Scotch, Irish, and Hanoverians of both sexes and all ages should be arrested, their papers seized, and their effects confiscated. Factory operatives and children under twelve in French schools were alone excepted.[1] On a motion to rescind this decree, or else to extend it to all foreigners. Saint Just said, "Make your children swear eternal hatred to that Carthage, the Court of London,[2] not to the English people." He proposed the arrest of all subjects of powers at war with France. Robespierre in seconding it said, a few philosophers and friends of humanity might suffer, but they would be generous enough not to resent it. Barère carried a proviso exempting Englishwomen with French husbands, such as Madame Calas, married to the eldest son of the Toulouse victim. All British merchandise in stock was to be given up, an indemnity being promised, and ultimately even English placards and shop-signs were forbidden. A teacher of languages had even to announce lessons in American.[3]
- ↑ Ferrières in February 1794 was expelled from the Jacobin Club for having liberated English children under twelve years of age, though he urged that not only did he thus rescue them from prison vices, but secured employment for sans-culotte teachers.
- ↑ This perhaps suggested Barère's impudent legend of Pitt having in boyhood been made by his father to swear eternal hatred to France.
- ↑ Yet Danton took Young's "Night Thoughts" to prison with him, and the poetaster Roncher translated Thomson's "Seasons" while awaiting the guillotine. He discussed a puzzling passage with three fellow-prisoners.
