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LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

Lives, Thomson’s Seasons, in French, and a few En-glish books, were those she chose. She turned her mindfrom her sorrows, to occupy herself by her mode of lifeand duties. She resolved to limit her wants to merenecessities. A whim seized her to try on how little shecould subsist. She retrenched the number of her meals,and gave up coffee, and chocolate, and wine : the moneyshe saved by these privations she distributed among thepoorer prisoners.

At first, at the instigation of friends, she addressedletters to the convention, and to the ministers, appealingagainst her imprisonment: they met with no notice.She then occupied herself by drawing up notes con-cerning the revolution, her views and conduct, and thecharacters of the chiefs—wishing to leave behind a fullexculpation of her opinions and actions.

On the 24th of June she was exposed to a mostcruel deception. She was told that she was free — sheleft the abbey — but, on alighting at her home, she wasagain arrested, and carried to the prison of St. Pelagie.The change was greatly for the worse; the prisonerswere of the lowest and most infamous class of bothsexes. She roused her courage to meet this fresh indig-nity, for she felt keenly the insolent play exercised on herfeelings. Some hours’ reflection restored calm to herfirm soul. She resolved again to cheat time and anxietyby occupation. “ Had I not my books and leisure ? ”she writes: “ was I no longer myself? I was almostangry at having felt disturbed ; and thought only ofmaking use of life, and employing my faculties withthat independence which a strong mind preserves evenin chains, and which disappoints one’s most cruel ene-mies.” “ Firmness,” she continues, “does not only con-sist in rising above circumstances by an effort of will,but by maintaining the tone of mind by regulations thatgovern it.” And thus, in the midst of terror anddeath, she schooled herself to fortitude and peace.She portioned out her days in various studies. Shenever left her cell, for her immediate neighbours were