-^

V-

"I/O

Enqlidh SoUection
THE GIFT OF

3am^$ Morgan Hart

^g-sron^WS

Aim

'h

7'^
R

i 1B62

B N

D 27

^-^^^

%14
lEC

1965
'3S

M3

1^57

M
Ll
SJ

i^BQCJL

DC 161.C28l97o""''
V.1
^''iimimi?lriH,ii!?^'"*'*"V3

''""^

historv. With

1924 024 3i5""826

olin.ovel

The

original of this

book

is in

the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in
text.

the United States on the use of the

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024315826

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

CORRUPTION.
{^The Court of Louis , 'le bien aime.'')

THE

FRENCH REVOLUTION
A HISTORY
BY

THOMAS CARLYLE
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDMUND J. SULLIVAN, A.R.W.S.

^
M^7aj
6 dyCof
iari.,

6eiou

yap ^pyoV

virkp ^aai-

\elas, imkp iXevdeplas, virkp eiipolas, virip drapa^las.

ARRIANUS
A6yiJ.a

yap airuv rls nera^dWei ; X^P^^ ^^ ^^V" fidruv fj.Ta^6\7jS, tI fiXXo ^ SovKda ffrevdvTwv Kal

ireldeffdai. irpoffiroiovfiipuv

ANTONINUS

IN

TWO VOLUMES
VOL.
I

LONDON

CHAPMAN AND HALL

LIMITED
1910

^We_

.LBoZ-fci-

CONTENTS OF VOLUME
I.

THE BASTILLE
I.

BOOK
CHAP.
I.

DEATH OF LOUIS XV
PAGE
1

Louis the Well-Beloved

Realised Ideals
.

II,

6
15

III.

Viaticum

IV. Louis the

Unforgotten

19

BOOK
I.

AsTRiEA Redux

.......

II.

THE PAPER AGE

VI
CHAP.

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

VI. Lomenie's Plots
.

88

VII. Internecine

92
97
107

VIII. Lomenie's Death-Throes

IX. Burial with Bonfire
.

BOOK
I.

IV.

STATES-GENERAL
112
117

The Notables again The Election

11.

III.

Grown

Electric

123

IV.

The Procession

126

BOOK

V.

THE

CONTENTS
BOOK
CHAP.
I.

Vll

VII.

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

PAGE

Patrollotism

226

viii

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

BOOK
II.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FULL PAGE
Corruption
Frontispiece
FACING PAGE

Caged
Louis

.......
XVI
s'

14

Le Roi

amuse

.....
of the Fleur de Lys

S6
70

The Flourishing
The Walls

of Jericho,

126
154
182

The Sword of Damocles

Above the Abyss

Le Roi Faineant

.... ....
AND THE

212
238

The Falling Splendour (The Tennis-Court Oath) The Gallic (Weather) Cock, the Three Estates
Oncoming Storm
Porcelain and Tileclay

The Titan (Mirabeau)

..... .....

266
288

322 350
376
402

Constitution Building and the Unlucky Feather

Folly

v.

Fate

The Sansculottes

....... ......
IN

TEXT
PACE

Louis XV.

2
5
IX

De Maupeou

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

8

Mme. de Pompadour

The

Princesses Adelaide, ViCTOIRE, AND SoPHIE

Daughters of
16 18

Louis XV.

Maria Josepha

La Comtesse Dubarry
Mme, Campan

23

26
.

De Montesquieu
Turcot

28
31

LoMENIE DE BrIENNE
Voltaire

38

42 45
47

Benjamin Franklin
J.

Necker

Marat

....
.

50
55
51

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Cagliostro

Cardinal de Rohan

59

De

Besenval

66
68

Calonne
Philippe
'

Egalite/ Dug d'Orleans,

72
82
103
121

D'Espremenil
Prince Victor de Broglie Joseph Guillotin
.

Theroigne de Mericourt
Robespierre
CAZALt:S
.

130

136
137

De

la Rochefoucault d'Auville

140 142 164

168 177

L'Abbi^

Maury

Lazare Hoche
Camille Desmoulins

De Launay
Maillard

184

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

XI
PAGE

xii

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

THE BASTILLE

Siefem 3lm6o

tetglcid&'

td()

ba Sanb, ben ammer

fic^

bem

Sertfdfier,

Unb

bent 95otte bag Slcd^, ba8 in bet OJlitte

ttjcnn

frummt,

SBe^e bein armcn SUc^,

nut

toitHurttc^e

triage

Ungerotf treffen, unb nie fttttg ber

5teffel erf(^cint!

oet^e.

THE BASTILLE
BOOK FIRST

DEATH OF LOUIS
CHAPTER
LOUIS
I

XV.

THE WELL-BELOVED
of

President H:^nault, remarking on royal Surnames

Honour

how

difficult it often is to ascertain

not only why, but even

'

when, they were conferred, takes occasion, in his sleek official way, to make a philosophical reflection. The Surname of Bien-aime (Well-beloved),' says he, which Louis xv. bears, will not leave posterity in the same doubt. This Prince, in the year 1744, while hastening from one end of his kingdom to the other, and suspending his conquests in Flanders that he might fly to the assistance of Alsace, was arrested at Metz by a malady which threatened to cut short his days. At the news of this, Paris, all in terror, seemed a city taken by storm the churches resounded with supplications and groans the prayers of priests and people were every moment interrupted by their sobs and it was from an interest so dear and tender that this Surname of Bien-aime fashioned itself, a title higher ^ still than all the rest which this great Prince has earned.' So stands it written in lasting memorial of that year 1744. and this great Thirty other years have come and gone but in how altered circumstances again lies sick Prince Paris Churches resound not with excessive groanings now sobs interrupt no prayers, for indeed none is stoically calm except Priests' Litanies, read or chanted at fixed are offered money-rate per hour, which are not liable to interruption.
'
:

'

'

Abrigi Chronologique de fHistoire de France

I.

(Paris, i775) p- 7oi'

VOL.

The

DEATH OF LOUIS
BOOK
I

XV.

1744-74

The shepherd of the people has been carried home from Little Trianon, heavy of heart, and been put to bed in his own Chateau of Versailles the flock knows it, and heeds it not. At most,
:

immeasurable tide of French Speech (which ceases not day after day, and only ebbs towards the short hours of night), may this of the royal sickness emerge from time to time as an nay, some article of news. Bets are doubtless depending
in the
;

LOUIS XV.
people express themselves loudly in the streets.' ^ But for the rest, on green field and steepled city, the May sun shines out, the May evening fades; and men ply their useful or useless business as if no Louis lay in danger.
'

Dame
for
it
;

Dubarry, indeed, might pray,

if

Duke
:

Maupeou

d'Aiguillon too, Maupeou these, as they sit in their high places, with France
feet,

she had a talent and the Parlement

harnessed under their

^

know

well on
{Faris, 1805),

what
ii.

basis

they

Mitnoires de

M.

le

Baron Besenval

59-90.

continue

LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED

; '

3
CHAP.
1744-74
I

continue there. Look to it, D'Aiguillon sharply as thou didst, from the Mill of St. Cast, on Quiberon and the invading English thou, covered if not with glory yet with meal Fortune was ever accounted inconstant and each dog has but his day. Forlorn enough languished Duke d'Aiguillon, some years ago covered, as we said, with meal ; nay with worse. For La Chalotais, the Breton Parlementeer, accused him not only of poltroonery and tyranny, but even of concussion (official plunder of money) which accusations it was easier to get
' ;
!

quashed

'

by

backstairs Influences than to get answered

be tied. Thus, under disastrous eclipse, had this grand-nephew of the great Richelieu to glide about unworshipped by the world resolute Choiseul, the abrupt proud man, disdaining him, or even forgetting him. Little prospect but to glide into Gascony, to rebuild Chateaus there,^ and die inglorious killing game However, in the year 1770, a certain young soldier, Dumouriez by name, returning from Corsica, could see * with sorrow, at Compiegne, the old King of France, on foot, with doffed hat, in sight of his army, at the side of a magnifi^ cent phaeton, doing homage to the Dubarry.' Thereby, for one thing, could D'Aiguillon Much lay therein postpone the rebuilding of his Chateau, and rebuild his fortunes first. For stout Choiseul would discern in the Dubarry nothing and go on his way but a wonderfully dizened Scarlet- woman Intolerable the source of sighs, tears, of as if she were not. which would not end till ' France pettings and poutings (La France, as she named her royal valet) finally mustered and with that ' quivering in the chin heart to see Choiseul (tremblement du menton) natural in such case,^ faltered out a dismissal of his last substantial man, but pacificadismissal
; ;
!

neither could the thoughts, or even the tongues, of

men

'

'

tion of his scarlet- woman.

culminated.

Parlements

Thus D'Aiguillon rose again, and And with him there rose Maupeou, the banisher of who plants you a refractory President at Croe
'

in Combrailles

on the top of steep rocks, inaccessible except

there to consider himself. Likewise there rose Abbe Terray, dissolute Financier, paying eightpence in the shilling,

by

litters,'

Arthur Young, Travels during the years 1787-88-89 (Bury

St.

Edmunds,
i.

1792),

i.

44.

La

Vie et les Mimoires

ii.

du
21,

GMral Dumouriez

(V&x\s, 1822),

141.

Besenval, Mimoires,

so

DEATH OF LOUIS

XV.
'
' !

BOOK

1744-74

some press at the playhouse, Where is Abbe Terray, that he might reduce us to two-thirds And so have these individuals (verily by black-art) built them a call it an ArmidaDomdaniel, or enchanted Dubarrydom
SO that wits exclaim in
;

Chancellor Maupeou where they dwell pleasantly playing blind-man's buff with the scarlet Enchantress or gallantly presenting her with dwarf Negroes and a Most Christian King has unspeakable peace within doors, whatever he may have without. My Chancellor is a scoundrel but ^ I cannot do without him.' Beautiful Armida-Palace, where the inmates live enchanted lives lapped in soft music of adulation waited on by the splendours of the world which nevertheless hangs wondrously as by a single hair. Should the Most Christian King die or even get seriously afraid of dying For, alas, had not the fair haughty Chateauroux to fly, with wet cheeks and flaming heart, from that Fever- scene at Metz, long since driven forth by sour shavelings ? She hardly returned, when fever and shavelings were both swept into the background. Pompadour too, when Damiens wounded Royalty slightly, under the fifth rib,' and our drive to Trianon went off futile, in shrieks and madly shaken torches, had to pack, and be in readiness yet did not go, the wound not proving poisoned. For his Majesty has religious faith believes, at least in a Devil. And now a third peril and who knows what may be in it For the Doctors look grave ask privily. If his Majesty had not ? the small-pox long ago and doubt it may have been a false kind. Yes, Maupeou, pucker those sinister brows of thine, and peer out on it with thy malign rat-eyes it is a questionable case. Sure only that man is mortal that with the life of one mortal snaps irrevocably the wonderfulest tahsman, and all Dubarrydom rushes off, with tumult, into infinite Space; and ye, as subterranean Apparitions are wont,
Palace,
' ;
'

'

'

vanish utterly,
These, and
or

leaving only a smell of sulphur what holds of these, may pray, to

!

Beelzebub,

whoever will hear them. But from the rest of France there comes, as was said, no prayer or one of an opposite character, 'expressed openly in the streets.' Chateau or H6tel, where an enlightened Philosophism scrutinises many things, is not
; ^

Dulaure, Histoire de Paris (Paris, 1824),

vii.

328.

given

LOUIS THE WELL-BELOVED

given to prayer neither are Rossbach victories, Terray Finances, nor, say only sixty thousand Lettres de Cachet (which is Maupeou's share), persuasives towards that. O Henault Prayers ? From a France smitten (by black-art) with plague after plague, and lying now, in shame and pain, with a Harlot's foot on its neck, what prayer can come ? Those lank scarecrows, that prowl hunger-stricken through all highways and byways of French Existence, will they pray ?
: '

CHAP.

'

1744-74

4#^'*^V

DE MAUPEOU.
The
dull miUions that, in the

workshop or

furrowfield, grind

foredone at the wheel of Labour, like haltered gin-horses, if Or they that in the Bic^tre blind so much the quieter ? eight to a bed,' He waiting their manumission ? Hospital, Dim are those heads of theirs, dull stagnant those hearts to them the great Sovereign is known mainly as the great Regrater of Bread. If they hear of his sickness, they will or with the question. answer with a dull Tant pis pour lui
'
:
;

Will he die

Yes,

DEATH OF LOUIS
Yes, will he die
?
;

XV.

BOOK

that

1744-74

question,
still

and hope
interest.

now, for all France, the grand whereby alone the King's sickness has
is

some

CHAPTER
Such a changed France have we
; ;

II

REALISED IDEALS
and a changed Louis.
!

To the Changed, truly and further than thou yet seest eye of History many things, in that sick-room of Louis, are now visible, which to the Courtiers there present were invisible. For indeed it is well said, * in every object there is inexhaustible meaning the eye sees in it what the eye brings means of seeing.' To Newton and to Newton's Dog Diamond, what a different pair of Universes ; while the painting on the Let the optical retina of both was, most likely, the same Reader here, in this sick-room of Louis, endeavour to look with the mind too. Time was when men could (so to speak) of a given man, by nourishing and decorating him with fit appUances, to the due pitch, make themselves a King, almost as the Bees do and
;
!

what was still more to the purpose, loyally obey him when made. The man so nourished and decorated, thenceforth named royal, does verily bear rule and is said, and even
;

thought, to be, for example, prosecuting conquests in Flanders,' when he lets himself like luggage be carried thither and no light luggage covering miles of road. For he has his unblushing Chateauroux, with her bandboxes and rouge-pots, at his side so that, at every new station, a wooden gallery must be run up between their lodgings. He has not only his MaisonBouche, and Valetaille without end, but his very Troop of Players, with their pasteboard coulisses, thunder-barrels, their kettles, fiddles, stage-wardrobes, portable larders (and chaffering and quarrelling enough) all mounted in wagons, tumbrils, second-hand chaises, sufficient not to conquer Flanders, but the patience of the world. With such a flood of loud jingling appurtenances does he lumber along, prosecuting his conquests in Flanders wonderful to behold. So nevertheless it was and had been to some solitary thinker it might seem strange but even to him inevitable, not unnatural.
'
:

For

REALISED IDEALS
gent plastic of creatures.
!

world and man is the most fin- CHAP. II A world not fixable not fathom- 1744-74 able An unfathomable Somewhat, which is Not we which we can work with, and live amidst, and model, miraculously in our miraculous Being, and name World. But if the very Rocks and Rivers (as Metaphysic teaches) are, in strict language, made by those outward Senses of ours, how much more, by the Inward Sense, are all Phenomena of the spiritual kind Dignities, Authorities, Holies, Unholies Which inward Sense, moreover, is not permanent like the outward ones, but for ever growing and changing. Does not the Black African take of Sticks and Old Clothes (say, exported Monmouth-Street castclothes) what will suffice, and of these, cunningly combining them, fabricate for himself an Eidolon (Idol, or Thing Seen), and name it Mumbo- Jumbo which he can thenceforth pray to, with upturned awestruck eye, not without hope ? The white European mocks but ought rather to consider and see whether he, at home, could not do the like a little more wisely. So it was, we say, in those conquests of Flanders, thirty years ago but so it no longer is. Alas, much more lies sick than not the French King only, but the French Kingpoor Louis ship this too, after long rough tear and wear, is breaking down. The world is all so changed so much that seemed vigorous has sunk decrepit, so much that was not is beginning Borne over the Atlantic, to the closing ear of Louis, to be muffled King by the Grace of God, what sounds are these ominous, new in our centuries ? Boston Harbour is black with behold a Pennsylvanian Congress gather unexpected Tea and ere long, on Bunker Hill, Democracy announcing, in riflevolleys death-winged, under her Star Banner, to the tune of Yankee-doodle-doo, that she is born, and, whirlwind-like, will envelope the whole world
is

For ours

a most

fictile

how all dies, and is for Sovereigns die and Sovereignties Time-phantasm, yet reckons itself real is a a Time only The Merovingian Kings, slowly wending on their bullock- carts through the streets of Paris, with their long hair flowing, have Charlemagne sleeps at into Eternity. all wended slowly on, only Fable expecting that Salzburg, with truncheon grounded he will awaken. Charles the Hammer, Pepin Bow-legged,
:

'

where now

is

their eye of menace, their voice of

command ? RoUo

DEATH OF LOUIS
;

XV.
;

BOOK

1744-74

Northmen cover not the Seine with ships but have sailed off on a longer voyage. The hair of Towhead {THe d'Stoupes) now needs no combing Iron-cutter (Taillefer) cannot cut a cobweb shrill Fredegonda, shrill Brunhilda have had out their hot life-scold, and lie silent, their hot life-frenzy cooled. Neither from that black Tower de Nesle descends now darkling the doomed gallant, in his sack, to the Seine waters
Rollo and his shaggy
;

MME. DE POMPADOUR.
for Dame de Nesle now cares not for world's this gallantry, heeds not this world's scandal Dame de Nesle is herself gone into Night. They are all gone sunk, down, down, with the tumult they made and the rolling and the trampling of ever new generations passes over them

plunging into Night

not any more for ever. And yet withal has there not been realised somewhat ? Consider (to go no further) these strong Stone-edifices, and what they hold Mud-Town of the Borderers {Lutetia Parisiit
!

and they hear

orum

REALISED IDEALS
orum
or Barisiorum) has

Seine Islands, City of Paris,

paved itself, has spread over all the CHAP. II and far and wide on each bank, and become 1744-74 sometimes boasting to be Athens of Europe,'
'

and even

'

Capital of the Universe.'

Stone towers frown aloft

long-lasting,

grim with a thousand years.

and a Creed (or memory State and Law. Thou

Cathedrals are there, Palaces, and a of a Creed) in them unextinseest the Smoke-vapour
;

guished Breath as of a thing living. Labour's thousand hammers ring on her anvils also a more miraculous Labour works noiselessly, not with the Hand but with the Thought. How have cunning workmen in all crafts, with their cunning head and right-hand, tamed the Four Elements to be their ministers yoking the Winds to their Sea-chariot, making the and written and collected very Stars their Nautical Timepiece a Bibliotheque du Roi among whose Books is the Hebrew
:

Book
its

A wondrous race of creatures

of Skill
is

these

have been

realised,
all

and what

in these

call

not the Past Time, with

confused wretchednesses, a lost one. Observe, however, that of man's whole terrestrial possessions and attainments, unspeakably the noblest are his Symbols, under which he marches and fights, divine or divine-seeming what we can call with victorious assurance, in this life-battle Of which reahsed Ideals, omitting the rest, his ReaHsed Ideals. consider only these two: his Church, or spiritual Guidance, what a word The Church his Kingship, or temporal one. richer than Golconda and the treasures of the was there world In the heart of the remotest mountains rises the little the Dead all slumbering round it, under their white Kirk
;

dull in hope of a happy resurrection memorial-stones, wert thou, O Reader, if never in any hour (say of moaning midnight, when such Kirk hung spectral in the sky, and Being was as if swallowed up of darkness) it spoke to thee things unspeakable, that went into thy soul's soul. Strong was he he stood that had a Church, what we can call a Church thereby, though in the centre of Immensities, in the conflux the vague of Eternities,' yet manlike towards God and man shoreless Universe had become for him a firm city, and dwelling which he knew. Such virtue was in Belief in these words, well
'
'
:

'

and raise Well might men for it, and reverend Hierarchies, and give it the tithe of their substance it was worth living for and dying for. Neither
/ believe. stateliest Temples
spoken
:

prize their Credo,

10

DEATH OF LOUIS

XV.

BOOK

1744-74

Neither was that an inconsiderable moment when wild armed men first raised their Strongest aloft on the buckler-throne, and, with clanging armour and hearts, said solemnly Be thou our Acknowledged Strongest In such Acknowledged Strongest (well named King, K'dn-ning, Can-ning, or Man that was Able) what a Symbol shone now for them, significant with the destinies of the world A Symbol of true Guidance in return for loving Obedience properly, if he knew it, the prime want of man. A Symbol which might be called sacred for is there not, in reverence for what is better than we, an indestructible sacredness ? On which ground, too, it was well said there lay in the Acknowledged Strongest a divine right as surely there might in the Strongest, whether Acknowledged or not, considering who it was that made him strong. And so, in the midst of confusions and unutterable incongruities (as all growth is confused), did this of Royalty, with Loyalty environing it, spring up and grow mysteriously, subduing and assimilating (for a principle of Life was in it) till it also had grown world-great, and was among the main facts of our modern existence. Such a Fact, that Louis xiv., for example, could answer the expostulatory Magistrate with his UJ^tat c'est moi (The State ? I am the State) and be replied to by silence and abashed looks. So far had accident and forethought had your Louis Elevenths, with the leaden Virgin in their hatband, and torture-wheels and conical oubliettes (man-eating !) under their feet your Henri Fourths, with their prophesied social millennium, when every peasant should have his fowl in the pot and on the whole, the fertility of this most fertile Existence (named of Good and Evil), brought it, in the matter of the Kingship. Wondrous Concerning which may we not again say, that in the huge mass of Evil, as it rolls and swells, there is ever some Good working imprisoned working towards deliverance and triumph ? How such Ideals do realise themselves and grow, wondrously, from amid the incongruous ever-fluctuating chaos of the Actual this is what World-History, if it teach anything, has to teach us. How they grow and, after long stormy growth, bloom out mature, supreme ; then quickly (for the blossom is brief) fall into decay sorrowfully dwindle and crumble down, or rush down, noisily or noiselessly disappearing. The blossom is so brief as of some centennial Cactus-flower,
:
!

'

'

'

'

which

REALISED IDEALS
!

11

which after a century of waiting shines out for hours Thus CHAP. II 1744-74 from the day when rough Clovis, in the Champ de Mars, in sight of his whole army, had to cleave retributively the head of that rough Frank, with sudden battle-axe, and the fierce words, It was thus thou clavest the vase (St. Remi's and mine) at Soissons,' forward to Louis the Grand and his Vtltat c'est moi, we count some twelve hundred years and now this the very next Louis is dying, and so much dying with him Nay, thus too, if Catholicism, with and against Feudalism (but not against Nature and her bounty), gave us English a Shakespeare and Era of Shakespeare, and so produced a blossom of Catholicism it was not till Catholicism itself, so far as Law could abolish it, had been abolished here. But of those decadent ages in which no Ideal either grows or blossoms ? When Belief and Loyalty have passed away, and only the cant and false echo of them remains and all Solemnity has become Pageantry and the Creed of persons in authority has become one of two things an Imbecility or a Machiavelism ? Alas, of these ages World-History can take no notice they have to become compressed more and more, and finally suppressed in the Annals of Mankind blotted out as spurious, which indeed they are. Hapless ages wherein, if ever in any, it is an unhappiness to be born. To be born, and to learn only, by every tradition and example, that God's Universe is Belial's and a Lie and the Supreme Quack the hierarch of men In which mournfulest faith, nevertheless, do we not see whole generations (two, and someand times even three successively) live, what they call living vanish, without chance of reappearance ? In such a decadent age, or one fast verging that way, had our poor Louis been born. Grant also that if the French Kingship had not, by course of Nature, long to live, he of The Blossom of all men was the man to accelerate Nature. French Royalty, cactus-like, has accordingly made an astonishIn those Metz days, it was still standing with ing progress. all its petals, though bedimmed by Orleans Regents and Roue but now, in 1774, we behold it bald, Ministers and Cardinals and the virtue nigh gone out of it. realised Disastrous indeed does it look with those same The Church, which in its palmy season, ideals,' one and all seven hundred years ago, could make an Emperor wait bare' ' '
: !

'

'

'

foot,

12

DEATH OF LOUIS
;

XV.

BOOK

1744-74

snow, has for centuries seen itself decaying reduced even to forget old purposes and enmities, and join interest with the Kingship on this younger strength it would fain stay its decrepitude and these two will henceforth stand and fall together. Alas, the Sorbonne still sits there, in its old mansion but mumbles only jargon of dotage, and no longer leads the consciences of men not the
foot, in penance-shirt, three days, in the
:

Sorbonne

it

is

EncyclopSdies, Philosophie,
of

and who knows

what nameless innumerable multitude

ready Writers, pro-

fane Singers, Romancers, Players, Disputators, and Pamphleteers, that now form the Spiritual Guidance of the world. The world's Practical Guidance too is lost, or has glided into the same miscellaneous hands. Who is it that the King

{Able-man,

named
'

also Roi,

Rex, or Director)
:

now

guides

His own huntsmen and prickers when there is to be no hunt, it is well said, Le Roi ne fera Hen (Today his Majesty will do nothing).'' ^ He lives and lingers there, because he is living there, and none has yet laid hands on him. The nobles, in like manner, have nearly ceased either to guide or misguide and are now, as their master is, little more than ornamental figures. It is long since they have done with butchering one another or their king the Workers, protected, encouraged by Majesty, have ages ago built walled towns, and there ply their craft will permit no Robber Baron to ' live by the saddle,' but maintain a gallows to prevent it. Ever since that period of the Fronde, the Noble has changed his fighting sword into a court rapier and now loyally attends his king as ministering satellite divides the spoil, not now by violence and murder, but by soliciting and finesse. These men call themselves supports of the throne singular giltpasteboard caryatides in that singular edifice For the rest, their privileges every way are now much curtailed. That Law authorising a Seigneur, as he returned from hunting, to kill not more than two Serfs, and refresh his feet in their warm blood and bowels, has fallen into perfect desuetude, and even into incredibility for if Deputy Lapoule can believe in it, and call for the abrogation of it, so cannot we.^ No Charolois,
; : ; ;
;

AUmoires sur
i.

la

Vie privie dc

Marie Antoinette, par Madame Campan

(Paris,

1826),
^
ii.

12.

Histoire de la Rh)olution Fran^aise, par

Deux Amis de

la

Liberie (Paris, 1792),

212.

for

REALISED IDEALS
for these last fifty years,
;

13

though never so fond of shooting, CHAP. II 1744-74 has been in use to bring down slaters and plumbers, and see ^ them roll from their roofs but contents himself with partridges and grouse. Close-viewed, their industry and function is that of dressing gracefully and eating sumptuously. As for their debauchery and depravity, it is perhaps unexampled since the era of Tiberius and Commodus. Nevertheless, one
' partly a feeling with the lady Marechale Depend upon it. Sir, God thinks twice before damning a man of that quality.' ^ These people, of old, surely had virtues, uses or they could not have been there. Nay, one virtue they are

has

still

still

required to have (for mortal man cannot live without a the virtue of perfect readiness to fight duels. conscience) and now how fares Such are the shepherds of the people With the flock, as is inevitable, it fares it with the flock ? They are not tended, they are only reguill, and ever worse. They are sent for, to do statute-labour, to pay larly shorn. to fatten battle-fields (named 'bed of honour ') statute-taxes with their bodies, in quarrels which are not theirs their hand but for themselves and toil is in every possession of man they have little or no possession. Untaught, uncomforted, to pine stagnantly in thick obscuration, in squalid unfed this is the lot of the millions destitution and obstruction peuple taillable et corveahle a merci et misSricorde. In Brittany they once rose in revolt at the first introduction of Pendulum
:

thinking it had something to do with the Gabelle. Clocks Paris requires to be cleared out periodically by the Police; and the horde of hunger- stricken vagabonds to be sent wanderDuring one such periodical ing again over space for a time. in May 1750, the Police had preclearance,' says Lacretelle, sumed withal to carry off some reputable people's children,
;

'

'

them. The mothers fill crowds gather, get the public places with cries of despair so many women in distraction run about exaggerating excited an absurd and horrid fable rises among the people the alarm it is said that the doctors have ordered a Great Person to take baths of young human blood for the restoration of his own, all Some of the rioters,' adds Lacretelle, spoiled by debaucheries. the Police quite coolly, were hanged on the following days
in the

hope of extorting ransoms

;

for

'

'

Lacretelle, Histoire de France pendant

le i8'^

Sikle (Paris, 1819),

i.

271.

Dulaure,

vii.

261.

went

14

DEATH OF LOUIS
on.i

XV.

BOOK

1744-74

and this, then, is your ye poor naked wretches inarticulate cry to Heaven, as of a dumb tortured animal, crying from uttermost depths of pain and debasement ? Do these azure skies, like a dead crystalline vault, only reverberate the echo of it on you ? Respond to it only by hanging on the following days ? Not so not for ever Ye are heard in Heaven. And the answer too will come, in a horror of great darkness, and shakings of the world, and a cup of trembling which all the nations shall drink. Remark, meanwhile, how from amid the wrecks and dust of this universal Decay new Powers are fashioning themselves, adapted to the new time and its destinies. Besides the old
went
!

'

'

there is a new recognised Noblesse of Lawyers ; whose gala-day and proud battle-day even now is. An unrecognised Noblesse of Commerce ; powerful enough, with money in its pocket. Lastly, powerfulest of all, least recognised of all, a Noblesse of Literature without steel on their thigh, without gold in their purse, but with
Noblesse,
originally
of

Fighters,

the

grand thaumaturgic faculty of Thought French Philosophism has arisen in which

'
;

'

in their head.

little

word how
cardinal
is

gone out Scepticism is come in. Evil abounds and accumulates no man has Faith to withstand it, to amend it, to begin by amending himself it must even go on accumulating. While hollow languor and vacuity is the lot of the Upper, and want and stagnation of the Lower, and universal misery is very certain, what other thing is certain ? That a Lie cannot be
;

Here, indeed, lies properly the much do we include symptom of the whole widespread malady. Faith
!

Philosophism knows only this her other belief is mainly, that in spiritual supersensual matters no Belief is possible. Unhappy Nay, as yet the Contradiction of a Lie is some kind of Belief but the Lie with its Contradiction once swept away, what will remain ? The five unsatiated Senses will remain, the sixth insatiable Sense (of vanity) ; the whole dcemonic nature of man will remain, hurled forth to rage blindly without rule or rein savage itself, yet with all the tools and weapons of civilisation a spectacle new in
believed
!

History.

In such a France, as in a Powder-tower, where fire unquenched and now unquenchable is smoking and smouldering
^

Lacrctelle,

iii.

175.

aU

CAGED.

VIATICUM
all

15

round, has Louis xv. lain

his

down

to die.

With Pompadour- CHAP.

1774

IT

ism and Dubarryism,

has been shamefully struck down in all lands and on all seas Poverty invades even the Royal Exchequer, and Tax-farming can squeeze out no more there is a quarrel of twenty-five years' standing with the Parlement everywhere Want, Dishonesty, Unbelief, and it is a portentous hotbrained Sciolists for state-physicians hour. Such things can the eye of History see in this sick-room of King Louis, which were invisible to the Courtiers there. It is twenty years, gone Christmas-day, since Lord Chesterfield, summing up what he had noted of this same France, wrote, and sent off by post, the following words, that have become memorable In short, all the symptoms which I have ever met with in History, previous to great Changes and Revolutions in government, now exist and daily increase in France.'
Fleur-de-lis
; ;

'

CHAPTER
VIATICUM

III

however, the grand question with the Shall extreme unction, or other Governors of France is ghostly viaticum (to Louis, not to France), be administered ? For, if administered, if so much as It is a deep question. spoken of, must not, on the very threshold of the business. hardly to return should Louis even Witch Dubarry vanish recover ? With her vanishes Duke d'Aiguillon and Company, and all their Armida-Palace, as was said Chaos swallows the whole again, and there is felt nothing but a smell of brimBut then, on the other hand, what will the Dauphinists stone. and Choiseulists say ? Nay what may the royal martyr himself say, should he happen to get deadly-worse, without getting For the present, he still kisses the Dubarry hand delirious ? but afterwards ? Doctors' so we, from the anteroom, can note confluent bulletins may run as they are ordered, but it is of which, as is whispered too, the Gatekeeper's small-pox,' and Louis xv. is not a man once so buxom Daughter lies ill to be trifled with in his viaticum. Was he not wont to catechise
the present,
:

For

'

Chesterfield's Z<jrj

December

25th, 1753.

his

16

DEATH OF LOUIS

XV.

BOOK
1774

very girls in the Parc-auoc-cerfs, and pray with and for them, that they might preserve their orthodoxy ? ^ A strange fact,
his

not an unexampled one for there is no animal so strange as man. For the moment, indeed, it were all well, could Archbishop Beaumont but be prevailed upon to wink with one eye for, singular to Alas, Beaumont would himself so fain do it tell, the Church too, and whole posthumous hope of Jesuitism,

THE PRINCESSES ADELAIDE, VICTOIRE, AND SOPHIE, DAUGHTERS OF LOUIS XV.

the apron of this same unmentionable woman. But then the force of public opinion ? Rigorous Christophe de Beaumont, who has spent his life in persecuting hysterical or even their dead Jansenists and incredulous Non-confessors how shall he now open Heaven's bodies, if no better might be, gate, and give Absolution with the corpus delicti still under

now hangs by
'

'

his nose ?
will

Our Grand-Almoner Roche- Aymon,

for his part,

:

not higgle with a royal sinner about turning of the key but there are other Churchmen; there is a King's Confessor,
^

Dulaure

(viii.

217)

Besenval,

etc.

foolish

VIATICUM
foolish

17

and Fanaticism and Decency are not CHAP. Ill 1774 yet extinct. On the whole, what is to be done ? The doors and can be well watched the Medical Bulletin adjusted much, as usual, be hoped for from time and chance. The doors are well watched, no improper figure can enter.
; ;

Abbe Moudon

for the putrid infection reaches Indeed, few wish to enter so that more than fifty fall sick, even to the CEil-de-Boeuf and ten die.' Mesdames the Princesses alone wait at the loathsome sick-bed impelled by filial piety. The three Princesses, Graille, Chiffe, Coche (Rag, Snip, Pig, as he was wont to name them), are assiduous there when all have fled. The fourth Princess, Loque (Dud), as we guess, is already in the Nunnery, and can only give her orisons. Poor Graille and Sisterhood, they have never known a Father such is the hard bargain Grandeur must make. Scarcely at the DSbotter (when Royalty took off its boots) could they snatch up their enormous hoops, gird the long train round their waists, huddle on their black cloaks of taffeta up to the very chin and so, in fit appearance of full dress, every evening at six,' receive their royal kiss on the brow ; walk majestically in and then walk majestically out again, to embroidery, smallIf Majesty came some morning, scandal, prayers, and vacancy. with coffee of its own making, and swallowed it with them hastily while the dogs were uncoupling for the hunt, it was received as a grace of Heaven.^ Poor withered ancient women in the wild tossings that yet await your fragile existence, before
;
' ; ; ;

'

'

'

be crushed and broken as ye fly through hostile countries, and over tempestuous seas, are almost taken by the Turks wholly, in the Sansculottic Earthquake, know not your right hand from your left, be this always an assured place in your To us also remembrance for the act was good and loving it is a little sunny spot, in that dismal howling waste, where
it
; ;
: !

we hardly

find another.

Meanwhile, what shall an impartial prudent Courtier do ? In these delicate circumstances, while not only death or life, but even sacrament or no sacrament, is a question, the skilFew are so happy as the Duke d' Orleans fulest may falter. and "the Prince de Conde who can themselves, with volatile and, at the same time, salts, attend the King's antechamber send their brave sons (Duke de Chartres, EgalitS that is to
; ;

Campan,

i.

11-36.

VOL.

I.

be;

18

DEATH OF LOUIS
; ;

XV.

BOOK
1774

be Duke de Bourbon, one day Conde too, and famous among Dotards) to wait upon the Dauphin. With another few, it is a resolution taken Old Richelieu, when jacta est alea. Archbishop Beaumont, driven by public opinion, is at last for

MARIA JOSEPH A.
entering the sick-room, will twitch him by the rochet, into a recess ; and there, with his old dissipated mastiff-face, and

the

vehemence, be seen pleading (and even, as we judge by Beaumont's change of colour, prevailing) that the King be not killed by a proposition in Divinity.' Duke de Fronsac, son of Richelieu, can follow his father when the Cur^ of
oiliest
'
:

Versailles

LOUIS THE UNFORGOTTEN

Versailles
'

19

whimpers something about sacraments, he will CHAP. Ill threaten to throw him out of the window if he mention such 1774 a thing.'

Happy

these,

we may say
is it

but to the rest that hover

?

between two opinions,

;

not trying

He who would

under-

stand to what a pass Catholicism, and much else, had now got and how the symbols of the Holiest have become gamblingdice of the Basest, must read the narrative of those things by Besenval, and Soulavie, and the other Court Newsmen of the time. He will see the Versailles Galaxy all scattered asunder, grouped into new ever-shifting Constellations. There are nods and sagacious glances go-betweens, silk dowagers mysteriously gliding, with smiles for this constellation, sighs for that there is tremor, of hope or desperation, in several hearts. There is the pale grinning Shadow of Death, ceremoniously ushered along by another grinning Shadow, of Etiquette at intervals the growl of Chapel Organs, like proclaiming, as in a kind of horrid prayer by machinery diabolic horse-laughter. Vanity of vanities, all is Vanity !

CHAPTER
Poor Louis
where
like
;
!

IV

LOUIS THE UNFOHGOTTEN

With

these
it is
is

mimes they mope

all

a hollow phantasmagory, and mowl, and utter false sounds

it
is

for hire

but with thee

frightful earnest.
;

Death from of old named King Our little compact home of an Existence, where of Terrors. we dwelt complaining, yet as in a home, is passing, in dark agonies, into an Unknown of Separation, Foreignness, unconditioned Possibility. The Heathen Emperor asks of his soul Into what places art thou now departing ? The Catholic King must answer To the Judgment-bar of the Most High God a final settling, and giving-in Yes, it is a summing-up of Life they are done the account of the deeds done in the body now and lie there unalterable, and do bear their fruits, long
Frightful to
:
!

men

'

'

as Eternity shall last.

Louis XV. had always the kingliest abhorrence of Death. Unlike that praying Duke of Orleans, EgalitS's grandfather,
for

20

DEATH OF LOUIS
!

XV.

BOOK
1774

them had a touch of madness, who He, if the Court honestly believed that there was no Death Newsmen can be believed, started up once on a time, glowing with sulphurous contempt and indignation on his poor Secretary, who had stumbled on the words, feu roi d'Espagne (the Monseigneur,' late King of Spain) Feu roi, Monsieur ?
for indeed several of
:

'

'

'

hastily answered the trembling but adroit

'

man

of business,

a title they take).' ^ Louis, we say, was not so happy but he did what he could. He would not suffer Death to be spoken of avoided the sight of churchyards, funereal monuments, and whatsoever could bring it to mind. who, hard It is the resource of the Ostrich hunted, sticks his foolish head in the ground, and would fain forget that his foolish unseeing body is not unseen too. Or sometimes, with a spasmodic antagonism, significant of the same thing, and of more, he would go or stopping his court carriages, would send into churchyards, and ask how many new graves there were today,' though it gave his poor Pompadour the disagreeablest qualms. We can figure the thought of Louis that day, when, all royally caparisoned for hunting, he met, at some sudden turning in the Wood of Senart, a ragged Peasant with a coffin For whom ? It was for a poor brother slave, whom Majesty had sometimes noticed slaving in those quarters. What did he die of ? Of hunger the King gave his steed
c'est

une

litre

quHls prennent
;

('tis

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

the spur.^

But

figure his thought,

;

when Death
for,

is

now
!

clutching at his

own

heart-strings

unlooked
thee.

Death has found

;

No

inexorable Yes, poor Louis, palace walls or life-guards, gor-

geous tapestries or gilt buckram of stiffest ceremonial could keep him out but he is here, here at thy very life-breath, and

Thou, whose whole existence hitherto was a chimera and scenic show, at length becomest a reality sumptuous Versailles bursts asunder, like a dream, into void Immensity Time is done, and all the scaffolding of Time falls wrecked with hideous clangour round thy soul the pale Kingdoms yawn open there must thou enter, naked, all unking'd, and await what is appointed thee Unhappy man, there as thou turnest, in dull agony, on thy bed of weariness, what a thought is thine Purgatory and Hell-fire, now ailwill extinguish
it.
:

too possible, in the prospect

^

in the retrospect,
2

alas,
39.

what
thing

Besenval,

i.

199.

Campan,

iii.

LOUIS THE UNFORGOTTEN

; ;

21

thing didst thou do that were not better undone what mortal CHAP. IV 1774 didst thou generously help what sorrow hadst thou mercy on ? Do the ghosts, who sank five hundred thousand shamefully on so many battle-fields from Rossbach to Quebec, that thy Harlot might take revenge for an epigram, crowd round thee in this hour ? Thy foul Harem the curses of mothers, the tears and infamy of daughters ? Miserable man thy whole existence thou hast done evil as thou couldst seems one hideous abortion and mistake of Nature the use and meaning of thee not yet known. Wert thou a fabulous Griffin, devouring the works of men daily dragging virgins to thy cave clad also in scales that no spear would pierce A Griffin not fabulous but real no spear but Death's ? Frightful, O Louis, seem these moments for thee. We will pry no further into the horrors of a sinner's deathbed.
'
'

'

'

yet let no meanest man lay flattering unction to his but art not thou also one ? His Louis was a Ruler soul. wide France, look at it from the Fixed Stars (themselves not yet Infinitude), is no wider than thy narrow brickfield, where thou too didst faithfully, or didst unfaithfully. Man, Symbol it is not thy works, which of Eternity imprisoned into Time are all mortal, infinitely little, and the greatest no greater than the least, but only the Spirit thou workest in, that can have

And

'

'

worth or continuance. But reflect, in any case, what a life-problem this of poor Louis, when he rose as Bien-AimS from that Metz sick-bed, What son of Adam could have swayed such inreally was coherences into coherence ? Could he ? Blindest Fortune can as he swims there alone has cast him on the top of it little sway it as the drift-log sways the wind-tossed moonWhat have I done to be so loved ? he stirred Atlantic. What have I done to be so said then. He may say now Thy fault hated ? Thou hast done nothing, poor Louis What could is properly even this, that thou didst nothing. Abdicate, and wash his hands of it, in poor Louis do ? Other clear wisdom favour of the first that would accept there was none for him. As it was, he stood gazing dubiously, the absurdest mortal extant, a very Solecism Incarnate, into wherein at last nothing seemed the absurdest confused world so certain as this. That he, the incarnate Solecism, had five
! :

'

'

senses

22

DEATH OF LOUIS
;

XV.

BOOK
1774

that there were Flying Tables {Tables Volantes, which vanish through the floor, to come back reloaded), and a Parcsenses
aux-cerjs.

Whereby

at least

we have again
'

this historical curiosity

;

swimming passively, as being in an original position on some boundless Mother of Dead Dogs,' towards issues which he partly saw. For Louis had withal a kind of insight in him. So, when a new Minister of Marine, or what else it might be, came announcing his new era, the Scarlet- woman Yes, he would hear from the lips of Majesty at supper promised the beautifulest spread out his ware like another he does not a thing of which will come things in the world not know this region 'Tis the he will see.' Or again France will never get a twentieth time I have heard all that If / were Navy, I believe.' How touching also was this Lieutenant of Police, I would prohibit those Paris cabriolets.' ^ Doomed mortal for is it not a doom to be Solecism incarnate A new Roi Faineant, King Donothing but with the strangest new Mayor of the Palace no bow-legged Pepin now for Mayor, but that same cloud-capt, fire-breathing Spectre of Democracy incalculable, which is enveloping the world Was Louis, then, no wickeder than this or the other private Donothing and Eatall such as we often enough see, under the name of Man of Pleasure, cumbering God's diligent Creation, for a time ? Say, wretcheder His Life-solecism was seen and felt of a whole scandalised world him endless Oblivion cannot engulf, and swallow to endless depths, not yet for a generation or two.
:

human

'

'

'

However, be this as that on the evening

'

it will,

we remark, not without

interest,

of the 4th,'
'

Dame Dubarry

issues

from

the sick-room, with perceptible trouble in her visage.' It is the fourth evening of May, year of Grace 1774. Such a whispering in the (Eil-de-Boeuf Is he dying, then ? What can be said is, that Dubarry seems making up her packages she sails weeping through her gilt boudoirs, as if taking leave. D'Aiguillon and Company are near their last card nevertheless they will not yet throw up the game. But as for the sacramental controversy, it is as good as settled without being mentioned Louis sends for his Abb6 Moudon in the course
!

Journal de Madame de Hausset,

p.

293, etc.

of

LOUIS THE UNFORGOTTEN

of next night
' ;

23

confessed by him, some say for the space of CHAP. IV seventeen minutes,' and demands the sacraments of his own 1774 accord.
is

LA COMTESSE DUBARRY.
already, in the afternoon, behold is not this your Sorceress Dubarry with the handkerchief at her eyes, mounting rolling off in his Duchess's consolatory D'Aiguillon's chariot

Nay

arms

She

is

gone
;

and her place knows her no more. Vanish,

!

false Sorceress

into Space

Needless to hover at neighbouring

Ruel;

24

DEATH OF LOUIS
;
;

XV.

BOOK
1774

Shut are the royal palace-gates Ruel for thy day is done. for evermore hardly in coming years shalt thou, under cloud of night, descend once, in black domino, like a black nightbird, and disturb the fair Antoinette's music-party in the Park all Birds of Paradise flying from thee, and musical windpipes growing mute.^ Thou unclean, yet unmalignant, not unpitiable thing What a course was thine from that first trucklebed (in Joan of Arc's country) where thy mother forward, through bore thee, with tears, to an unnamed father lowest subterranean depths, and over highest sunlit heights, of Harlotdom and Rascaldom to the guillotine-axe, which Rest there unshears away thy vainly whimpering head cursed only buried and abolished what else befitted thee ?
; ! :
:

Louis, meanwhile,

is

in considerable impatience for his sacra-

ments

sends more than once to the window, to see whether they are not coming. Be of comfort, Louis, what comfort thou canst they are under way, those sacraments. Towards six in the morning, they arrive. Cardinal Grand- Almoner Roche-Aymon is here in pontificals, with his pyxes and his tools he approaches the royal pillow elevates his wafer mutters or seems to mutter somewhat and so (as the Abbe Georgel, in words that stick to one, expresses it) has Louis ' made the amende honorable to God so does your Jesuit construe it. ' Wa, Wa,^ as the wild Clotaire groaned out, when life was departing, what great God is this that pulls down ^ the strength of the strongest kings
; : : ;

'

'

'

The amende

honorable,
if

God
still

but

what

'

legal

apology
it,

not,

D'Aiguillon can help

;

you will, to to man. Dubarry

'

hovers in his mansion at Ruel and while there is life, there is hope. Grand-Almoner Roche-Aymon, accordingly (for he seems to be in the secret), has no sooner seen his pyxes and gear repacked, than he is stepping majestically forth again, as if the work were done But King's Confessor Abbe Moudon starts forward with anxious acidulent face, twitches him by the sleeve whispers in his ear. Whereupon the poor Cardinal has to turn round and declare audibly, ' That his Majesty repents of any subjects of scandal he may have given {a pu donner) and purposes, by the strength of Heaven assisting him, to avoid the like for the future Words listened to by Richelieu with mastiff-face, growing blacker and
!

'

Campan,

i.

197.

Gregorius Turonensis, Histor.

lib. iv.

cap. 21.

answered

LOUIS THE UNFORGOTTEN

'

25

answered to, aloud, with an epithet,' which Besenval will CHAP. IV not repeat. Old Richelieu, conqueror of Minorca, companion lO May 1774 of. Flying-Table orgies, perforator of bedroom walls,^ is thy day also done ? the Shrine of Alas, the Chapel organs may keep going Sainte Genevieve be let down, and pulled up again, without effect. In the evening the whole Court, with Dauphin and priests are hoarse with Dauphiness, assist at the Chapel and the heaving chanting their Prayers of Forty Hours For the very heaven blackens bellows blow. Almost frightful almost drowning battering rain-torrents dash, with thunder the organ's voice and electric fire-flashes make the very flambeaux on the altar pale. So that the most, as we are told, in a state of retired, when it was over, with hurried steps,
;

'

'

'

meditation {recueillement),^ and said little or nothing.^ So it has lasted for the better half of a fortnight the Dubarry gone almost a week. Besenval says, all the world was that poor Louis would have getting impatient que cela finit done with it. It is now the 10th of May 1774. He will soon have done now. This tenth May day falls into the loathsome sick-bed for they that look out of the winbut dull, unnoticed there dows are quite darkened the cistern-wheel moves discordant Life, like a spent steed, is panting towards the on its axis goal. In their remote apartments, Dauphin and Dauphiness stand road-ready all grooms and equerries booted and spurred waiting for some signal to escape the house of pestilence.^ And,
; ;
: ;

that sound It is the rush of the terrible and absolutely like thunder ? whole Court, rushing as in wager, to salute the new Sovereigns

hark
'

across the GEil-de-Boeuf,

what sound
'

is

Hail to your Majesties

The Dauphin and Dauphiness

are

King and Queen

fall
^ -

Overpowered with many emotions, they two

tears, exclaim,
22.

on their knees together, and, with streaming

i.

Besenval

159-172.

Genlis

Due de

Levis, etc.
1809),
i.

Weber, Mhnoires concernatit Marie- Antoinette (London,

One grudges to interfere Campan (i. 79) has lit on this

^

with the beautiful theatrical 'candle,' which Madame What occasion, and blown out at the moment of death.

candles might be lit or blown out, in so large an Establishment as that of Versailles, no man at such distance would like to affirm at the same time, as it was two o'clock in a May Afternoon, and these royal Stables must have been some five or six hundred yards from the royal sick-room, the ' candle does threaten to go out in spite of us. It
:

'

remains burning indeed in her fantasy; throwing

of hers.

light

on much

in those

Mimoires

26

DEATH OF LOUIS
God, guide
us, protect

XV.
young to reign
'
!

BOOK
1774

'

us

we

are too

Too young indeed. But thus, in any

case,

'

with a sound absolutely

like thunder,'

has the Horologe of Time struck, and an old Era passed away. The Louis that was, lies forsaken, a mass of abhorred clay
;

MME. CAMPAN.
Ardente,' ^who

abandoned

'

to

some poor persons, and

priests of the Chapelle

'

make

haste to put

him

in

two lead

coffins,

pouring in abundant spirits of wine.' The new Louis with his Court is rolling towards Choisy, through the summer afternoon the royal tears still flow but a word mispronounced by Monseigneur d'Artois sets them all laughing, and they weep no more. Light mortals, how ye walk your light life-minuet, over bottomless abysses, divided from you by a film
:

For

LOUIS THE UNFORGOTTEN

27

For the rest, the proper authorities felt that no Funeral CHAP. IV could be too unceremonious. Besenval himself thinks it was lo May 1774 unceremonious enough. Two carriages containing two noblemen of the usher species, and a Versailles clerical person these, some score of mounted pages, some fifty palfreniers with torches, but not so much as in black, start from Versailles on the second evening, with their leaden bier. At a high trot they start and keep up that pace. For the gibes {brocards) of those Parisians, who stand planted in two rows, all the way to St. Denis, and give vent to their pleasantry, the characTowards teristic of the nation,' do not tempt one to slacken. unwept midnight the vaults of St. Denis receive their own by any eye of all these if not by poor Loque his neglected Daughter's, whose Nunnery is hard by. Him they crush down, and huddle under-ground, in this impatient way him and his era of sin and tyranny and shame the future all the brighter that for behold a New Era is come the past was base.
;
:

'

Book Second

BOOK SECOND

THE PAPER AGE

CHAPTER
A
I

ASTR^A REDUX
PARADOXICAL philosopher, carrying to the uttermost length that aphorism of Montesquieu's, Happy the people whose
'

annals are tiresome,' has said, Happy the people whose annals are vacant.' In which
'

saying,

mad as

it

looks,

may

there not still be found some grain of reason ? For truly, as it has been written,
'

Silence

is

divine,'
;

and

of

Heaven

so in all

earthly things too there

is

a silence which

is

better than

any speech.

Consider it well, the Event, the thing which

can be spoken of and

DE MONTESQUIEU.
some solution
of continuity ?

recorded,
cases,

is it

not, in all

some

disruption,
it

Were

it

even a glad Event,

involves change, involves loss (of active Force) ; and so far, either in the past or in the present, is an irregularity, a disease.

perseverance were our blessedness not dislocation and alteration, could they be avoided. The oak grows silently, in the forest, a thousand years 28 only
Stillest

ASTR^A RE DUX
;

29

only in the thousandth year, when the woodman arrives with CHAP. I his axe, is there heard an echoing through the sohtudes and 1774-84 the oak announces itself when, with far-sounding crash, it jails. How silent too was the planting of the acorn scattered from the lap of some wandering wind Nay, when our oak flowered, or put on its leaves (its glad Events), what shout of proclamation could there be ? Hardly from the most observant a word of recognition. These things hejell not, they were slowly done not in an hour, but through the flight of days what was to be said of it ? This hour seemed altogether as the last was, as the next would be. It is thus everywhere that foolish Rumour babbles not of what was done, but of what was misdone or undone and foolish History (ever, more or less, the written epitomised synopsis of Rumour) knows so little that were not as well unknown. Attila Invasions, Walter-the-Penniless Crusades, mere sin and misery Sicilian Vespers, Thirty-Years Wars For the Earth, all this not work, but hindrance of work while, was yearly green and yellow with her kind harvests the hand of the craftsman, the mind of the thinker rested
;
!

and so, after all, and in spite of glorious high-domed blossoming World
not
:

all,
;

we have

this

so
?

concerning which,

poor History She knows so

it,

may

well ask, with wonder.

Whence
of

it

came

little of it,

knows

so

much

what obstructed
;

what would have rendered it impossible. Such, nevertheless, by necessity or foolish choice, is her rule and practice whereby that paradox, Happy the people whose annals are
'

vacant,'

is

not without

its

true side.
to note here, there
is

And
a
so

yet,

what seems more pertinent

of

stillness

not of unobstructed growth, but of passive inert-

ness, the
is

symptom

imminent downfall.

As victory

is silent,

Of the opposing forces the weaker has resigned the stronger marches on, noiseless now, but rapid, itself the fall and overturn will not be noiseless. How inevitable all grows, and has its period, even as the herbs of the fields, All grows and dies, each be it annual, centennial, milennial by its own wondrous laws, in wondrous fashion of its own Inscrutable, to the spiritual things most wondrously of all.
defeat.
;
:
!

wisest, are these latter

stood.

If

not to be prophesied of, or underwhen the oak stands proudliest flourishing to the
;

eye,

30

THE PAPER AGE

you know that
its
;
!

BOOK

II

1774-84

heart is sound, it is not so with the man how much less with the Society, with the Nation of men Of such it may be affirmed even that the superficial aspect, that the inward feeling of full health, is generally ominous. For indeed it is of apoplexy, so to speak, and a plethoric lazy habit of body, that Churches, Kingships, Social Institutions, oftenest die. Sad, when such Institution plethorically says to itself. Take thy ease, thou hast goods laid up like the fool of the Gospel, to whom it was answered. Fool, this night thy life shall be required of thee Is it the healthy peace, or the ominous unhealthy, that rests on France, for these next Ten Years ? Over which the Historian can pass lightly, without call to linger for as yet events are not, much less performances. Time of sunniest
eye,

stillness

shall

we

call
it

it,

what

all

men thought
;

it,

the

new

Age
is
still

Gold ? Call the succedaneum

of

at least, of Paper

of Gold.

which in many ways Bank-paper, wherewith you can

;

there is no gold left Book-paper, splendent with Theories, Philosophies, Sensibilities, beautiful art, not only of revealing Thought, but also of so beautifully hiding from us the want of Thought Paper is made from the rags of things that did once exist there are endless excellences in Paper. What wisest Philosophe, in this halcyon uneventful period, could prophesy that there was approaching, big with darkness and confusion, the event of events ? Hope ushers in a Revolution, as earthquakes are preceded by bright weather. On the Fifth of May, fifteen years hence, old Louis will not be sending for the Sacraments but a new Louis, his grandson, with the whole pomp of astonished intoxicated France, will be opening the States-General.

buy when

D'Aiguillons are gone for ever. There docile, well-intentioned King a young, beautiful and bountiful, well-intentioned Queen and with them all France, as it were, become young. Maupeou and his Parlement have to vanish into thick night respectable Magistrates, not
its
is

Dubarrydom and
a young,
still

indifferent to the Nation, were it only for having been opponents of the Court, descend now unchained from their ' steep rocks

at Croe in Combrailles and elsewhere, and return singing praises the old Parlement of Paris resumes its functions.
' :

Instead of a profligate bankrupt

Abb6

Terray,

we have now,
for

ASTR^A REDUX

31
CHAP.
I

for Controller-General, a virtuous philosophic Turgot, with a

whole Reformed France in his head. By whom whatsoever as far as is wrong, in Finance or otherwise, will be righted, possible. Is it not as if Wisdom herself were henceforth to have seat and voice in the Council of Kings ? Turgot has taken been office with the noblest plainness of speech to that effect listened to with the noblest royal trustfulness.^ It is true, as but King Louis objects, They say he never goes to mass liberal France likes him little worse for that liberal France answers, The Abbe Terray al;

1774-84

'

'

'

Philosoways went.' phism sees, for the first

time, a Philosophe (or even a Philosopher) in

she in all things will applausively second him neither will light
office
:

old Maurepas obstruct, if he can easily help it.

Then
are the
'

how
all

'

sweet
;

manners
its

vice

losing
'

defor-

mity
(as

becoming decent
things,

TURGOT.
becoming almost a irradiated Intelligence so abounds
; ;

established
'

making regulations
'

for themselves, do)

!

kind of sweet virtue by wit and the art of conversation. Philosophism sits joyful in her glittering saloons, the dinner-guest of Opulence grown inand preaches, genuous, the very nobles proud to sit by her From far lifted up over all Bastilles, a coming millennium.
;

Ferney,

Patriarch

Voltaire

gives

sign
;

veterans

Diderot,

D'Alembert have lived to

see this

day

Marmontels, Morellets, Chamforts, spicy board of rich ministering Dowager, of philosophic FarmerOf a truth, General. O nights and suppers of the gods the Age of Revoluthe long-demonstrated will now be done tions approaches (as Jean Jacques wrote), but then of happy
!

these with their younger Raynals, made glad the

'

'

Turgot's Letter:
date
is

Condorcet, Vt^ de Turgot {(Euvres de Condorcet,

t,

v.),

p.

67.

The

24th August 1774.

blessed

32

THE PAPER AGE

ones.

BOOK

II

blessed

Man awakens from

his long

somnambulism

1774-84

chases the Phantasms that beleaguered and bewitched him. Behold the new morning glittering down the eastern steeps let the Absurd fly, false Phantasms, from its shafts of light
;

lower Earth for ever. It is Truth and Astrcea Redux that (in the shape of Philosophism) henceforth reign. For what imaginable purpose was man made, if not to be happy ? By victorious analysis, and Progress of Kings can the Species, happiness enough now awaits him. Let but become philosophers or else philosophers Kings. Society be once rightly constituted, by victorious Analysis. The stomach that is empty shall be filled; the throat that is dry shall be wetted with wine. Labour itself shall be all one as rest not grievous, but joyous. Wheat-fields, one would think, cannot come to grow untilled no man made clayey, or made weary thereby unless indeed machinery will do it ? Gratuitous Tailors and Restaurateurs may start up, at fit intervals, one as yet sees not how. But if each will, according to rule of Benevolence, have a care for all, then surely no one will be uncared for. Nay, who knows but, by sufficiently victorious Analysis, human life may be indefinitely lengthened,' and men get rid of Death, as they have already done of the Devil ? We shall then be happy in spite of Death and the Devil.T So preaches magniloquent Philosophism her Redeunt Saturnia regna. The prophetic song of Paris and its Philosophies is audible enough in the Versailles (Eil-de-Boeuf and the (Eil-de-Bceuf, intent chiefly on nearer blessedness, can answer, at worst, with a polite Why not ? Good old cheery Maurepas is too joyful a Prime Minister to dash the world's joy. Sufficient for the day be its own evil. Cheery old man, he cuts his jokes, and hovers careless along his cloak well adjusted to the wind, if so be he may please all persons. The simple young King, whom a Maurepas cannot think of troubling with business, has retired into the interior apartments taciturn, irresolute though with a sharpness of temper at times he, at length, determines on a little smith-work and so, in apprenticeship with a Sieur Gamain (whom one day he shall have little cause to bless), is learning to make locks.^ It appears further, he understood Geography and could read English. Unhappy
fly utterly, forsaking this
' '

'

'

'

Campan,

i.

125.

young

ASTR^A REDUX
young King,
his childlike trust in that foolish old

33
Maurepas CHAP. I 1774-84 destiny and himof state, walks
;

But friend and foe, self have combined to do him hurt. Meanwhile the fair young Queen, in her halls
deserved another return.
like
;

a goddess of Beauty, the cynosure of all eyes as yet mingles not with affairs least of all, heeds not the future dreads it. Weber and Campan ^ have pictured her, there within the royal tapestries, in bright boudoirs, baths, peignoirs, and the Grand and Little Toilette with a whole brilliant world waiting obsequious on her glance fair young daughter of Time, what things has Time in store for thee Like Earth's brightest appearance, she moves gracefully, environed with the grandeur of Earth a reality, and yet a magic vision for, behold, shall not utter Darkness swallow it The soft young heart adopts orphans, portions meritorious maids, delights to succour the poor, such poor as come picturesquely in her way and sets the fashion of doing it for, as was said. Benevolence has now begun reigning. In her Duchess de Polignac, in her Princess de Lamballe, she enjoys something almost like friendship now too, after seven long years, she has a child, and soon even a Dauphin, of her own can reckon herself, as Queens go, happy in a husband. Events ? The grand events are but charitable Feasts of Morals {Fetes des moeurs), with their Prizes and Speeches above all, Poissarde Processions to the Dauphin's cradle There are Flirtations, their rise, progress, decline and fall. Snow-statues raised by the poor in hard winter to a Queen who has given them fuel. There are masquerades, theatricals beautifyings of little Trianon, purchase and repair of St. Cloud journeyings from the summer Court-Elysium to the winter one. There are poutings and grudgings from the Sardinian Sisterslittle jealousies, in-law (for the Princes too are wedded) Wholly the lightestwhich Court-Etiquette can moderate. yet an artfully refined hearted frivolous foam of Existence foam pleasant were it not so costly, like that which mantles
;
;
: !

on the wine of Champagne Monsieur, the King's elder Brother, has set up and leans towards the Philosophe side. wit d'Artois pulls the mask from a fair impertinent almost drawing blood. ^ He in consequence,
!

kind of Monseigneur fights a duel has breeches

for a
ii.

Campan,
I.

i.

100-51.

Weber,

i.

U-50.

Besenval,

282-330.

VOL.

of

34

BOOK

II

of a

kind new

THE PAPER AGE in this world a fabulous kind

;

' ;

four tall

1774-84

lackeys,' says Mercier, as

he had seen it, hold him up in the into the garment without vestige of air, that he may fall from which rigorous encasement the same four, in wrinkle the same way, and with more effort, have to deliver him at This last is he who now, as a gray timeworn man, night.' ^ sits desolate at Gratz ^ having winded up his destiny with the Three Days. In such sort are poor mortals swept and shovelled to and fro.
if
' ;
;

CHAPTER
With

II

PETITION IN HIEROGLYPHS
the working people, again, it is not so well. Unlucky For there are from twenty to twenty-five millions of them. Whom, however, we lump together into a kind of dim compendious unity, monstrous but dim, far off, as the canaille or, more humanely, as the masses.' Masses indeed and yet, singular to say, if, with an effort of imagination, thou follow them, over broad France, into their clay hovels, into their garrets and hutches, the masses consist all of units. Every unit of whom has his own heart and sorrows stands covered with his there own skin, and if you prick him he will bleed. purple Sovereignty, Holiness, Reverence O thou, for example, Cardinal Grand-Almoner, with thy plush covering of honour, who hast thy hands strengthened with dignities and moneys, and art set on thy world watch-tower solemnly, in sight of God, for such ends, ^what a thought that every unit of these masses is a miraculous Man, even as thou thyself art struggling,
!

'

with vision or with blindness, for his infinite Kingdom (this life which he has got, once only, in the middle of Eternities) ; with a spark of the Divinity, what thou callest an immortal soul, in

him

Dreary, languid do these struggle in their obscure remotetheir hearth cheerless, their diet thin. ness For them, in this world, rises no Era of Hope hardly now in the other, if it be not hope in the gloomy rest of Death, for their faith too is failing. Untaught, uncomforted, unfed A dumb
;
;
!

Mercier,

Nouveau Paris,

iii.

147.

A.D. 1834.

generation

PETITION IN HIEROGLYPHS
; :

35

generation their voice only an inarticulate cry spokesman, CHAP. II 1774-84 in the King's Council, in the world's forum, they have none that finds credence. At rare intervals (as now, in 1775), they will fling down their hoes and hammers and, to the astonishment of thinking mankind,^ flock hither and thither, dangerous, aimless get the length even of Versailles. Turgot is altering the Corn-trade, abrogating the absurdest Corn-laws there is dearth, real, or were it even factitious an indubitable And so, on the second day of May 1775, scarcity of bread. these waste multitudes do here, at Versailles Chateau, in widespread wretchedness, in sallow faces, squalor, winged raggedness, present, as in legible hieroglyphic writing, their Petition The Chateau gates have to be shut but the of Grievances. King will appear on the balcony, and speak to them. They their Petition of Grievances has have seen the King's face been, if not read, looked at. For answer, two of them are and the rest driven hanged, on a new gallows forty feet high back to their dens, for a time. Clearly a difficult point for Government, that of dealing if indeed it be not rather the sole point with these masses and problem of Government, and all other points mere accidental crotchets, superficialities, and beatings of the wind
;

'

'

'

'

' ;

'

For

let

Charter- Chests,

Use and Wont, Law common and

the masses count to so many millions made, to all appearance, by God, whose Earth this of units Besides, these people are not without is declared to be. they have sinews and indignation. Do but look ferocity what holiday old Marquis Mirabeau, the crabbed old Friend of Men, looked on, in these same years, from his lodging, at the ' The savages descending in torrents Baths of Mont d'Or our people ordered not to go out. The from the mountains Curate in surplice and stole Justice in its peruke Marechausee sabre in hand, guarding the place, till the bagpipes can begin. The dance interrupted, in a quarter of an hour, by battle the cries, the squealings of children, of infirm persons, and other assistants, tarring them on, as the rabble does when dogs frightful men, or rather frightful wild-animals, clad in fight
special say
;

what they

will,

Jupes of coarse woollen, with large girdles of leather studded of gigantic stature, heightened by high with copper nails
;

Lacretelle,

France pendant

le

i8'* Sihle^

ii.

455.

Biographie

Universelle,

Turgot (by Durozoir).

wooden-clogs

36

THE PAPER AGE

; ; ;
:

BOOK

II

1774-84

tramprising on tiptoe to see the fight wooden-clogs {sabots) their rubbing their sides with their elbows ing time to it faces haggard (figures hdves), and covered with their long greasyhair the upper part of the visage waxing pale, the lower distorting itself into the attempt at a cruel laugh and a sort And these people pay the taille of ferocious impatience. And you And you want further to take their salt from them know not what it is you are stripping barer, or as you call it, governing what, by the spurt of your pen, in its cold dastard indifference, you will fancy you can starve always with imAh Madame, such punity always till the catastrophe come Government by Blindman's-buff, stumbling along too far, will end in the General Overturn {culbute gSnSrale).^ ^ Undoubtedly a dark feature this in an Age of Gold, Age, at least, of Paper and Hope Meanwhile, trouble us not with thy prophecies, O croaking Friend of Men 'tis long that we have heard such and still the old world keeps wagging, in its old
;
! !

way.

CHAPTER
Or
is

III

QUESTIONABLE
but a simulacrum as Hope too often is ? Cloud-vapour with rainbows painted on it, beautiful to see, to sail towards, which hovers over Niagara In that case, victorious Analysis will have enough Falls ?
this

same Age

of

Hope

itself

to do.

a whole world to remake, if she could see it work for another than she For all is wrong, and gone out of joint the inward spiritual, and the outward economical head or heart, there is no soundness in it. As indeed, evils of all sorts are more or less of kin, and do usually go together especially it is an old truth, that wherever huge physical evil is, there, as the parent and origin of it, has moral evil to a proportionate extent been. Before those five-and-twenty labouring Millions, for instance, could get that haggardness of face, which old Mirabeau now looks on, in a Nation calling itself Christian,
Alas, yes
! !

' M^moires de Mirabeau, ecrits par Lui-meme, par son P^re, son Oncle et son Fils Adoptif (Paris, 1834-5), ii. 186.

and

f PA^'wn-

j-o

<-*-

vi

i->

LOUIS XVI.

QUESTIONABLE and calling man the brother of man, what unspeakable,

infinite
:

37
nigh CHAP.
Ill

Dishonesty (of seeming and not being) in all manner of Rulers, and appointed Watchers, spiritual and temporal, must there not, through long ages, have gone on accumulating It will accumulate moreover, it will reach a head for the first of all Gospels is this, that a Lie cannot endure for
!
;

1774-84

ever.

In fact, if we pierce through that rosepink vapour of Sentimentalism. Philanthropy, and Feasts of Morals, there lies behind it one of the sorriest spectacles. You might ask. What bonds that ever held a human society happily together, or held it together at all, are in force here ? It is an unbelieving people which has suppositions, hypotheses, and froth-systems
;

and for belief this mainly, that Pleasure is pleasant. Hunger they have for all sweet things and the law of Hunger but what other law ? Within them, or over them, properly none Their King has become a King Popinjay with his Maurepns Government, gyrating as the weather-cock does, blown about by every wind. Above them they see no God or they even do not look above, except with astronomical glasses. The Church indeed still is but in the most submissive state for quite tamed by Philosophism in a singularly short time the hour was come. Some twenty years ago, your Archbishop Beaumont would not even let the poor Jansenists get buried your Lomenie Brienne (a rising man, whom we shall meet with yet) could, in the name of the Clergy, insist on having the Antiprotestant Laws, which condemn to death for preaching, put in execution.' ^ And alas, now not so much as Baron Holbach's Atheism can be burnt, except as pipe-matches by the private speculative individual. Our Church stands haltered, dumb, like a dumb ox lowing only for provender (of tithes) or, with dumb stupor, expecting content if it can have that And the Twenty Millions of haggard its further doom. and, as finger-post and guidance to them in their faces
of victorious Analysis
; ;
: ! : ;
;

'

'

'

Certainly a singular dark struggle, a gallows forty feet high with its Feasts of Morals, its sweet manners,' Golden Age betokening nothing its sweet institutions {institutions douces) Peace ? O Philosophe-SentimentaHsm, but peace among men what hast thou to do with peace, when thy mother's name is
' '
!

'

Boissy d'Anglas, Vie de Malesherbes,

i.

15-22.

Jezebel

38

THE PAPER AGE

still

BOOK

II

1774-84

Jezebel ? Foul Product of the corruption art doomed

!

fouler Corruption,

thou with

long the rotten will hold toFor whole gether, provided you do not handle it roughly. generations it continues standing, with a ghastly affectation so loth are of life,' after all life and truth has fled out of it men to quit their old ways ; and, conquering indolence and

Meanwhile

it is

singular

how

'

LOMENIE DE BRIENNE.
venture on new. Great truly is the Actual ; is the Thing that has rescued itself from bottomless deeps of theory and possibility, and stands there as a definite indisputable Fact, whereby men do work and live, or once did so. Wisely shall men cleave to that, while it will endure and quit it with regret, when it gives way under them. Rash enthusiast of Change, beware Hast thou well considered all that Habit does in this life of ours how all Knowledge and all Practice hang wondrous over infinite abysses of the Unknown, Impracticable
inertia,
;
!

and

QUESTIONABLE
'
'

39

and our whole being is an infinite abyss, overarched by Habit, CHAP, ill 1774-84 as by a thin Earth-rind, laboriously built together ? But if every man,' as it has been written, holds confined within him a mad-man,' what must every Society do Society, which in its commonest state is called the standing miracle of this world'! 'Without such Earth-rind of Habit,' continues our author, call it System of Habits, in a word, fixed ways of acting and of believing, Society would not exist at all. With such it exists, better or worse. Herein too, in this its System of Habits, acquired, retained how you will, lies the true Law-Code and Constitution of a Society the only Code, though an unwritten one, which it can in nowise disohey. The thing we call written Code, Constitution, Form of Government, and the like, what is it but some miniature image, and solemnly expressed summary of this unwritten Code ? Is, or rather, alas, is not but only should be, and always tends to be In which latter discrepancy lies struggle without end.' And now, we add in the same dialect, let but, by ill chance,
;

'

'

be

in such ever-enduring struggle,

your
;

'

thin Earth-rind
'

'

deep boil forth fire-fountains, enveloping, engulfing. Your Earth-rind is shattered, swallowed up instead of a green flowery world there is a waste wild-weltering chaos which has again, with tumult and truggle, to make itself into a world. On the other hand, be this conceded Where thou findest a Lie that is oppressing thee, extinguish it. Lies exist there only to be extinguished they wait and cry earnestly for extinction. Think well, meanwhile, in what spirit thou wilt do it not with hatred, with headlong selfish violence but in clearness of heart, with holy zeal, gently, almost with pity. Thou wouldst not replace such extinct Lie by a new Lie, which a new Injustice of thy own were the parent of still other Lies ? Whereby the latter end of that business were worse than the
!

once broken

The fountains
;

of the great

'

beginning.

which has both an indestructible hope in the Future, and an indestructible tendency to persevere as in the Past, must Innovation and Conservation wage their perpetual conflict, as they may and can. Wherein
So, however, in this world of ours,

daemonic element,' that lurks in all human things, may get vent But doubtless, some once in the thousand years, indeed may we not regret that such conflict, which, after all,
the
'

is

40

THE PAPER AGE

but
like
'

BOOK

II

1774-84

hate-filled Amazons with that classical one of heroic Youths,' and will end in embraces, should usually be so spasmodic ? For Conservation, strengthened by that mightiest quality in us, our indolence, sits for long ages, not victorious only, which she should be but tyrannical, incommunicative. She holds her adversary as if annihilated such adversary lying, all the while, like some buried Enceladus who, to gain the smallest freedom, has to stir a whole Trinacria with its ^tnas. Wherefore, on the whole, we will honour a Paper Age too an Era of Hope For in this same frightful process of Enceladus Revolt when the task, on which no mortal would willingly enter, has become imperative, inevitable, is it not even a kindness of Nature that she lures us forward by cheerful promises, fallacious or not and a whole generation plunges into the Erebus Blackness, lighted on by an Era of Hope ? It has been well said Man is based on Hope he has properly no other possession but Hope this habitation of his is named the Place of Hope.'
is

'

CHAPTER
MAUREPAS
But now, among French
Maurepas one
dexterity,
shall

TV

hopes,

is
;

of the best-grounded

not that of old M. de who hopes that he, by

?
;

Nimble old man, who for all emergencies has his light jest and ever in the worst confusion will emerge, cork-like, unsunk Small care to him is Perfectibility, Progress of the Species, and Astrcea Redux good only, that a man of light wit, verging
contrive to continue Minister
!

towards fourscore, can in the seat of authority feel himself important among men. Shall we call him, as haughty Chateauroux was wont of old, M. Faquinet (Diminutive of Scoundrel) ? In courtier dialect, he is now named the Nestor of France such governing Nestor as France has. At bottom, nevertheless, it might puzzle one to say where the Government of France, in these days, specially is. In that Chateau of Versailles, we have Nestor, King, Queen, ministers and clerks, with paper-bundles tied in tape but the Government ? For Government is a thing that governs, that
'
' '
'

MAUREPAS
;
:

41

that guides and if need be, compels. Visible in France CHAP. IV 1774-81 there is not such a thing. Invisible, inorganic, on the other hand, there is in Philosophe saloons, in (Eil-de-Boeuf galleries in the tongue of the babbler, in the pen of the pamphleteer. Her Majesty appearing at the Opera is applauded she returns all radiant with joy. Anon the applauses wax fainter, or threaten to cease she is heavy of heart, the light of her face has fled. Is Sovereignty some poor Montgolfier which, blown into by the popular wind, grows great and mounts or sinks flaccid, if the wind be withdrawn ? France was long a Despotism tempered by Epigrams and now, it would seem, the Epigrams have got the^upper hand. Happy were a young Louis the Desired to make France happy if it did not prove too troublesome, and he only knew the way. But there is endless discrepancy round him ; so many claims and clamours ; a mere confusion of tongues. Not reconcilable by man not manageable, suppressible, save which only a lightlyby some strongest and wisest man jesting lightly-gyrating M. de Maurepas can so much as subsist amidst. Philosophism claims her new Era, meaning thereby for innumerable things. And claims it in no faint voice France at large, hitherto mute, is now beginning to speak also and speaks in that same sense. A huge, many-toned On the other hand, sound distant, yet not unimpressive. the (Eil-de-Boeuf, which, as nearest, one can hear best, claims with shrill vehemence that the Monarchy be as heretofore a wherefrom loyal courtiers may draw, to Horn of Plenty the just support of the throne. Let Liberalism and a New only no curtailment Era, if such is the wish, be introduced
; ;
;

'

'

'

'

of the royal

moneys

Which

latter condition,

alas,

is

pre-

cisely the impossible one.

saw, has got her Turgot made Conand there shall be endless reformation. Untroller-General happily this Turgot could continue only twenty months. With a miraculous Fortunatus' Purse in his Treasury, it might have

Philosophism, as
;

we

with such Purse indeed, every French ControllerGeneral, that would prosper in these days, ought first to provide But here again may we not remark the bounty of himself. Nature in regard to Hope ? Man after man advances conexpends fident to the Augean Stable, as if he could clean it his little fraction of an ability on it, with such cheerfulness
lasted longer
; ; ;

does,

42

THE PAPER AGE

he was honest, accomphsh something.
;
;

BOOK

11

does, in so far as

1774-81

has faculties honesty, insight, heroic voUtion Fortunatus' Purse he has not. Sanguine Controller- General a whole pacific French Revolution may stand schemed in the head of the thinker but who shall pay the unspeakable indemnities -_ that will
'
;
'

Turgot but the

be needed ? Alas, far from that on the very

:

threshold of the business, he proposes that the Clergy, the Noblesse, the very Parlements be subjected to taxes like the People One shriek of indignation and astonishment reverberates through all the Chateau gal!

leries

M. de Maurepas
:

has to gyrate the poor King, who had written few weeks ago, '/Z n''y a que vous et moi qui aimions le peuple (There is none but you and I that has the
people's
heart),'

interest

at

must write now

;

a dismissal ^ and let the French Revolution accomplish itself, pacifi-

VOLTAIRE.
Hope, then,
abated.
after
Is
is

cally or not, as it can.

deferred?
this,

not

for

Deferred; not destroyed, or example, our Patriarch Voltaire,

'

long years of absence, revisiting Paris ? With face shrivelled to nothing with huge peruke h la Louis Quatorze, which leaves only two eyes visible, glittering like carbuncles,' the old man is here.^ What an outburst! Sneering Paris has suddenly grown reverent devotional with Hero-worship. In May 1776. 2 February 1778,
;

'

Nobles

MAUREPAS
:

43

Nobles have disguised themselves as tavern-waiters to obtain CHAP. IV 1774-81 sight of him the loveliest of France would lay their hair beneath his feet. His chariot is the nucleus of a Comet whose train fills whole streets they crown him in the theatre, with immortal vivats finally stifle him under roses,' for old Richelieu recommended opium in such state of the nerves, and the excessive Patriarch took too much. Her Majesty herself had some thought of sending for him but was dissuaded. Let Majesty consider it, nevertheless. The purport of this man's existence has been to wither-up and annihilate all whereon Majesty and Worship for the present rests and is it so that the world recognises him ? With Apotheosis as its Prophet and Speaker, who has spoken wisely the thing it longed to say ? Add only, that the body of this same rosestifled, beatified Patriarch cannot get buried except by stealth. It is wholly a notable business and France, without doubt, is big (what the Germans call Of good Hope ') we shall wish her a happy birth-hour, and blessed fruit. Beaumarchais too has now winded-up his Law-Pleadings {Memoires) ^ not without result, to himself and to the world. Caron Beaumarchais (or de Beaumarchais, for he got ennobled) had been bom poor, but aspiring, esurient with talents, audacity, adroitness above all, with the talent for intrigue a lean, but also a tough indomitable man. Fortune and dexterity brought him to the harpsichord of Mesdames, our
'
' :

'

'

and Sisterhood. Still better, Paris Duvernier, the Court-Banker, honoured him with some
good Princesses Loque,
;

Graille

confidence to the length even of transactions in cash. Which confidence, however, Duvernier's Heir, a person of quality, would not continue. Quite otherwise there springs a Law;

wherein tough Beaumarchais, losing both money and repute, is, in the opinion of Judge-Reporter Goezman, of the Parlement Maupeou, and of a whole indifferent acquiesIn all men's opinion, only not cing world, miserably beaten. Inspired by the indignation, which makes, if in his own not verses, satirical law-papers, the withered Music-master, with a desperate heroism, takes up his lost cause in spite of fights for it, against Reporters, Parlements and the world adroitly, Principalities, with light banter, with clear logic
suit

from

it

1773-6.

See CEuvres de Beaumarchais

where they, and the history of them, are

given.

with

44

THE PAPER AGE

;
;

BOOK

II

1774-81

with an inexhaustible toughness and resource, hke the skilfulest fencer on whom, so skilful is he, the whole world now looks. Three long years it lasts with wavering fortune. In fine, after labours comparable to the Twelve of Hercules, our unregains his Lawsuit and Lawconquerable Caron triumphs suits strips Reporter Goezman of the judicial ermine covering him with a perpetual garment of obloquy instead and in regard to the Parlement Maupeou (which he has helped to extinguish), to Parlements of all kinds, and to French Justice generally, gives rise to endless reflections in the minds of men. Thus has Beaumarchais, like a lean French Hercules, ventured down, driven by destiny, into the Nether Kingdoms and victoriously tamed hell-dogs there. He also is henceforth
;

among

the notabilities of his generation.

CHAPTER V
ASTHMA UEDUX WITHOUT CASH
Observe, however, beyond the Atlantic, has not the new day verily dawned Democracy, as we said, is born stormgirt, is struggling for life and victory. A sympathetic France
!

rejoices over the Rights of

Man

in all saloons,

it

is

said,

What

too behold our Deane, our Franklin, American Plenipotentiaries, here in person soliciting ^ the sons of the Saxon Puritans, with their Old-Saxon temper, Old!

a spectacle

Now

Benjamin, here on such errand, among the light children of Heathenism, Monarchy, Sentimentalism, and the Scarlet-woman. A spectacle indeed over which saloons may cackle joyous though Kaiser Joseph, questioned on it, gave this answer, most unexpected from a Philosophe Madame, the trade I live by is that of royalist {Mon metier h moi c'est d'etre royaliste).' So thinks light Maurepas too but the wind of Philosophism and force of public opinion will blow him round. Best wishes, meanwhile, are sent clandestine privateers armed. Paul Jones shall equip his Bon Homme Richard weapons, military stores can be smuggled over (if the EngHsh do not seize them)
Silas,

Hebrew

culture,

sleek

sleek

'

1777

Deane somewhat

earlier

Franklin remained

till

1785.

wherein.

ASTR^A REDUX WITHOUT CASH

45

wherein, once more Beaumarehais, dimly as the Giant Smuggler, CHAP. V becomes visible, filling his own lank pocket withal. But 1776-85 For which surely, in any case, France should have a Navy. now when that proud great object were not now the time Termagant of the Seas has her hands full ? It is true, an imbut the hint once poverished Treasury cannot build ships given (which Beaumarchais says he gave), this and the other
; ;

loyal

Seaport,

Chamber

of

Commerce,

will

build and offer

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
them. Goodly vessels bound into the waters Leviathan of ships.
;

a Ville de Paris,

dance there at and eleutheromaniac Philoanchor, with streamers flying sophedom grows ever more clamorous, what can a Maurepas Gateses, Lees, Squadrons cross the ocean ^but gyrate ? (Jo rough Yankee Generals, with woollen night-caps under their hats,' present arms to the far-glancing Chivalry of France

And now when

gratuitous

three-deckers

'

and

46

THE PAPER AGE

'
;

BOOK

II

1776-86

new-born Democracy sees, not without amazement, Despotism tempered by Epigrams fight at her side. So, Rochamhowever, it is. King's forces and heroic volunteers beaus, Bouilles, Lameths, Lafayettes, have drawn their swords

and
'

in this sacred quarrel of

mankind

shall

draw them again

elsewhere, in the strangest way.

Ushant some naval thunder is heard. In the course of which did our young Prince, Duke de Chartres. hide in the hold or did he materially, by active heroism, contribute to
Off
'
' ;

the victory ? Alas, by a second edition, we learn that there or that English Keppel had it.^ Our poor was no victory young Prince gets his Opera plaudits changed into mocking tehees and cannot become Grand-Admiral, the source to
;

him

of

woes which one

may

call endless.
!

English Leviathan of ships Rodney has clutched it, and led it home, with the rest so manoeuvre of breaking the enemy's successful was his new " France were line.' It seems as if, according to Louis xv., never to have a Navy.' Brave Suffren must return from Hyder with small result yet with great Ally and the Indian Waters ^which indeed, with such secondglory for six non- defeats ing as he had, one may reckon heroic. Let the old sea-hero rest now, honoured of France, in his native Cevennes mountains send smoke, not of gunpowder, but mere culinary smoke, through the old chimneys of the Castle of Jal^s, ^which one day, in other hands, shall have other fame. Brave Laperouse shall by and by lift anchor, on philanthropic Voyage of Disfor the King knows Geography.* covery But, alas, this also the brave Navigator goes, and returns not will not prosper the Seekers search far seas for him in vain. He has vanished trackless into blue Immensity and only some mournful mysterious shadow of him hovers long in all heads and
also for Ville de Paris, the
; ' '
' '

Wo

hearts.

yet lasts, will Gibraltar surrender. Not though Crillon, Nassau-Siegen, with the ablest projectors extant, are there and Prince Conde and Prince d'Artois have hastened to help. Wondrous leather-roofed Floating-batteries, set afloat by French-Spanish Facte de Famille, give gallant summons to which, nevertheless, Gibraltar answers Plutonic;
:

Neither, while the

War

27th July 1778.

gth and 12th April 1782.

August

ist,

1785.

ally,

ASTR^A REDUX WITHOUT CASH

ally,

47

with mere torrents of redhot iron, as if stone Calpe had CHAP. V become a throat of the Pit and utters such a Doom's-blast of 1776-85 a JVo,. as all men must credit.^
;

with this loud explosion, the noise of War has ceased an Age of Benevolence may hope, for ever. Our noble volunteers of Freedom have returned, to be her missionaries. Lafayette, as the matchless of his time, glitters in the Versailles CEil-de-Boeuf has his Bust set up in the Paris Hotelde-Ville. Democracy stands inexpugnable, immeasurable, in her New World has even a foot lifted towards the Old and our French Finances, little strengthened by such work, are in no healthy way. What to do with the Finances ? This indeed
so,
; ;

And

is

the great question a small but most black

weather- symptom,
which no radiance of universal hope can cover. We saw Turgot cast forth from the ControUership, with shrieks,

for

want

of

a For-

tunatus' Purse. As little could M. de Clugny J. NECKER. manage the duty or attain a place indeed do anything, but consume his wages in History,' where as an ineffectual shadow thou beholdest and let the duty manage itself. him still lingering Did Genevese Necker possess such a Purse, then ? He poscredit of all kinds, for sessed banker's skill, banker's honesty he had written Academic Prize Essays, struggled for India realised a Companies, given dinners to Philosophes, and fortune in twenty years.' He possessed, further, a taciturnity and solemnity of depth, or else of dulness. How singular for
; '
; ;

'

whose father, Celadon Gibbon, false swain as he had proved keeping most probably his own gig, would not hear of such a union,' to find now his forsaken Demoiselle Curchod sitting
;
'

Annual

Register {DodLslty's), xxv, 258-67.

September, October, 1782,

in

48

THE PAPER AGE

Madame, and
'

BOOK

II

in the high places of the world, as Minister's

^
'
!

1776-86

Necker not jealous A new young Demoiselle, one day to be famed as a Madame and De Stael, was romping about the knees of the Decline and Fall the lady Necker founds Hospitals gives solemn Philosophe dinner-parties, to cheer her exhausted Controller-General. Strange things have happened by clamour of Philosophism, management of Marquis de Pezay, and Poverty constraining even Kings. And so Necker, Atlas-like, sustains the burden of the Finances, for five years long.^ Without wages, for he refused such cheered only by Public Opinion, and the ministering of his noble Wife. With many thoughts in him, it is hoped which, however, he is shy of uttering. His Compte Rendu, published by the royal permission, fresh sign of a New Era, shows wonders which what but the genius of some AtlasNecker can prevent from becoming portents ? In Necker's head too there is a whole pacific French Revolution, of its kind and in that taciturn dull depth, or deep dulness, ambition
:

enough. Meanwhile, alas, his Fortunatus' Purse turns out to be little other than the old vectigal of Parsimony.' Nay, he too has to produce his scheme of taxing Clergy, Noblesse to be taxed Provincial Assemblies, and the rest, like a mere Turgot The expiring M. de Maurepas must gyrate one other time. Let Necker also depart not unlamented. Great in a private station, Necker looks on from the distance abiding his time. Eighty thousand copies of his new Book, which he calls Administration des Finances, will be sold in few days. He is gone but shall return, and that more than once, borne by a whole shouting Nation. Singular Controller-General of the Finances once Clerk in Thellusson's Bank
'
:

'

'

CHAPTER
WINDBAGS
So marches the world,
in this its

VI

Paper Age, or Era

;

of

Hope.

Not without
1

obstructions,
:

war-explosions
etc.

which, however,
^

Gihho-n's Letters

date,

i6thjune 1777,

Till

May

1781.

heard

WINDBAGS

49

heard from such distance, are httle other than a cheerful march- CHAP. VI ing-music. If indeed that dark Uving chaos of Ignorance and 1776-84 Hunger, five-and-twenty milhon strong, under your feet, were to begin playing For the present, however, consider Longchamp now when Lent is ending, and the glory of Paris and France has gone forth, as in annual wont. Not to assist at Tenebris Masses, but to sun itself and show itself, and salute the young Spring.^ Manifold, bright-tinted, glittering with gold all through the Bois de Boulogne, in longdrawn variegated rows like long! ; ;

drawn

living flower-borders, tulips, dahlias, liHes of the valley ; all in their moving flower-pots (of new gilt carriages) : pleasure

and dances the Procession steady, of firm assurance, as if it rolled on adamant and the foundations of the world not on mere heraldic parchment, under which smoulders a lake of fire. Dance on, ye foolish ones ye sought not wisdom, neither have ye found it. Ye and your fathers have sown the wind, ye shall reap the whirlwind. Was it not, from of old, written The wages
of life
!

of the eye,
:

and pride

So
;

rolls

of sin is death ?

But at Longchamp, as elsewhere, we remark for one thing, that dame and cavalier are waited on each by a kind of human familiar, named jokei. Little elf, or imp though young,
;

already withered with its withered air of premature vice, useful in various of knowingness, of completed elf-hood emergencies. The name jokei (jockey) comes from the English Our Anglo-mania, in as the thing also fancies that it does. prophetic of much. If France fact, is grown considerable is to be free, why shall she not, now when mad war is hushed, love neighbouring Freedom ? Cultivated men, your Dukes de Liancourt, de la Rochefoucault admire the English Constituwould import what of tion, the English National Character
;
:

it

they can. Of what is

lighter, especially
!

easier the freightage

be light as wind, how much Non- Admiral Duke de Chartres (not

if it
:

yet d'Orleans or Egalite) flies to and fro across the Strait this he, as hand-and-glove with importing English Fashions an English Prince of Wales, is surely qualified to do. Carriages and saddles top-boots and redingotes, as we call riding- coats.
;

Mercier, Tableau de Paris,

I.

ii.

51.

Louvet,

Roman

de Faublas, etc.

VOL.

Nay

50

THE PAPER AGE

: ;

BOOK

II

1776-84

for now no man on a level with the very mode of riding his age but will trot a VAnglaise, rising in the stirrups* scornful of the old sitfast method, in which, according to Shakspeare, ' butter and eggs go to market. Also, he can urge the fervid wheels, this brave Chartres of ours no whip in Paris is rasher and surer than the unprofessional one of Monseigneur.

Nay

'

MARAT.
but see now real Yorkshire jockeys, and what they ride on, and train English racers for French Races. These likewise we owe first (under the Providence
Elf jokeis,

we have

seen

of the Devil) to Monseigneur.

of racers.

Prince d'Artois also has his stud Prince d'Artois has withal the strangest horseleech
:

a moonstruck, much-enduring
Switzerland,

named Jean Paul Marat.

now

d'Eon,

now

in petticoats,

Neuchatel in A problematic Chevalier in breeches, is no less problematic

of in

individual,

WINDBAGS
in

51

and causes bets and lawsuits. Beauti- CHAP. VI 1776-84 ful days of international communion Swindlery and Blackguardism have stretched hands across the Channel, and saluted mutually on the racecourse of Vincennes or Sablons, behold,
; !
:

London than in Paris

in English curricle-and-four, wafted glorious

palities

among the

rascalities, an English Dr. Dodd,^ for whom also the too early gallows gapes. Duke de Chartres was a young Prince of great promise, as young princes often are which promise unfortunately has belied itself. With the huge Orleans Property, with Duke de Penthievre for Father-in-law (and now the young Brotherin-law Lamballe killed by excesses), he will one day be the richest man in France. Meanwhile, ' his hair is all falling out, his blood is quite spoiled,' ^by early transcendentalism of debauchery. dark studs on a Carbuncles stud his face ground of burnished copper. A most signal failure, this young Prince The stuff prematurely burnt out of him little left but foul smoke and ashes of expiring sensualities what might have been Thought, Insight, and even Conduct, gone now, or fast going, ^to confused darkness, broken by bewildering to activities which dazzlements to obstreperous crotchets Paris you may call semi-delirious, or even semi-galvanic affects to laugh at his charioteering but he heeds not such

and

princi-

laughter.

the other hand, what a day, not of laughter, was that, when he threatened, for lucre's sake, to lay sacrilegious hand on the Palais-Royal Garden ^ The flower-parterres shall be time-honoured riven up the Chestnut Avenues shall fall boscages, under which the Opera Hamadryads were wont to wander, not inexorable to men. Paris moans aloud. Philidor, from his Cafe de la Regence, shall no longer look on greenness the loungers and losels of the world, where now shall they the sacred haunt ? In vain is moaning. The axe glitters
!

On

indeed Monseigneur was short of money the Opera Hamadryads fly with shrieks. Shriek not, or not as those that have no comfort. ye Opera Hamadryads He will surround your Garden with new edifices and piazzas though narrowed, it shall be replanted dizened with hydraulic
groves
fall

crashing,

for

Jets,

cannon which the sun

^

fires

at

noon

things bodily, things

Adelung, Geschichte der tnenschlichen Narrheit,

1781-82.

Dodd.

(Dulaure,

viii.

423.)

spiritual,

52

BOOK

II

spiritual,

such

THE PAPER AGE as man has not imagined and

;

in the Palais-

1781-84

Royal shall again, and more than ever, be the Sorcerer's Sabbath and Satan-at-Home of our Planet. What will not mortals attempt ? From remote Annonay

up their paperdome, filled with the smoke of burnt wool.^ The Vivarais Provincial Assembly is to be prorogued this same day Vivarais Assembly-members applaud, and the shouts of congregated
in the Vivarais, the Brothers Montgolfier send
:

men.

Will victorious Analysis scale the very Heavens, then ? Paris hears with eager wonder Paris shall ere long see. From Reveillon's Paper-warehouse there, in the Rue St. Antoine
;

noted Warehouse), the new Montgolfier air-ship launches itself. Ducks and poultry have been borne skyward but now shall men be borne.^ Nay, Chemist Charles thinks of hydrogen and glazed silk. Chemist Charles will himself ascend, from the Tuileries Garden Montgolfier solemnly cutting the cord. By Heaven, this Charles does also mount, he and another Ten times ten thousand hearts go palpitating all tongues are mute with wonder and fear till a shout, like the voice of seas, rolls after him, on his wild way. He soars, he dwindles upwards has become a mere gleaming circlet, like some Turgotine snuffbox, what we call Turgotine-Platitude like
(a
:

'

'

some new daylight Moon Finally he descends welcomed by the universe. Duchess Polignac, with a party, is in the Bois de Boulogne, waiting though it is drizzly winter, the 1st of December 1783. The whole chivalry of France, Duke de
!

so unguidably
itself
;

Chartres foremost, gallops to receive him.^ Beautiful invention mounting heavenward, so beautifully,
;
!

Emblem

of

much, and

of our

Age

of

Hope

which shall mount, specifically-light, majestically in this same manner; and hover, ^tumbling whither Fate will. Well if it do not, Pilatre-like, explode and demount all the more tragically So, riding on windbags, will men scale the Empyrean.

Or observe Herr Doctor Mesmer,

Halls.

in his spacious Magnetic

Long-stoled he walks

reverend, glancing upwards, as

in rapt

an Antique Egyptian Hierophant in this new age. Soft music flits; breaking fitfully the sacred stillness. Round their Magnetic Mystery, which to the eye
; >

commerce

Sth June 1783.

October and November 1783.

Lacretelle, i8'< Sikle,

iii.

258.

is

is

mere tubs sit circles of Beauty and Fashion, each

Passion-Flower
:

CONTRAT SOCIAL with water, breathless, rod

circle
!

53
in hand,

the CHAP. VI
1781-84

a living circular

expecting the magnetic afflatus, and newmanufactured Heaven-on-Earth. O women, O men, great is your infidel-faith A Parlementary Duport, a Bergasse, D'Espremenil we notice there Chemist Berthollet too, on the part of Monseigneur de Chartres. Had not the Academy of Sciences, with its Baillys, Franklins, Lavoisiers, interfered But it did interfere.^ Mesmer may pocket his hard money, and withdraw. Let him walk silent by the shore of the Bodensee, by the ancient town of Constance meditating on much. For so, under the strangest new vesture, the old great truth (since no vesture can hide it) begins again to be revealed That man is what we call a miraculous creaand, on the whole, ture, with miraculous power over men with such a Life in. him, and such a World round him, as victorious Analysis, with her Physiologies, Nervous-systems, Physic and Metaphysic, will never completely name, to say nothing of explaining. Wherein also the Quack shall, in all
;

ages,

come

in for his share.

CHAPTER
In such succession

VII

CONTRAT SOCIAL
of singular prismatic tints, flush after

flush suffusing our horizon, does the

!

Era

of

Hope dawn on

As indeed, with an Era of towards fulfilment. Questionable Hope that rests on mere universal Benevolence, victorious and, in the longrun, on Analysis, Vice cured of its deformity Twenty-five dark savage Millions, looking up, in hunger and forty feet high,' weariness, to that Ecce-signum of theirs how could it but be questionable ?
;
'

Through

all

time,

if

we read
;

aright, sin was,

is,

will be, the

parent of misery. This land calls itself most Christian, and but its High-priest is some Rochehas crosses and cathedrals Aymon, some Necklace- Cardinal Louis de Rohan. The voice of the poor, through long years, ascends inarticulate, in
^

August 1784.

