Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Memoirs of The Sansons - Henry Sanson
Memoirs of The Sansons - Henry Sanson
S P O T I I SW O O D E AND CO N EAV S P RE ET S Q U A RE
' ' ‘
-
.
,
A N D P A RL I A M E N T ST R E E T
MEMO I RS O F TH E SANSONS
c5 m m Qfi r i h zfi é fi ni ng na h fi cm mm t s .
E D TED
I BY
H E N RY S A N S O N ,
L AT E E XE C U T I O N E R OF THE CO U R T OF j U ST I C E OF P A RI S .
[ JV TW O VOL UA/E S .
— VOL . 11.
3 01m m
C H A TTO A N D W D U S, P I C C A D I LLY
ii
.
C O N TE N TS
T H E S E C O N D V O L U M E .
A N E XP I A T ORY M AS S
U
TH E L A R O E R I E C O N SP I RACY
C H A RLO TTE C O R D AY
U T NE
G S I
‘
TH E Q U EE N
TH E G I R O ND N S I
A D A M L U X — TH E D K E
. U OF O RL E A N S
D
MA AM E ROLA N D AN D B AI LLY
CH AR L ES N
H E R I SA S ON S D I A R N ’
Y
CH A R L ES N
H E R I SA S O N S D I AR N ’
Y ( co n t i n ued)
CH AR L ES H E N R I SA NS O N S DI AR ’
Y ( nt i n
co u ed )
TR I A L OF DA NT O N, C A M LL E I D ES M O UL I NS ,
W ES T
E RM A N N , E TC ,
ETC .
XXX I X . CH A RL ES N
H E R I SA S O N S D I AR N ’
Y (co n t i n u ed )
XL . CH AR L E S N
H E R I SA S O N NS ’
D I AR Y ( c o n t i nued )
C ONTENTS OF TH E SE COND VOL U M E .
CH AR L E S N
H E R I SA S O N NS ’
DI AR Y (co n t i nued )
CH AR L ES N
H E R I SA S O N NS ’
D I AR Y ( c o n t i n ued )
M Y F A TH E R G O ES I N T TH E
O AR T LL E R Y
I .
—HIS MS .
A R RES T OF
‘
M Y FA TH E R AND G REA T U NC
-
LE T
AF E R
TH E 9t h OF H
T ER M I D OR
XLV . TH E D EA TH OF RO B ES P I E RRE
X LV I . L ES U RQ U ES
X LV I I . M Y V O C AT I O N
X LV I I I . MY E D U CAT N IO
X LI X . M Y F I R S T EXE C UT N IO
L . LO U V EL
LI . M Y EXE C UT N S
IO
A PP EN DI X
MEMOI RS OF THE SANSONS .
C HAPTE R X X V I I .
AN E XP I A TOR Y M A SS .
H e had been i mbued with her ideas and pri nciples and ,
p r v e .
‘
The e x ecutioner of Paris Charles H enri Sanson , ,
‘
The petitioner trus t s that you will deign to examin e ‘
looke d .
( S igned ) S A N S O N ,
E x e c ut i o ne r Of c ri m i na l s ent en c e s i n t h e t o wn Of Pa ri s
’
.
AN EXPI A TOR Y 3
. .
'
Th ey . .
'
Gu ard .
’
Henri S anson s feelings concerning what h e styled th e
honour of his profession Th e blo od which flowed .
-
.
,
B 2
4 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
’
w as s till l iving u nder Charles H enri S anson s roof told ,
’
O bj ect O f such a visit She kne w her husband s religious
.
h i s troubled conscience .
’
Charles H enri Sanson returned at t w o O clock i n
th e morning and before his friends had ti me to question
,
hi m he s a id
Chesneau I have s een your p r o t eg es I t is bitterly
,
’
—
provisions come I have seen two nuns who are very
. .
l ess for the repose of the so u l of the King than for the
peace of his ( Sanson s) conscience ’
.
1
moving a ccount
Towards th e end of the month of J anuary 17 9 3
an old lady was descending the inclin e which leads to
the S t Laurent Church i n the F aubourg S t M arti n
.
, . .
’
I t was about eight O clock i n the evening S no w had .
1
Th i s a c c o unt h as b een r p ri nt
e ed i n th e e di t i o n o f Ba l z ac s
’
co m pl e t e
wo rk s .
6 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NSONS .
.
. .
,
, , ,
, , .
.
,
’
, , ,
-
.
.
‘
’
. . .
’
looking at th e lady s h e hurriedly ,
, ,
h us b a n d w h o suddenly appeared
’
.
.
,
‘
Do you think I a m stupid enough to leave it
y our counter
Astonished at the silence and stillness of the old lady ,
, ,
‘
What is the matter with you citoyenne ? enquired ,
voic e .
‘
Excuse m e s h e said with childish gentleness
, ,
.
i t to the p astrycook .
’
H ere i s the pric e you m entioned .
words .
’
But citoyenne you seem very faint
, , .
‘
Wou ld mad am take som ething ? exclaimed t h e ’
‘
We have some excellent broth said the pastry ,
’
AN EXPI A TOR Y M A SS .
9
‘
.
’
yoursel f .
’
I think he is candid ly answered the ol d l ady
, .
i
’
! Don t go d k th e b aw y from her ’
s p ra c
y a n t a e o x a .
’
I ll go and speak to him and get rid of hi m ,
, .
’ ’
that I ll ever fu r n i s h y o u with elements of conspiracy ~ .
pockets .
c lo t h e s t h a n t h e unknown preferring t h e da ng e r s O f th e
x
,
g r e s s o rs .
‘
The man who has been l urking about the house
’
for th e last few days followed m e this evening
,
.
man and showed that he was the only c ause of their fear
,
.
‘
W h y should you not confid e i n God my sisters ?
,
’
yourselves not of me , .
’
, ,
sided .
’
D o not be frighten ed said the priest if so me on e , ,
‘
’
stant attendants .
simplicity .
admiration .
’
S ister M artha said he to the nun who had brough t
,
vo lu n t a s to the word H os a n na 63 /
him .
, .
,
- -
,
’
share of it to m e I have a favour to ask
. .
—
If I annoy you i f I cause you any i nc o nve ni
‘
’
service you can employ m e without fear .
waited until the two nuns themsel ves were seated before
h e accepted the i nvitation .
’
You have given shelter he resumed to a venerable , ,
’
the C armelites .
the stranger .
’
But s i r we h ave no priest here said Sister Martha
, , , ,
’
You should be more careful continued the ,
and
AN EXPI A TOR Y M A SS . I 7
, ,
a finger .
’
this .
‘
I cannot b eli eve S ir said h e to him that you are
, ,
’
,
‘
F ather I cam e to b eseech you to s a y a m ass for
,
V OL . II . C
18 M E MOI RS OF TH E S A N S ON S .
’
The priest scanned the stranger s features Evident .
and beseeching .
for th e ceremony .
Between two shafts the nuns had placed the old chest
o f drawers O f which the O ld fashioned shape w a s con
,
-
F our small thin tapers which the sisters had fixed with
y ellow wax upon this improvised altar furnished a pale
and flickering light These tapers hardl y lighted the .
OF TH E SA NSON S
.
and as if his shadow was before them i n all its maj esty .
, .
, , ,
the stranger and the two nuns were seized with religious
awe . God could not ha v e appeared more maj estic
under the cupola of St Peter s at R ome than H e t h en .
’
’
tears came to the stranger s eyes To this pray er the .
’
stranger s manly cheeks The mass for the d ead was .
’
At the pri est s first word s the stranger m ade a ,
a s t iC
°
F ather,
’
‘
said he non e is m ore innocent of the ,
‘
crim e than I am .
’
, ,
22 . ME M OI RS OF TH E SA N S ON S .
Of a crime ?
y ou the e x piatory m a ss .
’
went awa y .
I t was .
’
'
ca r t e a c c z w s m e
'
wa s a ki d
n of p s s p r t w i t h wh i c h
a o i t w a s i m po s
S p e ns e r g th e
du i n Re i gn o f Te rr o r — N ED
. . .
AN E XPI A TOR Y MA SS . 25
‘
C ome said s h e in a moved and affectionate voice
,
’
, .
’
on the stranger s face when he s a w the preparations that
had b een m ade for his reception H e h eard mass .
,
’
O f negative politeness to Mdlle d e Ch a r o s t s invitation
.
no more .
, ,
The relic O ffered to the old pri est b y Cha rles S anson
was t h e hand k erchief the King held on reaching t h e
sca ffold H e had used it more than once on the way
.
,
the time .
‘
I f you knew said he on what grounds I ask
,
’
,
‘
, He .
TH E R O U E R/E C OA S P I RA C Y
'
[ A .
,
‘
, ,
,
a n d watched with fear
p agsa inst t
cr h § R § V 9 1Ufi Q Q i SI S L
Tu ffi n d e l a Roueri e .
'
Independ ence .
'
an insurrection in Brittany .
