VIII. 1793. in this instance was too obviously selfish and atrocious CHAP. not to excite a general feeling of indignation: the agitation of the Assembly became extreme it seemed as if by this single vote the fate of the monarch was irrevocably sealed. 92. death is pro When the counsel of the unfortunate monarch were called in to hear the sentence, their tears for some time Sentence of choked their utterance. Malesherbes strove in vain to nounced. speak; de Sèze at length read a protest, in which the King solemnly declared his innocence; and Tronchet earnestly entreated the revocation of a decree passed by so slender a majority. "The laws," it was said, “are passed by a simple majority."-"Yes," it was replied, but the laws may be repealed: but who shall recall human life?" As a last resource, the Girondists proposed a delay for a limited time; but here, too, their fatal divisions gave the victory to their enemies, and sentence of immediate death was pronounced by a majority of 510 to 269. This decisive step produced the utmost emotion in Paris. All the members of the Côté Droit, all the avowed or secret royalists, were in consternation ; the Jacobins could hardly believe that so great a victory had been gained, as the condemnation of a king in the midst of a people over whom, a few years before, he was an absolute monarch. They redoubled their activity— put all their forces on foot-kept up an incessant agitation-thundered night and day at their infernal hall, and1 Journ. des at the Cordeliers-and earnestly besought all their adhe- Jan. 19, 20. rents to be vigilant for the next two days, and secure the xxiii. 269, fruits of so great a triumph. This audacity had the 270 Bert. usual effect which force energetically applied produces the masses of men; it paralysed and put to silence the 390. Mig. i. greater number, and excited the most profound indigna- x. 243. tion in a few resolute minds.1 Jacobins, Hist. Parl. de Moll. x. 395, 397. on 385, Louis was fully prepared for his fate. During the calling of the vote, he asked M. de Malesherbes, "Have you not met, near the Temple, the White Lady ?" Th. iii. 239. Lac. CHAP. VIII. 1793. 93. Dignified conduct of Louis. "What do you mean?" replied he.-" Do you not know," : faithful servants who have not abandoned me, and have no means of subsistence but what I gave them! And the poor people, they will be delivered over to anarchy: crimes will succeed crimes: long dissensions will tear unhappy France! O my God! was this the result to which I looked for all my sacrifices? Was it for this that I strove on every occasion for the happiness of the French ?" These were the only desponding expressions which escaped him during this period of his captivity. When M. de Malesherbes came to the prison to announce the result of the vote, he found Louis alone, with his forehead resting on his hands, and absorbed in a deep reverie. Without inquiring concerning his fate, or even looking at his friend, he said-" For two hours I have been revolving in my memory, whether, during my whole reign, I have voluntarily given any cause of complaint to my subjects; with perfect sincerity I can declare, when about to appear before the throne of God, that I deserve 1 Bert, de no reproach at their hands, and that I have never formed Moll. x.406, a wish but for their happiness." The old man encouraged 158, 159, a hope that the sentence might be revoked: he shook his Mig. i. 240. head, and only entreated his friend not to leave him in his last moments. But he was denied this consolation 407. Cléry, Th. iii. 283. Lac. x. 245, 246. by the cruelty of the municipality: Malesherbes repeat VIII. 1793. edly applied at the gate, but never again obtained admit- CHAP. tance. The King then desired Cléry to bring him the volume of Hume's history which contained the narrative of the death of Charles I.; he read it sedulously for the few days which intervened before his execution. During the five preceding months, he had perused two hundred and fifty volumes. 94. announces and his last family. At length on the 20th January, Santerre appeared, with a deputation from the municipality, and read the Santerre sentence of death. The King received it with unshaken the sentence, firmness, and demanded a respite of three days to pre-interview pare for heaven; to be allowed an interview with his with his family, and to obtain the consolation of a confessor. The two last demands alone were conceded by the Convention, and the execution was fixed for the following morning at ten o'clock. He then resumed his tranquil air, and dined as usual. The officers who guarded him had removed the knives. "Did they suppose me,” said he, "base enough to kill myself? I am innocent, and can die without apprehension." The last interview with his family presented the most heart-rending scene. "At half-past eight," says Cléry, "the door of his apartment opened, and the Queen appeared, leading by the hand the Princess-Royal and the Princess Elizabeth; they all rushed into the arms of the King. A profound silence ensued for some minutes, broken only by the sobs of the afflicted family. The King sat down, the Queen on his left, the Princess-Royal on his right, Madame Elizabeth in front, and the young Dauphin between his knees. This terrible scene lasted nearly two hours; the tears and lamentations of the royal family, frequently interrupting the words of the King, sufficiently evinced that he had himself communicated the intelligence of his condemnation. At length, at a quarter-past ten, Louis rose; the royal parents gave each of them their blessing to the Dauphin, while the Princess still held the King embraced round the waist. As he approached the door, they VIII. 1793. 