* Six young women, (the Meſdemoiſelles la Meterie,) in particular, ſiſters, and all under four-and-twenty, were ordered to the Guillotine together: the youngeſt died inſtantly of fear, the reſt were executed ſucceſſively.—A child eleven years old, who had previouſly told the executioner, with affecting ſimplicity, that he hoped he would not hurt him much, received three ſtrokes of the Guillotine before his head was ſevered from his body.
—Two thouſand died, in leſs than two months, of a peſtilence, occaſioned by this carnage: the air became infected, and the waters of the Loire empoiſoned, by dead bodies; and thoſe whom tyranny yet ſpared, periſhed by the elements which nature intended for their ſupport.*
* Vaſt ſums were exacted from the Nantais for purifying the air, and taking precautions againſt epidemical diſorders.
But I will not dwell on horrors, which, if not already known to all Europe, I ſhould be unequal to deſcribe: ſuffice it to ſay, that whatever could diſgrace or afflict mankind, whatever could add diſguſt to deteſtation, and render cruelty, if poſſible, leſs odious than the circumſtances by which it was accompanied, has been exhibited in thiſ unfortunate city.—Both the accuſed and their witneſſes were at firſt timid through apprehenſion, but by degrees the monſtrous myſteries of the government were laid open, and it appeared, beyond denial or palliation, that theſe enormities were either deviſed, aſſiſted, or connived at, by Deputies of the Convention, celebrated for their ardent republicaniſm and revolutionary zeal.—The danger of confiding unlimited power to ſuch men as compoſed the majority of the Aſſembly, was now diſplayed in a manner that penetrated the dulleſt imagination, and the coldeſt heart; and it was found, that, armed with decrees, aided by revolutionary committees, revolutionary troops, and revolutionary vehicles of deſtruction,* miſſionaries ſelected by choice from the whole repreſentation, had, in the city of Nantes alone, and under the maſk of enthuſiaſtic patriotiſm, ſacrificed thirty thouſand people!
* A company was formed of all the ruffians that could be collected together. They were ſtyled the Company of Marat, and were ſpecially empowered to arreſt whomſoever they choſe, and to enter houſes by night or day—in fine, to proſcribe and pillage at their pleaſure.
Facts like theſe require no comment. The nation may be intimidated, and habits of obedience, or deſpair of redreſs, prolong its ſubmiſſion; but it can no longer be deceived: and patriotiſm, revolutionary liberty, and philoſophy, are for ever aſſociated with the drowning machines of Carrier, and the precepts and calculations of a Herault de Sechelles,* or a Lequinio.**—
* Herault de Sechelles was diſtinguiſhed by birth, talents, and fortune, above moſt of his colleagues in the Convention; yet we find him in correſpondence with Carrier, applauding his enormities, and adviſing him how to continue them with effect.—Herault was of a noble family, and had been a preſident in the Parliament of Paris. He was one of Robeſpierre's Committee of Public Welfare, and being in ſome way implicated in a charge of treachery brought againſt Simon, another Deputy, was guillotined at the ſame time with Danton. ** Lequinio is a philoſopher by profeſſion, who has endeavoured to enlighten his countrymen by a publication entitled "Les Prejugeſ Detruits," and ſince by proving it advantageous to make no priſonerſ of war.
—The ninety Nantais, againſt whom there exiſted no ſerious charge, and who had already ſuffered more than death, were acquitted. Yet, though the people were gratified by this verdict, and the general indignation appeaſed by an immediate arreſt of thoſe who had been moſt notoriouſly active in theſe dreadful operations, a deep and ſalutary impreſſion remains, and we may hope it will be found impracticable either to renew the ſame ſcenes, or for the Convention to ſhelter (as they ſeemed diſpoſed to do) the principal criminals, who are members of their own body. Yet, how are theſe delinquents to be brought to condemnation? They all acted under competent authority, and their diſpatches to the Convention, which ſufficiently indicated their proceedings, were alwayſ ſanctioned by circulation, and applauded, according to the exceſs of their flagitiouſneſs.
It is worthy of remark, that Nantes, the principal theatre of theſe perſecutions and murders, had been early diſtinguiſhed by the attachment of its inhabitants to the revolution; inſomuch, that, at the memorable epoch when the ſhort-ſighted policy of the Court excluded the Conſtituent Aſſembly from their Hall at Verſailles, and they took refuge in the Jeu de Paume, with a reſolution fatal to their country, never to ſeparate until they had obtained their purpoſes, an expreſs was ſent to Nantes, aſ the place they ſhould make choice of, if any violence obliged them to quit the neighbourhood of Paris.
But it was not only by its principles that Nantes had ſignalized itſelf; at every period of the war, it had contributed largely both in men and money, and its riches and commerce ſtill rendered it one of the moſt important towns of the republic.—What has been its reward?—Barbarouſ envoys from the Convention, ſent expreſſly to level the ariſtocracy of wealth, to cruſh its mercantile ſpirit, and decimate its inhabitants.*—