Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-31
FALL OF THE CIR0XDNS.

There is no passage in history more strking
lhln the rial, cundam nation and death of lh1
leaders of the GIrundins, the only true Reppb-
licans Of the French r voIuriul. These men
were tliIrty-lwo IN number, aal embraced most
OF the ahlesl and bisl myn OF france. Indeed
their tatl is 10 b. attributed 10 III in CON m,arl.
lively mild characters. winch. in lh .ir circ um.
Stanccs, perhaps, amounted To weakness. Had
Ih'y b,cn boIdrr they might have saved them
selves and their State They were brought to
trial BY he faction Of Rob spicrra, aud before
ono ol the most unjust courts that ever gave
ia Ignaul. Their mnIanchoy fate, and the he.
rolsm with which they met it. have been called
air'S to our mind by reading lanlrine's new
volume. This is his description OF the night be-
fore tticir execution -
They were all confined for this last night
in the great dungcun-thal Hall Of Death. The
lrumna had ordered that the sill warm corpse
OF Ealaza should b, taken back TO the prison,
carried on 'ha same cart with his accompccs
+ 10 lha place Of execution, and be buried with
them.
I The G niarn' placed til, body in Il corner
oIlhe prlsoa. The Giroudlns, one after anoh-
cr, kissed iha hand OF their heroic friend. They
covered his fac with his mantle. 'To-mor.
row!' said they to the corpse and they gath
cred thair strength for tn coming day. Ii was
near midnight The d,pmy BMlu3l. proscri-
bed like them, bat concealed in Paris, had pro-
missed To send to them from without, on The day
OF their judgment, Il last rrpa,l--oI triumph or
OF death, according rs they might be acquitted
or condemned. BY the help Ola friend, he kept
his word. The luncraI supper was spread in the
great dungeon. easily viaadS, rare wines,
h1wer' aud lights covered III! table oltha prison.
"Th.m.al lasted ill tn dawn orday Vcrg-
nland, seated near the centre of the table, pre-
sided with the same calm dignity which he had
preserved during lho night Of the 10Th of Au-
gasl. while presiding over the Convention.
The guests ate and drunk with sobricty--
merely 10 recruit thair strength Their dis
course was grave and solcmn-lhough not sad
Many of them spoke of the immortality Of the
SoaI, aud expressed their belief in future life.
Towards morning several retired to their cells,
but thirteen remained in the great dungeon.-
The Able Lambcrl, the lIiend Of }rissot-who
hadbeen waiting al the door orlhc great dungeon
all night-waS thyn allowed to enter and offer
hl' tlili't9t
Al ten LsayS Lrmartinol the cxaculioners
entered TO prepare the heads of the condemned
for the knio uad bind their hands,
&c ,nsom,, picking up Il lock orhis dark hair,
handed ito the Abb, Lambert, begging the
priest to give it to his wi'a-whose place of ref
ug1 he namod 10 him. Tell her that this is all
! can send her; but that every one ofmy dye.
ing thoughts are directed towards her. Verg-
MAUD drew forth his watch and wrote with the
point Of Il pin Il few initials and the date of the
3olh OF October in the golden case. lie then
slipped it into he hand oto of the spectators
IN order that ii might be given to young girl
for whom he entertained hrolhcry love. and
whom II was said ho intended 10 have married.
Arrived al the foot of the scafJld, they en-
braccd each other as Il sign Of communion in
freedom, in life and in death. They then re-
sumad their funeral strain in order to encourage
themselves mutually, and send to the latest mo.
m3n the Voice Of his friends to the one undergo
ug execution. All died bravey-SiIIory with
irony. Placed on the platform, he walked round
ii, bowing 10 the people, as though 10 thank lhqm
for glory and the scafJd. Each Time the axe
came down, Il voice less was heard The rows
Of the condemned were gradually thinncd, at
h. foot of the guillotinc. Olc voice alone con-
tinuod lhJ MarSGaSe to the last--u was that
Of NcrgnauI. Fhosa dcalhess strains were
his latest words"