But on the eve of the day appointed for their execution, Collot d'Herbois arrived, and the Republican army en- tering the place under his instructions, Buonarroti and his colleague were saved.
It is said that having thus for a second time es- caped assassination, Buonarroti expressed *a wish for an appointment to some more peaceable situation ; but (as is justly observed by one of his commentators) "such a wish is not likely to have been formed by Buonarroti, than whom no man was ever less disposed to seek peace, and ensue it," to the neglect of his country's claims on his services. Be that as it may, Collot recommended him to his colleagues, Ricord and Robespierre's brother, who were then on a mission at Nice, and by them he was appointed a member of the military tribunal of the army of Italy; and after the conquest of Piedmont in the following year, agent of the Republic in all the conquered countries.
It was in this last capacity that Buonarroti's real
generosity of character became a theme of admiration
for all who knew him. " He exhibited," says his bio-
grapher, " a degree of justice and disinterestedness,
" which acquired him great celebrity in the eyes both of
" French and Italians. Although at the head of an im-
" mense administration, he not only proved himself
" inaccessible to bribery and peculation, but actually
" expended the produce of all his appointments in
" relieving and succouring patriots and soldiers, who
" hazarded their lives for their country. Being asked
" why he preferred poverty to affluence ; he replied, that
" his only motive in coming to France was to be
" serviceable to the cause of liberty, and that if he had
" preferred riches he would not have left his prosperous
" situation in Florence."*
Happy would it have been for France had all her revolutionary agents acted with the like disinterestedness ; but, unfortunately, the majority of them considered the Revolution as a game of hazard, in which each had a right to grasp for himself whatever fortune offered. The pro-consuls and commissioners of the then Government
- Phillips's Biographical Anecdotes of the Founders of the
French Revolution, &c. &c.
