the name of an instrument introduced by the authors of the French revolution, for beheading those who were condemned to death. The decree for using it passed on the 20th of March 1792, by order of the national assembly. It was not a new invention, properly speaking, but the revival of an instrument known before. It seems to have been first used under the name of maiden, in the barony of Halifax in Yorkshire, and it was likewise set up in Scotland, but we have no good authority for asserting that it was ever used, although some are of opinion that Regent Morton, who brought a model of it from England, suffered by it himself. See MAIDEN.

supposed inventor, a physician of Lyons, and a member of the national assembly, thought it an honour conferred upon his name, by having it united with this instrument of death. His invention was expensive, and it received the most unqualified applause, both from the members and from the galleries. The propriety of using it was referred to a committee, with instructions to take the opinion of the most able surgeons respecting it. M. Louis, an eminent surgeon of Paris, declared it well fitted for the task, and commended the judgment of M. Guillotine in the contrivance. His discovery upon this occasion was rewarded by the legislature with a donation of 2000 livres; and it was ordered to be printed in the Paris Journals.

As far as this instrument diminishes the duration of the dreadful conflict with death, it may be deemed merciful, and is, in this respect, preferable to the hanging of malefactors by the neck; but the agitation of the mind is probably augmented by the long series of preparatory operations. The hands of the criminal are tied behind his back; he is stretched on his face on a strong plank. He is then fastened to the plank, his neck is adjusted to the block, and a basket placed before him to receive his head, which in the speediest manner must take up some time, although we recollect to have read of 21 (viz. Briffit and his party) who were all decapitated in the course of 36 minutes.

The construction of the guillotine has been variously modified, and was at length made so portable as to constitute part of the travelling equipage of a commissioner from the national assembly; and a representation of it was put upon the coins, as an ornament. On a piece of ten francs value, which was struck at Mentz in the year 1793, there was for the device, the fasces and axe of ancient Rome, crowned with a red cap, and surrounded by a laurel wreath, having for an inscription, République Française, 1793, (an 2).