- In like manner he plays with his
reports, and at this latter exercise, he improvises; he is never
embarrassed; it is simply necessary to turn the faucet and the water
runs. " Had he any subject to treat, he would fasten himself on
Robespierre, H?rault, Saint-Just, or somebody else, and draw them out;
he would then rush off to the tribune and spin out their ideas; "they
were all astonished at hearing their thoughts expressed as fully as if
reflected in a mirror." No individual on the Committee, or in the
Convention, equaled him in promptness and fluency, for the reason that
he was not obliged to think before he spoke: with him, the faculty of
speaking, like an independent organ, acted by itself, the empty brain
or indifferent heart contributing nothing to his loquacity.
Naturally, whatever issues from his mouth comes forth in ready-made
bombast, the current jargon of the Jacobin club, sonorous, nauseous
commonplace, schoolboy metaphors and similes derived from the
shambles.[77] Not an idea is found in all this rhetoric, nothing
acquired, no real mental application. When Bonaparte, who employed
everybody, even Fouch?, were disposed to employ Bar?re, they could
make nothing out of him for lack of substance, except as a low
newsmonger, common spy, or agent engaged to stir up surviving
Jacobins; later on, a listener at keyholes, and a paid weekly
collector of public rumors, he was not even fit for this vile service,
for his wages were soon stopped Napoleon, who, having no time to
waste, cut short his driveling verbiage.
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