History of the World/History of the World (Bureau Development, Inc.)(1992).BIN/dp/0138/01380.txt

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$Title{(The) French Revolution: A History
Book Sixth: The Marseilles - Executive That Does Not Act.}
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$Author{Carlyle, Thomas}
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Title:       (The) French Revolution: A History
Book:        The Constitution.
Author:      Carlyle, Thomas

Book Sixth: The Marseilles - Executive That Does Not Act.

Chapter I. Executive That Does Not Act.

     1159. How could your paralytic National Executive be put "in action," in
any measure, by such a 20th of June as this?  Quite contrariwise: a large
sympathy for Majesty so insulted arises everywhere; expresses itself in
Addresses, Petitions, "Petition of the 20,000 inhabitants of Paris," and
such-like among all Constitutional persons; a decided rallying round the
throne.

     1160. Of which rallying it was thought King Louis might have made
something.  However, he does make nothing of it, or attempt to make; for
indeed his views are lifted beyond domestic sympathy and rallying, over to
Coblentz mainly.  Neither in itself is this same sympathy worth much.  It is
sympathy of men who believe still that the Constitution can march.  Wherefore
the old discord and ferment, of Feuillant sympathy for Royalty, and Jacobin
sympathy for Fatherland, acting against each other from within; with terror of
Coblentz and Brunswick acting from without: - this discord and ferment must
hold on its course, till a catastrophe do ripen and come.  One would think,
especially as Brunswick is near marching, such catastrophe cannot now be
distant.  Busy, ye Twenty-five French Millions; ye foreign Potentates,
minatory Emigrants, German drill-sergeants; each do what his hand findeth!
Thou, O Reader, at such safe distance, wilt see what they make of it among
them.

     1161. Consider, therefore, this pitiable 20th of June as a futility; no
catastrophe, rather a catastasis, or heightening.  Do not its Black Breeches
wave there, in the Historical Imagination, like a melancholy flag of distress;
soliciting help, which no mortal can give?  Soliciting pity, which thou wert
hard-hearted not to give freely, to one and all!  Other such flags, or what
are called Occurrences, and black or bright symbolic Phenomena will flit
through the Historical Imagination; these, one after one, let us note, with
extreme brevity.

     1162. The first phenomenon is that Lafayette at the Bar of the Assembly;
after a week and day.  Promptly on hearing of this scandalous 20th of June,
Lafayette has quitted his Command on the North Frontier, in better or worse
order; and got hither, on the 28th, to repress the Jacobins: not by letter
now; but by Petition, and weight of character, face to face.  The august
Assembly finds the step questionable; invites him meanwhile to the honors of
the sitting. ^1 Other honor, or advantage, there unhappily came almost none;
the Galleries all growling; fiery Isnard glooming; sharp Guadet not wanting in
sarcasms.

[Footnote 1: Moniteur, Seance du 28 Juin 1792.]

     1163. And out of doors, when the sitting is over, Sieur Resson, keeper of
the Patriot Cafe in these regions, hears in the street a hurly-burly; steps
forth to look, he and his Patriot customers, it is Lafayette's carriage, with
a tumultuous escort of blue Grenadiers, Cannoneers, even Officers of the Line,
hurrahing and capering round it.  They make a pause opposite Sieur Resson's
door; wag their plumes at him; nay, shake their fists, bellowing A bas les
Jacobins! but happily pass on without onslaught. They pass on, to plant a Mai
before the General's door, and bully considerably.  All which the Sieur Resson
cannot but report with sorrow, that night, in the Mother Society. ^1 But what
no Sieur Resson nor Mother Society can do more than guess is this, That a
council of rank Feuillants, your unabolished Staff of the Guard and who else
has status and weight, is in these very moments privily deliberating at the
General's: Can we not put down the Jacobins by force?  Next day, a Review
shall be held, in the Tuileries Gardens, of such as will turn out, and try.
Alas, says Toulongeon, hardly a hundred turned out.  Put it off till
to-morrow, then, to give better warning.  On the morrow, which is Saturday,
there turn out "some thirty;" and depart shrugging their shoulders!^1
Lafayette promptly takes carriage again; returns musing on many things.

