republicans. During this diversion the column passed, and he rejoined it when beyond the range of the batteries.

XXXIV. The column at last quitted the defile, and advanced, beneath the shelter of the rocks that overhang the Saône, to the gorges of Saint-Cyr. Virieu and his column were about to enter them, when eight thousand men from the camp of Limonest, commanded by the representative of the people, Reverchon, attacked and cut it to pieces. The massacre was so complete that no one knew the fate of Virieu. A dragoon asserted he had beheld him, after defending himself like a hero against several republican troopers, plunge. with his horse into the river; but neither his body, his horse, nor his arms, were ever found. These circumstances made the Countess de Virieu, who escaped in the disguise of a peasant girl, believe for many years that he would yet

return.

XXXV. Précy, alternately defending himself by means of his artillery against the cavalry that pursued him, and the tirailleurs from the camp of Limonest who hung on his flank, attacked a republican battery, carried it, and entered the forest of Alix. The left bank of the Saône swarmed with troops, and the only hope left the army was to disperse among the mountains of Forez. Précy held a council of war, and informed them of his resolution; but the majority were for continuing their flight across the Alps. During the debate the tocsin sounded, and the peasants surrounded the forest. A portion of the army abandoned their leader, crossed the Saône, and fell on the opposite bank. Précy, with only three hundred men, abandoned his guns and horses, quitted the Bois d'Alix, and marched for three whole days, pursued by the inhabitants and the light cavalry of Reverchon, until his little troop, now only a hundred and ten in number, reached the summit of Mount Saint Romain, a lofty point, defended by deep ravines, and where a few hamlets still furnished them provisions. Envoys were sent from the republicans, who offered all their lives except the general's; but his brave companions refused to separate their fate from his. Précy embraced them all, took off his uniform, set his horse at liberty, and disappeared amidst the thickets, under the guidance of one of his soldiers. Soon after an officer of hussars presented himself at the outposts. "Surrender your general,

and you are saved," said he to the young Reyssié, Précy's aide-de-camp, and one of the heroes of the siege. "He is no longer amongst us," replied Reyssié, "and the proof is, that his horse, which he has abandoned, is now feeding there." "It is false," returned the officer, "you are the general, and I arrest you." At these words Reyssié shot the officer through the head, and then placing the muzzle of the second pistol to his own mouth, fell dead by his side. At the sound of the report the republicans fell on the remnant of the Lyonnese and massacred them, with the exception of a few who escaped amongst the thickets.

XXXVI. Précy, who learnt from a fugitive soldier of the slaughter of his comrades, wandered during three days amongst the ravines of the mountains. One of his soldiers, a peasant of Violay, on the banks of the Saône, at length guided him to a wood adjoining his father's farm, where he concealed and fed him until he procured him the disguise of a peasant. When at last the report of the death of Précy caused the ardour of pursuit to be somewhat slackened, the general succeeded in passing the gorges of the Jura, and, entering Switzerland, was treated in exile with the greatest respect he returned to France with the Bourbons, and died under their reign unhonoured and unrewarded. It is the nature of princes and men to prefer those who have shared their faults to those who have served their interests. Lyons gave her general a magnificent funeral in the plain of Brotteaux, where he sleeps with the remains of his companions in arms. Civil wars leave nought save tombs.

BOOK L.

I. THE most painful part in the recital of civil wars is, that after having described the battle-field, the historian is compelled to recount the horrors of the scaffold and public executions.

The republican army entered Lyons with an appearance of moderation and kind feeling, calculated to give to their occupation of it rather the air of a reconciliation than a con

quest. Couthon's first care was to command that the persons and property of the inhabitants should be scrupulously regarded.

Not the slightest tumult or violence was permitted; and peasants from Auvergne, who hurried to the scene of hopedfor plunder, bringing carts, mules, and sacks to carry off the spoils found in the richest city of France, were dismissed empty-handed, and sent back murmuring and discontented to their mountains. Lyons was selected as an example of the severity of the republic.

No longer satisfied with punishing individuals, Terror desired to make the punishment of an entire city at once an example, and a warning to all others.

The Jacobins, friends of Châlier, long compromised, both by the Royalists and Girondists of Lyons, came forth from their hiding-places calling loudly for vengeance on the representatives, and demanding of the Convention that their enemies should at last be given up to them.

For some time the representatives sought to restrain this fury, but finally they were compelled to yield to it, contenting themselves by reducing it to order by the institution of revolutionary tribunals, and decrees of extermination.

