Thepeoplenotonlysentencebuttheyexecute,and,asisalwaysthecase,blindly。AtSaint—Denis,Chatel,themayor’slieutenant,whosedutyitistodistributeflour,hadreducedthepriceofbreadathisownexpense:onthe3rdofAugusthishouseisforcedopenattwoo’clockinthemorning,andhetakesrefugeinasteeple;themobfollowhim,cuthisthroatanddraghisheadalongthestreets。
——Notonlydothepeopleexecute,buttheypardon——andwithequaldiscernment。Onthe11thofAugust,atVersailles,asaparricideisabouttobebrokenonthewheel,thecrowddemandhisrelease,flyattheexecutioner,andsetthemanfree。[9]Veritablythisissovereignpowerlikethatoftheorientalsovereignwhoarbitrarilyawardslifeordeath!Awomanwhoprotestsagainstthisscandalouspardonisseizedandcomesnearbeinghung;forthenewmonarchconsidersasacrimewhateverisoffensivetohisnewmajesty。
Again,hereceivespublicandhumblehomage。ThePrimeMinister,onimploringthepardonofM。deBezenvalattheH?tel—de—Ville,inthepresenceoftheelectorsandofthepublic,hasputitinappropriatewords:
\"Itisbeforethemostunknown,theobscurestcitizenofParisthatIprostratemyself;atwhosefeetIkneel。\"
Afewdaysbeforethis,atSaint—Germain—en—Laye,andatPoissy,thedeputiesoftheNationalAssemblynotonlykneeldowninwords,butactually,andforalongtime,onthepavementinthestreet,andstretchforththeirhands,weeping,tosavetwolivesofwhichonlyoneisgrantedtothem。—Beholdthemonarchbythesebrilliantsigns!Alreadydotheyoung,whoareeagerimitatorsofallactionsthatareinfashion,apetheminminiature;duringthemonthwhichfollowsthemurderofBerthierandFoulon,Baillyisinformedthatthegaminsinthestreetsareparadingaboutwiththeheadsoftwocatsstuckontheendsoftwopoles。[10]
II……
Thedistressofthepeople。—Thedearthandthelackofwork。—
Howmenofexecutiveabilityarerecruited。
Apitiablemonarch,whoserecognizedsovereigntyleaveshimmoremiserablethanhewasbefore!Breadisalwaysscarce,andbeforethebaker’sdoorstherowofwaitingpeopledoesnotdiminish。InvainBaillypasseshisnightswiththecommitteeonsupplies;theyarealwaysinastateofterribleanxiety。Everymorningfortwomonthsthereisonlyoneortwodays’supplyofflour,andoften,intheevening,thereisnotenoughforthefollowingmorning。[11]Thelifeofthecapitaldependsonaconvoywhichisten,fifteen,twentyleaguesoff;andwhichmayneverarrive:oneconvoyoftwentycartsispillagedonthe18thofJuly,ontheRouenroad;another,onthe4thofAugust,inthevicinityofLouviers。WereitnotforSalis’Swissregiment,which,fromthe14thofJulytotheendofSeptember,marchesdayandnightasanescort,notaboat—loadofgrainwouldreachParisfromRouen。[12]——Thecommissarieschargedwithmakingpurchasesorwithsupervisingtheexpeditionsareindangeroftheirlives。Thosewhoaresenttoprovincesareseized,andacolumnoffourhundredmenwithcannonhastobedispatchedtodeliverthem。TheonewhoissenttoRouenlearnsthathewillbehungifhedarestoentertheplace。AtMantesamobsurroundshiscabriolet,thepeopleregardingwhoevercomesthereforthepurposeofcarryingawaygrainasapublicpest;heescapeswithdifficultyoutofabackdoorandreturnsonfoottoParis。——Fromtheverybeginning,accordingtoauniversalrule,thefearofashortsupplyhelpstoaugmentthefamine。Everyonelaysinastockforseveraldays;ononeoccasionsixteenloavesoffourpoundseacharefoundinanoldwoman’sgarret。Thebakings,consequently,whichareestimatedaccordingtothequantityneededforasingleday,becomeinadequate,andthelastofthosewhowaitatthebakers’shopsforbreadreturnhomeempty—handed。——OntheotherhandtheappropriationsmadebythecityandtheStatetodiminishthepriceofbreadsimplyservetolengthentherowsofthosewhowaitforit;
thecountrymenflockinthither,andreturnhomeloadedtotheirvillages。AtSaint—Denis,breadhavingbeenreducedtotwosousthepound,noneisleftfortheinhabitants。Tothisconstantanxietyaddthatofunemployment。Notonlyistherenocertaintyoftherebeingbreadatthebakers’duringthecomingweek,butmanyknowthattheywillnothavemoneyinthecomingweekwithwhichtobuybread。Nowthatsecurityhasdisappearedandtherightsofpropertyareshaken,workiswanting。Therich,deprivedoftheirfeudaldues,and,inadditiontheretooftheirrents,havereducedtheirexpenditure;manyofthem,threatenedbythecommitteeofinvestigation,exposedtodomiciliaryvisits,andliabletobeinformedagainstbytheirservants,haveemigrated。InthemonthofSeptemberM。Neckerlamentsthedeliveryofsixthousandpassportsinfifteendaystothewealthiestinhabitants。InthemonthofOctoberladiesofhighrank,refugeesinRome,sendwordthattheirdomesticsshouldbedischargedandtheirdaughtersplacedinconvents。Beforetheendof1789therearesomanyfugitivesinSwitzerlandthatahouse,itissaid,bringsinmorerentthanitisworthascapital。Withthisfirstemigration,whichisthatofthechiefspendthrifts,theCountd’Artois,PrincedeConti,DucdeBourbon,andsomanyothers,theopulentforeignershaveleft,and,attheheadofthem,theDuchessedel’Infantado,whospent800,000
livresayear。ThereareonlythreeEnglishmeninParis。
Itusedtobeacityofluxury,itwastheEuropeanhot—houseofcostlyandrefinedpleasures,butoncetheglasswasbrokenthenthedelicateplantsperish,theirloversleave,andthereisnoemploymentnowfortheinnumerablehandswhichcultivatedthem。
Fortunatearetheywhoatthereliefworksobtainamiserablesumbyhandlingapick—axe!\"Isaw,\"saysBailly,\"mercers,jewellers,andmerchantsimplorethefavorofbeingemployedattwentysoustheday。\"Enumerate,ifyoucan,inoneortworecognizedcallings,thehandswhicharedoingnothing:[13]1,200hair—dresserskeepabout6,000journeymen;2,000othersfollowthesamecallinginprivate—
houses;6,000lackeysdobutlittleelsethanthiswork。Thebodyoftailorsiscomposedof2,800masters,whohaveunderthem5,000
workmen。\"Addtothesethenumberprivatelyemployed——therefugeesinprivilegedplacesliketheabbeysofSaint—GermainandSaint—Marcel,thevastenclosureoftheTemple,thatofSaint—JohntheLateran,andtheFaubourgSaint—Antoine,andyouwillfindatleast12,000personscutting,fitting,andsewing。\"Howmanyinthesetwogroupsarenowidle!Howmanyothersarewalkingthestreets,suchasupholsterers,lace—makers,embroiderers,fan—
makers,gilders,carnage—makers,binders,engravers,andalltheotherproducersofParisiannick—nacks!Forthosewhoarestillatworkhowmanydaysarelostatthedoorsofbakers’shopsandinpatrollingasNationalGuards!GatheringsareformedinspiteoftheprohibitionsoftheH?tel—de—Ville,[14]andthecrowdopenlydiscusstheirmiserablecondition:3,000journeymen—tailorsneartheColonnade,asmanyjourneymen—shoemakersinthePlaceLouisXV。,thejourneymen—hairdressersintheChamps—Elysees,4,000domesticswithoutplacesontheapproachestotheLouvre,——andtheirpropositionsareonalevelwiththeirintelligence。ServantsdemandtheexpulsionfromParisoftheSavoyardswhoenterintocompetitionwiththem。Journeymen—tailorsdemandthataday’swagesbefixedatfortysous,andthattheold—clothesdealersshallnotbeallowedtomakenewones。Thejourneymen—shoemakersdeclarethatthosewhomakeshoesbelowthefixedpriceshallbedrivenoutofthekingdom。Eachoftheseirritatedandagitatedcrowdscontainsthegermofanoutbreak——and,intruth,thesegermsarefoundoneverypavementinParis:atthereliefworks,whichatMontmartrecollect17,000paupers;intheMarket,wherethebakerswanttohangtheflourcommissioners,andatthedoorsofthebakers,ofwhomtwo,onthe14thofSeptemberandonthe5thofOctober,areconductedtothelamppostandbarelyescapewiththeirlives。——Inthissuffering,mendicantcrowd,enterprisingmenbecomemorenumerouseveryday:theyconsistofdeserters,andfromeveryregiment;theyreachParisinbands,often250inoneday。There,\"caressedandfedtothetopoftheirbent,\"[15]havingreceivedfromtheNationalAssembly50livreseach,maintainedbytheKingintheenjoymentoftheiradvance—money,entertainedbythedistricts,ofwhichonealoneincursadebtof14,000livresforwineandsausagesfurnishedtothem,\"theyaccustomthemselvestogreaterexpense,\"togreaterlicense,andarefollowedbytheircompanions。
