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discord between the legal authorities this is the illegal league
which is certain to overthrow all。
When a commanding general sits in council with his staff…officers
and his counselors； and discusses the plan of a campaign； the chief
public interest is that discipline should remain intact； and that
intruders； soldiers； or menials； should not throw the weight of
their turbulence and thoughtlessness into the scales which have to
be cautiously and firmly held by their chiefs。 This was the express
demand of the Government；＇30＇ but the demand was not regarded； and
against the persistent usurpation of the multitude nothing is left
to it but the employment of force。 But force itself is slipping
from its hands； while growing disobedience； like a contagion； after
having gained the people is spreading among the troops。 … From the
23rd of June；＇31＇ two companies of the French Guards refused to do
duty。 Confined to their barracks； they on the 27th break out； and
henceforth 〃they are seen every evening entering the Palais…Royal；
marching in double file。〃 They know the place well； it is the
general rendezvous of the abandoned women whose lovers and parasites
they are。＇32＇ 〃The patriots all gather around them； treat them to
ice cream and wine； and debauch them in the face of their officers。〃
To this； moreover； must be added the fact that their colonel； M。
du Chatelet； has long been odious to them； that he has fatigued them
with forced drills； worried them and diminished the number of their
sergeants； that he suppressed the school for the education of the
children of their musicians； that he uses the stick in punishing the
men； and picks quarrels with them about their appearance； their
board； and their clothing。 This regiment is lost to discipline： a
secret society has been formed in it； and the soldiers have pledged
themselves to their ensigns not to act against the National
Assembly。 Thus the confederation between them and the Palais…Royal
is established。 On the 30th of June； eleven of their leaders；
taken off to the Abbaye； write to claim their assistance。 A young
man mounts a chair in front of the Café Foy and reads their letter
aloud； a band sets out on the instant； forces the gate with a
sledge…hammer and iron bars； brings back the prisoners in triumph；
gives them a feast in the garden and mounts guard around them to
prevent their being re…taken。 When disorders of this kind go
unpunished； order cannot be maintained； in fact； on the morning of
the 14th of July； five out of six battalions had deserted。 As to
the other corps； they are no better and are also seduced。
〃Yesterday；〃 Desmoulins writes； 〃the artillery regiment followed the
example of the French Guards； overpowering the sentinels and coming
over to mingle with the patriots in the Palais…Royal 。 。 。。 We
see nothing but the rabble attaching themselves to soldiers whom
they chance to encounter。 'Allons； Vive le Tiers…Etat！' and they
lead them off to a tavern to drink the health of the Commons。〃
Dragoons tell the officers who are marching them to Versailles： 〃We
obey you； but you may tell the ministers on our arrival that if we
are ordered to use the least violence against our fellow…citizens；
the first shot shall be for you。〃 At the Invalides twenty men；
ordered to remove the cocks and ramrods from the guns stored in a
threatened arsenal； devote six hours to rendering twenty guns
useless； their object is to keep them intact for plunder and for the
arming of the people。
In short； the largest portion of the army has deserted。 However
kind a superior officer might be； the fact of his being a superior
officer secures for him the treatment of an enemy。 The governor；
〃M。 de Sombreuil； against whom these people could utter no
reproach；〃 will soon see his artillerists point their guns at his
apartment； and will just escape being hung on the iron…railings by
their own hands。 Thus the force which is brought forward to
suppress insurrection only serves to furnish it with recruits。 And
even worse； for the display of arms that was relied on to restrain
the mob； furnished the instigation to rebellion。
VI。
July 13th and 14th 1789。
The fatal moment has arrived； it is no longer a government which
falls that it may give way to another； it is all government which
ceases to exist in order to make way for an intermittent despotism；
for factions blindly impelled on by enthusiasm； credulity； misery；
and fear。＇33＇ Like a tame elephant suddenly become wild again； the
mob throws off it ordinary driver； and the new guides who it
tolerates perched on its neck are there simply for show。 In future
it will move along as it pleases； freed from control； and abandoned
to its own feelings； instincts； and appetites。 Apparently； there
was no desire to do more than anticipate its aberrations。 The King
has forbidden all violence； the commanders order the troops not to
fire；＇34＇ but the excited and wild animal takes all precautions for
insults； in future； it intends to be its own conductor； and； to
begin； it treads its guides under foot。 On the 12th of July；
near noon；＇35＇ on the news of the dismissal of Necker； a cry of rage
arises in the Palais…Royal； Camille Desmoulins； mounted on a table；
announces that the Court meditates 〃a St。 Bartholomew of patriots。〃
The crowd embrace him； adopt the green cockade which he has
proposed； and oblige the dancing…saloons and theaters to close in
sign of mourning： they hurry off to the residence of Curtius； and
take the busts of the Duke of Orleans and of Necker and carry them
about in triumph。 Meanwhile； the dragoons of the Prince de
Lambesc； drawn up on the Place Louis…Quinze； find a barricade of
chairs at the entrance of the Tuileries； and are greeted with a
shower of stones and bottles。＇36＇ Elsewhere； on the Boulevard；
before the H？tel Montmorency； some of the French Guards； escaped
from their barracks； fired on a loyal detachment of the 〃Royal
Allemand。〃 … The alarm bell is sounding on all sides； the shops
where arms are sold are pillaged； and the H？tel…de…Ville is invaded；
fifteen or sixteen well…disposed electors； who meet there； order the
districts to be assembled and armed。 The new sovereign； the
people in arms and in the street； has declared himself。
The dregs of society at once come to the surface。 During the night
between the 12th and 13th of July；＇37＇ 〃all the barriers； from the
Faubourg Saint…Antoine to the Faubourg Saint…Honoré； besides those
of the Faubourgs Saint…Marcel and Saint…Jacques； are forced and set
on fire。〃 There is no longer an octroi； the city is without a
revenue just at the moment when it is obliged to make the heaviest
expenditures； but this is of no consequence to the mob； which； above
all things； wants to have cheap wine。 〃Ruffians； armed with pikes
and sticks； proceed in several parties to give up to pillage the
houses of those who are regarded as enemies to the public welfar