A Tale Of Illuminism.

Marquise de St . Croix , and some say the Princesse cle Lamballe , were members of a similar society . But this fact appears doubtful , and if some of these exalted personages were at any time tempted by the love of the mysterious to join these occult gatherings , they speedily , like Cazotte , withdrew . Still the society of the "Illumines" existed , ancl for a time had some slig ht influence on affairs , though with Mirabeau's death its vitality seems to have expired . It has been said that Robespierre sought to revive its doctrines in the absurdities of his "Fete" to the Supreme Being , but if so , its passing

away was only retarded a few years . Caoztte , who was guillotined on the 25 th September , was one of the prisoners in consequence of the terrible doings of the 10 th August , and was only saved the fearful massacre of the Abbaye by the devotion of his daughter Elizabeth . He was , however , arrested by the order of Petion on the llth September , condemned to death , on the requisition of Fouquier Tinville , after interrogatory of twent-seven hoursHe was then close upon eighty .

an y . The President , Lavau , once an " Illumine " with Cazotte , passed the following sentence , which , we are told , even astounded ancl stupified its auditors then ; to us , to-day , it reads like an effusion of " mystic brutality , " orsneering cruelty , or of concentrated animosity . It almost seems as if he was punished for leaving "Illuminism . " , " Feeble plaything of old age ! Thou , whose heart was not suihciently t bth

great to feel the prize of a holy liberty , but who hasproved y y security in those debates that you knew how to sacrifice even your own existence to uphold your own opinion , hear the last words of thy judges . May they pour into thy soul the precious balm of consolation ; may they , by leading thee to pity the lot of those who come to condemn thee , inspire thee with that stoicism which ought to preside over our last moments , and permeate thee with that respect whicli the law imposes on ns ourselves ! Thy peers have

heard thee , thy peers have condemned thee ; but at least their judgment was as pure as their conscience , at least no personal , interest was allowed to hasten their decision . Go , re-assume thy courage , re-assemble thy powers , regard without fear thy passing away , consider that you have no right to be astonished by it—it is not a moment wdiich ought to frig hten a man like unto thee . But before separating from life , regard the imposing attitude of France , into the

the bosom of which thou were not afraid to invoke with loud cries enemy . Behold thy ancient country offering to the attacks of its vile detractors as much courage as you have supposed it to possess of cowardice . If the law could have foreseen that it would have to pronounce against a criminal of thy calibre , from consideration for thy old years it would not have imposed on thee any other penalty . But , re-assure thyself , if it be severe when it pursues , when ib it laments

has pronounced the weapon falls speedily from its hands ; over the loss even of those who wished to tear it into pieces . Look at it weepingover thy white locks , wdiich it has thought it its duty to respect until the moment of condemnation . May the spectacle produce in thee repentance ; may it lead thee , miserable old man , to profit by the moments which still separate thee from death , to efface by a regret truly felt the last trace of thy conspiracies . One word more . Thou wert a man , a Christian , a philosopher , an initiate . Know how to die like a man—know how to die like a Christian .

This-is all thy country now can expect of thee . " No wonder , we feel to-day , as we are told , that such an address then even stupified the audience . On Cazotte it hacl no effect ; he simply lifted up his eyes to heaven ancl declared his unchangeable conviction of his own relig ion and principles . His last words on the soaffokl were : " I die , as I have lived , faithful to God ancl the king . " Who would not rather be the prisoner than he judge ? Whose sympathies do not go with the devoted victim of Loyalty , Religion , Wisdom , and Virtue ?