Jacqueries,

54

THE PAPER AGE

; ;

BOOK

II

1781-88

low-whimpering of infinite moan meal-mobs not unheeded of Heaven. Always unheeded of the Earth moreover where the Millions are wretched, there are the only the Units can flourish Thousands straitened, unhappy or say rather, be ruined the last. Industry, all noosed and haltered, as if it too were some beast of chase for the mighty hunters of this world to bait, and cut slices from, cries passionately to these its well-paid guides and watchers, not. Guide me but, Laissez faire, Leave me alone of your guidance What market has Industry in this France ? For two things there may be market and demand for the coarser kind of fieldJacqueries,
;
;

fruits, since

the Millions will live

and
is

spicery,

of

for the finer kinds of luxury

multiform
;

to racers and courtesans

at

from opera-melodies down since the Units will be amused. It

taste,

bottom but a mad state of things. To mend and remake all which we have, indeed, victorious
;

Honour to victorious Analysis nevertheless, out of the Workshop and Laboratory, what thing was victorious Analysis yet known to make ? Detection of incoherences, mainly; destruction of the incoherent. From of old. Doubt
Analysis.

she evokes the spectres which she cannot quell. We shall have endless vortices of froth-logic ' whereon first words, and then things, are whirled and swallowed. Remark, accordingly, as acknowledged grounds of Hope, at bottom mere precursors of Despair, this perpetual theorising about Man, the Mind of Man, Philosophy of Government, Progress of the Species and such-like ; the main thinking furniture of every head. Time, and so many Montesquieus,
; '

was but

half a magician

spokesmen of Time, have discovered innumerable things and now has not Jean Jacques promulgated his new Evangel of a Control Social explaining the whole mystery of Government, and how it is contracted and bargained for, to universal satisfaction ? Theories of Government Such have been, and will be in ages of decadence. Acknowledge them
Mablys,
:

as processes of Nature, who does nothing in vain as steps in her great process. Meanwhile, what theory is so certain as this, That all theories, were they never so
in their degree
;

earnest, painfully elaborated, are, and, by the very conditions of them, must be incomplete, questionable, and even false ?

that this Universe is, what it professes to be, an infinite one. Attempt not to swallow it, for thy logical
shalt

Thou

know

digestion

CONTRAT SOCIAL
digestion
;

55
this

be thankful,

if

skilfully planting

down

and the cHAP.

Vll

other fixed pillar in the chaos, thou prevent its swallowing thee. That a new young generation has exchanged the Sceptic Creed, What shall I believe ? for passionate Faith in this Gospel according to Jean Jacques is a further step in the business
^

1781-88

and betokens' much.

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU.

Blessed also
is

Hope

and always from the beginning there

;
;

Millennium of Holiness but (what is notable) never till this new Era, any Millennium of mere Ease and plentiful Supply. In such prophesied Lubberdeformland, of Happiness, Benevolence, and Vice cured of its Man is not what one calls a happy ity, trust not, my friends How, his appetite for sweet victual is so enormous. animal

was some Millennium prophesied

in

56

THE PAPER AGE

which storms-in on him,
infinite,

BOOK

II

in this wild Universe,

vague

1781-83

menacing, shall poor man find, say not happiness, but existence, and footing to stand on, if it be not by girding himself together Wo, if in his heart for continual endeavour and endurance ? if the word Duty had lost its there dwelt no devout Faith For as to this of Sentimentalism, so useful meaning for him for weeping with over romances and on pathetic occasions, it nay less. The healthy otherwise verily will avail nothing was already fallen heart that said to itself, How healthy am I Is not Sentimentalism twininto the fatalest sort of disease. Is not Cant sister to Cant, if not one and the same with it ? from which all falsehoods, the materia 'prima of the Devil from which no imbecilities, abominations body themselves true thing can come ? For Cant is itself properly a doubledistilled Lie the second-power of a Lie. And now if a whole Nation fall into that ? In such case, For life is no I answer, infallibly they will return out of it it is a great cunningly-devised deception or self-deception truth that thou art alive, that thou hast desires, necessities neither can these subsist and satisfy themselves on delusions, but on fact. To fact, depend on it, we shall come back to such fact, blessed or cursed, as we have wisdom for. The lowest, least blessed fact one knows of, on which necessitous mortals have ever based themselves, seems to be the primitive one of Cannibalism That / can devour Thee. What if such Primitive Fact were precisely the one we had (with our improved methods) to revert to, and begin anew from
;

'

'

CHAPTER

VIII

PRINTED PAPER
In such a practical France, let the theory of Perfectibility say what it will, discontents cannot be wanting your promised Reformation is so indispensable yet it comes not who will begin it with himself ? Discontent with what is around us, still more with what is above us, goes on increasing seeking
:

ever

new

vents.
of

Of Street Ballads,

Epigrams that from

of old

tempered

Despotism,

PRINTED PAPER
'

57

Despotism, we need not speak. Nor of Manuscript News- CHAP. VIII papers {Nouvelles a la main) do we speak. Bachaumont and 1784-86 his journeymen and followers may close those thirty volumes
for at and quit that trade length if not liberty of the Press, there is licence. Pamphlets can be surreptitiously vended and read in Paris, did they even bear to be Printed at Pekin.' We have a Courrier de V Europe in those years, regularly published at London by a De Morande,

of

scurrilous

eaves-dropping,'

'

CAGLIOSTRO.
There too an unruly Linguet, still unguillotined, when his own country has become too hot for him, and his brother Advocates have cast him out, can emit his hoarse wailings, and Bastille DevoiUe (Bastille Unveiled). Loquacious Abbe Raynal, at length, has his wish sees the Histoire Philosophique, with its lubricity,' un veracity, loose loud eleutheromaniac rant (contributed, they say, by Philosophedom at large, though in the Abba's name, and to and sets out on his glory), burnt by the common hangman perhaps It was the Edition of 1781 his travels as a martyr.
; '

whom the guillotine has not yet devoured.

the

58

THE PAPER AGE

BOOK

II

1784-86

the last notable Book that had such fire-beatitude, the hangman discovering now that it did not serve. Again, in Courts of Law, with their money-quarrels, divorcecases, wheresoever a glimpse into the household existence can The Parlements of Besangon and be had, what indications Aix ring, audible to all France, with the amours and destinies of a young Mirabeau. He, under the nurture of a Friend of Men,' has, in State Prisons, in marching Regiments, Dutch Authors' -garrets, and quite other scenes, been for twenty years learning to resist despotism despotism of men, and alas also of gods. How, beneath this rose-coloured veil of Universal Benevolence and Astrcea Redux, is the sanctuary of Home so often a dreary void, or a dark contentious Hell-on-Earth The old Friend of Men has his own divorce-case too and at times, his whole family but one under lock and key ; he writes much about reforming and enfranchising the world and for his own private behoof he has needed sixty Lettres-de-Cachet. A man of insight too ; with resolution, even with manful principle but in such an element, inward and outward which he could not rule, but only madden. Edacity, rapacity quite contrary to the finer sensibilities of the heart Fools, that expect your verdant Millennium, and nothing but Love and Abundance, brooks running wine, winds whispering music, with the whole ground and basis of your existence champed into a mud of Sensuality; which, daily growing deeper, will soon have no bottom but the Abyss
! '

'

'

'

'

consider that unutterable business of the Diamond Necklace. Red-hatted Cardinal Louis de Rohan Sicilian jail-bird Balsamo Cagliostro ; milliner Dame de Lamotte, ' with a face
;

Or

the highest Church Dignitaries waltzing, in Walpurgis Dance, with quack-prophets, pickpurses and pubHc women a whole Satan's Invisible World displayed working there continually under the daylight visible one the smoke of its torment going up for ever The Throne has been brought into scandalous collision with the Treadmill. Astonished Europe rings with the mystery for nine months sees only he unfold itself from lie corruption among the lofty and the low, gulosity, credulity, imbecility, strength nowhere but in the hunger. Weep, fair Queen, thy first tears of unmixed wretchedness Thy fair name has been tarnished by foul breath irremediably while life lasts. No more shalt thou be loved and pitied by
of
' :

some piquancy
;

living

PRINTED PAPER
living hearts,
till

59

a new generation has been born, and thy own CHAP. VIII 1784-86 heart lies cold, cured of all its sorrows. The Epigrams henceforth become, not sharp and bitter but cruel, atrocious, unmentionable. On that 31st of May 1786, a miserable Cardinal Grand- Almoner Rohan, on issuing from his Bastille, is escorted

CARDINAL DE ROHAN.
by hurrahing crowds
unloved he, and worthy of no love but important since the Court and Queen are his enemies.^
:

and the whole our bright Era of Hope dimmed It sky growing bleak with signs of hurricane and earthquake gone all obedience that made men free is a doomed world
is
;
!

How

'

'

Fils Adoptif, Minioires de Mirabeau, iv. 325.

See Carlyle's

Biographical Essays,

Diamond Necklace,

Count Cagliostro.

fast

60

THE PAPER AGE

Slaves only of
;

BOOK

II

fast going the obedience that

1784-86

one another.

made men slaves, at least to their own lusts they now are,
;

inevitably also of sorrow. Behold Slaves of sin the mouldering mass of Sensuality and Falsehood round which
will be.

and

a corrupt phosphorescence, some glimmer of Sentimentalism and over all, rising, as Ark of their Covewhich also nant, the grim Patibulary Fork forty feet high is now nigh rotted. Add only that the French Nation distinguishes itself among Nations by the characteristic of Excitability with the good, but also with the perilous evil, which belongs to that. Rebellion, explosion, of unknown extent is to be calculated on. There are, as Chesterfield wrote, all the symptoms I have ever met with in History Shall we say, then to Philosophism, that it destroyed Religion, what it called extinguishing the abomination {ecraser rather to those that made the Holy an Vinfdme) ? abomination, and extinguishable wo to all men that live in such a time of world-abomination and world-destruction Nay, answer the Courtiers, it was Turgot, it was Necker, with their mad innovating it was the Queen's want of etiquette it was he, it was she, it was that. Friends it was every scoundrel that had lived, and quack-like pretended to be doing, and been only eating and misdoing, in all provinces of life, as Shoeblack or as Sovereign Lord, each in his degree, from the time of Charlemagne and earlier. All this (for be sure no falsehood perishes, but is as seed sown out to grow) has been storing itself for thousands of years and now the account- day has come. And rude will the settlement be of wrath laid up against the day of wrath. O my Brother, be not thou a Quack Die rather, if thou wilt take counsel 'tis but dying once, and thou art quit of it for ever. Cursed is that trade and bears curses, thou knowest not how, long ages after thou art departed, and the wages thou hadst are all consumed nay, as the ancient wise have written, through Eternity itself, and is verily marked in the Doom-Book of a God Hope deferred maketh the heart sick. And yet, as we said, Hope is but deferred not abolished, not aboHshable. It is very notable, and touching, how this same Hope does still light onwards the French Nation through all its wild destinies.
plays foolishly,
itself
;

'

'

'

'

Wo
'

'

Wo

For we shall still find Hope shining, be it for fond invitation, be it for anger and menace as a mild heavenly light it shone
;
.

as

PRINTED PAPER
as
:

61

a red conflagration it shines burning sulphurous-blue, CHAP. VIII through darkest regions of Terror, it still shines and goes 1784-86 not out at all, since Desperation itself is a kind of Hope. Thus is our Era still to be named of Hope, though in the saddest sense, when there is nothing left but Hope.
;

any one would know summarily what a Pandora's Box lies there for the opening, he may see it in what by its nature is the symptom of all symptoms, the surviving Literature of the Period. Abbe Raynal, with his lubricity and loud and already the fast-hastening loose rant, has spoken his word

But

if

generation

responds to another. Glance at Beaumarchais' which now (in 1784), after difficulty Manage de Figaro enough, has issued on the stage and runs its hundred nights,' to the admiration of all men. By what virtue or internal vigour it so ran, the reader of our day will rather wonder and indeed will know so much the better that it flattered some that it spoke what all were feeling, pruriency of the time and longing to speak. Small substance in that Figaro thin wiredrawn intrigues, thin wiredrawn sentiments and sarcasms yet which winds and whisks itself, as a thing lean, barren through a wholly mad universe, adroitly, with a high-sniffing wherein each, as was hinted, which is the grand secret, air may see some image of himself, and of his own state and ways. So it runs its hundred nights, and all France runs with it What laughing applause. If the soliloquising Barber ask has your Lordship done to earn all this ? and can only answer * You took the trouble to be born {Vous vous etes donni la peine de naitre),' all men must laugh and a gay horse-racing Anglomaniac Noblesse loudest of all. For how can small books have and fancies a great danger in them ? asks the Sieur Caron Conqueror of a his thin epigram may be a kind of reason. tamer of hell-dogs, in the golden fleece, by giant smuggling and finally crowned Orpheus in the Parlement Maupeou ThSdtre Frangais, Beaumarchais has now culminated, and unites the attributes of several demigods. We shall meet him
; '

'

'

once again, in the course of his decline.

two Books produced on the eve of the ever-memorable Explosion itself, and read eagerly by Saint-Pierre's Paul et Virginie, and Louvet's all the world which may be Chevalier de Faublas. Noteworthy Books
Still

more

significant are

considered

62

THE PAPER AGE

:

BOOK

II

1784-86

considered as the last-speech of old Feudal France. In the first there rises melodiously, as it were, the wail of a moribund

everywhere wholesome Nature in unequal conflict with cannot escape from it in the lowest diseased perfidious Art hut, in the remotest island of the sea. Ruin and death must strike down the loved one and, what is most significant of all, death even here not by necessity but by etiquette. What a world of prurient corruption lies visible in that super-sublime of modesty Yet, on the whole, our good Saint-Pierre is musical, poetical though most morbid we will call his Book the swan- song of old dying France. Louvet's again, let no man account musical. Truly, if this wretched Fauhlas is a death-speech, it is one under the gallows, and by a felon that does not repent. Wretched cloaca of a Book without depth even as a cloaca What picture of French society is here ? Picture properly of nothing, if not of the mind that gave it out as some sort of picture. Yet symptom of much above all, of the world that could nourish
world
; ;
!

'

'

itself

thereon.

Book Third

BOOK THIRD

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

CHAPTER
While
the
I

DISHONOURED BILLS
unspeakable confusion is everywhere weltering within, and through so many cracks in the surface sulphursmoke is issuing, the question arises Through what crevice will the main Explosion carry itself ? Through which of the old craters or chimneys or must it, at once, form a new crater for itself ? In every Society are such chimneys, are Institutions serving as such even Constantinople is not without its safety-valves there too Discontent can vent itself, in material fire ;'"by the number of nocturnal conflagrations, or of hanged bakers, the Reigning Power can read the signs of the times, and change course according to these. We may say that this French Explosion will doubtless first try all the old Institutions of escape for by each of these there is, or at least there used to be, some communication with the interior deep they are national Institutions in virtue of that. Had they even become personal Institutions, and what we can call choked up from their original uses, there nevertheless must the impediment be weaker than elsewhere. An observer might have Through which of them, then ? Through the Law Parlements above all, through guessed the Parlement of Paris. Men, though never so thickly clad in dignities, sit not inespecially men accessible to the influences of their time who at all turns, were it even from whose life is business behind judgment-seats, have come in contact with the actual The Counsellor of Parlement, the workings of the world. President himself, who has bought his place with hard money
:

that

64

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

BOOK

III

1781-83

that he might be looked up to by his fellow-creatures, how shall he, in all Philosophe-soirees, and saloons of elegant culture, become notable as a Friend of Darkness ? Among the Paris Long-robes there may be more than one patriotic Malesherbes, whose rule is conscience and the public good there are clearly more than one hotheaded D'Espr^m^nil, to whose confused thought any loud reputation of the Brutus sort may seem glorious. The Lepelletiers, Lamoignons have titles and wealth yet, at Court, are only styled Noblesse of the Robe.' There are Duports of deep scheme Freteaus, Sabatiers, of incontinent tongue all nursed more or less on the milk of the Contrat Social. Nay, for the whole Body, is not this patriotic opposition also a
;
; ' ;
:

fighting for oneself

!

Awake, Parlement

of Paris,

renew thy

long warfare Was not the Parlement Maupeou abolished with ignominy ? Not now hast thou to dread a Louis xiv., with the crack of his whip, and his Olympian looks not now a Richelieu and Bastilles no, the whole Nation is behind thee. Thou too (O heavens !) mayest become a Political Power; and with the shakings of thy horse-hair wig shake principalities and dynasties, like a very Jove with his ambrosial curls
;
: !

Light old M. de Maurepas, since the end of 1781, has been fixed in the frost of death Never more,' said the good Louis, shall I hear his step in the room there overhead his light
:

'

'

'

and gyratings are at an end. No more can the importunate reality be hidden by pleasant wit, and today's evil be deftly rolled over upon tomorrow. The morrow itself has arrived and now nothing but a solid phlegmatic M. de Vergennes sits there, in dull matter of fact, like some dull punctual Clerk (which he originally was) admits what cannot be denied, let the remedy come whence it will. In him is no remedy only clerklike despatch of business according to routine. The poor King, grown older yet hardly more experienced, must himself, with such no-faculty as he has, begin governing wherein also his Queen will give help. Bright Queen, with her quick clear glances and impulses clear, and even noble but ail-too superficial, vehement- shallow, for that work To govern France were such a problem and now it has grown well-nigh too hard to govern even the OEil-de-Bceuf. For if a distressed People has its cry, so likewise, and more
jestings
; ; '

'

audibly, has a bereaved Court.

To the

CEil-de-Bceuf

it

remains

inconceivable

DISHONOURED BILLS
:

65
CHAP.
I

inconceivable how, in a France of such resources, the Horn of Plenty should run dry did it not use to flow ? Nevertheless Necker, with his revenue of parsimony, has suppressed above six hundred places,' before the Courtiers could oust him parsimonious finance-pedant as he was. Again, a military with pedant, Saint-Germain, with his Prussian manoeuvres his Prussian notions, as if merit and not coat-of-arms should the be the rule of promotion, has disaffected military men for he too was Mousquetaires, with much else are suppressed and unsettling and oversetting, did one of your suppressors
'
; ;
:

1781-83

mere

mischief

^to
:

the

CEil-de-Bceuf.

Complaints

abound

Besenval it is a changed (Eil-de-Boeuf. anxiety says, already in these years (1781) there was such a melancholy (such a tristesse) about Court, compared with former days, as made it quite dispiriting to look upon. No wonder that the CEil-de-Boeuf feels melancholy, when Not a place can be suppressed you are suppressing its places and more than one heart but some purse is the lighter for it for did it not employ the working-classes too, the heavier of Pleasure manufacturers, male and female, of laces, essences generally, whosoever could manufacture Pleasure ? Miserable So, however economies never felt over Twenty-five Millions and is not yet ended. Few years more and the it goes on Wolf-hounds shall fall suppressed, the Bear-hounds, the Falconry ; places shall fall, thick as autumnal leaves, Duke de Polignac demonstrates, to the complete silencing of ministerial then gallantly, logic, that his place cannot be abolished turning to the Queen, surrenders it, since her Majesty so wishes. Less chivalrous was Duke de Coigny, and yet not luckier * We got into a real quarrel, Coigny and I,' said King Louis ^ but if he had even struck me, I could not have blamed him.' In regard to such matters there can be but one opinion. Baron Besenval, with that frankness of speech which stamps the independent man, plainly assures her Majesty that it is fright' you go to bed, and are not sure but you shall ful [a^reux) one might as well be in rise impoverished on the morrow
scarcity,
!

'

Turkey.'

It is indeed a dog's

life.
!

How
And

singular this perpetual distress of the royal treasury yet it is a thing not more incredible than undeniable.
:

thing mournfully true

*

the
Besenval,

stumbling-block on which
iii.

all

255-58.

VOL.

I.

Ministers

66

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

and
fall.

BOOK

III

Ministers successively stumble,

genius,' or

Be
is

it

'

want

of fiscal

1781-83

the palpablest discrepancy between Revenue and Expenditure ; a Deficit of the Revenue you must choke (combler) the Deficit,' or else it will swallow you This is the stern problem hopeless seemingly as squaring of the circle. Controller Joly de Fleury, who succeeded Necker, could do nothing with it nothing but propose loans, which were tardily filled up impose new taxes, unproductive of money, productive of clamour and discontent. As little could Controller d'Ormesson do, or even less for if Joly maintained himself beyond year and day, D'Ormesson reckons only by months till the King purchased Rambouillet without con'
: !

some

far other want, there

'

sulting

him,'

which he

took as a hint to withdraw. And so, towards the end of 1783, matters threaten to come to a stillstand. Vain seems human ingenuity. In vain has our newlydevised Council of Finances struggled, our Intendants of Finance, Controller - General of Finances there are unhappily no Finances to control. Fatal paralysisclouds, of blindness or of breaking down, then, into the
'
' :

DE BESENVAL.

invades the social movement blackness, envelop us are we black horrors of National Bankruptcy ? Great is Bankruptcy the great bottomless gulf into which all Falsehoods, public and private, do sink, disappearing whither, from the first origin of them, they were all doomed.
;

Fot Nature is true and not a lie. No lie you can speak or act but it will come, after longer or shorter circulation, like a Bill drawn on Nature's Reality, and be presented there for payment,with the answer, No ejects. Pity only that it
often

had so long a

so seldom he

who

that the original forger were bore the final smart of it Lies, and the
:

circulation

burden

CONTROLLER CALONNE
burden
of evil they bring, are passed
;

67

shifted from back CHAP. I on to back, and from rank to rank and so land ultimately on 1781-83 the dumb lowest rank, who with spade and mattock, with sore heart and empty wallet, daily come in contact with reality, and can pass the cheat no further. Observe nevertheless how, by a just compensating law, if the lie with its burden (in this confused whirlpool of Society) sinks and is shifted ever downwards, then in return the distress of it rises ever upwards and upwards. Whereby, after the long pining and demi-starvation of those Twenty Millions, a Duke de Coigny and his Majesty come also to have their real quarrel.' Such is the law of just Nature bringing, though at long intervals, and were it only by Bankruptcy, matters round again to the mark. But with a Fortunatus' Purse in his pocket, through what Your length of time might not almost any Falsehood last Society, your Household, practical or spiritual Arrangement, Neveris untrue, unjust, offensive to the eye of God and man.
; ' ;
!

theless

the hearth is warm, its larder well replenished innumerable Swiss of Heaven, with a kind of natural loyalty, will prove, by pamphleteering, musketeering, gather round it that it is a truth or if not an unmixed (unearthly, impossible) Truth, then better, a wholesomely attempered one (as wind is to the shorn lamb), and works well. Changed outlook, howWas your Arrangeever, when purse and larder grow empty ment so true, so accordant to Nature's ways, then how, in the name of wonder, has Nature, with her infinite bounty, come to
its
: ; ; !

famishing there ? To all men, to all women and all children, it is now indubitable that your Arrangement was Honour to Bankruptcy ever righteous on the great false. Under all Falsehoods it scale, though in detail it is so cruel works, unweariedly mining. No Falsehood, did it rise heavenhigh and cover the world, but Bankruptcy, one day, will sweep
leave
it
;
!

it

down, and make us

free of

it.

CHAPTER
Under

II

CONTROLLER CALONNE
such circumstances of tristesse, obstruction and sick languor, when to an exasperated Court it seems as if fiscal
genius

68

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

BOOK
^^^^

III

genius had departed from among men, what apparition could be welcomer than that of M. de Calonne ? Calonne, a man even fiscal genius, more or less of indisputable genius of
;

experience both in managing Finance and Parlements, for he has been Intendant at Metz, at Lille King's Procureur at Douai. A man of weight, connected with the moneyed classes if it were not some peccadillo (of showing a of unstained name, Client's Letter) in that old D'Aiguillon-Lachalotais business, as good as forgotten now. He has kinsmen of heavy purse, felt on
;

the Stock Exchange. Our Foulons, Berthiers

intrigue for

him
do

old
but

Foulon, nothing
intrigue
;

who has now

to

who is known

and even seen to be what they call a scounbut of unmeasured wealth who, from Commissariatclerk which he once was, may hope, some think, if the game go right, to be Minister himself one day. Such propping and CALONNE. backing has M. de Calonne and then intrinsically such qualities Hope radiates from his face persuasion hangs on his tongue. For all straits he has present remedy, and will make the world roll on wheels before him. On
drel
; ;
;
!

the 3rd of

November

1783, the CEil-de-Bceuf rejoices in

;

its

new

Calonne also shall have trial Calonne also, in his way, as Turgot and Necker had done in theirs, shall forward the consummation suffuse, with one other flush of brilliancy, our now too leaden-coloured Era of Hope, and wind
Controller- General.
;

it

up

into fulfilment.
may

any case, is the felicity of the ness has fled from these royal abodes
Great, in

(Eil-de-Boeuf.
:

Stingi;

your Besenval

suppression ceases go peaceably to sleep, sure that he shall

awake

CONTROLLER CALONNE
awake unplundered.
;

69
CHAP.
1783
II

Smiling Plenty, as if conjured by some enchanter, has returned scatters contentment from her newflowing, horn. And mark what suavity of manners A bland smile distinguishes our Controller to all men he listens with an air of interest, nay of anticipation makes their own wish clear to themselves, and grants it or at least, grants conditional promise of it. I fear this is a matter of difficulty,' said her Majesty. Madame,' answered the Controller, if it is but
!
:

'

'

'

difficult, it is

done
'

if it is
'

impossible,

it

shall

be done

{se fera).^

A man of such

facility

withal.

To observe him in the pleasure-

vortex of society, which none partakes of with more gusto, you might ask. When does he work ? And yet his work, as we see, is never behindhand above all, the fruit of his work readymoney. Truly a man of incredible facility facile action, facile "elocution, facile thought how, in mild suasion, philosophic depth sparkles up from him, as mere wit and lambent sprightliness and in her Majesty's Soirees, with the weight of a world lying on him, he is the delight of men and women By what magic does he accomplish miracles ? By the only true magic, that of genius. Men name him the Minister as indeed, when was there another such ? Crooked things are become straight by him, rough places plain and over the CEil-de-Boeuf there rests an unspeakable sunshine. Nay, in seriousness, let no man say that Calonne had not genius genius for Persuading before all things, for Borrowing. With the skilfulest judicious appliances of underhand money, he keeps the Stock-Exchanges flourishing so that Calculators Loan after Loan is filled up as soon as opened. likely to know ^ have calculated that he spent, in extraordiwhich indeed is naries, at the rate of one million daily some fifty thousand pounds sterling but did he not procure namely peace and prosperity, for the time something with it buys, as we being ? Philosophedom grumbles and croaks but Nonpareil said, 80,000 copies of Necker's new Book Calonne, in her Majesty's Apartment, with the glittering retinue of Dukes, Duchesses, and mere happy admiring faces, can let
;
:

'

'

'

'

'

'

Necker and Philosophedom croak.

The misery is, such a time cannot last Payment by Loan is no way to choke a
^

Squandering, and Neither is Deficit.

oil

Besenval,

iii.

216.

70

BOOK
1783

III

the only for assuaging them, not permanently To the Nonpareil himself, who wanted not insight, it is clear at intervals, and dimly certain at all times, that his trade is by nature temporary, growing daily more difficult that changes incalculable lie at no great distance. Apart from financial Deficit, the world is wholly in such a newfangled humour all things working loose from their old fastenings, towards new issues and combinations. There is not a dwarf jokei, a cropt Brutus'-head, or Anglomaniac horseman rising on his stirrups, that does not betoken change. But what then ? The day, in any case, passes pleasantly for the morrow, if the morrow come, there shall be counsel too. Once mounted (by munificence, suasion, magic of genius) high enough in favour with the CEil-de-Boeuf, with the King, Queen, Stock-Exchange, and so far as possible with all men, a Nonpareil Controller may hope to go careering through the Inevitable, in some unimagined way, as handsomely as another. At all events, for these three miraculous years, it has been expedient heaped on expedient till now, with such cumulation and height, the pile topples perilous. And here has this world'swonder of a Diamond Necklace brought it at last to the clear verge of tumbling. Genius in that direction can no more mounted high enough, or not mounted, we must fare forth. Hardly is poor Rohan, the Necklace-Cardinal, safely bestowed in the Auvergne Mountains, Dame de Lamotte (unsafely) in the Salpetriere, and that mournful business hushed up, when our sanguine Controller once more astonishes the world. An expedient, unheard of for these hundred and sixty years, has been propounded and, by dint of suasion (for his light audacity, his hope and eloquence are matchless) has been got adopted, Convocation of the Notables. Let notable persons, the actual or virtual rulers of their
oil
; !

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS substance for quenching conflagrations alas no,

;

France let a true tale, of his Majesty's patriotic purposes and wretched pecuniary impossibilities, be suasively told them and then the question put What are we to do ? Surely to adopt healing measures such as the magic of genius will unfold such as, once sanctioned by Notables, all Parlements and all men must, with more or less reluctance, submit to.
all

districts,

be summoned from

sides of

Chapter III

LE ROI
(Louis

AMUSE.

XF. and Mme. Dubarry.)

THE NOTABLES
CHAPTER
Here,
then,
;

71
CHAP.
Ill

Feb. 1787

III

THE NOTABLES
is verily a sign and wonder visible to the whole world bodeful of much. The (Eil-de-Boeuf dolorously grumbles were we not well as we stood, quenching conflagrations by oil ? Constitutional Philosophedom starts with joyful
;

surprise

stares eagerly

what the

result will be.

The public

whole thinking and thoughtless public have their several surprises, joyful or sorrowful. Count Mirabeau, who has got his matrimonial and other Lawsuits huddled up, better or worse and works now in the dimmest element at Berlin compiling Prussian Monarchies, Pamphlets On Cagliostro writing, with pay, but not with honourable recognition, innumerable Despatches for his Government, scents or descries richer quarry from afar. He, like an eagle or vulture, or mixture of both, preens his wings for flight homecreditor, the public debtor, the
; ; ;

wards.^

M. de Calonne has stretched out an Aaron's Rod over France miraculous and is summoning quite unexpected things. though Audacity and hope alternate in him with misgivings the sanguine-valiant side carries it. Anon he writes to an intimate friend, Je me fais pitiS a moi-meme (I am an object anon, invites some dedicating Poet or of pity to myself) this Assembly of the Notables, and the Poetaster to sing Preparing indeed and a Revolution that is preparing.' ^ matter to be sung, only not till we have seen it, and what the issue of it is. In deep obscure unrest, all things have so will M. de Calonne, with this long gone rocking and swaying his alchemy of the Notables, fasten all together again, and get so that it go no new revenues ? Or wrench all asunder longer rocking and swaying, but clashing and colliding ? Be this as it may, in the bleak short days, we behold men of weight and influence threading the great vortex of French Locomotipn, each on his several line, from all sides of France, summoned thither de par towards the Chateau of Versailles
; ;
; '
'

'

Fils Adoptif,

Mimoires de Mirabeau^

t.

iv. livv.

et 5.

'

Biographic Universelle, Calonne (by Guizot).

le

72

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

:

BOOK III
Feb. 1787

There, on the 22d day of February 1787, they have met, and got installed Notables to the number of a Hundred
le roi.

and Thirty-seven,
Seven Princes

as

we count them name by name

of the robe
:

add

of the Blood, it

makes the round Gross of Notables.

;

Men

of the sword,

men

Peers, dignified Clergy,

;

Parlementary Presidents

divided into Seven Boards {Bureaux)

PHILIPPE *EGALITE,' DUG d'oRLEANS.

under our Seven Princes of the Blood, Monsieur, D'Artois, Penthi^vre, and the rest among whom let not our new Duke d'Orleans (for, since 1785, he is Chartres no longer) be forgotten. Never yet made Admiral, and now turning the corner of his fortieth year, with spoiled blood and prospects half-weary of a world which is more than half -weary of him, Monseigneur's
;
;

future

is

most questionable.
; ^

Not

in illumination

and

insight,

not even in conflagration

Lacretelle,

but, as
286.

was

said,
i.

'

in dull

smoke
and

iii.

Montgaillard,

347.

THE NOTABLES
and ashes
darkness,
of outburnt sensualities,' does he live
;

73
and
digest.

CHAP.

Ill

Sumptuosity and sordidness

;

revenge, life-weariness, ambition,

Feb. 1787

putrescence and, say, in sterling money, three hundred thousand a year, were this poor Prince once to burst loose from his Court-moorings, to what regions, with what phenomena, might he not sail and drift Happily as yet he affects to hunt daily sits there, since he must sit, presiding that Bureau of his, with dull moon-visage, dull glassy eyes, as if it were a mere tedium to him. We observe finally, that Count Mirabeau has actually arrived. He descends from Berlin, on the scene of action glares into it with flashing sun-glance discerns that it will do nothing for him. He had hoped these Notables might need a Secretary. They do need one but have fixed on Dupont de Nemours a man of smaller fame, but then of better who indeed, as his friends often hear, labours under this complaint, surely not a universal one, of having five kings to correspond with.' ^ The pen of a Mirabeau cannot become an official one neverthe-

'

'

'

remains a pen. In defect of Secretaryship, he sets to denouncing Stock-brokerage (Denonciation de V Agiotage) testifjdng, as his wont is, by loud bruit, that he is present and busy ^till, warned by friend Talleyrand, and even by Calonne himself underhand, that 'a seventeenth Lettre-de-Cachet may be launched against him,' he timefully flits over the marches. And now, in stately royal apartments, as Pictures of that time still represent them, our hundred and forty-four Notables sit organised ready to hear and consider. Controller Calonne is dreadfully behindhand with his speeches, his preparatives however, the man's facility of work is known to us. For
less
it
; ;

'

'

freshness of style, lucidity, ingenuity, largeness of view, that

opening Harangue of his was unsurpassable had not the subject-matter been so appalling. A Deficit, concerning which accounts vary, and the Controller's own account is not unquestioned ; but which all accounts agree in representing as enormous.' This is the epitome of our Controller's difficulties and then his means ? Mere Turgotism for thither, it seems, we must come at last Provincial Assemblies new Taxation nay, strangest of all, new Land-tax, what he calls Subvention Territoriale, from which neither Privileged nor Unprivileged, Noblemen, Clergy, nor Parlementeers, shall be exempt
:

'

DumoDt, Souvenirs sur Mirabeau

(Paris, 1832), p. 20.

Foolish

74

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

!

BOOK
*
'

III

March-April to

Foolish enough These Privileged Classes have been used tax levying toll, tribute and custom, at all hands, while a penny was left but to be themselves taxed ? Of such Privileged persons, meanwhile, do these Notables, all but the merest
;
:

fraction, consist.
*

Headlong Calonne had given no heed to the but chosen such composition,' or judicious packing of them
;
;

Notables as were really notable

trusting for the issue to off-

and eloquence that never yet failed. Headlong Controller-General Eloquence can do much, but not all. Orpheus, with eloquence grown rhythmic, musical, (what we call Poetry), drew iron tears from the cheek of Pluto but by what witchery of rhyme or prose wilt thou from the pocket of Plutus draw gold ? Accordingly, the storm that now rose and began to whistle round Calonne, first in these Seven Bureaus, and then on the outside of them, awakened by them, spreading wider and wider over all France, threatens to become unappeasable. A Deficit so enormous Mismanagement, profusion is too clear. Peculation itself is hinted at nay, Lafayette and others go so far as to speak it out, with attempts at proof. The blame of his Deficit our brave Calonne, as was natural, had endeavoured to shift from himself on his predecessors not excepting even Necker. But now Necker vehemently denies whereupon an angry Correspondence,' which also finds its way into print. In the OEil-de-Boeuf, and her Majesty's private Apartments, an eloquent Controller, with his Madame, if it is but difficult,' had been persuasive but, alas, the cause is now carried elseingenuity, good fortune,
!

hand

'

'

Behold him, one of these sad days, in Monsieur's Bureau to which all the other Bureaus have sent deputies. He is standing at bay alone exposed to an incessant fire of questions, interpellations, objurgations, from those 'hundred and thirty-seven pieces of logic-ordnance, ^what we may well
whither.
; :
;

'

h feu, fire-mouths literally Never, according to Besenval, or hardly ever, had such display of intellect, dexterity, coolness, suasive eloquence, been made by man. To the raging play of so many fire-mouths he opposes nothing angrier than light-beams, self-possessions, and fatherly smiles. With the imperturbablest bland clearness, he, for five hours
call touches
!

long, keeps answering the incessant volley of fiery captious questions, reproachful interpellations ; in words prompt as

lightning, quiet as light.

Nay, the

cross-fire

too

such sidequestions

THE NOTABLES
;

75

questions and incidental interpellations as, in the heat of the CHAr. Ill main-battle, he (having only one tongue) could not get March-April ^'^^ answered ; these also he takes up, at the first slake answers even these.^ Could blandest suasive eloquence have saved France, she were saved. Heavy-laden Controller In the Seven Bureaus seems nothing but hindrance in Monsieur's Bureau, a Lomenie de Brienne, Archbishop of Toulouse, with an eye himself to the ControUership, stirs up the Clergy there are meetings, under! : ;

Neither from without anywhere comes sign of help or hope. For the Nation (where Mirabeau is now, with stentor-lungs, denouncing Agio ') the Controller has hitherto done nothing, or less. For Philosophedom he has done as good as nothing, sent out some scientific Laperouse, or the like and is he not in angry correspondence with its Necker ? The very OEil-de-Boeuf looks questionable a falling Controller has no friends. Solid M. de Vergennes, who with his phlegmatic judicious punctuality might have kept down many things, died the very week before these sorrowful Notables met. And now a Seal-keeper, Garde-des-Sceaux Miromenil is thought to be playing the traitor spinning plots for LomenieQueen's-Reader Abbe de Vermond, unloved indiBrienne vidual, was Brienne's creature, the work of his hands from the it may be feared the backstairs passage is open, the first ground getting mined under our feet. Treacherous Gardedes-Sceaux Miromenil, at least, should be dismissed ; Lamoignon, the eloquent Notable, a stanch man, with connections, and even ideas, Parlement-President yet intent on reforming

ground

intrigues.

'

'

'

So, for one, Parlements, were not he the right Keeper ? and, at dinner-table, rounds the same thinks busy Besenval into the Controller's ear, who always, in the intervals of landlord-duties, listens to him as with charmed look, but answers
;

nothing positive.^
Alas,

what to answer
!

The

force of private intrigue,

and

then also the force of public opinion, grows so dangerous, Philosophedom sneers aloud, as if its Necker confused already triumphed. The gaping populace gapes over Woodwhere, for example, a Rustic is reprecuts or Copper-cuts sented convoking the Poultry of his barnyard, with this open'Dear animals, I have assembled you to advise ing ad' ress
;
:

Besenval,

iii.

196.

lb.

iii.

203.

me

76

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

' ;

BOOK
1787

III

me what sauce I shall dress you with

ing,
'

to which a Cock respond-

April-May

don't want to be eaten,' is checked by ' from the point {Vous vous Scartez de la question).''

We

You wander
^

Laughter

and
ture

logic
:

ballad-singer, pamphleteer
of public opinion

what wind

is this,

epigram and caricaas if the Cave of the

Winds were bursting

strides in his

loose

At
;

nightfall. President

Lamoignon

steals over to the Controller's

finds

him

'

walking with large

chamber, like one out of himself.' ^ With rapid confused speech the Controller begs M. de Lamoignon to give him an advice.' Lamoignon candidly answers that, except in regard to his own anticipated Keepership, unless that would prove remedial, he really cannot take upon him to advise. On the Monday after Easter,' the 9th of April 1787, a date one rejoices to verify, for nothing can excel the indolent falsehood of these Histoires and Memoires, On the Monday after Easter, as I, Besenval, was riding towards Romainville to the Marechal de Segur's, I met a friend on the Boulevards, who told me that M. de Calonne was out. A little farther on came M. the Duke d'Orleans, dashing towards me, head to the wind (trotting a V Anglaise), and confirmed the news.' ^ It is true news. Treacherous Garde-des-Sceaux Miromenil is gone, and Lamoignon is appointed in his room but appointed for his own profit only, not for the Controller's next day the Controller also has had to move. A little longer he may linger near be seen among the money-changers, and even working in the Controller's office,' where much lies unfinished but neither will that hold. Too strong blows and beats this tempest of public opinion, of private intrigue, as from the Cave of all the Winds and blows him (higher Authority giving sign) out of Paris and France, over the horizon, into Invisibility, or outer Darkness. Such destiny the magic of genius could not for ever avert. Ungrateful (Eil-de-Boeuf did he not miraculously rain gold manna on you so that, as a Courtier said, All the world held out its hand, and I held out my hat,' for a time ? Himself is poor penniless, had not a Financier's widow in Lorraine offered him, though he was turned of fifty, her hand and the rich purse it held. Dim henceforth shall be his activity, though unwearied Letters to the King, Appeals, Prognostications
' '

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Republished in the Music de

Besenval,
iii.

la Caricature (Paris, 1834).

^ lb. iii.

209.

211.

Pamphlets

THE NOTABLES

77
;

Pamphlets (from London), written with the old suasive facility CHAP. Ill which however do not persuade. Luckily his widow's purse April-May ^^^^ fails npt. Once, in a year or two, some shadow of him shall be seen hovering on the Northern Border, seeking election as but be sternly beckoned away. Dimmer National Deputy then, far-borne over utmost European lands, in uncertain twi;

he shall hover, intriguing for Exiled Princes,' be overset into the Rhine-stream and and have adventures half-drowned, nevertheless save his papers dry. Unwearied, In France he works miracles no more shall but in vain hardly return thither to find a grave. Farewell, thou facile sanguine Controller-General, with thy light rash hand, thy worse men there have been, and better suasive mouth of gold but to thee also was allotted a task, of raising the wind, and and thou hast done it. the winds
light of diplomacy,
'
; ! ;

But now, while Ex-Controller Calonne flies storm-driven over the horizon, in this singular way, what has become of the
extinct, like ControUership ? It hangs vacant, one may say the Moon in her vacant interlunar cave. Two preliminary shadows, poor M. Fourqueux, poor M. Villedeuil, do hold, in quick succession, some simulacrum of it,^ as the new Moon will sometimes shine out with a dim preliminary old one in An actual new ConBe patient, ye Notables her arms. were the indispensable troller is certain, and even ready manoeuvres but gone through. Long-headed Lamoignon, with Home-Secretary Breteuil, and Foreign-Secretary Montmorin let these three once meet and speak. have exchanged looks Who is it that is strong in the Queen's favour, and the Abbe de Vermond's ? That is a man of great capacity ? Or at least that has struggled, these fifty years, to have it thought now, in the Clergy's name, demanding to have Protestant great now flaunting it in the put in execution death-penalties (Eil-de-Bceuf, as the gayest man-pleaser and woman-pleaser gleaning even a good word from Philosophedom and your Voltaires and D'Alemberts ? That has a party ready-made Lomenie de Brienne, Archbishop of for him in the Notables ? Toulouse answer all the three, with the clearest instantaneous in such and rush off to propose him to the King concord haste,' says Besenval, that M. de Lamoignon had to borrow a
;

'

'

'

'

Besenval,

iii.

225.

simarre,'

78

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

some kind
of cloth apparatus necessary for
'

BOOK III
April-May
^'^'

simarre,^ seemingly
that.^

Lomenie-Brienne, who had all his life felt a kind of predestination for the highest offices,' has now therefore obtained he shall have the title them. He presides over the Finances of Prime Minister itself, and the effort of his long life be realised. Unhappy only that it took such talent and industry to gain that to qualify for it hardly any talent or industry the place
;
;

Looking now into his inner man, what qualification he may have, Lomenie beholds, not without astonishment, next to nothing but vacuity and possibility. Principles or methods, acquirement outward or inward (for his very body is wasted, by hard tear and wear) he finds none not so much as a plan, even an unwise one. Lucky, in these circumstances, that Calonne has had a plan Calonne's plan was gathered from Turgot's and Necker's by compilation Not in vain has Lom6nie shall become Lomenie's by adoption. studied the working of the British Constitution for he professes to have some Anglomania, of a sort. Why, in that free country, does one Minister, driven out by Parliament, vanish from his King's presence, and another enter, borne in by Parliament ? ^ Surely not for mere change (which is ever wasteful) but that all men may have share of what is going and so the strife of Freedom indefinitely prolong itself, and no harm be

was

left

disposable

done.

The Notables,
'

mollified

by Easter
'

festivities,

by the

sacrifice

of Calonne, are not in the worst

while the interlunar shadows and from his throne delivered promissory conof Notables ciliatory eloquence the Queen stood waiting at a window,
; '
:

humour. Already his Majesty, were in office, had held session

and Monsieur from afar clapped hands to her,' in sign that all was well.^ It has had the best if such do but last. effect Leading Notables meanwhile can caressed Brienne's new gloss, Lamoignon's long head be will profit somewhat conciliatory eloquence shall not be
till

his carriage

came back

'

wanting. On the whole, however, is it not undeniable that this of ousting Calonne and adopting the plans of Calonne, is a measure which, to produce its best effect, should be looked at from a certain distance, cursorily not dwelt on with minute
;

Besenval,
Besenval,

iii.
iii.

224.
220.

Montgaillard, Histoire dt France,

i.

410-17.

near

THE NOTABLES
near scrutiny
?
'

79

In a word, that no service the Notables could CHAP. Ill May-June now do were so obliging as, in some handsome manner, to ^^^^ take themselves away ? Their Six Propositions about Provisional Assemblies, suppression of Corvees and suchlike, can be accepted without criticism. The Subvention or Land-tax, and much else, one must glide hastily over safe nowhere but in flourishes of conciliatory eloquence. Till at length, on this 25th of May, year 1787, in solemn final session, there bursts forth what we can call an explosion of eloquence King, Lomenie, Lamoignon and retinue taking up the successive strain in harangues to the number of ten, besides his Majesty's, which last the livelong day whereby, as in a kind of choral anthem, or bravura peal, of thanks, praises, promises, the Notables are, so to speak, organed out, and dismissed to their

'

respective places of abode. nine weeks : they were the

They had
first

sat,

and

talked,

some

Notables since Richelieu's, in

the year 1626.

By some
distance,
:

Historians, sitting

much

at their ease, in the safe

Lomenie has been blamed for this dismissal of his Notables nevertheless it was clearly time. There are things, as we said, which should not be dwelt on with minute close scrutiny over hot coals you cannot glide too fast. In these Seven Bureaus, where no work could be done, unless talk were work, the questionablest matters were coming up. Lafayette, for example, in Monseigneur d'Artois' Bureau, took upon him to set forth more than one deprecatory oration about Lettresde-Cachet, Liberty of the Subject, Agio, and suchlike which Monseigneur endeavouring to repress, was answered that a Notable being summoned to speak his opinion must speak it.^ Thus too his Grace the Archbishop of Aix perorating once,
:
;

with a plaintive pulpit-tone, in these words

will offering of the piety of Christians
'

'
:

Tithe, that free-

'

Tithe,' interrupted

Duke

la Rochefoucault,

with the cold business-manner he has

learned from the English, ' that free-will offering of the piety of Christians on which there are now forty-thousand lawsuits in this realm.' ^ Nay, Lafayette, bound to speak his opinion, went the length, one day, of proposing to convoke a * National Assembly.' ' You demand States-General ? asked Yes, MonMonseigneur with an air of minatory surprise.
;

'

'

Montgaillard,

i,

360.

Dumont, Souvenirs sur Mirabeau,

p. 21.

seigneur

BOOK III
May-June
^'^^^

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS Write said Monseigneur and even better than that.' seigneur to the Clerks.^ Written accordingly and what
80
;

'

it,'
;

it is

is

more, will be acted by and by.

CHAPTER

IV

lomenie's edicts
Thus, then, have the Notables returned home carrying, to all quarters of France, such notions of deficit, decrepitude,
;

distraction

and that States -General

will cure

it,

cure it but kill it. Each Notable, we may fancy, is torch disclosing hideous abysses, better left hid The unquietest humour possesses all men ferments, seeks issue, in pamphleteering, caricaturing, projecting, declaiming ; vain jangling of thought, word, and deed. It is Spiritual Bankruptcy, long tolerated verging now
;
!

or will not as a funereal

toward Economical Bankruptcy, and become intolerable. For from the lowest dumb rank, the inevitable misery, as was predicted, has spread upwards. In every man is some obscure
feeling that his position, oppressive or else oppressed,
is

false

men, in one or the other acrid dialect, as assaulters or as defenders, must give vent to the unrest that is in them. Of such stuff national well-being, and the glory of rulers, is not made. O Lomenie, what a wild-heaving, waste-looking, hungry and angry world hast thou, after life-long effort, got promoted
one
:

all

to take charge of

Edicts are mere soothing ones creation of Provincial Assemblies, for apportioning the imposts,' when we get any suppression of Corvees or statute-labour alleviation of Gahelle. Soothing measures, recommended by the Notables long clamoured for by all liberal men. Oil cast on the waters has been known to produce a good effect. Before venturing with great essential measures, Lomenie will see this singular swell of the public mind abate somewhat.

Lomenie's

first

'

'

Most proper,
1

surely.

But what
la

if it

were not a swell of the

t.
i.

Toulongeon, Histoire de France depuis

4.

Revolution de 1789 (Paris, 1803),

app.

abating

LOMENIE'S EDICTS

81

abating kind ? There are swells that come of upper tempest CHAP, IV and wind-gust. But again there are swells that come of subter- May-June ^^^'^ ranean pent wind, some say and even of inward decomposition, of decay that has become self-combustion as when, according to Neptuno-Plutonic Geology, the World is all decayed down into due attritus of this sort ; and shall now be exploded, and new-made These latter abate not by oil. The fool says in his heart. How shall not tomorrow be as yesterday as all days, which were once tomorrows ? The wise man, looking on this France, moral, intellectual, economical, sees, in short, all the symptoms he has ever met with in history,' wnabatable by soothing Edicts.
;
:

'

Meanwhile, abate or not, cash must be had and for that, quite another sort of Edicts, namely bursal or fiscal ones. How easy were fiscal Edicts, did you know for certain that the Parlement of Paris would what they call register them Such right of registering, properly of mere writing down, the Parlement has got by old wont and, though but a LawCourt, can remonstrate, and higgle considerably about the same. Hence many quarrels desperate Maupeou devices, and victory and defeat a quarrel now near forty years long. Hence fiscal Edicts, which otherwise were easy enough, become such problems. For example, is there not Calonne's the Subvention Terr itor idle, universal, unexempting Land-tax sheet-anchor of Finance ? Or, to show, so far as possible, that one is not without original finance talent, Lomenie himself can devise an tldit du Timbre or Stamp-tax, borrowed also, it is true but then from America may it prove luckier in France than there nevertheless, it cannot be denied, France has her resources the aspect of that Parlement is questionable. Already among the Notables, in that final symphony of dismissal, the Paris President had an ominous tone. Adrien Duport, quitting magnetic sleep, in this agitation of the world, threatens to rouse himself into preternatural wakefulness. Shallower but also louder, there is magnetic D'Espremdnil, with his tropical heat (he was born at Madras) ; with his dusky confused violence ; holding of Illumination, Animal Magnetism, Public Opinion, Adam Weisshaupt, Harmodius and Aristogiton, and all manner The of whom can come no good. of confused violent things very F VOL. I.
; '

'

'

'

82

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

is

BOOK
1787

III

very Peerage
in too

infected with the leaven.

May-June

many

cases, laid aside their frogs,

Our Peers have, laces, bagwigs and

;

go about in English costume, or ride rising in their stirrups, in the most headlong manner nothing but insubordination, eleutheromania, confused unlimited opposition in their heads. Questionable not to be ventured upon, if we had a Fortunatus' Purse But Lomenie has waited all June, casting on the waters what oil he had and now, betide as it may, the two Finance Edicts must out. On the 6th of July, he forwards his proposed Stamp-tax and Land-tax to the Parlement of Paris and, as
;
: !

putting his own leg foremost, not his borrowed Calonne's - leg, places the Stamp -tax
if

first

in order.

Alas, the
will

Parlement
:

not

register

the

Parlement demands instead a state of the expenditure,' a state of the contemplated

'

'

reductions
;

'

'
;

states

'

enough which his Majesty must decline

to

furnish
arise
:

Discuspatriotic

sions

eloquence

the

Peers

D ESPREMENIL.
Here surely Universe may look upon curiosity and bets. Paris
bristle ?

are

summoned.

Does
begin

the
to
is
:

Nemean Lion
;

a duel, which France and the with prayers at lowest, with stirs with new animation. The outer courts of the Palais de Justice roll with unusual crowds, coming and going; their huge outer hum mingles with the
clang of patriotic eloquence within, and gives vigour to it. Poor Lomenie gazes from the distance, little comforted ; has his invisible emissaries flying to and fro, assiduous, without
result.

So pass the sultry dog-days, in the most electric manner and the whole month of July. And still, in the Sanctuary of Justice, sounds nothing but Harmodius-Aristogiton eloquence,
environed

LOMENIE'S EDICTS
; '
'

83

environed with the hum of crowding Paris and no registering CHAP. IV said a July 1787 accompHshed, and no states furnished. States ? lively Parlementeer Messieurs, the states that should be furnished us, in my opinion are the States-General.' On which timely joke there follow cachinnatory buzzes of approval. Old What a word to be spoken in the Palais de Justice D'Ormesson (the Ex-Controller's uncle) shakes his judicious head far enough from laughing. But the outer courts, and Paris and France, catch the glad sound, and repeat it
*
'

'

and re-echo and reverberate it, till it grow a deafening peal. Clearly enough here is no registering to be thought of.
shall repeat
it,

There are remedies for all things but death.' When a Parlement refuses registering, the remedy, by long practice, has become familiar to the simplest a Bed of Justice. One complete month this Parlement has spent in the Timbre Edict mere idle jargoning, and sound and fury not registered, or like to be the Subvention not yet so much as spoken of. On the 6th of August let the whole refractory Body roll out, in wheeled vehicles, as far as the King's Chateau there shall the King, holding his Bed of Justice, of Versailles They may reorder them, by his own royal lips, to register. but they must obey, lest a worse monstrate, in an under tone unknown thing befall them. the Parlement has rolled out, on royal summons ; It is done has heard the express royal order to register. Whereupon it has rolled back again, amid the hushed expectancy of men. And now, behold, on the morrow, this Parlement, seated once more in its own Palais, with crowds inundating the outer courts,' not only does not register, but (O portent !) declares all that was done on the prior day to be null, and the Bed of In the history of France here Justice as good as a futility Nay better still, our heroic Parlement, verily is a new feature. getting suddenly enlightened on several things, declares that, for its part, it is incompetent to register Tax-edicts at all, that having done it by mistake, during these late centuries the assembled for such act one authority only is competent
says,
'
: ; ;

The pious Proverb

'

Three Estates of the Realm To such length can the universal spirit of a Nation penesay rather, with such trate the most isolated Body- corporate weapons,
! :

84

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

!

BOOK

III

July 1787

weapons, homicidal and suicidal, in exasperated political duel, But, in any case, is not this the will Bodies- corporate fight real death-grapple of war and internecine duel, Greek meeting Greek whereon men, had they even no interest in it, might look with interest unspeakable ? Crowds, as was said, inundate the outer courts inundation of young eleutheromaniac Noblemen in English costume, uttering audacious speeches of Procureurs, Basoche-Clerks, who are idle in these days of Loungers, Newsmongers and other nondescript classes, rolls tumultuous there. From three to four thousand persons,' waiting eagerly to hear the Arretes (Resolutions) you arrive at within applauding with bravos, with the clapping of from six to eight thousand hands Sweet also is the meed of patriotic eloquence, when your D'Espremenil, your Freteau, or Sabatier, issuing from his Demosthenic Olympus, the thunder being hushed for the day, is welcomed, in the outer courts, with a shout from four thousand throats is borne home shoulder-high with benedictions,' and strikes the stars with his sublime head.
;
:

'

'

CHAPTER V
lomenie's thunderbolts
Arise, Lomenie-Brienne here is no case for ' Letters of Jussion for faltering or compromise. Thou seest the whole loose fluent population of Paris (whatsoever is not solid, and fixed to work) inundating these outer courts, like a loud destructive deluge the very Basoche of Lawyers' Clerks talks sedition. The lower classes, in this duel of Authority with Authority, Greek throttling Greek, have ceased to respect the City- Watch Police-satellites are marked on the back with chalk (the signifies mouchard, spy) they are hustled, hunted like jeros naturce. Subordinate rural Tribunals send messengers of congratulation, of adherence. Their Fountain of Justice is becoming a Fountain of Revolt. The Provincial Parlements look on, with intent eye, with breathless wishes, while their elder sister of Paris does battle the whole Twelve are of one blood and temper the victory of one is that of all. Ever worse it grows on the 10th of August, there is Plainte emitted
:

'

'

'

LOMENIE'S THUNDERBOLTS
' '

85

emitted touching the * prodigalities of Calonne,' and permission CHAP. V to proceed against him. No registering, but instead of it, Aug. 1787 denounging : of dilapidation, peculation and ever the burden of the song, States-General Have the royal armories no thunderbolt, that thou couldst, O Lomenie, with red righthand, launch it among these Demosthenic theatrical thunder;
!

mere resin and noise for most part and shatter, and smite them silent ? On the night of the 14th of August, Lomenie launches his thunderbolt, or handful of them. Letters named of the Seal {de Cachet), as many as needful, some sixscore and odd, are delivered overnight. And so, next day betimes, the whole Parlement, once more set on wheels, is rolling incessantly towards Troyes in Champagne escorted,'
barrels,
;

'

says History, ' with the blessings of all people the very innkeepers and postilions looking gratuitously reverent.^ This is the 15th of August 1787.
' ;

Seldom not people bless in their extreme need had the Parlement of Paris deserved much blessing, or received much. An isolated Body-corporate, which, out of old confusions (whUe the Sceptre of the Sword was confusedly struggling to become a Sceptre of the Pen), had got itself together, better and worse, as Bodies-corporate do, to satisfy some dim desire of the world, and many clear desires of individuals and so had grown, in the course of centuries, on concession, on acquirement and usurpation, to be what we see it a prosperous Social Anomaly, deciding Lawsuits, sanctioning or rejecting Laws ; and withal disposing of its places and offices by sale for readymoney, which method sleek President Renault, after meditation, will demonstrate to be the indifferent-best.^ In such a Body, existing by purchase for ready-money, there there might well be excess could not be excess of public spirit Men in helmets have of eagerness to divide the public spoil. men in wigs, with quill and inkdivided that, with swords and even more hatefully these latter, if horn, do divide it for the wig-method is at once irresistibler more peaceably By long experience, says Besenval, it has been and baser. no Officer of found useless to sue a Parlementeer at law his wig and gown are his Justice will serve a writ on one Vulcan's-panoply, his enchanted cloak-of-darkness.
will
;
!

What

A. Lameth, Histoire de tAssembUe Constituante Abrigi Chronohgique, p. 975.

(Int. 73).

The

86

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

of Paris

BOOK

III

July 1787

an unloved body mean, not magnanimous, on the political side. Were the King weak, always (as now) has his Parlement barked, cur-like at with what popular cry there might be. Were he his heels hunting for him as his alert strong, it barked before his face where foul influences have more beagle. An unjust Body than once worked shameful perversion of judgment. Does not, in these very days, the blood of murdered Lally cry aloud for vengeance ? Baited, circumvented, driven mad like the snared lion. Valour had to sink extinguished under vindictive Chicane. Behold him, that hapless Lally, his wild dark soul looking trailed on the ignominious deaththrough his wild dark face hurdle the voice of his despair choked by a wooden gag The wild fire-soul that has known only peril and toil and,

The Parlement

may

count

itself

has buffeted against Fate's obstruction and men's perfidy, like genius and courage amid poltroonery, dishonesty and commonplace faithfully enduring and endeavouring, O Parlement of Paris, dost thou reward it with a gibbet and a gag ? ^ The dying Lally bequeathed his memory to his boy a young Lally has arisen, demanding redress in the name of God and man. The Parlement of Paris does its utmost to defend the indefensible, abominable nay, what is singular, dusky-glowing Aristogiton d'Espremenil is the man chosen to be its spokesman in that. Such Social Anomaly is it that France now blesses. An unclean Social Anomaly but in duel against another worse The exiled Parlement is felt to have covered itself with glory.' There are quarrels in which even Satan, bringing help, were not unwelcome even Satan, fighting stiffly, might cover himself with glory, of a temporary sort.
for three-score years,
;

'

the outer courts of the Palais, when Paris finds its Parlement trundled off to Troyes in Champagne and nothing left but a few mute Keepers of Records the Demosthenic thunder become extinct, the martyrs of liberty clean
stir in
;
;

But what a

Confused wail and menace rises from the four thousand throats of Procureurs, Basoche- Clerks, Nondescripts, and Anglomaniac Noblesse ever new idlers crowd to see and hear Rascality, with increasing numbers and vigour, hunts mouchards. Loud whirlpool rolls through these spaces ; the rest of the

gone

9th

May

1766

Biographic Universelle, Lally.

City

LOMElsFIE'S
City,

THUNDERBOLTS

87

work, cannot yet go rolling. Audacious CHAP. V placards are legible in and about the Palais, the speeches are Aug. -Sept. ^'^^ as good as seditious. Surely the temper of Paris is much changed. On the third day of this business (18th of August), Monsieur and Monseigneur d'Artois, coming in state-carriages, according to use and wont, to have these late obnoxious Arretes and Protests expunged from the Records, are received in the most marked manner. Monsieur, who is thought to be in opposition, is met with vivats and strewed flowers Monseigneur, on the other hand, with silence with murmurs, which rise to hisses and groans nay an irreverent Rascality presses towards him in floods, with such hissing vehemence, that the Captain of the Guards has to give order, Haul les armes (Handle arms) at which thunder-word, indeed, and the flash of the clear iron, the Rascal-flood recoils, through all avenues, fast enough.^ New features these. Indeed, as good M. de Malesherbes pertinently remarks, 'it is a quite new kind of contest this with the Parlements no transitory splutter, as from collision of hard bodies but more like the first sparks of what, if not quenched, may become a great
fixed to
its
;

'

'

'

'

'

'

conflagration.'

This good Malesherbes sees himself now again in the King's Lomenie would profit if Council, after an absence of ten years not by the faculties of the man, yet by the name he has. As wherefore he will for the man's opinion, it is not listened to back to his books and his soon withdraw, a second time In such King's Council what can a good man profit ? trees. Turgot has quitted France Turgot tries it not a second time and now cares for none of and this Earth, some years ago Turgot, this same Lomenie, these things. Singular enough and the Abbe Morellet were once a trio of young friends Forty new years have carried fellow-scholars in the Sorbonne. them severally thus far. Meanwhile the Parlement sits daily at Troyes, calling cases and daily adjourns, no Procureur making his appearance to neverTroyes is as hospitable as could be looked for plead. No crowds now to theless one has comparatively a dull life. scarcely a carry you, shoulder-high, to the immortal gods Patriot or two will drive out so far, and bid you be of firm You are in furnished lodgings, far from home and courage.
: ;

Montgaillard,

i.

369.

Besenval,

etc.

Montgaillard,

i.

373.

domestic

88

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

:

BOOK
^'^^'^

III

domestic comfort

little

to do but

wander over the unlovely

;

Aug.-Sept.

Champagne

fields

seeing the grapes ripen

:

taking counsel
;

a prey to tedium in about the thousand-times consulted danger even that Paris may forget you. Messengers come and pacific Lomenie is not slack in negotiating, promising go D'Ormesson and the prudent elder Members see no good in
:

strife.

After a dull month, the Parlement, yielding and retaining, makes truce, as all Parlements must. The Stamp-tax is withdrawn the Subvention Land-tax is also withdrawn but, in Prorogation of its stead, there is granted, what they call a the Second Twentieth,' itself a kind of Land-tax, but not so oppressive to the Influential classes which lies mainly on the Dumb class. Moreover, secret promises exist (on the part of the Elders), that finances may be raised by Loan. Of the ugly word States-General there shall be no mention. And so, on the 20th of September, our exiled Parlement returns D'Espremenil said, it went out covered with glory, but had come back covered with mud {de boue).^ Not so, Aristogiton or if so, thou surely art the man to clean it.
:

'

'

CHAPTER
Was

VI

lomenie's plots
ever unfortunate Chief Minister so bestead as LomenieBrienne ? The reins of the State fairly in his hand these six months and not the smallest motive-power (of Finance) to stir from the spot with, this way or that He flourishes his whip, but advances not. Instead of ready money, there is nothing but rebellious debating and recalcitrating. Far is the public mind from having calmed it goes chafing and fuming ever worse and in the royal coffers, with such yearly Deficit running on, there is hardly the colour of coin. Ominous prognostics Malesherbes, seeing an exhausted, exasperated France grow hotter and hotter, talks of conflagration Mirabeau, without talk, has, as we perceive, descended on Paris again, close on the rear of the Parlement,^ not to quit his native soil any more.
;
!

'

'

Fils Adoptif,

Mirabeau,

iv.

1.

5.

Over

LQMENIE'S PLOTS
Over the
:

89 by Prussia
;

Frontiers, behold Holland invaded

cHAP.
1787

^'I

the French party oppressed, England and the Stadtholder triumphing to the sorrow of War-secretary Montmorin and all men. But without money, sinews of war, as of work, and of existence itself, what can a Chief Minister do ? Taxes profit little this of the Second Twentieth falls not due till next year and will then, with its strict valuation,' produce more controversy than cash. Taxes on the Privileged Classes cannot be got registered ; are intolerable to our supporters themselves taxes on the Unprivileged yield nothing,as from a thing drained dry more cannot be drawn. Hope is nowhere, if not in the old refuge of Loans. To Lom6nie, aided by the long head of Lamoignon, deeply pondering this sea of troubles, the thought suggested itself
: ; '
:
:

Oct. -Nov.

not have a Successive Loan [Emprunt Successif), or Loan that went on lending, year after year, as much as needful say, till 1792 ? The trouble of registering such Loan were the same we had then breathing time money to work with, Edict of a Successive Loan must be at least to subsist on. proposed. To conciliate the Philosophes, let a liberal Edict let a walk in front of it, for emancipation of Protestants liberal Promise guard the rear of it, that when our Loan ends, in that final 1792, the States - General shall be convoked. Such liberal Edict of Protestant Emancipation, the time having come for it, shall cost a Lomenie as little as the Deathdid. As for the liberal penalties to be put in execution the fulfilPromise, of States-General, it can be fulfilled or not ment is five good years off in five years much intervenes. But However, the registering ? Ah, truly, there is the difficulty we have that promise of the Elders, given secretly at Troyes. Judicious gratuities, cajoleries, underground intrigues, with old Foulon, named Ame damnSe, Familiar-demon, of the Parlement,' may perhaps do the rest. At worst and lowest, the Royal Authority has resources, ^which ought it not to put forth ? If it cannot realise money, the Royal Authority is as good as
: ;
;

Why

'

'

'

dead of that surest and miserablest death, inanition. dead For the rest, without risk all is already lost Risk and win
;
;
!

as in enterprises of pith, a touch of stratagem often proves furthersome, his Majesty announces a Royal Hunt, for the 19th
1

October 1787.

Montgaillard,

i.

374.

Besenval,

iii.

283.

of

90

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

;

BOOK

III

of

November next

and

all

whom it concerns are joyfully getting

Nov. 1787

their gear ready.

but of two-legged unfeathered game Royal Hunt indeed At eleven in the morning of that Royal-Hunt day, 19th of November 1787, unexpected blare of trumpeting, tumult of charioteering and cavalcading disturbs the Seat of Justice his Majesty is come, with Garde-des-Sceaux Lamoignon, and Peers and retinue, to hold Royal Session and have Edicts registered.
;
:

a change, since Louis xiv. entered here, in boots and, whip in hand, ordered his registering to be done, with an Olympian look, which none durst gainsay and did, without stratagem, in such unceremonious fashion, hunt as well as register ^ For Louis xvi., on this day, the Registering will be enough if indeed he and the day suffice for it. Meanwhile, with fit ceremonial words, the purpose of the royal breast is signified Two Edicts, for Protestant Emancipation, for Successive Loan of both which Edicts our trusty Garde-des-Sceaux Lamoignon will explain the purport on both which a trusty Parlement is requested to deliver its opinion, each member having free privilege of speech. And so, Lamoignon too having perorated not amiss, and wound up with that Promise of States-General, the Sphere-music of Parlementary eloquence begins. Explosive, responsive, sphere answering sphere, it waxes louder and louder. The Peers sit attentive of diverse sentiment unfriendly to States-General unfriendly to Despotism, which cannot reward merit, and is suppressing places. But what agitates his Highness d' Orleans ? The rubicund moon-head goes wagging darker beams the copper visage, like unscoured copper in the glazed eye is disquietude he rolls uneasy in his seat, as if he meant something. Amid unutterable satiety, has sudden new appetite, for new forbidden fruit, been vouchsafed him ? Disgust and edacity laziness that cannot rest futile ambition, revenge, non-admiralship O, within that carbuncled skin what a confusion of con;

What

fusions sits bottled

'

Eight Couriers,' in the course of the day, gallop from Versailles, where Lomenie waits palpitating and gallop back again, not with the best news. In the outer Courts of the Palais, huge buzz of expectation reigns it is whispered the Chief
;
;

Dulaure,

vi.

306.

Minister

LOMENIE'S PLOTS
Minister has lost six votes overnight.

91

And from within, resounds CHAP. VI Nov. 1787 nothing but forensic eloquence, pathetic and even indignant heartrending appeals to the royal clemency, that his Majesty would please to summon States-General forthwith, and be the Saviour of France wherein dusky-glowing D'Espremenil, but still more Sabatier de Cabre, and Freteau, since named Commere Freteau (Goody Freteau), are among the loudest. For six mortal hours it lasts, in this manner the infinite hubbub unslackened. And so now, when brown dusk is falling through the windows, and no end visible, his Majesty, on hint of Garde-desSceaux Lamoignon, opens his royal lips once more to say, in brief. That he must have his Loan-Edict registered. Momentary deep pause with See Monseigneur d' Orleans rises moon-visage turned towards the royal platform, he asks, with a delicate graciosity of manner covering unutterable things * Whether it is a Bed of Justice, then, or a Royal Session ? surly Fire flashes on him from the throne and neighbourhood ' answer that it is a Session.' In that case, Monseigneur will crave leave to remark that Edicts cannot be registered by order in a Session and indeed to enter, against such registry, his
;
:

'

individual

humble

Protest.

do your pleasure),' D'Orleans state, marches out, escorted by his Court-retinue himself, as in duty bound, escorting him, but only to the gate. Which duty done, D'Orleans returns in from the gate redacts his Protest, in the face of an applauding Parlement, an applauding France and so ^has cut his Court-moorings, shall we say ? And will now sail and drift, fast enough, towards Chaos ?
; ;

Vous etes Men le maitre (You will and thereupon, in high answers the King
'

Is Equality that art to be Royalty grown a mere wooden Scarecrow whereon thou, pert scaldheaded crow, mayest alight at pleasure, and peck ? Not yet wholly. Next day, a Lettre-de-Cachet sends D'Orleans to bethink himself in his Chateau of Villers-Cotterets, where, alas, is no no fascinating indisParis with its joyous necessaries of life pensable Madame de Buffon, light wife of a great Naturalist much too old for her. Monseigneur, it is said, does nothing

Thou

foolish

D'Orleans

but walk distractedly, at Villers-Cotterets cursing his stars. Versailles itself shall hear penitent wail from him, so hard is
;

his

92

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

doom.
;

BOOK
1787

IJI

a second, simultaneous Lettre-de-Cachet, Goody Freteau is hurled into the Stronghold of Ham, amid the Norman marshes by a third, Sabatier de Cabre into Mont St. Michel, amid the Norman quicksands. As for the Parlement, it must, on summons, travel out to Versailles, with its Register-Book under its arm, to have the Protest bi-^i (expunged) not without admonition, and even rebuke. A stroke of authority, which, one might have hoped, would quiet matters. Unhappily, no it is a mere taste of the whip to rearing coursers, which makes them rear worse When a team of Twenty-five Millions begins rearing, what is Lomenie's whip ? The Parlement will nowise acquiesce meekly and set to register the Protestant Edict, and do its other work, in salutary
his
; :
!

By

fear of these three Lettres-de-Cachet.

begins questioning Lettres-de-Cachet generally, their legality, endurability emits dolorous objurgation, petition on petition to have its three Martyrs delivered ; cannot, till that be complied with,
that,
it
;

Far from

so

much

as think of examining the Protestant Edict, but puts

'

it off

always

till

this

day week.'
;

In which objurgatory strain Paris and France joins it, or rather has preceded it making fearful chorus. And now also the other Parlements, at length opening their mouths, begin to join some of them, as at Grenoble and at Rennes, with
;

portentous emphasis, ^threatening, by way of reprisal, to interdict the very Tax-gatherer.^ In all former contests,' as Malesherbes remarks, it was the Parlement that excited the Public but here it is the Public that excites the Parlement.'
'

'

CHAPTER
What
!

VII

INTERNECINE
a France, through these winter months of the year The very (Eil-de-Bceuf is doleful, uncertain 1787 with a general feeling, among the Suppressed, that it were better to be in Turkey. The Wolf-hounds are suppressed, the Bearhounds, Duke de Coigny, Duke de Polignac in the Trianon little-heaven, her Majesty, one evening, takes Besenval's arm asks his candid opinion. The intrepid Besenval, having, as
; :

Beseaval,

iii.

309.

Weber,

i.

266.

he

INTERNECINE

93

he hopes, nothing of the sycophant in him, plainly signifies CHAP. VII April that, with a Parlement in rebellion, and an (Eil-de-Boeuf in 1787-88 suppression, the King's Crown is in danger whereupon, singular to say, her Majesty, as if hurt, changed the subject,
;

et

ne

indeed, can this poor Queen speak ? In need of wise counsel, if ever mortal was yet beset here only by the hubbub of chaos Her dwelling-place is so bright to the eye,
;
!

me parla To whom,

plus de rien

and confusion and black care darkens it all. Sorrows of the Sovereign, sorrows of the woman, thick-coming sorrows environ her more and more. Lamotte, the Necklace- Countess, has in these late months escaped, perhaps been suffered to escape, from the Salpetriere. Vain was the hope that Paris might thereby forget her and this ever-widening lie, and heap of lies, subside. The Lamotte, with a V (for Voleuse, Thief) branded on both shoulders, has got to England and will
; ;

therefrom emit

lie

on
^
;

lie

defiling the highest

its

mere distracted

lies

which, in

queenly name present humour, France

:

will greedily believe.

too clear our Successive Loan is not filling. As indeed, in such circumstances, a Loan registered by expunging of Protests was not the likeliest to fill. Denunciation the of Lettres-de-Cachet, of Despotism generally, abates not Twelve Parlements are busy the Twelve hundred Placarders, Paris is what, in figurative speech, Balladsingers, Pamphleteers. flooded with pamphlets {regorge de brochures) they call flooded and eddying again. Hot deluge, from so many Patriot each readyready- writers, all at the fervid or boiling point writer, now in the hour of eruption, going like an Iceland Against which what can a judicious Friend Morellet Geyser do a Rivarol, an unruly Linguet (well paid for it), spouting

For the

rest, it is

'

'

cold

Now
:

also, at length,

does come discussion of the Protestant

;

in pamphlet and Edict but only for new embroilment counter-pamphlet, increasing the madness of men. Not even Orthodoxy, bedrid as she seemed, but will have a hand in this confusion. She once again in the shape of Abbe Lenfant,
^

'

St.

Besenval, iii. 264 Vie de Jeanne de Memoircs justificatifs de la Comtesse de Lamotte (London, 1788). Remi, Ccmtesse de Lamotte^ etc. etc. Sec Diamond Necklace (ut supri).

'whom

94

BOOK

III

'

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS and congratulate,' raises audible whom Prelates drive to
visit

April

sound from her pulpit-drum.^

^Yio has his

Or mark how D'Espremenil,

1787-88

own confused way in all things, produces at the right moment in Parlementary harangue, a pocket Crucifix, Will ye crucify him afresh ? with the apostrophe Him,
'
'
:

considering what poor stuff, D'Espremenil, without scruple of ivory and filigree, he is made of To all which add only, that poor Brienne has fallen sick so hard was the tear and wear of his sinful youth, so violent,
;
!

incessant

is

this

agitation of his foolish old age.

Baited,

bayed at through so many throats, his Grace, growing consumptive, inflammatory (with humeur de dartre), lies reduced
to milk diet
' ;

in exasperation, almost in desperation

with

repose,'

precisely the

impossible recipe,

prescribed as the

indispensable.'

the whole, what can a poor Government do, but once more recoil ineffectual ? The King's Treasury is running towards the lees and Paris eddies with a flood of pamphlets.' At all rates, let the latter subside a little D' Orleans gets back to Raincy, which is nearer Paris and the fair frail Buffon finally to Paris itself neither are Freteau and Sabatier banished for ever. The Protestant Edict is registered to the joy of Boissy d'Anglas and good Malesherbes Successive Loan, all protests expunged or else withdrawn, remains open, the rather as few or none come to fill it. States-General, for which the Parlement has clamoured, and now the whole Nation clamours, will follow in five years,' if indeed not sooner. O Parlement of Paris, what a clamour was that Messieurs,' said old D'Ormesson, you will get States-General, and you will repent it.' Like the Horse in the Fable, who, to be avenged of his enemy, applied to the Man. The Man mounted did swift execution on the enemy but, unhappily, would not dismount Instead of five years, let three years pass, and this clamorous Parlement shall have both seen its enemy hurled prostrate, and been itself ridden to foundering (say rather, jugulated for hide and shoes), and lie dead in the ditch. Under such omens, however, we have reached the spring of 1788. By no path can the King's Government find passage for itself, but is everywhere shamefully flung back. Beleaguered by Twelve rebellious Parlements, which are grown to be the
'
;
!

On

'

'

'

Lacretelle,

iii.

343.

Montgaillard, etc.

'

Bcsenval,

iii.

317.

organs

INTERNECINE
;

95

organs of an angry Nation, it can advance nowhither can CHAP. VII accomplish nothing, obtain nothing, not so much as money to 1788 subsist on but must sit there, seemingly, to be eaten up of
;

Deficit.

The measure

of the Iniquity, then, of the Falsehood

which

has been gathering through long centuries, is nearly full ? At least, that of the Misery is From the hovels of the Twentyfive Millions, the misery, permeating upwards and forwards, as its law is, has got so far, to the very CEil-de-Bceuf of Versailles. Man's hand, in this blind pain, is set against man not only the low against the higher, but the higher against each other Provincial Noblesse is bitter against Court Noblesse Robe against Sword Rochet against Pen. But against the King's Government who is not bitter ? Not even Besenval, in these days. To it all men and bodies of men are become as enemies it is the centre whereon infinite conten!

tions unite

and
;

clash.

What new

universal vertiginous

move-

ment

is

this

of Institutions, social Arrangements, individual

Minds, which once worked co-operative ; now rolling and grinding in distracted collision ? Inevitable it is the breaking-up of a World-Solecism, worn out at last, down even to bankruptcy of money And so this poor Versailles Court, as the chief or central Solecism, finds all the other Solecisms arrayed against it. Most natural For your human Solecism, be it Person or Combination of Persons, is ever, by law of Nature, uneasy ; if verging towards bankruptcy, it is even miserable and when would the meanest Solecism consent to blame or amend itself, while there remained another to
:
!

amend

These threatening signs do not terrify Lom^nie, much less teach him. Lomenie, though of light nature, is not without courage, of a sort. Nay, have we not read of lightest creatiires,

trained

Canary-birds,

that could
;

fly

cheerfully

with

fire whole powder-magaand fire cannon zines ? To sit and die of Deficit is no part of Lomenie's plan. The evil is considerable but can he not remove it, can he not attack it ? At lowest, he can attack the symptom of it these rebellious Parlements he can attack, and perhaps remove. Much is dim to Lomenie, but two things are clear that such Parlementary duel with Royalty is growing perilous, nay Take internecine above all, that money must be had.

lighted matches,

thought,

96

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

; !

BOOK
1788

III

thou Garde-des-Sceaux Lamoignon, thought, brave Lomenie So often defeated, balked cruelly when the who hast ideas golden fruit seemed within clutch, rally for one other struggle. To tame the Parlement, to fill the King's coffers these are
:

now

life-and-death questions.

Parlements have been tamed, more than once. Set to perch ' on the peaks of rocks inaccessible except by litters,' a Parlement grows reasonable. O Maupeou, thou bold bad man, had we left thy work where it was But apart from exile, or other violent methods, is there not one method, whereby all things are tamed, even lions ? The method of hunger What if the Parlement's supplies were cut off namely its Lawsuits ! Minor Courts, for the trying of innumerable minor causes, might be instituted these we could call Grand Bailliages. Whereon the Parlement, shortened of its prey, would look with yellow despair but the Public, fond of cheap justice, with favour and hope. Then for Finance, for registering of Edicts, why not, from our own (Eil-de-Bceuf Dignitaries, our Princes, Dukes, Marshals, make a thing we could call Plenary Court and there, so to speak, do our registering ourselves ? Saint Louis had his Plenary Court, of Great Barons ^ most useful to him our Great Barons are still here (at least the Name of them is still here) our necessity is greater than his. Such is the Lomenie-Lamoignon device ; welcome to the King's Council, as a light-beam in great darkness. The device seems feasible, it is eminently needful be it once well executed, great deliverance is wrought. Silent, then, and steady now or never the World shall see one other Historical Scene and so singular a man as Lomenie de Brienne still the Stage!

manager

there.
'

Behold, accordingly, a Home-Secretary Breteuil beautifying Paris,' in the peaceablest manner, in this hopeful spring weather of 1788 the old hovels and hutches disappearing from our Bridges as if for the State too there were halcyon weather, and nothing to do but beautify. Parlement seems to sit
;
:

acknowledged victor. Brienne says nothing of Finance or even says, and prints, that it is all well. How is this such halcyon quiet though the Successive Loan did not fill ? In a victorious Parlement, Counsellor Goeslard de Monsabert even denounces that 'levying of the Second Twentieth on strict
; ; ;

Montgaillard,

i.

405;

valuation

'

THE FLOURISHING OF THE FLEUR DE LYS.

(Marie and Marat.)

LQMENIE'S DEATH-THROES

97

valuation and gets decree that the valuation shall not be CHAP. VII 1788 strict, Nevertheless Brienne not on the Privileged classes. endures ^t, launches no Lettre-de-Cachet against it. How is

'

this ?

such vernal weather but treacherous, sudden For one thing, we hear it whispered, the Intendants of Provinces have all got order to be at their posts on a certain day.'
Smiling
is
;
!

'

what incessant Printing is this that goes on at the King's Chateau, under lock and key ? Sentries the Printers come not out occupy all gates and windows their very food is handed in they sleep in their workrooms ^ to them A victorious Parlement smells new danger.
Still

more

singular,

prowls round D'Espremenil has ordered horses to Versailles prying, snuffing, if so be the that guarded Printing-Ofiice
;

sagacity and ingenuity of man may penetrate it. To a shower of gold most things are penetrable. D'Espremenil descends on the lap of a Printer's Danae, in the shape the Danae's Husband smuggles a of ' five hundred louis d'or which she delivers to the golden Counball of clay to her Kneaded within it, there stick printed sellor of Parlement. proof-sheets by Heaven the royal Edict of that same selfof those Grand Bailliages that shall registering Plenary Court It is to be promulgated over all cut short our Lawsuits
' :

France on one and the same day. This, then, is what the Intendants were bid wait for at their this is what the Court sat hatching, as its accursed posts and would not stir, though provoked, till the cockatrice-egg Hie with it, D'Espremenil, home to Paris brood were out let the Parlement, and the convoke instantaneous Sessions
:

Earth, and the Heavens

know

it.

CHAPTER
On
the morrow, which
is
;

VIII

lomenie's death-throes
the 3d of
1788, an astonished speechless to the speech

May

listens Parlement sits convoked of D'Espremenil, unfolding the infinite misdeed.

^

Deed

of

Weber,

i.

276.

VOL.

I.

treachery

98

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

;

BOOK
May

III

1788

unhallowed darkness, such as Despotism loves awaken France and the Denounce it, O Parlement of Paris roll what thunder-barrels of forensic eloquence thou Universe with thee too it is verily Now or never hast The Parlement is not wanting, at such juncture. In the hour of his extreme jeopardy, the lion first incites himself by So here the Parlement of Paris. roaring, by lashing his sides. On the motion of D'Espremenil, a most patriotic Oath, of the an excellent One-and-all sort, is sworn, with united throat new-idea, which, in these coming years, shall not remain unimitated. Next comes indomitable Declaration, almost of Invothe rights of man, at least of the rights of Parlement cation to the Friends of French Freedom, in this and in subsequent time. All which, or the essence of all which, is brought to paper in a tone wherein something of plaintiveness blends with, and tempers, heroic valour. And thus, having sounded the storm-bell, which Paris hears, which all France will hear and hurled such defiance in the teeth of Lomenie and Despotism, the Parlement retires as from a tolerable first day's work.
treachery
of
!
; ; : ! ;

But how Lomenie

let readers
!

felt

to see his cockatrice-egg (so essential

to the salvation of France) broken in this premature manner,

fancy Indignant he clutches at his thunderbolts and launches two of them {de Cachet, of the Seal) a bolt for D'Espremenil a bolt for that busy Goeslard, whose service in the Second Twentieth and strict valuation is not forgotten. Such bolts clutched promptly overnight, and launched with the early new morning, shall strike agitated Paris if not into requiescence, yet into wholesome astonishment. Ministerial thunderbolts may be launched but if they do not hit ? D'Espremenil and Goeslard, warned, both of them, as is thought, by the singing of some friendly bird, elude the Lomenie Tipstaves escape disguised through skywindows, over roofs, to their own Palais de Justice the thunderbolts have missed. Paris (for the buzz flies abroad) is struck into astonishment not wholesome. The two Martyrs of Liberty doff their disguises don their long gowns behold, in the space of an hour, by aid of ushers and swift runners, the Parlement, with its Counsellors, Presidents, even Peers, sits anew assembled. The assembled Parlement declares that these its two Martyrs cannot be given up, to any sublunary authority
;
:

'

'

moreover

LOMENIE'S DEATH-THROES
'

99

moreover that the session is permanent,' admitting of no CHAP. VIII ^^7 ^'^^^ adjournment, till pursuit of them has been relinquished. And so, with forensic eloquence, denunciation and protest, with couriers going and returning, the Parlement, in this state
of continual explosion that shall cease neither night nor day,

waits the issue. Awakened Paris once more inundates those outer courts boils, in floods wilder than ever, through all avenues. Dissonant hubbub there is jargon as of Babel, in the hour when they were first smitten (as here) with mutual unintelligibility, and the people had not yet dispersed Paris City goes through its diurnal epochs, of working and slumbering and now, for the second time, most European and African mortals are asleep. But here, in this Whirlpool of Words, sleep falls not the Night spreads her coverlid of Darkness over it in vain. Within is the sound of mere martyr invincibility tempered with the due tone of plaintiveness. Without is the infinite expectant hum, growing drowsier a
; ; !
;

little.

So has

it

lasted for six-and-thirty hours.

But hark, through the dead of midnight, what tramp is Gardes this ? Tramp as of armed men, foot and horse
;

in silent regumarching hither Frangaises, Gardes Suisses There are Sappers too, larity ; in the flare of torchlight apparently, if the doors open not, with axes and crowbars
:

Captain DAgoust, missioned from who once man of known firmness forced Prince Conde himself, by mere incessant looking at him, to give satisfaction and fight ^ he now, with axes and torches, Sacrilegious is advancing on the very sanctuary of Justice. looks merely at his yet what help ? The man is a soldier impassive, moves forward like an inanimate engine. orders door The doors open on summons, there need no axes And now the innermost door opens discloses after door. a hundred and sixtythe long-gowned Senators of France sitting there, majestic seven by tale, seventeen of them Peers Were not the man military, and of in permanent session.' cast-iron, this sight, this silence re-echoing the clank of his

they

It be forced D'Agoust, a Versailles.

will
!

is

'

For the hundred and sixtyboots, might stagger him which some liken to that seven receive him in perfect silence some to that of of the Roman Senate overfallen by Brennus

own

a nest of coiners surprised by

1

officers of the Police.^

^

Messieurs,
355.

Weber,

i.

283.

Besenval,

iii.

said

100

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

Be par
le
:

BOOK
^^^^

III

May- July

Roi ! Express order has charged M. D'Agoust with the sad duty of arresting two individuals Duval d'Espremenil and M. Goeslard de Monsabert. Which respectable individuals, as he has not the honour of knowing them, are hereby invited, in the King's name, to surrender Buzz, which grows a murmur themselves. Profound silence We are all D'Espremenils ventures a voice which other voices repeat. The President inquires. Whether he will employ violence ? Captain D Agoust, honoured with his Majesty's commission, has to execute his Majesty's order would so gladly do it without violence, will in any case do it grants an august Senate space to deliberate which method they prefer. And thereupon D'Agoust, with grave military courtesy, has withsaid D'Agoust,

'

'

drawn

for the

moment.

boots it, august Senators ? All avenues are closed with fixed bayonets. Your Courier gallops to Versailles, through the dewy night but also gallops back again, with tidings that the order is authentic, that it is irrevocable. The outer courts simmer with idle population but D'Agoust's grenadier-ranks stand there as immovable floodgates there will be no revolting to deliver you. Messieurs thus spoke D'Espremenil, when the victorious Gauls entered Rome, which they had carried by assault, the Roman Senators, clothed in their purple, sat there, in their curule chairs, with a proud and tranquil countenance, awaiting slavery or death. Such too is the lofty spectacle, which you, in this hour, offer to the universe (d Vunivers), after having generously with much more of the like, as can still be read.^ In vain, O D'Espremenil Here is this cast-iron Captain D'Agoust, with his cast-iron military air, come back. Despotism, constraint, destruction sit waving in his plumes. D'Espremenil must fall silent heroically give himself up, lest worst befall. Him Goeslard heroically imitates. With spoken and speechless emotion, they fling themselves into the arms of their Parlementary brethren, for a last embrace and so amid plaudits and plaints, from a hundred and sixty-five throats amid wavings, sobbings, a whole forest- sigh of Parlementary pathos, they are led through winding passages, to the rear-gate where, in the gray of the morning, two Coaches with Exempts stand waiting. There must the victims mount
; ;
:

What

'

'

'

'

Toulongeon,

i.

App.

20.

bayonets

LOMENIE'S DEATH-THROES
' '

101

bayonets menacing behind. D'Espremenil's stern question to CHAP. VIII the populace, Whether they have courage ? is answered by May-July ^^^^ silence. They mount, and roll and neither the rising of the May sun (it is the 6th morning), nor its setting shall lighten their heart but they fare forward continually D'Espremenil towards the utmost Isles of Sainte-Marguerite, or Hieres (supposed by some, if that is any comfort, to be Calypso's Island) Goeslard towards the land-fortress of Pierre-en-Cize, extant then, near the City of Lyons. Captain D'Agoust may now therefore look forward to Majorship, to Commandantship of the Tuileries ^ and withal vanish from History where nevertheless he has been fated to do a notable thing. For not only are D'Espremenil and Goeslard safe whirling southward, but the Parlement itself has straightway to march out to that also his inexorable order reaches. Gathering up their long skirts, they file out, the whole Hundred and Sixty-five of them, through two rows of unsympathetic grenadiers a spectacle to gods and men. The people revolt not they only wonder and grumble also, we remark, these unsympathetic grenadiers are Gardes Frangaises, who, one day, will sympathise In a word, the Palais de Justice is swept clear, the doors of it are locked and D'Agoust returns to Versailles with the key in his pocket, having, as was said, merited preferment. As for this Parlement of Paris, now turned out to the street, we will without reluctance leave it there. The Beds of Justice it had to undergo, in the coming fortnight, at Versailles, in registering, or rather refusing to register, those new-hatched Edicts and how it assembled in taverns and tap-rooms there, for the purpose of Protesting ^ or hovered disconsolate, with outspread skirts, not knowing where to assemble and was and in the end, reduced to lodge Protest with a Notary to sit still (in a state of forced vacation '), and do nothing all this, natural now, as the burying of the dead after battle, The Parlement of Paris has as good as shall not concern us. doing and misdoing, so far, but hardly performed its part
;
: ;

'

'

'

further, could

it stir

the world.
evil,
;

Lomenie has removed the

then

much
^

as the

symptom
i.

of the evil

not so scarcely the twelfth part of

?

Not

at

all

Montgaillard,

404.

Weber,

i.

299-303.

the

102

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

!

BOOK III

The Intendthe symptom, and exasperated the other eleven May-July ants of Provinces, the MiUtary Commandants are at their ^'^^^ but in no Parlement, if posts, on the appointed 8th of May not in the single one of Douai, can these new Edicts get regisbut browbeating, Not peaceable signing with ink tered. Against these bloodshedding, appeal to primary club-law Bailliages, against this Plenary Court, exasperated Themis the Provincial Noblesse are everywhere shows face of battle of her party, and whoever hates Lomenie and the evil time with her Attorneys and Tipstaves, she enlists and operates down even to the populace. At Rennes in Brittany, where the historical Bertrand de Moleville is Intendant, it has passed from fatal continual duelling, between the military and gentry, to street-fighting to stone-volleys and musket-shot and still the Edicts remain unregistered. The afflicted Bretons send remonstrance to Lomenie, by a Deputation of Twelve whom, however, Lomenie, having heard them, shuts up in the Bastille. A second larger Deputation he meets, by his scouts, on the road, and persuades or frightens back. But now a third largest Deputation is indignantly sent by many roads refused audience on arriving, it meets to take counsel invites Lafayette and all Patriot Bretons in Paris to assist agitates itself becomes the Breton Club, first germ of the Jacobins'' Society} So many as eight Parlements get exiled others might need that remedy, but it is one not always easy of appliance. At Grenoble, for instance, where a Mounier, a Barnave have not been idle, the Parlement had due order (by Lettres-deCachet) to depart, and exile itself but on the morrow, instead of coaches getting yoked, the alarm-bell bursts forth,
:

'^

and peals and booms all day crowds of mountaineers rush down, with axes, even with firelocks, ^whom (most ominous of all !) the soldiery shows no eagerness to deal
; :

ominous

with.
lation
;

'

Axe over

head,' the poor General has to sign capituto engage that the Lettres-de-Cachet shall remain un-

executed, and a beloved Parlement stay where it is. Besan9on, Dijon, Rouen, Bordeaux, are not what they should be At Pau in Beam, where the old Commandant had failed, the new one (a Grammont, native to them) is met by a Procession of
!

A. F. de Bertrand-Moleville, M^moires Marmontel, Mimoires, iv. 27.

^

Particuliers

(Paris,

i8i6),

i.

ch.

i.

'

Montgaillard,

i.

308.

townsmen

LOMENIE'S death-throes
townsmen with the Cradle
;

103

Henri Quatre, the Palladium of CHAP. VIII May-July their Town is conjured as he venerates this old Tortoise1788 shell, in which the great Henri was rocked, not to trample on Bearnese liberty is informed, withal, that his Majesty's cannon are all safe in the keeping of his Majesty's faithful Burghers of Pau, and do now lie pointed on the walls there ready for action ^ At this rate, your Grand Bailliages are like to have a stormy infancy. As for the Plenary Court, it has literally expired in old Marshal the birth. The very Courtiers looked shy at it
of

the honour of sitting Assaulted by therein. a universal storm of

Broglie
declined

mingled
Plenary

ridicule this

and
poor

execration,^

met Court once, and never any second time. Distracted Contention country hisses up, with forked hydra-tongues, wheresoever poor Lomenie Let a sets his foot. Commandant, a Commissioner of the King,' says Weber, enter one PRINCE VICTOR DE BROGLIE. of these Parlements to have an Edict registered, the whole Tribunal will disappear, and leave the Commandant alone with the Clerk and First President. The Edict registered and the Commandant gone, the whole Tribunal hastens back, to declare such registration The highways are covered with Grand Deputations of null. Parlements, proceeding to Versailles, to have their registers or returning home, to expunged by the King's hand
!

'

'

Besenval, iii. 348. La Cour PlMiire, heroi-tragi-comedie en trois actes et en prose ; jou^e le 14 Juillet par 1788, par una soci6te d'amateurs dans vm Chateau aux environs de Versailles Country-house), Lamoignon's Baville ( M. I'Abbe de Vermond, Lecteur de la Reine A
'

et se trouve

i Paris, chez la Veuve Libert^, 4 I'enseigne de la Revolution, 1788. Za Imprimd a Jerusalem, etc. etc. See Passion, la Mort et la Resurrection du Peuple
:

Montgaillard,

i.

407.

cover

104

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

a

BOOK

III

cover

new page
^

with

new

resolution

still

more

Aug. 1788

audacious.'

Such is the France of this year 1788. Not now a Golden with its horse-racings, balloon-flyings, or Paper Age of Hope and finer sensibilities of the heart ah, gone is that its golden brewing effulgence paled, bedarkened in this singular manner,
;
:

For, as in that wreck-storm towards preternatural weather One huge motionless of Paul et Virginie and Saint-Pierre, girdles our whole cloud (say, of Sorrow and Indignation) streams up, hairy, copper-edged, over a sky of the horizon but small clouds (as colour of lead.' Motionless itself suchlike), parting from and it, over fly the exiled Parlements till at last, with one loud zenith, with the velocity of birds howl, the whole Four Winds be dashed together, and all the world exclaim. There is the tornado Tout le monde s'ecria, Voild Vouragan !
!

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

For the rest, in such circumstances, the Successive Loan, neither, indeed, can that very naturally, remains unfilled impost of the Second Twentieth, at least not on strict valuation,' be levied to good purpose Lenders,' says Weber, in his hysterical vehement manner, are afraid of ruin tax-gatherers of hanging.' The very Clergy turn away their face convoked in Extraordinary Assembly, they afford no gratuitous gift {don gratuit), if it be not that of advice here too instead of cash is clamour for States-General.^ O Lomenie-Brienne, with thy poor flimsy mind all bewildered, and now three actual cauteries on thy worn-out body
;

'

'

'

'

'

who

art like to die of inflammation, provocation, milk-diet,

dartres vives

and maladie

(best untranslated)
!

over a France with innumerable actual dying of inflammation and the rest Was it wise to quit the bosky verdures of Brienne, and thy new ashlar Chateau there, and what it held, for this ? Soft were those shades and lawns sweet the hymns of Poetasters, the blandishments of highrouged Graces * and always this and the other Philosophe Morellet (nothing deeming himself or thee a questionable Sham-Priest) could be so happy in making happy and also (hadst thou known it), in the Military School hard by, there
; : :

and presidest cauteries, which also is

;

Weber,

i. 275, Montgaillard, i. 424.

Lameth, Assemb. Const. (Introd.) See Mimoires dt Morellet.

p. 87.

sat,

LOMENIE'S DEATH-THROES
sat,
: !

105

studying mathematics, a dusky-complexioned taciturn Boy, CHAP. VIII under the name of Napoleon Bonaparte With fifty years Aug. 1788 of effort, and one final dead-Hft struggle, thou hast made an exchange Thou hast got thy robe of office, as Hercules had his Nessus' -shirt. On the 13th of July of this 1788, there fell, on the very edge of harvest, the most frightful hailstorm scattering into wild waste the Fruits of the Year which had otherwise suffered grievously by drought. For sixty leagues round Paris especially, the ruin was almost total.^ To so many other evils, then, there is to be added, that of dearth, perhaps of famine. Some days before this hailstorm, on the 5th of July and still more decisively some days after it, on the 8th of August, Lomenie announces that the States-General are actually to meet in the following month of May. Till after which period, this of the Plenary Court, and the rest, shall remain postponed. Further, as in Lomenie there is no plan of forming or holding these most desirable States- General, thinkers are invited to furnish him with one, through the medium of discussion by the public press What could a poor Minister do ? There are still ten months of respite reserved a sinking pilot will fling out all things, his very biscuit-bags, lead, log, compass and quadrant, before flinging out himself. It is on this principle, of sinking, and the incipient delirium of despair, that we explain likewise the almost miraculous invitation to thinkers.' Invitation to Chaos to be so kind as build, out of its tumultuous drift-wood, an Ark of Escape for him In these cases, not invitation but command has usually proved serviceable. The Queen stood, that evening, pensive, in a window, with her face turned towards the Garden. The Chef de Gobelet had followed her with an obsequious cup of coffee and then retired till it were sipped.

