\"Ontheappearanceofahussar,\"writesDesmoulins,\"theyshout,’TheregoesPunch!’andthestone—cuttersflingstonesathim。Lastnighttwoofficersofthehussars,MM。deSombreuilanddePolignac,cametothePalais—Royal……chairswereflungatthem,andtheywouldhavebeenknockeddowniftheyhadnotrunaway。Thedaybeforeyesterdaytheyseizedaspyofthepoliceandgavehimaduckinginthefountain。Theyranhimdownlikeastag,hustledhim,peltedhimwithstones,struckhimwithcanes,forcedoneofhiseyesoutofitssocket,andfinally,inspiteofhisentreatiesandcriesformercy,plungedhimasecondtimeinthefountain。Histormentslastedfromnoonuntilhalf—pastfiveo’clock,andhehadabouttenthousandexecutioners。\"——Considertheeffectofsuchafocalcenteratatimelikethis。Anewpowerhassprungupalongsidethelegalpowers,alegislatureofthehighwaysandpublicsquares,anonymous,irresponsible,withoutrestraint。Itisdrivenonwardbycoffeehousetheories,bystrongemotionsandthevehemenceofmountebanks,whilethebarearmswhichhavejustaccomplishedtheworkofdestructionintheFaubourgSaint—Antoine,formitsbodyguardandministerialcabinet。
V。
Popularmobsbecomeapoliticalforce。—PressureontheAssembly。—
Defectionofthesoldiery。
Thisisthedictatorshipofamob,anditsproceedings,conformingtoitsnature,consistinactsofviolence,whereveritfindsresistance,itstrikes。——ThepeopleofVersailles,inthestreetsandatthedoorsoftheAssembly,daily\"comeandinsultthosewhomtheycallaristocrats。\"[24]OnMonday,June22nd,\"d’Espréménilbarelyescapesbeingknockeddown;theAbbéMaury……oweshisescapetothestrengthofacuré,whotakeshimupinhisarmsandtosseshimintothecarriageoftheArchbishopofArles。\"Onthe23rd,\"theArchbishopofParisandtheKeeperoftheSealsarehooted,railedat,scoffedat,andderided,untiltheyalmostsinkwithshameandrage。\"Soformidableisthetempestofragewithwhichtheyaregreeted,thatPasseret,theKing’ssecretary,whoaccompaniestheminister,diesoftheexcitementthatveryday。Onthe24th,theBishopofBeauvaisisalmostknockeddownbyastonestrikinghimonthehead。Onthe25th,theArchbishopofParisissavedonlybythespeedofhishorses,themultitudepursuinghimandpeltinghimwithstones。Hismansionisbesieged,thewindowsareallshattered,and,notwithstandingtheinterventionoftheFrenchGuards,theperilissogreatthatheisobligedtopromisethathewilljointhedeputiesoftheThird—Estate。ThisisthewayinwhichtherudehandofthepeopleeffectsareunionoftheOrders。Itbearsasheavilyonitsownrepresentativesasonitsadversaries。\"Althoughourhallwasclosedtothepublic,\"saysBailly,\"therewerealwaysmorethansixhundredspectators。\"[25]
Thesewerenotrespectfulandsilent,butactiveandnoisy,minglingwiththedeputies,raisingtheirhandstovoteinallcases,takingpartinthedeliberations,bytheirapplauseandhisses:acollateralAssemblywhichoftenimposesitsownwillontheother。
Theytakenoteofandputdownthenamesoftheiropponents,transmitthemtothechair—bearersinattendanceattheentranceofthehall,andfromthemtothemobwaitingforthedepartureofthedeputies,thesenamesarefromnowconsideredasthenamesofpublicenemies。[26]Listsaremadeoutandprinted,and,atthePalais—
Royalintheevening,theybecomethelistsoftheproscribed。——
Itisunderthisbrutalpressurethatmanydecreesarepassed,and,amongstthem,thatbywhichthecommonsdeclarethemselvestheNationalAssemblyandassumesupremepower。Thenightbefore,Malouethadproposedtoascertain,byapreliminaryvote,onwhichsidethemajoritywas。Inaninstantallthoseagainsthadgatheredaroundhimtothenumberofthreehundred。\"Uponwhichamansspringsoutfromthegalleries,fallsuponhimandtakeshimbythecollarexclaiming,’Holdyourtongue,youfalsecitizen!’\"Malouetisreleasedandtheguardcomesforward,\"butterrorhasspreadthroughthehall,threatsareutteredagainstopponents,andthenextdaywewereonlyninety。\"Moreover,thelistsoftheirnameshadbeencirculated;someofthem,deputiesfromParis,wenttoseeBaillythatveryevening。Oneamongstthem,\"averyhonestmanandgoodpatriot,\"hadbeentoldthathishousewastobesetonfire。
Nowhiswifehadjustgivenbirthtoachild,andtheslightesttumultbeforethehousewouldhavebeenfatal。Suchargumentsaredecisive。Consequently,threedaysafterwards,attheTennis—court,butonedeputy,Martind’Auch,darestowritetheword\"opposing\"
afterhisname。Insultedbymanyofcolleagues,\"atoncedenouncedtothepeoplewhohadcollectedattheentranceofthebuilding,heisobligedtoescapebyasidedoortoavoidbeingcuttopieces,\"
and,forseveraldays,tokeepawayfromthemeetings。[27]—Owingtothisinterventionofthegalleriestheradicalminority,numberingaboutthirty,[28]leadthemajority,andtheydonotallowthemtofreethemselves。——Onthe28thofMay,Malouet,havingdemandedasecretsessiontodiscusstheconciliatorymeasureswhichtheKinghadproposed,thegallerieshootathim,andadeputy,M。
Bourche,addresseshiminveryplainterms。\"Youmustknow,sir,thatwearedeliberatinghereinthepresenceofourmasters,andthatwemustaccounttothemforouropinions。\"ThisisthedoctrineoftheContrat—Social。Throughtimidity,fearoftheCourtandoftheprivilegedclass,throughoptimismandfaithinhumannature,throughenthusiasmandthenecessityofadheringtopreviousactions,thedeputies,whoarenovices,provincial,andgivenuptotheories,neitherdarenorknowhowtoescapefromthetyrannyoftheprevailingdogma。——Henceforthitbecomesthelaw。AlltheAssemblies,theConstituent,theLegislative,theConvention,[29]
submittoitentirely。Thepublicinthegalleriesistheadmittedrepresentativesofthepeople,underthesametitle,andevenunderahighertitle,thanthedeputies。Now,thispublicisthatofthePalais—Royal,consistingofstrangers,idlers,loversofnovelties,Parisromancers,leadersofthecoffee—houses,thefuturepillarsoftheclubs,inshort,thewildenthusiastsamongthemiddle—class,justasthecrowdwhichthreatensdoorsandthrowsstonesisrecruitedfromamongthewildenthusiastsofthelowestclass。Thusbyaninvoluntaryselection,thefactionwhichconstitutesitselfapublicpoweriscomposedofnothingbutviolentmindsandviolenthands。Spontaneouslyandwithoutpreviousconcertdangerousfanaticsarejoinedwithdangerousbrutes,andintheincreasingdiscordbetweenthelegalauthoritiesthisistheillegalleaguewhichiscertaintooverthrowall。
Whenacommandinggeneralsitsincouncilwithhisstaff—officersandhiscounselors,anddiscussestheplanofacampaign,thechiefpublicinterestisthatdisciplineshouldremainintact,andthatintruders,soldiers,ormenials,shouldnotthrowtheweightoftheirturbulenceandthoughtlessnessintothescaleswhichhavetobecautiouslyandfirmlyheldbytheirchiefs。ThiswastheexpressdemandoftheGovernment;[30]butthedemandwasnotregarded;andagainstthepersistentusurpationofthemultitudenothingislefttoitbuttheemploymentofforce。Butforceitselfisslippingfromitshands,whilegrowingdisobedience,likeacontagion,afterhavinggainedthepeopleisspreadingamongthetroops。—Fromthe23rdofJune,[31]twocompaniesoftheFrenchGuardsrefusedtododuty。Confinedtotheirbarracks,theyonthe27thbreakout,andhenceforth\"theyareseeneveryeveningenteringthePalais—Royal,marchingindoublefile。\"Theyknowtheplacewell;itisthegeneralrendezvousoftheabandonedwomenwhoseloversandparasitestheyare。[32]\"Thepatriotsallgatheraroundthem,treatthemtoicecreamandwine,anddebauchtheminthefaceoftheirofficers。\"
