Part I: Request I

[montagnarde1793]

I'm afraid the translation isn't quite perfect, but so it goes...

VI.

Unpublished letters of the Robespierre brothers.

Here are five letters of which the originals stay annexed in Mme Le Bas’s papers; I reproduce them because they are unedited and curious in different ways; they mark, notably, the affection of the two Robespierres for Duplay; and Augustin’s letter to him divines the profound love that united the two brothers.
I will speak again of each of the following letters:

First letter from Maximilien Robespierre to Duplay

Arras, the 16th October, 1791

My dear friend, I arrived safe and sound, Friday, in Baupaume. The national guards of Paris formerly camped at Verberies, those of the department of l’Oise who just arrived the same day in this city, joined with the patriots of Baupaume, presented me with a civic crown with oaths of the most fraternal affection. The directory of the district and of the municipality, however aristocratic, did not disdain to come visit me in the corps. I was enchanted by the patriotism of the national guards, who seem very well composed. Also those of Paris have not themselves found any preparative to receive them in Baupaume; those of l’Oise were obliged to part without arms, and still have not gotten them.
From Baupaume, many officers of the two corps, joined to one party of the national guard of Arras, who came to meet me, drove me back to Arras, where the people received me with demonstrations of an attachment that I cannot express and which I cannot recall without tender feelings; nothing that could be sweared to me was forgotten; a multitude of citizens left the city to meet me; to the civic crown they offered me they added one for Pétion; in their acclamations they often mingled with my name that of my companion in arms and friend. I was surprised to see the houses of my enemies and of aristocrats (who do not appear here but under the ministerial or feuillantine form; the others have emigrated) illuminated on my passage, which I could attribute but to their respect for the will of the people. Eight days beforehand the same preparations had been made because I was expected at that time. On both occasions the municipality, which is of the order of the Feuillants, spared nothing to oppose these demonstrations on the part of the people and of the patriots: “Were it the king,” one said disingenuously, “such would not be done; when we were installed, were we rendered honors?”
Also, I was not long home when the agents of police were sent the order to put out the lamps, though this was not punctually executed everywhere.
The next day, another disorder was introduced in the city: the national guards of l’Oise arrived in Arras where they had to pass to reach their destination; they danced in the public square, singing patriotic airs, and came to my house keeping in their airs acclamations extremely disagreeable to the ear of a Feuillant. No other misfortune came.
The national guards cantoned in this country are seen very badly by the ministerial aristocracy which is very numerous; they spread themselves out in the surrounding villages to protect the inhabitants of the countryside against the dangerous insinuations of refractory priests, who cause an incalculable ill; they mostly reanimated a languishing patriotism. I do not doubt that all that can be done to disgust them or put them off will not continue to be done.
We have, on our route, found inns full of emigrants. The innkeepers told us they have been surprised by the multitude of those they have lodged for some time.
A miracle just happened here, which is not surprising, since it is due to the Cavalry of Arras, which, as it is known, had created so many others: a non-juring priest said mass in a chapel containing a precious monument; the devout were there as it is necessary for them to hear it. In the middle of the mass a man threw two crutches that he had used, stood on his legs, walked; he showed the scar that remained on his leg, deployed the papers proving he had a grave wound; in a miracle this man’s wife arrived; she asked for her husband; she was told he walked without crutches; she fell unconscious; she regained her senses to render thanks to the sky and cry that it was a miracle. However it was resolved, by the devout Sanhedrin, that it would not be in the city that there would be the most acclaim of this adventure, and that talk of it would be spread in the countryside; since this time many country-folk come to, in effect, burn little candles in the chapel of the Calvary.
I propose all the time that I should not stay long in this sacred region; I am not worthy of it; I will not however leave it without regret; for my fellow citizens had not until now procured but the sweetest enjoyments: I will console myself in embracing you.
Pass on the tokens of my tender friendship to Mme Duplay, to your daughters, and to my small friend. Do not forget either, I pray you, to recall me to the memory of La Coste and Couthon.

Robespierre

Second letter from Maximilien Robespierre to Duplay

Arras, the 17th November, 1791

Brother and friend, I received with gratitude the new mark of interest and friendship which you give me by way of your last letter. I propose seriously, this time, to return in a few days to Paris. The pleasure of seeing you again will not be the least of the advantages that I will rediscover there. I think with a sweet satisfaction that my dear Pétion has perhaps been named mayor of Paris at the moment I write. I will feel the most strongly that no one else could give the joy that must be given to all citizens at this triumph of patriotism and frank probity on intrigue and tyranny.
Present the token of my tender and inalterable attachment to your ladies, that I strongly desire to embrace them, and as much our small patriot.

