Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Science
Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Authors, French -- Biography
Even on the approach of the 31st of May, notwithstanding his intimacy
with Roland and other Girondists on whom the Mountain party were about
to seize, Condorcet continued to be consulted and employed by the
committee of public safety. Those of the girondists who, foreseeing the
anarchy that must ensue from the triumph of the jacobins, considered
their overthrow of more immediate importance than the repulsing the foe
from the soil of France, disapproved of Condorcet's working for their
enemies: he kept apart from both, while he laboured for the cause of the
republic, and remarked that his friends were offended because he did not
break with the committee of public safety; and the committee, on the
other hand, desired that he should refrain from all intercourse with his
friends. "I endeavour," he added, "that each party shall think less of
itself and a great deal more of the commonwealth." He began to perceive,
however, that it was impossible any longer to use measures of
conciliation with Robespierre, but he hoped to restrain him by fear: the
latter, however, triumphed. The 31st of May brought with it the decree
of arrest of twenty-two Girondists: Condorcet was not among them. He
might by silence and prudence have continued for some time longer to sit
in the convention; but he saw with indignation the empty benches on
which his friends used to appear, and the growing power of a ferocious
oligarchy. He denounced the weakness of the convention, and the tyranny
exercised over it by a few ambitious and resolute men, in a letter to
his constituents, which was denounced and sent for examination to the
committee of public safety. From this moment the jacobins marked him out
also for a victim; and the ex-capuchin Chabot denounced him for having
written against the new constitution of 1793; which superseded the one
he had drawn up: he was summoned to the bar, and a decree of arrest
passed against him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account