Madame Roland, Makers of History   By: John S. C. Abbott (1805-1877)

Madame Roland

BY

JOHN S. C. ABBOTT

WITH ENGRAVINGS

NEW YORK AND LONDON

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS

1904

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty, by

HARPER & BROTHERS,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

Copyright, 1878, by JANE W. ABBOTT.

[Illustration: MADAME ROLAND.]

PREFACE.

The history of Madame Roland embraces the most interesting events of the French Revolution, that most instructive tragedy which time has yet enacted. There is, perhaps, contained in the memoirs of no other woman so much to invigorate the mind with the desire for high intellectual culture, and so much to animate the spirit heroically to meet all the ills of this eventful life. Notwithstanding her experience of the heaviest temporal calamities, she found, in the opulence of her own intellectual treasures, an unfailing resource. These inward joys peopled her solitude with society, and dispelled even from the dungeon its gloom. I know not where to look for a career more full of suggestive thought.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. CHILDHOOD 13

II. YOUTH 33

III. MAIDENHOOD 57

IV. MARRIAGE 80

V. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 105

VI. THE MINISTRY OF M. ROLAND 130

VII. MADAME ROLAND AND THE JACOBINS 155

VIII. LAST STRUGGLE OF THE GIRONDISTS 178

IX. ARREST OF MADAME ROLAND 201

X. FATE OF THE GIRONDISTS 224

XI. PRISON LIFE 252

XII. TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF MADAME ROLAND 277

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

MADAME ROLAND Frontispiece.

THE VISIT 40

LA PLATIÈRE 97

ROBESPIERRE 116

THE LIBRARY 145

EXECUTION OF THE GIRONDISTS 247

MADAME ROLAND IN PRISON 259

EXECUTION OF MADAME ROLAND 301

MADAME ROLAND

CHAPTER I.

CHILDHOOD.

1754 1767

Characters developed by the French Revolution. Madame Roland. Gratien Phlippon. His repinings at his lot. Views of Phlippon. His hostility to the Church. Origin of the French Revolution. Character of Madame Phlippon. Birth of Jane Maria. Adored by her parents. Discontent of Phlippon. His complainings to his child. Early traits of character. Love of books. Jane's thirst for reading. Her love of flowers. Jane's personal appearance. Thirst for knowledge. Intellectual gifts. A walk on the Boulevards. Phlippon's talk to his child. Youthful dreams. Influence of Jane's parents over her. Education in convents. Jane sent to a convent. Parting with her mother. Madame Roland's account of her first night in the convent. Jane's books of study. Her proficiency in music and drawing. Scenes in the convent. Impressions made by them. Poetic enthusiasms. Taking the veil. Taking the black veil. Effect upon Jane. Lofty aspirations. Remark of Napoleon. Jane's contempt of ease and luxury. Her self denial.