Robespierre

Letter from Robespierre the younger to Duplay

Arras, 19 March, 1729

Patriot Dupleix[1], I learned indirectly that my brother is incommoded; I am worried; inform me of his situation as soon as possible. Also send me the engraving that I asked my brother’s friend to find in his papers.
Tell my brother that my sister is convalescent and that I will review Mme Witty’s book in a few days.
Do not lose a moment; respond immediately. My inquietude is at its height. It will not take much to make me fly to Paris.
Send me also some examples of the discourses on the war that your friend has pronounced and the observations of Pethion and Robespierre.
I embrace you and your family.

A.-B.-J. Robespierre

Letter from Robespierre the younger

I pray you to propose to the National Assembly to take under its care the denunciation of the most horrible crimes committed daily by a congregation of scélérats. A Bon Fils persecuted by his brothers for having shown a bit of humanity, came to draw me a picture of the dreadful scenes that pass around these infernal houses. The assassinations have multiplied there; the days of this misfortune are in peril, because he is suspected of having uncovered their monstrous secrets.
I shudder when I think that the National Assembly lets these scourges of humanity enjoy themselves in peace; these monsters are indignant being obliged to moderate their ferocity, in the inquietude that they suffer from the incertitude of their existence. My letter is not a declamation, it is the truth. This demons incarnate rejoice in the false news of the death of the Comte de Mirabeau, whom they regard as the scourge of the abuses. It is on the honor of humanity that these guilty ones should not escape. It is necessary for this to obtain a prompt decision from the Assembly, to authorize their denouncer to retire in a community and obtain a provisionary pension for the unfortunate who is going to reveal all that the earth has seen of the most deranged, the most infamous. He offered to me to report the proofs of the unprecedented tortures that the innocent suffers in these caves. All that has been said to us of the Inquisition does not approach the regime of the Bons Fils. A stay in the Bastille was enchanting next to these prisons inhabited by crime, scélératesse.
Martial law has just been enacted today, Sunday. I marked my surprise in hearing, immediately after the reading of this law, declaring that the national guard was always free; a declaration which seemed to me a sort of attack in the decree. I proposed the explanation of the declaration to the committee.
Respond immediately; do not lose a moment to educate me as to what you would have done in relation to the Bons Fils. Denounce these criminals; make it so one can be assured of them. The denouncer is one called brother Celestin Herau, Bon Fils of Armentieres. Don’t say his name until he is in security.

Robespierre

Letter from Robespierre the younger to his brother

Your letter, dear brother, seemed to produce a very good effect. Calumny is reduced to silence; it is not yet there but in an easy success over your enemies. I will later make in known to you that those on whom you counted the most are nothing but cowards. S… (illegible) is always a zealous patriot; he just offered the patrie the honor of his buckles; he braved the ridicule that had been attempted to spread on those who swear their love for the public by these light sacrifices.
You have without doubt already seen our two municipal officer deputies by an assembly of municipal officers in exercise and former municipal officers; all the members of the committee have not competed there; many of these last were not convoked. From which side do they dare to present themselves to ask for what you must always have present in the spirit, the interest of your patrie, when it will not wound the general interest. But how will you listen to the request that they made for the monks to charge themselves with education? The great prieur of Saint-Vaast has been to the municipal officials’ assembly to solicit himself this thanks for permitting him to convert the collège’s goods into scholarships. Doubtless you will not make an exception in favor of the Flemish monks when you are working towards the important object of national education.
It would be appropriate, I believe, to allocate a portion of the revenues of this rich abbey for relief of the poor this winter; the ecclesiastics will refuse, as you know, to succor them, under the pretext that all is being taken from them. It will be necessary to take the revenues of the abbé commandataire. M. Liger wanted to renew all the bails, doubtless to profit from the bribes.
Respond to my last letter; this unhappy Bon Fils (for a Bon Fils may be unhappy) is reduced to despair. He could be put under the protection of the Assembly or not: respond to me immediately, that I may be able to take another part.
I would have many other things to tell you yet; but I don’t have the time. Everyone kisses you.

De Robespierre[2]

[1]This inexact orthography is not the effect of an error of the pen; it may be read similarly on the address: “To Monsieur Duplay, rue Saint-Honoré, Paris.” –In this era when the changeability of the writing of last names was extreme, the name of Duplay is, in fact, one of those the most diversely written; in the Le Bas family’s notebooks, I found it written six different ways.

[2]These last two letters are not dated. Though they could well be a bit older than those preceding, we have placed them last because they are not concerned with either Duplay or Le Bas.

Comments

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

...and to my small friend.

Whozat?

D-M

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I believe it's supposed to be Duplay's son, Jacques-Maurice, who is elsewhere referred to similarly as "notre petit patriote."

[sesana]

I love reading Maxime's letters, when I can. They often show a tenderness that one won't see discussed in most other accounts that include him. And sometimes they include odes to jam, which is better yet.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

His letters really are quite sweet... Most of his biographers seem more intent on analyzing political theories than painting a portrait of the man himself. And the jam tart odes don't hurt!

[sesana]

The entire letter with the jam tarts is hysterical. He's so *cute* in that letter.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Indeed--"But simply to eat a tart is not enough-one must do so amongst friends..."