Atthefirstsessionthemembersofthenobilityandtheclergywerecovered，accordingtotheprerogativesoftheirclass，beforetheking。ThoseoftheThirdEstatewishedtoimitatethem，buttheprivilegedmembersprotested。Onthefollowingdaymoreprotestsofwoundedself—lovewereheard。ThedeputiesoftheThirdEstateinvitedthoseofthenobilityandtheclergywhoweresittinginseparatehallstojointhemfortheverificationoftheirpowers。Thenoblesrefused。Thenegotiationslastedmorethanamonth。Finally，thedeputiesoftheThirdEstate，onthepropositionoftheAbbeSieyes，consideringthattheyrepresented95percent。ofthenation，declaredthemselvesconstitutedasaNationalAssembly。FromthatmomenttheRevolutionpursueditscourse。
3。TheConstituentAssembly。
Thepowerofapoliticalassemblyresides，aboveall，intheweaknessofitsadversaries。Astonishedbytheslightresistanceencountered，andcarriedawaybytheascendancyofahandfuloforators，theConstituentAssembly，fromitsearliestsessions，spokeandactedasasovereignbody。Notablyitarrogatedtoitselfthepowerofdecreeingimposts，aseriousencroachmentupontheprerogativesoftheroyalpower。
TheresistanceofLouisXVI。wasfeebleenough。HesimplyhadthehallinwhichtheStatesassembledclosed。Thedeputiesthenmetinthehallofthetennis—court，andtooktheoaththattheywouldnotseparateuntiltheConstitutionofthekingdomwasanestablishedfact。
Themajorityofthedeputiesoftheclergywentwiththem。ThekingrevokedthedecisionoftheAssembly，andorderedthedeputiestoretire。TheMarquisdeDreux—Breze，theGrandMasterofCeremonies，havinginvitedthemtoobeytheorderofthesovereign，thePresidentoftheAssemblydeclared``thatthenationassembledcannotreceiveorders，’’andMirabeaurepliedtotheenvoyofthesovereignthat，beingunitedbythewillofthepeople，theAssemblywouldonlywithdrawatthepointofthebayonet。Againthekinggaveway。
Onthe9thofJunethemeetingofdeputiestookthetitleoftheConstituentAssembly。Forthefirsttimeincenturiesthekingwasforcedtorecognisetheexistenceofanewpower，formerlyignored——thatofthepeople，representedbyitselectedrepresentatives。Theabsolutemonarchywasnomore。
Feelinghimselfmoreandmoreseriouslythreatened，LouisXVI。
summonedtoVersaillesanumberofregimentscomposedofforeignmercenaries。TheAssemblydemandedthewithdrawalofthetroops。
Thekingrefused，anddismissedNecker，replacinghimbytheMarshaldeBroglie，reputedtobeanextremelyauthoritativeperson。
ButtheAssemblyhadablesupporters。CamilleDesmoulinsandothersharanguedthecrowdinalldirections，callingittothedefenceofliberty。Theysoundedthetocsin，organisedamilitiaof12，000men，tookmusketsandcannonfromtheInvalides，andonthe14thofJulythearmedbandsmarchedupontheBastille。Thefortress，barelydefended，capitulatedinafewhours。Sevenprisonerswerefoundwithinit，ofwhomonewasanidiotandfourwereaccusedofforgery。
TheBastille，theprisonofmanyvictimsofarbitrarypower，symbolisedtheroyalpowertomanyminds；butthepeoplewhodemolishedithadnotsufferedbyit。Scarcelyanybutmembersofthenobilitywereimprisonedthere。
Theinfluenceexercisedbythetakingofthisfortresshascontinuedtoourdays。SerioushistorianslikeM。Rambaudassureusthat``thetakingoftheBastilleisaculminatingfactinthehistory，notofFranceonlybutofallEurope，andinauguratesanewepochinthehistoryoftheworld。’’
Suchcredulityisalittleexcessive。Theimportanceoftheeventlaysimplyinthepsychologicalfactthatforthefirsttimethepeoplereceivedanobviousproofoftheweaknessofanauthoritywhichhadlatelybeenformidable。
Whentheprincipleofauthorityisinjuredinthepublicminditdissolvesveryrapidly。Whatmightnotonedemandofakingwhocouldnotdefendhisprincipalfortressagainstpopularattacks？
Themasterregardedasall—powerfulhadceasedtobeso。