\"Duringthenightofthe31stofJulytheFrenchGuardsondutyatVersaillesabandonthecustodyoftheKingandbetakethemselvestoParis,withouttheirofficers,butwiththeirarmsandbaggage,\"
that\"theymaytakepartinthecheerwhichthecityofParisextendstotheirregiment。\"AtthebeginningofSeptember,16,000
desertersofthisstamparecounted。[16]Now,amongthosewhocommitmurdertheseareinthefirstrank;andthisisnotsurprisingwhenwetaketheleastaccountoftheirantecedents,education,andhabits。Itwasasoldierofthe\"RoyalCroat\"whotoreouttheheartofBerthier。TheywerethreesoldiersoftheregimentofProvencewhoforcedthehouseofChatelatSaint—Denis,anddraggedhisheadthroughthestreets。ItisSwisssoldierswho,atPassy,knockdownthecommissionersofpolicewiththeirguns。
TheirheadquartersareatthePalais—Royal,amongstwomenwhoseinstrumentstheyare,andamongstagitatorsfromwhomtheyreceivethewordofcommand。Henceforth,alldependsonthisword,andwehaveonlytocontemplatethenewpopularleaderstoknowwhatitwillbe。
III。
Thenewpopularleaders。—Theirascendancy。—Theireducation。—
Theirsentiments。—Theirsituation。—Theircouncils。—Theirdenunciations。—
Administratorsandmembersofdistrictassemblies,agitatorsofbarracks,coffee—houses,clubsandpublicthoroughfares,writersofpamphlets,penny—a—linersaremultiplyingasfastasbuzzinginsectsarehatchedonasultrynight。Afterthe14thofJulythousandsofjobshavebecomeavailableforreleasedambitions;\"attorneys,notaries’clerks,artists,merchants,shopkeepers,comediansandespeciallyadvocates;[17]eachwantstobeeitheranofficer,adirector,acouncillor,oraministerofthenewreign;whilejournals,whichareestablishedbydozens,[18]formapermanenttribune,wherespeakerscometocourtthepeopletotheirpersonaladvantage。\"Philosophy,fallenintosuchhands,seemstoparodyitself;andnothingequalsitsemptiness,unlessitbeitsmischievousnessandsuccess。Lawyers,inthesixtyassemblydistricts,rolloutthehigh—soundingdogmasoftherevolutionarycatechism。Thisorthatone,passingfromthequestionofapartywalltotheconstitutionofempires,becomestheimprovisedlegislator,somuchthemoreinexhaustibleandthemoreapplaudedashisflowofwords,showereduponhishearers,provestothemthateverycapacityandeveryrightarenaturallyandlegitimatelytheirs。
\"Whenthatmanopenedhismouth,\"saysacold—bloodedwitness,\"weweresureofbeinginundatedwithquotationsandmaxims,oftenaproposofstreetlampposts,orofthestallofaherb—dealer。Hisstentorianvoicemadethevaultsring;andafterhehadspokenfortwohours,andhisbreathwascompletelyexhausted,theadmiringandenthusiasticshoutswhichgreetedhimamountedalmosttofrenzy。
ThustheoratorfanciedhimselfaMirabeau,whilethespectatorsimaginedthemselvestheConstituentAssembly,decidingthefateofFrance。\"
Thejournalsandpamphletsarewritteninthesamestyle。Everybrainisfilledwiththefumesofconceitandofbigwords;theleaderofthecrowdishewhoravesthemost,andheguidesthewildenthusiasmwhichheincreases。
Letusconsiderthemostpopularofthesechiefs;theyarethegreenorthedryfruitofliterature,andofthebar。Thenewspaperisthestallwhicheverymorningoffersthemforsale,andiftheysuittheoverexcitedpublicitissimplyowingtotheiracidorbitterflavor。Theirempty,unpracticedmindsarewhollyvoidofpoliticalconceptions;theyhavenocapacityorpracticalexperience。Desmoulinsistwenty—nineyearsofage,Loustalottwenty—seven,andtheirintellectualballastconsistsofcollegereminiscences,souvenirsofthelawschools,andthecommon—placespickedupinthehousesofRaynalandhisassociates。AstoBrissotandMarat,whoareostentatioushumanitarians,theirknowledgeofFranceandofforeigncountriesconsistsinwhattheyhaveseenthroughthedormerwindowsoftheirgarrets,andthroughutopianspectacles。Inmindslikethese,emptyorledastray,theContrat—
Socialcouldnotfailtobecomeagospel;foritreducespoliticalsciencetoastrictapplicationofanelementaryaxiomwhichrelievesthemofallstudy,andhandssocietyovertothecapriceofthepeople,or,inotherwords,deliversitintotheirownhands。—
—Hencetheydemolishallthatremainsofsocialinstitutions,andpushonequalizationuntileverythingisbroughtdowntothesamelevel。
\"Withmyprinciples,\"writesDesmoulins,[19]\"isassociatedthesatisfactionofputtingmyselfwhereIbelong,ofshowingmystrengthtothosewhohavedespisedme,ofloweringtomylevelallwhomfortunehasplacedaboveme:mymottoisthatofallhonestpeople:’Nosuperiors!’\"
Thus,underthegreatnameofLiberty,eachvainspiritseeksitsrevengeandfindsitsnourishment。Whatissweeterandmorenaturalthantojustifypassionbytheory,tobefactiousinthebeliefthatthisispatriotism,andtocloaktheinterestsofambitionwiththeinterestsofhumanity?
Letuspicturetoourselvesthesedirectorsofpublicopinionastheywerethreemonthsearlier:Desmoulins,abrieflessbarrister,livinginfurnishedlodgingswithpettydebts,andonafewlouisextractedfromhisrelations。Loustalot,stillmoreunknown,wasadmittedthepreviousyeartotheParliamentofBordeaux,andhaslandedatParisinsearchofacareer。Danton,anothersecond—ratelawyer,comingoutofahovelinChampagne,borrowedthemoneytopayhisexpenses,whilehisstintedhouseholdiskeptuponlybymeansofalouiswhichisgiventohimweeklybyhisfather—in—law,whoisacoffee—housekeeper。Brissot,astrollingBohemian,formerlyemployeeofliterarypirates,hasroamedovertheworldforfifteenyears,withoutbringingbackwithhimeitherfromEnglandorAmericaanythingbutacoatoutatelbowsandfalseideas;and,finally,Marat;awriterthathasbeenhissed,anabortivescholarandphilosopher,amisrepresenterofhisownexperiences,caughtbythenaturalphilosopherCharlesintheactofcommittingascientificfraud,andfallenfromthetopofhisinordinateambitiontothesubordinatepostofdoctorinthestablesoftheComted’Artois。——Atthepresenttime,Danton,PresidentoftheCordeliers,canarrestanyonehepleasesinhisdistrict,andhisviolentgesturesandthunderingvoicesecuretohim,tillsomethingbetterturnsup,thegovernmentofhissectionofthecity。AwordofMarat’shasjustcausedMajorBelzunceatCaentobeassassinated。Desmoulinsannounces,withasmileoftriumph,that\"alargesectionofthecapitalregardshimasoneamongtheprincipalinstigatorsoftheRevolution,andthatmanyevengosofarastosaythatheistheauthorofit。\"Isittobesupposedthat,bornesohighbysuchasuddenjerkoffortune,theywishtoputonthedragandagaindescend?andisitnotclearthattheywillaidwithalltheirmighttherevoltwhichhoiststhemtowardstheloftiestsummits?——Moreover,thebrainreelsataheightlikethis;suddenlylaunchedintheairandfeelingasifeverythingwastotteringaroundthem,theyutterexclamationsofindignationandterror,theyseeplotsonallsides,imagineinvisiblecordspullinginanoppositedirection,andtheycalluponthepeopletocutthem。
Withthefullweightoftheirinexperience,incapacity,andimprovidence,oftheirfears,credulity,anddogmaticobstinacy,theyurgeonpopularattacks,andtheirnewspaperarticlesordiscoursesareallsummedupinthefollowingphrases:
\"Fellow—citizens,you,thepeopleofthelowerclass,youwholistentome,youhaveenemiesintheCourtandthearistocracy。TheH?tel—de—VilleandtheNationalAssemblyareyourservants。Seizeyourenemieswithastronghand,andhangthem,andletyourservantsknowthattheymustquickentheirsteps!\"
Desmoulinsstyleshimself\"District—attorneyofthegallows,\"[20]
