VII. The Monarchy according to the Charter, by the Vicomte de VIII. Researches concerning the Institutions and Monuments of the ancient Inhabitants of America; with Descriptions and Views of some of the most striking Scenes in the Cordilleras. Written in French by Alexander Humboldt, and translated into English IX. The Poetic Mirror, or the Living Bards of Britain X. 1. Two Tracts intended to convey Correct Notions of Regenera- tion and Conversion, according to the sense of Holy Scripture and of the Church of England. By Richard Mant, M.A. Chap- lain to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Rector of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate; and late Fellow of Oriel College. 2. An Inquiry into the Effect of Baptism, according to the sense of Holy Scripture and of the Church of England; in answer to the Rev. Dr. Mant's two Tracts on Regeneration and Conversion. By the Rev. John Scott, M.A. Vicar of North Ferriby, and Lec- turer in the Holy Trinity Church, Hull. 3. Baptism a Seal of the Christian Covenant; or, Remarks on Dr. Mant's Tract on Regeneration. By Thomas J. Biddulph, A.M. Minister of St. James's, Bristol, and of Durston, Somersetshire; and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Dowager Lady Bagot; and late of Queen's College, Oxford. 4. The Doctrine of the Church of England upon the Efficacy of Baptism, vindicated from Misrepresentation. By Richard Lau- XI. 1. Journal of Travels in Sweden, Russia, Poland, &c. during the Years 1813 and 1814. By the Rev. J. T. James, of Christ 2. Die Konigin Luise: der Preussichen Nation gewidmet XII. 1. Letters from Albion to a Friend on the Continent, written in 2. Letters from London. Observations of a Russian during a Resi- dence in England of Ten Months, &c. Translated from the Original Manuscript of Oloff Napea, Ex-officer of Cavalry. 3. Londres, la Cour et les Provinces d'Angleterre, d'Ecosse et d'Ir- lande, ou Esprit, Mœurs, Coutumes, Habitudes Privées des Ha- 4. A Dane's Excursions in Britain. By J. A. Anderson. 5. A Journal of Travels in England, Holland, and Scotland, in the Years 1805-6. By Benjamin Silliman. 6. Journal of a Tour and Residence in Great Britain, during the Years 1810 and 1811. By a French Traveller, (M. Simond) &c. 7. L'Angleterre au Commencement du Dix-Neuvième Siècle. Par M. de Levis, Duc et Pair de France. 8. England and the English People. By Jean-Baptiste Say, Pro- fessor of Political Economy, &c. Translated by John Richter. 9. Quinze Jours à Londres, à la fin de 1815. Par M. ****. 537 THE QUARTERLY REVIEW. APRIL, 1816. ART. I. 1. Mémoires de Madame la Marquise de la Roche Jaquelein, écrits par elle-même, rédigés par M. Le Baron de Barante. Bordeaux. 1815. 2. Vie du Général Charette, Commandant en Chef les Armées Catholiques et Royales dans la Vendée. Extrait d'un Manuscrit sur la Vendée, par M. le Bouvier-Desmortiers, &c. 2 tom. Paris. 1809. 3. Précis Historique de la Guerre Civile de la Vendée, depuis son Origine jusqu'à la Pacification de la Jaunaise, &c. Par P. V. J. Berthre de Bourniseaux (de Thouars). Paris. An. X. (1802). 4. Mémoires du Comte Josephe de Puisaye, Lieutenant-Général, &c. &c. qui pourront servir à l'Histoire du Parti Royaliste Français durant la dernière Révolution. 6 tom. London. 1803-1808. 5. Mémoires pour servir à l'Histoire de la Guerre de la Vendée. Par le Général Turreau, Lieutenant-Général des Armées de l'Empire, ancien Ministre-Plénipotentiaire de France aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique. Seconde édition. Paris. 1815. 6. Histoire de la Guerre de la Vendée et des Chouans, depuis son Origine jusqu'à la Pacification de 1800. Par Alphonse de Beauchamp. Troisième édition. 3 tom. Paris. 1809. 7. Vie de Lazare Hoche, Général des Armées de la République Française. Par Alexandre Rousselin. Suivie de sa Correspondance publique et privée, &c. 2 tom. Paris. An. VI. (1798). 8. Histoire Générale et Impartiale des Erreurs, des Fautes, et des Crimes, commis pendant la Révolution Française. (Par Prudhomme). 6 tom. Paris. An. V. (1797). MONG the many historical works to which the French Revo lution has given birth, the two most interesting are, beyond doubt, Madame Roland's Appeal to Posterity, and the Memoirs of the Marchioness de la Roche Jaquelein. The most injured royalist could not peruse the former without feeling some degree of reluctant respect for the best of the republicans—the most stoical republican could not read the latter without acknowledging the virtue, admiring the heroism, and regretting the fate VOL. XV. NO. XXIX. B of of the defenders of the French monarchy. Now that the contest is over, both parties might derive from these books a wholesome lesson of political charity; and in all times, wherever they may be read, they will convince a wise and well regulated mind, that of all evils-of all miseries-of all curses which can befal a civilized country, revolution is the greatest. Victorine Donnissan, Marchioness de la Roche Jaquelein, was the only child of the Marquis de Donnissan, gentilhomme d'honneur to Monsieur, at present Louis XVIII. Her mother, daughter of the Duc de Civrac, was dame d'atours to Madame Victoire. Her parents being thus attached to the court, Victorine was born at Versailles, in 1772, and educated in the Chateau, where she remained till the royal family were dragged to Paris, in 1789. From her childhood she was designed to marry her first cousin, the Marquis de Lescure. Lescure's father was a gambler and a debauchee; and, as if his own ill example were not sufficient to corrupt this his only son, he chose for his tutor a man who was the confidant aud companion of his debaucheries! and the father and tutor, when they had involved themselves in any difficulty by their profligate conduct, went to the son for advice and cousolation! At the age of eighteen, Lescure was left with a debt of 800,000 francs, incurred by this dissolute parent: he was advised rather to renounce his inheritance than charge himself with the payment; a sense of honour forbade this; and in the course of six years he paid off three-fourths of the debt, and remained with a yearly revenue of 80,000 francs. The former state of embarrassment had occasioned the marriage-contract to be broken; it was renewed when his affairs were thus re-established. At the age of thirteen he had entered the Military School, and remained there three years. His person was good, but he was shy, awkward, and reserved: a deep sense of religion enabled him to restrain passions which were naturally strong; and the same religious feeling insulated him at court, and in the world in which he lived.