[Footnote 1: "Debats des Jacobins" ("Histoire Parlementaire," xv. 235.]

[Footnote 2: Toulongeon, ii 180.  See also Dampmartin, ii. 161.]

     1164. The dust of Paris is hardly off his wheels, the summer Sunday is
still young, when Cordeliers in deputation pluck up that Mai of his: before
sunset, Patriots have burnt him in effigy.  Louder doubt and louder rises, in
Section, in National Assembly, as to the legality of such unbidden
Anti-jacobin visit on the part of a General: doubt swelling and spreading all
over France, for six weeks or so; with endless talk about usurping soldiers,
about English Monk, nay about Cromwell: O thou poor Grandison-Cromwell! - What
boots it?  King Louis himself looked coldly on the enterprise: colossal Hero
of two Worlds, having weighed himself in the balance, finds that he is become
a gossamer Colossus, only some thirty turning out.

     1165. In a like sense, with a like issue, works our Department-Directory
here at Paris; who, on the 6th of July, take upon them to suspend Mayor Petion
and Procureur Manuel from all civic functions, for their conduct, replete, as
is alleged, with omissions and commissions, on that delicate 20th of June.
Virtuous Petion sees himself a kind of martyr, or pseudo-martyr, threatened
with several things; drawls out due heroical lamentation; to which Patriot
Paris and Patriot Legislative duly respond.  King Louis and Mayor Petion have
already had an interview on that business of the 20th; an interview and
dialogue, distinguished by frankness on both sides; ending on King Louis's
side with the words "Taisez-vous (Hold your peace)."

     1166. For the rest, this of suspending our Mayor does seem a mistimed
measure.  By ill chance, it came out precisely on the day of that famous
baiser de l'amourette, or miraculous reconciliatory Delilah-Kiss, which we
spoke of long ago.  Which Delilah-Kiss was thereby quite hindered of effect.
For now his Majesty has to write, almost that same night, asking a reconciled
Assembly for advice! the reconciled Assembly will not advise; will not
interfere.  The King confirms the suspicion; then perhaps, but not till then
will the Assembly interfere, the noise of Patriot Paris getting loud. Whereby
your Delilah-Kiss, such was the destiny of Parliament First, becomes a
Philistine Battle!

     1167. Nay there goes a word that as many as Thirty of our chief Patriot
Senators are to be clapped in prison, by mittimus and indictment of Feuillant
Justices (Juges de Paix); who here in Paris were well capable of such a thing.
It was but in May last that Juge-de-Paix Lariviere, on complaint of
Bertrand-Moleville touching that Austrian Committee, made bold to launch his
mittimus against three heads of the Mountain, Deputies Bazire, Chabot, Merlin,
the Cordelier Trio; summoning them to appear before him, and show where that
Austrian Committee was, or else suffer the consequences.  Which mittimus the
Trio, on their side, made bold to fling in the fire: and valiantly pleaded
privilege of Parliament.  So that, for his zeal without knowledge, poor
Justice Lariviere now sits in the prison of Orleans, waiting trial from the
Haute Cour there.  Whose example, may it not deter other rash Justices; and so
this word of the Thirty arrestments continue a word merely?

     1168. But on the whole, though Lafayette weighed so light, and has had
his Mai plucked up, Official Feuillantism falters not a whit; but carries its
head high, strong in the letter of the law.  Feuillants all of these men; a
Feuillant Directory; founding on high character, and such-like; with Duke de
la Rochefoucault for President, - a thing which may prove dangerous for him!
Dim now is the once bright Anglomania of these admired Noblemen.  Duke de
Liancourt offers, out of Normandy where he is Lord-Lieutenant, not only to
receive his Majesty, thinking of flight thither, but to lend him money to
enormous amounts.  Sire, it is not a Revolt, it is a Revolution; and truly no
rose-water one!  Worthier Noblemen were not in France nor in Europe than those
two: but the time is crooked, quickshifting, perverse; what straightest course
will lead to any goal, in it?

