influence with the Jacobins.  The vociferations of Billaud, Varennes, Danton, Collot d’Herbois, did not in the least alarm them.  Robespierre’s silence gave them considerable uneasiness.  They had been successful in the question of war; but the stoical opposition of Robespierre, and the desire of the people for war, had not affected his reputation.  This man had redoubled his power in his isolation.  The inspiration of a mind alone and incorruptible was more powerful than the enthusiasm of a whole party.  Those who did not approve, still admired him.  He had stood aside to allow war to pass by him, but opinion always had its eyes on him, and it might have been said that a secret instinct revealed to the people that in this man was the destiny of the future.  When he advanced, they followed him; when he did not move, they waited for him.  The Girondists, therefore, were compelled, from prudential motives, to distrust this man, and to remain in the Assembly between their own course and him.  These precautions taken, they looked about them for the men who were nullities by themselves, and yet, engrafted on their party, of whom they could make ministers.  They required instruments, and not masters,—­Seids attached to their fortune, whom they could direct at will either against the king or against the Jacobins—­could elevate without fear, or reject without compunction.  They sought them in obscurity, and believed they had found them in Claviere, Roland, Dumouriez, Lacoste, and Duranton,—­they made only one mistake:  Dumouriez, under the guise of an adventurer, had talents equal to any emergency.[18]

X.

The party thus distributed, and Madame Roland informed of the proposed elevation of her husband, the Girondists attacked the ministry in the person of M. de Lessart, at the sitting of the 10th of March.  Brissot read against this minister a bill of accusation, skilfully and perfidiously fabricated, in which the appearance presented by facts and the conjecture derived from proofs, cast on the negotiation of M. de Lessart all the odium and criminality of treason.  He proposed that a decree of accusation should proceed against the minister for foreign affairs.  The Assembly was silent or applauded.  Some members, with a view of defending the minister, demanded time in order that the Assembly might reflect on the charge, and thus, at least, affect the impartiality of justice.  “Hasten!” exclaimed Isnard; “whilst you are deliberating perhaps the traitor will flee.”  “I have been a long time judge,” replied Boulanger, “and never did I decree capital punishment so lightly.”  Vergniaud, who saw the indecision of the Assembly, rushed twice into the tribune to combat the excuses and the delays of the right side.  Becquet, whose coolness was equal to his courage, desirous of averting the peril, proposed that it should be sent to the diplomatic committee.  Vergniaud began to fear that the moment would escape his party,