'

'

'

Grand Her Majesty beckoned Dame Campan to approach Dieu ! murmured she, with the cup in her hand, what a piece The King grants Statesof news will be made public today General.' Then raising her eyes to Heaven (if Campan were
'
:

'

'

'Tis a first beat of the drum, of not mistaken), she added ^ ill-omen for France. This Noblesse will ruin us.' During all that hatching of the Plenary Court, while Lamoignon looked so mysterious, Besenval had kept asking him one
:

'

Marmontel,

iv. 30.

Campan,

iii.

104,

in.

question

106

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

:

BOOK

III

Aug. 1788

Lamoignon always answered (on the faith of Lomenie) that the cash was safe, judicious Besenval rejoined that then all was safe. Neverquestion
'

Whether they had cash

To which

as

melancholy fact is, that the royal coffers are almost Indeed, apart from all other getting literally void of coin. things, this invitation to thinkers,' and the great change now at hand are enough to arrest the circulation of capital,' and forward only that of pamphlets. A few thousand gold louis are now all of money or money's worth that remains in the King's Treasury. With another movement as of desperation, Lomenie invites Necker to come and be Controller of Finances Necker has other work in view than controlling Finances for Lomenie with a dry refusal he stands taciturn awaiting
theless, the
'
' !
:

his time.

a desperate Prime Minister do ? He has grasped at the strongbox of the King's Theatre some Lottery had on been set foot for those sufferers by the hailstorm in his extreme necessity, Lomenie lays hands even on this.^ To make provision for the passing day, on any terms, will soon be impossible. On the 16th of August, 'poor Weber heard, at Paris and Versailles, hawkers, with a hoarse stifled tone of voice {voix itou^ee, sourde),' drawling and snuffling, through the streets, an Edict concerning Payments (such was the soft title Rivarol had contrived for it) all Payments at the Royal Treasury shall be made henceforth, three-fifths in Cash, and the remaining two-fifths in Paper bearing interest Poor Weber almost swooned at the sound of these cracked voices, with their bodeful raven-note and will never forget the effect it
shall
:

What

'

on the world generally ? From the dens of Stock-brokerage, from the heights of Political Economy, of Neckerism and Philosophism from all articulate and inarticulate throats, rise hootings and bowlings, such as ear had not yet heard. Sedition itself may be imminent Monseigneur d'Artois, moved by Duchess Polignac, feels called to wait upon her Majesty, and explain frankly what crisis matters stand in. The Queen wept Brienne himself wept for it is now visible and palpable that he must go. Remains only that the Court, to whom his manners and garrulities were always agreeable, shall make his fall soft.
Paris,
;
!

had on him.^ But the effect on

'

'

Besenval,

iii.

360.

Weber,

i.

339.

The

BURIAL WITH BONFIRE

The grasping
old

107

has already got his Archbishopship of CHAP. VIII and now, in Aug. 1788 Toulouse exchanged for the richer one of Sens this hour of pity, he shall have the Coadjutorship for his nephew (hardly yet of due age) a Dameship of the Palace for himself a red for his niece a Regiment for her husband Cardinal's-hat, a Coupe de Bois (cutting from the royal forests), and on the whole from five to six hundred thousand livres of ^ finally, his Brother, the Comte de Brienne, shall revenue Buckled-round with such bolsters still continue War-minister. and huge featherbeds of Promotion, let him now fall as soft as he can
: ; ; ; ' ' :
!

man

rich if Court-titles and MoneyLomenie departs bonds can enrich him but if these cannot, perhaps the poorest Hissed at by the people of Versailles,' of all extant men. southward to Brienne, for recovery he drives forth to Jardi shall but shall return of health. Then to Nice, to Italy glide to and fro, tremulous, faint-twinkling, fallen on awful times till the Guillotine snuff out his weak existence ? Alas, worse for it is blown out, or choked out, foully, pitiably, on

And

so

'

In his Palace of Sens, rude Jacobin Bailiffs made him drink with them from his own wine-cellars, and on the morrow feast with them from his own larder morning, the miserable old man lies dead. This is the end of Prime Minister, Cardinal Archbishop Lomenie de Brienne. Flimsier mortal was seldom fated to do as weighty a mischief to have a life as despicable-envied, an exit as frightful. Fired, blown, like a kindled rag, the as the phrase is, with ambition sport of winds, not this way, not that way, but of all ways, Let straight towards such a powder-mine, which he kindled and forgive him and, as soon us pity the hapless Lomenie
the

way

to the Guillotine

as possible, forget him.

CHAPTER IX
BURIAL WITH BONFIRE
Besenval, during these extraordinary operations, of Payment two-fifths in Paper, and change of Prime Minister, had and been out on a tour through his District of Command
;

Weber,

i.

341.

indeed.

108

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

'

BOOK

indeed, for the last months, peacefully drinking the waters of Aug. 1788 Contrexeville. Returning now, in the end of August, towards knowing nothing,' he arrives one evening at Moulins, and
III

whole Town in a state of uproar {grande a thing too common in Doubtless some sedition rumeur). He alights nevertheless inquires of a man these days How ? answers tolerably dressed,' what the matter is ? the man, you have not heard the news ? The Archbishop is and all is going to thrown out, and M. Necker is recalled go well Such rumeur and vociferous acclaim has risen round M. Necker, ever from that day when he issued from the Queen's Apartments,' a nominated Minister. It was on the 24th of August the galleries of the Chateau, the courts, the streets of Versailles in few hours, the Capital and, as the news flew, all France, resounded with the cry of Vive le Roi ! Vive ^ M. Necker ! In Paris indeed it unfortunately got the length of turbulence.' Petards, rockets go off, in the Place Dauphine, more than enough. A wicker figure {Mannequin d'osier),' in
Langres
;

finds the

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Archbishop's

emblematically, three-fifths of it satin, two-fifths of it paper, is promenaded, not in silence, to the popular judgment-bar is doomed shriven by a mock Abbe de Vermond then solemnly consumed by fire, at the foot of Henri's Statue on the Pont Neuf with such petarding and huzzaing that Chevalier Dubois and his City-watch see good finally to make a charge (more or less ineffectual) and there wanted not burning of sentry-boxes, forcing of guard-houses, and also dead bodies thrown into the Seine over-night,' to avoid new effervescence.^
stole,
;
;

made

'

Parlements therefore shall return from exile Plenary Court, Payment two-fifths in Paper have vanished gone off in smoke, at the foot of Henri's Statue. States-General (with a Political Millennium) are now certain nay, it shall be announced, in our fond haste, for January next and all, as the Langres man said, is going to go.' To the prophetic glance of Besenval, one other thing is too apparent that Friend Lamoignon cannot keep his Keeper:

'

Besenval,

iii.

366.

Weber,

i.

342.

Histoire Parlementaire de la Revolution Franfaise ; ou Journal des Assembles Nationales depuis 1789 (Paris, 1833 et seqq.), i. 253. Lameth, AssitnbUt Constituante,
^
i.

(Introd.) p. 89.

ship.

BURIAL WITH BONFIRE

ship.
!
.

109

Neither he nor War-minister Comte de Brienne Aheady CHAP. IX old Foulon, with an eye to be war-minister himself, is making Sept. 14-16 ^^^^ underground movements. This is that same Foulon named dme damnee du Parlement a man grown gray in treachery, in griping, projecting, intriguing and iniquity who once when it was objected, to some finance-scheme of his, What will the people do ? made answer, in the fire of discussion, The people may eat grass hasty words, which fly abroad irrevocable, and will send back tidings Foulon, to the relief of the world, fails on this occasion and will always fail. Nevertheless it steads not M. de Lamoignon. It steads not the doomed man that he have interviews with the King and be seen to return radieux,' emitting rays. Lamoignon is the hated of Parlements Comte de Brienne is Brother to the Cardinal Archbishop. The 24th of August has been and the 14th September is not yet, when they two, as their great Principal had done, descend, ^made to fall soft, like him.
;
:

'

'

'

'

'

the last burden had been rolled from its heart, and assurance were at length perfect, Paris bursts forth anew into extreme jubilee. The Basoche rejoices aloud, that the Nobility, Gentry, Commonalty foe of Parlements is fallen have rejoiced and rejoice. Nay now, with new emphasis. Rascality itself, starting suddenly from its dim depths, will for down even thither the new Political arise and do it, Evangel, in some rude version or other, has penetrated. It Rascality assembles is Monday, the 14th of September 1788 lets off petards, anew, in great force, in the Place Dauphine fires blunderbusses, to an incredible extent, without interval, There is again a wicker figure, Mannefor eighteen hours. the centre of endless bowlings. Also Necker's quin of osier Portrait snatched, or purchased, from some Printshop, is borne an example to processionally, aloft on a perch, with huzzas
as
if
;
;

And now,

'

'

be remembered. But chiefly on the Pont Neuf, where the Great Henri, in All there do the crowds gather. bronze, rides sublime passengers must stop, till they have bowed to the People's Vive Henri Quatre ; au diable LaKing, and said audibly not even that of his moignon ! No carriage but must stop Monsieur Highness d'Orlean. Your coach-doors are opened
;
:

will

110

THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

;
:

BOOK
Sept.
'

put forth his head and bow or even, if refractory, 14-16 to alight altogether, and kneel from Madame a wave of her plumes, a smile of her fair face, there where she sits, shall suffice and surely a coin or two (to buy fusees) were not unreasonable, from the Upper Classes, friends of Liberty ? In this manner in such rude horse-play, it proceeds for days not without kicks. The City- watch can do nothing hardly save its own skin for the last twelvemonth, as we have sometimes seen, it has been a kind of pastime to hunt the Watch. Besenval indeed is at hand with soldiers but they have orders to avoid firing, and are not prompt to stir. On Monday morning the explosion of petards began and now it is near midnight of Wednesday and the wicker Mannequin is to be buried, apparently in the Antique fashion. Long rows of torches, following it, move towards the Hotel Lamoignon but a servant of mine (Besenval's) has run to give warning, and there are soldiers come. Gloomy Lamoignon is not to die by conflagration, or this night not yet for a year, and then by gunshot (suicidal or accidental is unknown),^ Foiled Rascality burns its Mannikin of osier,' under his windows tears up the sentry-box,' and rolls off to try Brienne to try Dubois Captain of the Watch. Now, however, all is bestirring itself Gardes Fran9aises, Invalides, Horse-patrol the Torch Procession is met with sharp shot, with the thrusting of bayonets, the slashing of sabres. Even Dubois makes a charge, with that Cavalry of his, and the crudest charge of all there are a great many killed and wounded.' Not without clangour, complaint subsequent criminal trials, and official persons dying of heartbreak ^ So, however, with steel-besom. Rascality is brushed back into its dim depths, and the streets are swept clear. Not for a century and half had Rascality ventured to step forth in this fashion not for so long, showed its huge rude lineaments in the light of day. A Wonder and new Thing as yet gamboling merely, in awkward Brobdingnag sport, not without quaintness hardly in anger yet in its huge halfvacant laugh lurks a shade of grimness, which could unfold
III

will please to

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

itself

However, the thinkers invited by Lomenie are now

^

far

on

Histoire de la Revolution, par

i.

Deux Amis de

la Libert^,

i.

50.

2 Ibid.

58.

with

BURIAL WITH BONFIRE

with their pamphlets
will infallibly
;
:

111

Old Duke de Richelieu, moribund in yet at latest these autumn days, opens his eyes once more, murmuring, ' What would Louis Fourteenth (whom he remembers) then closes them again, for ever, before the have said
' '
'
!

meet in May.

States-General, on one plan or another, CHAP. IX if not in January, as was once hoped, Sept. 14-16
1788

evil time.

Book Fourth

BOOK FOURTH

STATES-GENERAL
CHAPTER
The
I

THE NOTABLES AGAIN

Always in universal prayer, therefore, is to be fulfilled days of national perplexity, when wrong abounded and help was not, this remedy of States-General was called for by a
!
;

even Parlements calling for Malesherbes, nay by a Fenelon And now behold it is escorted with blessings.' it were States-General shall verily be vouchsafed us
^
;

'

to say in what To say, let States-General be, was easy manner they shall be, is not so easy. Since the year 1614, there have no States-General met in France, all trace of them
;

has vanished from the living habits of men. Their structure, powers, methods of procedure, which were never in any measure fixed, have now become wholly a vague possibility. say Clay which the potter may shape, this way or that for so many have rather, the twenty-five millions of potters How to shape the Statesnow, more or less, a vote in it Each Body-corporate, each General ? There is a problem. privileged, each organised Class has secret hopes of its own in and also secret misgivings of its own, for, bethat matter hold, this monstrous twenty-million Class, hitherto the dumb sheep which these others had to agree about the manner of shearing, is now also arising with hopes It has ceased or is it speaks through Pamphlets, or at least ceasing to be dumb brays and growls behind them, in unison, increasing wonderfully their volume of sound. As for the Parlement of Paris, it has at once declared for
:

Montgaillard,

i.

461.

the

THE NOTABLES AGAIN

'
:

113
CHAP.
^'
I

the old form of 1614.' Which form had this advantage, that the Tiers Etat, Third Estate, or Commons, figured there as a show mainly whereby the Noblesse and Clergy had but to avoid quarrel between themselves, and decide unobstructed what they thought best. Such was the clearly declared opinion of the Paris Parlement. But, being met by a storm of mere hooting and howling from all men, such opinion was blown straightway to the winds and the popularity of the Parlement along with it, never to return. The Parlement' s part, we said above, was as good as played. Concerning which, the proximity of however, there is this further to be noted dates. It was on the 22d of September that the Parlement to be rereturned from vacation or exile in its estates Precisely next installed amid boundless jubilee from all Paris.

Sept. -Oct.

'

'

'

'

clearly was, that this same Parlement came to its declared opinion and then on the morrow after that, you its outer court, one vast behold it covered with outrages A sibilation, and the glory departed from it for evermore.^ popularity of twenty-four hours was, in those times, no un-

day

it

'

'

'

'

common allowance. On the other hand, how

Lomenie's
:

superfluous

was that
!

invitation of

Thinkers and unthe invitation to thinkers thinkers, by the million, are spontaneously at their post, doing Breton SocieU Publicole what is in them. Clubs labour Enraged Club, Club des Enrages. Likewise DinnerClub your Mirabeaus, Talleyrands parties in the Palais Royal dining there, in company with Chamforts, Morellets, with For a Duponts and hot Parlementeers, not without object ecker ean Lion's-provider, whom one could name, certain or even their own private deterassembles them there ^
:

then as to Pamphlets it is a sheer snowing of pamphlets in figurative language, Now is the like to snow-up the Government thoroughfares time for Friends of Freedom sane, and even insane. Count, or self-styled Count, dAintrigues, the young Languedocian gentleman,' with perhaps Chamfort the Cynic to highest, where many help him, rises into furor almost Pythic who himare high.^ Foolish young Languedocian gentleman emigrating among the foremost,' has to fly indigself so soon,

mination to have dinner does

'

it.

And

'

'

'

Weber, i. 347. Mhnoire sur !es Atats-Giniraux.

^ ^^^<^- i-

3o6.
i.

See Montgaillard,

457-9-

VOL.

I.

nant

114

STATES-GENERAL
!

BOOK IV nant
Sept. -Oct.

1788

over the marches, with the Control Social in his pocket, towards outer darkness, thankless intriguings, ignis- jatuus hoverAbbe Siey^s has left Chartres ings, and death by the stiletto has let his Cathedral, and canonry and bookshelves there tonsure grow, and come to Paris with a secular head, of the most irrefragable sort, to ask three questions, and answer them What is the Third Estate ? All. What has it hitherto been in What does it want ? To our form of government ? Nothing. become Something. D'Orleans, for be sure he, on his way to Chaos, is in the thick of this, promulgates his Deliberations ^ fathered by him, written by Laclos of the Liaisons Dangereuses. The result The Third Estate is the Nation.' of which comes out simply On the other hand, Monseigneur d'Artois, with other Princes of the Blood, publishes, in solemn Memorial to the King, that if such things be listened to. Privilege, Nobility, Monarchy, Church, State and Strongbox are in danger.^ In danger truly and yet if you do not listen, are they out of danger ? It is the voice of all France, this sound that rises. Immeasurable, manifold as the sound of outbreaking waters wise were he who knew what to do in it, if not to fly to the mountains, and hide himself ?
;

'

Government, sitting there on such principles, in such an environment, would have determined to demean itself at this new juncture, may even yet be a question. Such a Government would have felt too well that its long task was now drawing to a close that, under the
ideal, all- seeing Versailles
;

How

an

guise of these States-General, at length inevitable, a

new omni;

potent Unknown of Democracy was coming into being in presence of which no Versailles Government either could or should, except in a provisory character, continue extant. To enact which provisory character, so unspeakably important,

might

but have sufficed and so a peaceable, gradual, well-conducted Abdication and Domine-dimittas have been the issue This for our ideal, all-seeing Versailles Government. But
its

whole

faculties

ci prendre pour les Assemblies des Bailliages. Mimoire prdsenid au Roi, par Monseigneur Comte d'Artois, M. le Prince de Cond^, M. le Due de Bourbon, M. le Due d'Enghien, et M. le Prince de Conti. (Given in

Dilib^rations

Hist. Pari.

i.

256.)

for

THE NOTABLES AGAIN

for the actual irrational Versailles
is

115
Alas, that
:

Government

CHAP.

a Government existing there only for its own behoof without right, except possession and now also without might. It foresees nothing, sees nothing has not so much as a purpose, but has only purposes, and the instinct whereby all that exists will struggle to keep existing. Wholly a vortex in which vain counsels, hallucinations, falsehoods, intrigues, and imbecilities whirl like withered rubbish in the meeting of winds The CEil-de-Bceuf has its irrational hopes, if also
;

Nov. 1788

Since hitherto all States-General have done as good as nothing, why should these do more ? The Commons, indeed, look dangerous ; but on the whole is not revolt, unknown now for five generations, an impossibility ? The Three Estates can, by management, be set against each other the will, out of Third will, as heretofore, join with the King mere spite and self-interest, be eager to tax and vex the other two. The other two are thus delivered bound into our hands, that we may fleece them likewise. Whereupon, money being got, and the Three Estates all in quarrel, dismiss them, and
its fears.
; ;

As good Archbishop Lomenie was the future go as it can There are so many accidents and it needs but wont to say one to save us.' Yes and how many to destroy us ? Poor Necker in the midst of such an anarchy does what is possible for him. He looks into it with obstinately hopeful listens lauds the known rectitude of the kingly mind face indulgentlike to the known perverseness of the queenly and emits if any proclamation or regulation, one favourcourtly hovering afar off but settling nothing ing the Tiers Etat The rather, and advising all things to settle themselves. grand questions, for the present, have got reduced to two the Double Representation, and the Vote by Head. Shall the Commons have a double representation,' that is to say, have as many members as the Noblesse and Clergy united ? Shall the States-General, when once assembled, vote and vote by deliberate, in one body, or in three separate bodies head, or vote by class,' ordre as they call it ? These are the
let
!

'

'

'

moot-points now filling all France with jargon, logic and To terminate which, Necker bethinks him, eleutheromania. Might not a second Convocation of the Notables be fittest ? Such second Convocation is resolved on. On the 6th of November of this year 1788, these Notables
accordingly

116

STATES-GENERAL
;

BOOK
^^^^

IV

Nov. -Dec.

after an interval of some accordingly have reassembled eighteen months. They are Calonne's old Notables, the same Hundred and Forty-four, to show one's impartiality likewise to save time. They sit there once again, in their Seven Bureaus, in the hard winter weather it is the hardest winter thermometer below zero of Fahrenheit, Seine seen since 1709 Cold, scarcity and eleutheromaniac River frozen over.^ clamour a changed world since these Notables were organed They shall see now whether, under out,' in May gone a year their Seven Princes of the Blood, in their Seven Bureaus, they

'

can

settle

the moot-points.
surprise
of

To

the

Patriotism,

these
;

Notables,

patriotic,

seem to

patriotic side.

wrong way They stagger at the Double Representation,

incline the
:

once so towards the antithere

For,

at the Vote
is

by Head there is not affirmative decision mere debating, and that not with the best aspects.
; ;

were not these Notables themselves mostly of the They clamoured once now they have Privileged Classes ? make their dolorous representations. Let their misgivings
indeed,
;

them

and return no more They vanish, after a month's session, on this 12th of December, year 1788 not to reappear any other time, the last terrestrial Notables
vanish, ineffectual
;
! : ;

History of the World. And so, the clamour still continuing, and the Pamphlets and nothing but patriotic Addresses, louder and louder, pouring in on us from all corners of France, Necker himself some fortnight after, before the year is yet done, has to present his Report ^ recommending at his own risk that same Double Representation nay almost enjoining it, so loud is the jargon and eleutheromania. What dubitating, what circumambulating These whole six noisy months (for it began with Brienne in July), has not Report followed Report, and one Proclamation flown in the teeth of the other ? ^ However, that first moot-point, as we see, is now settled. As for the second, that of voting by Head or by Order, it unfortunately is still left hanging. It hangs there, we may say, between the Privileged Orders and the Unprivileged as a ready-made battle-prize, and necessity of war, from the very
in the
;

* ^

Marmontel, Mdmoires {LonAon, 1805), iv. 33. Hist. Pari. Rapport fait au Roi dans son Conseil, le 27 DScembre 1788.
5th July
;

etc.

8th August

23d September,

etc. etc.

first:

THE ELECTION
first
:

117

which battle-prize whosoever seizes it may thenceforth bear as battle-flag, with the best omens But so, at least, by Royal Edict of the 24th of January,^ does it finally, to impatient expectant France, become not only
!

CHAP.

Jan. 1789

indubitable that National Deputies are to meet, but possible (so far and hardly farther has the royal Regulation gone) to begin electing them.

CHAPTER
!

II

THE ELECTION
Up, then, and be doing The royal signal-word flies through France, as through vast forests the rushing of a mighty wind. At Parish Churches, in Townhalls, and every House of Convocation by Bailliages, by Seneschalsies, in whatsoever form men convene there, with confusion enough, are Primary Assemblies forming. To elect your Electors such is the form prescribed then to draw up your Writ of Plaints and Grievances (Cahier de plaintes et doleances),' of which latter there is no lack. With such virtue works this Royal January Edict as it
;
; ;

'

rolls

rapidly,

highways,

leathern mails, along these frostbound towards all the four winds. Like some fiat, or
in
its
;

magic

spell-word For which such things do resemble always, as it sounds out at the market-cross,' accompanied
!

'

with trumpet-blast presided by Bailli, Seneschal, or other minor Functionary, with beef-eaters ; or, in country churches, is droned forth after sermon, au prone des messes paroissiales and is registered, posted and let fly over all the world, you behold how this multitudinous French People, so long simmering and buzzing in eager expectancy, begins heaping and shaping Which organic groups, again, hold itself into organic groups. smaller organic grouplets the inarticulate buzzing becomes articulate speaking and acting. By Primary Assembly, and then by Secondary by successive elections,' and infinite
' '

'

elaboration and scrutiny, accordmg to prescribed process, Plaints and Grievances be at length got to shall the genuine
'
'

Riglement du Roi pour la Convocation des ,lats-Geniraux a

in Histoire Parlevientcnre,
i.

Versailles.

(Reprinted,

wrong dated,

262.

paper

118

STATES-GENERAL
;

BOOK

IV

Jan. 1789

paper hold of

shall the

fit

National Representative be at length laid

the whole People shakes itself, as if it had one life and, in thousand-voiced rumour, announces that it is awake, suddenly out of long death-sleep, and will thenceforth sleep The long looked-for has come at last wondrous no more news, of Victory, Deliverance, Enfranchisement, sounds magical through every heart. To the proud strong man it has come whose strong hands shall no more be gyved to whom boundThe weary dayless unconquered continents lie disclosed. the beggar with his crust moistened drudge has heard of it To us also has hope reached down even in tears. What to us ? Hunger and hardship are not to be eternal ? The bread we extorted from the rugged glebe, and, with the toil of our sinews, reaped and ground, and kneaded into loaves, was but we also shall eat of it, and not wholly for another, then be filled ? Glorious news (answer the prudent elders), but ailtoo unlikely Thus, at any rate, may the lower people, who pay no money-taxes and have no right to vote,^ assiduously crowd round those that do and most Halls of Assembly, within doors and without, seem animated enough. Paris, alone of Towns, is to have Representatives the number of them twenty. Paris is divided into Sixty Districts each of which (assembled in some church, or the like) is choosing two Electors. Official deputations pass from District to District, for all is inexperience as yet, and there is endless consulting. The streets swarm strangely with busy crowds, pacific yet restless and loquacious at intervals, is seen the gleam of military muskets especially about the Palais, where the Parlement, once more on duty, sits querulous, almost tremulous. Busy is the French world In those great days, what poorest speculative craftsman but will leave his workshop if not to vote, yet to assist in voting ? On all highways is a rustling and bustling. Over the wide surface of France, ever and anon, through the spring months, as the Sower casts his corn abroad upon the furrows, sounds of congregating and dispersing of crowds in deliberation, acclamation, voting by ballot and by voice, rise discrepant towards the ear of Heaven. To which political phenomena add this economical one, that Trade is stagnant, and also Bread getting dear for before the rigorous
; !

How

Reglement du Roi

(in

Histoire ParUmentaire, as above,

i,

267-307).

winter

THE ELECTION
I

119
CHAP.
1789
II

winter there was, as we said, a rigorous summer, with drought, and on the 13th of July with destructive hail. What a fearful day all cried while that tempest fell. Alas, the next anniversary of it will be a worse.^ Under such aspects is France electing National Representatives.

Jan. -Feb.

not to Universal, but to Local or Parish History for which reason let not the new troubles of Grenoble or Besanyon the bloodshed on the streets of Rennes, and consequent march thither of the Breton Young Men with Manifesto by their Mothers, ^ Sisters, and Sweethearts nor suchlike, detain us here. It is the same sad history everywhere with superficial variations. A reinstated Parlement (as at Besan9on), which stands astonished at this Behemoth of a States-General it had itself evoked, starts forward, with more or less audacity, to fix a thorn in its nose and, alas, is instantaneously struck down, and hurled quite out, for the new popular force can use not only arguments but brickbats Or else, and perhaps combined with this, it is an order of Noblesse (as in Brittany), which will beforehand tie up the Third Estate, that it harm not the old privileges. In which act of tying up, never so
specialties of these Elections belong
:

The

incidents

and

'

'

'

'

skilfully set about, there

is

likewise

no
!

possibility of prosperlike green

ing

but the Behemoth-Briareus snaps your cords

Tie up
?

rushes.

Alas, Messieurs

And

then, as for your

chivalry rapiers, valour and wager- of -battle, think one moment, how can that answer ? The plebeian heart too has red life in and it, which changes not to paleness at glance even of you ; ' arms, for the six hundred Breton gentlemen assembled in

seventy- two hours, in the Cordeliers' Cloister, at Rennes,' have to come out again, wiser than they entered. For the Nantes Youth, the Angers Youth, all Brittany was astir shrieking after them, mothers, sisters, and sweethearts March! The Breton Noblesse must even let the mad world
'
'

have
^

way.^ In other Provinces, the Noblesse, with equal goodwill, finds

its

Bailly, Mimoires, i. 336. Protestation et Arriti des Jeunes Gens de la Ville de Nantes, du 2Z Janvier 1789, avant leur dipart pour Rennes. ArrHi des Jeunes Gens de la Ville d' Angers, du 4
2

Arrit^ des M^res, Sceurs, spouses et Amanies des Jeunes Citoyens Fivrier 1789. (Reprinted in Histoire Parlementaire, i. 290-3,) d' Angers, du 6 Fivrier 1789. ' Hist. Pari. i. 287. Dittx Amis de la Liberty, i. 105-28.
it

120

STATES-GENERAL
'

BOOK
^^^^

IV

Jan.-Feb.

Cahiers of better to stick to Protests, to well-redacted Such is grievances,' and satirical writings and speeches.
it

partially their course in

Honore Riquetti
Paris, to speak a

more indisputable, to impair the Whereupon Mirabeau protesting dignity of the Noblesse.' aloud, this same Noblesse, amid huge tumult within doors and without, flatly determines to expel him from their Assembly.
;

backed by their enjoined though and what detriment

whither indeed Gabriel Provence Comte de Mirabeau has rushed down from word in season. In Provence, the Privileged, Aix Parlement, discover that such novelties, they be by Royal Edict, tend to National
;

is still

'

No

other method, not even that of successive duels, would answer with him, the obstreperous fierce-glaring man. Expelled he accordingly is. 'In all countries, in all times,' exclaims he departing, 'the Aristocrats have implacably pursued every friend of the People and with tenfold implacability, if such a one were himself born
;

was thus that the last of the Gracchi But he, being perished, by the hands of the Patricians. struck with the mortal stab, flung dust towards heaven, and and from this dust there was called on the Avenging Deities
of the Aristocracy. It

born Marius,

not so illustrious for exterminating the ^ Cimbri, as for overturning in Rome the tyranny of the Nobles.' Casting up which new curious handful of dust (through the Printing-press), to breed what it can and may, Mirabeau stalks forth into the Third Estate. That he now, to ingratiate himself with this Third Estate, opened a cloth-shop in Marseilles,' and for moments became a furnishing tailor, or even the fable that he did so, is to us always among the pleasant memorabilities of this era. Stranger Clothier never wielded the ell-wand, and rent webs for men, or fractional parts of men. The Fils Adoptif is indignant at such disparaging fable, which nevertheless was widely believed in those days.^ But indeed, if Achilles, in the heroic ages, killed mutton, why should not Mirabeau, in the unheroic ones, measure broadcloth ? More authentic are his triumph-progresses through that disturbed district, with mob jubilee, flaming torches, windows hired for two louis,' and voluntary guard of a hundred men.
'
"^

Marius

'

Fi/s Adoptif,

V.

256.

Mdmoires de Mirabeau,
ii.

v.

307.

'

Marat, Ami-du-Feuple Newspaper (in Histoire Parlementaire,

103), etc.

He

THE ELECTION
He
is

121
;

both of Aix and of Marseilles but will CHAP. II prefer Aix. He has opened his far-sounding voice, the depths Feb.^April 1789 of his far-sounding soul he can quell (such virtue is in a spoken word) the pride -tumults of the rich, the hunger-tumults of the poor and wild multitudes move under him, as under the moon do billows of the sea he has become a world-compeller, and ruler over men. One other incident and specialty we note with how different an interest It is of the Parlement of Paris which starts forward, like the others (only with less audacity, seeing better
Elect,
;

Deputy

how

it

lay),

to

nose-

ring that

Behemoth of a States-General. Worthy

Guillotin,
re-

Doctor

spectable practitioner in
Paris, has
little
'

drawn up
' ;

his

Plan of a Cahier of doleances as had he not, having the wish

and

gift,

the

clearest

liberty to

do

He

is

getting sign it

the people
;

to

whereupon the surly Parlement sum-

mons him
;

to give ac-

count of himself. He goes but with all Paris which at his heels
;

JOSEPH GUILLOTIN.

floods the outer courts,

Doctor is The Parlement cannot too giving account of himself within soon dismiss Guillotin, with compliments to be borne home shoulder-high.^ This respectable Guillotin we hope to behold the Parlement not even once more, and perhaps only once once, but let it be engulfed unseen by us.
signs the Cahier even there, while the
!

and copiously

Meanwhile such

things, cheering as they are, tend little to

cheer the national creditor, or indeed the creditor of any kind. In the midst of universal portentous doubt, what certainty can seem so certain as money in the purse, and the wisdom of
^

Deux Amis

de la Libcrti,

i.

141.

keeping

122

STATES -GENERAL
;

BOOK

IV

April 1789

keeping it there ? Trading Speculation, Commerce of all kinds, has as far as possible come to a dead pause and the hand of the industrious lies idle in his bosom. Frightful enough, when now the rigour of seasons has also done its part, and to scarcity of work is added scarcity of food In the opening
!

come King's and at length, in the month of April, troops of ragged Lackalls, and fierce cries of starvation These are the thrice- famed Brigands an actual existing quotity of persons who, long reflected and reverberspring, there
of forestalment, there
;

come rumours

Edicts, Petitions of bakers against millers

ated through so many millions of heads, as in concave multiplying mirrors, become a whole Brigand World ; dnd, like a kind

wondrously move the Epos of the Revolution. The Brigands are here the Brigands are there the Brigands are coming Not otherwise sounded the clang of Phoebus Apollo's silver bow, scattering pestilence and pale
of Supernatural Machinery,
;
;
!

terror

and

it

preternatural too walked in formless immeasurability, having made

;

for this clang too

was

of the imagination

itself like to the

Night {wktI

eoiKcos)

at least, for the first time, the singular empire of Suspicion, in those lands, in those days. If poor famishing

But remark,

men

death, gather in groups and crowds, as the poor fieldfares and plovers do in bitter weather, were it but that they may chirp mournfully together, and misery look in the eyes of misery ; if famishing men (what famishing fieldfares
shall, prior to

cannot do) should discover, once congregated, that they need not die while food is in the land, since they are many, and with empty wallets have right hands in all this, what need were there of Preternatural Machinery ? To most people none but not to French people, in a time of Revolution. These Brigands (as Turgot's also were, fourteen years ago) have all been set on enlisted, though without tap of drum, by Aristocrats, by Democrats, by D'Orleans, DArtois, and enemies of the public weal. Nay Historians, to this day, will prove it by one argument these Brigands, pretending to have no victual, nevertheless contrive to drink, nay have been seen drunk.^ An unexampled fact But on the whole, may we not predict that a people, with such a width of Credulity and of Incredulity (the proper union of which makes Suspicion, and indeed unreason generally), will see Shapes enough of Immortals
: ;

'

Lacretelle, iSie Siicle,

ii.

155.

fighting

GROWN ELECTRIC
fighting
in
?

123
for

its

battle-ranks,

and never

want

Epical

CHAP.

II

Machinery

April 1789

Be

this as it

may, the Brigands are

:

clearly got to Paris, in

considerable multitudes ^ with sallow faces, lank hair (the true enthusiast complexion), with sooty rags and also with large clubs, which they smite angrily against the pavement These mingle in the Election tumult would fain sign Guillotin's Cahier, or any Cahier or Petition whatsoever, could they but write. Their enthusiast complexion, the smiting of their sticks bodes little good to any one least of all to rich mastermanufacturers of the Suburb Saint-Antoine, with whose work; ;
;

men

they consort.

CHAPTER
r

III

GROWN ELECTRIC
But now
also National Deputies

from

all

ends of France

are in Paris, with their commissions, what they call pouvoirs, or powers, in their pockets inquiring, consulting ; looking out for lodgings at Versailles. The States-General shall open
;

there,
in

if

not on the First, then surely on the Fourth of

gala.
;

May

grand procession and

:

carpentered, bedizened for

fixed

The Salle des Menus is all newthem their very costume has been
'

a grand controversy which there was, as to slouchhats or slouched-hats,' for the Commons Deputies, has got as

Ever new strangers arrive loungers, miscellaneous persons, officers on furlough, as the worthy Captain Dampmartin, whom we hope to be acquainted with these also, from all regions, have repaired hither, to see what is toward. Our Paris Committees, of the Sixty Districts, are busier than ever it is now too clear, the Paris Elections will be late.
good as adjusted.
:

the 27th day of April, Astronomer Bailly notices that the Sieur Reveillon is not at his post. The Sieur Reveillon, extensive Paper Manufacturer of the Rue Saint-Antoine he, commonly so punctual, is absent from Electoral ComIn those mittee and even will never reappear there.
'
' :

On Monday,

Besenval,

iii.

385, etc.
*

immense

124

STATES -GENERAL
of

BOOK

IV

April 1789

has aught befallen ? Alas, yes Alas, it is no Montgolfier rising there today but Was the Drudgery, Rascality, and the Suburb that is rising Sieur Reveillon, himself once a journeyman, heard to say that a journeyman might live handsomely on fifteen sous a-day ? Or was he Some sevenpence halfpenny 'tis a slender sum only thought, and believed, to be heard saying it ? By this long chafing and friction, it would appear, the National temper has got electric. Down in those dark dens, in those dark heads and hungry hearts, who knows in what strange figure the new Political Evangel may have shaped itself what miraculous Communion of Drudges may be getting formed Enough grim individuals, soon waxing to grim multitudes, and other multitudes crowding to see, beset that Paper-Warehouse demonstrate, in loud ungrammatical language (addressed to the passions too), the insufficiency of sevenpence halfpenny a-day. The Citywatch cannot dissipate them broils arise and bellowings Reveillon, at his wits' end, entreats the Populace, entreats the
'

immense Magazines
!

velvet paper

'

'

'

'

'

Authorities.

Besenval,

now

in active

command. Commandant

towards evening, to Reveillon's earnest prayer, send some thirty Gardes Frangaises. These clear the street, happily without firing and take post there for the night, in hope that it may be all over.^ Not so on the morrow it is far worse. Saint-Antoine has arisen anew, grimmer than ever reinforced by the unknown Tatterdemalion Figures, with their enthusiast complexion and large sticks. The City, through all streets, is flowing thitherward to see two cartloads of paving- stones, that happened to pass that way,' have been seized as a visible godsend. Another detachment of Gardes Frangaises must be sent Besenval and the Colonel taking earnest counsel. Then still another they hardly, with bayonets and menace of bullets, penetrate to the spot. What a sight A street choked up, with lumber, tumult and the endless press of men. A PaperWarehouse eviscerated by axe and fire mad din of Revolt musket-volleys responded to by yells, by miscellaneous missiles, by tiles raining from roof and window, tiles, execrations, and
of Paris, does,
;
:

'

slain

men

The Gardes Fran9aises

^

like it not,
iii.

but have to persevere.

All

Besenval,

385-8.

GROWN ELECTRIC
All
;
:

125,

day it continues, slackening and rallying the sun is sink- CHAP. Ill ing, and Saint- Antoine has not yielded. The City flies hither April 28, ^'^^^ and thither alas, the sound of that musket- volley ing booms
into the far dining-rooms of the Chaussee d'Antin
;

alters the

tone of the dinner-gossip there. Captain Dampmartin leaves his wine goes out with a friend or two, to see the fighting. Unwashed men growl on him, with murmurs of ""A has les Aristocrates (Down with the Aristocrats) and insult the cross of St. Louis They elbow him, and hustle him but do not pick his pocket as indeed at Reveillon's too there was not the slightest stealing.^ At fall of night, as the thing will not end, Besenval takes his resolution orders out the Gardes Suisses with two pieces The Swiss Guards shall proceed thither summon of artillery. that rabble to depart, in the King's name. If disobeyed, they shall load their artillery with grape-shot, visibly to the general shall again summon if again disobeyed, fire, eye and keep firing till the last man be in this manner blasted off, and the
; '

'

'

street clear.

With which

spirited resolution,
is

as

might have

got ended. At sight of the lit matches, of the foreign red-coated Switzers, Saint-Antoine dissihastily, in the shades of dusk. There is an encumpates there are from four to five hundred dead men. bered street Unfortunate Reveillon has found shelter in the Bastille does therefrom, safe behind stone bulwarks, issue plaint, protestation, explanation, for the next month. Bold Besenval has thanks from all the respectable Parisian classes but finds no special a thing the man of true notice taken of him at Versailles,

been hoped, the business

;

'

'

worth

is

used
it

to.^

But how
sion
?

originated, this fierce electric sputter

!

and explo-

From D' Orleans

cries

gold, enlisted these Brigands,

:

without sound of drum evil to ferment and take fire corners cries enlightened Patriotism Court
;
;
! :

some surprising manner, he raked them in hither, from all

in
is

surely

the Court-party

he, with his

his good.
is
;

it

the the cursed gold

From

set them upon wiles of Aristocrats that enlisted them ruining an innocent Sieur Reveillon ; to frighten the faint, and

and

disgust
^

men

with the career of Freedom.

se sont

Evhiemens qui

passh sous mes yeux pendant

i-

la
^

Revolution Franqaise, par

Besenval,
iii,

A. H. Dampmartin (Berlin, 1799).

25-7.

389.

Besenval,

126

STATES -GENERAL
'

BOOK
May

IV

1789

Besenval, with reluctance, concludes that it came from the Or, alas, might not one rather English, our natural enemies.' attribute it to Diana in the shape of Hunger ? To some twin so often seen in the Dioscuri, Oppression and Revenge
;

Poor Lackalls, all betoiled, besoiled, encrusted into whom nevertheless the breath of into dim defacement To them it is clear the Almighty has breathed a living soul only that eleutheromaniac Philosophism has yet baked no bread that Patriot Committee-men will level down to their own level, and no lower. Brigands or whatever they might They bury their dead be, it was bitter earnest with them. with the title of Defenseurs de la Patrie, Martyrs of the good
battles of
?
;

men

Cause.
Insurrection has now served its Apprenticeship and this was its proof- stroke, and no inconclusive one ? Its next will be a master-stroke announcing indisputable

Or

shall

we say

Mastership to a whole astonished world. fortress. Tyranny's stronghold, which they Building, as if there were no other building,

Let that rock-

look to

name

Bastille,
its

or
!

guns

But, in such wise, with primary and secondary Assemblies, and Cahiers of Grievances with motions, congregations of all kinds with much thunder of froth-eloquence, and at last with thunder of platoon-musquetry, does agitated France accomplish its Elections. With confused winnowing and sifting, in this rather tumultuous manner, it has now (all except some remnants of Paris) sifted out the true wheat-grains of National Deputies, Twelve Hundred and Fourteen in number and will forthwith open its States-General.
; ;

CHAPTER
On

IV

THE PROCESSION
the first Saturday of May, it is gala at Versailles and Monday, fourth of the month, is to be a still greater day. The Deputies have mostly got thither, and sought out lodgings and are now successively, in long well-ushered files, kissing Supreme Usher de the hand of Majesty in the Chateau. Breze
;

\
^

THE WALLS OP JEKICHO.

(^hi Tall of tin
BaililU.)

THE PROCESSION
:

127

Breze does not give the highest satisfaction we cannot but CHAP. IV observe that in ushering Noblesse or Clergy into the anointed ^^7 ^^ 1789 Pre*sence, be liberally opens both his folding-doors and on the other hand, for members of the Third Estate opens only one However, there is room to enter Majesty has smiles for all. The good Louis welcomes his Honourable Members, with smiles of hope. He has prepared for them the Hall of Menus, the largest near him and often surveyed the workmen as they went on. A spacious Hall with raised Platform for Throne, Court and Blood-royal space for six hundred Commons Deputies in front for half as many Clergy on this hand, and half as many Noblesse on that. It has lofty galleries wherefrom dames of honour, splendent in gaze (Tor foreign Diplo;
!

macies, and other gilt-edged white-frilled individuals, to the number of two thousand, may sit and look. Broad passages and, outside the inner wall, all round it. flow through it There are committee-rooms, guard-rooms, robing-rooms really where upholstery, aided by the subject fine-arts, a noble Hall has done its best ; and crimson tasselled cloths, and emblematic fleurs-de-lys are not wanting. The Hall is ready the very costume, as we said, has been settled ; and the Commons are not to wear that hated slouchhat {chapeau clabaud), but one not quite so slouched {chateau rahattu). As for their manner of working, when all dressed voting by head or by order and the rest,this, for their

'

'

which it were perhaps still time to settle, and in few hours hangs dubious in will be no longer time, remains unsettled the breast of Twelve Hundred men.
;

on Monday the 4th of May, has unconcerned, as if it were no special day. And yet, risen as his first rays could strike music from the Memnon's Statue on the Nile, what tones were these, so thrilling, tremulous, of preparation and foreboding, which he awoke in every bosom at Huge Paris, in all conceivable and inconceivable Versailles from each Town and Village vehicles, is pouring itself forth come subsidiary rills Versailles is a very sea of men. But above all, from the Church of St. Louis to the Church of NotreDame one vast suspended-billow of Life, with spray scattered For on chimney-tops too, as over even to the chimney-tops the roofs, and up thitherwards on every lamp-iron, sign-post, breakneck

But now
;

finally the Sun,

128

STATES -GENERAL
;
:

BOOK
May 4,

IV breakneck coign of vantage, sits patriotic Courage and every 1789 window bursts with patriotic Beauty for the Deputies are

gathering at St. Louis Church Notre-Dame, and hear sermon.

to

march
:

in procession to

Yes, friends, ye may sit and look bodily or in thought, all France, and all Europe, may sit and look for it is a day
;

few others. Oh, one might weep like Xerxes So many like winged creatures, alighted serried rows sit perched there all these, and so many more that follow them, out of Heaven shall have wholly fled aloft again, vanishing into the blue Deep and the memory of this day still be fresh. It is the baptism-day of Democracy sick Time has given it birth, the numbered months being run. The extreme-unction day of Feudalism A superannuated System of Society, decrepit with toils (for has it not done much produced you, and what ye have and know ?) and with thefts and brawls, named gloriousvictories and with profligacies, sensualities, and on the whole with dotage and senility, is now to die and so, with deaththroes and birth-throes, a new one is to be born. What a work, O Earth and Heavens, what a work Battles and bloodshed, September Massacres, Bridges of Lodi, retreats of Moscow, Waterloos, Peterloos, Tenpound Franchises, Tarbarrels and Guillotines and from this present date, if one might
like
: ;

prophesy, some two centuries of it still to fight Two centuries hardly less before Democracy go through its due, most baleful, stages of QuackocTSicy and a pestilential World be burnt up, and have begun to grow green and young again. Rejoice nevertheless, ye Versailles multitudes to you, from whom all this is hid, the glorious end of it is visible. This day, sentence of death is pronounced on Shams judgment of
!

pronounced on Realities. This day, it is declared aloud, as with a Doom-trumpet, that a Lie is unbelievable. Believe that, stand by that, if more there be not and let what thing or things soever will follow it follow. Ye can no other God be your help So spake a greater than any of you opening his Chapter of World -History.
resuscitation,
it

were

but afar

off, is

'

'

Behold, however The doors of St. Louis Church flung wide and the Procession of Processions advancing towards Notre-Dame Shouts rend the air one shout, at which Grecian birds might drop dead. It is indeed a stately, solemn
!

sight.

THE PROCESSION
sight.

129
;

and then the Court of France CHAP. IV they are marshalled and march there, all in prescribed place May 4, 1789 and costume. Our Commons in plain black mantle and
of France,
'

The Elected

white cravat

'

Noblesse, in gold-worked, bright-dyed cloaks

of velvet, resplendent, rustling with laces,

waving with plumes

:

the Clergy in rochet, alb, or other best pontificalibus

lastly

and King's Household, also in their brightest blaze of pomp, their brightest and final one. Some Fourteen Hundred Men blown together from all winds, on the
himself,

comes the King

deepest errand. Yes, in that silent marching mass there lies Futurity enough. No symbolic Ark, like the old Hebrews, do these men bear they too preside at a new yet with them too is a Covenant Era in the History of Men. The whole Future is there, and in the hearts and unshaped Destiny dim-brooding over it thoughts of these men, it lies illegible, inevitable. Singular yet not they, not mortal, only to think they have it in them the Eye above can read it, as it shall unfold itself, in fire and in the rustling of battlethunder, of siege, and field-artillery banners, the tramp of hosts, in the glow of burning cities, the Such things lie hidden, safe-wrapt shriek of strangled nations say rather, had lain in some other in this Fourth day of May unknown day, of which this latter is the public fruit and outcome. As indeed what wonders lie in every Day, had we the sight, for is not every meanest as happily we have not, to decipher it
: ; ;
:

Day

'

the conflux of two Eternities

'

Meanwhile, suppose we too, good Reader, should, as now without miracle Muse Clio enables us, take our station also on some coign of vantage and glance momentarily over this with far other eyes than the Procession, and this Life-sea rest do, namely with prophetic ? We can mount, and stand

there, without fear of falling. As for the Life- sea, or onlooking

is

unnumbered Multitude,

it

unfortunately ail-too dim. Yet as we gaze fixedly, do not nameless Figures not a few, which shall not always be nameYoung visible or presumable there less, disclose themselves Baroness de Stael she evidently looks from a window among
; !

older honourable women.^

1
i.

Her
la

father

is

Minister,

and one

Madame de

Stael,

Consid&ations sur
I

Rivolution Fran^aise (London, 1818),

114-91.

VOL.

I.

01

130

STATES-GENERAL
eyes the chief one. Young Amazon, thy rest isnot there nor thy loved Father's
;

BOOK IV
May 4,

of the gala personages

to his

own

1789 spiritual

THEROIGNE DE MERICOURT.
things in God, so M. Necker sees all things in Necker,' a theorem that will not hold. But where is the brown-locked, light-behaved, fire-hearted
'

as Malebranche

saw

all

Demoiselle Theroigne

? Brown eloquent Beauty who, with thy winged words and glances, shalt thrill rough bosoms, whole steel battalions, and persuade an Austrian Kaiser,
;

pike

THE PROCESSION
pike and helm
also
lie
;

131

provided for thee in due season and, alas, CHAP. IV strait-waistcoat and long lodging in the Salpetriere May 4, 1789 Better hadst thou staid in native Luxemburg, and been the mother of some brave man's children but it was not thy task, it was not thy lot. Of the rougher sex how, without tongue, or hundred tongues, of iron, enumerate the notabilities Has not Marquis Valadi hastily quitted his Quaker broadbrim his Pythagorean Greek ^ in Wapping, and the city of Glasgow ? De Morande from his Courrier de VEurope Linguet from his Annales, they looked eager through the London fog, and became Ex-Editors, that they might feed the guillotine, and have their due. Does Louvet (of Fauhlas) stand a-tiptoe ? And Brissot, hight De Warville, friend of the Blacks ? He, with Marquis Condorcet, and Claviere the Genevese have created the Moniteur Newspaper,' or are about creating it. Able Editors must give account of such a day. Or seest thou with any distinctness, low down probably, not in places of honour, a Stanislas Maillard, riding-tipstaff {huissier a cheval) of the Chatelet one of the shiftiest of men ? A Captain Hulin of Geneva, Captain Elie of the Queen's Regiment ; both with an air of half-pay ? Jourdan, with tilecoloured whiskers, not yet with tile-beard an unjust dealer in mules ? He shall be, in few months, Jourdan the Headsman, and have other work. Surely also, in some place not of honour, stands or sprawls up querulous, that he too, though short., may see, one squalidest
! :
!

'

bleared

mortal,

redolent
!

of

soot

Human Paul Marat of Neuchatel O Science, Lecturer on Optics O thou remarkablest Horseleech, once in D'Artois' Stables, as thy bleared soul looks forth, through thy bleared, dull-acrid, wo- stricken face, what sees it in all this ? Any faintest light of hope like dayspring after Nova-Zembla night ? Or is it but blue sulphur-light, and wo, suspicion, revenge without end ? spectres Of Draper Lecointre, how he shut his cloth-shop hard by, and stepped forth, one need hardly speak. Nor of Santerre, the sonorous Brewer from the Faubourg St. Antoine. Two
;

and horse-drugs Marat, Renovator of

Jean

other Figures, and only two, we signalise there. The huge, through whose black brows, and rude flatbrawny Figure
;

Founders of the French Republic (London, 1798),

Valadi.

tened

132

STATES -GENERAL

BOOK
May 4,

IV tened face (figure icras^e), there looks a waste energy as of 1789 Hercules not yet furibund, he is an esurient, unprovided him mark. Then that other, Danton by name Advocate he with the long his shght-built comrade and craft-brother with the face of dingy blackguardism, woncurling locks drously irradiated with genius, as if a naphtha-lamp burnt within it that Figure is Camille Desmoulins. A fellow of one of the sprightliest infinite shrewdness, wit, nay humour Thou poor Camille, say clearest souls in all these millions. of thee what they may, it were but falsehood to pretend one did not almost love thee, thou headlong lightly-sparkling man But the brawny, not yet furibund Figure, we say, is Jacques Danton a name that shall be tolerably known in the Revolution.' He is President of the electoral Cordeliers District at Paris, or about to be it and shall open his lungs of brass. We dwell no longer on the mixed shouting Multitude for now, behold, the Commons Deputies are at hand

'

Hundred individuals, in plain white cravat, that have come up to regenerate France, might one guess would become their king ? For a king or leader they, as all bodies of men, must have be their work what it may, there is one man there who, by character, faculty, position, is
of these

Which

Six

that man, as future not yet elected king, walks there among the rest. He with the thick black locks, will it be ? With the hure, as himself calls it, or black hoardshead, fit to be shaken as a senatorial portent ? Through whose shaggy beetle-brows, and rough-hewn, seamed carbuncled face, there look natural ugliness, small-pox, incontinence, bankruptcy, and burning fire of genius like cometfittest of all to

do

it

'

'

through murkiest confusions ? It is Gabriel Honore Riquetti de Mirabeau, the world-compeller man-ruling Deputy of Aix According to the Baroness de Stael, he steps proudly along, though looked at askance here
fire

glaring

fuliginous

and shakes

his black chevelure, or lion's-mane

as

if

prophetic

of great deeds.

Yes, Reader, that is the Type-Frenchman of this epoch as Voltaire was of the last. He is French in his aspirations,

perhaps more French than any other man and intrinsically such a mass of manhood too. Mark him well. The National Assembly were all
acquisitions, in his virtues, in his vices
;

different

^
'

THE PROCESSION
;
:

133

different without that one

nay, he might say with the old CHAP. IV

1789

May 4, Despot: The National Assembly ? I am that.' Of a southern climate, of wild southern blood for the Riquettis, or Arrighettis, had to fly from Florence and the Guelfs, long centuries ago, and settled in Provence where from generation to generation they have ever approved them;

selves a peculiar kindred

true, like the steel

irascible, indomitable, sharp-cutting,

;

they wore of an intensity and activity that sometimes verged towards madness, yet did not reach it. One ancient Riquetti, in mad fulfilment of a mad vow, chains two Mountains together and the chain, with its iron star of five rays,' is still to be seen. May not a modern Riquetti unchain so much, and set it drifting, which also shall be seen ? Destiny has work for that swart burly-headed Mirabeau Destiny has watched over him, prepared him from afar. Did not his Grandfather, Stout Col-d' Argent (Silver-Stock, so they named him), shattered and slashed by seven-and-twenty wounds in one fell day, lie sunk together on the Bridge at Casano while Prince Eugene's cavalry galloped and regalloped over him, only the flying sergeant had thrown a camp-kettle over and Vendome, dropping his spyglass, moaned that loved head Nevertheless he was not dead out, ' Mirabeau is dead, then for Gabriel was he awoke to breath, and miraculous surgery yet to be. With his silver stock he kept his scarred head erect, through long years and wedded and produced tough Marquis Victor, the Friend of Men. Whereby at last in the appointed year 1749, this long-expected rough-hewn Gabriel Honore did
;
'

'

roughest lion's-whelp ever littered of that rough breed. How the old lion (for our old Marquis too was lion-like, most unconquerable, kingly-genial, most perverse) and determined to train gazed wondering on his offspring This It is in vain, O Marquis him as no lion had yet been cub, though thou slay him and flay him, will not learn to draw he in dogcart of Political Economy, and be a Friend of Men will not be Thou, but must and will be Himself, another than Thou. Divorce lawsuits, whole family save one in prison, and
likewise see the light
:

'

three-score Lettres-de-Cachet astonish the world.

'

for

thy own

sole

use,

do but

Our

luckless Gabriel,

in the Isle of

the Castle of

and sinning, has been in Rhe, and heard the Atlantic from his tower If, and heard the Mediterranean at Marseilles.

smned

against

He

134

STATES -GENERAL
;

BOOK
May
4,

IV

He

1789

has been in the Fortress of Joux ; and forty-two months. with hardly clothing to his back, in the Dungeon of Vincennes all by Lettre-de-Cachet, from his lion father. He has been
;

was noticed fording estuaries of the sea (at low water), in flight from the face of men. He has pleaded before Aix Parlements (to get back his wife) the public gathering on roofs, to see since they could not
in Pontarlier Jails (self -constituted prisoner)
;

hear

the clatter-teeth {claque- dents) snarls singular old Mirabeau discerning in such admired forensic eloquence nothing but two clattering jawbones, and a head vacant, sonorous, of the drum species.
'
! : '

But as for Gabriel Honore, in these strange wayfarings, what has he not seen and tried From drill-sergeants, to prime-ministers, to foreign and domestic booksellers, all manner of men he has seen. All manner of men he has gained for at bottom it is a social, loving heart, that wild unconquerable one more especially all manner of women. From the Archer's Daughter at Saintes to that fair young Sophie Madame Monnier, whom he could not but steal,' and be beheaded for
!

'

in effigy

For indeed hardly since the Arabian Prophet lay dead to All's admiration, was there seen such a Love-hero, with the strength of thirty men. In War, again, he has helped to conquer Corsica fought duels, irregular brawls horsewhipped calumnious barons. In Literature, he has written on Despotism, on Lettres-de-Cachet Erotics Sapphic- Werterean, Obscenities, Profanities Books on the Prussian Monarchy, on Cagliostro, on Calonne, on the Water-Companies of Paris each Book comparable, we will say, to a bituminous alarum-fire huge, smoky, sudden The fire-pan, the kindling, the bitumen were his own but the lumber, of rags, old wood and nameless combustible rubbish (for all is fuel to him), was gathered from hucksters, and ass-panniers, of every description under heaven. Whereby, indeed, hucksters enough have been heard to exclaim Out upon it, the fire is mine Nay, consider it more generally, seldom had man such a
! ;
;

talent for borrowing.

;

The

idea, the faculty of another

man
'

he can make his the man himself he can make his. All reflex and echo {tout de reflet et de reverbere) snarls old Mirabeau, who can see, but will not. Crabbed old Friend of Men it is his sociality, his aggregative nature and will now be the quality of qualities for him. In that forty-years'
!

'

struggle

THE PROCESSION
'

135

struggle against despotism,' he has gained the glorious faculty CHAP, IV

self-help,

of

and yet not

of

lost

the

glorious
:

natural

gift

of May

4,

1789

fellowship,
live

being helped. this man can Rare union self-sufficing yet lives also in the life of other men can make men love him, work with him a born king of

men

But consider further how,

' ' ;

as the old Marquis

still

snarls,

he has made away with {hume, swallowed, snuffed-up) all Formulas a fact which, if we meditate it, will in these days mean much. This is no man of system, then he is only a man of instincts and insights. A man nevertheless who will glare fiercely on any object and see through it, and conquer it for he has intellect, he has will, force beyond other men. A man not with logic- spectacles but with an eye Unhappily without Decalogue, moral Code or Theorem of any fixed sort yet not without a strong living Soul in him, and Sincerity And so there a Reality, not an artificiality, not a Sham he, having struggled forty years against despotism,' and made away with all formulas,' shall now become the spokesman of a For is it not precisely the struggle Nation bent to do the same. to make away with her of France also to cast off despotism old formulas, Shaving found them naught, worn out, far from and the reality ? She will make away with such formulas even go hare, if need be, till she have found new ones. Towards such work, in such manner, marches he, this singular Riquetti Mirabeau. In fiery rough figure, with black Samson-locks under the slouch-hat, he steps along there. A fiery fuliginous mass, which could not be choked and smothered, but would fill all France with smoke. And now it has got it will bum its whole substance, its whole smoke-atmoair Forty sphere too, and fill all France with flame. Strange lot years of that smouldering, with foul fire-damp and vapour and like a burning mounthen victory over that enough and, for twenty-three resplendent tain he blazes heaven-high months, pours out, in flame and molten fire-torrents, all that is in him, the Pharos and Wonder-sign of an amazed Europe Pass on, thou questionand then lies hollow, cold for ever in the whole able Gabriel Honore, the greatest of them all National Deputies, in the whole Nation, there is none like and none second to thee. But now if Mirabeau is the greatest, who of these Six Hundred

'

'

may

/
136

STATES-GENERAL
be the meanest
?

BOOK
May 4,

IV

may

Shall

we

say,

that anxious, slight/

;

1789 ineffectual-looking

man, under

thirty, in spectacles
;

his eyei

(were the glasses off) troubled, careful with upturned face, snuffing dimly the uncertain future time complexion of a multiplex atrabiliar colour, the final shade of which may be the pale sea-green.^ That greenish- coloured (verddtre) individual is an Advocate of Arras his name is Maximilien Robespierre. The son of an Advocate his father founded masonlodges under Charles Edward, the English Prince or Pretender. Maximilien the first-born was thriftily educated he had brisk Camille Desmoulins for schoolmate in the College of Louis le Grand, at Paris, But he begged our famed
; ; ; ;

Necklace - Cardinal,
Rohan, the patron, to
let

him depart thence, and resign in favour

younger brother.
;

of a

The strict-minded Max departed home to

Arras and even had a Law-case there and pleaded, not unsuccessfully, 'in favour of the first Franklin thunder-rod.' With a strict painful mind, an understanding small but clear and
paternal
;

ROBESPIEUIIE.

ready, he grew in favour with official persons, who could foresee in him an excellent man of business, happily quite free from genius. The Bishop, therefore, taking counsel, appoints him Judge of his diocese and he faithfully does justice to the people till behold, one day, a culprit comes whose crime merits
;

and the strict-minded Max must abdicate, for his conscience will not permit the dooming of any son of Adam
hanging
to die.
;

strict-minded, strait-laced

man

A man

unfit for

Revolutions ? Whose small soul, transparent wholesomelooking as small-ale, could by no chance ferment into virulent
^

See

De

Stael, Considerations

(ii,

142)

Barbaroux, Mimoires,

etc.

alegar,

THE PROCESSION
alegar^

137
all

^the

mother

of

ever

new

alegar

till

grown acetous virulent ? We shall see. Between which two extremes of grandest and meanest, so many grand and mean roll on, towards their several destinies, in that Procession There is Cazales, the learned young soldier who shall become the eloquent orator of Royalism, and earn the shadow of a name. Experienced Mounter, experienced Malouet whose Presidential Parlementary experi!

France were CHAP. IV May 4, 1789

ence the stream of things shall soon leave stranded. A PStion has left his gown and briefs at Chartres for a stormier sort of pleading ; has not forgotten his viohn, being fond of music. His
hair
is

grizzled,

he

is still

though young con:

victions, beliefs placid-

unalterable are in that

not hindmost of them, belief in him;

man
self.

Protestant-

clerical

Rabaut

St.

Etienne, a slender

young eloquent and vehement

France.

Barnave, will help to

regenerate

There are so many of them young. Till thirty the Spartans did not CAZALES. suffer a man to marry but how many men here under thirty coming to produce not The one sufficient citizen, but a nation and a world of such which the young to remove rubbish old to heal up rents
: ; !

latter, is it not, indeed,

the task here

yet authentically there, thou n()ticest the Deputies from Nantes ? To us mere clothesscreens, with slouch-hat and cloak, but bearing in their pocket
this distance,

Dim, formless from

a Cahier of doUances with this singular clause, and more such, That the master wigmakers of Nantes be not troubled in it with new guild-brethren, the actually existing number of ninety^ The Rennes people have two being more than sufficient
: '

'

Histoire Parlementaire,

i.

335.

elected

138

STATES -GENERAL
'

BOOK
May 4,

IV elected Farmer Gerard,

man
' ;

of natural sense

and
step

rectitud^,
;

1789

without any learning.'

'

He walks there, with solid

which he
will

uniqi:ie,

in his rustic farmer-clothes

wear always
or

careless of short-cloaks
'

and costumes.

The name Gerard,

;

Pere Gerard, Father Gerard,' as they please to call him, will in Royalist satires, borne about in endless banter fly far in Republican didactic Almanacks.^ As for the man Gerard, being asked once, what he did, after trial of it, candidly think I think,' answered he, that of this Parlementary work, there are a good many scoundrels among us.' So walks Father Gerard solid in his thick shoes, whithersoever bound. And worthy Doctor Guillotin, whom we hoped to behold one other time ? If not here, the Doctor should be here, and we see him with the eye of prophecy for indeed the Parisian Deputies are all a little late. Singular Guillotin, respectable practitioner doomed by a satiric destiny to the strangest immortal glory that ever kept obscure mortal from his restGuillotin can improve the ing-place, the bosom of oblivion ventilation of the Hall in all cases of medical police and hygiene be a present aid but, greater far, he can produce his Report on the Penal Code and reveal therein a cunningly devised Beheading Machine, which shall become famous and world-famous. This is the product of Guillotin's endeavours, gained not without meditation and reading which product popular gratitude or levity christens by a feminine derivative name, as if it were his daughter La Guillotine ! With my machine, Messieurs, I whisk off your head {vous fais sauter la tete) in a twinkling, and you have no pain whereat they all laugh.^ Unfortunate Doctor For two-andtwenty years he, unguillotined, shall hear nothing but guillotine, see nothing but guillotine then dying, shall through long centuries wander, as it were, a disconsolate ghost, on the wrong side of Styx and Lethe his name like to outlive
;

'

'

'

'

'

'

Caesar's,

See Bailly, likewise of Paris, time-honoured Historian of Astronomy Ancient and Modern. Poor Bailly, how thy serenely beautiful Philosophising, with its soft moonshiny clearness and thinness, ends in foul thick confusion of Presi-

Actes des ApStres (by Peltier and others)

J/oj/i5Mr

Almanack du Pkre Girard

(in Histoire

(by CoUot

d'Herbois), etc. etc.

^

Newspaper, of December

1st,

1789

Parlementaire),

dency,

THE PROCESSION
! :

139

dency, Mayorship, diplomatic Officiality, rabid Triviality, and CHAP. IV the throat of everlasting Darkness Far was it to descend May 4, 1789 from the heavenly Galaxy to the Drapeau Rouge beside that tremble,' fatal dung-heap, on that last hell-day, thou must though only with cold (' de froid '). Speculation is not practice to be weak is not so miserable but to be weaker than our task. the day when they mounted thee, a peaceable which, pedestrian, on that wild Hippogriff of a Democracy spurning the firm earth, nay lashing at the very stars, no yet known Astolpho could have ridden In the Commons Deputies there are Merchants, Artists, Men of Letters three hundred and seventy-four Lawyers ^ and at least one Clergyman the Abbe Sieyes. Him also Paris sends, among its twenty. Behold him, the light thin man cold, but elastic, wiry instinct with the pride of Logic If passionless, or with but one passion, that of self-conceit. indeed that can be called a passion, which, in its independent concentrated greatness, seems to have soared into transcendentalism and to sit there with a kind of godlike indifference, He is the man, and wisdom shall and look down on passion die with him. This is the Sieyes who shall be System-builder, and build Constitutions (as many Constitution-builder General which shall all unfortunately fall before as wanted) skyhigh,
'
:

Wo

La Politique,^ said he to Dumont, he get the scaffolding away. Polity is a science I think I have completed (achevie).'' ^ What things, O Sieyes, with thy clear assiduous eyes, art thou to see But were it not curious to know how Sieyes, now in these days (for he is said to be still alive) ' looks out on all that Constitution masonry, through the rheumy soberness of extreme age ? Might we hope, still with the old irrefragable transcendentalism ? The victorious cause pleased the gods, the vanquished one
' ' !

pleased Sieyes {vida Catoni). Thus, however, amid skyrending vivats, and blessings from every heart, has the Procession of the Commons Deputies rolled
by.

Next
both of

follow the Noblesse,

and next the Clergy

concerning

whom

come
'

for ?

might be asked. What they specially have Specially, little as they dream of it, to answer this
it
1797).
i-

Bouille, Mimoires sur la Revolution Fran^aise (London, Dumont, Souvenirs sur Mirabeau, p. 64.

68.
'

a.d. 1834.^

question,

140

STATES-GENERAL
:

BOOK
May 4,

IV question, put in a voice of thunder

;

What

are

you doing

in

1789

God's fair Earth and Task-garden where whosoever is not working is begging or steaHng ? Wo, wo to themselves and to all, if they can only answer Collecting tithes. Preserving game Remark, meanwhile, how D'Orleans affects to step before his own Order, and mingle with the Commons. For
:
!

DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT d'aUVILLE.
him
'

are vivats few for the rest, though all wave in plumed hats of a feudal cut,' and have sword on thigh though among
: ;

them is D'Antraigues, the young Languedocian gentleman, and indeed many a Peer more or less noteworthy. There are Liancourt, and La Rochefoucault the liberal Anglo;

maniac Dukes.

liberal Lameths.

pious Lally; a couple of all, there is a Lafayette whose name shall be Cromwell-Grandison, and fill the world. Many a * formula has this Lafayette too made away with yet not all
is

There

filially

Above

'

formulas.

THE PROCESSION
formulas.

141
;

He
;

he will stick and swings the tight war-ship, which, after all changes of wildest weather and water, is found still hanging. Happy for him be it glorious or not Alone of all Frenchmen he has a theory of the world, and right mind to conform thereto he can become a hero and perfect character, were it but the hero of one idea. Note further our old Parlementary friend, CrispinCatiline d'Espreminil. He is returned from the Mediterranean
;
! ;

sticks

by the Washington-formula and by that CHAP. IV and hang by it, as by sure bower-anchor hangs May 4, 1789

a redhot royalist, repentant to the finger-ends unsettled-looking whose light, dusky-glowing at best, now whom the National Assembly will flickers foul in the socket by and by, to save time, regard as in a state of distraction.' indignant that Note lastly that globular Younger Mirabeau it is Viscomte Mirahis elder Brother is among the Commons beau named oftener Mirabeau Tonneau (Barrel Mirabeau), on account of his rotundity, and the quantities of strong liquor
Islands,
; ; ;

'

he contains. There then walks our French Noblesse. All in the old pomp of chivalry and yet, alas, how changed from the old drifted far down from their native latitude, like position Arctic icebergs got into the Equatorial sea, and fast thawing there Once these Chivalry Duces (Dukes, as they are still named) did actually lead the world, were it only towards moreover, battle-spoil, where lay the world's best wages then being the ablest Leaders going, they had their Lion's share, which none could grudge them. But now, when those Duces so many Looms, unproved Ploughshares, Steam-Engines, and and, for battle-brawling Bills of Exchange have been invented what itself, men hire Drill-Sergeants at eighteenpence a-day,
:

these goldmantled Chivalry Figures, walking there ' in black- velvet cloaks,' in high-plumed ' hats of a feudal cut ' ? Reeds shaken in the wind

mean

The Clergy have got up

ties,

with Cahiers for abolishing plurali-

enforcing residence of bishops, better payment of tithes.V The Dignitaries, we can observe, walk stately, apart from the numerous Undignified, who indeed are properly little other than Commons disguised in Curate-frocks. Here, however,

though by strange ways,

shall the Precept

i.

be

fulfilled,

and
they

Bist. Pari.

322-7.

142

STATES-GENERAL
(much to
their astonishment)

BOOK
May 4,

IV they that are greatest

become

1789 least.

For one example, out of many, mark that plausible Gregoire one day Cure Gregoire shall be a Bishop, when the now stately are wandering distracted, as Bishops in partibus. With other thought, mark also the Abbe Maury his broad
: : ;

bold face

mouth

which is astonished you should find it sophistical. Skilfulest vamper-up of always a rising old rotten leather, to make it look Hke new man he used to tell Mercier, You will see I shall be in the
intelligence,
^the

falsehood,

accurately

primmed

full eyes,

that ray out

sort of sophistry

'

Academy
Likely
skilfulest

before you.' ^ indeed, thou

Maury

nay

thou shalt have a Cardinal's Hat, and plush and glory but alas,
;

mere

also,

in

the

longrun
like

oblivion,
;

the rest of us and six feet of earth What boots it, vamping rotten leather on these terms ? Glorious in comparison is the livelihood thy good old
!

L ABBE MAURY.
not want for audacity.
and,
at

Father earns, by making shoes, one may hope, in a sufficient manner. Maury does

He
'

shall

wear

death-cries
'

of

La

Lanterne,

by and by The Lamp-iron '

pistols,
;
!

Friends, will you see better there ? ' But yonder, halting lamely along, thou noticest next Bishop Talleyrand-Perigord, his Reverence of Autun. sardonic grimness lies in that irreverend Reverence of Autun. He will do and suffer strange things ; and will become surely one of the strangest things ever seen, or like to be seen. man
coolly,

answer

living in falsehood,
call

yet not what you can the specialty It will be an enigma for future ages, one may hope hitherto such a product of
;

and on falsehood
is
:

a false

man

there

Mercier,

Nouveau Paris,

Nature

THE PROCESSION

143

Nature and Art was possible only for this age of ours, Age CHAP. IV of Paper, and of the Burning of Paper. Consider Bishop ^^Y 4, 1789 Talleyrand and Marquis Lafayette as the topmost of their two kinds, and say once more, looking at what they did and what they were, O Tempus ferax rerum !
the whole, however, has not this unfortunate Clergy also drifted in the Time-stream, far from its native latitude ? An anomalous mass of men of whom the whole world has already a dim understanding that it can understand nothing. They were once a Priesthood, interpreters of Wisdom, revealers of the Holy that is in Man a true Clerus (or Inheritance of but now ? They pass silently, with such God on Earth) Cahiers as they have been able to redact and none cries,
; ;

On

God

bless

them

King Louis with his Court brings up the rear he cheerful, still more Necker in this day of hope, is saluted with plaudits his Minister. Not so the Queen on whom hope shines not Her hair is already grey Ill-fated Queen steadily any more. her first-born son is dying in with many cares and crosses
:

black falsehood has ineffaceably soiled her name these weeks Instead of Vive la ineffaceably while this generation lasts. Reine, voices insult her with Vive d' Orleans. Of her queenly not now gracious, beauty little remains except its stateliness but haughty, rigid, silently enduring. With a most mixed feeling, wherein joy has no part, she resigns herself to a day she hoped never to have seen. Poor Marie Antoinette with thy
: ; ; ;

quick noble instincts narrow for the work thou bitterest store for thee though thou hast the heart Thou doomed one, shut thy
;

vehement

glancings, vision ail-too fitful

!

hast to do

there are tears in wailings, soft womanly meltings, of an imperial Theresa's Daughter.
!

eyes on the future

have passed the Elected of France. Some towards honour and quick fire-consummation not a few towards massacre, conmost towards dishonour So all towards Eternity fusion, emigration, desperation
so,

And

in stately Procession,

heterogeneities cast together into the fermenting-vat there, with incalculable action, counteraction, elective affinities, explosive developments, to work out healing for a sick mori-

many

bund System

of Society

Probably the strangest Body of Men.

144

STATES -GENERAL
if

BOOK
May
^*^^^

IV Men,

we

consider well, that ever

met together on our Planet

;

4-6,

on such an errand. So thousandfold complex a Society, ready and these men, its rulers to burst-up from its infinite depths and healers, without life-rule for themselves, other life-rule To the wisest of than a Gospel according to Jean Jacques them, what we must call the wisest, man is properly an Acciexcept dent under the sky. Man is without duty round him Constitution.' He is without to make the Heaven it be him he has no God in the world. above him, or Hell beneath belief to can be said exist in these What further or better Twelve Hundred ? Belief in high-plumed hats of a feudal cut

'

in heraldic scutcheons

in the divine right of Kings, in the

divine right of Game-destroyers. Belief, or what is still worse, canting half -belief or worst of all, mere Machiavellic pretencein consecrated dough-wafers, and the godhood of of-belief, Nevertheless in that immeasurable a poor old Italian Man

Confusion and Corruption, which struggles there so blindly to become less confused and corrupt, there is, as we said, this one the deep fixed Detersalient point of a New Life discernible mination to have done with Shams. A determination which, which waxes ever more consciously or unconsciously, is iixed which in such embodifixed, into very madness and fixed-idea ment as lies provided there, shall now unfold itself rapidly monstrous, stupendous, unspeakable new for long thousands of years How has the Heaven's light, oftentimes in this Earth, to clothe itself in thunder and electric murkiness and Nay is it descend as molten lightning, blasting, if purifying not rather the very murkiness, and atmospheric suffocation, that brings the lightning and the light ? The new Evangel, as the old had been, was it to be born in the Destruction of a World ? But how the Deputies assisted at High Mass, and heard sermon, and applauded the preacher, church as it was, when he preached politics how, next day, with sustained pomp, they are, for the first time, installed in their Salle des Menus (Hall no longer of Amusements), and become a States-General, readers can fancy for themselves. The King from his estrade, gorgeous as Solomon in all his glory, runs his eye over that bright-tinted majestic Hall ; many-plumed, many-glancing as rainbow, in the galleries and near side-spaces, where Beauty sits raining bright influence. Satisfaction, as of one that
: ;

after

THE PROCESSION
after long voyaging
:
!

145

had got to port, plays over his broad simple CHAP. IV face the innocent King He rises and speaks, with sonorous May 4-6, ^"^^ tone, a conceivable speech. With which, still more with the succeeding one-hour and two-hours speeches of Garde-desSceaux and M. Necker, full of nothing but patriotism, hope, faith, and deficiency of the revenue, no reader of these pages

be tried. We remark only that, as his Majesty, on finishing the speech, put on his plumed hat, and the Noblesse according to custom imitated him, our Tiers-Etat Deputies did mostly, not without a shade of fierceness, in like manner clap-on, and even crushon their slouched hats and stand there awaiting the issue/ Thick buzz among them, between majority and minority of To which Couvrez-vous, Decouvrez-vous (Hats off. Hats on) his Majesty puts end, by taking o^ his own royal hat again. The session terminates without further accident or omen than this with which, significantly enough, France has opened
shall
;
!

her States-General.
^

Histoire Parlevuntaire

(i.

356).

Mercier,

Nouveau Paris,

etc.

VOL.

I.

Book

Fifth

BOOK FIFTH

THE THIRD ESTATE

CHAPTER
INERTIA
France, in this same National Assembly of hers, has got something, nay something great, momentous, yet still the question were indispensable, cannot be doubted
;
:

That exasperated

question hard to solve, even for calm onlookers at this distance wholly insoluble to actors in the middle of it. The States-General, created and conflated by the passionate effort of the whole Nation, is there as a thing high and lifted up. Hope, jubilating, cries aloud that it will prove a miraculous Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness whereon whosoever looks, with faith and obedience, shall be healed of
Specially what
?
;
;

all

woes and serpent-bites.

answer, it will at least prove a symbolic Banner round which the exasperated complaining Twenty-five Millions, otherwise isolated and without power, may rally, and work

We may
it is

what

in

them

to work.

If battle

must be the work,

as

one cannot help expecting, then shall it be a battle-banner (say, an Italian Gonfalon, in its old Republican Carroccio) and shall tower up, car-borne, shining in the wind and with iron tongue peal forth many a signal. A thing of prime necessity which whether in the van or in the centre, whether leading or led and driven, must do the fighting multitude incalculable services. For a season, while it floats in the very front, nay as it were stands solitary there, waiting whether force will gather round it, this same National Carroccio, and the signal-peals it rings, are a main object with us. The omen of the slouch-hats clapt on shows the Commons
:

'

'

Deputies

INERTIA
:

147
CHAP. I May 6-15,
'

Deputies to have made up their minds on one thing that neither Noblesse nor Clergy shall have precedence of them hardly even Majesty itself. To such length has the Contrat
;

For what is Majesty but the Delegate of the Nation delegated, and bargained with (even rather tightly), in some very singular posture of affairs, which Jean Jacques has not fixed the date of? Coming therefore into their Hall, on the morrow, an inorganic mass of Six Hundred individuals, these Commons Deputies perceive, without terror, that they have it all to
Social,

and

force of public opinion, carried us.

;

themselves. Their Hall is also the Grand or general Hall for all the Three Orders. But the Noblesse and Clergy, it would seem, have retired to their two separate Apartments, or Halls and are there verifying their powers,' not in a conjoint but They are to constitute two separate, in a separate capacity. perhaps separately- voting Orders, then ? It is as if both Noblesse and Clergy had silently taken for granted that they Two Orders against one and so the already were such Third Order to be left in a perpetual minority ? Much may remain unfixed but the negative of that is a in the Slouch-hatted heads, in the French Nation's thing fixed head. Double representation, and all else hitherto gained, were otherwise futile, null. Doubtless, the powers must be doubtless, the Commission, the electoral Docuverified ments of your Deputy must be inspected by his brother Deputies, and found valid it is the preliminary of all. Neither
;
'
!

'

'

is

this question, of doing

it

separately or doing

it

conjointly,
;

lead to such ? It must be resisted Nay were resistwise was that maxim, Resist the beginnings ance unadvisable, even dangerous, yet surely pause is very pause, with Twenty-five Millions behind you, may natural

a vital one

but

if

it

become

resistance enough.

The
'

inorganic mass of

Commons
for the

Deputies will restrict itself to a present remain inorganic.

system of

inertia,'

and

Such method, recommendable alike to sagacity and to and, not without timidity, do the Commons Deputies adopt adroitness, and with ever more tenacity, they persist in it, day after day, week after week. For six weeks their history which indeed, as Philosophy is of the kind named barren
;

knows.

148

THE THIRD ESTATE

is

BOOKV
May
6-15,

^'^^

These were their still wherein they sat incubating In fact, what creation-days they did was to do nothing, in a judicious manner. Daily the inorganic body reassembles regrets that they cannot get verification of powers in common,' and begin organisation, Headlong motions may be made, but regenerating France. let such be repressed inertia alone is at once unpunishable
knows,
often the fruitfulest of
;

all.

'

and unconquerable. Cunning must be met by cunning proud pretension by inertia, by a low tone of patriotic sorrow low, but incurable, unalterable. Wise as serpents harmless as doves what
; ; ;
:

Six Hundred inorganic individuals, essential for its regeneration and salvation, sit there, on their elliptic benches, longing passionately towards life in painful durance like souls waiting to be born. Speeches are spoken eloquent audible within doors and without. Mind agitates itself against mind the Nation looks on with ever deeper interest. Thus do the Commons Deputies sit incubating. There are private conclaves, supper-parties, consultations Breton Club, Club of Viroflay germs of many Clubs. Wholly an element of confused noise, dimness, angry heat wherein, however, the Eros-egg, kept at the fit temperature, may hover safe, unbroken till it be hatched. In your Mouniers, Malouets, Lechapeliers is science sufficient for that fervour in your Barnaves, Rabauts. At times shall come an inspiration from royal

a spectacle for France

Mirabeau groaned
'

he

is

nov/ise yet recognised as royal

his

nay he was
:

at,'

when

name was

first

mentioned

but he

is

struggling towards recognition. In the course of the week, the

Commons having
;

called their

Eldest to the chair, and furnished him with young strongerlunged assistants, can speak articulately and, in audible lamentable words, declare, as we said, that they are an inorganic body, longing to become organic. Letters arrive but an inorganic body cannot open letters they lie on the table

unopened. The Eldest may at most procure for himself some kind of List or Muster-roll, to take the votes by and wait what will betide. Noblesse and Clergy are all elsewhere however, an eager public crowds all galleries and vacancies which is some comfort. With effort, it is determined, not that a Deputation shall be sent, for how can an inorganic body send deputations ? but that certain individual Com; ;

mons

INERTIA
mons Members
shall,

149
CHAP. I May 6-15,
^^^^

an accidental way, stroll into the Clergy Chamber, and then into the Noblesse one and mention there, as a thing they have happened to observe, that the Commons seem to be sitting waiting for them, in order to verify their powers. That is the wiser method The Clergy, among whom are such a multitude of Undignified, of mere Commons in Curates' frocks, depute instant respectful answer that they are, and will now more than ever be, in deepest study as to that very matter. Contrariwise the Noblesse, in cavalier attitude, reply, after four days, that they, for their part, are all verified and constituted which, they had trusted, the Commons also were such separate verification being clearly the proper constitutional wisdom-of-ancestors method as they the Noblesse will have much pleasure in demonstrating by a Commission of their number, if the Comin
;
!

mons

meet them. Commission against Commission Directly in the rear of which comes a deputation of Clergy, reiterating, in their insidious conciliatory way, the same proposal. Here, then, is a complexity what will wise Commons
will
:

say to this ? Warily, inertly, the wise Commons, considering that they are, if not a French Third Estate, at least an Aggregate of individuals pretending to some title of that kind, determine, after talking on it five days, to name such a Commission, though, as it were, with proviso not to be convinced a sixth a seventh and an eighth day day is taken up in naming it in getting the forms of meeting, place, hour and the like, settled so that it is not till the evening of the 23d of May that Noblesse Commission first meets Commons Commission, Clergy acting and begins the impossible task of convincing as Conciliators it. One other meeting, on the 25th, will suffice the Commons are inconvincible, the Noblesse and Clergy irrefragably conthe Commissioners retire each Order persisting in its vincing
:

first pretensions.^

Thus have three weeks passed.

;

For three weeks, the Third-

Estate Carroccio, with far-seen Gonfalon, has stood stockstill, waiting what force would gather round it. flouting the wind Fancy can conceive the feeling of the Court and how counsel met counsel, and loud-sounding inanity whirled in that distracted vortex, where wisdom could not dwell. Your cunningly devised
;

Reported Debates, 6th

May

to ist

June 1789

(in Histoire

Parlcmentaire,

i.

379-422)-

Taxing-

150

THE THIRD ESTATE

;
;

BOOK V Taxing-Machine has been

May
16-26,
^'^^^

got together set up with incredible labour and stands there, its three pieces in contact its two fly-wheels of Noblesse and Clergy, its huge working-wheel of Tiers-Etat. The two fly-wheels whirl in the softest manner but, prodigious to look upon, the huge working-wheel hangs The cunningest engineers are at motionless, refuses to stir How will it work, when it does begin ? Fearfully, my fault. and to many purposes but to gather taxes, or grind Friends court-meal, one may apprehend, never. Could we but have Messeigneurs d'Artois, continued gathering taxes by hand Conti, Conde (named Court Triumvirate), they of the antidemocratic Memoire au Roi, has not their foreboding proved true ? They may wave reproachfully their high heads they may beat their poor brains but the cunningest engineers can do nothing. Necker himself, were he even listened to, begins to look blue. The only thing one sees advisable is to bring up soldiers. New regiments, two, and a battalion of a third, have already reached Paris others shall get in march. Good were it, in all circumstances, to have troops within reach good that the command were in sure hands. Let Broglie be appointed old Marshal Duke de Broglie veteran disciplinarian, of a firm drill-sergeant morality, such as may be
;
!

depended on.
For, alas, neither are the Clergy, or the very Noblesse what

they should be and might be, when so menaced from without entire, undivided within. The Noblesse, indeed, have their Catiline or Crispin D'Espremenil, dusky-glowing, all in renetheir boisterous Barrel-Mirabeau gade heat but also they have their Lafayettes, Liancourts, Lameths above all, their D' Orleans, now cut for ever from his Court-moorings, and musing drowsily of high and highest sea-prizes (for is not he too a son of Henri Quatre, and partial potential Heir-Apparent ?) on his voyage towards Chaos. From the Clergy again, so numerous are the Cures, actual deserters have run over two small parties in the second party Cure Gregoire. Nay there is a talk of a whole Hundred and Forty-nine of them about to desert in mass, and only restrained by an Archbishop of Paris. It seems a losing game. But judge if France, if Paris sat idle, all this while Addresses from far and near flow in for our Commons have now grown organic enough to open letters. Or indeed to cavil at them
; ; ;

Thus

INERTIA
Thus poor Marquis de Breze, Supreme Usher, Master

^151
of Cere-

CHAP. I May 16-26, monies, or whatever his title was, writing about this time on some ceremonial matter, sees no harm in winding up with a Monsieur, yours with sincere attachment.' To whom does it address itself, this sincere attachment ? inquires Mirabeau. ' To the Dean of the Tiers-Etat.' There is no man in France entitled to write that,' rejoins he whereat the Galleries and the World will not be kept from applauding.^ Poor De Breze These Commons have a still older grudge at him nor has he yet done with them. In another way, Mirabeau has had to protest against the quick suppression of his Newspaper, Journal of the StatesGeneral and to continue it under a new name. In which act of valour, the Paris Electors, still busy redacting their Cahier, could not but support him, by Address to his Majesty they have they claim utmost provisory freedom of the press spoken even about demolishing the Bastille, and erecting a These are the rich Burghers Bronze Patriot King on the site but now consider how it went, for example, with such loose miscellany, now all grown eleutheromaniac, of Loungers, Prowlers, social Nondescripts (and the distilled Rascality of or what our Planet), as whirls for ever in the Palais-Royal low infinite groan, fast changing into a growl, comes from Saint-Antoine, and the Twenty-five Millions in danger of
'

'

'

'

'

'

'

starvation

be it Aristothe indisputablest scarcity of corn or drought and hail of crat-plot, D' Orleans-plot, of this year in city and province, the poor man looks desolately last year towards a nameless lot. And this States- General, that could make us an age of gold, is forced to stand motionless cannot

There

is

powers verified if it be not that of making motions. In the Palais Royal there has been erected, apparently by ^ subscription, a kind of Wooden Tent {en planches de hois) where select Patriotism can now redact most convenient resolutions, deliver harangues, with comfort, let the weather On his table, be as it will. Lively is that Satan-at-Home on his chair, in every cafe, stands a patriotic orator a crowd a crowd listening from without, openround him within with thunders mouthed, through open door and window
get
its
!

All industry necessarily languishes,

'

Moniteur

(in

Histoire Parlementaire,

i.

405).

Histoire Parlementaire,

i.

429.

of

152

THE THIRD ESTATE

common
:

BOOK V
May
.

16-26,

of applause for every sentiment of more than ness.' In Monsieur Dessein's Pamphlet-shop,

hardi-

close by,

you

^^^^

every cannot without strong elbowing get to the counter there hour produces its pamphlet, or litter of pamphlets were thirteen today, sixteen yesterday, ninety-two last week.' ^
' ;

Fervid-eloquence, Rumour, Societe Publicole, Breton Club, Enraged Pamphleteering Club ; and whether every tap-room, coffee-room, social reunion, accidental street-group, over wide France, was not an

Think

of

Tyranny and Scarcity

;

Enraged Club To all which the Commons Deputies can only listen with a reduced to busy themselves with sublime inertia of sorrow Surer position no Deputies ever occutheir internal police.' Let not the temperature rise if they keep it with skill. pied break not the Eros-egg till it be hatched, till it too high An eager public crowds all Galleries and break itself vacancies cannot be restrained from applauding.' The two Privileged Orders, the Noblesse all verified and constituted, may look on with what face they will not without a secret tremor of heart. The Clergy, always acting the part of conciliators, make a clutch at the Galleries, and the popularity there and miss it. Deputation of them arrives, with dolorous message about the dearth of grains,' and the necessity there is of casting aside vain formalities, and deliberating on this. An insidious proposal which, however, the Commons (moved
!

'

'

'

thereto

by

sea-green Robespierre) dexterously accept as a sort

of hint, or even pledge, that the Clergy will forthwith

come

over to them, constitute the States-General, and so cheapen grains ^ Finally, on the 27th day of May, Mirabeau, judging the time now nearly come, proposes that the inertia cease that, leaving the Noblesse to their own stiff ways, the Clergy be summoned, in the name of the God of Peace,' to join the Commons, and begin. ^ To which summons if they turn a deaf ear, we shall see Are not one Hundred and Fortynine of them ready to desert ? O Triumvirate of Princes, new Garde-des-Sceaux Barentin,
!

'

'

'

thou Home-Secretary Breteuil, Duchess Polignac, and Queen eager to listen, ^what is now to be done ? This Third Estate will get in motion, with the force of all France in it Clergy-

Arthur Young, Travels, Histoire ParUmentaire,

i.
i.

104.

Bailly, Mimoires,

i.

II4.

413.

machinery

INERTIA

153

machinery with Noblesse-machinery, which were to serve as CHAP. I beautiful counterbalances and drags, will be shamefully dragged May 27-June'" after it, and take fire along with it. What is to he done ? ^^' ^^^'^ The CEil-de-Boeuf waxes more confused than ever. Whisper and counter- whisper a very tempest of whispers Leading men from all the Three Orders are nightly spirited thither conjurors many of them but can they conjure this ? Necker himself were now welcome, could he interfere to purpose. Let Necker interfere, then and in the King's name Happily that incendiary God-of-Peace message is not yet answered. The Three Orders shall again have conferences under this Patriot Minister of theirs, somewhat may be healed, clouted up ^we meanwhile getting forward Swiss Regiments, and a hundred pieces of field-artillery.' This is what the QEil-de-

'

'

'

Boeuf, for

its part,

resolves on.

Necker Alas, poor Necker, thy obstinate Third Estate has one first-last word, verification in common, as the pledge of voting and deliberating in common Half-way proposals, from such a tried friend, they answer with a stare. The tardy conferences speedily break up The Third Estate, now ready and resolute, the whole world backing it, returns to its Hall of the Three Orders and Necker to the (Eil-deas for
! : ;

But

Boeuf, with

the character of a disconjured conjuror there,

fit

only for dismissal.^ And so the Commons Deputies are at last on their own strength getting under way ? Instead of Chairman, or Dean, Astronomer Bailly. Under they have now got a President With endless vociferous and temperate way, with a vengeance eloquence, borne on Newspaper wings to all lands, they have now, on this 17th day of June, determined that their name They, then, is not Third Estate, but National Assembly are the Nation ? Triumvirate of Princes, Queen, refractory A most deep Noblesse and Clergy, what, then, are you ? question scarcely answerable in living political dialects. All regardless of which, our new National Assembly prodear to France, ceeds to appoint a committee of subsistences though it can find little or no grain. Next, as if our National Assembly stood quite firm on its legs, to appoint four other then to settle the security of the standing committees all within then that of the Annual Taxation National Debt
:
!
!

'

'

'

'

Debates,

ist to 17th

June 1789

(in Histoire

Parlementaire,

i.

422-78).

eight-

154

THE THIRD ESTATE

At such
rate of velocity
it
is

BOOK V
May
'^''^''

eight-and-forty hours.

going

27-June tj^g coniurors of the (Eil-de-Bceuf

may

well ask themselves,

Whither?

CHAPTER
Now
surely were the time for a
'

II

MERCURY DE BREZE
god from the machine there is a nodus worthy of one. The only question is, Which god ? Shall it be Mars de Broglie, with his hundred pieces of so soft, irresolute is cannon ? Not yet, answers prudence King Louis. Let it be Messenger Mercury, our Supreme Usher de Breze On the morrow, which is the 20th of June, these Hundred and Forty-nine false Curates, no longer restrainable by his let De Breze intervene, Grace of Paris, will desert in a body Not only shall there be Royal and produce closed doors Session, in that Salle des Menus but no meeting, nor work'

ing (except
styled
'

by

carpenters),

till

then.

Your Third

Estate,

self-

National Assembly,' shall suddenly see itself extruded from its Hall, by carpenters, in this dexterous way and reduced to do nothing, not even to meet, or articulately lament, till Majesty, with Seance Roy ale and new miracles, be ready In this manner shall De Breze, as Mercury ex machind, intervene and, if the (Eil-de-Boeuf mistake not, work deliverance from the nodus. Of poor De Breze we can remark that he has yet prospered in none of his dealings with these Commons. Five weeks ago, when they kissed the hand of Majesty, the mode he took got nothing but censure and then his sincere attachment,' how was it scornfully whiffed aside Before supper, this night, he writes to President Bailly, a new Letter, to be delivered shortly after dawn tomorrow, in the King's name. Which Letter, however, Bailly, in the pride of office, will merely crush together into his pocket, like a bill he does not mean to pay. Accordingly on Saturday morning the 20th of June, shrillsounding heralds proclaim, through the streets of Versailles, that there is to be Seance Royale next Monday and no meeting of the States-General till then. And yet, we observe.
;

'

President

THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES.

(Louis

XFI. and Marie

Antoinette.)

MERCURY DE BREZE
;

155

President Bailly, in sound of this, and with De Breze's Letter CHAP. II J"" 20, in his pocket, is proceeding, with National Assembly at his ^^^^ heels, to the accustomed Salle des Menus as if De Breze and heralds were mere wind. It is shut, this Salle occupied by Gardes Frangaises. Where is your Captain ? The Captain shows his royal order workmen, he is grieved to say, are all busy setting up the platform for his Majesty's SSance most unfortunately, no admission admission, at furthest, for President and Secretaries to bring away papers, which the joiners might destroy President Bailly enters with Secretaries and returns bearing papers alas, within doors, instead of patriotic eloquence, there is now no noise but hammering, sawing, and operative screeching and rumbling A profanation without
;

'

'

parallel.

The Deputies stand grouped on the Paris Road, on this lunbrageous Avenue de Versailles complaining aloud of the
;

indignity done them.

their windows, fortablest
:

Courtiers,

it

is

supposed,
is

and
;

giggle.

The morning

look from none of the com-

raw

it is

even drizzling a

little.^

But

all

travellers

pause

patriot gallery-men, miscellaneous spectators increase

the groups. Wild counsels alternate. Some desperate Deputies propose to go and hold session on the great outer Staircase at Marly, under the King's windows for his Majesty, it seems, has driven over thither. Others talk of making the Chateau Forecourt, what they call Place d'Armes, a Runnymede and new Champ de Mai of free Frenchmen nay of awakening, to sounds of indignant Patriotism, the echoes of the OEil-deBoeuf itself. Notice is given that President Bailly, aided by judicious Guillotin and others, has found place in the TennisCourt of the Rue St. Frangois. Thither, in long-drawn files, hoarse- jingling, like cranes on wing, the Commons Deputies angrily wend. Strange sight was this in the Rue St. Franyois, Vieux Versailles A naked Tennis-Court, as the pictures of that time still naked, except aloft some poor wooden four walls give it penthouse, or roofed spectators'-gallery, hanging round them on the floor not now an idle teeheeing, a snapping of balls and but the bellowing din of an indignant National Reprerackets However, a cloud of sentation, scandalously exiled hither witnesses looks down on them, from wooden penthouse, from
;
:

Bailly, M^moires,

i.

185-206.

wall-top,

156

THE THIRD ESTATE

;
:

BOOK V
June
20,

wall-top,

1789

from adjoining roof and chimney rolls towards them from all quarters, with passionate spoken blessings. Some some chair, if not to sit on, table can be procured to write on Bailly then to stand on. The Secretaries undo their tapes has constituted the Assembly. Experienced Mounier, not wholly new to such things, in Parlementary revolts, which he has seen or heard of, thinks that it were well, in these lamentable threatening circumUniversal acclamastances, to unite themselves by an Oath. The Oath tion, as from smouldering bosoms getting vent pronounced aloud by President Bailly, and is redacted
;

indeed in such a sonorous tone, that the cloud of witnesses, even outdoors, hear it, and bellow response to it. Six hundred right-hands rise with President Bailly's, to take God above to witness that they will not separate for man below, but will meet in all places, under all circumstances, wheresoever two or three can get together, till they have made the Constitution. Made the Constitution, Friends That is a long task. Six hundred hands, meanwhile, will sign as they have sworn six hundred save one one Loyalist Abdiel, still visible by this sole light-point, and namable, poor M. Martin dAuch, from Castelnaudary, in Languedoc' Him they permit to sign or signify refusal they even save him from the cloud of witnesses, by declaring his head deranged.' At four o'clock, the signatures are all appended new meeting is fixed for Monday morning, earlier than the hour of the Royal Session that our Hundred and Forty-nine Clerical deserters be not balked we will meet at the RecoUets Church or elsewhere,' in hope that our Hundred and Forty-nine will join us and now it is time to go to dinner. This, then, is the Session of the Tennis-Court, famed Stance du Jeu de Paume the fame of which has gone forth to all lands. This is Mercurius de Breze's appearance as Deus ex machind this is the fruit it brings The giggle of Courtiers in the Versailles Avenue has already died into gaunt silence. Did the distracted Court, with Garde-des-Sceaux Barentin, Triumvirate and Company, imagine that they could scatter six hundred National Deputies, big with a National Constitution, like as much barndoor poultry, big with next to nothing, by the white or black rod of a Supreme Usher ? Barndoor poultry fly cackling but National Deputies turn round, lion!