     1169. Another phasis which we note, in these early July days, is that of
certain thin streaks of Federate National Volunteers wending from various
points toward Paris, to hold a new Federation-Festival, or Feast of Pikes, on
the Fourteenth there.  So has the National Assembly wished it, so has the
Nation willed it.  In this way, perhaps, may we still have our Patriot Camp in
spite of Veto.  For cannot these Federes, having celebrated their Feast of
Pikes, march on to Soissons; and, there being drilled and regimented, rush to
the Frontiers, or whither we like?  Thus were the one Veto cunningly alluded!

     1170. As indeed the other Veto, about Priests, is also like to be eluded:
and without much cunning.  For Provincial Assemblies, in Calvados as one
instance, are proceeding, on their own strength, to judge and banish
Antinational Priests.  Or still worse, without Provincial Assembly, a
desperate People, as at Bourdeaux, can "hang two of them on the Lanterne," on
the way toward judgment. ^1 Pity for the spoken Veto, when it cannot become an
acted one!

[Footnote 1: "Histoire Parlementaire," xvi. 259.]

     1171. It is true, some ghost of a War-minister, or Home-minister, for the
time being, ghost whom we do not name, does write to Municipalities and King's
Commanders, that they shall, by all conceivable methods, obstruct this
Federation, and even turn back the Federes by force of arms; a message which
scatters mere doubt, paralysis and confusion; irritates the poor Legislature:
reduces the Federes, as we see, to thin streaks.  But being questioned, this
ghost and the other ghosts, What it is then that they propose to do for saving
the country? - they answer, that they cannot tell; that indeed they, for their
part, have, this morning, resigned in a body; and do now merely respectfully
take leave of the helm altogether.  With which words they rapidly walk out-of
the hall (sortent brusquement de la salle), the "Galleries cheering loudly,"
the poor Legislature sitting "for a good while in silence!" ^1 Thus do
Cabinet-ministers themselves, in extreme cases, strike work; one of the
strangest omens.  Other complete Cabinet-ministry there will not be; only
fragments, and these changeful, which never get completed; spectral
Apparitions that cannot so much as appear!  King Louis writes that he now
views this Federation Feast with approval; and will himself have the pleasure
to take part in the same.

[Footnote 1: Moniteur, Seance du Juillet 1792.]

     1172. And so these thin streaks of Federes wend Paris-ward through a
paralytic France.  Thin grim streaks: not thick joyful ranks, as of old to the
first Feast of Pikes!  No: these poor Federates march now toward Austria and
Austrian Committee; toward jeopardy and forlorn hope; men of hard fortune and
temper, not rich in the world's goods.  Municipalities paralyzed by
War-minister, are shy of affording cash, it may be, your poor Federates cannot
arm themselves, cannot march, till the Daughter Society of the place open her
pocket and subscribe.  There will not have arrived, at the set day, 3,000 of
them in all.  And yet, thin and feeble as these streaks of Federates seem,
they are the only thing one discerns moving with any clearness of aim in this
strange scene.  Angry buzz and simmer; uneasy tossing and moaning of a huge
France, all enchanted, spell-bound by unmarching Constitution, into frightful
conscious and unconscious Magnetic-sleep; which frightful Magnetic-sleep must
now issue soon in one of two things: Death or Madness! The Federes carry
mostly in their pocket some earnest cry and Petition, to have the "National
Executive put in action;" or as a step toward that, to have the King's
Decheance (King's Forfeiture), or at least his Suspension, pronounced.  They
shall be welcome to the Legislative, to the Mother of Patriotism: and Paris
will provide for their lodging.

     1173. Decheance, indeed: and what next?  A France spell-free, a
Revolution saved; and anything and all things next! so answer grimly Danton
and the unlimited Patriots, down deep in their subterranean region of Plot,
whither they have now dived.  Decheance, answers Brissot with the limited: and
if next the little Prince Royal were crowned, and some Regency of Girondins
and recalled Patriot Ministry set over him?  Alas, poor Brissot; looking, as
indeed poor man does always, on the nearest morrow as his peaceable promised
land; deciding what must reach to the world's end, yet with an insight that
reaches not beyond his own nose!  Wiser are the unlimited subterranean
Patriots, who with light for the hour itself, leave the rest to the gods.