andifheatallregretsthemurdersofFoulonandBerthier,itisbecausethistooexpeditiousjudgmenthasallowedtheproofsofconspiracytoperish,therebysavinganumberoftraitors:hehimselfmentionstwentyofthemhaphazard,andlittledoeshecarewhetherhemakesmistakes。
\"Weareinthedark,anditiswellthatfaithfuldogsshouldbark,evenatallwhopassby,sothattheremaybenofearofrobbers。\"
>FromthistimeforthMarat[21]denouncestheKing,theministers,theadministration,thebench,thebar,thefinancialsystemandtheacademies,allas\"suspicious;\"atalleventsthepeopleonlysufferontheiraccount。
\"TheGovernmentismonopolizinggrain,tomakeustopaythroughthenoseforapoisonousbread。\"
TheGovernment,again,throughanewconspiracyisabouttoblockadeParis,soastostarveitwithgreaterease。Utterancesofthiskind,atsuchatime,arefirebrandsthrownuponfearandhungertokindletheflamesofrageandcruelty。Tothisfrightenedandfastingcrowdtheagitatorsandnewspaperwriterscontinuetorepeatthatitmustact,andactalongsideoftheauthorities,and,ifneedbe,againstthem。Inotherwords,Wewilldoasweplease;wearethesolelegitimatemasters;
\"inawell—constitutedgovernment,thepeopleasabodyaretherealsovereign:ourdelegatesareappointedonlytoexecuteourorders;
whatrighthastheclaytorebelagainstthepotter?\"
Onthestrengthofsuchprinciples,thetumultuousclubwhichoccupiesthePalais—RoyalsubstitutesitselffortheAssemblyatVersailles。Hasitnotallthetitlesforthisoffice?ThePalais—
Royal\"savedthenation\"onthe12thand13thofJuly。ThePalais—
Royal,\"throughitsspokesmenandpamphlets,\"hasmadeeverybodyandeventhesoldiers\"philosophers。\"Itisthehouseofpatriotism,\"therendezvousoftheselectamongthepatriotic,\"whetherprovincialsorParisians,ofallwhopossesstherightofsuffrage,andwhocannotorwillnotexerciseitintheirowndistrict。\"ItsavestimetocometothePalais—Royal。ThereisnoneedthereofappealingtothePresidentfortherighttospeak,ortowaitone’stimeforacoupleofhours。Theoratorproposeshismotion,and,ifitfindssupporters,mountsachair。Ifheisapplauded,itisputintopropershape。Ifheishissed,hegoesaway。ThiswasthewayoftheRomans。\"BeholdtheveritableNationalAssembly!Itissuperiortotheothersemi—feudalaffair,encumberedwith\"sixhundreddeputiesoftheclergyandnobility,\"whoaresomanyintrudersandwho\"shouldbesentoutintothegalleries。\"——HencethepureAssemblyrulestheimpureAssembly,and\"theCaféFoylaysclaimtothegovernmentofFrance。\"
IV。
InterventionbythepopularleaderswiththeGovernment。—TheirpressureontheAssembly。
Onthe30thofJuly,theharlequinwholedtheinsurrectionatRouenhavingbeenarrested,\"itisopenlyproposedatthePalaisRoyal[22]
togoinabodyanddemandhisrelease。\"——Onthe1stofAugust,Thouret,whomthemoderatepartyoftheAssemblyhavejustmadePresident,isobligedtoresign;thePalais—Royalthreatenstosendabandandmurderhimalongwiththosewhovotedforhim,andlistsofproscriptions,inwhichseveralofthedeputiesareinscribed,begintobecirculated。——Fromthistimeforth,onallgreatquestions—theabolitionofthefeudalsystem,thesuppressionoftithes,adeclarationoftherightsofman,thedisputeabouttheChambers,theKing’spowerofveto,[23]thepressurefromwithoutinclinesthebalance:inthiswaytheDeclarationofRights,whichisrejectedinsecretsessionbytwenty—eightbureausoutofthirty,isforcedthroughbythetribunesinapublicsittingandpassedbyamajority。——Justasbeforethe14thofJuly,andtoastillgreaterextent,twokindsofcompulsioninfluencethevotes,anditisalwaystherulingfactionwhichemploysbothitshandstothrottleitsopponents。Ontheonehandthisfactiontakespostonthegalleriesinknotscomposednearlyalwaysofthesamepersons,\"fiveorsixhundredpermanentactors,\"whoyellaccordingtounderstoodsignalsandatthewordofcommand。[24]ManyoftheseareFrenchGuards,incivilianclothes,andwhorelieveeachother:
previouslytheyhaveaskedoftheirfavoritedeputy\"atwhathourtheymustcome,whetherallgoesonwell,andwhetherheissatisfiedwiththosefoolsofparsons(calotins)andthearistocrats。\"OthersconsistoflowwomenunderthecommandofThéroignedeMéricourt,aviragocourtesan,whoassignsthemtheirpositionsandgivesthemthesignalforhootingorforapplause。
Publiclyandinfullsession,ontheoccasionofthedebateontheveto,\"thedeputiesareapplaudedorinsultedbythegalleriesaccordingastheyuttertheword’suspensive,’ortheword’indefinite。’\"\"Threats,\"(saysoneofthem)\"circulated;Iheardthemonallsidesaroundme。\"Thesethreatsarerepeatedongoingout:\"Valetsdismissedbytheirmasters,deserters,andwomeninrags,\"threatentherefractorywiththelamppost,\"andthrusttheirfistsintheirfaces。Inthehallitself,andmuchmoreaccuratelythanbeforethe14thofJuly,theirnamesaretakendown,andthelists,handedovertothepopulace,\"traveltothePalais—Royal,fromwheretheyaredispatchedincorrespondenceandinnewspaperstotheprovinces。[25]—Thusweseethesecondmeansofcompulsion;eachdeputyisanswerableforhisvote,atParis,withhisownlife,and,intheprovince,withthoseofhisfamily。
MembersoftheformerThird—EstateavowthattheyabandontheideaoftwoChambers,because\"theyarenotdisposedtogettheirwives’
andchildren’sthroatscut。\"Onthe30thofAugust,Saint—Hurugue,themostnoisyofthePalais—Royalbarkers,marchesofftoVersailles,attheheadof1,500men,tocompletetheconversionoftheAssembly。Thisgardenclubindeed,fromtheheightsofitsgreatlearning,integrity,andimmaculatereputation,decidesthattheignorant,corrupt,anddoubtfuldeputiesmustbegotridof。\"
Thattheyaresuchcannotbequestioned,becausetheydefendtheroyalsanction;thereareover600andmore,120aredeputiesofthecommunes,whomustbeexpelledtobeginwith,andthenmustbebroughttojudgment。[26]Inthemeantimetheyareinformed,aswellastheBishopofLangres,PresidentoftheNationalAssembly,that\"15,000menarereadytolightuptheirchateauxandinparticularyours,sir。\"Toavoidallmistake,thesecretariesoftheAssemblyareinformedinwritingthat\"2,000letters\"willbesentintotheprovincestodenouncetothepeopletheconductofthemalignantdeputies:\"Yourhousesareheldasasuretyforyouropinions:keepthisinmind,andsaveyourselves!\"Atlast,onthemorningofthe1stofAugust,fivedeputationsfromthePalais—Royal,oneofthemledbyLoustalot,marchinturntotheH?tel—de—Ville,insistingthatthedrumsshouldbebeatenandthecitizensbecalledtogetherforthepurposeofchangingthedeputies,ortheirinstructions,andoforderingtheNationalAssemblytosuspenditsdiscussiononthevetountilthedistrictsandprovincescouldgiveexpressiontotheirwill:thepeople,ineffect,alonebeingsovereign,andalonecompetent,alwayshastherighttodismissorinstructanewitsservants,thedeputies。Onthefollowingday,August2nd,tomakemattersplainer,newdelegatesfromthesamePalais—Royalsuitgesturestowords;theyplacetwofingersontheirthroats,onbeingintroducedbeforetherepresentativesofthecommune,asahintthat,ifthelatterdonotobey,theywillbehung。
AfterthisitisvainfortheNationalAssemblytomakeanyshowofindignation,todeclarethatitdespisesthreats,andtoprotestitsindependence;theimpressionisalreadyproduced。\"Morethan300
membersofthecommunes,\"saysMounier,\"haddecidedtosupporttheabsoluteveto。\"Attheendoftendaysmostofthesehadgoneover,severalofthemthroughattachmenttotheKing,becausetheywereafraidof\"ageneraluprising,\"and\"werenotwillingtojeopardizethelivesoftheroyalfamily。\"Butconcessionsliketheseonlyprovokefreshextortions。Thepoliticiansofthestreetnowknowbyexperiencetheeffectofbrutalviolenceonlegalauthority。
