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<ture of a fupplicant; you, Sir, may ⚫ well remember the time, when I 'made quite another figure in your ⚫ prefence;' (alluding to his having been one of her admirers.) For • what remains, continued fhe, I am not much difmayed at my fuffering; the day that terminates my life, will terminate my misfortunes; without daring death I will fupport it with firmness of mind. I ⚫ answered at the bar, without giving myfelf any trouble; I have heard my féntence without fhrinking; I will fill endeavour to be confiftent with myself upon the feaffold, and to my last expiring groan.'

for their curiofity. She was dreffed in white, which colour heightened the luftre of her beauty. She was drawn in a cart, accompanied with the porter, and their two confeffors. When the faw that prodigious multitude of people, all whofe eyes were fixed upon her, as if they would have penetrated into the inmoft receffes of her foul, fhe figured to herself the moft terrible idea of her ignominy, and was ready to fink under the thought of being thus fet up for a fpectacle of horror and reproach to

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all the world. Then her confessor faid to her, Madam, turn your thoughts on heaven, where you hope to find admittance; drink The Lieutenant-Criminal, advised this cup with the fame courage as her to acknowledge her crime, which Jefus Chrift drank his, who was as fhe had hitherto denied, and to re- 'innocent as you are criminal. So veal her accomplices, that fhe might great a model, and fo glorious a reavoid the punishment of the rack. ward of refignation to the will of She declared at first, that the • God, fhould enable you to fupport would make no confeffion; but when all this load of ignominy; let the fhe had the first pot of water given objects which are visible to the eye her, the reflected that her obftinaey of faith, hide from you those which would be of no avail to her; where- you fee with your bodily eyes. Conupon the confeffed all. She was afk-fider thefe temporary fufferings as a ed whether the Sieur de Mongeorge had any participation in her crime She anfwered with fome warmth,

Ah! I took care not to let him into the fecret, elfe I had loft his efteem for ever.

Then the Curate of S. Sulpitius approached, and put her in a difpofition for meeting death. After he had anfwered fome fcruples which fhe propofed to him, the prayed him very earnestly to afk pardon for her of her husband, and to affure him, that fhe died with the return of that tender affection which he had for him at the beginning of their marriage.

There never was perhaps a great. ter confluence of people, than what crouded all the streets through which Madame Tiquet was to pafs to the place of execution. Several perfons, who were ftifled to death, paid dear

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refource which God had preferved

in the treasures of his Providence, to fave you from eternal death. • Admire the riches of his goodness through the feverity of his juftice; "andacknowledge him moft merciful, even in this his fatherly correction.” Thefe words, pronounced with a masterly tone, recalled her former courage; the lifted up her hood, which he had let down to cover her face, and viewed the fpectators with a modeft eye, but firm and refolute.

She entered into a very moving converfation with her porter, who afked her pardon for 'having contri buted to her death, by acknowledging his crime. She anfwered, That his afking pardon was prepofterous, fince it was he was guilty towards him, by engaging him in fo horrid a crime, and confequently procuringhim

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fo fad a recompenfe of his fervices. They exhorted each other to die like Chriftians, with an eloquence that flowed from the heart, and that was not the lefs ftrong in the porter, for being the production of pure nature, without the help of education.

There were round the place of execution several fcaffolds, ranged in the form of an amphitheatre. The whole court and city were convened to this mournful spectacle; the windows, the balconies, the battlements and tops of houses, all were extremely crouded.

When the arrived at the place, there fell fuch a deluge of rain, that they were obliged to put a stop to the execution till the ftorm was overblown. All the while fhe had before her eyes the implements of her execution, and a mourning coach, in which her horfes were yoked, waiting to receive her body; yet all, thefe horrid images of death did not ftagger her refolution. She faw the porter executed before her, and bit terly lamented his deftiny, without appearing to make any reflection earthly upon her own. When the was going to mount the fcaffold, fhe reached forth her hand to the executioner, that he might lend her his affiftance; first putting it to her mouth; and accompanying it with a civil in clination of the head. which fhewed that she was very far from having any abhorrence towards him.

When he was upon the fcaffold fhe kiffed the block, and acted with as much prefence of mind as if the had been a player trained to act that part in a tragedy: fhe adjusted her hair, her head-drefs, and in a moment put herself in the most proper attitude for receiving the ftroke of

death. The executioner was in fuch. diforder, that he miffed his ai thrice; and her head was no fooner fevered from her body, than an univerfal fhriek was raifed on all fides.

Thus died Madame Tiquet, more like a Chriftian heroine than a notorious criminal; according to the teftimony her Confeffor gives of her. Her head was fuffered to lie for fome time upon the fcaffold, that this affecting fpectacle might strike a deeper impreffion into the minds of all, especially of the married women witneffing the execution, who might poffibly be tempted to commit the fame horrid crime. It was turned towards the Town-honfe; and a lady who has given a relation of this tragical death, whereof she was an eye-witnefs, fays, there never was any thing finer than this head and that he was dazzled with its beauty.

