The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-06-20
EXECUTION OF A MAYOR AND
COURTESAN.

Of the people for many years; and the Count
ess de Barry, one of the mistresses of Louis
XIV, perished by the guillotine-not exactly
on the same day, but very nearly at the same
time. Few events of the first French Revo-
luton more completely illustrate the instabil-
ity of the people during that season Of popu-
lar frenzy, than the fall and death of Bailly.
He was once a leader of the people; had
been president of the National Assembly |
took the celebrated Tennis Court oath, and
was, in short, guiding light in the revolu- !
ton up to the time when the atrocities of the
Reign of Terror rendered it impossible for
him to go farther, without placing sting in I
his conscience which time would have never
removed. Bailly hesitated, and was a DOOM
ed man. His wealth, his scholarly attain
ments in philosophy and astronomy, his So
cial position, past services and ardent love of
liberty-all could not save Lin. Companion
in spirit, in action, and in purpose with La
fayette-who, but for his seasonable escape
out of France, would have shared the fate of
Bailly. "The name of Bailly,' says Lamar
tine, "was an inscription upon the frontis-
piece of the revoluticn;' but, for all that, he
died terrible death, by the hands of men
whose leader he had been up to the complete
demolition of the throne, the death of the
king and royal family, and the establishment
of "the Republic, one and indivisible"
This eminent man, as already indicated,
fell under the displeasure of the Jacobins-
and in those days displeasure was the death
of the object of it. He had Withdrawn from
Paris, and was in retirement at Nantes, in
1893. But he desired to come within hear
ing distance of the revolution, approached
Paris, and was discovered, seized, and sent to
that prison-house Of despair-the Concierge
rie-where Marie Antoinette spent those ago
nizing days, the recital of which is enough to
: extort tears from eyes unused to weeping,
! even at this distance from the heart-rending
occurrences of that drama in human affairs.
5 The Re, olutionary Tribunal made quick
S work with this ex-mayor of Paris and presi-
a dent of the National Assembly. He was
: condemned almost without hearing and
y his death made as humiliating and frishttul
: as possible. We quote from Lamartine, a.
bridging somewhat as We go along:
"He marched to death amid the throng of
e the multitude. His punishment was pro-
i tracted assassination. His hair cut-his head
bare-his hands tied behind his back with an
/ enormous cord; his body covered only by a
d Shirt beneath a freezing sky November
: 1193,l lie slowl y trayerScd the streets of Pa
Z ris. The refuse and scum of the city, whom
o he long restrained as magistrate, appeared
It to rise and rrecipitate themselves like tor
]. rent around the wheels. Men who callet
themselves relations of the victims of tht
l. Champ de Mars, carried red flag in deris
III ion by the side of the tumbril in which Bail
er y rode. They from time to time dipped
l. in the gutter, and violently whipped Bailly'
ID face with it. Others spat in his face. Hi
* features lacerated, and soiled with dust an,
IS blood, no longer were recognizable, and roar
OF of laughter encouraged these outrages upo
n venerable man on his way to an ignomini
pit Gus and shocking death.
n "Arrived at the place of execution, theS
al ofx xrotl, c,pSn1 fbaIr yictip, 70
IT from the t1mbril, and forced him 20 marc
he on foot the tour of the Camp of Mars. The
sc ordered him to lick the ground on which tn
en- blood O. the people had flowed. Even th
lis expiation did not satisfy them. The guill'
EST tine had been erected in the Camp of Mar
I'm but on second thought these refnod villail
he concluded that the ground there was too s.
/! cred, and the eXecutloners were ordered
take down the scaffold and re-erect it ne;
tes the bank of the Seine, on dung-heap acc
ur- mulated from the sewers of Paris. As if
lrk parody the punishment Of Christ on the eros
ng the monsters loaded the old sage with one
'ef tie heavy beams of the scatfold, and cor
re- PEELED him to stagger under it. He faiEt,
zen beneath the burden, and shouts of Taught
ted rallied him upon his age and infrmties..
un- They made him look on, during an hour,
ess the reconstruction of his own gallows.
are "Rain, mingled with snow, fell upon
- head and chilled his limbs He trembl
the with cold. But his soul was firm, and I
ms grave and placid countenance preserved
red serenity. He discoursed calmly with
murderers; until finally, after five hours
unspeakable agony, the axe descended, a
;, Bailly was no more. Few victims ever n
," with viler executioners few execu:iont
with more digEifed victim"
The portraits of Bailly, ore of which is
.|s fore US, represent him as of tall and s!end
figure; great dignity of countenance clad
,ono black apparel, of the French fashion, as m;
ifest the latter part of the 18th century h
wv elaborately dressed, long black stockin
and shoes with small buckles.
Marie Jeanne Vaubernier. afterward Nj
II anne DuBarry. attained Infamous celebr
for her beauty and her wickedness. She '
a native of Nancoueurs, France, born
1744. Without dwelling upon intermedi
M '' facts, it is sufficient to say that she beca
''"'' one of the mistresses Of Louis NV, and
quired great influence, not only at the co
of that ahanGoned mnnarcb hut also II,