The Arkansas advocate., 1831-05-25
MISCELLANY.
CHARLOTTE CORD8Y-

CHARLOTTE CORDAY.
 Greece and Rome in their most de- voted times, never produced finer in- stance of patriotism or intrepdity. and bruus and Thrasybulus, with ther elo- " around them, can hardly claim a higher rank among the iiborators of mankind, than tbis yourg heroine. She lived in the town of Caen, Normandy. III the hottest period of the revolution, l when Marat, the infamous friend of Ro- 1 bespierrc, was on this pinnacle power. ihls man, is q native of Geneva, was originally of low origin, having been a haWker of toys about the streets of fa- ITS. lie afterwards became editor of a Revolutionary Journal; and at length by dint of talent and fiaesse. was ap- pointed deputy to the French conven- l ton. Here he distinguished himself by that sort of eloqucnce which takes a. mong the vulgar, and still more by thc
 eroc'ous n3tare of his propositions. which made him noted for cruelty, even in that san9oinary assembly. His deeds 1t were in vain to relate. They realiz- cd all that fiction has told us, in it's wild est tales. and more than realized the barbarities attributed by history 10 An- tiochus and the worst of the Roman Emperors. Suffice it to say.they arous- ed the spirit of Charlotte Cordav; and with perfect conviction of the consc- qucnccs of such an attempt. she formed the vast design of riding her country of one whom she considered its bittcresf foa.
 For this purpose she came to Paris, and on the morning of the l2th of Juty, i793, wrote to Marat, informing him that she had matters of the deepest inn portaHce to communicate, and request ing an immediate audience. To this no answer was returned; and she again ad- dressed note in the following words "Iiaye you read my letter? If you have received it, rest on your politeness. 1t Is enough that am unfortunate to claim your altention.n This was on the 18th of the month, and on the evening of the same day she was admitted into his pre- scpcc. He had just stepped out of the bath, and was only half clothed when l Charlotte was announced. She would have retired an instant till he had iin- isaed his toilet, but he ordered her strait way 10 enter his apartment.
 'What do you wish with me?n were his first words, as he cast his lascivious eyes on the beautiful girl, who stood un- daunted before him. ''I demand justicc,' , was her reply. ''I came to plead tlEc cause of the unfortunate deputies who have taken refuge at Caen.o She held scroll in her hand; it profes>ed to be their petition, and Marat took it from her and glanced it over. It was never known how this petition came into Char lotte's possession. Ii had heen alleged that oue of the unhappy deputies was her lover, and that he entrusted fl to her hands for the purpose of being delivered 10 the tyrant. 1t has also been coajectured, tbat if he had grant ed this prayer, and extended mercy to I those pefseeuted men, she might for the time have waved her fatal purpose. An other, and moro probable opinion Is, that it was framed by herself, to serve as an cxcuse for intruding upon Marat. and enabling her the moro easily to car " her designs into execution. Be that as it may, it produced no effect on the savage heart. He read it with sheer. "Young woman," said he, ''yon have z come on an useless crrand. The fate of these men is sealed. have alrca. dy given orders for their apprehension. Their death wifi soon follow" Villain cried Charlotte; and drawing a poig.
 nard from her bosom, she plunged 1t ln-
 to the heart of the monster. He reel
 ed backwards and fell upon couch His only words wcre-.s'Iraltress, you
 have murderedme seize her, seize hern She gave him but one look of disdair
 and horror, and dashed down the bloody { weapon, strodc with fearless grandeur
 out of the room.
 She went home leisurely, nor made
 the least attempt to escape. Her mine had been made up as to the result 0 } the dreadful tragedy she had just acted , Meanwhile, the report that Marat va ,, killed spread like wild fire over Paris : \ sort of dreadful anxiety pervade'