Roland.--Her esteem for the Girondists.--Eloquent
defence of Madame Roland.--Madame Roland's reasons for not
escaping.--Madame Roland's opinion of the Girondists.--Madame Roland's
opinion of the Revolution.--Madame Roland's estimate of her
husband.--Madame Roland's correspondence with Duperret.--Effects of
prejudices and violent animosities.--Madame Roland avows her
opinions.--Madame Roland's apostrophe to Liberty.--Repeated
examinations.--Madame Roland's self-possession.--Madame Roland's
enthusiasm.--Her influence upon the prisoners.--Madame Roland's
addresses to the prisoners.--Effects of her eloquence.--Madame Roland's
musical voice.--Her friendship for the Girondists.--Charming character
of Madame Roland.--She is loved and esteemed.--Madame Roland's
advocate.--Her appearance at the tribunal.--Demand of the
president.--Madame Roland's refusal.--The sentence.--Madame Roland's
dignity and calmness.--She returns to her cell.--Madame Roland's
requiem.--She attires herself for the bridal of death.--The passage to
the guillotine.--Horrible pastime.--Madame Roland's appearance in the
cart.--She addresses the mob.--Powerful emotions of Madame Roland.--Work
of the executioners.--Scene at the scaffold.--Execution of the old
man.--Situation of the guillotine.--Death of Madame Roland.--Wonderful
attachment.--Grief of M. Roland.--Death of M. Roland.--Subsequent life
of Eudora.

The day after Madame Roland was placed in the Conciergerie, she was
visited by one of the notorious officers of the revolutionary party,
and very closely questioned concerning the friendship she had
entertained for the Girondists. She frankly avowed the elevated
affection and esteem with which she cherished their memory, but she
declared that she and they were the cordial friends of republican
liberty; that they wished to preserve, not to destroy, the
Constitution. The examination was vexatious and intolerant in the
extreme. It lasted for three hours, and consisted in an incessant
torrent of criminations, to which she was hardly permitted to offer
one word in reply. This examination taught her the nature of the
accusations which would be brought against her. She sat down in her
cell that very night, and, with a rapid pen, sketched that defense
which has been pronounced one of the most eloquent and touching
monuments of the Revolution. It so beautifully illustrates the heroism
of her character, the serenity of her spirit, and the beauty and
energy of he