     1174. Or were it not, as we now stand, the probablest issue of all, that
Brunswick, in Coblentz, just gathering his huge limbs toward him to rise,
might arrive first; and stop both Decheance, and theorizing on it? Brunswick,
is on the eve of marching; with 80,000, they say; fell Prussians, Hessians,
feller Emigrants: a General of the Great Frederick, with such an army.  And
our Armies?  And our Generals?  As for Lafayette, on whose late visit a
Committee is sitting and all France is jarring and censuring, he seems readier
to fight us than fight Brunswick.  Luckner and Lafayette pretend to be
interchanging corps, and are making movements, which Patriotism cannot
understand.  This only is very clear, that their corps go marching and
shuttling, in the interior of the country; much nearer Paris than formerly!
Luckner has ordered Dumouriez down to him; down from Maulde, and the Fortified
Camp there.  Which order the many-counseled Dumouriez, with the Austrians
hanging close on him, he busy meanwhile training a few thousands to stand fire
and be soldiers, declares that, come of it what will, he cannot obey. ^1 Will
a poor Legislative, therefore, sanction Dumouriez; who applies to it, "not
knowing whether there is any War-ministry?" Or sanction Luckner and these
Lafayette movements?

[Footnote 1: Dumouriez, ii. 1.5.]

     1175. The poor Legislative knows not what to do.  It decrees, however,
that the Staff of the Paris Guard, and indeed all such Staffs, for they are
Feuillants mostly, shall be broken and replaced.  It decrees earnestly: in
what manner one can declare, that the Country is in Danger.  And finally, on
the 11th of July, the morrow of that day when the Ministry struck work, it
decrees that the Country be, with all dispatch, declared in Danger. Whereupon
let the King sanction; let the Municipality take measures: if such Declaration
will do service, it need not fail.

     1176. In Danger truly, if ever Country was!  Arise, O Country; or be
trodden down to ignominious ruin!  Nay, are not the chances a hundred to one
that no rising of the Country will save it; Brunswick, the Emigrants, and
Feudal Europe drawing nigh?

Chapter II. Let Us March.

     1177. But, to our minds, the notablest of all these moving phenomena is
that of Barbaroux's "600 Marseillese who know how to die."

     Prompt to the request of Barbaroux, the Marseilles Municipality has got
these men together: on the fifth morning of July, the Townhall says, "Marchez,
abattez le Tyran (March, strike down the Tyrant)," ^1 and they, with grim
appropriate "Marchons," are marching.  Long journey, doubtful errand; Enfans
de la Patrie, may a good genius guide you!  Their own wild heart and what
faith it has will guide them: and is not that the monition of some genius,
better or worse?  Five-hundred and Seventeen able men, with Captains of
fifties and tens; well armed all, musket on shoulder, saber on thigh: nay they
drive three pieces of cannon: for who knows what obstacles may occur?
Municipalities there are, paralyzed by War-minister; Commandants with orders
to stop even Federation Volunteers; good, when sound arguments will not open a
Town-gate, if you have a petard to shiver it!  They have left their sunny
Phocean City and Seahaven, with its bustle and its bloom: the thronging
Course, with high frondent Avenues, pitchy dock-yards, almond and olive
groves, orange-trees on house-tops, and white glittering bastides that crown
the hills, are all behind them.  They wend on their wild way, from the
extremity of French land, through unknown cities, toward an unknown destiny;
with a purpose that they know.

[Footnote 1: Dampmartin, ii. 183.]

