* When Nantes was reduced almoſt to a ſtate of famine by the deſtruction of commerce, and the ſupplies drawn for the maintenance of the armies, Commiſſioners were ſent to Paris, to ſolicit a ſupply of proviſions. They applied to Carrier, as being beſt acquainted with their diſtreſs, and were anſwered in this language:—"Demandez, pour Nanteſ! je ſolliciterai qu'on porte le fer et la flamme danſ cette abominable ville. Vous etes tous des coquins, des contre- revolutionnaires, des brigands, des ſcelerats, je ferai nommer une commiſſion par la Convention Nationale.—J'irai moi meme a la tete de cette commiſſion.—Scelerats, je ſerai rouler les tetes danſ Nanteſ—je regenererai Nantes."—"Is it for Nantes that you petition? I'll exert my influence to have fire and ſword carried into that abominable city. You are all ſcoundrels, counter- revolutioniſts, thieves, miſcreants.—I'll have a commiſſion appointed by the Convention, and go myſelf at the head of it.— Villains, I'll ſet your heads a rolling about Nanteſ—I'll regenerate Nantes." Report of the Commiſſion of Twenty-one, on the conduct of Carrier.
—Terrible leſſon for thoſe diſcontented and miſtaken people, who, enriched by commerce, are not content with freedom and independence, but ſeek for viſionary benefits, by becoming the partizans of innovation, or the tools of faction!*
* The diſaſters of Nantes ought not to be loſt to the republicans of Birmingham, Mancheſter, and other great commercial towns, where "men fall out they know not why;" and where their increaſing wealth and proſperity are the beſt eulogiums on the conſtitution they attempt to undermine.
I have hitherto ſaid little of La Vendee; but the fate of Nantes is ſo nearly connected with it, that I ſhall make it the ſubject of my next letter.
[No Date or Place Given.]
It appears, that the greater part of the inhabitants of Poitou, Anjou, and the Southern diviſions of Brittany, now diſtinguiſhed by the general appellation of the people of La Vendee, (though they include thoſe of ſeveral other departments,) never either comprehended or adopted the principles of the French revolution. Many different cauſes contributed to increaſe their original averſion from the new ſyſtem, and to give their reſiſtance that conſiſtency, which has ſince become ſo formidable. A partiality for their ancient cuſtoms, an attachment to their Nobleſſe, and a deference for their Prieſts, are ſaid to characterize the brave and ſimple natives of La Vendee. Hence republican writers, with ſelf-complacent deciſion, always treat this war as the effect of ignorance, ſlavery, and ſuperſtition.
The modern reformiſt, who calls the labourer from the plough, and the artizan from the loom, to make them ſtateſmen or philoſophers, and who has invaded the abodes of contented induſtry with the rights of man, that our fields may be cultivated, and our garments wove, by metaphyſicians, will readily aſſent to this opinion.—Yet a more enlightened and liberal philoſophy may be tempted to examine how far the Vendeans have really merited the contempt and perſecution of which they have been the objects. By the confeſſion of the republicans themſelves, they are religious, hoſpitable, and frugal, humane and merciful towards their enemies, and eaſily perſuaded to whatever is juſt and reaſonable.
I do not pretend to combat the narrow prejudices of thoſe who ſuppoſe the worth or happineſs of mankind compatible but with one ſet of opinions; and who, confounding the adventitious with the eſſential, appreciate only book learning: but ſurely, qualities which imply a knowledge of what iſ due both to God and man, and information ſufficient to yield to what iſ right or rational, are not deſcriptive of barbarians; or at leaſt, we may ſay with Phyrrhus, "there is nothing barbarous in their diſcipline."*
*"The huſbandmen of this country are in general men of ſimple manners, naturally well inclined, or at leaſt not addicted to ſerious vices." Lequinio, Guerre de La Vendee. Dubois de Crance, ſpeaking of the inhabitants of La Vendee, ſays, "They are the moſt hoſpitable people I ever ſaw, and always diſpoſed to liſten to what is juſt and reaſonable, if proffered with mildneſſ and humanity." "This unpoliſhed people, whom, however, it is much leſs difficult to perſuade than to fight." Lequinio, G. de La V. "They affected towards our priſoners a deceitful humanity, neglecting no means to draw them over to their own party, and often ſending them back to us with only a ſimple prohibition to bear armſ againſt the King or religion." Report of Richard and Choudieu. The ignorant Vendeans then could give leſſons of policy and humanity, which the "enlightened" republicans were not capable of profiting by.