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Though this illuftrious criminal was then forty-two years old, the had preferved all the luftre of her beauty; and as he died in her full ftrength and vigour, death, in those first moments, feemed to have extinguished none of the charms of her face.

During the time of the execution, the Sieur de Mongeorge was at Verfailles, walking in a penfive mood a long the park. The King told him in the evening, he was overjoyed to hear that Madame Tiquet had juftified him; in public, and affured him that he never fufpected him. The Sieur thanked his Majesty, and begged a licence for eight months to travel out of the kingdom, to be at a diftance from all objects that might recal his grief.

Oration

190

Oration delivered by Edward Livingston, Efq; to the German Society at

New York.

Mr Prefident, and Gentlemen of the German Society :"

WHILE I offer you my warmeft produce, never to difgrace the me

acknowledgments for this repeated proof of your favour and efteem, permit me to add, that although a diftinction fo honourable merits my gratitude and thanks, it would yet never have met my acceptance, did I not feel an obligation to facrifice my own apprehenfions to your wishes, and by prompt obedience atone for former neglect.

However inadequate then I may be to the task-however confcious of that inability, I will yet obey your commands; and fhall proceed with lefs reluctance in the duty affigned me, as its performance requires no facrifice of truth to the fervility of panegyric. In drawing the character of your ancestors, gentlemen, I can afcribe to it all the attributes of war, without falfehood; without adulation I can adorn it with all the gentler fymbols of peace.

Let us then view the Germans in their native forefts, and pursue them in their progress to refinement-Let us trace the dazzling course of their victorious arms-Let us follow the more diffufive light of their progref five fcience. Nor will the purfuit be useless or unentertaining; it will amufe, by raifing fcenes on which the mind must dwell with high delight; fcenes of patriotifm, magnanimity, and virtue, embellished with views of religious reformation, ufeful difcovery, and the elegant attainments of genius and fancy; rendered peculiarly interefting to you from that natural propenfity which transfers to the individual the glory of his country. It will improve by the general force of example; from the generous emulation it will excite to equal the noble deeds of your countrymen; and from the firm refolve it muft

mory of your ancestors, and fhow the world that virtue is inherent in the German race.

From the earliest ages, a love of independence, and an ardent zeal in its defence, have been the great characteristics of your country; and to have preferved its freedom from the all-grafping power of Rome, is its peculiar boaft. When her victorious Eagles fpread their wings in triumph over the fields of Gaul, and foared difdainful from the Ocean to the Rhine; when even diftant Britain beat beneath her yoke, then Germany alone was free. She dared oppofe the victors of the world; and the candid annals of Tacitus have preferved the fad confeffion of his country, "That neither from the Samnites nor the Carthaginians, nor from both the Spains, nor from all the nations of Gaul, had the received fuch frequent check and alarms, nor even from the Parthians; for that more powerful was the liberty of the Germans, than the potent monarchs of the Eaft," and five Roman armies loft, five confuls flain, confirm the juft complaint, and raise the glory of the German name.

This conflict with the mistress of the world, forms one of the most interefting pictures in hiftory. With what difdain do they reject every offer of fubmiffion? how bravely do they refit the arms? how nobly fcorn the arts of Rome? Once, indeed, her arms prevailed; a part of Germany received the yoke; the legionary camp was feen beyond the Rhine, and freedom trembled for her laft retreat. Arminius, then the faviour of his country, rofe; he led your warlike ancestors against the invaders of his native land. The cloud

of

of vengeance gathered o'er the R man camp-it burst; and Varus and his Legions were no more. Rome felt the fatal blow. Her tyrant trembled on his throne; and, frantic, called on Varus to restore his Legions in vain! Victims of liberty and vengeance, their bones were scattered o'er the German wilds; their arms and glittering enfigns decked the facred groves. From that glorious day, though fometimes vanquilh ed by fuperior fkill, the Germans Tofe with vigour from their fall: The Romans triumphed, but they could not conquer. Numerous are the examples of whole armies refufing every offer of fubmiflion, and preferring death to life, devoid of freedom. Nor was this fpirit confined to the warriors; even their women, catching the noble enthufiafm of valour, have rufhed upon the foe, and with heroic refolution fuffered death rather than dishonour.

Equally admirable were the fimplicity and virtue of the ancient Germans: As far removed from the uncivilized barbarity of favage life, as from effeminate refinements of luxury. They were in that happy ftate of fociety, in which manners govern rather than the laws when courage is not extinguished by the arts of luxury, nor the love of freedom made fubfervient to the love of gold. Bleffed with the most unbounded liberty, with pureft manDers and with fimple laws, they liv

ed with innocence amid their native forefts--Forefts! more glorious than the proudest monuments that tyranny has raifed. Here hofpitality, and every focial virtue, dwelt. Here liberty indignant fled from fervile Rome. Here your heroic fathers independant lived; here died in their defence, and hence they rushed to overturn the power of Rome, and free the world from their oppreffive chain.