     1178. Much wondering at this phenomenon, and how, in a peaceable tradiug
City, so many householders or hearth-holders do severally fling down their
crafts and industrial tools; gird themselves with weapons of war, and set out
on a journey of 600 miles, to "strike down the tyrant," - you search in all
Historical Books, Pamphlets and Newspapers, for some light on it: unhappily
without effect.  Rumor and Terror precede this march; which still echo on you:
the march itself an unknown thing.  Weber, in the back-stairs of the
Tuileries, has understood that they were Forcats, Galley-slaves and mere
scoundrels, these Marseillese; that, as they marched through Lyons, the people
shut their shops; - also that the number of them was some 4,000. Equally vague
is Blanc Gilli, who likewise murmurs about Forcats and danger of plunder. ^1
Forcats they were not; neither was there plunder or danger of it.  Men of
regular life, or of the best-filled purse, they could hardly be; the one thing
needful in them was that they "knew how to die." Friend Dampmartin saw them,
with his own eyes, march "gradually' through his quarters at Villefranche in
the Beaujolais: but saw in the vaguest manner; being indeed preoccupied; and
himself minded for marching just then - across the Rhine.  Deep was his
astonishment to think of such a march, without appointment or arrangement,
station or ration; for the rest, it was "the same men he had seen formerly" in
the troubles of the South; "perfectly civil;" though his soldiers could not be
kept from talking a little with them. ^2

[Footnote 1: See Barbaroux, "Memoires" (note in pp. 40, 41).]

[Footnote 2: Dampmartin, ubi supra. - As to Dampmartin himself and what became
of him farther, see "Memoires," de la Comtesse de Lichtenau," ecrits par
elle-meme; traduits de l'Allemand (a Londres 1809), i. 200-207; ii. 78-91.]

     1179. So vague are all these; Moniteur, "Histoire Parlementaire" are as
good as silent: garrulous History, as is too usual, will say nothing where you
most wish her to speak!  If enlightened Curiosity ever get sight of the
Marseilles Council-Books, will it not perhaps explore this strangest of
Municipal procedures; and feel called to fish-up what of the Biographies,
creditable or discreditable, of these 517, the stream of Time has not yet
irrevocably swallowed?

     1180. As it is, these Marseillese remain inarticulate, undistinguishable
in feature; a black-browed Mass, full of grim fire, who wend there, in the hot
sultry weather: very singular to contemplate.  They wend; amid the infinitude
of doubt and dim peril; they not doubtful; Fate and Feudal Europe, having
decided, come girdling in from without; they, having also decided, do march
within.  Dusty of face, with frugal refreshment, they plod onward;
unweariable, not to be turned aside.  Such march will not become famous.  The
Thought, which works voiceless in this black-browed mass, an inspired Tyrtaean
Colonel, Rouget de Lille, whom the Earth still holds, ^1 has translated into
grim melody and rhythm; into his Hymn or March of the Marseillese: luckiest
musical composition ever promulgated.  The sound of which will make the blood
tingle in men's veins; and whole Armies and assemblages will sing it, with
eyes weeping and burning, with hearts defiant of Death, Despot and Devil.

[Footnote 1: A. D. 1836.]

     1181. One sees well, these Marseillese will be too late for the
Federation Feast.  In fact, it is not Champ-de-Mars Oaths that they have in
view.  They have quite another feat to do: a paralytic National Executive to
set in action.  They must "strike down" whosoever "Tyrant," or
Martyr-Faineant, there may be who paralyzes it; strike and be struck; and on
the whole prosper, and know how to die.

Chapter III. Some Consolation To Mankind.

     1182. Of the Federation Feast itself we shall say almost nothing.  There
are tents pitched in the Champ-de-Mars; tent for National Assembly: tent for
Hereditary Representative, - who indeed is there too early, and has to wait
long in it.  There are Eighty-three symbolic Departmental Trees-of-Liberty;
trees and mais enough: beautifulest of all, there is one huge mai, hung round
with effete Scutcheons, Emblazonries and Genealogy-books, nay better still,
with Lawyers's-bags, "sacs de procedure," which shall be burnt.  The Thirty
seat-rows of that famed Slope are again full; we have a bright Sun; and all is
marching, streamering and blaring: but what avails it?  Virtuous Mayor Petion,
whom Feuillantism had suspended, was reinstated only last night, by Decree of
the Assembly.  Men's humor is of the sourest.  Men's hats have on them,
written in chalk, "Vive Petion;" and even, "Petion or death (Petion ou la
Mort)."

