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him augments the other： through his faculty of not seeing things as
they are； he attributes to himself virtue and genius； satisfied that
he possesses genius and virtue； he regards his misdeeds as merits and
his whims as truths。 … Thenceforth； and spontaneously； his malady
runs its own course and becomes complex； to the ambitious delirium
comes the persecution mania。 In effect； the evident or demonstrated
truths which he advances should strike the public at once； if they
burn slowly or miss fire； it is owing to their being stamped out by
enemies or the envious； manifestly； they have conspired against him；
and against him plots have never ceased。 First came the philosophers'
plot： when his treatise on 〃Man〃 was sent to Paris from Amsterdam；
〃they felt the blow I struck at their principles and had the book
stopped at the custom…house。〃＇21＇ Next came the plot of the doctors：
〃they ruefully estimated my enormous gains。 Were it necessary； I
could prove that they often met together to consider the best way to
destroy my reputation。〃 Finally； came the plot of the Academicians；
〃the disgraceful persecution I had to undergo from the Academy of
Sciences for two years； after being satisfied that my discoveries on
Light upset all that it had done for a century； and that I was quite
indifferent about becoming a member of its body 。 。 。 。 Would it
be believed that these scientific charlatans succeeded in underrating
my discoveries throughout Europe； in exciting every society of savants
against me； and in closing against me all the newspapers？〃＇22＇ …
Naturally； the would…be…persecuted man defends himself； that is to
say； he attacks。 Naturally； as he is the aggressor； he is repulsed
and put down； and； after creating imaginary enemies； he creates real
ones； especially in politics where； on principle； he daily preaches
insurrection and murder。 And finally； he is of course prosecuted；
convicted at the Chatelet court； tracked by the police； obliged to fly
and wander from one hiding…place to another； to live like a bat 〃in a
cellar； underground； in a dark dungeon；〃＇23＇ once； says his friend
Panis； he passed 〃six weeks sitting on his behind〃 like a madman in
his cell； face to face with his reveries。 … It is not surprising
that； with such a system； the reverie should become more intense； more
and more gloomy； and； at last settle down into a confirmed nightmare；
that； in his distorted brain； objects should appear distorted； that；
even in full daylight men and things should seem awry； as in a
magnifying； dislocating mirror； that； frequently； on the numbers （of
his journal） appearing too blood…thirsty； and his chronic disease too
acute； his physician should bleed him to arrest these attacks and
prevent their return。＇24＇
But it has become a habit： henceforth； falsehood grow in his brain as
if it was their native soil； planting himself on the irrational he
cultivates the absurd； even physical and mathematical。 〃If we include
everyone；〃＇25＇ he says； 〃the patriotic tax…contribution of one…quarter
of all income will produce； at the very least； 4；860 millions； and
perhaps twice that sum。〃 With this sum M。 Necker may raise five
hundred thousand men； which he calculates on for the subjugation of
France。 … Since the taking of the Bastille； 〃the municipality's waste
alone amount to two hundred millions。 The sums pocketed by Bailly are
estimated at more than two millions； what 'Mottié' （Lafayette） has
taken for the past two years is incalculable。〃＇26＇ … On the 15th of
November； 1791； the gathering of emigrés comprises 〃at least 120；000
former gentlemen and drilled partisans and soldiers； not counting the
forces of the German princes about to join them。〃＇27＇ … Consequently；
as with his brethren in Bicêtre； （a lunatic asylum）； he raves
incessantly on the horrible and the foul： the procession of terrible
or disgusting phantoms has begun。＇28＇ According to him； the scholars
who do not choose to admire him are fools； charlatans and plagiarists。
Laplace and Monge are even 〃automatons；〃 so many calculating machines；
Lavoisier； 〃reputed father of every discovery causing a sensation in
the world； has not an idea of his own；〃 he steals from others without
comprehending them； and 〃changes his system as he changes his shoes。〃
Fourcroy； his disciple and horn…blower； is of still thinner stuff。
All are scamps： 〃I could cite a hundred instances of dishonesty by the
Academicians of Paris； a hundred breaches of trust；〃 twelve thousand
francs were entrusted to them for the purpose of ascertaining how to
direct balloons； and 〃they divided it among themselves； squandering it
at the Rapée； the opera and in brothels。〃＇29＇ … In the political
world； where debates are battles； it is still worse。 Marat's
publication 〃The Friend of the people〃 has merely rascals for
adversaries。 Praise of Lafayette's courage and disinterestedness； how
absurd If he went to America it was because he was jilted； 〃cast off
by a Messalina；〃 he maintained a park of artillery there as 〃powder…
monkeys look after ammunition…wagons； 〃 these are his only exploits；
besides； he is a thief。 Bailly is also a thief； and Mabuet a 〃clown。〃
Necker has conceived the 〃horrible project of starving and poisoning
the people； he has drawn on himself for all eternity the execration of
Frenchmen and the detestation of mankind。〃 … What is the Constituent
Assembly but a set of 〃low； rampant； mean； stupid fellows？〃 …
〃Infamous legislators； vile scoundrels； monsters athirst for gold and
blood； you traffic with the monarch； with our fortunes； with our
rights； with our liberties； with our lives！ 〃 … 〃 The second
legislative corps is no less rotten than the first one。〃 … In the
Convention； Roland； 〃the officious Gilles and the forger Pasquin； is
the infamous head of the monopolizers。〃 〃 Isnard is a juggler； Buzot a
Tartuffe； Vergniaud a police spy。〃＇30＇ … When a madman sees everywhere
around him； on the floor； on the walls； on the ceiling； toads；
scorpions； spiders； swarms of crawling； loathsome vermin； he thinks
only of crushing them； and the disease enters on its last stage： after
the ambitious delirium； the mania for persecution and the settled
nightmare； comes the homicidal mania。
With Marat； this broke out at the very beginning of the Revolution。
The disease was innate； he was inoculated with it beforehand。 He had
contracted it in good earnest； on principle； never was there a plainer
case of deliberate insanity。 … On the one hand； having derived the
rights of man from physical necessities； he concluded； 〃that society
owes to those among its members who have no property； and whose labor
scarcely suffices for their support； an assured subsistence； the
wherewithal to feed； lodge and clothe oneself suitably； provision for
attendance in sickness and when old age comes on； and for bringing up
children。 Those who wallow in wealth must （then） supply the wants of
those who lack the necessaries of life。〃 Otherwise；