Born, 1762; died, 1833.
The eldest of four remarkable brothers, who all took a prominent
part in the days of the Revolution and the Empire. Intended for the
Church, he resolutely refused to take holy orders, and leaving his
home in Lorraine at the age of twenty-one, arrived in Paris with only
twenty-five louis in his pocket. He obtained a place as usher in a
military school. The following year he was reconciled to his family,
and his father being President and Procureur of Thionville, he agreed
to act as his head clerk, intending eventually to succeed to his
parent’s appointments.
When the Revolution commenced, Merlin joined the Jacobin party,
returned to Paris, and in 1791 represented Moselle in the Legislative
Assembly. According to his views, Royalty, clergy, and nobility were
alike to be annihilated without delay. Living as he had done upon the
road to Coblentz, he had been able to watch emigration upon the spot.
He wearied the Assembly by his rages and recriminations, accumulating,
as he said, proof upon proof of treason. His violent speeches, his
fierce activity, and his wild passion made him a leader in the Jacobin
Club. He demanded the deportation to the American penal colonies of all
priests who refused the oath, the confiscation of the property of every
_émigré_, and the establishment of a Committee of Public Safety.
After the abolition of the Monarchy these proposals were all adopted,
and he made an audacious appeal to insurrection. “It is not with
speeches,” he said, “but with cannon we should attack kings in their
palaces, if we wish to ensure the liberty of the people.”
When the Tuileries was invaded upon June 20, the spectacle of the
Royal family, abandoned by their friends and covered with insult and
opprobrium, affected him to tears. “You weep,” said the Queen, “at the
sight of a great King brought so low.” “Madame,” he answered, “my tears
are not for a King but for a good father of a family and his estimable
wife, who are suffering misfortune.”
He took an active part in the events of August 10. He persuaded the
King and his family to leave the Château of the Tuileries, protecting
them on their way to the Assembly. At the peril of his own life he
saved later in the day those of the Duc de Choiseul and a number of the
officers of the Swiss Guard.
After these events his conduct in the Legislature was more violent
than before. His cry was: “War upon Kings, and peace for Nations.”
At the moment of the invasion he encouraged the people to meet the
enemy at the frontier. Commissioner of the Assembly, he rode over
the five Departments surrounding Paris, obtaining money, horses and
provisions everywhere he went; through his eloquence volunteers flocked
to the Republican flag. He used his influence to prevent massacres of
prisoners and suspected persons.
His joy at the proclamation of the Republic was intense. He took his
seat in the Convention on the benches of the _Montagne_, and
soon became as ferocious as the most ferocious of his companions. He
declared it would be an honour to stab, with his own hand, any person
who aspired to become a tyrant. He pressed forward the trials of the
“infamous Louis” and the “infamous Antoinette.” He defended Robespierre
against Louvet, and was a mortal enemy to Roland.
At the time of the trial of Louis XVI. Merlin was with the army at
Mayence, he therefore did not vote for the King’s death; but he wrote
to Paris on January 8, 1793: “We are surrounded by the dead and dying.
In the name of Louis Capet our brothers are slain, and yet Louis Capet
still lives!” Merlin, who was in supreme command, showed great ability
and prodigies of courage during the siege of Mayence, which lasted from
March to July of the same year, but famine and the superior number of
the enemy prevailed, and the town capitulated on July 24, 1793.
On his return to Paris he was arrested as a traitor, and accused of
selling Mayence to the enemy; but was triumphantly acquitted, a victim
being found to assuage the vanity of the Republic in the person of
General Alexandre de Beauharnais, the first husband of the Empress
Josephine, who, being a noble, was a more agreeable offering to the
guillotine than Merlin.
Merlin for a short time commanded part of the Republican army in La
Vendée, but was recalled and returned to the Convention after an
absence of nearly a year. During this time the political condition of
France had undergone a complete change.
Merlin, who had now become more a soldier than a politician, joined no
party, until a few days before the fall of Robespierre.
He made a speech in favour of Danton, and also brought forward a motion
(which was carried) that all the riches and art treasures of conquered
nations should be brought to Paris. It was upon this very motion
Bonaparte acted when he first began to plunder the art collections of
Italy. Merlin terminated his speech in these words: “People of foreign
nations may complain; the remedy is, however, in their own hands,--let
them destroy their monarchs.”
When the 9th Thermidor arrived, Merlin at once entered into direct
antagonism with Robespierre, and as head of the Committee of War
despatched various brigades of the Parisian _Gendarmerie_ in
detachments to various positions in the city. He descended into the
street, haranguing the people, whom he called upon to rise in defence
of the Convention. Henriot was arrested by Merlin’s soldiers, and
the same men made the celebrated seizure at the Hôtel de Ville of
Robespierre and the proscribed representatives. The real success of the
9th Thermidor rising is entirely due to Merlin. On August 17 he was
elected President of the Convention, and he prosecuted the Jacobins
without mercy, insisting upon the dissolution of that club (of which he
had once been a leading member), “Let us close,” said he, “this cavern
of brigands and murderers.” It was mainly through his influence that
this society was dissolved.
In October 1794 he was again despatched to the army of the Rhine, and
gave further proof of excellent generalship and military ability. The
taking of Mannheim, the occupation of Luxemburg and another siege of
Mayence marked this campaign.
After his return to Paris he assisted in quelling the insurrection of
April 1, 1795, in the Faubourgs of Paris. He was even then only thirty
years of age; and strange to say (although he was still a member of
the Five Hundred), his political and military career may be then said
to have closed. He saw with disgust the Republic alienating itself
from the people and entirely depending upon the army. His dreams of
universal freedom were over, and he did not seek re-election in 1798.
He retired to Commençaux near Chauny, and devoted himself to the
cultivation and improvement of an estate he had purchased during the
_Ventes des Biens Nationaux_, and the only public function he
exercised was the modest one of _juge de paix_.
As he was absent from Paris during the trial of Louis XVI. the law
against regicides did not affect him. He was threatened with banishment
on account of the message he sent the Convention on January 8, 1793,
but he addressed a letter to the Ministers of Louis XVIII. which gained
his pardon; it terminated in these words; “_Messeigneurs_, I was
twenty-seven when I wrote from Mayence; I am now fifty, and my opinions
have changed. I rely upon the clemency and justice of his Majesty Louis
XVIII.”