It is with difficulty, Gentlemen, I

can refrain from enlarging on the vir tues which charactise your country in this her golden age. But fcenes as glorious of a later date demand your ear. They arife in that dark period that fucceeds the destruction of the Roman power.

When deepest ignorance obfcur'd the world, war was the only science then; the only virtue, valour; and fuperftitious fear ufurped religion's holy name: Yet, even in this age, the fplendour of the German arms blazes like a meteor thro' the night, and feems to glare deftruction to their foes, until their fcience, rifing like the fun, difpels the gloom, and pierces even fuperitition's cloud, diffules itself like that glorious luminary o'er the world, and full illumines the remoteft regions with its rays.

From among the many inftances of your country's valour, which, in this period, fill the hiftoric page, permit me to fele&t one, the importtant confeqences of which demand the grateful admiration of the Chriftian world. When the enthufiaftic followers of Mahomet had erected the ftandard of the Impoftor in the Eaft, and advanced in steps of blood along the provinces of Africa-when domeftic treachery had made them mafters of Spain, aiming at univerfal dominion, they defcended like a torrent from the Pyrenean Hills, and threatened inal ruin to the Chriftian name. France, for a while, too fatally oppofed their courfe-in one defractive day, the faw her fields unpeopled by the word of war; and the faa hiftorian yet laments, that "God alone could count the flain,” whole bodies feftered on their native plains. The Chriftian would faw no defence against the Moflem's fword, and feemed in filence to expect its fate. Then your gallant ancestors appeared the champions of Chriftendom. At Tours their valour turned the fale of fight. Led by a Prince of German race, they fought

and

and conquered; they chafed the Saracens from France, and Europe hail ed them her deliverers from a bloody foc.

Let us here paufe to examine the importance of this victory; let us for a moment imagine the infidels to have atchieved the conqueft of Europe, and that from the Thracian Bofphorus, to the Columns of Hercules, from the Indian to the Northern Ocean, infidelity had reigned and bade its crefcent triumph o'er the holy cross-How fatal then had been the change; for civil freedom, lawless tyranny had reigned; for mild religion, bloody fuperftition; fcience and the arts, every noble exertion of the mind would have been extinguished by oppreffion, or debafed by flavish fear. All Europe would have been what Turkey is; and if chance had led them to this western world, instead of freedom's chofen feat, it would have been the vile abode of flaves-nay, on the very spot where freemen now are liftening to the praifes of their race, a trembling crowd, perhaps, had crouched beneath a defpot's frown.

Thefe are the evils from which Germanic valour freed the world. Nor has their argument been lefs fuccefsful. Forceful and bold, it burft those chains in which the papal tyranny enflaved the mind. It dared attack corruption in its fource, and draw the mask from powerful hypocrify. Thus did your country, by the glorious reformation, purify religion from the errors of fuperftition, as before her valour' had delivered it from the open violence of infidelity; and thus emancipate herself from the religious as well as civil power of Rome. Nor is it a zeal for religion, or the fupport of freedom alone, that makes this memory dear. Commerce records the praises of her first protectors in the Hanfeatic league. To their inventive genius, learning owes the important art by

which her empire is extended o'er the world. To them fcience is indebted for a perfect fyftem of the univerfe, and for all the treasures of chymiftry. And while time itself endures, their memory will live, who gave us firft the means to mark and calculate its rapid flight. Their genius not only fupplied most of the difcoveries that fweeten life and diffufe the bleffing of scientific and commercial improvements; but by an important difcovery, which, dreadful as thunder of Heaven, augmented the horrors of war, they leffened its deftructive force, and have thus introduced as complete a revolution in the military operations as in the laws, politics and religion of Europe. So much indeed the art of war is theirs, that it may be expected I fhould enlarge upon the the ne: that I should recount their battles, boast of their victories, and dwell upon the exploits of thofe heroes who have been the ornament and defence of their country. But the scope of this difcourfe will not permit the under taking; nor can I exprefs myfelf in terms equal to the dignity of the fubject.

No, gallant Chiefs! Heroic Worthies,! No, my voice shall not attempt your praife. I have no colours to paint your deeds: no language to attempt fo vaft a theme. But fame, illuftrious Chiefs! that fame for which you toiled, fhall ftill be yours: it thall perpetuate the grateful praifes of your country. Pofterity fhall admire, and the remoteft ages ftrive to imitate your virtues.

Unable then to investigate the characters, or difplay the perfections of that numerous band of heroes, ftatefmen, and philofophers, who! have adorned the annals of Germany, permit me to call your attention to a gentle race, no lefs the fubject of your country's boaft. Those poetical children of fancy, who have written to amufe, inftruct and humanize the

world:

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