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NATIONAL SECULAR SOCIETY
iL
H I s T o R
OF THE
M 1 S F O R T U NES
4
O F
O H N
C A LAS,
♦
A Victim to Fanaticism.
To WHICH IS ADDXD,
A LETTER from M. CALAS
T O H I S
WIFE and CHILDREN;
Written by M. DE VOLTAIRE.
I
LONDON,
Printed by T.Sherlock, near Southampton-Street, Strand.
MDCCLXXII.
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oF THE
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kfOSILlTY
and
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GENTRY
Who hive SwscMBipbÄie the
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FAMILY
hu
Of
C A L A Sì
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Her Majesty*
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ÌTls Grace thè Archbishop of
Canterbury
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Thèir Graces the Duchesse^ of
fWolit
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M°ntagU
Their Graces the Dvk.es of
Montagu
Hewcaftle
DevonÌhirè
Marlborough
Rutland
Portland
Kingfton
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Gordon
Queenibury
Chandos
Manehefter
Grafton
Leeds
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SitWilJUtt Beauchamp Mr. Laroche
Proétor
lency o Wil.
Sir
StuaitMacl
His ExceUi.
ham Hamilton
«¡■•William Meredith
f.Ir Jofeph Yorke
S>r Fraficis Molineux
|
«■n Henry Bridgeman
Hon George Onflow I
Hon. John Buller
Mr.
I
c-er^ Cholmondeley
Mr George PittMr. Thomas Pitt
Mr. CreT-CUrOOKe *■ ’ William Pulteney I
Mr Crew6 C°lebrooke £
Mr.
H°n- Mr. Damer
Mr
’
HoOnn’shWfl]’SeeGrev
Hon. Sir Wil] DPC-PV
’ Steven
Mr. Thom« Du-^ , Hon.- Will.
5?on’ ^Tho^”“3^?
U?. TAomas Dundas
Hon. Mr. Dyfon
¡■end fen S T°Wnf££BFrice
ThomasTownfhendjun.
Hon. Frederick'Vane
M°n\It^JOrVernon
Col. Fitzroy
Mr.. Wedderburne
Mr. Foley
™ George Yonge
Meffi Charles and
Mr’^rCThÍbald
phen Fox
Gen. Gra’me
Sir John Griffin
Mr. Buffier
Mr. Grofvenor
Mr. Boflanquet
Gen. Howard
Mr. Townftall
Gen. Smith
■Admiral Forbes
s
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f A
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���misfortunes
OF
FAM I LY
•
’
aaO
THE
of
C AL AS.
fo SE f’*
OHN GALAS was a reputable
merchant at Toulouze, where he
had been fettled for the fpace of
forty years. His honed: principles in
dealing, the • fweetnefs of his temper,
and the regularity of his morals, had
acquired him the eileem of the greateft
and bed: part of his countrymen. He
had married a lady allied to the bed:
nobility of the province of Languedoc;
but who was lefs diftinguifhed by
her high birth, than for her exemplary
B
virtue,
/
�-
,
[
a
j
virtue, and the qualifications of her
heart. The only objection that could
be made to their chara&er was their
being both Proteftants; and it was a
crime, and a capital one, to follow the
principles of their fathers. „
But if Calas, in the opinion of the
Roman-Catholics, was criminal in following a religion different from theirs,
they knew very well, that, far from
being an enemy to their profeffion, he
had in his houfe a fervant-maid, a
Roman-Catholic of extraordinary piety,
who had ferved in the family no lefs
than thirty years; that fhe received
the holy communion every week; and
that flie had been a nurfe and gover—
nefs to the children, who were all
Proteftants.
? The number of Calas’s children was
fix; viz. four ions, Marc-An tony, JohnPeter, Lewis, and Lewis-Donat; with
two daughters, Anna-Rofe, and Anna.
Marc-Antony, the eldeft of the ions,
was the only one who did'not profit
by an excellent education, which this
virtuous
�[ 3 ]
virtuous and belt of fathers had en
deavoured to bellow on all his children.
He poffeffed a great degree of underftanding; but his fondnefs for diffipation prevented his making that ufe of
it for which Providence deiigns fo in
valuable a bleffing. His being under
the tuition of a father grew every day
more irkfome to him; he fighed for
independency, but his want of fortune
prevented his attaining it. The billiardtable, fencing, tennis-court, and other
faihionable amufements, engroffed his
whole attention, Thus without for
tune, deftitute of refource, obliged to
curb his inclinations, fo humiliating
was his fituation, that life grew burdenfome to him. Reilraint at length
became fo intolerable, and danger fo
indifferent, that, about a month before
his death, he faid to a friend, whofe
name was Chalie, that he was re
folved to go to Geneva, in order to be
under a miniiler, and would return to
preach among the Proteftants in France.
46 My dear Sir, faid his friend, that
B 2
trade
�[ 4 ]
trade is very bad which brings us
“ to the gallows
“ Well then, re“ plied he, I have thought on another
fcheme, that I Will put in execution.”
From this time he became thought
ful, melancholy, feldom read any
other authors than Seneca, Montagne,
Shakefpeai, &c. and would often, in
a very expreffive manner, repeat thofe
words, “ To die; to die, to ileep
and then return to be the prey of
gloomy thoughts, and appear as if oppreffed with ihe heavieil misfortunes.
On the thirteenth of Odlober, 1761,
he executed his dreadful deiign ; on
the very fame day he had invited to
fupper one of his intimate friends,
whofe name was Lavayfe. As this
young gentleman is involved in the
prefent affair, it is indifpenfably neceffary to make him known.
He is fon to one of the moil cele
brated lawyers of Toulouze, who de* In Prance, a Proteilant minifter is hanged,
when convidted of having preached to a congre
gation.
0
fervedly
�[ 5 1
fervedly bears an excellent character.
7 Nature has been pleafcd to bellow on
this youth the bell qualifications ; and
has added to a good difpofition the molt
noble appearance, though he is but
nineteen years old.
