The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-02-16

Of two sons anG three daugil-
trrs; they lived In a condition border
Ing Upon llsligeuee, though sustained
With dignity. y
On the death other mother, Which
occurred during CharlOtte's Infancy,
she was placed In convent Of Caen
with her sisters. where they remained
until the revolution of 1850. At the
latter date Charlotte found an asylum
at the hOuse Of an aunt, and remained |
with her until July, 1893, the period
of her journey to Paris OH the mission
which has made her immortal. |
Charlotte lived in an atmosphere Of
discomfort and rebellion. RObespierre,
Danton and Marat, in the name Of
liberty. were committing the most
atrociOus crimes, and the latter was
theH considered the worst OF the three
demagOgues.
Charlotte, we learn from her own
declaration at her trial, believed that
in destroying Marat she should le-
prive anarcy Of its chief, and civil
war Of Its motive. She hoped to ar
rest the shedding Of innocent blood
aud to preserve the thousands of lives
and liberties that We're threatened by
the continuance Of his power. AMI
mated by this purpose, she ha,le adieu
| to her friends at Caen. and on Thurs
day, the 9th of July took the diligence
Of Paris. Her passport was three
months Old, indicating the length OF
time that she had nursed this subject.
On Thursday. the llth. she reach
ed Paris, and stopped at the Hotel de
Ia Providence. She went to bed at 3
in the afternoon and slept without
interuption until eight the next
morning. On the following saturday
she bought, at the Palais Royal, an
ebony-handled knife. She then called
Vt Marlt's h0ase, but WAS not admit
ted. She returned home and wrote to
Marat the following note, which was
sent through the post
CnIzES--I have just arrived from
Caen. Your love for your country
leads me to presume that you would
be glad to learn the unhappy occur
rences In that part Of the Republic. |
will call upon you at one O'Clock.
Hence the kindness to receive me. and
grant me q moments interview. l
win enable you to render France q
signal service.
CHARLOTTE CoRDAY.
4 To this she received an answer. She
then wrote another letter, and dressing
herself with care aud elegance, called
with 1t herself at Marat's residence at
seven IN the evening. She was adj
Initted, and the second letter was
found upon her person when she was
searched.
Marat was in his bath writing his
countenance was much disflgured by
IeprOsy. aud he was forced to lie tor
hours daily in mineral baths. The tub
was covered with boards, which served
him as table Oh which many Of his
infamous DEGREES were written. He
heard the servants refuse admittance
to Charlotte Corlay, and ordered her
to be introduced. lie questioned her
upon the events which had transpired
at Caen, and asked her the name of the
deputies who had taken refuge in that
city. These he wrote upon his lists of
prescription, and then said, Il will
soon have these people glillotined in
Paris.n
Charlotte Corllay Immediately adj
vanced toward him, and drawing from
her bosom and unsheathing her knife,
she plunged it into his side. SIarat
could only exclaim, "lIelp, my love,
help!' speaking to the woman whom
he called his governess. He expired
almost Immediately, and without a
groan. >
The people Of the house at once
rushed into the room, and Charlotte
Cortlay was fellen to the grcand and
trampled under foot. \ tumultuous
crowd soon assembled beneath the
windows and demanded the ass;lssin's
head.
Marat was buried on the 18th, and
the 18th Charlotte was tried for his
murder. The trial lasted but halt an
hour. and all her answers to the ques-
tions put to her bespcak the sincerity
of her conviction and the purity Of
her motives.
During the judicial proceedings
: Charlotte noticed a young man in the
audience engaged in sketching her por-
trait. She at once turned toward him
| that he might the more readily repro
duce her features. This portrait, and
; another taken As she was on her way
to the sclffold, are the originals Of all
tile likenesses now in existence. .
She made no attempt at defense and
was condemned to die chat evening.
She declined the services ofa confessor.
At seven O'Clock, dressed in the scarlet
chemisc that, by law, convicted assas-
. sins were compelled to wear, she was
placed upon the turmbril and convey
4 ed to the place de Ia Revolution. The
streets were filled by an excited popu-
lace, who assailed her with maledic-
tions and gibes. Her attitude, during
this trying scene, was calm and
dignificd. At the sight Of the scaffold
she manifested d lnonentary alarm,
but asccIded its steps with resolution.
As the exeeNtiNnef removed the hand
kerChief which covered her bosom, her
countenance showed that the fear of
death was a sentiment second to that
OF offended m0,lesty. She placed her
head upon the block and persisted, an
|, eager and willing martyr to the cause
she had espouacdt but which she fail
ed to serve.