#philippeaux

12 germinal (April 1)

I received yesterday, my virtuous and tender friend, the package of line and utensils that you sent me. I urge you to go to the Convention with my son, and ask them for what crime I am arrested, sequestered from the whole society, and reduced to not being able to even read a newspaper. You know my heart, it never hid anything mysterious from you, and you know that the most ardent of the Republic, the purest devotion to its salvation, is my only passion. There is in my arrest a very fatal mistake, or a great wickedness. I would like this enigma to be explained to me, to at least know my fate. In addition, courage and dignity: the wife of a martyr and of a virtuous man must not adopt a pleading tone towards anyone… If you are just, break the irons of outraged virtue. If you (vous) are cowards or wicked, I have nothing more to say to you (vous). Send me, I beg you, half a pound of tobacco; because I've been short of it since yesterday evening, and I would say almost like the good Swiss, that it's as if we were out of bread. For the rest, all the consideration of humanity is offered to me, and if you obtain permission to come and see me, you will be content with my little lodging. Embrace my Auguste.

15 germinal (April 4)

Finally, my virtuous and respectable friend, I no longer have the torment of doubt about the kind of crime, of which the enemies of all virtues have deemed it fit for their policy to accuse me of. Yesterday, at half-past eleven in the evening, an usher from the Revolutionary Tribunal came to give me the indictment, with the list of jurors and witnesses, in whose presence I will appear at nine o'clock. I fed at that moment on the reflections of Helvetius on probity, glory and virtue. Without admitting the ingenious sophisms of this philosopher on the material and perishable principles of our intellectual faculties, I have always been his disciple on morality and the tender love of humanity. I had unfortunately forgotten the Dialogues of good J.Jacques, which had fortified my soul, and poured a consoling balm on the wounds that the black wickedness of my implacable enemies had caused it for three months… I went to bed at midnight, not without agitation. A peaceful sleep of five hours makes me fresh and ready for the great ordeal which I am about to undergo; my heart and my conscience assure me that it will not be fatal... However, my friend, as the justice of men is subject to so many passions and errors, I am resigned to anything, if the patrie needs a very pure and very devoted victim, I feel a certain pride in serving it as a holocaust. The unjust torture of a good man sometimes advances a revolution more than that of a thousand scoundrels. I like to believe that you will imbue yourself with these great ideas, and will stiffen yourselves against all weakness, unworthy of the sublime cause for which I am proscribed. Porcia and Cornélie must be your models, as I have always invoked the soul of Brutus and that of Cato. I leave with you a precious stem, worthy of the Republic; you owe yourself entirely to the education of this interesting being. Communicate to him your soul and mine; the examples of his father will lead him to virtue. When he is old enough to be able to rise to sublime ideas, fill him with the feeling of the Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul. This consoling dogma is the only refuge of withered and oppressed freedom. I hope that the Republic will then be well established; for I believe it to be imperishable, despite all the horrors with which it is defiled. Let him content himself with saying: My father contributed with all his being to cement the happiness of his fellow men; but no resentment or revenge against my oppressors; will they not be punished enough by their remorse? May no odious passion ever dishonor the glory of my sacrifice. When we have done everything for our country, it is she who must avenge us, without being provoked. A very harsh law, which alone has the right to trouble me, confiscates all my just assets from the Republic. She won't gain much; for, thank God, I have possessed with stubborn work only the bare necessities, and I am one of the few who leave the Convention with the same poverty as they entered it: if this law is strictly executed to take from you the little I have left, firmly bear this new disaster... The same law entrusts the fatherland with power to the existence of the families of the condemned who have nothing to live on, it will necessarily provide you with more than can be taken away from you. Wait until the cruel prejudices are deadened, and then you will tell the French senate that I married you ten years ago, with no other dowry than that of your virtues, and that it is his glory not to reduce you to the horrors of misery... I do not need to commend my memory to you: if some barbarous hand were still trying to wither it, you have intimate knowledge of my feelings and my actions, since we have been together, of what to confuse slander; and then, I hope that tyranny will not be pushed so far as to take away my works on the Vendée. A precious manuscript is on my desk; twice I had withdrawn from printing it, persuaded that the interest of public affairs no longer needed it; all my persecutors are completely confounded there; but as the publication of this work could have occasioned new dissensions, I sacrificed the interest of my personal glory, and my reputation even, to the much more eminent interest of public affairs. However, my friend, as it is a sacred property, where I demonstrate that I have never made a single movement, thought a single thought, which did not tend to the happiness of the people, it would be a sacrilege attempt to strip you of it; the kidnapper would guarantee it to gods and men. Farewell, my charming and unfortunate friend, if this letter is my testament, and my last conjugal kiss on earth, there is another abode where virtuous and loving souls must meet. Praise heaven that this time will only come when my dear Auguste is no longer going to be in need of you! I send you both the blessing of the just. Philippeaux

On the back of this letter is written:

The depositary of this writing, if he has any human entrails and virtue, will faithfully hand it over to the citoyenne Philippeaux, my wife.

Source: Histoire parlementaire de la Révolution française ou Journal des assamblées nationales depuis 1789 jusqu’en 1815, volume 32 page 239-243

The same day the last letter was written, Billaud-Varennes suggested Madame Philippeaux should come to the Convention and testify against her husband, but this suggestion was shot down by Robespierre.

Billaud: To complete the unmasking of the others in this new intrigue, I ask that Philippeaux's wife be admitted to the bar; you will acquire new proof of how guilty this man is. Robespierre: I oppose this proposal; there is no need to confuse Philippeaux's wife with himself; he is in court, let us wait for his judgment. I observe that the Convention must not depart from the rules of equality; it did not want to hear the parents of the conspirators who have already perished; Philippeaux's wife must not obtain this favour. The meeting moves on to the agenda on the proposal of Billaud-Varennes.

Source: Ibid volume 32 page 190