'
and La Roueri e was the only man who held the strings
'
full retreat and he b egan to fear that the time was past
,
’
La Roueri e .
M d e L a g Uy o m e r a i s applied to a surgeon of St
. .
’
The latter disfigured La Rouerie s corpse by numerous
incisions and in the following night the conspirator was
,
li m e .
Revolutionary Tribunal .
a ni s m ,
and the Government d eemed it necessary to
make an exampl e ; the m unicipal ity was su spend ed ,
sentenced to d eath .
V OL . II .
C HA PTE R x x Ix .
C H A R L O TTE OO R D A Y .
’
the death blow w as a woman s .
d A
’
o e e o .
, , ,
, . : .
’
hotel expecting to find there Marat s answer
,
.
’
called at M arat s house on the 1 3 th but was no t ,
his b ath A cloth had been thrown over the bath and
.
,
D 2
36 JI E JI OI RS TH E
'
OF S A A S OA S
’
.
’
crowd asse mbled around M arat s dwelli n cl amouri ng g
,
'
take Charlott e to pri s on un t il popular e fl e r ves c e n c e had
su bs id ed ; s h e wa s therefore in ca rcerated in M arat s ’
'
d e I A b ba y e w here the m embe rs of t h e C om mi ttee of
,
M W
’
O n Wednesday 17 th as above at ten O clock in th e
, , ,
’
b rea k fast At one o clock in the afternoon a citizen
.
who had j ust left the Tribun al told m e that the girl was
38 M E M OI RS OF TH E SA NS ON S .
“
F ouquier s a w me and said angrily What are you dall y ,
’
who was finishing Charlotte C orday s portrait S he was .
’
3
She then removed her chair to the m iddl e of t h
M p
” “
fear N O matter s h e replied ,
we are sure to reach
the scaffold sooner or l ater I rose as we reached the
.
”
right to b e c urious ; this is the first time I s e t e i '
’
Charlotte C orday s head and showed it to the people .
“
As I was sitting down my wi fe said to me
,
What is,
—
the matter with you why are you s o pale
C HA PTE R Xx x .
C U S TI N E .
w
“ J
”
q uantity
w h w
m akes up for t
O n J ul y 18 J oseph M a z e lli e r l ate O fficer i n the ,
C o q u e r e a u also o fficers
,
M alherbe was b arel y twent y
.
years O f age .
Du m o u r i e z
treason unfortunately j ustified this
’
s
were r e
o r ganised H e was c hg g egl with treason and arraigned
.
,
’
oeu v r i ng on
,
the flanks O f the Prussian army which
D u m o u r i e z was O pposing he had c aptured Worms , ,
’
were m urderous to Kleber s military repute b u t they did ,
for some time for th e trial lasted not less than fourteen
,
s e p ossessi on h o we y e r a nd wrote
, ,
Q “ M . .
-
v /
C U S TL VE ’
.
.
,
’
S anson entered C us t ine s prison H e found hi m on his .
was well remem b ered and the people dou b tless e x pected
M “
,
”
u niversal .
field and yet you w ere not then as you are now read y , ,
39 99 8 315 g e n e .
,
‘
and then taking his confessor s hand : You are right ’
,
’
’
t may be j ustifia b le to doubt C ustine s genius as a
general ; b ut i t i s impossi b le to deny him the first o f
military virtues courage ; his was prover b ial in the
,
f M”
10
.
Indeed he was b eginning to have enough of h i s royalty .
FROM THE S TO RY O F MARI E ANTOI NETTE
- "
.
, ,
p
’
rison I never
,
passed before the unfortunate Q ueen s
hich .
had b e e n p ar t ly en a c t e d i n the g lo o m y p r i s o n
;
'
V OL I I . . E
50 ME M OI RS OF TH E S A N S ON S .
EE EEE
’
, ,
’
which led to the exec utioner s i ntervention but only ,
’
Charles H enri S anson was present at the Q ueen s
trial N o sooner was the verdict given than he tapped
.
ui e r i
m ,
F abriciu s ,
the clerk mingl ed his merry j okes ,
’
w ith the public prosecutor s i nvectives Th e conversation .
E 2
52 MEMOI RS OF TH E S A NS ONS .
’
It wa s fi ve o clock i n the morning when my grand
father l eft the Tribunal All were asleep when he
.
w aking his wife when the latter who slept lightly called
, , ,
’
You can com e with m e if you l ike .
gend a rmes
M
.
”
h r(
O n reaching the c o ur)t ari e Antoinette s a w the
,
, ,
A few cries O f D ea t /t t o fl ee A uS t r i a n
‘
D ea l/z t o
M a da m e .Ve t o ” ros e from the c rowd ; but these ex
c la m a t i o n s becam e rarer and rarer .
and did not even seem to hear him When the Palais .
d eclined saying ,
’
that short distanc e .
V ersailles .
C HAPTE R X XXI I .
T HE C TR ON D I N S .
’
A F TE R th e Q ueen s trial cam e that of th e inhab itants of
Armenti eres charged with conspiracy with th e enemy
, ,
dé m ia i re .
P a s t o u r e l a priest
,
l
.
W
ine
t .
W
Pu b lic attention at th e time forsook the Place de l a
R evo lu t i o n engros s ed as it w as by a tri al of the highest
,
w a to the scaffold
y .
These were
J ean Pierre B r i s s o t aged 3 9 man Of letters and , ,
Gironde .
Bouches du R h On e
- -
o f S aone e t Loire - -
.
I ndre e t Loire
-
-
.
60 M EMOI R S OF TH E SA NS ONS .
o f O rne .
of Calvados .
of la Giro nde .
, ,
V ienne .
Sé vr e s .
M ayenne e t Loire - -
.
’
and proposed to ac t as executioner s val et This indi .
, ,
ngage J acot .
’
to the circumstance At eight o clock in th e morning
.
the hal l oth ers form ed circles all of them spoke with
much ani mation like friends who were about to b e sepa
,
’
a rt O f outraging reas on an d j ustice cried D ucos s a r , ,
O f laug h ter :
’
Well present w ithout phrases
‘
, , .
Vi ve la R ep ué l i g ue ’
.
s ,
p e n ,
saying to my father :
:
,
D uring the operation a fe w.
p
V OL . II . F
66 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
the
m
wretch had mounted th e horse of the cart entr us ted
th e
'
, _
W W V e r g ni a u d w a s
F 2
M E AI OI RS OF TH E SA N SONS .
i s e and the ,
’
i n a greater hurry than you are .
, , .
e xecution .
former r e i m e it was t i o ne r
’
nly na tural th at h et
s pons ible i t was— on
, uldj fi L h Lmi fi lL
r fl
vd r fi
” fi
h imsel f .
A D A M L UX TH E D U RE ORLE A N S
’
.
-
OF .
e xecuted .
5
7 2 M EM OI RS OF TH E SA N S ONS .
'
’
s ufl e r When sentence was passed h e exclaim ed : At: ‘
.
’
Charlotte Corday s spirit w as waiting for hi m over t h e
’
“e e xclai mi ng At last ! ’
A D A M L UX .
—TH E D UK E OF ORL EA NS .
not even try to elabo rate an indi ctm ent and used t ,
h
imself d escribed as a B r i s s o t i n when h e heard the,
he said
S ince you were determ ined to kill m e you should ,
n o t to
“
, .
,
— TH E DUK E R 75
‘
A D A M L Ux OF O L E A NS .
o f Mortagne a n
t
d Pierre G o ndi e r stockbroker
, , .
A n toi ne B ro usse .
.
,
i
t o o k o ff his hat as h e always did ; b u t the D uke paid
‘
.
, ,
scorn fully .
l astly Brousse .
1
r
F o t y ye a s l a t er r , Lo u i s Ph i li pp e, s o n o f Ega l i t é , w as pro cl a i m ed
K i ng o f t h e F e n chr .
78 M EMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ON S .
, , .
‘
You judge m e worthy of sharing the fate of t h e
great m e n you have murdered : I will try to S how on t h e
(
w ith all k
black hair was falling s h e ros e with m uch vivac ity and
M
,
54
up my h ea d and Sh ow it to the people if they wish 1,0 l
,
’
i n a m other s and a wife s h eart , but which s h e ho ped
’
.
so MEM OI RS OF TH E SA NSONS .
,
:
p oor man
, ,
’
w ere not ord ered to refuse a woman s last request
’
.
'
’
and gave herself up to my grandfather s assistants .
"
o f th e
W f which th e scen e was the
Champ d e la F édération I t is now pretty certain .
V OL . II . G
MEMOI R S OF TH E S A N S ON S .
ws a glaring A considerable
. number of witnesses were
heard ; all went against Bailly and th e obvious resul t ,
d eath .
w g am
p d e Mars H e lost
time i n calling together his assistants s o that it w a s
som e .
-
.
against Bailly .
’
When the e x ecutioner s assistants tore him away
from his tormenters he smiled and said ,
’
I am rather old for that kind of gam e .
’
I n his H istory of th e R evolution M Thiers asserts , .
