'I^klil!^ Memoirs of Onart ;.t .;., .Contain i.i- anecdotes of .liis private life and details ot tie "..'ar Iu La Vundet-. London, 1797. 1! > ^ZJ''<.<^ - 1... - '^ ° JLIlIBI^^IEir " MEMOIRS OF CHARETTE, CHIEF OF THE ROYAL AND .-CHRISTIAN ARMIES _ IN THE INTERIOR OF FRANCE : \ CONTAINING Anecdotes of his private life, AND DETAILS OF THE WAR LA VENDEE. SY AN EMIGRANT OF DISTINCTION* TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. " His faltem accumulem donis^ et fungar inani " Munere.". Virgil. lL4)niM)nt Printed for j.'s. Jordan, n" 166, fleet-street, MDCCXCVII. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE TRANSLATOR. 'T^HE worth of talents and virtue is in dependent of the caufe in which they are engaged. Without participating, there fore, in the fentiments of the French Roy- alifts, without looking complacently on the horrors of a civil war, it may be allowable to pay a tribute of applaufe to the valour and abilities of Ch arette. The chara6kr of the Vendean hero is portrayed with an elegant, though perhaps a too friendly, pencil in the following little Iketch. But little is to be apprehended from decking virtue in fplendid , colours ; it is from the envious and prejudiced coldnefs of the hif- torian that we have to fear thofe produc tions [ vi ] tions which deaden the flame of genius by degrading the • illufljious examples of pa- triotifm and virtue. We may at leaft draw fome ufeful leflbnS from the melancholy pi6iure of ihe war in La Vendee. We may learn that nothing is more dreadful in a nation than the violence of party fpirit ; and that unrelenting perfe- cution on one fide neceflarily produces url-r yielding fury on the other. Nojr can we omit to obferve, that, ' terrible as are the evils of w^r, even thefe are alleviated by moderation and benevolence; while the re- volutionary cruelty of the ^ Noyades\n^ Fufillades is beheld with horror, and the names of Le Bon and Carrier .are pro nounced with difguft, all parties agree in praifing the moderation difplayed in fo many inftances by Chare tte. * Drowning and Oiooting. PREFACE PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR. T Havc every day €xpe£led to fee fome pen difplay its eloquence, ir» prjufe of a maq fo worthy of Our admiration and regret as the illuftrious Charette. This filence, doubtlefs, arifes from the difficulty of procuring information relative "to his exploits, from the moment of their commencement until the termination of his glorious career. Educated in habits of intimacy with him from my tendereft infancy, nothing which concerns him is unknown to me ; and the exafl: and, continued correfpondence, which I have kept up with him ever fince our feparation, has enabled me to keep him in view through all the C viii ] the different fiti^ations of his life. Of this cor refpondence, I fhall lay before the public all that relates to this celebrated man, convinced that it cannot but prove univerfally interefting. It is not with the confidence of an author^that I begin this undertaking ; it is evident I have too little pretenfion to that charafter. Not being ambitious of literary fame, I have little to fear from criticifm. In rendering homage to friend- fhip, I write for the fatisfaftion of my own mind, which feels a fenfible pleafure in fcatterirtg fome flowers on the tomb of my friend. MEMOIRS MEMOIRS O F CHARETTE, CHARETTE is dead! Weep, faithful fubjeA^ts; religion has loft her moft zealous defender, the monarchy its firmeft fupport, the Oppreft a proteftor, the un happy a father. Weep ! he has borne with him your efteem, your admiration, perhaps, alas ! your hopes ; he has left be hind him nothing but forrow and regret! If my talents equalled the fenfibility which fills my foul, I Ihould eafily excite the fen fibility of my readers ; I fhould caufe them to ftied thofe tears which gratitude and friendfhip love to pour upon his tomb. — But what do I fay ? — The panegyrift of Charette has no need of the magic of B ' compo- [ 10 ] compofition, of the fiftions invented at will to move and ftrike the paffions ; — no ! by relating fimple faas, by following this great man from his youth until the moment which terminated his days, I ftiall oblige even his enemies to grant him their- efl;eem ; and, perhaps, I fhall have the confolation of hearing them mix their fighs with the mournful accents of my grief. Charette was about thirty-three years of age ; his height was five feet ten iriches ; his figure well fet, firm, and graceful ; his eyes lively; his look bold, but without any harfhnefs ; the palenefs of his complexion indicated the delicacy of his health ; his language was foft without being affe6led; his fmile pleafing; his manners affable; he poflefTed a good natural genius, enriched by education, and had the happy art of gaining friends, and preferving them till death. Great men have generally required^an am ple theatre in which to exercife their talents" and their virtues ; but the narrow circle of La Vendee fufficed to immortalize Charette: it it was within thefe narrow bounds, that he difplayed all the depth of his genius, toge ther with that courage, that truly heroic perfeverance, and thofe noble and elevated views which gained him the admiration of Europe. From the banks of the Loire to thofe of the Viftula has fame publiftied his illuftrious deeds ; and the invincible hero of the North* has with pleafure rendered ho mage to the valour and fidelity of the defender of the religion of his fathers, and the honour of his kings, Charette, fprung from an ancient family, allied to the nobleft houfest, felt at an early age that a diftinguiftied birth impofes great obligations ; the alliance which his anceftors had contrafted with the illuftrious n^me of Montmorency excited his ambition to equal that firft Chriftian baron who conquered for his religion and his king, in the field of * See the letter of General Suwarrow to Charette, dated 0£l. i, 1796, in the Mcrcure Univcrfel. t The family of Charette has been feveral times connefledby marriage with that of Montmorency. Tolbiac ; C 12 3 Tolbiac ; and Charette in like manner, fur- rounded by his faithful Bretons, braved death in fupport of the fame caufe. His anceftors were diftinguiftied in the magiftracy and in arms* ; he chofe the latter himfelf, and the naval fervice which requires deep ftudy and afliduous