Southern Argus., 1841-12-07
MARAT.


One Of the most interesting positions Of
Tiers History ofthe French Revolution
/, that in which the character Of Marat is
portrayed. He was one of the master
spirits Of the bloody period, and for bold.
ness and proaigocy Of political sentiment
was without an equat He published a
paper at the time, which abounded with
the most inhammalory harangues and IN
,endiary appeals. Among the notes are
the particulars, not only of Marats birth
and history. but of his personal appear
nnce. is stated that he was born OF
Calv,ni,tic parents in l744, was not FIVE
feet high; his face was hldeous, and his
beod monsirous for his size. From ma
ture he derived daring mind, an ungov-
ernabls imagination, yindiciive temper
aud feroc Gus heart. He studied med
cine, before he settled in Paris. where he
wos long in indgence. AT last he obtained
a situation of veierinl surgeon to the
Count d'Artois. At the period ofthe rev.
oulion, his natural enthusiasm, rose to di-
rium, and he set up journal entitled
The Peoples Friend" in which he prea-
ched up revolt, murder and pillage. In
1890, Lafayette layed siege to his house.
but he found an asylum in that of an act
ress, who was induced by her husband to
admit him. In the different searches
made after him, the cellars of his parti
sans and the vaults of the Cordeler's
church successively gave him shelter, and
thence he continued to send forth his
iournal. In August Marat become mem.
Der of the municipality; was one of the
chief instigatorS Of the September maSsa-
ere, and even proposed to Danton to set
the prisen on fire. Several deputies pres.
sed the assembly to issue warrant for
his arrest; but thev could not obtain it, for
Danton and Robespierre we're his supper
ters. On one occasion Marit said to the
people: Massacre 100000 part,sans oil
the former order of things!" Soon after
he was made president of the JacobIn So
Ciety. Marat was stabbed to the heart
while in the bath, by Charlotte Corday.
lie had some talent; wrote and spoke with
facility, in diff'use, ncoherent, but bold
and impassionate manner. After his
death, honors almost divine were paid tc
him, and in the Place du Carronsel a sort
Of pyramid was raise in the celebration
ofnin, within which we're placed his bust
his bathing tub, his writing desk, and lamp
and a sentinel was posted there, who one
night del, either ofcold or horror. Event
ually, however, France Indignantly brok,
his bust, tore his remains from the Pan
theon. and ragged them through the mud
The following is another graphic des
crptlon ofthis polii cal monster.
"Marat's political exhortatons begal
and ended, like the howl Of bloodhoun
for murder. IL wolf could have writer
q Journal, the gaunt and famished wretcI
could not h We raved more eagerly 70
slaughter 1t was blood which was Ma
rats constant demand; not in drops from
the breast Of an individual, not in pun,
streams from the saughters Of famiie:
but blood in the profusion of an ocean
We are inclined to believe that there wa
n touch Of insanity in his unnatural fero
city; and the wild and sqdalid features c
the wretch appear 10 have intimated dc
gree Of alienation Of mind. Danton mur
derei to glut his rage; Robespierre I
avenge his injured vanity, or to remove
rival whom he hoted; MaTat from th
same instructive love Of blood which indI
ces a wolf to continue his ravages of ii
flock, long after his hunger is appeaseC
"None exercised more fatal nhuenc
upon the period in which he lived tina
Nurat. lie depraved the morals of II
existing parties, alerady sufficiently la1
and to him were owing the two idei
which the committee of public safety rea
lied at later period-the EXTERN. .natio
of mut,tudes and the dictatorship.
"a woman of Toulouse, who was dee
rous Of obtaining the liberty ofa reiatio
resolved on soliciting Marat. On goiI
to his house, she was informed that
was absent, but he heard the voice of {
male, and came out himself. He wo
boots, bur no stockings, pair of old leat
er breeches, a white silk waist coat, am
dirty shirt,-the bosom of which was op
and showed his yellow chest. Long dir
nails, skinny fingers, and a hideous 70
suited exactly this whimsical dress.
took the lady's hand, aud leading her il
very pleasant room furnished with b
and white damask, decorated with $
curtains, elegantly drawn up in festoo
and adorned with China vases full of n
ural flowers, which were then scarce a
dear. Marat sat down beside her Of
luxurlant couch, heard the recital she
TO make, became interested in her, kis:
her hand, and promised to set her cou
free. La consequence, he was liberia
from prison within twenty four hours. "