In order to explain, in few words,
by what fatality he became entangled
in the misfortunes of Calas, the teadei
mull be informed, that his father,
who had fettled him with one of the
molt reputable merchants of Bourdeaux,
had juft fent for him home ; and that,
on his arrival at Toulouze, he heard
his father was at his country-houfe at
Caraman. In his way, he paid a vilit
to Marc-Antony, who invited him to
ftay to fupper; and John Calas, the
father, did every thing in his power
to induce him to do fo. It was but
five o’clock; the young Lavayfe promifed to return ; and then went to hire
a horfe, in order to proceed on his
- journey to his father’s the next morn
ing. About feven o’clock he came
again, and was introduced into Madame
Calas s
�[
6
J
Galas’s apartment. She was there, with
her huiband and her ion Alarc—Antony.
This unhappy ion faw his friend enter,
without even rifmg from the elbowchair in which he fat, or fpeaking a
word ; having his hand upon his fore
head, looking very wild, and feeming
abforbed in thought. But as for fome
time he had been very melancholy, his
relations did not take notice of his pre—
fent dullnefs; and in a few minutes
they all went into another room, where
fupper was ferved up.
Calas the father, his lady, the two
brothers, Marc-Antony and Peter, with
the young Lavayfe, compofed the com
pany ; Lavayfe being the only ftranger
among them. Marc-Antony eat very
little, rofe from the table before any
other perfon, and left the room. He
went into the kitchen: “ Are you cold,
“ Mr. Calas, faid the cook to him ?”
“ On the contrary, laid he, I am on
“ fireand direftly went away.
The fupper over, Mr. and Mrs. Calas,
their fon Peter, with the young Lavayfe,
went
c i
�I
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i
j
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i
t
7
1
went again into Mrs. Calas’s apartment,
without - taking any notice of MarcAntony’s abfence; fuppofing he was, ac
cording to cuftom, gone to feme billiardtable. Without apprehending any dan
ger, they began a converfation, which
lafted till young Lavayfe defired leave to
retire ; when Peter Calas attended him
down flairs, with a light. But going
through the pafiage which led to the
ilreet-door, they obferved the fhop-door
to be open; and going in to fee the
caufe, what conilernation I what a
dreadful fight!' they faw the body of
Marc-Antony hanging up, between the
two openings of the door which com- ,
municated from the ihop to the warehoufe.
Seized with horror, their piercing
cries frighten the father Calas, who
haftily comes to them. What does he
behold ? It is out of human power to
defcribe the fituation in which he
finds himfelf! He cannot but lament
with them, and join their mournful
concert.
�[
8
J
concert. His wife, who hears him
*
comes down; wants to follow him ;
Lavayfe flies to prevent her, and in
treats her to return up flairs; hoping
to conceal from her fo terrible a fcene.
While he is bufied to hinder her en
trance, the father, and the brother
Peter, take down the corpfe, and lay it
on the floor. Hope infpires Lavayfe
to feek a furgeon, and Peter to do the
fame. They bring him. In the mean
while, the mother being free, trem
bling feeks the caufe of fuch diilrefs.
What a fource of forrow to a mother ’
She fees her fon breathlefs upon the
floor! Her fwclling grief muil Purely
buril her heart, without relief from
tears ! She throws herfelf upon her fon,
and with thcfe friendly tears fhe bathes
his lifelefs body. She takes him up,
and endeavours to, renew his life, but
in vain. In vain would fhe doubt of
her misfortune ; the furgeon with great
care examines the corpfe; finds it cold,
and judges that Marc-An tony has been
dead two hours.
*
The
�[
9
ì
'
The cries of this diftrefled family foon
reached beyond their walls ; and the pd^
pulace, hearing Marc-Antony had died
fuddenlv, gathered round the houfe,
but without knowing the fatal caufe
of his catailrophe;
When the relations df this unhappy
youth recovered the powers of recol
lection; and reflected on this event;
they refolved, that, in order to preferve this unfortunate fuicide froin an
ignominious fentence * they ihoiild
,
not publiih. the manner of his death,
but keep it a profound fecret ; and
therefore, when the father Calas requelled young Lavayfe to wait On the
juilices for leave to bury the body of
his fon, “ I beg; faid he to that young
“ man, you will take particular care,
“ for the honour of our unhappy fa“ mily; not to let any perfon know
u my fon deflroyed himfelff’
* In France, the corpfe of a perfon who defiroys himfelf is condemned to be drawil on a
fledge; which puniihment reflects as much on
the family, as on the memory of the dead.
c
The
�r
io
The capitouls
David and Brieve^
came to the place, and were eyewitneffies of the inexpreffible grief of the.
whole family • but while they expect
ed the arrival of fome reputable perfons
of the faculty, in order to give an ac
count of the caufe of this melancholy
event, which had given fuch an alarm
to every-body, the mob, who befieged
the door; the mob, enemies to the Proteflants ; the mob, who are fond of un
lucky and extraordinary events, began
upon this to make fuch conjectures as
their malice dictated ; and one of them
began to fay loudly, that Marc-Antony
Calas was a martyr; and that his fa
ther had killed him becaufe he would
have turned a Roman-Catholic.
This report coming to the ears of
Mr. David, the capitoul, he took it
for granted; and the execution of his
office, as a jullice and a judge, having
made him familiar with the wickednefs
of men, he found nothing extraordinary
•' * A capitoul is the chief magiftrate in Toulouze.
-
in
�[
"
1
in this crime; the atrocious crime,
however improbable, imputed to that
innocent, worthy, and unhappy family
feemed to him very poflible, and, as
I faid before, he took it for granted.
From that moment he became in
exorable; he faid nothing but vindi
cating offended Heaven, and avowed
his hopes of overturning and extirpat
ing very foon all the Proteflant fami
lies in the country,
He ordered into cuftody the family
of Calas, with young Lavayfe, and
even the fervant. It was in vain that
his colleague, wifer than himfelf, de
fired him to confider well upon an af
fair of fuch confequence: In vain he
reprefented to him the diilrefs and
grief of the family; their laudable
endeavours to bring again that unhappy
fon to life ; the difpofition, place, hour,
and other circumftances of the fuppofed crime ; fince it was in the evening;
in one of the moft frequented ftreets,
that Mark-Antony was found dead.
But above all he reprefented, that the
C 2
facred
�[
12
]
íacred connection of father, mother, and
fon, 1 ejected fuch a cruel fufpicion
and, among thofe who had fpread fuch
an abominable apparent lye, not one
was bold enough to avow himfelf the
author of it; and concluded with fay
ing, that the commitment of thofe in
nocent and unhappy perfons would
give credit and confidence to this
vague and improbable dory: “ Well, it
does not lignify, replied David, vio“ lently; I will take upon me the
“ confequence of it; they ihall all be
£t put in irons, and fent to gaol.”
