[117] I take all this from Aulard’s article in the Révolution Française of June 14, 1893.
[118] The votes of the 30th, 31st, and 2nd.
[119] The word “illegally” is just, for the constitution of the Commune and all its acts were legally dependent on the Assembly. On the other hand, the Commune had given this committee right to add to its numbers, but such men as Marat, who was not a member of the Commune, were surely not intended.
[120] First La Poissonnière, then the Postes and the Luxembourg.
[121] It is possible that this sentence, including the preceding phrase, “le tocsin qui va sonner,” &c., are the only part of the speech that has been literally reported. The Logotachygraphe was not founded till January, and while the Moniteur and the Journal des Débats give much the same version, the latter calls it a “summary.”
[122] “Appel à l’impartiale posterité.” Madame Roland had the great historical gift of intuition, that is, she could minutely describe events which never took place. I attach no kind of importance to the passage immediately preceding. If Danton and Pétion were alone, as she describes them, her picture is the picture of a novelist. The phrase quoted above may be authentic—there were witnesses.
[123] Moniteur, January 25, 1793. Speech of January 21st.
[124] Speech of January 21, 1793.
[125] The accusations against Danton in this matter are given and criticised in [Appendix IV.], where the reasons are also given for omitting any mention of Marat’s circular in the text.
[126] For the figures and very interesting details as to Egalité’s election see Révolution Française August 14, 1893, second note, page 129.