Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-11-16
A NIGHT WITH THE JACOBIN CLUB.

narrator has Just just escaped from death by the
guilotlne, and in dashing along through dark
lanes and alleys, suddenly encounters a crowd of
Sans Culottes, who are on their way to the NEE
ting Of the Jacobins. He is compelled to Join
them, and in their company observes what fol-
! lows:
We now plunged into the darkness of a vast
pile, evidently once a convent, where the chill of
the massive walls struck to the marrow. / felt
as if walking through charnel house. We
hurried on; trembling light toward the end Of
| the immense and lofty aisle. was our guide; and
the crowd, long familiar with the way, rushed
through the lntricacies, where many feet of
monks had trod before them, and where perhaps
many deed that had Stunned the day had been
perpctratcd. At length u spiral stair brought us
to long gallery, where our entrance was mark
! cd with shout OF congratuatOn; and tumblnI
over the benches and each other, we at length
took our seats in the highest part which, in both
the club and National Assembly, was called, from
It's hight, the Mountain, and from the characters
/ which generally held it, was a mountain of
! flame. In the area below, once the nave of the
/ flames. SAT- the Jacobin club now. for the first
| time saw the memorable and terrible assem-
/ bagc. And nothing could be more suited than
/ its aspects to its deeds The hall was of such
extent that a great portion Of it was hardly visi-
I be an the few lights which hung from the
walls, scarcely displayed even the reinainder.-
| The French love of decoration had no place
here: neither statues nor pictures, neither gIld-
! ing nor sculpture, relieved the heavineSs of the
/ building Nothing of the arts was visible but
| their rudcSt specimens. the grim etngles OF
monks and martyrs, or the coarse backenIng
carvings of a lar1arous age The hall was fun
for the club contained nearly two thousand mem
bers. and on this night all were present. Yet,
/ ,f
/ when any speaker had concluded, and the habit
! ua murmur Of every huge assembly they might
/ have been taken for host of spectrrs-thC area
had so entirely the aspect Of huge vault. the air
/ felt so thick and the gloom was 50 fcebly dis
porscd by the chandeliers. All was sepulchral.
/ The CHAR Of the president even stood on tomb
an antique structure of black marble. The ele-
waited stand from which the speakers generally
! addressed the aSscmby had the strongest resenl-
blance 10 a scaliod, and behind il, covering the
wall, were suspended chains and instruments Of
torture of every horrd kind, Is ID IN the dungeons
of old times; and though placed there for the
sake of contras. with the mercies OF Il more en-
hghtened age. vet enhancing the general idea of
! Il scene of death.
II required no addition to render the hall Of
the Jacobins fearful; but the meetings were al
ways held at hight, often prolonged through the
! whole night Always stormy, and often san
! culinary. daarers were drawn, and pistols fired
-assa,aiuajious in the streets sometimes fol-
lowed bitter attacks ON the benches; and at this
period, the mutual wrath aud terror OF the fac
ions had MS N to such hight, that every meet
nr mich be only l,r ludc OF exile or the axe;
and the delibaraton of this especial night must
settle the question whether the monarch or the
Jacobin cluhwas to ascend the scattold. twas
the debate on the execution OF the unhappy
Louis ANi
+ Thcarrival of the crowd among whom | had
taken an unwilling seat, evidently gave new spl-
rit TO the reai,ides-the moment was critical
Even in Jac obinism all were not equally black
and the fear of the national rerulslon at SO DIES
perate a deed starled many, who might not have
been withheld By feelings Of humanity. The
! leaders had held secret consultation while the
debate wa, drawing on It's slow length, anc
namou's old cxprliant of terrors was RESOLVED
on. His omisSarias had been sent round Parl'
To summon all his banlui; and the low cafes an,
every haunt of violence and every drunkenness,
Of crime had poured forth. The remnant OF tho
Mars es "A gang OF actna galley slaves WHO
lrl the massacre the paid a>~a,,}ns OF the Ma
rails. andtae ,ubvCars OF the Royal Guard, who
g.tnr treason To ia, kiur, had tuund protitah
trade in liyinr on the rbonrv and blood Of tin
: n,hIes and PRIESTS formed this reinforcement an
,bair eniraIc, in.o4hc gallery wa, recognised
the c!apqinr Of hands from below which the
answered by roar, accompanied with signif
cant sign OF clashnL their knives and sabrcs.
"Danton Immediately rushed into the tribun.
had seen him before, on the fearful nirF
which prepared the attack on the palace; but h
then was in the hast and effective savagcness
Il, the rabbc. IL, now played the part Of the cadc
of particular sect; and the commencement {
- his address atorted something of the decorum
pu5ic council.
Intiis there was an artifca; for restless q
the club was. il still retained ieaously of tn
superior legislative rank Of the assembly Of nj
nj ,,oDlI r.,ra,ana.ivas, the Convention. TT
IS FORMS # lie Coayenuon were strictly initiate
:" and ey.o th. :, .acol.ns who usually led the d
10 bate. scruaalouslv wore the dress of the best
d,rs. Rahcsperrc was deliberately dressc
~ Whenever he appeared in the tribune, and eve
Danton abandoned the cIHajlLe Costume Of Il
- tim.
." was struck with his snowy stature. his DO
frahead and commanding attitude, as he sto'
a. vayinr his hand over the multitude below, as
~ h, waved sceptre. His appearance was r
ceiycd with general shout from the CALLER
j. which he returned witha profound low, and the