'

'

'

faced

MERCURY DE BREZE
; ;

157

faced and, with uplifted right-hand, swear an Oath that makes CHAP. II June 22-23, the four corners of France tremble. -^^^^ President Bailly has covered himself with honour which shall become rewards. The National Assembly is now doubly and trebly the Nation's Assembly not militant, martyred only, but triumphant insulted, and which could not be insulted. Paris disembogues itself once more, to witness, ' with grim looks,' the Seance Roy ale ^ which, by a new felicity, is post;
;
:

Tuesday. The Hundred and Forty-nine, and even with Bishops among them, all in processional mass, have had free leisure to march off, and solemnly join the Commons sitting waiting in their Church. The Commons welcomed them with shouts, with embracings, nay with tears ^ for it is growing a life-and-death matter now. As for the Seance itself, the Carpenters seem to have accompUshed their platform but all else remains unaccomplished. Futile, we may say fatal, was the whole matter. King Louis enters, through seas of people, all grim-silent, angry with many things, for it is a bitter rain too. Enters, to a Third Estate, which has been wetted waiting under likewise grim- silent mean porches, at back-doors, while Court and Privileged were entering by the front. King and Garde-des-Sceaux (there is no Necker visible) make known, not without longwindedness, the determination of the royal breast. The Three Orders shall vote separately. On the other hand, France may look for

poned

till

considerable constitutional blessings ; as specified in these Five-and-thirty Articles,^ which Garde-des-Sceaux is waxing hoarse with reading. Which Five-and-thirty Articles, adds

Majesty again rising, if the Three Orders most unfortunately seul cannot agree together to effect them, I myself will effect which being interpreted may je ferai le Men de mes pewples,'' signify. You, contentious Deputies of the States-General, have But, in fine, all shall now withprobably not long to be here draw for this day and meet again, each Order in its separate This is place, tomorrow morning, for despatch of business. pithy and clear. And the determination of the royal breast herewith King, retinue. Noblesse, majority of Clergy file out, as if the whole matter were satisfactorily completed. through grim-silent seas of people. Only These file out
his
'
:

See Arthur Yo\xryg (Travels, i. 1 15-8) Dumont, Souvenirs sur Miraieau, c.

A. Lameth,
*

etc.

4.

Histoire Parlemeniaire,

i.

13.

the

158

THE THIRD ESTATE

Commons Deputies
;

BOOK V

the

June 22-23, silence, uncertain

not out but stand there in gloomy what they shall do. One man of them is
file
;
!

one man of them discerns and dares It is now that King Mirabeau starts to the Tribune, and lifts up his lionvoice. Verily a word in season for, in such scenes, the moment is the mother of ages Had not Gabriel Honore been there, one can well fancy, how the Commons Deputies, affrighted at the perils which now yawned dim all round them, and waxing ever paler in each other's paleness, might very naturally, one after one, have glided off and the whole course of European History have been different But he is there. List to the brool of that royal forest-voice sorrowful, low fast swelling to a roar Eyes kindle at the glance of his eye National Deputies were missioned by a Nation they have sworn an Oath they But lo while the lion's voice roars loudest, what Apparition is this ? Apparition of Mercurius de Breze, muttering somewhat Speak out,'
certain
;
!

cry several.
'

'

'

Messieurs,' shrills

De
! '

the King's orders Mirabeau glares on him with fire-flashing face shakes the black lion's mane Yes, Monsieur, we have heard what the King was advised to say and you, who cannot be the interpreter of his orders to the States-General you, who have neither place nor right of speech here you are not the man to remind us of it. Go, Monsieur, tell those who sent you that we are here by the will of the People, and that nothing but the force of bayonets shall ^ send us hence And poor De Breze shivers forth from the National Assembly ; and also (if it be not in one faintest glimmer, months later) finally from the page of History Hapless De Breze doomed to survive long ages, in men's memory, in this faint way, with tremulent white rod He was true to Etiquette, which was his Faith here below a martyr to respect of persons. Short woollen cloaks could not kiss Majesty's hand as long velvet ones did. Nay lately, when the poor little Dauphin lay dead, and some ceremonial Visitation came, was he not punctual to announce it even to the Dauphin's ^ dead body Monseigneur, a Deputation of the States-General Sunt lachrymce rerum. But what does the QEil-de-Boeuf, now when De Br^ze shivers back thither ? Despatch that same force of bayonets ? Not
'
;
:

You have heard

Breze, repeating himself,

'

'

'

Monileur {Hist. Pari.

ii.

22).

Montgaillard,

ii.

38.

so:

MERCURY DE BREZE
SO
: ; ;

159

the seas of people still hang multitudinous, intent on what CHAP. II is passing nay rush and roll, loud-billowing, into the Courts '^^^^^^J^'^^' 1789 of the Chateau itself for a report has risen that Necker is to be dismissed. Worst of all, the Gardes Frangaises seem indis^ posed to act two Companies of them do not fire when ordered Necker, for not being at the Seance, shall be shouted for, carried home in triumph and must not be dismissed. His Grace of Paris, on the other hand, has to fly with broken coach-panels, and owe his life to furious driving. The Gardes-du-Corps (BodyGuards), which you were drawing out, had better be drawn in again.^ There is no sending of laayonets to be thought of. Instead of soldiers, the OEil-de-Boeuf sends carpenters, to In few instants, take down the platform. Ineffectual shift
:

'

'

the very carpenters cease wrenching and knocking at their standing on it, hammer in hand, and listen openplatform mouthed.^ The Third Estate is decreeing that it is, was, and and now, moreover, will be, nothing but a National Assembly infamous, an inviolable one, all members of it inviolable traitorous, towards the Nation, and guilty of capital crime, is any person, body-corporate, tribunal, court or commission that now or henceforth, during the present session or after it, shall dare to pursue, interrogate, arrest, or cause to be arrested, detain or cause to be detained, any etc. etc. on whose part soever the same be commanded.' * Which done, one can wind Mesup with this comfortable reflection from Abbe Sieyes
;

'

'

'

'

sieurs,

you are today what you were yesterday.' but it is, and remains, even Courtiers may shriek
;

so.

Their
;

well-charged explosion has exploded through the touch-hole covering themselves with scorches, confusion, and unseemly and above all, poor Poor Triumvirate, poor Queen soot
!

Queen's Husband, who means

Folly
is

well,

had he any

fixed

meaning

that wisdom which is wise only behindhand. Few months ago these Thirty-five Concessions had filled France

with a rejoicing, which might have lasted for several years. Now it is unavailing, the very mention of it slighted Majesty's express orders set at naught. a sea of persons, estimated at ten All France is in a roar
; ' ;

thousand,' whirls
*

'

all

this
ii.
ii.

day

in the Palais Royal.'

2
*

The

Histoire

Parlement aire,
i.

26.

Bailly,

i.

217.
ii.

2 ^

Histoire Parlementaire,

23.

Montgaillard,

47.

Arthur Young,

119.

remaining

160

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOKV
June 1789

remaining Clergy, and likewise some Forty-eight Noblesse, D' Orleans among them, have now forthwith gone over to the victorious Commons by whom, as is natural, they are received with acclamation.' The Third Estate triumphs Versailles Town shouting round and all it ten thousand whirling all day in the Palais Royal Let the (EilFrance standing a-tiptoe, not unlike whirling de-Bceuf look to it. As for King Louis, he will swallow his will at all costs have will temporise, keep silence injuries present peace. It was Tuesday the 23d of June, when he spoke and the week is not done till that peremptory royal mandate he has written to the remaining obstinate Noblesse, that they D'Espremenil rages his last also must oblige him, and give in. Barrel Mirabeau breaks his sword,' making a vow, which he might as well have kept. The Triple Family is now therefore complete the third erring brother, the Noblesse, having joined soothed, so far as possible, by it erring but pardonable sweet eloquence from President Bailly. So triumphs the Third Estate and States-General are become National Assembly and all France may sing Te Deum. By wise inertia, and wise cessation of inertia, great victory has been gained. It is the last night of June all night you meet nothing on the streets of Versailles but men running with torches,' with shouts and jubilation. From the 2d of May when they kissed the hand of Majesty, to this 30th of June when men run with torches, we count eight weeks and three days. For eight weeks the National Carroccio has stood far-seen, ringing many a signal and, so much having now gathered round it, may hope to stand.

'

'

'

'

'

CHAPTER
The Court
;

III

BROGLIE THE WAR-GOD

indignant that it is conquered but what then ? Another time it will do better. Mercury descended in vain now has the time come for Mars. The gods of the OEil-de-Boeuf have withdrawn into the darkness of their cloudy Ida and sit there, shaping and forging what may be needful, be
feels
;

BROGLIE THE WAR-GOD

be
it
'

161
Ill

billets of

a new National Bank,' munitions of war, or CHAP.

'

things for ever inscrutable to men. Accordingly, what means this apparatus of troops ? The National Assembly can get no furtherance for its Committee of Subsistences can hear only that, at Paris, the Bakers' that, in the Provinces, people are ' living shops are besieged on meal-husks and boiled grass.' But on all highways there hover dust-clouds, with the march of regiments, with the
' ; ;

J^ly ^-^^'
^'

trailing of

cannon

foreign Pandours, of fierce aspect

Salis;

Samade, Esterhazy, Royal- Allemand

:

to the number of thirty thousand, which fear can magnify Already, all wending towards Paris and Versailles to fifty on the heights of Montmartre, is a digging and delving too The effluence of Paris is arrested like a scarping and trenching. Versailles-ward by a barrier of cannon at Sevres Bridge. From the Queen's Mews, cannon stand pointed on the National!

so

many of them foreign

Assembly Hall itself. The National Assembly has its very slumbers broken by the tramp of soldiery, swarming and defiling, endless, or seemingly endless, all round those spaces, at dead of without drum-music, without audible word of comnight, mand.' ^ What means it ?
'

Shall eight, or even shall twelve Deputies, our Mirabeaus, Barnaves at the head of them, be whirled suddenly to the the rest ignominiously dispersed to the winds ? Castle of ;

Ham

National Assembly can make the Constitution with cannon What means this retilevelled on it from the Queen's Mews cence of the (Eil-de-Boeuf, broken only by nods and shrugs ? In the mystery of that cloudy Ida, what is it that they forge and shape ? Such questions must distracted Patriotism keep asking, and receive no answer but an echo. and now, Questions and echo bad enough in themselves above all, while the hungry food-year, which runs from August becoming more and more a famineto August, is getting older With ' meal-husks and boiled grass,' Brigands may year actually collect ; and, in crowds, at farm and mansion, howl angrily. Food ! Food ! It is in vain to send soldiers against them at sight of soldiers they disperse, they vanish as under ground ; then directly reassemble elsewhere for new tumult but what to Frightful enough to look upon and plunder. hear of, reverberated through Twenty-five Millions of sus-

No

A. Lameth, AssembUe Constituante,

i.

41.

VOL.

I.

picious

162

THE THIRD ESTATE

minds
!

BOOK V
July 1-11^
1789

picious

Brigands and Broglie,

are driving

preternatural

Rumour

mad
be
?

open Conflagration, most hearts in France.

taken
:

What
At
arms
;

will the issue of these things

Marseilles,

many weeks

ago, the

Townsmen have
what he
will.

for

'

suppressing of Brigands,' and other purposes

of it

the

military

Commandant may make

Else-

where, everywhere, could not the like be done ? Dubious, on the distracted Patriot Imagination, wavers, as a last deliverance, some foreshadow of a National Guard. But conceive, above all, the Wooden Tent in the Palais Royal A universal hubbub there, as of dissolving worlds there loudest bellows the mad, mad-making voice of Rumour there sharpest gazes Suspicion into the pale dim World-Whirlpool discerning shapes and phantasms imminent bloodthirsty Regiments camped on the Champ-de-Mars dispersed National Assembly ; redhot cannon-balls (to burn Paris) the mad War-god and Bellona's sounding thongs. To the calmest man it is becoming too plain that battle is inevitable. Inevitable, silently nod Messeigneurs and Broglie Inevitable and brief Your National Assembly, stopped short in its Constitutional labours, may fatigue the royal ear with addresses and remonstrances those cannon of ours stand duly levelled those troops are here. The King's Declaration, with its Thirty-five too generous Articles, was spoken, was not listened to but remains yet unrevoked he himself shall effect it, seul
! : ;

il

fera

As
in

for Broglie,

he has his headquarters at

:

Versailles, all as
staff-officers,

a seat of war

clerks
;

writing

significant

inclined to taciturnity
lies

plumed aides-de-camp,

scouts, order-

flying or hovering.
;

He

himself looks forth, important,

Besenval Commandant of Paris, and his warning and earnest counsels (for he has come out repeatedly on purpose), with a silent smile.^ The Parisians resist ? scornfully cry Messeigneurs. As a meal-mob may They have sat quiet, these five generations, submitting to all. Their Mercier declared, in these very years, that a Parisian revolt was henceforth ' impossible.' ^ Stand by the royal Declaration, of the Twenty-third of June. The Nobles of France, valorous, chivalrous as of old, will rally round us with one heart and as for this which you call Third Estate, and which we call
impenetrable
listens to
!
*,

Besenval,

iii.

398.

Mercier, Tableau de Paris,

vi. 22.

canaille

BROGLIE THE WAR-GOD

canaille

163
Scribblers,

factious

with a whiff of grapeshot {salve de canons),' if need be, will give quick account of it. Thus reason they hidden from men, men on their cloudy Ida also hidden from them. Good is grapeshot, Messeigneurs, on one condition that But unfortunately he the shooter also were made of metal under his buffs and bandoleers your hired is made of flesh shooter has instincts, feelings, even a kind of thought. It is his kindred, bone of his bone, this same canaille that shall be whiffed he has brothers in it, a father and mother,^ living His very doxy, not yet on meal-husks and boiled grass. ' dead i' the spital,' drives him into military heterodoxy declares that if he shed Patriot blood, he shall be accursed among men. The soldier, who has seen his pay stolen by rapacious Foulons, his blood wasted by Soubises, Pompadours, and the gates of promotion shut inexorably on him if he were not bom noble, is himself not without griefs against you. Your cause is not the soldier's cause but, as would seem, your own only, and no other god's nor man's. For example, the world may have heard how, at Bethune lately, when there rose some riot about grains,' of which sort there are so many, and the soldiers stood drawn out, and the only the was given, not a trigger stirred word Fire and butts of all muskets rattled angrily against the ground the soldiers stood glooming, with a mixed expression of counteneach under the arm of a patriot housetill clutched ance holder,' they were all hurried off, in this manner, to be treated
Broglie,
'
: ;

Spouters, ^brave

of

unwashed Sansculottes,

of

Patelins,

CHAP.

Ill

-^"ly ^-^^'

'

'

'

'

^ and have their pay increased by subscription Neither have the Gardes Fran9aises, the best regiment of the line, shown any promptitude for street-firing lately. They returned grumbling from Reveillon's; and have not burnt a

and

caressed,

nay, as we saw, not even when bid. dangerous humour dwells in these Gardes. Notable men Valadi the Pythagorean was, at one time, too, in their way an officer of theirs. Nay, in the ranks, under the three-cornered felt and cockade, what hard heads may there not be, and
single cartridge since
;

reflections going on,

unknown
^

to the public
:

One head

of

on the shoulders of a the hardest we do now discern there certain Sergeant Hoche. Lazare Hoche, that is the name of
Histoire Parlementatre.

him;

164

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOK V him
July 1-11, 1789

he used to be about the Versailles Royal Stables, nephew exceedingly addicted to a handy lad of a poor herbwoman reading. He is now Sergeant Hoche, and can rise no further he lays out his pay in rushlights, and cheap editions of books.^ On the whole, the best seems to be Consign these Gardes Frangaises to their Barracks. So Besenval thinks, and orders. Consigned to their barracks, the Gardes Frangaises do but form a Secret Association,' an Engage;
; :

'

ment not to act against

theNational Assembly.

Debauched by Valadi
the Pythagorean
;

de-

bauched

by

money
!

and women

cry

Besenval and innumerable others. Debauched by what you will, or in need of no debauching, behold them, long files of them, their consign-

ment broken, arrive, headed by their Serthe 26th of June, at the Palais Royal Welcomed with vivats, LAZARE HOCHE. with presents, and a pledge of patriot liquor embracing and embraced declaring in words that the cause of France is their cause Next day and the following days the like. What is singular too, except this patriot humour, and breaking of their consignment, they behave otherwise with the most rigorous accuracy.' ^ They are growing questionable, these Gardes Eleven ringleaders of them are put in the Abbaye Prison. It boots not in the least. The imprisoned Eleven have only, by the hand
geants,

on

day

'

'

of

an

individual,' to drop,
*

towards

nightfall,

line in the Caf6

ii.

Dictionnaire des Honunes Marquans, Londres (Paris), i8oo, Besenval, iii. 394-6.

198.

de

BROGLIE THE WAR-GOD

de Foy
'
;

165

where Patriotism harangues loudest on its table. CHAP, III Two hundred young persons, soon waxing to four thousand,' J"ly l-H? with fit crowbars, roll towards the Abbaye ^^^^ smite asunder the needful doors and bear out their Eleven, with other military victims to supper in the Palais Royal Garden to board, and lodging in camp-beds, in the Theatre des Varietes other national Prytaneum as yet not being in readiness. Most deliberate Nay so punctual were these young persons, that finding one military victim to have been im;

'

'

prisoned for real

civil crime,

they returned him to his

called out
'

cell,

with protest.

Why
force

new

military force

was not

New

military

was
' ;

called out.
:

New

military force did arrive, full gallop,

with drawn sabre but the people gently laid hold of their bridles the dragoons sheathed their swords lifted their caps by way of salute, and sat like mere statues of dragoons, except indeed that a drop of liquor being brought them, they drank to the King and Nation with the greatest cordiality.' ^ And now, ask in return, why Messeigneurs and Broglie the great god of war, on seeing these things, did not pause, and take some other course, any other course ? Unhappily, as we said, they could see nothing. Pride, which goes before a fall wrath, if not reasonable, yet pardonable, most natural, had hardened their hearts and heated their heads so, with imbecility and violence (ill-matched pair), they rush to seek their hour. All Regiments are not Gardes Fran9aises, or debauched by Valadi the Pythagorean let fresh undebauched Regiments come up let Royal-Allemand, Salis-Samade, Swiss Chateau- Vieux come up, which can fight, but can hardly speak except in German gutturals let soldiers march, and highways thunder with artillery-wagons Majesty has a new
; ' ;
: :

Royal Session to

hold,

and

miracles to

whiff of grapeshot can,

if

needful,

work there The become a blast and tempest.

!

In which circumstances, before the redhot balls begin raining, may not the Hundred-and-twenty Paris Electors, though their Cahier is long since finished, see good to meet again daily, as where an Electoral Club ? They meet first in a Tavern a large wedding-party cheerfully gives place to them.^ But
'
'

'

'

'

'

Histoire Farlemetttaire,

ii.

32.

Dusaulx.
1

Prise de la Bastille (Collection des M^moires, par Berville et Barriere,

Paris,

821), p. 269.

latterly

166

THE THIRD ESTATE

meet
in the Hotel-de-Ville, in the
;

BOOK V
July 1-11,
^^^^

latterly they

Townhall itself. Flesselles, Provost of Merchants, with his Four Echevins such was the force {Scabins, Assessors), could not prevent it with his Echevins, of public opinion. He, and the Six-andTwenty Town- Councillors, all appointed from Above, may well sit silent there, in their long gowns and consider, with awed eye, what prelude this is of convulsion coming from Below, and how they themselves shall fare in that
;

CHAPTER
TO ARMS
So hangs
it,
I

IV

dubious, fateful, in the sultry days of July. It is the passionate printed advice of M. Marat, to abstain, of all things, from violence.^ Nevertheless the hungry poor are already burning Town Barriers, where Tribute on eatables is levied getting clamorous for food.
;

the streets are all placarded with an enormous-sized De par le Roi, inviting peaceable citizens to remain within doors,' to feel no alarm, to gather in no crowd. Why so ? What mean these placards
is
:
'

The twelfth July morning

Sunday

'

of

enormous
;

size

'

Above

all,

what means
;

this clatter of

military

dragoons, hussars, rattling in from all points of the compass towards the Place Louis Quinze with a staid gravity of face, though saluted with mere nicknames, hootings and

Besenval is with them. Swiss Guards of his are already in the Champs Elysees, with four pieces of
? ^

even missiles
artillery.

the destroyers descended on us, then ? From the Bridge of Sevres to utmost Vincennes, from Saint-Denis to the Champ-de-Mars, we are begirt Alarm, of the vague unknown, is in every heart. The Palais Royal has become a place of awestruck interjections, silent shakings of the head one can fancy with what dolorous stound the noon-tide cannon (which the Sun fires at crossing of his meridian) went off there bode! :

Have

^
ii-

Avis au Peuple, ou
Besenval,
iii.

Its

Ministres divoilis,

ist

July 1789 (in Histoire Parlementaire,

37).
^

411.

ful,

TO ARMS!
ful,

167
Are these troops CHAP. IV
are the Brigands
? J'lly 12, 1789

like

an inarticulate voice
'

of
'

doom.^
?

verily

come out against Brigands

in the

What mystery is
of

wind
:

^Hark

Where
!

human voice reporting

!

articulately the Job's-news

Necker, People's Minister, Saviour

Treasonous France, is dismissed. Impossible ; incredible to the public peace Such a voice ought to be choked in the ^ water-works ; had not the news-bringer quickly fled." Nevertheless, friends, make of it what you will, the news is true. Necker is gone. Necker hies northward incessantly, in obedient secrecy, since yesternight. have a new Ministry Broglie the War-god Aristocrat Breteuil Foulon who said the people
1

We

might eat grass

Rumour,

therefore, shall arise

in the Palais Royal,

;

and

in

broad France.

confused tremor Paleness sits on every face and fremescence ; waxing into thunder-peals, of Fury stirred on by Fear.

But
pistol
;
!

see Camille Desmoulins,

out, sibylline

in face

;.

from the Cafe de Foy, rushing his hair streaming, in each hand a
:

the Police satellites are eyeing him alive they shall not take him, not they alive him alive. shall Friends This time he speaks without stammering we die like hunted hares ? Like sheep hounded into their pinfold bleating for mercy, where is no mercy, but only a the supreme hour of whetted knife ? The hour is come Frenchman and Man when Oppressors are to try conclusions and the word is, swift Death, or Deliverance with Oppressed Us, meseems, one Let such hour be well-come for ever.
springs to a table
:

He

Let universal Paris, universal To Arms cry only befits To France, as with the throat of the whirlwind, sound only yell responsive the innumerable voices To arms arms for like one great voice, as of a Demon yelling from the air In all faces wax fire-eyed, all hearts burn up into madness. such, or fitter words,^ does Camille evoke the Elemental Powers,
:

'

'

in this great

moment.
;

sign

Cockades

Friends, continues Camille, some rallyingwith green ones the colour of Hope
; !

^As

green ribands the flight of locusts, these green tree-leaves all green things are snatched, from the neighbouring shops
; ;

Histoire Parlementaire, n. Si.

^ Ibid.

Vieux

Cordelier,

par Camiile Desmoulins,

No.

(reprinted in

Collection des

Mifnoires, par Baudouin

Freres, Paris, 1825), p. 81.

and

168

THE THIRD ESTATE

of.
'
'

Camille descends from his table, stifled July 12, 1789 with embraces, wetted with tears has a bit of green riband handed him sticks it in his hat. And now to Curtius' Imageshop there to the Boulevards to the four winds and rest not till France be on fire
; ; ; ; ;
!

BOOK V and made cockades

CAMILLE DESMOULINS.
France, so long shaken and wind-parched, is probably at the right inflammable point. As for poor Curtius, who, one grieves to think, might be but imperfectly paid, ^he cannot

make two words about

his Images.

The Wax-bust
:

of Necker,

the Wax-bust of D' Orleans, helpers of France these, covered with crape, as in funeral procession, or after the manner of
suppliants

TO ARMS!
!

169

suppliants appealing to Heaven, to Earth, and Tartarus itself, CHAP. IV a mixed multitude bears off. For a sign As indeed man, "^"^^ ^^> ^'^^^ with his singular imaginative faculties, can do little or nothing without signs thus Turks look to their Prophet's banner also Osier Mannikins have Jbeen burnt, and Necker's Portrait has ere while figured, aloft on its perch. In this manner march they, a mixed, continually increasing multitude armed with axes, staves, and miscellanea ; grim, many-sounding, through the streets. Be all Theatres shut let all dancing, on planked floor, or on the natural greensward,
: ;
;

cease Instead of a Christian Sabbath, and feast of guinguette tabernacles, it shall be a Sorcerer's Sabbath and Paris, gone
!

rabid, dance,

with the Fiend

;

for piper

However, Besenval, with horse and foot, is in the Place Louis Quinze. Mortals promenading homewards, in the fall of the day, saunter by, from Chaillot or Passy, from flirtation and a little thin wine with sadder step than usual. Will the behold also Bust-Procession pass that way ? Behold it Prince Lambesc dash forth on it, with his Royal- Allemands and, Busts are hewed asunder Shots fall, and sabre-strokes alas, also heads of men. A sabred Procession has nothing for it but to explode, along what streets, alleys, Tuileries Avenues it finds and disappear. One unarmed man lies hewed down bear him (or bear even the a Garde Frangaise by his uniform where he has report of him) dead and gory to his Barracks comrades still alive But why not now, victorious Lambesc, charge through that Tuileries Garden itself, where the fugitives are vanishing ? Not show the Sunday promenaders too, how steel glitters, besprent with blood that it be told of, and men's ears tingle ? Victorious but the wrong way. Tingle, alas, they did Lambesc, in this his second or Tuileries charge, succeeds but in overturning (call it not slashing, for he struck with the flat of his sword) one man, a poor old schoolmaster, most pacifically tottering there and is driven out, by barricade of chairs, by flights of bottles and glasses,' by execrations in bass voice and wherein Most delicate is the mob-queller's vocation treble. Too-much may be as bad as Not-enough. For each of these bass voices, and more each treble voice, borne to all parts of will the City, rings now nothing but distracted indignation steeples ring all night. The cry, To arms ! roars tenfold
; !

'

with

170

THE THIRD ESTATE

their metal
;

BOOK V with

July 12, 1789 armorers'

storm-voice boom out, as the sun sinks the streets are a shops are broken open, plundered living foam-sea, chafed by all the winds. Such issue came of Lambesc's charge on the Tuileries Garden no striking of salutary terror into Chaillot promenaders a striking into broad wakefulness of Frenzy and the three Furies, For they lie always, those which otherwise were not asleep subterranean Eumenides (fabulous and yet so true), in the and can dance, brandishing their dullest existence of man dusky torches, shaking their serpent-hair. Lambesc with Royal- AUemand may ride to his barracks, with curses for his marching-music then ride back again, like one troubled in mind vengeful Gardes Fran9aises, sacreing, with knit brows, start out on him, from their barracks in the Chaussee d'Antin pour a volley into him (killing and wounding) which he must not answer, but ride on.^ Counsel dwells not under the plumed hat. If the Eumenides awaken, and Broglie has given no orders, what can a Besenval do ? When the Gardes Franyaises, with Palais-Royal volunteers, roll down, greedy of more vengeance, 'to the Place Louis Quinze itself, they find neither Besenval, Lambesc, RoyalAllemand, nor any soldier now there. Gone is military order. On the far Eastern Boulevard, of Saint-Antoine, the Chasseurs Normandie arrive, dusty, thirsty, after a hard day's ride but can find no billet-master, see no course in this City of confusions cannot get to Besenval, cannot so much as discover where he is Normandie must even bivouac there, in its dust
:
; !

and

thirst,

unless some patriot

!

will treat it to

a cup of

liquor,

with advices. Raging multitudes surround the H6tel-de-Ville, crying Arms Orders The Six-and-twenty Town- Councillors, with their long gowns, have ducked under (into the raging chaos) shall never emerge more. Besenval is painfully wriggling himself out, to the Champ-de-Mars he must sit there in the crudest uncertainty courier after courier may dash off for Versailles but will bring back no answer, can hardly bring himself back. For the roads are all blocked with batteries and pickets, with floods of carriages arrested for examination such was Broglie's one sole order ; the (Eil-de-Bceuf, hearing in the distance such mad din, which sounded almost like
!

'

'

Weber,

ii.

75-91.

invasion,

TO ARMS!
invasion, will before
all

171

things keep
it

new

Ministry, with, as

cannot take leaps.

itsdf.

Mad

whole. A CHAP. IV were, but one foot in the stirrup, -^"^y 12, 1789 Paris is abandoned altogether to
its

own head

A European metroa Paris, when the darkness fell politan City hurled suddenly forth from its old combinations and arrangements to crash tumultuously together, seeking new. Use and wont will now no longer direct any man each man, with what of originality he has, must begin thinking or following those that think. Seven hundred thousand individuals, on the sudden, find all their old paths, old ways of acting and deciding, vanish from under their feet. And so there go they, with clangour and terror, they know not as yet whether running, swimming or flying, ^headlong into the New Era. With clangour and terror from above, Broglie the war-god and impends, preternatural, with his redhot cannon-balls from below, a preternatural Brigand-world menaces with dirk and firebrand madness rules the hour. Happily, in place of the submerged Twenty-six, the ElecProvisional has declared itself a toral Club is gathering Municipality.' On the morrow it will get Provost Flesselles, with an Echevin or two, to give help in many things. For that forththe present it decrees one most essential thing with a Parisian Militia shall be enrolled. Depart, ye heads while we here, in of Districts, to labour in this great work Permanent Committee, sit alert. Let fencible men, each party in its own range of streets, keep watch and ward, all night. confused by such feverLet Paris court a little fever-sleep or from dreams, of ' violent motions at the Palais Royal time to time start awake, and look out, palpitating, in its nightcap, at the clash of discordant mutually-unintelligible on the gleam of distant Barriers, going up ail-too Patrols
What
!

'

'

'

'

ruddy towards the vault

^

of Night.^
i.

Deux Amis,

267-306.

Chapter

172

THE THIRD ESTATE

CHAPTER V
GIVE US ARMS

BOOKV
July 13, 1789

the huge City has awoke, not to its week-day The working man has industry to what a different one has one want only that of arms. become a fighting man except it be the smith's, The industry of all crafts has paused fiercely hammering pikes and, in a faint degree, the kitchener's, cooking offhand victuals for bouche va tbujours. Women too are sewing cockades not now of green, which being D'Artois colour, the H6tel-de-Ville has had to interfere in it but of red and blue, our old Paris colours these, once based on a ground of constitutional white, are the famed Tricoloe,, ^which (if Prophecy err not) will go round the world.' All shops, unless it be the Bakers' and Vintners', are shut Paris is in the streets rushing, foaming like some Venice
: !

On Monday

'

The tocsin, you had dropped poison. by order, is pealing madly from all steeples. Arms, ye Elector Municipals thou Flesselles with thy Echevins, give us arms Flesselles gives what he can fallacious, perhaps insidious promises of arms from Charleville order to seek arms here, order to seek them there. The new Municipals give what they can some three hundred and sixty indifferent firelocks, the equipment of the City-Watch a man in wooden shoes, and without Also coat, directly clutches one of them, and mounts guard.' as hinted, an order to all Smiths to make pikes with their
wine-glass into which
; ! :

'

whole

soul.

Heads

of Districts are in fervent consultation

Patriotism roams distracted, ravenous for arms. the H6tel-de-Ville was only such modicum of indifferent firelocks as we have seen. At the so-called Arsenal, there lies nothing but rust, rubbish, and saltpetre, overlooked too by

subordinate Hitherto at

the guns of the Bastille. His Majesty's Repository, what tapestries they call Garde-Meuble, is forced and ransacked enough, and gauderies but of serviceable fighting-gear small stock Two silver-mounted cannons there are an ancient
:

Majesty of Siam to Louis Fourteenth gilt sword of the Good Henri antique Chivalry arms and armour. These, and
gift

from

his

GIVE US ARMS

.173

and such as these, a necessitous Patriotism snatches greedily, CHAP. V for want of better. The Siamese cannons go trundUng, on an July 13, 1789 errand they were not meant for. Among the indifferent firelocks are seen tourney-lances the princely helm and hauberk glittering amid' ill-hatted heads, as in a time when all times and their possessions are suddenly sent jumbling At the Maison de Saint-Lazare, Lazar-House once, now a Correction-House with Priests, there was no trace of arms but, on the other hand, corn, plainly to a culpable extent. Out with it, to market in this scarcity of grains Heavens, will fifty-two carts,' in long row, hardly carry it to the Halle aux Bleds ? Well, truly, ye reverend Fathers, was your pantry filled
;

'

over-generous your wine-bins, ye plotting exasperators of the poor traitorous forestallers of bread Vain is protesting, entreaty on bare knees the House of Saint-Lazarus has that in it which comes not out by protesting. Behold, how, from every window, it vomits mere torrents the cellars also of furniture, of bellowing and hurlyburly leaking wine. Till, as was natural, smoke rose, kindled, some say, by the desperate Saint-Lazaristes themselves, desperate and the Establishment vanished from this of other riddance world in flame. Remark nevertheless that a thief (set on or not by Aristocrats), being detected there, is instantly hanged.' Look also at the Chatelet Prison. The Debtors' Prison of La Force is broken from without and they that sat in bondage hearing of which the Felons at the to Aristocrats go free Chatelet do likewise dig up their pavements,' and stand on with the best prospects, had not Patriotism, the offensive and passing' that way, fired a volley into the Felon world crushed it down again under hatches. Patriotism consorts surely also Punishment, this not with thieving and felony day, hitches (if she still hitch) after Crime, with frightful shoes' Some score or two of wretched persons, found of-swiftness prostrate with drink in the cellars of that Saint-Lazare, are indignantly haled to prison the Jailor has no room whereupon other place of security not suggesting itself, it is written, on ^ not withBrief is the word les pendit, they hanged them.'
fat are
; ;
! :

your larders

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

out significance, be

it

true or untrue

In such circumstances, the Aristocrat, the unpatriotic rich

^

Histoire

Parlemeni aire,

ii.

96.

man

174

THE THIRD ESTATE

is
:

BOOK V man

July 13, 1789 parted.

packing-up for departure. But he shall not get deA wooden-shod force has seized all Barriers, burnt or not all that enters, all that seeks to issue, is stopped there, coaches, tumbrils, plate, and dragged to the Hotel- de-Ville furniture, many meal- sacks,' in time even flocks and herds encumber the Place de Greve.^ And so it roars, and rages, and brays drums beating, steeples Oyez, oyez. All criers rushing with hand-bells pealing The Districts have men to their Districts to be enrolled are getting marshalled into met in gardens, open squares volunteer troops. No redhot ball has yet fallen from Besenon the contrary. Deserters with their arms are val's Camp nay now, joy of joys, at two in the continually dropping in afternoon, the Gardes Franyaises, being ordered to Saint-Denis, It is a fact and flatly declining, have come over in a body six hundred of the best fighting worth many. Three thousand men, with complete accoutrement with cannoneers even, and Their officers are left standing alone could not so cannon much as succeed in spiking the guns.' The very Swiss, it may now be hoped, Chateau-Vieux and the others, will have doubts about fighting. Our Parisian Militia, which some think it were better to name National Guard, is prospering as heart could wish. It promised but will in few hours double and to be forty-eight thousand invincible, if we had only arms quadruple that number But see, the promised Charleville Boxes, marked Artillerie Here, then, are arms enough ? Conceive the blank face of Patriotism, when it found them filled with rags, foul linen, Provost of the Merchants, candle-ends, and bits of wood how is this ? Neither at the Chartreux Convent, whither we were sent with signed order, is there or ever was there any Nay here, in this Seine Boat, safe under weapon of war. tarpaulings (had not the nose of Patriotism been of the finest), are five thousand- weight of gunpowder ; not coming in, but surreptitiously going out What meanest thou, Flesselles? 'Tis a ticklish game, that of ' amusing us. Cat plays with captive mouse but mouse with enraged cat, with enraged National Tiger ? Meanwhile, the faster, O ye black-aproned Smiths, smite; with strong arm and willing heart. This man and that, all
:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dusaulx, Prise de la Bastille,

p. 290.

stroke

GIVE US ARMS
;

175

stroke from head to heel, shall thunder alternating, and ply CHAP. V the great forge-hammer, till stithy reel and ring again while J^^y '^^> 1^89

ever and anon, overhead, booms the alarm-cannon, for the City has now got gunpowder. Pikes are fabricated fifty thousand of them, in six-and- thirty hours judge whether the Black-aproned have been idle. Dig trenches, unpave the streets, ye others, assiduous, man and maid cram the earth in barrelbarricades, at each of them a volunteer sentry pile the whinstones in window-sills and upper rooms. Have scalding pitch, at least boiling water ready, ye weak old women, to pour it and dash it on Royal- Allemand, with your old skinny arms your shrill curses along with it will not be wanting Patrols of the newborn National Guard, bearing torches, scour the streets, all that night which otherwise are vacant, yet illuminated in every window by order. Strange-looking like some naphtha-lighted City of the Dead, with here and there a flight of perturbed Ghosts. O poor mortals, how ye make this Earth bitter for each other this fearful and wonderful Life fearful and horrible and Such agonies and ragings and Satan has his place in all hearts wailings ye have, and have had, in all times to be buried all, and the salt sea is not swoln with your tears. in so deep silence Great meanwhile is the moment, when tidings of Freedom reach us when the long-enthralled soul, from amid its chains and squalid stagnancy, arises, were it still only in blindness and bewilderment, and swears by Him that made it, that it Free ? Understand that well, it is the deep comwill be free mandment, dimmer or clearer, of our whole being, to be free. Freedom is the one purport, wisely aimed at, or unwisely, of Yes, all man's struggles, toilings and sufferings, in this Earth. supreme is such a moment (if thou have known it) first vision as of a flame-girt Sinai, in this our waste Pilgrimage, which thenceforth wants not its pillar of cloud by day, and pillar of Something it is even, nay, something confire by night to siderable, when the chains have grown corrosive, poisonous, Forward, ye be free from oppression by our fellow-man.' maddened sons of France be it towards this destiny or towards Around you is but starvation, falsehood, corruption that and the clam of death. Where ye are is no abiding.
; : ;

'

Imagination may,

imperfectly,

figure

how Commandant
Besenval,

176

THE THIRD ESTATE

Champ- de-Mars, has worn out these
sorrowful
!

BOOK V

Besenval, in the

July 13, 1789 hours.

From

Insurrection raging all round ; his men melting away Versailles, to the most pressing messages, comes no
;

answer or once only some vague word of answer which is A Council of Officers can decide merely worse than none. Colonels inform him, that there is no decision weeping,' their men will fight. think Cruel uncerthat they do not Broglie sits yonder, war-god inaccessible in his tainty is here Olympus does not descend terror-clad, does not produce his sends no orders. whiff of grapeshot Truly, in the Chateau of Versailles all seems mystery in the Town of Versailles, were we there, all is rumour, alarm and indignation. An august National Assembly sits, to appearendeavouring to defy death. It ance, menaced with death has resolved that Necker carries with him the regrets of the It has sent solemn Deputation over to the Chateau, Nation.' with entreaty to have these troops withdrawn. In vain his Majesty, with a singular composure, invites us to be busy rather Foreign with our own duty, making the Constitution Pandours, and suchlike, go pricking and prancing, with a with an eye too probably to the Salle des swashbuckler air Menus, were it not for the grim-looking countenances that crowd all avenues there. ^ Be firm, ye National Senators the cynosure of a firm, grim-looking people The august National Senators determine that there shall, at least, be Permanent Session till this thing end. Wherein however, consider that worthy Lafranc de Pompignan, our new President, whom we have named Bailly's successor, is an old man, wearied with many things. He is the Brother of that Pompignan who meditated lamentably on the Book of Lamen: '
;

'

'

'

tations

Savez-vous pourquoi Jeremie

Se lamentait

toute sa vie ?

C'est quit prevoyait

Que Pompignan

le traduirait !

Poor Bishop Pompignan withdraws

:

having got Lafayette

for

this latter, as nocturnal Vice-President, helper or substitute with a thin house in disconsolate humour, sits sleepless, with ^waiting what the hours will bring. lights unsnuffed
;

See Lameth

Ferri^res, etc.

So

GIVE US ARMS
So at
Versailles.

177
CHAP. V

But

at Paris, agitated Besenval, before

retiring for the night, has stept over to old

of the Hotel des Invalides

is

hard by.

M. de Sombreuil, Julyl3,i789 M. de Sombreuil has, what

;

a great secret, some eight-and-twenty thousand stand of muskets deposited in his cellars there but no trust in the temper of his Invalides. This day, for example, he sent twenty of the fellows down to unscrew those muskets lest Sedition might snatch at them but scarcely, in six hours, had the twenty unscrewed twenty gun-locks, or dogsheads {chiens) of locks, each Invalide his dogshead If ordered to fire, they would, he imagines,
; :

turn their cannon

against himself.

Unfortunate old military gentlemen, it is your hour, not of glory Old Marquis de Launay too, of the Bastille, has pulled up his draw!

bridges long since, ' and retired into his interior

'

with

sentries

walking

his on battlements, under the midnight sky,

aloft over the glare of

illuminated Paris whom a National Patrol, passing that way, takes DE LAUNAY. the liberty of firing at seven shots towards twelve at night,' which do not take effect.^ a worse day, many said, This was the 13th day of July 1789 than the last 13th was, when only hail fell out of Heaven, not madness rose out of Tophet, ruining worse than crops
; '
; !

In these same days, as Chronology will teach us, hot old Marquis Mirabeau lies stricken down, at Argenteuil, not for he properly is not there, within sound of these alarm-guns and only the body of him now lies, deaf and cold for ever. It was on Saturday night that he, drawing his last life-breaths, leaving a world, which would never gave up the ghost there
; ;

Deux Amis

de la Liberty,

i.

312.

VOL.

I.

go

178

THE THIRD ESTATE

broken out, seemingly, into deliration and

BOOK V go to his mind, now July 13, 1789 tjie cuThute ginirale.
on
far
his long journey ?
off,

What
The

is it

to him, departing elsewhither,

old Chateau Mirabeau stands sUent,

'
'

scarped rock, in that gorge of two windy valleys this huge Worldthe pale-fading spectre now of a Chateau riot, and France, and the World itself, fades also, like a shadow on the great still mirror-sea ; and all shall be as God wills. Young Mirabeau, sad of heart, for he loved this crabbed sad of heart, and occupied with sad cares, brave old Father The great crisis transis withdrawn from Public History. acts itself without him.^

on

its

CHAPTER

VI

STORM AND VICTORY

But, to the living and the struggling, a new. Fourteenth morning dawns. Under all roofs of this distracted City is the nodus of a drama, not untragical, crowding towards solution. The bustlings and preparings, the tremors and menaces the This day, my sons, ye shall tears that fell from old eyes quit you like men. By the memory of your fathers' wrongs, Tyranny impends in by the hope of your children's rights red wrath help for you is none, if not in your own right hands. This day ye must do or die. From earliest light, a sleepless Permanent Committee has heard the old cry, now waxing almost frantic, mutinous Arms
;
I ! :
: !

Provost Flesselles, or what traitors there are among you, may think of those Charleville Boxes. A hundred-andand but the third man furnished with so fifty-thousand of us Arms are the one thing needful with arms much as a pike we are an unconquerable man-defying National Guard without arms, a rabble to be whiffed with grapeshot. Happily the word has arisen, for no secret can be kept, that there lie muskets at the Hotel des Invalides. Thither King's Procureur M. Ethys de Corny, and whatsowill we ever of authority a Permanent Committee can lend, shall go perhaps he will not fire with us. Besenval's Camp is there on us ; if he kill us, we shall but die.

Arms

Fils Adoptif,

Mirabeau,

vi,

1.

i.

Alas,

STORM AND VICTORY

Alas, poor Besenval, with his troops melting
!

179

manner, has not the smallest hmnour to fire this morning, as he lay dreaming, oblivious in the t^cole Militaire, a with face figure stood suddenly at his bedside rather handsome eyes inflamed, speech rapid and curt, air audacious The such a figure drew Priam's curtains message and monition of the figure was, that resistance would be hopeless that if blood flowed, wo to him who shed it. Thus spoke the figure Withal there was a and vanished. kind of eloquence that struck one.' Besenval admits that he should have arrested him, but did not.^ Who this figure with inflamed eyes, with speech rapid and curt, might be ? Camille Desmoulins ? Besenval knows, but mentions not. Pythagorean Marquis Valadi, inflamed with violent motions all night at the Palais Royal ? Fame names him Young M. Meillar ^ then shuts her lips about him for ever. In any case, behold, about nine in the morning, our National Volunteers rolling in long wide flood south-westward to the King's Hotel des Invalides in search of the one thing needful. the Cure Procureur M. Ethys de Corny and officials are there of Saint-Etienne du Mont marches unpacific at the head of his militant Parish the Clerks of the Basoche in red coats we see the Volunteers of marching, now Volunteers of the Basoche National Volunteers, numerable by tens the Palais Royal The King's muskets of thousands of one heart and mind. are the Nation's think, old M. de Sombreuil, how, in this Old M. de Sombreuil would extremity, thou wilt refuse them but it skills not the walls are fain hold parley, send couriers the gates must be flung open. scaled, no Invalide firing a shot Patriotism rushes in, tumultuous, from grunsel up to ridgerummaging distractedly tile, through all rooms and passages for arms. What cellar, or what cranny can escape it ? The lying packed in straw, all safe there arms are found More ravenous than apparently with a view to being burnt famishing lions over dead prey, the multitude, with clangour struggling, dashing, and vociferation, pounces on them clutching to the jamming-up, to the pressure, fracture and
'
' ; ' ; ' :
!

away in that CHAP. VI At five o'clock "^"^y 14, 1789

'

'

'

'

'

iii.

Besenval,

414.
la

Tableaux de
with

Portraits,

R^olution, Prise de la Bastille (a folio Collection of Pictures and letter-press, not always uninstructive, part of it said to be by

Chamfort).

probable

180

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOK V
July 14, 1789

probable extinction of the weaker Patriot.^ And so, with such protracted crash of deafening, most discordant Orchestraand eight-and-twenty thousand music, the Scene is changed sufficient firelocks are on the shoulders of as many National Guards, lifted thereby out of darkness into fiery light.

Let Besenval look at the glitter of these muskets, as they Gardes Fran9aises, it is said, have cannon levelled flash by on him ready to open, if need were, from the other side of the astonished,' one may flatter oneRiver. ^ Motionless sits he self, at the proud bearing {flere contenance) of the Parisians.' And now, to the Bastille, ye intrepid Parisians There grapethither all men's thoughts and steps are shot still threatens
! ;

'

'

now

tending.
'

Old De Launay, as we hinted, withdrew into his interior soon after midnight of Sunday. He remains there ever since, hampered, as all military gentlemen now are, in the saddest conflict of uncertainties. The H6tel-de-Ville invites him to admit National Soldiers, which is a soft name for surrendering. On the other hand, his Majesty's orders were precise. His garrison is but eighty-two old Invalides, reinforced by thirtytwo young Swiss his walls indeed are nine feet thick, he has cannon and powder but, alas, only one day's provision of
'
'
;

victuals.

French, the poor garrison mostly French. Rigorous old De Launay, think what thou wilt do All morning, since nine, there has been a cry everywhere To the Bastille Repeated ' deputations of citizens have been here, passionate for arms whom De Launay has got dismissed by soft speeches through portholes. Towards noon. Elector Thuriot de la Rosiere gains admittance finds De Launay indisposed for surrender nay disposed for blowing up the place rather. Thuriot mounts with him to the battlements heaps of paving- stones, old iron and missiles lie piled cannon all duly levelled in every embrasure a cannon, only drawn back a little But outwards, behold, O Thuriot, how tocsin the multitude flows on, welling through every street furiously pealing, all drums beating the generale the Suburb Such Saint- Antoine rolling hitherward wholly, as one man vision (spectral yet real) thou, O Thuriot, as from thy Mount of Vision, beholdest in this moment prophetic of what other
city too
is
! !

The

'

Deux Amis,

i.

302.

Besenval,

iii,

416.

Phantasmagories,

STORM AND VICTORY

! '

181

Phantasmagories, and loud-gibbering. Spectral Realities, which CHAP. VI thou yet beholdest not, but shalt said July !*> 1789 ''Que voulez-vous ? De Launay, turning pale at the sight, with an air of reproach, almost of menace. * Monsieur,' said Thuriot, rising into the moral- sublime, what mean you ? Consider if I could not precipitate both of us from this height,' say only a hundred feet, exclusive of the walled ditch Whereupon De Launay fell silent. Thuriot shows himself from some pinnacle, to then comfort the multitude becoming suspicious, fremescent with warning addressed also descends departs with protest to the Invalides, on whom, however, it produces but a mixed indistinct impression. The old heads are none of the clearest besides, it is said, De Launay has been profuse of beverages {prodigua des hoissons). They think, they will not fire, if not fired on, if they can help it but must, on the whole, be ruled considerably by circumstances. Wo to thee, De Launay, in such an hour, if thou canst not, Soft taking some one firm decision, rule circumstances but hard grapeshot is questionable speeches will not serve hovering between the two is i^nquestionable. Ever wilder their infinite' hum waxing ever louder, swells the tide of men into imprecations, perhaps into crackle of stray musketry, which latter, on walls nine feet thick, cannot do execution. new The Outer Drawbridge has been lowered for Thuriot deputation of citizens (it is the third, and noisiest of all) penesoft speeches producing trates that way into the Outer Court
'

no clearance
bridge.

of these,

De Launay
;

slight sputter
;

^which

gives fire

Drawhas kindled the too com;

pulls

up

his

Bursts forth made it a roaring fire-chaos bustible chaos Insurrection, at sight of its own blood (for there were deaths by that sputter of fire), into endless rolling explosion of
!

^and over head, from the musketry, distraction, execration Fortress, let one great gun, with its grapeshot, go booming, to
;

show what we

could do.

The

On, then, all Frenchmen, Roar with all your throats, stir spasmodically Liberty you, soul, body, or spirit Louis Tournay, cartwright
; ; ;

besieged that have hearts in your bodies of cartilage and metal, ye Sons of whatsoever of utmost faculty is in Smite, thou for it is the hour of the Marais, old-soldier of the
Bastille
is
! !
!

smite at that Outer Drawbridge chain, Regiment Dauphine Never, over nave though the fiery hail whistles round thee
!

or

182

THE THIRD ESTATE

;
:

BOOKV
July 14, 1789

did thy axe strike such a stroke. Down with it, man down with it to Orcus let the whole accursed Edifice Mounted, sink thither, and Tyranny be swallowed up for ever ' some say, on the roof of the guard-room, some on bayonets stuck into joints of the wall,' Louis Tournay smites, brave Aubin Bonnem^re (also an old soldier) seconding him the the huge Drawbridge slams down, chain yields, breaks and yet, alas, it is still thundering {avec fracas). Glorious but the outworks. The Eight grim Towers, with their Invalide musketry, their paving- stones and cannon-mouths, still soar Ditch yawning impassable, stone-faced aloft intact the the Bastille is still inner Drawbridge with its back towards us
or
felloe,
!
:

to take

describe this Siege of the Bastille (thought to be one of the most important in History) perhaps transcends the talent

To

Could one but, after infinite reading, get to underBut there is open stand so much as the plan of the building Esplanade, at the end of the Rue Saint- Antoine there are such Forecourts, Cour Avanci, Cour de VOrme, arched Gateway (where Louis Tournay now fights) then new drawbridges, dormant-bridges, rampart-bastions, and the grim Eight Towers a labyrinthic Mass, high-frowning there, of all ages from twenty years to four hundred and twenty; beleaguered, in this its last hour, as we said, by mere Chaos come again Ordnance
of mortals.
!

of all calibres

throats of

all
:

capacities

men

of all plans,

every man his own engineer seldom since the war of Pygmies and Cranes was there seen so anomalous a thing. Half-pay Elie is home for a suit of regimentals no one would heed him in coloured clothes half-pay Hulin is haranguing Gardes Fran9aises in the Place de Gr^ve. Frantic Patriots pick up the grapeshots bear them, still hot (or seemingly so), to the H6tel-de-Ville Paris, you perceive, is to be burnt Flesselles pale to the very lips is for the roar of the multitude grows deep. Paris wholly has got to the acme of its frenzy whirled, all ways, by panic madness. At every street-barricade, there whirls simmering a minor whirlpool, strengthening the barri;
: :

'

'

coming and all minor whirlpools play distractedly into that grand Fire-Mahlstrom which is lashing round the Bastille. And so it lashes and it roars. Cholat the wine-merchant
cade, since
is
;

God knows what

has

ABOVE THE ABYSS.

STORM AND VICTORY

:

183

has become an impromptu cannoneer. See Georget, of the CHAP. VI Marine Service, fresh from Brest, ply the King of Siam's cannon. July 14, 1789 Georget lay, last Singular (if we were not used to the like) night, taking his ease at his inn the King of Siam's cannon Yet also lay, knowing nothing of him, for a hundred years. now, at the right instant, they have got together, and discourse eloquent music. For, hearing what was toward, Georget sprang from the Brest Diligence, and ran. Gardes Fran9aises were not the walls so also will be here, with real artillery thick Upwards from the Esplanade, horizontally from all neighbouring roofs and windows, flashes one irregular deluge The Invalides lie flat, firing comof musketry, without effect. hardly through paratively at their ease from behind stone and make portholes show the tip of a nose. We fall, shot no impression of whatsoever is combustible Let conflagration rage Guard-rooms are burnt, Invalides mess-rooms. A distracted Peruke-maker with two fiery torches is for burning the had not a woman run screaming saltpetres of the Arsenal had not a Patriot, with some tincture of Natural Philosophy, instantly struck the wind out of him (butt of musket on pit of stomach), overturned barrels, and stayed the devouring
;
: !

'

'

'

'

young beautiful lady, seized escaping in these Outer Courts, and thought falsely to be De Launay's daughter, she lies swooned on a shall be burnt in De Launay's sight paillasse but again a Patriot, it is brave Aubin Bonnem^re the old soldier, dashes in, and rescues her. Straw is burnt three cartloads of it, hauled thither, go up in white smoke
element.
; : :

so that Elie had, almost to the choking of Patriotism itself and R^ole the with singed brows, to draw back one cart conanother. Smoke as of Tophet gigantic haberdasher noise as of the Crack of Doom fusion as of Babel the aliment of new madness. The wounded Blood flows the dying leave are carried into houses of the Rue Cerisaie their last mandate not to yield till the accursed Stronghold
;
;

'

'

fall.

And

yet,

alas,

how

fall ?

The

walls

are so thick

Deputations, three in number, arrive from the H6tel-de-Ville Abb^ Fauchet (who was of one) can say, with what almost

superhuman courage of benevolence.^ These wave their Townand stand, rolling their drum flag in the arched Gateway
;
;

Fauchet's Narrative {Deux Amis,

i.

324).

but

184

THE THIRD ESTATE

to no purpose.
:

In such Crack of Doom, De Launay cannot July u, 1789 hear them, dare not beUeve them they return, with justified What to do ? rage, the whew of lead still singing in their ears. The Firemen are here, squirting with their fire-pumps on the they unfortunately Invalides cannon, to wet the touchholes but produce only clouds of spray. cannot squirt so high Individuals of classical knowledge propose catapults. Santerre, the sonorous Brewer of the Suburb Saint-Antoine, advises rather that the place be fired, by a ' mixture of phosphorus

BOOK V but

and

oil

of

turpentine

spouted

up

through
hast

forcing-pumps': O
Spinola-Santerre,

thou the mixture ready 1

man his own engineer And still the

Every
!

fire-deluge abates not

even

women
;

are at

firing,

and Turks
one
sweetheart),

least

woman

(with her

and

Gardes gaises have come real cannon, real cannoneers. Usher Maillard is busy
Turk.^
: ;

one Fran-

half-pay Elie, half-pay Hulin rage in the midst of thousands. How the great BasMAILLARD. tille clock ticks (inaudible) in its Inner Court there, at its ease, hour after hour, as if nothing special, for it or the world, were passing It tolled One when the firing began and is now pointing towards Five, and still the firing slakes not. Far down, in their vaults, the seven Prisoners hear muffled din as of earthquakes their Turnkeys answer vaguely. to thee, De Launay, with thy poor hundred Invalides Broglie is distant, and his ears heavy Besenval hears, but
'

Wo

can send no help.

^

One poor troop

i.

of Hussars has crept,

etc.

Deux Amis,

319

Dusaulx,

reconnoitering,

STORM AND VICTORY

We
crowd seems
shoreless.

185

reconnoitering, cautiously along the Quais, as far as the Pont CHAP. VI Neuf. ' are come to join you,' said the Captain ; for the July 14, 1789

large-headed dwarfish individual, of smoke-bleared aspect, shambles forward, opening his blue lips, for there is sense in him and croaks Alight then, and give up your arms The Hussar-Captain is too happy to be escorted to the Barriers, and dismissed on parole. Who the squat individual was ? Men answer. It is M. Marat, author of the excellent pacific Avis au Peuple Great truly, O thou remarkable Dogleech, is this thy day of emergence and new-birth and yet this same day come four years But let the curtains of the Future hang. What shall De Launay do ? One thing only De Launay could have done what he said he would do. Fancy him sitting, from the first, with lighted taper, within arm's-length of the Powder-Magazine motionless, like old Roman Senator, or Bronze Lamp-holder coldly apprising Thuriot, and a,ll men, by a slight motion of his eye, what his resolution was Harmless he sat there, while unharmed but the King's Fortress, meanwhile, could, might, would, or should in nowise be one old man's life surrendered, save to the King's Messenger is worthless, so it be lost with honour but think, ye brawling canaille, how will it be when a whole Bastille springs skyward In such statuesque, taper-holding attitude, one fancies De Launay might have left Thuriot, the red Clerks of the Basoche, Cure of Saint-Stephen and all the tag-rag-and-bobtail of the
;
:

'

'

world, to

work

their will.

And yet, withal, he could not do it. Hast thou considered how each man's heart is so tremulously responsive to the hearts hast thou noted how omnipotent is the very sound of all men of many men ? How their shriek of indignation palsies the
;

howl of contumely withers with unfelt pangs ? The Ritter Gluck confessed that the ground-tone of the noblest passage, in one of his noblest Operas, was the voice of the Populace he had heard at Vienna, crying to their Kaiser the Great is the combined voice of men Bread Bread utterance of their instincts, which aire truer than their thoughts it is the greatest a man encounters, among the sounds and shadows which make up this world of Time. He who can De Launay resist that, has his footing somewhere beyond Time. hopes could not do it. Distracted, he hovers between two
strong soul
;

their

in

186

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOK V

in the middle of despair

surrenders not his Fortress

declares

July 14, 1789 that

he will blow it up, seizes torches to blow it up, and does not blow it. Unhappy old De Launay, it is the death-agony Jail, Jailoring and. Jailor, all three, of thy Bastille and thee such as they may have been, must finish. For four hours now has the World-Bedlam roared call poor fire The blowing Invalides Chimaera, it the Worldhave sunk under their battlements, or rise only with reversed muskets they have made a white flag of napkins go beating the chamade, or seeming to beat, for one can hear nothing. disThe very Swiss at the Portcullis look -vy^eary of firing a porthole at the drawbridge is heartened in the fire-deluge opened, as by one that would speak. See Huissier Maillard,
! :

On his plank, swinging over the abyss of that the shifty man plank resting on parapet, balanced by weight stone Ditch such a Dove towards such he hovers perilous of Patriots, one man already fell Deftly, thou shifty Usher an -Ark Usher and lies smashed, far down there, against the masonry deftly, unerring he walks, with outspread Maillard falls not the palm. The Swiss holds a paper through his porthole Terms of surrender shifty Usher snatches it, and returns. Foi d'o^cier, Are they accepted ? Pardon, immunity to all On the word of an officer,' answers half -pay Hulin, or halfSinks the they are pay Elie, for men do not agree on it,
!

'

'

'

drawbridge, Usher Maillard bolting it when the Bastille is fallen in the living deluge
:

down
!

rushes!

Victoire

La

Bastille est prise

CHAPTER
Why
dwell on

VII

NOT A REVOLT
Hulin's joi d'officier should have been kept, but could not. The Swiss stand drawn up, the Invalides without disdisguised in white canvas smocks The first rush their arms all piled against the wall. guise

what

follows ?

of victors, in ecstasy that the death-peril

1

is

passed,
i.

'

leaps joyBesenval,
iii.

Histoire de la Revolution, par

Deux Amis de

la Libert6,

267-306

410-34;
Berville

Dusaulx, Prise de
et

la

Bastille,

291-301;

Bailly,

Mhnoires

{Collection de

Barriere),

i.

322

et seqq.

fully

NOT A REVOLT
fully

187
Vll 1789

but new victors rush, and ever new, CHAP. also in ecstasy not wholly of joy. As we said, it was a living July 14, deluge, plunging headlong had not the Gardes Fran^aises, in their cool military way, wheeled round with arms levelled,' it would have plunged suicidally, by the hundred or the thousand,
'
;
:

on their necks

into the Bastille-ditch.

billowgoes plunging through court and corridor in hot ing uncontrollable, firing from windows on itself frenzy of triumph, of grief and vengeance for its slain. The poor Invalides will fare ill one Swiss, running off in his white smock, is driven back, with a death-thrust. Let all Prisoners Alas, already one be marched to the Townhall, to be judged

And

so

it

his maimed poor Invalide has his right hand slashed off him body dragged to the Place de Greve, and hanged there. This same right hand, it is said, turned back De Launay from the Powder -Magazine, and saved Paris. De Launay, discovered in grey frock with poppy- coloured He riband,' is for killing himself with the sword of his cane.
;

'

Hulin, Maillard and others escortElie marching foremost with the capitulation-paper ing him on his sword's point.' Through roarings and cursings through
shall to the H6tel-de-Ville
; ;
'

Your escort through strokes Hulin sinks exhausted on a heap is hustled aside, felled down He shall never enter the Miserable De Launay of stones. bloody hair-queue, held up in a only his H6tel-de-Ville The bleeding that shall enter, for a sign. bloody hand trunk lies on the steps there the head is off through the streets ghastly, aloft on a pike. Rigorous De Launay has died ; crying out, O friends, kill though Gratitude Merciful De Losme must die me fast
bustlings, clutchings,

and at

last
;

'

'

'

'

embraces him, in
avails not.

this fearful hour,

and

will die for

!

him

it

Your Place de Brothers, your wrath is cruel Greve is become a Throat of the Tiger; full of mere fierce bellowings, and thirst of blood. One other officer is masone other Invalide is hanged on the Lamp-iron with difficulty, with generous perseverance, the Gardes Frangaises Provost Flesselles, stricken long since with will save the rest. to be the paleness of death, must descend from his seat, judged at the Palais Royal ': alas, to be shot dead, by an unknown hand, at the turning of the first street O evening sun of July, how, at this hour, thy beams fall
sacred
;

'

slant

188

THE THIRD ESTATE

;
; ;

BOOK V
July 14, 1789

on old women on reapers amid peaceful woody fields on ships far out in the silent main on spinning in cottages Balls at the Orangerie of Versailles, where high-rouged Dames of the Palace are even now dancing with double- jacketed and also on this roaring Hell-porch of a Hussar-Officers Babel Tower, with the confusion of tongues, H6tel-de-Ville were not Bedlam added with the conflagration of thoughts, was no type of it. One forest of distracted steel bristles, points itself, in endless, in front of an Electoral Committee horrid radii, against this and the other accused breast. It and they, scarcely was the Titans warring with Olympus prodigy of prodigies delirious, crediting it, have conquered Denunciation, vengeance blaze of as it could not but be. all outward, all inward triumph on a dark ground of terror things fallen into one general wreck of madness Electoral Committee ? Had it a thousand throats of br^ss, Abbe Lefevre, in the Vaults down below, it would not suffice.
slant
;

is

black as Vulcan, distributing that ' five thousand- weight of Last Powder with what perils, these eight-and-forty hours night, a Patriot, in liquor, insisted on sitting to smoke on the there smoked he, indeedge of one of the Powder-barrels pendent of the world, till the Abbe * purchased his pipe for three francs,' and pitched it far. Elie, in the Grand Hall, Electoral Committee looking on, with battered sits with drawn sword bent in three places with helm, for he was of the Queen's Regiment, Cavalry comparable, some torn regimentals, face singed and soiled formthink, to judging the people an antique warrior ing a list of Bastille Heroes. O Friends, stain not with blood such is the the greenest laurels ever gained in this world burden of Elie's song could it but be listened to. Courage, Elie Courage, ye Municipal Electors A declining sun the need of victuals, and of telling news, will bring assuagement, dispersion all earthly things must end.
'

'

' ;

'

'

Along the streets of Paris circulate Seven Bastille Prisoners, borne shoulder-high seven Heads on pikes the Keys of the Bastille and much else. See also the Gardes Fran9aises, in their steadfast military way, marching home to their barracks, with the Invalides and Swiss kindly enclosed in hollow square. It is one year and two months since these same men stood
;
;

unparticipating,

NOT A REVOLT
tice,
;
;

189

unparticipating, with Brennus d'Agoust at the Palais de Jus- CHAP. VII

when Fate overtook D'Espremenil and now they have J"ly 14, 1789 participated and will participate. Not Gardes Fran5aises
henceforth, but Centre Grenadiers of the National Guard : men of iron discipline and humour, not without a kind of thought

in

them

Likewise ashlar stones of the Bastille continue thundering Old through the dusk its paper archives shall fly white. secrets come to view and long-buried Despair finds voice. Read this portion of an old Letter ^ 'If for my consolation Monseigneur would grant me, for the sake of God and the Most Blessed Trinity, that I could have news of my dear wife were it only her name on a card, to show that she is alive and I should It were the greatest consolation I could receive Poor Prisoner, for ever bless the greatness of Monseigneur.' who namest thyself Queret-D emery, and hast no other history, she is dead, that dear wife of thine, and thou art dead 'Tis fifty years since thy breaking heart put this question to be heard now first, and long heard, in the hearts of
; ;
:

men.
so must Paris, as so does the July twilight thicken sick children, and all distracted creatures do, brawl itself Municipal Electors, astonished finally into a kind of sleep.

But

to find their heads still uppermost, are home : only Moreau de Saint-Mery, of tropical birth and heart, of coolest judgment ; he, with two others, shall sit permanent at the Towngleams upward the illuminated City Paris sleeps ; hall.
patrols go clashing, without common watchword ; there go rumours ; alarms of war, to the extent of fifteen thousand men marching through the Suburb Saint- Antoine,' who never
'

marched through. Of the day's distraction judge by Moreau de Saint-Mery, before rising from this of the night his seat, gave upwards of three thousand orders.' ^ What a Within it comparable to Friar Bacon's Brass Head head Prompt must the answer be, right or wrong lies all Paris. Seriously, a most cool in Paris is no other Authority extant. for which also thou, O brave Saint-Mery, in clear head
got
it
' :

many
^

capacities,

from august Senator to Merchant's-Clerk,

Bastille Divoilic
;

Da^edkla. Bastille, 7 Octobre 1752; st^'ned Quiret-Dimery. Linguet, M^moires sur la Bastille (Paris, 1821), p. 199.
*

in

Dusaulx.

Book- dealer,

190

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOK V
July 14, 1789

Book-dealer,

in many places, from Virginia to Vice-King Sardinia, shalt, ever as a brave man, find employment.^
'

Besenval has decamped, under cloud of dusk, amid a great affluence of people,' who did not harm him ; he marches, with faint-growing tread, down the left bank of the Seine, all night.

LA ROCHEFOUCAULT, COMTE DE LIANCOURT.

towards
self

infinite space.

Re-summoned

shall

Besenval himhis

be

for trial, for difficult acquittal.

His King's-troops,
;

the Orangerie Salle des Menus Vice-President Lafayette, with unsnuffed hghts, * with some Hundred or so of Members, stretched on tables round him,' sits erect outwatching the Bear. This day, a second solemn
;
"^

Royal-AUemand, are gone hence for ever. The Versailles Ball and lemonade is done is silent except for nightbirds. Over in the

Biographic Universelle, % Moreau Saint-M^ry (by Fournier-Pescay).

Deputation

CONQUERING YOUR KING

;

191
:

Deputation went to his Majesty a second, and then a third CHAP. VII July 14, 1789 with no effect. What will the end of these things be ? In the Court, all is mystery, not without whisperings of terror though ye dream of lemonade and epaulettes, ye foolish women His Majesty, kept in happy ignorance, perhaps dreams of double-barrels and the Woods of Meudon. Late at night, the Duke de Liancourt, having official right of entrance, gains access to the Royal Apartments unfolds, with earnest clearness, in his constitutional way, the Job's-news. Mais,'' said poor Louis, c'est une rSvolte, Why, that is a it it is not a revolt, revolt Sire,' answered Liancourt, is a revolution.'
;
!

'

'

'

'

'

CHAPTER
On
:

VIII

CONQUERING YOUR KING

the morrow a fourth Deputation to the Chateau is on for, besides foot of a more solemn, not to say awful character the grain-convoys are all orgies in the Orangery,' it seems nor has Mirabeau's thunder been silent. Such stopped Deputation is on the point of setting out, when lo, his Majesty quite himself, attended only by his two Brothers, steps in
; ' '
'

announces that the troops, and all causes of offence, are gone, and henceforth there shall be nothing whereof he permits, and but trust, reconcilement, goodwill even requests,' a National Assembly to assure Paris in his name! Acclamation, as of men suddenly delivered from death, gives answer. The whole Assembly spontaneously rises to escort interlacing their arms to keep -off the exhis Majesty back for all Versailles is crowding and cessive pressure from him shouting. The Chateau Musicians, with a feHcitous promptitude, strike up the Sein de sa Famille (Bosom of one's Family) the Queen appears at the Balcony with her little boy and girl,
in the paternal

manner

'

'

'

'

kissing

^ide,

infinite Vivats spread far and them several times and suddenly there has come, as it were, a new Heaven'

on-Earth. Eighty-eight august Senators, Bailly, Lafayette, and our repentant Archbishop among them, take coach for Paris, with the great intelligence benedictions without end on their heads.
;

From

192

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOK V From

July 15, 1789 the H6tel-de-Ville, it is

the Place Louis Quinze, where they ahght, all the way to one sea of Tricolor cockades, of clear one tempest of huzzaings, hand-clappings, National muskets
'
'

aided by occasional rollings of drum-music. Harangues of due fervour are delivered especially by Lally Tollendal, pious on whose head, in conseson of the ill-fated murdered Lally quence, a civic crown (of oak or parsley) is forced, which he forcibly transfers to Bailly's. But surely, for one thing, the National Guard should have Moreau de Saint-Mery, he of the three thousand a General orders,' casts one of his significant glances on the Bust of Lafayette, which has stood there ever since the American War of Liberty. Whereupon, by acclamation, Lafayette is nominated. Again, in room of the slain traitor or quasiProvost of the traitor Flesselles, President Bailly shall be Mayor of Paris So be it. Maire de Merchants ? No vive Bailly, vive Paris ! Mayor Bailly, General Lafayette Lafayette ! The universal out-of-doors multitude rends the welkin in confirmation. And now, finally, let us to NotreDame for a Te Deum. Towards Notre-Dame Cathedral, in glad procession, these Regenerators of the Country walk, through a jubilant people in fraternal manner Abbe Lefevre, still black with his gunpowder services, walking arm in arm with the white-stoled Archbishop. Poor Bailly comes upon the Foundling Children, sent to kneel to him and weeps.' Te Deum, our Archbishop officiating, is not only sung, but shot with blank cartridges. Our joy is boundless, as our wo threatened to be. Paris, by her own pike and musket, and the valour of her own heart, has conquered the very war-gods, to the satisfaction now of
;
;

'

'

Majesty itself. A courier is, this night, getting under way for Necker the People's Minister, invited back by King, by National Assembly, and Nation, shall traverse France amid shoutings, and the sound of trumpet and timbrel. Seeing which course of things, Messeigneurs of the Court Triumvirate, Messieurs of the dead-born Broglie Ministry, and
:

others such, consider that their part also

is

clear

to

mount

ye too-royal Broglies, Polignacs and Princes of off while it is yet time the Blood Did not the Palais Royal, in its late nocturnal violent motions,' set a specific price (place of payment not mentioned) on each of your heads ? With
ride.

and

Off,

'

precautions,

CONQUERING YOUR KING

193

precautions, with the aid of pieces of cannon and regiments CHAP. VIII that can be depended on, Messeigneurs, between the 16th night July 17, 1789

and 17th morning, get to their several roads. Not without risk Prince Conde has (or seems to have) men galloping at full speed with a view, it is thought, to fling him into the
!

'

'

LE PRINCE DE CONDE.
river Oise,

at Pont-Sainte-Mayence.^
friends,

The Polignacs

travel

not servants, on their coach-box. Broglie has his own difficulties at Versailles, runs his own risks at Metz and Verdun does nevertheless get safe to Luxemburg, and
disguised
;
;

there rests.

This

is

what they

call

on, as appears, in full

determined the First Emigration his Majesty assisting Court-conclave

;
;

Weber,

ii.

126.

VOL,

I.

prompt

194

THE THIRD ESTATE

he, for his share of
it,
'

BOOK V prompt
July 17,

to follow any counsel whatso' 1789 ever. Three Sons of France, and four Princes of the blood of Saint Louis,' says Weber, could not more effectually humble the Burghers of Paris than by appearing to withdraw in fear Alas, the Burghers of Paris bear it with unexof their hfe.'

pected stoicism

The Man

he carried, for example, even Bagatelle the Country-house (which shall be useful as a hardly the four-valet Breeches, leaving the BreechesTavern) maker As for old Foulon, one learns that he is dead at least a sumptuous funeral is going on the undertakers honouring him, if no other will. Intendant Berthier, his sonlurking in-law, is still living he joined Besenval, on that Eumenides Sunday appearing to treat it with levity and is now fled no man knows whither.
!

D Artois indeed is gone but has the Land D Artois with him ? Not
;

'

'

The Emigration is not gone many miles. Prince Conde hardly across the Oise, when his Majesty, according to arrangement,
for the

Emigration also thought

:

it

might do good,
;

undertakes
;

a rather daring enterprise that of visiting Paris in person. With a Hundred Members of Assembly with small or no military escort, which indeed he dismissed at the Bridge of leaving a desolate Palace Sevres, poor Louis sets out a Queen weeping, the Present, the Past, and the Future all so
;

unfriendly for her. At the Barrier of Passy,

sents

Mayor
;

Bailly, in

grand

gala, pre-

harangues him, in Academic style mentions that that in Henri Quatre's case, the King had to make conquest of his People but in this happier case, the People makes conquest of its King {a conquis son Roi). The King, so happily conquered, drives forward, slowly, through a steel people, all silent, or shouting only Vive is harangued at the Townhall, by Moreau of the la Nation three thousand orders, by King's Procureur M. Ethys de Corny, by Lally Tollendal, and others knows not what to think of learns that he is Restorer of French Liberty,' it or say of it as a Statue of him, to be raised on the site of the Bastille, shall testify to all men. Finally, he is shown at the Balcony with a Tricolor cockade in his hat is greeted now, with vehement acclamation, from Square and Street, from all windows and so drives home again amid glad mingled and, and roofs
;

him with the keys

it is

a great day

'

as

THE LANTERNE
as
it

195
Roi and Vive
la

were, intermarried shouts, of Vive

;

le

Nation
It
:

wearied but

safe.

VIIl '^^^y ^^^ 1789

CHAP.

was Sunday when the red-hot balls hung over us, in mid air it is now but Friday, and the Revolution is sanctioned.' An august National Assembly shall make the Constitution and neither foreign Pandour, domestic Triumvirate, with levelled Cannon, Guy-Faux powder-plots (for that too was spoken of) nor any tyrannic Power on the Earth or under the Earth, shall
'

say to

it.

What

dost thou

So

jubilates the People

sure

now

Cracked Marquis Saint-Huruge is murmuring sheer heard under the windows of the Chateau
of

Constitution.

speculative-treason.^

CHAPTER IX
THE LANTERNE
The
Fall of the Bastille

may

be said to have shaken

:

all

France to the deepest foundations of its existence. The rumour with the natural speed of of these wonders flies everywhere Rumour with an effect thought to be preternatural, produced by plots. Did D'Orl^ans or Laclos, nay did Mirabeau (not overburdened with money at this time) send riding Couriers to gallop on all radii,' or highways, towards out from Paris It is a miracle, which no penetrating all points of France ?
;

'

man

will call in question.^

Already in most Towns, Electoral Committees were met to regret Necker, in harangue and resolution. In many a Town, as Rennes, Caen, Lyons, an ebullient people was already regretting him in brickbats and musketry. But now, at every Town'smen,' end in France, there do arrive, in these days of terror, nay men on horseback,' since Rumour as men will arrive oftenest travels riding. These men declare, with alarmed countenance. The Brigands to be coming, to be just at hand and do then ride on, about their further business, be what it Whereupon the whole population of such Town might defensively flies to arms. Petition is soon thereafter forwarded

'

'

Campan,

ii.

46-64.

Toulongeon,

i.

95

Weber

etc. etc.

to

196

THE THIRD ESTATE

;

BOOK V

to National Assembly

in such peril

and
:

terror of peril, leave

July 22j 1789 ^o organise yourself

cannot be withheld the armed population becomes everywhere an enrolled National Guard. Thus rides Rumour, careering along all radii, from Paris outwards, to such purpose in few days, some say in not many hours, all France to the utmost borders bristles with bayonets. Singular, but undeniable, miraculous or not But thus may any chemical liquid, though cooled to the freezing-point, or far lower, still
:

and then, on the slightest stroke or shake, continue liquid it at once rushes wholly into ice. Thus has France, for long months and even years, been chemically dealt with brought below zero and now, shaken by the Fall of a Bastille, it instantaneously congeals into one crystallised mass, of sharpcutting steel Guai a chi la tocca, 'Ware who touches it
;

In Paris, an Electoral Committee, with a new Mayor and General, is urgent with belligerent workmen to resume their handicrafts. Strong Dames of the Market {Dames de la Halle) deliver congratulatory harangues present bouquets to the Shrine of Saint Genevieve.' UnenroUed men deposit their arms, not so readily as could be wished and receive ' nine francs.' With Te Deums, Royal Visits, and sanctioned Revolution, there is halcyon weather weather even of preternatural brightness the hurricane being overblown. Nevertheless, as is natural, the waves still run high, hollow rocks retaining their murmur. We are but at the 22d of the month, hardly above a week since the Bastille fell, when it suddenly appears that old Foulon is alive nay, that he is here, in early morning, in the streets of Paris the extortioner, the plotter, who would make the people eat grass, and was a liar from the beginning It is even so. The deceptive sumptuous (of some domestic that died) funeral the hiding-place at Vitry towards Fontainebleau, have not availed that wretched old man. Some living domestic or dependant, for none loves Foulon, has betrayed him to the Village. Merciless boors of WestVitry unearth him pounce on him, like hell-hounds ward, old Infamy to Paris, to be judged at the H6tel-de-Ville His old head, which seventy-four years have bleached, is bare they have tied an emblematic bundle of grass on his back in this a garland of nettles and thistles is round his neck manner led with ropes goaded on with curses and menaces,
' ;

'

'

must

THE LANTERNS
;

197

must he, with his old Hmbs, sprawl forward the pitiablest, CHAP. IX July 22, 1789 most unpitied of all men. Sooty Saint-Antoine, and every street, musters its crowds
Hall of the H6tel-de-Ville, the Place de Gr^ve itself, will scarcely hold his escort and him. Foulon must not only be judged righteously, but judged there where he stands, without any delay. Appoint seven judges, ye Municipals, or seventy-and-seven name them yourselves, or we will name them but judge him ^ Electoral rhetoric, eloquence of Mayor Bailly, is wasted, for hours, explaining the beauty of the Law's delay. Delay, and still delay Behold, O Mayor of the People, the morning has worn itself
; : !
!

as he passes;

the

into

noon

and he
;

is

still

unjudged
: ;

Lafayette,
!

pressingly

This Foulon, a known man, but may he not have accomplices ? Ought not the truth to be cunningly pumped out of him, in the Abbaye Prison .? It is a new light Sansculottism claps hands at which handclapping, Foulon (in his fainness, as his Destiny would have it) also claps. they underSee stand one another cries dark Sansculottism, blazing into fury of suspicion. Friends,' said a person in good clothes,' stepping ' forward, what is the use of judging this man ? Has not he been judged these thirty years ? With wild yells, Sansculottism clutches him, in its hundred hands he is whirled across the Place de Gr^ve, to the Lanterne,' Lamp -iron which there is at the corner of the Rue de la Vannerie pleading bitterly for life, Only with the third rope for two to the deaf winds. ropes broke, and the quavering voice still pleaded can he be so much as got hanged His Body is dragged through the his Head goes aloft on a pike, the mouth filled streets with grass amid sounds as of Tophet, from a grass-eating
sent for, arrives gives voice is guilty almost beyond doubt

'

'

'

'

'

'

people.^

Surely if Revenge is a kind of Justice,' it is a wild kind O mad Sansculottism, hast thou risen, in thy mad darkness, in unexpectedly, like an Enceladus, livingthy soot and rags buried, from under his Trinacria ? They that would make grass be eaten do now eat grass, in this manner ? After long dumb-groaning generations, has the turn suddenly become thine ? To such abysmal overturns, and frightful instantaneous inversions of the centre-of-gravity, are human Sole'
'

'

'

Histoire Parlementaire,

ii.

146-9.

Deux Amis

dt la Liberty,

ii,

60-6.

cisms

198

THE THIRD ESTATE

knew
it
;

BOOK V
July 22, 1789

cisms all liable, if they but (and topheavier) they are

!

the more

liable,

the falser

To add

to the horror of

Mayor
also

Bailly

and

his Municipals,
;

word comes that Berthier has

;

been arrested
;

that he

is

on his way hither from Compiegne. Berthier, Intendant (say sycophant and tyrant forestaller of Tax-levier) of Paris
against the people ; accused of many things is he not Foulon's son-in-law and, in that one In these hours, too, when Sansculottism point, guilty of all ?
;

Com
has
of

contriver of
:

Camps

its

blood up

their

number
fall

to

The shuddering Municipals send one escort him, with mounted National

wretched Berthier, still wearing a face of courage, arrives at the Barrier in an open carriage with the Municipal beside him five hundred horsemen with drawn sabres unarmed footmen enough not without noise Placards go brandished round him bearing legibly his indictment, as Sansculottism, with unlegal brevity, in huge letters,' draws it up/ Paris is come forth to meet him with handclappings, with windows flung up with dances, triumphsongs, as of the Furies. Lastly, the Head of Foul on this also meets him on a pike. Well might his look become glazed,' and sense fail him, at such sight Nevertheless, be the man's conscience what it may, his nerves are of iron. At the H6tel-de-Ville he will answer nothing. He says he obeyed superior orders they have his papers they may judge and determine as for himself, not having closed an eye these two nights, he demands, before all things, to have sleep. Leaden sleep, thou miserable Berthier Guards rise with him, in motion towards the Abbaye. At the very door of the H6telde-Ville, they are clutched flung asunder, as by a vortex of mad arms Berthier whirls towards the Lanterne. He snatches a musket fells and strikes, defending himself like a mad lion he is borne down, trampled, hanged, mangled his Head too, and even his Heart, flies over the City on a pike.
of day, the
;
;

Guards. At the

'

'

Horrible, in
^
*

Lands that had known equal

et la

justice
'

Not

so

France (He robbed the King and France).' He devoured ' He was the slave of the rich, and the tyrant of the poor.' 'He drank the blood of the widow and orphan.' 'He betrayed his country.' See Deux Amis, ii. 67-73.
7/(2

voU

le

Rot

the substance of the People.

'

unnatural

THE LANTERNE
' '

199

unnatural in Lands that had never known it. Le sang qui CHAP. IX coule, est-il done si pur ? intimating that the July 22, 1789 asks Barnave Gallows, though by irregular methods, has its own. Thou thyself, O Reader, when thou turnest that corner of the Rue de la Vannerie, and discernest still that same grim Bracket of old Iron, wilt not want for reflections. Over a grocer's shop,' or otherwise with a bust of Louis xiv. in the niche under it,' now no longer in the niche, it still sticks there still holding out an ineffectual light, of fish-oil ; and has seen worlds wrecked,
;

'

'

and says nothing. But to the eye of enlightened Patriotism, what a thundercloud was this suddenly shaping itself in the radiance of the
;

Cloud of Erebus blackness betokening latent electricity without limit. Mayor Bailly, General Lafayette throw up their commissions, in an indignant manner need to be flattered back again. The cloud disappears, as thunder-clouds do. The halcyon weather returns, though of a grayer complexion of a character more and
!
; ;

halcyon weather

more evidently not supernatural. Thus, in any case, with what rubs soever, shall the Bastille be abolished from our Earth and with it. Feudalism, Despotism and, one hopes, Scoundrelism generally, and all hard usage of man by his brother man. Alas, the Scoundrelism and But as for the Bastille, hard usage are not so easy of abolition its ashlars and it sinks day after day, and month after month boulders tumbling down continually, by express orders of our Municipals. Crowds of the curious roam through its caverns gaze on the skeletons found walled-up, on the oubliettes, ironOne day cages, monstrous stone-blocks with padlock chains.
; ;

we

discern Mirabeau there, along with the Genevese Dumont.^

;

Workers and onlookers make reverent way for him fling verses, flowers on his path. Bastille-papers and curiosities into his
carriage, with vivats.

Able Editors compile Books from the Bastille Archives from what of them remain unburnt. The Key of that Robber-Den shall lie on Washington's hall-table. shall cross the Atlantic
;

great Clock ticks now in a private patriotic Clockmaker's apartment ; no longer measuring hours of mere heaviness. the body, or Vanished is the Bastille, what we call vanished sandstones, of it hanging, in benign metamorphosis, for centuries

The

Dumont, Souvenirs sur Mirabeau,

p. 305.

to

200

THE THIRD ESTATE

^
;

BOOK V

to come, over the Seine waters, as Pont Louis Seize

the soul

July 22, 1789 of it Hving,

perhaps

still

longer, in the

memories

of

men.

ye august Senators, with your Tennis-Court Oaths, inertia and impetus, your sagacity and pertinacity, have ye brought us. And yet think. Messieurs,' as the Petitioners justly urged, you who were our saviours did yourselves need saviours,' the brave Bastillers, namely; workmen of Paris; many of them in straitened pecuniary circumstances.^ Subscriptions are opened Lists are formed, more accurate than Elie's harangues are delivered. A Body of Bastille Heroes, tolerably complete, did get together comparable to the Argonauts hoping to endure like them. But in little more than a year the whirlpool of things threw them asunder again, and they sank. So many highest superlatives achieved by man are followed by new higher and dwindle into comparatives and positives The Siege of the Bastille, weighed with which, in the Historical balance, most other sieges, including that of Troy town, are gossamer, cost, as we find, in killed and mortally wounded, on the part of the Besiegers, some Eighty-three persons on the part of the Besieged, after all
far,
'

So your

'

that straw-burning,

One

fire-pumping, and deluge of musketry, poor solitary Invalid, shot stone-dead {roide-mort) on the
!

battlements ^ The Bastille Fortress, like the City of Jericho, was overturned by miraculous sound.
^
"^

'

Dulaure, Histoire de Paris, viii. 434. Moniteur, Stance du Samedi \SJuillet 1789 Dusaulx, Prise de la Bastille, p. 447, etc.

(in

Histoire Parlementaire,

ii.

137).

Book

Sixth

BOOK SIXTH

CONSOLIDATION
CHAPTER
Here
I

MAKE THE CONSTITUTION

perhaps is the place to fix, a httle more precisely, what these two words, French Revolution, shall mean for, strictly considered, they may have as many meanings as there are speakers of them. All things are in revolution in change from moment to moment, which becomes sensible from epoch to epoch in this Time- World of ours there is properly nothing else but revolution and mutation, and even nothing else con;
;

Revolution, you answer, means speedier change. Whereupon one has still to ask How speedy ? At what degree of speed in what particular points of this variable course, which varies in velocity, but can never stop till Time itself stops, does revolution begin and end cease to be ordinary mutation, and again become such ? It is a thing that will depend on definition more or less arbitrary. For ourselves, we answer that French Revolution means here the open violent Rebellion, and Victory, of disimprisoned Anarchy against corrupt worn-out Authority how Anarchy bursts-up from the infinite Deep, and rages breaks prison uncontrollable, immeasurable, enveloping a world in phasis till the frenzy burning itself out, after phasis of fever-frenzy and what elements of new order it held (since all Force holds such) developing themselves, the Uncontrollable be got, if not reimprisoned, yet harnessed, and its mad forces made to work towards their object as sane regulated ones. For as Hierarchies and Dynasties of all kinds. Theocracies, Aristocracies, Autoso it cracies, Strumpetocracies, have ruled over the world was appointed, in the decrees of Providence, that this same Victorious
ceivable.
:
; ; :

202

CONSOLIDATION
its
is

BOOK VI
July-Aug.
^^^^

Victorious Anarchy, Jacobinism, Sansculottism, French Revolution. Horrors of French Revolution, or what else mortals name

should have culottism this

it,
:

turn.

The

what we

destructive wrath ' of Sansspeak, having unhappily no voice

*

for singing.

nay it is a transcendental one, Surely a great Phenomenon the crowning Phenooverstepping all rules and experience menon of our Modern Time. For here again, most unexpectedly, comes antique Fanaticism in new and newest vesture miraculous, as all Fanaticism is. Call it the Fanaticism of making away with formulas, de humer les formules.^ The world of formulas, the formed regulated world, which all habitable world is, must needs hate such Fanaticism like death; and be at deadly variance with it. The world of formulas must conquer it or failing that, must die execrating it, anathematising it can nevertheless in nowise prevent its being and its having been. The Anathemas are there, and the miraculous Thing is there. Whence it cometh ? Whither it goeth ? These are questions When the age of Miracles lay faded into the distance as an incredible tradition, and even the age of Conventionalities was now old and Man's Existence had for long generations rested on mere formulas which were grown hollow by course of time and it seemed as if no Reality any longer existed, but only Phantasms of realities, and God's Universe were the work of the Tailor and Upholsterer mainly, and men were buckram masks that went about becking and grimacing there, on a sudden, the Earth yawns asunder, and amid Tartarean smoke,
:

'

and

glare

of

fierce

brightness,
:

rises

headed, fire-breathing, and asks may the buckram masks start together, terror-struck into expressive well-concerted groups It is indeed, Friends, a
' ;
' !

Sansculottism, manyWhat think ye of me ? Well

most singular, most fatal thing. Let whosoever is but buckram and a phantasm look to it ill verily may it fare with him here methinks he cannot much longer be. Wo also to many a one who is not wholly buckram, but partly real and human The age of Miracles has come back Behold the WorldPhoenix, in fire- consummation and fire-creation wide are her
: !

'

her death-melody, of battle-thunders and falling towns skyward lashes the funeral flame, enveloping all things it is the Death-Birth of a World
;

fanning wings

loud
;

is

Whereby,

MAKE THE CONSTITUTION

:

203
CHAP.
^^^^
I

Whereby, however, as we often say, shall one unspeakable blessing seem attainable. This, namely that Man and his Life rest no more on hoUowness and a Lie, but on solidity and some kind of Truth. Welcome the beggarliest Truth, so it be one, in exchange for the royalest sham Truth of any kind breeds ever new and better truth thus hard granite rock will crumble down into soil, under the blessed skyey influences and cover itself with verdure, with fruitage and umbrage
! ;

July-Aug.

as for Falsehood, which, in like contrary manner, grows ever falser, what can it, or what should it do but decease, being ripe ; decompose itself, gently or even violently, and

But

return to the Father of it, too probably in flames of fire ? Sansculottism will burn much ; but what is incombustible it will not burn. Fear not Sansculottism recognise it for what it is, the portentous inevitable end of much, the miraculous beginning of much. One other thing thou mayest understand of it that it too came from God for has it not been ? From of old, as it is written, are His goings forth in the great Deep of things fearful and wonderful now as in the beginning in the whirlwind also He speaks and the wrath of men is made to praise Him. But to gauge and measure this immeasurable Thing, and what is called account for it, and reduce it to a dead logic-formula, attempt not Much less shalt thou shriek thyself hoarse, cursing it ; for that, to all needful lengths, has been already done. As an actually
;
:

with unspeakable manifold interest, therewith oftenest in silence, at what the Time did bring edify, instruct, nourish thyself, or were it but amuse and gratify thyself, as it is given thee.
existing
of

Son

Time,

look,

Another question which at every new turn will rise on us, Where the French Revolution requiring ever new reply, is this
:

In the King's Palace, in his Majesty's or her Majesty's managements, and maltreatments, cabals, imbecilities whom we do not answer. In and woes, answer some few who the National Assembly, answer a large mixed multitude accordingly seat themselves in the Reporter's Chair and therefrom noting what Proclamations, Acts, Reports, passages of logic-fence, bursts of parliamentary eloquence seem notable within doors, and what tumults and rumours of tumult become audible from without, produce volume on volume and, naming
specially is
?
:

it

204

CONSOLIDATION

BOOK VI
*^"

v7^q"^ 1789

History of the French Revolution, contentedly publish the same. To do the like, to almost any extent, with so many Filed Newspapers, Choice des Rapports, Histoires Parlementaires as there are, amounting to many horseloads, were easy for us. Easy but unprofitable. The National Assembly, named now making the ConstituConstituent Assembly, goes its course tion but the French Revolution also goes its course. In general, may we not say that the French Revolution lies in the heart and head of every violent-speaking, of every violent-thinking French Man ? How the Twenty-five Millions of such, in their perplexed combination, acting and counteracting, may give birth to events which event successively is the cardinal one and from what point of vision it may best this is a problem. Which problem the best be surveyed
it
; ;
; ; :

seeking light from all possible sources, shifting its point of vision whithersoever vision or glimpse of vision can be had, may employ itself in solving and be well content to solve in some tolerably approximate way. As to the National Assembly, in so far as it still towers eminent over France, after the manner of a car-borne Carroccio, though now no longer in the van and rings signals for retreat or for advance, it is and continues a reality among other realities. But in so far as it sits making the Constitution, on the other hand, it is a fatuity and chimera mainly. Alas,
insight,
;

in the never so heroic building of

castles,

Montesquieu-Mably card-

though shouted over by the world, what interest is there ? Occupied in that way, an august National Assembly becomes for us little other than a Sanhedrim of Pedants, not of the gerund-grinding, yet of no fruitfuler sort and its loud debatings and recriminations about Rights of Man, Rights of Peace and War, Veto suspensif, Veto ahsolu, what are they but so many Pedant's-curses, May God confound you for your Theory of Irregular Verbs
; ' !

A Constitution
!

can be

built. Constitutions

enough a

la Sieyes

but the frightful difficulty is, that of getting men to come and live in them Could Sieyes have drawn thunder and lightning out of Heaven to sanction his Constitution, it had been well but without any thunder ? Nay, strictly considered, is it not still true that without some such celestial sanction, given visibly in thunder or invisibly otherwise, no Constitution can
in

MAKE THE CONSTITUTION

in the longrun be
is

205
it

worth much more than the waste-paper

CHAP.

written on ? The Constitution, the set of Laws, or prescribed July-Aug. ^'^^^ Habits of Acting, that men will live under, is the one which images their Convictions, their Faith as to this wondrous Universe, and what rights, duties, capabilities they have there which stands sanctioned, therefore, by Necessity itself if not by a seen Deity, then by an unseen one. Other Laws, whereof there are always enough ready-made, are usurpations which men do not obey, but rebel against, and abolish at their earliest convenience. The question of questions accordingly were. Who is it that, especially for rebellers and abolishers, can make a Constitution ? He that can image-forth the general Belief when there is one that can impart one when, as here, there is none. A most rare man ; ever, as of old, a god-missioned man Here, however, in defect of such transcendent supreme man. Time with its infinite succession of merely superior men, each yielding his little contribution, does much. Force likewise (for, as Antiquarian Philosophers teach, the royal Sceptre was from the first something of a Hammer, to crack such heads as could not be convinced) will all along find somewhat to do. And thus in perpetual abolition and reparation, rending and mending, with struggle and strife, with present evil, and the hope and effort towards future good, must the Constitution, as all human things do, build itself forward or unbuild itself, and O Sieyes, and ye other Committeesink, as it can and may. men, and Twelve Hundred miscellaneous individuals from all what is the Belief of France, and yours, if parts of France that all ye knew it ? Properly that there shall be no Belief formulas be swallowed. The Constitution which will suit that ? which also, Alas, too clearly, a No-Constitution, an Anarchy in due season, shall be vouchsafed you. But, after all, what can an unfortunate National Assembly da.? Consider only this, that there are Twelve Hundred misnot a unit of whom but has his own cellaneous individuals In every thinking-apparatus, his own speaking-apparatus

unit of

them

is

some

belief

and wish,

different for each,

both

that France should be regenerated, and also that he individually should do it. Twelve Hundred separate Forces, yoked miscellaneously to any object, miscellaneously to all sides of
it
;

and bidden

pull for life

Or

206

CONSOLIDATION
is it

BOOK VI
July-Aug.
^'^^

the nature of National Assemblies generally to do, ^itii endless labour and clangour, Nothing ? Are Representative Governments mostly at bottom Tyrannies too ? Shall we say, the Tyrants, the ambitious contentious Persons, from all corners of the country do, in this manner, get gathered into one place and there, with motion and counter-motion, with jargon and hubbub, cancel one another, like the fabulous Kilkenny Cats and produce, for net-result, zero the country meanwhile governing or guiding itself, by such wisdom, recognised, or for most part unrecognised, as may exist in individual heads here and there ? Nay, even that were a great
; ;

Or

improvement

for

of

old,

with

their

Guelf

factions

and

Ghibelline factions, with their

Red Roses and White

;

Roses,

they were wont to cancel the whole country as well. Besides they do it now in a much narrower cockpit within the four walls of their Assembly House, and here and there an outpost of Hustings and Barrel-heads do it with tongues too, not with swords all which improvements, in the art of producing zero, are they not great ? Nay, best of all, some happy Continents (as the Western one, with its Savannahs, where whosoever has four willing limbs finds food under his feet, and an infinite sky over his head) can do without governing. What Sphinx-questions which the distracted world, in these very generations, must answer or die
; :

CHAPTER
One
:

II

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

thing an elected Assembly of Twelve Hundred is fit for Destroying. Which indeed is but a more decided exercise of its natural talent for Doing Nothing. Do nothing, only keep agitating, debating and things will destroy themselves. So and not otherwise proved it with an august National Assembly. It took the name Constituent, as if its mission and function had been to construct or build which also, with its whole soul, it endeavoured to do yet, in the fates, in the nature of things, there lay for it precisely of all functions the most opposite to that. Singular, what Gospels men will
;
^

believe

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

believe
; !

liofl

even Gospels according to Jean Jacques It was CHAP. II the fixed Faith of these National Deputies, as of all thinking July-Aug. 4, ^^^^ Frenchmen, that the Constitution could be made that they, there and then, were called to make it. How, with the toughness of old Hebrews, or Ishmaelite Moslem, did the otherwise light unbelieving People persist in this their Credo quia impossibile and front the armed world with it, and grow fanatic and even heroic, and do exploits by it The Constituent Assembly's Constitution, and several others, will, being printed and not manuscript, survive to future generations, as an instructive well-nigh incredible document of the Time the most significant Picture of the then existing France or at lowest. Picture o* these men's Picture of it.
; ;
! :

But in truth and Assembly have done ?

they

seriousness,

what could the National

to be done was, actually as to abolish the old France,

The thing
France
;

said, to regenerate

by concession or by violence this by the Law of Nature has become inevitable. With what degree of violence, depends on the wisdom of those that preside over it. With perfect wisdom on the part of the National Assembly, it had all been otherwise but whether, in any wise, it could have been pacific, nay other than bloody and convulsive, may still be a question.
one, quietly or forcibly,
: ;

and make a new

Grant, meanwhile, that this Constituent Assembly does to the last continue to be something. With a sigh, it sees itself incessantly forced away from its infinite divine task of per^
fecting
tasks,
'

The Theory
latter

of Irregular Verbs,'
still

to

finite terrestrial

a significance for us. It is the cynosure of revolutionary France, this National Assembly. All work of Government has fallen into its hands, or under all men look to it for guidance. its control In the middle huge Revolt of Twenty-five millions, it hovers always of that
;

which

have

aloft as Carroccio or Battle-Standard, impelling

and impelled,

most confused way if it cannot give much guidance, It emits pacificatory Proclamait will still seem to give some. with more or with less result. It authorises tions not a few the enrolment of National Guards, lest Brigands come to devour us, and reap the unripe crops. It sends missions to
in the
:

quell

'

effervescences

'

to deliver

men from

the Lanterne.