’
tion and to plac e these b eams in the c onvict s cart
, .
M a fi a
TH E S A NS ONS .
W o u orders ! Charles ’
W
V O
’D
z/
H enri having called an o ffi cer of gendarm es to a s k his
advice a third individ ual e x claimed You c an proclai m
,
’
i n its proper place .
’
Ah ! I hoped al l would b e over long ago .
’
c o v ered his shoulders The unfortu nate man s te eth
.
c h a t t e r e d with cold
x
,
MEM OI R S OF TH E SA NSON S .
‘
W at er ! water ! ’
— —
A man a monste r I should s a y actually th rew
liquid mud i n his face This outrage roused th e i ndi g
.
said Thank y o u !
,
‘
Preparations for the executio n
w ere now completed and Bailly w as assisted up th e
,
T
These pr e i m i na r i e s tried Bailly s power of resistance ’
, ,
l ife
. U nlike Bailly however h e was anything b u t
, ,
9 0 M E AI OI RS OF TH E S A N S OZVS .
C H APTER XXXV .
CH A RLE S H E N RI S A M ?01V S D I A R
’
Y .
B r um a i r e 26 —
Executed to day C itizen D e C ussy, of
-
.
,
z
— they wore the red cap a large crowd followe d them ,
B r u m a i e 28
r —This morning we went to th e Con
.
g
; reat d emonstrations of politeness h e said to m e ,
, ,
, , ,
1
and an old soldier who had recruited for the enemy .
, ,
, ,
-
.
‘
You are i n earnest to day you will b e astonishe d -
.
’
to s e e how well I can play my part .
,
’
he had had his hai r cut before being tried and had ,
F r a nc o i s P ri x ,
a li a s Sa i n t -
P ri x .
94 M E z l/ OI RS OF TH E SA N S ON S .
, .
' '
Fmmaz
’
r g
7 ;
'
’
for hours before the bakers shops b efore on e c a n g e t ’
n ational press .
, ,
the
’
next da y At eleven o clock Barn ave D uport
.
, , ,
R io —
on an assignat Citizen V e r vi t c h and his s i s t e r w e r e ,
with H enri l
O n the way Barnave and D u Tertre wen t
. .
my friend
Citizeness V e rvi t c h was executed fi rst ; s h e w a s ~
, ,
and exclaimed
And this i s my reward for the good I have done t o
m y country
Th e na rra t o r s
’
son .
9 6 MEMOI R S OF TH E SA NS ONS .
F r im a ir e — I:b is
morning I had to take two cart
10.
’
—
w ere five in one cart and four in th e other nine in all .
c art and I
,
went i n the other cart but on th e way , ,
m e I am sure he is t o be reprieved .
’
t r a di c t h er .
M a u du i t wine merchant
,
.
, ,
,
.
w ere th ree in nu mber — the father and the two sons — all .
'
By ‘
a rr ang d e
’
th e e x e c ut i o n e r m e a ns t h a t h is vi c t i m s we re b ein g:
m a d r dy f t h
e ea or e s c a ffo ld . Th e e x pr es s io n is t o o r
c h a a c t e ri s t i c no t to »
be t r n l a t d l i t ra lly
a s e e .
—N . ED .
100 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NSONS .
but men and w omen hung thei r heads and silence pre ,
F i i m a i r e 18
f
To d ay we guillotined J ean Baptiste
.
- - -
,
-
h is cell .
fraud .
a d ays
-
The Convention has d ecided that shoemakers
.
public m isery which leads them into the life they lead
, .
F r i m a i r 23
e — Executed one of the great lords of th e
.
P o u c h o n an em ig r é
’
.
,
two c i d e r/a n t s .
, ,
2
M ontant and many others m ust be i n a p r e di c a m e nt A
, .
J aco b in cer t ificate is now more val uable than all possi bl e
documents To da y as I was passing before Chrétien s
.
-
‘
,
’
Ni vé s e 1 — ‘
I have begun th e month b y taking three
.
’
Poulain s servant They lived together in a house of .
Di x A o fi t ,
-
j r ar o f t h e T
u ori b u n a l w a s i n re li t
y t h e M r q u i,L r oy ,
a , a s e
de M o n t fl a b e r t . A s h i t i t l e a nd na m e w e r e b n x i u t r p bl i c n e r
s o o o s o e u a a s,
h e ch a n ge d i t i nt o t h e d t e o f a gr e t r e p ubl i c n vi t o ry w h i c h h e t o o k a
a a a c ,
s
a na m e .
2
A ll t h es e
’
b l ng d t t h e a r i t o c r cy
r e vo lu t i o m z a i r er m r
o e or l ess e o e o s a .
B rr er e w s n o t o f n o bl e d e c e n t b ut h d m rr i d t h M r q ui s e d V i e u c
a a s ,
a a e e a e z a ,
wh e n m
os h a dd d t h i s t o d i s t i ngui s h h i m el f fr m t h e m e m b e rs f
e e a e o s o o
h i s fa m i ly b ea ri ng h i s n a m e .
10 4 MEMOI RS OF I
TH E SA NS ON S .
c aring for it .
‘
N i vo s e 9 — D i e t r i c h t formerly mayor of Strasburg
.
, ,
said
You have already guillotined man y good republi
‘
’
than I am .
on th e scaffold .
‘
N i w s e 10 — Last month at th e bidding of th e pro
.
,
d for help , a nd
e ies
di ed to
i t e n c e d yester
c e d e la R evo
.
.
r oom and w a s .
seeing m e h e ,
’
s t e rs !
"
n ich m ade h im
ay ; I am at
l
l tranquillity ,
i arrive i n the ;
v year to h i s
11 the w ay a
M AR I EA N T O I N ETT E .
;u lt e d S i nc e
r r
.
F
( om t h e po r t a it by Mm e L e B r un )
.
.
lde r w ith t h e
c onvi cts . I f all c ri ed and struggled as s h e did t h e ,
N i w s e 12 ( I s t of J anuary in th e ol d style) m m
‘ ”
XV s r e i g n
’
his c o m pa n i o
.
,
M a da m
those w h o s e l l o ve rs sa
to her as th
regret it more PI N E TT E .
ri e s b o we d
car i ng for I t ’
ish i s t Ko c h a r s ko , w h o , a c c o r di n
a rt
g
p r i nc e s s . Sh e de s
set t o w atch t h e u e e n i n t h e Co n
N i ?) 8 6 _
ct i o n o f P r i tc e d re m o e r
'
g a t B r us . I s h a n e ve f o g e ll r r
ld
.
c e i ve d a ll t h a t c o u
Gornot of the,
'
l
e s s t h a n t h e k i n dl i n
nt -
t h a t yo u h is wit h o u t do
‘
a ll t
t h o ug h o v e r w h e m e l d
w ere f
.
S GCt Il Wh en we w
o yo u c a r pr
i c e , a nd o f h i s t o o i ng u s .
With h i m P I Gn ‘ r o f no t h i n
g b u t o f a c e s a nd r r
g e a t t h a t i t wa s t h
Ve r
y m i e co m an
y xd
T! , p O n g e t t i ng ac we b k
r
.
an h o u I
J ean M arie A l
'
a nn o t
"
.
A 10 t h r r wa
N I T/0 96 9 s
o m
. .
the 6 m m
was guillotin e d h er { m .
‘
i nd h e n r
n
s ald
O
t h s h e us e d .
You h a ve\ 1C “
U S[ r l i n
'
1 :
Th e e ne
cans but ,
n o nct o t ! a i l m 11m ‘
t
m
nc e a t W a i lc
°
’ a r i s
than I am I fe r o n t h
.
r a
. .
p t r. e: a o
H e w as c a l fo e h Sh a n no r er e .
l f i ly M
'
n l
“
f
a l a m e nt h wh o
j 32
. ‘ i .
1 he se; er t h a t i t wa s
separated fro m “ f v ; t
Th e i n e o n '
ar !m
e
? o
~
s s
'
t
r c
la h l o u. n et pp r o a c h i m; I t
b r o ke
N i t/05 8 I O’
g u i lt le s s h a t ! m ,
r
A s B u ke i t t
he
h atl b C c ul a t o r s
.
e e n m a n u fa c t u r e d m y
s ecutor O f t h e a a l 0 110
I
b r f
'
d1e d e fo e t wa s fi n i s h e d,
.
'
the blood W h r l 1( u t a n d s o i t w a s
, e ft i n t h e
J oachi m V a n C le m p u t priest , .
N i w s e 14
‘
— Three women and two men all belong
.
,
p aper I
. t is th e fifth number The num b er of cop i es .
’
‘
N i w s e 16
‘
— To day we executed General Luckner
.
-
I n th e n umb e rs ll de d t b o ve
a u o a ,
D e s m o ul i ns a t t a ck e d H e b e rt w i t h
'
e x t r o rd i na r y p o w e r a nd w i t — N
a ED . .
