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for his return at the gate. His addrefs had two objects: "to entreat that the affembly would devife fome method of relieving the dreadful fcarcity of bread which prevailed at Paris, and which he faid had been occafioned by the interception of convoys, and by the monopolifts; and to folicit that the gardes-ducorps might be ordered to affume the national cockade." He had fcarcely finifhed, when a national cockade was prefented to him on the part of the gardes-du-corps, as a proof that they had already adopted it. Maillard' fhewed it to the women, who immediately anfwered by loud acclamations of Vive le roi, & M. M. les gardes-du-corps! A deputation was immediately appointed to wait on the king with this intelligence.

The king had gone that morning to take the diverfion of fhooting in the woods of Meudon; and in the midft of his fport intelligence was brought, "that a moft formidable band of women were on the way from Paris, exclaiming for bread." "Alas!" answered the king, "if I had it, I fhould not wait to be afked." On his return, as foon as he mounted his horfe, a chevalier of St. Louis fell upon his knees and befeeched his majefty not to be afraid." I never was afraid in my life," returned the king.

On his arrival at Verfailles he found the gardes-du-corps and the national guard under arms, and the palace furrounded with a mob. With the deputation from the af fembly five of the women were introduced to his majefty, who on hearing of the diftreffes of the metropolis was extremely moved, and the women fympathized in the feelings of the monarch. Louifa Chabry, a young woman who was em

pløyed in fome of the branches of fculpture, and was only feventeen years of age, fainted. When she recovered the defired leave to kiss the king's hand, who embraced her, and difmiffed her with an elegant compliment. The women without doors could fcarcely believe the report of those who had been admitted. In the mean time the king figned an order for bringing corn from Senlis and de Lagni, and for removing every obftacle which impeded the fupply of Paris. This order was reported to the women, and they retired with acclamations of gratitude and joy.

This band of Amazons was no fooner difperfed than it was fucceeded by another, headed by M. Brunout, a foldier of the Parifian guard, whom they had compelled to affume the unpleafant office of their leader. It is uncertain upon what provocation M. Savonieres, a lieutenant in the gardes-du-corps, and two other officers, imprudently fingled out Brunout from his company, and chafed him along the ranks with their drawn fabres. The unhappy man was upon the point of being cut to pieces with their fabres, when one of the national guard of Verfailles fired upon M. Savonieres, and broke his arm, and by that" means faved the life of Brunout: and this incident is faid to have greatly increafed that unfortunate hatred which the people afterwards manifefted by atrocious acts of cruelty to the gardes-du-corps.

Whether there was indeed a concerted plan to carry off the king to Metz, or whether the court was really terrified by the accident which we have juft recounted, it is impoffible to determine; but the king's carriages were ordered to the gate of the castle which communicates

with the orangery. The national guard of Verfailles, however, who occupied the poft, refused to permit them to pafs; and the king himself was resolute in his determination to ftay-declaring, "that he would rather perish, than that the blood of the people fhould be fpilled in his quarrel."

The affembly continued fitting; but the feflion was tumultuous, and interrupted by the fhouts and harangues of the Parifian fifh-women, who filled the galleries. A letter however from the king was read, deploring the fcarcity of provifions, and recommending that effectual means might be taken to remedy that calamity; and in a little time after M. Mounier entered with the pure and fimple affent of the king to the conflitutional articles. The affembly was then adjourned; but the applaufe which was beftowed on its proceedings was mingled with affecting murmurs and complaints, the multitude crying out that they were actually ftarving, and that the majority of them had eaten nothing for upwards of twenty-four hours. The prefident therefore humanely ordered that provifions fhould be fought for in every part of the town, and the hall of the affembly was the fcene of a miferable, fcanty, and tumultuous banquet. Indeed, fuch was the dreadful famine, that the horfe of one of the gardes-du-corps being killed in a tumult, he was immediately roafted, and greedily devoured, by the mob. Previous to the adjournment of the affembly, Maillard and a number of the women fet off in carriages, provided by the king, for Paris, carrying with them the king's letter, and the refolves of the national affembly, in the hope of restoring peace to the metropolis.

Darkness and a deluge of rain added to the horrors of the night. The wretched multitudes who had travelled from Paris were expofed, almoft famished, to the inclemencies of the weather in the open streets: within the cafle all was trepidation; nothing was to be heard from without but imprecations, and the voice of enraged multitudes demanding the life of the queen and the gardesdu-corps. Towards midnight, however, all appeared tolerably ftill and peaceable, when the beating of the drums, and the light of innumerable torches, announced the approach of the Parifian army. The marquis de la Fayette on his arrival repaired to the clofet, and informed the king of the whole proceedings of the day; a part of the national guards were diftributed in pofts agreeably to the orders of his majefty; the reft were entertained by the inhabitants of Verfailles, or retired to lodge in the churches and public edifices, for the remainder of the night; and tranquillity appeared once more perfectly reftored.