ThetakingoftheBastillewasthebeginningofoneofthosephenomenaofmentalcontagionwhichaboundinthehistoryoftheRevolution。Theforeignmercenarytroops，althoughtheycouldscarcelybeinterestedinthemovement，begantoshowsymptomsofmutiny。LouisXVI。wasreducedtoacceptingtheirdisbandment。
HerecalledNecker，wenttotheHoteldeVille，sanctionedbyhispresencetheaccomplishedfacts，andacceptedfromLaFayette，commandantoftheNationalGuard，thenewcockadeofred，white，andbluewhichalliedthecoloursofParistothoseoftheking。
AlthoughtheriotwhichendedinthetakingoftheBastillecanbynomeansberegardedas``aculminatingfactinhistory，’’itdoesmarktheprecisemomentofthecommencementofpopulargovernment。ThearmedpeoplethenceforthinterveneddailyinthedeliberationsoftherevolutionaryAssemblies，andseriouslyinfluencedtheirconduct。
ThisinterventionofthepeopleinconformitywiththedogmaofitssovereigntyhasprovokedtherespectfuladmirationofmanyhistoriansoftheRevolution。Evenasuperficialstudyofthepsychologyofcrowdswouldspeedilyhaveshownthemthatthemysticentitywhichtheycallthepeoplewasmerelytranslatingthewillofafewleaders。ItisnotcorrecttosaythatthepeopletooktheBastille，attackedtheTuileries，invadedtheConvention，&c。，butthatcertainleaders——generallybymeansoftheclubs——unitedarmedbandsofthepopulace，whichtheyledagainsttheBastille，theTuileries，&c。DuringtheRevolutionthesamecrowdsattackedordefendedthemostcontraryparties，accordingtotheleaderswhohappenedtobeattheirheads。Acrowdneverhasanyopinionbutthatofitsleaders。
Exampleconstitutingoneofthemostpotentformsofsuggestion，thetakingoftheBastillewasinevitablyfollowedbythedestructionofotherfortresses。ManychateauxwereregardedassomanylittleBastilles，andinordertoimitatetheParisianswhohaddestroyedtheirsthepeasantsbegantoburnthem。Theydidsowiththegreaterfurybecausetheseigneurialhomescontainedthetitlesoffeudaldues。ItwasaspeciesofJacquerie。
TheConstituentAssembly，soproudandhaughtytowardstheking，was，likealltherevolutionaryassemblieswhichfollowedit，extremelypusillanimousbeforethepeople。
HopingtoputanendtothedisordersofthenightofAugust4th，itvoted，onthepropositionofamemberofthenobility，theComtedeNoailles，theabolitionofseigneurialrights。Althoughthismeasuresuppressedatonestroketheprivilegesofthenobles，itwasvotedwithtearsandembracings。Suchaccessesofsentimentalenthusiasmarereadilyexplainedwhenwerecallhowcontagiousemotionisinacrowd，aboveallinanassemblyoppressedbyfear。
Iftherenunciationoftheirrightshadbeeneffectedbythenobilityafewyearsearlier，theRevolutionwoulddoubtlesshavebeenavoided，butitwasnowtoolate。Togivewayonlywhenoneisforcedtodosomerelyincreasesthedemandsofthosetowhomoneyields。Inpoliticsoneshouldalwayslookaheadandgivewaylongbeforeoneisforcedtodoso。
LouisXVI。hesitatedfortwomonthstoratifythedecisionsvotedbytheAssemblyonthenightofthe4thofAugust。HehadretiredtoVersailles。Theleaderssentthitherabandof7，000
or8，000menandwomenofthepeople，assuringthemthattheroyalresidencecontainedgreatstoresofbread。Therailingsofthepalacewereforced，someofthebodyguardwerekilled，andthekingandallhisfamilywereledbacktoParisinthemidstofashriekingcrowd，manyofwhomboreontheendsoftheirpikestheheadsofthesoldiersmassacred。Thedreadfuljourneylastedsixhours。Theseeventsconstitutedwhatareknownasthe``days’’ofOctober。
Thepopularpowerincreased，andinrealitytheking，likethewholeassembly，washenceforthinthehandsofthepeople——thatis，atthemercyoftheclubsandtheirleaders。Thispopularpowerwastoprevailfornearlytenyears，andtheRevolutionwastobealmostentirelyitswork。
Whileproclaimingthatthepeopleconstitutedtheonlysovereign，theAssemblywasgreatlyembarrassedbyriotswhichwentfarbeyonditstheoreticalexpectations。IthadsupposedthatorderwouldberestoredwhileitfabricatedaConstitutiondestinedtoassuretheeternalhappinessofmankind。
