书城公版The Origins of Contemporary France
35302100000688

第688章

[1] Harmand (de la Meuse): "Anecdotes relatives à la Revolution." "He was dressed like a tough cab-driver. He had a disturbed look and an eye always in motion; he acted in an abrupt, quick and jerky way. Aconstant restlessness gave a convulsive contraction to his muscles and features which likewise affected his manner of walking so that he didn't walk but hopped."[2] Chevremont, "Jean Paul Marat;" also Alfred Bougeard, "Marat"passim. These two works, with numerous documents, are panegyrics of Marat.- Bougeat, I., II (description of Marat by Fabre d'Eglantine);II., 259 and I., 83. - "Journal de la Republique Fran?aise," by Marat, No.93, January 9, 1793. " I devote only two out of the twenty four hours to sleep, and only one hour to my meals, toilette and domestic necessities. . . I have not taken fifteen minutes recreation for more than three years."[3] Chevremont, I., pp. I and 2. His family, on the father's side, was Spanish, long settled in Sardinia. The father, Dr. Jean Mara, had abandoned Catholicism and removed to Geneva where he married a woman of that city; he afterwards established himself in the canton of Neufchatel.

[4] "Journal de la République Fran?aise" No.98, description of "l'Ami du peuple" by himself.

[5] Read his novel "Les Aventures du jeune comte Potowski," letter 5, by Lucile: "I think of Potowski only. My imagination, inflamed at the torch of love, ever presents to me his sweet image." Letter of Potowski after his marriage. "Lucile now grants to love all that modesty permits . . . enjoying such transports of bliss, I believe that the gods are jealous of my lot."[6] Preface, XX. "Descartes, Helvetius, Haller, Lelat all ignored great principles; Man, with them, is an enigma, an impenetrable secret." He says in a foot-note, "We find evidence of this in the works of Hume, Voltaire, Bonnet, Racine and Pascal."[7] "Mémoires Académiques sur la Lumière," pref., VII. -- He especially opposes "the differential refrangibility of heterogeneous rays" which is "the basis of Newton's theory."[8] Chevremont, I., 74. (See the testimony of Arago, Feb.24, 1844).

[9] Ibid., I., 104. (Sketch of a declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen).

[10] See the epigraph of his "Mémoires sur la Lumiere." "They will force their way against wind and tide." - Ibid., preface, VII.

"Déconvertes de Monsieur Marat," 1780, 2nd ed., p. 140.

[11] "Recherches physiques sur l'electricité," 1782, pp.13, 17.

[12] Chevremont, I., 59.

[13] "De l'Homme," preface VII. and book IV.

[14] "Journal de la République Fran?aise," No 98.

[15] "Journal de la République Fran?aise," by Marat, No. I.

[16] " L'Ami du Peuple" No. 173. (July 26, 1790). The memories of conceited persons, given to immoderate self-expansion, are largely at fault. I have seen patients in asylums who, believing in their exalted position, have recounted their successes in about the same vein as Marat. (Chevremont, I., 40, 47, 54). "The reports of extraordinary cures effected by me brought me a great crowd of the sick. The street in front of my door was blocked with carriages.

People came to consult me from all quarters. . . . The abstract of my experiments on Light finally appeared and it created a prodigious sensation throughout Europe; the newspapers were all filled with it.

I had the court and the town in my house for six months. . . . The Academy, finding that it could not stifle my discoveries tried to make it appear that they had emanated from its body." Three academic bodies came in turn the same day to see if he would not present himself as a candidate. - "Up to the present time several crowned heads have sought me and always on account of the fame of my works."[17] "Journal de la République Fran?aise," July 6 1793.

[18] Moniteur, (Session of the Convention, Sep.25, 1792). Marat, indeed, is constantly claiming the post of temporary dictator.

("L'Ami du peuple," Nos. 258, 268, 466, 668 and "Appel à la nation,"p.53).

[19] Moniteur, (Session of the Convention, Sep.25, 1792). Marat, indeed, is constantly claiming the post of temporary dictator.

("L'Ami du peuple," Nos. 258, 268, 466, 668 and "Appel à la nation,"p.53).

[20] Moniteur, (Session of the Convention, Sep.25, 1792). Marat, indeed, is constantly claiming the post of temporary dictator.

("L'Ami du peuple," Nos. 258, 268, 466, 668 and "Appel à la nation,"p.53).

[21] Chevremont, I., 40. (Marat's letters, 1793).

[22] Journal de la Republique Fran?aise, No.98.

[23] The words of Marat and Panes. (Chevremont, I., 197, 203; also "The Revolution" II., 290, 2nd note).

[24] Michelet, "Histoire de la Révolution," II., 89. (Narrated by M.

Bourdier, Marat's physician, to M. Serre, the physiologist).

Barbaroux, "Mémoires," 355, (after a visit to Marat): "You should see how superficially Marat composed his articles. Without any knowledge of a public man he would ask the first person he met what he thought of him and this he wrote down, exclaiming 'I'll crush the rascal!'"[25] Chevremont, I., 361. (From a pamphlet against Necker, by Marat, July, 1790).

[26] "L'Ami du Peuple," No.552. (August 30, 1791).

[27] Ibid., No.626. (Dec. 15, 1791). Cf. "The Revolution," II., 129, on the number of armed emigrés. At this date the authorized number as published is four thousand.

[28] His filthy imputations cannot be quoted. See in Buchez et Roux, IX., 419 (April 26, 1791), and X., 220 (Nos. for June 17, 19 and 21), his statement against Lafayette; again, his list with its vile qualifications of "rascals and rogues," who are canvassing for election, and his letters on the Academicians.

[29] Buchez et Roux, X., 407 (Sept., 1791). - Cf. ibid., 473.