American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-12-19
,nry Wilson, No. 1Oo, Market Street.
WILMINGTON, Del TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1926.

nusoand was horror struck at her death, and die,
shortly afterwards, broken hearted.
But noble and becoming as was the death o
Madame ROLAND, il yields in interest to that Of tn
beautiful and heroic Charlotte Corday. Greece 0
Rome, in their most devoted times, never produce,
inner instance Of patriotism or inttepidity ant
Brutus and Thrasybuus. with their glory arount
them, can hardly claim higher rank among tn,
lllhcrators Of mankind, than this young heroine
She lived in the town Of Caen IN Normandy, one
OF the provinces OF F'ance and appea ed in III,
hottest period of the Revolution, when Marat, The
infamous friend of R"bespierre, was on his pima
Gle OF power. This man, nativs of Geneva, wa.
originally of low origin, having been at one period
Of his life hasker of toy about the streets oil
Paris He afterwards became editor of revolu
tonary journals and at length, by dirt of talent and
hnessc, was appointed Deputy to the Frencl,
Convention. Here he distinguished himself by
That sort Of eloquence which takes among the vul-
gar, and still more by the ferocous nature of his
propositions which made him noted for cruelty,
even in this sanguinsry assembly. His deeds ii
we're vain 10 relate They realized all that fiction
has told US in its widest tales, and more than real
lied the barbarities attributed by history TO Antio-
chus and the worst Of the Roman Emperors.-
Suffice II to say, they aroused the spirit Of Char.
lotte Corday and with perec: conviction of The
consequences OF such an attempt. she formed the
vast design OF Kidding her country OF one whom
she considered its blttcrest foe
| For this purpose she came Ia Paris, and on the
morning OF the 18th Of July. 1793 wrote to Marat,
informing him that she had matters OF the dee pest
importance to communicate and requesting an i'm.
mediate audience To this no answer was returned ;
and she again addressed to him note in The fol-
loving words =" Have you received my letter 7
1t you have received il. rest on your politeness
1t is enough that am unfortunate, TO claim your
attention. This was the 3th Of The month,
and ON the evening OF the same day she was ad
mted into his presence He had just stepped out
OF the bath. and was only half clothed. when Char
lote va, ed. She would have retired az
instant till he had finished his toilet, bu. he ordered
her straightway to enter his apartment.
"What do You wish with me 70 were his first
words, as he cast his ascivious eyes on the beauti.
full girl. who stood undauntedly before him 81
demand JUSTICE was her reply. come to plead
the cause Of the unfortunate Deputies who have
taken refuge at Caen " She held scroll in her
haod it protested to be their petition, and Marat
took il from her and glanced it 1t was never
known how this petition came into Charlottc's pos.
session. II has been alleged that one Of the unhap
ny Deputies was her lover. and that he inrused it
to her hands for the purpose of being delivered to
the tyrant. 1t hes also been conjecured that If he
had granted its prayer and extended mercy to these
perscc uted men, she might Tor the time have waved
her fatal purpose. Another and more probable
opinion is tina, il was framed BY herself to serve
as excuse for in,rudios upon Marat and enabling
her more easily to carry her scheme into execution.
b. that az IT may, it produced no effect upon his
savage heart He read ii with q sneer. "Young
woman" said he, you have come upon useless
errand. The fate Of these men is sealed. have
already given orders for their apprehension. Their
deaths will soon follow" Villain! = cried Char
lote ; and drawing a poniatd from her bosom
she plunged it into the heart Of the monster. He
reeed backwards and fell upon couch. His only
words were, Traitress. you have utdered me-
seize her-seize her!" She gave him but one look
Of disdain and horror, and dashing down the bloody
weapon. strobe with fearless grandeur out oil the
room.
She went home leisurely nor made the slightest
attempt to escape Her mind had been made up
to the result of the dreadful tragedy she had just
acted Meanwhile, the report that Marat was Kill
led spread like wild fire Paris. sort OF
dreadful anxiety and suspense pervaded this vast
metropolis Vice trcinbled at the loss Of its most
terrific minister, while all the nobler and more hero
c passions we're wrought into ecstacy, at the re,
pp,ted destruction Of one of the most execrable
wrett hes that ever disst aced humanity.
Charlotte was appreheDded, but she exhibited no
sign Of fear and when told that death would assn
redly follow the deed she had committed, she heard
it with the most sovereign contempt. On being
brought before he tribunal and questioned as to her
motives for killing Marat. she showed the same IN
shaken frmness. She defended the deed on the
e. ounds OF justice and necessity. Marat, though
not tried and condemned by official tribunal, was
already looked upon by his country as criminal de
serving of death She only did that which the laws
ought To have done. and which future times would
applaud her for doing :" slew him." continued she,
" because he was the oppressor of my country-I
slew him, tina, Fance might have rest from his cru
ctes-I slew him to save the lives OF thousands
who would have persisted by his DEGREES; and my
sole regret is that did not rid the earth OF
such monster"
She heard the sentence Of death passed upon her
with an unconcern which would have done honor to