——Tothis,moreover,mustbeaddedthefactthattheircolonel,M。
duChatelet,haslongbeenodioustothem,thathehasfatiguedthemwithforceddrills,worriedthemanddiminishedthenumberoftheirsergeants;thathesuppressedtheschoolfortheeducationofthechildrenoftheirmusicians;thatheusesthestickinpunishingthemen,andpicksquarrelswiththemabouttheirappearance,theirboard,andtheirclothing。Thisregimentislosttodiscipline:asecretsocietyhasbeenformedinit,andthesoldiershavepledgedthemselvestotheirensignsnottoactagainsttheNationalAssembly。ThustheconfederationbetweenthemandthePalais—Royalisestablished。——Onthe30thofJune,elevenoftheirleaders,takenofftotheAbbaye,writetoclaimtheirassistance。AyoungmanmountsachairinfrontoftheCaféFoyandreadstheirletteraloud;abandsetsoutontheinstant,forcesthegatewithasledge—hammerandironbars,bringsbacktheprisonersintriumph,givesthemafeastinthegardenandmountsguardaroundthemtopreventtheirbeingre—taken。——Whendisordersofthiskindgounpunished,ordercannotbemaintained;infact,onthemorningofthe14thofJuly,fiveoutofsixbattalionshaddeserted。——Astotheothercorps,theyarenobetterandarealsoseduced。
\"Yesterday,\"Desmoulinswrites,\"theartilleryregimentfollowedtheexampleoftheFrenchGuards,overpoweringthesentinelsandcomingovertominglewiththepatriotsinthePalais—Royal……Weseenothingbuttherabbleattachingthemselvestosoldierswhomtheychancetoencounter。’Allons,ViveleTiers—Etat!’andtheyleadthemofftoataverntodrinkthehealthoftheCommons。\"
DragoonstelltheofficerswhoaremarchingthemtoVersailles:\"Weobeyyou,butyoumaytelltheministersonourarrivalthatifweareorderedtousetheleastviolenceagainstourfellow—citizens,thefirstshotshallbeforyou。\"AttheInvalidestwentymen,orderedtoremovethecocksandramrodsfromthegunsstoredinathreatenedarsenal,devotesixhourstorenderingtwentygunsuseless;theirobjectistokeepthemintactforplunderandforthearmingofthepeople。
Inshort,thelargestportionofthearmyhasdeserted。Howeverkindasuperiorofficermightbe,thefactofhisbeingasuperiorofficersecuresforhimthetreatmentofanenemy。Thegovernor,\"M。deSombreuil,againstwhomthesepeoplecouldutternoreproach,\"willsoonseehisartilleristspointtheirgunsathisapartment,andwilljustescapebeinghungontheiron—railingsbytheirownhands。Thustheforcewhichisbroughtforwardtosuppressinsurrectiononlyservestofurnishitwithrecruits。Andevenworse,forthedisplayofarmsthatwasreliedontorestrainthemob,furnishedtheinstigationtorebellion。
VI。
July13thand14th1789。
Thefatalmomenthasarrived;itisnolongeragovernmentwhichfallsthatitmaygivewaytoanother;itisallgovernmentwhichceasestoexistinordertomakewayforanintermittentdespotism,forfactionsblindlyimpelledonbyenthusiasm,credulity,misery,andfear。[33]Likeatameelephantsuddenlybecomewildagain,themobthrowsoffitordinarydriver,andthenewguideswhoittoleratesperchedonitsneckaretheresimplyforshow。Infutureitwillmovealongasitpleases,freedfromcontrol,andabandonedtoitsownfeelings,instincts,andappetites。——Apparently,therewasnodesiretodomorethananticipateitsaberrations。TheKinghasforbiddenallviolence;thecommandersorderthetroopsnottofire;[34]buttheexcitedandwildanimaltakesallprecautionsforinsults;infuture,itintendstobeitsownconductor,and,tobegin,ittreadsitsguidesunderfoot。——Onthe12thofJuly,nearnoon,[35]onthenewsofthedismissalofNecker,acryofragearisesinthePalais—Royal;CamilleDesmoulins,mountedonatable,announcesthattheCourtmeditates\"aSt。Bartholomewofpatriots。\"
Thecrowdembracehim,adoptthegreencockadewhichhehasproposed,andobligethedancing—saloonsandtheaterstocloseinsignofmourning:theyhurryofftotheresidenceofCurtius,andtakethebustsoftheDukeofOrleansandofNeckerandcarrythemaboutintriumph。——Meanwhile,thedragoonsofthePrincedeLambesc,drawnuponthePlaceLouis—Quinze,findabarricadeofchairsattheentranceoftheTuileries,andaregreetedwithashowerofstonesandbottles。[36]Elsewhere,ontheBoulevard,beforetheH?telMontmorency,someoftheFrenchGuards,escapedfromtheirbarracks,firedonaloyaldetachmentofthe\"RoyalAllemand。\"—Thealarmbellissoundingonallsides,theshopswherearmsaresoldarepillaged,andtheH?tel—de—Villeisinvaded;
fifteenorsixteenwell—disposedelectors,whomeetthere,orderthedistrictstobeassembledandarmed。——Thenewsovereign,thepeopleinarmsandinthestreet,hasdeclaredhimself。
Thedregsofsocietyatoncecometothesurface。Duringthenightbetweenthe12thand13thofJuly,[37]\"allthebarriers,fromtheFaubourgSaint—AntoinetotheFaubourgSaint—Honoré,besidesthoseoftheFaubourgsSaint—MarcelandSaint—Jacques,areforcedandsetonfire。\"Thereisnolongeranoctroi;thecityiswithoutarevenuejustatthemomentwhenitisobligedtomaketheheaviestexpenditures;butthisisofnoconsequencetothemob,which,aboveallthings,wantstohavecheapwine。\"Ruffians,armedwithpikesandsticks,proceedinseveralpartiestogiveuptopillagethehousesofthosewhoareregardedasenemiestothepublicwelfare。\"
\"Theygofromdoortodoorcrying,’Armsandbread!’Duringthisfearfulnight,thebourgeoisiekeptthemselvesshutup,eachtremblingathomeforhimselfandthosebelongingtohim。\"Onthefollowingday,the13th,thecapitalappearstobegivenuptobanditsandthelowestofthelow。OneofthebandshewsdownthegateoftheLazarists,destroysthelibraryandclothes—presses,thepictures,thewindowsandlaboratory,andrushestothecellars;
whereitstavesinthecasksandgetsdrunk:twenty—fourhoursafterthis,aboutthirtyofthemarefounddeadanddying,drownedinwine,menandwomen,oneofthesebeingatthepointofchildbirth。
Infrontofthehouse[38]thestreetisfullofthewreckage,andofruffianswhoholdintheirhands,\"some,eatables,othersajug,forcingthepassers—bytodrink,andpouringoutwinetoallcomers。
Winerunsdownintothegutter,andthescentofitfillstheair;\"
itisadrinkingbout:meanwhiletheycarryawaythegrainandflourwhichthemonkskeptonhandaccordingtolaw,fifty—twoloadsofitbeingtakentothemarket。AnothertroopcomestoLaForce,todeliverthoseimprisonedfordebt;athirdbreaksintotheGardeMeuble,carryingawayvaluablearmsandarmour。MobsassemblebeforethehotelofMadamedeBreteuilandthePalais—Bourbon,whichtheyintendtoransack,inordertopunishtheirproprietors。M。deCrosne,oneofthemostliberalandmostrespectedmenofParis,but,unfortunatelyforhimselfalieutenantofthepolice,ispursued,escapingwithdifficulty,andhishotelissacked。——
Duringthenightbetweenthe13thand14thofMay,thebaker’sshopsandthewineshopsarepillaged;\"menofthevilestclass,armedwithguns,pikes,andturnspits,makepeopleopentheirdoorsandgivethemsomethingtoeatanddrink,aswellasmoneyandarms。\"
Vagrants,raggedmen,severalofthem\"almostnaked,\"and\"mostofthemarmedlikesavages,andofhideousappearance;\"theyare\"suchasonedoesnotremembertohaveseeninbroaddaylight;\"manyofthemarestrangers,comefromnobodyknowswhere。[39]Itisstatedthattherewere50,000ofthem,andthattheyhadtakenpossessionoftheprincipalguard—houses。
Duringthesetwodaysandnights,saysBailly,\"Parisrantheriskofbeingpillaged,andwasonlysavedfromthemaraudersbytheNationalGuard。\"Already,intheopenstreet,[40]\"thesecreaturestoreoffwomen’sshoesandearrings,\"andtherobberswerebeginningtohavefullsway。——Fortunatelythemilitiaorganizeditselfandtheprincipalinhabitantsandgentlemenenrolledthemselves;48,000
