the law. Let us leave to despotism to prepare its
slaves for its commands by ignorance."

VIII.

Ducos, a young and generous-hearted Girondist, with whom enthusiasm for
the honest carried him beyond the policy of his party, moved for the
printing of this speech. His voice was drowned amidst the applause and
murmurs which followed--a testimony of the indecision and impartiality
of men's minds. Fauchet replied at the next sitting, and pointed out the
connection between civil troubles and religious quarrels. "The priests,"
he said, "are of unreasonable tyranny, which still maintains its hold on
consciences by the ill-broken thread of its power. It is a faction
'scotched, not killed'--it is the most dangerous of factions."

Gensonne spake like a statesman, and counselled toleration towards
conscientious priests, and the repulsion by force of law of the
turbulent clergy. During this discussion, couriers daily arriving from
the country, brought news of fresh disorders. Every where the
constitutional priests were insulted, driven away, massacred at the foot
of the altars. The country churches, closed by order of the National
Assembly, were burst open by axes, the nonjuring priests returned to
them, urged by the fanaticism of the people. Three cities were besieged
and on the point of being burnt down by the country people. The
threatened civil war seemed the prelude to the counter-revolution.
"See," exclaimed Isnard, "whither the toleration and impunity you have
preached, conduct you!"

Isnard, deputy of Provence, was the son of a perfumer of Grasse. His
father had educated him for a literary life, and not for business. He
had studied politics in the antiquities of Greece and Rome. He had in
his mind the idea of one of the Gracchi; he had his courage in his soul
and his tone in his voice. Still very young, his eloquence was as
fervent as his blood; his language was but the fire of his passion,
coloured by a southern imagination; his words poured forth like the
rapid bursts of impatience. He was the revolutionary impetus
personified. The Assembly followed him breathless, and with him arrived
at fury before it attained conviction. His discourses were magnificent
odes, which elevated discussion to lyric poetry, and enthusiasm to
convulsion; his action bespoke the tripod rather than the tribune. He
was the Danton of the Gironde, as Vergniaud was to become its Mirabeau.

IX.

It was his maiden speech in the Assembly. "Yes