386 ROBESPIERRE ; 
there being but one step even to madness itself ; while the passions 
of the heart insinuate themselves by degrees into the system, first 
giving rise to mere thoughtlessness and errors of a pardonable na- 
ture, but by a thousand gradations, scarcely perceptible and still 
less noticed, leading the unhappy victim to commit crimes of the 
most heinous description. 
Fabulous statements, impeaching the conduct of the youthful 
Robespiérre, were eagerly sought after, and made available, by way 
of inference, in accounting for the bloodthirsty and atrocious crimes 
of his manhood ; but even in those days of anarchy and degeneracy 
when fierce party spirit was indulged to excess, and malignant ca- 
lumnies were freely circulated, his most inveterate enemies in the 
Constitutional Assembly cast no reproach on him: indeed, the most 
scrupulous and searching inquiries, instituted after his death, re- 
vealed nothing authentic regarding his private life. All that has 
been satisfactorily ascertained, with respect to the early days of Ro- 
bespiérre, is, that he was born at Arras, where his education was 
superintended by a person celebrated for his talents, but who took 
no part in the Revolution ; that he was distinguished as well by 
intense application to his studies as by the integrity of his conduct, 
subsequently taking his rank among the most eminent lawyers 
there, and being remarkable for loyalty, activity, and disinterested- 
ness in his professional pursuits. His social intercourse was con- 
fined to the fathers of the oratorio, with whom he usually dined 
once a week, and conversed on literary topics. 
Robespiérre is described, in a collection of memoirs* published 
before the Revolution, under the title of Memoires Secrets, to be a 
young, eloquent, and talented lawyer, who was sure eminently to 
distinguish himself in his profession. At the age of thirty, he was 
elected, by the community of his native place, deputy to the States 
Assembly, who commenced their proceedings in 1789. The very 
first words he uttered on that occasion breathed forth the purest and 
most determined republicanism, which pervaded every act and 
thought of his subsequent life: indeed, he eagerly sought opportu- 
nities to promulgate these his opinions, especially during discussions 
touching the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. At first 
the ministers of the crown disregarded him, holding out neither 
bribe, nor other inducement, to his becoming a convert to their 
party ; but when they afterwards needed his co-operation they were 
* Toulongeon pieces justicatives, in the second volume of his History of the 
Revolution. 
