was twenty years her senior, a man of laborious habits, great ability and integrity, and with manners described as "of antique severity." A daughter was the fruit of this marriage, and Madame Roland's time was divided between the care and education of her child and giving assistance to her husband, from whose knowledge she derived great advantage in return. He held the position of Inspector of Manufactures at Amiens, and spent part of his time in foreign travel, to study the improvements of industry in the interests of his government. In company with him Madame Roland visited England, Switzerland, and other countries of Europe; everywhere minutely inquiring into the nature of the civil institutions and manifesting the warmest sympathy with the advocates of political liberty. Madame Roland thus gives her impression of England: "I shall ever remember with pleasure a country whose Constitution De Lolme taught me to love, and in which I have witnessed the happy effects which that Constitution has produced. Fools may chatter, and slaves may sing; but take my word for it that England contains men who have a right to laugh at us. The individual who does not feel esteem for the English, and a degree of affection mixed with admiration for their women, is either a pitiful coxcomb or an ignorant blockhead, who talks about what he does not understand."

The citizens of Lyons returned M. Roland as their representative to the National Convention. Husband and wife proceeded to Paris, where the curiosity of Madame Roland was gratified, and her zeal for the first movements of liberty in her country increased, by the opportunity of observing some of the most distinguished actors on the political stageMirabeau, Cazalés, Mauri, Barnave, and others of less note. While the party of the Gironde was in power, M. Roland was appointed Minister of the Interior. In this capacity he appeared at court with a round hat and laces to his shoes in violation of etiquette, which prescribed a cocked hat, sword and buckles. This breach of custom was regarded by the courtiers as an omen of the approaching fall of monarchy. The talents of Madame Roland were applied to assist her husband in the composition of public papers. She afterwards wrote that she

believed that by mingling with the severer accents of patriotism the expressions and feelings of a woman of sensibility, she rendered these documents more impressive and effectual. The famous letter to Louis XVI., May, 1792, was drawn up by her. None of the Ministers would sign it, and M. Roland then affixed his own name. This letter implored the sovereign "not to rouse the suspicion of the nation by constantly betraying his suspicion of it, but to secure his country's love by adopting in all sincerity the measures fitted to insure the welfare and safety of the state." The Declaration of Rights, he was told, had become a political gospel, and the French Constitution a religion, for which the people were prepared to perish.

This letter occasioned the dismissal of M. Roland from Court. But he again became minister after the events of the 10th of August. This party had then passed the bounds prescribed by his judgment, and entered upon extremes repugnant to his high-minded and generous wife. M. Roland boldly denounced the atrocious prison massacres in Paris of the 2d and 3d of September; but the Convention wanted courage, or virtue, or power to act upon his advice. From that hour his own doom and that of his devoted wife became only more certain. Madame Roland was arraigned before the Convention on a charge of treasonable correspondence with England. Frivolous and absurd, but serious at such a time, this indictment had to be met. With her wonderful presence of mind, her acuteness, and her wit, she baffled and mortified her accusers. The recollection of this defeat is said to have so haunted the minds of Danton, Marat and Robespierre, that in every attack subsequently made upon their proceedings, they imagined they recognized the boldness, sagacity or sarcasm of Madame Roland.

Warnings of their danger were given to her and her husband, and for a short time they consented to take the precaution of not sleeping at the Hôtel of the Interior. Madame Roland objected to this. "I am ashamed of the part I am made to play," she said, "I will neither disguise myself nor leave the house. If they wish to assassinate me, it shall be in my own house." Her husband quitted Paris, and she