It can listen to congratulatory Addresses,

which arrive daily

by

208)

CONSOLIDATION
sackful
;
:

BOOK
^^^^

VI

July-Aug.

mostly in King Cambyses' vein also to 4, Petitions and complaints from all mortals so that every mortal's complaint, if it cannot get redressed, may at least hear For the rest, an august National Assembly itself complain. can produce Parliamentary Eloquence and appoint ComCommittees of the Constitution, of Reports, of mittees. Researches and of much else which again yield mountains of Printed Paper the theme of new Parliamentary Eloquence, in bursts or in plenteous smooth-flowing floods. And so, from the waste vortex whereon all things go whirling and grinding, Organic Laws, or the similitude of such, slowly emerge.

by the

With endless debating, we get the Rights down and promulgated true paper basis of
:

of
all

Man

written

paper Consti-

tutions.

sometimes, as on the Fourth of August, our National Assembly, fired suddenly by an almost preternatural enthusiasm, will get through whole masses of work in one night. A memorable night, this Fourth of August Dignitaries temporal and spiritual Peers, Archbishops, Parlement-Presidents, each outdoing the other in patriotic devotedness, come successively to throw their now untenable possessions on the altar of the fatherland.' With louder and louder vivats, for indeed it is after dinner too, they abolish Tithes, Seignorial Dues, Gabelle, excessive Preservation of Game nay Privilege, Immunity, Feudalism root and branch then appoint a Te Deum for it and so, finally, disperse about three in the morning, striking the stars with their sublime heads. Such night, unforeseen but for ever memorable, was this of the Fourth of August 1789. Miraculous, or semi-miraculous, some seem to think it. A new Nigh.t of Pentecost, shall we say, shaped according to the new Time,
; ! :

Man one Man

of

Neglecting, cry the opponents, to declare the Duties Forgetting, answer we, to ascertain the Mights of
of the fatalest omissions

Nay

'

'

'

and new Church

also its effects.

of

Jean Jacques Rousseau

It

had
;

its

causes

perfecting In such manner labour the National Deputies their Theory of Irregular Verbs governing France, and being governed by it with toil and noise cutting asunder ancient intolerable bonds and, for new ones, assiduously spinning ropes of sand. Were their labours a nothing or a something, yet the eyes of all France being reverently fixed on them. History can never very long leave them altogether out of sight For
; ; ;

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

'
'
'

209

For the present, if we glance into that Assembly-Hall of CHAP. II theirs, it will be found, as is natural, most irregular.' As July-Aug. 1789 many as a hundred members are on their feet at once no rule in making motions, or only commencements of a rule Spectators' Gallery allowed to applaud, and even to hiss ^ President, appointed once a fortnight, raising many times no serene head above the waves. Nevertheless, as in all human
; ;

Assemblages, like does begin arranging itself to like ; the perennial rule, TJhi homines sunt modi sunt, proves valid. Rudiments of Methods disclose themselves rudiments of Parties. There is a Right Side {Cote Droit), a Left Side {Cote Gauche)
; ;

sitting

on M.

le Pre-

sident's right hand, or

the Cote Droit conservative the Cote Gauche destructive. Intermehis left:

on

diate is Anglo-maniac Constitutionalism, or

Two-Chamber Royalism; with

its

its Lallys,

Mouniers,
fast verg-

earning for himself the shadow of a name. There also blusters Barrel-Mirabeau, the Younger dusky D'Espremenil does Mirabeau, not without wit might, it is fondly thought, nothing but sniff and ejaculate lay prostrate the Elder Mirabeau himself, would he but try," which he does not. Last and greatest, see, for one moment with his Jesuitic eyes, his impassive brass the Abbe Maury Indomitable, unface, ' image of all the cardinal sins.' with toughest quenchable, he fights jesuitico-rhetorically for Throne, especially for Altar and Tithes. lungs and heart So that a shrill voice exclaims once, from the Gallery:
: ;

ing towards nonentity. Pre-eminent, on the Right Side, pleads and perorates Cazales the Dragoon-captain, eloquent, mildly fervent;

ADMEN

DUPORT.

Arthur Young,

i.

III.

Biographic Universelle, D'Espremenil (by Beaulieu).

VOL.

I.

'

Messieurs

210

CONSOLjIDATION
;

BOOK VI
July- Aug.

1789

if you wriggle Messieurs of the Clergy, you have to be shaved ^ too much, you will get cut.' rpj^g \jeit side is also called the D' Orleans side and someAnd yet, so confused, times, derisively, the Palais Royal. real-imaginary seems everything, it is doubtful,' as Mirabeau whether D'Orleans himself belong to that same D'Orleans said, party.' What can be known and seen is, that his moon-visage does beam forth from that point of space. There likewise throwing in his light weight, with sits seagreen Robespierre decision, not yet with effect. A thin lean Puritan and Precisian, he would make away with formulas yet lives, moves, and has his being wholly in formulas, of another sort. Peuple,^ such, according to Robespierre, ought to be the Royal method of promulgating Laws, Pewple, this is the Law I have framed for thee dost thou accept it ? answered, from Right side, from Centre and Left, by inextinguishable laughter.^ Yet men of insight discern that the Seagreen may by chance go far This man,' observes Mirabeau, will do somewhat he believes every
'
; '

'

'

'

'

'

'

busy with mere Constitutional work wherein, unluckily, fellow-workmen are less pliable than, with one who has completed the Science of Polity, they ought to be. Courage, Sieyes, nevertheless Some twenty months of heroic travail, of contradiction from the stupid, and the Constitution shall be built the top-stone of it brought out with shouting, say rather, the top -paper, for it is all Paper and thou hast done in it what the Earth or the Heaven could require, thy utmost. Note likewise this Trio memorable for several things memorable were it only that their history is written in an epigram Whatsoever these Three have in hand,' it is said, Duport thinks it, Barnave speaks it, Lameth does it.' ^ But royal Mirabeau ? Conspicuous among all parties, raised above and beyond them all, this man rises more and more. As we often say, he has an eye, he is a reality while others are formulas and eye-glasses. In the Transient he will detect the Perennial find some firm footing even among Papervortexes. His fame is gone forth to all lands it gladdened the heart of the crabbed old Friend of Men himself before he died. The very Postilions of inns have heard of Mirabeau
is
;

word he says.' Abbe Sieyes

'

'

Dicliontiaire des

Homvies Marquatis,
(in Hist. Pari,).

ii.

519.
*

Moniteur, No. 67

See Toulongeon,

i.

c.

3.

when

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

when an impatient
are
Traveller complains that the
'

211
is

team

in-

CHAP.

II

sufficient, his Postilion answers,

Yes, Monsieur, the wheelers

but my mirdbeau (main horse), you see, is a right one, mais mon mirdbeau est excellent.^ ^ And now. Reader, thou shalt quit this noisy Discrepancy of a National Assembly not (if thou be of humane mind) without pity. Twelve hundred brother men are there, in the centre of Twenty-five Millions fighting so fiercely with Fate and with one another

weak

July-Aug. 1789

struggling
out,

their

lives

most sons of Adam do, for that which Nay, on profiteth not.
as

the whole,
'

admitted further to be very dull. Dull as this day's Asit is

sembly,' said
'

some

one.

Why
'

date,

dater ?

Pourquoi answered Mira-

beau. Consider that they are Twelve Hundred that they not only speak, but read their speeches and even borrow and steal speeches
;

^mrt^glj.J,,^,

ALEXANDRE DE LAMETH.
and
their

to read

With Twelve
fluent speakers,

Noah's Deluge of vociferous commonplace, silence unattainable may well seem the one blessing of Life. But figure Twelve Hundred pamphleteers droning forth perpetual pamphlets and no man to gag them Neither, as in the American Congress, do the arrangements seem perfect. A Senator has not his own Desk and Newspaper of Tobacco (much less of Pipes) there is not the slightest here Conversation itself has to be transacted in a low provision. only Pencil-notes circutone, with continual interruption in incredible numbers, to the foot of the very late freely, Such work is it, regenerating a Nation perfecting tribune.' ^ one's Theory of Irregular Verbs

Hundred

'

'

'

Dumont, Souvenirs
See

Dumont

Mirabeau, p. 255. (pp. 159-67); Arthur Young,

stir

etc.

Chapter III

212

CONSOLIDATION

BOOK VI
July-Aug. 1789

CHAPTER

III

THE GENERAL OVERTURN

the King's Court for the present, there is almost nothing whatever to be said. Silent, deserted are these halls ; Royalty languishes forsaken of its war-god and all its hopes, till once the The sceptre is departed from King (Eil-de-Boeuf rally again. Louis is gone over to the Salle des Menus, to the Paris TownIn the July days, while all hall, or one knows not whither. ears were yet deafened by the crash of the Bastille, and Ministers and Princes were scattered to the four winds, it seemed as if the very Valets had grown heavy of hearing. Besenval, also in flight towards Infinite Space, but hovering a little at Versailles, was addressing his Majesty personally for an Order about post-horses when, lo, the Valet-in-waiting places himself familiarly between his Majesty and me,' stretching out his His Majesty, in sudden rascal neck to learn what it was choler, whirled round made a clutch at the tongs I gently prevented him ; he grasped my hand in thankfulness and I ^ noticed tears in his eyes.' Poor King for French Kings also are men Louis Fourteenth himself once clutched the tongs, and even smote with them but then it was at Louvois, and Dame Maintenon ran up. The Queen sits weeping in her inner apartments, surrounded by weak women she is at the height of unpopularity universally regarded as the evil genius of France. Her
;

Of

'

'

'

'

and familiar counsellors have all fled and fled, surely, on the foolishest errand. The Chateau Polignac still frowns aloft, on its bold and enormous cubical rock,' amid the blooming champaigns, amid the blue girdling mountains of Auvergne " but no Duke and Duchess Polignac look forth from it they have fled, they have met Necker at Bale they shall not return. That France should see her Nobles
friends
; '
:

'

'

the Irresistible, Inevitable, with the face of angry men, was unhappy, not unexpected but with the face and sense of pettish children ? This was her peculiarity. They understood nothing ; would understand nothing. Does not, at this hour,
resist
;

Besenval,

iii.

419.

Arthur Young,

i.

165.

LE ROI FAINEANT.

THE GENERAL OVERTURN

a

213

new
;

Polignac, first-born of these Two,

Castle of

Ham

^
;

in

an

in the CHAP. Ill astonishment he will never recover July- Aug.

sit reflective

from the most confused of existing mortals ? King Louis has his new Ministry mere Popularities OldPresident Pompignan Necker, coming back in triumph and other such.^ But what will it avail him ? As was said, the sceptre, all but the wooden gilt sceptre, has departed else:

^^^^

whither. Volition, determination is not in this man ; only innocence, indolence dependence on all persons but himself, on all circumstances but the circumstances he were lord of. So troublous internally is our Versailles and its work. Beautiful, if seen from afar, resplendent like a Sun seen near at hand, a mere Sun's-Atmosphere, hiding darkness, confused ferment of ruin But over France, there goes on the indisputablest ' destructransaction of realities that follow theretion of formulas from. So many millions of persons, all gyved, and nigh whose Life nevertheless, at least the strangled, with formulas Heaven has at digestion and hunger of it, was real enough but what profits it the poor length sent an abundant harvest man, when Earth with her formulas interposes ? Industry, in
; ; ! ' ; ;
! :

these times of insurrection,

must needs

lie

dormant

capital,

as usual, not circulating, but stagnating timorously in nooks. The poor man is short of work, is therefore short of money ;

not to be bought for it. Were were it D' Orleans it plotting of Aristocrats, plotting of Brigands, preternatural terror, and the clang of Phoebus Apollo's enough, the markets are scarce of grain, plentiful silver bow, being either only in tumult. Farmers seem lazy to thresh bribed ; or needing no bribe, with prices ever rising, with

nay even had he money, bread

is

'

'

perhaps rent itself no longer so pressing. Neither, what is That along with so many singular, do municipal enactments, measures of wheat you shall sell so many of rye,' and other the Dragoons with drawn swords like, much mend the matter. stand ranked among the corn-sacks, often more dragoons than growing into mobs of a still sacks.^ Meal-mobs abound;
'

darker quality. Starvation has been

alty before this
1
;

known among the French Commonknown and familiar. Did not we see them,
^
i.

A.D. 1835.

Montgaillard,

ii.

io8.

Arthur Young,

129, etc.

in

214

CONSOLIDATION
;

BOOK VI
July-Aug.
^'^^^

in the year 1775, presenting, in sallow faces, in wretchedness

and raggedness, their Petition of Grievances and, for answer, getting a brand-new Gallows forty feet high ? Hunger and For look back on that earlier Darkness, through long years Paris Riot, when a Great Personage, worn out by debauchery, and Mothers, in was believed to be in want of Blood-baths worn raiment, yet with living hearts under it, filled the public
!

'

places

with their wild Rachel-cries, stilled also by the Gallows. Twenty years ago, the Friend of Men (preaching to the deaf) described the Limousin Peasants as wearing a pain- stricken as if the op{souffre-douleur) look,' a look past complaint pression of the great were like the hail and the thunder, a thing irremediable, the ordinance of Nature.' ^ And now if, in some great hour, the shock of a falling Bastille should awaken you and it were found to be the ordinance of Art merely and
' '

'

remediable, reversible Or has the Reader forgotten that ' flood of savages,' which, in sight of the same Friend of Men, descended from the mountains at Mont d'Or ? Lank-haired haggard faces shapes rawboned, in high sabots, in woollen jupes, with leather girdles
! ;

studded with copper nails They rocked from foot to foot, and beat time with their elbows too, as the quarrel and battle, which was not long in beginning, went on shouting fiercely the lank faces distorted into the similitude of a cruel laugh. For they were darkened and hardened long had they been the prey of excise-men and tax-men of clerks with the cold spurt of their pen.' It was the fixed prophecy of our old Marquis, which no man would listen to, that ' such Government by Blind-man's-buff, stumbling along too far, would end by the General Overturn, the Culbute Generale No man would listen each went his thoughtless way and Time and Destiny also travelled on. The Government by Blind-man's-buff, stumbling along, has reached the precipice inevitable for it. Dull Drudgery, driven on, by clerks with the cold dastard spurt of their pen, has been driven into a Communion of Drudges For now, moreover, there have come the strangest confused tidings by Paris Journals with their paper wings or still more portentous, where no Journals are,^ by rumour and conjecture Oppression not inevitable ; a Bastille
! ;
:

'

'

Fils Adoptif,

Mimoires de Mirabeau, See Arthur Young, i. 137, 150, etc.

i.

364-94.

prostrate,

THE GENERAL OVERTURN

prostrate,

215

and the Constitution

if it

fast getting

ready

Which CHAP.
it

Ill

Constitution,

be something and not nothing, what can

?
'

July-Aug.
1789

be but bread to eat

walking uphill, bridle in hand,' overtakes a poor woman the image, as such commonly are, of drudgery and scarcity looking sixty years of age, though she is not yet twenty-eight.' They have seven children, her poor drudge and she a farm, with one cow, which helps to make the children soup also one little horse, or garron. They have rents and quit-rents. Hens to pay to this Seigneur, Oat-sacks to that King's taxes. Statute-labour, Church-taxes, taxes enough and think the times inexpressible. She has heard that somewhere, in some manner, something is to be done for the poor God send it soon for the dues and taxes crush us down
Traveller,
'

The

'

'

'

{nous Scrasent) Fair prophecies are spoken, but they are not fulfilled. There have been Notables, Assemblages, turnings-out and comingsin. Intriguing and manoeuvring Parlementary eloquence and arguing, Greek meeting Greek in high places, has long gone on yet still bread comes not. The harvest is reaped and garnered yet still we have no bread. Urged by despair and by hope, what can Drudgery do, but rise, as predicted, and produce the General Overturn ? Fancy, then, some Five full-grown Millions of such gaunt in woollen figures, with their haggard faces {figures haves) jupes, with copper- studded leather girths, and high sabots,
I

'

starting

up to

ask, as in forest-roarings, their

washed Upper:

unreviewed centuries, virtually this question How have ye treated us how have ye taught us, fed us and led us, while we toiled for you ? The answer can be read in This is the feeding and flames, over the nightly summer-sky. leading we have had of you Emptiness, of pocket, of stomach, Behold there is nothing in us nothing of head and of heart. but what Nature gives her wild children of the desert Ferocity Strength grounded on hunger. Did ye mark and Appetite among your Rights of Man, that man was not to die of starvaIt is among the tion, while there was bread reaped by him ? Mights of Man. Seventy-two Chateaus have flamed aloft in the Maconnais and Beaujolais alone this seems the centre of the conflagraClasses, after long
; :

See Arthur Young,

i.

134,

tion;

216

CONSOLIDATION
; ; ;

BOOK VI
July-Aug.

^^^^

but it has spread over Dauphine, Alsace, the Lyonnais the whole South-East is in a blaze. All over the North, from Rouen to Metz, disorder is abroad smugglers of salt go openly the barriers of towns are burnt in armed bands tollgatherers, tax-gatherers, official persons put to flight. It was thought,' says Young, the people, from hunger, would Desperate Lackalls, revolt ; and we see they have done it. long prowling aimless, now finding hope in desperation itself, everywhere form a nucleus. They ring the Church-bell by way of tocsin and the Parish turns out to the work.^ Ferocity, atrocity hunger and revenge such work as we can imagine Ill stands it now with the Seigneur, who, for example, has walled-up the only Fountain of the Township who has who has preserved ridden high on his chartier and parchments Game not wisely but too well. Churches also, and Canonries, which have shorn the flock too are sacked, without mercy Wo to the land over which Sansclose, forgetting to feed it. culottism, in its day of vengeance, tramps roughshod, shod Highbred Seigneurs, with their delicate women in sabots and little ones, had to fly half -naked,' under cloud of night glad to escape the flames, and even worse. You meet them
tion
:

'

'

'

'

'

'

at the tahles-d'hote of inns

' ' ;

making wise

reflections or foolish,

uncertain whither they shall now that rank is destroyed wend.^ The metayer will find it convenient to be slack in paying rent. As for the Tax-gatherer, he, long hunting as a biped his Majesty's of prey, may now find himself hunted as one Exchequer will not fill up the Deficit this season it is the notion of many, that a Patriot Majesty, being the restorer of French Liberty, has abolished most taxes, though, for their private ends, some men make a secret of it. Where this will end ? In the Abyss, one may prophesy where whither all Delusions are, at all moments, travelling For if there be a Faith, from this Delusion has now arrived. of old, it is this, as we often repeat, that no Lie can live for The very Truth has to change its vesture, from time to ever. time ; and be born again. But all Lies have sentence of death written down against them, in Heaven's Chancery itself and, slowly or fast, advance incessantly towards their hour. ' The sign of a Grand Seigneur being landlord,' says the vehement plain-spoken Arthur Young, ' are wastes, landes,
; '
'

See

fftsi.

Pari.

ii.

243-6.

See Young,

i.

149, etc.

deserts,

THE GENERAL OVERTURN

deserts, ling
:

217

of a forest,
fields

go to his residence, you will find it in the middle CHAP. Ill peopled with deer, wild boars and wolves. The July-Aug.
^^^^

are scenes of pitiable management, as the houses are of misery. To see so many millions of hands, that would be industrious, all idle and starving O, if I were a legislator of France for one day, I would make these great lords skip again ' ^
:
!

Arthur, thou now actually beholdest them skir) wilt thou grow to grumble at that too ? For long years and generations it lasted but the time came. Featherbrain, whom no reasoning and no pleading could touch, the glare of the firebrand had to illuminate there remained but that method. Consider it, look at it The widow is gathering nettles for her children's dinner a perfumed Seigneur, delicately lounging in the OEil-de-Boeuf, has an alchemy whereby he will extract from her the third nettle, and name it Rent and Law such an arrangement must end. Ought it not ? But, O most fearful is such an ending Let those, to whom God, in his great mercy, has granted time and space, prepare another and milder one.
;

a matter of wonder that the Seigneurs did not do something to help themselves say, combine and arm for there were a hundred and fifty thousand of them,' all valiant enough. Unhappily, a hundred and fifty thousand, scattered over wide Provinces, divided by mutual ill-will, cannot comThe highest Seigneurs, as we have seen, had already bine. emigrated, with a view of putting France to the blush. but Neither are arms now the peculiar property of Seigneurs of every mortal who has ten shillings wherewith to buy a secondit is
; :

To some

'

hand

firelock.
all,

have not four feet and claws, that you could keep them down permanently They are not even of black colour they in that manner. and a Seigneur too has human are mere Unwashed Seigneurs enrolled in The Seigneurs did what they could bowels fled, with shrieks, complaining to Heaven National Guards and Earth. One Seigneur, famed Memmay of Quincey, near Vesoul, invited all the rustics of his neighbourhood to a blew-up his Chateau and them with gunpowder banquet and instantaneously vanished, no man yet knows whither.^
Besides, those starving Peasants, after
:

See Young,

i.

12, 48, 84, etc.

^^^^^ p^rl, U. i6i.

Some

218

CONSOLIDATION
half-dozen years after, he

BOOK VI Some
July-Aug. 1789

came back

and demonstrated
all

ti^at it

was by accident.
are the Authorities idle
;

Authorities, Municipalities and suchlike, are in the uncertain transigetting regenerated from old Monarchic to new tionary state
;

Nor

though unluckily,

Democratic no Official yet knows clearly what he is. Nevertheless, Mayors old or new do gather Marechaussees, National justice, of the most summary sort, Guards, Troops of the line The Electoral Committee of Macon, though is not wanting. but a Committee, goes the length of hanging, for its own behoof, as many as twenty. The Prevot of Dauphine traverses the country with a movable column,' with tipstaves, gallowsropes for gallows any tree will serve, and suspend its culprit,
;

'

or

'

thirteen

'

culprits.
!

the fair gold-and-green of the ripe bright Year defaced with horrid blackness black ashes of Chateaus, black bodies of gibbeted Men Industry has ceased in it not sounds of the hammer and saw, but of the tocsin and alarm-drum. The sceptre has departed, whither one knows not breaking itself in pieces here impotent, there tyrannous. National Guards are unskilful and of doubtful purpose Soldiers are inclined to rfiutiny there is danger that they two may quarrel, danger that they may agree. Strasburg has seen riots a Townhall torn to shreds, its archives scattered white on the
is
;
!

Unhappy country

How

winds

soldiers embracing drunk citizens for three days, and Mayor Dietrich and Marshal Rochambeau reduced nigh to
;

drunk

desperation.^

which phenomena is seen, on his triumphant transit, escorted,' through Befort, for instance, by fifty National Horsemen and all the military music of the place,' M. Necker returning from Bale Glorious as the meridian though poor Necker himself partly guesses whither
of all
' '

Through the middle

it

is

leading.^
;

One

highest culminating day,

at the Paris

Townhall

with immortal vivats, with wife and daughter kneeling publicly to kiss his hand with Besenval's pardon granted, ^but indeed revoked before sunset one highest day, but then lower days, and ever lower, down even to lowest Such magic is in a name and in the want of a name. Like

'

Arthur Young,

i.

141.

Dampmarlin, Evt!nemens qui

se sont passes sous

mes yttix,

i.

105-27.
2

Biographic Universelle Necker (by Lally-Tollendal).

,

some

IN
this
' '
;

QUEUE
essential to victory,

219
comes CHAP.
^'^^
Ill

some enchanted Mambrino's Helmet,

:

Saviour of France beshouted, becymballed by the world alas, so soon to be dwenchanted, to be pitched shamefully over the lists as a Barber's Basin Gibbon could wish to show him (in this ejected, Barber's-Basin state) to any man of solidity, who were minded to have the soul burnt out of him, and become a caput mortuum, by Ambition, unsuccess'
!

July-Aug.

'

ful or successful.^

Another small phasis we add, and no more how, in the Autumn months, our sharp -tempered Arthur has been pestered for some days past,' by shot, lead-drops and slugs, rattling five or six times into my chaise and about my ears all the mob of the country gone out to kill Game ^ It is even so. On the Cliffs of Dover, over all the Marches of France, emigrant there appear, this Autumn, two signs on the Earth emigrant winged flights of French flights of French Seigneurs Finished, one may say, or as good as finished, is the Game completed for endless Preservation of Game on this Earth Time. What part it had to play in the History of Civilisation
:

'

'

'

is

played

plaudite

exeat

In this manner does Sansculottism blaze up, illustrating ^producing, among the rest, as we saw, on the many things Fourth of August, that semi-miraculous Night of Pentecost in semi-miraculous, which had its causes, the National Assembly and its effects. Feudalism is struck dead not on parchment say, by self-comonly, and by ink ; but in very fact, by fire bustion. This conflagration of the South-East will abate extinguish will be got scattered, to the West, or elsewhither it will not, till the juel be all done.
;

CHAPTER
IN

IV

QUEUE
:

that If we look now at Paris, one thing is too evident their long the Bakers' shops have got their Queues, or Tails strings of purchasers, arranged in tail, so that the first come
;

Gibbon's Letters.

Young,

i.

176.

be

220

CONSOLIDATION
first

BOOK

VI

Aug. 1789

shop once open This waiting in tail, not seen since the early days of July, again makes its appearance in August. In time, we shall see it perfected by and the art, or quasipractice to the rank almost of an art art, of standing in tail become one of the characteristics of the Parisian People, distinguishing them from all other Peoples whatsoever. But consider, while work itself is so scarce, how a man must not only realise money, but stand waiting (if his wife is too weak to wait and struggle) for half-days in the Tail, till he get Controversies, to the length it changed for dear bad bread sometimes of blood and battery, must arise in these exasperated Queues. Or if no controversy, then it is but one accordant Pange Lingua of complaint against the Powers that be. France has begun her long Curriculum of Hungering, instructive and productive beyond Academic Curriculums which extends over some seven most strenuous years. As Jean Paul says of his own Life, to a great height shall the business of Hungering go.' Or consider, in strange contrast, the jubilee Ceremonies

be the

served,

were the

'

the aspect of Paris presents these two features jubilee ceremonials and scarcity of victual. Processions enough
for, in general,
:

walk

in jubilee

of
;

Young Women, decked and

dizened, their

ribands all tricolor moving with song and tabor, to the Shrine of Saint Genevieve, to thank her that the Bastille is down. The Strong Men of the Market, and the Strong Women, fail not with their bouquets and speeches. Abbe Fauchet, famed in such work (for Abbe Lefevre could only distribute powder) blesses tricolor clpth for the National Guard and makes it a National Tricolor Flag victorious, or to be victorious, in the cause of civil and religious liberty all over the world. Fauchet, we say, is the man for Te-Deums, and public Consecrations to which, as in this instance of the Flag, our National
;

Guard

will

'

reply with volleys

it

Cathedral though
fuliginous

be

^
;

filling

musketry,' Church and Notre-Dame with such noisiest

of

Amen,

significant of several things.

On

the whole,

we

will

say our new Mayor Bailly, our new

also
'

Commander Lafayette named

Scipio-Americanus,' have

bought their preferment dear. Bailly rides in gilt state-coach, with beef-eaters and sumptuosity Camille Desmoulins, and
;

others,

sniffing
^

at

him

for it
iii.

Scipio bestrides the

Nouveau Paris^
etc.

'

white

See Hist. Pari.

20

Mercier,

charger,'

IN
charger,'

QUEUE
civic

221
in sight of all France.
;

and waves with

plumes

CHAP. IV

Neither of them, however, does it for nothing but, in truth, Aug. 1789 at an exorbitant rate. At this rate, namely of feeding Paris, and keeping it from fighting. Out of the City-funds, some seventeen thousand of the utterly destitute are employed digging on Montmartre, at tenpence a day, which buys them, at market price, almost two pounds of bad bread they look very yellow, when Lafayette goes to harangue them. The Townhall is in travail, night and day ; it must bring forth Bread, a Municipal Constitution, regulations of all kinds, curbs on the Sansculottic Press above all, Bread, Bread. Purveyors prowl the country far and wide, with the appetite of lions ; detect hidden grain, purchase open grain by gentle means or forcible, must and will find grain. A most thankless task and so difficult, so dangerous, even if a man did gain some trifle by it On the 19th of August, there is food for one day.^ Complaints there are that the food is spoiled, and produces an effect on the intestines not corn but plasterof-paris ! Which effect on the intestines, as well as that smarting in the throat and palate,' a Townhall Proclamation warns you to disregard, or even to consider as drastic-beneficial. The Mayor of Saint-Denis, so black was his bread, has, by a dyspeptic populace, been hanged on the Lanterne there. National Guards protect the Paris Corn-Market first ten suffice then six hundred.^ Busy are ye, Bailly, Brissot de Warville, Condorcet, and ye others For, as just hinted, there is a Municipal Constitution to be made too. The old Bastille Electors, after some ten days of psalmodying over their glorious victory, began to hear it asked, in a splenetic tone. Who put you there ? They accordingly had to give place, not without moanings and audible growlings on both sides, to a new larger Body, specially elected for that Which new Body, augmented, altered, then fixed finally post. at the number of Three Hundred, with the title of Town Reprerightly sentatives {Representans de la Commune), now sits there assiduous making a Constitution, portioned into Committees at all moments when not seeking flour. And such a Constitution little short of miraculous one The Revolution is that shall * consolidate the Revolution
:
:

'

'

finished,
^

then

Mayor
ii.

Bailly
I37'409.

and

all

respectable friends of
"

See Bailly, M4moires,

Hist. Pari,

ii.

421.

Freedom

222

CONSOLIDATION
fain think so.

BOOK

VI

Freedom would
sujfficiently

Your Revolution,
'

like jelly

Aug. 1789

needs only to be poured into shapes, of consolidated Constitution, and therein ? Could it, indeed, which last, however, is precisely the doubtcontrive to cool ful thing, or even the not doubtful Unhappy Friends of Freedom consolidating a Revolution They must sit at work there, their pavilion spread on very Chaos between two hostile worlds, the Upper Court-world, the nether Sansculottic one and, beaten on by both, toil painfully, perilously, doing, in sad literal earnest, the
boiled,
' ; ; ! ; ;

'

impossible.'

CHAPTER V
THE FOURTH ESTATE
Pamphleteering opens its abysmal throat wider and wider never to close more. Our Philosophes, indeed, rather withdraw after the manner of Marmontel, retiring in disgust the first day.' Abbe Raynal, grown gray and quiet in his Marseilles domicile, is little content with this work the last
;
'

man will again be an act of rebellion an indignant Letter to the Constituent Assembly answered by the order of the day.' Thus also Philosophe Morellet puckers discontented brows being indeed threatened in his benefices by that Fourth of August it is clearly going too far. How astonishing that those haggard figures in woollen jupes would not rest as satisfied with Speculation, and victorious
literary act of the
; '

'

Analysis, as
Alas,

we
:

and

Speculation, Philosophism, once the ornament wealth of the saloon, will now coin itself into mere Practical

yes

Propositions,

and

circulate

on
;

street

and highway,

universally

with results
increases
Printers,

Fourth Estate, of Able Editors, springs up

irrepressible,

and

multiplies

incalculable.

New
!

and ever new (so prurient is the world), let our Three Hundred curb and consolidate as they can Loustalot, under the wing of Prudhomme dull-blustering
Journals,
Printer, edits weekly his Revolutions de Paris
;

new

in

an

acrid,

emphatic manner.

Acrid, corrosive, as the spirit of sloes and

copperas,

THE FOURTH ES TATE

;

223

copperas, is Marat, Friend of the People struck already with CHAP. V the fact that the National Assembly, so full of Aristocrats, Aug.-Sept. ' ^''^^ can do nothing,' except dissolve itself and make way for a better that the Townhall Representatives are little other than babblers and imbeciles, if not even knaves. Poor is this man squalid, and dwells in garrets ; a man unlovely to the sense,
; ;

outward and inward

a man forbid

and

possessed with fixed-idea. Cruel lusus of O poor Marat, as in cruel sport, knead thee out of her leavings and miscellaneous waste clay and fling thee forth, stepdamelike, a Distraction into this distracted Eighteenth Century ? Work is appointed thee there which thou shalt do. The Three Hundred have summoned and will again summon Marat
!

becoming fanatical, Did Nature, Nature

is

always he will but always he croaks- forth answer sufficient and endure no gag. defy them, or elude them Ex-secretary of a decapitated Hospodar,' and then Carra, likewise Pamphleteer, Adventurer in of a Necklace-Cardinal many scenes and lands, draws nigh to Mercier, of the Tableau de Paris and, with foam on his lips, proposes an Annales The Moniteur goes its prosperous way Barr^re Patriotiques. Rivarol, Royou are not idle. weeps,' on Paper as yet loyal your Domine Salvum Fac Regem shall Deep calls to deep with an Ami-du-Pewple there is a awaken Pange Lingua King's-Friend Newspaper, Ami-du-Roi. Camille Desmoulins has appointed himself Procureur-General de la Lanterne, Attorney General of the Lamp -iron and pleads, not with atrocity, under editing weekly his brilliant Revolutions of an atrocious title Paris and Brabant. Brilliant, we say; for if, in that thick murk of Journalism, with its dull blustering, with its fixed or loose fury, any ray of genius greet thee, be sure it is Camille's. The thing that Camille touches, he with his light finger adorns
;
; ' ;

'

brightness plays, gentle, unexpected, amid horrible confusions ; often is the word of Camille worth reading, when no other's Questionable Camille, how thou glitterest with a fallen, is. as is the starlight on rebellious, yet still semi-celestial light Son of the Morning, into what times the brow of Lucifer
;
!

be not good Thousand Wagon-loads of for ' consolidating Revolutions.' this Pamphleteering and Newspaper matter lie rotting slowly Snatched from the in the Public Libraries of our Europe.
;

and what lands art thou fallen But in all things there is good
!

though

it

great

224

CONSOLIDATION
like

BOOK

VI

great gulf,

oysters

Aug. -Sept. ^^^^

must they

first rot,

by bibliomaniac pearl-divers, there then what was pearl, in Camilla or others,

may

be seen as such, and continue as such.

public speaking declined, though Lafayette and Loud always is the Palais Royal, his Patrols look sour on it. such a miscellany of Citizens and loudest the Cafe de Foy

Nor has

Citizenesses circulating there.

'

Camille,

'

some

Citizens
;

employ

then,' according to the liberty of the yress for a

Now and

private purpose

so that this or the other Patriot finds himself short of his watch or pocket-handkerchief ' But for the rest,
!

in Camille' s opinion, nothing can be a livelier

Roman Forum.

'

Patriot proposes his

image of the motion if it finds

;

any supporters, they make him mount on a chair, and speak. if he is hissed, If he is applauded, he prospers and redacts he goes his ways.' Thus they, circulating and perorating. Tall shaggy Marquis Saint-Huruge, a man that has had losses, and has deserved them, is seen eminent, and also heard.
;

the character of his voice, like that of a Bull of Bashan voice which drowns all voices, which causes frequently the hearts of men to leap. Cracked or half-cracked is this tall Marquis's head uncracked are his lungs the cracked and the uncracked shall alike avail him. Consider further that each of the Forty-eight Districts has speaking and motioning continually its own Committee aiding in the search for grain, in the search for a Constitution checking and spurring the poor Three Hundred of the TownThat Danton, with a voice reverberating from the hall. domes,' is President of the Cordeliers District which has already become a Goshen of Patriotism. That apart from the seventeen thousand utterly necessitous, digging on Montmartre,' most of whom, indeed, have got passes, and been dismissed into Space with four shillings,' there is a strike, or union, of Domestics out of place who assemble for public next, a strike of Tailors, for even they will strike speaking further, a strike of Journeymen Cordwainers and speak a so dear is bread.^ All these, having strike of Apothecaries generally under the open canopy and struck, must speak Lafayette and his Patrols watching them pass resolutions suspiciously from the distance.
'

Bellowing
;

'

is

'

'

'

Histoire Parkmentaire,

ii.

359, 417, 423.

Unhappy

THE FOURTH ESTATE

Unhappy mortals
of one another,
joint Felicity of
:

225

divided

is
;

such

Hundred none But surely all these

Revolution.

such tugging and lugging, and throttling CHAP. V to divide, in some not intolerable way, the Aug. -Sept. ^'^^ man in this Earth when the whole lot to be Diligent are the Three a feast of shells equals Scipio-Americanus in dealing with mobs.
; '
'
!

things bode

ill

for the consolidating of a

YOL.

I.

Book Seventh

BOOK SEVENTH THE INSURRECTION OF

WOMEN

CHAPTER
PATROLI.OTISM
No, Friends,
this Revolution
is

not of the consoHdating kind. Do not fires, fevers, sown seeds, chemical mixtures, men, events, all embodiments of Force that work in this miraculous Complex of Forces named Universe, go on growing, through their natural phases and developments each according to its finally kind reach their height, reach their visible decline sink under, vanishing, and what we call die ? They all grow there is nothing but what grows, and shoots forth into its special expansion, once give it leave to spring. Observe too that each grows with a rapidity proportioned, in general, to slow regular the madness and unhealthiness there is in it growth, though this also ends in death, is what we name health

and

sanity.

Sansculottism, which has prostrated Bastilles, which has got pike and musket, and now goes burning Chateaus, passing resolutions and haranguing under roof and sky, may be said to have sprung ; and, by law of Nature, must grow. To judge

by the madness and diseasedness both of itself, and of the soil and element it is in, one might expect the rapidity and monstrosity

would be extreme.
things,
fits.

Many

too,

especially all diseased things,

first

grow by
;

and shooting-forth of for Sansculottism was that of Paris conquering its King The King Bailly's figure of rhetoric was ail-too sad a reality. is conquered going at large on his parole on condition, say, of absolutely good behaviour, ^which in these circumstances, will unhappily mean no behaviour whatever. A quite untengrand
fit
;

shoots and

The

able

_^
living
?
;

PATROLLOTISM

227

able position, that of Majesty put on its good behaviour CHAP, I Aug. -Sept. Alas, is it not natural that whatever lives try to keep itself

Whereupon his Majesty's behaviour will soon become exceptionable and so the Second grand Fit of Sansculottisra, that of putting him in durance, cannot be distant.
Necker, in the National Assembly,
is

^^^^

making moan,
;

as usual,

and Customhouses burnt the Taxgatherer hunted, not hunting his Majesty's Exchequer all but empty. The remedy is a Loan of thirty millions then, on still more enticing terms, a Loan of eighty millions neither of which Loans, unhappily, will the Stockjobbers venture to lend. The Stockjobber has no country, except his own black
:

about his Deficit

Barriers

pool of Agio.

And
Don

yet, in those days, for

a glow of patriotism inwards to the very purse

Patriotique,
'

men that have a country, what burns in many a heart penetrating

;
!

So early as the 7th of August, a Patriotic Gift of jewels to a considerable

;

been solemnly made by certain Parisian women and solemnly accepted with honourable mention. Whom forthwith all the world takes to imitating and emulating. Patriotic Gifts, always with some heroic eloquence, which the President must answer and the Assembly listen to, flow in from far and near in such number that the honourable mention can only be performed in lists published at stated epochs.' Each gives what he can the very cordwainers have behaved fashionmunificently one landed proprietor gives a forest
extent,' has
: '
:

able society gives

its

shoebuckles, takes cheerfully to shoeties.

'

Unfortunate-females give what they have amassed in loving.' The smell of all cash, as Vespasian thought, is good. The Clergy must be Beautiful, and yet inadequate invited to melt their superfluous Church-plate, in the Royal Mint. Nay finally, a Patriotic Contribution, of the forcible let the sort, has to be determined on, though unwillingly fourth part of your declared yearly revenue, for this once only, so shall a National Assembly make the Constibe paid down Their own wages, tution, undistracted at least by insolvency. as settled on the 17th of August, are but Eighteen Francs a day, each man ; but the Public Service must have sinews, must combler, or not to have money. To appease the Deficit
! ' '

'

Histoire Farletnentaire^

ii.

427.

choke,

228

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

!

BOOK

VII choke, the Deficit,' if you or mortal could For withal, as Aug. -Sept. Mirabeau was heard saying, ' it is the Deficit that saves us.'
1789

Towards the end

shall

of August, our National

Assembly

in its
:

constitutional labours has got so far as the question of Veto

;

Majesty have a Veto on the National Enactments or not have a Veto ? What speeches were spoken, within doors and without clear, and also passionate logic imprecations, comminations gone happily, for most part, to Limbo Through the cracked brain and uncracked lungs of SaintHuruge, the Palais
; ;
;

Royal

rebellows

Veto. busy, France rings with Veto. I never shall forget,' says Dumont, my going to Paris, one of those days, with
' '

with Journalism is

Mirabeau and the crowd of people we found waiting for his carriage about Le Jay
;

the

Bookseller's

shop.

They
before

flung themselves

him

conjuring

him,

MIRABEAU.

with tears in their eyes, not to suffer the Veto Ahsolu. They were in frenzy a
:

" Monsieur le Comte, you are the People's father, you must save us you must defend us against those villains who are bringing back Despotism. If the King get this Veto, what is the use of National Assembly ? We are slaves all is ^ done." Friends, if the sky fall, there will be catching of larks Mirabeau, adds Dumont, was eminent on such occa;
;

'

sions

he answered vaguely, with a Patrician imperturbability,

;

and bound himself to nothing.

Deputations go to the H6tel-de-Ville anonymous Letters to Aristocrats in the National Assembly, threatening that fifteen thousand, or sometimes that sixty thousand, will march
'

Souvenirs sur Mirabeau f

p. 156.

to

PATROLLOTISM
;
:

229

to illuminate you.' The Paris Districts are astir Petitions CHAP. I signing Saint-Huruge sets forth from the Palais Royal with Aug. -Sept. ^^^^ an escort of fifteen hundred individuals, to petition in person. Resolute, or seemingly so, is the tall shaggy Marquis, is the Cafe de Foy but resolute also is Commandant-GeneralLafayette. The streets are all beset by Patrols Saint-Huruge
:
:

stopped at the Barriere des Bons Hommes he may bellow like the bulls of Bashan, but absolutely must return. The brethren of the Palais Royal circulate all night,' and make motions, under the open canopy all Coffeehouses being shut. Nevertheless Lafayette and the Townhall do prevail SaintHuruge is thrown into Prison Veto Absolu adjusts itself into Suspensive Veto, prohibition not for ever, but for a term of time and this doom's-clamour will grow silent, as the others
is
;

'

have done. So far has Consolidation prospered, though with difficulty repressing the Nether Sansculottic world and the Constituamid jubilee and scarcity tion shall be made. With difficulty Abb6-Fauchet Harangues, Patriotic Gifts, Bakers' -queues
;
:

Scipio-Americanus with their Amen of platoon-musketry has deserved thanks from the National Assembly and France.
!

and emoluments to a handsome extent all which stipends and emoluments he, covetous of far other blessedness than mere money, does, in his chivalrous way,
offer

They

him

stipends

without scruple, refuse.

the Parisian common man, meanwhile, one thing rethat now when the Bastille is down, mains inconceivable and French Liberty restored, grain should continue so dear. Our Rights of Man are voted. Feudalism and all Tyranny Is it Aristocrat yet behold we stand in queue abolished a Court still bent on intrigues ? Something is forestallers

To

rotten somewhere.
Lafayette, with his Patrols, Saint-Huruge and other prohibits everything, even complaint. heroes of the Veto lie in durance. People's-Friend Marat was seized ; Printers of Patriotic Journals are fettered and forbidden ; the very Hawkers cannot cry, till they get licence and leaden badges. Blue National Guards ruthlessly dissipate
yet,
alas,
? all

And

what to do

groups

scour, with levelled bayonets, the Palais

Royal
the
Patrol,

itself.

Pass,

on your

affairs,

along the

Rue Taranne,

230

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

To
the
left !

BOOK
^'^^

VII Patrol, presenting his bayonet, cries,

Turn

into

Aug. -Sept. the

the right! Patriot (Hke Camille Desmoulins, in this instance) for quietness' sake, to take the gutter.
cries.

Rue

Saint-Benoit,

he

To

judicious
is

driven,

much-suffering People, our glorious Revolution is evaporating in tricolor ceremonies and complimentary harangues Of which latter, as Loustalot acridly calculates, ' upwards of two thousand have been delivered within the last month at the Townhall alone.' ^ And our mouths, unfilled with bread, are to be shut, under penalties ? The Caricaturist promulgates his emblematic Tablature Le Patrouillotisme chassant le Patriotisme, Patriotism driven out by PatroUotism. Ruthless Patrols long superfine harangues and scanty ill-baked
:

loaves,

more

like
!

baked Bath

bricks,

which produce an
?

effect
?

on the

intestines

Where

will this

end

In consolidation

CHAPTER
O RICHARD, O

II

MY KING

For, alas, neither is the Townhall itself without misgivings. The Nether Sansculottic world has been suppressed hitherto but then the Upper Court-world Symptoms there are that
!

the OEil-de-Boeuf is rallying. More than once in the Townhall Sanhedrim, often enough from those outspoken Bakers'-queues, has the wish uttered itself O that our Restorer of French Liberty were here that he could see with his own eyes, not with the false eyes of Queens and Cabals, and his really good heart be enlightened For falsehood still environs him intriguing Dukes de Guiche, with Bodyguards scouts of Bouille a new flight of intriguers, now that the old is flown. What else means this advent of the Regiment de Flandre entering Versailles, as we hear, on the 23d of September, with two pieces of cannon ? Did not the Versailles National Guard do duty at the Chateau ? Had they not Swiss Hundred Swiss Gardes-du-Corps, Bodyguards socalled ? Nay, it would seem, the number of Bodyguards on duty has, by a manoeuvre, been doubled the new relieving
:
!

Revolutions de Paris Newspaper {cited in Histoire Parletnentaire,

ii.

357).

Battalion

RICHARD, O MY KING
;
!

231

Battalion of them arrived, at its time but the old relieved one does not depart Actually, there runs a whisper through the best-informed Upper-Circles, or a nod still more portentous than whispering, of his Majesty's flying to Metz of a Bond (to stand by him
;

CHAP II
Oct. l, 1789

COMTE DESTAING.
which has been signed by Noblesse and Clergy, to the incredible amount of thirty, or even of sixty thousand. Lafayette coldly whispers it, and coldly asseverates it, to and D'Estaing, one of Count d'Estaing at the Dinner- table the bravest men, quakes to the core lest some lackey overhear it and tumbles thoughtful, without sleep, all night/ Regiment de Flandre, as we said, is clearly arrived. His Majesty, they
therein),
;

Brouillon de Lettre de
24).

M. d'Estaing

h la Reine (in

Histoire

Parlementaire,

iii.

say,

232

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

of chilling

BOOK VII
Oct.
1,

say, hesitates about sanctioning the

1789 observations,

Fourth of August makes tenor, on the very Rights of Man

;

persons, the Bakers'-queues themselves discern, on the streets of Paris, the most astonishing number of Officers on furlough. Crosses of St. Louis, and suchlike ?

Likewise,

may

not

all

from a thousand to twelve hundred.' Oflficers nay one uniform never before seen by eye of all uniforms The tricolor cockade is not always green faced with red visible but what, in the name of Heaven, may these black cockades, which some wear, foreshadow ? Hunger whets everything, especially Suspicion and Indignation. Realities themselves, in this Paris, have grown unreal, preternatural. Phantasms once more stalk through the brain of hungry France. O ye laggards and dastards, cry shrill voices from the Queues, if ye had the hearts of men, ye would take your pikes and secondhand firelocks, and look into it not leave your wives and daughters to be starved, murdered and worse ^Peace, women The heart of man is bitter and heavy Patriotism, driven out by Patrollotism, knows not
'
; ! :
!

Some reckon

what to

resolve on.

The truth is, the CEil-de-Boeuf has rallied to a certain unknown extent. A changed (Eil-de-Boeuf with Versailles
; ;

National Guards, in their tricolor cockades, doing duty there a Court all flaring with tricolor Yet even to a tricolor Court men will rally. Ye loyal hearts, burnt-out Seigneurs, rally round your Queen With wishes which will produce hopes which will produce attempts For indeed self-preservation being such a law of Nature, what can a rallied Court do, but attempt and endeavour, or call it plot, with such wisdom and unwisdom as it has ? They will fly, escorted, to Metz, where brave Bouille commands they will raise the Royal Standard the Bond-signatures shall Their become armed men. Were not the King so languid Bond, if at all signed, must be signed without his privity. Unhappy King, he has but one resolution not to have a civil war. For the rest, he still hunts, having ceased lockmaking he still dozes, and digests is clay in the hands of the potter. Ill will it fare with him, in a world where all is helping itself where, as has been written, whosoever is not hammer must and the very hyssop on the wall grows there, be stithy
!

'

'

'

in

O RICHARD, O
its

MY KING

233
CHAP.
II

in that chink, because the whole Universe could not prevent

growing

'
!

Oct. i, 1789

Regiment de Flandre, may it not be urged that there were Saint-Huruge Petitions, and continual meal-mobs ? Undebauched soldiers, be there plot, or only dim elements of a plot, are always good. Did not the
as for the coming-up of this
Versailles Municipality (an old Monarchic one, not yet refounded into a Democratic) instantly second the proposal ? Nay the

But

very Versailles National Guard, wearied with continual duty at the Chateau, did not object only Draper Lecointre, who is now Major Lecointre, shook his head. Yes, Friends, surely it was natural this Regiment de Flandre should be sent for, since it could be got. It was natural that, at sight of military
;

bandoleers, the heart of the rallied (Eil-de-Boeuf should revive

Honour, speak comand to one another. Natural also, and mere common civility, that the Bodyguards, a Regiment of Gentlemen, should invite their Flandre brethren to a Dinner of welcome Such invitation, in the last days of September, is given and accepted. Dinners are defined as the ultimate act of communion men that can have communion in nothing else, can sympathetically eat together, can still rise into some glow of brotherhood over food and wine. The Dinner is fixed on, for Thursday the First of October and ought to have a fine effect. Further, as such Dinner may be rather extensive, and even the Noncommissioned and the Common man be introduced, to see and to hear, could not his Majesty's Opera Apartment, which has lain quite silent ever since Kaiser Joseph was here, be obtained for the purpose ? The Hall of the Opera is granted the Salon d'Hercule shall be drawing-room. Not only the Officers of Flandre, but of the Swiss, of the Hundred Swiss nay of the Versailles National Guard, such of them as have any loyalty, shall feast it will be a Repast like few. And now suppose this Repast, the solid part of it, transacted and the first bottle over. Suppose the customary loyal the King's health, the Queen's with deafening toasts drunk rejected.' omitted,' or even vivats that of the Nation with pot-valorous speech, with Suppose champagne flowing empty featherheads growing ever the instrumental music Her noisier, in their own emptiness, in each other's noise.
of
of

and Maids

Honour, and gentlemen

fortable words to epauletted defenders

'

'

'

'

Majesty,

234

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

!

BOOK
Oct. 4,

VII Majesty, who looks unusually sad tonight (his Majesty sitting 1789 dulled with the day's hunting), is told that the sight of it would

She enters there, issuing from her Statecheer her. Behold rooms, like the Moon from clouds, this fairest unhappy Queen royal Husband by her side, young Dauphin in her of Hearts arms She descends from the Boxes, amid splendour and acclaim walks queenlike round the Tables gracefully escorted, her looks full of sorrow, yet of gratitude gracefully nodding and daring, with the hope of France on her mother-bosom And now, the band striking up, Richard, O mon Roi, Vunivers fahandonne (O Richard, O my King, the world is all forsaking thee), could man do other than rise to height of pity, of loyal valour ? Could feather-headed young ensigns do other than, by white Bourbon Cockades, handed them from fair fingers by waving of swords, drawn to pledge the Queen's health by trampling of National Cockades by scaling the Boxes,
; ! ;
;

whence intrusive murmurs may come by vociferation, tripudiation, sound, fury and distraction, within doors and without, testify what tempest-tost state of vacuity they are in ? Till champagne and tripudiation do their work and all lie silent,
; ;

horizontal

passively slumbering with meed-of -battle dreams in ordinary times, a harmless one natural Repast now
;
!
;

fatal,

as that of Thyestes

as that of Job's Sons,

when

a
!

strong wind smote the four corners of their banquet-house Poor ill-advised Marie- Antoinette with a woman's vehemence, It was so natural, yet so not with a sovereign's foresight unwise. Next day, in public speech of ceremony, her Majesty declares herself delighted with the Thursday.' The heart of the (Eil-de-Boeuf glows into hope into daring, which is premature. Rallied Maids of Honour, waited on by distribute them, with words, Abb^s, sew white cockades
; !

'

'

'

who, in return, may kiss, with glances, to epauletted youths not without fervour, the fair sewing fingers. Captains of horse nay and foot go swashing with enormous white cockades one Versailles National Captain has mounted the like, so witching were the words and glances, and laid aside his tricolor! Well may Major Lecointre shake his head with a look of severity and speak audible resentful words. But now a swashbuckler, with enormous white cockade, overhearing the Major, invites him insolently, once and then again elsewhere, to recant and Which latter feat Major Lecointre declares failing that, to duel.
;

'

'

that

BLACK CO CKADES
; '
'

235

that he will not perform, not at, least by any known laws of CHAP. II fence that he nevertheless will, according to mere law of Oct. 4, 1789 Nature, by dirk and blade, exterminate any vile gladiator who may insult him or the Nation whereupon (for the Major is actually drawing his implement) they are parted,' and no
'
' ;

'

weasands

slit/

CHAPTER
But fancy what
;

III

BLACK COCKADES
Thyestes Repast, and trampling on the National Cockade, must have had in the Salle des Nay such Menus in the famishing Bakers'-queues at Paris Thyestes Repasts, it would seem, continue. Flandre has given then on its Counter-Dinner to the Swiss and Hundred Swiss Saturday there has been another. but yonder at Versailles is Yes, here with us is famine Patriotism stands in queue, shiverfood, enough and to spare while bloodying hunger- struck, insulted by Patrollotism minded Aristocrats, heated with excess of high living, trample on the National Cockade. Can the atrocity be true ? Nay black cockades, the look green uniforms faced with red and death are we to have military onfall colour of Night For, behold, the Corbeil Cornboat, which also by starvation ? used to come twice a day, with its plaster- of -paris meal, now and the men comes only once. And the Townhall is deaf At the Cafe de Foy, this Saturday are laggard and dastard a woman evening, a new thing is seen, not the last of its kind engaged in public speaking. Her poor man, she says, was put
effect this
!

to silence

not
will

let

by his District their Presidents and Officials would him speak. Wherefore she here, with her shrill tongue,
; ;

denouncing, while her breath endures, the Corbeil speak Boat, the plaster-of-paris bread, sacrilegious Opera-dinners, green uniforms. Pirate Aristocrats, and those black cockades
of theirs
!

Truly, it is time for the black cockades at least to vanish. Them Patrollotism itself will not protect. Nay sharp -tempered
^

Moniteur

(in Histoire

Parlementaire,

iii.

59)

Deux Amis,

iii.

128-41

Campan,

ii.

70-85;

etc. etc.

'M.

236

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

Tassin,' at the Tuileries
;

BOOK VII
Oct. i, 1789

parade on Sunday morning, forgets starts from the ranks, wrenches all National military rule down one black cockade which is swashing ominous there, and tramples it fiercely into the soil of France. Patrollotism Also the Districts begin itself is not without suppressed fury.
'

M.

to stir

the voice of President

:

Cordeliers

back again

swart bird, not of the halcyon kind/

;

Danton reverberates in the People's- Friend Marat has flown to Versailles and

promenading Patriot, this Sunday; and sees his own grim care reflected on the face of another. Groups, in spite of Patrollotism, which is not so alert as usual, groups on the Bridges, on the Quais, fluctuate deliberative And ever as any black cockade may at the patriotic Cafes. emerge, rises the many-voiced growl and bark A has, Down
so Patriot meets
:
!

And

All black cockades are ruthlessly plucked off

; '

one individual kisses it, attempts to refix it but a picks his up again hundred canes start into the air,' and he desists. Still worse went it with another individual doomed, by extempore saved, with difficulty, by some Plebiscitum, to the Lanterne Lafayette sees signs of an effervesactive Corps-de-Garde. cence which he doubles his Patrols, doubles his diligence, to prevent. So passes Sunday the 4th of October 1789. veheSullen is the male heart, repressed by Patrollotism ment is the female, irrepressible. The public- speaking woman Men at the Palais Royal was not the only speaking one know not what the pantry is, when it grows empty only house-mothers know. O women, wives of men that will only but Death, calculate and not act Patrollotism is strong
: ;

by

starvation and military onfall,

is

stronger.

Patrollotism

represses

female Patriotism ? Will Guards named National thrust their bayonets into the bosoms Such thought, or rather such dim unshaped raw of women ? material of a thought, ferments universally under the female
:

male Patriotism

but

nightcap
1

and,

by earliest daybreak, on

slight hint, will explode.

Camille's Newspaper, Revolutions de Paris et de Brabant (in Histoire Parlenieniii.

taire,

io8).

Chapter IV

THE MENADS

237
CHAP. IV
Oct. 5, 1789

CHAPTER
THE MENADS

IV

If Voltaire once, in splenetic humour, asked his countrymen ' But you, Gualches, what have you invented ? they
:

'

can now answer

so full of

in these last singular times

was an art needed an art for which the French nature, vehemence, so free from depth, was perhaps of all
:

The Art

of Insurrection.
:

It

others the

fittest.

Accordingly, to what a height, one may well say of perfection, has this branch of human industry been carried by France, within the last half-century Insurrection, which Lafayette thought might be the most sacred of duties,' ranks now, for the French people, among the duties which they can perform. Other mobs are dull masses which roll onwards with a dull fierce heat, but emit no light-flashes of genius as they go. The French mob, again, is among the liveliest phenomena of our world. So rapid, audacious so clearsighted, inventive, prompt to seize the moment instinct with life to its finger-ends That talent, were there no other, of spontaneously standing in queue, distinguishes, as we said, the French People from all Peoples, ancient and modern. Let the Reader confess too that, taking one thing with another, perhaps few terrestrial Appearances are better worth considering than mobs. Your mob is a genuine outburst of Nature issuing from, or communicating with, the deepest deep of Nature. When so much goes grinning and grimacing as a lifeless Formality, and under the stiff buckram no heart can be felt beating, here once more, if nowhere else, is a or even shriek over Shudder at it Sincerity and Reality. nevertheless consider it. Such a Complex it, if thou must of human Forces and Individualities hurled forth, in their transcendental mood, to act and react, on circumstances and on one another to work out what it is in them to work.
!

'

The thing they

will

do

is

known

to no

man

least of

all

to

themselves. It is the infiammablest immeasurable Firework, generating, consuming itself. With what phases, to what extent,

with

238

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

it will

BOOK

VII

with what results

'

burn

off,

Philosophy and Perspicacity

Oct. 5, 1789

conjecture in vain.

Man,' as has been written, is for ever interesting to man nay properly there is nothing else interesting.' In which light also may we not discern why most Battles have become so wearisome ? Battles, in these ages, are transacted by mechanism with the slightest possible development of human individuality or spontaneity men now even die, and kill one another, in an artificial manner. Battles ever since Homer's time, when they were Fighting Mobs, have mostly ceased to be worth looking at, worth reading of or remembering. How many wearisome bloody Battles does History strive to repreor even, in a husky way, to sing sent and she would omit carelessly or slur-over this one Insurrection of Women ?
'

thought, or dim raw-material of a thought, was fermenting night, universally in the female head, and might explode. In squalid garret, on Monday morning. Maternity awakes, to hear children weeping for bread. Maternity must forth to the streets, to the herb-markets and Bakers '-queues meets there with hunger- stricken Maternity, sympathetic, exasperative. O we unhappy women But, instead of Bakers'-queues, why not to Aristocrats' palaces, the root of the matter ? Allans ! Let us assemble. To the H6tel-de-Ville to Versailles to the Lanterne In one of the Guardhouses of the Quartier Saint-Eustache, a young woman seizes a drum for how shall National Guards give fire on women, on a young woman ? The young woman seizes the drum sets forth, beating it, uttering cries relative to the dearth of grains.' Descend, O mothers descend, ye Judiths, to food and revenge All women gather and go crowds storm all stairs, force out all women the female Insurrectionary Force, according to Camille, resembles the English Naval one there is a universal Press of women.' Robust Dames of the Halle, slim Mantua-makers, assiduous, risen with the dawn ancient Virginity tripping to matins the Housemaid, with early broom Rouse ye, all must go. O women ; the laggard men will not act they say, we ourselves may act And so, like snowbreak from the mountains, for every staircase is a melted brook, it storms tumultuous, wild-shrilling, towards
all
;
!

'

'

'

'

the falling splendour

(the tennis-court oath).
(Opus finis
corona.")

THE MENADS
towards the H6tel-de-Ville.
:
;

239

with or without CHAP. IV Tumultuous drum-music for the Faubourg Saint- Antoine also has tucked- Oct. 6, 1789 up its gown ; and with besom-staves, fire-irons, and even rustySound of it flies, pistols (void of ammunition), is flowing on. with a velocity of sound, to the utmost Barriers. By seven o'clock, on this raw October morning, fifth of the month, the Townhall will see wonders. Nay, as chance would have it, a clustering tumultuously round male party are already there some National Patrol, and a Baker who has been seized with and have even lowered the short weights. They are there rope of the Lanterne. So that the official persons have to smuggle forth the short-weighing Baker by back-doors, and even send to all the Districts for more force. Grand it was, says Camille, to see so many Judiths, from eight to ten thousand of them in all, rushing out to search Not unfrightful it must have into the root of the matter At such ludicro-terrific, and most unmanageable. been hour the overwatched Three Hundred are not yet stirring and none but some Clerks, a company of National Guards M. de Gouvion, the Major-general, Gouvion has fought in a man of no inconAmerica for the cause of civil Liberty siderable heart, but deficient in head. He is, for the moment, assuaging Usher Maillard, the Bastillein his back apartment
;
;

'

'

has come, as too many do, with representations.' The assuagement is still incomplete when our Judiths arrive. The National Guards form on the outer stairs with levelled with the ten thousand Judiths press up, resistless bayonets obtestations, with outspread hands, merely to speak to the nay from male hands in the Mayor. The rear forces them the National Guard must do one of rear, stones already fly sweep the Place de Greve with cannon, or else two things the living deluge rushes open to right and left. They open Through all rooms and cabinets, upwards to the topmost in. seeking arms, seeking Mayors, seeking ravenous belfry while, again, the better-dressed speak kindly to the justice also their Clerks ; point out the misery of these poor women
sergeant,

who

'

ailments,
shiftless,

some even of an Poor M. de Gouvion is

perturbed
:

interesting sort.^
shiftless in this
will

extremity
shifty

a man
How
the

who
^

one day commit suicide.

happy

for

him that Usher Maillard the

Deux Amis,
iii.

was

there, at

141-66.

240

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

moment,
though
: ;

BOOK VII
Oct. 6, 1789

the

making representations
seek the Bastille

Fly
;

back,

Company and thou shifty Maillard above all, with thy own shifty head return fast with it For, behold, the Judiths can find no Mayor or Municipal, scarcely, in the topmost belfry, can they find poor Abb6 Lef evre the Powder-distributor. Him, for want of a better, they susover the top of all in the pale morning light pend there a horrible end ? Paris, which swims in one's failing eyes Nay the rope broke, as French ropes often did or else an Amazon cut it. Abbe Lefevre falls, some twenty feet, rattling among the leads and lives long years after, though always with a tremblement in the limbs.' ^ And now doors fly under hatchets the Judiths have broken the Armory have seized guns and cannons, three moneyin few minutes, our brave bags, paper-heaps torches flare H6tel-de-Ville, which dates from the Fourth Henry, will, with all that it holds, be in flames
:

'

CHAPTER V
USHER MAILLARD
not that Usher Maillard, swift of foot, shifty of head, has returned Maillard, of his own motion, for Gouvion or the rest would not even sanction him, snatches a drum ; descends the Porchstairs, ran- tan, beating sharp, with loud rolls, his Rogues' march To Versailles Allans ; a Versailles I As men beat on kettle or warming-pan, when angry she-bees, or say, flying desperate wasps, are to be hived and the desperate insects hear it, and cluster round it, simply as round a guidance, where there was none so now these Menads round shifty Maillard, Riding-Usher of the Chatelet. The axe pauses uplifted Abbe Lefevre is left half -hanged from the belfry downwards all vomits itself. What a rub-a-dub is that ?
truly,
it
!

In flames,

were

Stanislas Maillard, Bastille hero, will lead us to Versailles

?
I

Joy to thee, Maillard Away, then, away

!

blessed art thou above Riding-Ushers

Dusaulx, Prise de la Bastille, note,

p. 281.

The

USHER MAILLARD
The
seized
:

241

cannon are yoked with seized cart-horses brown- CHAP. V locked Demoiselle Theroigne, with pike and helmet, sits there Oct. 6, 1789 as gunneress, with haughty eye and serene fair countenance comparable,' some think, to the Maid of Orleans, or even re'
'

the idea of Pallas Athene.' ^ Maillard (for his drum still rolls) is, by heaven-rending acclamation, admitted General. Maillard hastens the languid march. Maillard, beating rhythmic, with sharp ran-tan, all along the Quais, leads forward, with difficulty, his Menadic host. Such a host marched not in silence The bargeman pauses on the River all wagoners and coach- drivers fly men peer from windows, not women, lest they be pressed. Sight of sights Bacchantes, in these ultimate Formalised Ages Bronze Henri looks on, from his Pont-Neuf the Monarchic Louvre, Medicean Tuileries see a day like none heretofore seen. And now Maillard has his Menads in the Champs Mysees (Fields Tartarean rather) and the H6tel-de-Ville has suffered comparatively nothing. an Abbe Lefevre, Broken doors three sacks of who shall never more distribute powder money, most part of which (for Sansculottism, though famishing, is not without honour) shall be returned ^ this is all the damage. Great Maillard A small nucleus of Order is round his drum but his outskirts fluctuate like the mad Ocean for Rascality male and female is flowing in on him, from the
calling
'
!

four winds : guidance there is none but in his single head and two drum-sticks. O Maillard, when, since War first was, had General of Force such a task before him as thou this day ? Walter the Penniless but then Walter had sanction ; still touches the feeling heart had space to turn in ; and also his Crusaders were of the male Thou, this day, disowned of Heaven and Earth, art sex.
:

General of Menads. Their inarticulate frenzy thou must, on the spur of the instant, render into articulate words, into actions that are not frantic. Fail in it, this way or that Pragmatical Officiality, with its penalties and law-books, waits Menads storm behind. If such hewed off the before thee melodious head of Orpheus, and hurled it into the Peneus waters, what may they not make of thee, thee rhythmic
;

merely, with no music but a sheepskin

drum Maillard
!

did

not

fail.
1

Remarkable Maillard,
iii.

if

fame were not an accident,

^ Hist.

Deux Amis,
I.

157.

Pari.

iii.

310.

VOL.

and

242

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

History a distillation of Rumour,
!

BOOK VII and

Oct. 6, 1789

how remarkable
;

wert

thou

the Elysian Fields there is pause and fluctuation but, He persuades his Menads, clamorous for Maillard, no return. for arms and the Arsenal, that no arms are in the Arsenal that an unarmed attitude, and petition to a National Assembly, he hastily nominates or sanctions generalesses, will be the best and so, in loosest-flowing order, captains of tens and fifties eight drums (having laid aside his to the rhythm of some own), with the Bastille Volunteers bringing up his rear, once
:

On

'

'

more takes the road.

promptly yield baked loaves, is not nor are the Sevres Potteries broken. The old plundered Seine River arches of Sevres Bridge echo under Menadic feet and Paris flings after gushes on with its perpetual murmur us the boom of tocsin and alarm-drum,-^inaudible, for the present, amid shrill-sounding hosts, and the splash of rainy weather. To Meudon, to Saint-Cloud, on both hands, the and hearths, this evening, will report of them is gone abroad have a topic. The press of women still continues, for it is the cause of all Eve's Daughters, mothers that are, or that No carriage-lady, were it with never such ought to be. hysterics, but must dismount, in the mud roads, in her silk shoes, and walk.^ In this manner, amid wild October weather, they, a wild unwinged, stork-flight, through the astonished country wend their way. Travellers of all sorts they stop Deputy Lechaespecially travellers or couriers from Paris. pelier, in his elegant vesture, from his elegant vehicle, looks apprehensive for life forth amazed through his spectacles states eagerly that he is Patriot-Deputy Lechapelier, and even Old-President Lechapelier, who presided on the Night of Pentecost, and is original member of the Breton Club. Thereupon rises huge shout of Vive Lechapelier, and several armed ^ persons spring up behind and before to escort him.'
Chaillot,

which

will

'

news, despatches from Lafayette, or vague noise of rumour, have pierced through, by side roads. In the National Assembly, while all is busy discussing the order of the day regretting that there should be Anti-National Repasts
Nevertheless,
;

Deux
Ibid.,

Afiiis,
ii.

iii.
;

159.

177

Dictionnaire des

Hommes Marquans,

ii.

379.

in

USHER MAILLARD
in Opera-halls
;

243
CHAP. V
^'^^- ^>

that his Majesty should still hesitate about accepting the Rights of Man, and hang conditions and peradventures on them, Mirabeau steps up to the President, ex-

1789

'

and articulates, in perienced Mounier as it chanced to be Mounier, Paris marche sur nous (Paris is bass undertone Believe May be {Je n'en sais rien) marching on us).' but Paris, I say, it or disbelieve it, that is not my concern Fall suddenly unwell go over to the is marching on us. tell them this. There is not a moment to lose.' Chateau marching on Paris us ? responds Mounier, with an atrabiliar accent Well, so much the We shall the better
;
:

'

'

'

'

'

'

sooner be a Republic' Mirabeau quits him, as one quits an experienced

President getting blindfold into deep waters and the order of the day continues as before. Yes, Paris is marching on us ; and more than the women of Scarcely was Paris Maillard gone, when M. de Gouvion's message to
;

LECHAPELIER. the Districts, and such tocsin and drumming of the genSrale, began to take effect. Armed National especially the Grenadiers of the Guards from every District Centre, who are our old Gardes Fran9aises, arrive, in quick sequence, on the Place de Gr^ve. An 'immense people' is there; Saint- Antoine, with pike and rusty firelock, is all crowding thither, be it welcome or unwelcome. The Centre It is not cheers that Grenadiers are received with cheering the Nation has been we want,' answer they gloomily
all
;
:

'

'

Ha, sits to arms, and come with us for orders the wind so ? Patriotism and PatroUotism are now one The Three Hundred have assembled; 'all the Committees are in activity ; Lafayette is dictating despatches for Ver!

insulted

'

'

sailles,

244

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

when a Deputation of the Centre Grenadiers introduces to him. The Deputation makes mihtary obeisance and
;
:

BOOK VII

sailles,

Oct. 6, 1789 itself

thus speaks, not without a kind of thought in it Mon Geniral, we are deputed by the Six Companies of Grenadiers. We do not think you a traitor, but we think the Government We cannot turn our it is time that this end. betrays you bayonets against women crying to us for bread. The people are miserable, the source of the mischief is at Versailles we bring him King, and to Paris. the seek go We must must exterminate (exterminer) the Regiment de Flandre and the Gardes-du-Corps, who have dared to trample on the National Cockade. If the King be too weak to wear his crown, let him lay it down. You will crown his Son, you will name a and all will go better.' ^ Reproachful Council of Regency astonishment paints itself on the face of Lafayette speaks in vain. itself from his eloquent chivalrous lips My General, we would shed the last drop of our blood for you but the we must go and bring the root of the mischief is at Versailles King to Paris all the people wish it, touLle peuple le veuV My General descends to the outer staircase and harangues To Versailles To Versailles once more in vain. Mayor Bailly, sent for through floods of Sansculottism, attempts academic oratory from his gilt state-coach ; realises nothing Bread but infinite hoarse cries of To Versailles and gladly shrinks within doors. Lafayette mounts the white and again harangues, and reharangues charger with eloquence, with firmness, indignant demonstration with all To Versailles things but persuasion. To Versailles So for the space of half a day. lasts it, hour after hour The great Scipio-Americanus can do nothing not so much Morbleu, mon General,' cry the Grenadiers serrying as escape. their ranks as the white charger makes a motion that way, you will not leave us, you will abide with us A perilous Mayor Bailly and the Municipals sit quaking within juncture doors my General is prisoner without the Place de Greve, with its thirty thousand Regulars, its whole irregular SaintAntoine and Saint-Marceau, is one minatory mass of clear or all hearts set, with a moody fixedness, on one rusty steel
' ; : :

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

object.
if

Moody, fixed are

'

all

hearts

tranquil

is

no

heart,

it

be not that of the white charger,

Deux Amis,
iii.

who paws

there, with

i6i.

arched

USHER MAILLARD
;
'

245

arched neck, composedly champing his bit as if no World, CHAP. V with its Dynasties and Eras, were now rushing down. The Oct- 5, 1789 drizzly day bends westward To Versailles the cry is still Nay now, borne from afar, come quite sinister cries hoarse, reverberating in long-drawn hollow murmurs, with syllables too like those of Lanterne Or else, irregular Sansculottism may be marching off, of itself, with pikes, nay with cannon. The
!

'

'

BAILLY.
inflexible Scipio does at length,
:

by aide-de-camp, ask
;

of the

Whether or not he may go ? A Letter is handed Municipals sixty thousand faces flash out to him, over armed heads
fixedly on his, there is stillness and no bosom breathes, till Do the he have read. By Heaven, he grows suddenly pale Municipals permit ? ' Permit, and even order,' since he can
!

Clangour of approval rends the welkin. let us march ranks, then

no

other.

To your
It

246

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

is,

BOOK

VII

It

as

we compute, towards

three in the afternoon.

Indig:

Oct. 5, 1789

nant National Guards may dine for once from their haversack dined or undined, they march with one heart. Paris flings-up her windows, claps hands,' as the Avengers, with their shrilling drums and shalms, tramp by she will then sit pensive, apprehensive, and pass rather a sleepless night. ^ On the white charger, Lafayette, in the slowest possible manner, going and coming, and eloquently haranguing among the ranks, rolls onward with his thirty thousand. Saint-Antoine, with pike and cannon, has preceded him a mixed multitude, of all and the country once of no arms, hovers on his flanks and skirts more pauses agape Paris marche sur nous.
' ; ; ; :

CHAPTER

VI

TO VERSAILLES
For, indeed, about this same moment, Maillard has halted his draggled Menads on the last hill-top and now Versailles, and the Chateau of Versailles, and far and wide the inheritance of Royalty opens to the wondering eye. From far on the right, over Marly and Saint-Germain-en-Laye ; round towards Rambouillet, on the left beautiful all softly embosomed as if in sadness, in the dim moist weather And near before us is Versailles, New and Old with that broad frondent Avenue de Versailles between, stately-frondent, broad, three hundred feet as men reckon, with its four Rows of Elms and then the Chateau de Versailles, ending in royal Parks and Pleasances, gleaming Lakelets, Arbours, Labyrinths, the Minagerie, and Great and Little Trianon. High-towered dwellings, leafy pleasant places ; where the gods of this lower world abide whence, nevertheless, black Care cannot be excluded whither Menadic Hunger is even now advancing, armed with pike-thyrsi Yes, yonder, Mesdames, where our straight frondent Avenue, joined, as you note, by Two frondent brother Avenues from this hand and from that, spreads out into Place Royal and Palace Forecourt, yonder is the Salle des Menus. Yonder an august
;
:

Deux Amis,

iii.

165.

Assembly

TO VERSAILLES
Assembly
sits

247

regenerating France. Forecourt, Grand Court, CHAP. VI Court of Marble, Court narrowing into Court you may discern Oct. 6, 1789 next, or fancy on the extreme verge of which that glass:

dome, visibly ghttering like a star of hope, is the (Eil-deBcEuf Yonder, or nowhere in the world, is bread baked for us. But, O Mesdames, were not one thing good That our cannons, with Demoiselle Theroigne and all show of war, be put to the rear ? Submission beseems petitioners of a National Assembly we are strangers in Versailles, whence, too audibly, there comes even now a sound as of tocsin and genirale Also to put on, if possible, a cheerful countenance, hiding our sorrows and even to sing ? Sorrow, pitied of the Heavens, is hateful, suspicious to the Earth. So counsels shifty Maillard haranguing his Menads, on the heights near 'Versailles.^ Cunning Maillard's dispositions are obeyed. The draggled Insurrectionists advance up the Avenue, in three columns,' among the four Elm-rows singing Henri Quatre,' with what melody they can and shouting Vive le Roi. Versailles, though the Elm-rows are dripping wet, crowds from both sides, with Vivent nos Parisiennes^ Our Paris ones for ever Prickers, scouts have been out towards Paris, as the rumour deepened whereby his Majesty, gone to shoot in the Woods and of Meudon, has been happily discovered, and got home the generale and tocsin set a- sounding. The Bodyguards are and look already drawn up in front of the Palace Grates sulky, in wet buckskins. down the Avenue de Versailles Flandre too is there, repentant of the Opera-Repast. Also Dragoons dismounted are there. Finally Major Lecointre, and what he can gather of the Versailles National Guard though it is to be observed, our Colonel, that same sleepless Count d'Estaing, giving neither order nor ammunition, has one supposes, into the OEil-devanished most improperly Boeuf. Red-coated Swiss stand within the Grates, under arms. There likewise, in their inner room, * all the Ministers,' Lamentation Pompignan and the rest, are Saint-Priest, blank, they sit with him there assembled with M. Necker expecting what the hour will bring.
!
:

'

'

'

President Mounier, though he answered Mirabeau with a tant mieux, and affected to slight the matter, had his own
^

See Hist. Pari.

Hi.

70-117

Deux Amis,

hi.

166-77, etc.

forebodings.

248

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

Surely, for these four
!

BOOK VII
Oct. 5, 1789

forebodings.

The order of not on roses Deputation to his Majesty seems proper, that it might please him to grant Acceptance pure and simple to those Constitution-Articles of ours the mixed qualified Acceptance,' with its peradventures, is satisfactory to neither gods nor men. So much is clear. And yet there is more, which no man speaks, which all men now vaguely understand. Disquietude, Members whisper, uneasily absence of mind is on every face come and go the order of the day is evidently not the day's want. Till at length, from the outer gates, is heard a rustling and justling, shrill uproar and squabbling, muffled by walls which testifies that the hour is come Rushing and crushing one hears now then enter Usher Maillard, with a Deputation of Fifteen muddy dripping Women, having, by incredible industry, and aid of all the macers, persuaded the rest to wait out of doors. National Assembly shall now, therefore, look its august task directly in the face regenerative Constitutionalism has an unregenerate Sansculottism bodily in front of
:

weary hours he has rechned the day is getting forward a

'

'

'

it

crying,

'

Bread

Bread

'
!

refrenzy into articulation pressive with the one hand, expostulative with the other, does his best and really, though not bred to public speaking, manages rather well In the present dreadful rarity of grains, a Deputation of Female Citizens has, as the august Assembly

Shifty Maillard,

translating

can discern, come out from Paris to petition. Plots of Aristocrats are too evident in the matter for example, one miller has been bribed by a bank-note of 200 livres not to grind, name unknown to the Usher, but fact provable, at least indubitable. Further, it seems, the National Cockade has been trampled on also there are Black Cockades, or were. All which things will not an august National Assembly, the hope of France, take into its wise immediate consideration ? And Menadic Hunger, irrepressible, crying Black Cockades,' crying Bread, Bread,' adds, after such fashion Will it not ? Yes, Messieurs, if a Deputation to his Majesty, for the Acceptance pure and simple,' seemed proper, how much for the more now, for the afflicting situation of Paris calming of this effervescence President Mounier, with a speedy Deputation, among whom we notice the respectable figure of Doctor Guillotin, gets himself forward on march.
;
'
'

'

'

'

'

'

Vice-President

AT VERSAILLES
;

249

Usher CHAP, VI Vice-President shall continue the order of the day Maillard shall stay by him to repress the women. It is four Oct- ^> 1789 o'clock, of the miserablest afternoon, when Mounier steps out. O experienced Mounier, what an afternoon the last of thy suddenly political existence Better had it been to fall unwell,' while it was yet time. For, behold, the Esplanade, over all its spacious expanse, is covered with groups of squalid dripping Women of lankhaired male Rascality, armed with axes, rusty pikes, old muskets, iron-shod clubs [batons ferres, which end in knives or swordblades, a kind of extempore billhook) looking nothing but hungry revolt. The rain pours amid Gardes-du-Corps go caracoling through the groups hisses ; irritating and agitating what is but dispersed here to reunite there. Innumerable squalid women beleaguer the President and has not his Majesty Deputation insist on going with him himself, looking from the window, sent out to ask. What we wanted ? Bread, and speech with the King (Du pain, et Twelve women are parler au Rot),' that was the answer. and march with it, clamorously added to the Deputation through dissipated groups, caracoling across the Esplanade
; '
!

'

'

'

augmented by Twelve women, copiously escorted by Hunger and Rascality, is himhimself and his Women are disself mistaken for a group rally again with difficulty, among the persed by caracolers the Deputation gets mud.^ Finally the Grates are opened of which latter, Five access, with the Twelve women too in it Let wet Menadism, in shall even see the face of his Majesty.
:

Bodyguards and the pouring rain. President Mounier, unexpectedly

the best spirits

it

can, expect their return.

CHAPTER
But
already Pallas Athene
(in

VII

AT VERSAILLES
the shape of Demoiselle Theroigne) is busy with Flandre and the dismounted Dragoons. She, and such women as are fittest, go through the ranks
*

Mounier, xpos^ /us^t/icatt/ {cited in

Deux Amis,

iii.

185).

speak

250

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

earnest jocosity
;

BOOK VII speak with an

Oct. 5, 1789
:

clasp rough troopers to their

patriot bosom, crush

down spontoons and musketoons with soft arms can a man, that were worthy of the name of man, attack famishing patriot women ? One reads that Theroigne had bags of money, which she distributed over Flandre furnished by whom ? Alas, with
:

money-bags one seldom sits on insurrectionary cannon. Calumnious Royalism Theroigne had only the limited earn!

ings of her profession of unfortunate-female

not, but

money

she had

brown

locks, the figure of

a Heathen Goddess and an

eloquent tongue and heart.

Meanwhile Saint-Antoine, in groups and troops, is continually arriving wetted, sulky with pikes and impromptu billhooks driven thus far by popular fixed-idea. So many hirsute figures driven hither, in that manner figures that have come to do they know not what figures that have come to see it done Distinguished among all figures, who is this, of gaunt stature, with leaden breastplate, though a small one ^ bushy in red grizzled locks nay with long tile-beard ? It is Jourdan, unjust dealer in mules a dealer no longer, but a Painter's
; ;
: :

Model, playing truant this day. From the necessities of Art comes his long tile-beard whence his leaden breastplate (unless indeed he were some Hawker licensed by leaden badge) may have come, will perhaps remain for ever a Historical Problem. Another Saul among the people we discern Pere Adam, Father Adam,' as the groups name him to us better known as bull-voiced Marquis Saint-Huruge ; hero of the a man that has had losses, and deserved them. The Veto tall Marquis, emitted some days ago from limbo, looks peripatetically on this scene from under his umbrella, not without interest. All which persons and things, hurled together as we see Pallas Athene, busy with Flandre patriotic Versailles National Guards, short of ammunition, and deserted by D'Estaing their Colonel, and commanded by Lecointre their Major then caracoling Bodyguards, sour, dispirited, with their buckskins wet and finally this flowing sea of indignant Squalor, may they not give rise to occurrences ?
; : '
;

Behold, however, the Twelve She-deputies return from the

^

See Weber,

ii.

185-231.

Chateau.

AT VERSAILLES
;

251

Chateau. Without President Mounier, indeed but radiant CHAP. VII with joy, shouting * Life to the King and his Home.' Appa- <^ct. 5, 1789 rently the news are good, Mesdames ? News of the best Five of us were admitted to the internal splendours, to the Royal Presence. This slim damsel, Louison Chabray, worker in sculpture, aged only seventeen,' as being of the best looks and address, her we appointed speaker. On whom, and indeed on all of us, his Majesty looked nothing but graciousness. Nay when Louison, addressing him, was like to faint, he took her in his royal arms, and said gallantly, It was well worth while {Elle en valut Men la peine).' Consider, O Women, what a King His words were of comfort, and that only there shall be provision sent to Paris, if provision is in the world ; grains shall circulate free as air millers shall grind, or do worse, while their millstones endure and nothing be left wrong which a Restorer of French Liberty can right. Good news these but, to wet Menads, ail-too incredible There seems no proof, then ? Words of comfort,^they are words only which will feed nothing. O miserable People, betrayed by Aristocrats, who corrupt thy very messengers In his royal arms, Mademoiselle Louison ? In his arms ? Thou shameless minx, worthy of a name that shall be nameless Yes, thy skin is soft ours is rough with hardship and well wetted, waiting here in the rain. No children hast thou hungry at home only alabaster dolls, that weep not The traitress To the Lanterne And so poor Louison Chabray, no asseveration or shrieks availing her, fair slim damsel, late in the arms of Royalty, has a garter round her neck, and furibund Amazons at each end is about to perish so, ^when two Bodyguards gallop up, indignantly dissipating and rescue her. The miscredited Twelve hasten back to the Chateau, for an answer in writing.' Nay, behold, a new flight of Menads, with M. Brunout Bastille Volunteer,' as impressed-commandant, at the head of it. These also will advance to the Grate of the Grand Court, and see what is toward. Human patience, in wet buckskins, has its limits. Bodyguard Lieutenant M. de Savonnieres for one moment lets his temper, long provoked, long pent, give but way. He not only dissipates these latter Menads caracoles and cuts, or indignantly flourishes, at M. Brunout,
' '
!

'

'

the impressed-commandant

and, finding great

relief

in

it,

even

252

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

chases
;

BOOK VII even

Oct. 5, 1789

him Brunout flying nimbly, though in a pirouette manner, and now with sword also drawn. At which sight of wrath and victory, two other Bodyguards (for wrath is contagious, and to pent Bodyguards is so solacing) do likewise

way give chase, with brandished sabre, and in the air make horrid circles. So that poor Brunout has nothing for it but
give
;

to retreat with accelerated nimbleness, through rank after rank above all, shouting lustily, Parthian-like, fencing as he flies
;

nous laisse assassiner. They are getting us assassinated Growls come from the Three against one Shameful bellowings, lastly shots. Lecointrian ranks Savonnieres' arm is raised to strike the bullet of a Lecointrian musket shatters it the brandished sabre jingles down harmless. Brunout has escaped, this duel well ended but the wild howl of war is everywhere beginning to pipe The Amazons recoil ; Saint-Antoine has its cannon pointed thrice applies the lit flambeau which (full of grapeshot) the touchholes are so wetted and thrice refuses to catch, Arretez, il nest pas temps encore. Stop, it is not yet voices cry ^ time Messieurs of the Garde-du-Corps, ye had orders not nevertheless two of you limp dismounted, and one to fire war-horse lies slain. Were it not well to draw back out of shotfinally to file ofi, into the interior ? If in so filing off, range there did a musketoon or two discharge itself at these armed shopkeepers, hooting and crowing, could man wonder ? Draggled would to Heaven are your white cockades of an enormous size Your buckskins they were got exchanged for tricolor ones are wet, your hearts heavy. Go, and return not
' !

On

'

'

The Bodyguards drawing no shots

;

file

off,

as
;

we

hint

giving and receiving

leaving boundless indignation. Some three times in the thickening dusk, a glimpse of them saluted always with execrais seen, at this or the other Portal
life-blood
:

with the whew of lead. Let but a Bodyguard show face, for instance, poor M. de Mouchehe is hunted by Rascality ton of the Scotch Company,' owner of the slain war-horse and has to be smuggled off by Versailles Captains. Or rusty firelocks belch after him, shivering asunder his hat. In the end, by superior Order, the Bodyguards, all but the few on immediate or as it were abscond and march, under duty, disappear
tions,
;

'

cloud of night, to Rambouillet.^

^

Veux Amis,

ii.

192-201.

Weber, ubi suprL

We

THE EQUAL DIET

We
nition

253

remark
:

also that the Versaillese

all

afternoon, the official

have now got ammu- CHAP. VII till, Oct- 5, 1789 Person could find none
;

in these so pritical
pistol to his ear,

moments, a patriotic Sublieutenant set a and would thank him to find some, which

he thereupon succeeded in doing. Likewise that Flandre, disarmed by Pallas Athene, says openly, it will not fight with citizens and for token of peace has exchanged cartridges with
;

the Versaillese. Sansculottism is now among mere friends and can circulate freely indignant at Bodyguards complaining also considerably of hunger.
' ' ;
;

CHAPTER
But why
lingers

VIII

THE EQUAL DIET

returns not with his Deputation ? It is six, it is seven o'clock ; and still no Mounier, no Acceptance pure and simple. And, behold, the dripping Menads, not now in deputation but in mass, have penetrated into the Assembly to the shamefulest interruption of public speaking and order of the day.

Mounier

Neither Maillard nor Vice-President can restrain them, except not even, except for minutes, can the lionwithin wide limits but ever and anon voice of Mirabeau, though they applaud it they break-in upon the regeneration of France with cries of Du pain ; pas tant de Bread ; not so much discoursing So insensible were these poor creatures to longs discours ! bursts of parliamentary eloquence
;
: :

'

'

One
as
if

learns also that the royal Carriages are getting yoked, Carriages, royal or not, have verily showed for Metz.

themselves at the back Gates. They even produced, or quoted, a written order from our Versailles Municipality, which is a Monarchic not a Democratic one. However, Versailles Patrols as the vigilant Lecointre has strictly drove them in again

charged them to do. A busy man, truly, is Major Lecointre, in these hours. For inColonel d'Estaing loiters invisible in the (Eil-de-Bceuf then also visible, or still more questionably visible for instants
;
:

254

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

:

BOOK

VII a too loyal Municipality requires supervision

Oct. 6, 1789

no order, civil or military, taken about any of these thousand things Lecointre is at the Versailles Townhall he is at the Grate communing with Swiss and Bodyguards. of the Grand Court He is in the ranks of Flandre he is here, he is there studious to prevent the Royal Family from to prevent bloodshed the Menads from plundering Versailles. flying to Metz At the fall of night, we behold him advance to those armed groups of Saint-Antoine, hovering ail-too grim near the Salle des Menus. They jeceive him in a half-circle twelve speakers behind cannons with lighted torches in hand, the cannon-mouths
:

towards Lecointre : a picture for Salvator He asks, in temperate but courageous language What they, by this their journey to Versailles, do specially want ? The twelve speakers reply,
! :

in

few words inclusive of much

;

'

Bread, and the end of these

brabbles Du pain, et la fin des a^aires' When the avoirs will end, no Major Lecointre, nor no mortal, can say but as to bread, he inquires. How many are you ? learns that they are six hundred, that a loaf each will suffice ; and rides off to the Municipality to get six hundred loaves. Which loaves, however, a Municipality of Monarchic temper will not give. It will give two tons of rice rather, could you but know whether it should be boiled or raw. Nay when this too is accepted, the Municipals have disappeared ducked under, as the Six-and-Twenty Long-gowned of Paris did and, leaving not the smallest vestige of rice, in the boiled or raw state, they there vanish from History Rice comes not one's hope of food is balked even one's hope of vengeance is not M. de Moucheton of the Scotch
;

smuggled off ? Failing all which, behold only M. de Moucheton's slain war-horse, lying on the Esplanade there Saint-Antoine, balked, esurient, pounces on the slain war-horse flays it roasts it, with such fuel, of paling, gates, portable timber as can be come at, not without shouting and, after the manner of ancient Greek Heroes, they lifted their hands to the daintily readied repast such as it might be.^ Other Rascality prowls discursive seeking what it may devour. Flandre will retire to its barracks Lecointre also with his Versaillese, all but the vigilant Patrols, charged to be doubly vigilant.
as
said,

Company,

we

deceitfully

Weber

Deux Amis,

etc.

So

THE EQUAL DIET

;

255
VIII
1789

and all CHAP. So sink the shadows of night, blustering, rainy paths grow dark. Strangest Night ever seen in these regions, Oct. 5, ^perhaps since the Bartholomew Night, when Versailles, as Bassompierre writes of it, was a cMtif chateau. O for the Lyre of some Orpheus, to constrain, with touch of melodious strings, For here all seems fallen these mad masses into Order asunder, in wide-yawning dislocation. The highest, as in down-

the rushing of a World, is come in contact with the lowest ironRascality of France beleaguering the Royalty of France With shod batons lifted round the diadem, not to guard it denunciations of bloodthirsty Anti-National Bodyguards, are heard dark growlings against a Queenly Name. The Court sits tremulous, powerless varies with the varying temper of the Esplanade, with the varying colour of the
: '
; '
!

rumours from

Paris.

Thick-coming rumours
all

now

of peaces,
;

now

with a the ministers consult blank issue. The (Eil-de-Boeuf is one tempest of whispers We will fly to Metz we will not fly. The royal Carriages they are again again attempt egress, though for trial merely driven in by Lecointre's Patrols. In six hours nothing has
of war.

Necker and
;

been resolved on In six hours ?

not even the Acceptance pure and simple. Alas, he who, in such circumstances, cannot him Fate resolve in six minutes, may give up the enterprise has already resolved for. And Menadism, meanwhile, and Sansculottism takes counsel with the National Assembly Mounier returns grows more and more tumultuous there. not ; Authority nowhere shows itself the Authority of France lies, for the present, with Lecointre and Usher Maillard. come suddenly, This then is the abomination of desolation For, to the blind, though long foreshadowed as inevitable Misery which, through long ages, all things are sudden. had no spokesman, no helper, will now be its own helper and speak for itself. The dialect, one of the rudest, is, what it could
;
: :

be, this.

there returns to our Assembly not the Deputation ; but Doctor Guillotin announcing that it will return ; also that there is hope of the Acceptance pure and simple. He himself has brought a Royal Letter, authorising

At

eight

o'clock

and commanding the freest circulation of grains.' Which Royal Letter Menadism with its whole heart applauds. Conformably to which the Assembly forthwith passes a Decree
*
;

also

256

BOOK VII
Oct. 5, 1789

also

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN received with rapturous Menadic plaudits Only could
:

not an august Assembly contrive further to fix the price of butchers' -meat at six bread at eight sous the half quartern which seem fair rates ? Such motion do a sous the pound multitude of men and women,' irrepressible by Usher Maillard, does an august Assembly hear made. Usher now make Maillard himself is not always perfectly measured in speech but if rebuked, he can justly excuse himself by the peculiarity of the circumstances.^ But finally, this Decree well passed, and the disorder continuing and Members melting away, and no President Mounier what can the Vice-President do but also melt returning, away ? The Assembly melts, under such pressure, into or, as it is officially called, adjourns. deliquium Maillard is with the despatched to Paris, Decree concerning Grains in his pocket he and some women, in carriages belonging to the King. Thitherward slim Louison Chabray has already set written answer forth, with that which the Twelve Shedeputies returned in to seek. Slim sylph, she has set forth, through the black muddy country she has much to tell, her and travels, as indeed today on this poor nerves so flurried road all persons do, with extreme slowness. President Mounier has not come, nor the Acceptance pure and simple though six hours with their events have come ; though courier on courier reports that Lafayette is coming. Coming, with war or with peace ? It is time that the Chateau also should determine on one thing or another that the Chateau also should show itself alive, if it would continue living Victorious, joyful after such delay, Mounier does arrive at last, and the hard-earned Acceptance with him which now, alas, is of small value. Fancy Mounier's surprise to find his Senate, whom he hoped to charm by the Acceptance pure and simple, all gone and in its stead a Senate of Menads For as Erasmus's Ape mimicked, say with wooden splint, Erasmus shaving, so do these Amazons hold, in mock majesty, some confused parody of National Assembly. They make motions deliver speeches pass enactments productive at least of loud laughter. All galleries and benches are filled a Strong Dame of the Market is in Mounier's Chair. Not without difficulty, Mounier, by aid of macers and persuasive speaking, makes
'
;

'

'

; ;

'

'

'

'

Moniteur

(in Hist. Pari.

iii.

105).

his

THE EQ UAL DIET

his

257

to the Female President ; the Strong Dame, before CHAP. VIII abdicating, signifies that, for one thing, she and indeed her Oct. 5, 1789

way

whole senate male and female

horse among so many ?) hunger. Experienced Mounier, in these circumstances, takes a twofold

what was one roasted warare suffering very considerably from

(for

resolution
fly,

To reconvoke
;

his

Assembly Members by
Swift

sound of drum
messengers

also to procure a supply of food.

pastrycooks, vintners, restorers ; drums beat, accompanied with shrill vocal proclamation, through all streets! the Assembly They come Members come ; what is still better, the provisions come. On tray and barrow come these latter ; loaves, wine, great store of sausages. The nourishing baskets circulate harmoniously along
to
all

bakers,

cooks,

the benches

nor, according to the Father of Epics, did

etarj<;,

any
;

soul lack a fair share af victual {8aLTo<; highly desirable at the moment.^

an equal

diet)

Gradually some hundred or so of Assembly Members get edged in, Menadism making way a little, round Mounier' and begin, chair listen to the Acceptance pure and simple what is the order of the night, discussion of the Penal Code.' All benches are crowded in the dusky galleries, duskier with unwashed heads, is a strange ' coruscation,' of impromptu
; ; ' ;

exactly five months this day since these same galleries were filled with high-plumed jewelled Beauty, raining bright influences ; and now ? To such length have we got in regenerating France. Methinks the travail-throes are of the sharpest ^Menadism will not be restrained from occasional What is the use of Penal Code ? The thing remarks asks,
bill-hooks.^ It
is
!

'

Mirabeau turns round with lion-voiced rebuke Menadism applauds him but recommences. Thus they, chewing tough sausages, discussing the Penal Code, make night hideous. What the issue will be ? Lafayhim, who ette with his thirty thousand must arrive first cannot now be distant, all men expect, as the messenger of
is

we want
;

Bread.*

Destiny.
^
=*

Deux Amis,

iii.

208.
19.

