during so long a time to be the victims of Carrier's sanguinary madness, only because they believed that there was more to fear from the royalists than from the rage of this monster!'

While Charette was acquiring strength on one side, and D'Elbée and Bonchamp on another, a third insurrection was formed in the centre of the Bocage, of which M. de Royrand, an old and much respected chevalier de St. Louis, was, by compulsion, the leader. Les Herbiers, Chantonnay, and le Pont Charron, fell into their hands, and as their successes were more signal at first than those the other insurgents obtained, from them it was that the royalists were indiscriminately called Vendeans. On the side of the Marsh the peasants were headed by Joly de la Chapelle Hermié, a more distinguished man, of whom a memorable tale remains to be told hereafter. During these movements, the family at Clisson were ignorant of all that was passing round them; those who were not in arms were in such a state of stupor, that what was passing in any part of the country was not known at a few leagues distance. The first intelligence was that ten thousand English had landed, and taken Les Herbiers in the Bocage; and absurd as this report was, it seemed no less so that the peasantry should have collected in such force. Roche Jaquelein had an aunt residing not far from that town; he despatched a servant to her with an unimportant letter, charging the man to make all proper inquiries, and bring back an oral report. This precaution was frustrated by an old chevalier of the same family, who happened also to be one of the refugees at Clisson, and took the opportunity, unknown to any person, of sending a dozen painted hearts to Mademoiselle de la Roche Jaquelein, inclosed in a letter, wherein he said-' you know that persons who have faith in this devotion succeed in all their undertakings.' The chevalier was a man of infirm body and feeble mind; a superstitious adoration of the heart of Jesus had been in vogue in his youth, and to this he alluded: but it was reported among the revolutionists at this time, that the badge of the royalists was a holy heart sewn upon their dress. The servant was stopped at Bressuire, the letters opened, and the next morning Clisson was beset by a party of gendarmes. The first fear was for Roche Jaquelein; having concealed him, Lescure went out to inquire for "what reason his chateau was thus visited. He was told that the District had resolved to arrest the chevalier, and that they required all the horses, equipages, arms and ammunition which might be found there. Lescure, whose self-possession never forsook him, smiled at their errand, and observed, that they seemed to mistake his chateau for a strong hold, and the chevalier for the governor, -that there must be some misunderstanding; the chevalier was a peaceable and weak man, so much so that if he were arrested the

fear would kill him; he would answer for his conduct; but as for horses, forage and muskets, he would give them, because he thought they might be wanted. The brigadier of the gendarmes then took Lescure aside, and told him, in confidence, that he was of the same way of thinking as himself; that he plainly saw the counter-revolution was about to be effected, and would settle this affair as easily as he could, entreating, in return, that M. Lescure would bear tes timony hereafter to his good intentions, when it might be serviceable to him. Lescure heard this without making any reply, and thus the alarm passed over. Had it not been for the influence of Thomassin, who preserved his character as a revolutionist, orders would have been given to set Clisson on fire, when the hearts were discovered.

The insurgents now threatened Bressuire, and all at Clisson were full of hope. The next day they were repulsed, and all the national guards of the country round were ordered to repair thither for its defence. Lescure was the commandant of these guards in his own parish. It was from this moment impossible longer to remain in peace, either he must obey the summons, or he must join the insurgents; there were no possible means of avoiding one or the other alternative, and he knew not even where the insurgents were. A council was held in this unhappy family. Roche Jaquelein spoke first, and declared that he would rather perish than bear arms against the peasants or the emigrants; Lescure also said, it would be disgraceful to act against men in whose hopes and principles he participated. No person, not even among the women, attempted to resist this feeling; and the mother of Victorine ob served, Messieurs, you are all of the same opinion, rather to die than dishonour yourselves. I approve this courage. It is determined then.' She pronounced these words firmly, then returning to her seat, she added, Well-we must die.' Thomassin now offered to go to Bressuire, and act as far as he could in their favour. He remained there a week, but could find no means of corresponding with them, so closely were all persons watched. Arrests were now taking place over the whole country; the remaining gentry were thrown into prison, neither sex, nor age, nor infirmity being spared: that the family of Clisson had hitherto escaped was owing to the personal character of Lescure, and the reputation which he enjoyed of a peaceable and studious man. The order for the conscription came at this time, in which Roche Jaquelein was included. A young peasant arrived from his aunt to inquire concerning him; he brought certain intelligence of the progress of the royalists, that Chatillon was taken and the whole country in arms: and he concluded by addressing Roche Jaquelein, Sir, they say that you are going to be drawn for the conscription;

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is this possible, while your peasants are fighting because they will not submit to it? Come with me, the whole country wishes for you, and will obey you.' It may well be supposed that Roche Jaquelein instantly determined to follow him. Lescure's first impulse was to do the same. Roche Jaquelein dissuaded him; 'their situations,' he said, were not the same, Lescure was not liable to the conscription, his peasants were not in arms, and he could not leave his family without exposing them to certain danger. For himself, his departure would not be noticed, he would go and examine the real state of things-whether there were any solid hopes of success from the insurrection; it would be time enough for Lescure to decide when that should be ascertained.' One of the women observed, that Roche Jaquelein ought not to pursue his purpose, because the arrest of all at Clisson would infallibly be the consequence. This plea shook the young hero, and he said, he knew not what to answer. Lescure replied, Your honour and your principles have already made you resolve to put yourself at the head of your peasantry,-follow that resolution. I am already sufficiently grieved that I cannot accompany you: but certainly the fear of being thrown into prison shall never induce me to prevent from doing your duty. Roche Jaquelein fell upon his neck and exclaimed, 'I shall come to your deliverance'-Eh bien! je viendrai te délivrer: and from that moment the marchioness says his countenance assumed that fierce and martial air—that eaglecharacter which never afterwards forsook it.

