fatal words which now and then resound from the gallery, and revibrate through the extent of the hall; DETENTION! EXILE! DEATH!....DEATH!....Oh depth of villainy! blindness of immorality! I have heard this frightful sound emitted from the mouth of Louis' A murmur of relation, from the mouth of Orleans. indignation circulated through the ranks, and reaching the wretch, who had excited it, convinced him at once, that the sceptre, which he would fain grasp, was for ever shivered in his hand. No, Philip, France will not bend the knee before the murderer of her king ; rather tremble, that instead of a throne, she will rear a scaffold for thy guilty head, and, that thy blood shall one day wash the stain, inflicted on her by the blood of Louis.

my

DEATH!.....This terrible word has assailed ears, lacerated my heart, three hundred and eighty seven times! the die is cast. LOUIS SHALL DIE!

Today 17th. in the morning, I presented myself at the tower of the Temple, where I was searched in the most inquisitorial manner; I learnt, on this occasion,

that the precautions for the safe keeping of the king had been redoubled since yesterday. Clery, who introduced me to his apartment, told me, that he was reading at that instant the history of Charles I. in order, no doubt, to find a model of conduct in the last moments of that prince, with whom he has so much affinity. As soon as I entered, my tears blinded me, I was seized with a killing chill, and my legs refused their office, I fell at the feet of the unfortunate monarch; and my action announced to him his horrid fate. He was neither surprised nor intimidated. After a pause, he lifted his eyes and his hands to Heaven, and exclaimed, my wife, my children, what will become of you! Then without inquiring into the particulars of his sentence, he was wholly taken up with me, and anxious for my grief, he appeared like the counsellor, and I like the victim.

At this moment, Michonis, the municipal officer, under pretence of informing the king of the extinction of a fire, which had broken out on the preceding night in the palace of the Temple, came in to lavish

consolations, and inspire him with hopes. Louis thanked him, but in a tone, which manifested, that he entertained none. It is for my wife, it is for my family, it is above all for my son, that I solicit your tender cares. The officer returned overwhelmed

with grief.

Though I had no longer any hopes, unwilling to see the king expire on a scaffold, I suggested to him the idea of a reprieve as a last resource. The king smiled kindly; you are ingenious in deceiving me and abusing yourself, I have much confidence in you, my dear Malesherbes, but allow me to put no reliance on your predictions, you find them in your good wishes, the projects of the ambitious are more certain !

Jan. 18th. A new order of the communes has deprived the prisoner of his counsellors; I presented myself four times at the Temple, and was constantly refused admission. The unfortunate prince is left to himself, and, by anticipation, is in the presence of the Almighty! Eternal Providence, soften his last

moments!

Jan. 19th. The king's dark presentiment is realized, the reprieve is refused, the sentence is pronounced,

and to be executed within four and twenty hours.

Abbé Fer

The king's friends are thunderstruck. mont remained two hours with me, and vented the agony of his heart by sobs and tears. My lord FitzAsland and his son wish to renew the plot rendered abortive by Louis' weakness; but what can they do? They will only expose themselves to no purpose, ruin themselves and not save him.

When the sentence of death had been passed upon Louis, my colleagues in his defence and myself presented ourselves at the bar of the convention, to dispute in some manner the remnants of the life of the unfortunate king. Desèze handed to the president an appeal to the nation from the judgment of the representatives; then extemporizing with much warmth and vehemence, he demonstrated, that applying to the accused the penal code, which inflicts death, the representatives had neglected what alone could justify them, that is, the absolute condition, to ascertain the votes of three quarters of the deliberating judges. A

long discussion ensued between Tronchet, who illustrated ably the principles laid down by Desèze, and Merlin de Donay, who undertook to answer Tronchet; Gaudet, who seemed to adopt the opinion of the latter, Barère, who answered him, and Robespierre, who dealt entirely in personal reflections.

I attempted to say a few words, but my mind and my tongue betrayed my zeal, I proved nothing but my agitation and grief.

Chaumette, attorney to the communes, presented to the general council a decree worthy a legislature of savages; it ordered public illuminations in token of rejoicings. Miserable people, into what an abyss of depravity thy tyrants have plunged thee! Strike thy king, since thou art told he is guilty, he must die! Strike him then, but insult him not! They should inform thee, that true justice turns her head as she strikes the victim; and it is too true, that that kind of justice, which enumerates the pangs, which it inflicts, and boldly looks the victim in the face, resembles

vengeance.