application, was admirably fuited to the cool and fteady cha- rafter of Charette : fcarqely therefore had he completed his fixteenth year, when he pafl!ed the examinations which were ne- ceflary to admit him into this diftinguifhed body. The day in which his name was enrolled among the number of the defenders of the ftate, was to him a day of happinefs. His ge- * Several magiftrates 6f this family have been con- fpicuDus in the parliament of Brittany. In the campaign of Bohemia ten of the Charettesferved, of whom feven loft their lives. This family has had the honour of pro ducing feveral Knights of Malta; the elde7 ] The sera of the misfortunes of France was that in which Charetjte was compelled to relinquifli his fituation ; he returned home to enjoy the confolations of friendfliip. Death had deprived him of his parents. As the faithful dove languiflies and finks under the preflure of her grief, fo >his hapipy pair could not fupport a cruel fepa ration, and the grave foon re-united two* tender hearts, which nature feemed to have formed for the happinefs of each other. In theaffe£lion of a valued fifter, and a beloved brother, he fought the confolation necef- fary to his exiftence, and they both regarded as a blefling the inaflivity to which he was condemned, fince-it J)roGured them the hapr pinefs of his fociety. It was only neceflary to fee Charette, to deftroy the idea fo generally entertained of the roughnefs of a failor. The more this opinion prevailed, the more did it excite aftonifhment to fee in him that urbanity, that mildnefs, that fenfibility, as pleafing as it is' interefting, and which has fo much power over that enchanting fex to C whom [ i8 3 whom nature has been fo prodigal of her gifts. It was to his amiable qualities that Charette owed his fortune, and his happi nefs. His circumftances had been far from affluent, though they were regulated with fuf- ficientceconomytoprevent his being involved in debt. The young and interefting widow of his relation Monf. Charette de B. (an offi cer in the regiment of Auvergne) could not behold him without affeftion : (he married him, and brought him a confiderable acce& fion to his fortune. Charette, by his tender attentions, caiifed the happinefs of his wife, and love blefled the ties which he had formed. His refi dence in the country afforded Mm a thoufand gratifications, which though dif- dained by the wealthy, are remembered with delight by the virtuous mind ; to aflift fhe poor, to relieve the unfortunate,, to com- promife ruinous law-fuits, to repaiir, the lofles of the induftrious cottager; and thus, was each day majrked by fome aft of bene volence and humanity. .fft A lovely infant added a ftrongcr tie to their L 1^ ] their union, Charette, a faithful lover and a tender hufband, could not fail to b? an aff'eflionate father : he embraced his child, prefled him to his heart, and prefented him as an offering to that God who had protefted him through every danger, to that kingdom for which he had expofed his life, and to that king whom he ferVed with fo much va lour and fidelity. But Providence, which proves our virtue by the misfortunes it in- flifts, deftined his paternal feelings to the fe- vereft wound in the death of this beloVed child. Time could not relieve, nor friendfliip calm his forrows ; the melancholy remem brance triumphed over every eff^ort; and nothing but the great events which were at hand, could rouze him from the ftupor into which he had fallen. Already had difcord lighted her fatal torch, to deftroy this once flourifliing em pire: already were the temples prpfaned, religion defpifed, its miniftets perfecuted, and the nobility who remained faithful to their king thrown into unwholefome pri- fons. [ 20 ] fons, whilft their pofleflions were pillaged and given to the flames. Among the num ber of the imprifoned were Monf. Charette de Br and Monf Charette de B.. F. D , one aged fixty-nine, the other feventy-two ; the former died in the prifon , of Nantes, the latter ii^ that of Angers. , I will not dwell on the particulars of a revolution of which hiftory can offer no parallel : its dreadful effe6ls are known to the univerfe. It was the caufe of his God ; it was the caufe of his king, which wanted defenders : could Charette be deaf to the call of honour ? He tore himfelf in agony from the arms of an adored wife; ' her tears, her entreaties, even the idea of the dreary folitude to which fhe muft be condemned by the lofs of her fon, and the ab fence of her hufband, could not reftrain him ; he flew to join the faithful Frenchmen aflembled at Coblentz, under the facre4 ftandard of Royalty*. * I will not enlarge on the caufes and neceflity of the emigration which took place, they are too well known ; tut if any perfon wiflies for further information, he may rcr fcr to the works of a celebrated writer Monf. Mallet du Pan, 3ut C 21 ] ., Byt Charette found not among ftrangers the fame noble enthufiafm which animated his own breaft. He faw in others an icy coldnefs compared with the ardour which he felt. Their political difcuflTions, their delays, excited his indignation ; and he returned to his own country convinced if was only in the hearts of Frenchmen that he could find that fublitne heroifm which could brAve every danger to revenge the unmerited fuf- ferings of their monarch, 1 Young, and unknown, without that fiiining reputation which attrafts and fubju- gates the public mind, he could only medi tate in filence the vaft fchemes which he prbpofed to execute ; and the more his cou rage prompted him to undertake them^ the greater their difficulties appeared. To- ob tain confidence was the firft. point; but how could he dare to flatter himfelf that he fhould infpire it.? The armies of the allies were now in motion ; thofe of the rebels no fooner appeared in Flanders than they were defeated. The Imperial and Pruflian Eagles were erefted in the plains of Champagne ; thirty C »2 ] thirty thoufand emigrants, the flower of the French nobility, eagerv to fignalize them- felves and to difpute the palm of valour with the intrepcd foldiers of the Caefars, pre- difted that the chains of the heft of kings would foon be broken, and France be again happy under his reign. When, Oh unex- pefted blow I the retreat was" ordered.