The troops of vagabonds who had accompanied Maillard, or who had followed the Parifian militia, were chiefly difpofed of in the hall of the affembly, and in the great corps-degarde; and at about five in the morning the marquis de la Fayette, after having vifited all the pofts, and found every thing perfectly quiet, retired to his chamber to write to the municipality of Paris, and perhaps in the hope of fnatching a few hours repofe.

The day began to break at about half paft five; and at this period crowds of women and other defperate perfons, breathing vengeance and thirfting for blood, advanced to the caftle, which, in the fatal fecurity which the arrival of the Pari

fan militia infpired, was left unguarded in feveral places. Some of the iron gates were fhut, and fome left open. An immenfe crowd found its way into the cour des miniftres, and immediately proceeded to the royal gate, which was fhut, and a number of the invaders attempted to fcale it. Another troop of ruffians proceeded to the chapel court, and another to that of the princes, and by both these avenues penetrated into the royal court. Some halty difpofitions of defence were made by a M. Agueffeau; the gardes-du-corps were foon under arms, and one man was wounded by them in the arm, and another shot dead. The crowd. immediately mounted the grand flaircafe, where one of the gardes-ducorps, M. Miomandre, endeavoured to diffuade them from their at tempt; but he narrowly efcaped with his life. M. Tardivet du Repaire hafted to the queen's apart ment, in order to prevent the entrance of the banditti; but he was affailed by thoufands, and stretched upon the ground. A villain with a pike attempted to pierce him to the heart; but he had the good fortune to wrest the weapon from his hand, with which he parried the attacks of his enemies, and at length effected his escape. M. Miomandre in the mean time made his way to the queen's apartment. He opened the door, and cried out to a lady whom he faw in the inner chamber-" Save the queen, madam, her life is in danger-I am here alone againft two thoufand tigers." He fhut the door; and after a few minutes refistance was defperately wounded with a pike, and left for deadthough he has fince recovered.

The queen had been awaked a quarter of an hour before by the clamours of the women who affem

bled upon the terrace; but her waiting-woman had fatisfied her by faying, "that they were only the women of Paris, who the fuppofed, not being able to find a lodging, were walking about." But the tumult approaching, and becoming apparently more ferious, the rofe, dreffed herfelf in hafte, and ran to the king's apartment by a private paffage. In her way fhe heard the noife of a piftol and a mufket, which redoubled her terror. "My friends," faid fhe to every perfon fhe met, "fave me and my children." In the king's chamber the found the dauphin, who had been brought there by one of her women; but the king was gone. Awaked by the tumult, he had feen from a window the multitude preffing towards the great ftair-cafe'; and alarmed for the queen, he hated to her apartment, and entered at one door in the moment he had quitted it by the other. He returned without lofs of time; and having with the queen brought the princefs roval into the chamber, they prepared to face the multitude.

In the mean time the noife and tumult increased, and appeared at the very door of the chamber. Nothing was to be heard but the most dreadful exclamations, with violent and repeated blows against the outer door, a pannel of which was broken. Nothing but inftant death was expected by the royal company. Suddenly, however, the tumult feemed to ceafe-every thing was quiet; and a moment after a gentle rap was heard at the door. The door was opened, and in an instant the apartments were filled with the Parilian guard. The officer who conducted them, ordered them to ground their arms. "We come," faid he, "to fave the king;" and turning to fuch

of

of the gardes-du-corps as were in the apartments, "We will fave you alfo, gentlemen; let us from this moment be united.”

entirely free, and under the protec tion of the national guard. The moft generous expreffions of kindnefs and gratitude took place between the gardes-du-corps and the. national guard. The former confidered the others as their deliverers; while the latter evinced every inclination that they fhould in future. form one united corps.

Unfortunately the national guard arrived too late to prevent all the mifchief. Two of the gardes-ducorps were murdered by the mob before the troops could be rallied, and their heads fixed on fpikes ferved as the ftandards of this deteftable banditti. From the first moment of the alarm the marquis de la Fayette had even exceeded his ufual activity. He appeared in every quarter:-"Gentlemen," faid he to the Parifian foldiers, "I have pledged my word and honour to the king that nothing belonging to him fhall receive injury. If I break my word, I fhall be no longer worthy to be your commander." Captain Gondran, the officer who had driven the ruffians from the king's apartment, was not lefs confpicuous for his activity. The Parifians forced their way in every part through the almoft impenetrable mafs-furrounded the gardes-du-corps, and placed them in fafety under their own colours.