menareformedintobattalionsandcompanies;thebourgeoisiebuygunsofthevagabondsforthreelivresapiece,andsabersorpistolsfortwelvesous。Atlast,someoftheoffendersarehungonthespot,andothersdisarmed,andtheinsurrectionagainbecomespolitical。But,whateveritsobject,itremainsalwayswild,becauseitisinthehandsofthemob。Dusaulx,itspanegyrist,confesses[41]that\"hethoughthewaswitnessingthetotaldissolutionofsociety。\"Thereisnoleader,nomanagement。TheelectorswhohaveconvertedthemselvesintotherepresentativesofParisseemtocommandthecrowd,butitisthecrowdwhichcommandsthem。Oneofthem,Legrand,tosavetheH?tel—de—Ville,hasnootherresourcebuttosendforsixbarrelsofgun—powder,andtodeclaretotheassailantsthatheisabouttobloweverythingintotheair。Thecommandantwhomtheythemselveshavechosen,M。deSalles,hastwentybayonetsathisbreastduringaquarterofanhour,and,morethanonce,thewholecommitteeisnearbeingmassacred。Letthereaderimagine,onthepremiseswherethediscussionsaregoingon,andpetitionsarebeingmade,\"aconcourseoffifteenhundredmenpressedbyahundredthousandotherswhoareforcinganentrance,\"thewainscotingcracking,thebenchesupsetoneoveranother,theenclosureofthebureaupushedbackagainstthepresident’schair,atumultsuchastobringtomind’thedayofjudgment,\"thedeath—shrieks,songs,yells,and\"peoplebesidethemselves,forthemostpartnotknowingwheretheyarenorwhattheywant。\"——Eachdistrictisalsoapettycenter,whilethePalais—Royalisthemaincenter。Propositions,\"accusations,anddeputationstraveltoandfrofromonetotheother,alongwiththehumantorrentwhichisobstructedorrushesaheadwithnootherguidethanitsowninclinationandthechancesoftheway。Onewavegathershereandanotherthere,theirstrategyconsistinginpushingandinbeingpushed。Yet,theirentranceiseffectedonlybecausetheyareletin。IftheygetintotheInvalidesitisowingtotheconnivanceofthesoldiers。——AttheBastille,firearmsaredischargedfromteninthemorningtofiveintheeveningagainstwallsfortyfeethighandthirtyfeetthick,anditisbychancethatoneoftheirshotsreachesaninvalidonthetowers。Theyaretreatedthesameaschildrenwhomonewishestohurtaslittleaspossible。Thegovernor,onthefirstsummonstosurrender,ordersthecannontobewithdrawnfromtheembrasures;hemakesthegarrisonswearnottofireifitisnotattacked;heinvitesthefirstofthedeputationstolunch;heallowsthemessengerdispatchedfromtheH?tel—de—Villetoinspectthefortress;hereceivesseveraldischargeswithoutreturningthem,andletsthefirstbridgebecarriedwithoutfiringashot。[42]When,atlength,hedoesfire,itisatthelastextremity,todefendthesecondbridge,andafterhavingnotifiedtheassailantsthatheisgoingtodoso。Inshort,hisforbearanceandpatienceareexcessive,inconformitywiththehumanityofthetimes。Thepeople,inturn,areinfatuatedwiththenovelsensationsofattackandresistance,withthesmellofgunpowder,withtheexcitementofthecontest;alltheycanthinkofdoingistorushagainstthemassofstone,theirexpedientsbeingonalevelwiththeirtactics。Abrewerfanciesthathecansetfiretothisblockofmasonrybypumpingoveritspikenardandpoppy—seedoilmixedwithphosphorus。Ayoungcarpenter,whohassomearchaeologicalnotions,proposestoconstructacatapult。Someofthemthinkthattheyhaveseizedthegovernor’sdaughter,andwanttoburnherinordertomakethefathersurrender。Otherssetfiretoaprojectingmassofbuildingsfilledwithstraw,andthuscloseupthepassage。\"TheBastillewasnottakenbymainforce,\"saysthebraveElie,oneofthecombatants;\"itsurrenderedbeforeevenitwasattacked,\"[43]bycapitulation,onthepromisethatnoharmshouldbedonetoanybody。
Thegarrison,beingperfectlysecure,hadnolongerthehearttofireonhumanbeingswhilethemselvesriskingnothing,[44]and,ontheotherhand,theywereunnervedbythesightoftheimmensecrowd。Eightorninehundredmenonly[45]wereconcernedintheattack,mostofthemworkmenorshopkeepersbelongingtothefaubourg,tailors,wheelwrights,mercersandwine—dealers,mixedwiththeFrenchGuards。ThePlacedelaBastille,however,andallthestreetsinthevicinity,werecrowdedwiththecuriouswhocametowitnessthesight;\"amongthem,\"saysawitness,[46]\"wereanumberoffashionablewomenofverygoodappearance,whohadlefttheircarriagesatsomedistance。\"TothehundredandtwentymenofthegarrisonlookingdownfromtheirparapetsitseemedasthoughallParishadcomeoutagainstthem。Itisthey,also,wholowerthedrawbridgeanintroducetheenemy:everybodyhaslosthishead,thebesiegedaswellasthebesiegers,thelattermorecompletelybecausetheyareintoxicatedwiththesenseofvictory。Scarcelyhavetheyenteredwhentheybegintheworkofdestruction,andthelatestarrivalsshootatrandomthosethatcomeearlier;\"eachonefireswithoutheedingwhereoronwhomhisshottells。\"Suddenomnipotenceandthelibertytokillareawinetoostrongforhumannature;giddinessistheresult;menseered,andtheirfrenzyendsinferocity。
Forthepeculiarityofapopularinsurrectionisthatnobodyobeysanybody;thebadpassionsarefreeaswellasthegenerousones;
heroesareunabletorestrainassassins。Elie,whoisthefirsttoenterthefortress,Cholat,Hulin,thebravefellowswhoareinadvance,theFrenchGuardswhoarecognizantofthelawsofwar,trytokeeptheirwordofhonor;butthecrowdpressingonbehindthemknownotwhomtostrike,andtheystrikeatrandom。TheysparetheSwisssoldierswhohavefiredatthem,andwho,intheirbluesmocks,seemtothemtobeprisoners;ontheotherhand,bywayofcompensation,theyfallfuriouslyontheinvalideswhoopenedthegatestothem;themanwhopreventedthegovernorfromblowingupthefortresshashiswristseveredbytheblowofasaber,istwicepiercedwithaswordandishung,andthehandwhichhadsavedoneofthedistrictsofParisispromenadedthroughthestreetsintriumph。Theofficersaredraggedalongandfiveofthemarekilled,withthreesoldiers,onthespot,orontheway。Duringthelonghoursoffiring,themurderousinstincthasbecomearoused,andthewishtokill,changedintoafixedidea,spreadsafaramongthecrowdwhichhashithertoremainedinactive。Itisconvincedbyitsownclamor;ahueandcryisallthatitnowneeds;themomentonestrikes,allwanttostrike。\"Thosewhohadnoarms,\"saysanofficer,\"threwstonesatme;[47]thewomengroundtheirteethandshooktheirfistsatme。Twoofmymenhadalreadybeenassassinatedbehindme。IfinallygottowithinsomehundredsofpacesoftheH?tel—de—Ville,amidstageneralcrythatIshouldbehung,whenahead,stuckonapike,waspresentedtometolookat,whileat。thesamemomentIwastoldthatitwasthatofM。deLaunay,\"thegovernor。—Thelatter,ongoingout,hadreceivedthecutofaswordonhisrightshoulder;nreachingtheRueSaint—
Antoine\"everybodypulledhishairoutandstruckhim。\"UnderthearcadeofSaint—Jeanhewasalready\"severelywounded。\"Aroundhim,somesaid,\"hisheadoughttobestruckoff;\"others,\"lethimbehung;\"andothers,\"heoughttobetiedtoahorse’stail。\"Then,indespair,andwishingtoputanendtohistorments,hecriedout,\"Killme,\"and,instruggling,kickedoneofthemenwhoheldhiminthelowerabdomen。Ontheinstantheispiercedwithbayonets,draggedinthegutter,and,strikinghiscorpse,theyexclaim,\"He’sascurvywretch(galeux)andamonsterwhohasbetrayedus;thenationdemandshisheadtoexhibittothepublic,\"andthemanwhowaskickedisaskedtocutitoff。——Thisman,anunemployedcook,asimpletonwho\"wenttotheBastilletoseewhatwasgoingon,\"thinksthatasitisthegeneralopinion,theactispatriotic,andevenbelievesthathe\"deservesamedalfordestroyingamonster。\"Takingasaberwhichislenttohim,hestrikesthebareneck,butthedullsabernotdoingitswork,hetakesasmallblack—
