Conflicting views of the Convention.

the Conciergerie, had pressed on her daughter's brow, as the only inheritance she had to share between her two children.

The prospects of the men in power were growing more and more gloomy. The higher classes had been levelled by the guillotine; but the middle class of men was now coming forward, ready to fight for existence. Becoming more and more numerous, the friends of public tranquillity were attempting a return to monarchy. The name of Louis XVII. was whispered about—a word of hope to the ears of the oppressed, of defiance

to the oppressor. Nothing therefore was talked about but conspiracies perhaps the poor child conspired himself, with his prison bars and bolts, his iron doors; he did conspire, alone and in silence, with patience and resignation.

The tyrant-masters of France, fearing at once the agitation which this royal name might excite at home, and the support it might find in foreign courts, considered it as a constant leaven of intestine discord, but also as a pledge of essential importance to their safety. Some were anxious to get rid of its existence, as an element of intestine commotions, while others wished to preserve it as a hostage for their political security. Thus, the Convention was always wavering, and its perplexity great, whenever there was any question to decide respecting the fate of the son of Louis XVI.

"And I, too," said Duhem, in the sitting of the 2nd Sansculottide, 2nd year of the Republic, one and indivisible (18th September, 1794)-" and I, too, have long been anxious to know why, in the very midst of us, there yet exists a rallying point for the aristocracy. As if a people, who have had the courage to acquire liberty for themselves by sending their tyrant to the scaffold, ought to preserve among them still a branch of the old stem, a presumptive heir of royalty! I ask whether such an instance is to be met with in the history of any nation of antiquity—I mean among those who have had the same courage and energy with ourselves? But this is a question of sovereignty, and therefore ought to be deeply studied.

Laurent asks for a colleague.

Let the committees, then, take into consideration whether we shall not do well to eject far from us, not only these scions of royalty, but also the whole of that infernal family of Capet, with all who adhere to them. We have, so to speak, two separate nations in France-the royalists and the republicans. You will have neither peace nor security as long as one of those nations has the power of agitating and tormenting the country."

Duhem's proposal remained, and could but remain, without result, so much was the fear of a continuance of anarchy at Paris balanced by that of putting a powerful weapon into the hands of foreign powers. The leaders of the committees, unshackled by either of these fears, hoped soon to avert both dangers at once, and watched with an eager eye the gradual wasting of a life, for which opposite parties were anxiously contending in the face of day, while they were noiselessly and leisurely extinguishing the spark in the dark vault of a prison.

Laurent exerted himself in vain to destroy this pernicious influence; but what could he do? Himself constantly watched, he was not at liberty to follow the impulse of his good wishes, and the feeling of interest inspired by his young prisoner.

The excessive slavery to which he was condemned by his functions began also to be wearisome to him, and it was not without a feeling of profound ennui and tender regret that he thought of his deserted garden and forsaken club.

He had already complained several times to the commissaries of this slavish restraint, which had in the end conquered Simon (who, however, was not alone), and which would certainly wear him out at last, unless government would come to his assistance, and give him a colleague to relieve him in his incessant duties as overseer. Strange, indeed! the child was still struggling against the solitude and inaction which had conquered two grown men !

Towards the middle of October, Laurent addressed himself directly to the committee; and he had soon the satisfaction of seeing his request granted.

BOOK FIFTEENTH.

GOMIN, COLLEAGUE OF LAURENT.

18TH BRUMAIRE-9TH GERMINAL, 3RD YEAR

(8TH NOVEMBER, 1794-29TH MARCH, 1795).

Nomination of Gomin-His biography-His sentiments on entering the tower-His first communication with Louis XVII.-Details concerning the interior arrangements of the Temple-Flowers given to the Prince-The sententious Delboy-First words of the child-King to Gomin-Courageous article in a newspaper-Protest of the committee of public welfare-Diplomatic step in favour of the prisoners in the Temple-Deliberations of the Convention, as to their fate-Cruel expression of municipal Cazeaux-The child's firmness of dispositionHis improvement in health checked-Commissary Leroux and the 14th of tyrants-Cards given to the young King-Debierne the toyman-The child's health grows worse-Report of the council-general of the Commune to the committee of general safety-Committee appointed to examine the Prince-Statement of Harmand (member for La Meuse)-Appreciation of this statement-No improvement is made in the Temple regulations-Affectionate attentions of Gomin-A dove at the Temple.-The child's thoughts always turned to his mother-Sinister foreboding of municipal Collot-Laurent leaves the Temple.

By a decision of the 18th Brumaire, 3rd year (Saturday, 8th November, 1794), "The committee of general safety on the presentation of the administrative committee of police, adopts and selects citizen Gomin to be attached to the Temple guard, and directs the section of police to summon him to his

Gomin.

post."* Having been sent for next day to this latter committee, the new agent was informed of his appointment, couched in the terms we have mentioned. He wished to excuse himself, but he was made to understand that he had not the power to refuse, and that he must repair to his post imme

diately: "The carriage is waiting for you." Gomin got into it accordingly, very uneasy at the unexpected duties laid upon him, but leaving no object of anxiety behind him; his father and mother were dead, he was not married, and he had no relations, excepting some aunts, who were then absent from

*Terms of the decree, which bears the signatures of Garnier (of the Aube), Mathieu, Harmand, Bentabolle, Reubell, Barras, Monmayou, and Réverchon.

Gomin.

Paris. Gomin was born on the 17th January, 1757.* He was the son of an upholsterer in the Ile Saint-Louis. The house where the father kept his shop, and whither the emissaries of the Revolution went for the son, is situated opposite to the church of Saint-Louis, and now bears the number 38. Gomin was not at first aware to what influence he owed his nomination: in his own neighbourhood he enjoyed the reputation of being a mild, quiet man, having nothing to recommend him to those in power, to whom his moderate sentiments could only have rendered him an object of suspicion.

He learned afterwards that M. le Marquis de Fenouil, who had resided in the Ile Saint-Louis, and who was personally acquainted with him, had, by means of certain intrigues, pretending to be patriotic, which he had succeeding in forming and carrying on with considerable art, contributed strongly to an appointment which was favourable to the royalist party.

I enter into these details because I am anxious to make my readers acquainted with this man, to whom I am indebted for a number of interesting anecdotes connected with the latter part of the Dauphin's life, in many of which he had some share. He was a man of straightforward character and prudent disposition, who, beneath the official reserve indispensable to his duties, concealed a loyal heart, timid it is true, but of exquisite sensibility. I knew him very well in the last years of his life, and that man, who had grown old amid the storms of faction, preserved, at the age of eighty, the memory and activity he possessed at thirty. He had seen all his political illusions vanish, as is usually the case; and as they gradually disappeared the impressions of the earlier part of his career revived more strongly, accompanied by their tardy regrets and melancholy reminiscences. The intense feeling of curi osity which at first induced me to seek him out, soon turned to real affection when I came to know him better. I felt, as

❤ He died at Pontoise, 17th January, 1841.