Emboldenedbysuccessandbyimpunity,theyreckonuptheirstrengthandtheweaknessofthelatter。Oneblowmore,andtheyareundisputedmasters。Besides,theissueisalreadyapparenttoclear—sightedmen。Whentheagitatorsofthepublicthoroughfares,andtheportersatthestreet—corners,convincedoftheirsuperiorwisdom,imposedecreesbythestrengthoftheirlungs,oftheirfists,andoftheirpikes,atthatmomentexperience,knowledge,goodsense,cool—blood,genius,andjudgment,disappearfromhumanaffairs,andthingsrevertbacktochaos。Mirabeau,infavorofthevetoforlife,sawthecrowdimploringhimwithtearsintheireyestochangehisopinion:
\"MonsieurleComte,iftheKingobtainsthisveto,whatwillbetheuseofaNationalAssembly?Weshallallbeslaves\"[27]
Outburstsofthisdescriptionarenottoberesisted,andallislost。Already,neartheendofSeptember,theremarkapplieswhichMirabeaumakestotheComtedelaMarck:
\"Yes,allislost;theKingandQueenwillbesweptaway,andyouwillseethepopulacetramplingontheirlifelessbodies。\"
Eightdaysafterthis,onthe5thand6thofOctober,itbreaksoutagainstbothKingandQueen,againsttheNationalAssemblyandtheGovernment,againstallgovernmentpresentandtocome;theviolentpartywhichrulesinParisobtainspossessionofthechiefsofFrancetoholdthemunderstrictsurveillance,andtojustifyitsintermittentoutragesbyonepermanentoutrage。
V。
The5thand6thofOctober。
Oncemore,twodifferentcurrentscombineintoonetorrenttohurrythecrowdonwardtoacommonend。——Ontheonehandarethecravingsofthestomach,andwomenexcitedbythefamine:
\"NowthatbreadcannotbehadinParis,letusgotoVersaillesanddemanditthere;oncewehavetheKing,Queen,andDauphininthemidstofus,theywillbeobligedtofeedus;\"wewillbringback\"theBaker,theBakeress,andtheBaker’sboy。\"
——Ontheotherhand,thereisfanaticism,andmenwhoarepushedonbytheneedtodominate。
\"Nowthatourchiefsyonderdisobeyus,——letusgoandmakethemobeyusforthwith;theKingisquibblingovertheConstitutionandtheRightsofMan——makehimapprovethem;hisguardsrefusetowearourcockade——makethemacceptit;theywanttocarryhimofftoMetz——makehimcometoParis,here,underoureyesandinourhands,he,andthelameAssemblytoo,willmarchstraighton,andquickly,whethertheylikeitornot,andalwaysontherightroad。\"
——Underthisconfluenceofideastheexpeditionisarranged。[28]
Tendaysbeforethis,itispubliclyalludedtoatVersailles。Onthe4thofOctober,atParis,awomanproposesitatthePalais—
Royal;DantonroarsattheCordeliers;Marat,\"alone,makesasmuchnoiseasthefourtrumpetsontheDayofJudgment。\"Loustalotwritesthatasecondrevolutionaryparoxysmisnecessary。\"\"Thedaypasses,\"saysDesmoulins,\"inholdingcouncilsatthePalais—Royal,andintheFaubourgSaint—Antoine,ontheendsofthebridges,andonthequays……inpullingoffthecockadesofbutonecolor……
Thesearetornoffandtrampledunderfootwiththreatsofthelamppost,incaseoffreshoffense;asoldierwhoistryingtorefastenhis,changeshismindonseeingahundredsticksraisedagainsthim。\"[29]Thesearethepremonitorysymptomsofacrisis;ahugeulcerhasformedinthisfeverish,sufferingbody,anditisabouttobreak。
But,asisusuallythecase,itisapurulentconcentrationofthemostpoisonouspassionsandthefoulestmotives。Thevilestofmenandwomenwereengagedinit。Moneywasfreelydistributed。Wasitdonebyintriguingsubalternswho,playingupontheaspirationsoftheDukeofOrleans,extractedmillionsfromhimunderthepretextofmakinghimlieutenant—generalofthekingdom?Orisitduetothefanaticswho,fromtheendofApril,clubbedtogethertodebauchthesoldiery,andstirupabodyofruffiansforthepurposeoflevelinganddestroyingeverythingaroundthem?[30]TherearealwaysMachiavellisofthehighwaysandofhousesofill—famereadytoexcitethefoulandthevileofbothsexes。OnthefirstdaythattheFlemishregimentgoesintogarrisonatVersaillesanattemptismadetocorruptitwithmoneyandwomen。SixtyabandonedwomenaresentfromParisforthispurpose,whiletheFrenchGuardscomeandtreattheirnewcomrades。ThelatterhavebeentreatedatthePalais—Royal,whilethreeofthem,atVersailles,exclaim,showingsomecrownpiecesofsixlivres,\"WhatapleasureitistogotoParis!onealwayscomesbackwithmoney!\"Inthisway,resistanceisovercomebeforehand。Astotheattack,womenaretobetheadvancedguard,becausethesoldierswillscrupletofireatthem;
theirranks,however,willbereinforcedbyanumberofmendisguisedaswomen。Onlookingcloselyatthemtheyareeasilyrecognized,notwithstandingtheirrouge,bytheirbadly—shavenbeards,andbytheirvoicesandgait。[31]NodifficultyhasbeenfoundinobtainingmenandwomenamongtheprostitutesofthePalais—Royalandthemilitarydeserterswhoservethemasbullies。
Itisprobablethattheformerlenttheirloversthecast—offdressestheyhadtospare。Atnightallwillmeetagainatthecommonrendezvous,onthebenchesoftheNationalAssembly,wheretheyarequiteasmuchathomeasintheirownhouses。[32]——Inanyevent,thefirstbandwhichmarchesoutisofthisstamp,displayingthefineryandthegaietyoftheprofession;\"mostofthemyoung,dressedinwhite,withpowderedhairandasprightlyair;\"manyofthem\"laughing,singing,anddrinking,\"astheywoulddoatsettingoutforapicnicinthecountry。Threeorfourofthemareknownbyname——onebrandishingasword,andanother,thenotoriousThéroigne。MadeleineChabryLouison,whoisselectedtoaddresstheKing,isaprettygrisettewhosellsflowers,and,nodoubt,somethingelse,atthePalais—Royal。Someappeartobelongtothefirstrankintheircalling,andtohavetactandthemannersofsociety——suppose,forinstance,thatChampfortandLaclossenttheirmistresses。Tothesemustbeaddedwasherwomen,beggars,bare—footedwomen,andfishwomen,enlistedforseveraldaysbeforeandpaidaccordingly。Thisisthefirstnucleus,anditkeepsongrowing;for,bycompulsionorconsent,thetroopincorporatesintoit,asitpassesalong,allthewomenitencounters——seamstresses,portresses,housekeepers,andevenrespectablefemales,whosedwellingsareenteredwiththreatsofcuttingofftheirhairiftheydonotfallin。Tothesemustbeaddedvagrants,street—rovers,ruffiansandrobbers——theleesofParis,whichaccumulateandcometothesurfaceeverytimeagitationoccurs:theyaretobefoundalreadyatthefirsthour,behindthetroopofwomenattheH?tel—
de—Ville。Othersaretofollowduringtheeveningandinthenight。
OthersarewaitingatVersailles。Many,bothatParisandVersailles,areunderpay:one,inadirtywhitishvest,chinksgoldandsilvercoininhishand。——Suchisthefoulscumwhich,bothinfrontandintherear,rollsalongwiththepopulartide;
whateverisdonetostemthetorrent,itwidensoutandwillleaveitsmarkateverystageofitsoverflow。
Thefirsttroop,consistingoffourorfivehundredwomen,beginoperationsbyforcingtheguardoftheH?tel—de—Ville,whichisunwillingtomakeuseofitsbayonets。Theyspreadthroughtheroomsandtrytoburnallthewrittendocumentstheycanfind,declaringthattherehasbeennothingbutscribblingsincetheRevolutionbegan。[33]Acrowdofmenfollowafterthem,burstingopendoors,andpillagingthemagazineofarms。TwohundredthousandfrancsinTreasurynotesarestolenordisappear;severaloftheruffianssetfiretothebuilding,whileothershanganabbé。
Theabbéiscutdown,andthefireextinguishedonlyjustintime:
sucharetheinterludesofthepopulardrama。Inthemeantime,thecrowdofwomenincreasesonthePlacedeGrève,alwayswiththesameunceasingcry,\"Bread!\"and\"ToVersailles!\"OneoftheconquerorsoftheBastille;theusherMaillard,offershimselfasaleader。Heisaccepted,andtapshisdrum;onleavingParis,hehassevenoreightthousandwomenwithhim,and,inaddition,somehundredsofmen;bydintofremonstrances,hesucceedsinmaintainingsomekindoforderamongstthisrabbleasfarasVersailles。——Butitisarabblenotwithstanding,andconsequentlysomuchbruteforce,atonceanarchicalandimperious。Ontheonehand,each,andtheworstamongthem,doeswhathepleases——whichwillbequiteevidentthisveryevening。Ontheotherhand,itsponderousmasscrushesallauthorityandoverridesallrulesandregulations——whichisatonceapparentonreachingVersailles。——AdmittedintotheAssembly,atfirstinsmallnumbers,thewomencrowdagainstthedoor,pushinwitharush,fillthegalleries,thenthehall,themenalongwiththem,armedwithclubs,halberds,andpikes,allpell—mell,sidebysidewiththedeputies,takingpossessionoftheirbenches,votingalongwiththem,andgatheringaboutthePresident,who,surrounded,threatened,andinsulted,finallyabandonstheposition,whilehischairistakenbyawoman。[34]A
