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Swiss Guard at Nancy； and the outbreak of the Champ de Mars feel
that they themselves are menaced； vote for and apply martial law；
and repel force with force。 But； in general； when the despotism of
the people is exercised only against the royalist minority； they
allow their adversaries to be oppressed； and do not consider
themselves affected by the violence which assails the party of the
〃right：〃 they are enemies； and may be given up to the wild beasts。
In accordance with this； the 〃left 〃 has made its arrangements； its
fanaticism has no scruples； it is principle； it is absolute truth
that is at stake； this must triumph at any cost。 Besides； can
there be any hesitation in having recourse to the people in the
people's own cause？ A little compulsion will help along the good
cause； and hence the siege of the Assembly is continually renewed。
This was the practice already at Versailles before the 6th of
October； while now； at Paris； it is kept up more actively and with
less disguise。
At the beginning of the year 1790；＇36＇ the band under pay comprises
seven hundred and fifty effective men； most of them deserters or
soldiers drummed out of their regiments； who are at first paid five
francs and then forty sous a day。 It is their business to make or
support motions in the coffee…houses and in the streets； to mix with
the spectators at the sittings of the sections； with the groups at
the Palais…Royal； and especially in the galleries of the National…
Assembly； where they are to hoot or applaud at a given signal。
Their leader is a Chevalier de Saint…Louis； to whom they swear
obedience； and who receives his orders from the Committee of
Jacobins。 His first lieutenant at the Assembly is a M。 Saule； 〃a
stout； small； stunted old fellow； formerly an upholsterer； then a
charlatan hawker of four penny boxes of grease （made from the fat of
those that had been hung … for the cure of diseases of the kidneys）
and all his life a sot 。。。。 who； by means of a tolerably shrill
voice； which was always well moistened； has acquired some reputation
in the galleries of the Assembly。〃 In fact； he has forged admission
tickets he has been turned out； he has been obliged to resume 〃the
box of ointment； and travel for one or two months in the provinces
with a man of letters for his companion。〃 But on his return；
〃through the protection of a groom of the Court； he obtained a piece
of ground for a coffee…house against the wall of the Tuileries
garden； almost alongside of the National Assembly；〃 and now it is at
home in his coffee…shop behind his counter that the hirelings of the
galleries 〃 come to him to know what they must say； and to be told
the order of the day in regard to applause。〃 Besides this； he is
there himself； 〃it is he who for three years is to regulate public
sentiment in the galleries confided to his care； and； for his useful
and satisfactory services； the Constituent Assembly will award him a
recompense；〃 to which the Legislative Assembly will add 〃 a pension
of six hundred livres； besides a lodging in an apartment of the
Feuillants。〃
We can divine how men of this stamp； thus compensated； do their
work。 From the top of the galleries＇37＇ they drown the demands of
the 〃right〃 by the force of their lungs； this or that decree； as；
for instance； the abolition of titles of nobility； is carried； 〃not
by shouts； but by terrific howls。〃＇38＇ On the arrival of the news of
the sacking of the H？tel de Castries by the populace； they applaud。
On the question coming up as to the decision whether the Catholic
faith shall be dominant； 〃they shout out that the aristocrats must
all be hung； and then things will go on well。〃 Their outrages not
only remain unpunished； but are encouraged： this or that noble who
complains of their hooting is called to order； while their
interference and vociferations； their insults and their menaces； are
from this time introduced as one of the regular wheels of
legislative operations。 Their pressure is still worse outside the
Chamber。＇39＇ The Assembly is obliged several times to double its
guard。 On the 27th of September； 1790； there are 40；000 men around
the building to extort the dismissal of the Ministers； and 〃motions
for assassination〃 are made under the windows； On the 4th of
January； 1791； whilst on a call of the house the ecclesiastical
deputies pass in turn to the tribune； to take or refuse the oath to
the civil constitution of the clergy； a furious clamor ascends in
the Tuileries； and even penetrates into the Chamber。 〃To the lamp
post with all those who refuse！ 〃 On the 27th of September； 1790； M。
Dupont； economist； having spoken against the assignats； is
surrounded on leaving the Chamber and hooted at； hustled； pushed
against the basin of the Tuileries； into which he was being thrown
when the guard rescued him。 On the 21st of June； 1790； M。 de
Cazalès just misses 〃being torn to pieces by the people。〃＇40＇
Deputies of the 〃right〃 are threatened over and over again by
gestures in the streets and in the coffee…houses； effigies of them
with ropes about the neck are publicly displayed。 The Abbé Maury
is several times on the point of being hung： he saves himself once
by presenting a pistol。 Another time the Vicomte de Mirabeau is
obliged to draw his sword。 M。 de Clermont…Tonnerre； having voted
against the annexation of the Comtat to France； is assailed with
chairs and clubs in the Palais…Royal； pursued into a porter's room
and from thence to his dwelling； the howling crowd break in the
doors； and are only repelled with great difficulty。 It is
impossible for the members of the 〃right〃 to assemble together； they
are 〃stoned〃 in the church of the Capuchins； then in the Salon
Fran？ais in the Rue Royale； and then； to crown the whole； an
ordinance of the new judges shuts up their hall； and punishes them
for the violence which they have to suffer。＇41＇ In short they are at
the mercy of the mob。 The most moderate； the most liberal； and the
most manly both in heart and head； Malouet； declares that 〃in going
to the Assembly he rarely forgot to carry his pistols with him。〃＇42＇
〃For two years；〃 he says； 〃after the King's flight； we never enjoyed
one moment of freedom and security。〃
〃 On going into a slaughter…house；〃 writes another deputy； 〃you see
some animals at the entrance which still have a short time to live；
until the hour comes to dispatch them。 Such was the impression
which the assemblage of nobles； bishops； and parliamentarians＇43＇ on
the right side made on my mind every time I entered the Assembly；
the executioners of the left side permitting them to breathe a
little longer。〃
They are insulted and outraged even upon their benches； 〃placed
between peril within and peril without； between the hostility of the
galleries；〃＇44＇ and that of the howlers at the entrance； 〃 between
personal insults and the abbey of Saint…Germain； between shouts of
laughter celebrating the burnin