1 Cléry, 173. iii. Edge CHAP. uttered the most piercing shrieks. I assure you I will see you again in the morning,' said he, at eight o'clock.' Why not at seven,' exclaimed they all at once. 'Well, Th. i. 394. then, at seven,' answered the King. Adieu, adieu!' he worth's Der- pronounced these words with so mournful an accent, niers Mo- that the lamentations redoubled, and the Princess-Royal Louis XVI. fainted at his feet. At length, wishing to put an end to x. 246, 248. so trying a scene, the King embraced them all in the tenderest manner, and tore himself from their arms."1 mens de p. 15. Lac. 95. communion. The remainder of the evening was spent with the conHis last fessor, the Abbé Edgeworth, who, with heroic devotion, discharged the perilous duty of attending the last moments of his sovereign. He was brought to the Temple in the carriage of M. Garat, who, in that privacy, disclosed to the minister of religion his secret admiration for the illustrious accused-" Great God!" said he, “with what a mission am I charged! What a man is the King! what resignation! what courage! No; unassisted nature could not give such strength; there is something superhuman in it." Nothing further was said till they arrived at the gate of the Temple; their hearts were too full for utterance. The King shed tears when the confessor entered. "Pardon," said he, "a moment of weakness; I have lived so long surrounded by my enemies, that habit has hardened my heart. I thought I could never weep again; but the sight of a faithful friend revives the sensibility, which I thought had been for ever extinguished. Ah! why should I love so, and be so beloved? What a heart-rending interview I have had; but let us forget all but the great object of salvation: on that let us concentrate all our thoughts!" Cléry then brought in supper; the King hesitated a moment, but on reflection sat down for five minutes, and eat with composure. At twelve he went to bed, and slept peaceably till five. He then gave his last instructions to Cléry, and put into his hands the only property which he had still at his disposal, a ring, a seal, and a lock of hair. "Give VIII. 1793. this ring to the Queen," said he, "and tell her with what CHAP. regret I leave her; give her also the locket containing the hair of my children; give this seal to the Dauphin ; and tell them all what I suffer at dying without receiving their last embraces; but I wish to spare them the pain of so cruel a separation." He asked for scissors to cut off his hair with his own hands, to avoid that humiliating operation being performed by the hands of the executioners; but the officers refused his request. He then received the sacrament from his confessor, at a little altar prepared by Cléry, in his chamber, and heard the last service for the dying at the time when the rolling of drums, and the agitation in the streets, announced the 16, 17, 218. preparations for his execution.1 1 Cléry, 181, the iii. 395,397. 182. Th. Edgeworth, 96. to the place of execu At nine o'clock, Santerre presented himself in the Temple. "You come to seek me," said the King; His removal "allow me a minute." He went into his closet, and immediately came out with his last Testament in his tion. hand. "I pray you," said he, "to give this packet to the Queen, my wife." "That is no concern of mine," replied the worthy representative of the municipality; "I am here only to conduct you to the scaffold." The King then asked another member of the commune to take charge of the document, and said to Santerre, "let us set off." The municipality next day published the Testament, "as a proof of the fanaticism and crimes of the King" without intending it, they thereby raised the noblest monument to his memory.* In passing through the court of the Temple, Louis cast a last look to the tower which contained all that was dear to him in the world; and immediately summoning up his courage, seated himself calmly in the carriage beside his confessor, with two gendarmes on the opposite side. During the passage to the place of execution, which occupied two hours, he never ceased reciting the Psalms which were pointed out by the venerable priest. Even the soldiers * * See Note A, Appendix, Chap. VIII. |