CH A RL E S H E NR I S A N S ON ’
S DI A R Y . 10 7
, , ,
g entlem an .
.
, ,
N i vo s e 2 3
‘
— Ad ri en Lam o u r e t t e c o n s t i t ut i o n a l bisho p
. ,
s peech of J uly 17 9 2
‘
E mbrace C h a r lo t Lamourette ; com e embrac e
l
, ,
C harlot
Lamou rette turned to m e and said ,
‘
Yes I e mbrace i n thee humani ty ; however m ad
,
C h rl t f C h rl
a o Th i s
,
’
nt r
or t i n f C h rl
a H nr i S ns n
es . co ac o o a es e a o
’
s
C h ri t i n n m
s a i t i ll g n r ll y
a e ppl i d t t h x u t i n r i n F r n
s s e e a a e o e e ec o e a ce .
w —N . ED .
10 8 MEMOI R S OF TH E S A NS ONS .
Ni m —‘
J ean Pi erre Th i ll d tradesman
r e 2 7 . e a r ,
give ord ers to the gend armes and that J acot my assis , ,
L a t u de .
P lu vi é s e 2 .
— A year since to d ay we executed th e-
; a n d
,
:
1 10 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ON S .
’
fraternity is inscribed on the m airie but it is n o t
’
‘ ‘
, y
enri ching themsel v es The sale of th e national domains
.
,
, .
P lz w i é s e 16
.
-
The j urors of the Revolution ary Tri
b unal are not very scrupulous as t o whom they co ndem n ,
, , .
.
, .
l ast minute .
1
1 12 M E MOI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
C HAPTER X XX V I .
CH A RLE S H E N R Y SA N S ON S.
’
D I A R Y— Q o nt i n u m
’
.
‘
P lz w z o s e To day we exec uted som e lad ies o f
'
17 .
-
’
w e die to day or twenty years later -
.
,
’
,
y ears .
P l w i — This‘
d ay Elisabeth Pauline Gand
z o s e 1 9 .
, ,
Vef z z os e 6 —
J ean Jacques Do r t o m a n form erly general
’
.
, .
Vent o s e 8 — ‘
Wood whi ch w as d ear enough las t
.
,
, , , ,
’
‘
, ,
o n e w oman .
‘
Vent o s e 1 3 The R evoluti onary Tribunal s e ttles old
.
-
12
ME1”0[ RS OF TH E
’ '
6
11 SA NSONS .
, .
‘
t h e other hand th e people of the guillotine who are j ust
, ,
Ve nt os e
‘
Guillotined at three o clock in t h— ’
7 I . e ,
1
Th e r
na r a t o r m ea ns t h e us ua l a t t e nda nt s of e x e c ut i o ns .
1 18 MEM OI R S OF TH E SA NS ONS .
t h e Ri g h t s
V nt e
e o s
‘
2 4
—R o n s i n V incent
. H ebert M o mo r o , , , ,
V e n i o s e
‘
2 6 —W e h ad a terrible day s w ork to day
.
’
-
.
’
I n yesterd ay s sitting the Tribunal passed si x teen s e n ,
’
t e nc e s of death I was ready at two o clock yesterday ;
.
'
Ger m iz
i al I
trial of H ebert V.incent —Th e
and t h e , ,
’
R epublic in which h e said that h e w as th e personal
,
, ,
to morro w
-
.
’
becomes an out rage to the maj esty of the people I .
p les ,
assuring them that th e guillotine was th e ultim at e
e nd of thei r tribulation that t h e guillotine was the end
,
’
A s D escombes s lips w ere silently moving Clo o t z sup ,
g iven There
. were s o many people outsid e that we
c ould hear the noise and murmur of the crowd We .
CH A RLES H ENRI SA NS ON S ’
DI AR Y . 12J
‘
P ere D uch ene w as particularly insulted ; but H ebert
’
c am e M a z u e l Bourgeois Armand
,
Leclerc D ubuisson
, , , ,
D u c r o q u e t K ock A n c a r d P ereira D e s fi e ux L a u m u r
, , , , , ,
appeared i n th e basket .
126 MEMOI R S OF TH E SA NS ONS .
1
coat has already his d evotees ; th e w ife of D es
morets my assistant recites prayers before a por
, ,
of on e of them .
—
’
, .
Ro b e p i rre
s e .
CH A RL ES H ENRI SA N S ON S ’
DI A R Y . 127
humble j udgm ent big dogs are preparing to bite for curs
, ,
’
publi c But one c annot r u n away w hen one s name i s
.
s pi r a cy .
Ger m i n a l —J ean
Baptist e P e u s s e le t form erly a
-
.
,
C ar m i n a ! 9 Th e H eb e r t i s t s w ere sold by a m a n
.
-
a n d to d ay-
fi —
T error to his p o t that is to say to the profit of his
r ,
C HAPTE R XXX V I I I .
’
C H A RLE S H EN RI S A N SON S notes contain no inform a
tion on the trial of the D antonists This trial however .
, ,
not but recognise that his overthrow was the great event
o f the revolutionary period U ntil then the Revolutio n
.
13 2 MEMOI R S OF TH E SA NS ONS .
b raced his young wife and his child and allowed him ,
, . .
,
’
would m ake a fi ne c oach man D anton smiled con .
'
y , .
’
S a nson answered Lacroix
,
.
’ ’
J ericho at D anton s bidding Camille s soul was more
,
.
'
.
h i s friend s w ere th e victi ms of a cru el and relentless
. policy .
,
.
,
.
.
. . .
q u i e r Tinville
-
I found a good. many persons i n his .
—
closet old V a di e r Amar C o ffi nh a l Arthus H erman , , , , ,
.
,
t a i ne d t wo Ca r r i a g e s
‘
‘
Where are the oth ers ? H e Wa s pi nioned and h i s
-
’
’
you to this ! B a z i r e pressed hi m i n his arms witho ut ,
a word of r e proach .
j ! ! h
’
farce ! ’
H e thundered away and all seemed to recoi l ,
’
t hey ll guillotine the representatives wholesal e Com .
’
a nd sl eep .
"
t h e co r i é g e
‘
The m embers of th e Conventio n a nd
.
'
,
140 MEMOI R S OF TH E SA NS ONS .
, .
‘
, ,
D avid ! ’
D anton raised his voice and cried : Is tha t ,
‘
’
over sarcasm at its walls V ile hypocrite ! said F abre .
‘
.
coals ‘
You shall appear i n this cart i n your turn
.
,
H erault
,
s ,
va a ba l z g ne .
n o t many .
M a d a m e D a nt o n w a s e n c e i nt e w h e n h e r h u s ba n dw as
p ut to de ath .
14 2 MEMOI R S OF TH E SA NS ON S .
C ar m i na ! I 7 — I d id to d ay w h at Citizen D e s m o u
.
, ,
"
saying that C itizen D uplessis C amille D esmoulins ,
, .
.
:1
44 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
CH A RLE S H E N RI SA N S ON S D I A R Y—’
c a nt i n u ad.
s h e recovered her wits during the trial and her fate was ,
, ,
a nd H ebert s wife
’
She told him that she bitterly regretted being the cause
o f his d eath Dillon answered that it was not her fault
.
,
V OL I I . . L
146 MEM OI RS OF TH E SA N S ONS .
”
I would bless them for the boon they no w confer on me .
, , , ,
C ar m i na ! 26 —
. Charles Mathias D a le nco n d e N eu
148 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
C m
ar i na ! 3 0 — Since D umas
. has su cceeded to Her
ma n as president of th e Tribunal trials take place i n ,
F lo r aa !
’
1 — The Tribunal has j udged i n the name of
.
,
When they were bro ught to the H all of the D ead and ,
,
Si x .
executions to day -
, ,
’
M alesherbes the King s former defender ; h e was
,
, .
‘
What ! you here s i r ? Yes my friend answered
,
’ ‘
, ,
’
’
old age and that i s why they put m e i n prison
, .
‘
And I too M P et h i o n used to be the people s idol
, , .
,
’
.
’
’
to day and a terrible day s work it was
-
,
.
Po m m e r age ,
hairdresser sentenced for singing anti
,
’
it A ug r a nd d A lle r a y had been i mprisoned at Port
.
’
man s petition .
F ! r aa ! 1 1
o
’
— Stani slas d e L a ng a ne r i e ch evalier d e S t
.
, .
'
. .
n oblemen .
F ! o r aa ! 13
’
Denys Co r bi lle t uphols terer and lieu
.
-
, ,
L i ve m o nt suffered to day
,
-
.
Flo r aa l 14
’
— W e led to the P l ace de la R evolution
'
,
’
, ,
F lo r aa l
’
— To day the Convention issued a decree
I 7 .
-
cluded to d ay -
F our were acquitted
.
— Sa nlo t D e la a g e ,
, ,
. .
’
E lizab eth s trial D umas presided fi ft e n j urors were in
.
w ith t h e p r i n c e s s l
.