handledknifefromhispocket,and,\"asinhiscapacityofcookheknowshowtocutmeat,\"hefinishestheoperationsuccessfully。
Then,placingtheheadontheendofathree—prongedpitchfork,andaccompaniedbyovertwohundredarmedmen,\"notcountingthemob,\"
hemarchesalong,and,intheRueSaint—Honoré,hehastwoinscriptionsattachedtothehead,toindicatewithoutmistakewhoseheaditis。——Theygrowmerryoverit:afterfilingalongsideofthePalais—Royal,theprocessionarrivesatthePont—Neuf,where,beforethestatueofHenryIV。,theybowtheheadthreetimes,saying,\"Salutethymaster!\"——Thisisthelastjoke:itistobefoundineverytriumph,andinsidethebutcher,wefindtherogue。
VII。
MurdersofFoulonandBerthier。
Meanwhile,atthePalais—Royal,otherbuffoons,whowiththelevityofgossipssportwithlivesasfreelyaswithwords,havedrawnu。
Duringthenightbetweenthe13thand14thofJuly,alistofproscriptions,copiesofwhicharehawkedabout。Careistakentoaddressoneofthemtoeachofthepersonsdesignated,theComted’Artois,MarshaldeBroglie,thePrincedeLambesc,BarondeBezenval,MM。deBreteuil,Foulon,Berthier,Maury,d’Espréménil,Lefèvred’Amécourt,andothersbesides。[48]ArewardispromisedtowhoeverwillbringtheirheadstotheCafédeCaveau。Herearenamesfortheunchainedmultitude;allthatnowisnecessaryisthatsomebandshouldencounteramanwhoisdenounced;hewillgoasfarasthelamppostatthestreetcorner,butnotbeyondit。—
Throughoutthedayofthe14th,thisimprovisedtribunalholdsapermanentsession,andfollowsupitsdecisionswithitsactions。
M。deFlesselles,provostofthemerchantsandpresidentoftheelectorsattheH?tel—de—Ville,havingshownhimselfsomewhatlukewarm,[49]thePalais—Royaldeclareshimatraitorandsendshimofftobehung。Onthewayayoungmanfellshimwithapistol—
shot,othersfalluponhisbody,whilehishead,borneuponapike,goestojointhatofM。deLaunay。——Equallydeadlyaccusationsandofequallyspeedyexecutionfloatintheairandfromeverydirection。\"Ontheslightestpretext,\"saysanelector,\"theydenouncedtousthosewhomtheythoughtopposedtotheRevolution,whichalreadysignifiedthesameasenemiesoftheState。Withoutanyinvestigation,therewasonlytalkoftheseizureoftheirpersons,theruinoftheirhomes,andtherazingoftheirhouses。
Oneyoungmanexclaimed:’Followmeatonce,letusstartoffatoncetoBezenval’s!’\"——Theirbrainsaresofrightened,andtheirmindssodistrustful,thatateverystepinthestreets\"one’snamehastobegiven,one’sprofessiondeclared,one’sresidence,andone’sintentions……OnecanneitherenternorleavePariswithoutbeingsuspectedoftreason。\"ThePrincedeMontbarrey,advocateofthenewideas,andhiswife,arestoppedintheircarriageatthebarrier,andareonthepointofbeingcuttopieces。Adeputyofthenobles,onhiswaytotheNationalAssembly,isseizedinhiscabandconductedtothePlacedeGrève;
thecorpseofM。deLaunayisshowntohim,andheistoldthatheistobetreatedinthesamefashion。—Everylifehangsbyathread,and,onthefollowingdays,whentheKinghadsentawayhistroops,dismissedhisMinisters,recalledNecker,andgrantedeverything,thedangerremainsjustasgreat。Themultitude,abandonedtotherevolutionariesandtoitself,continuesthesamebloodyantics,whilethemunicipalchiefs[50]whomithaselected,Bailly,MayorofParis,andLafayette,commandantoftheNationalGuard,areobligedtousecunning,toimplore,tothrowthemselvesbetweenthemultitudeandtheunfortunateswhomtheywishtodestroy。
Onthe15thofJuly,inthenight,awomandisguisedasamanisarrestedinthecourtoftheH?tel—de—Ville,andsomaltreatedthatshefaintsaway;Bailly,inordertosaveher,isobligedtofeignangeragainstherandhavehersentimmediatelytoprison。Fromthe14thtothe22ndofJuly,Lafayette,attheriskofhislife,saveswithhisownhandseventeenpersonsindifferentquarters。[51]——Onthe22ndofJuly,uponthedenunciationswhichmultiplyaroundParisliketrainsofgunpowder,twoadministratorsofhighrank,M。
Foulon,CouncillorofState,andM。Berthier,hisson—in—law,arearrested,onenearFontainebleau,andtheothernearCompiègne。M。
Foulon,astrictmaster,[52]butintelligentanduseful,expendedsixtythousandfrancsthepreviouswinteronhisestateingivingemploymenttothepoor。M。Berthier,anindustriousandcapableman,hadofficiallysurveyedandvaluedIle—de—France,toequalizethetaxes,andhadreducedtheoverchargedquotasfirstone—eighthandthenaquarter。ButbothofthesegentlemenhavearrangedthedetailsofthecampagainstwhichParishasrisen;botharepubliclyproscribedforeightdayspreviouslybythePalais—Royal,and,withapeoplefrightenedbydisorder,exasperatedbyhunger,andstupefiedbysuspicion,anaccusedpersonisaguiltyone。——WithregardtoFoulon,aswithRéveillon,astoryismadeup,coinedinthesamemint,asortofcurrencyforpopularcirculation,andwhichthepeopleitselfmanufacturesbycastingintoonetragicexpressionthesumofitssufferingsandranklingmemories:[53]\"Hesaidthatwewereworthnomorethanhishorses;andthatifwehadnobreadwehadonlytoeatgrass。\"——Theoldmanofseventy—fourisbroughttoParis,withatrussofhayonhishead,acollarofthistlesaroundhisneck,andhismouthstuffedwithhay。Invaindoestheelectoralbureauorderhisimprisonmentthathemaybesaved;thecrowdyellsout:\"Sentencedandhung!\"and,authoritatively,appointsthejudges。InvaindoesLafayetteinsistandentreatthreetimesthatthejudgmentberegularlyrendered,andthattheaccusedbesenttotheAbbaye。Anewwaveofpeoplecomesup,andoneman,\"welldressed,\"criesout:\"Whatistheneedofasentenceforamanwhohasbeencondemnedforthirtyyears?\"Fouloniscarriedoff;draggedacrossthesquare,andhungtothelamppost。
Thecordbreakstwice,andtwicehefallsuponthepavement。Re—
hungwithafreshcordandthencutdown,hisheadisseveredfromhisbodyandplacedontheendofapike。[54]Meanwhile,Berthier,sentawayfromCompiègnebythemunicipality,afraidtokeephiminhisprisonwherehewasconstantlymenaced,arrivesinacabrioletunderescort。Thepeoplecarryplacardsaroundhimfilledwithopprobriousepithets;inchanginghorsestheythrewhardblackbreadintothecarriage,exclaiming,\"There,wretch,seethebreadyoumadeuseat!\"OnreachingthechurchofSaint—Merry,afearfulstormofinsultsburstforthagainsthim。Heiscalledamonopolist,\"althoughhehadneverboughtorsoldagrainofwheat。\"Intheeyesofthemultitude,whohastoexplaintheevilascausedbysomeevil—doer,heistheauthorofthefamine。ConductedtotheAbbaye,hisescortisdispersedandheispushedovertothelamppost。
Then,seeingthatallislost,hesnatchesagunfromoneofhismurderersandbravelydefendshimself。Asoldierofthe\"RoyalCroats\"giveshimacutwithhissaberacrossthestomach,andanothertearsouthisheart。Asthecook,whohadcutofftheheadofM。deLaunay,happenstobeonthespot,theyhandhimthehearttocarrywhilethesoldierstakethehead,andbothgototheH?tel—
de—VilletoshowtheirtrophiestoM。deLafayette。OntheirreturntothePalais—Royal,andwhiletheyareseatedattableinatavern,thepeopledemandthesetworemains。Theythrowthemoutofthewindowandfinishtheirsupper,whilsttheheartismarchedaboutbelowinabouquetofwhitecarnations。——Sucharethespectacleswhichthisgardenpresentswhere,ayearbefore,\"goodsocietyinfulldress\"cameonleavingtheOperatochat,oftenuntiltwoo’clockinthemorning,underthemildlightofthemoon,listeningnowtotheviolinofSaint—Georges,andnowtothecharmingvoiceofGarat。