     1183. Poor Louis, who has waited till five o'clock before the Assembly
would arrive, swears the Nation Oath this time, with a quilted cuirass under
his waistcoat which will turn pistol-bullets. ^1 Madame de Stael, from that
Royal Tent, stretches out the neck in a kind of agony, lest the waiving
multitude which received him may not render him back alive.  No cry of Vive le
Roi salutes the ear; cries only of Vive Petion; Petion ou la mort.  The
National Solemnity is as it were huddled by; each cowering off almost before
the evolutions are gone through.  The very Mai with its Scutcheons and
Lawyer's-bags is forgotten, stands unburnt; till "certain Patriot Deputies,"
called by the people, set a torch to it, by way of voluntary after-piece.
Sadder Feast of Pikes no man ever saw.

[Footnote 1: Campan, ii. c. 20; De Stael, ii. c. 7.]

     1184. Mayor Petion, named on hats, is at his zenith in this Federation:
Lafayette again is close upon his nadir.  Why does the storm-bell of
Saint-Roch speak out, next Saturday; why do the citizens shut their shops? ^1
It is Sections defiling, it is fear of effervescence.  Legislative Committee,
long deliberating on Lafayette and that Anti-jacobin visit of his reports,
this day, that there is "not ground for Accusation!" Peace, ye Patriots,
nevertheless; and let that tocsin cease: the Debate is not finished, nor the
Report accepted; but Brissot, Isnard and the Mountain will sift it, and resift
it, perhaps for some three weeks longer.

[Footnote 1: Moniteur, Seance du 21 Juillet 1792.]

     1185. So many bells, storm-bells, and noises do ring; - scarcely audible;
one drowning the other.  For example: in this same Lafayette tocsin, of
Saturday, was there not withal some faint bob-minor, and Deputation of
Legislative, ringing the Chevalier Paul Jones to his long rest; tocsin or
dirge now all one to him!  Not ten days hence Patriot Brissot, beshouted this
day by the Patriot Galleries, shall find himself begroaned by them, on account
of his limited Patriotism; nay pelted at while perorating, and "hit with two
prunes." ^1 It is a distracted empty-sounding world; of bob-minors and
bob-majors, of triumph and terror, of rise and fall!

[Footnote 1: "Histoire Parlementaire," xvi. 185.]

     1186. The more touching is this other Solemnity, which happens on the
morrow of the Lafayette tocsin: Proclamation that the Country is in Danger.
Not till the present Sunday could such Solemnity be.  The Legislative decreed
it almost a fortnight ago; but Royalty and the ghost of a Ministry held back
as they could.  Now however, on this Sunday 22d day of July, 1792, it will
hold back no longer; and the Solemnity in very deed is.  Touching to behold!
Municipality and Mayor have on their scarfs; cannon-salvo booms alarm from the
Pont Neuf, and single-gun at intervals all day.  Guards are mounted, scarfed
Notabilities, Halberdiers, and a Cavalcade; with streamers, emblematic flags;
especially with one huge Flag, flapping mournfully Citoyens, la Patrie est en
Danger.  They roll through the streets, with stern-sounding music, and slow
rattle of hoofs; pausing at set stations, and with doleful blast of trumpet
singing out through Herald's throat, what the Flag says to the eye: "Citizens,
our Country is in Danger!"

     1187. Is there a man's heart that hears it without a thrill?  The
many-voiced responsive hum or bellow of these multitudes is not of triumph;
and yet it is a sound deeper than triumph.  But when the long Cavalcade and
Proclamation ended; and our huge Flag was fixed on the Pont-Neuf, another like
it on the Hotel-de-Ville, to wave there till better days; and each Municipal
sat in the center of his Section, in a Tent raised in some open square, Tents
surmounted with flags of Patrie en Danger, and topmost of all a Pike and
Bonnet Rouge; and, on two drums in front of him, there lay a plank-table, and
on this an open Book, and a Clerk sat, like recording-angel, ready to write
the lists, or as we say to enlist!  O, then, it seems, the very gods might
have looked down on it.  Young Patriotism, Culottic and Sansculottic, rushes
forward emulous: That is my name; name, blood and life is all my country's;
why have I nothing more!  Youths of short stature weep that they are below
size.  Old men come forward, a son in each hand.  Mothers themselves will
grant the son of their travail; send him, though with tears. And the multitude
bellows Vive la Patrie, far reverberating.  And fire flashes in the eyes of
men; - and at eventide, your Municipal returns to the Town-hall followed by
his long train of Volunteer valor; hands-in his List; says proudly, looking
round.  This is my days harvest. ^1 They will march, on the morrow, to
Soissons; small bundle holding all their chattels.

