The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-04-05
From the .imer,cd,, Quarterly Reuiela.
DANTON. ROBESpIERRE, AND MARAT

DANTON, ROBESPlEKRE, AND Mhhhi'
We come, next, to the Legislative As
sembiy, Gin which there was no party, that
could be termed strictly or properly royal
ists." It's three divisions, the Constitution
alists, the Girondists, or Brissotins and the
Jacobins, are exhibited in their diversity OF
traits and objects; their relentless mutual
strife, and their common warfare against
the wretched king. The Girondists and the
Jacebins stood ready "to storm together tne
last bulwarks of the monarchy"-but the
latter were resolved and destined to monop-
olize the spoil, and establish the incttable'
incompatible Reign Of Terror. Robes
pierre, SAYS Scott. might be CONSIDERED as
the head of the Jacobins, if they had, IN
deed leader. more than two wolves nave
which tune their united voices to cry OF MN
that bays .hc loudest" Mdrdt loved TO
talk of murder as soldiers do OF battles, and
made, con dm0re, an exact calcuia'loh 10
shaw in what manner tzoo hundred ana S'1-
, ty thousand aristocrats might be Dutchered
in a day. The two peerless rufflans, ana
their condign associate, Ddnton, are thus
portrayed in the second volume -
"Ihree men of terror, whose names VIII
long remain, we trust, unmatched III histo-
~ BY those Of any similar mlscreants, had
1
and were called the triumviratc.
I Danton deserves to, be named first, as un-
rivaled by his colleagues in talent and au-
dacity. He was man of gigantic size, and
possessed voice Of thunder, His counte-
nance WAS that of an Orge on the shoulders
OF a Hercules. He was as fond of the pleas
urcs of vice as Of the practice of cruclty'
and it was id THAT there were times when he
became humani2ed amidst his dcbauchery,
| laughed at the terror which his furious dec
/ lamations excited, and might be approached
with safety. ike the Maelstrom at the turn
of tide. II p,ofision was inlulgcd to an
extent hazardous to his potMlaritv, for the
populace are jcalous ola lavish expenditure,
AS raising their favoritcs too much above
their owu d gree: and the charge OF spccu
lltiun finds always ready credit with them,
when brought agains. public men.
Rohcspcrre possessed this advantage over
Danton, that he did not seem to seek fG'
wealth. either for hording or expenains, bG'
lived in strict and economical retirement, tc
Justify the name of thr Incorrtptiblc, wi;h
which he was honored BY his partizaps. He
appears to have possessed little talents, saw
ing q dcep fund Vt hypncrisv, considerable
powers Of sophistry, and Il cold exaggerated
strain Of oratorv, as foreign 70 good taste, a'
the measures he recommended were 70 or
binary humanity. II Itseemed wonderful that
even the serthiue and boiling Of the revoil'
tionarv cauldron. should have sent up trou
the bottom, and long supported OH the sur
! face, a thing so miserabv void Of claims Il
public distinction; but Robcspierre had Il
impose ON the minds of the vulgar, and he
knew how to bcguile them, by accommodate
ing his flntterv to their passions and scale ot
understanding, by acts Of cunning and by
pocrisy, which weigh more with the multi
tnde than the words of eloqueuce, or the ar
guments Of wisdom. The people listened a!
&c their Cicero, when he twangcd out his a.
postrophies of Pouurc Peufir, PeHtte DER
tueur., and fastened 10 execute whatever
came recommended by such honied phrases
though devised by the worst of men for the
worst and most inhuman Of purposes.
Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion
and though his countcnance was the image
OF his mind, he was vain even OF his personal
appearance, and never adopted the external
habits of q sans culotte, Amongst his fellow
iacobins. he was distinguished by the nicely
with which his hair was arranged and pow
dered: and the neatncss ef his dress was
carefully arranged and attended to, so as tC
cnunterbalancc If possible, the vulglarity
Of his person. His apartments though
small. were elegant. and vanity had filled
them with Representations of the occupant
bespierre's picture II length, hung in one
place, his miniature in another, aud his bust
occupied niche, and on III" table were
disposed few metallona exhibiting his
head in profile. The vani'% which all this
indicated was of the coltleat and most selfish
character, being snch as considers neglect
as insult, and receives homage merely as q
tribute so that, while praise is received
without gratitude, it rs withheld at the risk
of mortal hate. Self-love of this danger
ous character is closely allied with envy
and Robcspierre was one OF the most envi-
ous and vindictivc men that ever lived. He
never was known to pardon any opposition,
aifront, or even rivalry; aud to be marked
in his tablets on such an account. was sure
Though perhaps not al immediate sentence
of death. Danton was hero, compared
with this cold, calculating, creeping miscre-
ant; for his passions, thongh exaggerated
had at least some touch of humanity. and his
brutal ferocitv was supported by brutal cour-
; age. Rnbespicrre was coward. who sign
; ed death warrants with hand that shook,
though his heart was relentless. He pos
r sessed no passions on which to charge his
crimes; they were perpetrated in cold blood,
and upon mature deliberation.
Marat, the third of this Internal triumvi-
rate, had attracted the attention of the low
er orders. by the violence of his sentiments
in the journal which he conducted from the