Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-07
From Carlyle's French Revolutionl
Death of Mirabeau.

Bur Mirabeau could not live another year,
any more than he could live another thousand
years Mems years are numbered, and the tale
of Mraheaus was now complete Important or
unimportant; to be mentioned in World-H History
for some centuries. or not to be mentioned there
beyond a day or two,-it matters not to peremp-
tory Fate. From amid the press of rudy busy
Life the Pale Messenger beckons silently
wide-spreading interests. projects, salvation Of
French Monarchies, what thing soever man has
on hand. he must suddenly quit it all, and go.
Vert thou saving French Monarches vert
thou backing shoes on the pont Neuf! The
most important of men cannot stay did the
Worlds History depend on an hour, that hour
is not to be given Whereby, indeed. it comes
that these same rouid-hdre-beeiS are mostly
vanity; and the Worlds History could never in
the least be what it would, or might or should
by any manner Of potentiality, but simply and
altogether what it is.
The fierce wear and tear of such an existence
has wasted out the giant oaken strength of Mi
rabeau. A fret and fever that keeps heart and
brain on fire. excess of effort, of excitement
excess of all kinds labor incessant, almost be.
yond credibility IF | had not lived with him.
says Dumont, ! should never have known what
IA man can make of one day what things may
be placed within the interval of twelve hours.
a day for this man was more than a week or a
month is for others: the mass of things he ru.
ded on together was predictions from the schem-
nr to the executing not a moment lost Mon
sieur lie Comte." said his Secretary to him once.
g what you require is impossible" ''lmposs-
bic !" answered he, starting from his chair,
" Ne me dles .jamaiS &c bete de mot Never name
TO me that blockhead of a word" And then the
social repasts the dinner which he gives as
Commander of National Guards which cost five
hundred pounds :: alas. and the Syrens of the
Opera; and all the pinrer that is hot in the
mouth; down whu, II course Is This hurled
Cannot Mrabeau stop; cannot he fly, and save
himself alive No! There is Nessus' Shirt
on TINS Hercules he must storm ana burn there
without rest, I'LL he be consumed. Human
strength, never so ilercuiean, has It's measure.
Herald shadows fit pale across the ire-brain OF
Mlrabeau heralds OF the pale rePose. While
he losses and storms, stranlng every nerve, in
that sea OF ambition and confusion, there comes.
sombre and still, montion that for him the
issue of it will be swift death.
In January last. you might see him aS Pres-
dent of the Assembly; : his neck wrapt in linen
cloths, at the evening session. there was sick
heat of the blood alternate darkening and flash.
ing in the eyesght he had to apply leeches.
after the morning labor. and presid, bandagcd
At parting he embraced me- saws Dumont
"with an emotion | had never seen in him: |
am divine. my friend: DIVING as by slow fire we
shall perhaps not meet a1ain When | am
gone. they will know what the value of m, was.
The miseries have held hack will bnrst from
all sides ON France" sickness cives loud.r
WARNING: but cannot be listened 10. On the
9th dav of March. nroceedino towards the AS
snnhl- no had IN sock rost and holm il, Friend
do ,,morck's Inv Tho road and law there Tor an
hour. haIf.(ain,cd, stretched on sofa. TO the
/ Assembly nevertheless he went. rs if in spire of
Destiny itself; smoke. loud and eauer. five sew
er,l times then united them-tor ever. lie
stems ont. utterly exhausted. into the 'ruilercs
Gardens. many people prcss round him. as us.
ual. with applicntions. memorials; he saws to
,h, Friend who was with him, Take me out
of tbis,"
And so. on the last day of March, 1871, end
less anxious multitudes beset the Rue de la
Chaussee d'Antin; necessarily inquirinr with
in doors there, in that House numbered in our
time. 40. the oyerwearied niant has fallen down
to die. Crowds of all parties and kinds of all
ranks from the King to the meanest man! The
King sends publicly twice a-dav to inquire pr
vately besides from the world at large there i,
no end of nquring "A written bulletin i:
handed ont every three hours is copied and cir
culatcd; in the end, it is printed The People
spontaneously keep silence; no carriage shall
enter with its noise there is crowdng press
) ure; but the Sister Of Mrabeau is reverend,
recognized, and has free way made for her