fishwomancommandsinagallery,andaboutahundredwomenaroundhershoutorkeepsilenceatherbidding,whilesheinterruptsandabusesthedeputies:
\"Whoisthatspeakerthere?Silencethatblabbermouth;hedoesnotknowwhatheistalkingabout。Thequestionishowtogetbread。
LetpapaMirabeauspeak——wewanttohearhim。\"
Adecreeonsubsistencehavingbeenpassed,theleadersdemandsomethinginaddition;theymustbeallowedtoenterallplaceswheretheysuspectanymonopolizingtobegoingon,andthepriceof\"breadmustbefixedatsixsousthefourpounds,andmeatatsixsousperpound。\"
\"Youmustnotthinkthatwearechildrentobeplayedwith。Wearereadytostrike。Doasyouarebidden。\"
Alltheirpoliticalinjunctionsemanatefromthiscentralidea。Andfurther:
\"SendbacktheFlemishregiment——itisathousandmenmoretofeed,andtheytakebreadoutofourmouths。\"——\"Punishthearistocrats,whohinderthebakersfrombaking。\"\"Downwiththeskull—cap;thepriestsarethecauseofourtrouble!\"——\"MonsieurMounier,whydidyouadvocatethatvillainousveto?Bewareofthelamppost!\"
Underthispressure,adeputationoftheAssembly,withthePresidentatitshead,setsoutonfoot,inthemud,throughtherain,andwatchedbyahowlingescortofwomenandmenarmedwithpikes:afterfivehoursofwaitingandentreaty,itwringsfromtheKing,besidesthedecreeonsubsistence,aboutwhichtherewasnodifficulty,theacceptance,pureandsimple,oftheDeclarationofRights,andhissanctiontotheconstitutionalarticles。——SuchistheindependenceoftheKingandtheAssembly。[35]Thusarethenewprinciplesofjusticeestablished,thegrandoutlinesoftheConstitution,theabstractaxiomsofpoliticaltruthunderthedictatorshipofacrowdwhichextortsnotonlyblindly,butwhichishalf—consciousofitsblindness。
\"MonsieurlePresident,\"someamongthewomensaytoMounier,whoreturnswiththeRoyalsanction,\"willitbeofanyrealusetous?
willitgivepoorfolksbreadinParis?\"
Meanwhile,thescumhasbeenbubblinguparoundthechateau;andtheabandonedwomensubsidizedinParisarepursuingtheircalling。[36]
Theyslipthroughintothelinesoftheregimentdrawnonthesquare,inspiteofthesentinels。Théroigne,inanAmazonianredvest,distributesmoneyamongthem。
\"Sidewithus,\"somesaytothemen;\"weshallsoonbeattheKing’sGuards,stripofftheirfinecoatsandsellthem。\"
Othersliesprawlingontheground,alluringthesoldiers,andmakesuchoffersastoleadoneofthemtoexclaim,\"Wearegoingtohaveajollytimeofit!\"Beforethedayisover,theregimentisseduced;thewomenhave,accordingtotheirownidea,actedforagoodmotive。Whenapoliticalideafindsitswayintosuchheads,insteadofennoblingthem,itbecomesdegradedthere;itsonlyeffectistoletlooseviceswhicharemnantofmodestystillkeepsinsubjection,andfullplayisgiventoluxuriousorferociousinstinctsundercoverofthepublicgood。——Thepassions,moreover,becomeintensifiedthroughtheirmutualinteraction;
crowds,clamor,disorder,longings,andfasting,endinastateoffrenzy,fromwhichnothingcanissuebutdizzymadnessandrage。——
Thisfrenzybegantoshowitselfontheway。Already,onsettingout,awomanhadexclaimed,\"WeshallbringbacktheQueen’sheadontheendofapike!\"[37]
OnreachingtheSèvresbridgeothersadded,\"Letuscutherthroat,andmakecockadesofherentrails!\"
Rainisfalling;theyarecold,tired,andhungry,andgetnothingtoeatbutabitofbread,distributedatalatehour,andwithdifficulty,onthePlaced’Armes。Oneofthebandscutsupaslaughteredhorse,roastsit,andconsumesithalfraw,afterthemannerofsavages。Itisnotsurprisingthat,underthenamesofpatriotismand\"justice,\"savageideasspringupintheirmindsagainst\"membersoftheNationalAssemblywhoarenotwiththeprinciplesofthepeople,\"against\"theBishopofLangres,Mounier,andtherest。\"Onemaninaraggedoldredcoatdeclaresthat\"hemusthavetheheadoftheAbbéMaurytoplaynine—pinswith。\"ButitisespeciallyagainsttheQueen,whoisawoman,andinsight,thatthefeminineimaginationisthemostaroused。
\"Shealoneisthecauseoftheevilsweendure……shemustbekilled,andquartered。\"
——Nightadvances;thereareactsofviolence,andviolenceengendersviolence。
\"HowgladIshouldbe,\"saysoneman,\"ifIcouldonlylaymyhandonthatshe—devil,andstrikeoffherheadonthefirstcurbstone!\"
Towardsmorning,somecryout,\"Whereisthatcursedcat?Wemusteatherheartout……We’lltakeoffherhead,cutherheartout,andfryherliverI\"
——Withthefirstmurderstheappetiteforbloodhasbeenawakened;
thewomenfromParissaythat\"theyhavebroughttubstocarryawaythestumpsoftheRoyalGuards,\"andatthesewordsothersclaptheirhands。SomeoftheriffraffofthecrowdexaminetheropeofthelamppostinthecourtoftheNationalAssembly,andjudgingitnottobesufficientlystrong,aredesirousofsupplyingitsplacewithanother\"tohangtheArchbishopofParis,Maury,andd’Espréménil。\"——Thismurderous,carnivorousragepenetratesevenamongthosewhosedutyitistomaintainorder,oneoftheNationalGuardbeingheardtosaythat\"thebody—guardsmustbekilledtothelastman,andtheirheartstornoutforabreakfast。\"
Finally,towardsmidnight,theNationalGuardofParisarrives;butitonlyaddsoneinsurrectiontoanother,forithaslikewisemutiniedagainstitschiefs。[38]
\"IfM。deLafayetteisnotdisposedtoaccompanyus,\"saysoneofthegrenadiers,\"wewilltakeanoldgrenadierforourcommander。\"
Havingcometothisdecision,theysoughtthegeneralattheH?tel—
de—Ville,andthedelegatesofsixofthecompaniesmadetheirinstructionsknowntohim。
\"General,wedonotbelievethatyouareatraitor,butwethinkthattheGovernmentisbetrayingus……Thecommitteeonsubsistenceisdeceivingus,andmustberemoved。WewanttogotoVersaillestoexterminatethebody—guardandtheFlemishregimentwhohavetrampledonthenationalcockade。IftheKingofFranceistoofeebletowearhiscrown,lethimtakeitoff;wewillcrownhissonandthingswillgobetter。\"
InvainLafayetterefuses,andharanguesthemonthePlacedeGrève;
invainheresistsforhours,nowaddressingthemandnowimposingsilence。Armedbands,comingfromtheFaubourgsSaint—AntoineandSaint—Marceau,swellthecrowd;theytakeaimathim;otherspreparethelamp—post。HethendismountsandendeavorstoreturntotheH?tel—de—Ville,buthisgrenadiersbartheway:
\"Morbleu,General,youwillstaywithus;youwillnotabandonus!\"
Beingtheirchiefitisprettyplainthathemustfollowthem;whichisalsothesentimentoftherepresentativesofthecommuneattheH?tel—de—Ville,whosendhimtheirauthorization,andeventheordertomarch,\"seeingthatitisimpossibleforhimtorefuse。\"
FifteenthousandmenthusreachVersailles,andinfrontofandalongwiththemthousandsofruffians,protectedbythedarkness。
OnthissidetheNationalGuardofVersailles,postedaroundthechateau,togetherwiththepeopleofVersailles,whobarthewayagainstvehicles,haveclosedupeveryoutlet。[39]TheKingisprisonerinhisownpalace,heandhis,withhisministersandhiscourt,andwithnodefense。For,withhisusualoptimism,hehasconfidedtheouterpostsofthechateautoLafayette’ssoldiers,and,throughahumanitarianobstinacywhichheistomaintainuptothelast,[40]hehasforbiddenhisownguardstofireonthecrowd,sothattheyareonlythereforshow。Withcommonrightinhisfavor,thelaw,andtheoathwhichLafayettehadjustobligedhistroopstorenew,whatcouldhehavetofear?Whatcouldbemoreeffectivewiththepeoplethantrustinthemandprudence?Andbyplayingthesheeponeissureoftamingbrutes!