1
Th e gi ve n i n t h e o i gi nal t e xt o f t h e di a ry a r e i n t h e p res ent
na m e s r
c a s e a s i n m ny o t h e r p l c e s o m i t t ed
, a Th e y do n o t dd t o t h e i nt e re s t o f
a ,
. a
t h e e x e cut i o ne r 5 n o t e s a nd t h e s e n o m en c l a t ur es a r e o ft e
’
n t e d i o us —
N ED . . .
,
15 9 MEMOI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
’
me the order I w as about to enter Richard s room
.
’
Sh e b ad e farewell to R ichard s wife and followed hi m ,
d evotion .
C HAPTE R X LI .
—
CHA RLE S H E N R I SA N S OZV S D I A R Y c o nt i n naa
’ ‘
’
.
, . .
’
d A r li n c o u r general farmer father of the D A r li n c o u r
’
, ,
s u ffered with D A r li nc o u r
’
.
,
-
.
t o day and with hi m t we lve other convi cts This morn
-
,
.
.
,
, .
after him .
, ,
, .
P r a ir i l 3
a 1 — S ame nu m b er a s yesterday
. .
M 2
; 1 6 4 MEM OI RS OF TH E S A N S ON S .
The people are getting more and more disguste d with this
eternal butchery Ye sterda y I heard cries of E n o ug h !
.
‘ ’
p l a c e i n the
'
a lso n o doubt
,
This morning I executed the M arquis
.
166 I WE M OI RS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
’
twelve years four others w ere butchers boys ; there
,
with and yet there is not one who is not moved after
' '
w a s executed to d ay H e w a s i mprisoned at La
.
J q
a c u e m o t laundress
, ; D o lp h i n e Elizabeth M archais ;
Emma M arguerite G u i lli e r & c — twenty in all , . .
C H A PTE R X L I I .
CH ARLE S HE N RI SA N S OI V S
’
D I A R Y— co nt i n u ed
.
P r a ir i l 2
a 2 — To d ay the Tribunal began the trial of
.
-
P r a ir ia l 25
.
— A t last th e brief of th e inhabitant s .
fade
‘
prisoners but the gaols are being rapi dly emptied They
, .
, .
’
P r a i r i a l 2 9 — A terrible d ay s work !
. Th e guillotine
d evoured fi ft y four victi ms My strength is at an end and
-
.
,
f eeling b u t in vain
, My hand s trem b le and trem b le
.
,
-
.
and A nt o nne lle two j urors who would not admit tha t
,
1
ma x and the four Renau ds
,
An order came at th e las t
.
b egged for life more than one would have freed h er and
, ,
to m e
Th e e d h i r t w
1 r t h e ga r m e nt o f p rr i i de
s as a c s.
CH A RL ES H E N R] S A N S ON S ’
DIA R Y . . 17 5
down to dinner .
-
. .
’
home and read the papers Robespierre s en e mies h ave
, .
d iscovery .
v
This i s the garden of the ol d convent of P i c p u s
c ut e d . .
,
»
her with imm ediate arrest if s h e did not return his a ffe c
tion A s a m atter of course M adam e Charry refus ed ;
.
,
executed .
N 2
'
I 8o MEMOIR S OF TH E S A NS ON S .
Th e reader may have noticed that his last notes are far
l ess precise and minute than the first portion of his i n
formation in the last d ays of Prairial he seldom m en
tions the names of victims .
.
,
C HAPTE R X LI I I .
’
executioner the Avenger of the People to dress him i n ,
.
a nd expressed a wish to dress j ust as other people d id .
”
flattered if you will j oin us .
‘
This r equest surprised m e very much At first I .
‘
My new companions forthwith took m e to the hall
w her e the election of o fficers was to take pla c e On e .
’
to dine at my father s every S unday th e onl y day
— ’
,
.
h e w a s soon reassured .
’
there s a w ay I took lessons from other friends of mine
.
,
1 86 ME MOIRS OF TH E SANS ONS.
w as said that
It inhab itants of L a B ri e and o f
t h e neig h b ourhood o f Coulommi ers had taken to arms
, ,
t hem .
g ratulated When
. excitement had subsided it was per ,
,
’
n either r ead nor write ; but this did n o t stop him from
ord ering that all letters sent and received b y the post
o ffi ce should be forwarded to him for scrutiny .
a mistake .
‘
I was glad that th e affai r went no further for the ,
Tri b unal.
”
replaced by the Contrat S ocial com pany I th en r e .
i ng account of it
‘
After my expedition in Bri e I returned to Pari s
, ,
relatives .
. .
”
And have taken the oath . N ow we had taken no o ath
at all ; for had such a proposal b een made to us we ,
s ence sheet -
But our counsels s eeing that it was i m po s
.
,
~
‘
We were I should add admirably defended
, , .
f ended her .
j y
o,
but I was surprised to find a cloud over his coun
t e na nc e Alas ! I had forgotten that out of forty o ne
.
-
ph l i L o nni e r C i vil C o m m i s s i o n e r of th e s e ct i o n of th e
J o se J u e n m e ,
H 6t el de
- -
V i ll
e, e x e c ut e d o n t h e 16t h f F uc t i do o r r .
0 2
196 MEMOIRS OF TH E SANS ONS .
TH E DE A TH OF R OB ESP IERRE .
R O B E SP I E R R E
’
l ease of po w er had nearly come to a n
S
-
for th e prej udices of j ustice and humanity had e xcited ,
.
.
s uppose that not only their liberty but t heir lives wer e
'
h ostility .
Th e r
c i c um s t a nt i a l a c c o un t o f th e e x e c ut i o n of Ro b e s p i e rre , Sa i n t
J u s t , a nd C o ut h o n i s as fu r ni d t o t h dit o r o f
sh e e e th e s e Me m o i r s by h is
fa t h e r , wh o h a d t h e m f ro m C h rl s H e n ri S n o n
a e a s .
198 MEMOIR S OF TH E SANS ONS .
.
.
, , , .
'
The poor fellow s intellect w as s o confu sed that h e
’
’
‘
Yes continued Charles H enri if I w ere in you r
, ,
‘
c rowd
M ercy citizens we are not e ne m 1e s of th e peopl e
,
S ave us save us ! ,
’
.
rrested had for som e t i me been d etained in the o ffi c e
a
‘
brought in . 1
o ff to the H 0tel de — -
V i lle there to t a ke the advic e o f
,
’
D u mas sought shelter in a garret H enriot to ok to flight ,
.
.
, ,
, , ,
p receded him .
,
.
’
H e s e t out with his assistants at s i x o clock in the
morning ; neither h e nor his b rother therefore were
'
, ,
’
don t come back
’
A compact m ass i n which y oun g
.
,
’
fore two o clock P M .
’
tween eight and nine o clock ; h e had been deposited on
the bed i n which Danton h ad slept one night H e di d .
p aper but formal orders had been given and the turn
, ,
,
2 06 I WE M OI RS OF TH E SANS ONS .
’
The Tribunal was to sit at t en o clock but an u ne x ,
, ,
s ubstitute ,
w as at his usual place R obespierre th e .
, ,
’
o rder to save tim e At two o clock C harles H enri
.
’
R obespierre s cell H e was lying down his eyes fi x ed
.
,
m uni cipal o fficers H enr iot had had an eye pulled out
.
'
'
i n the scu ffl e which attended hi s arrest h e wa s h orri b l e
to b ehold N othing could be more dismal than the co r
.
1
carts M a x imilian Robespi erre seated on some straw
.
,
face was swollen and livid The fi ercest cries the most .
,
1
Not s t a ndi ng , a s M M i ch e l e t
. a ss e rt s th at h e wa s , i n h i s H i s t ory f
o
z e R e vo lu t i o n , v o l v i i
t/ . . p .
5 15 .
TH E D E A TH OF R OB ES PIERRE . 209
, ,
’
brought a pail of blood from a neighbouring butcher s ,
’
and the door and walls of Robespierre s abode were
s meared w ith it I t was useless for Charles H enri
.
V OL . II . P
2 10 M EMOIR S OF TH E SANS ONS .
’
King s .
C HAPTE R X LV I .
L E SU R OU E S .
’
Chauffeurs was but too significant ; the gang had
chosen the locality of L a Beauce for the scene of their
operations and thei r least cru el crim e was murd er
, .
, .
L E S UR Q UE S .
2 13
were not b eli eved and the evidence of the two women,
,
nesses d rily answered that the trial was closed and that
, ,
i t was too late to take evid ence ; and the Tribunal after ,
decision ! ’
;hope that to ,
avenge their death y ou will give express
,
o f m y life
’
.
s ealed .
his children and prepared for d eath with the cooln ess
,
y ear 5 ( Octo b er 3 0 my
,
grandfather and father
proceeded to the Conciergeri e and found the convicts in ,
I am guilty L e s u r q u e s i s innocent !
’
h i s suprem e shri ek
L e s u r q u e s is innocent
L e s u r q u e s did not utter a word H e looked at .
’
M ay God forgive m y j udges as I forgive them !