VIII。
Parisinthehandsofthepeople。
Henceforthitisclearthatnooneissafe:neitherthenewmilitianorthenewauthoritiessufficetoenforcerespectforthelaw。
\"Theydidnotdare,\"saysBailly,[55]\"opposethepeoplewho,eightdaysbeforethis,hadtakentheBastille。\"——Invain,afterthelasttwomurders,doBaillyandLafayetteindignantlythreatentowithdraw;theyareforcedtoremain;theirprotection,suchasitis,isallthatisleft,and,iftheNationalGuardisunabletopreventeverymurder,itpreventssomeofthem。Peopleliveastheycanundertheconstantexpectationoffreshpopularviolence。\"Toeveryimpartialman,\"saysMalouet,\"theTerrordatesfromthe14thofJuly\"。—Onthe17th,beforesettingoutforParis,theKingattendscommunionandmakeshiswillinanticipationofassassination。Fromthe16thtothe18th,twentypersonagesofhighrank,amongothersmostofthoseonwhoseheadsapriceissetbythePalais—Royal,leaveFrance:TheCountd’Artois,MarshaldeBroglie,thePrincesdeCondé,deConti,deLambesc,deVaudemont,theCountessdePolignac,andtheDuchessesdePolignacanddeGuiche。——Thedayfollowingthetwomurders,M。deCrosne,M。
Doumer,M。Sureau,themostzealousandmostvaluablemembersofthecommitteeonsubsistence,allthoseappointedtomakepurchasesandtotakecareofthestorehouses,concealthemselvesorfly。Ontheeveofthetwomurders,thenotariesofParis,beingmenacedwithariot,hadtoadvance45,000francswhichwerepromisedtotheworkmenoftheFaubourgSaint—Antoine;whilethepublictreasury,almostempty,isdrainedof30,000livresperdaytodiminishthecostofbread。——Personsandpossessions,greatandsmall,privateindividualsandpublicfunctionaries,theGovernmentitself,allisinthehandsofthemob。\"Fromthismoment,\"saysadeputy,[56]
\"libertydidnotexistevenintheNationalAssembly……Francestooddumbbeforethirtyfactiouspersons。TheAssemblybecameintheirhandsapassiveinstrument,whichtheyforcedtoservethemintheexecutionoftheirprojects。\"——Theythemselvesdonotlead,althoughtheyseemtolead。Thegreatbrute,whichhastakenthebitinitsmouth,holdsontoit,andit’splungingbecomesmoreviolent。Notonlydobothspurswhichmaddenedit,Imeanthedesireforinnovationandthedailyscarcityoffood,continuetoprickiton。Butalsothepoliticalhornetswhich,increasingbythousands,buzzarounditsears。Andthelicenseinwhichitrevelsforthefirsttime,joinedtotheapplauselavisheduponit,urgesitforwardmoreviolentlyeachday。Theinsurrectionisglorified。
Notoneoftheassassinsissoughtout。ItisagainsttheconspiracyofMinistersthattheAssemblyinstitutesaninquiry。
RewardsarebestowedupontheconquerorsoftheBastille;itisdeclaredthattheyhavesavedFrance。Allhonorsareawardedtothepeople—totheirgoodsense,theirmagnanimity,andtheirjustice。
Adorationispaidtothisnewsovereign:heispubliclyandofficiallytold,intheAssemblyandbythepress,thathepossesseseveryvirtue,allrightsandallpowers。Ifhespillsblooditisinadvertently,onprovocation,andalwayswithaninfallibleinstinct。Moreover,saysadeputy,\"thisblood,wasitsopure?\"
Thegreaternumberofpeopleprefersthetheoriesoftheirbookstotheexperienceoftheireyes;theypersistintheidyll,whichtheyhavefashionedforthemselves。Attheworsttheirdream,drivenoutfromthepresent,takesrefugeinthefuture。To—morrow,whentheConstitutioniscomplete,thepeople,madehappy,willagainbecomewise:letusendurethestorm,whichleadsusontosonobleaharbor。
Meanwhile,beyondtheKing,inertanddisarmed,beyondtheAssembly,disobeyedorsubmissive,appearstherealmonarch,thepeople—thatistosay,acrowdofahundred,athousand,ahundredthousandindividualsgatheredtogetheratrandom,onanimpulse,onanalarm,suddenlyandirresistiblymadelegislators,judges,andexecutioners。Aformidablepower,undefinedanddestructive,onwhichnoonehasanyhold,andwhich,withitsmother,howlingandmisshapenLiberty,sitsatthethresholdoftheRevolutionlikeMilton’stwospectersatthegatesofHell……BeforethegatestheresatOneithersideaformidableshape;
Theoneseem’dwomantothewaist,andfair,butendedfoulinmanyascalyfoldVoluminousandvast,aserpentarm’dWithmortalsting:abouthermiddleroundAcryofhellhoundsneverceasingbark’dWithwideCerbereanmouthsfullloud,andrungAhideouspeal:yet,whentheylist,wouldcreep,Ifaughtdisturb’dtheirnoise,intoherwomb,Andkennelthere;yettherestillbark’dandhowl’dWithinunseen……theothershape,Ifshapeitmightbecall’d,thatshapehadnoneDistinguishableinmember,joint,orlimb,Orsubstancemightbecall’dthatshadowseem’dForeachseem’deither:blackitstoodasnight,Fierceastenfuries,terribleashell,Andshookadreadfuldart;whatseem’dhisheadThelikenessofakinglycrownhadon。
******
Themonstermovingonwardcameasfast,Withhorridstrides;helltrembledashestrode。
Notes:
[1]\"ArchivesNationales,\"H。1453。LetterofM。Miron,lieutenantdepolice,April26th;ofM。JolydeFleury,procureur—général,May29th;ofMM。MarchaisandBerthier,April18thand27th,March23rd,April5th,May5th。—ArthurYoung,June10thand29th。\"ArchivesNationales,\"H。1453Letterofthesub—delegateofMontlhéry,April14th。
[2]\"ArchivesNationales,\"H。1453。Letterofthesub—delegateGobert,March17th;oftheofficersofpolice,June15th:——\"Onthe12th,13th,14thand15thofMarchtheinhabitantsofConflansgenerallyrebelledagainstthegamelawinrelationtotherabbit。\"
[3]Montjoie,2ndpart,ch。XXI。p。14(thefirstweekinJune)。
Montjoieisapartyman;buthegivesdatesanddetails,andhistestimony,whenitisconfirmedelsewhere,deserves,tobeadmitted。
[4]Montjoie,1stpart,92—101。—\"ArchivesNationales,\"H。
1453。LetteroftheofficerofpoliceofSaint—Denis:\"AgoodmanyworkmenarrivedailyfromLorraineaswellasfromChampagne,\"whichincreasestheprices。
[5]DeBezenval,\"Mémoires,\"I。353。Cf。\"TheAncientRegime,\"
p。509。—Marmontel,II,252andfollowingpages。—DeFerrières,I。407。
[6]ArthurYoung,September1st,1788
[7]Barrère,\"Mémoires,\"I。234。
[8]See,intheNationalLibrary,thelongcatalogueofthosewhichhavesurvived。
[9]Malouet,I。255。Bailly,I。43(May9thand19th)。——
D’Hezecques,\"Souvenirsd’unpagedeLouisXV。\"293。——DeBezenval,I。368。
[10]Marmontel,II,249。——Montjoie,1stpart,p。92。——DeBezenval,I。387:\"Thesespiesaddedthatpersonswereseenexcitingthetumultandweredistributingmoney。\"
[11]\"ArchivesNationales,\"Y。11441。InterrogatoryoftheAbbéRoy,May5th。——Y。11033,Interrogatory(April28thandMay4th)oftwenty—threewoundedpersonsbroughttotheH?tel—Dieu——Thesetwodocumentsareofprimeimportanceinpresentingthetrueaspectoftheinsurrection;tothesemustheaddedthenarrativeofM。deBezenval,whowascommandantatthistimewithM。deChatelet。
Almostallothernarrativesareamplifiedorfalsifiedthroughpartybias。
[12]DeFerrières,vol。III。noteA。(justificatoryexplanationbyRéveillon)。
[13]BaillyI。25(April26th)。
[14]Hippeau,IV。377(LettersofM。Perrot,April29th)。
[15]LettertotheKingbyaninhabitantoftheFaubourgSaint—
Antoine—\"Donotdoubt,sire,thatourrecentmisfortunesareduetothedearnessofbread\"
[16]Dampmartin,\"Evénementsquisesontpasséssousmesyeux,\"etc。
I。25:\"Weturnedbackandwereheldupbysmallbandsofscoundrels,whoinsolentlyproposedtoustoshout’ViveNecker!