Every thing that the colleague of
the capitoul had foretold proved to be
true: The fight of the prifoners gave
to the lower fort of people an idea of
their guilt; and afterwards a common
report ran in Toulouze, that David
certainly had made fome important and
interelling difcoveries in this affair,
Gtherwife he would not have proceeded
to fuch extremity againit people of
their reputation; who, by the cha
racter they bore, were above all fuf
picion |
�[ H ]
picion ; and that very probably they
had been difcovered even in the adtion
of ftrangling their fon Marc-Antony
themfelves.
As for the poor unhappy, innocent
prifoners, overwhelmed with grief, they
were following the corpfe of their unhappy fon under a flrong guard, little
fuppoiing what would be the confequence of their commitment. They
imagined they were carried away only
to juftify the caufe of the event, accord
ing to the proofs which they were able
to give, and which were ilrong enough
to prove the fuicide of their fon.
When they were aiked how MarcAntony died, they gave iuch an anfwer
as they had before agreed on ; parental
affection only being capable of dictating
to them a fallhood : They faid, that
“ they had found Marc-Antony dead
“ upon the floorfar from even fear
ing that fuch a falfe report of the
fuicide would bring upon them a fufpicion of murder. Upon this declara
tion, they were decreed and ordered
tQ
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4
*
1
to be all put into (confinement, and
feparately. It was at this time they
were informed, that they were fufpccted of having murdered their fon. What
a dreadful addition was this to miferies,
already great beyond expreflion! This
new, this more than ignominious miffortune, entirely overwhelmed themI
At the charge, they became motionlefs,
penetrated with extreme grief, for this
cruel imputation, together with the
lofs of a beloved fon.
It was only at the town-hall that Mr.
David, the capitoul, ftated the fad in
writing, and put a date from the houfe
where the fuppofed trefpafs had been
committed; wherefore the prifoners
protefted againft it: But the capitoul
was fq inveterate, that he not only
prevented this proteft from being ferviceable to them, but even the attor
ney whom they employed was inter
dicted for three months.
Neverthelefs, the luppofed parricide
was the fubject of converfation to the
whole city • every one agreed, that
Cala§
�I ''5
1
Galas the father had, with his wife,
made their fon Marc-Antony a vidim
to their hatred for the Roman-Catho
lic religion: And though there was
the higheft improbability and even
incredibility in this Rory, yet a mif
*
taken fondnefs for the religion of the
country, together with bigotry and fanaticifm, gave a fandion to it. Whether
from fimplicity, compailion, excefs of
piety, or of malice, every RomanCatholic ufed all his endeavours to add
fomething to the calumny: “ It was
“ tomorrow, faid one, that Marc-An“ tony was to have renounced the
“ errors of Proteftantifm.” “ The rite
<c of the Proteilants, faid another,
“ orders fathers in fuch a cafe to kill
“ their children.” “ You fpeak fo
“ true, faid a third, that in their lait
“ meeting they appointed an execu-’
“ tioner of the fed.”
As for. thofe who had heard the cries
of the father Galas at the light of the
corpfe of his fon, they did not fail to
aifert that they were the cries of the
martyr,
�[
>6
]
martyr, when he was flruggling againR
the homicide. Thus the moft fenfible
perlons were drawn into error by the
torrent of popular clamour, and the
whole city was foon poifoned by fanaticifm.
At Toulouze there is a celebra
tion of the anniverfary of the maffacre of the Proteftants; and that day
of cruel memory being near at handj
the people, who Were ready to drcfs
the fcaffold, and fet lire to the wood
pile which was to reduce the guilty to
aihes, afked loudly to have the victims'
referved for that day, in order to make
folemnly a burnt-offering of the blood
of a whole family.
The capitoul was highly pleafed to
fee this temper in the people, which
feemed to juftify what he had done,
and encouraged his proceeding in this
cruel bufinefs : Nor did he fail to com
pliment himfelf for having been the
firebrand in this caufc, or to feel the
heart-felt pleafure of felf-applaufe, for
this inftance of horrid malice^
According
�„ «.. J
[ b ]
According to the diétates of thè laW
in fuch cafes^ the inexorable David took
his colleague to the houfe of Calas, to
qualify themfelves to make à report of
the place, and to examine the papers
of the deceafed. And altho’ he found
nothing, either in that youth’s papers,
br his books, which could give the
ilighteft intimation, much lefs proof; of
his pretended abjtiration, yet he, the
fame day, iiliied an order for thè inhu
*
fnation of the corpfe among the Roman
Catholics.
* >'
What á triumph Was it for thè
populace, who ever rejoice in parade^
to behold fuch funeral pomp^ palling
from the town-hall to the cathedral
church^ Fifty clergymen^ with oné
hundred of the White Penitents
formed the proceffi On, which was fol
*
lowed by twenty thbufand enthuliafts.
Who would credit iti It Was to a-Pro*
teilant that this high honour, this
honour which is denied to all ¿ was
. * A congregati^ for religious abd charitable
purpofes,
t>
*
granted
�[
]
granted. In vain the redor of'the
parifh, a very worthy man, refufed .
<o lend the ufe of the church for fuch
a? grange ceremony; in vain did . he
remonftrate, that Marc-Antony Calas
had left nothing which could prove
Jiis having made an abjuration of the
Pfoteftant faith; David, was deaf to
every argument; for arguments muft
prove, that he , had acted contrary to
reafon, as well as to humanity. > r
; As rthe capitouls had ordered, that
the corpfe ihould bo buried according
to the Roman rite, every proof of the
fuicide was buried with it; fmce it
was only by the flrideft examination
of the corpfe, that that fad could be
afcertained. Nor was this incident lin
gular in.elfeding the ruin of this un«
fortunate family; to promote which,
the malice of the capitouls was carried
to fuch prodigious extent, that they
even refufed to receive the evidence of
feveral witneiles : Some of whom could
*
have proved, that, but a ihort time
before Marc>Antony's death, jthey had
,
-z.
fceir-
�[ .