WeknowthatduringthewholedurationoftheRevolutiononeofthechiefoccupationsoftheassemblieswastomake，unmake，andremakeConstitutions。Thetheoristsattributedtothemthen，astheydoto—day，thepoweroftransformingsociety；theAssembly，therefore，couldnotneglectitstask。InthemeantimeitpublishedasolemnDeclarationoftheRightsofManwhichsummariseditsprinciples。
TheConstitution，proclamations，declarations，andspeecheshadnottheslightesteffectonthepopularmovements，noronthedissentientswhodailyincreasedinnumberintheheartoftheAssembly。Thelatterbecamemoreandmoresubjectedtotheascendancyoftheadvancedparty，whichwassupportedbytheclubs。Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，andlaterMaratandHebert，violentlyexcitedthepopulacebytheirharanguesandtheirjournals。TheAssemblywasrapidlygoingdowntheslopethatleadstoextremes。
Duringallthesedisordersthefinancesofthecountrywerenotimproving。Finallyconvincedthatphilanthropicspeecheswouldnotaltertheirlamentablecondition，andseeingthatbankruptcythreatened，theAssemblydecreed，onthe2ndofNovember，1789，theconfiscationofthegoodsoftheChurch。Theirrevenues，consistingofthetithescollectedfromthefaithful，amountedtosomeL8，000，000，andtheirvaluewasestimatedataboutL120，000，000。Theyweredividedamongsomehundredsofprelates，Courtabbes，&c。，whoownedaquarterofallFrance。
Thesegoods，henceforthentitledis``nationaldomains，’’formedtheguaranteeoftheassignats，thefirstissueofwhichwasfor400，000，000francs（L16，000，000sterling）。Thepublicacceptedthemattheoutset，buttheymultipliedsoundertheDirectoryandtheConvention，whichissued45，000，000，000francsinthisform（L1，800，000，000sterling），thatanassignatof100livreswasfinallyworthonlyafewhalfpence。
Stimulatedbyhisadvisers，thefeebleLouisattemptedinvaintostruggleagainstthedecreesoftheAssemblybyrefusingtosanctionthem。
UndertheinfluenceofthedailysuggestionsoftheleadersandthepowerofmentalcontagiontherevolutionarymovementwasspreadingeverywhereindependentlyoftheAssemblyandoftenevenagainstit。
Inthetownsandvillagesrevolutionarymunicipalitieswereinstituted，protectedbythelocalNationalGuards。Thoseofneighbouringtownscommencedtomakemutualarrangementstodefendthemselvesshouldneedarise。Thusfederationswereformed，whichweresoonrolledintoone；thissent14，000
NationalGuardstoParis，whoassembledontheChamp—de—Marsonthe14thofJuly，1790。TherethekingsworetomaintaintheConstitutiondecreedbytheNationalAssembly。
DespitethisvainoathitbecamemoreevidenteverydaythatnoagreementwaspossiblebetweenthehereditaryprinciplesofthemonarchyandthoseproclaimedbytheAssembly。
Feelinghimselfcompletelypowerless，thekingthoughtonlyofflight。ArrestedatVarennesandbroughtbackaprisonertoParis，hewasshutupintheTuileries。TheAssembly，althoughstillextremelyroyalist，suspendedhimfrompower，anddecidedtoassumethesolechargeofthegovernment。
NeverdidsovereignfindhimselfinapositionsodifficultasthatofLouisatthetimeofhisflight。ThegeniusofaRichelieuwouldhardlyhaveextricatedhim。Theonlyelementofdefenceonwhichhecouldhavereliedhadfromthebeginningabsolutelyfailedhim。
DuringthewholedurationoftheConstituentAssemblytheimmensemajorityofFrenchmenandoftheAssemblyremainedroyalist，sothathadthesovereignacceptedaliberalmonarchyhecouldperhapshaveremainedinpower。ItwouldseemthatLouishadlittletopromiseinordertocometoanagreementwiththeAssembly。
Little，perhaps，butwithhisstructureofmindthatlittlewasstrictlyimpossible。Alltheshadesofhisforbearswouldhaverisenupinfrontofhimhadheconsentedtomodifythemechanismofthemonarchyinheritedfromsomanyancestors。Andevenhadheattemptedtodoso，theoppositionofhisfamily，theclergy，thenobles，andtheCourtcouldneverhavebeensurmounted。Theancientcastesonwhichthemonarchyrested，thenobilityandtheclergy，werethenalmostaspowerfulasthemonarchhimself。