— O wifdom of Omnipotence, who can pene trate thy immutable decrees? The Conven- > tionalifts, exulting in their conqaefts, ruled with a rod of iron the unfortunate Bretons, ever celebrated for their attachment to their fovereigns^^ Reduced to defpair by the requifitions, opprefled by a thoufand arbitrary vexations, they in fome meafure forced the gentlemen who ftill retained their eftates to put them- felves at their head. The coalition which had been formed in Poitou and Brittany, of which Monf. de R was the cMef (and * Brjtanny was the only province whofe nobility would not fend deputies to the States-General in 1789, becaufe they were not alTembled according to the laws of the realm, of C 23 ] of which Charette was a member) had not yet eftabliftied itfelf on fo firm a bafis as was neceflary for fo great an enterprife, but it was of importance to profit by the dif-- content teftified in the country ; already Gafton, the intrepid Gafton, at the head of forty brave men, had defended his canton againft thefe exaSions. He foon fell ; but bis name furvived, and was long the rally ing cry of the Royalifts*. This induftrious and valiant people were not furniflied with arms; but they foon found the means of procuring them. Each cottage became a workfliop, and the iron groaned under the repeated blows of the hammer. > The tools of agriculture, coarfely faftiioned, became tremendous weapons, with which they faced death, and vanquiflied their enemies. The firft arms of the Roy- * Gafton was a, hair-dreffer; a native of ilhodez, but •who had long been fettled in Brittany : we forget his origin when we co-nfider the noblenefs of hi« fentiments. Thofe who ferve their country with honour have no need of illuftrious anceftors.. He was fucceeded by a ,MaT-> flial de Redon, who did not long furvive hi(n. alifts C 24 3 alifts were clubs pointed with iron, and prongs. Scythes bent ferved them for fabres, their horfes without faddles were guided by a cord; with thefe weak refources they ob tained by their viftories two hundred pieces of cannon and more than eighty thoufand muflcets. O illuftrious defenders of the religion of your anceftors, and the throne of your kings ! why cannot I purfue the relation of your exploits ? Generous Bonchamp, virtuous Delb^, in defatigable Talmont, valiant Lefcure, in trepid la Roche Jaquelin, brave Stoflet* ! — but hiftory will render you the homage which is your due as heroes : affeftion can only ftrew a few flowers on, your tomb as friends. * To the names of thefe illuftrious chiefs may be added thofe of Piron de Maffenge, Villeneuve, Keller, la Gueriniere, Boiflin, Guignard de Tifanges, Foreftieres, Gathelineau, d'Autichamp, DeflefTart, Bernard de Marigni, Lkngrenier, Herboldt, TOifeau, &c. The C 25 ] The inhabitants aflembled iri crowds, and all fwore to die in fupport of that facred caufe which they had refolved to defend.- Alas I this was not a trivial oath I The de- vaftation of this unfortunate country attefts too plainly that its inhabitants preferred death to perjury. The fcaffbld itfelf could not appal thefe truly heroic fouls. In the fitting ¦ of the Convention of the 6th of Auguft 1793, a member arrived from La Vendee thus exprefled himfelf: " Think not " they (the Royalifts) will return from their " error ; a prifoner taken at Martigne " would never cry Vive la Repiiblique ; twelve " foldiers held their bayonets to his breaft^ •* but he ftill continued to repeat Vive le " Roi : wearied with fo much refiftance we " difpatched him with repeated ftabs." Thefe circumftances difquieted the Con- ventionifts : they fent fome battalions, per- fuaded that the appearance of the military would be fufficient to difperfe thofe popular parties which were found in every village. The refiftance which they met with deter mined them to ufe more violent means. D Then C 26 3 Then it was that they adopted the fyftem of terror: every houfe in which they could not find the mafter of the family was pil laged, the catde were taken away, and the wbnien fuffered the moft dreadtul irifults. To take away all |>retenGe for reproach, the Royalifts determined to make fome pro- pofals to their enemies ; they demanded the reftitution of their priefts, arid their religion* and the exefn|>tion of their perfons from re- quifition. " No," replied their oppreflbrs, " fubmifiion, or death :" this anfwer Was the fignal for carnage ; the Conventionalifts have rio longer men to conterid with, but raging lions, whom the certainty of deatK featirtQt reftrain. They precipitate them- felves upon the thick phalanx of their ene mies, feize- their arms, take poffeflion of their cannons, and ufe them to com|)lete their viftory. The firft fuccefs augmented confiderably the Chriftian army ; the op preffed Catitt>^ns demanded their afllftance, atid oflfcrcd to join them. A large territory was conquered by their valour, and order was reftored by the introduftion olf wiffe laws. C 27 3 laws. A general council* was eftablifl^ed to direS the plans and to provide for the wants of the arrpy : each parifli had ^Ifo a- particular council which was fubordinate tp the general council ; and the proclamations, the raifing taxes, and every thing relative to government was carried in the name of Louis XVIL The royal army, in number about fixty thoufaad, confifted of four divifionst. They bore as their fta,ndard the facred fign of the crofs. A£t&c repeated fuccefles they arrived at Saumur ; here a new fpecies of combatt awaited them: they had ditches to crofs, walls and ramparts to fcale; but nothing could withftand the defenders of religion; nothing could r^fift the cry of " The fwQrd * The military council was compofed of twelve prin cipal officers, of which Monf. Delbe was prefidenf. The prefident of the general council was the Bilhop of Agra ; Monf. Carriere, was .prQcuratorrgeneral ; and Moof. Jagn, fecretary. '- + That which Charette commanded was cabled -for a .Ifipg time by the name of ^^/toPJ his humility 4id npt „T(V;i(h to dellroy this errpr. ' [ 28 ]. - *' of God, and of Louis his Jervant." The aflailants climbed with incredible difliculty up every part of the walls, and they even found a paflage through the openings where the cannons were planted. At length the white flag waved on the moft elevated towers, and the cry of Vivele Roi refounded through the city. The Swifs and German prifoners were fet at liberty ; and all were