GIRONDE', THE, in French history, a celebrated political party during the revolution ; its members were termed Girondists or Gironalins. The name was derived from that of the department La Gironde, (in which Bordeaux is situated,) which sent. to the legislative assembly of 1791, among its representatives, three men of eloquence ant talent, ((xaudet, Gensonni.i, Vergniatut) who were among the chief leaders of the party. Its prin ciples were republican. During the cam tinuance of that assembly the Girondists formed a powerful, but not always con sistent party. Out of these Louis XVI. chose his republican ministers in the be ginning of 1792. But after the massacres of Sentemher in that year the party in general withdrew from all cons eetion with the Jacobins, and approximated towards the Constitutionalists. In the Conven tion the Girondists at first commanded a majority, but on the king's trial they were much divided ; and, being pressed by the violence of the sections of Paris, they were at length expelled from the as sembly : thirty -tour of them were out lawed, and faia',y twenty-two of their leaders gu:;lo'...ned (7th and 31st October,
1793,) tvliP a few escaped, and others put an cad themselves. Perhaps the most member of the Girondo part7 vas lady, Madame Roland, the wit', i,CIP minister of that name, who w .r e-:ac-a cal when the party fell.
(Prenth, weathereock,) a t to numerous public char 21 t• CF to who, during the revolu ta.r; turned with every political 1 To mark these, a Pictionnaire ca Giroattes was published, containing names, &e., with a number of weath ercocks against each, corresponding to the Lumber of changes in the individual's po d tical creed.