historical 

 'his murder will be the last.' 

 Was this pusillanimity, as has 

 been said by Danton ?" 



Lasource. — " Without was- 

 ting our time in enquiring whe- 

 ther the talents ascribed to Rol- 

 land were entirely his own, or 

 in a great measure those of his 

 wife, I am of opinion that a 

 public man ought not to be re- 

 proached for having a prudent 

 ■wife, and even for sometimes 

 following her wise councils. 

 The reflection that has been 

 thrown out by Danton is un- 

 worthy of a legislator." 



After defending Rolland a- 

 gainst all the calumnies that 

 had been thrown out against 

 him, Lasource moved the pre- 

 vious question, on all the mo- 

 tions that had been made, say- 

 ing, the convention ought to be 

 very sparing of that exaggera- 

 ted praise of which enthusiasm 

 was often apt to be inconside- 

 rately lavifli ; and that extra- 

 vagant praises served for the 

 most part only to excite the 

 ambition of individuals, and to 

 conduct gradually to despo- 

 tism. " An honest man," ad- 

 ded he, " ought to be conten- 

 ted with the tacit approbation 

 of his fellow citizens, and the 

 testimony of his conscience." 



They then pafsed to the o r- 

 dcr of the day. 



Jacobin club. 



The foregoing are the prin- 

 cipal transactions of the ratio- 

 nal convention ; but that ihe 

 true eoastitutioa of France 



chronicle xv 



may be known, it is as necef- 

 sary to advert to the transac- 

 tions, in the Jacobin club, of 

 which the following is a speci- 

 men ; 



Septrmber 23. M. StephanapoJi 

 read a s;jeech, tlie intention of which 

 was, to engage the society to s^rd a 

 company of an hundred men every day 

 to work at the camp of Pans This 

 proposal was combated by M. Chabot, 

 who said, that as each of the mem- 

 bers was obliged to discharge this duty 

 in his section, it would ue absurd to 

 give the society, by th.s act, a sort of 

 exisrence which It could not have. 



It is not by petitions to the national 

 ;onvenaon that we ought at present 

 o make it ad )pt suchior such a plan 

 of defence for Paris. 



Let your governjrs know by your 

 drsculsions, which they will hear of 

 one way or other, that your sole de- 

 sire is to see your g )vernmen: soon 

 fixed. It is in the rirst moments of 

 i s existence that you ojght to expect 

 f om i: those vigorous measures, 

 •vhich the conduct it h.s ob.served 

 Joes no, give us rejtan to hope to see 

 it long pursue. The firs: day of its 



tting, ii o-verturned the roUen trunk of 

 royalty, and yet the next morn ng it 

 •was afraid to apply the hatchet to the 

 smali lyijiicha of that tree. It sparel 



he trib„:ia:b; and, by this act of 

 weaknels, it d sc.;c:deJ as lo'* as the 

 I'-gisIature. Dread that influence 

 which intrigue v/ill no: fail to gain 

 amongsi you; and if in rigue is :o be 

 apprehended, it is from cer:a r. consti- 

 luents, who, because they have done 



1 -fs hurt than their coJ.'eigues, pretend 

 10 the reputation of patriots. If in. 

 .rigue is to be dreaded, it is fronj- 

 some legisUto.Sj who, though they 

 voted agunst La Fayette, are not the 

 more pa nos, as M. Simo.i has very 

 jusK observed. 



I must aijain repeat it — Let us fini/h 

 our go.eiiiii.e u : ines ine war will 

 be terin:nited when we C6.ne to tkat 

 paint 5 3.^d we flijll have a goad go- 