importunate to be permitted to ferve with their glorious defenders. Thefe foldiers, and thofe who joined them, formed a corps of between feven and eight thoufand men; they were the only hired troops, and were always in the army of Charette, to whofe fuccefs the natural bravery of the Germans did not a little contribute. The furrender 'of Saumur furniflied the Royalifts with ar tillery, arms, horfes, and provifions of all kinds. O unfortunate fields of Doue, Brif- fac, St. Florent, Lu9on, and Macheeoul! You who were bathed with the blood of Frenchmen, relate what heroic aaiohS-, what prodigies of valour you witneflfed ! Thofe aftions are indeed too numerous to be de- fcribed ; but at leaft the humanity of the Chriftian L 29 J Chriftian heroes cannot pafs unnoticed. Thc Jloyalifts caufed the hair of their prifoners to be cut off", and then fet them at liberty, tinder a promife -that they Ihould not bear arms during the war. — Whilft the Conven tionalifts — fee the decree which condemns the emigrants, taken in arms, to death. General Bonchamp, when mortally wounded, marked his laft moments by an aft of generofity; he gave liberty to five thoufand prifoners detained at St. Florent. The Convention, unable to reduce the Royalifts by the fword, refolved to £mploy 'fire. On the 4th of Auguft 1793^ that de cree was pafled,' which- it is impoffible to read without horror: it enafted, that the ¦caftles, the villages, and the woods poflefled by the rebels fhould be burnt, and that the corn fhould be carried into the interior of .the Republic. Each column carried before it the .flaming torch ; an immenfe number of perfons perilhed, and a traft of country of more than twenty leagues in circum- - ference. C 30 ] lerenge, became a prey to the flames*. A hundred thousand fouls, women, children, and old men, fled to the catholic army to •efcape violence and deaths So many ufe-- left perfons, though a great burthen to the army, were notwithftanding , rec-eived with the comp^ifSon due to the unfortunate. This humane a6lioi3r was the caufe of the defeat at Mans. So great a. multitude con- fumed a great part of the provifigns, and retarded the moveijients of the array. Cha rette, who was appointed to guard the left 'bank of the Loire, had no part in that un fortunate expedition. At that time, with a body of only twenty-fiv€ thoufand men, he kept in chedc two hundred and forty thou sand; of whom, indeed, a part were foldiers 'of the Requifition: but thefe latter had no thing to fear ; even had he conquered, tbey would have received proteSion and not punifhmeni from their viSors. Such was the condu£l of the great Heniry when he harangued hb invincible troops with iiidi r * Mejnolrs" of Danican. humanity, L 3^ 1 ^ humanity, " My friends, fpare-no't your " foreign ehemies; but fave your country- '* men, fave the French I" In the fame manner Charette diftinguiflied the enemies of God^ from thofe whom ty ranny had forced into the field. It was only the alfaffins of his king whom he did not eotifider as Frenchmen. In one of thofe fanguinary battles he turned away the can non from thofe unfortunate men who had been compelled to march againft him, and Only difperfed them by fome detachments of cavalry. It has been already mentioned, that the Royalifts Only fhaved the hair of their prifoners, while thofe who fell into the hands' of the Conventionalifts received no quarter ; and for this purpofe they invented an unhee^rd-of fpecies of murder. Such was the punilhme^it called Neyades. *' I " declare," fays Danican, "that the Vendeans " have taken hiore than thirty thoufand pri- •* foners from us. Whom they have fent back *• with only the lofs of their hair, and that " they committed no crueky till after we *' had fet theifa-the example." On [-32 ] On the 5th of Auguft Le Quinio wrote thus to the Convention: " I have caufed " five hundred prifoners to be fhot and " drowned at Fontenai le Peuple." Le Vaffeur de la Sarthe caufed feven hundred prifoners to be fliot and drowned between Saumur and Orleans, in parties from fifty or fixty to a hundred. The commiffioner Gamier wrote thus to the Convention on the 10th of December : " I have caufed " fifty-eight priefts; to be drowned." The fame perfon wrote on the 28th of Novem-, ber 1793, " Ninety priefts have juft been " brought to me, I have drdwned them, " which has given me great "pleafure."^ Bar- rere in his report on the 25th of Qftober fays, " La Vendee; ex ifts no longer: this " country is now a vaft defert : we have " retaken eight thoufand prifoners." From whence it is evident that the Royalifts did not fhoot thofe whom they captured. In vain did Charette remonftrate againll thefe atrocities; neither, his reprefentations nor his menaces were regarded : he refolved to fliew an example of feyerity ; an a6l with which he has often reproached himfelf, be- ! ¦ caufe [ 33 3 caufe it did not produce the efieO: which he expe6led. At the taking of Macheeoul, dfter having been wounded, and having had two horfes killed Under him^ whilft he was giving thanks to the God of armies upon the field of battle, he was informed that the Conventionalifts had taken three prifoners, two peafants and an emigrant. He pro* pofed to give in exchange for them five hundred which were in his power, protefting that he would give no quarter unlefs they were returned, Inftead of an anfwer to his propofal, the victims were brought forwardl and fhot in the fight of his negotiator. At this recital Chai"ette was unable tp reftrain the ijjry of his enraged foldiers ; tbey rufhed on the five hijndred prifoners, and facrificed them lo the 0iade$ of thejr unfortunate companions. From this epoch, the war afliimed a charaiSier injBniteJy more favage than that of the Vandals^ The prefence of the commander alone cQuld flop the pro grefs of thefe Outrages • when he was abfent, the furious foldiers breathed only vengeance and defpair. E The C 34 ] The redu^lion of Macheeoul paved the way to new fucceffes. Charette proceeded along the coaft, and with the affiftance of boats and rafts, which his indefatigable troops conftru6led for him; he made himfelf mafter of the ifles of Bo'uin and Noirmou- tier, where the enem^' had amaffed large magazines of provifions arid atnmunition' ; the Royalifts hoped to be able to make it their heiad-quarters, but this poft was too important not