EverytimeitseemedasthoughhemightyieldtotheinjunctionsoftheAssemblyitwasbecausehewasconstrainedtodosobyforce，andtoattempttogaintime。HisappealstoalienPowersrepresentedtheresolutionofadesperatemanwhohadseenallhisnaturaldefencesfailhim。
He，andespeciallythequeen，entertainedthestrangestillusionsastothepossibleassistanceofAustria，forcenturiestherivalofFrance。IfAustriaindolentlyconsentedtocometohisaid，itwasonlyinthehopeofreceivingagreatreward。MercygavehimtounderstandthatthepaymentexpectedconsistedofAlsace，theAlps，andNavarre。
Theleadersoftheclubs，findingtheAssemblytooroyalist，sentthepeopleagainstit。Apetitionwassigned，invitingtheAssemblytoconvokeanewconstituentpowertoproceedtothetrialofLouisXVI。
Monarchicalinspiteofall，andfindingthattheRevolutionwasassumingacharacterfartoodemagogic，theAssemblyresolvedtodefenditselfagainsttheactionsofthepeople。AbattalionoftheNationalGuard，commandedbyLaFayette，wassenttotheChamp—de—Mars，wherethecrowdwasassembled，todisperseit。
Fiftyofthosepresentwerekilled。
TheAssemblydidnotlongpersistinitsfeebleresistance。
Extremelyfearfulofthepeople，itincreaseditsarrogancetowardstheking，deprivinghimeverydayofsomepartofhisprerogativesandauthority。Hewasnowscarcelymorethanamereofficialobligedtoexecutethewishesofothers。
TheAssemblyhadimaginedthatitwouldbeabletoexercisetheauthorityofwhichithaddeprivedtheking，butsuchataskwasinfinitelyaboveitsresources。Apowersodividedisalwaysweak。``Iknownothingmoreterrible，’’saidMirabeau，``thanthesovereignauthorityofsixhundredpersons。’’
HavingflattereditselfthatitcouldcombineinitselfallthepowersoftheState，andexercisethemasLouisXVI。haddone，theAssemblyverysoonexercisednonewhatever。
Asitsauthorityfailedanarchyincreased。Thepopularleaderscontinuallystirredupthepeople。Riotandinsurrectionbecamethesolepower。EverydaytheAssemblywasinvadedbyrowdyandimperiousdelegationswhichoperatedbymeansofthreatsanddemands。
Allthesepopularmovements，whichtheAssembly，underthestressoffear，invariablyobeyed，hadnothingspontaneousaboutthem。
Theysimplyrepresentedthemanifestationsofnewpowers——theclubsandtheCommune——whichhadbeensetupbesidetheAssembly。
ThemostpowerfuloftheseclubswastheJacobin，whichhadquicklycreatedmorethanfivehundredbranchesinthecountry，allofwhichwereundertheordersofthecentralbody。ItsinfluenceremainedpreponderantduringthewholedurationoftheRevolution。ItwasthemasteroftheAssembly，andthenofFrance，itsonlyrivaltheinsurrectionaryCommune，whosepowerwasexercisedonlyinParis。
TheweaknessofthenationalAssemblyandallitsfailureshadmadeitextremelyunpopular。Itbecameconsciousofthis，and，feelingthatitwaseverydaymorepowerless，decidedtohastenthecreationofthenewConstitutioninorderthatitmightdissolve。Itslastaction，whichwastactlessenough，wastodecreethatnomemberoftheConstituentAssemblyshouldbeelectedtotheLegislativeAssembly。Themembersofthelatterwerethusdeprivedoftheexperienceacquiredbytheirpredecessors。
TheConstitutionwascompletedonthe3rdofSeptember，1791，andacceptedonthe13thbytheking，towhomtheAssemblyhadrestoredhispowers。
ThisConstitutionorganisedarepresentativeGovernment，delegatingthelegislativepowertodeputieselectedbythepeople，andtheexecutivepowertotheking，whoserightofvetooverthedecreesoftheAssemblywasrecognised。Newdepartmentaldivisionsweresubstitutedfortheoldprovinces。
Theimpostswereabolished，andreplacedbydirectandindirecttaxes，whicharestillinforce。
TheAssembly，whichhadjustalteredtheterritorialdivisionsandoverthrownalltheoldsocialorganisation，thoughtitselfpowerfulenoughtotransformthereligiousorganisationofthecountryalso。Itclaimednotablythatthemembersoftheclergyshouldbeelectedbythepeople，andshouldbethuswithdrawnfromtheinfluenceoftheirsupremehead，thePope。