Courrier de Provence (Mirabeau 's Newspaper), No. 50, p.

VOL.

I.

Chapter

IX

258

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

CHAPTER IX
LAFAYETTE

BOOK VII
Oct. 5-6,

1789

Towards midnight
lights
!

sailles.

on the hill Lafayette's The roll of his drums comes up the Avenue de VerWith peace, or with war ? Patience, friends With
lights
flare
;
!

Lafayette is come, but not yet the catastrophe. He has halted and
neither.

harangued so often, on the march ; spent nine hours on four leagues

of road.

At

Montreuil,

on Versailles, the whole Host had to pause and, with upclose

;

lifted

right

hand,

in

the -murk of Night, to these pouring skies, swear solemnly to respect the King's Dwelling to be faithful to LAFAYETTE. King and National AsRage is driven down out of sight, by the laggard sembly. the thirst of vengeance slaked in weariness and march soaking clothes. Flandre is again drawn out under arms but Flandre, grown so patriotic, now needs no * exterminating.' The wayworn Battalions halt in the Avenue they have, for the present, no wish so pressing as that of shelter and rest. Anxious sits President Mounier anxious the Chateau. There is a message coming from the Chateau, that M. Mounier would and please to return thither with a fresh Deputation, swiftly so at least unite our two anxieties. Anxious Mounier does of himself send, meanwhile, to apprise the General that his Majesty has been so gracious as to grant us the Acceptance pure and
;
;
:

simple.

The General, with a small advance column, makes answer in passing speaks vaguely some smooth words to the
;

National

National eye, at that so CHAP. IX mixtiform National Assembly then fares forward towards the Oct. 6-6, ^'<^^^ they Chateau. There are with him two Paris Municipals were chosen from the Three Hundred for that errand. He gets admittance through the locked and padlocked Grates, through sentries and ushers, to the Royal Halls.
; ;

LAFAYETTE President, glances, only with the

259

LE DAUPHIN.
female, crowds on his passage, to read which exhibits, say Historians, a their doom on his face mixture of sorrow, of fervour and valour,' singular to behold.^ The King, with Monsieur, with Ministers and Marshals, is

The Court, male and

'

He is come,' in his highflown chivalwaiting to receive him rous way, to offer his head for the safety of his Majesty's.'
'
:

'

M/moire de M.

le

Comte de Lally-Tollendal (Janvier i79o), PP-

161-5.

The

260

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

:

BOOK VII The two

Oct. 5-6,

Municipals state the wish of Paris four things, of quite pacific tenor. First, that the honour of guarding his sacred person be conferred on patriot National Guards say, the Centre Grenadiers, who as Gardes Fran9aises were wont to have that privilege. Second, that provisions be got, if possible. Third, that the Prisons, all crowded with political deFourth, that it would linquents, may have judges sent them. To all which four please his Majesty to come and live in Paris. wishes, except the fourth, his Majesty answers readily. Yes or indeed may almost say that he has already answered it. To the fourth he can answer only. Yes or No would so gladly But, in any case, are not their disposianswer, Yes and No tions, thank Heaven, so entirely pacific ? There is time for deliberation. The brunt of the danger seems past. Lafayette and D'Estaing settle the watches Centre Grenadiers are to take the Guard-room they of old occupied as Gardes Frangaises for indeed the Gardes-du-Corps, its late illadvised occupants, are gone mostly to Rambouillet. That is sufficient for the night is the evil therethe order of this night of. Whereupon Lafayette and the two Municipals, with highflown chivalry, take their leave. So brief has the interview been, Mounier and his Deputation were not yet got up. So brief and satisfactory. A stone is rolled from every heart. The fair palace Dames publicly declare that this Lafayette, detestable though he be, is their saviour for once. Even the ancient vinaigrous Tantes admit it ; the King's Aunts, ancient Graille and Sisterhood, known to us of old. Queen Marie Antoinette has been heard often say the like. She alone, among all women and all men, wore a face of courage, of lofty calmness and resolve, this day. She alone saw clearly what she meant to do, and Theresa's Daughter
;

do what she means, were all France threatening her abide where her children are, where her husband is.
dares
the things are settled watches set, the Centre Grenadiers put into their old Guardin the
all
:

Towards three

morning

room, and harangued the Swiss, and few remaining Bodyguards harangued. The wayworn Paris Battalions, consigned
;

to

'

the hospitality of Versailles,'

coffeehouses,

lie

dormant
churches.

in spare-beds,

spare-barracks,

them, on their

way

troop of to the Church of Saint-Louis, awoke poor

empty

Weber,

LAFAYETTE
; '
'
!

261

Weber, dreaming troublous, in the Rue Sartory, Weber has CHAP. IX had his waistcoat-pocket full of balls all day two hundred ^^^^ ^-6. ^' balls, and two pears of powder For waistcoats were waistcoats then, and had flaps down to mid-thigh. So many balls he has had all day but no opportunity of using them he turns over now, execrating disloyal bandits swears a prayer or two, and straight to sleep again. Finally the National Assembly is harangued which thereupon, on motion of Mirabeau, discontinues the Penal Code, and dismisses for this night. Menadism, Sansculottism has cowered into guardhouses, barracks of Flandre, to the light of
;
:

cheerful

fire

failing that,

to chui'ches, officehouses, sentry-

boxes, wheresoever wretchedness can find a lair. The troublous Day has brawled itself to rest no lives yet lost but that of one war-horse. Insurrectionary Chaos lies slumbering roimd the Palace, hke Ocean round a Diving-Bell, no crevice yet
:

disclosing

itself.

on the high and on the low suspending most things, even wrath and famine. Darkness covers the Earth. But, far on the North-east, Paris flingsup her great yellow gleam far into the wet black Night. For
sleep has fallen promiscuously
;

Deep

illuminated there, as in the old July Nights the streets deserted, for alarm of war the Municipals all wakeful Patrols hailing, with their hoarse Who-goes. There, as we discover, our poor slim Louison Chabray, her poor nerves all fluttered, There Usher Maillard will is arriving about this very hour. ' towards four in the morning.' arrive, about an hour hence, They report, successively, to a wakeful H6tel-de-Ville what
all is
; ; ;

comfort they can which again, with early dawn, large comfortable Placards shall impart to all men. Lafayette, in the Hotel de Noailles, not far from the Chateau, having now finished haranguing, sits with his Officers conat five o'clock the unanimous best counsel is, that a sulting man so tost and toiled for twenty-four hours and more, fling himself on a bed, and seek some rest.
; :

Thus, then, has ended the First Act of the Insurrection of Women. How it will turn on the morrow ? The morrow, as But his Majesty, one may hope, always, is with the Fates will consent to come honourably to Paris ; at all events, he can visit Paris. Anti-National Bodyguards, here and elsewhere.
!

262

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

;
:

BOOK VII
Oct. 5-6,
^'^^^

where, must take the National Oath ; make reparation to the Flandre will swear. There may be much swearing Tricolor much public speaking there will infallibly be and so, with harangues and vows, may the matter in some handsome way
:

wind

itself

up.

not be all otherwise, unhandsome the consent not honourable, but extorted, ignominious ? Boundless Chaos of Insurrection presses slumbering round the Palace, and may penetrate at any like Ocean round a Diving-bell Let but that accumulated insurrectionary mass find crevice. Like the infinite inburst of water entrance or say rather, for example, turpentineof inflammable, self -igniting fluid and-phosphorus oil,' fluid known to Spinola Santerre
Or, alas,
it
; ;
! ;

may

'

CHAPTER X
THE GRAND ENTRIES
a new morning, drizzly and chill, had but broken over Versailles, when it pleased Destiny that a Bodyguard should look out of window, on the right wing of the Chateau, to see what prospect there was in Heaven and in Earth. Rascality male and female is prowling in view of he him. His fasting stomach is, with good cause, sour least of perhaps cannot forbear a passing malison on them all can he forbear answering such. and then till the worst word come Ill words breed worse the ill deed. Did the maledicent Bodyguard, getting (as was too inevitable) better malediction than he gave, load his nay actually fire ? Were musketoon, and threaten to fire to us not credibly. But It stands asserted wise who wist be this as it may, menaced Rascality, in whinnying scorn, is the fastening of one (some write, it shaking at all Grates was a chain merely) gives way Rascality is in the Grand Court, whinnying louder still. The maledicent Bodyguard, more Bodyguards than he do now give fire a man's arm is shattered. Lecointre will depose
dull

The

dawn

of

Deposition de Lecointre

[ya.

Hist. Pari.

iii.

m-S)-

that

THE GRAND ENTRIES

that
'
'

263
CHAP. X
Oct. 6, 1789

the Sieur Cardine, a National Guard without arms, was stabbed.' But see, sure enough, poor Jerome I'Heritier, an unarmed National Guard he too, cabinet-maker, a saddler's son, he reels of Paris,' with the down of youthhood still on his chin, death-stricken rushes to the pavement, scattering it with his blood and brains Alleleu Wilder than Irish wakes rises the howl In few moments, the of pity, of infinite revenge. Grate of the inner and inmost Court, which they name Court of Marble, this too is forced, or surprised, and bursts open the Court of Marble too is overflowed up the Grand Staircase, Deshuttes up all stairs and entrances rushes the living Deluge and Varigny, the two sentry Bodyguards, are trodden down, are massacred with a hundred pikes. Women snatch their other women cutlasses, or any weapon, and storm-in Menadic lift the corpse of shot Jerome lay it down on the Marble steps ; there shall the livid face and smashed head, dumb for ever,

syeak.

Bodyguards, mercy is none for them Miomandre de Sainte-Marie pleads with soft words, on the to the roaring descending four steps Grand Staircase, tornado. His comrades snatch him up, by the skirts and and slam-to literally, from the jaws of Destruction belts the panels their Door. This also will stand few instants fly fast, shivering in, like potsherds. Barricading serves not rabid Insurrection, like the Hellhound Chase, ye Bodyguards uproaring at your heels

Wo

now

to

all

'

'

Bodyguards fly, bolting and barricading wo, now Whitherward ? Through hall on hall it follows. towards the Queen's Suite of Rooms, in the farthest room of which the Queen is now alseep. Five sentinels rush through they are in the Anteroom knocking loud that long Suite Trembling women fall at their feet with Save the Queen save ye the Queen Yes, we will die are answered tears for, lo, another voice Tremble not, women, but haste Save the Queen shouts far through the outermost door, and the door is shut. It is brave Miomandre's voice that shouts this second warning. He has stormed across imminent death to do it fronts imminent death, having done it. Brave Tardivet du Repaire, bent on the same desperate service, was his comrades hardly snatched him in borne down with pikes

The

terror-struck

'

'

'

'

again

264

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

:

BOOK

VII again alive.

Oct. 6, 1789

Miomandre and Tardivet let the names of these two Bodyguards, as the names of brave men should, hve
long.

Trembling Maids-of-Honour, one of whom from afar caught glimpse of Miomandre as well as heard him, hastily wrap the Queen not in robes of state. She flies for her life, across the against the main door of which too Insurrection (Eil-de-Boeuf She is in the King's Apartments, in the King's arms batters. she clasps her children amid a faithful few. The Imperial;
;

' O my friends, save me hearted bursts into mother's tears and my children ; O mes amis, sauvez-moi et mes enjans The battering of Insurrectionary axes clangs audible across the (Eil-de-Boeuf. What an hour
: ' !

a hideous fearful hour shameful alike to Governed and Governor ; wherein Governed and Governor ignominiously testify that their relation is at an end. Rage, which had brewed itself in twenty thousand hearts for the Jerome's brained last four-and-twenty hours,, has taken ^fire
Yes, Friends
;
; :

there as live-coal. It is, as we said, the infinite Element bursting in ; wild-surging through all corridors and

corpse

lies

conduits.

Meanwhile the poor Bodyguards have got hunted mostly

into the CEil-de-Boeuf.

They may
little

die there, at the King's

it.

threshold

they can do

to defend

They

are heaping

tabourets (stools of honour), benches

;

the door did brave Miomandre perish, then, at the Queen's outer door ? No, he was fractured, slashed, lacerated, left for dead he has nevertheless crawled hither and shall live, honoured of loyal France. Remark also, in flat contradiction to much which has been said and sung, that Insurrection did not burst that door but hurried elsewhither, seeking new Bodyhe had defended
;

movables against at which the axe of Insurrection thunders. But

all

and

guards.^

Well Poor Bodyguards, with their Thyestes Opera-Repast no right for them that Insurrection has only pikes and axes sieging-tools It shakes and thunders. Must they all perish miserably, and Royalty with them ? Deshuttes and Varigny, massacred at the first inbreak, have been beheaded in the Jourdan with a sacrifice to Jer6me's manes Marble Court
!

Campan,

ii.

75-87.

the

THE GRAND ENTRIES

; :

265
CHAP. X
Oct. G, 1789

the tile-beard did that duty willingly and asked, If there were no more ? Another captive they are leading round the corpse, with howl-chantings may not Jourdan again tuck-up
his sleeves ?

louder and louder rages Insurrection within, plundering if it cannot kill ; louder and louder it thunders at the (Eil-de-Boeuf what can now hinder its bursting-in ? On a sudden it ceases ; the battering has ceased Wild-rushing the cries grow fainter there is silence, or the tramp of regular steps then a friendly knocking We are the Centre Grenadiers, old Gardes Fran9aises Open to us, Messieurs of the Garde-du-Corps ; we have not forgotten how you saved us at ^ Fontenoy The door is opened ; enter Captain Gondran and the Centre Grenadiers there are military embracings there is sudden deliverance from death into life. Strange Sons of Adam It was to exterminate these Gardes-du-Corps that the Centre Grenadiers left home and now they have rushed to save them from extermination. The memory of common peril, of old help, melts the rough heart bosom is clasped to bosom, not in war. The King shows himself, one moment, through the door of his Apartment, ' with Do not hurt my Guards Soyons freres, Let us be brothers cries Captain Gondran and again dashes off, with levelled bayonets, to sweep the Palace clear. Now too Lafayette, suddenly roused, not from sleep (for his eyes had not yet closed), arrives ; with passionate popular eloquence, with prompt military word of command. National Guards, suddenly roused, by sound of trumpet and alarmthe first The death-melly ceases drum, are all arriving. sky-lambent blaze of Insurrection is got damped down ; it burns now, if unextinguished yet flameless, as charred coals do, and not inextinguishable. The King's Apartments are Ministers, Officials, and even some loyal National safe. Deputies are assembling round their Majesties. The con:

And

'

'

'

'

'

^'

'

sternation will, with sobs and confusion, settle into plan and counsel, better or worse.

down

gradually,

But glance now,

ing against
all

for a

moment, from the

Menadic women
i. ;

royal

windows
;

A roaring sea of human heads,

passages
^
:

inundating both Courts

billow-

infuriated

men,

Toulongeon,

144.

mad

266

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

BOOK VII mad with

Oct. 6, 1789

revenge, with love of mischief, love of plunder Rascality has slipped its muzzle ; and now bays, three-throated, Fourteen Bodyguards are wounded like the Dog of Erebus.
; '
'

Jourdan asking, two massacred, and as we saw, beheaded Was it worth while to come so far for two ? Hapless Their fate surely was sad. Whirled Deshuttes and Varigny down so suddenly to the abyss as men are, suddenly, by the wide thunder of the Mountain Avalanche, awakened not by When the Chateau Clock them, awakened far off by others last struck, they two were pacing languid, with poised musanxious mainly that the next hour would strike. It ketoon to them inaudible. Their trunks lie mangled has struck on pikes twelve feet long,' through the their heads parade, and shall, about noon, reach the Barriers streets of Versailles
!

'

of Paris,

a too ghastly contradiction to the large comfortable

!

Placards that have been posted there The other captive Bodyguard is still circling the corpse of Jerome, amid Indian war-whooping bloody Tilebeard, with tucked sleeves, brandishing his bloody axe when Gondran and the Grenadiers come in sight. ' Comrades, will you see a man massacred in cold blood ? Off, butchers answer they and the poor Bodyguard is free. Busy runs Gondran, busy run Guards and Captains scouring all corridors dispersing Rascality and Robbery sweeping the Palace clear. The mangled carnage is removed Jerome's body to the Townhall, for inquest the fire of Insurrection gets damped, more and more, into measurable, manageable heat. Transcendent things of all sorts, as in the general outburst of multitudinous Passion, are huddled together the ludicrous, nay the ridiculous, with the horrible. Far over the billowy sea of heads, may be seen Rascality, caprioling on horses from the Royal Stud. The Spoilers these for Patriotism is always infected so, with a proportion of mere thieves and scoundrels. Gondran snatched their prey from them in the Chateau whereupon they hurried to the Stables, and took horse there. But the generous Diomedes' steeds, according to Weber, disdained such scoundrel-burden and, flinging up their royal heels, did soon project most of it, in parabolic curves, to a distance, amid peals of laughter ; and were caught. Mounted National
; ;
'

'

'

Guards secured the

rest.

Now

too

is

witnessed the touching last-flicker of Etiquette which

THE GALLIC (WEATHER) COCK, THE THREE ESTATES, AND THE ONCOMING STORM.

FROM VERSAILLES
;

267

which sinks not here, in the Cimmerian World-wreckage, with- CHAP. X out a sign as the house-cricket might still chirp in the peal- ^^^- ^^ 1789 ing of a Ttump of Doom. Monsieur,' said some Master of Ceremonies (one hopes it might be De Breze), as Lafayette, in these fearful moments, was rushing towards the inner Royal Apartments. Monsieur, le Roi vous accorde les grandes entries, Monsieur, the King grants you the Grand Entries,' not finding
' '

it

convenient to refuse them

^
!

CHAPTER XI
FROM VERSAILLES
the Paris National Guard, wholly under arms, has cleared the Palace, and even occupies the nearer external extruding miscellaneous Patriotism, for most part, into spaces the Grand Court, or even into the Forecourt.
;

However,

The Bodyguards, you can

'

observe, have
' :

now

of a verity

for they step forward to the hoisted the National Cockade windows or balconies, hat aloft in hand, on each hat a huge tricolor ; and fling over their bandoleers in sign of surrender and shout Vive la Nation. To which how can the generous heart respond but with, Vive le Roi ; vivent les Gardes-duCorps ? His Majesty himself has appeared with Lafayette on

Vive le Roi greets him from the balcony, and again appears but also from some one throat is heard, Le Roi all throats a Paris, The King to Paris Her Majesty too, on demand, shows herself, though there she steps out on the balcony, with her little boy is peril in it No children. Point d'enfans ! cry the voices. She and girl. and stands alone, her hands gently pushes back her children Should I die,' she had said, serenely crossed on her breast Such serenity of heroism has its effect. Lafayette, I will do it.' with ready wit, in his highflown chivalrous way, takes that
:

'

'

'

'

'

'

queenly hand, and, reverently kneeling, kisses it: thereupon the people do shout Vive la Reine. Nevertheless, poor Weber ' saw (or even thought he saw for hardly the third
fair
'

Toulongeon,

i.

App.

120.

part

268

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

'

BOOK VII
Oct. 6,

part of poor Weber's experiences, in such hysterical days, 1789 will stand scrutiny) one of these brigands level his musket at

MARIE ANTOINETTE.
her Majesty,' with or without intention to shoot of the brigands angrily struck it down.*
'

for another

So

FROM VERSAILLES
So that
all,
I

269

and the Queen herself, nay the very Captain of CHAP. XI the Bodyguards, have grown National The very Captain of Oct. 6, 1789 the Bodyguards steps out now with Lafayette. On the hat of the repentant man is an enormous tricolor large as a soup;

platter or sunflower

He the utmost Forecourt. takes the National Oath with a loud voice, elevating his hat at which sight all the army raise their bonnets on their bayonets, with shouts. Sweet is reconcilement to the heart of man. Lafayette has sworn Flandre he swears the remaining Bodyguards, down in the Marble Court ; the people clasp them in their arms O my brothers, why would ye force us to slay you ? Behold, there is joy over you, as over returning prodigal sons The poor Bodyguards, now National and tricolor, exchange bonnets, exchange arms ; there shall be peace and fraternity. And still Vive le Roi ; and also ' Le Roi a Paris,' not now from one throat, but from all throats as one, for it is the heart's wish of all mortals.
;

visible to

'

'

what else ? Ministers may conYes, The King to Paris sult, and National Deputies wag their heads but there is now forced him to go willingly. no other possibility. You have Lafayette gives audible assurance At one o'clock.' to that purpose and universal Insurrection, with immeasurable shout, and a discharge of all the fire-arms, clear and rusty, great and What a sound small, that it has, returns him acceptance. That sound too rolls away a doom-peal heard for leagues into the Silence of Ages. And the Chateau of Versailles stands ever since vacant, hushed-still ; its spacious Courts grassgrown, responsive to the hoe of the weeder. Times and generations and buildings, like roll on, in their confused Gulf-current ;
: :

'

have their destiny. Till one o'clock, then, there will be three parties. National Assembly, National Rascality, National Royalty, all busy
builders,

Rascality rejoices ; women trim themselves with Nay motherly Paris has sent her Avengers sufficient tricolor. cartloads of loaves ; which are shouted over, which are gratefully consumed. The Avengers, in return, are searching for grain-stores ; loading them in fifty wagons ; that so a National King, probable harbinger of all blessings, may be

enough.
'

'

the evident bringer of plenty, for one. And thus has Sansculottism made prisoner

its

King

re-

voking

270

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

his

BOOK

VII voking

parole.

The Monarchy has

:

fallen
;

and not
;

so

Oct. 6^ 1789

much

ignominiously with struggle, but then with unwise struggle wasting indeed, oft-repeated at every new paroxysm its strength in fits and paroxysms
as

honourably
;

no,

than before. Thus Broglie's whiff of grapeshot, which might have been something, has dwindled to the pot-valour of an Opera Repast, and O Richard, mon again, dwindle Roi. Which, we shall see to a Favras Confoiled

more

pitifully

spiracy, a thing to be settled by the hanging

of one Chevalier.

Poor Monarchy

But
that

what save
feat
wills

foulest de-

can
not
?

await
wills,

man, who

and yet

Apparently the King either has a

right, assertible as such

to

the

death,
;

before
or else

God and man

he has no
parently,

right.

Apor

the
;

one
could
!

the

other

he

but know which

May

Heaven pity him Were Louis wise, he

JEAN JOSEPH MOUNTER.

;

would
cate.

not strange so few Kings abdicate and none yet heard of has been known to commit suicide ? Fritz the First, of Prussia, alone tried it and they cut the rope.^ As for the National Assembly, which decrees this morning that it is inseparable from his Majesty,' and will follow him to Paris, there nlay one thing be noted its extreme want of bodily health. After the Fourteenth of July there was a certain sickliness observable among honourable Members so many demanding passports, on account of infirm health. But now, for these following days, there is a perfect murrain
Is it
;
' : ;

this

day

abdi-

^ Calumnious rumour, current long since, in loose vehicles {Edinburgh Review on Mimoires de Bastille, for example), concerning Friedrich Wilhelm and his ways, then so mysterious and miraculous to many ; not the least truth in it {Note of 1868.)

President

FROM VERSAILLES
;

271

President Mounier, Lally-ToUendal, Clermont-Tonnerre, and CHAP. XI all Constitutional Two-Chamber Royalists needing change of Oct. 6, 1789 air as most No- Chamber Royalists had formerly done. For, in truth, it is the second Emigration this that has now come most extensive among Commons Deputies, Noblesse, Clergy so that to Switzerland alone there go sixty thousand.' They will return in the day of accounts Yes, and have hot welcome. But Emigration on Emigration is the peculiarity of France. One Emigration follows another ; grounded on reasonable fear, unreasonable hope, largely also on childish pet.
;
'
:
!

The highflyers have gone

the lower flyers ; and ever the lower will go, down to the
first,

now

crawlers. Whereby,
however, cannot our National Assembly so much the more commodiously make the Constitution; your TwoChamber Anglomaniacs being all safe, distant on
foreign shores
?

Abbe

Maury is

seized
:

and sent

back again he, tough as tanned leather, with

eloquent Captain Cazales

and
stand
year.

some
it

others, will

out for another

CLERMONT-TONNERRE.
:

Was Philippe meanwhile, the question arises in the Bois de Boulogne, in gray d' Orleans seen, this day, waiting under the wet sere foliage, what the day surtout might bring forth ? Alas, yes, the Eidolon of him was, in Weber's and other such brains. The Chatelet shall make large inquisition into the matter, examining a hundred and seventy but witnesses, and Deputy Chabroud publish his Report What, then, has caused these two disclose nothing further} unparalleled October days ? For surely such dramatic exhibition never yet enacted itself without Dramatist and Machinist.
But
here,
'
'

Rapport de Chabroud {Moniteur, du 31 D^cembre 1789).

Wooden

272

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

not, with his domestic sorrows, into
:

BOOK VII Wooden Punch emerges

Oct. 6, 1789

the hght of day, unless the wire be pulled how can human mobs ? Was it not D'Orleans, then, and Laclos, Marquis Sillery, Mirabeau and the sons of confusion hoping to drive the King to Metz, and gather the spoil ? Nay was it not, quite contrariwise, the QEil-de-Boeuf, Bodyguard Colonel de
;

Guiche, Minister Saint-Priest and high-flying Loyalists hoping also to drive him to Metz, and try it by the sword of civil war ? Good Marquis Toulongeon, the Historian and Deputy, feels constrained to admit that it was both? Alas, my Friends, credulous incredulity is a strange matter. But when a whole Nation is smitten with Suspicion, and sees a dramatic miracle in the very operation of the gastric juices, Such Nation is already a mere hypowhat help is there ? as good as changed into glass chondriac bundle of diseases Is not Suspicion atrabiliar, decadent ; and will suffer crises. itself the one thing to be suspected, as Montaigne feared only fear?
;

Now, however, the

children.

short hour has struck.

His Majesty

is

in his carriage, with his Queen, sister Elizabeth

and two

royal

hour can the infinite Procession get marshalled and under way. The weather is dim drizzling
for another

Not

the noise great. the mind confused Processional marches not a few our world has seen Roman triumphs and ovations, Cabiric cymbal-beatings, Royal probut this of the French Monarchy gresses, Irish funerals marching to its bed remained to be seen. Miles long, and of breadth losing itself in vagueness, for all the neighbouring stagnating along, like shoreless country crowds to see. Slow Lake, yet with a noise like Niagara, like Babel and Bedlam. A splashing and a tramping a hurrahing, uproaring, musket; ;

volleying

the

truest segment of Chaos seen in these latter

it

disembogue itself, in the thickening dusk, into expectant Paris, through a double row of faces all the way from Passy to the H6tel-de-Ville. with trains Vanguard of National troops Consider this of pikemen and pikewomen, mounted on cannons, of artillery tripudiating, in tricolor on carts, hackney-coaches, or on foot ribbons from head to heel ; loaves stuck on the points of

Ages

Till

slowly

Toulongeon,

i.

150.

bayonets,

FROM VERSAILLES
bayonets, green boughs stuck in gun-barrels/
'

273

Next, as main- CHAP. XI march, fifty cart-loads of corn,' which have been lent, for Oct. 6, 1789 peace, from the stores of Versailles. Behind which follow stragglers of the Garde-du-Corps all humiliated, in Grenadier bonnets. Close on these comes the Royal Carriage come Royal Carriages for there are a Hundred National Deputies too, among whom sits Mirabeau, his remarks not given. Then finally, pellmell, as rear-guard, Flandre, Swiss, Hundred Swiss, other Body-guards, Brigands, whosoever cannot get before. Between and among all which masses flows without limit Saint-Antoine and the Menadic Cohort. Menadic especially about the Royal Carriage tripudiating there, covered with tricolor singing allusive songs pointing with one hand to the Royal Carriage, which the allusions hit, and pointing to the Provision-wagons with the other hand, and these words Courage, Friends We shall not want bread now we are bringing you the Baker, the Bakeress and Baker' s-boy {le ^ Boulanger, la Boulangere et le petit Mitron).' The wet day draggles the tricolor, but the joy is unextinguishable. Is not all well now ? Ah, Madame, notre honne Reine,' said some of these Strong-women some days hence, Ah, Madame, our good Queen, don't be a traitor any more
;

'

'

'

'

'

Poor Weber and we will all love you went splashing along, cldse by the Royal Carriage, with the
{ne soyez plus traitre),
'
'

the honour,' or I thought they did it, to testify, from time to time, by shrugging of the shoulders, by looks directed to Heaven, the emotions they felt.' Thus, like frail cockle, floats the royal Life-boat,
tear in his eye
:

their Majesties did

'

me

helmless,

on black deluges
in
his

of Rascality.

way, estimates the Procession and He says it was one assistants at two hundred thousand. transcendent World-Laughter boundless inarticulate Haha comparable to the Saturnalia of the Ancients. Why not ? Here too, as we said, is Human Nature once more human yet, behold, shudder at it whoso is of shuddering humour it tripudiates swallowed all formulas It has it is human. For which reason they that collect Vases and even so. in wild and Antiques, with figures of Dancing Bacchantes ail-but impossible positions,' may look with some interest on it.
Mercier,
loose
;

'

'

'

Mercier,

Nouveau
i.

Paris,
;

iii.

21.
iii,

Toulongeon,

134-61

Deux Amis,
s

c.

9;

etc. etc.

VOL.

I.

Thus,

274

THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN

;

BOOK

VII

Oct, 6, 1789

however, has the slow-moving Chaos, or modern SaturnaHa of the Ancients, reached the Barrier and must halt, to be harangued by Mayor Bailly. Thereafter it has to lumber along, between the double row of faces, in the transcendent heaven-lashing Haha ; two hours longer, towards the H6tel-de-Ville. Then again to be harangued there, by several persons by Moreau de Saint-Mery among others ; Moreau of the Three-thousand orders, now National Deputy for St. Domingo. To all which poor Louis, who seemed to experience a slight emotion on entering this Townhall, can answer only that he comes with pleasure, with confidence among
Thus,
; '
'

'

his

people.'
'
:

Mayor

Bailly,

in reporting
:

it,
'

forgets

'

confid-

ence

ence.'

the poor Queen says eagerly and Messieurs,' rejoins Mayor

'

Bailly,

'

Add, with confidyou are happier

had not forgotten.' Finally, the King is shown on an upper balcony, by torchlight, with a huge tricolor in his hat and all the people,' says Weber, grasped one another's hand thinking now surely the New Era was born. Hardly till eleven at night can Royalty get to its vacant, long- deserted Palace of the Tuileries to lodge there, somewhat in strolling-player fashion. It is Tuesday the 6th of October 1789. Poor Louis has Two other Paris Processions to make one
than
if

'

'

'

ludicrous-ignominious like this ; the other not ludicrous nor ignominious, but serious, nay sublime.

II

THE CONSTITUTION

3ft teac^,t

nur

ct i?er! ? tie 2Bett etn grof

Unt

tji

THE CONSTITUTION
BOOK FIRST

THE FEAST OF PIKES

CHAPTER
IN
I

THE TUILERIES

victim having once got his stroke-of-grace, the catastrophe can be considered as almost come. There is small notable only interest now in watching his long low moans are his sharper agonies, what convulsive struggles he may make and then finally the last to cast the torture off from him departure of life itself, and how he lies extinct and ended, either wrapt like Cassar in decorous mantle-folds, or unseemly sunk together, like one that had not the force even to die. Was French Royalty, when wrenched forth from its tapestries in that fashion, on that Sixth of October 1789, such a victim ? Universal France, and Royal Proclamation to all the Provinces, answers anxiously, No. Nevertheless one may Royalty was beforehand so decrepit, morifear the worst.
:

The

to heal an injury. How much of its strength, which was of the imagination merely, has fled Rascality having looked plainly in the King's face, and not

bund, there

is

httle life in

it

When the assembled crows can pluck up their scaredied crow, and say to it. Here shalt thou stand and not there and can treat with it, and make it, from an infinite, a quite finite
! ;

Constitutional scarecrow, ^what is to be looked for ? Not in the finite Constitutional scarecrow, but in what still unmeasured, infinite-seeming force may rally round it, is there thenceFor it is most true that all available Authority forth any hope. ' by the grace of God.' is mystic in its conditions, and comes

VOL.

I.

CheerfuUer

278

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;

BOOK

Oct. 1789

Cheerfuller than watching the death-struggles of Royalism wii] it be to watch the growth and gambolHngs of Sansculot-

thus if the sceptre is departing from Louis, it is only that, in other forms, other sceptres, were it even pike-sceptres, may bear sway. In a prurient element, rich with nutritive influences, we shall find that Sansculottism grows lustily, and even frisks in not ungraceful sport as indeed most young creatures are sportful nay, may it not be noted further, that as the grown cat, and cat species generally, is the crudest thing known, so the merriest is precisely the kitten, or growing cat ?
is
:

tism death

for, in

human

things, especially in

human

society, all

but a death-birth

But fancy the Royal Family risen from its truckle-beds on the morrow of that mad day fancy the Municipal inquiry,
:

would your Majesty please to lodge ? and then that the King's rough answer, Each may lodge as he can, I am well enough,' is congeed and bowed away, in expressive grins, by the Townhall Functionaries, with obsequious upholsterers and how the Chateau of the Tuileries is reat their back painted, regarnished into a golden Royal Residence and Lafayette with his blue National Guards lies encompassing it, as blue Neptune (in the language of poets) does an island,
'
'

How

'

wooingly.

the wrecks of rehabilitated Loyalty gather, if it will become Constitutional for Constitutionalism thinks no evil Sansculottism itself rejoices in the King's countenance. The rubbish of a Menadic Insurrection, as in this ever-kindly world all rubbish can and must be, is swept

Thither

may

aside

and so

again,

on

clear arena,

under new

conditions,

with something even of a new

course of action.

stateliness,

we begin a new
:

Arthur Young has witnessed the strangest scene Majesty walking unattended in the Tuileries Gardens and miscellaneous tricolor crowds, who cheer it, and reverently make way for it the very Queen commands at lowest respectful silence, regretful avoidance.^ Simple ducks, in those royal waters, quackle for crumbs from young royal fingers the little Dauphin has a little railed garden, where he is seen delving, with ruddy cheeks and flaxen curled hair also a little hutch to put his tools in, and screen himself against showers. What
;
: :

Arthur Young's Travels,

i.

264-80.

peaceable

IN
his children ?

THE TUILERIES
!

279
CHAP.
I

peace of a Father restored to Or of a Taskmaster who has lost his whip ? Lafayette and the Municipality and universal Constitutionalism assert the former, and do what is in them to realise it. Such Patriotism as snarls dangerously and shows teeth, Patrollotism shall suppress ; or far better. Royalty shall soothe down the
Is
it

peaceable simplicity

Oct. 1789

and, most effectual of by fuller diet. Yes, not only shall Paris be fed, but the King's hand be seen in that work. The household goods of the Poor shall, up to a certain amount, by royal bounty, be disengaged from pawn, and that insatiable Mont de Piite shall disgorge ; rides in the city with their Vive-le-Roi need not fail and so, by substance and show, shall Royalty, if man's art can popularise it, be popularised.^ Or, alas, is it neither restored Father nor diswhipped Taskit,
;

angry hair of
all,

by gentle pattings

master that walks there but an anomalous complex of both these, and of innumerable other heterogeneities reducible to no rubric, if not to this newly-devised one King Louis Restorer Man indeed, and King Louis like other of French Liberty ? men, lives in this world to make rule out of the ruleless by his living energy, he shall force the absurd itself to become less absurd. But then if there be no living energy living passivity only ? King Serpent, hurled into its unexpected watery dominion, did at least bite, and assert credibly that he was there but as for the poor King Log, tumbled hither and thither as thousand-fold chance and other will than his might direct, how happy for him that he was indeed wooden and, doing nothing, could also see and suffer nothing It is a
;
:
:

distracted business.

French Majesty, meanwhile, one of the worst things is, that he can get no hunting. Alas, no hunting henceforth only a fatal being-hunted Scarcely, in the next June weeks, shall he taste again the joys of the game-destroyer in next June, and never more. He sends for his smith- tools gives,
his
;
!

For

in the course of the day, official or ceremonial business being

ended, a few strokes of the file, quelques coups de lime.' ^ Innocent brother mortal, why wert thou not an obscure substantial maker of locks ; but doomed in that other far-seen craft, to be
'

Deux Amis,
Le
Chdteau

iii.

c.

lo.

'

des

TuilerieSy

ou

rScit

etc.,

par

Roussel

{in

Hist.

Pari.

vi.

195-219).

280

THE FEAST OF PIKES

!

BOOK

Oct. 1789

a maker only of world-follies, unrealities ; things self-destructive, which no mortal hammering could rivet into coherence Poor Louis is not without insight, nor even without the some sharpness of temper, spurting at times elements of will from a stagnating character. If harmless inertness could save but he will slumber and painfully dream, him, it were well and to do aught is not given him. Royalist Antiquarians still show the rooms where Majesty and suite, in these extraordinary circumstances, had their lodging. Here sat the ^for she had her library brought hither, reading, Queen taking vehement counsel of the though the King refused his vehement uncounselled sorrowing over altered times yet with sure hope of better in her young rosy Boy has she not the living emblem of hope ? It is a murky, working sky yet with golden gleams of dawn, or of deeper meteoric night ? Here again this chamber, on the other side of the main entrance, was the King's here his Majesty breakfasted, and did official work here daily after breakfast he received the Queen sometimes in pathetic friendliness sometimes in human sulkiness, for flesh is weak ; and when questioned about busiMadame, your business is with the ness, would answer children.' Nay, Sire, were it not better you, your Majesty's self, took the children ? So asks impartial History scornful that the thicker vessel was not also the stronger pity-struck for the porcelain-clay of humanity rather than for the tilethough indeed both were broken clay, So, however, in this Medicean Tuileries, shall the French King and Queen now sit for one-and-forty months and see a wild-fermenting France work out its own destiny, and theirs. Months bleak, ungenial, of rapid vicissitude yet with a mild pale splendour, here and there as of an April that were leading to leafiest Summer as of an October that led only to everlasting Frost. Medicean Tuileries, how changed since it was a peaceful Tile-field Or is the ground itself fate-stricken, accursed an Atreus' Palace for that Louvre window is still nigh, out of which a Capet, whipt of the Furies, fired his signal of the Saint Bartholomew Dark is the way of the Eternal as mirrored in this world of Time God's way is in the sea, and His path in the great deep.
; ; ;

'

Chapter II

IN

THE SALLE DE MANEGE

CHAPTER
IN THE SALLE DE

281
CHAP.
1789
II

Oct. -Nov.

II

MANEGE
it
is

To

believing Patriots,

however,

Constitution will march, marcher, had it once legs to stand on. Quick, then, ye Patriots, bestir yourselves, and make it

now

clear that the

shape legs for it In the ArchevSche, or Archbishop's Palace, his Grace himself having fled and afterwards in the Ridinghall, named Manege, close on the Tuileries there does a National Assembly apply itself to the miraculous work. Successfully, had there been any heaven-scaling Prometheus among them not successfully, since there was none There, in noisy debate, for the sessions are occasionally scandalous,' and as many as three speakers have been seen in the Tribune at once, let us continue to fancy it wearing the slow months. Ciceronian Tough, dogmatic, long of wind is Abbe Maury pathetic is Cazales. Keen-trenchant, on the other side, glitters shearing, like keen abhorrent of sophistry a young Barnave Damascus sabre, all sophistry asunder, reckless what else he shear with it. Simple seemest thou, O solid Dutch-built Nor lifegiving is that tone of Petion if soHd, surely dull. With ineffable serenity thine, livelier polemical Rabaut. his Constitution ye may sniffs great Sieyes, aloft, alone ; is babble over, ye may mar, but can by no possibility mend Cool, slow, two not Polity a science he has exhausted ? military Lameths are visible, with their quality sneer, or demithey shall gallantly refund their Mother's Pension, when sneer gallantly be wounded in duels. the Red Book is produced A Marquis Toulongeon, whose Pen we yet thank, sits there in stoical meditative humour, oftenest silent, accepts what Destiny will send. Thouret and Parlementary Duport produce availliberal, Anglomaniac mountains of Reformed Law Mortals rise and fall. Shall goose able and unavailable. Gobel, for example,or Gobel, for he is of Strasburg German be a Constitutional Archbishop ? breed, Alone of all men there, Mirabeau may begin to discern clearly
!

'

whither all this is tending. Patriotism, accordingly, regrets that his zeal seems to be getting cool. In that famed PentecostNight

282

THE FEAST OF PIKES

of the

BOOK
1789

Night

Fourth
fire,

of August,

when new Faith

;

rose suddenly

Oct. -Nov.

and old Feudality was burnt up, men that, in fact, remarked that Mirabeau took no hand in it he luckily happened to be absent. But did he not defend the and tell vehement Barnave that six Veto, nay Veto Absolu hundred irresponsible senators would make of all tyrannies
into miraculous
;

SIEVES.
the insupportablest ? Again, how anxious was he that the King's Ministers should have seat and voice in the National Assembly doubtless with an eye to being Minister himself Whereupon the National Assembly decides, what is very momentous, that no Deputy shall be Minister he, in his haughty stormful manner, advising us to make it, no Deputy called Mirabeau.' ^ A man of perhaps inveterate Feudahsms
;

'

Moniteur, Nos. 65, 86 {20th September, 7th November, 1789).

of

IN
:

THE SALLE DE MANEGE

; ;
!

283

of stratagems

too often visible leanings towards the Royalist CHAP. II side whom Patriotism will unmask Thus, Dec. 1789 a man suspect in these June days, when the question, Who shall have right to declare war ^ comes on, you hear hoarse Hawkers sound doleGrand Treason of Count Mirabeau, fully through the streets, price only one sou because he pleads that it shall be not for in nay prevails Pleads the Assembly, but the King spite of the hoarse Hawkers, and an endless Populace raised by them to the pitch even of Lanterne,' he mounts the Tribune murmuring aside to his friends that grim-resolute next day I must come hence either in I know it speak of danger and it was in triumph that triumph or else torn in fragments
'
' ;

'

'

'

he came.

whose popularity is not of the popuwhom no clamour of unwashed mobs lace pas populaciere without doors, or of washed mobs within, can scare from his way Dumont remembers hearing him deliver a Report on Marevery word was interrupted on the part of the CotS seilles calumniator, liar, assassin, scoundrel Droit by abusive epithets Mirabeau pauses a moment, and, in a honeyed tone, (scelerat) " I wait. Messieurs, till addressing the most furious, says
stout of heart
'

A man
'

'

these amenities be exhausted."

'

A man

enigmatic, difficult

For example, whence comes his money ? Can the profit of a Newspaper, sorely eaten into by Dame Le Jay can this, and the eighteen francs a day your National Deputy House in the has, be supposed equal to this expenditure ?
to

unmask

splendours, Country-house at Argenteuil All sumptuosities, orgies ; living as if he had a mint saloons, barred against Adventurer Mirabeau, are flung wideopen to King Mirabeau, the cynosure of Europe, whom female France flutters to behold, though the Man Mirabeau is one and the same. As for money, one may conjecture that Royalism furnishes it ; which if Royalism do, will not the same be wel-

Chaussee dAntin

come, as money always is to him ? Sold,' whatever Patriotism thinks, he cannot readily be which shining through the spiritual fire which is in that man
'
: ;

such confusions is nevertheless Conviction, and makes him buystrong, and without which he had no strength,is not would able nor saleable; in such transference of barter, it vanish and not be. Perhaps 'paid and not sold, payi pas
1

Dumont, Souvenirs,

p. 278.

vendu

'

284

THE FEAST OF PIKES

' :

BOOK

vendu

Dec. 1789

himself

'

as poor Rivarol, in the unhappier converse way, calls man travelling, comet-like, sold and not paid '
!

in splendour

and nebulosity,

his wild

way

whom

telescopic

Patriotism may long watch, but, without higher mathematics, A questionable, most blamable man yet will not make out. to us the far notablest of all. With rich munificence, as we often say, in a most blinkard, bespectacled, logic-chopping generation, Nature has gifted this man with an eye. Welcome and growing is his word, there where he speaks and works for it alone goes to the heart of the business ever welcomer and thou seest a logical cobwebbery shrinks itself together
; ;
;

thing,

how

it is,

how

it

may be worked with.

:

Unhappily our National Assembly has much to do a France and France is short of so many requisites, short to regenerate even of cash. These same Finances give trouble enough no which gapes ever, Give, give ! choking of the Deficit To appease the Deficit we venture on a hazardous step, sale of the most hazardous. Clergy's Lands and superfluous Edifices Nay, given the sale, who is to buy them, ready-money having fled ? Wherefore, on the 19th day of December, a papermoney of Assignats,' of Bonds secured, or assigned, on that Clerico-National Property, and unquestionable at least in pay; ; ; ;

'

ment

decreed the first of a long series of like So that financial performances, which shall astonish mankind. now, while old rags last, there shall be no lack of circulating
of that,
is
:

medium

whether of commodities to circulate thereon,

is

another question. But, after all, does not this Assignat business speak volumes for modern science ? Bankruptcy, we may say, was come, as the end of all Delusions needs must come yet how gently, in softening diffusion, in mild succession, was like it hereby made to fall like no all-destroying avalanche gentle showers of a powdery impalpable snow, shower after shower, till all was indeed buried, and yet little was destroyed To such length that could not be replaced, be dispensed with has modern machinery reached. Bankruptcy, we said, was
:

but indeed Money itself is a standing miracle. On the whole, it is a matter of endless difficulty, that of the Clergy. Clerical property may be made the Nation's, and but if so, is it not an the Clergy hired servants of the State altered Church ? Adjustment enough, of the most confused Old landmarks, in any sense, sort, has become unavoidable.
great
; ;

avail

IN

THE SALLE DE MANEGE

new France.

285

the very Ground is CHAP. II new divided 1789-90 your old particoloured Provinces become new uniform Departments Eighty-three in number whereby, as in some sudden shifting of the Earth's axis, no mortal knows his new latitude at once. The Twelve old Parlements too, what is to be done with them ? The old Parlements are declared to be all in permanent vacation,' till once the new equal- justice, of Departmental Courts, National Appeal-Court, of elective Justices, Justices of Peace, and other Thouret-andDuport apparatus be got ready. They have to sit there, these old Parlements, uneasily waiting as it were, with the rope round their neck crying as they can. Is there none to deliver lis ? But happily the answer being. None, none, they are a manageable class, these Parlements. They can be bullied, even, into silence the Paris Parlement, wiser than most, has never whimpered. They will and must sit there, in such vacation as is fit their Chamber of Vacation distributes in the interim what little justice is going. With the rope round their neck, their destiny may be succinct On the 13th of
literally,
;
;

avail not in a

Nay

'

November
tice,

1790,

Mayor

Bailly shall walk to the Palais de Jus;

few even heeding him and with municipal seal -stamp and a little hot wax, seal up the Parlementary Paper-rooms, and the dread Parlement of Paris pass away, into Chaos, gently as does a Dream So shall the Parlements perish, succinctly ; and innumerable eyes be dry. Not so the Clergy. For, granting even that Religion were dead that it had died, half-centuries ago, with unutterable Dubois or emigrated lately to Alsace, with Necklace-Cardinal Rohan or that it now walked as goblin revenant, with Bishop
!

Talleyrand of Autun yet does not the Shadow of Religion, the Cant of Religion, still linger ? The Clergy have means and material means, of number, organisation, social weight a material, at lowest, of public ignorance, known to be the mother of devotion. Nay withal, is it incredible that there might, in simple hearts, latent here and there like gold-grains in the mudbeach, still dwell some real Faith in God, of so singular and tenacious a sort that even a Maury or a Talleyrand could still be the symbol for it ? Enough, the Clergy has strength, the Clergy has craft and indignation. It is a most fatal business this of the Clergy. A weltering hydra-coil, which the National
;

Assembly has

stirred

up about

its

ears

hissing,

stinging

which

286

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;
!

BOOK

1789-90

which cannot be appeased, aUve which cannot be trampled dead Fatal, from first to last Scarcely after fifteen months' debating, can a Civil Constitution of the Clergy be so much as got to paper and then for getting it into reality ? Alas, such Civil Constitution is but an agreement to disagree. It divides France from end to end, with a new split, infinitely complicating
!

the other splits Catholicism, what of it there is left, with the Cant of Catholicism, raging on the one side, and sceptic Heathenism on the other both, by contradiction, waxing fanatic. What endless jarring, of Refractory hated Priests, and Constitutional despised ones of tender consciences, like the King's, and consciences hot-seared, like certain of his People's the whole to end in Feasts of Reason and a War of La Vendee So deep-seated is Religion in the heart of man, and holds of all infinite passions. If the dead echo of it still did so much, what could not the living voice of it once do ? Finance and Constitution, Law and Gospel this surely were work enough yet this is not all. In fact, the Ministry, and Necker himself, whom a brass inscription, fastened by the people over his door-lintel,' testifies to be the Ministre adori,' are dwindling into clearer and clearer nullity. Execution
all
; ;
;
: ! :

'

'

or legislation, arrangement or detail, from their nerveless fingers

drops undone all lights at last on the toiled shoulders of an august Representative Body. Heavy-laden National Assembly It has to hear of innumerable fresh revolts. Brigand expeditions of Chateaus in the West, especially of Charter Chests, Chartiers, set on fire for there too the overloaded Ass frightfully recalcitrates. Of Cities in the South full of heats and jealousies
all
;
!

which will end in crossed sabres, Marseilles against Toulon, and Carpentras beleaguered by Avignon of so much Royalist collision in a career of Freedom nay of Patriot collision, which a mere difference of velocity will bring about Of a Jourdan Coup-tete, who has skulked thitherward, to those southern regions, from the claws of the Chatelet and will raise whole scoundrel regiments.
;

has to hear of Royalist Camp of J ales Jal^s mountaingirdled Plain, amid the rocks of the Cevennes whence Royahsm, as is feared and hoped, may dash down like a mountain deluge, and submerge France A singular thing this Camp of Jal^s existing mostly on paper. For the Soldiers at Jal6s, being peasants or National Guards, were in heart sworn Sansculottes and
Also
it
:

IN
and
all

THE SA LLE DE MANEGE

287

that the Royalist Captains could do, was, with false CHAP. II 1789-90 words, to keep them, or rather keep the report of them, drawn up there, visible to all imaginations, for a terror and a sign, if peradventure France might be reconquered by theatrical machinery, by the picture of a Royalist Army done to the life ^ Not till the third summer was this portent, burning out by fits and then fading, got finally extinguished was the old Castle of Jal^s, no Camp being visible to the bodily eye, got blown asunder by some National Guards. Also it has to hear not only of Brissot and his Friends of the Blacks, but by and by of a whole St. Domingo blazing skyward beaconing blazing in literal fire, and in far worse metaphorical the nightly main. Also of the shipping interest, and the landed Of interest, and all manner of interests, reduced to distress. Industry everywhere manacled, bewildered and only Rebellion thriving. Of sub-officers, soldiers and sailors in mutiny by land and water. Of soldiers, at Nanci, as we shall see, needing to be cannonaded by a brave Bouille. Of sailors, nay the very galleyslaves, at Brest, needing also to be cannonaded, but with no Bouille to do it. For indeed, to say it in a word, in those days there was no King in Israel, and every man did that which was

right in his

own

eyes.^

Such things has an august National Assembly to hear of, as but what Sad and stern it goes on regenerating France. remedy ? Get the Constitution ready and all men will swear to it for do not Addresses of adhesion arrive by the cartload ? In this manner, by Heaven's blessing, and a Constitution got ready, shall the bottomless fire-gulf be vaulted in, with ragpaper and Order will wed Freedom, and live with her there, O Cote Gauche, worthy are ye, ^till it grow too hot for them. as the Adhesive addresses generally say, to fix the regards of the Universe the regards of this one poor Planet, at lowest Nay, it must be owned, the CotS Droit makes a still madder figure. An irrational generation irrational, imbecile, and a generawith the vehement obstinacy characteristic of that Falling Bastilles, Insurrections tion which will not learn. of Women, thousands of smoking Manorhouses, a country
:

'

'

'

'

Dampmartin, Evineniens, i. 208. See Deux Amis, iii. c. 14 iv. c. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 14. Expidilion des Volontaires de Brest sur Lannion ; Les Lyonnais Sauveurs des Dauphinois ; Massacre au Mans; iv. 162-68), etc. Troubles du Maine (Pamphlets and Excerpts, in Hist. Pari. iii. 251 bristling
^

288

THE FEAST OF PIKES

:

BOOK

1789-90

with no crop but that of Sansculottic steel these were tolerably didactic lessons ; but them they have not taught. There are still men, of whom it was of old written, Bray them in a mortar Or, in milder language, They have wedded their fire nor steel, nor any sharpness of Experience, shall delusions till death do us part On such may the sever the bond Heavens have mercy for the Earth, with her rigorous Necessity,
bristling
! :

have none. Admit, at the same time, that it was most natural. Man lives by hope Pandora, when her box of gods '-gifts flew all out, and became gods' -curses, still retained Hope. How shall an irrational mortal, when his highplace is never so evidently pulled down, and he, being irrational, is left resourceless, part with the belief that it will be rebuilt ? It would make all so straight again it seems so unspeakably desirable so reasonable, would you but look at it aright For, must not the thing which was continue to be or else the solid World dissolve ? Yes, persist, O infatuated Sansculottes of France Revolt against constituted Authorities hunt out your rightful Seigneurs, who at bottom so loved you, and readily shed their blood for you, in country's battles as at Rossbach and elsewhere and, even in preserving game, were preserving you, could ye but have understood it hunt them out, as if they were wild wolves set fire to their Chateaus and Chartiers as to wolf-dens and what then ? Why, then turn every man his hand against his fellow In confusion, famine, desolation, regret the days that are gone rueful recall them, recall us with them. To repentant prayers we will not be deaf. So, with dimmer or clearer consciousness, must the Right but a Side reason and act. An inevitable position perhaps most false one for them. Evil, be thou our good this henceforth must virtually be their prayer. The fiercer the efferwill
:

vescence grows, the sooner will it pass some mad effervescence the World is
;

for, after all, it is

but
dis-

solid,

and cannot

solve.

they have any positive industry, it is that of plots, and backstairs conclaves. Plots which cannot be for executed which are mostly theoretic on their part which nevertheless this and the other practical Sieur Augeard,
rest, if
; ;

For the

Sieur Maillebois, Sieur Bonne Savardin, gets into trouble, gets imprisoned, and escapes with difficulty. Nay there is a poor
practical

PORCELAIN AND TILECLAY.

(*

both <were broken.^)

IN

THE SALLE DE MANEGE

289

practical Chevalier Favras,

who, not without some passing CHAP. II reflex on Monsieur himself, gets hanged for them, amid loud 1789-90 uproar of the world. Poor Favras, he keeps dictating his last will at the H6tel-de-Ville, through the whole remainder of the day,' a weary February day offers to reveal secrets, if they will save him handsomely declines since they will not then dies, in the flare of torchlight, with politest composure remarking, rather than exclaiming, with outspread hands People, I die innocent pray for me.' ^ Poor Favras type of so much that has prowled indefatigable over France, in days now ending and, in freer field, might have earned instead ^to thee it is no theory of prowling, In the Senate-house again, the attitude of the Right Side is that of calm unbelief. Let an august National Assembly make a Fourth- of -August Abolition of Feudality declare the Clergy State- servants, who shall have wages vote Suspensive Vetos, new Law-Courts vote or decree what contested thing have it responded to from the four corners of France, it will nay get King's Sanction, and what other Acceptance were conceivable, the Right Side, as we find, persists, with imperturbablest tenacity, in considering, and ever and anon shows that it still considers, all these so-called Decrees as mere temporary whims, which indeed stand on paper, but in practice and Figure the brass head of an fact are not, and cannot be.
'

'

Abbe Maury

flooding forth Jesuitic eloquence in this strain

dusky D'Espr^menil, Barrel Mirabeau (probably in liquor), and enough of others, cheering him from the Right and, for example, with what visage a seagreen Robespierre eyes him from the Left. And how Siey^s ineffably sniffs on him, or and how the Galleries groan in spirit, does not deign to sniff so that to escape the Lanterne, on or bark rabid on him stepping forth, he needs presence of mind, and a pair of pistols For he is one of the toughest of men. in his girdle Here indeed becomes notable one great difference between between the modern lingual or our two kinds of civil war Parliamentary-logical kind, and the ancient or manual kind
;

^much to the disadvantage of the the steel battlefield In the manual kind, where you front your foe with former.
in
;

drawn weapon, one right stroke is final for, physically speaking, when the brains are out the man does honestly die, and trouble
; ^

See

Deux Amis,

iv. c. 14, 7

Hist. Pari.

vi.

384.

you

290

THE FEAST OF PIKES

!

BOOK

1789-90

you no more. But how different when it is with arguments Here no victory yet definable can be considered you fight as final. Beat him down with Parliamentary invective, till sense be fled cut him in two, hanging one half on this dilemmablow the brains or thinking-faculty horn, the other on that quite out of him for the time it skills not he rallies and revives tomorrow he repairs his golden fires on the morrow The thing that will logically extinguish him is perhaps still a desideratum in Constitutional civilisation. For how, till a man know, in some measure, at what point he becomes logically defunct, can Parliamentary Business be carried on, and Talk cease or
; ; : ;

slake

?
it

Doubtless
clear insight

was some
little

feeling of this difficulty

and the

the Constitutional career, and how defunct Aristocrats would continue to walk for unlimited periods, as Partridge the Almanac-maker did, that had sunk into the deep mind of People's-friend Marat, an eminently practical mind and had grown there, in that richest putrescent soil, into the most original plan of action ever submitted to a People. Not yet has it grown but it has germinated, it is growing rooting itself into Tartarus, branching towards Heaven the second season hence, we shall see it risen out of the bottomless Darkness, full-grown, into disastrous Twilight, a Hemlock-tree, great as the world on or under whose boughs all the People'sfriends of the world may lodge. Two hundred and Sixty thousand Aristocrat heads that is the precisest calculation, though one would not stand on a few hundreds yet we never rise as high as the round Three hundred thousand. Shudder at it, O People but it is as true as that ye yourselves, and your People's-friend, are alive. These prating Senators of yours hover ineffectual on the barren letter, and will never save the Revolution. A Cassandra-Marat cannot do it, with his single shrunk arm but with few determined men it were possible. Give me,' said the People's-friend, in his cold way, when young Barbaroux, once his pupil in a course of what was called Optics, went to see him, Give me two hundred Naples Bravoes, armed each with a good dirk, and a muff on
Nation,

how new in

such knowledge yet existed in the French

'

'

'

'

his left

and

with them I will traverse France, accomplish the Revolution.' ^ Nay, be grave, young
of shield
: ^

arm by way

Memoires de Barbaroux

(Paris, 1822), p. 57.

Barbaroux

IN
Barbaroux
;

THE SALLE DE MANEGE

for

291

thou seest there

eyes, in that soot-bleared figure,

no jesting in those rheumy CHAP. II 1789-90 most earnest of created things

is
;

neither indeed

there madness, of the strait-waistcoat sort. Such produce shall the Time ripen in cavernous Marat, the man forbid living in Paris cellars, lone as fanatic Anchorite
is
;

Thebaid; say, as far-seen Simon on his Pillar, taking pecuhar views therefrom. Patriots may smile; and, using
in his

CHARLES BARBAROUX.
bark, name Maximum of Patriotism and him, as Desmoulins does, ' but were it not singular if this dirkCassandra-Marat and-muff plan of his (with superficial modifications) proved to
as
let
'
' '
:

him

bandog now to be muzzled, now to be

be precisely the plan adopted ? After this manner, in these circumstances, do august Senators regenerate France. Nay, they are, in very deed, believed to on account of which great fact, main fact be regenerating it of their history, the wearied eye can never be permitted wholly to ignore them.
;

But,

292

THE FEAST OF PIKES

away now from
these precincts of the Tuileries
;

BOOK

But, looking

Oct. 21, 1789

where Constitutional Royalty, let Lafayette water it as he will languishes too like a cut branch and august Senators are perhaps at bottom only perfecting their theory of defective verbs,' how does the young Reality, young Sansculottism thrive ? The attentive observer can answer It thrives putting forth new buds bravely expanding the old buds into leaves, into boughs. Is not French Existence, as before, most prurient, all loosened, most nutrient for it ? Sansculottism has the property of growing by what other things die of by agitation, contention, disarrangement nay in a word, by what is the symbol and fruit of all these Hunger. In such a France as this. Hunger, as we have remarked, can hardly fail. The Provinces, the Southern Cities feel it in their turn and what it brings Exasperation, preternatural Suspicion. In Paris some halcyon days of abundance followed the Menadic Insurrection, with its Versailles grain-carts, and recovered Restorer of Liberty but they could not continue.
'

The month
a

is still

October,

when famishing

Saint-Antoine, in
'

Francois and hangs him, in Constantinople wise ; but even this, singular as it may seem, does not cheapen bread

moment

of passion, seizes a poor Baker, innocent

^

the Baker

'

no Royal bounty, no Municipal dexterity can adequately feed a Bastille-destroying Paris. Wherefore, on view of the hanged Baker, Constitutionalism in sorrow and anger demands Loi Martiale,^ a kind of Riot Act and indeed gets it most readily, almost before the sun goes down. This is that famed Martial Law, with its Red Flag, its Drapeau Rouge,' in virtue of which Mayor Bailly, or any Mayor, has but henceforth to hang out that new Oriftamme
clear
it is,
'
;

Too

of his

then to read or
and,
after

mumble something about

pauses,

peace

certain

serve

any

the King's undispersing

Assemblage with musket- shot, or whatever shot will disperse it. A decisive Law and most just on one proviso that all Patrollotism be of God, and all mob-assembling be of the Devil otherwise not so just. Mayor Bailly, be unwilling
;
: ;

not out that new Oriflanune, flame not of gold but of the want of gold The thrice-blessed Revolution is done, thou thinkest ? If so, it will be well with thee. But now let no mortal say henceforth that an august National
to use
it
! !

Hang

'

2ist October 1789 {Moniteur,

No.

76).

Assembly

THE MUSTER
Assembly wants
riot
:

293
CHAP.
II

ever wanted was riot enough to balance Court-plotting all it now wants, of Heaven or of Earth, is to get its theory of defective verbs perfected.
all it
;

Oct. 21, 1789

CHAPTER
With Famine and

III

THE MUSTER
verbs going on, all shaking and sifting of French Existence this is in the course of which, for one thing, what a multitude of low - lying figures are sifted to the top, and set busily to work there Dogleech Marat, now
: !

a Constitutional theory of defective other excitement is conceivable. A universal

far-seen
Stylites,

as

Simon
already

we

him and others, raised aloft. The mere sample these of what is coming, of what continues coming, upwards
;

know

from the realm of Night Chaumette, by and by Anaxagoras Chaumette, one already descries

CHAUMETTE.
:

mellifluous

in

street-

not now a seaboy on the high and giddy mast a mellifluous tribune of the common people, with long curling able sub-editor too locks, on bournestone of the thoroughfares who shall rise, to the very gallows. Clerk Tallien, he also is become sub-editor; shall become able-editor; and more.
groups
;
;

Bibliopolic

Momoro, Tjrpographic Prudhomme

;

see

new

trades

opening. Collot d'Herbois, tearing a passion to rags, pauses on the Thespian boards listens, with that black bushy head, to u VOL. I.

294

THE FEAST OF PIKES

drama
:

BOOK

to the sound of the world's

shall the
^

1789-90

Real ? Did ye hiss him, O men of Lyons ? clapped Happy now, indeed, for all manner of mimetic, half-original Tumid blustering, with more or less of sincerity, which men need not be entirely sincere, yet the sincerer the better, is Shall we say, the Revolution-element works like to go far.
!

Mimetic become Better had ye

itself rarer

and
;

rarer
till

so that only lighter

and

lighter bodies
is

will float in it

your Limitation of mind, then vehemence, promptionly swimmer ? tude, audacity shall all be available to which add only these cunning and good lungs. Good fortune must be pretwo supposed. Accordingly, of all classes the rising one, we observe, is now the Attorney class witness Bazires, Carriers, Fouquier; : :

at last the

mere blown-bladder

Basoche-Captain Bourdons more than enough. Such figure shall Night, from her wonder-bearing bosom, emit swarm after swarm. Of another deeper and deepest swarm, not yet dawned on the astonished eye of pilfering CandleTinvilles,
:

snuffers,

Thief-valets,

disfrocked

Capuchins,

and

so

many

Heberts, Henriots, Ronsins, Rossignols, let us, as long as possible, forbear speaking. Thus, over France, all stirs that has what the Physiologists call irritability in it how much more all wherein irritability has perfected itself into vitality, into actual vision, and force that can will All stirs and if not in Paris, flocks thither. Great and greater waxes President Danton in his Cordeliers his rhetorical tropes are all energy Section gigantic flashes from his black brows, menaces in his athletic figure, rolls in the sound of his voice reverberating from the domes this man also, like Mirabeau, has a natural eye, and begins to see whither Constitutionalism is tending, though with a
:
! ;

'

'

'

'

wish in

it

different

from Mirabeau's.

Remark, on the other hand, how General Dumouriez has quitted Normandy and the Cherbourg Breakwater, to come
whither

we may

guess.

It

is

his second or

even third

trial

but now it is in right earnest, for he has quitted all else. Wiry, elastic, unwearied man whose life was but a battle and a march No, not a creature of Choiseul's the creature of God and of my sword,' he fiercely answered in old days. Overfalling Corat Paris, since this

New Era

began

'

Buzot, M(fmotres (Paris, 1823),

p. 90.

sican

THE MUSTER
sican
batteries, in the
;
'

295

wriggling invincible CHAP. Ill deadly fire-hail 1789-90 from under his horse, at Closterkamp of the Netherlands, though tethered with crushed stirrup -iron and nineteen wounds tough, minatory, standing at bay, as forlorn hope, on the skirts of Poland intriguing, battling in cabinet and field roaming far out, obscure, as King's spial, or sitting sealed up, enchanted in Bastille fencing, pamphleteering, scheming and struggling from the very birth of him,^ the man has come thus far. How repressed, how irrepressible Like some incarnate spirit in prison, which indeed he was
'

hewing on granite walls for deliverance from them. And now has the general earthquake rent his cavern too ? Twenty years younger, what might he not have But his hair has a shade of gray his way of thought done is all fixed, military. He can grow no further, and the new world is in such growth. We will name him, on the whole, wanting above all without faith one of Heaven's Swiss things work, work on any side. Work also is appointed him and he will do it.
;

striking fire-flashes

Not from over France only

Paris; but from all thither will the eagles gather. Think how many a Spanish Guzman, Martinico Fournier named Fournier VAmiricain,' Engineer Miranda from the very Andes, were flocking or had Walloon Pereyra might boast of the strangest parentflocked. him, they say. Prince Kaunitz the Diplomatist heedage like ostrich-egg, to be hatched of Chance, lessly dropped Jewish or German Freys do business into an ostiich-eater
' :

are the unrestful flocking towards Where the carcass is, sides of Europe.

which Cesspool this AssignatAgio Swiss Claviere fiat has quickened, into a Mother of dead dogs. but could found no Socinian Genevese Colony in Ireland he paused, years ago, prophetic, before the Minister's Hotel and said, it was borne on his mind that he one day at Paris was to be Minister, and laughed.^ Swiss Pache, on the other
in the great Cesspool of
; ; ;

the wonder of his own alley, hand, sits sleekheaded, frugal and even of neighbouring ones, for humility of mind, and a thought deeper than most men's sit there, Tartuffe, till wanted Ye Italian Dufournys, Flemish Prolys, flit hither all ye bipeds
;
:

Dumouriez, Memoires, i. 28, etc. Dumont, Souvenirs sur Mirabeau,

p. 399.

of

296

THE FEAST OF PIKES

!

BOOK

of prey

Come whosesoever head

it

is

hot

thou of mind un-

1789-90

chaos as of undevelopment or chaos as of ruin the man who cannot get known, the man who is too well known if thou have any vendible faculty, nay if thou have but edacity They come with hot. unutterabilities and loquacity, come in their heart as Pilgrims towards a miraculous shrine. Nay how many come as vacant Strollers, aimless, of whom Europe For benighted fowls, is full, merely towards something when you beat their bushes, rush towards any light. Thus mazed, purblind, from Frederick Baron Trenck too is here Minotauric cells, and his Ariadne the cells of Magdeburg Singular to say, Trenck, in these years, sells wine lost not indeed in bottle, but in wood. Nor is our England without her missionaries. She has her life-saving Needham ^ to whom was solemnly presented a civic sword,' Her long since rusted into nothingness. Paine rebellious Staymaker unkempt who feels that he, a single Needleman, did, by his Common-Sense Pamphlet, free perhaps America that he can and will free all this World even the other. Price-Stanhope Constitutional Association sends over to congratulate ^ welcomed by National Assembly, though they are but a London Club whom Burke and Toryism eye askance. On thee too, for country's sake, O Chevalier John Paul, be a word spent, or misspent In faded naval uniform, Paul Jones lingers visible here ; like a wineskin from which the Low is his wine is all drawn. Like the ghost of himself once loud bruit scarcely audible, save, with extreme tedium, in ministerial ante-chambers, in this or the other charitable culmidining-room, mindful of the past. What changes natings and declinings Not now, poor Paul, thou lookest wistful over the Solway brine, by the foot of native Criffel, eninto blue mountainous Cumberland, into blue Infinitude thyself, young vironed with thrift, with humble friendliness fool, longing to be aloft from it, or even to be away from it. Yes, beyond that sapphire Promontory, which men name St.
governed, be
; ! ;
;

'

'

trustworthy gentleman writes to me, three years ago, with a feeling which
' '

cannot but respect, that his Father,

French Journalists give

'

it) is

not rusted at
^

all,'

but

still

the late Admiral Nesham (not Needham, as the Englishman meant and furthermore that the sword is lies, with the due memory attached to it, in his (the son's)
the
;

possession, at Plymouth, in a clear state.

{No^e o/lSS7.)

Moniteur, lo Novembre, 7 Decembre, 1789.

Bees,

THE MUSTER
Bees, which
is
!

297

not sapphire either, but dull sandstone, when CHAP. Ill 1789-90 one gets close to it, there is a world. Which world thou too shalt taste of From yonder White Haven rise his smokeclouds ominous though ineffectual. Proud Forth quakes at his bellying sails had not the wind suddenly shifted. Flamborough reapers, homegoing, pause on the hill-side for what sulphursulphur-cloud is that that defaces the sleek sea cloud spitting streaks of fire ? A sea cock-fight it is, and of where British Serapis and French-American the hottest Bon Homme Richard do lash and throttle each other, in their and lo the desperate valour has suffocated the deliberfashion ate, and Paul Jones too is of the Kings of the Sea The Euxine, the Meotian waters felt thee next, and longand thy fiery soul has wasted itself in skirted Turks, O Paul to no purpose. For, in far lands, thousand contradictions with scarlet Nassau-Siegens, with sinful Imperial Catherines, is not the heart broken, even as at home with the mean ? Poor Paul hunger and dispiritment track thy sinking footsteps once, or at most twice, in this Revolution-tumult the figure of mute, ghostlike, as ' with stars dim-twinkling thee emerges And then, when the light is gone quite out, a through.' As good National Legislature grants ' ceremonial funeral had been the natural Presbyterian Kirk-bell, and six feet of Scottish earth, among the dust of thy loved ones. Such world lay beyond the Promontory of St. Bees. Such is the life of

'

sinful

mankind here below.

of all strangers far the notablest for us
;

But

is

Baron Jean

or, dropping baptisms and feudalisms, Baptiste de Clootz Him mark, World-Citizen Anacharsis Clootz, from Cleves. judicious Reader. Thou hast known his Uncle, sharp-sighted, thorough-going Cornelius de Pauw, who mercilessly cuts down and of the finest antique Spartans will cherished illusions
;

make mere modern

Anacharsis
:

cutthroat Mainots.^
;

The

like stuff is in

hot metal full of scoriae, which should and could have been smelted out, but which will not. He has wandered seeking, one may say, the Paraover this terraqueous Planet He has seen English Burke has been dise we lost long ago. has roamed, and fought, seen of the Portugal Inquisition Evidences of is writing, among other things, and written
;
;

'

De Pauw,

Recherches sur

les

Grecs, etc.

the

298

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;

BOOK

1789-90

the Mahometan Religion.' But now, like his Scythian adoptive surely, at godfather, he finds himself in the Paris Athens A dashing man, beloved at Patriotic last, the haven of his soul. with gaiety, nay with humour dinner-tables headlong, in suitable costume though what trenchant, of free purse mortal ever more despised costumes ? Under all costumes
;
;

CLOOTZ.
not Stylites Marat will more freely Anacharsis seeks the man trample costumes, if they hold no man. This is the faith of that all That there is a Paradise discoverable Anacharsis costumes ought to hold men. O Anacharsis, it is a headlong, swift-going faith. Mounted thereon, meseems, thou art bound At best, we and wilt arrive hastily for the City of Nowhere may say, arrive in good riding attitude which indeed is some;
: ;
; !

thing.

So many new persons and new things have come to occupy Her old Speech and Thought, and Activity this France.
which

THE MUSTER
which springs from
these, are all changing
;

299
fermenting towards CHAP.
Ill

unknown

issues.

To the
of

dullest peasant, as

he

sits sluggish,
:

1789-90

over-toijed,

by

his evening hearth,

;

one idea has come

!

that of

Chateaus combustible. How altered all Coffeehouses, in Province or Capital The Autre de Procope has now other questions than the Three Stagyrite Unities to settle not theatre-controversies, but a world-controversy there, in the ancient pigtail mode, or with modern Brutus' heads, do well-frizzed logicians hold hubbub, and Chaos umpire sits. The ever-enduring melody of Paris Saloons has got a new ground-tone ever-enduring which has been heard, and by the listening Heaven too, since Julian the Apostate's time and earlier mad now as formerly.

Chateaus burnt

Ex-Censor Suard, Ecc-Censor, for we have freedom of the Press he may be seen there impartial, even neutral. Tyrant Grimm rolls large eyes, over a questionable coming Time.
;

Atheist Naigeon, beloved-disciple of Diderot, crows, in his small difficult way, heralding glad dawn.^ But on the other

hand, how many Morellets, Marmontels, who had sat all their life hatching Philosophe eggs, cackle now, in a state bordering on distraction, at the brood they have brought out.^ It was so delightful to have one's Philosophe Theorem demonstrated, crowned in the saloons and now an infatuated people will not continue speculative, but have Practice There also observe Preceptress Genlis, or Sillery, or SilleryGenlis, for our husband is both Count and Marquis, and we have more than one title. Pretentious, frothy a puritan yet darkening counsel by words without wisdom creedless For, it is in that thin element of the Sentimentalist and Disshe would gladly tinguished-Female that Sillery-Genlis works be sincere, yet can grow no sincerer than sincere- cant sincerecant of many forms, ending in the devotional form. For the present, on a neck still of moderate whiteness, she wears as jewel a miniature Bastille, cut on mere sandstone, but then actual Bastille sandstone. M. le Marquis is one of D 'Orleans's Madame, in National Assembly, and elsewhere. errand-men for her part, trains up a youthful D 'Orleans generation in what gives meanwhile rather enigmatic superfinest morality one can
: !

Naigeon, Adresse d VAssemblee Nationale (Paris, 1790), sur la See Marmontel, Mhnoires, passim ; Morellet, Mimoires^ etc.

liberti des opinions.

account

300

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;

BOOK

1789-90

account of fair Mademoiselle Pamela, the Daughter whom she whither, we has adopted. Thus she, in Palais-Royal Saloon remark, D'Orleans himself, spite of Lafayette, has returned from

COMTESSE DE GENLIS.
for surely no pleasant mission that English mission of his and Saint Hannah More the English would not speak to him of England, so unlike Saint Sillery-Genlis of France, saw him shunned, in Vauxhall Gardens, like one peststruck,^ and his red-blue impassive visage waxing hardly a shade bluer.
'
' :
:

Hannah More's

Life

and

Correspondence,

ii.

c. 5.

Chapter IV

JOURNALISM

301
CHAP. IV
1789-90

CHAPTER
JOURNALISM
As
for Constitutionalism,
;

IV

National Guards, it is and has enough to do it must, as ever, doing what it can with one hand wave persuasively, repressing Patriotism and keep the other clenched to menace Royalist plotters. A most requiring tact. delicate task Thus, if People's-friend Marat has today his writ of prise de corps, or seizure of body,' served on him, and dives out of sight, tomorrow he is left at large or is even encouraged, as a sort of bandog whose baying may be useful. President Danton, in open Hall, with reverberating voice, declares that, in a case like Marat's, force may be resisted by force.' Whereupon the Chatelet serves Danton also with a writ which however, as the whole Cordeliers District responds to it, what Constable will be prompt to execute ? Twice more, on new occasions, does the Chatelet launch its writ and twice more in vain the body of Danton cannot be seized by Chatelet he unseized, should he even fiy for a season, shall behold the Chatelet itself flung into limbo. Municipality and Brissot, meanwhile, are far on with their Municipal Constitution. The Sixty Districts shall become much shall be adjusted, and Paris have Forty-eight Sections its Constitution. A Constitution wholly Elective as indeed And yet, one all French Government shall and must be. that of citoyen actif. No fatal element has been introduced man who does not pay the marc d'argent, or yearly tax equal to three days' labour, shall be other than a passive citizen not the slightest vote for him ; were he acting, all the year Unround, with sledge-hammer, with forest-levelling axe
its
: ; ;

with

'

'

Yes truly, my Patriot cry Patriot Journals. Friends, if Liberty, the passion and prayer of all men's souls, means Liberty to send your fifty-thousandth part of a new Tongue-fencer into National Debating-club, then, be the gods O, if in National Palaver witness, ye are hardly entreated. (as the Africans name it), such blessedness is verily found,
heard of
!

what

302

THE FEAST OF PIKES

!

BOOK I
1789-90

Nay, might what tyrant would deny it to Son of Adam screams from there not be a Female Parliament too, with the Opposition benches,' and the honourable Member borne
' '

out in hysterics ? To a Children's Parliament would I gladly or even lower if ye wished it. Beloved Brothers consent Liberty, one may fear, is actually, as the ancient wise men On this Earth, where, thinks the enlightsaid, of Heaven. ened public, did a brave little Dame de Staal (not Necker's Daughter, but a far shrewder than she) find the nearest approach to Liberty ? After mature computation, cool as Dilworth's, Of Heaven ? answer many, her answer is. In the Bastille} for that is the very misery asking. Wo that they should ask share in the National Palaver it Of Heaven means much may, or may as probably not mean. One Sansculottic bough that cannot fail to flourish is Journalism. The voice of the People being the voice of God, shall not such divine voice make itself heard ? To the ends of France and in as many dialects as when the -first great Babel Some loud as the lion some small as the was to be built sucking dove. Mirabeau himself has his instructive Journal and or Journals, with Geneva hodmen working in them withal has quarrels enough with Dame le Jay, his Female
'

'

'

'

'

Bookseller, so ultra-compliant otherwise.^ King's- friend Royou still prints himself.

Barr^re sheds tears of loyal sensibility in Break-of-Day Journal, though But why is Freron so hot, democratic with declining sale.
Freron, the King's-friend's Nephew ? He has it by kind, that heat of his wasp Freron begot him ; Voltaire's FrMon ; who fought stinging, while sting and poison-bag were left, were it only as Reviewer, and over Printed Waste-paper. Constant, illuminative, as the nightly lamplighter, issues the useful with facts and few Moniteur, for it is now become diurnal
: :

its Able Editors commentaries official, safe in the middle sunk long since, recoverably or irrecoverably, in deep darkness. Acid Loustalot, with his vigour,' as of young sloes, shall never his Prudhomme, however, will not let ripen, but die untimely but edit it himself, with much that Revolutions de Paris die dull-blustering Printer though he be. else, yet the most Of Cassandra-Marat we have spoken often
;

'

De

Staal,

MJmoires

(Va.tis, 1821), 6.

i.

169-280.

Dumont, Souvenirs,

surprising

JOURNALISM
surprising truth remains to be spoken
; :

803

that he actually does CHAP. IV 1789-90 but, with croaking gelid throat, croaks out not want sense masses of the truth, on several things. Nay sometimes, one might almost fancy he had a perception of humour, and were laughing a little, far down in his inner man. Camille is wittier yet sunny as ever. than ever, and more outspoken, cynical born,' as he shall yet say with A light melodious creature ' to write verses light Apollo, so clear, softbitter tears, lucent, in this war of the Titans, wherein he shall not conquer
;
' ; ' ;
!

but, Folded and hawked Newspapers exist in all countries in such a Journalistic element as this of France, other and stranger sorts are to be anticipated. What says the English legible to him reader to a Journal- A ffiche, Placard Journal in bright prismatic colours, calling that has no halfpenny the eye from afar ? Such, in the coming months, as Patriot Associations, public and private, advance, and can subscribe leaves, limed funds, shall plenteously hang themselves out The very Government shall have leaves, to catch what they can Louvet, busy yet with a new charming its Pasted Journal romance,' shall write Sentinelles, and post them with effect nay Bertrand de Moleville, in his extremity, shall still more cunningly try it.^ Great is Journalism. Is not every Able though Editor a Ruler of the World, being a persuader of it
;
;

'

yet sanctioned, by the sale of his Numbers ? Whom indeed the world has the readiest method of deposing, should which ends in that of merely doing nothing to him need be
self -elected,
: ;

starvation.

small what those Bill-stickers had to do in all with their crosspoles, Paris above Threescore of them nay with leaden badges, for the Munihaversacks, pastepots A Sacred College, properly of Worldcipality licenses them. rulers' Heralds, though not respected as such in an Era still They made the walls of Paris didactic, incipient and raw.

Nor esteem
:

it

an ever-fresh Periodical Literature, wherein he Placard Journals, Placard Lampoons, that ran might read the whole other Municipal Ordinances, Royal Proclamations or vulgar Placard-department superadded, or omitted from
suasive, with
:

contempt

unutterable things the stone- walls spoke, But it is all gone Today swallowduring these five years ing Yesterday, and then being in its turn swallowed of To! !

What

See Bertrand-Moleville, M^motres,

ii.

loo, etc.

morrow.

304

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;

BOOK I
1789-90

morrow, even as Speech ever is. Nay what, O thou immortal Man of Letters, is Writing itself but Speech conserved for a time ? The Placard Journal conserved it for one day some for the matter years Books conserve it of ten nay some for three thousand but what then ? Why, then, the years being all run, it also dies, and the world is rid of it. O, were there not a spirit in the word of man, as in man himself, that survived the audible bodied word, and tended either godward or else devilward for evermore, why should he trouble himself
; :

much with

the truth of it, or the falsehood of it, except for commercial purposes ? His immortality indeed, and whether it shall last half a lifetime or a lifetime and half is not that a very considerable thing ? Immortality, mortality there were certain runaways whom Fritz the Great bullied back into the battle with a R wollt ihr ewig leben, Unprintable Offscouring of Scoundrels, would ye live for ever This is the Communication of Thought how happy when there is any Thought to communicate Neither let the simpler old methods be neglected, in their sphere. The Palais-Royal Tent, a tyrannous Patrollotism has removed but can it remove the lungs of man ? Anaxagoras Chaumette we saw mounted on bourne- stones, while Tallien worked sedentary at the subeditorial desk. In any corner of the civilised world, a tub can be inverted, and an articulate-speaking biped mount thereon. Nay, with contrivance, a portable trestle, or folding-stool, can be procured, for love or money this the peripatetic Orator can take in his hand, and, driven out here, set it up again there saying mildly, with a Sage Bias, Omnia mea mecum porto. Such is Journalism, hawked, pasted, spoken. How changed since One old Metra walked this same Tuileries Garden, in gilt cocked-hat, with Journal at his nose, or held loose-folded behind his back and was a notability of Paris, M6tra the Newsman ^ and Louis himself was worit to say Qu'en dit Metra ? Since the first Venetian News-sheet was sold for a
;
:

'

'

'

'

gazza, or farthing,

and named

Gazette

We

live in a fertile

world.
^

Dulaure, Histoire de Paris,

viii.

483

Mercier, Nouveau Paris,

etc.

Chapter

CLUBBISM

305
CHAP. V
1780-90

CHAPTER V
CLUBBISM
the heart is full, it seeks, for a thousand reasons, in a thousand ways, to impart itself. How sweet, indispensable, in such cases, is fellowship soul mystically strengthening soul The meditative Germans, some think, have been of opinion that Enthusiasm in general means simply excessive Congregating Schwdrmerey, or Swarming. At any rate, do we not see glimmering half-red embers, if laid together, get into the brightest white glow ? In such a France, gregarious Reunions will needs multiply French Life will step out of doors, and, from domesintensify tic, become a public Club Life. Old Clubs, which already germinated, grow and flourish new everyivhere bud forth. It is the sure symptom of Social Unrest in such way, most infallibly of all, does Social Unrest exhibit itself ; find solacement, and also nutriment. In every French head there hangs now, whether for terror or for hope, some prophetic picture of a New France prophecy which brings, nay which almost is, its own fulfilment and in all ways, consciously and unconsciously,
;
!

Where

works towards that. Observe, moreover, how the Aggregative Principle, let it be but deep enough, goes on aggregating, and this even in a how when the whole world, in such geometrical progression a plastic time, is forming itself into Clubs, some One Club,
;

the strongest or luckiest, shall by friendly attracting, by victorious compelling, grow ever stronger, till it become immeasurably strong and all the others, with their strength, be either lovingly absorbed into it, or hostilely abolished by it. This if the time is plastic. if the Club-spirit is universal Plastic such an allenough is the time, universal the Club -spirit absorbing, paramount One Club cannot be wanting. What a progress, since the first salient-point of the Breton it has It worked long in secret, not languidly Committee come with the National Assembly to Paris calls itself Club calls itself, in imitation, as is thought, of those generous PriceStanhope English who sent over to congratulate, French Revolu;
; : !

tion

306

THE FEAST OF PIKES

; '

BOOK I
1789-90

but soon, with more originality. Club of Friends Moreover it has leased for itself, at a fair of the Constitution. rent, the Hall of the Jacobins Convent, one of our superfluous edifices and does therefrom now, in these spring months, begin shining out on an admiring Paris. And so, by degrees, under the shorter popular title of Jacobins Club, it shall become memorable to all times and lands. Glance into the interior strongly yet modestly benched and seated as many as Thirteen
'

Hon Club

rOUQUIER-TINVILLE.

Hundred chosen Patriots Barnave, the two Lameths

Assembly Members not a

are seen there
;

few.

occasionally Mira-

also the ferret-visage of beau, perpetually Robespierre Anacharsis of Prussian Fouquier-Tinville with other attorneys Scythia, and miscellaneous Patriots, ^though all is yet in the decent, nay dignified. most perfectly clean-washed state oraPresident on platform. President's bell are not wanting nor strangers' galleries, wherein torical Tribune high-raised

also

CLUBBISM
also sit

307
Society pre-

women.

Has any French Antiquarian

CHAP. V
1789-90

served that written lease of the Jacobins Convent Hall ? Or was it, unluckier even than Magna Charta, dipt by sacrilegious Tailors ? Universal History is not indifferent to it.

These Friends of the Constitution have met mainly, as their name may foreshadow, to look after Elections when an Election comes, and procure fit men but likewise to consult generally that the Commonweal take no damage one as yet For indeed let two or three gather together sees not how. anjrwhere, if it be not in Church, where all are bound to the passive state no mortal can say accurately, themselves as little as any, for what they are gathered. How often has the broached barrel proved not to be for joy and heart-effusion, but for duel and head-breakage and the promised feast This Jacobins Club, which become a Feast of the Lapithse at first shone resplendent, and was thought to be a new celestial
:

Sun for enlightening the Nations, had, as things all have, to it burned unfortunately work through its appointed phases and swam more and more lurid, more sulphurous, distracted
:

at last, through the astonished Heaven, like a Tartarean Portent, and lurid-burning Prison of Spirits in Pain. Rejoice, Reader, that thou knowest Its style of eloquence ?

thou canst never perfectly know. The Jacobins published a Journal of Debates, where they that have the impassioned, dull-droning Patriotic heart may examine implacable, unfertile save for Destruction, which eloquence most wearisome, though most deadly. was indeed its work
it

not, that

Be thankful that Oblivion covers so much that all carrion is by and by buried in the green Earth's bosom, and even makes but their her grow the greener. The Jacobins are buried
; ;

continues it can. It might be seen lately, for instance, with bared bosom and death-defiant eye, as far on as Greek Missolonghi strange enough, old slumbering Hellas was resuscitated, into somnambulism which will become clear wakefulness, by a voice from the except the spirit All dies, as we often say Rue St. Honore Thus has not the very House of of man, of what man does. scarcely lingering in a few old men's the Jacobins vanished memories ? The St. Honore market has brushed it away, and now where dull-droning eloquence, like a Trump of Doom,
is
;

work

not

it

'

making the tour of the world,' as

;

once

308

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;

BOOK I
1789-90

once shook the world, there is pacific chaffering for poultry and greens. The sacred National Assembly Hall itself has become common ground President's platform permeable to wain and for the Rue de Rivoli runs there. Verily, at Cockdustcart crow (of this Cock or the other), all Apparitions do melt and
;

dissolve in space.

The Mere

' ;

Mother Society, Sociite Paris Jacobins became the and had as many as three hundred ' shrill-tongued
' '

daughters in direct correspondence with her. Of indirectly corresponding, what we may call grand-daughters and minute forty-four thousand progeny, she counted But for the the first of them a mere present we note only two things anecdote. One night, a couple of Brother Jacobins are doorkeepers for the members take this post of duty and honour in rotation, and admit none that have not tickets one doorkeeper was the worthy Sieur Lais, a patriotic Opera-singer, stricken in years, whose windpipe is long since closed without result the other, young, and named Louis Philippe, D'Orleans's firstborn, has in this latter time, after unheard-of destinies, become Citizen-King, and struggles to rule for a season. All flesh is grass higher reedgrass, or creeping herb. The second thing we have to note is historical that the Mother Society, even in this its effulgent period, cannot content all Patriots. Already it must throw off, so to speak, two dissatisfied swarms a swarm to the right, a swarm to the left. One party, which thinks the Jacobins lukewarm, constitutes itself into Club of the Cordeliers a hotter Club it is Danton's element with whom goes Desmoulins. The other party, again, which thinks the Jacobins scalding-hot, flies off to the right, and becomes Club of 1789, Friends of the Monarchic Constitution.' They are afterwards named ' Feuillans Club Lafayette their place of meeting being the Feuillans Convent. is, or becomes, their chief man supported by the respectable Patriot everywhere, by the mass of Property and intelligence, with the most flourishing prospects. They, in these June days of 1790, do, in the Palais Royal, dine solemnly with open windows to the cheers of the people with toasts, with inspiriting songs, with one song at least, among the feeblest ever sung.^ They shall, in due time, be hooted forth, over the borders, into Cimmerian Night.
'
' ' '
!

'

'

HisL ParL

vi.

334.

Another

CLUBBISM
'

309
CHAP. V
1789-90

Another expressly Monarchic or RoyaUst Club, Club des MonarchienSy' though a Club of ample funds, and all sitting on damask sofas, cannot realise the smallest momentary cheer realises only scoffs and groans till, ere long, certain Patriots in disorderly sufficient number, proceed thither, for a night or for nights, and groan it out of pain. Vivacious alone shall
: ;

LOUIS PHILIPPE D ORLEANS, DUC DE CHARTRES

KING OF THE FRENCH,

1830-1848,

the Mother Society and her family be. The very Cordeliers may, as it were, return into her bosom, which will have grown warm enough. Are not such Societies an incipient New Fatal-looking Order of Society itself ? The Aggregative Principle anew at work in a Society grown obsolete, cracked asunder, dissolving
1

into rubbish

and primary atoms

VOL.

I.

Chapter VI

310

THE FEAST OF PIKES

CHAPTER
JE LE JURE

BOOK I
1789-90

VI

With

these signs of the times,

feeling all over
sole

is it

not surprising that the

still

dominant

France was
of

continually

Hope

strait blessed Hope, far-stretching beautiful painted landscapes prison-walls, are

:

boon

man

whereby, on his
!

Thou into the night of very Death is shed holiest dawn this possession in God's-world ; to art to all an indefeasible

and

the wise a sacred Constantine's-banner, written on the eternal under which they shall conquer, for the battle itself is skies victory to the foolish some secular mirage, or shadow of still
;
:

whereby at least their waters, painted on the parched Earth dusty pilgrimage, if devious, becomes cheerfuler, becomes
;

possible.

In the death tumults of a sinking Society, French Hope sees only the birth-struggles of a new unspeakably better Society ; and sings, with full assurance of faith, her brisk Melody, which some inspired fiddler has in these very days that composed for her, ^the world-famous Qa-ira. Yes All men hope ; even ? and then there will come will go Marat hopes that Patriotism will take muff and dirk. King in a in the chapter of chances Louis is not without hope in getting popularised at Paris. But flight to some Bouill6 what a hoping People he had, judge by the fact, and series of

'

'

to be noted. Poor Louis, meaning the best, with little insight and even less determination of his own, has to follow, in that dim wayfacts,

now

faring of his, such signal as may be given him ; by backstairs Royalism, by official or backstairs Constitutionalism, whichever

royal mind. If flight to Bouille, and (horrible to think !) a drawing of the civil sword do hang as theory, portentous in the background, much nearer
for the

month may have convinced the

Twelve Hundred Kings, who sit in the Kings uncontrollable by him, not yet irrevSalle de Manige. erent to him. Could kind management of these but prosper, how much better were it than armed Emigrants, Turin intrigues, Nay are the two hopes inconsistent ? and the help of Austria
is

this fact of these

Rides

JE LE JURE
;
;

311

Rides in the suburbs, we have found, cost little yet they always CHAP. VI brought vivats} Still cheaper is a soft word such as has many 1789-90 times turned away wrath. In these rapid days, while France is all getting divided into Departments, Clergy about to be remodelled. Popular Societies rising, and Feudalism and so much else is ready to be hurled into the melting-pot, might not one try ? On the 4th of February, accordingly, M. le President reads to his National Assembly a short autograph, announcing that his Majesty will step over, quite in an unceremonious way, probably about noon. Think, therefore. Messieurs, what it may mean especially, how ye will get the Hall decorated a little. The Secretaries' Bureau can be shifted down from the platform on the President's chair be slipped this cover of velvet, for of a violet colour sprigged with gold fleur-de-lys indeed M. le President has had previous notice underhand, and taken counsel with Doctor Guillotin. Then some fraction of velvet carpet,' of like texture and colour, cannot that be spread So in front of the chair, where the Secretaries usually sit ? and the effect is found satishas judicious Guillotin advised Moreover, as it is probable that his Majesty, in factory. spite of the fleur-de-lys velvet, will stand and not sit at all, the President himself, in the interim, presides standing. And so, while some honourable Member is discussing, say, the ' His Majesty division of a Department, Ushers announce the honourable In person, with small suite, enter Majesty Member stops short the Assembly starts to its feet : the Twelve Hundred Kings ' almost all,' and the Galleries no less, do welcome the Restorer of French Liberty with loyal shouts. His Majesty's Speech, in diluted conventional phraseology, That he, most of all Frenchmen, rejoices expresses this mainly is sure, at the same time, to see France getting regenerated that they will deal gently with her in the process, and not the regenerate her roughly. Such was his Majesty's Speech feat he performed was coming to speak it, and going back again. Surely, except to a very hoping People, there was not much The here to build upon. Yet what did they not build fact that the King has spoken, that he has voluntarily come Did not the glance to speak, how inexpressibly encouraging of his royal countenance, like concentrated sunbeams, kindle

'

'

'

'

See Bertrand-Moleville,

i.

241, etc,

all

312

THE FEAST OF PIKES

' ;

BOOK

Feb. 4, 1790

hearts in an august Assembly ; nay thereby, in an inflammable enthusiastic France ? To move ' Deputation of thanks can be the happy lot of but one man to go in such Deputation
all

the lot of not many. The Deputed have gone, and returned with what highest-flown compliment they could whom also the Queen met, Dauphin in hand. And still do not our hearts burn and to one other man a still higher with insatiable gratitude To move that we all renew the blessedness suggests itself National Oath.
;
;
:

Happiest honourable Member, with his word so in season as word seldom was magic Fugleman of a whole National Assembly, which sat there bursting to do somewhat Fugleman of a whole onlooking France The President swears declares that every one shall swear, in distinct je le jure. Nay the very Gallery sends him down a written slip signed, with their Oath on it and as the Assembly now casts an eye that way, the Gallery all stands up and swears again. And then out of doors, consider at the H6tel-de-Ville how Bailly, the great Tennis-Court swearer, again swears, towards nightfall, with all the Municipals, and Heads of Districts assembled there. And M. Danton suggests that the public would like to partake whereupon Bailly, with escort of Twelve, steps forth to the great outer staircase sways the ebullient multitude with stretched hand takes their oath, with a thunder of rolling drums,' with shouts that rend the welkin. And on all streets the glad people, with moisture and fire in their eyes, spontaneously formed groups, and swore one another,' ^ and the whole City was illuminated. This was the Fourth of February 1790 a day to be marked white in Constitutional
;

'

'

'

'

annals.

the illumination for a night only, but partially or totally it lasts a series of nights. For each District, the Electors of each District will swear specially and always as the District swears, it illuminates itself. Behold them, District after District in some open square, where the Non-Electing
is
;

Nor

with their uplifted right-hands, and je le jure ; with rolling drums, with embracings, and that infinite hurrah of the enfranchised, which any tyrant that there may be can consider Faithful to the King, to the Law, to the Constitution, which the National Assembly shall make.
all

People can

see

and

join

Newspapers

(in Hist, Pari. iv. 445).

Fancy,

PRODIGIES

313

Fancy, for example, the Professors of Universities parading CHAP, vi the streets with their young France, and swearing, in an en- Feb. 4, 1790 thusiastic manner, not without tumult. By a larger exercise of fancy, expand duly this little word The like was repeated in every Town and District in France Nay one Patriot Mother in Lagnon of Brittany, assembles her ten children and, with her own aged hand, swears them all herself, the high-souled venerable woman. Of all which, moreover, a National Assembly must be eloquently apprised. Such three Saw the Sun ever such a swearing people ? weeks of swearing Have they been bit by a swearing tarantula ? No but they are men and Frenchmen ; they have Hope and, singular to say, they have Faith, were it only in the Gospel according to Jean Jacques. O my Brothers, would to Heaven it were even as ye think, and have sworn But there are Lover's Oaths, not which, had they been true as love itself, cannot be kept to speak of Dicer's Oaths, also a known sort.
: !
!