The royal family now ventured to fhew themselves at a balcony, and received the most lively acclamations of refpect from the foldiers and the people. But whether it had been planned by the popular party, or whether it was the immediate impulfe of the multitudebut the former is most probable— at the firft a fingle voice, or a few voices, exclaimed-" The king to Paris;" and this was inftantly followed by an univerfal acclamation enforcing the fame demand. After fome confultation with the marquis de la Fayette, the king addreffed them: "You with me to go to Paris-I will go, on the condition that I am to be accompanied by my wife and children." He was answered by reiterated acclamations of Vive le roi !

Plunder is however commonly one great object of a mob. The banditti had already begun to ftrip the palace, and to throw the furniture to each other out of the windows. M. Gondran pursued them from place to place, till the caftle was at length completely cleared. Expelled from the palace, they repaired to the tables; but here a fudden ftop was put to their depredations by M. Doazon, a farmergeneral, and captain of the Paris militia. The horfes were all recovered, and brought back in fafety to their ftalls. Difappointed at length in every view, they departed in a body to Paris; and left Verfailles

con

Before the departure of the king, the national affembly was vened; and, on the motion of M. Mirabeau, paffed a folemn decree, "that the affembly was infeparable from the perfon of the king." A deputation of one hundred members was alfo appointed to accompany the king to Paris. During the preparations for the journey, the gardes-du-corps changed hats and fwords with the grenadiers and national guards, and both they and the regiment of Flanders defined leave to mix indifcriminately in the ranks. It was two o'clock in the afternoon before the proceffion fet out. During the progrefs all was

gaiety and joy among the foldiers and the fpectators; and fuch was the respect in which the French nation till held the name and perfon of their king, that the multitude were fuperftitiously perfuaded that the royal prefence would actually put an end to the famine. On his arrival, the king was congratulated by the municipality, and declared his approbation of the loyalty which the city of Paris manifefted. He however gave one proof, among feveral others which he had before given, that however he may be wrought upon by mifreprefenta

tion and evil counfels, his character
is in the general neither deficient in
good fenfe nor firmness.
As they
afcended the ftairs of the Hôtel de
Ville, the marquis de la Fayette re-
quefted the king that he would ei-
ther affure the people himself, or
permit fome other perfon to affure
them in his name, that he would
fix his abode in Paris.-" I feel no
objection," replied the monarch,
"to fix my abode in my good city
of Paris: but I have not yet formed
any determination on the fubject;
and I will make no promise which I
do not pofitively mean to fulfil."

CHA P. III.

Emigration of the Ariflocratic Members of the Affembly. Title of King of the French. Duke of Orleans retires to England. A Baker hanged by the Mob at Paris. Riot A. New Divifion of the Empire. Church Lands applied to the Exigencies of the State. Lettres de Cachet abolished. Committee appointed to infpect the Penfion Lift. Diftinction of Orders abolished. Oppofition of the Provincial States and Parliaments. Riots at Marfeilles and Toulon. Melancholy Event at Senlis. Debate on the Eligibility of Minifters to the National Affembly. Corfica declared a conflituent Part of the French Empire. Plan of the Caniffe de l'Extraordinaire. Refufal of a Donation from Geneva. Of an Alliance with Brabant. Refiance of the Parliament of Brittany. Affair of the Marquis de Favras. Municipalities made refponfible for Damages fuftained by Riots. Suppreffion of Monafleries. Emiffion of Affignats. Gabelle, &c. abolished. Reform of the FurifpruTroubles in St. Domingo, &c. Publication of the Red Book. Rehgions Infurrections at Touloufe, Montabon, and Nifmes. Right of making War and Peace. Organization of the Clergy. Abolition of Titles, &c. Grand Confederation. Return of M. d'Orleans.

dence.

WHATEVER might have been the intentions of either party in producing the riots of the 5th and 6th of October, the removal of the king to the metropolis was certainly productive of the happiest confequences. It fatisfied completely the fufpicious and un

quiet minds of the Parifians; it brought their fovereign more immediately in connexion with them, and ftrengthened in fome degree the bands of union: nay, chimerical as it may appear, the fuperftitious fancy of the populace, that the prefence of the king would terminate

* The popular exclamation was, as they proceeded along "We are bringing the baker, the baker's wife, and the little journeyman."

the

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