Page:History of The man with the iron mask (1).pdf/20

20 sacrifice to that system of terror which they had contributed to erect. Even the Jacobins themselves, though neither timid nor cautious in the shedding of blood, began to murmur when they saw that awful privilege confined within a few hands, or rather monopolized by an individual.

In this state, things remained for some time; and it appeared how possible it is for an individual to govern a great nation even while the whole of that nation is hostile to his power. One circumstance tended much to accelerate the fall of Robespierre. He has procured a decree to be passed, authorizing the Committee of Public Safety to imprison at its pleasure, and bring to trial, any member of the Convention. All the individuals of that body found themselves placed by this decree in the power of a man whose severe and suspicious temper they well knew. Still, however, they were so much surrounded by spies, that it was difficult to form a party or plan of operations; even the majority of the Committee of Public Safety were among the number of the discontented, but they dared not to withstand their chief. At last, on the 25th of July 1795, the Convention began to exhibit signs of agitation. It was understood, that, in the course of a few days, Robespierre would sacrifice a number of the members to his suspicions.

On the 26th, the sitting of the Convention was still more tempestuous. In a long speech, Robespierre defended his own conduct against those who accused him of aspiring to the dictatorship. He attacked the party style Moderates, as wishing to overturn the revolutionary government, and to restore the feeble