Th e reh a b ilitation which the unfortunate L e s u r q u e s
hoped for is y et to come I t was in vain that his family
.
1
m iscarriage of j ustice And yet the innocence o f
.
’
c ause of the latter s death was taken and tried D ub o s c , .
It i s o nl y t wo y r s i nc e
e a s th e gr n d c h i ldre n f
a o L e s ur q ue s m a de
-
a n o t h e r i n e ffe c t u l
a t t em p t t o o b t
a a i n t h e r e vi s i n o f h i s t ri
o al —
. ED N
. .
2 22 MEMOIR S OF TH E SA NSONS .
and aspirations .
2 24 MEMOIRS OF TH E SANS ONS .
c o r ne r e d h at ,
his knee breeches and thin bladed sword
-
,
-
going to b e d
Mamma grandfather says he waters his flow ers with
,
meant .
V OL . 11
.
Q
2 26 MEMOIRS OF TH E SANS ON S .
’
H enri he said to him I am going awa y and I
, ,
‘
,
m e of my sacrificed existence .
2 28 MEMOIRS OF TH E SANS ONS .
C H A P TE R XLVI I I .
M Y ED U CA TION
’
I m ust ask leave not to m ention my mother s maiden
nam e She belonged to a family that was not of our
.
where sho u
, ld my origi n b e di s c o ve r e d I could not b ut , ,
’
I m ay add that my father s profession was not yet
known to m e ; and although it was intended that I
should follo w the s am e calling the secret had hithert o ,
'
s a w with pleasure .
on th e table .
,
’
,
’
a ngry at his silence ; you must explain I don t want
‘
.
’
told m e of my grandfather s dying wish and took ,
th e fullest li b erty .
.
,
.
W h y s h Ouldn t I H enri ? ’
he answered smiling ’
’
‘
, , .
’
I am n ot s o religious as these ladi es h e added point , ,
t h e play .
‘
N o H enri ; we ,
h a d better go separately Thi s .
’
company .
’
quite right H enri h e said nothing instructs s o much
, ,
’
l and bu t I remained for nearly s i x months on the b anks
,
, , .
"
M Y F I R S T EXE C U TION
V OL . II . R
2 42 MEMOIRS OF TH E SA NS ON S .
, ,
’
to secure some one else s services H e was much better .
,
the young man s hai r was cut we got into the cart : t h e
’
‘
front with my two assistants The almoner of the Con .
1
l
U nt i t h e n m y fa t h e r gr n d f t h e r h d o c up i e d a b k s e t b e s i d e
a nd a a a c ac a
t h e pr g d a fr nt pl c t t h c ulpri t I w t h e fi r t t o
i e s t , a nd a s s i n e o a e o e . as s
a lt e r t h i c us t o m
s M y o bj c t w as t o l e a ve t h e ulp i t w i t h h i l t fr i nd
. e
z
c r s as e ,
t h e pr i e s t I h o p e t h i s d o e s n o t p p e a r c h i ldi s h
. a I a c t e d wi t h t h e b es t
.
i nt ent i o n a nd I b e li e ve I a c t e d ri gh t ly
,
.
MY FIRS T EXE C UTION 24 5
v oic e
‘
F athers
and mothers ! behold th e cons equences of
’
neglect of one s child ren ! I am guilty but my parents
‘
’
advice nor ed ucation .
raised her two red arms and the pal e rays of a winter ,
’
to m e my ol d com rade h e cri ed to him and let
, , ,
‘
, ,
.
Cham b ord .
, ,
d uty .
g e t party feeling -
and j oin h ands against the common
enemy Those who do not act thus are guilty
. In .
’
been one of the instrum ents of national j usti ce .
’
H e received the news una b ashed S o much the better . ,
2 50 MEMOIR S OF TH E SANS ONS .
’
c ause m e more pain th an death itself H e sternly r e .
’
paradise said he laughing ; I m ight meet there t h e
, ,
‘
’
could never agree with him The Abbé Montés how .
,
1
soften his heart .
o clock P M
’
We therefore waited until that tim e won
.
,
1
C lpr i t
u re l i gi o us c ulpri t s o f c o urs e — h ve n d o ub t d e ri ve d b e n fi t
s— ,
a o e
a nd c o n o l t i o n fr o m t h e d vi c
s a o f t h e R m n C t h o li
a e pri e t wh i nv i o a a c s o ar
a bly a t t e nd e d t h em t o e x e c ut i o n B t i t m y h ve b e n s e en i n t h e c o ur s e
. u a a e
o f t h e a b o ve M m o i r t h a t s p i r i t ua l a d vi e r fo r c e d t h e i r
e s xh o rt t i o ns u p o ns s e a
c o nvi c t o f l l k i nd s w h e t h e r r e l i g i o u s o
s a ,
no t t h e r e by dd i ng a no t h e r t o r ,
a r
m e nt t o t h t o f i m p n d i ng d e a t h
a eTh i s m e rc i l e s s t e n d r o f c o n s o l a t i o n t o
. e
m e n w h o p e r s i s t e nt ly r e fu e t o h e ar i t c nno t b ut pp e r s c ru l a s i t i
s a a a a e s
d i gus t i ng — N ED
s . .
2 52 MEMOIRS OF TH E SA NS ONS .
m e .
’
My d ear child I b eseech you insisted the abbé
‘
, , ,
g ravediggers .
Th e h i gh l y i m p r p r di
o e s c us s i o n ra i s e d by t h e Abb é Mo nt é s at t h e fo o t
o f th e s c a ffo ld c o n fi rm s a pr ec e d i ng no t e .
—N E D
. .
C HAPTE R LI .
M Y E X E C U TI OI VS .
mistress .
of a w oman .
2 54 MEMOIRS OF TH E SANS ONS .
p gi e n e The
. whole d epartment was i n a state of terr or
i n consequence of the large nu mber of fires which were
c onstantly taking place throughout the locality The .
g
.
ate a m y sterious veil is cast as it were over the pro , ,
T H E C O N TI N E N T A L A R M Y — F R O
AL OF . M AN
E N G R AV I NG B Y .
J DE MARE .
MY EXE C UTIONS . 9
55
I . T[t o f o u r S erg ea n t s f
o L a R ookelle .
g ive a history of
i mported from Italy which counted princes as well as
,
’
L afayette D upont M anuel V o y er d A r g e ns o n Ben
, , , ,
, ,
256 MEMOIRS OF TH E SANS ONS .
w ere arrested .
heart .
plank h e cried Vi ne la li be r t e
’
voice Vi ne la l i ber t e
’
’
At last Bories turn cam e The sight of a treb l e .
La R ochelle .
II . Ca s t a i ng .
’
protesting that he was innocent Th e A bbe M ontés .
’
Will God forgive m e ? The priest b lessed him and ,
nocent .
’
H e was guillotined on J uly 1 F our O clock was then
.
b ut s c i e nc e wa s
i s now . The plea of insanity was however urged by , ,
, . .
’
with P a p a vo i n e s family induced this eminent barrister to
a ccept th e task of defending the child killer H e dis -
.
’
t o D ivine j ustice were his only words
,
.
’
I d o not regret life he said ; ill as I was I found
,
‘
,
’
The Abb e Montés congratulated him on his good
s enti ments . P a p a vo i n e knelt at the foot of the sca ffold ,
’
I touched my father s arm and we waited until his ,
U lOa C/z
’
IV . A s s eli nea n a na .
’
ol d m arket square at twelve o clock O n O ctober 2 8 o f .
,
fellow workm en
-
.
W e executed them on t h e2 6 t h .
,
.
’
to take her mistress s goats to graze n ear the wine mer -
The unfortunat e .
’
I h ave no wish to appeal .
S uch was his intention but his counsel and the A bbé ,
’
h e w as given up to us I do not regret life he said ;
. ,
27 2 MEMOIRS OF TH E SA N SO N S .
‘
I was only a poor orphan and I h ave lost th e onl y,
’
person I wanted to be my wife He seemed to listen
.
’
s hall soon be done for me and , i mitating the cri er s ’
voice he said
, Buy for a penny the sentenc e of
”
d eath and execution of Honoré F ran cois U lb a c h .
27 4 OF TH E .
'
’
was executed This m an s cri me produced great sensa
.
_
'
27 ,
18 3 0 I exec u ted J ean Baptist e Gu erin J ean Loui s
,
-
,
’
, .
’
was the cri min al s name was an escaped convict H e , .
He .
’
‘
You seem to doubt the truth of what I s a y said ,
’
‘
V ery
well answered Saint Clair though not with
,
-
o u t hesitation .
S aint Clair did not move and remained silent u ntil the
-
'
O n J uly 1 3 18 3 2 I had to put to d eath a ve r y
, ,
,
M E AI OI RS OF TH E SA N S ON S ’
27 8 .
was spread over his head and we started for the guillotine
, .
