LIFE

OF

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

WITH A

PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE FRENCH

REVOLUTION.

BY

SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.

VOL. II.

ROBERT CADELL, EDINBURGH;

WHITTAKER AND CO., LONDON.

1835.

CONTENTS

OF VOLUME NINTH.

VIEW OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

CHAP. XII.-Jacobins determine upon the Execution of

Louis.-Progress and Reasons of the King's Unpopula-

rity.-Girondists taken by surprise, by a proposal for

the Abolition of Royalty made by the Jacobins.-Pro-

posal carried. Thoughts on the New System of Govern-

ment-Compared with that of Rome, Greece, America,

and other Republican States.-Enthusiasm throughout

France at the change-Follies it gave birth to-And

Crimes.-Monuments of Art destroyed.-Madame Ro-

land interposes to save the Life of the King.-Barrère.

-Girondists move for a Departmental Legion-Carried

-Revoked-and Girondists defeated.-The Authority

of the Commune of Paris paramount even over the Con-

-

vention.-Documents of the Iron-Chest.-Parallel be-

twixt Charles I. and Louis XVI.-Motion by Pétion,

that the King should be tried before the Convention,

CHAP. XIII.—Indecision of the Girondists, and its Effects.

-The Royal Family in the Temple-Insulted by the

Agents of the Commune, both within and without the

Prison-Their exemplary Patience.-The King deprived

of his Son's society.-Buzot's Admission of the general

dislike of France to a Republican Form of Government.

-The King brought to Trial before the Convention

His first Examination-Carried back to Prison amidst

insult and abuse,-Tumult in the Assembly.-The King

deprived of intercourse with his Family.-Malesherbes

appointed as Counsel to defend the King-and De Sèze.

-Louis again brought before the Convention-Opening

Speech of De Sèze-King remanded to the Temple.-

Stormy Debate in the Convention.-Eloquent Attack

of Vergniaud on the Jacobins.-Sentence of DEATH

pronounced against the King-General Sympathy for his

Fate.-Dumouriez arrives in Paris-vainly tries to avert

the King's Fate.-Louis XVI. BEHEADED ON 21ST

JANUARY, 1793-MARIE ANTOINETTE on the 16th

October thereafter-The Princess ELIZABETH in May

1794-The Dauphin perishes, by Cruelty, June 8th,

1795. The Princess Royal exchanged for La Fayette,

19th December, 1795,........

CHAP. XIV.-Dumouriez-His displeasure at the treat-

ment of the Flemish Provinces by the Convention.-

His Projects in consequence-Gains the ill-will of his

Army-and is forced to fly to the Austrian Camp-Lives

many years in retreat, and finally dies in England.-

Struggles betwixt the Girondists and Jacobins in the

Convention.-Robespierre impeaches the Leaders of the

Girondists-and is denounced by them.-Decree of Ac-

cusation past against Marat, who conceals himself.-

Commission of Twelve appointed.-Marat acquitted, and

sent back to the Convention with a Civic Crown.-Ter-

ror and Indecision of the Girondists.Jacobins prepare

to attack the Palais Royal, but are repulsed-Repair to

the Convention, who recall the Commission of Twelve.

-Louvet and other Girondist Leaders fly from Paris.-

Convention go forth in Procession to expostulate with

the people-Forced back to their Hall, and compelled

to Decree the Accusation of Thirty of their body.-

Girondists finally ruined and their principal Leaders

perish in Prison, by the Guillotine, and by Famine.-

Close of their History,..........

CHAP. XV. Views of Parties in Britain relative to the Re-
volution.-Affiliated Societies-Counterpoised by Aris-
tocratic Associations.-Aristocratic Party eager for War

PAGE

54

with France. The French proclaim the Navigation of

the Scheldt.-British Ambassador recalled from Paris,

and French Envoy no longer accredited in London.-

France declares War against England.-British Army

sent to Holland, under the Duke of York-State of the

Army. View of the Military Positions of France-in

Flanders-on the Rhine-in Piedmont-Savoy-on the

Pyrenees. State of the War in La Vendée-Descrip-

tion of the Country-Le Bocage-Le Louroux-Close

union betwixt the Nobles and Peasantry-Both strongly

attached to Royalty, and abhorrent of the Revolution.——

The Priests.-The Religion of the Vendéans outraged

by the Convention.-A general Insurrection takes place

in 1793.-Military Organization and Habits of the Ven-

déans.-Division in the British Cabinet on the Mode of

conducting the War. - Pitt-Windham. - Reasoning

upon the Subject.-Capitulation of Mentz enables

15,000 Veterans to act in La Vendée.-Vendéans de-

feated, and pass the Loire-They defeat, in their turn,

the French Troops at Laval-But are ultimately destroy-

ed and dispersed-Unfortunate Expedition to Quiberon.

-La Charette defeated and executed, and the War of

La Vendée finally terminated Return to the State of

France in Spring 1793.-Unsuccessful Resistance of

Bordeaux, Marseilles, and Lyons, to the Convention.

-Siege of Lyons-Its Surrender and dreadful Punish-

ment Siege of Toulon,

PAGE

.... 127

CHAP. XVI. Views of the British Cabinet regarding the

French Revolution.-Extraordinary Situation of France.

-Explanation of the Anomaly which it exhibited.—Sys-

tem of Terror.-Committee of Public Safety-of Public

Security. David the Painter.-Law against suspected

Persons. Revolutionary Tribunal. Effects of the

Emigration of the Princes and Nobles.-Causes of the

Passiveness of the French People under the Tyranny of

the Jacobins. Singular Address of the Committee of

Public Safety.-General Reflections,

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