$
*
J ■
feen him at the baptifm of a Protellant/
to whom he flood godfather. Others:
were ready to affirm, that he was, not
many weeks then paft, attending the
meetings of the Huguenots; and that
he fpoke, with the greateil energy,
before the congregation, in defence of
the excellent principles of the Proteilanf
religion. Mr. Le Beau jun. could have
declared, that when he was received
into the fociety of the ftudents at law,-’
he aiked Marc-Antony if he would not
do the fame ? and was anfwered by
him, that it was an impoffibility, as/
having been born in the city, he was
known to be a Proteilant, and was de
termined not to abjure his faith.
Thefe are juilifying fails,”rwhich'
the family could have proved; but it
was refolved to impofe iilence upon all
perfons who would have fpoken in their
behalf.
How many different impreffions did
this funeral pomp, to which all the
religious orders fent their deputies,
D 2
make
�make on the public credulity1 There was
nothing to be feen but the greateft ex*
travagancies. The multitude did not
pray for the dead, but invoked him as
a faint. Some proilrated themfelves
upon the coffin of this mob-eledted
martyr; fome fought the humbler ho-nour of only touching it; while others
with enthufiaftic zeal cut the fringes
from the pall. Nor were reports of
miracles forgot to be circulated, to
irritate more the deluded Romanics,
and confirm them in their prejudices
againil this wretched family. The
day after the funeral, the White Peni
tents celebrated a pompous fervice for
him ; in the middle whereof was ele
vated a magnificent and noble catafalque,
upon which was an human ikeleton,
reprefenting Marc-Antony, holding in
one hand a pen, the emblem of his
abjuration; in the other a palm, the
fymbol of his martyrdom. Animated
by the moil indecent zeal, the Grey
Friars made another monumentum, no
�[
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j
Jefs fcandalc^ whjl^ each religious
voider afpired to the pious honour of be' jng the executioner of the prifoners.-g
What hope of juftice could thefe un
fortunate victims entertain, from fucl|
partial, fuch prejudiced judges; who,
againft the law, by their own private
authority, had ordered tliis funeral
pomp? Was it not an omen.of their
perdition ? But what an ’ hardened
cruelty muft thofe men pofiefs, wh$
could not be infenfible to their own pre
judices, and yet, contrary to the laws
pf God and man, kept their feats as
judges?
o
f;.: Qn the eighteenth of November fol
lowing, the court of the capitouls met}
in order to give their opinions, and
pronounce fentence upon the prifoners.
David, that enraged perfecutor, who
, certainly was liable to exception, took
his feat among his colleagues ; and it
has been aiferted, that, before their
meeting, he took the common hang
man with him to the houfe of Calas;
•and then propagated a report through
the
�the city, that, after an impartial exa
mination of the place, the executioner
had delivered his opinion, that it was
impoffible filicide fhould have been
thefeA'bbmmitted.
;
', Contrary to the eftablilhed cuilom of
judgingcriminals in the morning, when
the fenfes ¿fe fuppofed to be moil cool,
the capitouls pronounced fentence at
five o’clock in the afternoon. Calas the
father, his wife, and Peter their fon,
were condemned firft to the ordinary
and extraordinary rack; Lavayfe and
the fervant-maid to be prefented to it
only.
The prifoners immediately made an
appeal from this fentence to the parlia
*
ment ; and altho’ in fuch cafes appel
lants are thereby removed from the
jurifdidlion of the capitouls, yet thefe
cruel and enthufiailic judges infilled
on their being loaded with the heaviell
irons, like the moil notorious convidls.
On the ninth of March, thirteen
judges of the parliament met at the
chambers of Tournelle $ where having
agreed,
�agreed, - nem. toh.'tv judge the father firfli
the unfortunate old man was ' taken
from his dungeon, and brought before,
them. •, tnl c;
.
u rb.mr ch had
But, as ;if Providence thought the
meafure'of the mifery of this poor
family was not yet full, as Galas wa£
croffing the palace-yard, in r order to
be examined by his judges for the lafb
time, there happened at the inftant .ta
be a wood-piler3in flames., y The exe
cutioner, with guards and; attendants^
was burning a writing againil Popery
The fight of the hangman, the archers j
and the vail number of fpedlators, tcH
gether with the flames^: worked Jo
forcibly on the imagination of Calasj
that his reafon was affected, and he
fuppofed this to be the apparatus of
his death.—His fenfes were fo much
diilurbed by this incident, and his agi
tation at the idea of his unmerited exe
cution fo great, that, when brought be*
>ir -> ...: .
* It was a Letter from a Proteftant miniiter,
in defence of that unhappy family.
�[
24
J
foie the judges, he could not give pf6®
pcranfwers to their interrogatories, nof
&y any thing in his defence, though he
had fo much to oppofe to his enemies /
but only, with a dying voice, the ve
nerable good old man protefted, th$?
he had not killed his fon, but dearly
loved him: And. this ^mbarraftment
the judges, ignorant of its real fource,
imputed to the confeioufnefs of guilt.
~~ As the very particular -and in terefting nature of this5 affair has caufed the
curtain to be drawn which commonly
fecretes the proceedings of the courts of
juftice in France, it has appeared, that
only feven judges of the thirteen ap
proved the condemnation of Calas•
which majority of one not being fuffh
cient, according to the rules of the
court, to Convict him, means were
found to prevail on one of the diffentients (a perfon fo well convinced of
Galas’s innocence, that he had fpoken
two hours in his behalf) to join the
other party; on which unhappy junc
tion, the old gentleman received the
following
�t
}
following fentenee : TO be pùt tó the
Ordinary and extraordinary rack# tó
be broke alive; to expire upon a wheel#
after having been upon it two hours;
and to be reduced to aihes ih a wood
pile.
This unhappy parent firft underwent
the rack# which he bore With that
heroic fpirit peculiar to the injured
innocent. Being preffed, by the moil
extraordinary tortures, to declare his
accomplices# he exclaimed, “ Where
“ there is no guilt# how can there be
<€ accomplices
He declared himfelf
. ready, in atonement for the faults he
had in liis life-time committed, to offer
the facrifice of liis reputation and his
life y but Rill averred his innocence of
the horrid crime for which he flood
condemned. The majeftic firirinefs of
the Old man# when arrived at the place
of execution# began at length to con
vince the fpe&ators of his innocence,
and to raife in their hearts confufed
fenfations of commiferation and re
pentance.
