—We learn therefore, not from the abuſes alone, but from the praiſeſ beſtowed on the Jacobins, how much ſuch combinations are to be dreaded. Their merit, it appears, conſiſted in the ſubverſion of the monarchical government, and their crime in ceaſing to be uſeful as agents of tyranny, the moment they ceaſed to be principals.
I am ſtill ſceptical as to the converſion of the Aſſembly, and little diſpoſed to expect good from it; yet whatever it may attempt in future, or however its real principles may take an aſcendant, this fortunate concurrence of perſonal intereſts, coalition of ariſtocrats and democrats, and political rivalry, have likewiſe ſecured France from a return of that exceſs of deſpotiſm which could have been exerciſed only by ſuch means. It is true, the ſpirit of the nation is ſo much depreſſed, that an effort to revive theſe Clubs might meet no reſiſtance; but the ridicule and opprobrium to which they have latterly been ſubject, and finally the manner of their being ſacrificed by that very Convention, of which they were the ſole creators and ſupport, will, I think, cool the zeal, and diminiſh the numbers of their partizans too much for them ever again to become formidable.
The conduct of Carrier has been examined according to the new forms, and he is now on his trial—though not till the delays of the Convention had given riſe to a general ſuſpicion that they intended either to exonerate or afford him an opportunity of eſcaping; and the people were at laſt ſo highly exaſperated, that ſix thouſand troops were added to the military force of Paris, and an inſurrection was ſeriouſly apprehended. Thiſ ſtimulated the diligence, or relaxed the indulgence, of the commiſſion appointed to make the report on Carrier's conduct; and it being decided that there was room for accuſation, the Aſſembly confirmed the deciſion, and he was ordered into cuſtody, to be tried along with the Revolutionary Committee of Nantes which had been the inſtrument of his crimes.
It is a circumſtance worth noting, that moſt of the Deputies who explained the motives on which they thought Carrier guilty, were ſilent on the ſubject of his drowning, ſhooting, and guillotining ſo many thouſands of innocent people, and only declared him guilty, as having been wanting in reſpect towards Trehouard, one of his colleagues, and of injuring the republican cauſe by his atrocities.
The fate of this monſter exhibits a practical expoſition of the enormouſ abſurdity of ſuch a government. He is himſelf tried for the exerciſe of a power declared to be unbounded when entruſted to him. The men tried with him as his accomplices were obliged by the laws to obey him; and the acts of which they are all accuſed were known, applauded, and held out for imitation, by the Convention, who now declare thoſe very acts to be criminal!—There is certainly no way of reconciling juſtice but by puniſhing both chiefs and ſubordinates, and the hour for this will yet come.—Adieu.
Amiens. [No date given.]
I do not yet venture to correſpond with my Paris friends by the poſt, but whenever the opportunity of private conveyance occurs, I receive long and circumſtantial letters, as well as packets, of all the publications moſt read, and the theatrical pieces moſt applauded. I have lately drudged through great numbers of theſe laſt, and beſtowed on them an attention they did not in themſelves deſerve, becauſe I conſidered it as one meanſ of judging both of the ſpirit of the government and the morals of the people.
The dramas produced at the beginning of the revolution were in general calculated to corrupt the national taſte and morals, and many of them were written with ſkill enough to anſwer the purpoſe for which they were intended; but thoſe that have appeared during the laſt two years, are ſo ſtupid and ſo depraved, that the circumſtance of their being tolerated even for a moment implies an extinction both of taſte and of morals.*
* "Dans l'eſpace d'un an ils ont failli detruire le produit de pluſieurs ſiecles de civilization."—("In the ſpace of a year they nearly deſtroyed the fruits of ſeveral ages of civilization.")