II. In this matter, as well, indeed, as in all the acts of the Reign of Terror, the odium of all the blood that was shed has been thrown upon one individual. The confusion of the moment, the despair of the dying, and the resentment of the survivors, made it difficult to judge who was guilty of the deed, and not unfrequently handed down for the execration of posterity the names of the most innocent. History has its chances, as well as the battle-field, and absolves or sacrifices many, whose character it is the work of after ages to place aright before the world.

Thus then were all the crimes committed by the republic of Lyons laid to the charge of Couthon, merely because he chanced to be the friend and confidant of Robespierre in the suppression of federalism, and in the victory of the united republicans over civil anarchy; but a careful examination of dates, facts, and words, impartially considered, will effectually do away with so unfair a charge.

Couthon entered Lyons rather as a peacemaker than an executioner, and opposed with all the earnestness his position

permitted the excess to which the Jacobins carried their vengeance. He strove against Dubois-Crancé, Collot d'Herbois, and Dorfeuille, to moderate the wild fury of these fierce spirits, and was by them denounced to La Montagne and the Jacobins as one who prevaricated and showed an undue indulgence to their enemies. Finally he withdrew ere the first sentence of death was passed, in order to escape being either a witness or accomplice of the blood shed by the representatives of the implacable party of the Convention.

III. Couthon, Laporte, Maignet, and Châteauneuf Randon, triumphantly entered Lyons, at the head of their troops, and repaired to the Hôtel-de-Ville, escorted by all the Jacobins, and a noisy mass of people, clamouring loudly for the spoils of the rich, and the heads of the federalists.

Couthon addressed these turbulent persons, promising all they asked, but earnestly recommending the preservation of order, while he claimed for the republic the sole right of selecting her enemies, and punishing them according to their offences.

From the Hôtel-de-Ville the representatives went to take up their abode in the empty palace of the archbishopric, whose naked apartments, tottering walls, and dilapidated roof, beaten in during the bombardment of the city, gave to their abode the appearance of an encampment among some ancient ruins. Dubois-Crancé, second in command of the besieging army, and also a member of the Convention, presented himself at the palace in the course of the same evening, accompanied by his mistress, who invariably formed part of his military retinue. He had been unable to shelter himself, with his other colleagues, since they had been compelled to abide beneath smoking ruins and dismantled buildings.

The conqueror of Lyons, compelled to pass the night upon a wretched flock bed, and indignant at the contempt and indifference of his colleagues, who thus consigned him to the miserable lodging he occupied, departed from the archiepiscopal palace on the following morning, loudly complaining at the marked insolence of Couthon's behaviour towards him, and took up his abode in one of the hotels of the city; while the Jacobins, offended with the temporising measures of Couthon, ranged themselves around Dubois-Crancé, who

that evening convened a meeting of the malcontents in the public theatre, whose scorched walls and half-burnt interior abundantly testified the resistance it had made, and the punishment that had followed such resistance. Dubois-Crancé reformed the Central Club, and harangued the Jacobins less in the tone of a commander than a confederate.

At the conclusion of his address the people uttered loud shouts, exclaiming, "Long live Dubois-Crancé," and perambulated the streets singing the most ferocious and sanguinary songs, while petitions to the Convention to continue the command of the army to this general were to be seen in the vilest spots, awaiting the signatures of all who should approach

them.

Couthon and his colleagues, perceiving that Dubois-Crancé, in conjunction with the Jacobins, was on the point of gaining over the soldiery, while the Clubists were equally active with the officers, wrote to the Committee of Public Safety to request the immediate recall of the Jacobin general, and addressed a series of proclamations to the troops and people, earnestly recommending a strict observance of discipline, order, and clemency.

"Brave soldiers!" said Couthon, "before entering Lyons you swore to see the lives and property of its citizens respected, nor will you lightly regard a vow dictated by your own sense of honour, and the desire of preserving your wellearned glory from tarnish. Some unworthy individuals, unconnected with the army, may indeed be found willing to commit any excesses under the name of vengeance, in order to throw all the odium of their crimes upon you, brave republicans; but should you know such, denounce themhave them arrested. we will see prompt and fitting justice done!"

Couthon next commanded that the manufactories should be opened to all matters of trade, and commerce continued as usual. The Jacobins were alarmed at these measures, the army obeyed their general's advice, while DuboisCrancé, checked in his career and recalled by the Convention, trembled before Couthon, and humbled himself before Robespierre. The next act of Couthon was to close the clubs, so imprudently thrown open by Dubois-Crancé. "What," wrote Couthon to the Committee of Public