Before
E
�[ 26 ]
Before the executioner began his
bufmefs, Father Bourges, a prieft of the
Dominican order, drew near, took the
victim in his arms, and with great tendernefs embraced him: “ My dear broy
“ ther,” faid this refpedtable confolator
to him, “ you are going to leave this
u world: By the God whom you love,
“ in whom are your only hopes, and
“ who has died for you, I conjure
“ you to tell the truth.” “ I have faid
“ nothing but the truth,” anfwered
he, lifting his hands and eyes towards
Heaven. Then looking on the religious
man with aftoniihment and tendernefs,
he faid to him, “ ’ Would you believe
“ too, my dear friend, that a father
“ would have killed his fon ?” *
The executioner now began to make
ufe of the redoubtable iron bar, and
broke both the legs and arms of that
unfortunate and venerable old gentle
man. Every itroke was felt by the
fpeflators, and drew tears from their
eyes; but it was too late.
On
�[
\
27
J
<. On the firft flroke the fufferer cried
moderately, and received the others
without complaining. Being put after
wards upon the-wheel, he implored
the mercy of Heaven , and had the
Chriftian fortitude to avoid reproaching
his judges, or any other pcrfons, as
• the authors of his death. While every
one prefent was lamenting his fate,
and crying for his fufierings, he addreiTed thefe moving words to Father
Bourges, his confolator; ci I die innp-?
“ cent. Jefus Chrift, who was inno^
cency itfelf, has been willing to
« fuffer a more cruel death. God
$4 puniihes in me, my wife, and chil44 dren, the fin of that unhappy fan
k whq has deftroyed himfelf.
He is
<< juft, and I adore his decrees. As
for that young ftranger whom I im
« vited home, the foil of Mr. Lavayfe,
“ the Almighty beft knows why he
•
44 was involved in my misfortune.
He was fpeaking thus when David the
capitoul, jealous of the commiferation
3,11 d tears of the fpeviators, came near
E 2
the
�[
28
j
tl|e fcaffold, and, in order to crown
his proceedings with dignity, he faid to
him, “ Wretch, doft thou fee the wood“ pile which is to reduce thy body tq
“ alhes ? Speak the truth, and confefs
thy guilt.” Galas, as a mark of
contempt for his cruel perfecutor,
turned his head, and looked on the
executioner, who gave him the Jaft
?dying ftroke, and the innocent expired.
His heroifm and firmnefs touched his
judges, who began to dread they had
been wrong; but neverthelefs, accord
ing to their adjournment, proceeded on
the trial of the other priioners. They were
not a little embarrafled, having nothing
to bring any of them to convidlion. Thofe
unfortunate perfons all infilled on their
being as innocent as the victim who had
juft been facrificed to fanaticifin; that
they had not left him one minute
alone ; and that, if there had been any
proofs of his being guilty of the crime
for which he had buffered, the fame
would ferve for their conviction, or elfe
they were all innocent. On this fecond
trial,
�I
9
*
]
Vial, the judges acquitted the unfortupate and virtuous widow Mrs. Calas, the
young ftranger Mr. Lavayfe, and the
fervant-maid, there being not the leafl
fhadow of proofs of any kind again#
jtheni. As for Peter Calas their fon, they
baniihed him from the country, on ac
count of an irreligious converfation
that was imputed to him.
Such is the deplorable account of
pne of the moll tragical events on re
cord. Who would think that fuch an
horrible fcene was tranfadfed in one of
the moil civilized province of France.
Our fenfations will commiferate, our
tears will flow, but they can never reflore the honed: Galas to his inconfolable
yridow and proscribed children.
M. De Voltaire, on hearing of this
event, colleded all the information he
could upon the proceedings, both of
the capitouls and the parliament: He
faw with horror the force of fanaticifm,
and the impoflibility of the crime im
puted to that innocent old man ; and
refol ved
�£
3®
'J
rgfolved to do every thing in his power,
fo have thofe proceedings revifed by th?
Ring’s privy-council. With his advice,
his credit, and money, which he did
not fpare, Mrs. Calas and her children
name to Verfailles : They threw themdelves at the feet of his majefty, to whom
they were prefented by one of the lords
in waiting. He received their humble
petition, promifed, with his ufual goodnefs, to do them juftice, and immedir
ately ordered a privy-council to be held,
at which Jiifthfelf prefided. The lordhigh-chqncellor, all the great officers
of ftates both civil and military, were
prefent, to the number of one hundred
and ten privy-councellors, who unanir
paoufly received the petition. The king firft, with the advice of
his council, invalidated the fentence
of the capitouls, together with the
judgment given by the parliament of
Toulouze; and ordered ajl the pro
ceedings to be laid before the fovereign
judges of his hotel, in order to try again
fuch an important affair. He accord. '
ingly
�í 3í ]
íngly nominated commiflioners to make
proper enquiries. The petitioners then
furrendered themfelves to imprifonmeht, in order to be tried by the pzers
of the realm.
' The moft celebrated counfellors of
fered themfelves, and undertook to de
fend the oppreffed reliéis of that oncereputable and now-diftrefied family.
MeiT. Elie de Baumont and Loifeau de
Moleon, the two molt eminent counfel
in France, were their defenfors, and Mr.
Dupleix deBacquin-court * as thejudge
w
appointed to report the caufe. The trial
lailed three fittings, and there were
five and forty judges prefent. The prifoners, who were Mrs. Calas, her two
daughters and three fons, the young
Mr. Lavayfe, and the fervant-maid,
were brought before that auguft allcmw.
¿
• -. .
. X!' * dOJ Bi ; :
.
