Jean-Paul Marat - The People’s Friend

JEAN - PAUL MARAT- THE PEOPLES FRIEND by ERNEST BELFORT BAX. CHAPTER I: MARATS EARLY YEARS. JEAN-PAUL MARAT, or Mara, the t having been added to give the name a French look, was born at the village of Boudry, on the lake of Neuchatel, the present Swiss canton of that name being then a fief of the Prussian crown. The register of his birth and baptism is as follows Jean-Paul Mara, son of M. Jean-Paul Mara, proselyte of Cagliari, in Sardinia, and of Mme. Louise Cabrol, of Geneva, was born on the 24th of May, and has been baptized on the 8th of June, 1743, having no godfather and having for godmother Mme. Cabrol, grandmother of the infant. His father thus belonged to the popu lation of mixed race and Italian speech inhabit ing one of the most interesting insular seats of early European civilisation. He was made a citizen of Geneva on the loth of March 1741, having renounced his hereditary faith in favour of the Calvinism of his adopted city. The name Mara, taken in conjunction with his native country, suggests some interesting EARLY YEARS 17 ever, and called himself M. de Boudry, after his native place. The elder sister Marie was born at Boudry in 1746. The year after his marriage, the elder Mara, having obtained a position in a manufactory of Indian stuffs at Boudry, near the town of Neu chatel, as designer or chemist, or possibly in both capacities, migrated thither with his wife. His employment for some reason or other com ing to an end, he moved in 1754 to the neigh bouring town of Neuchatel. The registers at this place for that year contain a notice to the effect that the sieur Jean Mara, native of Cagliari in Sardinia, proselyte, designer, and master of the Italian and Spanish languages, having sought the right of domicile in the town, his request was adjourned for authentic certificates of his good - conduct. These must have proved satisfactory, as we shortly after wards find him admitted as an inhabitant with full rights. His occupation now was that of professor of languages. Here was born his son David, whose, baptism is recorded for th, e date 2 ist February 1756, An indication of the good repute in which the family stood is afforded by the fact that the godfather and god mother were M David Huguenin, Councillor of State and Chancellor, and his wife. The Huguenins are, it may be mentioned, a very old stock of NeucMtel. Charlotte - Albertine Mara was born here in 1760, and Jean-Pierre in 1767. MARAT In 1768 shortly after the disturbances in which the Advocate - General lost his life, Marats father left the town and returned to the city of his adoption, Geneva, apparently with the hope of bettering his position. The Mara family left enemies behind them, how ever, for they had not long arrived when the following letter was received by Mme. Mara NEUCHATEL, tyh March 1768. MADAM As you have the most diabolical tongue that we have ever had in our town, and as you are a notorious liar and slanderer, who are never tired of injuring your neighbours by your tongue, I shall take care to make you known at Geneva. I have already written to different persons, and have painted you in your true colours, as also your children, who resemble you. Your one-eyed son apparently David is a notorious ragamuffin. It is he who did the most injury to the Advocate - General. Yes, I say once more that you are a notorious liar, a most evil tongue, a slanderess, a woman of no character, whom every one despises, and who is only too despicable. Your husband is no better. He is a downright hypocrite and canting humbug caffard. Adieu. Alter your conduct. I have forgotten to tell you that everywhere I can I shall expose you...