218 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

“ There is no peace with my implacable enemies,” hewrites, at one time ; " there will be none except in thetomb. No pity can enter their souls of gall: as barbarousas they are unjust, their commiseration will never yieldthat which their iniquity denies. It is too much ! Iknow not whether, proscribed by that destiny whichpermits guilt to triumph, and innocence to suffer, I amdestined to die of despair, or to merit my fate by theperpetration of crime, but the agony that precedes thecatastrophe endures too long, and I feel transports ofindignation and hatred, such as never before had in-fluence over my soul.” Again he writes, “ The rules ofthis house are so excessively, I had almost said soatrociously severe, that I must perish if I remain longer.No species of society is permitted: the turnkeys whowait on us are forbidden to remain in our cells, or tospeak to us—we have but one hour of exercise out ofthe twenty-four. Alone with sorrow—no literary oc-cupation— few and bad books—interminable delays inthe fulfilment of our most innocent wishes and oursimplest wants —no musical instruments — in a word,no recreation — every consolation denied by a barbaroustyranny, such is but a feeble sketch of our situation.A man who has any soul or mind cannot resist such amode of life, in which his talents, his acquirements,and his most praiseworthy sentiments, instead of so-lacing, must produce his ruin.”

As a proof of the energy and fortitude of Mirabeau’ssoul, it must be mentioned, that frequent opportunitiesof escape presented themselves, but he declared thathe would not desert Sophie and unlink his fate fromhers; lior renounce all hope of being restored to hisstation and rights in his country. While he strung hissoul to endure, his very strength of purpose gave addi-tional force to his hatred of tyranny. He, as beingthe victim of his family, and not a state prisoner, wasin the sequel permitted many indulgences not allowedto any other. Books materials for writing —connivanceat his correspondence—more time allowed to his walks