*
_
•
•
r
;
Altho’ this nobleman is famed for the rigor
of his proceedings in criminal cafes, and was
•therefore, by the influence of the principal judges
of the parliament, at this time appointed, the inno
cence of the prifoners prevailed over all other confiderations, and he gave his opinion in their behalf.
bly,
�I
32
J
Bly, and a great number of fpe&afol#
of the firft diftinchion, who crowded the
hall.
u
After an hearing of three days^ and
when the report was made upon the
whole, the judges without divifion,not one diflentient, found, That John
Calas and the reft of the family were'
innocent, and that he had fuffered un~
juftly; they annulled all the proceed
ings of the capitouls, together with the
judgment of the parliament of Toulouze ordered, ift. That the prifonersr
fhould be releafed from their confine
ment, their names erafed from the
feveral books of the gaols where they
had been detained, •r;
and be moft ho
*
nourably acquitted: 2d. That the un
happy John Calas ihould be deemed in
*
nocent of the crimes which had been
imputed to him; his commitment and
his name ihou^ikewife be erafed from
the book of tiftail where he had been
detained; a^Me margin of which
the prefent foreign judgment ihoul4
be written, and kept in record, for the
honour
�[
33
]
honour of his memory; that the clerk
of the court, the keepers, or their de
puty, ihould be compelled to do it at the
fuit of his majefty’s attorney-general, on
the pain of imprifonment of their perfons; 3d. As to the demand of the peti
tioners for the recovery of damages,
they ordered, that they fhould bring
actions againft the capitouls and the
judges of the parliament of Toulouze
who voted for the condemnation, as they
ihould think fit; and laftly, That, at
the fuit and,expejice of His majefty’s at
torney-general, the prefent judgment
fhould be publiihed and polled up in
all ordinary places, and where it ihould
be found necefiary.
There were incite palace-yard no lefs
than four or five'^thoufand perfons,
waiting for the event of inch an im
portant trial, which was received with
the greateft proofs of approbation, every
where but at Toulouz«b
F
ETTRE
��E
L
T
T
R
E
Î) È
CALAS,?
JE.A N
ï
‘
A
Sa FEMMÈ et à fes ENFANS;
Chere & tendre epoufe, ô moitié de tnoy-même;
Réponds moy : fens tu bien cette force fuprême
Qui nous fait, fans frémir, envifager la mort?
Si tu la fens, écouté, & vois quel eft mon fort.
Ce fénat éclairé * dont l’équité févére
,
Refifta fi long temps aux erreurs du vulgaire,
t
Que du glaive des loix le Ciel voulut armer ■
Pour venger l’ihnoèent & bon pouf l’opprimer:
Ce fenat, dont cent fois j’admirai la jüflice,
Vient de me cçndamner—-& je marche aü fuplicé.
Eh quoi ! ces magiftrats, faits pour vaincre l’erreürâ
Ont ils pu, d’un vil peuple, adopter la fureur?
Ont ils Cru qu’un vieillard, appéfentï par l’âge,
Pour un crime inoui ranimant fon courage
Brâvant ceqüe jamais l’homme eut de plus facré,
Ait porté fur foh fils un bras dénaturé?
Mais, fuppofant qu’en moy la nature bizarre
Ait placé, pour Ce crime, un cœur affés barbare,
O
A
* Le Parlement de Tculcuze,
' Obi
�[ 2 J
Ont ils cru qu’une mere avec tranquillité
Ait vû verfé le fang que fes flancs ont porté ;
Et qu’en nous unifiant l’Hymen trifte et fauvage
1
De deux monftres fanglatjts ait formé l’afTemblage ?
Helas ils ont cru tout—& mon fupplice eft prêt.
^1 eft donc prononcé ce redoutable arrêt
Quoi ? pendant foixante ans ma gloire fut entière,
Et l’oprobre m’attend au bout de ma carrière !
Quoi! la vie et l’honneur vont donc m’être ravis :
Déplorables humains, malheureux que nous fommes,
Notre honneur dépend donc du caprice des' hommes, j
Chere epoufe, dis moi ! quand propice à nos feux,
L’Hymen nous enchaîna par le plux doux des nœuds :
Quand le Ciel béniflant, cette union fi chere,
Augmentait les enfans dont il me rendit pere:
Quand je louais ce Dieu dont les foins bienfaifants
Et fur eux et fur nous répandaient fes prefents,
Quand pour eux J’implorais la puiflànce celefte,
Aurais tu cru qu’un deux nous devint fi funefte,
Et qu’un jour au fuplice injuftement livrés,
Par la main d’un bourreau nous fuflîons féparés ?
Mais dans le même fort, toi-même envelopée,
.
Chere epoufe avec moi te verrais tu frapée ?
Si je fuis criminel, il faut que tu le fois;
On doit ou nous abfoudre, ou nous perdre à la fois.
Ah? cruels, fi vos traits font expirer le père,
Du moins à des enfans confervés une mère,
D’une epoufe il tendre épargnés les douleurs:
N’augmentés point fes maux, et refpeétés fes pleurs $
Si la mort eft pour vous une fi. douce image
Frapés et que mon fang fuflîfe à vôtre rage.
O toi, le premier né de mes triftes enfans-,
Toi fur qui je fondais l’efpoir de mes vieux ans,
Toi
/
.
’
�[
3
1
Toi que j’ay tant aimé, toi dont la mort fanglante
A mes fens défolés femble toujours prefente,
O mon fils, mon cher fils, dans quel abime affreux
r'
As tu précipité tes parens malheureux?
.
Va, mon cœur te pardonne: ah! s’il étoitpoflible
Qu’à mes triftes deffins ton ombre fut fenfible,
Bientôt fortant pour moi du gouffre des enfers,
Tu me rendrais l’honneur et tu romprais mes fers:
Mais helas ! infenfible à mes plaintes funèbres,
Tu dors proffondément dans le fein des tenebres,
Et dans ce doux repos, tu ne t’imforme pas
.. . ,
Si ta mort aujourd’hui va caufer mon trépas.
Ah ! s’ils nous avoient vûs dans ce moment terrible,
Ou la mort fe montrant fous un afpeét horrible,
Vint offrir à nos yeux efraïés et furpris
Le corps pâle et glacé de ce malheureux fils;
Ou le cœur déchiré des plus vives allarmes,
J’éclatais en fanglots et je fondais en l’armes;
Ou, l’appelant cent fois, tu ferrais dans tes bras
Ce fils, ce trille fils qui ne repondoit pas,
Nous auraient-ils jamais foupçonnés d’impoilure?
Se feraient ils mépris au cri de la nature?
Ce defordre touchant pour nous aurait parlé ;
Leurs coçurs auraient frémi ; leurs pleurs auraient coulé.
Helas ! nôtre douleur ne fut’que trop finçere!
Parmi ces fénateurs, ah! s’il était un père,
Dans l’horreur d’un cachot je ne gémirais pas,
Et ces indignes fers tomberaient de mes bras.
Mais que m’importe à moy, que m’importe une vie,
Qui bientôt par les ans pourait m’être ravie?
