Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-09
GAZETTE.
NIRABEAU, THE FRENcHMAN.

..n
ia. IeIt behind him most interesting work. en-
nted .Recollecrions of Mirabeau, aud OF the
two first Legislative Assemblies" This work
mas been received throughout Europe as one OF
,re,t merit and Importance, and deservedly so;
for il contains in brief space, the best account
$50 have read Of the most extraordinary men OF
modern times; and. whit, the first impulses aud
moye,nsnt Of the French Revolution.
This mos, extraordinary man, whose character
!, sill problem TO most OF those who knew him.
va, Honore Gabriel Riqaetti de Mrabeau. who
ruled the National Assembly, who directed the
uoi,ical opinions Of twenty five millions of men
| n two years together, and who was. for that pc
Rod, what has been cleverly termed - the intel
|leetuaI Dictator of France This champion
for the people was born noble; his father was the
Naroui, de Mirabeau, of whose ancestors we
know nothing; but, on his mothers side he coa!d
hast descent Of which even those who dislike
Or care not for aristocracy might be proud; for
she was grand daughter Of Riquet, constructor OF
;he famous canal of Lansuedoc. Mirabeau was
I u,y in face amsst 10 hideOusness; and lie was
perfectly conscious OF this: for, IN wrl ting 10
a lady who had never seen HIN, he told her u
fancy the face Of tiger that had been marked
with the smallpox, and then she would have an
Idea Of his countenance; and at later period,
when his voice and gestures and appearance
|sruck the National Assembly with awe. he was
accustomed to say, il any of the members had
Shown refractoriness during his absence, ="
|Slll 20 down TO the House and SHOW them my
| wild boar's head, and that will silence them"
All the circumstances of the times were favor
|able to bis ambition aud his wonderful talents
A -. IN
Lc life with more disadvantages, as regarded his
Oun character, against him. He had been sew
snteen times in prison; he had deserted his own,
bad run away with other mems wives; he had the
most scandalous lawsuits with his own family;
bad been condemned as 4 criminal; exiled; exc
kuted in efligy; he had written and published one
Oi the most depraved of books, had led one Of the
most dissipated and obscene lives; aud was known
10 be dangerous enemy to those he hated, and
pn insure friend to those he pretended to love.
The morals Of the French capital had been re-
dlted in the days Of despotism to degraded
Standard; but. according to Dumont, when the
name Of Mlrabeau was first read in the National
Assembly among those alected to represent the
French nation, It was Kissed and hooted by all
present.
Ia spite, however, Of all this, in few weeks
be was every thing with those men who had con.
slered themselves disgraced by being associat-
Ell with him; and gathering influence and power
By bounds, and BY slow steps, he became almost
the absolute master, of the National Assembly,
the mass of whose members he moved and con-
|rulled with as much facility as the Italian show
nan moves his wooden puppets. His talents
|aud energy were indeed, as we have character
hed hem-,coaderfui, and so was his e|olUence;
|but these qualities would not of themselves have
given him the supremacy he obtained. There
we're two other advantages in his favor; the first
O which we have never heard sufficient import.
ance given to--the second, of which NJ Dumont
alone has clearly, and it appears to US, honestly,
stated.
During his long imprisonments Mirabeau had
profoundly studied the science Of politics; and
during his exile in foreign countries, and parti
cularly IN Englaaj. he had attentively investi'
gated the practical part of government; he was
the only man that entered the National Assem-
bly, we'll acquainted with the necessary forms
and true spirit OF a representative government.
all the rest had 10 learn their rudiments. There
was aIent-there was even genius in abundance
but all these new legislators were theorists;
Alraoeau was the only practical man.
la the second place, he had wonderful art
witch ne had also acquired during his misfor-
tunes. when his poverty obliged him to write and
compile books and pamphlets for his living) Of
'ea'y avai!ing himself Of the assistance of other
men, aud OF working up their materials so as to
make them appear his own. The whole matter
o. several of Mirabeau's mos, admired speeches
vas furnished by Nj. Dumont himself, or by a.o.
her citizen Of Geneva, NJ. Duroyerai; aud, ge.
Aefa'Iy, he laid under contribution the informa-
0a and experience of all his associates. When
= was deficient on any point, or what was more
'equentIy the case. pressed for time, he would
ssemOle these gentlemen, and from their CONVEX
A'On' their notes, or digested essays, get up all
e~anted. and proceed forthwith to asfonish the
assembly, which his wonderful fund Of know
FsIse and flashes Of eloquence. it must be said,
~ ~ really make the matter his own; his powers
adaptation were as those of invention in
'aer men.
N'rabeau's hatred to the ancient despotism,
mplacable; but he seems to have had no OBJ
saOa to constitutional monarchy. Great
Sss'urity still hangs over these matters; but
~ rs sand that, seeing the democratic principle
gaming too much strength and the revolu.
VI going too far, he had undertaken 10 stop
march, and that the nesotiations with the 1
fho Sc, II