Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-28

nsrd, J. +. K night, Frederick Stoever.
Secretares-Antonv Laussat, George N. Baker,
+. w. L. Freeman, ]. l.. Frederick.
Madan,e Roland No political manouvre was
ever worse managed than the first French Revo.
luton, or better than the last. The first Dr0duc-
ed monsters, or beings both good and bad, out OF
the usual course OF nature. Among these, one
Of the most celebrated was Madame Roland. a
character that would have been found IN no other
country, and in France at no other time. Her
life forms an interesting portion Of volume. late
ly published by Carter & Hendee, entitled the
LADIES' Family Library. The particulars are
most fully supplied by Madame Roland herself.
in her Memoirs In childhood. she was noted
for degree of innexibilty of temper, that no au-
thority or punishment could bend, as we'll as fo'
great quckness Of apprehension, and desire to
learn. At the age Of nine. having access TO PIu
tarch, she received such republican bias, that,
says she, 81 actually wept because was nor
born Spartan or Roman. In al my readings.
took the side os the champions OF equality. l
retired with the PIebeians to the Ayent'ne Hill.
and gave my vote to the Tribunes." Mademo-
iselle Phipon, for so she was called before mar
riage, speculated as freely in religion as in poll
tics, and became Deist. In her memoirs, she
describes her own person with the utmost frank
ness. "Not one of my features" she writes,
..is regular, We, oil please. My mouth is little
wide-you many see prettier every day-but YOU
will see none with a smile more tender and en-
gazing. My look is frank, animated and tender,
varying in its expression like the affectionate
heart, of which it indicates the movements-it
sometimes astonishes, but il charms much more.
My nose gave me some uneasiness, | thought it a
little too full at the end"
Many lovers, Of the rank Of tradesmen, came,
flor her father was tradesmau) only to be reject
ed. NJ. Roland, whom she married, was conSld-
cradle her senior, but he was intelligent, and an
early republican. Both engaged zealously in
the political regeneration Of mankind. Roland,
or as it might rather be said, his wife, became
the leader Of the Gironde party, and the Court,
to Conciliate it, appointed him Minister OF the In
terror. The Mountain, however, with the Ger
berus heads Of Robespierre, Danton and Marat,
prevailed, but they could not intimidate the
naughty spirit Of Madame Roland. She was so
we'll aware Of her danger; that she never slept
without pistol under her pillow. Her husband
was prevailed upon to fly. while she was vainly
irving to rouse his irresolute friends at the Con.
vention. She made 10 effort to escape the storm,
and was lodged in prison, but with courage un-
subdued.
In those days as many crimes were committed
in the name Of Justice as IN that of liberty, and
there was little chance that her Imprisonment
would have any termination but that Of death
To have offended any of the three leaders, or to
be vir,uous and just, was crime enough. Her
friends could do little to mitigate the hardships
of her confinement. Aware, however. OF her
passion for flowers. they sent them to her often,
and the jailur himself became gallant on the &C.
caslon, saving to her, as only French jailor
could say, II shall always call this room the
Pavilion Of Flora, in remembrance OF you."-
In the nearest apartment was Brssot, in the next
Charlotte Corday. After a cruel mockery Of
being set at liberty, she was carried to the cell
Of prison where she was surrounded with bias
phemy and depravity. Who can wonder,"
says she, "at my contempt of lfe7 who cannot
understand that death itself has charms!" The
TAILOR was moved with her serenity and dignity,
and invited her to spend her days in the little
parlor. She would listen to no overtures Of her
friends for escape, having resolved to await her
fate, lest her flight should exasperate the enemies
of her husband Here, hourly expecting the
summons to the scaffold, she wrote her memoirs:
illuminated while living, she hoped, after death,
to receive justice.
These celebrated memoirs are written in a
style rress,bly fascinating, and with great frank
ness, and holiness. The trial to which she was
subjected, was mere mockery. and the only
witness in her favor testified to the truth at the
cost of his life. She replied to her judges who
pronounced the sentence Of death" You have
thought me worthy to partake of the fate of the
great and good men whom you have murdered.
shall try to carry to the scaffold the same cou.
rage that they have shown" Madame Talma,
(wife Of the actor was prisoner with Madame
Roland, and relates that she passed her last
night in playing on the harpschord, but the airs
were strange and fiishtful. On the day of her
execution. she was dressed neatly in white
She passed lightly FUN the prison, intimating