’
you know I am innocent ! The priest w ho suppor t ed
hi m d id not spare his encouragements but B enoit still ,
was only intended for the ears o f the priest and I was ,
‘
R emark he added the powerlessness of capital
,
’
,
‘
’
VI . L a oe na i I/ e, F i es oki , a nd A li Oa na .
b eginning of 18 3 6 .
The thump of the knife did not even make him start .
’
L a c e n a i r e s head fel l into the basket S om e new spapers .
’
r eached L a c e n a i r e s neck This was altogether untru e
. .
,
’
2 84 ME M OI RS
.
'
OF TH E S A N S ON S .
D a m n es B e li a r a S a lm o n, P
’
VII o nl m a nn,
’
.
, , F o nt , f r o .
King s life ’
.
N o e x ecutions in
O n N ovem b er 6 1 8 43 at V ersailles e x ecution o f
, , ,
1
A fe w u ni m p o rt an t e x e c ut i o ns ar e om i t t ed i n t h e pr e r
s e n t ve s i o n of
S a ns o n
’
s M e m o i rs .
MY EXE C UTIONS . 285
’
b ling over in les s than a minute H e however submitted
.
, , .
b eg inning wi t h t h e h e l m e t ; h i s hi e l d wa s brok en in t hr e e pi e c e s ;
s
z s he wa s g i v e n u p to t h e r o ya l j u dg e to b e dea l t w ith b
f
’
’
a n a
y
H i g h ju s ti c e On s o m e o c c a sion s h e w as a ll owe d t o out
.
l i v e h i s in fa m y a s i n t h e c a s e o f C a p t a in Fr a ng e t a G a s c o n
, ,
m a nner I h a v e d e s c r i b e d a n d a ft er wa r d s s e t fre e,
.
s en t en c e in i t s el f wa s und e r s t o o d t o i m ply t h e s t i g m a I t wa s .
r e s u m e d in 1 7 9 1 un de r t h e n a m e o f c i v i l d e g ra da t ion Th e .
P ILL OR Y AN D CA R CAN ’
. . .
c a g e s i x fe e t hi gh and only t wo fe e t a n d a ha l f b r o a d in wh i c h
, , ,
h i m a n d t o t hr ow m ud in his fa c e
,
.
Th e Ca r r a ” wa s ra t he r a n a dj un c t t o t h e p i ll o ry t ha n a
n e w p uni s hm en t I t wa s a c i r c l e or i r on c oll a r whi c h t h e
.
, ,
fo r t h e puni s h m ent wa s a p o s t t o wh i c h wa s l in k e d a l o ng ,
a hi n g e Th e ne c k o f t h e c o nv i c t w a s e n c l o s e d i n t h i s c o ll a r
.
b re a s t .
h i bi t e d b oo k s a nd b l a s phem y ,
U nder F r a n c is I a nd H e nr y
. .
I I t hi s l a s t cri m e wa s m e t b y s i x hour s o f c a rc a n
. Th e a ppli .
c a tion o f c ar c a n c ha n g ed b y dint o f t i m e a n d wh e n it di s a p ,
o f a n hour .
A M ENDE H ON ORA B L E , E T C .
In . the lpon
uni
g s h m en t s in
li s tfl i'
c tof
e d in fo r m er d a y s ,
V OL . II . U
2 90 APPENDIX .
, ,
FL A GELLA T1ON
Flag eZ/a t z o n h a s b e e n
one o f the m o s t c r uel a nd hum i l i a ting
'
p uni s h m e nt s I t w a s a b o l i s he d in 1 7 8 9 b ut c ontinu e d in fo r c e
.
,
in t h e hulk s .
M U TILA TI ON S .
tongue e a r s t e et h a r m s ha n ds fe et a n d h e a r t h a ve b e en s o
, , , , , ,
t o und e r t h e fi r s t t wo r a c e s o f Fr e nch k i ng s wa s in fl i c t e d b y ,
B e r na r d K i ng o f I t a ly gra n ds o n o f Cha rl em a gn e ; a nd t h e
, ,
b e ta k e n to t h e B a s ti ll e a nd th a t th e i r t e e th s houl d b e extra c te d
, .
de m n e d to de a th fo r m urder or a rs on sha ll b e ta k en t o t h e ,
r eturned to t h e o l d l e g i s l a tion a n d d e c r e ed t h a t t h e fi st o f a
,
with t h e fl ea r a e ly r’ - -
(g a lé r es
) w hen the y w ere se n t t o the hu lk s S oon a ft e r the .
,
P U N I SH M E N TS F O LL OW E D B Y D EATH .
C AP I TA L p uni s hm ent h as p re v a il e d in a ll l eg i s l a t io n in
Fra nce a s a l m o s t e v erywher e el s e a nd d ur i ng a l o ng p e r iod it
, ,
fa na t i o n du e ll i ng & c & c
, , I m a y a s well g i ve a s um m a ry o f
.
, .
the t o o nu m erous puni shm ents enta i l ing dea t h whi c h were in
p ra c ti c e fr o m a ncient t i m e to our d ays .
TH E CR OSS .
T/z e Cr os s wa s the
o s t ancient and cruel form o f ca pita l
m
a t di fferent t i m es on J e ws a nd heretics .
DE C A P ITA TI OI V .
Ti q u e t .
H A NGING .
TH E S TA K E .
Th e Sl a /
ee wa s a noth e r t ort ur e foll owe d by dea th infl icte d
in Fra nce as l a te as t h e s ev en t e e n t h c en t u ry .
Q UA P TE P I N G .
Q not er horri l e or d th in or r
’
h b f
wa s f f
‘
a a n er z ng m o ae a m e
o f in g enious cr ue l ty .
Th e Wneel or ra c k , ,
other form o f
wa s as b a r b a rou s as a ny
t una t e C a l a s Th e wheel wa s a b o l i s h e d in 1 7 8 9
. .
s entenced to b e dr o wned .
‘
lz z nnz de h e fe ll in t h e wa t e r
'
t h e ha nd s o f h i s k e e p e r s se e k r efug e in a c hurc h a n d h i s
, ,
TH E G U ILL OTINE .
p l a ce b y m e a n s o f a s p e c
.
i a l a pp a ra tu s T hi s m a c hine .
’
w h i ch ,
G ui ll o t i n wh o h a d i m pro v e d i t wa s t h e g ui llot i ne
, ,
-
Th i s .
z e a l ou s c i t iz e n i m e ll e d b a hu m a n e s e n t i m ent w hi c h m e r e ly
,p y
a i m e d a t a b r i d in d i t t io n n d de ri v i n it o f m uc h o f i t s
g g e c a p a a p , g
phys i c a l s u ffe ri ng h a d only perfec ted a m a c h i ne k nown i n I ta ly
,
bar . thi ro b a r i s a dd e d a t h i c k i r o n r i ng i n wh i c h i s
To s c ss -
p a s s ed a r o p e w h i c h fix e s a n d r e t a in s a r a m Th i s i s p e r .
r m e d wi t h a s h a r
p e n d i c ul a r ly a
p a nd b r o a d bl a d e wh i c h g r a du ,
a lly b e c o m e s b ro a der o u a ll i t s s u r fa c e s o t h a t in s t e a d o f ,
A s pring m a k e s it fa s t to t h e l e ft b a r a ba n d o f iron de s c e n ds
a r ing wi t h a pa d l o c k s o t ha t no a c c ide nt i s po s s i bl e a nd t h e
, ,
c a n n ot m o v e A s soon a s t h e w eigh pl a n k go e s do wn t h e
.
-
suffe r ed in t h i s wa y 1
B ut the l a ntern wa s r a th er t h e i ns t r u
.
m ent o f su m m a ry j u s ti c e .
Th e A bb é M a u ry w a s o nc e p urs ue d by a m o b, wh o c ri e d ‘
A la
la nt e rne ! ’
D o yo u t h i n k yo u c a n s e e th e l r r fo p ut t i ng
c ea e r m e i n th e
2 98 APPENDIX .
J U DI C I AL OR D E AL S A N D TORTU R ES .
a t t h e t i m e o f t h e in v a s ion o f t h e b a r b a ri a n s Th e la w o f
'
fo r t h a c h a m p ion t o s u s t a in t h e ir c a u s e b y a rm s Th e or d e a l .
a t t e n de d wi t h s o l e m n a n d s p e c i fi e d fo r m a l i t i e s I t wa s p r e .
c ros s a n d m i s s a l n o t to ha v e r e c our s e to m a g i c in t h e j u s t
ac c o r di ng t o c l a s s e s : serfs were a rm ed wi t h a st i c k or a k ni fe ,
b y j u dg m ent o f H ea v en a nd a n i g n o m i n iou s d e a t h a wa i t e d h i m
,
t o c h a m p ion s I n 5 9 1 G o u t r a y o r de r e d one o f h i s c h a m b e r
.
