1802.7 
quillity of his mind. He continued his 
literary labours in the prifon of the Bourde 
with the fame compofure that he would 
have purfued them in his undifturbed re- 
treat in the Park de Sceaux. In this pri- 
fon he began the firft book of his Guil- 
laume Tell; a poem, the fubject of which 
was recommended to him by his. friend 
Ducis.. Every admirer of Florian mutt 
régret that this beautiful poem, which 
promifed to be one of the bett works writ- 
ten fince the revolution, was not comple- 
ted. In this prifcn alfo Florian finifhed his 
poem entitled Ebrahim, in four cantos; a 
work replete with beauties, in which are 
depicted with the pencil of Fenelon, fra- 
ternal affeétion, patriarchal virtue, noble 
jealoufy, and the paflion of love in all its 
ftrength and delicacy. This Hebrew poem 
was among all his productions the favorite 
work of Florian; and that, which, at the 
fame time that it afforded him the mof 
pleafure in compofng it, was alfo written 
with the greateft facility. While the im- 
mured poet was thus employing the hours 
of his captivity, Boifly d’ Anglas continued 
inceflantly his applications to the Commit- 
tee of Public Safety. Florian was inform- 
ed of the many inconveniences and the 
extreme danger which his generous advo- 
cate incurred on his account; and from the 
depth of his dungeon he addreffed to him a 
‘< Hymn to Friendfhip,”” as the only tefti- 
mony of his gratitude which circumitances 
permitted him to offer. Boifly d’Anglas 
was not however the only generous man 
who interefted himfelf in the fate of Flo- 
rian. There was one befides, who difputed 
with Bory the pleafure of becoming fer- 
viecable to their unfortunate friend; and 
that was the celebrated Mercier. Uponthe 
arrefi of his mafter and friend, to whom he 
had been attached by the clofeft bonds of 
intimacy, and the ties of gratitude, during 
a period of twelve years, Mercier inftantly 
fet out for Paris, and, braving every dan- 
get, immediately ox his arrival rufhed into 
the very bofom of the Committee of Gene- 
ral Safety, and in the midft of that moft 
powerful body, in an elevated tone of voice, 
demanded the freedom of his benefactor,’ 
his mafter, and his friend. -“ On whofe 
account,”’ he was afked, *‘do you {peak 
in favour of a ci-dewant, of an enemy of 
the public good?” ** On my own account” 
replied Mercier, with that noble dignity 
which a mean or a guilty confcience never 
can affume. ‘In the nae of literature,” 
continued he, “<I come to claim its pro- 
tector ; and’ in the names of humanity and 
opprefied virtue, I come to demand juftice. 
li Florian be aétually guilty, if indeed 
Anecdotes of Md, Florian, 
S97. 
he fhall be convicted of treafon againit his 
country, inflict on him the punithment he 
merits; but if on the contrary his inno- 
cence can be proved to you, if inftead. of 
his fuppofed crimes, you fhall difcover in 
him only virtues, then at leaft promife me 
to releafe him from captivity, and to re- 
ftore to fociety a peaceful and a-virtuous 
citizen.”” ‘¢ Virtuous !”? exclaimed a Joud, 
rough voice in the mid{t of a general mur- 
mur of tumult, ‘* Impoflible! The man 
who could compofg verles in praife of the 
queen, cannot be otherwife than the ene- 
my of his country, and in every refpect, 
a dangerous character.” Immediately 
feveral of the members applauded the ener- 
gy of their prefident; and the generous 
Mercier, ftifling his indignation, prudently 
retired, with a refolution to exert ever 
effort to fave his friend, or to fall himfelf. 
At length arrived the memorable gth of 
Thermidor in the fecond year of the re- 
public, when the overthrow of Robe- 
{pierre renovated the hopes, and reanimated 
the courage of his victims. Among the 
reft Florian, who had long confidered him- 
felf devoted to death, now admitted aray 
of hope to cheer the gloom of his prifon, 
In a fhort time after the death of Robefpierre 
he was permitted to fee his friends, and 
in their embraces he loft all remembrance 
of his fufferings. Boifly d’Anglas feized 
the firft moment of that power which by 
the death of Robefpierre devolved upon 
him, to break the fetters of his friend. In 
proportion as the fenfibility of Florian had’ 
rendered captivity more painful to him than 
to others, it alfo increafed his enjoyment 
of liberty. Few indeed could feel the haps 
pinefs of retutning to friends, and of 
breathing a pure, free air, in fucha lively 
manner as Florian felt it. His firft care 
after quitting the prifon, was to wait on 
his deliverer tovexprefs his gratitude; but 
Boifly. was abfent from home, and the law 
againit.the nobles preventing his longer 
{tay at Paris, he was compelled to retire 
into the country without the gratification 
of declaring to his worthy friend thofe - 
fentiments-of gratitude, efteem and admi- 
ration, with which his heart was pene- 
trated. ‘The {pot which he chofe for his 
place of exile, was the Park de Sceaux 3 
and that delightful feat, which had been 
the theatre of his firfe enjoyments, be~ 
came the retreat in which he withed to-end 
his days. .Many reafons fanctioned this 
choice: Here he was well known and had 
been long elteemed; and che inhabitants 
of the whole commune regarded him as 
their father and friend. 
When thefe.goad people beheld the return 
eC" of 