to be fubjeft to the attacks- of the Conventionalifts ; they befieged it- by land and fea, and though it Was defended with the utmdft bravery, the Royalifts were oblfged to evacuate it. The retreat was hazardous'; feveral boats Were deftroyedby the cannon of the enemy ; they Were obliged to efcape on ¦ the wrecks under 'a heavy fire from the mufl<.etryi and: to make their way through 'numerous battalions which lined the fhofK Charette; at the head of .his brave troops, gave the example, to equal which they furpaffed their ufual intrepidity. How painful was this fcene to the ge nerous heart of the hero! the fick and wounded, [ S5 3 wounded,-together with the rear guard, were ftirrounded, and one thoufand eight hundred Were made prifoners, among whom was the brave Stoflet. Alas ! he was too fatally convinced from the event of Macheeoul of the deftiny that awaited them*. He could not even hope to exchange them for three thoufand Con ventionalifts whom he had taken in different fkirmifhes. The brave Stoflet, who had difcovered fuch noble fentiments, fuch bril liant talents, was among thofe who -were deftined to this barbarous maffacre ; this dreadful idea tormented Charette, until a dawn of hope in fome degree reftored peace to his mind. Stoflet was ftill unknown ; his protefilor founded his hope on the enemy's want of penetration, who could not, like him, difcover and appreciate virtue and merit. He ventured to demand him clan- deftinely, threatening at the fame time to put to death three thoufand prifoners, in * They were all fhot or drowned by order of Thiireau 'and Bqurbotte. ¦ Seethe memoirs of Danican, note 15. cafe [ 36 3 cafe of refufal. He receives no anfwef; could he refolve to make the facrifice which he had threatened ? No ; cruelty and re venge were repugnant to the feelings of his foul— he framed excufes for his enemies; he whom he wiflied to fave had, perhaps, fallen the vi6lim of his courage— his letter might not have been received. Happily his fenfibility had not long to fuftain this pain* ful conflift. Stoflet regained his liberty ; he had the addrefs to deceive the vigilance of his guards ; or rather, we may believe, that the fate of three thoufand individuals touched the hitherto inflexible heart of his gaoler ; and that he connived at an efcape which Would fave the lives of fo many un* fortunate men. What unexpefted felicity for Charette ! He fees his friend, he embraces him, and may now follow the diftates of his gene rofity by giving liberty to his prifoners, The foldier readily obeys the commands of his captain ; with one hand he wipes away the tear which fell for the death of his com panions, and with the other he breaks the bonds C 37 ] bonds of thofe who were defigned to be facrificed to his revenge. If the Royalifts had caufe for regret in the death of their companions in arms, they faw with fatisfaftion that fome fenti ments of honour ftill exifted in the breafts of thofe who were fent to oppofe them. Independently of thefe fentiments, the hu manity of Charette increafed the number of his partizans daily ; whole corps joined him; even the profpefl; of certain death could not intimidate them ; the Almighty gave them fortitude in proportion as they felt compaffion for the fituation of their king. La Vendee fcarcely perceived the loffes it had fuftained ; the Conventionalifts could not boaft the fame advantages. It was at this period that Brule wrote thus to the Con vention, " Other generals not lefs dangerous, « are the old foldiers who. fuffer themfelves *' to be led aftray by the fuggeftions of ^ ariftocracy." If, [ 38 3 - If, faid the Republicans, we have not yet had all the fuccefs we might have promifed ourfelves, it is becaufe we have only fent undifciplined troops into th6 field ; but the immortal garrifon of Mentz, Whofe valour has been proved, will foon exterminate thefe hordes of fanatics and' robbers frOni the ter ritories of the republic. As the fcattered clouds in the horizon unite over Our heads, and petrify with -ter ror the weak and timid when they burft in thunder, fo thefe impetuous foldiers affemble; their devaftating voice is heard from afar, the fiercenefs of their looks infpire horror, and all feek an afylum which may conceal them from men familiarized with battles and with carnage. ¦ . ¦ jhi This new fcourge is direfted againft La Vendee; but Charette fees it without emoj- tion. Like a fl^ilful general, he choofes the moft advantageous pofts, penetrates into the woods, and Confines his army within narrow bounds. The enemy follows with ardour, fuppofing he has been forced to retreat ; C 39 ] retreat: no fooner have they entered this narrow part of the country , than their ar tillery is ufelefs ; each ftep enfnares them ; haraffed inceflfandy by the peafants, who know all the. defiles, they endeavour to re tire, but it, is too late,— the roads are de- ftroyed ; in fliort, they all fall by the avenging fword of the Vendeans, or by the famine which was inevitable in a country that their own hands had defolated. I have been affured by many eye-witneffes on each fide, that not ten men of the garrifon of Mentz returned. The defeats at Mans, the battles of Gfandville, &c. had extremely weakened the Chriftian army on the right bank of the Loire. Charette fent fome of his officers to colle6i the remainder ; the brave Stoflet was of the number ; he became at length .the commander, and put in praftice the leifons he had received from the hero whofe friend he was. - . This title would be a fufficient eulogiutn,; butpofterity will, without doubt, affign him a diflin- t 40 3 a drftinguifhed place among thoffe illufliious foreigners who have ofiPered their fervices to France. This divifion had already weaketied Charette*s army. Cathelineau excited Brit* tany to arms, and the Vendean army fup- plied cortimanders. Other parties of Roy* ¦ alifts, now known by the name of Chowans, detached themfelves from the forces which no longer appeared a formidable bodyi. IThis was undoubtedly the caufe of the mif- fortunes which the Catholic armies expe^-, rienced, who, before this epoch, numbered their battles by their vi6lories. Lower Brittany produced the Chouans ; they confitted, at firft, of a few unfortunatte men, ^ who took rfefn^e in the woods to efeape the requifitiohs, and who only ven* lured ont at night: to procure