>Fromfiveo’clockinthemorningtheyprowlaroundthepalace—
railings。Lafayette,exhaustedwithfatigue,hastakenanhour’srepose,[41]whichhoursufficesforthem。[42]Apopulacearmedwithpikesandclubs,menandwomen,surroundsasquadofeighty—eightNationalGuards,forcesthemtofireontheKing’sGuards,burstsopenadoor,seizestwooftheguardsandchopstheirheadsoff。
Theexecutioner,whoisastudiomodel,withaheavybeard,stretchesouthisblood—stainedhandsandgloriesintheact;andsogreatistheeffectontheNationalGuardthattheymoveoff;
throughsensibility,inordernottowitnesssuchsights:suchistheresistance!Inthemeantimethecrowdinvadethestaircases,beatdownandtrampleontheguardstheyencounter,andburstopenthedoorswithimprecationsagainsttheQueen。TheQueenrunsoff;
justintime,inherunderclothes;shetakesrefugewiththeKingandtherestoftheroyalfamily,whohaveinvainbarricadedthemselvesinthe?il—de—Boeuf,adoorofwhichisbrokenin:heretheystand,awaitingdeath,whenLafayettearriveswithhisgrenadiersandsavesallthatcanbesave——theirlives,andnothingmore。For,fromthecrowdhuddledinthemarblecourttheshoutrises,\"ToPariswiththeKing!\"acommandtowhichtheKingsubmits。
Nowthatthegreathostageisintheirhands,willtheydeigntoacceptthesecondone?Thisisdoubtful。OntheQueenapproachingthebalconywithhersonanddaughter,ahowlarisesof\"Nochildren!\"Theywanttohaveheraloneinthesightsoftheirguns,andsheunderstandsthat。AtthismomentM。deLafayette,throwingtheshieldofhispopularityoverher,appearsonthebalconyathersideandrespectfullykissesherhand。Thereactionisinstantaneousinthisover—excitedcrowd。Boththemenandespeciallythewomen,insuchastateofnervoustension,readilyjumpfromoneextremetoanother,rageborderingontears。A
portress,whoisacompanionofMaillard’s,[43]imaginesthatshehearsLafayettepromiseintheQueen’sname\"toloveherpeopleandbeasmuchattachedtothemasJesusChristtohisChurch。\"Peoplesobandembraceeachother;thegrenadiersshifttheircapstotheheadsofthebody—guard。Everythingwillbefine:\"thepeoplehavewontheirKingback。\"——Nothingistobedonenowbuttorejoice;
andthecortegemoveson。Theroyalfamilyandahundreddeputies,incarriages,formthecenter,andthencomestheartillery,withanumberofwomenbestridingthecannons;next,aconvoyofflour。
RoundaboutaretheKing’sGuards,eachwithaNationalGuardmountedbehindhim;thencomestheNationalGuardofParis,andafterthemmenwithpikesandwomenonfoot,onhorseback,incabs,andoncarts;infrontisabandbearingtwoseveredheadsontheendsoftwopoles,whichhaltsatahairdresser’s,inSèvres,tohavetheseheadspowderedandcurled;[44]theyaremadetobowbywayofsalutation,andaredaubedalloverwithcream;therearejokesandshoutsoflaughter;thepeoplestoptoeatanddrinkontheroad,andobligetheguardstoclinkglasseswiththem;theyshoutandfiresalvosofmusketry;menandwomenholdeachother’shandsandsinganddanceaboutinthemud。——Suchisthenewfraternity:afuneralprocessionoflegalandlegitimateauthorities,atriumphofbrutalityoverintelligence,amurderousandpoliticalMardi—gras,aformidablemasqueradewhich,precededbytheinsigniaofdeath,dragsalongwithittheheadsofFrance,theKing,theministers,andthedeputies,thatitmayconstrainthemtoruletountilaccordingtoitsfrenzy,thatitmayholdthemunderitsthempikesuntilitispleasedtoslaughterthem。
VI。
TheGovernmentandthenationinthehandsoftherevolutionaryparty。
Thistimetherecanbenomistake:theReignofTerrorisfullyandfirmlyestablished。Onthisverydaythemobstopsavehicle,inwhichithopestofindM。deVirieu,anddeclares,onsearchingit,that\"theyarelookingforthedeputytomassacrehim,aswellasothersofwhomtheyhavealist。\"[45]TwodaysafterwardstheAbbé
GrégoiretellstheNationalAssemblythatnotadaypasseswithoutecclesiasticsbeinginsultedinParis,andpursuedwith\"horriblethreats。\"Malouetisadvisedthat\"assoonasgunsaredistributedamongthemilitia,thefirstusemadeofthemwillbetogetridofthosedeputieswhoarebadcitizens,\"andamongothersoftheAbbé
Maury。\"ThemomentIsteppedoutintothestreets,\"writesMounier,\"Iwaspubliclyfollowed。Itwasacrimetobeseeninmycompany。
WhereverIhappenedtogo,alongwithtwoorthreeofmycompanions,itwasstatedthatanassemblyofaristocratswasforming。Ihadbecomesuchanobjectofterrorthattheythreatenedtosetfiretoacountry—housewhereIhadpassedtwenty—fourhours;and,torelievetheirminds,apromisehadtobegiventhatneithermyselfnormyfriendsshouldbeagainreceivedintoit。\"Inoneweekfiveorsixhundreddeputieshavetheirpassports[46]madeout,andholdthemselvesreadytodepart。Duringthefollowingmonthonehundredandtwentygiveintheirresignations,ornolongerappearintheAssembly。Mounier,Lally—Tollendal,theBishopofLangres,andothersbesides,quitParis,andafterwardsFrance。MalletduPanwrites,\"Opinionnowdictatesitsjudgmentwithsteelinhand。
Believeordieistheanathemawhichvehementspiritspronounce,andthisinthenameofLiberty。Moderationhasbecomeacrime。\"Afterthe7thofOctober,MirabeausaystotheComtedelaMarck:
\"IfyouhaveanyinfluencewiththeKingortheQueen,persuadethemthattheyandFrancearelostiftheroyalfamilydoesnotleaveParis。Iambusywithaplanforgettingthemaway。\"
Hepreferseverythingtothepresentsituation,\"evencivilwar;\"
for\"war,atleast,invigoratesthesoul,\"whilehere,\"underthedictatorshipofdemagogues,wearebeingdrownedinslime。\"Givenuptoitself,Paris,inthreemonths,\"willcertainlybeahospital,and,perhaps,atheaterofhorrors。\"Againsttherabbleanditsleaders,itisessentialthattheKingshouldatoncecoalesce\"withhispeople,\"thatheshouldgotoRouen,appealtotheprovinces,provideaCentreforpublicopinion,and,ifnecessary,resorttoarmedresistance。Malouet,onhisside,declaresthat\"theRevolution,sincethe5thofOctober,\"horrifiesallsensiblemen,andeveryparty,butthatitiscompleteandirresistible。\"ThusthethreebestmindsthatareassociatedwiththeRevolution——thosewhoseverifiedpropheciesattestgeniusorgoodsense;theonlyoneswho,fortwoorthreeyears,andfromweektoweek,havealwayspredictedwisely,andwhohaveemployedreasonintheirdemonstrations——thesethree,MalletduPan,Mirabeau,Mabuet,agreeintheirestimateoftheevent,andinmeasuringitsconsequences。Thenationisglidingdownadeclivity,andnoonepossessesthemeansortheforcetoarrestit。TheKingcannotdoit:\"undecidedandweakbeyondallexpression,hischaracterresemblesthoseoiledivoryballswhichonevainlystrivestokeeptogether。\"[47]AndasfortheAssembly,blinded,violated,andimpelledonbythetheoryitproclaims,andbythefactionwhichsupportsit,eachofitsgranddecreesonlyrendersitsfallthemoreprecipitate。
Notes:
[1]Bailly,\"Mémoires,\"II。195,242。
[2]ElyséeLoustalot,journalist,editorofthepaper\"RévolutionsdeParis,\"wasayounglawyerwhohadshownanaturalgeniusforinnovativejournalism。Hewastodiealreadyin1790。(SR。)
[3]Montjoie,ch。LXX,p。65。
[4]Bailly,II。74,174,242,261,282,345,392。
[5]Suchasdomiciliaryvisitsandarrestsapparentlymadebylunatics。(\"ArchivesdelaPréfecturedePolicedeParis。\")——AndMontjoie,ch。LXX。p。67。ExpeditionoftheNationalGuardagainstimaginarybrigandswhoarecuttingdownthecropsatMontmorencyandthevolleyfiredintheair。——ConquestofIle—AdamandChantilly。