C’eft à vous feuls à. craindre, ô, juges, tremblés tous
Le fang que vous verfez, peut rejaillir fur vous;
Du fonds de mon tombeau ma cendre peut renaître;
vous verrez un jour, qui n’eft pas loin peut-être,
A 2 1
�[ 4 I
La vérité terrible éclater à vos yeux ;
Le temps déchirera le voile injurieux
Qui cachoit dans la nuit ma timide innocence :
Alors vous frémirez d’une injufte feptençe
*
Par des larmes de fang vous pleureres ma mort 5
Vous ferés déchirés par le? traits du remord.
Dieu, qui vois leur erreur, pardonne à leur foiblefle;
pt détourne loin d’eux ta fureur vengereiTe.
Lâches perfeçuteprs, c’eft vous feuls, oui c’eft vous
Qui trompés le fénat? et conduifés fes coups;
Cruels, vous triomphés ; nous fommes vos viâime^
Et pour mieux me noircir vous me prêtés vos crimes.
De ma triftè maifon cet ardent opprefleur
,
*
Qui de la loi des Cieux fe croit le deffenfeur,
Luy, qui fur mon fils mort a vu couler nos larmes,
A perdre un innocent trouve donc bien des charmes!
La mort eft mon fuplice, et la vie eft le fien ;
Dans mes injuftes maux, Dieu fera mon foutien:
Mais, lui, de fes enfans la plus tendre caréfle
A fon coeur déchiré reprochera fans cefie
Ses cruelles fureurs, mes tourmepts et ma mort.
Dieu, ne le livrez point aux horreurs du remord |
Si, contraire à fa loi, la loi qui nous enchaîne
Dans fon ame inflexible a fait naître la haine,
Que du moins fur moi feul il cherche à fe venger ;
Mais comment fe peut-il que ce jeune etranger,
Dont le cœur eft fi noble & le front fi modefte?
Se trouve énvelopé dans mon malheur funefte.
Ah ! j’ay prévu le coup dont je me feps frapp-é,
Quand fur de faux raports tout un peuple trompé
Imputait à mon bras cette mort fi cruelle ;
Quand fa crédulité qu’enflammait un faux zèle,
Plaçait ap rang des faints cet enfant malheureux,
Que peut-être autrement Dieu jugait dans les Cieux.
? M. David le Capitoul.
y
�Ce qui fur le danger m’éclaira d’avantage,
''
*
Ce fut l’inftant funefte ou ranimant fa rage,
Touloufe avec tranfport célébrait le retour
De Ce maflàcre affreux, de cet horrible jour
? .
Qui dut être des pleurs une fourçe éternelle 5
Quand .de mes ennemis la fouje criminelle
Des feux du fanatifme embrafait les efprits ;
Quand pe peuple cruel demandait à grand cris
Que pour ce jour fanglant on gardât la viétime ;
Alors je vis fous moy s’approfondir l’âbipe :
Alors m’abandonant aux horreurs de mon fort,
J’offris ma vie au Ciel & j’attendis la mort.
Cependant (des humains tu connais la faibleffe)
Jufqu’ au dernier moment je me flattais fansceffe:
Oui, quoi que tout un peuple, avec acharnement,
D’un pere infortuné pourfuivit le tourment,
Je croyais qu’éfra;é des aprêts du fuplice,
Il ouvrirait les yeux & me rendrait juffjce:
Mais le Ciel fans pitié fe rit de mon erreur.
Un fonge cette nuit, pour mieux tromper mon cœur
Me faifait concevoir le plus heureux augure.
pn fpeétre, à la lueür d’une lumière obfcure,
S’offre à moi : de fraïeur tous mes fens font faifis,
‘‘ Raffure toi, dit-il ; que crains tu de ton fils?
« Mon pere de tes maux c’eft moi qui fuis la caufe ;
J’en gémis ; mais fur Dieu que ton cœur fe rcpofe :
« 11 ne fouffrira point qu’un injufte foupçon
*c Flétriffe pour jamais ta gloire & nôtre nom;
?c Par luy, par fon fecours l’innocence vengée
« Voit, d’un piege trompeur, fa marche dégagée.
<c Sans doute un jour viendra”—que veux tu m’annoncer,
M’écrai-je, ô monjils? je cours pour l’embraffer:
Mais je ne trouve plus qu’une vapeur horrible :
Alors mon cachot s’ouvre avec un bruit terrible ;
�i 6 ]
Je m’éveille ; je crois qu’on va changer mon fort :
Ma>s que vois-je un bourreau vient m’annoncer la mort,
Noir tombeau des vivans, trifte et lugubre enceinte,
Ou prés du crime affis l’innocent vit fans crainte,
Ou le coupable aux fers, de remords combatu,
Ofe efperer le prix qu’on doit à la vertu,
Parmi fes malheureux que ton ombre renferme,
En verras tu jamais qui, d’un œil auffi ferme
Porte au fuplice afreux, ou je fuis condamné
y ,
Un cœur plus innocent & plus infortuné?
Ou font ils ces amis dont la flateufe adréffe
Avaient trompé mon cœur et furpris ma tendrefle
Qui me cheriflaient tant dans mes profperités?
E- malheur loin de moi les a tous écartés j
Cette amitié fi vive, en projets confirmée,
Au milieu des fermens s’évapore en fumée,
Qu ils viennent ces témoins de mon intégrité
A mes juges feduits montrer la vérité 1
Quoi ! Jorfque de mon cœur connoiffant la droiture,
Ils peuvent d’un feul mot démentir l’impofture,
Ils gardent lâchement un filence profond!
Dans ces momens affreux tant d’horreur me confond J
Tout fuit, quand j’ay befoin d’une ûtile defenfe.
N efr il donc plus de cœur fenfible à l’innocence;
O Ciel! tout contre moi parait fe réunir ,
Mon culte eft tout mon crime, & l’on veut m’en punir.Helas ! ferions nous donc dans ces tems déplorables,
Où l’erreur fit verfer le fang de nos femblables? '
Quoi ! lorfqu éclairant tout de fon flambeau divin,
Ea raifon veutenfemble unir Rome et Calvin,
Qlæj fans approfondir tant de feéles contraires,
j ■
Elle veut des humains faire un peuple de freres,
C eft le fer à la main qu’on veut nous convertir J
Barbares, de l’erreur il eft temps de fortir j
’
Repon-
h
■'
'
�t 7 3
Répondes : eft ce ainfi que ces premiers apôtres,
Ces heureux fondateurs de vos loix & des nôtres,
A leur culte enchaînaient la foule des mortels?
m;.