[Footnote 1: "Tableau de la Revolution," Section Patrie en Danger.]

     1188. So, with Vive la Patrie, Vive la Liberte, stone Paris reverberates
like Ocean in his caves; day after day, Municipals enlisting in tricolor Tent;
the Flag flapping on Pont-Neuf and Town-hall, Citoyens, la Patrie est en
Danger.  Some 10,000 fighters, without discipline but full of heart, are on
march in few days.  The like is doing in every Town of France.  Consider,
therefore, whether the Country will want defenders, had we but a National
Executive?  Let the Sections and Primary Assemblies, at any rate, become
Permanent!  They do become Permanent, and sit continually in Paris, and over
France, by Legislative Decree, dated Wednesday the 25th. ^1

[Footnote 1: Moniteur, Seance du 25 Juillet 1792.]

     1189. Mark contrariwise how, in these very hours, dated the 25th,
Brunswick "shakes himself (s'ebranee)" in Coblentz; and takes the road! Shakes
himself indeed; one spoken word becomes such a shaking.  Successive,
simultaneous dirl of 30,000 muskets shouldered; prance and jingle of 10,000
horsemen, fanfaronading Emigrants in the van; drum, kettledrum; noise of
weeping, swearing; and the immeasurable lumbering clank of baggage-wagons and
campkettles that groan into motion: all this is Brunswick shaking himself; not
without all this does the one man march, "covering a space of forty miles."
Still less without his Manifesto, dated, as we say, the 25th; a State-Paper
worthy of attention!

     1190. By this Document, it would seem great things are in store for
France.  The universal French People shall now have permission to rally round
Brunswick and his Emigrant Seigneurs; tyranny of a Jacobin Faction shall
oppress them no more; but they shall return, and find favor with their own
good King; who, by Royal Declaration (three years ago) of the 23d of June,
said that he would himself make them happy.  As for National Assembly, and
other Bodies of men invested with some temporary shadow of authority, they are
charged to maintain the King's Cities and Strong places intact, till Brunswick
arrive to take delivery of them.  Indeed, quick submission may extenuate many
things; but to this end it must be quick.  Any National Guard or other
unmilitary person found resisting in arms shall be "treated as a traitor;"
that is to say, hanged with promptitude.  For the rest, if Paris, before
Brunswick gets thither, offer any insult to the King; or, for example, suffer
a Faction to carry the King away elsewhither; in that case, Paris shall be
blasted asunder with cannon-shot and "military execution." Likewise all other
Cities, which may witness, and not resist to the uttermost, such forced-march
of his Majesty, shall be blasted asunder; and Paris and every City of them,
starting-place, course and goal of said sacrilegious forced-march, shall, as
rubbish and smoking ruin, lie there for a sign.  Such vengeance were indeed
signal "an insigne vengeance:" - O Brunswick, what words thou writest and
blusterest!  In this Paris, as in old Nineveh, are so many score thousands
that know not the right hand from the left, and also much cattle.  Shall the
very milk-cows, hard-living cadgers'-asses, and poor little canary-birds die?

     1191. Noris Royal and Imperial Prussian-Austrian Declaration wanting:
setting forth, in the amplest manner, their Sans-souci-Schonbrunn version of
this whole French Revolution, since the first beginning written Order from him
these three days, to repel force by force.  A squadron of it; and with what
grief these high heads have seen such things done under the Sun. However, "as
some small consolation to mankind," ^1 they do now dispatch Brunswick;
regardless of expense, as one might say, or of sacrifices on their own part;
for is it not the first duty to console men?

[Footnote 1: "Annual Register," (1792), p. 236.]

     1192. Serene Highnesses, who sit there protocoling and manifestoing, and
consoling mankind! how were it if, for once in the thousand years, your
parchments, formularies and reasons of state were blown to the four winds; and
Reality Sans-indispensables stared you, even you, in the face; and Mankind
said for itself what the thing was that would console it?