[6]Bailly,II。46,95,232,287,296。
[7]\"ArchivesdelaPréfecturedePolice,\"minutesofthemeetingofthesectionofButtedesMoulins,October5,1789。
[8]Bailly,II。224。——Dusaulx,418,202,257,174,158。Thepowdertransportedwascalledpoudredetraite(transport);thepeopleunderstooditaspoudredetra?tre(traitor)。M。delaSallewasnearbeingkilledthroughtheadditionofanr。ItishewhohadtakencommandoftheNationalGuardonthe13thofJuly。
[9]Floquet,VII。54。ThereisthesamesceneatGranville,inNormandy,onthe16thofOctober。Awomanhadassassinatedherhusband,whileasoldierwhowasherloverisheraccomplice;thewomanwasabouttohehungandthemanbrokenonthewheel,whenthepopulaceshout,\"Thenationhastherightofpardon,\"upsetthescaffold,andsavethetwoassassins。
[10]Bailly,II。274(August17th)。
[11]Bailly,II,83,202,230,235,283,299。
[12]MercuredeFrance,thenumberforSeptember26th。—DeGoncourt,p。111。
[13]Mercier,\"TableaudeParis,\"I,58;X。151。
[14]DeFerrières,I。178。——BuchezandRoux,II。311,316。——
Bai11y,II。104,174,207,246,257,282。
[15]MercuredeFrance,September5th,1789。HoraceWalpole’sLetters,September5,1789。——M。deLafayette,\"Mémoires,\"I。272。
Duringtheweekfollowingthe14thofJuly,6,000soldiersdesertedandwentovertothepeople,besides400and800SwissGuardsandsixbattalionsoftheFrenchGuards,whoremainwithoutofficers,anddoastheyplease。Vagabondsfromtheneighboringvillagesflockin,andtherearemorethan\"30,000strangersandvagrants\"inParis。
[16]Bailly,II。282。ThecrowdofdeserterswassogreatthatLafayettewasobligedtoplaceaguardatthebarrierstokeepthemfromenteringthecity。\"Withoutthisprecautionthewholearmywouldhavecomein。\"
[17]DeFerrières,I。103。——DeLavalette,I。39。——Bailly,I。53
(onthelawyers)。\"ItmaybesaidthatthesuccessoftheRevolutionisduetothisclass。\"——Marmontel,II。243\"SincethefirstelectionsofParis,in1789,Iremarked,\"hesays,\"thisspeciesofrestlessintriguingmen,contendingwitheachothertobeheard,impatienttomakethemselvesprominent……Itiswellknownwhatinterestthisbody(thelawyers)hadtochangeReformintoRevolution,theMonarchyintoaRepublic;theobjectwastoorganizeforitselfaperpetualaristocracy。\"——BuchezandRoux,II。358
(articlebyC。Desmoulins)。\"Inthedistrictseverybodyexhaustshislungsandhistimeintryingtobepresident,vice—president,secretaryorvice—secretary\"
[18]EugèneHatin,\"HistoiredelaPresse,\"vol。V。p。113。\"LePatriotefran?ais\"byBrissot,July28,1789。——\"L’AmiduPeuple,\"
byMarat,September12,1789。——\"Annalespatriotiquesetlittéraires,\"byCarraandMercier,October5,1789,——\"LesRévolutionsdeParis,\"chiefeditorLoustalot,July17th,1789。—
\"LeTribundupeuple,\"lettersby(middleof1789)。—\"RévolutionsdeFranceetdeBrabant,\"byC。Desmoulins,November28,1789;his\"Francelibre\"(IbelieveofthemonthofAugust,andhis\"DiscoursdelaLanterne\"ofthemonthofSeptember)。—\"TheMoniteur\"doesnotmakeitsappearanceuntilNovember24,1789。Intheseventynumberswhichfollow,uptoFebruary3,1790,thedebatesoftheAssemblywereafterwardswrittenout,amplified,andputinadramaticform。AllnumbersanteriortoFebruary3,1790,aretheresultofacompilationexecutedintheyearIV。ThenarrativepartduringthefirstsixmonthsoftheRevolutionisofnovalue。ThereportofthesittingsoftheAssemblyismoreexact,butshouldberevisedsittingbysittinganddiscoursebydiscourseforadetailedhistoryoftheNationalAssembly。Theprincipalauthoritieswhicharereallycontemporaryare,\"LeMercuredeFrance,\"\"LeJournaldeParis,\"\"LepointdeJour\"byBarrère,the\"CourrierdeVersailles,\"
byGorsas,the\"CourrierdeProvence\"byMirabeau,the\"JournaldesDébatsetDécrets,\"theofficialreportsoftheNationalassembly,the\"Bulletindel’AsembléeNationale,\"byMarat,besidesthenewspapersabovecitedfortheperiodfollowingthe14thofJuly,andthespeeches,whichareprintedseparately。
[19]C。Desmoulins,lettersofSeptember20thandofsubsequentdates。(Hequote,apassagefromLucaninthesenseindicated)。——
Brissot,\"Mémoires,\"passim。——BiographyofDantonbyRobinet。(SeethetestimonyofMadameRolandandofRousselindeSaint—Albin。)
[20]\"DiscoursdelaLanterne。\"Seetheepigraphoftheengraving。
[21]BuchezandRoux;III。55;articleofMarat,Octoberlst。
\"SweepallthesuspectedmenoutoftheH?tel—de—Ville……
Reducethedeputiesofthecommunestofifty;donotletthemremaininofficemorethanamonthorsixweeks,andcompelthemtotransactbusinessonlyinpublic。\"——AndII。412,anotherarticlebyMarat。——Ibid。III。21。AnarticlebyLoustalot。—C。
Desmoulins,\"DiscoursdelaLanterne,\"passim。——Bailly,II。326。
[22]Mounier,\"DescausesquiontempêchelesFran?aisd’êtrelibre,\"I。59。—Lally—Tollendal,secondletter,104。——
Bailly,II。203。
[23]DeBouillé,207。——Lally—Tollendal,ibid,141,146。——
Mounier,ibid。,41,60。
[24]MercuredeFrance,October2,1790(articleofMalletduPan:
\"Isawit\")。CriminalproceedingsattheChateletontheeventsofOctober5thand6th。DepositionofM。Feydel,adeputy,No。178。—
—DeMontlosier,i。259。——Desmoulins(LaLanterne)。\"Somemembersofthecommunesaregraduallywonoverbypensions,byplansformakingafortuneandbyflattery。Happily,theincorruptiblegalleriesarealwaysonthesideofthepatriots。TheyrepresentthetribunesofthepeopleseatedonabenchinattendanceonthedeliberationsoftheSenateandwhohadtheveto。Theyrepresentthemetropolisand,fortunately,itisunderthebatteriesofthemetropolisthattheconstitutionisbeingframed。\"(C。Desmoulins,simple—mindedpolitician,alwaysletthecatoutofthebag。)
[25]\"ProcédureduChatelet,\"Ibid。DepositionofM。Malouet(No。
111)。\"Ireceivedeveryday,aswellasMM。LallyandMounier,anonymouslettersandlistsofproscriptionsonwhichwewereinscribed。TheselettersannouncedapromptandviolentdeathtoeverydeputythatadvocatedtheauthorityoftheKing。\"
[26]BuchezandRoux,I。368,376。————Bailly,II。326,341。—
Mounier,ibid。,62,75。
[27]EtienneDumont,145。——CorrespondencebetweenComtedeMirabeauandComtedelaMarck。
[28]\"ProcédurecriminelleduChatelet,\"Deposition148。—BuchezandRoux,III。67,65。(NarrativeofDesmoulins,articleofLoustalot。)MercuredeFrance,numberforSeptember5,1789。
\"Sundayevening,August30,atthePalais—Royal,theexpulsionofseveraldeputiesofeveryclasswasdemanded,andespeciallysomeofthosefromDauphiny……TheyspokeofbringingtheKingtoParisaswellastheDauphin。Allvirtuouscitizens,everyincorruptiblepatriot,wasexhortedtosetoutimmediatelyforVersailles。\"
[29]Theseactsofviolencewerenotreprisals;nothingofthekindtookplaceatthebanquetofthebody—guards(October1st)。\"Amidstthegeneraljoy,\"saysaneye—witness,IheardnoinsultsagainsttheNationalAssembly,noragainstthepopularparty,noragainstanybody。Theonlycrieswere’ViveleRoi!VivelaReine!Wewilldefendthemtothedeath!’\"(MadamedeLarochejacquelein,p。40。—
Ibid。MadameCampan,anothereye—witness。)——Itappearstobecertain,however,thattheyoungermembersoftheNationalGuardatVersaillesturnedtheircockadessoastobelikeotherpeople,anditisalsoprobablethatsomeoftheladiesdistributedwhitecockades。Therestisastorymadeupbeforeandaftertheeventtojustifytheinsurrection。——Cf。Lerol,\"HistoiredeVersailles,\"