-A silent man, of solitary and repulsive habits, he loved to dwell upon his own thoughts, and was attached, sometimes even with obstinacy, to his own opi nions; but his disposition was gentle, and no circumstance ever disturbed his perfect equanimity. Such a character bears little resemblance to the fair ideal' of a maiden's imagination: Victorine, however, from long regarding him as her future husband, had learnt to appreciate the real excellencies of his nature, and esteem and love had grown together. Poitou was his native province; the greater part of that country was attached to the royal cause, and in the summer of 1791, when the revolution had taken a course which, unless it were violently opposed, could only end in the overthrow of the monarchy, a confederacy was formed there, whose movements movements were connected with the intended escape of the king. Two regiments had been secured, one of which formed the garrison of Rochelle; 30,000 men would have been ready at the signal, and the general disposition of the country was calculated upon with well-founded certainty. They were to have joined another confederacy, organized in like manner, who would have taken possession of the roads about Lyons, and entered Provence from Savoy to put themselves at the head of the royalist armies. Drouet, the post-master of Varennes, prevented the success of a plan which would have accelerated the civil war, but might not improbably have prevented the most atrocious crimes of the French Revolution. Thus disappointed, the nobles of Poitou took the fatal resolution of emigrating;-it is to this emigration more than any other single cause, that the subsequent evils must be imputed. Lescure, unwillingly, as it appears, went with the current: be returned in consequence of his grandmother's illness, and learning, from diplomatic authority, that there was no likelihood of immediate war, and that he might remain in France during the winter the interval was chosen for his marriage! Above all other people the French seem to possess a faculty of putting off the thought of misery, and of escaping from its pressure when it comes. This inauspicious marriage was effected at the end of October, 1791, with emigration and civil war before his eyes! In the ensuing February, the new married couple prepared to quit the country, as almost all of their rank had done. They stopped at Paris on their way; there the queen saw the marchioness, and learning from her her husband's purpose, desired that he would remain in France. This happened immediately after the decree for confiscating the property of the emigrants; and the marchioness, fearful that her husband's character might suffer, (for his intention was known to the party, and he stood pledged to its performance,) entreated the Princess de Lamballe to represent this to the queen, The queen's answer was, I have nothing further to say to M. de Lescure; it is for him to consult his conscience, his duty and his honour: but he ought to remember, that the defenders of the throne are always in their place when they are near the king.' His reply when this was repeated to him marks his character--I should become vile in my own eyes,' said he, if I could hesitate a moment between my reputation and my duty. I trust I shall be enabled to prove, that if I remain, it is neither from motives of fear nor of avarice; but if this should not happen, if my orders should for ever remain unknown, I shall have sacrificed my honour to the king, but I shall only have done my duty.' M. Bernard de Marigny, a kinsman and friend of Lescure's, had accompanied him to B 2 Paris, Paris, meaning to partake his fortunes; seeing that his friend was continually at the court, he expressed his determination to follow his conduct, without requiring to be informed of the reasons by which it was governed. This confidence procured for him a similar order to remain in France. Marigny became afterwards one of the most distinguished leaders in La Vendée. On the 9th of August, it was reported that the Tuileries would be attacked the following day. Lescure would have gone to pass the night there, and be ready to bear part in its defence, for which purpose he always went secretly armed; but M. de Montmorin came from the palace to assure him they were well informed that the attack would not be made till the 12th, and that for the present all was safe, nothing more being intended by the revolutionists than an attempt upon the arsenal, which would be resisted by the national guards. About midnight the stir began; and Lescure saw from the window of his hotel, the armed force of the section assemble, with as little noise as possible. Between two and three in the morning, the tocsin was rung, and Lescure and Mariguy apprehending that the court had been deceived, went out to repair to their posts. It was too late-all the avenues were guarded. They were separated in the crowd-Marigny was borne away by the press of the assailants into the midst of the attack, and must have borne a part in it if he had not escaped by carrying away a woman who was wounded by his side. After the fatal events of this day, they were no longer in safety at their hotel; so they disguised themselves and sought shelter at the house of an old servant, in a different part of the town. Victorine's father and mother went first and arrived safely; she herself was in the seventh month of her pregnancy, and followed with her husband, whom she prevailed upon to lay aside his pistols, lest he should be recognized for a Knight of the Poignard, the appellation by which the adherents of the royal family were marked for destruction. When they reached the Champs Elysées, a woman seized Lescure's arm and besought him to protect her from a fellow who meant to murder her; she hung upon one arm, his wife upon the other, and the SansCulotte, who was completely drunk, came up and told his story. He wanted to go and kill some Swiss, he said, and had asked this woman the way to the Tuileries; instead of answering him she had run away, and therefore she was an aristocrat: he had killed some of that breed already in the course of the day, and this would be one more. Lescure, with his usual coolness, told the man he was right, and that he himself was going to the Tuileries: the place where they were was lonely, and he could easily have overpowered this wretch, if the two women, whom fear had deprived of all reason, had not clung to him. Nothing therefore could be done |