ViveleTiers—Etat!’\"HistwocompanionswereknightsofSt。
Louis,andtheirbadgesseemedanobjectof\"increasinghatred。\"
\"Thebadgeexcitedcoarsemutterings,evenonthepartofpersonswhoappearedsuperiortotheagitators。\"
[17]Dampmartin,ibid。i。25:\"IwasdiningthisverydayattheH?teld’Ecquevilly,intheRueSaint—Louis。\"Heleavesthehouseonfootandwitnessesthedisturbance。\"FifteentoSixteenhundredwretches,theexcrementofthenation,degradedbyshamefulvices,coveredwithrags,andgorgedwithbrandy,presentedthemostdisgustingandrevoltingspectacle。Morethanahundredthousandpersonsofbothsexesandofallagesandconditionsinterferedgreatlywiththeoperationsofthetroops。Thefiringsooncommencedandbloodflowed:twoinnocentpersonswerewoundednearme。\"
[18]DeGoncourt,\"LaSociétéFran?aisependantlaRévolution。\"
Thirty—onegambling—housesarecountedhere,whileapamphletofthedayisentitled\"PétitiondesdeuxmillcentfillesduPalais—
Royal。\"
[19]Montjoie,2ndpart,144。——Bailly,II,130。
[20]ArthurYoung,June24th,1789。—Montjoie,2ndpart,69。
[21]ArthurYoung,June9th,24th,and26th。—\"LaFrancelibre,\"
passim,byC。Desmoulins。
[22]C。Desmoulins,letterstohisfather,andArthurYoung,June9th。
[23]Montjoie,2ndpart,69,77,124,144。C。Desmoulins,letter,ofJune24thandthefollowingdays。
[24]EtienneDumont,\"Souvenirs,\"p。72。—C。Desmoulins,letterof;June24th。—ArthurYoung,June25th。—BuchezandRoux,II。28。
[25]Bailly,I。227and179。—Monnier,\"Recherchessurlescauses,\"etc。I。289,291;II。61;——Malouet,I。299;II。10。
——\"ActesdesAp?tres,\"V。43。(LetterofM。deGuillermy,July31st,1790)。—Marmontel,I。28:\"ThepeoplecameevenintotheAssembly,toencouragetheirpartisans,toselectandindicatetheirvictims,andtoterrifythefeeblewiththedreadfultrialofopenballoting。\"
[26]ManuscriptlettersofM。Boullé,deputy,tothemunicipalauthoritiesofPontivy,fromMay1st,1789,toSeptember4th,1790
(communicatedbyM。Rosenzweig,archivistatVannes)。June16th,1789:\"Thecrowdgatheredaroundthehall……was,duringthesedays,from3,000to4,000persons。\"
[27]LettersofM。Boullé,June23rd。\"Howsublimethemoment,thatinwhichweenthusiasticallybindourselvestothecountrybyanewoath!……Whyshouldthismomentbeselectedbyoneofournumbertodishonorhimself?HisnameisnowblastedthroughoutFrance。Andtheunfortunatemanhaschildren!Suddenlyoverwhelmedbypubliccontemptheleaves,andfallsfaintingatthedoor,exclaiming,’Ah!thiswillbemydeath!’Idonotknowwhathasbecomeofhimsince。Whatisstrangeis,hehadnotbehavedbadlyuptothattime,andhevotedfortheConstitution。\"
[28]DeFerrières,I。168。—Malouet,I。298(accordingtohimthefactiondidnotnumbermorethantenmembers),——idemII。10。
—Dumont,250。
[29]\"Conventionnationale\"governedFrancefrom21stSeptember1792
untilOct。26th1796。Wedistinguishbetweenthreedifferentassemblies,\"laConventionGirondine\"1792—93,\"theMountain,\"1793—
94and\"laThermidorienne,from1794—1795。(SR)。
[30]DeclarationofJune23rd,article15。
[31]Montjoie,2ndpart,118。——C。Desmoulins,lettersofJune24thandthefollowingdays。AfaithfulnarrativebyM。deSainte—
Fère,formerlyanofficerintheFrenchGuard,p。9。——DeBezenval,III,413。—BuchezandRoux,II。35。——\"Souvenirs\",byPASQUIER
(Etienne—Dennis,duc),chancelierdeFrance。inVIvolumes,LibrariePlon,Paris1893……
[32]Peuchet(\"EncyclopédieMéthodique,\"1789,quotedbyParentDuchatelet):\"AlmostallofthesoldiersoftheGuardbelongtothatclass(theprocurersofpublicwomen):many,indeed,onlyenlistinthecorpsthattheymayliveattheexpenseoftheseunfortunates。\"
[33]GouverneurMorris,\"Libertyisnowthegeneralcry;authorityisanameandnolongerareality。\"(CorrespondencewithWashington,July19th。)
[34]Bailly。I。302。\"TheKingwasverywell—disposed;hismeasureswereintendedonlytopreserveorderandthepublicpeace……DuChateletwasforcedbyfactstoacquitM。deBezenvalofattemptsagainstthepeopleandthecountry。\"——Cf。Marmontel,IV。183;Mounier,II,40。
[35]Desmoulins,letterofthe16thJuly。BuchezandRoux,II。83。
[36]TrialofthePrincedeLambesc(Paris,1790),withtheeighty—
threedepositionsandthediscussionofthetestimony。—Itisthecrowdwhichbegantheattack。Thetroopsfiredintheair。Butoneman,asieurChauvel,waswoundedslightlybythePrincedeLambesc。
(TestimonyofM。Carboire,p。84,andofCaptaindeReinack,p。
101。)\"M。lePrincedeLambesc,mountedonagrayhorsewithagraysaddlewithoutholstersorpistols,hadscarcelyenteredthegardenwhenadozenpersonsjumpedatthemaneandbridleofhishorseandmadeeveryefforttodraghimoff。Asmallmaningrayclothesfiredathimwithapistol……Theprincetriedhardtofreehimself,andsucceededbymakinghishorserearupandbyflourishinghissword;without,however,uptothistime,woundinganyone……Hedeposesthathesawtheprincestrikeamanontheheadwiththeflatofhissaberwhowastryingtoclosetheturning—bridge,whichwouldhavecutofftheretreatofhistroopsThetroopsdidnomorethantrytokeepoffthecrowdwhichassailedthemwithstones,andevenwithfirearms,fromthetopoftheterraces。\"——Themanwhotriedtoclosethebridgehadseizedtheprince’shorsewithonehand;thewoundhereceivedwasascratchabout23lineslong,whichwasdressedandcuredwithabandagesoakedinbrandy。Allthedetailsoftheaffairprovethatthepatienceandhumanityoftheofficer,wereextreme。Nevertheless\"onthefollowingday,the13th,someonepostedawrittenplacardonthecrossingBussyrecommendingthecitizensofParistoseizetheprinceandquarterhimatonce。\"——(DepositionofM。Cosson,p。114。
[37]Bailly,I。3,6。——Marmontel,IV。310
[38]Montjoie,part3,86。\"ItalkedwiththosewhoguardedthechateauoftheTuileries。TheydidnotbelongtoParis……A
frightfulphysiognomyandhideousapparel。\"Montjoie,nottobetrustedinmanyplaces,meritsconsultationforlittlefactsofwhichhewasaneye—witness。——Morellet,\"Mémoires,\"I。374。—
Dusaulx,\"L’?uvredesseptjours,\"352。—RevueHistorique,\"
March,1876。InterrogatoryofDesnot。Hisoccupationduringthe13thofJuly(publishedbyGuiffrey)。
[39]MathieuDumas,\"Mémoires,\"I。531。\"Peaceablepeoplefledatthesightofthesegroupsofstrange,franticvagabonds。Everybodyclosedtheirhouses……WhenIreachedhome,intheSaint—
Denisquarter,severalofthesebrigandscausedgreatalarmbyfiringoffgunsintheair。\"
[40]Dusaulx,379。
[41]Dusaulx,359,360,361,288,336。\"Ineffecttheirentreatiesresembledcommands,and,morethanonce,itwasimpossibletoresistthem。\"
[42]Dusaulx,447(Depositionoftheinvalides)。——\"RevueRétrospective,\"IV。282(Narrativeofthecommanderofthethirty—
twoSwissGuards)。
[43]Marmontel,IV。317。
[44]Dusaulx,454。\"Thesoldiersrepliedthattheywouldacceptwhateverhappenedratherthancausethedestructionofsogreatanumberoftheirfellow—citizens。\"
[45]Dusaulx,447。Thenumberofcombatants,maimed,wounded,dead,andliving,is825。——Marmontel,IV。320。\"Tothenumberofvictors,whichhasbeencarriedupto800,peoplehavebeenaddedwhowereneverneartheplace。\"
[46]\"Memoires\",byPASQUIER(Etienne—Dennis,duc,1767—1862),chancelierdeFrance。inVIvolumes,LibrariePlon,Paris1893。
Vol。I。p。52。Pasquierwaseye—witness。HeleanedagainstthefenceoftheBeaumarchaisgardenandlookedon,withmademoiselleContat,theactress,athisside,whohadlefthercarriageinthePlace—
Royale。——Marat,\"L’amidupeuple,\"No。530。\"Whenanunheard—ofconjunctionofcircumstanceshadcausedthefallofthebadlydefendedwallsoftheBastille,undertheeffortsofahandfulofsoldiersandatroopofunfortunatecreatures,mostofthemGermansandalmostallprovincials,theParisianspresentedthemselvesthefortress,curiosityalonehavingledthemthere。\"
[47]Narrativeofthecommanderofthethirty—twoSwiss。——
NarrativeofCholat,wine—dealer,oneofthevictors。——
ExaminationofDesnot(whocutofftheheadofM。deLaunay)。
[48]Montjoie,part3,85。——Dusaulx,355,287,368。
[49]Nothingmore。NoWitnessstatesthathehadseenthepretendednotetoM。doLaunay。AccordingtoDusaulx,hecouldnothavehadeitherthetimeorthemeanstowriteit。
[50]Bailly,II。32,74,88,90,95,108,117,137,158,174。\"I
gaveorderswhichwereneitherobeyednorlistenedto……
TheygavemetounderstandthatIwasnotsafe。\"(July15th。)\"Inthesesadtimesoneenemyandonecalumniousreportsufficedtoexcitethemultitude。Allwhohadformerlyheldpower,allwhohadannoyedorrestrainedtheinsurrectionists,weresureofbeingarrested。\"
[51]M。deLafayette,\"Mémoires,\"III。264。LetterofJuly16th,1789。\"Ihavealreadysavedthelivesofsixpersonswhomtheywerehangingindifferentquarters。\"
[52]Poujoulat。\"HistoiredelaRévolutionFran?aise,\"p。100(withsupportingdocuments)。Procès—verbauxoftheProvincialAssembly,lle—de—France(1787),p。127。
[53]Forinstance:\"Heisseverewithhispeasants。\"——\"Hegivesthemnobread,andhewantsthemthentoeatgrass。\"\"Hewantsthemtoeatgrasslikehorses。\"——\"Hehassaidthattheycouldverywelleathay,andthattheyarenobetterthanhorses。\"——Thesamestoryisfoundinmanyofthecontemporaryjacqueries。
[54]Bailly,II。108。\"Thepeople,lessenlightenedandasimperiousasdespots,recognizenopositivesignsofgoodadministrationbutsuccess。\"
[55]Bailly,II,108,95。—Malouet,II,14。
[56]DeFerrières,I。168。
CHAPTERIII。
I。
AnarchyfromJuly14thtoOctober6th,1789。—DestructionoftheGovernment。—Towhomdoesrealpowerbelong?
