CHRONICLE. 



21 



thirteen dwelling-houses were de- 

 igtroyed, and a great number of ho- 

 vels and other buildings adjoinirig, 

 ■with nearly the whole of the pro- 

 perty of the inhabitants, who were 

 9II uninsured. The loss is computed 

 at from 30001. to iOOOl. ; and the 

 situation of most of the suflerers is 

 rendered pitiable indeed. 



A number of ingenious French 

 emigrants have found employment 

 in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, 

 and other adjacent counties, in the 

 manufactory of lace ; and it is ex- 

 pected that, through the means of 

 theseartiHcers,considerableimprove- 

 'ments will be introduced into the 

 methods of making English lace. 



Died. 28th. At Pans, aged 3,3, 

 under the guillotine ( with nearly se^ 

 venty of his party, members of the 

 convention), Maximihan Robespier- 

 re. This emulator of Cromwell was 

 short in stature, being only five feet 

 two or three inches in height. His 

 step was firm, and his quick pace in 

 walking announced great activity. 

 By a kind of contraction of the 

 serves, he used often to fold and 

 compress his hands in each other ; 

 and spasmodic contractions were per. 

 ceived in his shoulders and neck, the 

 latter of which he moved convulsive* 

 ly from side to side. In his dress he 

 was neat and even elegant, never 

 faiUng to have his hair in the best 

 order. His features had nothing re-, 

 markable about them, unless that 

 their general aspect was somewhat 

 forbidding; his complexion was livid 

 and bihous ; his eyes duii, and sunk 

 in their sockets. Theconstautbhnk- 

 ing of the eycJids seemed to arii^e 

 from convulsive agitation ; and he 

 was never without a, remedy iu_ hi» 

 pocket. He could soften his voice, 

 wliich was naturally liarsh andcroak- 

 ing, and could give grace to his pro- 



vincial accent. It was remarked of 

 him, that he could never look a man 

 full in the face. He was master of 

 the talent of declamation ; and as a 

 public speaker was not amiss at com- 

 position. In his harangues, he was 

 extremely fond of the figure called 

 antithesis } but failed, whenever he 

 attempted irony. His diction was 

 attimes harih, at others harmonious- 

 ly modulated,frequpitlybrilIiant,bttt 

 often tnte, a' d Was constantly blend- 

 ed with co.-mon-place digressions 

 on virtue, crimes, and conspiracies. 

 Even when prepared, he was but an 

 indifferent orator. His logic was 

 often replete with sophisms and sub- 

 tleties; but he was in general sterile 

 of ideas, with but a very limited 

 scope of thought, as is almost always 

 the case with those who are too 

 much taken up with themselves. 

 Pride formed the basis of his charac- 

 ter; and he had a great thirst for 

 literary, but a still greater for politi- 

 cal, fame. He spoke with contempt 

 of Mr. Pitt ; and yet, above Mr. 

 Pitt, he could see nobody unlesshim- 

 self. The reproaches ot the Eilghsh 

 journalists were a high treat to hiJsi 

 vanity : — whenever he denounced 

 them, his accent and expression be- 

 trayed how much his self-love was 

 flattered. It was dehghtfulto him to 

 bear the French armies named the 

 " armies of Robespierre ;" and he 

 was charmed with being included 

 in the hst of tyrants. iJaring and 

 cowardly at the same time, he threw 

 a veil over his manauvres, and was 

 often imprudent in pointing out his 

 victims. If one of the representa- 

 tives made a mot'ou which displeased 

 him, lie suddeuiy turned round tow- 

 arc'U him, with a menacing aspect, 

 for some minutes. Weak and re- 

 vengctul, sober and sensual, chaste 

 by lemperuinent, and a libertine by 



