the Grand Duke of Tuscany, intimated to him that he would intercede with the Directory, and procure him his liberty, if he would engage to return to Florence, and resume there his rank and family honours. Buonarroti replied that he had relinquished his right for ever in Italy, that he was wedded to liberty, and that death or force alone should prevent him from remaining in France to enjoy the " vestigia morientis libertatis " (the last traces or remains of expiring liberty !) Such sublime devotedness was not without its reward even in Direc- torial France. A few days afterwards the Convention (feeling itself to be in more danger from the Royalists than from the Democrats, and desiring to use the latter as a sort of counterpoise to the growing ascendancy of the former), proclaimed a general amnesty to all the confined patriots, and Buonarroti regained his liberty once more. This, which was his third escape, was (considering the then state of parties) almost as mar- vellous as either of his two former ones. It was only the hope that his life would prove more useful than his death to the then dominant faction, that saved him on this occasion from adding one more to the numerous victims of the Thermidoriatf counter-Revolution.
From this period we hear no more of Buonarroti till he connected himself with the Pantheonists, and in con- junction with Babeuf and others, organised the famous conspiracy for equality which forms the subject of this work. But of these events he must be his own historian.
One circumstance, however, in this part of his eventful career I cannot forbear noticing here. It stamps the seal of conviction on all that is recorded in commendation of " this magnanimous and accomplished character— the gallant bmt unfortunate Buonarroti/' as he is justly designated by one of his biographers. I allude to the dialogue which took place between him and the President of the Military Commission appointed to try him for the conspiracy : —
" Did you conspire ?" said the President.
" Yes," answered Buonarroti.
" What motive induced you to conspire ?"
" The love of mankind."
" What were the principles that directed you ?"
