Notwithſtanding the harmony which appears to ſubſiſt between the Convention and the people, the former is much leſs popular in detail than in the groſs. Almoſt every member who has been on miſſion, is accuſed of dilapidations and cruelties ſo heinous, that, if they had not been committed by Repreſentans du Peuple, the criminal courts would find no difficulty in deciding upon them.—But as theft or murder does not deprive a member of his privileges, complaints of this nature are only cognizable by the Aſſembly, which, being yet in its firſt days of regeneration, is rather ſcrupulous of defending ſuch amuſements overtly. Alarmed, however, at the number, and averſe from the precedent of theſe denunciations, it has now paſſed a variety of decrees, which are termed a guarantee of the national repreſentation, and which in fact guarantee it ſo effectually, that a Deputy may do any thing in future with impunity, provided it does not affect his colleagues. There are now ſo many forms, reports, and examinations, that ſeveral months may be employed before the perſon of a delinquent, however notorious his guilt, can be ſecured. The exiſtence of a fellow-creature ſhould, doubtleſs, be attacked with caution; for, though he may have forfeited his claims on our eſteem, and even our pity, religion has preſerved him others, of which he ſhould not be deprived.—But when we recollect that all theſe merciful ceremonieſ are in favour of a Carrier or a Le Bon, and that the King, Madame Elizabeth, and thouſands of innocent people, were hurried to execution, without being allowed the conſolations of piety or affection, which only a mockery of juſtice might have afforded them; when, even now, prieſtſ are guillotined for celebrating maſſes in private, and thoughtleſs people for ſpeaking diſreſpectfully of the Convention—the heart is at variance with religion and principle, and we regret that mercy is to be the excluſive portion of thoſe who were never acceſſible to its dictates.*
* The denunciation being firſt preſented to the Aſſembly, they are to decide whether it ſhall be received. If they determine in the affirmative, it is ſent to the three Committees of Legiſlation, Public Welfare, and General Safety, to report whether there may be room for farther examination. In that caſe, a commiſſion of twenty-one members is appointed to receive the proofs of the accuſer, and the defence of the accuſed. Theſe Commiſſioners, after as long a delay as they may think fit to interpoſe, make known their opinion; and if it be againſt the accuſed, the Convention proceed to determine finally whether the matter ſhall be referred to the ordinary tribunal. All this time the culprit is at large, or, at worſt, and merely for the form, careleſſly guarded at his own dwelling.
I would not "pick bad from bad," but it irks one's ſpirit to ſee theſe miſcreants making "aſſurance doubly ſure," and providing for their own ſafety with ſuch ſolicitude, after ſacrificing, without remorſe, whatever was moſt intereſting or reſpectable in the country.—Yours, &c.
Baſſe-ville, Arras, Nov. 6, 1794.
Since my own liberation, I have been inceſſantly employed in endeavouring to procure the return of my friends to Amiens; who, though releaſed from priſon ſome time, could not obtain paſſports to quit Arras. After numerous difficulties and vexations, we have at length ſucceeded, and I am now here to accompany them home.
I found Mr. and Mrs. D____ much altered by the hardſhips they have undergone: Mrs. D____, in particular, has been confined ſome months in a noiſome priſon called the Providence, originally intended as a houſe of correction, and in which, though built to contain an hundred and fifty perſons, were crouded near five hundred females, chiefly ladies of Arraſ and the environs.—The ſuperintendance of this miſerable place waſ entruſted to a couple of vulgar and vicious women, who, having diſtinguiſhed themſelves as patriots from the beginning of the revolution, were now rewarded by Le Bon with an office as profitable as it was congenial to their natures.
I know not whether it is to be imputed to the national character, or to that of the French republicans only, but the cruelties which have been committed are uſually ſo mixed with licentiouſneſs, as to preclude deſcription. I have already noticed the conduct of Le Bon, and it muſt ſuffice to ſay, his agents were worthy of him, and that the female priſoners ſuffered every thing which brutality, rapaciouſneſs, and indecency, could inflict. Mr. D____ was, in the mean time, tranſferred from priſon to priſon—the diſtreſs of ſeparation was augmented by their mutual apprehenſions and pecuniary embarraſſmentſ—and I much fear, the health and ſpirits of both are irretrievably injured.
I regret my impatience in coming here, rather than waiting the arrival of my friends at home; for the changes I obſerve, and the recollections they give birth to, oppreſs my heart, and render the place hateful to me.—All the families I knew are diminiſhed by executions, and their property iſ confiſcated—thoſe whom I left in elegant hotels are now in obſcure lodgings, ſubſiſting upon the ſuperfluities of better dayſ—and the ſorrows of the widows and orphans are increaſed by penury; while the Convention, which affects to condemn the crimes of Le Bon, is profiting by the ſpoils of his victims.
I am the more deeply impreſſed by theſe circumſtances, becauſe, when I was here in 1792, ſeveral who have thus fallen, though they had nothing to reproach themſelves with, were yet ſo much intimidated as to propoſe emigrating; and I then was of opinion, that ſuch a ſtep would be impolitic and unneceſſary. I hope and believe this opinion did not influence them, but I lament having given it, for the event has proved that a great part of the emigrants are juſtifiable. It always appeared to me ſo ſerious and great an evil to abandon one's country, that when I have ſeen it done with indifference or levity, I may perhaps have ſometimes tranſferred to the meaſure itſelf a ſentiment of diſapprobation, excited originally by the manner of its adoption. When I ſaw people expatiate with calmneſs, and heard them ſpeak of it as a meanſ of diſtinguiſhing themſelves, I did not ſufficiently allow for the tendency of the French to make the beſt of every thing, or the influence of vanity on men who allow it to make part of the national characteriſtic: and ſurely, if ever vanity were laudable, that of marking a deteſtation for revolutionary principles, and an attachment to loyalty and religion, may juſtly be conſidered ſo. Many whom I then accuſed of being too lightly affected by the proſpect of exile, might be animated by the hope of perſonally contributing to the eſtabliſhment of peace and order, and reſcuing their country from the banditti who were oppreſſing it; and it is not ſurpriſing that ſuch objects ſhould dazzle the imagination and deceive the judgment in the choice of meaſures by which they were to be obtained.