Howeverbadaparticulargovernmentmaybe,thereissomethingstillworse,andthatisthesuppressionofallgovernment。For,itisowingtogovernmentthathumanwillsformaharmonyinsteadofchaos。Itservessocietyasthebrainservesalivingbeing。
Incapable,inconsiderate,extravagant,engrossing,itoftenabusesitsposition,overstrainingormisleadingthebodyforwhichitshouldcare,andwhichitshoulddirect。But,takingallthingsintoaccount,whateveritmaydo,moregoodthanharmisdone,forthroughitthebodystandserect,marchesonandguidesitssteps。
Withoutitthereisnoorganizeddeliberateaction,serviceabletothewholebody。Initalonedowefindthecomprehensiveviews,knowledgeofthemembersofwhichitconsistsandoftheiraims,anideaofoutwardrelationships,fullandaccurateinformation,inshort,thesuperiorintelligencewhichconceiveswhatisbestforthecommoninterests,andadaptsmeanstoends。Ifitfaltersandisnolongerobeyed,ifitisforcedandpushedfromwithoutbyaviolentpressure,itceasestocontrolpublicaffairs,andthesocialorganizationretrogradesbymanysteps。Throughthedissolutionofsociety,andtheisolationofindividuals,eachmanreturnstohisoriginalfeeblestate,whilepowerisvestedinpassingaggregatesthatlikewhirlwindsspringupfromthehumandust。——Onemaydivinehowthispower,whichthemostcompetentfinditdifficulttoapplyproperly,isexercisedbybandsofmenspringingoutofnowhere。Itisamatterofsupplies,oftheirpossessions,priceanddistribution。Itisamatteroftaxes,itsproportion,apportionmentandcollection;ofprivateproperty,itsvarieties,rights,andlimitationsItisaproblemofpublicauthority,itsallocationanditslimits;ofallthosedelicatecogwheelswhich,workingintoeachother,constitutethegreateconomic,social,andpoliticalmachine。Eachbandinitsowncantonlaysitsrudehandsonthewheelswithinitsreach。Theywrenchorbreakthemhaphazardly,undertheimpulseofthemoment,heedlessandindifferenttoconsequences,evenwhenthereactionofto—morrowcrushesthemintheruinthattheycausetoday。ThusdounchainedNegroes,eachpullingandhaulinghisownway,undertaketomanageashipofwhichtheyhavejustobtainedmastery。——Insuchastateofthingswhitemenarehardlyworthmorethanblackones。For,notonlyistheband,whoseaimisviolence,composedofthosewhoaremostdestitute,mostwildlyenthusiastic,andmostinclinedtodestructivenessandtolicense。Butalso,asthisbandtumultuouslycarriesoutitsviolentaction,eachindividualthemostbrutal,themostirrational,andmostcorrupt,descendslowerthanhimself,eventothedarkness,themadness,andthesavageryofthedregsofsociety。Infact,amanwhointheinterchangeofblows,wouldresisttheexcitementofmurder,andnotusehisstrengthlikeasavage,mustbefamiliarwitharms。Hemustbeaccustomedtodanger,becool—blooded,alivetothesentimentofhonor,andaboveall,sensitivetothatsternmilitarycodewhich,totheimaginationofthesoldier,everholdsouttohimtheprovost’sgibbettowhichheissuretorise,shouldhestrikeoneblowtoomany。Shouldalltheserestraints,inwardaswellasoutward,bewanting,themanplungesintoinsurrection。Heisanoviceintheactsofviolence,whichhecarriesout。Hehasnofearofthelaw,becauseheabolishesit。Theactionbeguncarrieshimfurtherthanheintendedtogo。Perilandresistanceexasperatehisanger。Hecatchesthefeverfromcontactwiththosewhoarefevered,andfollowsrobberswhohavebecomehiscomrades。[1]Addtothistheclamors,thedrunkenness,thespectacleofdestruction,thenervoustremorofthebodystrainedbeyonditspowersofendurance,andwecancomprehendhow,fromthepeasant,thelaborer,andthebourgeois,pacifiedandtamedbyanoldcivilization,weseeallofasuddenspringforththebarbarian。Orstillworse,theprimitiveanimal,thegrinning,sanguinary,wantonbaboon,whogiggleswhileheslays,andgambolsovertheruinhehasaccomplished。SuchistheactualgovernmenttowhichFranceisgivenup,andaftereighteenmonths’experience,thebestqualified,mostjudiciousandprofoundestobserveroftheRevolutionwillfindnothingtocompareittobuttheinvasionoftheRomanEmpireinthefourthcentury。[2]\"TheHuns,theHeruli,theVandals,andtheGothswillcomeneitherfromthenorthnorfromtheBlackSea;theyareinourverymidst。\"
II。
Theprovinces。—DestructionofoldAuthorities。—InadequacyofnewAuthoritiesWheninabuildingtheprincipalbeamgivesway,cracksfollowandmultiply,andthesecondaryjoistsfallinonebyoneforlackoftheprop,whichsupportedthem。InasimilarmannertheauthorityoftheKingbeingbroken,allthepowers,whichhedelegated,falltotheground。[3]Intendants,parliaments,militarycommands,grandprovosts,administrative,judicial,andpolicefunctionariesineveryprovince,andofeverybranchoftheservice,whomaintainorderandprotectproperty,taughtbythemurderofM。deLauney,theimprisonmentofM。deBesenval,theflightofMarshaldeBroglie,theassassinationsofFoullonandBertier,knowwhatitcostsshouldtheytrytoperformtheirduties。Shoulditbeforgottenlocalinsurrectionsintervene,andkeeptheminmindofit。
TheofficerincommandinBurgundyisaprisoneratDijon,withaguardathisdoor;andheisnotallowedtospeakwithanyonewithoutpermission,andwithoutthepresenceofwitnesses。[4]TheCommandantofCaenisbesiegedintheoldpalaceandcapitulates。
TheCommandantofBordeauxsurrendersChateau—Trompettewithitsgunsandequipment。TheCommandantatMetz,whoremainsfirm,sufferstheinsultsandtheordersofthepopulace。TheCommandantofBrittanywandersabouthisprovince\"likeavagabond,\"whileatRenneshispeople,furniture,andplatearekeptaspledges。AssoonashesetsfootinNormandyheissurrounded,andasentinelisplacedathisdoor。——TheIntendantofBesan?ontakestoflight;
thatofRouenseeshisdwellingsackedfromtoptobottom,andescapesamidtheshoutsofamobdemandinghishead。—AtRennes,theDeanoftheParliamentisarrested,maltreated,keptinhisroomwithaguardoverhim,andthen,althoughill,sentoutofthetownunderanescort。——AtStrasbourg\"thirty—sixhousesofmagistratesaremarkedforpillage。\"[5]——AtBesan?on,thePresidentoftheParliamentisconstrainedtoletoutofprisontheinsurgentsarrestedinalateout—break,andtopubliclyburnthewholeofthepapersbelongingtotheprosecution。—InAlsace,sincethebeginningofthetroubles,theprovostswereobligedtofly,thebailiffsandmanorialjudgeshidthemselves,theforest—inspectorsranaway,andthehousesoftheguardsweredemolished。Oneman,sixtyyearsofage,isoutrageouslybeatenandmarchedaboutthevillage,thepeople,meanwhile,pullingouthishair;nothingremainsofhisdwellingbutthewallsandaportionoftheroof。
Allhisfurnitureandeffectsarebrokenup,burntorstolen。Heisforcedtosign,alongwithhiswife,anactbywhichhebindshimselftorefundallpenaltiesinflictedbyhim,andtoabandonallclaimsfordamagesfortheinjuriestowhichhehasjustbeensubjected。——InFranche—Comtétheauthoritiesdarenotcondemndelinquents,andthepolicedonotarrestthem;themilitarycommandantwritesthat\"crimesofeverykindareontheincrease,andthathehasnomeansofpunishingthem。\"Insubordinationispermanentinalltheprovinces;oneoftheprovincialcommissionsstateswithsadness:
\"Whenallpowersareinconfusionandannihilated,whenpublicforcenolongerexists,whenalltiesaresundered,wheneveryindividualconsidershimselfrelievedfromallkindsofobligation,whenpublicauthoritynolongerdaresmakeitselffelt,anditisacrimetohavebeenclothedwithit,whatcanbeexpectedofoureffortstorestoreorder?\"[6]
