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houses of those who are regarded as enemies to the public welfare。〃
〃They go from door to door crying； 'Arms and bread！' During this
fearful night； the bourgeoisie kept themselves shut up； each
trembling at home for himself and those belonging to him。〃 On the
following day； the 13th； the capital appears to be given up to
bandits and the lowest of the low。 One of the bands hews down the
gate of the Lazarists； destroys the library and clothes…presses； the
pictures； the windows and laboratory； and rushes to the cellars；
where it staves in the casks and gets drunk： twenty…four hours after
this； about thirty of them are found dead and dying； drowned in
wine； men and women； one of these being at the point of childbirth。
In front of the house＇38＇ the street is full of the wreckage； and of
ruffians who hold in their hands； 〃 some； eatables； others a jug；
forcing the passers…by to drink； and pouring out wine to all comers。
Wine runs down into the gutter； and the scent of it fills the air；〃
it is a drinking bout： meanwhile they carry away the grain and flour
which the monks kept on hand according to law； fifty…two loads of it
being taken to the market。 Another troop comes to La Force； to
deliver those imprisoned for debt； a third breaks into the Garde
Meuble； carrying away valuable arms and armour。 Mobs assemble
before the hotel of Madame de Breteuil and the Palais…Bourbon； which
they intend to ransack； in order to punish their proprietors。 M。 de
Crosne； one of the most liberal and most respected men of Paris；
but； unfortunately for himself a lieutenant of the police； is
pursued； escaping with difficulty； and his hotel is sacked。
During the night between the 13th and 14th of May； the baker's shops
and the wine shops are pillaged； 〃men of the vilest class； armed
with guns； pikes； and turnspits； make people open their doors and
give them something to eat and drink； as well as money and arms。〃
Vagrants； ragged men； several of them 〃almost naked；〃 and 〃most of
them armed like savages； and of hideous appearance；〃 they are 〃 such
as one does not remember to have seen in broad daylight；〃 many of
them are strangers； come from nobody knows where。＇39＇ It is stated
that there were 50；000 of them； and that they had taken possession
of the principal guard…houses。
During these two days and nights； says Bailly； 〃Paris ran the risk
of being pillaged； and was only saved from the marauders by the
National Guard。〃 Already； in the open street；＇40＇ 〃these creatures
tore off women's shoes and earrings；〃 and the robbers were beginning
to have full sway。 Fortunately the militia organized itself and
the principal inhabitants and gentlemen enrolled themselves； 48；000
men are formed into battalions and companies； the bourgeoisie buy
guns of the vagabonds for three livres apiece； and sabers or pistols
for twelve sous。 At last； some of the offenders are hung on the
spot； and others disarmed； and the insurrection again becomes
political。 But； whatever its object； it remains always wild；
because it is in the hands of the mob。 Dusaulx； its panegyrist；
confesses＇41＇ that 〃he thought he was witnessing the total
dissolution of society。〃 There is no leader； no management。 The
electors who have converted themselves into the representatives of
Paris seem to command the crowd； but it is the crowd which commands
them。 One of them； Legrand； to save the H？tel…de…Ville； has no
other resource but to send for six barrels of gun…powder； and to
declare to the assailants that he is about to blow everything into
the air。 The commandant whom they themselves have chosen； M。 de
Salles； has twenty bayonets at his breast during a quarter of an
hour； and； more than once； the whole committee is near being
massacred。 Let the reader imagine； on the premises where the
discussions are going on； and petitions are being made； 〃a concourse
of fifteen hundred men pressed by a hundred thousand others who are
forcing an entrance；〃 the wainscoting cracking； the benches upset
one over another； the enclosure of the bureau pushed back against
the president's chair； a tumult such as to bring to mind 'the day of
judgment；〃 the death…shrieks； songs； yells； and 〃people beside
themselves； for the most part not knowing where they are nor what
they want。〃 Each district is also a petty center； while the
Palais…Royal is the main center。 Propositions； 〃 accusations； and
deputations travel to and fro from one to the other； along with the
human torrent which is obstructed or rushes ahead with no other
guide than its own inclination and the chances of the way。 One wave
gathers here and another there； their strategy consisting in pushing
and in being pushed。 Yet； their entrance is effected only because
they are let in。 If they get into the Invalides it is owing to the
connivance of the soldiers。 At the Bastille； firearms are
discharged from ten in the morning to five in the evening against
walls forty feet high and thirty feet thick； and it is by chance
that one of their shots reaches an invalid on the towers。 They are
treated the same as children whom one wishes to hurt as little as
possible。 The governor； on the first summons to surrender； orders
the cannon to be withdrawn from the embrasures； he makes the
garrison swear not to fire if it is not attacked； he invites the
first of the deputations to lunch； he allows the messenger
dispatched from the H？tel…de…Ville to inspect the fortress； he
receives several discharges without returning them； and lets the
first bridge be carried without firing a shot。＇42＇ When； at length；
he does fire； it is at the last extremity； to defend the second
bridge； and after having notified the assailants that he is going to
do so。 In short； his forbearance and patience are excessive； in
conformity with the humanity of the times。 The people； in turn； are
infatuated with the novel sensations of attack and resistance； with
the smell of gunpowder； with the excitement of the contest； all they
can think of doing is to rush against the mass of stone； their
expedients being on a level with their tactics。 A brewer fancies
that he can set fire to this block of masonry by pumping over it
spikenard and poppy…seed oil mixed with phosphorus。 A young
carpenter； who has some archaeological notions； proposes to
construct a catapult。 Some of them think that they have seized the
governor's daughter； and want to burn her in order to make the
father surrender。 Others set fire to a projecting mass of buildings
filled with straw； and thus close up the passage。 〃The Bastille was
not taken by main force；〃 says the brave Elie； one of the
combatants； 〃it surrendered before even it was attacked；〃＇43＇ by
capitulation； on the promise that no harm should be done to anybody。
The garrison； being perfectly secure； had no longer the heart to
fire on human beings while themselves risking nothing；＇44＇ and； on
the other hand； they were unnerved by the sight of the immense
crowd。 E