as objects of fear and suspicion to the mob. He had, in fact, a special subject of grievance against the Minister who refused him a grant of 15,000 francs for his paper L'Ami du Peuple. But in spite of the continuous attacks against him in the Paris press and by the Clubs, Roland remained firm to his convictions of freedom of the press and of public meetings, fearing nothing so much as to act despotically in the name of liberty.
How far things had already gone with them at this time is shown by Madame Roland's letter of the 25th December, year first of the Republic.[1] She begins:—
The date is not indifferent, for who knows what to-morrow may bring forth? it is on the cards that many worthy people may not see its end. There are dreadful designs afloat against Louis, so as to give occasion to include the Deputies and the Minister of the Interior in the massacre. . . . I have sent my daughter to the country, and settled my little affairs as if for the long journey, and can now calmly await whatever may happen. Our social institutions render life so painful to honest hearts that its loss ceases to be a hardship, and I have so thoroughly familiarised myself with the thought of death that, should the assassins come, I shall go to meet them, persuaded as I am that the only thing in the world likely to arrest their blows is to show an unmoved front. . . . Warnings of intended assassinations come pouring in, for they honour me with their hate, and I know the reason why! During the first fortnight of Roland's Ministry the scoundrel Danton and the hypocritical Fabre were always about us, aping a love of what was good and honest. They saw through me, and, without my ever saying anything to coufirm their opinion, concluded that I sometimes wield the pen and these writings of M. R have produced some effect; therefore, etc.
Since this Marat has been set to bark at me, and has never left- ↑ This letter, which is of great interest, only recently came to light at a sale of autographs, and has hitherto only been published in a French newspaper. It is addressed to the ex-Minister of War, then Général Servan.