AllthatremainsofthisgreatdemolishedStateisfortythousandgroupsofpeople,eachseparatedandisolated,intownsandsmallmarketvillageswheremunicipalbodies,electedcommittees,andimprovisedNationalGuardsstrivetopreventtheworstexcesses。——
Buttheselocalchiefsarenovices;theyarehuman,andtheyaretimid。Chosenbyacclamationtheybelieveinpopularrights;inthemidstofriotstheyfeelthemselvesindanger。Hence,theygenerallyobeythecrowd。
\"Rarely,\"saysoneoftheprovincialcommissionsreports,\"dothemunicipalauthoritiesissueasummons;theyallowthegreatestexcessesratherthanenteruponprosecutionsforwhich,soonerorlater,theymaybeheldresponsiblebytheirfellow—citizens……Municipalbodieshavenolongerthepowertoresistanything。\"
Especiallyintheruraldistrictsthemayororsyndic,whoisafarmer,makesithisfirstaimtomakenoenemies,andwouldresignhisplaceifitweretobringhimany\"unpleasantness\"withit。Hisruleinthetowns,andespeciallyinlargecities,isalmostaslaxandmoreprecarious,becauseexplosivematerialisaccumulatedheretoamuchlargerextent,andthemunicipalofficers,intheirarm—
chairsatthetown—hall,sitoveraminewhichmayexplodeatanytime。To—morrow,perhaps,someresolutionpassedatataverninthesuburbs,orsomeincendiarynewspaperjustreceivedfromParis,willfurnishthespark。—NootherdefenseagainstthepopulaceisathandthanthesentimentalproclamationsoftheNationalAssembly,theuselesspresenceoftroopswhostandbyandlookon,andtheuncertainhelpofaNationalGuardwhichwillarrivetoolate。
Occasionallythesetownspeople,whoarenowtherulers,utteracryofdistressfromunderthehandsofthesovereignsofthestreetwhograspthembythethroat。AtPuy—en—Velay,[7]atownoftwentythousandinhabitants,theprésidial,[8]thecommitteeoftwenty—fourcommissioners,abodyoftwohundreddragoons,andeighthundredmenoftheguardofburgesses,are\"paralyzed,andcompletelystupefied,bythevilepopulace。Amildtreatmentonlyincreasesitsinsubordinationandinsolence。\"Thispopulaceproscribeswhomsoeveritpleases,andsixdaysagoagibbet,erectedbyitshands,hasannouncedtothenewmagistratesthefatethatawaitsthem。
\"Whatwillbecomeofusthiswinter,\"theyexclaim,\"inourimpoverishedcountry,wherebreadisnottobehad!Weshallbethepreyofwildbeasts!\"
III。
Publicfeeling。—FamineThesepeople,intruth,arehungry,and,sincetheRevolution,theirmiseryhasincreased。AroundPuy—en—Velaythecountryislaidwaste,andthesoilbrokenupbyaterribletempest,afiercehailstorm,andadelugeofrain。Inthesouth,thecropprovedtobemoderateandeveninsufficient。
\"TotraceapictureoftheconditionofLanguedoc,\"writestheintendant,[9]\"wouldbetogiveanaccountofcalamitiesofeverydescription。Thepanicwhichprevailsinallcommunities,andwhichisstrongerthanalllaws,stopstraffic,andwouldcausefamineeveninthemidstofplenty。Commoditiesareenormouslyexpensive,andthereisalackofcash。Communitiesareruinedbytheenormousoutlaystowhichtheyareexposed:Thepaymentofthedeputiestotheseneschal’scourt,theestablishmentoftheburgessguards,guardhousesforthismilitia,andthepurchaseofarms,uniforms,andoutlaysinformingcommunesandpermanentcouncils。Tothismustbeaddthecostoftheprintingofallkinds,andthepublicationoftrivialdeliberations。Furtherthelossoftimeduetodisturbancesoccasionedbythesecircumstances,andtheutterstagnationofmanufacturesandoftrade。\"Allthesecausescombined\"havereducedLanguedoctothelastextremity。\"—
IntheCenter,andintheNorth,wherethecropsaregood,provisionsarenotlessscarce,becausewheatisnotputincirculation,andiskeptconcealed。
\"Forfivemonths,\"writesthemunicipalassemblyofLouviers,[10]
\"notafarmerhasmadehisappearanceinthemarketsofthistown。
Suchacircumstancewasneverknownbefore,although,fromtimetotime,highpriceshaveprevailedtoaconsiderableextent。Onthecontrary,themarketswerealwayswellsuppliedinproportiontothehighpriceofgrain。\"
Invainthemunicipalityordersthesurroundingforty—sevenparishestoprovidethemwithwheat。Theypaynoattentiontothemandate;eachforhimselfandeachforhisownhouse;theintendantisnolongerpresenttocompellocalintereststogivewaytopublicinterests。
\"Inthewheatdistrictsaroundus,\"saysaletterfromoneoftheBurgundytowns,\"wecannotrelyonbeingabletomakefreepurchases。Specialregulations,supportedbythecivicguard,preventgrainfrombeingsentout,andputastoptoitscirculation。Theadjacentmarketsareofnousetous。Notasackofgrainhasbeenbroughtintoourmarketforabouteightmonths。\"
AtTroyes,breadcostsfoursousperpound,atBar—sur—Aube,andinthevicinity,fourandahalfsousperpound。Theartisanwhoisoutofworknowearnstwelvesousadayatthereliefworks,and,ongoingintothecountry,heseesthatthegraincropisgood。Whatconclusioncanhecometobutthatthedearthisduetothemonopolists,andthat,ifheshoulddieofhunger,itwouldbebecausethosescoundrelshavestarvedhim?——Byvirtueofthisreasoningwhoeverhastodowiththeseprovisions,whetherproprietor,farmer,merchantoradministrator,allareconsideredtraitors。Itisplainthatthereisaplotagainstthepeople:thegovernment,theQueen,theclergy,thenoblesareallpartiestoit;
andlikewisethemagistratesandthewealthyamongstthebourgeoisieandtherich。ArumoriscurrentintheIle—de—FrancethatsacksofflourarethrownintotheSeine,andthatthecavalryhorsesarepurposelymadetoeatunripewheatinstalk。InBrittany,itismaintainedthatgrainisexportedandstoredupabroad。InTouraine,itiscertainthatthisorthatwholesaledealerallowsittosproutinhisgranariesratherthansellit。AtTroyes,astoryprevailsthatanotherhaspoisonedhisflourwithalumandarsenic,commissionedtodosobythebakers。——Conceivetheeffectofsuspicionsliketheseuponasufferingmultitude!Awaveofhatredascendsfromtheemptystomachtothemorbidbrain。Thepeopleareeverywhereinquestoftheirimaginaryenemies,plungingforwardwithclosedeyesnomatteronwhomoronwhat,notmerelywithalltheweightoftheirmass,butwithalltheenergyoftheirfury。
IV。
Panic。—Generalarming。
>Fromtheearliestoftheseweekstheywerealreadyalarmed。
Accustomedtobeingled,thehumanherdisscaredatbeinglefttoitself;itmissesitsleaderswhoithastroddenunderfoot;inthrowingofftheirtrammelsithasdepriveditselfoftheirprotection。Itfeelslonely,inanunknowncountry,exposedtodangersofwhichitisignorant,andagainstwhichitisunabletoguarditself。Nowthattheshepherdsareslainordisarmed,supposethewolvesshouldunexpectedlyappear!—Andtherearewolves—I
meanvagabondsandcriminals—whohavebutjustissuedoutofthedarkness。Theyhaverobbedandburned,andaretobefoundateveryinsurrection。Nowthatthepoliceforcenolongerputsthemdown,theyshowthemselvesinsteadofkeepingthemselvesconcealed。Theyhaveonlytolieinwaitandcomeforthinaband,andbothlifeandpropertywillbeattheirmercy。—Deepanxiety,avaguefeelingofdread,spreadsthroughbothtownandcountry:towardstheendofJulythepanic,likeablinding,suffocatingwhirlofdusts,suddenlysweepsoverhundredsofleaguesofterritory。Thebrigandsarecoming!Theyareburningthecrops!Theyareonlysixleaguesoff,andthenonlytwo—therefugeeswhohaverunawayfromthedisorderproveit。