fubfiftenc6; they Were for this ireafon calfed Chat-huans (owls) from which is derived the •wxarii Chouans. They are now very numerous,, and extend from B reft to Chartres. Expe rience has taUght them that humanity hds rather C 41 3 father been prejudicial than advantageous to the Vendeans ; at prefent they equal the Republicans in cruelty, and neither fide ever give quarter. The people of Brittariy are a feparate na tion ;- they polfefs great energy of charafter^ are religious, hofpitablcj firm in their enter- prizes, and of unftiaken bravery. The mdn are fmall, but ftrong and vigorous: even their amufements are manly ; they confift of leaping, wreftling, and quoits. Their com mon weapon is a club, three feet and a half long, pointed at each end with iron ; they inanage this fo dexterOufly, that they fear nothing but fite-arms. It is rare tO find a countryman who fpeaks French ; and they look with contempt on all who do not fpeak their language, which is very fimilar to the Welftii Kindnefs attaches them- but op- prefTion irritates, arid renders therti violent. From the knowledge I have of this province, I can affirm, that it may, like La Vendee, be deftroyed, but it will never fubmit. This is not a paradox ; a people equally ener getic and religious will not yield to force. F The C 42 3 . The inhabitants of Cevennes, who refifted Louis XII. and the Corficans, who refifted the efforts of France, afford examples of this truth. Brittany may perifli, but it will never adopt the Republican fyftem. The Convention, who defpaired of obliging J Charette to furrender, and feared the ruin , of its own armies, determined to make him propofals of peace. , The hero, guided .jOnly by his fenfibility, would have efteemed that day the happieft of his life, in which he fhould ftop the elfufion of his country's blood ; firm in his principles, he did not forget the noble motive which made him take up arms ; he once more demanded the re-eftablifhment of religion, the recall of its minifters, indemnification to all thofe whofe poffelfions had been deftroyed, and an am- nefty for all who had Ihared his fatigues and dangers, fo that neither informations or reproaches might poifon the general happinefs. But could Charette forget the fon of his auguft mafter, his lawful king, for whom he [ 43 3. he had expofed his life a thoufand times, and who languiflied in that fatal tower frora which his father was conduced to the fcaf- fold ? No — take courage, ye in whofe fouls fenfibility and virtue yet are found ; you will always find Charette worthy of you, and of hirafelf. The royal child had not a more faithful fubjefi, or a more intrepid defender. Charette would have died, if fuch a facrifice had been neceffary ; but he CQuld never defert the fon of his king, the inheritor of his throne, and of his virtues. This important article caufed great de bates. Could Charette yield ? He had already fhed his blood in this noble caufe ; jie Would have loft the laft drop of it rather than have comniitted an unworthy aftiori. Even the refle6tion, that his native city was expofed to all the horrors of famine, that his friends were in irons, his diftrafted family '^.roaning in a dungeon, could not fhake his principles. His foul vv^as torn with cpnflifting paffions, but flern duty filenced the fentiments of nature, and he owned only his God and his, king. The C 44 3 The negotiating commiffioners proved to him the irapoffibiiity of bringing the Con-, vention to his terms. The majority were well difpofed, but the time was not favour-^ able to the adcomplifhment of their purpofe, Robefpierre ftill feemed to reign in the perr fons of his partifans; to have propofed royalty would have caufed the refurreftion of that monfter, Well, replied the young hero, with noble enthufiafm, give to my proteftion the grandfon of Maria Therefa, and what the brave Hungarians did for her, the faithful Bretons will do for him. Either from the difficulty of terminating otherwife the negotiations, or from want of fincerity, this important point was agreed to. On this condition only would Charette fet up the Republican colours, or fit by the iide of the murderers of his )cing^ As * Care wa$ taken not to mentiori this article in the examination of Charette, or to publifh any thing that related to this condition ; at leafl, the aSair was treated fo lightly, that it was evident they did not wilh for much informatioi^ ,* [ 45 3 As foon as the treaty was concluded, the blockade of Nantes was raifed. Charette entered the city amidft the acclamations of the people. Profufion followed him ; peace and happinefs were reftored ; the tears which were fhed were no longer thofe of defpair, but thofe produced by the expefta- tion of that happinefs which peace and har mony beftow. Thus the conimander of La Vendee is no longer treated as a. robber ; he is acknow ledged by the reprefentatives as the chief of the party, and even of the canton, becaufe La Vendee has its own laws, and its own religion. The dreadful right of war has conferred on him privilegeis, which frora information on the fubjeft. It is, however, certain that Louis XVIL was to have been given up to Charette. Monf. de Chat was to have taken him from the caflle of Choifi, whither it was ftipulated that the Re publicans fhould conduft him ; but the young prince died a few days before the period fixed for his liberty. I will not repeat all that has been faid on this occurrence. I am not convinced ; and I will not believe evil, but when it is impoflible tp do otherwife. time C 46 3 time immemorial exifted between the powers, which politics, ambition, or other interefts divided ; thus we no longer tremble for his life, or, at leaft, he will not terminate it like a criminal. Such are the reflexions which muft occur to the mind of every man, who regards the rights of men as facred. The moft incredulous, or the moft partial perfons cannot doubt, but that there was a fecret treaty. Let us confider the chara6ler of Charette, and we niuft fuppofe fome vexy great advantages induced him to take the national cockade, and receive in his. camp the reprefenta.tives of the revolution, and to dine with them; there mufl; have been poweirful motives to induce hjm to make fuch. a facrifice. Repofe fucceeded the rioife of arms ; the labourer fought the fpot where was once his humble