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244 tending to diffuse the knowledge and love of the Revolution. This he called the Patriotic Correspondence; and as to his own writings, instead of promoting discord, they all breathed a desire to concur in the maintenance of order and of peace.

It was observed at this point to Madame Roland that it was in vain for her to attempt to disguise the truth. That her endeavours to justify Roland were ineffectual; fatal experience having only too well shown the mischief that perfidious Minister had done by aspersing the most faithful representatives of the people, and by exciting the departments to take up arms against Paris.

The accused, in answer to the injurious imputations upon Roland, observed that she had only two facts to oppose: firstly his writings, which all contained the soundest principles of morality and politics; secondly, his forwarding all those printed by order of the National Convention, even the speeches of the members of that Assembly, who passed for the most violent in opposition.

Q.—Do you know at what time Roland left Paris and where he may be?

A.—Whether I do or not, is what I neither ought nor choose to tell.

It was here remarked to the accused that her obstinacy in disguising the truth proved that she thought Roland guilty; that she was setting herself in open rebellion against the law. The public prosecutor, Fouquier Tinville, accompanied his examination with such insulting epithets, and put questions so offensive to her honour, that she, who could calmly meet death, felt unable to repress her tears.

But she would not be brow-beaten. Turning round