Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-27
MADAME ROLAND.

M political manguvre was ever worse managed
than the first French Revolution, or better than
the last. The first produced monsters, or beings,
both good and bad out Of the usual course of ma
turc. Among those, one of the most celebrated
was Madame Roland, character that would have
been found in other country, and in France at
no other time. Her life forms interesting por-
ton of volume lately published by Carter g. Hen
dee, entitled the Ladies' Family Library The par
ticulars are most fully supplied by Madame Roland
| herself, in her Memoirs. In childhood, she was
| noted for degree of inaexbility of temper, that
no authority or punishment could bend, we'll as
for great quickness of apprehension, and desire to
learn. At the age of nine, having access to Pin
tarch, she received such a republican bias, that,
says she, 81 actually wept because not born
4 Spartan or Roman. In all my readings, /
took the side of the champions of equality l re-
tired with the Plebeians to the Aventine Hill, and
gave my vote to the Tribunes." Mademoiselie
Philpon, for she called before marriage spe-
culated as freely religion as in politics, and be-
came Deist. In her memoirs, she describes her
own person with the utmost frankness. "Not one
of my seatures,' she writes, sis regular, yet all
| please. My mouth is little widc-you may see
Prettier every day-but you will none with
smile more tender and engaging. My look is
frank animated and tendon, varying in its express
ion like the afectonate heart, of which it indicates
the movements--it sometimes astonshes, but it
charms much more. My nose gave me some un-
business, thought it little too full ut the end
Many lovers, of the rank of tradesmen, came,
for her father was tradesman) only to be reject
ed M. Roland, whom she married, consider
able her senior, but he intelligent and an early
republican. Both engaged zealously in the poti-
cal regeneration of mankind. Roland, or as it
might rather be said, his wife, became the leader
OF the Gironde party, and the Court, to conclate
it, appointed him Minister of the Interior. The
Mountain, however, With the Cerberas beads of
RobespIerre Danton and Marat, prevail d, 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 pill.
Her ucb au1,t iloI n, l.
she was vainly trying to his rresoute friends
at the Convention. She made no effort to escape
the storm, and was lodged in prison but with cour-
age unsubdued
In those days as many crimes committed in
the name of justice 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, TO be yiruous
and just, was crime enough. Her friends could do
little TO mitigate the hardships of her confinement
Aware, hewever, of her passion for flowers, they
sent them to her often, and the jailor himself be-
came gallant on the occasion, saying TO her, as
only French jailor could say, 81 shall always call
this room the PdriLion of Flora in remembra nee
you" In the nearest apartment was Brissot. in
tho next Charlotte Corday. After cruel n,ocke-
ry OF being set at liberty, she was carried to the
cell OF prison where she was surrounded with
blasphemy and deprayity "Wbo can wonders
says she. "at my contempt of lifc7 who cannot
understand that death itself has charms7n Thu
Jailor was moved with her serenity and dignity
and invited her to pass her days in the little paror
She would listen TO overturcs of her friends for
escape, having resolved to await her fate lest her
fight should axssperate the esenies of her hus
bands Here, hourly expecting the SUNNI ons to the
scaffold, she wrote her memoirs; illuminated while
living, she hoped, after death, 60 receive Justice
These celebrated memoirs written ia style IT.
resstby fascinating, and with great frankne and
holiness. The trial to which she was subjected
was nero mockogy, and tho 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--'Yo on have thought me worthy
TO partake of the fate of the great and good men
whom you have murdered. l shall try 10 carry to
the scaffold tho courage that they have
shown" Madame Yalna, wife Of The actor was
prisoner with Madame Roland, and relates that
she passed her last night in playing on the harm
sichord, but the airs were strange and friphtf1l
On the day Of her execution, she was dressed neat
ly in white. She passed lightly from the prison.
intmating by a sign TO her fellow prisoners that
she going forth to death Bamaruue was her
companion the scafold, but his courage was infe
rior to hers. On the way, however she smoke en-
cheerfully, that she made him smile several times
On the scafFold, she bowed TO tho statue Of Iitor
ty, and uttered the memorable words
ooh, Liberty, how many crimes arc committed
in thy namew
Roland, on hearing Of her fate left his rstrea,
and kilIcd himself in the fields that his protectors