,
l a in s a n d one o f h i s g a m ek e e p ers w h o c h a rg e d ea c h o t h e r wi t h ,
h a v ing k i ll e d a b u ffa l o t o fi gh t in t h e l i s t s Th e c h a m b e rl a in s
’
,
.
c h a m pion a nd t h e g a m e k eep e r k i ll e d e a c h o t h e r Th e c h a m .
c h a m p ion wa s c h a in e d to a p o s t a nd stoned
, I n c e r ta in c a s e s .
pl ace o f a l r
a nt e n ? d h e c o o lly A g ne ra l burs t o f l ugh t e r fo ll o we d
’
sai , . e a
t h is sa ll y ,
wh i ch s a ve d h i s l i fe I t w a s b y t h e h n d o f t h i pr el a t e t h t I
. a s a
w as c o nfi rm e d —S .
3 00 APPENDIX .
t h e n u ndr e s s ed h i s r i g h t h a nd wa s t i e d t o h i s l e ft foot a nd he
, ,
.
,
.
,
c o n s i s t ed in pl a c i ng a c a u l dr on fu ll o f wa ter on a l a r e fi re ;
g
w h e n t h e wa t e r wa s i n a s t a te o f e b u ll ition it wa s ta k en a wa y
fro m t h e fl a m e s a r o p e wa s t ied a b ov e it t o which wa s s us
,
a ccu s ed h a d on ly t o p l ung e h i s h a nd to c a tc h ho l d o f t h e r i ng
a t t h e se c ond o r de a l he pl u ng e d the a r m up to t h e el bo w ; a n d
.
4. O r d ea l oy w a r /n n o t a,
n d r ed l
,
z o t t r o n —-
T hi s orde a l c o n
s i s t e d i n t a k in g w i t h t h e h an d a h e a t e d iron or in wa lk i ng wi t h ,
d ays a ttended m a s s a n d wa s le d to t h e pa r t o f t h e c hu r c h
, ,
t h e c r i m e he r a i s e d it t wo or t h r ee ti m e s or c a rried it m o r e or ,
a n d i f it wa s wi t h o ut s c a r t h e a c c u s e d wa s dec l a r e d inno c e n t .
t h e sixte e n t h c en t ury .
t i onna i r e c a ll ed up o n t h e a c c u s ed to s a y t h e t ru t h a n d wr o t e
, ‘
,
g i v en t o torture .
Q u es t i o n w a s o f t w o sor t s ei ,t her d efi n i t e o r
t i on or di na i r e and ex t r a o r di na i r e Throug h t h e fi r s t i t wa s
.
t o dea th .
p int s in q u es t i on ex t r a or di n a i r e .
p i e r c e d with h o l e s t h r ough wh i c h r o pe s w e re pa s s e d s o a s t o
, ,
b e twe e n t h e p l a nk s wi t h a m a ll e t t h u s co m pr e s s i ng a nd e v e n
,
fo ur w e dg e s ei gh t w e d g e s wer e u s ed in q ues t i o n ex t r a or di na i r e .
Th e P a rl i a m e nt o f P a r i s a p pl i e d o n ly t wo k ind s o f t o r tur e ,
c h a i r whi l e h i s l e g s w e re b r ou gh t b y d e g rees i n c on t a c t w i t h
,
t h e fir e .A t R ou e n t h e thu m b a n d a no t h e r fi ng e r or t h e le g
, , ,
wer e c o m p r e s s e d a t B e s a n go n t h e h o r s e wh i c h c o n s i s t e d in
, ,
a p i e c e o f woo d g a r ni s h e d w i t h s pi k e s on wh ic h t h e c u l prit
.
w a s pl a c e d a s tri de wa s g e n e ra lly u s ed
,
A t A utun to r tu r e wa s
.
v a i l e d a t O rl e a n s .
p pre a ra t or y q u e s t ion a,
n d a n o t h er de c ree ( M a r ch 1 1 8 8
7 ) d i d ,
T H E E X ECU TI O N ER .
I N t h e p r i m i t i v e t i m e s o f F r e n c h s o c i e ty, t h e m a n on whom
de vo lv e d t h e s a d m i s s ion o f p u t t ing c ri m in a l s to dea t h or ,
o f H i gh J u s ti c e ,
b e c a u s e h i g h j u dg e s a nd a l s o roya l j u dg e s
a l one h a d t h e r i ght to pa s s s e nt e n c e o f d e a t h I n 13 23 e x e c u .
c on s i s t e d i n t a k i n g a s m u c h o f t h e c orn s o l d in t h e m a rk e t a s
t o t h e exe c u t io n er t o h el p h i m in h i s p e rso n a l wa n t s a n d t o ,
c ou l d e m p l oy a s s i s ta nts to c o ll e c t h i s t a x ; a nd t h e n u m b e r o f
m e n he wa s le d t o enga g e fo r t h e purp o s e a ll b ut a b s o r b ed a ll
h i s pr o fit s I n c on s e q uen c e o f t h i s h i s r i gh t in c e r t a in t o wn s
.
,
wa s exc h a n g e d fo r a y e a r ly a ll o wa n c e o f m on ey I n a le t ter
‘
t i o n e r t h e wr i t e r c o m pl a in s t h a t h e i s ob l i g e d t o
,
em pl oy a
r e ul a r a rm y o f a s s i s ta nts in c o ll e c t i n l e S t dis
g g i a r/ e o a s o .
t i ng ui s h t h o s e wh o h a d p a id h i m fro m h i s o t h er de b to r s t h e ,
, , ,
by a n in c r e a s e o f s a l a ry .
Ep i ph a ny wa t er cre s s s e ll e rs a nd on s tra y p i g s
,
-
,
When o n e o f .
ei t h e r t h e h ea d or a s um o f m o n ey wa s g i ven in r e t urn Th e .
a
pp a r e l .
Sa i nt G e rm a in de s P r es g a v e h i m a pi g s h e a d a n d a s s i g ned t o
’
- -
h i m a pr o m in e nt pl a c e in t h e pro c e s s i o n o f t h e a bb ey .
In r
17 21 igh t s a pp e r ta i ni ng t o t h e o ffi ce we re
a ll the r
l i vr e s ; a n d up to 1 7 9 3 t h e exe c ution o f c a pi t a l s e n
t e nc es wa s en t r us ted to the t h re e fo ll o wing fun c t ion ar ies
1 . Th e ex ecut io ner
2 Th e q ues t i onna i r e .
3 . Th e ca r pen t er .
A ll p u n i s h m e n t s fo ll o wed by d e a t h conc e r n e d t h e ex ec u
t i o ne r B e s id e s h i s s a l a ry o f 1 6,0 0 0 l i vr es , h e r e c e i ved
. i l ‘
s pe c a
fe e s fo r e x e c u t ion s ou t s i de t h e wa ll s o f P a ri s A ll h i s exp e n s e s .
w e re d e fr aye d H i s a s s i s t a n t s w er e o f t wo s o r t s : r Th e s on s
. .
Th e serva n t s wh o a l s o a c t e d in t h e c a pa c i t y of pri va t e
,
do m e s ti c s t o t h e exe c u t io ner .
a nd a l s o pr e l i m in a ry to r t ur e .
fr a n c s ) t h e o ffi c e o f ca r pent er wa s a pro fi t a b l e o n e
,
Th e c a r .
~
r s b u s in e s s wa s to c on s truc t r e pa ir a n d k e ep i n o r d e r
’
p e n t e , ,
I n 1 7 93 t h e N a t io n a l C onv e n t ion c o m pl e te ly a l te re d t h e
o s i t io n o f u b l i c e xe c u t ion e r s By a d e c r e e i s su e d on J u ne
p p .
13 ,
1 7 9 3 i t wa s d e c id e d t h a t a n exe c ut i o n e r s h o ul d b e a t t a c h e d
,
t o e a c h d e pa r t m e nt o f t h e R epub l i c Th e s a la ry o f e x e c u .
t i o n e r s wa s t o b e pa i d b y t h e St a t e In t owns o f wh i c h t h e
.
p op u l a t ion di d no t e x c e e d in h a b i t a nt s t h e s a l a ry w a s ,
V OL . 11 . _
x
3 6
0 APPENDIX .
inh a b i t a n t s a t ,
l i vre s a n d l a stly t h e em o l u m en t s
, ,
h e h a d t o do t h e n .
fra nc s a nd t h e g a ng o f l e s s i m p o r t a nt h e a ds m e n e a ch
, ,
i s we ll t o r e m a r k t h a t n o m ore l e t t e r s pa te nt a r e h e l d b y e x e c u
t io ner s t h a t t h e s a l a ry h a s b e c o m e a k in d o f p e t ty s t i pend
a n d t h e c onc l u s i o n in di c a t e d b t h i s s t a t e o f thi ng s i s t h a t wh e n
y
o c c upa tio ns o f t h e k i nd I h a v e d e s c rib e d gra dua lly l o s e in i m
p ort a n c e
, t h e ti m e i s n o t di s t a nt w h e n t h ey s h a ll dis a pp ea r
a l t o g e ther .
L O N DO N : P RI N TE D BY
S P OT I I S W O O D E AN D N E VV —S T R E ET S Q U A RE
'
CU
' ‘
.
,