HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



157 



terms the insolence of both St. 

 Just and Robespierre : the forn:ier 

 had this day, as the latter had 

 the day be tore, assumed tlve uncon- 

 stitutional and unwarrantable tVee- 

 dom of presenting reports to the 

 Convention in their own name: in- 

 stead of those tliey ought, as di- 

 rected, to have presented in the 

 name of the committee. Abject in- 

 deed was the situation of the repub- 

 lic, when private citizens dared 

 thus, upon their own authority, to 

 dictate to its representatives. 



TaJlien was powerfully seconded 

 by Billaud Varennes. He laid be- 

 fore the assembly theoutrageous be- 

 haviour of the Jacobins ou the pre- 

 ceding day ; their menaces of 

 death to several members of the 

 Convention, and their accusations of 

 some whose characters were irre- 

 proachable. Saying this, he pointed 

 at one present, who had been 

 guilty of those enormities, and who 

 was instantly arrested by order of 

 the assembly. He then proceeded 

 to tell them that feeble measures in 

 the present case would be their 

 ruin, as they were fallen into the 

 hands of men determined to mur- 

 der them. The militar)' of Paris 

 was entrusted to the command of 

 two men, the devoted creatures of 

 Piobespierre ; and whom lie conti- 

 nued in that post in violation and 

 defiance of the law. Billaud, in ad- 

 dition to these, enumerated other 

 instances of Robespierre's illegal 

 conduct in matters of great import- 

 ance, especially his criminal in- 

 fringements of personal liberty: and 

 lastly, adverted to the design lie had 

 clearly manifested of expelling from 

 the Convention all tiie members 

 who were not of his jjarty ; and of 

 fendaing himself absolute by cor- 

 rupting the military force of the 

 metropolis. After tlii'i hold ex- 



planation, Billand demanded, in a 

 loud and firm tone of vo'ce, vyhe- 

 ther the representatives of the 

 Frenchnation had reconciled them- 

 selves to the idea, and were con- 

 tent to live under a tyrant. No, 

 no, was the exclamation from all 

 parts of the hall. Emboldened by 

 this reply, he detailed farther par- 

 ticulars of Robespierre's flagitious 

 conduct, and conclu.'ed by asserting 

 that either he or tlie Co;ivenlion 

 must perish. 



Robespierre, in the mean time, 

 was etruck with silent amazement 

 at the unexpected aiid dreadful at- 

 tack made upon him, and sup- 

 ported by so decided a majo- 

 rity. Collecting his spirits, be 

 would have moved towards the 

 tribune, intending to speak; but 

 was deterred by Tallien's drawing 

 a dagger, and vowing that iie him- 

 self would plunge it into his lieart 

 unless the Convention deliveredhim 

 over to the sword of justice. Tal- 

 lien followed up this menace with 

 a violent speech, wherein he com- 

 pared Robespierre to Sylla ; and 

 particularized the despotic attempts 

 of his principal adheicnts. He 

 then moved that the sittings of the 

 Convention should be declared per- 

 manent, until the law had been 

 executed upon the guilty, and that 

 Robespierre should be arrested, to- 

 gether with his accomplices. The 

 decree to this end was passed im- 

 mediately and unaniniously. The 

 arrest included all the statt" of the 

 national guard of Paris, together 

 with Dumas, president of the revo- 

 lutionary tribunal, who had in the 

 Jacobin club abetted and promoted 

 its rebellious proceedings. 



Barrere now laid the report of 

 the committee of public safety 

 before; the Convention. In consc- 

 qU''!ice c\f tlic representations it 



coiitaJned, 



