* The French do not yet annex any other idea to the religion of
     reason than that of the female who performs the part of the goddess.

Thus, by submitting his abstractions to the genius of the people, and the imperfections of our nature, perhaps the best apology was offered for the errors of that worship which had been proscribed, persecuted, and ridiculed.

Previous to the tenth day, on which a celebration of this kind was to take place, a Deputy arrived, accompanied by the female goddess:* that is, (if the town itself did not produce one for the purpose,) a Roman dress of white satin was hired from the theatre, with which she was invested—­her head covered with a red cap, ornamented with oak leaves—­ one arm was reclined on a plough, the other grasped a spear—­and her feet were supported by a globe, and environed by mutilated emblems of seodality. [It is not possible to explain this costume as appropriate.]

* The females who personated the new divinity were usually selected from amongst those who “might make sectaries of whom they bid but follow,” but who were more conspicuous for beauty than any other celestial attribute.—­The itinerant goddess of the principal towns in the department de la Somme was the mistress of one Taillefer, a republican General, brother to the Deputy of the same name.—­I know not, in this military government, whether the General’s services on the occasion were included in his other appointments.  At Amiens, he not only provided the deity, but commanded the detachment that secured her a submissive adoration.

Thus equipped, the divinity and her appendages were borne on the shoulders of Jacobins “en bonnet rouge,” and escorted by the National Guard, Mayor, Judges, and all the constituted authorities, who, whether diverted or indignant, were obliged to preserve a respectful gravity of exterior.  When the whole cavalcade arrived at the place appointed, the goddess was placed on an altar erected for the occasion, from whence she harangued the people, who, in return, proffered their adoration, and sung the Carmagnole, and other republican hymns of the same kind.  They then proceeded in the same order to the principal church, in the choir of which the same ceremonies were renewed:  a priest was procured to abjure his faith and avow the whole of Christianity an imposture;* and the festival concluded with the burning of prayer-books, saints, confessionals, and every thing appropriated to the use of public worship.**—­

It must be observed, in justice to the French Clergy, that it was seldom possible to procure any who would consent to this infamy.  In such cases, the part was exhibited by a man hired and dressed for the purpose.—­The end of degrading the profession in the eyes of the people was equally answered.

* In many places, valuable paintings and statues were burnt or disfigured.  The communion cups, and other church plate, were, after