cottage; he conftru8:ed a hut there, and confided to the earth with joy that grain which he hoped to reap in peaqe. Charette traverfed tliefp defolated fields, confoled his brave companions, encouraged their labour, and difpenfed bis benefits with that C 47 3 that affability and affedion which rendered him dear to eveiy heart. When the peace was made, Charette fent back the labourers to cultivate the land, arid referved only the hired troops in his camp at Belleville, whom the commiffioners of the negotiation fupplied with provifions. The country, once fo ruinous, where the birds of night only Were heard, began to fmile on the labours of the cultivator. The timid fhepherdefs might already num ber her little flock, and unite her melodious voice to that of the inhabitants of the air, in rendering thanks to the Almighty. Charette, relying on the performance of that engagement which he had contrafl:ed, numbered anxioufly the days and hours which were to precede the reftoration of his yourig fovereign, to reign in La Vendee ; in ex- peftationofthattiirie, when, like Heriry the Great, he might by his virtues Obligeli is deluded people to acknowledge him. But this unfortunate prince,'^ this pledgfe of our love. C 48 3 love, funk under his misfortunes ; the illuftrious defcendant of fo m^any kings is no more ! As a beauteous flower which exhibited to the aftonifhed eye the rich gifts of nature, and attra£led the attention of the cultivator, bends its faded head when it is neglefted by his protefting hand ; fo this royal child, deprived of the tender cares of a mother, falls a viftim to languor and me lancholy, and finks under the reiterated mif- fortunes which undermined his conftitution. I will not attempt to defcribe the grief of the Chriftian army ; if even thofe who had no intereft in the fate of this innocent viftim, could compaffionate his lot, how acute muft have been the feelings of his faithful defenders ! This ancient and venerated race was not extinft by the death of the prince ; his uncle fucceeded him: the cries of forrow and diftrefs were followed by thofe of " Long " live Louis the Eighteenth^ The Convention repenting of their eori- fent to a peace fo glorious for Charette, and feeing C 49 3 feeing the progrefs of their arms in other countries, feized the pretext of this procla mation to break the truce, alledging as a reafon, that the Vendeans had infringed the laws of the Republic, by recalling'in to France a prince profcribed as an emigrant. Hoftilities were confequently renewed; War again r_aged, and nature, who had be gun to fmile on thefe defolated countries, was once more condemned to a fearful filence. Dare I paint the devaftations and carnage which were endured by Brittany, Poitou, Anjou, Maine, arid Normandy ? No ! my fenfibility refufes fo painful a taflc; I will abridge, the dreadful recital. Who could hear without anguifh the particulars of that fatal conteft; relation againft relation, friend againil friend, the fon oppofed to thefather, the father arraed againft the fon, and the hlood of Frenchmen bathing the earth, on all fides .^ O my country ! O unhappy France ! may the Almighty caft a pitying eye on thy misfortunes ; may he calm that inveterate G rage, E 5^ J rage, and thofe cruel diffen tions which lay thee wafte ; may he reflore thy peace and happinefs ,! But I muft finifli the painful talk I have impofed'on myfelf. Of what efforts is not friendfhip capable,^ fince in retracing this melancholy fubjeft my own wounds bleed afrefh. ' The brave Stoflet had followed the ex ample of Charette in exchanging the mur derous fword for the peaceful olive. The Chouans of Brittany were aftOnifhed at fee ing the morning of a bright day once more illumine their hemifphere. But fatal dif cord again fliook her flaming torch, and fpread terror and difmay. The reaper leaves his fields, and ex(^hanges with a figh the inftruments of agriculture for the de vaftating fword of the fierce God of War. It is well known that MOnf. Cormartin, and the other chiefs of the Chouans, were arrefted during the truce by the jeajoufy of C 51 3 of the commiffioners of the Convention who were at Rennes*. The army of La Vendee weakened by its fucceffes as well as. by its defeats, and finding it difficult to obtain recruits t, was obliged to contraft its boundaries. It remained quiet becaufe the enemy found a difficulty in at tacking it. This civil war was repugnant to the feelings of Frenchmen ; but the con- quefts of the Conventionalifts furniflied them with reinforcements of Belgians, Liegois, and Batavians, who preferred ferving the Republicans here, to afting againft their fo- yereigns, whofe vengeance they dreaded. Thus Charette faw new troops brought againft him daily, whilft. he found it very dif ficult to procure reinforcements. Nothing however could fhake the firmnefsof hisraind, and though he had been totally deferted, he * See the Memoirs of Danican. + The deferters preferred joining the Chouans; their method of making war was better fuited to the inclina- (jpiis of the foldiers. WOU Id [ 52 3 would not have forfaken the holy caufe, and his laft figh would have been for his king. One of his greateft enemies has pro nounced his eulogium. " *Charette's cou- " rage was invincible, he preferved in dan- " gers an unalterable tranquillity, and a " prefence of mind feldo.m feen : he was in- " finuating, ehterprifing, indefatigable, and " aftive. He kept the field a whole winter " againft thirty thoufand men, with an army " of only five hundred adventurers." Thus Therfites could not refrain from doing juf- tice to Agamemnon. Alas ! thefe were the laft efforts of the hero of La Vendee ; but how numerous were the trials through which he had to pafs before he reached th? end of his career The Loire was an infurmountable barrier which prevented him from protefting the defcent at Quiberon. " We muft, faid he, " at all hazards, effeft a junftion, or we " are loft," The brave army under the * See the French Journal, entitled L' Amides Patriotes, of April 1796. comhiand ' C 53 3 command of its courageous chief, was ready to hazard every thing. The hope of fupporting the brother of his king, who for fome time had earneftly folicited his affift ance, made him refolve to leave no means untried to accomplifh his purpofe. The Duke de Bourbon, a defcendant Worthy of