CHAPTER
PRODIGIES

VII

To such
hearts.

length

had the Contrat

is
;

Social brought

it,

in believing

each generation at the faith of its has its own faith, more or less predecessor, most unwisely. Grant indeed that this faith in the Social Contract belongs to the stranger sorts ; that an unborn generation may very wisely, if not laugh, yet stare at
well said, lives
;

Man, as

by faith and laughs

and piously consider. For, alas, what is Contrat ? If all men were such that a mere spoken or sworn Contract would bind them, all men were then true men, and Government a superfluity. Not what thou and I have promised to each other,
it,

but what the balance of our forces can make us perform to each other that, in so sinful a world as ours, is the thing to be counted on. But above all, a People and a Sovereign promising to one another as if a whole People, changing from generation to generation, nay from hour to hour, could ever by any and to speak mere method be made to speak or promise solecisms We, be the Heavens witness, which Heavens, however,
:

'

314

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;
I '

BOOK I
1789-90

we, ever-changing Millions, however, do no miracles now will allow thee, changeful Unit, to force us or govern us The world has perhaps seen few faiths comparable to that. So nevertheless had the world then construed the matter. Had they not so construed it, how different had their hopes But so and not otherwise been, their attempts, their results Freedom by social Condid the Upper Powers will it to be. tract such was verily the Gospel of that Era. And all men had believed in it, as in a Heaven's Glad-tidings men should and with overflowing heart and uplifted voice clave to it, and stood fronting Time and Eternity on it. Nay smile not or only with a smile sadder than tears This too was a better faith than the one it had replaced than faith merely in the Everlasting Nothing and man's Digestive Power ; lower than which no faith can go.
!
:

Not that such

feeling of

universally

prevalent,

universally

jurant,

could be a unanimous one. Far from that. The time was ominous social dissolution near and certain social renovation still a problem, difficult and distant, even though sure. But if ominous to some clearest onlooker^ whose faith stood not with the one side or with the other, nor in the ever- vexed jarring of Greek with Greek at all, how unspeakably ominous to dim Royalist participators for whom Royalism was Mankind's palladium for whom, with the abolition of Most-Christian Kingship and Most-Talleyrand Bishopship, all loyal obedience, all religious faith was to expire, and final Night envelop the Destinies of Man On serious hearts, of that persuasion, the matter sinks down deep prompting, as we have seen, to backstairs plots, to Emigration with pledge of war, to Monarchic Clubs ; nay to still madder
:

Hope

things.

The

Spirit of Prophecy, for instance,

had been
;

considered

extinct for

nevertheless these last-times, as that so, of indeed is the tendency of last-times, do revive it French mad things, we might have sample also of the maddest.
centuries
:

some

In remote rural districts, whither Philosophism has not yet radiated, where a heterodox Constitution of the Clergy is bringing strife round the altar itself, and the very Church-bells are getting melted into small money-coin, it appears probable that the End of the World cannot be far off. Deep-musing atrabiliar
old

PRODIGIES
old men, especially old
;

315

women, hint in an obscure way that CHAP. VII 1789-90 they know what they know. The Holy Virgin, silent so long, has not gone dumb and truly now, if ever more in this world, were the time for her to speak. One Prophetess, though careless Historians have omitted her name, condition and whereabout, becomes audible to the general ear credible to not a few ; credible to Friar Gerle, poor Patriot Chartreux, in the National Assembly itself She, in Pjrthoness recitative, with wild-staring eye, sings that there shall be a Sign ; that the heavenly Sun himself will hang out a Sign, or Mock-Sun, ^which, many say, shall be stamped with the head of Hanged Favras. List, Dom Gerle, with that poor addled poll of thine ; list, O list and hear nothing.^ Notable, however, was that ' magnetic vellum, vSlin magnitique,'' of the Sieurs d'Hozier and Petit-Jean, Parlementeers of Rouen. Sweet young D'Hozier, ' bred in the faith of his

Missal,
rally
;

and

of

parchment

genealogies,'

and

of

parchment gene:

adust, melancholic, middle-aged Petit-Jean

why came

two to Saint-Cloud, where his Majesty was hunting, on the festival of St. Peter and St. Paul and waited there, in antechambers, a wonder to whispering Swiss, the livelong day and even waited without the Grates, when turned out and had dismissed their valets to Paris, as with purpose of endless whereon waiting ? They have a magnetic vellum, these two the Virgin, wonderfully clothing herself in Mesmerean Cagliostric Occult-Philosophy, has inspired them to jot down instructions and predictions for a much-straitened King. To whom, by Higher Order, they will this day present it and save the Monarchy and World. Unaccountable pair of visual-objects Ye should be men, and of the Eighteenth Century but your
these
; ;
;

magnetic vellum forbids us so to interpret. Say, are ye aught ? Thus ask the Guard-house Captains, the Mayor of Saint-Cloud ; nay, at great length, thus asks the Committee of Researches, and not the Municipal, but the National Assembly one. No distinct answer, for weeks. At last it becomes plain that the right answer is negative. Go, ye Chimeras, with your magnetic The vellum ; sweet young Chimera, adust middle-aged one Prison-doors are open. Hardly again shall ye preside the Rouen Chamber of Accounts ; but vanish obscurely into Limbo.^
!

Deux Amis,

v. 7.

Ibid., v, 199.

Chapter VIII

316

THE FEAST OF PIKES

CHAPTER
VIII

BOOK I
1789-90

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT

Such dim masses, and specks
in that white-hot glow of the
of even deepest black,

work
in

French mind, now wholly

;

Old women here swearing their ten and confusion. children on the new Evangel of Jean Jacques old women there looking up for Favras' Heads in the celestial Luminary
fusion

these are preternatural signs, prefiguring somewhat.

In fact, to the Patriot children of Hope themselves it is undeniable that difficulties exist emigrating Seigneurs Parlements in sneaking but most malicious mutiny (though the rope is round their neck) above all, the most decided deficiency of grains.' Sorrowful but, to a Nation that hopes, not irremediable. To a Nation which is in fusion and ardent communion of thought which, for example, on signal of one Fugleman, will lift its right-hand like a drilled regiment, and swear and illuminate, till every village from Ardennes to the Pyrenees has rolled its village-drum, and sent up its little oath, and glimmer of tallow -illumination some fathoms into the reign of Night If grains are defective, the fault is not of Nature or National Assembly, but of Art and Anti-National Intriguers. Such malign individuals, of the scoundrel species, have power to vex Endure it, ye heroic us, while the Constitution is a-making. Patriots nay rather, why not cure it ? Grains do grow, they lie extant there in sheaf or sack only that regraters and Royalist plotters, to provoke the People into illegality, obstruct the transport of grains. Quick, ye organised Patriot Authorities, armed National Guards, meet together ; unite your goodwill in union is tenfold strength let the concentred flash of your Patriotism strike stealthy Scoundrelism blind, paralytic, as with a coup de soleil. Under which hat or nightcap of the Twenty-five millions, this pregnant Idea first arose, for in some one head it did rise, no man can now say. A most small idea, near at hand for the whole world but a living one, fit and which waxed, whether into greatness or not, into immeasurable size. When a Nation
:

'

is

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT

is

317
will

in this state that the

It will grow the word in season, verily, like the Boy's Bean, in the Fairy-Tale, heaven-high, with habitations and adventures on it, in one night. It is nevertheless unfortunately still a Bean (for your long-lived Oak grows not so) and the next night, it may lie felled, horizonBut remark, at least, how tal, trodden into common mud. natural to any agitated Nation, which has Faith, this business The Scotch, believing in a righteous Heaven of Covenanting is. above them, and also in a Gospel far other than the Jean- Jacques one, swore, in their extreme need, a Solemn League and Covenant, as Brothers on the forlorn-hope, and imminence of battle, who embrace, looking godward and got the whole Isle to swear it ; and even, in their tough Old-Saxon Hebrew-Presbyterian for the thing, as such things are, way, to keep it more or less neither is was heard in Heaven and partially ratified there The French too, it yet dead, if thou wilt look, nor like to die. with their Gallic-Ethnic excitability and effervescence, have, they are hard bestead, as we have seen, real Faith, of a sort though in the middle of Hope a National Solemn League and under how different Covenant there may be in France too
! ;

Fugleman can operate on the act in season, not do

it,

what

CHAP,

vill

1789-90

conditions

with

how
:

different

development and issue

;

first spark of Note, accordingly, the small commencement for if the particular hat cannot be fixed a mighty firework upon, the particular District can. On the 29th day of last November, were National Guards by the thousand seen filing, from far and near, with military music, with Municipal officers in tricolor sashes, towards and along the Rhone- stream, to the little town of Etoile. There with ceremonial evolution

and manoeuvre, with fanfaronading, musketry salvoes, and what else the Patriot genius could devise, they made oath and obtestation to stand faithfully by one another, under Law and King in particular, to have all manner of grains, while grains there were, freely circulated, in spite both of robber and regrater. This was the meeting of Etoile, in the mild end of November
;

1789.

a mere empty Review, followed by Reviewdinner, ball, and such gesticulation and flirtation as there may be, interests the happy County-town, and makes it the envy of surrounding County-towns, how much more might this

But now,

if

In a fortnight, larger Mont61imart, half ashamed of

itself,

will

318

THE FEAST OF PIKES

do as good, and better.

BOOK

1789-90

the Plain of MOTitelimart, or what is equally sonorous, * under the Walls of Montelimart, the 13th of December sees new gathering and obtestation six thousand strong and now indeed, with these three remarkable improvements, as unanimously resolved on therft. First, that the men of Montelimart do federate with the alteady federated men of Etoile. Second, that, implying not expressing the circulation of grain, they ' swear in the face of God and their Country with much more emphasis and comprehensiveness, to obey all decrees of the National Assembly, and see them obeyed, till death, jusqu'd la morV Third, and most important, that official record of all this be solemnly delivered to in, to the National Assembly, to M. de Lafayette, and the Restorer of French Liberty who shall all take what comfort from it they can. Thus does larger Montelimart vindicate its Patriot importance, and maintain its rank in the municipal scale.^ And so, with the New-year, the signal is hoisted for is not a National Assembly, and solemn deliverance there, at lowest a National Telegraph ? Not only grain shall circulate, while tjpi^^CTTain, on highways or the Rhone-waters, over all that
will
'
;
i

On

'

'

'

'

Soutj^l^mern region, where also if Monseigneur d'Artois saw goflKo break in from Turin, hot welcome might await

him

France is straitened for grain, for vexed with a mutinous Parlement, unconstitutional plotters. Monarchic Clubs, or any other Patriot ailment, can go and do likewise, or even do better. And now, especially, From when the February swearing has set them all agog Brittany to Burgundy, on most Plains of France, under most City-walls, it is a blaring of trumpets, waving of banners^ a Constitutional manoeuvring under the vernal skies, "syhile Nature too is putting forth her green Hopes, under bfight sunshine defaced by the stormful East like Patriotism victorious, though with difficulty, over Aristocracy and defect of grain There march and constitutionally wheel, to the Qa-ira-mg mood of fife and drum, under their tricolor Municipals, our clear-gleaming Phalanxes or halt, with uplifted rightand hand, and artillery salvoes that imitate Jove's thunder all the Country, and metaphorically all the Universe,' is looking on. Wholly, in their best apparel, brave men, and
;

Mmt whatsoever Province

of

'

Hist. Pari.

vii. 4.

beautifully.

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT

!

319
;

beautifuUy-dizened women, most of whom have lovers there CHAP. VIII swearing, by the eternal Heavens, and this green-growing all- Mayi790 nutritive Earth, that France is free Sweetest days, when (astonishing to say) mortals have actually met together in communion and fellowship and man, were it only once through long despicable centuries, is for moments verily the brother of man And then the Deputations to the National Assembly, with high-flown descriptive harangue to M. de Lafayette, and the Restorer very frequently moreover to the Mother of Patriotism, sitting on her stout benches in that Hall of the Jacobins The general ear is filled with Federation. New names of Patriots emerge, which shall one day become familiar Boyer-Fonfr^de eloquent denunciator of a rebellious Bordeaux Parlement ; Max Isnard eloquent reporter of the Federation of Draguignan eloquent pair, separated by the whole breadth of France, who are nevertheless to meet. Ever wider burns the flame of Federation; ever wider and also brighter. Thus the Brittany and Anjou brethren mention a Fraternity of all true Frenchmen and go the length of invoking perdition and death ' on any renegade : moreover, if in their National-Assembly harangue, they glance plaintively at the marc d'argent which niakes so many citizens passive, they, over in the Mother-Society, ask, being henceforth themselves neither Bretons nor Angevins but French,' Why all France has not one Federation, and universal Oath of Brotherhood, once for all ? ^ A most pertinent suggestion; dating from the end of March. Which pertinent suggestion the whole Patriot world cannot but catch, and reverberate and agitate till it become loud which in that case the Townhall Municipals had better take up, and meditate. Some universal Federation seems inevitable the Where is given ; clearly Paris only the When, the How ? These also productive Time will give; is already giving. For always as the Federative work goes on, it perfects itself, and Patriot genius adds contribution after contribution. Thus, at Lyons, in the end of the May month, we behold as many as fifty, or some say sixty thousand, met to federate; and a multitude looking on, which it would be difficult to number. From dawn to dusk For our Lyons Guardsmen took rank, at five in the bright dewy morning ; came pouring in, bright-gleaming, to
;
!

'

'

Reports,

etc. (in Hist. Pari. ix. 122-47).

the

320

THE FEAST OF PIKES

; ;

BOOK I
May 1790

the Quai de Rhone, to march thence to the Federation-field amid wavings of hats and lady-handkerchiefs glad shoutings of some two hundred thousand Patriot voices and hearts the Among whom, courting no notice, and beautiful and brave with yet the notablest of all, what queen-like Figure is this her escort of house-friends and Champagneux the Patriot
1

MME. ROLAND.
Editor come abroad with the earliest ? Radiant with enthusiasm are those dark eyes, is that strong Minerva-face, joyfulest she where all are looking dignity and earnest joy Strict elderly It is Roland de la Platri^re's Wife ^ joyful. Roland, King's Inspector of Manufactures here and now likewise, by popular choice, the strictest of our new Lyons Munia man who has gained much, if worth and faculty be cipals gain but, above all things, has gained to wife Phlipon the
;
;
!

'

Madame

Roland, M^moires,

i.

(Discours Pr^liminaire, p. 23).

Paris

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT

Paris
:

321

Engraver's daughter. Reader, mark that queenlike CHAP. Vlll 1790 burgher- woman beautiful, Amazonian-graceful to the eye ; more so 'to the mind. Unconscious of her worth (as all worth is), of her greatness, of her crystal clearness genuine, the creature of Sincerity and Nature, in an age of Artificiality, Pollution and Cant there, in her still completeness, in her still invincibility, she, if thou knew it, is the noblest of all living
; ;

ROLAND.
one day. O, blessed rather For the present she gazes, while ^nseen, even of herself and thinks nothing doubting, into this grand theatricality her young dreams are to be fulfilled.

Frenchwomen,

and

will

be

seen,
!

From dawn
like few.

to dusk, as
'

we

said, it lasts

and truly a

sight
:

Flourishes of

drums and trumpets are something

'
' I

but think of an artificial Rock fifty feet high,' all cut into shrubs The crag-steps, not without the similitude of
interior

cavity,

for

in

sooth

it

is

made

of

deal,

stands
solemn,

322

THE FEAST OF PIKES

'
' :

BOOK I
1790

on the outer summit rises solemn, a Temple of Concord a Statue of Liberty,' colossal, seen for miles, with her Pike and Phrygian cap, and civic column at her feet a Country's on all which neither deal-timber Altar, * Autel de la Patrie nor lath-and-plaster, with paint of various colours, have been spared. But fancy then the banners all placed on the steps and the civic oath of fifty high-mass chanted of the Rock thousand with what volcanic outburst of sound from iron and other throats, enough to frighten back the very Sa6ne and Rhone and how the brightest fireworks, and balls, and even repasts closed in that night of the gods ^ And so the Lyons and yet not Federation vanishes too, swallowed of darkness also she, though wholly, for our brave fair Roland was there in the deepest privacy, writes her Narrative of it in Champaa piece which ' circulates to the gneux's Courrier de Lyon which one would now like to read. extent of sixty thousand
' ; '
:

'

But on the whole,

devise
;

Paris,

we may

see,

will

have

little

to

only have to borrow and apply. And then as to the day, what day of all the calendar is fit, if the Bastille Anniversary be not ? The particular spot too, it is easy to where many a Julian the see, must be the Champ-de-Mars Apostate has been lifted on bucklers, to France's or the world's sovereignty and iron Franks, loud-clanging, have responded to the voice of a Charlemagne and from of old mere sublimities
will
; ; ;

have been

familiar.

CHAPTER IX
SYMBOLIC
Symbolic Representation to all kinds of men Nay, what is man's whole terrestrial life but a Symbolic Representation, and making By act visible, of the Celestial invisible Force that is in him ? and word he strives to do it with sincerity, if possible failing that, with theatricality, which latter also may have its meaning. An Almack's Masquerade is not nothing in more genial ages, your Christmas Guisings, Feasts of the Ass, Abbots of Unreason, as sincere sport they were were a considerable something
natural,
in
all

How

decisive

circumstances,
!

is

Ifis( Pari. xii. 274.

Almack's

.l)-i

/.v^l---

J,-

THE TITAN (MIRABEAU).

SYMBOLIC
;
!

323

Almack's may still be sincere wish for sport. But what, on the CHAP. IX 1790 other hand, must not sincere earnest have been say, a Hebrew Feast of Tabernacles have been A whole Nation gathered, in the name of the Highest, under the eye of the Highest imagination herself flagging under the reality and all noblest Ceremony as yet not grown ceremonial, but solemn, significant Neither, in modern private life, are to the outmost fringe theatrical scenes, of tearful women wetting whole ells of cambric in concert, of impassioned bushy-whiskered youth threatening suicide, and such-like, to be so entirely detested drop thou a
; I
:

tear over

them

thyself rather.

At any rate, one can remark that no Nation will throw-by its work, and deliberately go out to make a scene, without meaning something thereby. For indeed no scenic individual, with
knavish hypocritical views, will take the trouble to soliloquise and now consider, is not a scenic Nation placed a scene for its own precisely in that predicament of soliloquising behoof alone ; to solace its own sensibilities, maudlin or other ? Yet in this respect, of readiness for scenes, the difference of Nations, as of men, is very great. If our Saxon Puritanic friends, for example, swore and signed their National Covenant, without discharge of gunpowder, or the beating of any drum, in a dingy Covenant-Close of the Edinburgh High-Street, in a mean room, where men now drink mean liquor, it was conOur Gallic-Encyclosistent with their ways so to swear it. pedic friends, again, must have a Champ-de-Mars, seen of all the world, or universe ; and such a Scenic Exhibition, to which the Coliseum Amphitheatre was but a strollers' bam, as this old Globe of ours had never or hardly ever beheld. Which method also we reckon natural, then and there. Nor perhaps was the respective keeping of these two Oaths far out of due inverse proportion to such respective display in taking them proportion, namely. For the theatricality of a People goes ratio indeed of their trustfulness, sociain a compound ratio but then also of their excitability, of their bility, fervency or say, of their explosiveness, hotporosity, not continent flashing, but which does not last. How true also, once more, is it that no man or Nation of men, conscious of doing a great thing, was ever, in that thing, O Champ-de-Mars Federation, doing other than a small one with three hundred drummers, twelve hundred wind-musicians,
:

and

324

THE FEAST OF PIKES

artillery
!

BOOK
1790

planted on height after height to boom the tidings Could no Atheist-Naigeon of it all over France, in few minutes contrive to discern, eighteen centuries off, those Thirteen most poor mean-dressed men, at frugal Supper, in a mean Jewish dwelling, with no symbol but hearts god-initiated into the Divine depth of Sorrow,' and a Do this in remembrance of me and so cease that small difficult crowing of his, if he were not doomed to it ?

and

'

CHAPTER X
MANKIND
are human theatricalities ; nay, perhaps touching, like the passionate utterance of a tongue which with sincerity stammers ; of a head which with insincerity babbles,

Pardonable

Yet, in comparison with unpremeditated outbursts of Nature, such as an Insurrection of Women, how foisonless, unedifying, undelightful like small ale palled, like an effervescence that has effervesced Such scenes, coming of forethought, were they world-great, and never so cunningly devised, are at bottom mainly pasteboard and paint. But the others are original emitted from the great everliving heart of Nature herself what figure they will assume is unspeakably significant. To us, therefore, let the French National Solemn League and Federation be the highest recorded triumph of the Thespian Art triumphant surely, since the whole Pit, which was of Twenty-five millions, not only claps hands, but does itself spring on the boards and passionately set to playing there. And being such, be it treated as such with sincere cursory admiration with wonder from afar. A whole Nation gone mumming deserves so much but deserves not that loving minuteness a Menadic Insurrection

having

gone distracted.

were rehearsal scenes of Federation come and go, henceforward as they list and, on Plains and under City-walls, innumerable regimental bands blare-off into the Inane, without note from us. One scene, however, the hastiest reader will momentarily that of Anacharsis Clootz and the Collective sinful pause on
did.
let prior,

Much more

and

as

it

Posterity

MANKIND

325
CHAP. X
1790

Posterity of Adam. For a Patriot Municipality has now, on the 4th of June, got its plan concocted, and got it sanctioned by National Assembly a Patriot King assenting to whom, were he even free to dissent. Federative harangues, overflowing
;

with loyalty, have doubtless a transient sweetness. There shall come Deputed National Guards, so many in the hundred, from each of the Eighty- three Departments of France. Likewise from all Naval and Military King's Forces shall Deputed quotas such Federation of National with Royal Soldier has, come taking place spontaneously, been already seen and sanctioned. For the rest, it is hoped, as many as forty thousand may arrive of all which expenses to be borne by the Deputing District let District and Department take thought, and elect fit men, ^whom the Paris brethren will fly to meet and welcome. Now, therefore, judge if our Patriot Artists are busy taking deep counsel how to make the Scene worthy of a look from the As many as fifteen thousand men, spademen, Universe barrow-men, stonebuilders, rammers, with their engineers, hollowing it out into a are at work on the Champ-de-Mars National Amphitheatre, fit for such solemnity. For one may a Feast of Pikes, Fete hope it will be annual and perennial in any des Piques,' notablest among the hightides of the year case, ought not a scenic Free Nation to have some permanent The Champ -de-Mars is getting National Amphitheatre ?
; :

'

and the daily talk and the nightly dream in most Parisian heads is of Federation and that only. Federate National Assembly, what Deputies are already under way. with its natural work, what with hearing and answering harangues of these Federates, of this Federation, will have Harangue of American Committee,' among enough to do whom is that faint figure of Paul Jones as with the stars dimtwinkling through it,' come to congratulate us on the prospect Harangue of Bastille Conquerors, of such auspicious day. come to renounce any special recompense, any peculiar place
hollowed out
;
'
!

'

'

'

at the solemnity

since the Centre Grenadiers rather grumble.

Tennis-Court Club,' who enter with far-gleaming Brass-plate, aloft on a pole, and the Tennis-Court Oath engraved which far-gleaming Brass-plate they purpose to affix thereon solemnly in the Versailles original locahty, on the 20th of this month, which is the anniversary, as a deathless memorial, for they will then dine, as they come back, in the some years Bois Y VOL. I.

Harangue
;

of

'

326

BOOK I
1790

THE FEAST OF PIKES without apprising Bois de Boulogne cannot, however, do

^
;

it

the world. To such things does the august National Assembly ever and anon cheerfully listen, suspending its regenerative labours and with some touch of impromptu eloquence, make as indeed the wont has long been friendly reply for it is a gesticulating, sympathetic People, and has a heart, and
; ;

wears it on its sleeve. In which circumstances,

it

occurred to the mind of Ana-

LEPELLETIER DE SAINT-FARGEAU.
charsis Clootz, that while so

much was embodying

;

itself into

Club or Committee, and perorating applauded, there yet remained a greater and greatest of which, if it also took body Human-kind and perorated, what might not the effect be In what rapt creative moment namely, le Genre Humain itself all his throes, while the Thought rose in Anacharsis's soul he went about giving shape and birth to it how he was sneered but did sneer again, being a man of at by cold worldlings
:

See Deux Amis,

v.

122

Hist. Pari, etc.

polished

MANKIND
polished sarcasm
;

327

house and deep of Ifaris,

soiree,

and moved to and fro persuasive in coffee- CHAP. X and dived down assiduous-obscure in the great "^"^e 19, ^'^^^ making his Thought a Fact of all this the
:

spiritual biographies of that period say nothing.

Enough that

on the 19th evening of June 1790, the sun's slant rays lighted a spectacle such as our foolish little planet has not often had Anacharsis Clootz entering the august Salle de to show Manege, with the Human Species at his heels, Swedes, Spaniards, Turks, Chaldeans, Greeks, dwellers in Mesopotamia Polacks they have come to claim place in the grand behold them all Federation, having an undoubted interest in it.
: ;

'

Our Ambassador

titles,'

said the fervid Clootz,

'

are not

written on parchment, but on the living hearts of all men.' These whiskered Polacks, long-flowing turbaned Ishmaelites, astrological Chaldeans, who stand so mute here, let them plead with you, august Senators, more eloquently than eloquence could. They are the mute representatives of their tonguewho from out of that tied, befettered, heavy-laden Nations dark bewilderment gaze wistful, amazed, with half-incredulous
;

hope, towards you, and this your bright light of a French Federation : bright particular daystar, the herald of universal day. We claim to stand there, as mute monuments, patheti-

bench and gallery comes for what august Senator but is flattered repeated applause even by the very shadow of human Species depending on him ? From President Sieyes, who presides this remarkable fortnight, in spite of his small voice, there comes eloquent though shrill shall Foreigners Committee Anacharsis and the reply. on condition of telling their have place at the Federation In the mean time, we respective Peoples what they see there. invite them to the honours of the sitting, honneur de la seance.^ A long-flowing Turk, for rejoinder, bows with Eastern solemnity, but owing to his imperfect and utters articulate sounds knowledge of the French dialect,^ his words are like spilt water the thought he had in him remains conjectural to this day. Anacharsis and Mankind accept the honours of the sitting and have forthwith, as the old Newspapers still testify, the First and chief, on the satisfaction to see several things. motion of Lameth, Lafayette, Saint-Fargeau and other Patriot Nobles, let the others repugn as they will all Titles of Nobility,
cally
'

adumbrative of much.
'

From

'

'

'

MoniUur,

etc. (in

Hist. Pari.

xii.

283).

from

328

THE FEAST OF PIKES

Then,
of Ser-

BOOK I
June 1790

from Duke to Esquire, or lower, are henceforth abolished. jn like manner, Livery Servants, or rather the Livery
vants.
'

Neither, for the future, shall any man or woman, selffoolishly fumigated with incense, styled noble, be incensed,' as the wont has been. In a word, Feudalism in Church

being dead these ten months, why should her empty trappings and scutcheons survive ? the very Coats-of-arms will require and yet Cassandra-Marat on this and the to be obliterated are but painted over,' other coach-panel notices that they and threaten to peer through again. So that henceforth De Lafayette is but the Sieur Motier, and Saint-Fargeau is plain Michel Lepelletier and Mirabeau soon after has to say huffingly, With your Riquetti you have For his Countset Europe at cross-purposes for three days.' hood is not indifferent to this man which indeed the admiring People treat him with to the last. But let extreme Patriotism rejoice, and chiefly Anacharsis and Mankind for now it seems to be taken for granted that one Adam is Father of us all ! Such was, in historical accuracy, the famed feat of Anacharsis. Thus did the most extensive of Public Bodies find a sort of spokesman. Whereby at least we may judge of one thing what a humour the once sniffing mocking City of Paris when such exhibition could and Baron Clootz had got into appear a propriety, next door to a sublimity. It is true. Envy did, in after-times, pervert this success of Anacharsis ; making him, from incidental Speaker of the Foreign-Nations Committee,' claim to be official permanent Speaker, Orateur, of the Human Species,' which he only deserved to be; and alleging, calumniously, that his astrological Chaldeans, and the rest, were a mere French tag-rag-and-bobtail disguised for the nonce ; and, in short, sneering and fleering at him in her cold barren way all which however, he, the man he was, could receive on thick enough panoply, or even rebound therefrom, and also
;

'

'

'

'

go his way.

Most extensive of Public Bodies, we may call it and also for who could have thought to see all the most unexpected and Nations in the Tuileries Riding-Hall ? But so it is truly as strange things may happen when a whole People goes mumming and miming. Hast not thou thyself perchance seen diademed Cleopatra, daughter of the Ptolemies, pleading,
;
:

almost

MANKIND
retail-shop, to inflexible gross

329
CHAP.

almost with bended knee, in unheroic tea-parlour, or dimlit

Burghal Dignitary, for leave to June being dressed for it, and moneyless, with small reign and die ^while suddenly Constables have shut the Thespian children barn, and her Antony pleaded in vain ? Such visual spectra flit across this Earth, if the Thespian Stage be rudely interbut much more, when, as was said, Pit jumps on fered with Stage, then is it verily, as in Herr Tieck's Drama, a Verkehrte Welt, or World Topsyturvied
;

1790

Having seen the Human Species itself, to have seen the Dean of the Human Species ceased now to be a miracle. Such Doyen du Genre Humain, Eldest of Men,' had shown Jean Claude Jacob, a born himself there, in these weeks Serf, deputed from his native Jura Mountains to thank the National Assembly for enfranchising them. On his bleached worn face are ploughed the furrowings of one hundred and He has heard dim patois-taXli, of immortal twenty years. Grand-Monarch victories of a burned Palatinate, as he toiled of and moiled to make a little speck of this Earth greener of Marlborough going to the war. C^vennes Dragoonings Four generations have bloomed out, and loved and hated, and rustled off he was forty-six when Louis Fourteenth died. The Assembly, as one man, spontaneously rose, and did reverold Jean is to take siance ence to the Eldest of the World
'
'

'

among them, honourably, with covered head. He gazes feebly there, with his old eyes, on that new wonder-scene; dreamlike to him, and uncertain, wavering amid fragments of old For Time is all growing unsubstantial, memories and dreams. Jean's eyes and mind are weary, and about to dreamlike
;

which shall be Patriot Subscription, Royal Pension was got for him, real. and he returned home glad but in two months more he left
close,

and

open on a

far other wonder-scene,

it all,

and went on

his

unknown way.^
^

Deux Amis,

iv, iii.

Chapter

XI

330

THE FEAST OF PIKES

CHAPTER XI
AS IN THE AGE OF GOLD

BOOK I
July
1,

1790

to Paris, ever going and returning, day after day, and all day long, towards that Field of Mars, it becomes painfully apparent that the spadework there cannot be got There is such an area of it ; three hundred done in time. for from the Ecole Militaire (which thousand square feet
:

Meanwhile

need to be done up in wood with balconies and galleries) westward to the Gate by the River (where also shall be wood, in triumphal arches), we count some thousand yards of length and for breadth, from this umbrageous Avenue of eight rows, on the South side, to that corresponding one on the North, All this to be scooped out, some thousand feet more or less. high enough and wheeled up in slope along the sides for it must be rammed down there, and shaped stair-wise into as many as thirty ranges of convenient seats,' firm-trimmed with and then our huge turf, covered with enduring timber pyramidal Fatherland's -Altar, Autel de la Patrie, in the centre, Force- work with a venalso to be raised and stair- stepped. There are but fifteen it is a World's Amphitheatre geance days good and at this languid rate, it might take half as many weeks. What is singular too, the spademen seem to work lazily they will not work double-tides, even for offer of more wages, though their tide is but seven hours they declare angrily
will
; ; ; ' ;

that the human tabernacle requires occasional rest Aristocrats were capable Is it Aristocrats secretly bribing ? Only six months since, did not evidence get afloat that of that. subterranean Paris, for we stand over quarries and catacombs, dangerously, as it were midway between Heaven and the Abyss, and are hollow underground, was charged with gunpowder, which should make us leap ? Till a Cordeliers Deputation actually went to examine, and found it carried off again ^ An accursed, incurable brood all asking for passports,' in these sacred days. Trouble, of rioting, chateau-

'

'

'

burning,

is

in the

Limousin and elsewhere

of Peoples

for they are busy

Between the best

^

and the best

of Restorer Kings
iv. 44)*

23d December 1789 (Newspapers ia Hist. Pari,

they

AS IN

THE AGE OF GOLD

;

331

they would sow grudges with, what a fiend's grin would they CHAP. XI July i, 1709 see this Federation, looked for by the Universe, fail
spadework, however, it shall not. He that has four limbs and a French heart can do spadework and will On the first July Monday, scarcely has the signalcannon boomed scarcely have the languescent mercenary Fifteen Thousand laid down their tools, and the eyes of onlookers turned sorrowfully to the still high Sun when this and the other Patriot, fire in his eye, snatches barrow and mattock, and himself begins indignantly wheeling. Whom scores and then hundreds follow and soon a volunteer Fifteen Thousand are shovelling and trundling with the heart of giants all in right order, with that and extemporaneous lift whereby such a has been given, worth adroitness of theirs which may end when the late twilight three mercenary ones thickens, in triumph-shouts, heard or heard of beyond Montmartre A sympathetic population will wait, next day, with eagerOr why wait ? Spades elsewhere ness, till the tools are free.
Fail for

want

of

bursts forth that effulgence of Parisian enthusiasm, good-heartedness and brotherly love ; such, if Chroniclers are trustworthy, as was not witnessed since the Age of Gold. Paris, male and female, precipitates itself towards Streams of men, its Southwest extremity, spade on shoulder. or in order, as ranked fellow- craftsmen, as without order
exist
!

And

so

now

natural or accidental reunions, march towards the Field of Mars. Three-deep these march ; to the sound of stringed music preceded by young girls with green boughs and tricolor streamers they have shouldered, soldier-wise, their shovels and picks ; and with one throat are singing ga-ira. Yes, pardieu Qa-ira, cry the passengers on the streets. All corporate Guilds, and public and private Bodies of Citizens, from the highest to the the very Hawkers, one finds, have ceased lowest, march bawling for one day. The neighbouring Villages turn out:
;

their able

men come

marching, to village fiddle or tambourine

under their Mayor, or Mayor and Curate, who As many as one also walk bespaded, and in tricolor sash. nay at certain seasons, hundred and fifty thousand workers for, in the as some count, two hundred and fifty thousand afternoon especially, what mortal but, finishing his hasty day's

and

triangle,

work,

332

THE FEAST OF PIKES

I

BOOK I
July 2-12, 1790

A stirring City from the time you reach work, would run the Place Louis-Quinze, southward over the River, by all Avenues, it is one living throng. So many workers and no mercenary mock-workers, but real ones that lie freely to it each Patriot stretches himself against the stubborn glebe hews and wheels with the whole weight that is in him. Amiable infants, aimahles enfans They do the police de V atelier too, the guidance and governance, themselves with that ready will of theirs, with that extemporaneous adroitness. all distinctions confounded, It is a true brethren's work as it was in the beginning, when Adam himself abolished delved. Long-frocked tonsured Monks, with short-skirted Water-carriers, with swallow-tailed well-frizzled Incroyables of a Patriot turn dark Charcoalmen, meal-white Peruke-makers or Peruke-wearers, for Advocate and Judge are there, and all Heads of Districts sober Nuns sisterlike with flaunting Nymphs of the Opera, and females in common circumstances named unfortunate the patriot Ragpicker, and perfumed dweller for Patriotism, like New-birth, and also like Death, in palaces levels all. The Printers have come marching, Prudhomme's all in Paper-caps with Revolutions de Paris printed on them as Camille notes wishing that in these great days there should be a Facte des Ecrivains too, or Federation of Able
;
;
;

'

'

Beautiful to see The snowy linen and delicate pantaloon alternates with the soiled check- shirt and bushelbreeches for both have cast their coats, and under both are four limbs and a set of Patriot muscles. There do they pick or bend forward, yoked in long strings to boxand shovel barrow or overloaded tumbril joyous, with one mind. Abb6 Siey^s is seen pulling, wiry, vehement, if too light for draught by the side of Beauharnais, who shall get Kings though he be none. Abbe Maury did not pull but the Charcoalmen brought a mummer guised like him, and he had to pull in effigy. Let
Editors.^
! ;

no august Senator disdain the work Mayor Bailly, Generalissimo Lafayette are there and, alas, shall be there again another day The King himself comes to see sky-rending Vive-le-roi ! and suddenly with shouldered spades they form a guard of honour round him.' Whosoever can come comes to work, or to look, and bless the work. Whole families have come. One whole family we see clearly
:

'

See Newspapers,

etc, (in Hist. Pari. vi. 381-406).

of

AS IN THE AGE OF GOLD

of three generations
: ;

838

the father picking, the mother shovelHng, CHAP. XI old grandfather, hoary "^^^^J^'}^' the young ones wheeUng assiduous 1790 ^ with ninety-three years, holds in his arms the youngest of all
:

frisky, riot helpful this

one

who

nevertheless

may

tell it

to

his grandchildren

and how the Future and the Past

alike

looked on, and with failing or with half-formed voice faltered their (a-ira. A vintner has wheeled in, on Patriot truck, Drink not, my brothers, if ye are not thirsty beverage of wine neither did any drink that your cask may last the longer ' but men evidently exhausted.' A dapper Abb6 looks on, To the sneering cry several barrow whom^ he, lest a worse thing befall him, obeys nevertheless one wiser
'
: '
:

'

'

Patriot barrowman, arriving now, interposes

his
'

arretez

' ;

setting

down

his

own barrow,
like

he snatches the Abb6's

trundles
it fast,

an

infected thing, forth of

the

Champ - de Mars
-

and discharges Thus too a it there. certain person (of some

circuit,

private or capital, to appearance),

quality,

DE BEAUHARNAIS.
?
' '

entering hastily, flings down his coat, waistcoat and two watches, and thick of the

work

'

But your watches

voice.' Does one distrust his brothers ? How beautiful is were the watches stolen. like gossamer gauze, beautiful and cheap Beautiful cheap gossamer gauze, thou filmno tear and wear shadow of a raw-material of Virtue, which art not woven, nor
; ;
1

rushing to the eric, the general nor answers he noble-sentiment which will stand
is

likely to be, into

Duty

thou art better than nothing, and also

worse
la

Young Boarding-school Boys,

Nation, and
^

College Students, shout Vive regret that they have yet only their sweat to
'

Mercier,

ii.

76, etc.

give.*

334

THE FEAST OF PIKES

What
say

BOOK I
July 2-12,
^'^^^

give.'

we
;

of

Boys

Beautifulest

Hebes

the

loveHest of Paris, in their light air-robes, with riband-girdle shovelling and wheeling with the rest of tricolor, are there their Hebe eyes brighter with enthusiasm, and long hair in broad-pressed are their small fingers beautiful dishevelment
;
;

but they make the patriot barrow go, and even force it to the summit of the slope (with a little tracing, which what man's arm were not too happy to lend ?) then bound down with it with their long locks and tricolors again, and go for more blown back graceful as the rosy Hours. O, as that evening Sun fell over the Champ-de-Mars, and tinted with fire the thick umbrageous boscage that shelters it on this hand and on that, and struck direct on those Domes and two-and-forty Windows of the Ecole Militaire, and made them all of burnished gold, saw he on his wide zodiac road other such sight ? A living garden spotted and dotted with such flowerage all the beautifulest blent friendly with colours of the prism all growing and working brotherlike there under the usefulest once and no second one warm feeling, were it but for days But Night is sinking these Nights, too, into Eternity. time The hastiest traveller Versailles-ward has drawn bridle on and looked for moments over the the heights of Chaillot River reporting at Versailles what he saw, not without

tears.^

Meanwhile, from
arriving
:

points of the compass, Federates are fervid children of the South, ' who glory in their
all
; ;

Mirabeau

considerate North-blooded Mountaineers of Jura sharp Bretons, with their Gaelic suddenness Normans, not to be overreached in bargain all now animated with one noblest fire of Patriotism. the Paris brethren march
' ; :

Whom

forth to receive

with military solemnities, with fraternal

;

a hospitality worthy of the heroic ages. They assist at the Assembly's Debates, these Federates the Galleries are reserved for them. They assist in the toils of the Champ -de-Mars each new troop will put its hand to the spade But the lift a hod of earth on the Altar of the Fatherland. flourishes of rhetoric, for it is a gesticulating People the moral-

embracing,

and

sublime of those Addresses to an august Assembly, to a Patriot Restorer Our Breton Captain of Federates kneels even, in a fit of enthusiasm, and gives up his sword he wet-eyed to a
!

Mercier,

ii.

8i.

King

AS IN
King wet-eyed.

THE AGE OF GOLD

I
;

335

Poor Louis These, as he said afterwards, CHAP. XI July 2-12, were among the bright days of his Hf e. ^^^^ Reviews also there must be royal Federate-reviews, with King, Queen and tricolor Court looking on at lowest, if, as
:

too common, it rains, our Federate Volunteers will file through the inner gateways. Royalty standing dry. Nay there, should some stop occur, the beautifulest fingers in France may take Monyou softly by the lapelle, and, in mild flute-voice, ask sieur, of what Province are you ? Happy he who can reply, Madame, from the chivalrously lowering his sword's point, Province your ancestors reigned over.' He that happy Provincial Advocate,' now Provincial Federate, shall be rewarded by a sun-smile, and such melodious glad words addressed to a * Cheerier Sire, these are your faithful Lorrainers.' King skyblue faced with red of a verily, in these holidays, is this National Guardsman, than the dull black and grey of a Pro-For vincial Advocate, which in workdays one was used to. the same thrice-blessed Lorrainer shall, this evening, stand and feel that he could die a thousand sentry at a Queen's door then again, at the outer gate, and even a third deaths for her nay he will make her do it presenting time, she shall see him and arms with emphasis, making his musket jingle again in her salute there shall again be a sun-smile, and that
is
;
' '

'

'

'

'

'

blonde-locked too hasty Dauphin shall be admonished, and therewith don't be unpolite Salute, then. Monsieur she, like a bright Sky-wanderer or Planet with her little Moon,
little
' ' ;
;

issues forth peculiar.^

at night, when Patriot spadework is over, figure the Lepelletier Saint-Fargeau, a mere sacred rites of hospitality private senator, but with great possessions, has daily his ' hun-

But

the table of Generalissimo Lafayette may dred dinner-guests double that number. In lowly parlour, as in lofty saloon, crowned by the smiles of Beauty the wine-cup passes round be it of lightly-tripping Grisette or of high-sailing Dame, for both equally have beauty, and smiles precious to the brave.
'

Narrative by a Lorraine Federate (given in Hut. Pari.

vi.

389-91).

Chapter XII

336

THE FEAST OF PIKES

CHAPTER
XII

BOOK

July 14, 1790

SOUND AND SMOKE

And
much

so now,

in

spite of plotting Aristocrats,

itself

lazy hired

spademen, and almost of Destiny

rain too), the
:

(for there

has been

13th of the month, is trimmed, rammed, buttressed fairly ready with firm masonry and Patriotism can stroll over it admiring and as it were rehearsing, for in every head is some unutterable image of the morrow. Pray Heaven there be not clouds. Nay what far worse cloud is this, of a misguided Municipality that talks of admitting Patriotism to the solemnity by tickets Was it by tickets we were admitted to the work and to what brought
;

Champ -de-Mars, on the

the work ? Did we take the Bastille by tickets ? A misguided Municipality sees the error; at late midnight, rolling drums announced to Patriotism starting half out of its bedclothes, that it is to be ticketless. Pull down thy nightcap therefore and, with demi-articulate grumble, significant of several
;

things, go pacified to sleep again.

To-morrow
fasti of

is

Wednesday

morning

unforgettable

among the

the world.

The morning comes, cold for a July one but such a festivity would make Greenland smile. Through every inlet of
;

that National Amphitheatre (for it is a league in circuit, cut with openings at due intervals), floods-in the living throng; covers, without tumult, space after space. The Ecole Militaire has galleries and overvaulting canopies, wherein Carpentry and Painting have vied, for the Upper Authorities triumphal arches, at the Gate by the River, bear inscriptions, if weak, yet well-meant and orthodox. Far aloft, over the Altar of the Fatherland, on their tall crane standards of iron, swing pensile our antique Cassolettes or Pans of Incense dispensing sweet incense-fumes, unless for the Heathen Mythology, one sees not for whom. Two hundred thousand Patriotic Men and, twice as good, one hundred thousand Patriotic Women,
;
;

all

decked and glorified as one can fancy, sit waiting in this Champ-de-Mars. What a picture that circle of bright-dyed Life, spread up
:

there,

SOUND AND SMOKE

there,

337

Slope leaning, one would say, on CHAP. XII the thick umbrage of those Avenue-Trees, for the stems of July 14, 1790 them are hidden by the height and all beyond it mere greenness of Summer Earth, with the gleams of waters, or white little circular enamel picture in sparklings of stone edifices A vase not empty the centre of such a vase of emerald the Invalides Cupolas want not their population nor the distant Windmills of Montmartre on remotest steeple and invisible village belfry stand men with spy-glasses. On the heights of round and far Chaillot are many-coloured undulating groups on, over all the circling heights that embosom Paris, it is as which the eye grows one more or less peopled Amphitheatre dim with measuring. Nay heights, as was before hinted, have and a floating-battery of cannon is on the Seine. cannon When eye fails, ear shall serve and all France properly is but
its thirty- seated
;
;
:

on

paved town and unpaved hamlet men walk listening till the muffled thunder sound audible on ^ their horizon, that they too may begin swearing and firing But now, to streams of music, come Federates enough, for they have assembled on the Boulevard Saint-Antoine or thereby, and come marching through the City, with their Eighty-three Department Banners, and blessings not loud but deep comes comes National Assembly, and takes seat under its Canopy Royalty, and takes seat on a throne beside it. And Lafayette, on white charger, is here, and all the civic Functionaries and the Federates form dances, till their strictly military evolutions and manoeuvres can begin. Evolutions and manoeuvres ? Task not the pen of mortal
one Amphitheatre
;

for in

declares that truant imagination droops There is wheeling and sweeping, to it is not worth while. Sieur Motier, or Generalslow, to quick and double-quick time issimo Lafayette, for they are one and the same, and he is General of France, in the King's stead, for four-and-twenty Sieur Motier must step forth, with that sublime chivalhours solemnly ascend the steps of the Fatherland's rous gait of his Altar, in sight of Heaven and of the scarcely breathing Earth

to describe

them

and, under the creak of those swinging Cassolettes, his sword's point firmly there,' pronounce the Oath, To King, grains with their circuto Law, and Nation (not to mention Whereat lating), in his own name and that of armed France.
' ' '

pressing

Deux Amis,

v.

l68.

there

338

THE FEAST OF PIKES

is
;

BOOK I
July 14, 1790

waving of banners, and acclaim sufficient. The National Assembly must swear, standing in its place the King himself and now he the welkin split with audibly. The King swears
there
; :

let citizens enfranchised embrace, each smiting heartily vivats and armed Federates clang their his palm into his fellow's It has spoken, arms above all, that floating battery speak France. From eminence to eminence to the four corners of bursts the thunder faint-heard, loud-repeated. What a stone, cast into what a lake ; in circles that do not grow fainter. From from Metz to Bayonne Over Orleans Arras to Avignon and Blois it rolls, in cannon-recitative Puy bellows of it amid Pau where is the shell-cradle of Great his granite mountains Henri. At far Marseilles, one can think, the ruddy evening over the deep -blue Mediterranean waters, the witnesses it Castle of If ruddy-tinted darts forth, from every cannon's and all the people shout mouth, its tongue of fire Yes, France is free. O glorious France, that has burst out so and attained the Phrygian into universal sound and smoke In all Towns, Trees of Liberty also may be Cap of Liberty with or without advantage. Said we not, it was planted the highest stretch attained by the Thespian Art on this Planet, or perhaps attainable ? The Thespian Art, unfortunately, one must still call it for behold there, on this Field of Mars, the National Banners, before there could be any swearing, were to be all blessed. A most proper operation since surely without Heaven's blessing bestowed, say even, audibly or inaudibly sought, no Earthly but now the banner or contrivance can prove victorious means of doing it ? By what thrice-divine Franklin thunderrod shall miraculous fire be drawn out of Heaven and descend gently, lifegiving, with health to the souls of men ? Alas, by the simplest by Two Hundred shaven- crowned Individuals, in snow-white albs, with tricolor girdles,' arranged on the steps of Fatherland's Altar and, at their head for spokesman, Soul's-Overseer Talleyrand-Perigord These shall act as miraculous thunder-rod, to such length as they can. O ye ye deep azure Heavens, and thou green all-nursing Earth Streams everflowing deciduous Forests that die and are born again, continually, like the sons of men stone Mountains that die daily with every rain-shower, yet are not dead and levelled for ages of ages, nor born again (it seems) but with new world;
; !

'

explosions,

SOUND AND SMOKE

explosions,

339

tumultuous seething and tumbling, CHAP. XII steam half-way to the Moon O thou unfathomable mystic "^^h l4j 1790 All, garment and dwelling-place of the Unnamed and thou, articulate-speaking Spirit of Man, who mouldest and modellest
such
;

and

TALLEYRAND.
that Unfathomable Unnameable even as we see, is not there a miracle That some French mortal should, we say not have believed, but pretended to imagine he believed that Talleyrand and Two Hundred pieces of white Calico could do it Here, however, we are to remark with the sorrowing Historians of that day, that suddenly, while Episcopus Talleyrand,
:

long-stoled,

340

THE FEAST OF PIKES

;

BOOK I
July
14,

1790

and tricolor belt, was yet but hitching up the Altar-steps to do his miracle, the material Heaven grew black a north-wind, moaning cold moisture, began to sing and there descended a very deluge of rain. Sad to see The thirty- staired Seats, all round our Amphitheatre, get instantaneously slated with mere umbrellas, fallacious when so thickset our antique Cassolettes become water-pots their incensesmoke gone hissing, in a whiff of muddy vapour. Alas, instead of vivats, there is nothing now but the furious peppering and rattling. From three to four hundred thousand human individuals feel that they have a skin happily impervious. The
long-stoled, with mitre
I
:

General's sash runs water

military banners droop and will not wave, but lazily flap, as if metamorphosed into painted tin-banners Worse, far worse, these hundred thousand,
:

how

all

such is the Historian's testimony, of the fairest of France Their snowy muslins all splashed and draggled the ostrichfeather shrunk shamefully to the backbone of a feather all caps are ruined innermost pasteboard molten into its original pap Beauty no longer swims decorated in her garniture, like Lovegoddess hidden-revealed in her Paphian clouds, but struggles in disastrous imprisonment in it, for 'the shape was noticeable'; and now only sj'^mpathetic interjections, titterings, teheeings, and resolute good-humour will avail. A deluge an incessant sheet or fluid-column of rain such that our Overseer's very mitre must be filled not a mitre, but a filled and leaky fire-bucket on his reverend head Regardless of which, Overseer Talleyrand performs his miracle the Blessing of Talleyrand, another than that of Jacob, is on all the Eighty-three departmental flags of France which wave or flap, with such thankfulness as needs. Towards three o'clock, the sun beams out again the remaining evolutions can be transacted under bright heavens, though with decorations much damaged.^ On Wednesday our Federation is consummated but the festivities last out the week, and over into the next. Festivities such as no Bagdad Caliph, or Aladdin with the Lamp could have equalled. There is a Jousting on the River with its water-somersets, splashing and haha-ing Abb6 Fauchet, Te-Deum Fauchet, preaches, for his part, in the rotunda of the Corn-Market,' a funeral harangue on Franklin for whom the National Assembly has lately gone three days in black.
; :

'

Deux Amis,

v.

143-179.

The

SOUND AND SMOKE

The Motier and
is

341
;

Lepelletier tables

still

roofs ringing with patriotic toasts.

On

groan with viands CHAP. XII the fifth evening, which July 14-18,
^^^^

the Christian Sabbath, there is a universal Ball. Paris, out of doors and in, man, woman and child, is jigging it, to the sound of harp and four-stringed fiddle. The hoariestheaded man will tread one other measure, under this nether Moon speechless nurselings, infants as we call them, v^ina and sprawl out numb-plump little limbs, reKva, crow in arms impatient for muscularity, they know not why. The stiffest all joists creak. balk bends more or less Or out, on the Earth's breast itself, behold the Ruins of a Tree of the Bastille. All lamplit, allegorically decorated and Phrygian Cap on it, of size enorLiberty sixty feet high mous, under which King Arthur and his round-table might In the depths of the background is a single have dined lugubrious lamp, rendering dim-visible one of your iron cages, Tyranny vanishing downhalf -buried, and some Prison stones, the rest wholly lamp -festoons, wards, all gone but the skirt in the similitude of a fairy grove trees real or of pasteboard Ici Von danse. with this inscription, readable to runner Dancing Here.' As indeed had been obscurely foreshadowed by Cagliostro ^ prophetic Quack of Quacks, when he, four years to fall into a grimmer, of the ago, quitted the grim durance Roman Inquisition, and not quit it. But, after all, what is this Bastille business to that of the
;

'

Thither, to these Fields well named Elysian, little It is radiant as day with festooned lamps all feet tend. oil-cups, like variegated fire-flies, daintily illume the highest trees there are all sheeted with variegated fire, shedding leaves There, under the free far a ghmmer into the dubious wood.

Champs

Elys^es

do tight-limbed Federates, with fairest newfound sweethearts, elastic as Diana, and not of that coyness and tart humour of Diana, thread their jocund mazes, all through the ambrosial night and hearts were touched and fired and seldom surely had our old Planet, in that huge conic Shadow of hers, which goes beyond the Moon, and is named Night,' curtained such a
sky,
;

'

Ball-room.

if,

according to Seneca, the very gods look

;

down

what on a good man struggling with adversity, and smile must they think of Five-and-twenty million indifferent ones for eight days and more ? victorious over it,

See his Leiire au Peuple Frani;ais (London, 1786).

VOL.

I.

In

342

THE FEAST OF PIKES

:

BOOK
^'^^

July 14-18,

In this way, and in such ways, however, has the Feast of gallant Federates wending homewards, Pikes danced itself off towards every point of the compass, with feverish nerves, heart some of them, indeed, as Dampand head much heated martin's elderly respectable friend from Strasburg, quite burnt out with liquors,' and flickering towards extinction.^ The Feast of Pikes has danced itself off, and become defunct, and nothing of it now remaining but this the ghost of a Feast and the place that knew it (for the vision in men's memory slope of that Champ-de-Mars is crumbled to half the original Undoubtedly one of the height ^) now knowing it no more. memorablest National Hightides. Never or hardly ever, as we said, was Oath sworn with such heart-effusion, emphasis, and and then it was broken irremediably expenditure of joyance within year and day. Ah, why ? When the swearing of it was so heavenly- joyful, bosom clasped to bosom, and Five-andtwenty million hearts all burning together O ye inexorable ? Partly because it was sworn with such overDestinies, why that Sin joyance but chiefly, indeed, for an older reason These Five-andhad come into the world, and Misery by Sin
;
'

twenty

millions,

if

we

will consider

it,

have now henceforth,

with that Phrygian Cap of theirs, no force over them, to bind and guide neither in them, more than heretofore, is guiding how then, while they all go rushing force, or rule of just living at such a pace, on unknown ways, with no bridle, towards no aim, can hurlyburly unutterable fail ? For verily not Federanot by tion-rosepink is the colour of this Earth and her work outbursts of noble- sentiment, but with far other ammunition, shall a man front the world. But how wise, in all cases, to husband your fire ; to keep Explosions, the it deep down, rather, as genial radical-heat far forciblest, and never so well-directed, are questionable oftenest futile, always frightfully wasteful but think of a man, of a Nation of men, spending its whole stock of fire in one artificial Firework So have we seen fond weddings (for
;
:

'

'

have their Hightides) celebrated with an outburst of triumph and deray, at which the elderly shook their heads. Better had a serious cheerfulness been for the enterprise was great. Fond pair the more triumphant
individuals,
like

Nations,

'

Dampmartin, Ev/nemens,

i.

144-84.
viii.

Dulaure, Histoire de Paris,

25.

ye

SOUND AND SMOKE

ye
feel,

343

which seems all CHAP. XII abolished, the wider-eyed will your disappointment be to find ^^^Y 14-18, ^^^^ terrestrial evil still extant. And why extant ? will each of Because my false mate has played the traitor you cry I, for one, meant faithfully, and did, or evil was abolished Whereby the over- sweet moon of honey would have done perhaps divulsive changes itself into long years of vinegar
terrestrial evil,
'

and victorious over

'

'

'

vinegar, like Hannibal's.

French Nation has led Royalty, or wooed and teased poor Royalty to lead her, to the hymeneal and has, most Fatherland's Altar, in such over-sweet manner thoughtlessly, to celebrate the nuptials with due shine and demonstration, burnt her bed ?
Shall
say, then, the
;

we

Book Second

BOOK SECOND

NANCI
CHAPTER
BOUILLE
Metz on the North-Eastern frontier, a certain brave Bouill6, last refuge of Royalty in all straits and meditations of flight, has for many months hovered occasionally in our eye some name or shadow of a brave Bouille let us now, for a little, look fixedly at him, till he become a substance and person for us. The man himself is worth a glance his position and procedure there, in these days, will throw light on many
visible, at
;
:

Dimly

things.

with Bouille as with all French Commanding Officers only in a more emphatic degree. The grand National Federation, we already guess, was but empty sound, or worse a last loudest universal Hep-hep-hurrah, with full bumpers, in that National Lapithse-feast of Constitution-making as in loud denial of the palpably existing as if, with hurrahings, you would shut out notice of the inevitable, already knocking at the gates Which new National bumper, one may say, can but deepen the drunkenness and so, the louder it swears Brother-

For it

is

and the more surely lead to Cannibalism. Ah, under that fraternal shine and clangour, what a deep world of irreconcilable discords lie momentarily assuaged, dampedhood, will the sooner

down

Respectable military Federates have barely got home to their quarters and the inflammablest, ' dying, burnt up with liquors and kindness,' has not yet got extinct the shine is hardly out of men's eyes, and still blazes filling all men's memories, when your discords burst forth again, very considerably darker than ever. Let us look at
for
!

one moment

Bouille,

and

see

how.
Bouill^

BOUILLE
;

345
CHAP.
1790
I

BouilM for the present commands in the Garrison of Metz, and far and wide over the East and North being indeed, by a late act of Government with sanction of National Assembly, appointed one of our Four supreme Generals. Rochambeau and Mailly, men and Marshals of note in these days, though tough old to us of small moment, are two of his colleagues babbling Liickner, also of small moment for us, will probably be the third. Marquis de Bouill^ is a determined Loyalist
;

LUCKNER.
not indeed disinclined to moderate reform, but resolute against who has immoderate. A man long suspect to Patriotism more than once given the august Assembly trouble; who would not, for example, take the National Oath, as he was bound to do, but always put it off on this or the other pretext, favour. till an autograph of Majesty requested him to do it as a There, in this post, if not of honour yet of eminence and danger, very dubious of the he waits, in a silent concentred manner
; ;

future.

346

NANCI
'

BOOK
1790

II

future.

Alone

'

as he says, or almost alone, of

;

all

the old

military Notabilities, he has not emigrated

in atrabiliar

moments, that there will but to cross the marches. He might cross, say, to Treves or Coblentz, where Exiled Princes will be one day ranking or say, over into Luxemburg, where old Broglie loiters and languishes. Or is there not the great dim Deep of European Diplomacy where your Calonnes, your Breteuils are beginning to hover, dimly discernible ? With immeasurable confused outlooks and purposes, with no clear purpose but this of still trying to do his Majesty a service, Bouille waits struggling what he can to keep his
;

but thinks always, be nothing for him too

district loyal, his troops faithful, his garrisons furnished.

He

maintains, as yet, with his Cousin Lafayette some thin diplomatic correspondence, by letter and messenger chivalrous constitutional professions on the one side, military gravity and brevity on the other which thin correspondence one can see growing ever the thinner and hoUower, towards the verge of entire vacuity.^ quick, choleric, sharply discerning, stubbornly endeavouring man with suppressed-explosive resolution, with valour, nay headlong audacity a man who was
; ;

more

in his place, lionlike defending those

Windward

Isles, or,

as with military tiger-spring, clutching Nevis and Montserrat from the English, than here in this suppressed condition,

muzzled and fettered by diplomatic packthreads looking out for a civil war, which may never arrive. Few years ago Bouille was to have led a French East-Indian Expedition, and reconquered or conquered Pondicherry and the Kingdoms of the Sun but the whole world is suddenly changed, and he with it Destiny willed it not in that way, but in this.
; : ;

CHAPTER

II

ARREARS AND ARISTOCRATS

Indeed, as to the general outlook of things, Bouille himself augurs not well of it. The French Army, ever since those old Bastille days, and earlier, has been universally in the question^

Bouille,

Mimoires (London, 1797),

i.

c. 8.

ablest

ARREARS AND ARISTOCRATS

ablest state,
;

347
II

and growing daily worse. Discipline, which is at CHAP. all times a kind of miracle, and works by faith, broke down 1790 then one sees not with what near prospect of recovering itself. The Gardes Frangaises played a deadly game but how they won it, and wear the prizes of it, all men know. In that general overturn, we saw the hired Fighters refuse to fight. The very Swiss of Chateau-Vieux, which indeed is a kind of French Swiss, from Geneva and the Pays de Vaud, are understood to have declined. Deserters glided over Royal-Allemand itself looked disconsolate, though stanch of purpose. In a word, we there saw Military Rule, in the shape of poor Besenval with that convulsive unmanageable Camp of his, pass two martyr-days on the Champ-de-Mars and then, veiling itself, so to speak, under cloud of night,' depart down the left bank of the Seine,' to seek refuge elsewhere this ground having clearly become too hot for it. But what new ground to seek, what remedy to try ? Quarters
;
;

'

'

that were uninfected this doubtless, with judicious strictness of drilling, were the plan. Alas, in all quarters and places, from Paris onward to the remotest hamlet, is infection, is seditious contagion inhaled, propagated by contact and converse, till the dullest soldier catch it There is speech
' '
:

not in uniform men in uniform read journals, and even write in them.^ There are public petitions or remonstrances, private emissaries and associations
of

men

in uniform with

men

there

is

discontent,

jealousy,

uncertainty,

sullen

suspicious

humour. The whole French Army, fermenting in dark heat, glooms ominous, boding good to no one. So that, in the general social dissolution and revolt, we are to have this deepest and dismalest kind of it, a revolting soldiery ? Barren, desolate to look upon is this same business of revolt under all its aspects but how infinitely more so, when it takes The very implement of rule the aspect of military mutiny and restraint, whereby all the rest was managed and held in order, has become precisely the frightfulest immeasurable implement of misrule like the element of Fire, our indispensable all-ministering servant, when it gets the mastery, and becomes conflagration. Discipline we called a kind of miracle in fact, is it not miraculous how one man moves hundreds of thousands each unit of whom, it may be, loves him not, and
;

See Newspapers of July 1789

(in Hist. Pari.

ii.

35), etc.

singly

348

NANCI

BOOK
1790

II

him not, yet has to obey him, to go hither or go thither, to march and halt, to give death, and even to receive and the word-of-command becomes, it, as if a Fate had spoken
singly fears
;

almost in the literal sense, a magic-word ? Which magic -word, again, if it be once forgotten the spell The legions of assiduous ministering of it once broken your free orderly spirits rise on you now as menacing fiends arena becomes a tumult-place of the Nether Pit, and the Military mobs are hapless magician is rent limb from limb. mobs with muskets in their hands and also with death hanging over their heads, for death is the penalty of disobedience, And now if all mobs are properly and they have disobeyed. frenzies, and work frenetically with mad fits of hot and of cold, fierce rage alternating so incoherently with panic terror, consider what your military mob will be, with such a conflict of duties and penalties, whirled between remorse and fury, and, To the soldier for the hot fit, loaded fire-arms in its hand himself, revolt is frightful, and oftenest perhaps pitiable and yet so dangerous, it can only be hated, cannot be pitied. An With anomalous class of mortals these poor Hired Killers a frankness, which to the Moralist in these times seems surprising, they have sworn to become machines and nevertheless they are still partly men. Let no prudent person in authority remind them of this latter fact but always let force, let injustice above all, stop short clearly on this side of the reboundingwere it not so, point Soldiers, as we often say, do revolt several things which are transient in this world might be
;
1

perennial.

sons of Adam maintain with their lot here below, the grievances of the French

Over and above the general quarrel which

all

soldiery reduce themselves to two.

First, that their Officers

are Aristocrats

secondly, that they cheat

;

them

of their Pay.

Two

grievances

or rather
;

we might say

one, capable of be-

coming a hundred
!

for in that single first proposition, that

the Officers are Aristocrats, what a multitude of corollaries lie ready It is a bottomless ever-flowing fountain of grievances this what you may call a general raw-material of grievance, wherefrom individual grievance after grievance will daily body itself forth. Nay there will even be a kind of comfort in getting it, from time to time, so embodied. Peculation of one's Pay
; 1

It

ARREARS AND ARISTOCRATS

It is
;
;

349
II

embodied made tangible, made denounceable exhalable, CHAP. ^790 if only in angry words. For uriluckily that grand fountain of grievances does exist they have Aristocrats almost all our Officers necessarily are By the law of the case, no man it in the blood and bone. can pretend to be the pitifulest lieutenant of militia till he have first verified, to the satisfaction of the Lion-King, a Nobility
;

of four generations.
it
:

Not

nobility only, but four generations of

in

comparatively late years, by a certain War-minister much pressed for commissions.^ An improvement which did relieve the oppressed War-minister,
this latter is the

improvement hit upon,

but which

split

France

Commonalty and

further into yawning contrasts of Nobility, nay of new Nobility and old ; as if
still

already with your new and old, and then with your old, older, and oldest, there were not contrasts and discrepancies enough the general clash whereof men now see and hear, and in the singular whirlpool, all contrasts gone together to the bottom Gone to the bottom or going with uproar, without return and going everywhere save in the Military section of things there, it may be asked, can they hope to continue always at

Apparently, not. It is true, in a time of external Peace, when there is no fighting, but only drilling, this question. How you rise from the ranks, may seem theoretical rather. But in reference to the Rights of Man it is continually practical. The soldier has sworn to be faithful not to the King only, but to the Law and the Nation. Do our commanders love the Revolution ? ask all soldiers. Unhappily no, they hate it, and love the Counter-Revolution. Young epauletted men, with quality-blood in them, poisoned with quahty-pride, do sniff openly, with indignation struggling to become contempt, at our Rights of Man, as at some newfangled cobweb, which shall be brushed down again. Old Officers, more cautious, keep silent, with closed uncurled lips but one guesses what is passing within. Nay who knows, how, under the plausiblest word of command, might lie CounterRevolution itself, sale to Exiled Princes and the Austrian
the top
?

Kaiser treacherous Aristocrats hoodwinking the small insight general of us common men ? In such manner works that instead of trust and disastrous raw-material of grievance reverence, breeding hate, endless suspicion, the impossibility of
:

Dampmartin, Evhtemens,

i.

89.

commanding

350

NAN CI
And now when
this second

BOOK
1790

II

commanding and obeying.

:

tangible grievance has articulated itself universally in Peculation of his Pay Peculation of the common man of the despicablest sort does exist, and has long existed ; but,
!

more the mind

unless the new-declared Rights of Man, and all rights whatsoever, be a cobweb, it shall no longer exist.

The French
death.

Nay

Military System seems dying a sorrowful suicidal more, citizen, as is natural, ranks himself against

citizen in this cause.

The

soldier finds audience, of

numbers

and sympathy unlimited, among the Patriot lower-classes. Nor are the higher wanting to the officer. The officer still dresses and perfumes himself for such sad unemigrated soiree and speaks his woes, which woes, are as there may still be they not Majesty's and Nature's ? Speaks, at the same time, his gay defiance, his firm-set resolution. Citizens, still more Citizenesses, see the right and the wrong not the Military System alone will die by suicide, but much along with it. As was said, there is yet possible a deeper overturn than any yet
;

witnessed

that deepest uptwm. of the black-burning

all rests
!

sul-

phurous stratum whereon

and grows But how these things may act on the rude
;

soldier-mind,

with its military pedantries, its inexperience of all that lies off the parade-ground inexperience as of a child, yet fierceness of a man, and vehemence of a Frenchman It is long that secret communings in mess-room and guard-room, sour looks, thousandfold petty vexations between commander and commanded, measure everywhere the weary military day. Ask Captain Dampmartin an authentic, ingenious literary officer of horse who loves the Reign of Liberty, after a sort yet has had his heart grieved to the quick many times, in the hot South- Western region and elsewhere and has seen riot, civil battle by daylight and by torchlight, and anarchy hatefuler than death. How insubordinate Troopers, with drink in their heads, meet Captain Dampmartin and another on the ramparts, where there is no escape or side-path and make yet military salute punctually, for we look calm on them make it in a snappish, almost insulting manner how one morning they leave all their chamois-shirts and superfluous buffs, which they are tired of, laid in piles at the Captains' doors whereat we laugh,' as the ass does eating thistles nay how they knot two forage- cords together,' with universal
!

'

'

'

'

noisy

CONSTITUTION BUILDING AND

THE UNLUCKY FEATHER.

i^he Abbe
Cards
Sieyes, the

Three Estates,

and

the Mischief.)

Louis XVI., Marie Antoinette (King

and Slueen of Hearts), Cardinal de Rohan and Comtesse de Lamotte (Knanje and S^een of Diamonds), Robespierre and Danton {Kna've and King of Clubs), Marat
{Kna've of Spades).

ARREARS AND ARISTOCRATS

351
II

noisy cursing, with evident intent to hang the Quartermaster : CHAP. 1790 all this the worthy Captain, looking on it through the ruddyand- sable of fond regretful memory, has flowingly written down.^ Men growl in vague discontent officers fling up their commissions and emigrate in disgust. not yet Captain Or let us ask another literary Officer a Sublieutenant only, in the Artillery Regiment La F6re young man of twenty-one not unentitled to speak the name To such height of Subof him is Napoleon Buonaparte. lieutenancy has he now got promoted, from Brienne School, being found qualified in mathematics by five years ago La Place.' He is lying at Auxonne, in the West, in these in the house of a Barber, months not sumptuously lodged to whose wife he did not pay the customary degree of respect or even over at the Pavilion, in a chamber with bare walls
; ;
; : ;

'

'

'

'

the only furniture an indifferent bed without curtains, two chairs, and in the recess of a window a table covered with books and papers his Brother Louis sleeps on a coarse mattress However, he is doing something great in an adjoining room.' writing his first Book or Pamphlet, eloquent vehement Letter to M. Matteo Buttajuoco, our Corsican Deputy, who is not a Joly of Patriot, but an Aristocrat unworthy of Deputyship. Dole is Publisher. The literary Sublieutenant corrects the
:

out on foot from Auxonne every morning at after looking over the proofs, he partakes four o'clock, for Dole of an extremely frugal breakfast with Joly, and immediately where he arrives before prepares for returning to his Garrison noon, having thus walked above twenty miles in the course of the morning.' This Sublieutenant can remark that, in drawing-rooms, on streets, on highways, at inns, everywhere men's minds are ready to kindle into a flame. That a Patriot, if he appear in the drawing-room, or amid a group of officers, is liable enough but to be discouraged, so great is the majority against him no sooner does he get into the street, or among the soldiers, than he feels again as if the whole Nation were with him. That after the famous Oath, To the King, to the Nation, and Law, that before this, if ordered to fire there was a great change on the people, he for one would have done it in the King's name ; but that after this, in the Nation's name, he would not
proofs
'
;

sets

Dampmartin, Evinemms,

i.

122-46.

have

352

NANCI
it.

BOOK
1790

II

Likewise that the Patriot officers, more numerous too in the Artillery and Engineers than elsewhere, were few in number yet that having the soldiers on their side, they ruled the regiment ; and did often deliver the Aristocrat brother officer out of peril and strait. One day, for example, a member of our own mess roused the mob, by singing, from the windows Richard, of our dining-room, my King and I had to snatch

have done
;

'

him from
All

their fury.'
let

the reader multiply by ten thousand and spread it, with slight variations, over all the camps and garrisons of France. The French Army seems on the verge of universal

which

mutiny.
Universal mutiny There is in that what may well make Patriot Constitutionalism and an august Assembly shudder. Something behoves to be done yet what to do no man can tell. Mirabeau proposes even that the Soldiery, having come to such a pass, be forthwith disbanded, the whole Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand of them and organised anew.^ Impossible this, in so sudden a manner cry all men. And yet literally, answer we, it is inevitable, in one manner or another. Such an army, with its four-generation Nobles, its peculated Pay, and men knotting forage-cords to hang their Quartermaster, cannot subsist beside such a Revolution. Your alternative is a slow-pining chronic dissolution and new organisation or a swift decisive one the agonies spread over years, or concentred into an hour. With a Mirabeau for Mini ster or Governor, the latter had been the choice with no Mirabeau for Governor, it will naturally be the former.
!

CHAPTER
To

III

BOUILLE AT METZ
Bouille, in his North-Eastern circle,

none

of these things

are altogether hid.

times flight over the marches gleams out on him as a last guidance in such bewilderment nevertheless he continues here struggling always to hope the best,
:

Many

Norvins, Hhtoire de Napoleon,

i.

i.

47

Life of Napoleon,

23-31).

Las Cases, Mimoires (translated into ' Moniteur, 1790, No. 233.

Hazlitt's

not

BOUILLE AT METZ

353

not from new organisation, but from happy Counter-Revolution CHAP. Ill and return to the old. For the rest, it is clear to him that this Aug. 1790 same National Federation, and universal swearing and fraternising of People and Soldiers, has done incalculable mischief.' So much that fermented secretly has hereby got vent, and become open National Guards and Soldiers of the line, solemnly embracing one another on all parade-fields, drinking, swear' :

ing patriotic oaths, fall into disorderly street-processions, On constitutional unmilitary exclamations and hurrahings.

which account the Regiment Picardie,

has to be drawn out in the square of the barracks, here at Metz, and but expresses sharply harangued by the General himself
for

one,

penitence.^

Far and near, as accounts testify, insubordination has begun grumbling louder and louder. Officers have been seen shut assaulted with clamorous demands, up in their mess-rooms not without menaces. The insubordinate ringleader is dismissed with yellow furlough,' yellow infamous thing they call but ten new ringleaders rise in his stead, and cartouche jaune Within the yellow cartouche ceases to be thought disgraceful. a fortnight,' or at furthest a month, of that sublime Feast of Pikes, the whole French Army, demanding Arrears, forming Reading Clubs, frequenting Popular Societies, is in a state which Bouille can call by no name but that of mutiny. Bouille knows it as few do and speaks by dire experience. Take one
;

'

'

instance instead of many. It is still an early day of August, the precise date now undiscoverable, when Bouille, about to set out for the waters of Aix-la-Chapelle, is once more suddenly summoned to the

The soldiers stand ranged in fighting barracks of Metz. order, muskets loaded, the officers all there on compulsion and required with many-voiced emphasis to have their arrears but we see it has relapsed Picardie was penitent paid. the wide space bristles and lours with mere mutinous armed men. Brave Bouill6 advances to the nearest Regiment, opens obtains nothing but queruhis commanding lips to harangue
;
:

lous-indignant discordance, and the sound of so many thousand The moment is trying ; there are some livres legally due. ten thousand soldiers now in Metz, and one spirit seems to have

spread

among them.
1

Bouill6, Mimoiresy

i.

113.

Bouill6

354

NANCI
is

BOOK

II

Aug. 1790

but what shall he do ? A German Regiment, named of Salm, is thought to be of better temper nevertheless Salm too may have heard of the precept, Thou shalt not steal Salm too may know that money is money. Bouille walks trustfully towards the Regiment de Salm, speaks but here again is answered by the cry of fortytrustful words four thousand livres odd sous. A cry waxing more and more which cry, as it will vociferous, as Salm's humour mounts
Bouille

firm as the

adamant

BOUILLE.
produce no cash or promise of cash, ends in the wide simultaneous whirr of shouldered muskets, and a determined quicktime march on the part of Salm towards its Colonel's house, in the next street, there to seize the colours and military chest. Thus does Salm, for its part strong in the faith that meum is not tuum, that fair speeches are not forty-four thousand livres

odd

sous.
!

Unrestrainable suming the way,

Salm tramps to military time, quick conBouille and the officers, drawing sword, have
to

BOUILLE AT METZ
;

355
;

to dash into double-quick pas-de-charge, or unmilitary running CHAP. Ill Aug. 1790 start to station outer the themselves on the staircase, to get and stand there with what of death-defiance and sharp steel Salm truculently coiling itself up, rank after rank, they have
;

opposite them, in such humour as we can fancy, which happily has not yet mounted to the murder-pitch. There will Bouille in grim calmness, stand, certain at least of one man's purpose awaiting the issue. What the intrepidest of men and generals can do is done. Bouille, though there is a barricading picket at each end of the street, and death under his eyes, contrives the to send for a Dragoon Regiment with orders to charge the dragoon men will not hope is dragoon officers mount the none there for him. The street, as we say, barricaded Earth all shut out, only the indifferent heavenly Vault overhead : perhaps here or there a timorous householder peering out of window, with prayer for Bouille ; copious Rascality, on there do the two parties the pavement, with prayers for Salm ; like like chariots locked in a narrow thoroughfare stand For two hours they stand : locked wrestlers at a dead-grip Bouille's sword glittering in his hand, adamantine resolution for two hours by the clocks of Metz. clouding his brows Moody-silent stands Salm, with occasional clangour ; but Rascality, from time to time, urges some does not fire. grenadier to level his musket at the General ; who looks on it and always some corporal or as a bronze General would
: : ;

other strikes

it

up.

In such remarkable attitude, standing on that staircase for two hours, does brave Bouille, long a shadow, dawn on us For the visibly out of the dimness, and become a person. rest, since Salm has not shot him in the first instant, and since in himself there is no variableness, the danger will diminish. The Mayor, a man infinitely respectable,' with his Municipals remonstrates, and tricolor sashes, finally gains entrance gets Salm persuaded home to its barracks. perorates, promises Next day, our respectable Mayor lending the money, the officers pay-down the half of the demand in ready cash. With which and for the present all is hushed liquidation Salm pacifies itself
'

up, as

much

as

may

be.^

Such scenes as

this of Metz, or preparations

1

and demonstrations

Bouille,

i.

140-5.

356

NANCI
:

BOOK II
Aug. 1790

tions towards such, are universal over France

Dampmartin,

with his knotted forage-cords and piled chamois- jackets, is at in these same days or rather Strasburg, in the South-East shouting Vive la Nation, au nights, Royal Champagne is diable les Aristocrates, with some thirty lit candles,' at Hesdin, The garrison of Bitche,' Deputy on the far North-West. Rewbell is sorry to state, went out of the town with drums deposed its officers and then returned into the beating ^ Ought not a National Assembly to town, sabre in hand.' Military France is everyoccupy itself with these objects ? where full of sour inflammatory humour, which exhales itself a whole continent of smoking fuliginously, this way or that which, blown on here or there by any angry wind, might flax so easily start into a blaze, into a continent of fire. Constitutional Patriotism is in deep natural alarm at these The august Assembly sits diligently deliberating things. dare nowise resolve, with Mirabeau, on an instantaneous disbandment and extinction finds that a course of palliatives is
;

'

'

'

easier.

But
'

at least

and

lowest, this grievance of the Arrears

in those days, under

shall

be

rectified.

A plan, much noised of

'

the

name

for that.

Decree of the Sixth of August,' has been devised Inspectors shall visit all armies and, with certain
;

elected corporals

and soldiers able to write,' verify what arrears and peculations do lie due, and make them good. Well if in this way the smoky heat be cooled down if it be not, as we say, ventilated over-much, or, by sparks and collision somewhere, sent up
;
!

CHAPTER

IV

ARREARS AT NANCI

We are to remark, however, that of all districts, this of Bouille's

seems the inflammablest. that Royalty would fly
:

was always to Bouill6 and Metz Austria lies near here more than
It
;

elsewhere must the disunited People look over the borders, into a dim sea of Foreign Politics and Diplomacies, with hope or apprehension, with mutual exasperation. It was but in these days that certain Austrian troops, march^

Moniteur

(in Hist. Pari. vii. 29),

ing

ARREARS AT NANCI
shoulder, from all the winds,
,

357

ing peaceably across an angle of this region, seemed an Invasion CHAP. IV realised ; and there rushed towards Stenai, with musket on Aug. 1790

some

thirty thousand National

Guards, to inquire what the matter was.^ A matter of mere the Austrian Kaiser, in haste to get to diplomacy it proved Belgium, had bargained for this short cut. The infinite dim movement of European Politics waved a skirt over these spaces, and like the passing shadow of a condor passing on its way such a winged flight of thirty thousand, with mixed cackling For, in addition to all, and crowing, rose in consequence Aristocrats abound this people, as we said, is much divided Patriotism has both Aristocrats and Austrians to watch. It not so illuminated as old France is Lorraine, this region ; it remembers ancient Feudalisms ; nay within man's memory it had a Court and King of its own, or indeed the splendour Then, contrariwise, of a Court and King, without the burden. the Mother Society, which sits in the Jacobins Church at Paris, has Daughters in the Towns here shrill-tongued, driven acrid consider how the memory of good King Stanislaus, and ages
; ; ;
1

Imperial Feudalism, may comport with this New acrid In all Evangel, and what a virulence of discord there may be which, the Soldiery, officers on one side, private men on the a Soldiery, other, takes part, and now indeed principal part moreover, all the hotter here as it lies the denser, the frontier Province requiring more of it. but the capital City more especially So stands Lorraine so. The pleasant City of Nanci, which faded Feudalism loves, where King Stanislaus personally dwelt and shone, has an Aristocrat Municipahty, and then also a Daughter Society and it has some forty thousand divided souls of population three large Regiments, one of which is Swiss Chateau-Vieux,
of
!

dear to Patriotism ever since it refused fighting, or was thought to refuse, in the Bastille days. Here unhappily all evil influences seem to meet concentred ; here, of all places, may jealousy

and heat evolve itself. These many months, accordingly, man Patriot has been set against man. Washed against Unwashed Soldier against Aristocrat Captain, ever the more bitterly and a long score of grudges has been running up. for there is Nameable grudges, and likewise unnameable a punctual nature in Wrath and daily, were there but glances
;

Moniteur, Seance du 9 Aout 1790.

VOL.

I.

01

358

NANCI
and minutest commissions
or
it will

BOOK

II

of the eye, tones of the voice,

Aug. 1790

jot-down somewhat, to account, under the head of sundries, which always swells the sum-total. For example, in April last, in these times of preliminary Federation, when National Guards and Soldiers were everywhere swearing brotherhood, and all France was locally federating, preparing for the grand National Feast of Pikes, it was observed that these Nanci Officers threw cold water on the whole brotherly business that they first hung back from appearing at the Nanci Federation then did appear, but in mere redingote and undress, with scarcely a clean shirt on nay that one of them, as the National Colours flaunted by in that solemn moment, did, without visible necessity, take occasion to spit} Small sundries as per journal,' but then incessant ones The Aristocrat Municipality, pretending to be Constitutional, keeps mostly quiet not so the Daughter Society, the fivethousand adult male Patriots of the place, still less the five thousand female not so the young, whiskered or whiskerless, four-generation Noblesse in epaulettes the grim Patriot Swiss of Chateau-Vieux, effervescent infant of Regiment du Roi, hot troopers of Mestre-de-Camp Walled Nanci, which stands so bright and trim, with its straight streets, spacious squares, and Stanislaus' Architecture, on the fruitful alluvium of the Meurthe so bright, amid the yellow cornfields in these ReaperMonths, is inwardly but a den of discord, anxiety, inflammability, not far from exploding. Let Bouill6 look to it. If that universal military heat, which we liken to a vast continent of smoking flax, do anywhere take fire, his beard, here in Lorraine
omissions,
;

'

and Nanci,

may the most

is

readily of all get singed

by

it.

busy enough, but only with the general superintendence getting his pacified Salm, and all other still tolerable Regiments, marched out of Metz, to southward towns and villages to rural Cantonments as at Vic, Marsal and thereabout, by the still waters where is plenty of horse-forage, sequestered parade-ground, and the soldier's speculative faculty can be stilled by drilling. Salm, as we said, received only half
Bouille, for his part,
;
;

payment

Nevertheless that scene of the drawn sword may, after all, have raised Bouill6 in the mind of Salm for men and soldiers love
of arrears
;

naturally not without grumbling.

Deux Amis,

v.

217.

intrepidity

ARREARS AT NANCI
intrepidity

359
suffer

and

swift inflexible decision, even

is

when they

CHAP. IV
1790

by

not this fundamentally the quality of Aug. qualities for a man ? A quality which by itself is next to nothing, since inferior animals, asses, dogs, even mules have it yet, in due combination, it is the indispensable basis
it.
;

As indeed

of

all.

Of Nanci and its heats, Bouille, commander of the whole, knows nothing special understands generally that the troops in that City are perhaps the worst? The Officers there have it all, as they have long had it, to themselves and unhappily seem to manage it ill. Fifty yellow furloughs,' given out in one batch, do surely betoken difficulties. But what was
:

'

Patriotism to think of certain light-fencing Fusileers set on,' or supposed to be set on, to insult the Grenadier- club,' considerate speculative Grenadiers and that reading-room of theirs ? With shoutings, with hootings till the speculative Grenadier drew his side-arms too and there ensued battery and duels Nay more, ^re not swashbucklers of the same stamp sent out visibly, or sent out, presumably, now in the now, dress of Soldiers, to pick quarrels with the Citizens disguised as Citizens, to pick quarrels with the Soldiers ? For a certain Roussiere, expert in fence, was taken in the very
'

'

'

'

four Officers (presumably of tender years) hounding him Fence-master Roussiere, on, who thereupon fled precipitately haled to the guardhouse, had sentence of three months' imprisonment but his comrades demanded ' yellow furlough
fact
;
! '

for

him
;

of all persons

nay thereafter they produced him on

in
;

paper-helmet, inscribed Iscariot marched him to the gate of the City and there sternly commanded him to vanish for evermore. On all which suspicions, accusations and noisy procedure, and on enough of the like continually accumulating, the Officer perhaps discould not but look with disdainful indignation dainfully express the same in words, and soon after fly over

parade

capped him

'

to the Austrians.'

So that when
of Arrears, the

it

here, as elsewhere,
is

comes to the question

of the bitterest.

Regiment Mestre-de-Camp getting, amid loud clamour, some three gold louis a-man, which have, as usual, to be borrowed from the Municipality ; Swiss Chateau- Vieux applying for the like,

humour and procedure

Bouill6,

i,

c. 9.

but

860

NANCI
:

BOOK

II

Aug. 1790

but getting instead instantaneous courrois, or cat-o'-nine-tails, with subsequent unsufferable hisses from the women and Regiment du Roi, sick of hope deferred, at length children seizing its military chest, and marching it to quarters, but next day marching it back again, through streets all struck unordered paradings and clamours, not without strong silent your military ranked objurgation, insubordination liquor Arrangement going all (as the Typographers say of set types, Such is Nanci in these early in a similar case) rapidly to pie ^ days of August the sublime Feast of Pikes not yet a month
:

old.

Constitutional Patriotism, at Paris

quake at the news.

less to
'

and elsewhere, may well War-Minister Latour du Pin runs breath-

the National Assembly, with a written message that all is burning, tout brule, tout presse.' The National Assembly, on the spur of the instant, renders such Decret, and order to
'

submit and repent,' as he requires if it will avail anything. On the other hand. Journalism, through all its throats, gives hoarse outcry, condemnatory, elegiac-applausive. The Fortyeight Sections lift up voices sonorous Brewer, or call him now Colonel Santerre, is not silent, in the Faubourg SaintAntoine. For, meanwhile, the Nanci Soldiers have sent a Deputation of Ten, furnished with documents and proofs who will tell another story than the all-is-burning one. Which deputed Ten, before ever they reach the Assembly Hall, assiduous Latour du Pin picks up, and, on warrant of Mayor Bailly, claps in prison Most unconstitutionally for they had
;

'

'

officers'

furloughs.

Whereupon Saint-Antoine,

in

indignant

uncertainty of the future, closes its shops. Is Bouille a traitor, then, sold to Austria ? In that case, these poor private sentinels have revolted mainly out of Patriotism ? New Deputation, Deputation of National Guardsmen now, sets forth from Nanci to enlighten the Assembly. It meets the old deputed Ten returning, quite unexpectedly wnhanged and proceeds thereupon with better prospects but effects nothing. Deputations, Government Messengers, Orderlies at hand-gallop. Alarms, thousand-voiced Rumours, go vibrating continually backwards and forwards, scattering distraction. Not till the last week of August does M. de Malseigne, selected as Inspector, get down to the scene of mutiny with Authority,
; ;

Deux Amis,

v. c. 8.

with

INSPECTOR MALSEIGNE
with cash, and
quashed.
'

361
shall

Decree of the Sixth of August.'

He now

CHAP. IV
Aug. 1790

see these Arrears liquidated, justice done, or at least tumult

CHAPTER V
INSPECTOR MALSEIGNE

Of
is
*

Inspector Malseigne
'

we
;

discern,

by

direct light, that he

and infer, with probability, that he Herculean stature for Royalist Officers now is of truculent mustachioed aspect, that he is of indomitable bullleave the upper lip unshaven
of

heart

and On Tuesday the 24th

;

also, unfortunately, of thick bull-head.

of
;

' Inspecting Commissioner He finds the accounts of Chateausoldiers that can write.' he to require delay and reference Vieux to be complex takes to haranguing, to reprimanding ; ends amid audible grumbling. Next morning, he resumes session, not at the
;
:

August 1790, he opens session as meets those elected corporals, and

Townhall as prudent Municipals counselled, but once more at the barracks. Unfortunately Chateau-Vieux, grumbling from repriall night, will now hear of no delay or reference manding on his part, it goes to bullying, answered with conwheretinual cries of Jugez tout de suite, Judge it at once upon M. de Malseigne will off in a huff. But lo, Chateau-Vieux, swarming all about the barrack-court, has sentries at every M. de Malseigne, demanding egress, cannot get it, not gate though Commandant Denoue backs him, can get only Jugez Here is a nodus tout de suite.' and will Bull-hearted M. de Malseigne draws his sword Confused splutter. M. de Malseigne's sword force egress. the sentry is he snatches Commandant Denoue' s breaks wounded. M. de Malseigne, whom one is loth to kill, does force egress, followed by Chateau-Vieux all in disarray; a spectacle to Nanci. M. de Malseigne walks at a sharp pace, wheeling from time to time, with menaces yet never runs and movements of fence; and so reaches Denoue's house, which house Chateau-Vieux, in an agitated manner, unhurt invests,hindered as yet from entering, by a crowd of officers formed on the staircase. M. de Malseigne retreats by back

'

'

'

ways

362

NANCI
undaunted amid an Townhall he, on the
;
:

BOOK II ways to the Townhall, flustered though Aug. 28-29^ escort of National Guards. From the
^'
;

morrow, emits fresh orders, fresh plans of settlement with to none of which will Chateau-Vieux listen Chateau-Vieux whereupon he finally, amid noise enough, emits order that Chateau-Vieux shall march on the morrow morning, and quarter at Sarre Louis. Chateau-Vieux flatly refuses marching M. de Malseigne takes act,'' due notarial protest, of such refusal,
;

'

happily that may avail him. This is the end of Thursday and, indeed, of M. de Malseigne's Inspectorship, which has lasted some fifty hours. To such length, in fifty hours, has he unfortunately brought it. Mestrede-Camp and Regiment du Roi hang, as it were, fluttering
if
;

Chateau-Vieux is clean gone, in what way we see. Over-night, an Aide-de-Camp of Lafayette's, stationed here for such emergency, sends swift emissaries far and wide to summon National Guards. The slumber of the country is broken by clattering hoofs, by loud fraternal knockings ; everywhere the Constitutional Patriot
for Nanci.

must clutch

his fighting-gear,

and take the road

thus the Herculean Inspector has sat all Thursday, among terror-struck Municipals, a centre of confused noise all Thursday, Friday, and till Saturday towards noon. ChateauVieux, in spite of the notarial protest, will not march a step. As many as four thousand National Guards are dropping or pouring in uncertain what is expected of them, still more uncertain what will be obtained of them. For all is uncertainty, commotion and suspicion there goes a word that Bouille, beginning to bestir himself in the rural Cantonments eastward, is but a Royalist traitor that Chateau-Vieux and Patriotism are sold to Austria, of which latter M. de Malseigne is probably
; : ;

And

Mestre-de-Camp and Roi flutter still more questionably Chateau-Vieux, far from marching, waves red flags out of two carriages,' in a passionate manner, along the streets and next morning answers its Officers Pay us, then and we will march with you to the world's end Under which circumstances, towards noon on Saturday, M. de Malseigne thinks it were good perhaps to inspect the ramparts, on horseback. He mounts, accordingly, with escort of three troopers. At the gate of the City, he bids two of them wait for his return and with the third, a trooper to be depended
:

some agent.

'

'

'

upon,

upon,

INSPECTOR MALSEIGNE for Luneville where a certain hegallops

off
;

363
Car-

lies
!

CHAP. V
Aug. 29,
^790

The two left bineer Regiment not yet in a mutinous state troopers soon get uneasy ; discover how it is, and give the alarm.
Mestre-de-Camp, to the number of a hundred, saddles in frantic gallops out pellmell in chase of its haste, as if sold to Austria careerInspector. And so they spur, and the Inspector spurs ing, with noise and jingle, up the valley of the River Meurthe, towards Luneville and the midday sun through an astonished country indeed almost to their own astonishment. which Actaeon de Malseigne What a hunt Actseon-like to happily gains. To arms, ye Carbineers of Luneville chastise mutinous men, insulting your General Officer, insultabove all things, fire soon, lest there ing your own quarters The Carbineers fire soon, be parleying and ye refuse to fire who exploding upon the first stragglers of Mestre-de-Camp shriek at the very flash, and fall back hastily on Nanci, in a Panic and fury sold to Austria state not far from distraction. so much per regiment, the very sums can be without an if Help, O Heaven ; and traitorous Malseigne is fled specified ye unwashed Patriots ye too are sold like help, thou Earth,
;
;
:

us

Effervescent Regiment du Roi primes its firelocks, MestreCommandant Denoue is seized, is de-Camp saddles wholly ' about canvas-shirt (sarreau de toile) flung in prison with a Chateau-Vieux bursts-up the magazines ; distributes him ' Austria shall to a Patriot people three thousand fusils have a hot bargain. Alas, the unhappy hunting- dogs, as we
: ' ; ' :

and do now run have hunted away their huntsman nigh rabid howling and baying, on what trail they know not And so there is tumultuous march of men, through the with halt on the heights of Flinval, whence Luneville night can be seen all illuminated. Then there is parley, at four in and reparley finally there is agreement the the morning Carbineers gave in Malseigne is surrendered, with apologies on all sides. After weary confused hours, he is even got under way the Lunevillers all turning out, in the idle Sunday, home-going of mutinous Mestre-deto see such departure Camp with its Inspector captive. Mestre-de-Camp accordingly at the comer of the the Lunevillers look." See marches first street, our Inspector bounds off again, bull-hearted as he is amid the slash of sabres, the crackle of musketry and
said,
;
;
!

escapes,

364

NANCI
!

BOOK
1790

II

escapes, full gallop, with only a ball lodged in his huft-jerkin.

Aug. 29,

The Herculean man

For the Carbineers, to on record, he has come

And yet it is an whom after the

circling back,
' ;

'

escape to no purpose, hardest Sunday's ride stand deliberating by

their nocturnal watch-fires

and

deliberating of Austria, of traitors, the rage of Mestre-de-Camp. So that, on the whole, the

that of M. de Malseigne, on the Monday afternoon, faring bull-hearted through the streets of Nanci in open carriage, a soldier standing over him with drawn sword amid the furies of the women,' hedges of National Guards, and confusion of Babel to the Prison beside Commandant Denoue That finally is the lodging of Inspector Malseigne.^ Surely it is time Bouille were drawing near. The Country all round, alarmed with watch-fires, illuminated towns, and marching and rout, has been sleepless these several nights. Nanci, with its uncertain National Guards, with its distributed fusils, mutinous soldiers, black panic and redhot ire, is not a City but a Bedlam.

next sight

we have

is

'

CHAPTER
Haste with help, thou brave not, all is now verily burning
'

VI

BOUILLE AT NANCI
Bouill6
' ;
:

if

swift help

and may burn,

these hours,

come to what

lengths Bouill6

depends on now fare with him, the whole Future may this be way or be that. If, for example, he were to loiter dubitating, and not come if he were to come, and fail the whole Soldiery of France to blaze into mutiny. National Guards going some this way, some that and Royalism to draw its rapier, and Sansculottism to snatch its pike and the Spirit of Jacobinism, as yet young, girt with sun-rays, to grow instantaneously mature, girt with hell-fire, as mortals, in one night of deadly crisis, have had their heads turned gray
!

and breadths
as
it shall

Much,

in

advancing fast, with the old inflexibility gathering himself, unhappily in small affluences,' from East,
is
'

Brave Bouille
Deux

Ann's, v. 206-51

Newspapers and Documents

(in fftst. Pari. vii. 59-162).

from

BOUILLE AT NANCI
;

365

from West and North and now on Tuesday morning, the CHAP. VI last day of the month, he stands all concentred, unhappily still Aug. 31, 1790 in small force, at the village of Frouarde, within some few Son of Adam with a more dubious task before him miles. is not in the world this Tuesday morning. A weltering inflammable sea of doubt and peril, and Bouille sure of simply one thing, his own determination. Which one thing, indeed.

BOUILLE.

may be worth many. He

'

puts a most firm face on the matter twentySubmission, or unsparing battle and destruction this was the tenor of his four hours to make your choice thirty copies of which he sent yesterday to Proclamation all which, we find, were intercepted and not posted.^ Nanci Nevertheless, at half-past eleven this morning, seemingly by way of answer, there does wait on him at Frouarde some
:

'

Compare

Bouill6, Mimoires,

i.

153-76;

Deux Amis,

v.

251-71;

Hist.

Pari.

ubi supri.

Deputation

366

NANCI

BOOK II Deputation from

Aug^Si,
1790

the mutinous Regiments, from the Nanci Municipals, to see what can be done, Bouille receives this Deputation ' in a large open court adjoining his lodging pacified Salm, and the rest, attend also, being invited to do all happily still in the right humour. The Mutineers it, pronounce themselves with a decisiveness, which to Bouille and happily to Salm also. Salm, forgetful seems insolence of the Metz staircase and sabre, demands that the scoundrels be hanged there and then. Bouille represses the hanging but answers that mutinous Soldiers have one course, and not more than one To liberate, with heartfelt contrition. Messieurs Denoue and De Malseigne to get ready forthwith for marchand submit and repent,' as ing off, whither he shall order the National Assembly has decreed, as he yesterday did in thirty printed Placards proclaim. These are his terms, unalterable as the decrees of Destiny. Which terms as they, the Mutineer deputies, seemingly do not accept, it were good for them to vanish from this spot, and even to do it promptly with him too, in few instants, the word will be. Forward The Mutineer deputies vanish, not unpromptly the Municipal ones, anxious beyond right for their own individualities, prefer abiding with Bouille. Brave Bouille, though he puts a most firm face on the matter, knows his position full well how at Nanci, what with rebellious soldiers, with uncertain National Guards, and so many distributed fusils, there rage and roar some ten thousand fighting men while with himself is scarcely the third part of that number, in National Guards also uncertain, in mere pacified Regiments, for the present full of rage, and clamour to march but whose rage and clamour may next moment take such a fatal new figure. On the top of one uncertain billow, therewith to calm billows Bouille must abandon himself to Fortune who is said sometimes to favour the brave. At halfpast twelve, the Mutineer deputies having vanished, our drums beat we march for Nanci Let Nanci bethink itself, then for Bouille has thought and determined. And yet how shall Nanci think not a City but a Bedlam Grim Chateau- Vieux is for defence to the death forces the Municipality to order, by tap of drum, all citizens acquainted with artillery to turn out, and assist in managing the cannon. On the other hand, effervescent Regiment du Roi is drawn up
'

'

'

'

'

'

in

BOUILLE AT NANCI
in its barracks
;

367

quite disconsolate, hearing the humour Salm CHAP. VI Aug. 31, ' La and ejaculates dolefully from its thousand throats is in ^'^ ' Mestre-de-Camp blusters, with profane loi, la loi, Law, law National Guards look swearing, in mixed terror and furor
;
:

this

way and that, not knowing what to do. What a Bedlamall ordering, none obeying as many plans as heads City except the Dead, who sleep underground, having quiet none,
:

done their fighting. at halfAnd, behold, Bouill^ proves as good as his word past two scouts report that he is within half a league of the breathing rattling along, with cannon and array gates A new Deputation, Municipals, nothing but destruction. with passionate Mutineers, Officers, goes out to meet him Bouille grants an hour. entreaty for yet one other hour. Then, at the end thereof, no Denoue or Malseigne appearing as promised, he rolls his drums, and again takes the road.
'
:

'

Towards four o'clock, the terror-struck Townsmen may see him face to face. His cannons rattle there, in their carriages his vanguard is within thirty paces of the Gate Stanislaus. Onward, like a Planet, by appointed times, by law of Nature What next ? Lo, flag of truce and chamade conjuration to Malseigne and Denoue are on the street, coming hither halt Adathe soldiers all repentant, ready to submit and march mantine Bouille's look alters not yet the word Halt is given Malseigne and gladder moment he never saw. Joy of joys Denoue do verily issue escorted by National Guards from they streets all frantic, with sale to Austria and so forth
; !
;

Bouille steps aside to speak with them, and with other heads of the Town there having already ordered by what Gates and Routes the mutineer Regiments
salute Bouille, unscathed.
;

shall file out.

