The very literary Thomas De Mahay , Marquis de Favras (1744-1790), was arrested by the radicals of the French Revolution and charged with plotting to help King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette escape the country. Convicted of Treason , de Mahay was handed his official death sentence by the court clerk. The Marquis read the paper and shaking his head in disgust said: "''I see that you have made three spelling mistakes''."