ThiscivilconstitutionoftheclergywastheoriginofreligiousstrugglesandpersecutionswhichlasteduntilthedaysoftheConsulate。Two—thirdsofthepriestsrefusedtheoathdemandedofthem。
DuringthethreeyearswhichrepresentedthelifeoftheConstituentAssemblytheRevolutionhadproducedconsiderableresults。TheprincipalresultwasperhapsthebeginningofthetransferencetotheThirdEstateoftherichesoftheprivilegedclasses。Inthiswaywhileinterestswerecreatedtobedefendedferventadherentswereraiseduptothenewregime。A
Revolutionsupportedbythegratificationofacquiredappetitesisboundtobepowerful。TheThirdEstate，whichhadsupplantedthenobles，andthepeasants，whohadboughtthenationaldomains，wouldreadilyunderstandthattherestorationoftheancienregimewoulddespoilthemofalltheiradvantages。
TheenergeticdefenceoftheRevolutionwasmerelythedefenceoftheirownfortunes。
Thisiswhywesee，duringpartoftheRevolution，nearlyhalfthedepartmentsvainlyrisingagainstthedespotismthatcrushedthem。TheRepublicanstriumphedoverallopposition。Theywereextremelypowerfulinthattheyhadtodefend，notonlyanewideal，butnewmaterialinterests。WeshallseethattheinfluenceofthesetwofactorslastedduringthewholeoftheRevolution，andcontributedpowerfullytotheestablishmentoftheEmpire。
CHAPTERII
THEPSYCHOLOGYOFTHELEGISLATIVEASSEMBLY
1。PoliticalEventsduringtheLifeoftheLegislativeAssembly。
BeforeexaminingthementalcharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssemblyletusbrieflysumuptheconsiderablepoliticaleventswhichmarkeditsshortyear’slife。Theynaturallyplayedanimportantpartinrespectofitspsychologicalmanifestations。
Extremelymonarchical，theLegislativeAssemblyhadnomoreideathanitspredecessorofdestroyingthemonarchy。Thekingappearedtoittobeslightlysuspect，butitstillhopedtobeabletoretainhimonthethrone。
Unhappilyforhim，Louiswasincessantlybeggingforinterventionfromabroad。ShutupintheTuileries，defendedonlybyhisSwissGuards，thetimidsovereignwasdriftingamongcontraryinfluences。Hesubsidisedjournalsintendedtomodifypublicopinion，buttheobscure``penny—a—liners’’whoeditedthemknewnothingofactingonthemindofthecrowd。TheironlymeansofpersuasionwastomenacewiththegallowsallthepartisansoftheRevolution，andtopredicttheinvasionofFrancebyanarmywhichwouldrescuetheking。
RoyaltynolongercountedonanythingbuttheforeignCourts。Thenobleswereemigrating。Prussia，Austria，andRussiawerethreateningFrancewithawarofinvasion。TheCourtfavouredtheirlead。TothecoalitionofthethreekingsagainstFrancetheJacobinClubproposedtoopposealeagueofpeoples。
TheGirondistswerethen，withtheJacobins，attheheadoftherevolutionarymovement。Theyincitedthemassestoarmthemselves——600，000volunteerswereequipped。TheCourtacceptedaGirondistminister。Dominatedbyhim，LouisXVI。wasobligedtoproposetotheAssemblyawaragainstAustria。Itwasimmediatelyagreedto。
Indeclaringwarthekingwasnotsincere。ThequeenrevealedtheFrenchplansofcampaignandthesecretdeliberationsoftheCounciltotheAustrians。
Thebeginningsofthestruggleweredisastrous。Severalcolumnsoftroops，attackedbypanic，disbanded。Stimulatedbytheclubs，andpersuaded——justly，forthatmatter——thatthekingwasconspiringwiththeenemiesofFrance，thepopulationofthefaubourgsroseininsurrection。Itsleaders，theJacobins，andaboveallDanton，senttotheTuileriesonthe20thofJuneapetitionthreateningthekingwithrevocation。IttheninvadedtheTuileries，heapinginvectivesonthesovereign。
FatalityimpelledLouistowardhistragicdestiny。WhilethethreatsoftheJacobinsagainstroyaltyhadrousedmanyofthedepartmentstoindignation，itwaslearnedthataPrussianarmyhadarrivedonthefrontiersofLorraine。