Such colloquy with these two General Officers and other nevertheless one principal Townsmen was natural enough wishes Bouille had postponed it, and not stepped aside. Such tumultuous inflammable masses, tumbling along, making way this of keen nitrous oxide, that of sulphurous for each other firedamp, were it not well to stand between them, keeping them well separate, till the space be cleared ? Numerous stragglers of Chateau- Vieux and the rest have not marched with their main columns, which are filing out by^ the appointed Guards Gates, taking station in the open meadows. National
;

are

368

NANCI

BOOK
^'^^^

II

Aug. 31 J

are in a state of nearly distracted uncertainty ; the populace, armed and unarmed, roll openly delirious, betrayed, sold to the Austrians, sold to the Aristocrats. There are loaded

cannon, with lit matches, among them, and Bouille's vanguard Command dwells is halted within thirty paces of the Gate. which smoulders and not in that mad inflammable mass which will not open the tumbles there, in blind smoky rage says it will open the cannon's throat Gate when summoned Cannonade not, O Friends, or be it through my sooner body cries heroic young Desilles, young Captain of Roi, clasping the murderous engine in his arms, and holding it. ChateauVieux Swiss, by main force, with oaths and menaces, wrench off the heroic youth who undaunted, amid still louder oaths, seats himself on the touch-hole. Amid still louder oaths, with ever louder clangour, and, alas, with the loud crackle of first one, and then of three other muskets which explode into his body which roll it in the dust, and do also, in the loud madness of such moment, bring lit cannon-match to ready priming and so, with one thunderous belch of grape;
;

some fifty of Bouille's vanguard into air Fatal That sputter of the first musket-shot has kindled such a cannon-shot, such a death-blaze and all is now redhot madness, conflagration as of Tophet. With demoniac rage, the Bouille vanguard storms through that Gate Stanislaus with fiery sweep, sweeps Mutiny clear away, to death, or into shelters and cellars from which latter, again. Mutiny continues firing. The ranked Regiments hear it in their meadow they rush back again through the nearest Gate Bouille gallops in, distracted, inaudible and now has begun in Nanci, as in that doomed Hall of the Nibelungen, a murder grim and great.' Miserable such scene of dismal aimless madness as the anger of Heaven but rarely permits among men From cellar or from garret, from open street in front, from successive comers of cross-streets on each hand, Chateau-Vieux and Patriotism keep up the murderous rolling-fire, on murderous
shot, blast
!

'

not Unpatriotic fires. Your blue National Captain, riddled with balls, one hardly knows on whose side fighting, requests to be laid on the colours to die the patriotic Woman (name not given, deed surviving) screams to Ch,teau-Vieux that it must not fire the other cannon and even flings a pail of water
:
;

on

BOUILLE AT NANCI
on
it,

369
;

thou c HAP. VI shalt not fight and with whom shalt thou fight Could Aug. 31, ^790 timiult^ awaken the old Dead, Burgundian Charles the Bold might stir from under that Rotunda of his never since he, raging, sank in the ditches, and lost Life and Diamond, was such a noise heard here. Three thousand, as some count, lie mangled, gory the half of Chateau- Vieux has been shot, without need of CourtMartial. Cavalry, of Mestre-de-Camp or their foes, can do little. Regiment du Roi was persuaded to its barracks stands there palpitating. Bouille, armed with the terrors of the Law, and favoured of Fortune, finally triumphs. In two murderous hours, he has penetrated to the grand Squares, dauntless, though with loss of forty officers and five hundred men the shattered remnants of Chateau- Vieux are seeking covert. Regiment du Roi, not effervescent now, alas no, but having effervesced, will offer to ground its arms will march in a quarter of an hour.' Nay these poor effervesced require escort to march with, and get it though they are thousands strong, and have thirty ball-cartridges a man The Sun is not yet down, when Peace, which might have come bloodless, has come bloody the mutinous Regiments are on march, doleful, on their three Routes and from Nanci rises wail of women and men, the voice of weeping and desolation the City weeping for its slain who awaken not. These streets are empty but for
shalt fight
I

since screaming avails

;

not/

Thou

'

'

victorious patrols.

Thus has Fortune, favouring the brave, dragged Bouille, as himself says, out of such a frightful peril by the hair of the had he head.' An intrepid adamantine man, this Bouille
'
:

stood in old Broglie's place in those Bastille days, it might He has extinguished mutiny, and have been all different yet at immeasurable civil war. Not for nothing, as we see a rate which he and Constitutional Patriotism consider cheap. Nay, as for Bouille, he, urged by subsequent contradiction which arose, declares coldly, it was rather against his own private mind, and more by public military rule of duty, that he did extinguish it,^ immeasurable civil war being now the only chance. Urged, we say, by subsequent contradiction Civil war, indeed, is Chaos ; and in all vital Chaos there is
!

Deux Amis,

v.

268.

Bouille,

i.

175.

new

370

NANCI
itself free
:

BOOK

II

Sept. 1790

new Order shaping all new Orders out

but what a faith

this,

that of
his

of

Chaos and Possibility of

!

Man and

'

Universe, Louis Sixteenth and Two-Chamber Monarchy were It is like underprecisely the one that would shape itself taking to throw deuce-ace, say only five hundred successive times, and any other throw to be fatal for Bouille. Rather thank Fortune, and Heaven, always, thou intrepid Bouille Civil war, conflagrating and let contradiction go its way universally over France at this moment, might have led to one meanwhile, to quench conflagrathing or to another thing tion, wheresoever one finds it, wheresoever one can this, in all times, is the rule for man and General Officer. But at Paris, so agitated and divided, fancy how it went, when the continually vibrating Orderlies vibrated thither at High is the hand-gallop, with such questionable news and also deep the indignation. An august gratulation ; Assembly, by overwhelming majorities, passionately thanks Bouille a King's autograph, the voices of all Loyal, all ConA solemn National stitutional men run to the same tenor. funeral-service, for the Law-defenders slain at Nanci, is said and sung in the Champ-de-Mars Bailly, Lafayette and National Guards, all except the few that protested, assist. With pomp and circumstance, with episcopal Calicoes in tricolor girdles. Altar of Fatherland smoking with cassolettes, or incense-kettles the vast Champ-de-Mars wholly hung round with black mortcloth, which mortcloth and expenditure Marat thinks had better have been laid out in bread, in these dear days, and given to the hungry living Patriot.^ On the other hand, living

Patriotism,
closing its
of forty

and Saint-Antoine, which we have seen noisily shops and suchlike, assembles now to the number
'
'

and, with loud cries, under the very thousand windows of the thanking National Assembly, demands revenge for murdered Brothers, Judgment on Bouille, and instant dismissal of War-Minister Latour du Pin. At sound and sight of which things, if not War-Minister Latour, yet Adored Minister Necker sees good, on the 3d with of September 1790, to withdraw softly, almost privily, an eye to the recovery of his health.' Home to native Switzerlucky to reach it alive Fifteen land not as he last came months ago, we saw him coming, with escort of horse, with
; '
'

'

Ami du

Peuple

(in Hist.

Pari, ubi supra),

sound

BOUILLE AT NANCI
;

371

sound of clarion and trumpet and now, at Arcis-sur-Aube, CHAP. VI while he departs, unescorted, soundless, the Populace and Sept. 1790 Municipals stop him as a fugitive, are not unlike massacring the National Assembly, consulted on the him as a traitor matter, gives him free egress as a nullity. Such an unstable drift-mould of Accident is the substance of this lower world,
;
' '

them that dwell in houses of clay so, especially in hot regions and times, do the proudest palaces we build of it take wings, and become Sahara sand-palaces, spinning many-pillared in the whirlwind, and bury us under their sand
for
;
!

In spite of the forty thousand, the National Assembly persists and Royalist Latour du Pin continues Minister. in its thanks The forty thousand assemble next day, as loud as ever roll find cannon on the porch-steps with towards Latour's Hotel and have to retire elsewhither, and digest their flambeau lit spleen, or reabsorb it into the blood. Over in Lorraine meanwhile, they of the disturbed fusils, ringleaders of Mestre-de-Camp, of Roi, have got marked out yet shall never get judged. Briefer is the for judgment doom of Chateau- Vieux. Chateau- Vieux is, by Swiss law, given up for instant trial in Court-Martial of its own officers. Which Court-Martial, with all brevity (in not many hours), has hanged some Twenty-three, on conspicuous gibbets marched some Threescore in chains to the Galleys and so, to appearance, finished the matter off. Hanged men do cease but out of chains and the Galleys for ever from this Earth there may be resuscitation in triumph. Resuscitation for the and even for the chained Scoundrel or Semichained Hero Scottish John Knox, such World-Hero as we scoundrel know, sat once nevertheless pulling grim-taciturn at the oar and even flung in the Water of Lore of French Galley, as a pented their Virgin-Mary over, instead of kissing her, So, ye bredd,' or timber Virgin, who could naturally swim.^ without hope of Chateau- Vieux, tug patiently, not But indeed at Nanci generally. Aristocracy rides triuman phant, rough. Bouille is gone again, the second day Aristocrat Municipality, with free course, is as cruel as it had before been cowardly. The Daughter Society, as the mother the of the whole mischief, lies ignominiously suppressed bereaved down-beaten Patriotism Prisons can hold no more
; ;
; ; ;

'

'

'

Knox's History of the Reformation,

b.

i.

murmurs,

372

NANCI
' ' :

BOOK

II

Sept. 1790

murmurs, not loud but deep. Here and in the neighbouring Towns, flattened balls picked from the streets of Nanci are balls flattened in carrying death to worn at buttonholes men wear them there, in perpetual memento of Patriotism have to demand revenge. Mutineer deserters roam the woods charity at the musket's end. All is dissolution, mutual rancour, till National Assembly Commissioners gloom and despair
;

with a steady gentle flame of Constitutionalism in who gently lift up the downtrodden, gently pull their hearts down the too uplifted reinstate the Daughter Society, recall gradually levelling, strive in all wise the mutineer deserter ways to smoothe and soothe. With such gradual mild levelling as with solemn funeral-service, cassolettes, on the one side all that OfficialCourts-Martial, National thanks, on the other, The buttonhole will drop its flat ball the ity can do is done. black ashes, so far as may be, get green again.
arrive,
;

This
of

is

the
; '

'

Affair of

Nanci

'

by some

called the

'

Massacre

speaking, the unsightly wrong-side of that thrice-glorious Feast of Pikes, the right-side of which formed a spectacle for the very gods. Right-side and wrong the one was in July, in August the other lie always so near
:
!

Nanci

properly

Theatres, the theatres over in London, are bright with their pasteboard simulacrum of that ' Federation of the French
this of Nanci, we may say, brought out as Drama though not played in any pasteboard Theatre, did for many months enact itself, and even walk spectrally, in all French heads. For the news of it fly pealing through all France awakening, in town and village, in clubroom, messroom, to the utmost borders, some mimic reflex or imaginative repetition always with the angry questionable assertion of the business It was right It was wrong. Whereby come controversies, embitterment, vain jargon ; the hastening forward, duels the augmenting and intensifying of whatever new explosions

people,'

lie

in store for us.

Meanwhile, at this cost or at that, the mutiny, as we say, is stilled. The French Army has neither burst-up in universal simultaneous delirium nor been at once disbanded, put an end to, and made new again. It must die in the chronic manner, through years, by inches with partial revolts, as of Brest Sailors or the like, which dare not spread with men unhappy,
; ;
;

BOUILLE AT NANCI
unhappy, insubordinate
;

373

unhappier, in Royalist mus- CHAP. VI tachioes, taking horse, singly or in bodies, across the Rhine ^ Sept. 1790 the Army morisick dissatisfaction, sick disgust on both sides till it do, in that unexpected manner, bund, fit for no duty phoenix-like, with long throes, get both dead and new-born then start forth strong, nay stronger and even strongest. Thus much was the brave Bouille hitherto fated to do. Wherewith let him again fade into dimness and, at Metz or the rural Cantonments, assiduously drilling, mysteriously diplomatising, in scheme within scheme, hover as formerly a faint shadow, the hope of Royalty.
officers
:

See Dampmartin,

i.

249, etc. etc.

VOL.

1.

2 B

Book Third

BOOK THIRD

THE TUILERIES
CHAPTER
EPIMENIDES
nothing dead in this Universe that what we call dead is only changed, its forces working in inverse The leaf that lies rotting in moist winds,' says one, order Our whole Universe else how could it rot ? has still force thousandfold, from is but an infinite Complex of Forces Gravitation up to Thought and Will man's Freedom environed with Necessity of Nature in all which nothing at any moment slumbers, but all is for ever awake and busy. The thing that seek everylies isolated inactive thou shalt nowhere discover where, from the granite mountain, slow-mouldering since to Creation, to the passing cloud-vapour, to the living man the action, to the spoken word of man. The word that is spoken, not less, but more, the action as we know, flies irrevocable The gods themselves,' sings Pindar, cannot that is done. this, once done, is annihilate the action that is done.' No cast forth into endless Time and, long condone always spicuous or soon hidden, must verily work and grow for ever there, an indestructible new element in the Infinite of Things. Or, indeed, what is this Infinite of Things itself, which men name Universe, but an Action, a sum-total of Actions and Activities ? The living ready-made sum-total of these three, which Calculation cannot add, cannot bring on its tablets All that has been done, yet the sum, we say, is written visible All that is doing, All that will be done Understand it well, the Thing thou beholdest, that Thing is an Action, the product and expression of exerted Force the All of Things is an infinite conjugation of the verb To do. Shoreless Fountain-Ocean of
true, that there
is
;

How
'

'

'

'

'

Force,

EPIMENIDES
Force, of
; ;

375
I

power to do wherein Force rolls and circles, billowing, CHAP. 1790 many-streamed, harmonious .wide as Immensity, deep as beautiful and terrible, not to be comprehended Eternity this thousandthis is what man names Existence and Universe tinted Flame-image, at once veil and revelation, reflex such as he, in his poor brain and heart, can paint, of One Unnameable, From beyond the Star-galaxies, dwelling in inaccessible light from before the Beginning of Days, it billows and rolls, round thee, nay thyself art of it, in this point of Space where thou now standest, in this moment which thy clock measures. Or, apart from all Transcendentalism, is it not a plain truth of sense, which the duller mind can even consider as a truism, that human things wholly are in continual movement, and action and reaction working continually forward, phasis
;
:

after phasis,

How
The

Given the summer's blossoming, then there is also given the autumnal withering so is it ordered not with seedfields only, but with transactions, arrangements, philosophies, societies, French Revolutions, whatsoever man works with in this lower world. The Beginning as the acorn holds in it the End, and all that leads thereto does the oak and its fortunes. Solemn enough, did we think which unhappily, and also happily, we do not very of it, Thou there canst begin the Beginning is for thee, much but where, and of what sort, and for whom will and there the End be ? All grows, and seeks and endures its destinies consider likewise how much grows, as the trees do, whether we So that when your Epimenides, your think of it or not. somnolent Peter Klaus, since named Rip van Winkle, awakens In that seven-years sleep again, he finds it a changed world. All that is without us will of his, so much has changed change while we think not of it much even that is within us. The truth that was yesterday a restless Problem, has today grown a Belief burning to be uttered on the morrow, contrais

often seed that

by unalterable laws, towards prescribed issues ? must we say, and yet not rightly lay to heart
sown,
it

will spring

obstruction Fanaticism it is sinking towards silence, Today is not Yesterday, for of satisfaction or of resignation. man or for thing. Yesterday there was the oath of Love
diction has exasperated it into has dulled it into sick Inertness
; ; ;

mad

ah, today has come the curse of Hate. Not willingly but it could not help coming. The golden radiance of youth,
:

no

would

376

THE TUILERIES
it

BOOK III would

1790

enveloped, deep-sunk, in that Mystery of Time and are Sons of Time fashioned and woven out of Time and on us, and on all that we have, or see, or do, is written Rest not. Continue not, Forward to thy doom
?
:

age

Fearful
;
:

willingly

have tarnished

itself

into the dimness of old

how we stand

But
selves

in seasons of Revolution,

which indeed distinguish them-

seasons by their velocity mainly, your miraculous Seven-sleeper might, with miracle enough, awake sooner not by the century, or seven years, need he sleep often not by the seven months. Fancy, for example, some new Peter Klaus, sated with the jubilee of that Federation day, had lain down, say directly after the Blessing of Talleyrand and, reckoning it all safe now, had fallen composedly asleep under the timber- work of the Fatherland's Altar to sleep there,

from

common

not twenty-one years, but as it were year and day. The cannonading of Nanci, so far off, does not disturb him nor does the black mortcloth, close at hand, nor the requiems chanted, and minute-guns, incense-pans and concourse right over his head none of these but Peter sleeps through them all. Through one circling year, as we say from July the 14th of 1790, till July the 17th of 1791 but on that latter day, no Klaus, nor most leaden Epimenides, only the Dead could continue sleeping and so our miraculous Peter Klaus awakens. With what eyes, O Peter Earth and sky have still their joyous July look, and the Champ-de-Mars is multitudinous with men but the jubilee-huzzahing has become Bedlam-shrieking, of terror and revenge not blessing of Talleyrand, or any blessing, but cursing, imprecation and shrill wail our cannon-salvoes are turned to sharp shot for swinging of incense-pans and Eightythree Departmental Banners, we have waving of the one sanguineous Drapeau Rouge. Thou foolish Klaus The one lay in the other, the one was the other minus Time even as Hannibal's rock-rending vinegar lay in the sweet new wine. That sweet Federation was of last year this sour Divulsion is the self- same substance, only older by the appointed
;

days.

miraculous Klaus or Epimenides sleeps in these times and yet, may not many a man, if of due opacity and levity, act the same miracle in a natural way we mean, with his eyes open ? Eyes has he, but he sees not, except what is under
;

No

his

FOLI.Y

V.

FATE.

BLACK FATE.
White King.
,,

Louis xvi.

/J

/-y-rf*^

Queen. Marie Antoinette.

,,

Q.B.
Q.Kt.

Cardinal de Rohan.

Count Fersen.

R. Black King.
,,

The

Bastille (taken).

'

^; 3

Terminus.

Queen. Goddess of Reason.

s
ML
#-

I '.Ay

Li^y
m^*
^'4.

Pawns. The people.

^'J''.

BLANC FOLLY.

EPIMENIDES
his nose.

377
if

With a sparkhng
;

briskness of glance, as

he not

CHAP.
1790

only saw but saw through, such a one goes whisking, assiduous, not dreaming but that it is the in his circle of officialities whole world as indeed, where your vision terminates, does not inanity begin there, and the world's end clearly disclose itself to you ? Whereby our brisk-sparkling assiduous official person (call him, for instance, Lafayette), suddenly startled, after year and day, by huge grapeshot tumult, stares not less astonished at it than Peter Klaus would have done. Such and indeed not he only natural-miracle can Lafayette perform but most other officials, non-officials, and generally the whole and do bounce up, ever and French People can perform it awakening anon, like amazed Seven-sleepers awakening amazed at the noise they themselves make. So strangely is such a singular Freedom, as we say, environed in Necessity Somnambulism, of Conscious and Unconscious, of Voluntary and Involuntary, is this life of man. If anywhere in the world there was astonishment that the Federation Oath went into grapeshot, surely of all persons the French, first swearers and then shooters, felt astonished the most. The sublime Feast of Pikes with Alas, offences must come. its effulgence of brotherly love, unknown since the Age of Gold, has changed nothing. That prurient heat in Twenty-five but is still hot, nay millions of hearts is not cooled thereby Lift off the pressure of command from so many milhons hotter. all pressure or binding rule, except such melodramatic FederaFor Thou shalt tion Oath as they have bound themselves with was from of old the condition of man's being, and his weal and
:

blessedness

was

in obeying that.

Wo
!

for

him when, were

it

on the best of the clearest necessity, rebellion, disloyal isolation, But the Gospel of Jeanand mere I will, becomes his rule Jacques has come, and the first Sacrament of it has been all things, as we say, are got into hot and hotter celebrated prurience; and must go on pruriently fermenting, in continual change noted or unnoted. Worn out with disgusts,' Captain after Captain, in Royalist mustachioes, mounts his war-horse, or his Rozinante wartill all have garron, and rides minatory across the Rhine Seigneur after Neither does civic Emigration cease ridden. impelled to it, Seigneur must, in like manner, ride or roll and even compelled. For the very Peasants despise him, in
:

'

that

378

THE TUILERIES
: ;

BOOK

III

1790-91

that he dare not join his order and fight.^ Can he bear to say in copper-plate have a Distaff, a Quenouille sent to him or fixed up in wooden reahty over his gateshadow, by post lintel as if he were no Hercules, but an Omphale ? Such scutcheon they forward to him diligently from beyond the till he too bestir himself and march, and Rhine in sour humour another Lord of Land is gone, not taking the Land with him. Nay, what of Captains and emigrating Seigneurs ? There is not an angry word on any of those Twenty-five million French tongues, and indeed not an angry thought in their hearts, but is some fraction of the great Battle. Add many successions of angry words together, you have the manual brawl add brawls together, with the festering sorrows they leave, and they rise to riots and revolts. One reverend thing after another ceases to meet reverence in visible material combustion, chateau after chateau mounts up in spiritual invisible combustion, one authority after another. With noise and glare, or noiselessly and unnoted, a whole Old System of things is vanishing piecemeal the morrow thou shalt look,
: ;
; :
;

and

it is

not.

CHAPTER

II

THE WAKEFUL
Sleep who will, cradled in hope and short vision, Lafayette, who, always in the danger done sees the
'

like
last

danger that will threaten him,' Time's seedfield.

Time

is

not sleeping, nor

;

That sacred Herald's-College of a new Dynasty we mean the Sixty and odd Billstickers with their leaden badges, are not sleeping. Daily they, with pastepot and cross-staff, newclothe the walls of Paris in colours of the rainbow authoritative-heraldic, as we say, or indeed almost magical-thaumaturgic
:

for

no Placard-Journal that they paste but will convince some soul or souls of men. The Hawkers bawl and the Balladsingers great Journalism blows and blusters, through all its throats, forth from Paris towards all corners of France, like an iEolus' Cave keeping alive all manner of fires.
;
:

Dampmartin, passim.

Throats

THE WAKEFUL
Throats or Journals there are, as
of

379
to the

men count/

number CHAP.
;

II

Of various cahbre from your Cheniers, Gorsases, Camilles, down to your Marat, down now to your incipient Hebert of the Pere Duchesne these blow, with fierce weight of argument or quick light banter, for the Durosoys, Royous, Peltiers, SuUeaus, equally Rights of Man with mixed tactics (inclusive, singular to say, of much profane
thirty-three.
;
:

some Hundred and

1790-91

JACQUES RENE HEBERT..

Parody),^ are blowing for Altar and Throne. As for Marat the People's-Friend, his voice is as that of the bullfrog, or bittern by the solitary pools he, unseen of men, croaks harsh thunder, and that alone continually, of indignation, suspicion, incurable starvation sorrow. The People are sinking toward ruin, near dear friends,' cries he, ' your indigence is not the
;

itself

'

My

you have a right to life, as good nor of idleness What man can as Louis XVI., or the happiest of the century.
fruit of vices
;

Mercier,

iii.

163.

See Hist. Pari.

vii. 51.

say

380

THE TUILERIES
' :

BOOK
1791

III

say he has a right to dine, when you have no bread ? ^ The People sinking on the one hand on the other hand, nothing but wretched Sieur Motiers, treasonous Riquetti Mirabeaus traitors, or else shadows and simulacra of Quacks to be seen in high places, look where you will Men that go mincing, grimacing, with plausible speech and brushed raiment hollow within Quacks political Quacks scientific, academical all with a fellow-feeling for each other, and kind of Quack publicspirit Not great Lavoisier himself, or any of the Forty, can escape this rough tongue which wants not fanatic sincerity, nor, strangest of all, a certain rough caustic sense. And then the three thousand gaming-houses,' that are in Paris cesspools for the scoundrelism of the world sinks of iniquity and debauchery, whereas without good morals Liberty is impossible There, in these Dens of Satan, which one knows, and perseveringly denounces, do Sieur Motier's mouchards consort and colleague battening vampyre-like on a People next-door to starvation. O Peuple ! cries he ofttimes, with heartrending accent. Treason, delusion, vampyrism, scoundrelism, from Dan to Beersheba The soul of Marat is sick with the sight but what remedy ? To erect Eight Hundred gibbets,' in convenient rows, and proceed to hoisting Riquetti on the first of them Such is the brief recipe of Marat, Friend of the
!

'

'

'

'

'

'

People.

So blow and bluster the Hundred and thirty-three nor, as would seem, are these sufficient for there are benighted nooks in France, to which Newspapers do not reach and everywhere is such an appetite for news as was never seen in any country.' Let an expeditious Dampmartin, on furlough, set out to return home from Paris, ^ he cannot get along for peasants stopping him on the highway overwhelming him with questions the Maitre de Poste will not send out the horses till you have well-nigh quarrelled with him, but asks always. What news ? At Autun, in spite of the dark night and rigorous frost,' for it is now January 1791, nothing will serve but you must gather your wayworn limbs and thoughts, and speak to the multitudes from a window opening into the market-place.' It is the shortest method This, good Christian
:

'

'

'

'

Ami du
;

Peuple, No. 306.

See other Excerpts in Hist. Pari.

viii.

139-49, 428-

33
^

ix.

85-93, etc.
i.

Dampmartin,

184.

people,

THE WAKEFUL
people,
is

381
II

verily

doing

this

what an august Assembly seemed to me to be CHAP. 1791 and no other is the news
:

weary lips I close Leave me, leave me to repose

Now my
!

on the whole, are not Nations which indeed astonishingly true to their National character runs in the blood ? Nineteen hundred years ago, Julius Caesar, with his quick sure eye, took note how the Gauls waylaid men. It is a habit of theirs,' says he, to stop travellers, were it even by constraint, and inquire whatsoever each of them may have heard or known about any sort of matter in their towns,
;

The good Dampmartin

But,

'

'

demanding to the common people beset the passing trader hear from what regions he came, what things he got acquainted with there. Excited by which rumours and hearsays, they and necessarily will decide about the weightiest matters repent next moment that they did it, on such guidance of uncertain reports, and many a traveller answering with mere Nineteen hundred years fictions to please them, and get off.' ^ and good Dampmartin, wayworn, in winter frost, probably with scant light of stars and fish-oil, still perorates from the InnThis People is no longer called Gaulish ; and it has window
; ;

and suffered change enough certain fierce German Franken came storming over and always after, and, so to speak, vaulted on the back of it for German in their grim tenacious way, have ridden it bridled is, by his very name, Guerre-man, or man that wars and gars. And so the People, as we say, is now called French or Prankish nevertheless, does not the old Gaulish and Gaelic Celthood, with its vehemence, effervescent promptitude, and what good and ill it had, still vindicate itself little adulterated ? For the rest, that in such prurient confusion, Clubbism thrives and spreads, need not be said. Already the Mother of Patriotism, sitting in the Jacobins, shines supreme over all and has paled the poor lunar light of that Monarchic Club
wholly

become
:

hraccatus, has got breeches,

near to final extinction. She, we say, shines supreme, girt with sunlight, not yet with infernal lightning; reverenced, counting her not without fear, by Municipal Authorities most Barnaves, Lameths, Petions, of a National Assembly gladly of all, her Robespierre. Cordeliers, again, your Hebert,
; ;

De

Bello Gallico,

lib. iv. 5.

Vincent,

382

THE TUILERIES

BOOK
1791

III

Vincent, Bibliopolist Momoro, groan audibly that a tyrannous Mayor and Sieur Motier harrow them with the sharp tribula of Law, intent apparently to suppress them by tribulation.

How

the Jacobin Mother Society, as hinted formerly, sheds forth Cordeliers on this hand, and then Feuillans on that an elixir or double distillation of Jacobin the Cordeliers Patriotism the other a wide- spread weak dilution thereof how she will reabsorb the former into her mother bosom, and stormfully dissipate the latter into Nonentity how she breeds and brings forth Three Hundred Daughter Societies her rearing of them, her correspondence, her endeavourings and continual travail how, under an old figure. Jacobinism shoots forth organic filaments to the utmost corners of confused dissolved France organising it anew this properly is the grand fact of the Time. To passionate Constitutionalism, still more to Royalism, which see all their own Clubs fail and die, Clubbism will naturally grow to seem the root of all evil. Nevertheless Clubbism is not death, but rather new organisation, and life out of death destructive, indeed, of the remnants of the Old but to the New important, indispensable. That man can co-operate and hold communion with man, herein lies his miraculous strength. In hut or hamlet. Patriotism mourns not now like voice in the desert it can walk to the nearest Town and there, in the Daughter Society, make its ejaculation into an articulate oration, into an action, guided forward by the Mother of Patriotism herself. All Clubs of Constitutionalists, and suchlike, fail, one after another, as shallow fountains Jacobinism alone has gone down to the deep subterranean lake of waters and may, unless filled in, flow there, copious, continual, like an Artesian well. Till the Great Deep have drained itself up and all be flooded and submerged, and Noah's Deluge out- deluged On the other hand, Claude Fauchet, preparing mankind for a Golden Age now apparently just at hand, has opened his Cercle Social, with clerks, corresponding boards, and so forth in the precincts of the Palais Royal. It is Te-Deum Fauchet the same who preached on Franklin's Death, in that huge Medicean rotunda of the Halle-aux-bleds. He here, this winter, by Printing-press and melodious Colloquy, spreads bruit of himself to the utmost City-barriers. Ten thousand
' ' ;
: :

'

persons

THE WAKEFUL
' ;
'

383
II

persons of respectability and listen to this CHAP. attend there 1791 Procureur-GSnSral de la VSritS, Attorney-General of Truth,' so has he dubbed himself to his sage Condorcet, or other eloquent coadjutor. Eloquent Attorney-General He blows out from him, better or worse, what crude or ripe thing he holds not without result to himself for it leads to a Bishopric, though only a Constitutional one. Fauchet approves himself a glib-tongued, strong-lunged, whole-hearted human individual much flowing matter there is, and really of the better sort, which flowing about Right, Nature, Benevolence, Progress matter, whether it is pan-theistic,' or is pottheistic, only the greener mind, in these days,
; ! : ; ;

'

need

examine. Busy Brissot was long ago of purpose to establish precisely some such regenerative Social Circle
'
:

nay

he had tried it in Newman-street Oxfordstreet,'

of
;

the

Fog

Babylon as some
cash.
Brissot,

and
say,

failed,

surrep-

titiously pocketing

the not Fauchet, was fated to

L ABBE FAUCHET.

the happy man whereat, however, generous Brissot will with sincere heart ten thousand But sing a timber-toned Nunc Domine} what a bulk have many things persons of respectability This Cercle Social, for in proportion to their magnitude which Brissot chants in sincere timber-tones such Nunc what is it ? Unfortunately wind and shadow. The Domine, wnat main reality one finds in it now, is perhaps this: that an ' Attorney-General of Truth did once take shape of a body,

be

'

'

'

as

Son

of
;

Adam, on our Earth, though but

for

months or

moments
1

and ten thousand persons of respectability attended, ere yet Chaos and Nox had reabsorbed him.
;

See Brissot, Patriate- Frani^ais Newspaper iniK.AP../.viii.ix.etseqq.).

Fauchet, Bouche-de-Fer,

etc.

(excerpted

Hundred

384

THE TUILERIES
thirty-three
in

BOOK
1791

III

Hundred and
Social
Circle
;

Paris

Journals

regenerative
Societies,

oratory,

Mother and Daughter

!

from the balconies of Inns, by chimney-nook, at dinner-table, polemical, ending many times in duel And ever, like a constant growling accompaniment of bass Discord scarcity of work, scarcity of food. The winter is hard and cold ragged Bakers '-queues, like a black tattered flag-of-distress, wave out
: ;

ever and anon. It is the third of our Hunger-years, this new year of a glorious Revolution. The rich man when invited to dinner, in such distress- seasons, feels bound in politeness to carry his own bread in his pocket how the poor dine ? And your glorious Revolution has done it, cries one. And our glorious Revolution is subtilely, by black traitors worthy of the Lamp -iron, perverted to do it, cries another. Who will paint the huge whirlpool wherein France, all shivered into wild incoherence, whirls ? The jarring that went on under every French roof, in every French heart the diseased things that were spoken, done, the sum-total whereof is the French Revolution, tongue of man cannot tell. Nor the laws of action that work unseen in the depth of that huge blind incoherence With amazement, not with measurement, men look on the Immeasureable not knowing its laws seeing, with all different degrees of knowledge, what new phases, and results of event, its laws bring forth. France is as a monstrous Galvanic Mass, wherein all sorts of far stranger than chemical galvanic or electric forces and substances are at work electrifying one another, positive and negative filling with electricity your Leyden-Jars, Twenty-five millions in number As the jars get full, there
:

will,

from time to time,

be,

on

slight hint,

an explosion.

CHAPTER
On such wonderful basis,

III

SWOED IN HAND
however, has Law, Royalty, Authority, and whatever yet exists of visible Order, to maintain itself, while it can. Here, as in that Commixture of the Four Elements did the Anarch Old, has an august Assembly spread its pavilion curtained by the dark infinite of discords ; founded
;

on

SWORD

IN

HAND
;

385

on the wavering bottomless of the Abyss and keeps continual CHAP, III Aug. 1790 hubbub. Time is around it, and Eternity, and the Inane and it does what it can, what is given it to do.
;

Glancing reluctantly in, once more, we discern little that is edifying a Constitutional Theory of Defective Verbs struggling forward, with perseverance, amid endless interruptions Mirabeau, from his tribune, with the weight of his name and genius, awing-down much Jacobin violence which in return vents itself the louder over in its Jacobins Hall, and even reads him sharp lectures there. ^ This man's path is mysterious, questiondifficult, and he walks without companion in it. able Pure Patriotism does not now count him among her chosen pure Royalism abhors him yet his weight with the world is overwhelming. Let him travel on, companionless, unwavering, whither he is bound, while it is yet day with him, and the night has not come. But the chosen band of pure Patriot brothers is small counting only some Thirty, seated now on the extreme tip of an the Left, separate from the world. A virtuous Petion
: :

incorruptible

Robespierre,

most

consistent,

incorruptible

of

thin acrid

men; Triumvirs Barnave, Duport, Lameth,

each according to his kind
;
:

in speech, thought, action,

great a lean

old Goupil de Prefeln

on these and what

will follow

them

has pure Patriotism to depend. There too, conspicuous among the Thirty, if seldom audible, in dim fuliginous bePhilippe d'Orl^ans may be seen sitting Gleams wilderment having, one might say, arrived at Chaos there are, at once of a Lieutenancy and Regency debates in the Assembly itself, of succession to the Throne in case the and Philippe, they say, walked present Branch should fail anxiously, in silence, through the corridors, till such high argument were done but it came all to nothing Mirabeau, glaring into the man, and through him, had to ejaculate in ne vaut pas la / Ce j strong untranslatable language and peine qu'on se donne pour lui.^ It came all to nothing Could in the meanwhile Philippe's money, they say, is gone he refuse a little cash to the gifted Patriot, in want only of that he himself in want of all hut that ? Not a pamphlet or indeed written without food can be printed without cash purchasable by cash. Without cash your hopefulest Projector
: ; !

'

'

'

Camille's Journal (in Hist, Pari.

ix.

366-85).

cannot

386

THE TUILERIES
stir

BOOK III cannot

Aug. 1790

from the spot

;

individual patriotic or other ProIntrigues,

jects require cash

how much more do wide-spread

by cash
;

which

live

and

exist
;

lying wide-spread, with dragon!

appetite for cash

Philippe,

fit

to swallow Princedoms

And

so Prince
of Night,
;

amid

his Sillerys, Lacloses

:

and confused Sons

out the centre of the strangest cloudy coil has rolled along of which has visibly come, as we often say, an Epic Preterand within which there has natural Machinery of Suspicion dwelt and worked,
;

what

specialities

of

treason,

stratagem, aimed or aimless endeavour towards mischief,

(if it

no party living be not the preGenius of

it.

siding

Prince of the Power of the Air) has now

any chance to know.

Camille's conjecture
:

is

the likeliest that poor Philippe did mount up, a little way, in treasonable speculation,

he mounted formerly in one of the

as
earliest Balloons
;

but,

KpMt'ft/C 4*-/v*i-^'l

v^ *

ROBESPIERRE
and come down.
Epos.

frightened at the new position he was getting into, had soon

turned the cock again,

More

fool

than he rose

To

create Preter-

natural Suspicion, this was his function in the Revolutionary

But now if he have lost his cornucopia of ready-money, what else had he to lose ? In thick darkness, inward and outward, he must welter and flounder on, in that piteous deathelement, the hapless man. Once, or even twice, we shall still struggling out of the thick deathbehold him emerged element in vain. For one moment, it is the last moment, he starts aloft, or is flung aloft, even into clearness and a kind
;
:

of memorability,

to sink then

for

evermore

The

SWORD
The C6U Droit
persists

IN
less
;

HAND

887

nay with more animation CHAP, ill than ever, though hope has now well-nigh fled. Tough Abhi Aug. 1790 Maury, when the obscure country Royalist grasps his hand with transport of thanks, answers, rolling his indomitable brazen head Hilas, Monsieur, all that I do here is as good as simply nothing.'' Gallant Faussigny, visible this one time in History, advances frantic into the middle of the Hall, exclaiming There is but one way of dealing with it, and that is to fall sword in hand on those gentry there, sabre a la main sur ces gaillards Id,' ^ franticly indicating our chosen Thirty on the extreme tip of the Left Whereupon is clangour and clamour, debate, repentance, evaporation. Things ripen towards downright incompatibility, and what is called scission ': that fierce theoretic onslaught of Faussigny's was in August 1790 next August will not have come, till a famed Two Hundred and Ninety-two, the chosen of Royalism, make solemn and final scission from an Assembly given up to faction depart, shaking the dust off their feet.
no
'
:

'

'

'

'

Connected with this matter of sword in hand, there is yet another thing to be noted. Of duels we have sometimes spoken how, in all parts of France, innumerable duels were fought and argumentative men and messmates, flinging down the wine-cup and weapons of reason and repartee, met in the measured field to part bleeding or perhaps not to part, but to fall mutually skewered through with iron, their wrath and and die as fools die. Long has this lasted, life alike ending, and still lasts. But now it would seem as if in an august Assembly itself, traitorous Royalism, in its despair, had taken
: ; ;

to a duel

new
!

course

Bully or indeed they can be had for a trifle of money. swaggering * Twelve Spadassins were seen, by the yellow eye of Journalism, ' also a considerable arriving recently out of Switzerland number of Assassins, nombre considerable d'assassins, exercising
' ' ;
' '

that of cutting off Patriotism by systematic of that party, go Spadassins swordsmen,

:

'

in fencing-schools
of

and at
;

pistol-targets.'
let

Any

Patriot

Deputy

him escape one time, or ten times, a time there necessarily is when he must fall, and France mourn. How many cartels has Mirabeau had especially while he was which he, Cartels by the hundred the People's champion

mark can be called out

Moniteur, Seance du 21 Aoflt

790.

since

388

THE TUILERIES
must be made
first,

BOOK

III

since the Constitution

and

his time

is
:

Nov. 11-13^ precious, answers now always with a kind of stereotype formula 1790 ' Monsieur, you are put upon List but I warn you that

my

it

and I grant no preferences.' Then, in Autumn, had we not the Duel of Cazales and Barnave the two chief masters of tongue-shot meeting now to exchange pistol-shot ? For Cazales, chief of the Royalists,
is

long,

Blacks or Noirs/ said, in a moment of passion, the Patriots were sheer Brigands,' nay in so speaking, he darted, or seemed to dart, a fire-glance specially at Barnave who thereupon could not but reply by fire-glances, by adjournment to the Bois-de-Boulogne. Barnave's second shot took effect on Cazales' hat. The front nook of a triangular Felt, such as mortals then wore, deadened the ball and saved that fine brow from more than temporary injury. But how easily might the lot have fallen the other way, and Barnave's hat not been so good Patriotism raises its loud denunciation of Duelling in general petitions an august Assembly to stop such Feudal barbarism by law. Barbarism and solecism for will it convince or convict any man to blow half an ounce of lead through the head of him ? Surely not. Barnave was received at the Jacobins with embraces, yet with rebukes.
call
'
'

whom we

'

'

Mindful of which, and also that his reputation in America was that of headlong foolhardiness rather, and want of brain not of heart, Charles Lameth does, on the eleventh day of November, with little emotion, decline attending some hot young Gentleman from Artois, come expressly to challenge him nay indeed he first coldly engages to attend then coldly permits two Friends to attend instead of him, and shame the young Gentleman out of it, which they successfully do. A cold procedure satisfactory to the two Friends, to Lameth and the hot young Gentleman whereby, one might have fancied, the whole matter was cooled down. Not so, however Lameth, proceeding to his senatorial duties, in the decline of the day, is met in those Assembly corridors by nothing but Royalist brocards ; sniffs, huffs and open insults. Human patience has its limits Monsieur,' said Lameth, breaking silence to one Lautrec, a man with hunchback, or natural deformity, but sharp of tongue, and a Black of the deepest tint, Monsieur, if you were a man to be fought
:

'

'

SWORD
' '
!

IN
'

HAND

389

fought with ! I am one,' cries the young Duke de Castries. CHAP. Ill Fast as fire-flash Lameth replies, Tout d Vheure, On the instant, Nov. 11-13, then And so, as the shades of dusk thicken in that Bois-de^^^^ Boulogne, we behold two men with Hon-look, with alert attitude,
'

side foremost, right foot

advanced

flourishing
;

and

thrusting,

stoccado and passado, in tierce and quart intent to skewer one another. See, with most skewering purpose, headlong Lameth, with his whole weight, makes a furious lunge ; but deft Castries whisks aside Lameth skewers only the air, and slits
:

deep and
tries'

far,

on Cas-

sword's-point, his
left

own extended
ing,
lint

arm

Whereupon, with bleedpallor,

surgeon's-

and
is

formalities, the

Duel

considered satisfactorily done. But will there be no

end,

then
out

Lameth
not

lies

Beloved deep -slit,

danger. Black traitorous Aristocrats kill the People's defenders, cut up not
of

CHARLES DE LAMETH.

the Twelve Spadassins out of Switzerland, and the considerable number of Assassins exercising at the pistol-target ? So meditates and ejaculates hurt Patriotism, with ever-deepening, ever-widening fervour, for the space of
rapier-slits.

with with

arguments,

but

And

six-and-thirty hours.

The thirty-six hours past, on Saturday the 13th, one beholds a new spectacle The Rue de Varennes, and neighbouring Boulevard des Invalides, covered with a mixed flowing multi;

the Castries Hotel gone distracted, devil-ridden, belching from every window, ' beds with clothes and curtains,' plate of silver and gold with filigree, mirrors, pictures, images, comamid modes, chiffoniers, and endless crockery and jingle for there goes steady popular cheers, absolutely without theft a cry, He shall be hanged that steals a nail.' It is a Plebiscitumy 2 c VOL. I.
:

tude

'

390

THE TUILERIES
!

BOOK III
1791

citum, or informal iconoclastic Decree of the

in the course of being executed

The Municipality
;

Common
sit

People,

tremu-

lous

deliberating whether they will

hang out the Drapeau

National Assembly, part in loud Abbe Maury unable wail, part in hardly suppressed applause to decide whether the iconoclastic Plebs amount to forty thousand or to two hundred thousand. Deputations, swift messengers, for it is at a distance over the River, come and go. Lafayette and National Guards, apparently though without Drapeau Rouge, get under way in no hot haste. Nay, arrived on the scene, Lafayette salutes with doffed hat, before ordering to fix bayonets. What avails it ? The Plebian Court of Cassation,' as Camille might punningly name it, has done its work ; steps forth, with unbuttoned sack, and just ravage, vest, with pockets turned inside out not plunder With inexhaustible patience, the Hero of two persuasively, with a kind of sweet Worlds remonstrates constraint, though also with fixed bayonets, dissipates, hushes down on the morrow it is once more all as usual.

Rouge and Martial

Law

'

Considering which things, however, Duke Castries may justly write to the President,' justly transport himself across the Marches to raise a corps, or do what else is in him. Royalism totally abandons that Bobadilian method of contest, and the twelve Spadassins return to Switzerlan4 or even to Dreamland through the Horn-gate, whichsoever their true home is. Nay Editor Prudhomme is authorised to publish a curious thing We are authorised to publish,' says he, dull-blustering Publisher, that M. Boyer champion of good Patriots is at the head of Fifty Spadassinicides or 'BvMy-killers. His address is Passage du Bois-de-Boulogne, Faubourg St. Denis.' ^ One of the strangest Listitutes, this of Champion Boyer and the Bully*
;

'

'

however, are not wanted ; Royalism having abandoned the rapier method, as plainly impracticable.
killers
!

Whose

services,

Rholutions de Paris

(in Hiit. Pari. viii. 440).

Chapter IV

TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

391
CHAP. IV
1791

CHAPTER
The

IV

TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

truth is, Royalism sees itself verging towards sad extremities ; nearer and nearer daily. From over the Rhine it comes asserted that the King in his Tuileries is not free this the poor King may contradict, with the official mouth, but in his heart feels often to be undeniable. Civil ConstituDecree of ejectment against Dissidents tion of the Clergy from it not even to this latter, though almost his conscience but, after two months' hesitating, rebels, can he say Nay It was on January 21st,' of this 1791, that signs this also. to the sorrow of his poor heart yet, on another he signed it Twenty-first of January Whereby come Dissident ejected unconquerable Martyrs according to some, incurable Priests chicaning Traitors according to others. And so there has with Religion, or with arrived what we once foreshadowed the Cant and Echo of Religion, all France is rent asunder in complicating, embittering all the a new rupture of continuity to be cured only by stern surgery, in La Vendee older Unhappy Royalty, unhappy Majesty, Hereditary Represen:

'

tative, Representant Hereditaire, or

howsoever they
;

may name
!

expected, to whom little is given a Lafayette, Blue National Guards encircle that Tuileries clear, thin, inflexible, as water thin constitutional Pedant turned to thin ice ; whom no Queen's heart can love. National Assembly, its pavilion spread where we know, sits near by,

him

of

whom much

is

keeping continual hubbub. From without, nothing but Nanci riots Revolts, sack of Castries Hotels, riots and seditions North and South, at Aix, at Douai, at Befort, Usez, Perpignan, a conat Nismes, and that incurable Avignon of the Pope's tinual crackling and sputtering of riots from the whole face of Add only the hard testifying how electric it grows. France that continual winter, the famished strikes of operatives
;
:

running-bass of Scarcity, ground-tone and basis of Discords

all

other

The plan

of Royalty, so far as

it

can be said to have any

fixed

392

THE TUILERIES
is still,

BOOK
1791

III

fixed plan,

as ever, that of flying towards the frontiers.

In very truth, the only plan of the smallest promise for it bristle yourself round with cannon, served by Fly to Bouille your forty-thousand undebauched Germans summon the National Assembly to follow you, summon what of it is Royalist, Constitutional, gainable by money dissolve the rest, by grapeshot if need be. Let Jacobinism and revolt, with one wild wail, fly into Infinite Space driven by grapeshot. Thunder over France with the cannon's mouth commanding, not entreating, that this riot cease. And then to rule afterwards with utmost possible Constitutionality doing justice, loving mercy being Shepherd of this indigent People, not Shearer merely, and Shepherd's-similitude If All this, if ye dare. ye dare not, then, in Heaven's name, go to sleep other handsome alternative seems none. Nay, it were perhaps possible with a man to do it. For if such inexpressible whirlpool of Babylonish confusions (which our Era is) cannot be stilled by man, but only by Time and men, a man may moderate its paroxysms, may balance and sway, and keep himself unswallowed on the top of it, as several men and Kings in these days do. Much is possible for a man men will obey a man that kens and cans, and name him reverently their Ken-ning or King. Did not Charlemagne rule ? Consider, too, whether he had smooth times of it hanging four-thousand Saxons over the Weser-Bridge,' at one dread swoop So likewise, who knows but, in this same distracted fanatic France, the right man may verily exist ? An olive- complexioned taciturn man for the present, Lieutenant in the Artillery- service, who once sat studying Mathematics at Brienne ? The same who walked in the morning to correct proof-sheets at Dole, and enjoyed a frugal breakfast with M. Joly ? Such a one is gone, whither also famed General Paoli his friend is gone, in these very days, to see old scenes in native Corsica, and what Democratic good can be done there.
; '
' :

'

Royalty never executes the evasion plan, yet never abandons it living in variable hope undecisive, till fortune shall decide. In utmost secrecy, a brisk Correspondence goes on with Bouille there is also a plot, which emerges more than
;
;

once,

for

carrying
1

the King to
vii.

Rouen

plot
etc.

after

plot

See Mist. Pari.

316; Bertrand-Moleville,

emerging

TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

'

393

emerging and submerging, like ignes fatui in foul weather, CHAP. IV 1791 which lead nowhither. About ten o'clock at night,' the Hereditary Representative, in partie quarree, with the Queen, with Brother Monsieur, and Madame, sits playing wish,'' or whist. Usher Campan enters mysteriously, with a message he
'

only half comprehends How a certain Comte D'Inisdal waits anxious in the outer antechamber National Colonel, Captain of the watch for this night, is gained over post-horses ready all the way party of Noblesse sitting armed, determined will his Majesty, before midnight, consent to go ? Profound Campan waiting with upturned ear. silence Did your Majesty hear what Campan said ? asks the Queen. Yes, I heard,' answers Majesty, and plays on. 'Twas a pretty couplet, that of Campan's,' hints Monsieur, who at times showed After a pleasant wit Majesty, still unresponsive, plays wisk. all, one must say something to Campan,' remarks the Queen. Tell M. D'Inisdal,' said the King, and the Queen puts an emphasis on it, That the King cannot consent to be forced said D'Inisdal, whisking round, peaking away.' I see we have the risk we are himself into flame of irritancy ^ and vanishes, he and his plot, to have all the blame if it fail,' The Queen sat till far in the night, packing as will-o'-wisps do. in that peaked flame of irribut it came to nothing jewels
:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

tancy the will-o'-wisp had gone

Little

out.

hope there

is

in all this.

Alas, with

whom

to fly

Gardes-du-Corps, ever since the Insurrection of Women, are disbanded gone to their homes gone, many of them, across the Rhine towards Coblentz and Exiled Princes brave Miomandre and brave Tardivet, these faithful Two,
loyal
;

Our

nocturnal interview with both Majesties, their viaticum of gold louis, of heartfelt thanks from a Queen's his Majesty stood, back to fire, not lips, though unluckily ^ reand do now dine through the Provinces speaking counting hairsbreadth escapes, insurrectionary horrors. Great But, on the whole, horrors, to be swallowed yet of greater.

have received,

in

'

'

Here from the old splendour of Versailles in this poor Tuileries a National Brewer-Colonel, sonorous Our Santerre, parades officially behind her Majesty's chair. nothing now to be high dignitaries all fled over the Rhine gained at Court but hopes, for which life itself must be risked

what a

falling-off

Campan,

ii.

105.

^ ^i>id. ii.

199-201.

Obscure

394

THE TUILERIES
; '
'

BOOK III Obscure busy men

1791

with hearsays, frequent the back stairs wind-projects, unfruitful fanfaronades. Young Royalists, at sing couplets if that could do the ThSdtre de Vaudeville, anything. Royalists enough, Captains on furlough, burnt-out Seigneurs, may likewise be met with, ' in the Cafe de Valois, There they fan one and at M6ot the Restaurateur's.' another into high loyal glow drink, in such wine as can be procured, confusion to Sansculottism show purchased dirks, of an improved structure, made to order and, greatly daring, It is in these places, in these months, that the epithet dine.^ in the last Sansculotte first gets applied to indigent Patriotism age we had Gilbert Sansculotte, the indigent Poet.^ Destituteof-Breeches a mournful Destitution which however, if Twenty millions share it, may become more effective than most Possessions Meanwhile, amid this vague dim whirl of fanfaronades, wind-projects, poniards made to order, there does disclose itself one puncium-saliens of life and feasibility the finger of Mirabeau Mirabeau and the Queen of France have met have parted with mutual trust It is strange secret as the Mysteries but it is indubitable. Mirabeau took horse, one evening and rode westward, unattended, to see Friend Clavi^re in that country-house of his ? Before getting to Claviere's, the much-musing horseman struck aside to a back gate of the Garden of Saint-Cloud some Duke D'Aremberg, or the like, was there to introduce him the Queen was not far on a round knoll, rond point, the highest of the Garden of Saint-Cloud,' he beheld the Queen's face spake with her, alone, under the void canopy of Night. What an interview fateful, secret for us, after all searching like the colloquies of the gods ^ She called him a Mirabeau elsewhere we read that she ' was charmed with him,' the wild submitted Titan as indeed it is among the honourable tokens of this high ill-fated heart that no mind of any endowment, no Mirabeau, nay no Barnave, no Dumouriez, ever came face to face with her but, in spite of all prepossessions, she was forced to recognise it, to draw nigh to it, with trust. High imperial heart with the instinctive attraction towards all that had any height You know not the Queen,' said Mirabeau once
; ;
;

'

'

'

'

'

Dampmartin, ii. 129. Campan, ii. c. 17.

Mercier,

Nouveau

Paris,

iii.

204.

in

TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

in confidence
' ;

395

her force of mind is prodigious she is a man CHAP, IV 1791 for courage.' And so, under the void Night, on the crown of that knoll, she has spoken with a Mirabeau he has kissed ' loyally the queenly hand, and said with enthusiasm Madame, the Monarchy is saved Possible ? The Foreign Powers, mysteriously sounded, gave favourable guarded response ^ Bouill6 is at Metz, and could find forty-thousand sure Germans. With a Mirabeau for head, and a Bouill6 for hand, something verily is possible, if Fate intervene not. But figure under what thousandfold wrappages, and cloaks of darkness. Royalty, meditating these things, must involve There are men with Tickets of Entrance itself. there are chivalrous consultings, mysterious plottings. Consider also whether, involve as it like, plotting Royalty can escape the lynx-eyes, by the ten thousand, fixed on glance of Patriotism Patriotism knows much knows it, which see in the dark the dirks made to order, and can specify the shops ; knows the Tickets of Entrie, Sieur Motier's legions of mouchards and men in black and how plan of evasion succeeds plan, or may be supposed to succeed it. Then conceive the coupor worse, the lets chanted at the Thidtre de Vaudeville whispers, significant nods of traitors in moustachioes. Conceive, on the other hand, the loud cry of alarm that came the Dionysius'through the Hundred- and-Thirty Journals Ear of each of the Forty-Eight Sections, wakeful night and day. not patient of all. The Patriotism is patient of much Cafe de Procope has sent, visibly along the streets, a Deputation of Patriots, to expostulate with bad Editors,' by trustsingular to see and hear. The bad Editors ful word of mouth promise to amend, but do not. Deputations for change of Mayor Bailly joining even with Cordelier Ministry were many
^

'

'

'

'

prevailed. With what profit ? Danton in such Of Quacks, willing or constrained to be Quacks, the race is Ministers Duportail and Dutertre will have to everlasting manage much as Ministers Latour du Pin and Cic6 did. So
;

and they have

welters the confused world.

But now, beaten on for ever by such inextricable contradictory influences and evidences, what is the indigent French Patriot, in these imhappy days, to believe, and walk by ?
Uncertainty
^

all

except that he
'

is

wretched, indigent

that a

Dumont,

p. 211.

Correspondance SecrHe

(in Hist. Pari, viii, 169-73),

glorious

396

THE TUILERIES
wonder
of the Universe, has hitherto
;

BOOK in
1791

glorious Revolution, the

being marred by traitors, Traitors that dwell in the dark, invisible difficult to discover. there; or seen for moments, in pallid dubious twilight, stealthily Preternatural Suspicion once more rules vanishing thither

brought neither Bread nor Peace

the minds of men.

writes Carra, of the Annales Patriotiques, so early as the first of February, ' can entertain a doubt of the constant obstinate project these people have on foot to get the
'

Nobody

here,'

King away employ for

or of the perpetual succession of manoeuvres they

:

Nobody the watchful Mother of Patriotism deputed two Members to her Daughter at Versailles, to examine how the matter looked there. Well, and there ? The Report of these two deputies Patriotic Carra continues we all heard with our own ears last Saturday. They went
that.'
: '

with others of Versailles, to inspect the King's Stables, also the they found there from stables of the whilom Gardes-du-Corps seven to eight hundred horses standing always saddled and The same bridled, ready for the road at a moment's notice. deputies, moreover, saw with their own two eyes several Royal Carriages, which men were even then busy loading with large well-stuffed luggage-bags,' leather cows, as we call them, vaches the Royal Arms on the panels almost entirely effaced.' de cuir Also on the same day the Marechaussee, Momentous enough or Cavalry Police, did assemble with arms, horses and baggage,' and disperse again. They want the King over the marches, that so Emperor Leopold and the German Princes, whose troops this,' adds are ready, may have a pretext for beginning this is the reason why our Carra, is the word of the riddle
:
'

'

'

'

fugitive Aristocrats are

tiers
;

now making

levies of

men on

the fron-

expecting that, one of these mornings, the Executive Chief Magistrate will be brought over to them, and the civil

war commence.'
If

indeed the Executive Chief Magistrate, bagged, say in one of these leather cows, were once brought safe over to them But the strangest thing of all is, that Patriotism, whether barking at a venture, or guided by some instinct of preternatural sagacity, is actually barking aright this time at something, not at nothing. Bouille Secret Correspondence,
! ;

since

made
^

public, testifies as

much.
ix. 39).

Carra's Newspaper, ist Feb. 1791 (in Hist. Pari.

Nay,

TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

:

397

Nay, it is undeniable, visible to all, that Mesdames the King's CHAP. IV Aunts are taking steps for departure asking passports of the Feb. 19, ^"^^^ Ministry, safe-conducts of the Municipality which Marat warns all men to beware of. They will carry gold with them, these old Beguines nay they will carry the little Dauphin, having nursed a changeling, for some time, to leave in his stead Besides, they are as some light substance flung up, to show how the wind sits a kind of proof-kite you fly off to ascertain whether the grand paper-kite, Evasion of the King,
; '
'

'

'

may mount
In these alarming circumstances, Patriotism is not wanting to itself. Municipality deputes to the King Sections depute to the Municipality a National Assembly will soon stir. Meanwhile, behold, on the 19th of February 1791, Mesdames, quitting Bellevue and Versailles with all privacy, are off Towards Rome, seemingly or one knows not whither. They are not without King's passports, countersigned and what is more to the purpose, a serviceable Escort. The Patriotic Mayor or Mayorlet of the Village of Moret tried to detain them but brisk Louis de Narbonne, of the Escort, dashed off returned soon with thirty dragoons, and at hand-gallop victoriously cut them out. And so the poor ancient women go their way to the terror of France and Paris, whose nervous Who else would hinder poor excitability is become extreme. Loque and Graille, now grown so old, and fallen into such unexpected circumstances, when gossip itself turning only on terrors and horrors is no longer pleasant to the mind, and you cannot get so much as an orthodox confessor in peace, from going what way soever the hope of any solacement might lead
; ;
!

poor ancient dames, whom the heart were hard with palpitations, with unmelothey go that did not pity all France screeching and cackdious suppressed screechings ling, in loud wnsuppressed terror, behind and on both hands such mutual suspicion is among men. At Arnay le of them Due, above halfway to the frontiers, a Patriotic Municipality Louis Narand Populace again takes courage to stop them bonne must now back to Paris, must consult the National Assembly. National Assembly answers, not without an effort, that Mesdames may go. Whereupon Paris rises worse than
go,
:

them ? They

ever,

screeching half-distracted.

Tuileries

and precincts are

filled

398

THE TUILERIES

BOOK

III

Feb. 19, 1791

with women and men, while the National Assembly debates this question of questions ; Lafayette is needed at night for dispersing them, and the streets are to be illuminated. Commandant Berthier, a Berthier before whom are great things unknown, lies for the present under blockade at Bellevue in Versailles. By no tactics could he get Mesdames' Luggage
filled

BERTHIER.
from the Courts there frantic Versaillese women came screaming about him his very troops cut the wagon-traces he retired to the interior,' waiting better times. Nay in these same hours, while Mesdames, hardly cut out from Moret by the sabre's edge, are driving rapidly, to foreign parts, and not yet stopped at Arnay, their august Nephew poor Monsieur, at Paris, has dived deep into his cellars of the
stirred
; ;

'

Campan,

ii.

132.

Luxembourg

THE DAY OF PONIARDS

Luxembourg
for shelter
; ;

399

and, according to Montgaillard, can CHAP, IV hardly be persuaded up again. Screeching multitudes environ Feb. 19, ^^^^ drawn thither by report of his departhat Luxembourg of his but at sight and sound of Monsieur they become crowing ture multitudes ; and escort Madame and him to the Tuileries with vivats.^ It is a state of nervous excitability such as few nations know.
:

CHAPTER V
THE DAY OF PONIARDS
Or, again, what means this visible reparation of the Castle Other Jails being all crowded with prisoners, of Vincennes ? new space is wanted here that is the Municipal account. For in such changing of Judicatures, Parlements being abolished, and New Courts but just set up, prisoners have accumulated. Not to say that in these times of discord and club-law, offences and committals are, at any rate, more numerous. Which Municipal account, does it not sufficiently explain the phenomenon ? Surely, to repair the Castle of Vincennes was of all enterprises that an enlightened Municipality could undertake
:

the most innocent.

however, does neighbouring Saint-Antoine look on Saint-Antoine, to whom these peaked turrets and grim it donjons, ail-too near her own dark dwelling, are of themselves Was not Vincennes a kind of minor Bastille ? an offence. Great Diderot and Philosophes have lain in durance here great Mirabeau, in disastrous eclipse, for forty-two months. And now when the old Bastille has become a dancing-ground

Not
:

so,

(had any one the mirth to dance), and its stones are getting built into the Pont Louis-Seize, does this minor, comparative insignificance of a Bastille flank itself with fresh-hewn muUions, spread out tyrannous wings ; menacing Patriotism ? New and what prisoners ? A D 'Orleans, with space for prisoners the chief Patriots on the tip of the Left ? It is said, there runs ' a subterranean passage all the way from the Tuileries Who knows ? Paris, mined with quarries and catahither. combs, does hang wondrous over the abyss Paris was once to
: '

Montgaillard,

ii.

282

Deux

Atnis,

vi. c.

1.

be

400

THE TUILERIES
up,

BOOK III be blown

Feb. 19, 1791
ija^j gQi;

though
'

the powder,

when we went

to look,

withdrawn. A Tuileries, sold to Austria and Coblentz, should have no subterranean passage. Out of which might not Coblentz or Austria issue, some morning and, with cannon of long range, foudroyer,' bethunder a patriotic Saint- Antoine into smoulder and ruin So meditates the benighted soul of Saint- Antoine, as it sees
; !

DENIS DIDEROT.
the aproned workmen, in early spring, busy on these towers. An official-speaking Municipality, a Sieur Motier with his Were Patriot legions of mouchards, deserve no trust at all. But the sonorous Brewer Santerre, indeed, Commander commands only our own Battalion of such secrets he can explain nothing, knows nothing, perhaps suspects much. And and afflicted benighted Saint- Antoine so the work goes on hears rattle of hammers, sees stones suspended in air.^
! :

Montgaillard,

ii,

285.

Saint-Antoine

THE DAY OF PONIARDS

:

401

Saint-Antoine prostrated the first great Bastille will it CHAP. V Feb. 28, falter over this comparative insignificance of a Bastille ? ^^^^ Friends, what if we took pikes, firelocks, sledge-hammers ; Speedier is no remedy nor so certain. and helped ourselves On the 28th day of February, Saint-Antoine turns out, as it and, apparently with little superfluous has now often done tumult, moves eastward to that eye-sorrow of Vincennes. With grave voice of authority, no need of bullying and shouting, Saint-Antoine signifies to parties concerned there, that its purpose is. To have this suspicious Stronghold razed level with the general soil of the country. Remonstrance may be but it avails not. The outer gate goes proffered, with zeal iron window-stanchions, smitten out up, drawbridges tumble it rains a rain of with sledge-hammers, become iron-crowbars with chaotic clatter and rattle. furniture, stone-masses, slates Demolition clatters down. And now hasty expresses rush through the agitated streets, to warn Lafayette, and the MuniRumour warns a National cipal and Departmental Authorities Assembly, a Royal Tuileries, and all men who care to hear it that Vincennes, and probably the That Saint-Antoine is up last remaining Institution of the Country, is coming down.^ Let Lafayette roll his drums and fly eastQuick, then for to all Constitutional Patriots this is again bad ward news. And you, ye Friends of Royalty, snatch your poniards your sword-canes, of improved structure, made to order secret arms, and tickets of entry; quick, by backstairs pasAn effervescence sages, rally round the Son of Sixty Kings. probably got up by D 'Orleans and Company, for the overit is said her Majesty shall be throw of Throne and Altar put in prison, put out of the way what then will his Majesty Or were it impossible be ? Clay for the Sansculottic Potter a brave Noblesse suddenly all rallying ? Peril to fly this day Dukes de Villequier, de Duras, Gentlethreatens, hope invites men of the Chamber give Tickets and admittance; a brave Noblesse is suddenly all rallying. Now were the time to fall sword in hand on those gentry there,' could it be done with
!

'

effect.

blue two Worlds is on his white charger Santerre, with Nationals, horse and foot, hurrying eastward

The Hero

of

the

Saint-Antoine
1

Battalion,
vi.

is

already

there,apparently
indisposed

Deux Amis,

ii-iS

Newspapers

(in Hist. Pari. ix. iii-i7)-

402

THE TUILERIES
!

BOOK III
Feb. 28,

^^^^

Heavy-laden Hero of two Worlds, what The jeerings, provocative gamboUings of tasks are these that Patriot Suburb, which is all out on the streets now, are unwashed Patriots jeering in sulky sport hard to endure one unwashed Patriot seizing the General by the boot,' to unhorse him. Santerre, ordered to fire, makes answer obliquely, and not a trigger These are the men that took the Bastille Neither dare the Vincennes Magistracy give warrant of stirs. arrestment, or the smallest countenance wherefore the General will take it on himself to arrest. By promptitude, by cheerful adroitness, patience and brisk valour without limits, the riot may be again bloodlessly appeased. Meanwhile the rest of Paris, with more or less unconcern, may mind the rest of its business for what is this but an effervescence, of which there are now so many ? The National Assembly, in one of its stormiest moods, is debating a Law I swear against Emigration Mirabeau declaring aloud, beforehand that I will not obey it.' Mirabeau is often at with endless impediments from withthe Tribune this day out with the old unabated energy from within. What can murmurs and clamours, from Left or from Right, do to this man like Teneriffe or Atlas unremoved ? With clear thought with strong bass voice, though at first low, uncertain, he claims audience, sways the storm of men anon the sound of him waxes, softens he rises into far-sounding melody of strength, triumphant, which subdues all hearts his rude seamed face, desolate, fire-scathed, becomes fire-lit, and radiates once again men feel, in these beggarly ages, what is the potency and omnipotency of man's word on the souls of men. I will triumph, or be torn in fragments,' he was once heard to say. Silence,' he cries now, in strong word of command, in imperial consciousness of strength, Silence, the thirty voices. Silence aux trente voice ! and Robespierre and the Thirty Voices die into mutterings and the Law is once more as Mirabeau would have it.
indisposed to act.
; ' '
'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

General Lafayette's street-eloquence wrangling with sonorous Brewers, with an ungrammatical Saint- Antoine Most different, again, from both is the Caf^-de-Valois eloquence, and suppressed fanfaronade, of this multitude of men with Tickets of Entry ; who are now inundating the Corridors of the Tuileries. Such things can go on simultaneously in one City. How much
different, at the
;

How

same

instant,

is

more

THE SANSCULOTTES.

*<-

THE DAY OF PONIARDS

more
in
;

403

one Country in one Planet with its discrepancies, CHAP. V every Day a mere crackling infinitude of discrepancies, which Feb. 28, ^'^^^ nevertheless do yield some coherent net-product, though an infinitesimally small one But be this as it may, Lafayette has saved Vincennes and is marching homewards with some dozen of arrested demolitionists. Royalty is not yet saved nor indeed specially endangered. But to the King's Constitutional Guard, to these old Gardes Fran9aises, or Centre Grenadiers, as it chanced to be, this affluence of men with Tickets of Entry is becoming more and more unintelligible. Is his Majesty verily for Metz, then to be carried off by these men, on the spur of the instant ? That revolt of Saint- Antoine got up by traitor Royalists for a stalking-horse ? Keep a sharp outlook, ye Centre Grenadiers good never came from the men in black.' on duty here some of them leatherNay they have cloaks, redingotes

'

breeches, boots,

as
;

if

for instant riding

Or what

is

this

^ that sticks visible from the lapelle of Chevalier de Court ? Too like the handle of some cutting or stabbing instrument He glides and goes and still the dudgeon sticks from his left ' a Centre Grenadier clutches lapelle. Hold, Monsieur him clutches the protrusive dudgeon, whisks it out in the face of the world by Heaven, a very dagger hunting-knife or whatsoever you will call it fit to drink the life of Patriotism not So fared it with Chevalier de Court, early in the day
1 !

'

not without commentaries. And now this continually increasing multitude at nightfall ? Have they daggers too ? Alas, with them too, after angry parleyings, all men in black, there has begun a groping and a rummaging spite of their Tickets of Entry, are clutched by the collar, and for always, as the dirk, groped. Scandalous to think of sword-cane, pistol, or were it but tailor's bodkin, is found on him, and with loud scorn drawn forth from him, he, the hapless man in black, is flung ail-too rapidly down stairs. Flung accelerated by and ignominiously descends, head foremost nay, as it is ignominious shovings from sentry after sentry spurnings d posteriorly not written, by smitings, twitchings,
without noise
; ;
:

In this accelerated way emerges, uncertain which end uppermost, man after man in black, through all
to be named.
issues, into

the Tuileries Garden

1

emerges, alas, into the arms

286.

Weber,

ii.

of

404

THE TUILERIES

BOOK
^^^^

III

of
in

Feb. 28,

an indignant multitude, now gathered and gathering there, the hour of dusk, to see what is ;toward, and whether the
;
;

Hereditary Representative is carried off or not. Hapless men conat last convicted of poniards made to order in black Within is as the burning victed Chevaliers of the Poniard his without is as the deep sea. Within is no help ship Majesty, looking forth, one moment, from his interior sanctuaries,
'
'

coldly bids

all visitors

the door again. convicted Chevaliers of the Poniard keep descending pell-mell, with impetuous velocity and at the bottom of all staircases the mixed multitude receives them, hustles, buffets, chases and disperses them.^ Such sight meets Lafayette, in the dusk of the evening, as he returns, successful with difficulty at Vincennes Sansculotte Scylla hardly weathered, here is Aristocrat Charybdis gurgling under his lee The patient Hero of two Worlds almost loses temper. He accelerates, does not retard, the flying Chevaliers delivers, indeed, this or the other hunted Loyalist of quality, but rates him in bitter words, such as the hour suggested hanging, such as no saloon could pardon. Hero ill-bestead so to speak, in mid-air hateful to Rich divinities above hateful Duke de Villequier, Gentleman to Indigent mortals below of the Chamber, gets such contumelious rating, in presence of all people there, that he may see good first to exculpate then, that not prospering, to himself in the Newspapers retire over the Frontiers, and begin plotting at Brussels.^ His Apartment will stand vacant usefuUer, as we may find, than when it stood occupied. So fly the Chevaliers of the Poniard hunted of Patriotic men, shamefully in the thickening dusk. A dim miserable born of darkness dying away there in the thickenbusiness ing dusk and dimness. In the midst of which, however, let the reader discern clearly one figure running for its life CrispinCatiline d'Espremenil, for the last time, or the last but one. It is not yet three years since these same Centre Grenadiers, Gardes Fran9aises then, marched him towards the Calypso Isles, in the gray of the May morning and he and they have got thus far. Buffeted, beaten down, delivered by popular Petion, he might well answer bitterly And I too. Monsieur,
:

and shuts up their weapons the The weapons given up form a heap
'

give

'

'

ffisL Pari.

ix.

139-48.

Montgaillard,

ii.

286.

have

THE DAY OF PONIARDS

405

have been carried on the People's shoulders.' ^ A fact which CHAP. V Feb. 28, popular Petion, if he like, can meditate. ^'^^^ Put happily, one way and another, the speedy night covers up this ignominious Day of Poniards and the Chevaliers escape, though maltreated, with torn coat- skirts and heavy
;

hearts,

to their respective dweUing-houses. Riot twofold is quelled and little blood shed, if it be not insignificant blood from the nose Vincennes stands undemolished, reparable
;

and the Hereditary Representative has not been stolen, nor the Queen smuggled into Prison. A day long remembered commented on with loud hahas and deep grumblings with
:

bitter scornfulness of triumph, bitter rancour of defeat.

ism,

as usual, imputes

it
:

Royalto D 'Orleans and the Anarchists

intent

Patriotism, as usual, to Royalists, and even Constitutionalists, intent on stealing Majesty to Metz we, also as usual, to Preternatural Suspicion, and Phoebus Apollo having made himself like the Night.
:

on insulting Majesty

Thus, however, has the reader seen, in an unexpected arena, on this last day of February 1791, the Three long-contending elements of French Society dashed forth into singular comicoacting and reacting openly to the eye. Contragical collision stitutionalism, at once quelling Sansculottic riot at Vincennes,. and Royalist treachery in the Tuileries, is great, this day, and prevails. As for poor Royalism, tossed to and fro in that manner, its daggers all left in a heap, what can one think of it ? Every dog, the Adage says, has its day has it has had it or For the present, the day is Lafayette's and the will have it. Nevertheless Hunger and Jacobinism, fast Constitution's. growing fanatical, still work their day, were they once fanatical, Hitherto, in all tempests, Lafayette, like some will come. the upper ^olus divine Sea-ruler, raises his serene head blasts fly back to their caves, like foolish unbidden winds
;
:

the under sea-billows they had vexed into froth allay themBut if, as we often write, the 5w&marine Titanic Fireselves. powers came into play, the Ocean-bed from beneath being If they hurled Poseidon Lafayette and his Constitution hurst ? and, in the Titanic melly, sea were mixed with out of Space
;

sky?
^

See Mercier,

ii.

40, 202.

VOL.

I.

Chapter

VI

406

THE TUILERIES
CHAPTER
MIRABEAU

BOOK

III

March 1791

VI

The
towards

spirit

of

France waxes ever more

outburst
:

acrid,

fever- sick

the

final

of

dissolution

and

delirium.

Suspicion rules all minds contending parties cannot now commingle stand separated sheer asunder, eyeing one another, in most aguish mood, of cold terror or hot rage. CounterDays of Revolution, Poniards, Castries Duels Flight of
;
;

Journalism shrills ever louder its cry of alarm. The sleepless Dionysius-Ear of the Forty-eight Sections, how feverishly quick has it grown convulsing with strange pangs the whole sick Body, as in such sleeplessness and sickness the ear will do Since Royalists get Poniards made to order, and a Sieur Motier is no better than he should be, shall not Patriotism too, even of the indigent sort, have Pikes, secondhand Firelocks, in readiness for the worst ? The anvils ring, during this March month, with hammering of Pikes. A Constitutional Municipality promulgated its Placard, that no citizen except the active or cash-citizen was entitled to have arms but there rose, instantly responsive, such a tempest of astonishment from Club and Section, that the Constitutional Placard, almost next morning, had to cover itself up, and die away into inanity, in a second improved edition.^ So the hammering continues ; as all that it betokens does. Mark, again, how the extreme tip of the Left is mounting in favour, if not in its own National Hall, yet with the Nation, especially with Paris. For in such universal panic of doubt, the opinion that is sure of itself, as the meagrest opinion may the soonest be, is the one to which all men will rally. Great is Belief, were it never so meagre and leads captive the doubting heart. Incorruptible Robespierre has been elected Public Accuser in our new Courts of Judicature virtuous Petion, it is thought, may rise to be Mayor. Cordelier Danton, called also by triumphant majorities, sits at the Departmental Council-table colleague there of Mirabeau. Of incorruptible
! !

Mesdames, of Monsieur and Royalty

'

'

Ordonnance du

17

Mars 1791

(Hist. Pari.

ix.

257).

Robespierre

MIRABEAU
Robespierre
it
;

407

was long ago predicted that he might go far, CHAP. V] mean meagre mortal though he was for Doubt dwelt not in March 1791
him.

Under which circumstances ought not Royalty likewise to cease doubting, and begin deciding and acting ? Royalty has Flight out of Paris. always that sure trump -card in its hand Which sure trump -card Royalty, as we see, keeps ever and anon clutching at, grasping and swashes it forth tentatively
:

yet never tables it, still puts it back again. Play it, O Royalty If there be a chance left, this seems it, and verily the last and now every hour is rendering this a doubtfuler. chance play one's card Alas, one would so fain both fly and not fly and have it to play. Royalty, in all human likelihood, will not play its trump-card till the honours, one after one, be and such trumping of it prove to be the sudden mainly lost finish of the game Here accordingly a question always arises of the prophetic which cannot now be answered. Suppose Mirabeau, sort with whom Royalty takes deep counsel, as with a Prime Minister that cannot yet legally avow himself as such, had got farArrangements he has his arrangements completed ? stretching plans that dawn fitfully on us, by fragments, in the confused darkness. Thirty Departments ready to sign King carried out of loyal Addresses, of prescribed tenor Paris, but only to Compiegne and Rouen, hardly to Metz, since, once for all, no Emigrant rabble shall take the lead in National Assembly consenting, by dint of loyal Addresses, it by management, by force of Bouille, to hear reason, and follow Was it so, on these terms, that Jacobinism and thither ^
! ;
;

Mirabeau were then to grapple, in their Hercules-and-Typhon Death inevitable for the one or the other ? The duel duel much but on what terms itself is determined on, and sure more, with what issue, we in vain guess. It is vague darkness unknown what is to be unknown even what has already all been. The giant Mirabeau walks in darkness, as we said; what his thoughts during these companionless, on wild ways months were, no record of Biographer, nor vague Fils Adoptif,
;
: ;
:

will

now ever disclose. To us, endeavouring

1

to cast his horoscope,

it

of
;

course
in inter-

remains doubly vague.

There
vii.
1.

is

one Herculean
Dumont,
c.

Man

See Fils Adoptif,

li, 12, 14.

necine

408

THE TUILERIES
;

BOOK
March

III

1791

necine duel with him, there is Monster after Monster. Emigrant Noblesse return, sword on thigh, vaunting of their Loyalty descending from the air, like Harpy- swarms never sullied with ferocity, with obscene greed. Earthward there is the Typhon of Anarchy, Political, Religious sprawling hundredwide as the area headed, say with Twenty-five million heads of France fierce as Frenzy strong in very Hunger. With these shall the Serpent-queller do battle continually, and expect
;

no rest. As for the King, he as usual will go wavering chameleonlike changing colour and purpose with the colour of his environment good for no Kingly use. On one royal person, on the Queen only, can Mirabeau perhaps place dependence. It is possible, the greatness of this man, not unskilled too in blandishments, courtiership, and graceful adroitness, might, with most legitimate sorcery, fascinate the volatile Queen, and fix her to him. She has courage for all noble daring an eye and a heart the soul of Theresa's Daughter. Faut-il done,
;

'

her Brother, that I with the blood I am come of, with the sentiments I have, must live and die among such mortals ? ^ Alas, poor Princess, Yes. She is the only man/ as Mirabeau observes, whom his Majesty has about him.' Of one other man Mirabeau is still surer of himself. There lie his resources sufficient or
Is it fated then,' she passionately writes to
'
'

'

'

insufficient.

great to the eye of Prophecy looks that future. A perpetual life-and-death battle confusion from above and from below mere confused darkness for us ; with here and there some streak of faint lurid light. see a King perhaps aside laid not tonsured, tonsuring is out of fashion now, ;
;

Dim and

We

but say, sent away anywhither, with handsome annual allowance, and stock of smith-tools. We see a Queen and Dauphin, Regent and Minor a Queen mounted on horseback,' in the din of battles, with Moriamur pro rege nostra ! Such a day,' Mirabeau writes, may come.' Din of battles, wars more than civil, confusion from above and from below in such environment the eye of Prophecy sees Comte de Mirabeau, like some Cardinal de Retz, stormfuUy with head all-devising, heart all-daring, if maintain himself not victorious, yet unvanquished, while life is left him. The
; '
'

'

Fils Adoptif, ubi supra.

speciahties

DEATH OF MIRABEAU
specialities
it is

409
:

and

clouds,

Prophecy can guess at CHAP. VI we repeat, and tempestuous night and in the March 1791
issues of
it,

no eye

of

middle of it, now visible, far-darting, now labouring in eclipse, is Mirabeau indomitably struggling to be Cloud-Compeller One can say that, had Mirabeau lived, the History of France and of the World had been different. Further, that the man would have needed, as few men ever did, the whole compass of that same Art of Daring, Art d'Oser,' which he so prized and likewise that he, above all men then living, would have practised and manifested it. Finally, that some substantiality, and no empty simulacrum of a formula, would have been the result realised by him a result you could have loved, a result you could have hated by no likelihood, a result you could only have rejected with closed lips, and swept into quick forgetfulness for ever. Had Mirabeau lived one other year
! '

CHAPTER
But Mirabeau

VII

DEATH OF MIRABEAU
could not live another year, any more than he could live another thousand years. Men's years are numbered, and the tale of Mirabeau's was now complete. Important or to be mentioned in World-History for some unimportant centuries, or not to be mentioned there beyond a day or two, From amid the press it matters not to peremptory Fate. wideof ruddy busy Life, the Pale Messenger beckons silently spreading interests, projects, salvation of French Monarchies, what thing soever man has on hand, he must suddenly quit it Wert thou saving French Monarchies wert thou all, and go. The most important of blacking shoes on the Pont Neuf men cannot stay did the World's History depend on an hour, that hour is not to be given. Whereby, indeed, it comes that and the these same would-have-beens are mostly a vanity World's History could never in the least be what it would, or might, or should, by any manner of potentiality, but simply
;

and altogether what

it is.

The

fierce

wear and tear

of such

an existence has wasted

out

410

THE TUILERIES
A
:

BOOK III out the giant oaken strength of Mirabeau. fret and fever March 1791 that keeps heart and brain on fire excess of effort, of excitement ; excess of all kinds ; labour incessant, almost beyond
had not lived with him,' says Dumont, I never should have known what a man can make of one day what things may be placed within the interval of twelve hours. A day for this man was more than a week or a month is for others the mass of things he guided on together was procredibility
'
!

If I

'

from the scheming to the executing not a moment lost.' Monsieur le Comte,' said his Secretary to him once, what you require is impossible.' Impossible answered he, starting from his chair, Ne me dites jamais ce bite de mot, Never name to me that blockhead of a word.' ^ And then the social repasts the dinner which he gives as Commandant of National Guards, which cost five hundred pounds alas, and the Syrens of the Opera and all the ginger that is hot in the mouth down what a course is this man hurled Cannot Mirabeau stop cannot he fly, and save himself alive ? No there is a Nessus-Shirt on this Hercules he must storm and bum there, without rest, till he be consumed. Human strength, never so Herculean, has its measure. Herald shadows flit pale across the fire-brain of Mirabeau heralds of the pale repose. While he tosses and storms, straining every nerve, in that sea of ambition and confusion, there comes, sombre and still, a monition that for him the issue of it will be swift death. In January last, you might see him as President of the Assembly his neck wrapt in linen cloths, at the evening session there was sick heat of the blood, alternate darkening and flashing in the eyesight he had to apply leeches, after the morning labour, and preside bandaged. At parting he embraced me,' says Dumont, with an emotion I had never seen in him "I am dying, my friend dying as by slow fire we shall perhaps not meet again. When I am gone, they will know what the value of me was. The miseries I have held back will burst from all sides on France." ^ Sickness gives louder warning but cannot be listened to. On the 27th day of March, proceeding towards the Assembly, he had to seek rest and help in Friend de Lamarck's, by the road and lay there, for an hour, halffainted, stretched on a sofa. To the Assembly nevertheless he went, as if in spite of Destiny itself spoke, loud and eager,
digious
'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dumont,

p. 311.

/did. p. 267.

five

DEATH OF MIRABEAU
five several times
;

411

then quitted the Tribune for ever. He CHAP. VII steps out, utterly exhausted, into the Tuileries Gardens many April 2, 1791 people press round him, as usual, with applications, memorials he says to the Friend who was with him Take me out of
;

'

this

'
!

And

so,

on the

last

day

multitudes beset the Rue inquiring within doors there, in that House numbered, in our time, 42, the overwearied giant has fallen down, to die.^ Crowds of all parties and kinds of all ranks from the King to the meanest man The King sends publicly twice a-day to inquire privately besides from the world at large there A written bulletin is handed out is no end of inquiring. in the end, it is every three hours,' is copied and circulated no carriage printed. The People spontaneously keep silence but the there is crowding pressure shall enter with its noise Sister of Mirabeau is reverently recognised, and has free way made for her. The People stand mute, heart-stricken to all as if the last man it seems as if a great calamity were nigh coming troubles, lay of France, who could have swayed these there at hand-grips with the unearthly Power. The silence of a whole People, the wakeful toils of Cabanis, on Saturday the second day Friend and Physician, skills not of April, Mirabeau feels that the last of the Days has risen for him that on this day he has to depart and be no more. His Lit up, for the last death is Titanic, as his life has been time, in the glare of coming dissolution, the mind of the man utters itself in sayings, such as is all glowing and burning men long remember. He longs to live, yet acquiesces in death, argues not with the inexorable. His speech is wild and wonunearthly Phantasms dancing now their torch-dance drous round his soul the soul itself looking out, fire-radiant, motionAt times comes a beam less, girt together for that great hour I carry in my of light from him on the world he is quitting. heart the death-dirge of the French Monarchy the dead remains Or again, when he of it will now be the spoil of the factious.' Have we the heard the cannon fire, what is characteristic too So likewise, while some friend is Achilles' Funeral already ? would I could Yes, support that head supporting him selfFor the man dies as he has lived bequeath it thee
; : ;
!

1791, endless anxious incessantly de la Chaussee d'Antin

of

March

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fils Adoptif,

viii.

420-79.

conscious.

412

THE TUILERIES
He
gazes forth on
'
;

BOOK

III

conscious, conscious of a world looking on.

April 2, 1791

the young Spring, which for him will never be Summer. The Sun has risen he says, Si ce n'est pas Id Dieu, c'est du moins ^ Death has mastered the outworks son cousin germainJ'

MIRABEAU.
power
:

of speech

is

gone

the citadel of the heart

still

holding

the moribund giant, passionately, by sign, demands out writes his passionate demand for opium, to paper and pen
;

Fils Adoptif,

viii.

450 Journal de
;

la nialadie et de la

mort de Mirabeau, par P.

J.

G. Cabanis

(Paris, 1803).

end

DEATH OF MIRABEAU
end these agonies.
Dormir,
'

413
his

The sorrowful Doctor shakes

;

head

CHAP. VII
-^pril 2,

the other, passionately pointing at it J So dies a gigantic Heathen and Titan stumbling blindly, undismayed, down to his rest. At half-past eight in the morning. Doctor Petit, standing at the foot of the bed, says, II ne souffre plus.^ His suffering and his working are now ended.
sleep,' writes
'

To

I79l

ye men of France is rapt away from you. He has fallen suddenly, without bending till he broke as a tower falls, smitten by sudden lightning. His word ye shall hear no more, his guidance follow no more. The multitudes depart, heart-struck spread the sad tidings. How touching is the loyalty of men to
so,

Even

ye

silent Patriot multitudes, all

this

man

Man All theatres, public amusements close no joyful meeting can be held in these nights, joy is not for them the People break in upon private dancing-parties, and sullenly command that they cease. Of such dancing-parties apparently but two came to light and these also have gone out. The gloom is universal never in this City was such sorrow for one death never since that old night when Louis xii. departed, and the Crieurs des Corps went sounding their bells, and crying along the streets Le hon roi Louis, pere du peuple, ^ est mort, The good King Louis, Father of the People, is dead King Mirabeau is now the lost King and one may say with little exaggeration, all the People mourns for him. weeping in the For three days there is low wide moan National Assembly itself. The streets are all mournful; orators mounted on the homes, with large silent audience, preaching the funeral sermon of the dead. Let no coachman whip fast, distractively with his rolling wheels, or almost at himself His traces may be cut all, through these groups and his fare, as incurable Aristocrats, hurled sulkily into the kennels. The bourne-stone orators speak as it is given them
their Sovereign
!

'

'

the Sansculottic People, with its rude men will to any Sermon, or Sermo, when it is a spoken Word meaning a Thing, and not a Babblement meaning No-thing, In the Restaurateur's of the Palais-Royal, the waiter remarks, Yes, my friend,' answers the Fine weather, Monsieur
soul, listens eager,
' '
:

as

but Mirabeau is dead.' Hoarse rhythmic threnodies come also from the throats of
ancient

Man

of Letters,

'very fine;

Henault, Abrigi Ckrcnologique,

p.

429,

ballad- singers

414

THE TUILERIES
; ;

BOOK III

ballad- singers

April 4, 1791 Biit

are sold on gray-white paper at a sou each.^ of of Portraits, engraved, painted, hewn and written Eulogies, Reminiscences, Biographies, nay Vaudevilles, Dramas and Melodramas, in all Provinces of France, there will, through

these coming months, be the due immeasurable crop ; thick as the leaves of Spring. Nor, that a tincture of burlesque might be in it, is Gobel's Episcopal Mandement wanting goose Gobel, who has just been made Constitutional Bishop

very strangely with Nomine Domini and you are, with a grave countenance, invited to rejoice at possessing in the midst of you a body of Prelates created by Mirabeau, zealous followers
of

Paris.

A Mandement
'

wherein Qa ira
;

alternates

of his doctrine, faithful imitators of his virtues.'

So speaks,

wailing articulately, inarticulately, as it can, that a Sovereign Man is snatched away. In the National Assembly, when difficult questions are
of
;

and cackles manifold, the Sorrow

France

turn mechanically to the place where Mirabeau sat,' and Mirabeau is absent now. On the third evening of the lamentation, the fourth of April, there is solemn Public Funeral such as deceased mortal seldom of mourners reckoned had. Procession of a league in length loosely at a hundred thousand. All roofs are thronged with Sadon-lookers, all windows, lamp-irons, branches of trees. many persons weep.' ness is painted on every countenance there is National There is double hedge of National Guards Assembly in a body Jacobin Society, and Societies King's
astir,
all

eyes will

'

'

Ministers, Municipals,

and

all Notabilities,
'

Patriot or Aristocrat.
' ;

say, hat drawn with his hat on Slow-wending, in over his brow, hiding many thoughts religious silence, the Procession of a league in length, under the level sun-rays, for it is five o'clock, moves and marches but, by with its sable plumes itself in a religious silence fits with the muffled roll of drums, by fits with some longdrawn wail of music, and strange new clangour of trombones, and metallic dirge- voice amid the infinite hum of men. In the Church of Saint-Eustache, there is funeral oration by Cerutti

Bouille

is

noticeable there,

and discharge
plaster.'

of fire-arms,

which

'

brings

down

pieces of the

Thence,
;

Genevi^ve
1
"^

forward again to the Church of Saintewhich has been consecrated, by supreme decree,
viii. 1.

Fils Adoptif,

lo

Newspapers and Excerpts

(in Hist. Pari. ix. 366-402).

Hist. Pari. ix. 405.

on

DEATH OF MIRABEAU
on the spur
of this time, into a

415

Pantheon
;

for the Great

Men CHAP.
-^P^i^ 4,

VII
1791

of the Fatherland,

Aux Grands Hommes

:

la Patrie reconnaissante.

Hardly at midnight is the business done in his dark dwelling first tenant of
Pantheon. Tenant,
alas,

and Mirabeau
that

left

Fatherland's
shall

be cast out. For, in these days of convulsion and disjection, not even the dust of the dead is permitted to rest. Voltaire's bones are, by and by, to be carried from their stolen grave in the

who

inhabits but at will,

and

Abbey

of Scellieres, to
:

an eager

stealing grave, in Paris his

birth-city

mortals processioning and perorating there cars drawn by eight white horses, goadsters in classical costume, though the weather is of with fillets and wheat-ears enough the wettest.^ Evangelist Jean- Jacques too, as is most proper, must be dug up from Ermenonville, and processioned, with pomp, with sensibility, to the Pantheon of the Fatherland.^ He and others while again Mirabeau, we say, is cast forth and rests now, from it, happily incapable of being replaced irrecognisable, reburied hastily at dead of night in the central part of the Churchyard Sainte-Catherine, in the Suburb SaintMarceau,' to be disturbed no further. So blazes out, far- seen, a Man's Life, and becomes ashes and a caput mortuum, in this World-Pyre, which we name not the first that consumed itself there French Revolution A man who nor, by thousands and many millions, the last who, in these strange times had swallowed all formulas and circumstances, felt called to live Titanically, and also to die so. As he, for his part, had swallowed all formulas, what Formula is there, never so comprehensive, that will express truly the plus and the minus of him, give us the accurate netMoralities not result of him ? There is hitherto none such. the a few must shriek condemnatory over this Mirabeau Morality by which he could be judged has not yet got uttered We will say this of him again That in the speech of men.
all
;

'

'

'

Nature a living Son he is a Reality and no Simulacrum not a hollow Artifice, and mechanism of our general Mother
;

of

son of nothing, brother to nothing. In which little word, let the earnest man, walking sorrowful in a world mostly of Stuffed Clothes-suits,' that chatter and grin
Conventionalities,
' ^

Moniteur, du 13 Juillet 1791.

Ibid,

du 18 Septembre 1794.

See also du 30 Aoiit,

etc. 1791.

meaningless

416

THE TUILERIES

BOOK III
April 4, 1791

meaningless on him, quite ghastly to the earnest soul,

think

what

significance there

is

Of men who,

in such sense, are alive,

and
if

see with eyes, the

number

is

now not

great

it

may be well,
;

in this

Revolution itself, with its all-developing fury, sputtering the acridest Three. Mortals driven rabid we find logic baring their breast to the battle-hail, their neck to the guillotine of whom it is so painful to say that they too are still, in good part, manufactured Formalities, not Facts but Hearsays Honour to the strong man, in these ages, who has shaken himself loose of shams, and is something. For in the way of being worthy, the first condition surely is that one he. Let Cant cease, at all risks and at all costs till Cant cease, nothing else can begin. Of human Criminals, in these centuries, writes Hateful the Moralist, I find but one unforgivable the Quack. to God,' as divine Dante sings, and to the Enemies of God,
;
:

huge French we find some

'

'

'

Dio

spiacente ed

a nemici

sui
is

the first essential towards insight, look at this questionable Mirabeau, may find that there lay verily in him, as the basis of all, a Sincerity, a great free Earnestness nay call it Honesty, for the man did before all things see, with that clear flashing vision, into what was, into what existed as fact and did, with his wild heart, follow that and no other. Whereby on what ways soever he travels and struggles, often enough falling, he is still a brother man. Hate him not thou canst not hate him Shining through such soil and tarnish, and now victorious effulgent, and oftenest struggling eclipsed, the light of genius itself is in this man which was never yet base and hateful but at worst was lamentable, lovable with pity. They say that he was ambitious, that he wanted to be Minister. It is most true. And was he not simply the one man in France who could have done any good as Minister ? Not vanity alone, not pride alone far from that Wild burstings of affection were in this great heart of fierce lightning, and soft dew of pity. So sunk bemired in wretchedest defacements, it may be said of him, like the Magdalen of old, that he loved much his Father, the harshest of old crabbed men, he loved with warmth, with veneration.
will,
;

But whoever

with sympathy, which

Be

Be

it

DEATH OF MIRABEAU that his and are manifold, as

falls

417
himself CHAP. VII
4,

follies

often lamented even with tears. ^ Alas, is not the Life of every April made up of Fate and such man already a poetic Tragedy full of one's own Deservings,' of Schicksal und eigene Schuld This brother man, if not of the elements of Pity and Fear ?
' ; ;

1791

Epic for
ties,

us, is Tragic

if

not great,

is

large

large in his quali-

world-large in his destinies. Whom other men, recognising him as such, may, through long times, remember, and draw these, in their several dialects, nigh to examine and consider till the right thing be said ; will say of him and sing of him, and so the Formula that can judge him be no longer an undis:

covered one.

Here then the wild Gabriel Honore drops from the

of our History
;
;

tissue
:

not without a tragic farewell. He is gone which the flower of the wild Riquetti or Arrighetti kindred seems as if in him, with one last effort, it had done its best, and then expired, or sunk down to the undistinguished level. Crabbed old Marquis Mirabeau, the Friend of Men, sleeps sound. The Bailli Mirabeau, worthy Uncle, will soon die Barrel-Mirabeau, already gone across the forlorn, alone. Rhine, his Regiment of Emigrants will drive nigh desperate. Barrel-Mirabeau,' says a biographer of his, went indignantly But as across the Rhine, and drilled Emigrant Regiments. he sat one morning in his tent, sour of stomach doubtless and of heart, meditating in Tartarean humour on the turn things took, a certain Captain or Subaltern demanded admittance on he again demands, with Such Captain is refused business. refusal; and then again; till Colonel Viscount Barrel-Mirabeau, blazing up into a mere burning brandy-barrel, clutches his sword, and tumbles out on this canaille of an intruder,
'
'

an intruder's sword-point, who had drawn with swift dexterity; and dies, and the Newspapers So die the name it apoplexy and alarming accident'
alas,

on the

canaille of

Mirabeaus. New Mirabeaus one hears not of the wild kindred, as we As families and kinsaid, is gone out with this its greatest. dreds sometimes do; producing, after long ages of unnoted they notability, some living quintessence of all the qualities rest had, to flame forth as a man world-noted after whom they
:

Dumont,

p. 287.

as

418

THE TUILERIES
; ;
;

BOOK

III

April 4, 1791

The chosen the sceptre passing to others. exhausted the chosen man of France is Last of the Mirabeaus is gone and, gone. It was he who shook old France from its basis as if with his single hand, has held it toppling there, still unfalien. He is as a ship What things depended on that one man much swims on the waste suddenly shivered on sunk rocks waters, far from help.
as
if
! :

END OF

VOL.

I.

Printed by T. and A, Constable, Printers to His Majesty

at the

Edinburgh University Press