Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-15
DAMON. kobEshiEhnn AND MAnAr.

Inc OeWOCIdllC iNtNlSW VI iatCu nus u very
curious and interesting article in relation to this
world.infamous triumvirate, written a few years
since by Nicholas Hentz, formerly a member of the
National Convention of France, and of the commit
tee of Legislation Of that body, but for many years
a citizen of this country. II is extremely valuable,
as the impressions and testimony Of one who min
gled in the intensely exciting scenes OF that great
drama-the French evolution-recorded and Civ
en- long after those scenes had transpired. IL is I'M
doubtedly true that until recently the French Rev
olution has not been understood, and the true phi
losophy thereof has not been developed. For near
ly half a century the horrid scenes Of the ieign Of
terror-the anarchy Of the Republic--and The des-
potism Of the empire, have been used byT Eng-
fish aristocrucy as the great bulwark against the
advance of popular liberty. Talk TO them Of enlar-
ging the political power of the people-of equali-
zing taxes-of abolishing church rates-of free
popular education-of general sufffage-and the
cry is remember the horrors of the French Revolu-
ton. So often has this been repeated, and with
such oracular- like wisdom, that even in this coun.
try The impression has gained ground that the ex-
cesses Of the French Revolution furnish arguments
against an extension of popular power. Carlyle
has done much to eradicate this impression, and has
shown with a sun-like clearness, and convincing
power, that the Revolution with all its revolving
scenes. was the legitimate and necessary result OF
a thousand years of tyranny, and that if other ma
tons would avoid a similar catastrophe, they must
early and promptly extend TO the people-the whole
~people-those rights and privileges which God and
nature designed they should enjoy. The recent
elaborate works of Theirs and Allison must produce
a similar result, altho' the philosophy of the latter
is in opposition 10 his facts, aristocraiic in its char
acter.
The article of IIentz contributes strongly TO the
same end. 1t gives us a lively picture of three of
the wonderful men of that wonderful epoch, and
gives us some additional insight into the causes and
motives that led to the reign of terror.
The following is his description of Danton ale
was living at Paris when the Revolution broke out,
and had originally p~ractised there the profession Of
an advocate, but the immortality and debanehery Of
his life having caused his name to be e4punged
from the rolls Of that order, he flung himself into
the revolution, body and soul, from its very outset
He possessed a talent Of Improving a great idea,
fit 10 hurry a multitude away,-together, too with
the art and power Of hurting it down, as it were,
upon his audience with a voice Of a Stentor and a
gesture that drove it strait and strongly home.
lie describes him as exceedingly corrupt, asd al
though a professed friend Of the revolution and the
people, he was alternately in the pay Of the King,
and of Pitt, the English minister.
Hentz belonged to the party of Robespiere, and
represents him as a grossly illuminated mai. In
early life he distinguished himself in his studies,
and was a prOtege of the Bishops of Arras, who
paid his expenses at College. He came to Paris TO
nr.,s;,a .s A, .dro-.s. ao1 rU.o~l.a .Ls.d.. l. al.
literary circles. He was intimate with Mons.
Comte de Provence, afterwards Louis XVIII. Our
author says he diaapproved the indiscrimiaate
b~utchery ordered by the Revolutionary Committee,
and for six weeks during the reign of terror did not
attend its sittings. He disapproved the proceed
ings against the Queen. He introduced the wor-
ship of the Supreme Being He lived -oha-ir .ad
simply and died poor. At his death he was on the
point of being married TO the daughter of a resPec-
table citizen-Dupliex. On the order for his arrest
the Convention, the deputy Lebas, said,
will have no share in the infamy Of this vote,
and | demand TO be myself arrested also" Robes
brother made the same demand, and they
were both included in the same arrest. The dep
uty David, the celebrated painter, was arrested for
having said the day before to RObespiere, in open
session, "Be not disturbed, if you are made TO drink
the hemlock, ] will drink it with you"
Surely there are none so vile but that they have
their good qualities and their friends, aud il we may
trust Mons. Hentz, Robespierre was not all bad,
though bad enough he certainly was.
MArat was a Swiss by birth, a physician by pro-
fession. His infamy arises not from any crimes in
which he was actually engaged, but from his being
through his journal, "The Friend of the People"
an i~nstigator to butchery and blood" His theory
was, the leaders opposed to the revolution must
fall-three lives to-day will save ten Tomorrow,
and a hundred next day, but if the three are not
taken, the ten and the hundred must be, 10 save
the Revolution. He with eagle eye saw from afar
the dangers TO the Revolution, and scented them
ain the tainted breeze" He seemed 10 discover in
advance, any betrayal Of the people, and denounced
the b~etrayers while they were yet p~rofessed friends
Of the Revolution, and Hentz says, "He was almos.
always right, but like Cassandra, he possessed the
gih of foretelling the truth, under the condition of.
never being believed" His assassination by Char.
lOtte Corday, is too romantic an incident not TO be
known by all.
We should like to make copious extracts from
the article, but our limits forbid.
The Keene IN. H. Sentinel gives the