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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

He is well known;
first, through his correspondence, and next, by his mother's diary.
("Journal d'une bourgeoise pendant la Revolution," ed. Locroy.) - We
have a sketch of David ("La Demagogie ? Paris en 1793," by Dauban, a
fac-simile at the beginning of the volume), representing Queen Marie
Antoinette led to execution. Madame Julien was at a window along with
David looking at the funeral convoy, whilst he made the drawing. -
Madame Julien writes in her "Journal," September 3, 1792: "To attain
this end we must will the means. No barbarous humanity! The people
are aroused, the people are avenging the crimes of the past three
years." - Her son, a sort of raw, sentimental Puritan, fond of
bloodshed, was one of Robespierre's most active agents. He remembered
what he had done, as is evident by Michelet's narrative, and cast his
eyes down, well knowing that his present philanthropy could not
annihilate past acts.
[33] Archives Nationales, AF. II., 46. Register of the Acts of the
Committee of Public Safety, vol. II., orders of August 3, 1793.
[34] On the concentration and accumulation of business, cf. Archives
Nationales, ibid., acts of Aug. 4, 5, 6, 1793; and AF.


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