Thehopeofthekingandqueenrespectingthehelptobeobtainedfromabroadwashighlychimerical。Marie—AntoinettesufferedfromanabsoluteillusionastothepsychologyoftheAustrianandtheFrenchpeoples。SeeingFranceterrorisedbyafewenergumens，shesupposedthatitwouldbeequallyeasytoterrifytheParisians，andbymeansofthreatstoleadthembackundertheking’sauthority。Inspiredbyher，FersenundertooktopublishthemanifestooftheDukeofBrunswick，threateningPariswith``totalsubversioniftheroyalfamilyweremolested。’’
Theeffectproducedwasdiametricallyoppositetothatintended。
Themanifestoarousedindignationagainstthemonarch，whowasregardedasanaccomplice，andincreasedhisunpopularity。Fromthatdayhewasmarkedforthescaffold。
CarriedawaybyDanton，thedelegatesofthesectionsinstalledthemselvesattheHoteldeVilleasaninsurrectionaryCommune，whicharrestedthecommandantoftheNationalGuard，whowasdevotedtotheking，soundedthetocsin，equippedtheNationalGuard，andonthe10thofAugusthurledthem，withthepopulace，againsttheTuileries。TheregimentscalledinbyLouisdisbandedthemselves。SoonnonewerelefttodefendhimbuthisSwissandafewgentlemen。Nearlyallwerekilled。Leftalone，thekingtookrefugewiththeAssembly。Thecrowdsdemandedhisdenouncement。TheLegislativeAssemblydecreedhissuspensionandleftafutureAssembly，theConvention，todecideuponhisfate。
2。MentalCharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssembly。
TheLegislativeAssembly，formedofnewmen，presentedquiteaspecialinterestfromthepsychologicalpointofview。
Fewassemblieshaveofferedinsuchadegreethecharacteristicsofthepoliticalcollectivity。
Itcomprisedsevenhundredandfiftydeputies，dividedintopureroyalists，constitutionalroyalists，republicans，Girondists，andMontagnards。Advocatesandmenoflettersformedthemajority。
Italsocontained，butinsmallernumbers，superiorofficers，priests，andaveryfewscientists。
ThephilosophicalconceptionsofthemembersofthisAssemblyseemrudimentaryenough。ManywereimbuedwithRousseau’sideaofareturntoastateofnature。Butall，liketheirpredecessors，weredominatedmoreespeciallybyrecollectionsofGreekandLatinantiquity。Cato，Brutus，Gracchus，Plutarch，MarcusAurelius，andPlato，continuallyevoked，furnishedtheimagesoftheirspeech。WhentheoratorwishedtoinsultLouisXVI。hecalledhimCaligula。
Inhopingtodestroytraditiontheywererevolutionaries，butinclaimingtoreturntoaremotepasttheyshowedthemselvesextremelyreactionary。
Fortherest，allthesetheorieshadverylittleinfluenceontheirconduct。Reasonwascontinuallyfiguringintheirspeeches，butneverintheiractions。Thesewerealwaysdominatedbythoseaffectiveandmysticelementswhosepotencywehavesooftendemonstrated。
ThepsychologicalcharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssemblywerethoseoftheConstituentAssembly，butweregreatlyaccentuated。Theymaybesummedupinfourwords：
impressionability，mobility，timidity，andweakness。
Thismobilityandimpressionabilityarerevealedintheconstantvariabilityoftheirconduct。Onedaytheyexchangenoisyinvectiveandblows。Onthefollowingdayweseethem``throwingthemselvesintooneanother’sarmswithtorrentsoftears。’’
Theyeagerlyapplaudanaddressdemandingthepunishmentofthosewhohavepetitionedfortheking’sdethronement，andthesamedayaccordthehonoursofthesessiontoadelegationwhichhascometodemandhisdownfall。
ThepusillanimityandweaknessoftheAssemblyinthefaceofthreatswasextreme。Althoughroyalistitvotedthesuspensionoftheking，andonthedemandoftheCommunedeliveredhim，withhisfamily，tobeimprisonedintheTemple，Thankstoitsweakness，itwasasincapableastheConstituentAssemblyofexercisinganypower，andalloweditselftobedominatedbytheCommuneandtheclubs，whichweredirectedbysuchinfluentialleadersasHebert，Tallien，Rossignol，Marat，Robespierre，&c。
UntilThermidor，1794，theinsurrectionaryCommuneconstitutedthechiefpowerintheState，andbehavedpreciselyasifithadbeenchargedwiththegovernmentofParis。