A storm arose in the midst of this destruction. Seven thousand were rescued from the vengeance of the Republican arms; eight thousand perished.
These refugees were chiefly carried to Leghorn, where their descendants still reside.
The Convention ordered that Toulon should be razed to the ground for having submitted to the English.
This frantic order, however, was not carried out.
Napoleon was now Emperor of Toulon. Already he disobeyed orders, and rose daily to power.
Marat had risen over the Girondists and Liberals, Danton over him; Robespierre was to destroy Danton, but Napoleon was to set his foot upon them all, and command, until, in his turn, in 1815, he was to succumb.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE BLOOD OF WOMEN.
Madame Roland who had now been imprisoned through five long months, was the next celebrated victim demanded by the people. She had conquered her weariness by writing her life.
At one time, she sought to avoid death by poison; but the memory of her child prevailed, and she lived on to the end.