ily disconcert the plots of the court. La Fayette is
meditating treason in the north: the army of the centre is
systematically disorganised: in six weeks the Austrians will be at
Paris. Have we then laboured at the most glorious of revolutions for so
many years to see it overthrown in a single day? If Liberty dies in
France, it is lost for ever to the rest of the world!--all the hopes of
philosophy are deceived--prejudices and tyranny will again grasp the
world. Let us prevent this misfortune, and if the north is subjected,
let us take Liberty with us into the south, and there form a colony of
free men.' His wife wept as she listened to him, and I myself wept as I
looked at her. Oh! how much the outpourings of confidence console and
fortify minds that are in desolation. I drew a rapid sketch of the
resources and hopes of Liberty in the south. A serene expression of joy
spread over Roland's brow: he squeezed my hand, and we traced on a map
of France the limits of this empire of Liberty, which extended from the
Doubs, the Ain, and the Rhone to La Dordogne, and from the inaccessible
mountains of Auvergne to Durance and the sea. I wrote, by dictation of
Roland, to request from Marseilles a battalion and two pieces of cannon.
These preliminaries agreed upon, I left Roland with feelings of deep
respect for himself and his wife. I have seen them subsequently, during
their second ministry, as simple minded as in their humble retreat. Of
all the men of modern times, Roland seems to me most to resemble Cato;
but it must be owned that it is to his wife that his courage and talents
are due."

Thus did the original idea of a federative republic arise in the first
interview between Barbaroux and Madame Roland. What they dreamed of as a
desperate measure of Liberty, was afterwards made a reproach to them for
having conspired as a plot. This first sigh of patriotism of two young
minds who met and understood each other, was their attraction and their
crime.

VIII.

From this day the Girondists, disengaged from every obligation with the
king and ministers, conspired secretly with Madame Roland, and publicly
in the tribune, for the suppression of the monarchy. They appeared to
envy the Jacobins the honour of giving the throne the most deadly blows.
Robespierre as yet spoke only of the constitution, limiting himself
within the law, and not going a-head of the people. The Girondists
already spoke in the name of the republic, and motion