hope that peace may be
maintained on such conditions. He is deceived: it is not at the moment
when the flame of liberty is first kindled in a nation of twenty-four
millions, that Frenchmen would consent to a capitulation, to which they
would prefer death. Such is our situation, that war, which in other
times would be a scourge to the human race, would now be useful to the
public welfare. This salutary crisis would elevate the people to the
level of their destiny; it would restore to them their pristine
energy--it would re-establish our finances, and stifle the germ of
intestine dissension. In a similar situation Frederic the Great broke
the league formed against him by the court of Vienna, by forestalling
it. Your committee propose that the preparations for war be accelerated.
A congress would be a disgrace--war is necessary--public opinion wishes
for it--and public safety demands it."

The committee concluded, by demanding clear and satisfactory
explanations from the emperor; and that in case these explanations
should not be given before the 10th of February, this refusal to reply
should be considered as an act of hostility.

III.

Scarcely was the report terminated than Guadet, who presided that day at
the Assembly, mounted the tribune, and began to comment on the report of
his friend and colleague. Guadet, born at Saint Emelion, near Bordeaux,
already celebrated as an advocate before the age at which men have
generally made themselves a reputation, impatiently expected by the
political tribunes, had at last arrived at the Legislative Assembly. A
disciple of Brissot, less profound, but equally courageous and more
eloquent than his master, he was intimately connected with Gensonne,
Vergniaud, to whom he was bound by being of the same age, the same
passions, and the same country; endowed with an undaunted and energetic
mind and winning powers of oratory, equally fitted to resist the
movement of a popular assembly, or to precipitate them to a termination;
all these natural advantages were heightened by one of those southern
casts of face and feature that serve so well to illustrate the working
of the mind within.

"A congress has just been spoken of," said he; "what, then, is this
conspiracy formed against us? How long shall we suffer ourselves to be
fatigued by these manoeuvres--to be outraged by these hopes? Have
those who have planned them, well weighed this? The bare idea of the
possibility of a capitulation