. It may without partiality be added, that in the scale of compariton between the French and their long noted rivals the English, no deeds of equal enormity can be imputed to the latter. During those civil wars in the last century that afflicted the three kingdoms, the contending parties were mutually fatisfied with the blood that was fed in the field of battle. The very few heads that fell on the fcaffold were undoubtedly refpectable and eminent, and their fall is lamented to this day; but no cruelty or indecent treatment attended their latter hour. The enthusiasm of the victorious party was tempered with moderation, and the British nation ftill preferved its reputation of humanity. CHAP. VI. Second Infurrection in La Vendée. Function of Charette, Stoflet, and La Roche Jaquelin. They expel the Conventional Troops from La Vendée, First Appearance of the Chouans in Brittany. Their Progrefs and Refolu tion in contending with Hardships and Difficulties. Joined by Numbers, and become formidable. The Vendéans begin to recover Strength. Manner of fighting practifed by the Infurgents of La Vendée. Their defperate Valour in Battie. Prodigious Slaughter made in the Vendéan Infurrection. Quicknefs in the Military Movements and Operations of the Vendéans. Their Neglect of Artillery. Their Manner of feizing that of the Conventional Troops. Their want of Cavalry. Their Military Accoutrements and Method of proceeding to Battle. Dishonourable Conduct of the Prisoners, Patience and fortitude of the Vendéans in their fecond Infurrection. Strength of the Motives and Principles that acluated the Vendéans. Zeal and Courage of the Clergy that joined them. The Enthufiafm of the Vendeans compared with that of the Conventional Troops. Influence of the Women of Diftin&tion who took refuge among them. Attachment of the Infurgents to their Chiefs. Honours paid to their Remains. Death of La Roche Jaquelin. Bafe and cruel Treatment of the Infurgents by the Conventional Troops: The Virtue, Piety, Honour, and Fidelity of the Country People in France during the Revolution. Principal Caufe of this laudable Conduct. Con vention vention decrees that Generals condemned to Death for Treason shall be exeruted at the Head of the Army. Abolishes the Practice of Flogging in the Navy, and fubftitutes other Punishments. Admits Two Mulattoes and One Negro as Deputies to the Convention from St. Domingo. Abolishes Slavery. Eftablishment of the Maximum, and Speech of Barrere on this Occafion. New Powers granted to the Committee of Public Safety. Des cree against reputed Enemics to the Revolution. Anfewer to the Declaration of the British Miniftry. Conduct of Robespierre, Danton, and Barrere. Enmity between Robespierre and Danton. Machinations of Robespierre against the Cordelier Club and its chief Leader Hebert. Character of Hebert and of the Cordelier Club. Defigns and Conduct of Hebert. He is arrefted and brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal. Charges against bim. He is condemned and executed, together with Anacharfis Clootz, and eighteen others. Danton and Camille Defmoulins unite in a Project for a milder Syftem of Government. Robespierre fufpects their Defigns. Interview between him and Danton. Fabre d'Eglantine and other Members of the Convention arrefted. Danton's Conduct on this Occafion. He and Camille Def moulins arrefted. Legarde defends him in the Convention against the Attacks of Robespierre. Accomplices in the Confpiracy attributed to Fabre d'Eglantines Trial of Danton, Camille Defmoulins, and of the other Prifoners by the Revolutionary Tribunal. Invectives of St. Juft in the Convention against Fabre d'Eglantine. Bold Behaviour of Danton on his Trial. He is condemned to Death and executed. His Character. HE unnatural exceffes com- TH party in La Vendée, produced an effect quite contrary to what had been propofed. By the unmerciful ravages of that country, it was intended to crufh for ever the poffibility of all infurrection. But in deftroying the property of the wretched inhabitants, they had not been able to involve them all in the fame deftruction. Multitudes had efcaped, and lay concealed in the vaft forests of that woody region, in the many marthy tracks with which it abounds, and in the mountainous and almost inacceffible parts. Animated with rage and refentment at the deprivations of every means of fubfiftence, and having no longer any thing to lofe but their lives, they were now determined to facrifice thefe, in order to be revenged of their oppreffors. VOL. XXXVI. The intrepid and vigilant Cha cealments in which he had lain hidden, had indefatigably watched the tranfactions daily taking place around him, inftantly feized this opportunity of rouzing once more the royal party into action. He fecretly visited thofe in whom he could place confidence, and through them prepared all the others to unite again for their common defence. He collected in a fhort time a body of twelve thoufand men, endeared to each other by the misfortunes they had participated in the fame caufe, and rendered defperate by the confideration that their fuftenance must henceforwards be procured at the point of the fword. At the head of this body, not lefs refolute from neceflity than from principle, he fell upon a confiderable force of H republicans, |