HIS PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTER. 391 
when the bishops excited the people to discord and dissension in 
their pastoral epistles—when Chaumette published his religious 
creed, and Jacob Dumont taught atheism—Robespiérre’s religious 
tenets were rigorous even to superstition, though he did not con- 
form to the discipline of his own church. He outlawed all disbe- 
lievers in the supreme power and moral influence of God ; and on 
One occasion only was his dark and forbidding visage known to shed 
forth one ray of light, namely, when he proclaimed, at the head of 
the National Convention, the existence and dominion of a Supreme 
Being. 
This religious zeal, however, was but ill calculated to arm its 
possessor with authority amidst tumult, outrage, and fierce party 
contentions, when men were borne along in masses, as if by a gre- 
garious impulse, under the influence of the popular cry—at such a 
period, a resolute front is needed more than deliberation, and per- 
sonal courage is far more efficacious, in checking the excesses of the 
multitude, than brooding over or planning enterprizes on paper or 
in the cabinet. Of that personal courage Robespiérre was utterly 
deficient. It is true, he possessed fortitude of the head to an almost 
unlimited extent—if we may so term that inflexible and unrelenting 
stubbornness of purpose which urges on to the execution of any pro- 
ject, however horrible in itself, or perilous in the undertaking ; but 
to that courage of the heart which bravely encounters physical 
dangers, and rouses the dormant energies of the multitude in lead- 
ing them to action, where success depends upon might, and not upon 
argument, as we have before said, he was an entire Stranger. It is 
this personal courage which enables men even of indifferent talents 
to gain a ready ascendancy over, and to subdue the most tumultuous 
assembly. The possession of this qualification, in an eminent de- 
gree, obtained for Thionville and Danton an equal share with Ro- 
bespiérre in the affections of the people. There is only one opinion 
with respect to Robespiérre’s cowardice. At all seasons of extreme 
peril—such as the 21st of June, 10th of August, &c.—he secreted 
himself from the public view, the movements of the people being 
directed by men possessing a greater share of courage. No sooner, 
however, had the blood ceased to flow and the tumult subsided, 
than he again placed himself at the head of affairs, assuming all the 
importance and authority of one who had just then distinguished 
himself by his bravery, and to whose generalship and strength of 
arm the success of the day was attributable, those who had in reali- 
ty borne the heat and brunt of the battle, being treated by him 
merely as subordinate officers. 