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On the Sunday following, the family were arrested and carried prisoners to Bressuire, the nearest town. It had not been thought proper to employ the gendarmes of the country upon this service, because they were unwilling to perform it: troops from a distance therefore were sent, who behaved with great humanity, and expressed their sorrow for the service upon which they were ordered. Most of the persons arrested had been sent to the Castle of La Forêt sur Sèvre, which had been converted into a prison; among them was M. Thomassin. The gendarmes were apprehensive they would be massacred there, and therefore entreated that Lescure and his family might be allowed to retire to Clisson under a guard; when this was refused, they obtained permission for them to remain as prisoners at Bressuire; and one of the municipality, an honest man, who was their grocer, undertook to guard them in his own house. He advised them not to show themselves at the window, nor to go down stairs, but as much as possible to put themselves out of remembrance by keeping out of sight;--but for this precaution they might probably have been murdered. General Quetineau commanded the republican force at Bressuire. On the second day of their imprisonment this force marched to attack the

royalists at Aubiers; five and twenty hundred men filed under the windows singing the Marseillois hymn while the drum beat: these men also had their principles and their sense of duty; and their appearance indicated the hope and ardour which inspired them. The marchioness says she never heard any thing more impressive and more terrible than their song. The following morning it was reported that the brigands had been defeated, and that Roche Jaquelein was besieged in his castle at La Durbellière. They passed a day of dreadful fears: towards evening, the troops who had marched out so bravely on the yesterday, came back in disorder, exclaiming-Citizens, to the succour! to the succour! the brigands are pursuing us! light up your windows! The alarm was so great that Quetineau could not even establish a guard at the gates. The pursuit, however, was not so close as the beaten army had apprehended. Four hundred Marsellois arrived to reinforce Quetineau; their first business was to recommend a massacre of the prisoners, and in spite of the general's orders and the resistance of all the constituted authorities, they seized upon eleven poor peasants, who had been arrested in their beds on suspicion of communicating with the rebels, dragged them out of the town, and invited any persons who pleased to come and take part in their execution! The inhabitants were struck with horror; but there were some wretches from St. Jean d'Angely atrocious enough to accept this invitation to a party of murder! The Mayor of Bressuire still attempted to protect the victims; he was forced from the place.; and the peasants kneeling, praying to God, and exclaiming Vive le Roi! to the last, were hewn to pieces with sabres. Had these wretches known that such prisoners as Lescure and his family were in the town, all the good wishes and intentions of the townsmen would have been ineffectual to preserve them.

Every night there were fresh arrests in this unfortunate town: all who were suspected of aristocracy-all whose patriotism was doubted were thrown into prison, the Mayor among the rest, because he had been guilty of endeavouring to prevent the late murders. Some time elapsed in this miserable state of continual dread and danger, when, on the first of May, news arrived that the brigands, after having attacked and taken Argenton le Château, were marching against Bressuire in great force. Quetineau had 5000 men, but with this force he did not think it prudent to defend the place; the walls were all in ruins, and the castle had never been repaired since Du Geusclin took it by assault from the English. In fact he could not depend upon his troops; they were so panicstricken that he could not even prevail upon the cavalry to make a reconnoissance; accordingly he retreated upon Thouars in disorder, abandoning almost all his ammunition. The prisoners from La

Forêt were removed first to Niort, then to Angoulême. Those in the town were forgotten; and the man who had taken charge of Lescure's family, came, with many of the other inhabitants, to entreat that he would suffer them to take shelter at Clisson ;-so he returned to his chateau with a troop of patriots under his protection. About noon on the day of their return, it was reported that the royalists had altered their course, and were not marching upon Bressuire. Lescure immediately determined to raise his peasantry and occupy it before the Blues (as the republicans were called in La Vendée) could return. He therefore sent forth his summons to all the country round, inviting the peasants to repair to a place appointed, where they would find leaders. His own intention was to set out immediately for Chatillon, and there obtain powder and reinforcements, then to repair to the place of rendezvous, and instantly seize Bressuire. His wife, Marigny, and a certain Abbé Dessessarts, who had just escaped from the Blues, were the only persons to whom he imparted his purpose; he dreaded the cold and prudential councils of the elders of the family. The three men made their arms ready, and Victorine, with a manly spirit, manufactured white cockades. About four in the evening,, Lescure informed his mother that an escort was ready to conduct the women to Chatillon. She asked what would become of them if the patriots should return to Bressuire. To-morrow at day-break,' replied Lescure, 'I shall be master of Bressuire.-Forty parishes will rise this night by my order. She turned pale, and made answer that they were undone; and she represented to him the little probability of success, and the imminent and certain danger of the attempt. But Lescure had already suffered too many self-reproaches for his inaction, to listen to such arguments. It is only, says his wife, with an unreflecting audacity, with a full devotion of princi ples, with an enthusiasm noble in proportion as it-is-blind, that such enterprises are ever undertaken.' Lescure and Marigny took horse and departed:-they were hardly gone, before a patriot from Bressuire arrived trembling from head to foot, with news that the brigands were in the town. Presently they returned full speed, and shouting Vive le Roi! They had met Roche Jaquelein, who threw himself into the arms of his friends, and exclaimed I have delivered you, then! Roche Jaquelein had an unhappy life, and an untimely end; but that moment overpaid all his sufferings.

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His happiness at that moment was heightened by the proud feeling that by his own exertions he had obtained it. Upon leaving Clisson with the peasant, after a circuitous and perilous route he reached St. Aubin; and from thence proceeded to the Anjou insurgents. They received a defeat just as he arrived;—they were about to disperse,-they had not two pounds of powder among