weight of irresolution which had so long oppressed him.  War against his allies and his brothers had cost him many a pang.  This sacrifice of his feelings to the constitution seemed to him to merit the gratitude of the Assembly, and by thus identifying himself with the cause of his country, he flattered himself that he should at least recover the good opinion and the love of his people.  The Assembly separated without deliberating, and gave a few hours up to enthusiasm rather than to reflection.

VII.

At the sitting in the evening, Pastoret, one of the principal Feuillants, was the first to support the war.  “We are reproached with having voted the effusion of human blood in a moment of enthusiasm; but is it to-day only that we are provoked?  During four hundred years the house of Austria has violated every treaty with France.  Such are our motives; let us no longer hesitate.  Victory will adhere faithfully to the cause of liberty.”

Becquet, a constitutional royalist, a profound and courageous orator, alone ventured to speak against the declaration of war.  “In a free country,” said he, “war is alone made to defend the constitution or the nation.  Our constitution is but of yesterday, and it requires calm to take root.  A state of crisis, such as war, opposes all regular movements of political bodies.  If your armies combat abroad, who will repress faction at home?  You are flattered with the belief that you have only Austria to cope against.  You are promised that the other northern powers will not interfere; do not rely on this.  Even England cannot remain neuter:  if the exigencies of the war lead you to revolutionise Belgium, or to invade Holland, she will join Prussia to support the stadtholder against you.  Doubtless England loves the liberty which is now taking root amongst you; but her life is commercial, she cannot abandon her trade in the Low Countries.  Wait until you are attacked, and then the spirit of the people will fight in your cause.  The justice of a cause is worth armies.  But if you can be represented to other nations as a restless and conquering people, who can only exist in a vortex of turmoil and war, the nations will shun and dread you.  Besides, is not war the hope of the enemies of the Revolution?  Why give them cause to rejoice by offering it to them.  The emigres, now only despicable, will become dangerous on that day when foreign armies lend them their assistance.”

This sensible and profound speech, interrupted repeatedly by the ironical laughter and the insults of the Assembly, was concluded amidst the outcries of the tribunes.  It required no small degree of heroism to combat the proposed war in the French chambers.  Bazire alone, the friend of Robespierre, ventured, like Becquet, the king’s friend, to demand a few days’ reflection, before giving a vote that would shed so much human gore.  “If you decide upon war, do so in such a manner that treason cannot envelope