Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-02
MISCEL L A n Y .
Charlotte Corday.

-'N - - =. =.
Charlotte COrday.
THE HEROINE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
Had Charlotte Corday lived IN the days OF the
Greek or Roman republics, the action which
has given celebrity to her name would have ele-
waited her memory to the highest rank OF civic
virtue; but as it is, no monument has ever been
raised in her memory, nor Is IL even Known
where her body rests.
Marie Adelaide Charlotte Corday was born in
1769 Mt St Saturnin in Normandy. Her family
belonged to the Norman nobility, of which il
was not the least ancient, and she was descended
on the female side, from Corneille, the great
French author, BY some called the Shakespeare
of France. She was educated at the Abbey OF
the Holy Trinity at Caen, and from her earliest
youth evinced superior intellectual endowments
From peculiar bent Of mind very uncommon
in females, especially at that period, Charlotte
Corday devoted herself to the study OF polite:
and the theory ofgovernment. Strongly tlnctur
II with the philosophy Of the last century, anc
deeply read in ancient history, she had formed
notions of republicanism which she hoped to see
realized in her own country. friend at hrs'
to the revolution, she eXulted in the opening
dawn of freedom; but when she saw this dawn
overcast. she thought only OF the means OF a
verting the calamities which threatened to en-
slave the French people.
o. the overthrow of the Girondins and theil
axnulsion from the Convention, Charlotte Cor
Jav was residing at Caen with her relation, Mad
anne de Broteville. She had always been an en-
thus;ostic admirer of the principles OF this party
so eloouently developed in their writings, ano
bod looked up to them rs the saviours OF France
She was therefore not prepared for the weakness
and even pusillanilnity which they afterwards
displayed. :,
The Giroudist representatives sought refuge IL
the department of Calvados, where they caleo
upon every patriot to take up arms IN delenee o.
freedom. On their approach to Caen, Cnarl0tte
Corday at the head OF the young girls OF tha'
city bearing crowns and flowers went out te
meet them. The civic crown was presented u
I.aniunais and Charlotte herself placed IL upoi
| his head. =.
Marat was at this period the ostensible chic
of the Mountain party, and the most sangunar!
of its members. He was monster both in mine
and person his lank and distorted features Gov
cred with leprosy, and his vulgar and feroclou'
leer were true index of the passions Which
worked in his mind. A series Of unparalleled
trooities had raised him to the highest powe
with his party : and though he professed to b'
merely passive in the revolutionary government
his word was law with the Convention and mS
fiat irrecoverable. In every thing related TO TN
ACQUISITION of wealth, he was incolruptble, an'
even gloried in his poverty. But the immehs
influence he had acquired turned his brain, ant
he gave full range to the propensltles OF his na
ture now unchecked by any authority. lie ha'
formed principles of political faith in which,per
baps, he sincerely believed, but which wer
founded upon his inherent love of BLOOD and nj
hatred of every human being who evlnced tai
ents or virtue above his fellow-men. The gull
llotine was not only the alter of the distorte
thing he worshpped under the name OF Liberty
but it was also the instrument OF his pleasures
for the writhing of the victim who fell under 1t
axe pleased him. Even Robespierre attempte'
to check this unquenchable thirst OF huma
blood, but in vain opposition only eXclIeG Ma
rat To greater atrocities. lie would loudly ue
:, re that rivers of blood could purify the land
omd On he guillotine spared none whom he deslgna
w; Cborlot, q Corday having read his assertion
:, 1i,d' 80 h., odred thousand heads were requl
.;,,a' ~ oou onIndo M e the Liberties of the Frenc
T..o " cOnld not CO ntan her feelings what
sp9o avrIo;med ss there not in the whole coun
trv man bold enough L XII this monster Ia
Meanwhile an insurrecti, VI against the iuili' nn
faction was in progress, and tie GifonuiS's s nav
established central assembly at oaeii W uiteu
its operations. Charlotte Corday, aooonpaine'
bv her father. regularly attended the si'.iiss
t6is assembly where her striking beauty 'eiiuel
ed her the more remarkable, because from 'i
retired life she led, she was previously utlAno"l
to any of the members. Though the eioqaehG'
of the Girondins was here powerfully ulSp!'yeu,,
their actions but little correspondent Win IT,
liberatiny army had been formed IN the oePart
ment and placed under the command Vi genera
Felix Wimfpen. But neither tins general no
the deputies took any measures worthy vi LIZ
cause their proceedings were sPiruesS anu
masculate, and excited without cheeAlIs th'
spirits in power. Marat denounced the oirol
dins in his paper, and demanded tneii Si; "o"''
as necessary for the safety OF the repuDilc'
Charlotte Corday was deeply afflicted at tll
nerveless measures of the expelled deputies, ah'
imagining that she could succeed in destroying
Mar,t, the fall of his party must necessarily en-
sne She determined to offer up her own lie 10 ,
the rood of her country. She accordingly call
ed on Roba,'oux, one of the Girondist leaders
with whom she was not personally acquainted
and requested a letter of Introduction to Mons
Duperret, deputy favorable to the Girondin
and then Mt Paris. Having also requested bar
boroux to keep her secret, she wrote 10 he
father stating that she ad resolved to emlsrat'
k Plan
to England, and had set cut Privstsly icr 'iia
conntrv where she alone could live in safety.
She She arrived at Paris the beginning of July
179S, and Immediately called ulon, Dnperret.- :
But She found this deputy as deyo'd OF energy a. a.
of talent and therefore only made use OF nm te
assist her in transacting some private BUSINESS
A day or two after her arrival an lnclocnt oc-
Cured which is worthy of place here. pei ng
at the Tuilleries, she seated hersel upon apehGn
in the garden A little boy, attracted no d9ao' 10
by the smile with which she greeted nm, ennst-
ed her as a companion of his gambols. En-
couraged by the caresses he thrust his hand IN,
to her half open pocket, and drew forth small
pistol.
"What toy is this9" said he;
at is a toy" Charlotte replied, (which may
,rove very useful in these times" So saying
sbe quickly concealed the weapon, and looking
ronnd TO SEQ whether she was observed imme-
diotely left the garden.