the Conqueror of Roquoy, emulous of the fame of his father, and not fatisfied With the laurels he had gathered in the .plains of Alface, was expefted to join the Chriftian army ; and from one extremity of the king dom to the other, the name of Conde ral lied all the faithful Frenchmen under the - facred banner of religion and honour. Cha- irette's advice to efteft this importiant junc tion was not followed. Who could forefee that fo noble an enterprife would be attended with fuch deftruftive confequences] The fa' tal lift of the unfortunate viftims of this ex pedition fell into the hands of the hero ; he faw there the names of his relations, his friends, and his countrymen ; a cruel prefage of the fate which awaited him I His brother at length joined him;' but it feemed as if heaven permitted this moment of happinefs to C 54 3 to prove his firmnefs. They had fcarcely met, when duty called them to the field* Charette did not lofe fight of his beloved friend ; he faw him brave danger, lofe him felf among thick battalions Of the enemy, and appear again covered with the blood he had fhed. He trembled for a life fo pre cious; his fears were too well founded; a ball ftruck him, he fell, and his eyes were clofed for ever. O reader, if thou haft a brother or a friend, conceive the grief of Charette. From that fatal day his cheerfulnefs forfook him, a ten der melancholy fucceeded, fometimes he was plunged in a deep reverie, at others, tears trickled down his cheeks. Thefe affefting fcenes were only the prelude to one more dreadful to his family, and to his fellow fol diers, whofe love he had gained by fharing their fatigues and their dangers. The Convention, who found even his name formidable, propofed to him to withdraw into another kingdoni, with his fortune, or to retire to fome city,, where he might ' C 55 3 might 4ive in tranquillity, under the protec tion of the conftituted authorities *. But could Charette abandon his faithful foldiers; could he difgrace feven years of glory by a bafenefs ? No I If he muft fall, he refolved to die as he had lived, like a true French Chevalier, like a Chriftian Hero, worthy the efteem of his king, and the favour of his God. Numerous Republican Cohorts advanced and preffed on Charette's army. He endea voured to gain a more advantageous poft. After the example of Turenne, he deter mined to reconnoitre it hirafelf. If that great man met a more fudden deatht, tte ¦/ * I cannot anfwer for the truth of this ,paragraph, not having been able to procure intelligence on which I could depend; but it appears that after his examination he frequently demanded the letter which had been writ ten to him on this fubje£l : he mentioned the date and :the contents, and the perfon who bad poffeflion t foul which felt not the injuries they did. him, which was a facred afylum, where neither fear, nor weak- nefs, could penetrate. His avaricious perfe- eutOKS ejipefted to find great riches in the j)offeffion of the commaaader of the Royal arnd Chriftian army, who never faw an ob- jjeft of compaffion without relieving its diftrefs ! He had! only a few pieces of gOld fuffi* cient for his daily expences. His port-folio Contaimed the eommiffionof Lieutenaint-Ge-' Mefasl, beftowed on him by his auguft mafter, and the portrait of Louis XVL and his un fortunate family ; and upon his breaft wa^ difcovered a holy relic, arid the facred fign H of [ 58 3 of our redemption. The people affembled in crowds to meet him. They furveyed him with an emotion of mingled fear and* refpeft. Full of admiration for this great man, to whom they could not refufe their efteem, not one difVefpeftful expreffion was heard ; on the contrary, the people feemed to figh in fecret at the feverity of thofe cruel laws which threatened to deprive- France of its firmeft fupport in condemning to death this flluftrious hero. He was at firft condufted to Angers, which was fuppofed to be intended for the place of his execution ; but fate ordained that he fhould drink the cup of bitternefs to the dregs. It was in his native city, amidft his family, that he was condemned to ter minate his glorious career, and give an ex- eimple of courage and heroifm to tlie world. In the painful preparation he appeared unmoved; anfwering all the queftions which were eagerly afked him. With ' that riiodeft fimplicity and natural politenefs which cha- rafterife a great mind, Boia [ 59 3 Bold in the .teftimony of his confcience,^ he appeared before his jiidges unembarraffed, and unawed. At the inftant when his fen- tence was about to be pronounced, all eyes were eagerly fixed fon him, all ferutinized every feature ¦. of his face with the greateft attention. Men either hoped or feared ac cording to the difference of their political fentiments, to difcover that weaknefs fo par donable at fuch a moment. He was jufl then fpeaking to a perfon near him ; he ftppped,j Kftfened to his fentence without emotion, and continued his converfa,tion with unaltered tranquillity. - ..:'i'1cl' i.^.-f 'T i O power of Omnipotence ! to whom every thing is poffible, Who;canft by tfiy command annihilkte the univerfe, wilt thpu permit this crueLfacrifice ?; But what do I fay? Kings of the. earth, is it poffible for you to reward the merit of this hero ? The Supreme Being alone is able to crown fo many virtues. The fatal infant approached, the minifter of religion advanced, Charette converfed a moment with him, and walked with firmnefs towards t 60 3 towards the place of execution. He ob* ferved the crowd with a fteady look, and faw with a melancholy pleafure in the eyes of many^ tears which they could not re ftrain. He commended his foul to God, his family to his king, and then gave the fig nal to the foldiersi, by whofe mufkets he im mediately fell. Jib Such was the fate of this celefeiraited man,^ whofe talents' and virtues were ^the' aftonifh ment and admiration of EuropeJ oHomble in profperity, and great in adverfity, firm in the field of battle, and humane after viftory j in vain would envy tarnifh the meniory of this hero. The juft and' holy caufe which he fuftained and defended till death,^ gives him an eternal claim to the efteem of every fovereign, and to"" the .venera;6ion; off all nations among whoin religion and honour are facred. J-\ F I N I ^, YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 08954 0034 kls