Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-09-28
Com. THos Ap. C. JONES,
AIlRABEAU.

There have been men in particular ages, W no might
be CONSIDERED concentrating within themselves all their
conntrys CHARACTERISTIC represented the Slime time
both the good and evil traits. ThenstocIes the very
representation OF AL the virtues and vices of Athens in
his day. The moral antileSis; Acibiades was still
remarkable compound ii the manifold virtues vices
t'lbles &c, of this Athens, later and more
degenerate period. la lokng France, during the
session OF the National Assembly, shall find the eel
ebraed Nrabeau, without doubt, be the FRENCH
MAN Of that epoch; and if Louis XIV could say in his
day 81 am the nation!" Mrabeau could say, in his
latter days, with truth, "Iam The National As
scmbM!"
This extraordinary man had been born among the
mobility, and been mareated. lie had experienced
every kind OF tyranny from his very biIth-that Of Ills
own alher OF the government, and OF the tribunals He
was thus trained to despse the government, and The up
per class of French society. He had all manner
Of men, from drill segeants to prime ministers, from his
Inmates Of he jas of Ponarlier princes and kings
lie had made himself notorious by his dlsooute
nes and his quarrelS. Theirs speaks of him trghtfu
with uglness and genius, yet no man had more aorS
or was successful in them. His character was 50
low at the meeting OF the general that there was
a murmur III the Assembly when he first entered to
! take his seat But, did this eccentric man
appear In the tribune, than his power became manifest
lie was UNNECESSARILY superior to every mind with
which he came in contact in the Assembly. lie had
in fact, no second-it Eclipse first and the rest
1
soon became the member that gazsd upon by every
eye, and counted by every order Proud Of his high
qualities, and jesng his vices, bv turns naughty
and supple, he some by his faltery, awed others
by his sarcasms and led all in his train by the
binary influence Of his oratory. OF the Able Maury,
the leader Of cole droit, he used to say "N hen he
the right side, debate; when he the wrong,
crush him." Ills sarcasm, irony, originality 50
great, that everybody afraid Of hiu in the tribune
The asocracy at last. not being able to meet hun in de-
bate, made effort to get rid Of him by duel. Many
sent him challenges, but he always refused. merely
noting down their namss IN his p'ckeb)ok. 1T is not
fair" said he, in regard Of his opponents "io
expose man of talent like az st block
head like him. What is very extraordinary in
such country France, this conduct did not
bring him into contempt, his cour-
age be doubted. There something martial in
his mind bold in lis manner, that conId i'm
pue cowar ice TO Kim. He made parsans every where
among the people-ln the very court and, crown
the OF his greatness, he learned The
secret of his power, aud the that opened
10 him, he suddenly became of the hardest working
who have appeared the stage Of action ''l
had not lived with him." says Dumunt, Il should
never have known what make If one day." A
day for this man more than week month is
for others. The of things he guided together
pTodlgious; from The schemng The executing,
moment was lost. The fact is that he last tough
was his physical frame, overwoIked himself and died
from fever generated by lis excessive labjrs
Southern Quarterly Reriew.