CHAPTER XXXV.

CHARLES HENRI SANSON'S DIARY.

Brumaire 26.-Executed to-day, Citizen De Cussy, of Caen, who had taken part in the conspiracy of the federalist deputies, and with him Gilbert de Voisin, late president of the ex-parliament, who, having emigrated, was imprudent enough to return to Paris. During the toilet somebody said aloud that if Cussy, who was an adept in coining gold and silver moneys, was about to be guillotined, it was a certain sign that the Republic wanted no other money than paper. After these two came Houchard, formerly general of the Army of the North, who, like an old soldier, did not tremble.

Brumaire 27.-Forgers still give us plenty of work. To-day I led two of them to the Place de la Révolution. Forgery is a misfortune which endangers the lives of many innocent persons. Forgers are so clever that it is difficult to distinguish bad from good paper, and many people who have been deceived cannot resist the temptation of inflicting upon others the loss they have sustained. This evening I met in the Rue de la Tixeranderie a gang of women who were going to the Commune

-they wore the red cap; a large crowd followed them, giving cheers which were much like groans. I followed the example, and walked behind the women, for I wanted to know what they intended to complain of. Having met Citizen Nicolas Lelièvre, he took me into the Hôtel-de-Ville. The women also entered, but neither their costume nor their petition were to the taste of Citizen Chaumette, who spoke to them very sensibly, and sent them back to their homes.

Brumaire 28.-This morning we went to the Conciergerie. As I was waiting in the prison parlour, two citizens, who were about to be interrogated, passed through the room; one of these, who I was told was Citizen Boisguyon, a soldier, approached me, and with great demonstrations of politeness, he said to me:

'Is it to the citizen executioner I have the honour of speaking? Is not your scaffold like a ball-room, citizen, and does not the knife, like the violins, begin operations in such a way as not to leave time for two words?'

I gave an affirmative answer.

Then turning towards his companion he said to him: "You see, Dupré, that I was right, and that you acted your part very badly. We must ask Fouquier-Tinville to allow the citizen executioner to come and superintend our rehearsals.'

The gendarmes led them away, but I heard them laughing. The speaker alluded to a parody of capital punishment which had become the chief amusement of the prisoners.

Executed on this day a late deputy of the Constituante, Nicolas Remi Lesueur, of Saint Menehould, and an old soldier who had recruited for the enemy.1

Brumaire 29.-Two convicts, Distar de Bellecour, officer, and Charles Duparc, late employé at the Tuileries. Nothing particularly interesting.

The Section de l'Unité' to-day, Brumaire 30, took away the remnants of the superstition of the Abbey of St. Germain des Prés to the Convention. I saw the procession. At the head of it marched a party of soldiers, then came men wearing sacerdotal vestments over their. clothes, and between two files were women and girls dressed in white with tricolour sashes; lastly, I saw i hand-barrows wherein were placed vases, pyxes, candlesticks, gold and silver plates, and a box of relics, studded with precious stones. The procession was followed by a band which played the tune of 'Malbrouk' (sic). This booty, it is said, is worth two millions.

The Tribunal has given us a holiday; such occasions

are rare.

Frimaire 1.-We went to take away poor Citizen Boisguyon, who the other day had made fun of the guillotine. When he was brought to me he said:

'You are in earnest to-day; you will be astonished to see how well I can play my part.'

With him were Girey-Dupré, Brissot's accomplice ; he had had his hair cut before being tried, and had appeared before the Tribunal in proper toilet for the

1 Francois Prix, alias Saint-Prix.

scaffold. He said, turning round several times before me: 'I hope I am all right.' He was very cheerful. A forger of assignats, Colombier, was also to die. They all three took place in the same cart. The forger was in consternation; he tried to prove to Citizen Boisguyon that he was not guilty. The latter attempted to console him, and said:

'If my dying twice, instead of once, could save you. I would willingly submit to the experiment, for death is of very little consequence to me; but since this is impossible, keep your reasons for the Lord, in whose presence we shall be two hours hence.'

As we were crossing the Rue St. Honoré, two women appeared at a window of Duplay's house, where Citizen Robespierre lives. Girey-Dupré, who was showing the house to Boisguyon, cried at the top of his voice :

'Down with Cromwell! down with the dictator! down with the tyrant!'

Juglet, the officer of gendarmes, tried to silence him, but in vain.

Colombier was executed first, Boisguyon came next. He was quiet to the last. When Girey was on the platform he wanted to address the people, but we had orders to prevent him, and we took hold of him. He cried several times' Vive la République !'

Frimaire 4-We executed Antoine Colnelle de Tontel, late lieutenant-colonel, and Clément Laverdy, formerly superintendent of finances, convicted of having contributed to famine by throwing corn into a pondnasty day's work. The first-mentioned convict was

seventy-two years old, and the other seventy. Both died with courage.

Frimaire 6.-Yesterday the Tribunal tried the individuals accused of having given false evidence; two of the accused were acquitted; the third, Carterau Desormeaux, was condemned to death and executed to-day.

Frimaire 7.-Bread is scarce in town; one must wait for hours before the bakers' shops before one can get some. The women crowd before the shops in the evening, and sometimes wait all night. This sight should be very distressing, but our compatriots turn everything into fun. This evening over five hundred persons were waiting before the baker in our street; although the weather was very chilly, they were singing and laughing. Unfortunately this gaiety is frequently attended with disorder and misconduct, and there are husbands who complain. To-day the Tribunal sent to death Jacques Étienne Marchand, lieutenant of gendarmes; General Nicolas Pollier-Lamarlière; and Étienne Alexis Jacques Anisson, formerly director of the national press.

Frimaire 9.-Five heads fell to-day: two were those of celebrated men, Barnave, and Duport du Tertre, who had been minister of justice. It is said that Citizen Danton tried to save Barnave, but with the new law the denunciation of a child is enough to forfeit a man's life, and no earthly power could save him. Yesterday I saw Citizen Fouquier as he was entering court. The execution was appointed for to-day, but the sitting ended late, and the weather was so bad that it had to be put off to