II。20—107。Ibid。p。141。\"Astothatproscriptionofthenationalcockade,allwitnessesdenyit。\"TheoriginatorofthecalumnyisGorsas,editoroftheCourrierdeVersailles。
[30]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions88,110,120,126,127,140,146,148。——Marmontel,\"Mémoires,\"aconversationwithChampfort,inMay,1789。——Morellet,\"Mémoires,\"I。398。
(AccordingtotheevidenceofGarat,Champfortgaveallhissavings,3,000livres,todefraytheexpensesofmaneuversofthisdescription。)——Malouet(II。2)。knewfourofthedeputies\"whotookdirectpartinthisconspiracy。\"
[31]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"1st。OntheFlemishsoldiers。Depositions17,20,24,35,87,89,98。——2nd。Onthemendisguisedaswomen。Depositions5,10,14,44,49,59,60,110,120,139,145,146,148。Theprosecutordesignatessixofthemtobeseized。——3rd。Ontheconditionofthewomenoftheexpedition。
Depositions35,83,91,98,146,and24。——4th。Onthemoneydistributed。Depositions49,56,71,82,110,126。
[32]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Deposition61。\"Duringthenightscenes,notverydecent,occurredamongthesepeople,whichthewitnessthoughtituselesstorelate。\"
[33]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions35,44,81。——
BuchezandRoux,III。120。(MinutesofthemeetingoftheCommune,October5th。)JournaldeParis,October12th。Afewdaysafter,M。
Pic,clerkoftheprosecutor,brought\"apackageof100,000francswhichhehadsavedfromtheenemies’hands,\"andanotherpackageofnoteswasfoundthrown,inthehubbub,intoareceipt—box。
[34]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions61,77,81,148,154。——Dumont,181。——Mounier,\"Exposéjustificatif,\"andspecially\"Faitrelatifàladernièreinsurrection。\"
[35]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Deposition168。ThewitnessseesonleavingtheKing’sapartment\"severalwomendressedasfish—wives,oneofwhom,withaprettyface,hasapaperinherhand,andwhoexclaimsassheholdsitup,’He!F……,wehaveforcedtheguytosign。’\"
[36]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions89,91,98。
\"Promisingall,evenraisingtheirpetticoatsbeforethem。\"
[37]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet,\"Depositions9,20,24,30,49,61,82,115,149,155。
[38]ProcédurecriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions7,30,35,40。—
—Cf。Lafayette,\"Mémoires,\"andMadameCampan,\"Mémoires。\"
[39]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Deposition24。Anumberofbutcher—boysrunafterthecarriagesissuingfromthePetite—Ecurieshoutingout,\"Don’tletthecursescape!\"
[40]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions101,91,89,and17。M。deMiomandre,abody—guard,mildlysaystotheruffiansmountingthestaircase:\"Myfriends,youloveyourKing,andyetyoucometoannoyhimeveninhispalace!\"
[41]Malouet,II。2。\"Ifeltnodistrust,\"saysLafayettein1798;
\"thepeoplepromisedtoremainquiet。\"
[42]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions9,16,60,128,129,130,139,158,168,170。——M。duRepaire,body—guard,beingsentryattherailingfromtwoo’clockinthemorning,amanpasseshispikethroughthebarssaying,\"Youembroideredb……,yourturnwillcomebeforelong。\"M。deRepaire,\"retireswithinthesentry—boxwithoutsayingawordtothisman,consideringtheordersthathavebeenissuednottoact。\"
[43]\"ProcédureCriminelleduChatelet。\"Depositions82,170——
MadameCampan。II。87。——DeLavalette,I。33。——Cf。BertranddeMolleville,Mémoires。\"
[44]Duval,\"SouvenirsdelaTerreur,\"I。78。(Doubtfulinalmosteverything,buthereheisaneye—witness。Hedinedoppositethehair—dresser’s,neartherailingoftheParkofSaint—Cloud。)——M。
deLally—Tollendal’ssecondlettertoafriend。\"AtthemomenttheKingenteredhiscapitalwithtwobishopsofhiscouncilwithhiminthecarriage,thecrywasheard,\"Offtothelamppostwiththebishops!\"
[45]DeMontlosier,I。303。——Moniteur,sessionsofthe8th,9th,and10thofOctober。——Malouet,II。9,10,20。——Mounier,RecherchessurlesCauses,etc。,\"and\"AddresseauxDauphinois。\"
[46]DeFerrières,I。346。(Onthe9thofOctober,300membershavealreadytakentheirpassports。)MercuredeFrance,No。ofthe17thOctober。CorrespondenceofMirabeauandM。delaMarck,I。116,126,364。
[47]CorrespondenceofMirabeauandM。delaMarck,I。175。(ThewordsofMonsieurtoM。delaMarck。)
BOOKSECOND。THECONSTITUENTASSEMBLY,ANDTHERESULTOFITS
LABORS。
CHAPTERI。
THECONSTITUENTASSEMBLY。—CONDITIONSREQUIREDFORTHEFRAMINGOF
GOODLAWS。
Amongthemostdifficultundertakingsinthisworldistheformulationofanationalconstitution,especiallyifthisistobeacompleteandcomprehensivework。Toreplacetheoldstructuresinsidewhichagreatpeoplehaslivedbyanew,different,appropriateanddurablesetoflaws,toapplyamoldofonehundredthousandcompartmentsontothelifeoftwenty—sixmillionpeople,toconstructitsoharmoniously,adaptitsowell,soclosely,withsuchanexactappreciationoftheirneedsandtheirfaculties,thattheyenteritofthemselvesandmoveaboutitwithoutcollisions,andthattheirspontaneousactivityshouldatoncefindtheeaseoffamiliarroutine,—isanextraordinaryundertakingandprobablybeyondthepowersofthehumanmind。Inanyevent,themindrequiresallitspowerstocarrytheundertakingout,anditcannotprotectitselfcarefullyenoughagainstallsourcesofdisturbanceanderror。AnAssembly,especiallyaConstituentAssembly,requires,outwardly,securityandindependence,inwardly,silenceandorder,andgenerally,calmness,goodsense,practicalabilityanddisciplineundercompetentandrecognizedleaders。DowefindanythingofallthisintheConstituentAssembly?
I。
TheseconditionsabsentintheAssembly—Causesofdisorderandirrationality—Theplaceofmeeting—Thelargenumberofdeputies—Interferenceofthegalleries—Rulesofprocedurewanting,defective,ordisregarded。—Theparliamentaryleaders—
Susceptibilityandover—excitementoftheAssembly—Itsparoxysmsofenthusiasm。—Itstendencytoemotion。—Itencouragestheatricaldisplay—Changeswhichthesedisplaysintroduceinitsgoodintentions。
Wehaveonlytolookatitoutwardlytohavesomedoubtsaboutit。
AtVersailles,andthenatParis,thesessionsareheldinanimmensehallcapableofseating2,000persons,inwhichthemostpowerfulvoicemustbestrainedinordertobeheard。Itisnotcalculatedforthemoderatetonesuitableforthediscussionofbusiness;thespeakerisobligedtoshout,andthestrainonthevoicecommunicatesitselftothemind;theplaceitselfsuggestsdeclamation;andthisallthemorereadilybecausetheassemblageconsistsof1,200,thatistosay,acrowd,andalmostamob。’Atthepresentday(1877),inourassembliesoffiveorsixhundreddeputies,thereareconstantinterruptionsandanincessantbuzz;
thereisnothingsorareasself—control,andthefirmresolvetogiveanhour’sattentiontoadiscourseopposedtotheopinionsofthehearers。——Whatcanbedoneheretocompelsilenceandpatience?ArthurYoungondifferentoccasionssees\"ahundredmembersontheflooratonce,\"shoutingandgesticulating。