Ont ils du fang humain arrofé les autels ?
La paix et la douceur étaient leur feules armes ;
D’une famille en deuil ils effuïaient les larmes ;
Ils pardonaient à ceux qui les ont accables;
Eft-ce en nous maffacrant que vous leur reffemblez ?
Jefus dont nous fuivons la morale divine,
A-1’-il fait par le glaive adopter fa doctrine ?, ’
x
ï-
I
A-t’-il du fanatifme enfeigné les chemins?
Vous a-t’-ilordonné d’égorger les humains?
Dans fes livres facrés l’humanité refpire,
Ce n’eft que fur la paix qu’eft fondé fon empire;
Et de la foudre enfin il ne s’arma jamais
. :• •
Que pour venger le jufte et punir vos forfaits.
O toi dont l’univers adore la puifiance,
,.ç_ •
Toi qui lis dans mon cœur, qui vois mon innocence
Dieu que j’implore, entens ma voix du haut des Cieux;
Ce jour eft le dernier qui va luire à mes yeux ;
Daigne éclaircir le doute ou cet inftant me plonge :
f
■ j
Si je fuis égaré dans la nuit du menfonge,
Si jamais loin de toi mon cœur s eft écarté;
Et que j’aie coulé mes jours dans 1 obfcurite.
J’embraffe des Romains le culte et les mifteres.
Mais fi fuivant en paix la trace de mes’ pères,
Je marche au vrai chemin qui conduit jufqu à toi,
Dans ces heureux fentiers, mon Dieu, raffermis moi,
Tu vois comme en ce jour l’erreur me perfécute ,
Tu fais fi j’ay commis le forfait qu’on m impute;
Helas ! je voudrais bien, dans ces momens d’éfroi,
N’avoir point d’autre crime à porter devant toi,
En permetant l’erreur que le fenat écoute,
Du crime de mon fils tu me punis fans doute;
Calas,
�f
8
1
Calas, qui de ta main reçoit ces chatimens,-
Se livre fans murmure, aux plus cruels tourmefi^
Mon Dieu, de tes élus fouffrir eft le partage j
Je t offre mes douleurs ; que cet afreux trepaâÿ '
Trouve grâce à tes yeux & defarme ton bras • '
Et que mon ame enfin de mes fautes lavées,
Jouiffe de la gloire à tes faints tefervée.
De ma trifte innocence infortunées temoinà
Vous dont les premiers ans mont coûté tant de foins,’
Dont les charmes naiffans font aimer la fageffe,
Mes filles, aütres fois je flattais ma tendréffe
De vous laiffer un jour dans les bras d’un époux :
Quel mortel courageux, helas voudrait pour vous
Braver ce préjugé, peut-être trop févére,
Qui flétrit les enfans du crime de leur père?
Et toi, dont le bonheur me fut fi précieux,
Chere epoufe, reçois mes plus tendres adieux.
’ Vives, mes chefs enfans, confoléz vôtre mère ;
Et, fi de nôtre nom la gloire vous eft chère,
Allez, couréz, vole£, tombéz aux pieds du roi :
Demandé?, luy l’honneur que vous perdez en moi:
Vous verrez qu’en ees lieux qu’on peint inacceffibfè^
Tous les coeurs mes enfans ne font point infenfibles'
Ce prince bienfaifant, touché de vos malheurs,
De fon bandeau facre peut effuïer vos pleùrs;
De vos vils ennemis démêlant l’artifice,
Il confondra leur brigue et vous rendra juftice.
Mais rentrés dans vos droits, devenéz généreux ;
•
Et ne vous en vengés qu’en les rendant heureux.
Ce n’eft qu’en pardonant qu’un grand cœur fe fignafe?
A Dieu,- j’entens déjà fonner l’heure fatale,
Helas ! fut-jl jamais un plus funefte fort;
Ou ouvre c en eft fait—ah ! votre père eft mort»
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Victorian Blogging
Description
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A collection of digitised nineteenth-century pamphlets from Conway Hall Library & Archives. This includes the Conway Tracts, Moncure Conway's personal pamphlet library; the Morris Tracts, donated to the library by Miss Morris in 1904; the National Secular Society's pamphlet library and others. The Conway Tracts were bound with additional ephemera, such as lecture programmes and handwritten notes.<br /><br />Please note that these digitised pamphlets have been edited to maximise the accuracy of the OCR, ensuring they are text searchable. If you would like to view un-edited, full-colour versions of any of our pamphlets, please email librarian@conwayhall.org.uk.<br /><br /><span><img src="http://www.heritagefund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/attachments/TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" width="238" height="91" alt="TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" /></span>
Creator
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Conway Hall Library & Archives
Date
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2018
Publisher
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Conway Hall Ethical Society
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
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Pamphlet
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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The history of the misfortunes of John Calas, a victim to fanaticism. To which is added, a letter from M. Calas to his wife and children
Creator
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Voltaire [voltai]
Description
An account of the resource
Place of publication: London
Collation: iv,33, 8 p. ; 21 cm.
Notes: Printed by T. Sherlock, Strand. Date in Roman numerals. The letter from M. Calas is in French. Jean Calas was a merchant living in Toulouse, France, who was tried, tortured and executed for the murder of his son, despite his protestations of innocence. Due to Calas being a Protestant in an officially Roman Catholic society, doubts were raised by opponents of the Catholic Church about his guilt and he was exonerated in 1764. In France, he became a symbolic victim of religious intolerance. Part of the NSS pamphlet collection.
Publisher
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[s.l.]
Date
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1872
Identifier
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G5771
Subject
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Religious Toleration
Catholic Church
Rights
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<a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"><img src="http://i.creativecommons.org/p/mark/1.0/88x31.png" alt="Public Domain Mark" /></a><span> </span><br /><span>This work (The history of the misfortunes of John Calas, a victim to fanaticism. To which is added, a letter from M. Calas to his wife and children), identified by </span><a href="https://conwayhallcollections.omeka.net/items/show/www.conwayhall.org.uk"><span>Humanist Library and Archives</span></a><span>, is free of known copyright restrictions.</span>
Format
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application/pdf
Type
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Text
Language
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English
French
France
John Calas
NSS
Religious Tolerance
Trials (Murder)