[Footnote 2208: Chronique de Paris, Sept. 4, 1792. "It is a sad and terrible situation which forces a people, naturally amiable and generous, to take such vengeance!"--Cf. the very acute article, by St. Beuve, on Condorcet, in "Causeries du Lundi,"--Hua (a colleague of Condorcet, in the Legislative Assembly), "Mémoires," 89. "Condorcet, in his journal, regularly falsified things, with an audacity which is unparelleled. The opinions of the 'Right' were so mutilated and travestied the next day in his journal, that we, who had uttered them, could scarcely recognise them. On complaining of this to him and on charging him with perfidy, the philosopher only smiled."] [Footnote 2209: Malouet, II. 215.--Dumouriez, III. ch. V. "They were elected to represent the nation to defend, they say, its interests against a perfidious court."] [Footnote 2210: Moniteur, X. 223 (session of Oct. 26, 1791). Speech by M. François Duval.--Grandiloquence is the order of the day at the very first meeting. On the 1st of October, 1791, twelve old men, marching in procession, go out to fetch the constitutional act. "M. Camus, keeper of the records, with a composed air and downcast eyes, enters with measured steps," bearing in both hands the sacred document which he holds against his breast, while the deputies stand up and bare their heads. "People of France," says an orator, "citizens of Paris, all generous Frenchmen, and you, our fellow citizens--virtuous, intelligent women, bringing your gentle influence into the sanctuary of the law--behold the guarantee of peace which the legislature presents to you!"--We seem to be witnessing the last act of an opera.] [Footnote 2211: Ibid., XII. 230 (sessions of April 26 and May 5). Report and speech by François de Nantes. The whole speech, a comic treasure from the beginning to the end, ought to have been quoted: "Tell me, pontiff of Rome, what your sentiments will be when you welcome your worthy and faithful co-operators?.. I behold your sacred hands, ready to launch those pontifical thunderbolts, which, etc... Let the brazier of Scoevola be brought in, and, with our outstretched palms above the burning coals, we will show that there is no species of torture, no torment which can excite a frown on the brow of him whom the love of country exalts above humanity!"--Suppose that, just at this moment, a lighted candle had been placed under his hand!] [Footnote 2212: Moniteur, XI. 179 (session of Jan. 20, 1792).--Ibid., 216 (session of Jan. 24).--XII. 426 (May 9).] [Footnote 2213: Ibid., XII. 479 (session of May 24).--XIII. 71 (session of July 7, speech by Lasource).--Cf. XIV. 301 (session of July 31) a quotation from Voltaire brought in for the suppression of the convents.] [Footnote 2214: Moniteur. Speech by Aubert Dubayer, session of Aug. 30.] [Footnote 2215: Speech by Chaumette, procureur of the commune, to the newly married. (Mortimer-Ternaux, IV. 408).]